cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Occult primary tumors of the head and neck: detection with 2-[F-18] fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose SPECT.

PURPOSE: To evaluate 2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in the detection of clinically occult primary tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen patients with histologically proved cervical nodal metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) underwent FDG SPECT; 17 also underwent computed tomography (CT) and one underwent magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. All 18 patients underwent direct panendoscopy and biopsy. Biopsy and imaging results were correlated. RESULTS: Among 11 histologically proved primary tumors, FDG SPECT depicted nine tumors; CT depicted four lesions. Five patients had abnormal FDG uptake with negative biopsy results. Among five patients with normal SPECT findings, biopsy results were positive in two and negative in three. FDG SPECT at the initial reading had sensitivity of 81%, specificity of 38%, positive predictive value of 64%, and negative predictive value of 60% for detection of occult primary ...
Robust adaptive control of Lagrangian systems

Abstract This paper presents a new adaptive scheme for the motion control of an important class of Lagrangian systems. The proposed controller does not require knowledge of either the structure or the parameter values of the system dynamic model. As a consequence, the control scheme is very general and computationally efficient, and is implementable with a wide variety of systems. It is shown that the control strategy is globally stable in the presence of bounded disturbances, and that in the absence of disturbances the ultimate bound on the size of the trajectory tracking errors can be made arbitrarily small. The capabilities of the proposed control scheme are illustrated through computer simulations and experiments involving industrial robots. These studies demonstrate that the controller provides a simple and effective means of obtaining high performance trajectory tracking.
THE SEPARATION OF METHYL ACETATE FROM METHANOL BY EXTRACTIVE DISTILLATION

Abstract Methyl acetate cannot be completely removed from methyl acetate-methanol mixtures by distillation because of the presence of the minimum binary azeotrope. Methyl acetate can be readily removed as overhead product from mixtures containing it and methanol by using extractive distillation in which the extractive distillation agent is a higher boiling oxygenated, nitrogenous and/or sulfur containing organic compound or a mixture of these. Typical examples of effective agents are dimethylsulfoxide, glycerine plus propylene glycol, ethylene glycol plus dimethylsulfoxide plus 1,5-pentanediol. Methanol can be removed as the overhead product from methyl acetate when the extractive distillation agent is nitrobenzene, propylene carbonate or ethylene glycol phenyl ether.
Posttraumatic Growth Among Gulf War I Veterans: The Predictive Role of Deployment-Related Experiences and Background Characteristics

In this study, we identified deployment-related and demographic predictors of several factors of posttraumatic growth in a sample of combat-exposed Gulf War I veterans. Participants were obtained via a Veterans Administration registry of Gulf War I veterans and were mailed a survey containing a number of scales assessing predeployment, deployment, and postdeployment factors from the Deployment Risk and Resilience Inventory and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Military status and perceived threat were significant predictors of appreciation of life. Relating to others, personal strength, and posttraumatic growth as a whole were best predicted by the postdeployment variable of social support. Minority status was the only significant predictor of new possibilities, with ethnic minorities reporting more new possibilities postdeployment. Limitations and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Research Note: Effects of the Number of Nipple-Waterers on the Waterer Usage and Body Weight of White Leghorn Pullets

Abstract Pullets reared in floor pens containing 100 birds each were provided with one nipple-waterer per 10 or 20 birds (three pens for each ratio). Behavioral observations related to nipple usage were made during the morning, afternoon, and evening hours at 2-wk intervals from 6 to 16 wk of age. Body weights were obtained at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 18 wk of age. The time of day and age affected the number of water nipples in simultaneous use. However, no significant differences were found between the ratios for birds to water nipples concerning the number of nipples in use simultaneously, number of pullets sharing a water nipple, or body weights.
Classroom communication apprehension: A survey

A survey study of 402 undergraduate students at a midwestern state university explored the experience of “classroom communication apprehension” and its antecedents and consequences. Of the sample, 70% reported having the experience, at least occasionally, and this proportion is remarkably consistent across demographic subclasses. Correlates of the experience suggest ways in which teachers, administrators, and students might alleviate the problem.
Fungal graft infections: Case report and review of the literature

Abstract Fungal intravascular graft infections are rare. In addition to our case, which forms the basis of this article, only 13 documented instances could be found in the literature in the 20-year period from 1966 to 1986. Three of these cases (21%) had both fungus and bacteria grown in culture. Candida and Aspergillus species constituted most of the infecting organisms (79%). There was no obvious difference in the clinical presentations between fungal and bacterial infections. In two cases (14%), there was a strong predisposition toward fungal infection: one in a patient with pulmonary histoplasmosis and one in a patient with leukemia. Appropriate intervention appears to be graft excision and extra-anatomic bypass with concomitant therapy with amphotericin B. Survival with this approach was 84%, whereas other methods yielded a survival rate of 20%. (J V ASC S URG 1987;6:398-402.)
A systematic analysis of national health accounts from 1990 to 2010

Abstract Background National health accounts (NHAs) are systems that quantify expenditures on health and address these questions: (1) How is expenditure allocated throughout the health system by agent, by provider, and by function? and (2) Who finances that expenditure? Methods We conducted an exhaustive search of all country-generated NHAs from 1990 to 2010. We found 934 country-year reports across 125 countries. More than half of the reports contained four core NHA matrices: (1) provider by financing agent; (2) financing agent by financing source; (3) provider by function; and (4) financing agent by function. We synthesised these data, adjusting entries when necessary according to the NHA guide of WHO. Findings With the exception of a few countries (France, Netherlands, Poland, and others), as the proportion of public funds provided to health grows, expenditure is more likely to take place in governmental entities. Low-income countries are not only less likely to finance the bulk of health care with public sources but also generally spend less through government agents. Not surprisingly, among providers, hospitals dominate spending, and more resources are devoted to providing inpatient services than other functions. Finally, as countries' out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures rise, they tend to spend less on inpatient care. Interpretation NHAs are an important—but underutilised—tool for understanding health systems. Our assessment of the relation between OOP expenditure and inpatient spending leads us to hypothesise that the reliance on OOP expenditure to finance health is a significant barrier to accessing inpatient care; patients may shirk hospital stays due to the significant financial burden associated with financing that care. This analysis is only an initial dive into the rich dataset. Through further analysis, we hope to characterise health-system financing and explore trends over time in order to better understand the evolution of the relation between improvements to population health and investments in health. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The funder had no role in writing the manuscript or the decision to submit for publication. The corresponding author had full access to all the data in the study and had the final responsibility for the decision to submit for publication.
The weatherability of polypropylene monofilaments. Effects of fiber production conditions

From a comparison of the photo-and ..gamma..-irradiation-initiated oxidations of monofilaments and films, polypropylene oxidation rates and product ratios were found to be independent of sample morphology and orientation. Filament sensitivity to photo-oxidation was, however, drastically affected by extrusion and draw conditions, photosensitivity increasing with increasing draw speed and decreasing draw temperature. Draw effects were minimized by the exclusion of oxygen, indicating that free radicals produced by backbone cleavage during draw react with oxygen to give chromophoric oxidation products. The most important product detectable after drawing was probably the polypropylene hydroperoxide. A phenolic antioxidant reduced hydroperoxide formation, although sufficient hydroperoxide was still produced to accelerate photodegradation as compared with a similarly stabilized undrawn filament. Melt oxidation within the extruder was concluded to be much more important than thermal oxidation of the extruded filament as it cooled on the spinline.
Gold tetrahedra as building blocks in K3Au5Tr (Tr = In, Tl) and Rb2Au3Tl and in other compounds: a broad group of electron-poor intermetallic phases.

The alkali-metal gold trielides K3Au5Tr (Tr = In (I), Tl (II)) and Rb2Au3Tl (III) have been obtained directly from the elements, and their orthorhombic structures determined by single-crystal X-ray...
The Application of an Assessment Model to a Costume History Course: A Case Study:

This paper describes the application of a Multi-Tiered Model of Assessment to a costume history course. A review of assessment literature is followed by a description of the three-tiered model. Elements of the model applied to a general education costume history course include peer review, teaching journal analysis, locally developed and national measures of student perceptions, and measures of student learning outcomes. Strategies for course redesign based on the data are discussed.
A method for optimizing LINAC treatment geometry for volumetric modulated arc therapy of multiple brain metastases

Purpose: Volumetric modulated arc therapy VMAT is a rotational delivery technique in which MLC shapes, dose rate, and gantry rotation speed are optimized to produce conformal dose distributions. The aim of this work is to develop a beam projection method for deriving the optimal table and collimator angles for multilesion treatment planning. Methods: The method consists of four steps. The first step is to define the vector of beam-eye-view BEV-Y-axis in the treatment planning CT coordinates. The second step is to project each target onto the BEV-Y-axis vector. In the third step, the best table and collimator angle are found with a brute-force optimization technique that minimizes MLC leaf sharing between lesions. The fourth step is to generate an optimized VMAT plan with appropriate table/collimator angles and evaluate the plan quality. Results: The authors tested the method on three example cases with targets of various locations in the brain and sizes ranging from 1.18 to 17.86 cm 3 . Applying the optimized geometric parameter to generate VMAT plan, a reduction of the 12 Gy volume was more than 6.1% for all cases; the plan homogeneity D2%-D95% was improved from 5.881.21 to 5.210.93 Gy vs a VMAT plan with the manufacturer recommended table and collimator angles. Conclusions: The authors conclude that the use of the projection method minimizes the sharing of MLC leaves between lesions and improves the plan quality for multilesion VMAT delivery. © 2010 American Association of Physicists in Medicine. DOI: 10.1118/1.3455286
Stimulating Circle of Willis Nerve Fibers Preserves the Diffusion-Perfusion Mismatch in Experimental Stroke

Background and Purpose— Stimulation of the nerves traversing the ethmoidal foramen (including postsynaptic, parasympathetic projections from the sphenopalatine ganglion [SPG], henceforth referred to as “SPG-stimulation”) has been shown to elevate cerebral blood flow (CBF) and to be neuroprotective after permanent, middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). Methods— Employing diffusion (DWI)- and perfusion (PWI) weighted MRI, the effect of SPG-stimulation (started at 60 minutes post-MCAO) on the spatiotemporal evolution of ischemia during and after pMCAO was investigated. In an additional experiment, regional CBF changes were investigated in the nonischemic brain. Results— In the nonischemic brain, SPG stimulation significantly elevated CBF predominantly within areas supplied by the anterior cerebral artery (by 0.64 mL/g/min relative to baseline). In the ischemic brain, CBF only marginally increased within the penumbra and core (by up to 0.08 and 0.15 mL/g/min relative to prestimulation, respectively). Howe...
17β-Estradiol reverses shear-stress-mediated low density lipoprotein modifications

Abstract Within arterial bifurcations or branching points, oscillatory shear stress (OSS) induces oxidative stress mainly via the reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleodtide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase system. It is unknown whether 17β-estradiol (E2) can regulate OSS-mediated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) modifications. Bovine aortic endothelial cells were pretreated with E2 at 5 nmol/L, followed by exposure to OSS (0 ± 3.0 dynes/cm2 s and 60 cycles/min) in a flow system. E2 decreased OSS-mediated NADPH oxidase mRNA expression, and E2-mediated NO production was mitigated by the NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro- l -argenine methyl ester. The rates of O2− production in response to OSS increased steadily as determined by superoxide-dismutase-inhibited ferricytochrome c reduction; whereas, pretreatment with E2 decreased OSS-mediated O2− production (n = 4, p donor, xanthine oxidase (XO), E2 further reversed XO-induced LDL lipid peroxidation (n = 3, p NO synthase and downregulation of Nox4 expression, E2 influences LDL modifications via lipid peroxidation and protein nitration.
Implementation of a transient exergy analysis for a plate–fin heat exchanger

A 2nd law thermodynamic analysis with exergy analysis can provide a more robust means of accounting for all of the energy flows within and in between subsystems and the work potential. These energy flows may be thermal, chemical, electrical, pneumatic, etc. Some systems such as air or ground vehicles have very transient modes of operation. Energy optimisation of these vehicles through modelling and simulation may be guided by minimisation of exergy destruction. Quantifying the exergy destruction of a transient system is not trivial. For tracking exergy destruction, a novel transient exergy analysis has been implemented into the heat exchanger model. The heat exchanger model is a plate–fin configuration and is capable of handling several different types of fluids. The model is able to track the change of exergy within the control volume of the heat exchanger and fluids within the heat exchanger. This paper demonstrates the implementation of a transient exergy analysis for a heat exchanger.
Outcome of surgical management of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws: review of 33 surgical cases.

Purpose We describe our experience with surgical management of bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (BRONJ). Materials and Methods The data included 33 BRONJ cases treated surgically by a single surgeon at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Results Of the 30 debridement patients, 25 (including 1 sequestrectomy patient who required formal debridement) healed completely. Of the 30 patients who underwent surgical debridement, 18 healed following this initial treatment and remained healed. Of the 4 patients requiring sequestrectomy, 3 healed after the initial treatment. Thus, 28 of 33 patients healed completely with complete mucosal coverage and elimination of pain. Four patients developed occurrence of BRONJ at a separate site. All 4 patients were treated with our surgery protocol and remain healed. Thus, 32 of 37 BRONJ occurrences have healed with our surgical debridement protocol or sequestrectomy. The follow-up range was 1 to 40 months (average 10.7). Conclusions The results of our case series have shown that surgical debridement can be successful in treating BRONJ.
Fluorescently labelled Na + channels are localized and immobilized to synapses of innervated muscle fibres

Segregation of voltage-dependent sodium channels to the hillock of motoneurones and nodes of Ranvier in myelinated axons is crucial for conduction of the nerve impulse. Much less is known, however, about the distribution of voltage-dependent Na+ channels on muscle fibres. Recently, Beam et al. have shown that Na+ channels are concentrated near the neuromuscular junction. To determine the topography and mechanisms governing the distribution of voltage-dependent Na+ channels on muscle, microfluorimetry and fluorescence photobleach recovery (FPR) have now been used to measure the density and lateral mobility of fluorescently labelled Na+ channels on uninnervated and innervated muscle fibres. On uninnervated myotubes, Na+ channels are diffusely distributed and freely mobile, whereas after innervation the channels concentrate at neuronal contact sites. These channels are immobile and co-localize with acetylcholine receptors (AChRs). At extrajunctional regions the Na+ channel density is lower and the channels more mobile. The results suggest that the nerve induces Na+ channels to redistribute, immobilize and co-localize with AChRs at sites of neuronal contact.
Disorders of the vestibular system.

Diseases of the vestibular system result in a clinical syndrome characterized by head tilt, asymmetrical ataxia, and nystagmus. These signs may be due to dison:lers of the peripheral or central vestibular system. An understandirig of the vestibular system and knowledge of surrounding neuroanatomic structures enable the clinician to localize the lesion and formulate a diagnostic protocol in order to determine the exact etiology and an accurate prognosis.
Regional stabilisation of polynomial non-linear systems using rational Lyapunov functions

In this article, we propose a new non-linear stabilisation approach based on the popular linear parameter-varying control techniques. The regional state-feedback control problem of polynomial non-linear systems will be studied using rational Lyapunov functions of states. By bounding the variation rates of each state, the domain of attraction will be embedded in the region specified by the non-linear vector field. As a result, the state-feedback stabilisation conditions will be formulated as a set of polynomial matrix inequalities and can be solved efficiently by sum-of-squares programming. The resulting Lyapunov matrix and state-feedback gains are typically state-dependent rational matrix functions. This approach is also extended to a class of output-dependent non-linear systems where the stabilising output-feedback controller can be synthesised using rational Lyapunov functions of outputs. Finally, several examples will be used to demonstrate the proposed stabilisation approach and clarify the effect of ...
Effects of fish growth rate, acclimation temperature and incubation temperature on in vitro glycine uptake by fish scales

Abstract 1. 1. For acclimation temperatures of 12, 18, 24 and 30° C, the incubation temperatures for maximum uptake of glycine by fish scales were approximately 28, 29, 30 and 32°C, respectively. 2. 2. Cold acclimation resulted in a positive translational increase in the rate of glycine uptake. Increased fish growth rate caused both a translational increase and a rotational change in the Arrhenius-plot description of the data. 3. 3. Arrhenius activation energies (Ea) calculated over the linear range of incubation temperatures were most sensitive to growth rate for the 12°C-acclimated fish and least for the 30°C-acclimated fish. 4. 4. A strong correlation was observed between the rate of glycine uptake and the growth rate of individual fish. This correlation was higher when uptake was assayed at the acclimation temperature of the fish than at the incubation temperature of maximum glycine uptake. 5. 5. The confounding of growth rate and acclimation effects has usually not been considered in acclimation studies associated with anabolic processes, yet it appears to be an important influence.
Physico-chemical properties of electron-acceptor stationary phases in liquid chromatography

Abstract Some new electron-acceptor (EA) stationary bonded phases (BPs) for liquid chromatography were synthesized and compared with existing EA BPs. The following EA BPs were compared: dinitrophenylmercaptopropylsilica (DNPMP); dinitrodibenzoylmercaptopropysilica (DNBMP); dinitroanilinopropylsilica (DNAP); dinitrobenzamidopropylsilica (DNBAP); tetranitrofluoreniminopropylsilica (TNFP); tetranitrodibenzosuberiminopropylsilica (TNDBSP); trinitrophenylmercaptopropylsilica (TNPMP); pentafluorophenylsilica (PFPh); aminopropylsilica (NH2) and Nucleosil 5-NO2 (5-NO2). Entropy-enthalpy compensation data indicated that the mechanism of retention (first six BPs) was the same for planar and non-planar aromatic solutes, but it was less informative than the vector-analysis techniques of linear correlation coefficient and Euclidian distance calculations. The latter provided a quantitative comparison of the BPs. All EA BPs had close similarity except for TNFP. NH2 and 5-NO2 were similar to the EA BPs. PFPh was not similar to the other EA BPs. The EA BPs were also examined for their ability to group aromatic solutes of similar ring size regardless of alkyl substitution. A new performance parameter, Rr (group resolution), was proposed and applied to these data. Using the calculated values for Rr, the group-resolution effectiveness of the various BP followed the sequence DNAP >.; DNPMP, TNPMP, 5-NO2>TNDBSP, DNBMP, DNBAP>NH2>TNFP >.; PFPh. Retention of aromatic solutes as a function of planarity was also investigated. DNPMP was found to be slightly better than DNAP at separating bridged biphenyls.
The reaction of magnesium with cis-1,3,5-tris(bromomethyl)cyclohexane. Evidence for a soluble tri-Grignard

Abstract The reaction of magnesium with cis-1,3,5-tris(bromomethyl)cyclohexane in tetrahydrofuran gives good yields of a soluble tri-Grignard reagent. This intermediate was characterized by reactions with water, trimethylchlorosilane and methyltrichlorosilane.
Neural stem cells in the mammalian eye: types and regulation

Neural stem cells/progenitors that give rise to neurons and glia have been identified in different regions of the brain, including the embryonic retina. Recently, such cells have been reported to be present, in a mitotically quiescent state, in the ciliary epithelium of the adult mammalian eye. The retinal and ciliary epithelium stem cells/progenitors appear to share similar signaling pathways that are emerging as important regulators of stem cells in general. Yet, they are different in certain respects, such as in the potential to self-renew. These two neural stem cell/progenitor populations not only will serve as models for investigating stem cell biology but also will help explain the relationships between embryonic and adult neural stem cells/progenitors.
Preparing Classroom Teachers to Be Cooperating Teachers: A Report of Current Efforts, Beliefs, Challenges, and Associated Recommendations

A significant focus in the literature related to the preparation of early childhood teachers is the increasing emphasis on quality field-based experiences. Central to the effectiveness of these experiences is a cooperating teacher who is prepared with the necessary skills to provide prospective teachers with a powerful learning opportunity. Despite this recognition in the literature, research is limited on what early childhood teacher education programs are actually doing to prepare classroom teachers to function in this capacity. The nature and purpose of this preparation and support must be carefully examined in order to identify key features that will truly enhance the ability of these teachers to provide the type of mentoring that leads to quality field experiences. Thus, the purpose of this study is to report survey results from 62 early childhood teacher education faculty regarding their efforts in preparing cooperating teachers to work with preservice teachers. Recommendations based on these findin...
Objective analysis of factors contributing to failure of tibial bypass grafts.

A retrospective study of 204 femoro-tibial bypass procedures performed from 1979 through 1982 is reported. The effect of various parameters—patient age, graft material, type of bypass, bypass outflow, presence or absence of pedal arterial arches, and degree of preoperative ischemia as judged by the ankle—brachial index-on tibial bypass patency was examined. The only obvious factor in graft failure was the type of graft material utilized, with autogenous saphenous vein grafts faring much better than the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts.
Kinetics and thermochemistry of the oxidation of unsaturated radicals: C4H5+O2

The kinetics and mechanism of the reaction of C 4 H 5 (methylpropargyl radical) with O 2 were investigated from 296 to 900 K in a tubular reactor coupled to a photoionization mass spectrometer. At room temperature the reaction proceeds by a simple pressure-dependent addition reaction. Between 369 and 409 K the equilibrium C 4 H 5 + O 2 ⇄ C 4 H 5 O 2 was clearly observable and equilibrium constants were measured as a function of temperature. These measurements yielded the values of ΔH o 298 (−78±3 kJ mol −1 ) and ΔS o 298 (−122±9 J mol −1 K −1 ). Above 600 K the rate of reaction of methylpropargyl with O 2 is independent of density and increases with temperature with a phenomenological rate constant equal to 6.9×10 −14 exp(−10.5 kJ mol −1 /RT) cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 . A mechanism of the C 4 H 5 +O 2 reaction is proposed which involves initial formation of a C 4 H 5 O 2 adduct. At temperatures above 600 K, decomposition of the chemically activated adduct competes with redissociation to C 4 H 5 +O 2 . The role of elementary reactions between unsaturated radicals and molecular oxygen in combustion processes is briefly reviewed.
Measuring temporal compositions of urban morphology through spectral mixture analysis: toward a soft approach to change analysis in crowded cities

This paper reports on preliminary results from a study applying the technique of spectral mixture analysis (SMA) to the measurement of temporal changes in the composition of urban morphology in the metropolitan area of Greater Cairo, Egypt, between 1987 and 1998. Although several remote sensing techniques have been used successfully for urban change analysis, most of these focus on change ‘between’ classes measured in a discrete, crisp way through which each pixel is assigned to a label indicating either a change or no change in the class to which the pixel originally belonged. In many major cities, such as Cairo, change also occurs within classes (e.g. vertical growth of buildings, increase in housing density, decrease in open spaces) and is reflected by an aggregation of land cover and urban materials. None of these materials may seem important in isolation. Rather, the significance of these urban land covers arises from the way they interweave with each other to structure the morphology of the urban pl...
Variations in institutional staffing and clinical practice are predictive of center-specific 1-year survival post-transplant.

Background The accuracy of various risk models to predict early post-transplant mortality is limited by the type, quality, and era of the data collected. Most models incorporate a large number of recipient-derived and donor-derived variables; however, other factors related to specific institutional practices likely influence early mortality. The goal of this study was to determine if the addition of institutional practice variables would improve the predictive accuracy of a recipient/donor risk model in a modern cohort of heart transplant recipients. Methods Between 1999 and 2007, 3,591 primary heart transplants were performed at the 26 institutions participating in the Cardiac Transplant Research Database. Multivariable regression analysis in the hazard domain was used to identify recipient, donor, and institutional practice variables that were predictive of 1-year mortality. The derived model was used to predict institutional outcomes and compare them with observed outcomes first without and then with the inclusion of the institutional practice variables. Results Eleven individual plus 2 interaction recipient variables and 2 individual plus 2 interaction donor variables were predictive of increased mortality. The addition of institutional practice variables to the model identified 4 variables associated with decreased mortality: greater number of transplant cardiologists, a thoracic surgery fellowship, a surgery or cardiology attending taking donor call, and routine surveillance for antibody-mediated rejection. By using a p -value > 0.10 as a robust measure of similarity, the addition of institutional practice variables increased the number of institutions with similar predicted vs observed mortality from 18 of 26 institutions (69%) to 26 of 26 (100%), demonstrating improved predictive accuracy of the model. Conclusions Multiple recipient and donor variables influence early survival but do not fully explain the difference in predicted and observed outcomes at the institutional level. Variations in staffing and clinical practice contribute to risk, and the addition of these variables to our risk model improved predictive accuracy.
Replacement medication for cocaine dependence: methylphenidate.

Agonists, or "replacement medications," are useful adjuncts in treatment of opiate and nicotine dependence.They have not been systematically examined in cocaine dependence. Results of early open trials with methylphenidate for treatment of cocaine dependence were equivocal. Twenty-four cocaine-depen
On-line economic optimization of energy systems using weather forecast information.

We establish an on-line optimization framework to exploit weather forecast information in the operation of energy systems. We argue that anticipating the weather conditions can lead to more proactive and cost-effective operations. The framework is based on the solution of a stochastic dynamic real-time optimization (D-RTO) problem incorporating forecasts generated from a state-of-the-art weather prediction model. The necessary uncertainty information is extracted from the weather model using an ensemble approach. The accuracy of the forecast trends and uncertainty bounds are validated using real meteorological data. We present a numerical simulation study in a building system to demonstrate the developments.
Bile salt sensitivity of Escherichia coli χ 1776

Escherichia coli χ17761, a ‘biologically contained’ (EK2) host specifically constructed for genetic manipulation (ref. 1 and R. Curtiss, III, personal communication) contains many mutations which decrease its survival characteristics compared with wild-type E. coli and which also prevent its colonisation of the intestinal tract of mammals. The bile salt sensitivity of χ1776 is one of the parameters which preclude its survival in the intestine. This sensitivity is related to modifications of the cell envelope structure but, more specifically, to mutations at the oms-1 or rfb-2 loci. Curtiss (personal communication) has reported that the reversion frequency of χ1776 to bile salt resistance is approx. 10−7 to 10−9. However, the cell surface structures of bacteria are subject to phenotypic variation and under control of a number of genes. In this paper we describe experiments which indicate that the bile salt sensitivity of χ1776 is phenotypically variable.
Epidemiology of nosocomial acquisition of Candida lusitaniae.

Candida species are important nosocomial pathogens; however, little is known about the epidemiology of Candida lusitaniae, an organism frequently resistant to amphotericin B. We evaluated 98 patients admitted to the bone marrow transplant and medical intensive care units of a tertiary-care hospital. Each patient with C. lusitaniae was matched with control patients. Restriction fragment analysis of DNA was used to determine strain relatedness. Seven patients (7.1%) with C. lusitaniae were identified; five acquired C. lusitaniae after admission to the study unit. All isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B. There were no differences between patients and controls with regard to duration of stay in the study unit, antibiotic administration, antifungal therapy, immunosuppressive therapy, catheter use, or underlying disease. Temporal and geographic clustering of five patients with identical strains occurred. No common source was identified. Restriction fragment analysis revealed a total of eight strains, and five patients shared one strain type. These results demonstrate exogenous acquisition of C. lusitaniae. The mechanism of acquisition is probably indirect contact transmission between patients. Images
Economic Rewards for Blood Donation: Validity of the Donor Questionnaire as Litmus Test

In a recent issue of Science , Lacetera, Macis, and Slonim summarize new information regarding the impact that economic rewards have on the blood supply and safety (1). For many years, the WHO has taken the stance that economic incentives decrease the safety of the blood supply. In support of the WHO position, the establishment of an all-volunteer blood supply led to a dramatic decrease in the incidence of posttransfusion hepatitis C. The authors submit, however, that the position of the WHO is based on studies that failed to control for several confounding variables (percentage of first-time donors, location of donation, and use of prisoners). Recent randomized field surveys reviewed by the authors found that economic incentives increase …
Mcl1p Is a Polymerase α Replication Accessory Factor Important for S-Phase DNA Damage Survival

Mcl1p is an essential fission yeast chromatin-binding protein that belongs to a family of highly conserved eukaryotic proteins important for sister chromatid cohesion. The essential function is believed to result from its role as a Pol1p (polymerase α) accessory protein, a conclusion based primarily on analogy to Ctf4p's interaction with Pol1p. In this study, we show that Mcl1p also binds to Pol1p with high affinity for the N terminus of Pol1p during S phase and DNA damage. Characterization of an inducible allele of mcl1+, nmt41mcl1-MH, shows that altered expression levels of Mcl1p lead to sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents and synthetic lethality with the replication checkpoint mutations rad3Δ, rqh1Δ, and hsk1-1312. Further, we find that the overexpression of the S-phase checkpoint kinase, Cds1, or the loss of Hsk1 kinase activity can disrupt Mcl1p's interaction with chromatin and Pol1p during replication arrest with hydroxyurea. We take these data to mean that Mcl1p is a dynamic component of the polymerase α complex during replication and is important for the replication stress response in fission yeast.
A Heartfelt Response: Oxytocin Effects on Response to Social Stress in Men and Women

Background Animal research indicates that oxytocin is involved in social behavior, stress regulation, and positive physiologic adaptation. This study examines whether oxytocin enhances adaptive responses to social stress and compares effects between men and women.
Review of ultrasound therapy

The development of modern imaging techniques has made it possible to use focused ultrasound for the accurate destruction of deep tissues. In addition to targeting, imaging techniques allow the temperature elevation and cavitation events to be detected and potentially quantified. These techniques have made treatment control possible to a degree such it may soon be possible to perform noninvasive tissue destruction with at least the same precision as open surgery. In addition, new experimental evidence has expanded the potential use of ultrasound to vascular occlusions, targeting and activating chemicals, providing access to the brain by opening the blood brain barrier, targeting gene therapy, etc. Overall, the potential number of therapeutic uses of ultrasound is expanding rapidly beyond the tissue destruction that has been investigated so far. Here, some of this progress is reviewed. In addition, new results are shown that demonstrate the potential for the transskull ultrasound therapy.
Separating touching objects in remote sensing imagery: the restricted growing concept and implementations

This paper defines the restricted growing concept (RGC) fur object separation and provides an algorithmic analysis of its implementations. Our concept decomposes the problem of object separation into two stages. First, separation is achieved by shrinking the objects to their cores while keeping track of their originals as masks. Then the core is grown within the masks obeying the guidelines of a restricted growing algorithm. In this paper, we apply RGC to the remote sensing domain, particularly the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sea ice images.
Receipt of Pediatric Weight-Related Counseling and Screening in a National Sample After the Expert Committee Recommendations:

Objective. It is uncertain whether children of all weight classifications receive the recommended screening and counseling and if these affect weight status in the subsequent year. Methods. Data from the 2008-2011 Medical Expenditures Panel Survey were used to examine associations between weight classification and receipt of weight-related screening and counseling from the pediatric provider (n = 9835). Body mass index (BMI) z-score in the subsequent year was modeled as a function of the BMI z-score in year 1. Results. Normal and overweight children have lower odds than obese children of receiving counseling regarding diet (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.50-0.68; AOR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.63-0.89, respectively) and exercise (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.48-0.65; AOR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.64-0.89, respectively). Counseling was associated with a small increase in BMI z-score in the subsequent year (β = 0.06, 95% CI = 0.01-0.11), as was maternal weight class. Conclusions. Recommendati...
Galectin-3 in Heart Failure: More Answers or More Questions?

“Everything is vague to a degree you do not realize till you have tried to make it precise.” — “The Philosophy of Logical Atomism,” Bertrand Russell Heart failure, classically defined as the heart's inability to “pump blood at a rate commensurate with the requirements of metabolizing
Relationship between gender and food roles in the family

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine male and female roles in the performance of food-related household tasks. A total of 336 couples in four life-cycle stages — young families, maturing families, middle-age empty-nest families, and retirement families — were interviewed in their homes. Despite major societal changes in sex-role definitions and the increased employment of women outside the home, husbands and wives at all life-cycle stages agreed that food selection and preparation should be the domain of women. Consistent with the normative expectation, spouses reported that food-related activities were conducted primarily by wives, with only minor help from husbands. There was little or no marital conflict over the equity of the role expectation and performance. Husbands in the younger life-cycle stages thought that they should do more food preparation, and did in fact do slightly more cooking than husbands in later life cycles, but no more food selection; younger wives also thought that husbands should do more in food-related tasks. Husbands in older families tended to be more involved in food shopping and food budget decisions.
Scale of Agricultural Production, Civic Engagement, and Community Welfare

Using data from the Census of Agriculture and other secondary sources, we examine the relationship between scale offarm operations in a county and the well-being of local residents. Following earlier work by C. Wright Mills and Walter Goldschmidt, we hypothesize that in agriculture dependent counties that are dominated by a small handful of very largefarms, the level of community welfare will be significantly lower than in counties in which agriculture is organized around smaller-scalefarm operations. Findings show that scale offarm operations is related to well-being. However, this relationship is mediated by the level of civic engagement and the strength of the economically independent middle class. A theory of civic community is proposed to accountfor thesefindings. At the end of World War II, two research reports commissioned by a U.S. Senate Special Committee to study problems of American small business, examined the relationship between the concentration of economic power at the community level and the social and economic well-being of local residents (Goldschmidt [ 1946] 1978; Mills & Ulmer [1946] 1970)'. The thesis advanced in both of these studies was that communities in which the economic base was composed of a plethora of relatively small, locally owned firms would manifest higher levels of social, economic, and political welfare and well-being than communities where the economic base was dominated by a few large absentee-owned firms.
Can you hear me now? Musical training shapes functional brain networks for selective auditory attention and hearing speech in noise.

Even in the quietest of rooms, our senses are perpetually inundated by a barrage of sounds, requiring the auditory system to adapt to a variety of listening conditions in order to extract signals of interest (e.g., one speaker’s voice amidst others). Brain networks that promote selective attention are thought to sharpen the neural encoding of a target signal, suppressing competing sounds and enhancing perceptual performance. Here, we ask: does musical training benefit cortical mechanisms that underlie selective attention to speech? To answer this question, we assessed the impact of selective auditory attention on cortical auditory-evoked response variability in musicians and nonmusicians. Outcomes indicate strengthened brain networks for selective auditory attention in musicians in that musicians but not nonmusicians demonstrate decreased prefrontal response variability with auditory attention. Results are interpreted in the context of previous work from our laboratory documenting perceptual and subcortical advantages in musicians for the hearing and neural encoding of speech in background noise. Musicians’ neural proficiency for selectively engaging and sustaining auditory attention to language indicates a potential benefit of music for auditory training. Given the importance of auditory attention for the development of language-related skills, musical training may aid in the prevention, habilitation and remediation of children with a wide range of attention-based language and learning impairments.
Sensitive Detection of By-Products Formed in Electrically Discharged Sulfur Hexafluoride

A new method, based on fluoride ion exhcange reactions, for detecting many of the by-products of electrically discharged SF6 is described. The technique employs an ion-molecule reaction cell and a mass spectrometer capable of detecting negative ions from a high pressure gas (up to P=100 kPa). Because of the high rate constants (k> 10-10 cm3 s-1) for processes of the type SF6- + X ---> XF-~ + SF5, where X is a molecule having a high fluoride ion affinity such as SOF4, SiF4, SF4, WF6, etc., concentrations below 1 ppb (part per billion) of selected by-products are detectable. Results are shown for a sparked sample of SF6, analyzed by this technique, and they are compared with the standard positive ion-electron impact mass spectral analyses. Increased detection sensitivity via the addition of specific materials, to SF6 gas insulated high voltage equipment, to enhance the production of certain by-products is discussed also.
The Built Environment and Actual Causes of Death Promoting an Ecological Approach to Planning and Public Health

This article reviews empirical scholarship on preventable actual causes of death—namely, physical activity, food, and traffic-induced injury–related built environment interventions that lead to health improvements. A systems perspective built on the ecological health model is offered that addresses social determinants of health- and place-based contexts. In doing so, this article offers examples of upstream approaches to address the actual causes of death and ends with guidance on planning practice, research, and teaching organized around the research divisions of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning.
A 20-year experience with percutaneous resection of upper tract transitional carcinoma: is there an oncologic benefit with adjuvant bacillus Calmette Guérin therapy?

Objectives To determine whether there is an oncologic benefit of adjuvant bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) after resection of upper tract transitional cell carcinoma (UTTCC). Methods A total of 133 renal units (RU) treated by percutaneous resection for UTTCC between 1985 and 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. Forty-four RU were excluded because of carcinoma in situ, high grade/stage, metastatic disease present at initial presentation, and/or the patient could tolerate loss of RU. Eighty-nine RU treated primarily by percutaneous resection were then analyzed. Fifty RU received adjuvant BCG therapy 2 weeks after endoscopic management for a total of 6 courses. Recurrence was defined as a positive biopsy result after the third-look nephroscopy. Progression of disease was assessed at time of recurrence and defined as an increase in grade/stage of disease. Results Mean age (± SD) of 89 RU was 70.9 ± 11.1 years. Overall follow-up was 61.1 + 54.8 months. Grade distribution was 56.2% (50 of 89) and 43.8% (39 of 89) for low- and high-grade disease, respectively. There was no statistical difference with regard to tumor grade or stage between treated and nontreated groups (P > .05). Recurrence, time to recurrence, and progression of disease among RU treated with BCG were subselected by grade and compared with the corresponding nontreated group. Statistical significance between any of the treated and nontreated groups was not demonstrated (P > .05). Conclusions Our data demonstrate that there is no overall oncologic benefit in the administration of adjuvant BCG with regard to disease recurrence, interval to recurrence, and progression of disease in the treatment of UTTCC.
Modulation Selection from a Battery Power Efficiency Perspective

In this paper, we compare the battery power efficiencies of various pulse-based modulations widely adopted for their low complexity. Taking into account circuit modules and battery imperfectness, we establish simple closed-form analytical formulas which can be used to conveniently determine the relative preference between arbitrary pulse-based modulation pairs in terms of their actual average battery energy consumption.
Intelligent coached apprenticeship systems: Experience from the Sherlock project

Sherlock II is a coached practice environment developed to train avionics technicians to troubleshoot a complex electronic testing device. Sherlock presents students with a series of problems of increasing complexity. Sherlock's expertise is represented in an object-oriented model of the test station. Sherlock treats learning as a human activity performed alone, or at most with a tutor. A preliminary scheme that demonstrates the possibilities for collaborative activity using Sherlock II is considered. The nature of the task (problem-solving or review) and who the collaborators are (a student and the computerized tutor; or, a group of students) provide two dimensions along which to categorize the collaborative activities to be incorporated within Sherlock II. >