cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of the Second Generation Berry Impact Recording Device (BIRD II)

To quantitatively measure the impacts during blueberry harvesting and post-harvest handling, this study designed the second generation Berry Impact Recording Device (BIRD II) sensor with a size of 21 mm in diameter and a weight of 3.9 g, which reduced the size by 17% and the weight by 50% compared to the previous prototype. The sensor was able to measure accelerations up to 346 g at a maximum frequency of 2 KHz. Universal Serial Bus (USB) was used to directly connect the sensor with the computer, removing the interface box used previously. LabVIEW-based PC software was designed to configure the sensor, download and process the data. The sensor was calibrated using a centrifuge. The accuracy of the sensor was between −1.76 g to 2.17 g, and the precision was between 0.21 g to 0.81 g. Dynamic drop tests showed that BIRD II had smaller variance in measurements than BIRD I. In terms of size and weight, BIRD II is more similar to an average blueberry fruit than BIRD I, which leads to more accurate measurements of the impacts for blueberries.
Mechanical and metabolic toxicity of 3-(trimethylsilyl)propanesulfonic acid to porcine carotid arteries.

3-(Trimethylsilyl)propanesulfonic acid (TMSPS) is used as a water-soluble NMR frequency marker. It has its major resonance at 0.00 ppm relative to trimethylsilane, and smaller resonances at 0.62, 1.77 and 2.85 ppm. Its toxicity was tested by exposing contracted porcine carotid strips to increasing concentrations of TMSPS. Up to 3 mM, no statistical change in tension was found. Tension decreased 94 +/- 2% (S.E.) after 30 min in 10 mM TMSPS. An intermediate concentration of TMSPS (6 mM) caused a small fall in phosphocreatine in unstimulated perfused porcine carotid arteries (82 +/- 2% S.E.). A larger decrease (59 +/- 6% S.E.) occurred during K+ contractures in the presence of 6 mM TMSPS. From those experiments it appears the TMSPS is non-toxic in concentrations up to 3 mM, but at greater concentrations inhibits both contraction and phosphorus metabolism.
Providers’ Perceptions and Practices Regarding BRCA1/2 Genetic Counseling and Testing in African American Women

We examined healthcare providers’ perceptions of genetic counseling and testing in African American women at moderate to high-risk of carrying a BRCA1/2 mutation. We conducted 20 in-depth interviews with genetic counselors (n = 5), medical oncologists (n = 8), obstetrician/gynecologists (n = 2) and surgeons (n = 5). Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and independently coded by two individuals using a content analysis approach. Seven themes emerged relevant to providers’ perceptions of African American women’s use of BRCA1/2 genetic services: access factors, cultural beliefs and preferences, effects of testing, patient motivators for genetic counseling and testing, patient-provider communication, reasons for provider referral, and reasons for patient refusal. Providers identified individual- and system-level barriers to African American women’s use of genetic services, including lack of follow-up after referrals to genetic specialists and challenges to obtaining financial coverage for under- and uninsured high-risk women. Results have implications for physician and patient education regarding appropriate referrals to and uptake of genetic services in at-risk African American women.
The Gender-Sensitive Family Counselor in a Gender-Calloused World

Literature on gender issues is reviewed from a theory perspective. Concerns for marriage and family counseling and therapy are discussed.
Comparison of minimally dysphasic and minimally educated subjects in a sentence writing task.

Summary Fifteen adult males with minimal dysphasia and eleven adult males with reading competence below fourth grade level were asked to write from dictation five simple sentences. The writing errors were categorized and counted to determine whether the two groups of subjects would show different error patterns. Nearly three-fourths of the responses produced by the poorly-educated subjects were either essentially correct or were characterized by simple misspellings. Over three-fourths of the responses produced by dysphasic subjects were characterized by more serious errors, which altered or lost the meaning of the sentences. The value of a writing task as a diagnostic aid in detecting minimal dysphasia is discussed.
Etiology and Pathogenesis of Primary Pulmonary Hypertension: A Perspective

In recent years, considerable advances have been made in treating primary pulmonary hypertension (PPH). These have provided a series of therapeutic options, ranging from the oral administration of calcium channel blockers to the continuous infusion of prostacyclin and/or lung transplantation. These therapeutic advances have highlighted the need for the better understanding of etiology and pathogenesis. Among the key uncertainties, the following are defined as leading uncertainties: (1) the nature of the initiating lesion; (2) the shared pathogenetic mechanisms that culminate in the pathologic lesions of PPH; (3) the molecular genetic bases for familial PPH and for susceptibility to PPH; (4) understanding of the obliterative-proliferative occlusive process in the small muscular pulmonary arteries; and (5) redefinition of "primary" and "secondary," ie , a revised nomenclature of pulmonary hypertension. A revised classification based on etiology is presented.
Fabrication and characterization of robust through-silicon vias for silicon-carrier applications

As traditional CMOS scaling becomes progressively more difficult and less beneficial to overall system performance, three-dimensional silicon integration technologies have begun to receive considerable attention. An advanced packaging solution based on a thin silicon carrier has been developed to provide interconnection between integrated circuits (ICs) and other devices at densities. far beyond those of current first-level packaging. The silicon carrier employs fine-pitch Cu damascene wiring, high-density solder interconnections, and through-silicon vias (TSVs). A key enabling technology element is the TSV, which may be naturally scaled to provide vertical interconnection in stacked ICs as well as silicon carriers. In this paper, we discuss the evolution in both TSV design and process flow that has led to TSV technology which produces vias with resistances on the order of 10-20 mΩ and yields on the order of 99.99% at wafer level in a research laboratory environment. Two generalized process approaches to forming TSVs are discussed, the "vias-first" and the "vias-last" methods, along with related advantages and potential drawbacks of each. Improvement to these process, flows and structures is afforded by simple changes of via geometry from cylindrical to annular or from annular to multibar. While various TSV metallurgies are reviewed, tungsten is shown to be a nearly optimal choice. Results on via resistance, electrical yield, and current-carrying capacity are covered. The use of electrical modeling to predict structures with superior electrical and mechanical properties is also described.
Effects of practice on marijuana-induced changes in reaction time.

The effect of smoked marijuana on performance of complex reaction time (RT) tasks was studied in two groups receiving different amounts of practice. Group M-P had no undrugged practice on the task before performing during marijuana intoxication for four consecutive daily sessions. On the fifth test day they performed while non-intoxicated. Group P-M performed the task on four consecutive test days while non-intoxicated, then smoked marijuana on session 5. Significant RT slowing was found on session 1 for group M-P (performing during marijuana intoxication without prior practice). Performance of this group improved rapidly and by the end of session 2 was not different from undrugged performance. Group P-M (receiving four sessions of undrugged practice before marijuana intoxication) showed no RT slowing while intoxicated. Reaction time performance may involve two phases: an early, attention-demanding phase which is sensitive to drug effects and a later, “automatic”, phase which results from practice and is more resistant to drug effects. Pulse rate, salivary flow and subjective responses were recorded before and after smoking. These physiological and subjective measures showed only slight reduction in the acute effects of the drug over the four days of repeated usage.
Optimal control (quadratic performance) for linear two-dimensional systems

Consideration is given to Roesser's model of a two dimensional linear discrete-time system and the task of determining an optimal control for the minimization of a quadratic cost functional over a finite set. It is shown that the optimal control is given by a state feedback; the solution of a Riccati equation appears in the feedback operation. The control on an infinite set is also discussed. >
Contrast enhancement of stimulus intermittency in a primary olfactory network and its behavioral significance

An animal navigating to an unseen odor source must accurately resolve the spatiotemporal distribution of that stimulus in order to express appropriate upwind flight behavior. Intermittency of natural odor plumes, caused by air turbulence, is critically important for many insects, including the hawkmoth, Manduca sexta, for odor-modulated search behavior to an odor source. When a moth's antennae receive intermittent odor stimulation, the projection neurons (PNs) in the primary olfactory centers (the antennal lobes), which are analogous to the olfactory bulbs of vertebrates, generate discrete bursts of action potentials separated by periods of inhibition, suggesting that the PNs may use the binary burst/non-burst neural patterns to resolve and enhance the intermittency of the stimulus encountered in the odor plume. We tested this hypothesis first by establishing that bicuculline methiodide reliably and reversibly disrupted the ability of PNs to produce bursting response patterns. Behavioral studies, in turn, demonstrated that after injecting this drug into the antennal lobe at the effective concentration used in the physiological experiments animals could no longer efficiently locate the odor source, even though they had detected the odor signal. Our results establish a direct link between the bursting response pattern of PNs and the odor-tracking behavior of the moth, demonstrating the behavioral significance of resolving the dynamics of a natural odor stimulus in antennal lobe circuits.
Inaccuracy of ICD-9 Codes for Chronic Kidney Disease: A Study from Two Practice-based Research Networks (PBRNs).

Background: Inaccurate use of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), codes obfuscates registries used for research, resulting in unreliable data and inaccurate measurement of outcomes, and it may contribute to mismanagement of patients. Thus it is important to understand the prevalence of ICD-9 code misuse. We chose chronic kidney disease (CKD) as a condition of interest after several patients recruited for a previous study indicated they did not have the disease, despite the presence of the ICD-9 code (585.x) in their electronic medical record (EMR). Methods: Retrospective chart review of patients with the ICD-9 code for CKD stage 3 (585.3; n = 325). Data were collected from EMRs at 3 primary care practices Buffalo, New York (n = 2), and Kansas City, Kansas (n = 1). Results: Across all practices, 47% of patients with the CKD ICD-9 code did not have clinical indicators for the disease, based on Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines. Conclusions: The CKD stage 3 ICD-9 code usage did not accurately reflect the prevalence of disease among this population. This has clinical implications because patients may be treated or receive tests for a disease they do not have. This also presents an important issue for research projects that rely on accurate data from EMRs to identify and recruit patients.
Singing Japan’s heart and soul: A discourse on the black enka singer Jero and race politics in Japan

This article analyses a discourse around the ascendancy of Jero, an ‘African-American’ male dressed in hip-hop attire singing enka, a genre of music that has been dubbed ‘the heart and soul of Japan.’ Since his debut in Japan in February 2008, Jero has attracted much media attention. This article analyses a prominent discourse, ‘Jero is almost Japanese because he sings enka well.’ While many argue that to challenge stereotypes and racism is to introduce alternative role models, we show that such alternative role models can also reinforce the existing regime of difference of Japanese vs. the Other and perpetuate related racism. We suggest instead a need for various cultural arrangements to stop capitalizing on the difference between races and start noticing differences (and similarities) in other regimes of difference (e.g. taste, style) in order to challenge stereotypes.
Collision Localization for IEEE 802.11 Wireless LANs

In this paper, we examine an algorithm for estimating the location of packet collisions, in the presence of bandlimited multipath channels. We propose an improvement to the collision localization algorithm to further enhance its performance to compensate for the increased impairments of the multipath channel. We then examine the collision localization algorithm in conjunction with two common wireless LAN standards, 802.11b and 802.11a/g. We show that for the 802.11b standard, the collision localization algorithm performs well, even in the presence of a multi-path channel. We also show that the 802.11 a/g standards are compatible with collision localization. However, we will see that the IFFT/FFT operations required to perform OFDM transmission limit the effectiveness of collision localization. We therefore also investigate collision localization in conjunction with block-based single carrier transmission, a comparable technology to OFDM, and offers some advantages when used with collision localization. In addition, we also investigate two applications of collision localization. First, we will show that collision localization in conjunction with Viterbi decoding with erasures can, in many cases, allow for corrupted packets to be completely recovered at the receiver. Second, we will also demonstrate that collision localization can be used to combat narrow-band interference, such as Bluetooth, in 802.11 a/g networks.
The Basic Physics of Hot-Star Winds

Hot-star winds are believed to be driven by line-scattering of the star’s continuum radiation. This review summarizes the physics of this line-driving process and the resulting basic wind properties. I also briefly discuss the generation of wind structure, both at small scale due to inherent instabilities in the line-driving, and at large scales due to various rotational effects.
Alienation of youth as reflected in the hippie movement.

This paper offers some clinical impressions of a Hippie commune in the Los Angeles area bearing upon intrapsychic as well as broader familial, social, and cultural dynamics involved in the alienation of adolescents and young adults. As part of our interests in the study of families and individuals during major transitions, at the Cedars-Sinai Department of Child Psychiatry, a group of us undertook an informal series of meetings with approximately 30 Hippies living in communal fashion in a home in Los Angeles.
The effect of insular neocortical lesions on passive and active avoidance behavior in the rat

Rats with insular lesions were deficient in adopting a passive-avoidance response. However, Ss with insular lesions did not differ from operated and normal control Ss in the acquisition of an active-avoidance response.
My Battle with Anorexia Nervosa

ABSTRACTI have had an ongoing battle with anorexia nervosa for several years. It came to a point where I had to choose between life and death. One teacher in particular helped me begin my road to recovery. Although I am no longer in the acute phases of the disorder, I still battle every day to keep my perfectionism in check, to use it to help me and not harm me. This article is my personal story, which I hope will be meaningful to others who struggle with eating disorders or who teach those who do.
Influence of patient care provider on patient health outcomes in allergic rhinitis.

Background Diagnosing and managing the symptoms of allergic rhinitis are largely the responsibility of family physicians and allergists, but some patients choose self-management. However, few data are available to determine how the choice of care relates to measures of patient outcomes, such as the ability to perform activities, quality of life, and productivity. Objective To examine and compare patients' ability to perform activities, quality of life, productivity, and symptoms according to care provider: family physician, allergist, or self-management. Methods A questionnaire was developed and mailed to 2,065 patients enrolled in a 500,000-member managed care organization. Patients were identified by diagnostic codes for allergic rhinitis as determined from a retrospective examination of medical and prescription claims records between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2000. Results κ 2 Tests revealed statistically significant differences for symptoms, family history, testing, immunotherapy, and test value among patient care providers. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed statistically significant differences for activities, symptoms, and quality of life among patient care providers. Findings support the use of diagnostic testing to improve patient outcomes. Symptoms were statistically significantly associated with measures of productivity. Conclusions Patient outcomes vary with respect to patient care group. It is imperative that patients suspected of having allergic rhinitis undergo appropriate evaluation and testing. Outcomes can be optimized if allergists and family physicians have access to appropriate diagnostic tools, such as skin testing and serologic tests for specific IgE antibodies.
Gauge Theories Without Anomalies

Theories with spontaneously broken gauge symmetry but without triangle anomalies can yield renormalizable models of weak and electromagnetic interactions. We identify and discuss the class of anomaly-free gauge theories.
The Concept of National Cooperative Power Pool in an Unregulated Power Systems Environment

The shift of the power system industry towards deregulation has given rise to various concerns about system security. It is known that in a deregulation environment, the primary market driving force is profit. Will the drive for profit undermine system security? Too likely. How can this concern be prevented and how should the industry operate? None of the current proposals offers a complete solution to the various concerns. It is doubtful however that such solution exists within existing business framework in the power systems industry. This paper proposes a National Cooperative Power Pool as an independent business entity, although it will be cooperatively owned by all involved in the production and sale of electric power. Its business will be to buy, transport and sell power.
TIME DEPOSIT BUILDING BY COMMERCIAL BANKS A PROBLEM ANALYSIS

THAT THE COMMERCIAL BANKING system has supplied a diminishing portion of the economy's total loanable funds since World War II is a matter of concern to bankers and to borrowers dependent on commercial banks for financing. A continued relative shrinkage of the banking system may have important public policy implications. The allocation of loanable funds among investment alternatives may be less appropriate, in terms of economic criteria, because of the specialized nature of many non-bank lenders. Commercial bank-lending capacity is determined by the availability of reserves in excess of legal requirements. Ex post, growth of the banking system is a function of the volume of deposits that can be supported by the legal reserve base controlled by the Federal Reserve System. Ex ante, however, the lending capacity and deposit growth of the banking system must be viewed as being determined by the objectives of the Monetary Authority and changes in those economic variables to which the Federal Reserve responds. Given that the Federal Reserve attempts to control the economy's total flow of credit, growth of the banking system depends on the amount of claims that the public chooses to hold against commercial banks. This is also true of all non-bank financial institutions. The Federal Reserve has direct control over credit at only one source-commercial banks. An increase in credit from non-bank sources, resulting from a flow of current savings or a decline in the public's aggregate demand for cash balances at existing levels of income (dishoarding), calls for a restriction of bank credit, given any desired level of total credit expansion. The Federal Reserve would make sufficient reserves available to the banking system to accomodate a greater deposit volume in response to an increased demand for commercial bank deposits. Similarly, changing preferences for savings media cannot be allowed to contract outstanding debts because of existing legal reserve requirements. If the public chooses to hold time deposits at commercial banks, it would be reasonable
An efficient dual algorithm for vectorless power grid verification under linear current constraints

Vectorless power grid verification makes it possible to evaluate worst-case voltage drops without enumerating possible current waveforms. Under linear current constraints, the vectorless power grid verification problem can be formulated and solved as a linear programming (LP) problem. However, previous approaches suffer from long runtime due to the large problem size. In this paper, we design the DualVD algorithm that efficiently computes the worst-case voltage drops in an RC power grid. Our algorithm combines a novel dual approach to solve the LP problem, and a preconditioned conjugate gradient power grid analyzer. Our dual approach exploits the structure of the problem to simplify its dual problem into a convex problem, which is then solved by the cutting-plane method. Experimental results show that our algorithm is extremely efficient -- it takes less than an hour to complete the verification of a power grid with more than 50K nodes and it takes less than 1 second to verify one node in a power grid with more than 500K nodes.
Lingering effects of disfluent material on comprehension of garden path sentences

In two experiments, we tested for lingering effects of verb replacement disfluencies on the processing of garden path sentences that exhibit the main verb/reduced relative (MV/RR) ambiguity. Participants heard sentences with revisions like The little girl chosen, uh, selected for the role celebrated with her parents and friends. We found that the syntactic ambiguity associated with the reparandum verb involved in the disfluency (here chosen) had an influence on later parsing: Garden path sentences that included such revisions were more likely to be judged grammatical if the reparandum verb was structurally unambiguous. Conversely, ambiguous non-garden path sentences were more likely to be judged ungrammatical if the structurally unambiguous disfluency verb was inconsistent with the final reading. Results support a model of disfluency processing in which the syntactic frame associated with the replacement verb “overlays” the previous verb's structure rather than actively deleting the already-built tree.
There’s no ‘I’ in information: some naysayings for new media studies:

The proliferation of empirical inquiries into concepts such as ‘interactivity’ and ‘virtual reality’ has been at the expense of the theoretical (or metadiscursive) in new media studies. The greatest consequence of empiricism’s inductive hierarchies is an ontological negation of the body, the subject in corporeal space. Far from producing a ‘new’ subjectivity, such a negation only reifies a subject’s disembodiment and wholly abstracts the space around them. Examining the writings of many critics and theorists, most significantly Mark Hansen and the spatial theory of Henri Lefebvre, this argument shows that the theoretical must first and foremost be held accountable to itself if the ‘new’ is to be realized. The stakes in this piece are the subject’s embodiment and very ability to articulate itself as ‘I’ in an information-saturated age that challenges the distinction between virtuality and corporeality, a challenge that conceptually bankrupts acts of distinction and differentiation.
Rebirth of a Nation: Frederick Douglass as Postwar Founder in Life and Times

In 1875, a year from the upcoming centennial celebrations, Frederick Douglass commemorated the African American presence in the nation's revolutionary past and Reconstruction present. “If … any man should ask me what colored people have to do with the Fourth of July, my answer is ready,” he proclaimed to a black audience in Washington, DC. “Colored people have had something to do with almost everything of vital importance in the life and progress of this great country” from its beginnings in 1776 to its greatest test in 1861 and beyond. Douglass drew upon the Revolution's legacies of liberty and democracy, urging his listeners to meet the challenge of incorporating themselves into the nation's citizenry despite sustained white resistance. Albeit a tall order, he placed this agenda in a broader perspective: “The fathers of this Republic … had their trial ninety-nine years ago. The colored citizens of this Republic are about to have their trial now.” The moment was full of possibilities: African Americans, he emphasized, faced comparable obstacles and hardships much like the founders themselves. Implied too within Douglass's invocation of the revolutionaries was the potential heroism and accomplishments of which African Americans were similarly capable, just as they had proven in the past.
Rural practitioners’ experiences in dementia diagnosis and treatment

When diagnosis of dementia occurs earlier in the disease process, more time is available for treatment aimed at maintaining patient function and delaying decline, and for family education about the disease and its management. Primary care providers often, however, face challenges in making timely diagnoses. Nineteen practitioners in mostly rural areas of a mid-western state were interviewed about their experiences in diagnosis and treatment, to develop a more comprehensive understanding of barriers encountered by providers in non-metropolitan areas. Participants estimated that the time from symptom onset to diagnosis ranged from several months to one year, largely dependant upon family recognition. Limitations in access to consultants and limited or non-existent community support and education resources were major impediments to diagnosis and treatment, respectively. Like their colleagues in more urban communities, denial among family members, or families who were absent or uncooperative, created addition...
On decentralized stabilizing controllers

For linear, time-invariant multi-channel control systems, a decentralized stabilizing controller design methodology is developed. What sets this method apart from the parametrization of all decentralized stabilizing controllers is that the controller-parameters are explicitly defined, and they uniquely characterize a subset of decentralized controllers. The parametrization of stable closed-loop transfer-functions corresponding to this class of controllers is also obtained. The results are applicable to continuous-time as well as discrete-time systems.
The National Felon League?: A comparison of NFL arrests to general population arrests

Abstract Purpose In the past few years, media attention to crime and violence committed by NFL players has increased. This paper compares NFL arrest rates to U.S. general population arrest rates from 2000 to 2013. Methods The current study uses online databases that contain information of NFL player arrests and UCR arrest data to calculate rates of arrest for violent crimes, property crimes, and public order crimes, for both the NFL and general population. Two-sample test of proportions are used to assess differences between the arrest rates for NFL players and the general population. Results Findings indicate that the general population has higher rates of arrests than the NFL population for property crimes and public order crimes, but NFL arrest rates for violent crimes are higher than for the general population in six of the fourteen yearly comparisons. Conclusion This study provides data on crime in the NFL. It offers some but not strong or consistent support to those that are concerned about violence among NFL players, but it does not support the claim that NFL players are more criminal than the general population.
Specialized housing adaptation in multiple sclerosis: Relationships to demographic variables

OBJECTIVE: This review of the literature examined the association between demographic variables of individuals with multiple sclerosis and specialized housing needs. Since MS symptoms present a unique challenge to housing caregivers and rehabilitation management, understanding the association between the demographic variables and specialized housing will facilitate effective planning, referral and recommendation for specialized housing. RESULTS: The common themes that emerged from the literature review as factors that affect specializing housing needs of individuals with MS include age, gender, income/employment, race/ethnicity and social life CONCLUSIONS: Implications for rehabilitation practice are discussed.
Teaching students to model neural circuits and neural networks using an electronic spreadsheet simulator

An electronic spreadsheet simulator can be used to enable students to conduct simulated microelectrode recording experiments. In addition, it can be used both to let students explore the operation of models of hypothetical neural networks and to let them design and develop their own neural models.
MNGO-16ESTABLISHMENT OF A PATIENT - DERIVED ORTHOTOPIC MALIGNANT MENINGIOMA MODEL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF TARGETED THERAPY

The majority of meningiomas are benign (WHO Grade I) and can be cured by surgery alone. However, 20% are non-benign meningioma (NBM) including atypical (Grade II) and malignant meningioma (Grade III), and pose a clinical problem due to their high recurrence rates after treatment. Preclinical development of novel therapeutics requires disease model that is representative of human NBM. However, patient-derived tumor models that recapitulate the genotype and phenotype of NBM are lacking. We established an orthotopic xenograft model from a patient with recurrent malignant meningioma that is based on tumor-sphere culture. Subdural implantation of the cultured cells in SCID mice reproducibly generated meningiomas that are lethal within 3 months, and excised tumors were serially transplantable for at least 7 generations. Pathological analysis of xenografts showed hypercellularity with whorl formations, and exhibited frequent mitotic figures, high proliferation index (Ki67 labeling 25%) and invasion to the brain parenchyma, hallmarks of malignant meningioma. The patient tumor, xenografts and cultured cells had strong expression of vimentin, a mesenchymal marker. Western blot analysis revealed that the original tumor and xenografts are NF2 (Merlin) negative, and sequencing verified NF2 mutation. This novel tumor model set a stage for us to test targeted and biological therapeutics for NBM. Our preliminary investigations in vitro include the use of dual PI3K and mTOR inhibitors, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor, and oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSVs) (G47Δ and MG18L). MTS cell viability assay showed PI3K and mTOR inhibitors and oHSVs efficiently killed the tumor cells, while FAK inhibitor was ineffective. Thus our novel patient-derived orthotopic NBM model has NF2 deletion, faithfully recapitulates the human disease, and is reproducible and lethal. This model provides us with superb opportunities to develop much needed targeted therapeutics for treatment-refractory NBM, and currently studies examining oHSV efficacy in orthotopic tumor model are ongoing.
Die chirurgische Behandlung des Zenkerschen Divertikels

Operationsprinzip: Zervikale Myotomie vor Divertikelabtragung. Fur das pathophysiologische Verstandnis nimmt man heute an, das neben anatomischen Schwachstellen Relaxationsstorungen des pharyngoosophagealen Sphinkters oder vorzeitige Sphinkterkontraktionen fur die Ausbildung des Zenkerschen Divertikels atiologisch von auserordentlicher Bedeutung sind. Deshalb spielt die zervikale Myotomie neben der Divertikelabtragung eine entscheidende Rolle in der chirurgischen Behandlung des Zenkerschen Divertikels. Die Bedeutung der Myotomie fur die Senkung der Rezidivquote ist allgemein anerkannt.
Reducing Childhood Tobacco Smoke Exposure

This commentary discusses a meta-analysis published in JAMA Pediatrics that examined the effectiveness of interventions delivered by professionals who provide routine child health care in reducing children’s exposure to tobacco smoke.
Entanglement across a cubic interface in 3+1 dimensions

We calculate the area, edge, and corner Renyi entanglement entropies in the ground state of the transverse-field Ising model, on a simple-cubic lattice, by high-field and low-field series expansions. We find that while the area term is positive and the line term is negative as required by strong subadditivity, the corner contributions are positive in three dimensions. Analysis of the series suggests that the expansions converge up to the physical critical point from both sides. The leading area-law Renyi entropies match nicely from the high- and low-field expansions at the critical point, forming a sharp cusp there. We calculate the coefficients of the logarithmic divergence associated with the corner entropy and compare them with conformal field theory results with smooth interfaces and find a striking correspondence.
A Classification Scheme for B2B Exchanges and Implications for Interorganizational eCommerce

The Internet is transforming and reshaping the nature of interorganizational commerce by enabling many new types of interfirm electronic exchanges. A B2B exchange is defined as a new organizational form residing in digital space that acts as an interfirm intermediary that enables firms to conduct and engage in any-to-any online relations. This chapter proposes a classification scheme for B2B exchanges that attempts to capture the chaos and complexity of today’s online B2B relations. This typology integrates several theories of interfirm relations from the information systems, marketing, and organizational economics literatures to propose a parsimonious but comprehensive taxonomy that encompasses neutral markets (many-to-many) and dyadic relations (few-to-few), and also the concept of biased relations, monopolies (few-to-many) and monopsonies (many-to-few). This chapter discusses the implications of the proposed taxonomy for interorganizational eCommerce that ensue from the alternative types of B2B exchanges. Furthermore, the influence of product, organizational, and market characteristics on B2B
Management of fluid and electrolyte problems

Summary A variety of factors dictate fluid and electrolyte therapy in the postoperative period. Fundamental to provision of therapy is a knowledge of body composition. Although sodium is the major extracellular ion, it is important to recognize that potassium is the major intracellular ion and to a degree, more prevalent on a whole body basis than sodium. The distribution of total body water between the two major fluid spaces (intracellular fluid as well as extracellular fluid) change during stress conditions, and fluid resuscitation therapy requires a clear-cut understanding of the changes that occur. A common problem in the postoperative patient is control of serum sodium. In this regard it is important to recognize that serum sodium is related to both total body sodium as well as total body potassium divided by total body water. Thus, changes in potassium will result in changes of serum sodium. Factors that modify fluid and electrolyte requirements inelude gastrointestinal losses, insensible water loss, pre-existing deficits due to chronic diarrhetic therapy, mechanical ventilation, hyperthyroidism, and the type of anesthetic technique employed.
The rift-to-drift transition in the southern North Atlantic: A stuttering start of the MORB machine?: COMMENT and REPLY: COMMENT

[Jagoutz et al. (2007)][1] argue for a long history of alkaline to mid-oceanic ridge basalt (MORB)–type magmatism occurring during the transition from amagmatic to magmatic rifting at the Iberia-Newfoundland conjugate margin. U-Pb zircon ages suggest that magmatism spanned the range of 110–127
Next Generation Space Telescope

The Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST), planned for launch in 2009, will be an 8-m class radiatively cooled infrared telescope at the Lagrange point L2. It will cover the wavelength range from 0.6 to 28 microns with cameras and spectrometers, to observe the first luminous objects after the Big Bang, and the formation, growth, clustering, and evolution of galaxies, stars, and protoplanetary clouds, leading to better understanding of our own Origins. It will seek evidence of the cosmic dark matter through its gravitational effects. With an aperture three times greater than the Hubble Space Telescope, it will provide extraordinary advances in capabilities and enable the discovery of many new phenomena. It is a joint project of the NASA, ESA, and CSA, and scientific operations will be provided by the Space Telescope Science Institute.
Hypothesis Tests under Misspecification and Relaxed Assumptions

In Chapter 6 we gave the classical asymptotic chi-squared results for TW, TS, and TLR under ideal conditions, that is, when the specified model density f.yI is correct. In this chapter we give asymptotic results for the case when the specified model density is incorrect, and also show how to adjust the statistics to have the usual asymptotic chi-squared results. For Wald and score tests, we give these adjusted statistics in the generalM-estimation context.We also discuss the quadratic inference functions of Lindsay and Qu (2003) that are related to the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) approach found in the econometrics literature.
The Chiaroscuro of the European Commercial Company

Born from the will of the member states of the European Union, the European commercial company was born on October 8, 2001. This revolutionary project, which is geared towards the economic development of the euro zone, has been approved by most European countries. However, it has encountered many obstacles in its implementation. This challenge confronted each other's selfishness and eventually gave rise to a fragmented European trading company. As a result, there are no longer one but several European trading companies. Finally, European economic integration will serve the interests of the major European groups much better, especially when they want to deal with Asian or American giants. The small European trading company is very similar to national trading companies. The transition is smooth.
Evaluation of Statin Eligibility, Prescribing Practices, and Therapeutic Responses Using ATP III, ACC/AHA, and NLA Dyslipidemia Treatment Guidelines in a Large Urban Cohort of HIV-Infected Outpatients

Abstract Statin coverage has been examined among HIV-infected patients using Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) and American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines, ...
Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Is a Suboptimal Ionization Source for Steroids

To the Editor: Biochemical measurement of steroid hormones is imperative for the diagnosis of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC).1 The lack of clinical syndromes in over half of patients with ACC prevents the early diagnosis of this malignant disease if appropriate laboratory evaluations are not performed (1, 2). It is therefore with great interest that we read the recent study (1) by a research group at King's College. Their effort to apply a mass spectrometry-based steroid profiling assay to discriminate ACC from benign tumors is highly commendable. This new method has the potential to detect ACC at an early stage and thereby markedly improve the treatment and outcome of the patients. Although competitive immunoassays exhibit good precision (CVs generally <5%), mass spectrometry was selected in this study because it exhibits improved analytical specificity, sensitivity, and multiplexing ability in steroids measurement compared with immunoassays (1, 3). The diagnostic utility of liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is dependent on its ability to generate reproducible results and quantify the …
Linguistic and behavioral performance of bilingual children with hearing loss.

Abstract Objective To compare the English and non-English language performance of deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) children raised in homes where English was not the primary language to their typically hearing peers from similar language backgrounds. Methods Case control study of bilingual DHH children with unilateral or bilateral non-fluctuating hearing loss defined as the most recent PTA between 26 and 70 dB in one or both ears. Typically hearing controls included bilingual siblings and children recruited from the General Pediatrics practice. Subjects completed the OWLS-II, a validated English language proficiency tool. The subject's parents completed the Child Behavioral Checklist, an assessment of problem behavior; the Student Oral Language Observation Matrix (SOLOM), an assessment of the child's non-English home language; and a study questionnaire on the child's medical, social, and language history. Results 26 typically hearing controls, 15 children with bilateral hearing loss, and 18 children with unilateral hearing loss participated. The groups were similar in age, sex, insurance status, place of birth, age at arrival in the US, and maternal education status. Performance on the English language oral composite was significantly lower amongst the bilateral hearing loss group (BHL: 66.9, 95% CI [56.2–77.7]; UHL: 82.9, 95% CI [75.6–90.2]; NH: 84.4, 95% CI [79.5–89.3], p = 0.002). Performance on the SOLOM was significantly lower in bilateral hearing loss group. (BHL: 18.6, 95% CI [15.9–21.3]; UHL: 19.8, 95% CI [17.1–22.4]; NH: 22.3, 95% CI [20.6–24.0], p = 0.036). Conclusions Bilingual children with bilateral hearing loss are at increased risk for poor oral expressive and receptive language development. These children comprise a particularly vulnerable population who might benefit from additional focused interventions to support their language development.
The role of neuroimaging in diagnosis and personalized medicine--current position and likely future directions.

The main aim of this article is to discuss the current state of in vivo brain imaging methods in the context of the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness. The background to current practice is discussed, and the new methods introduced which may have the capacity to increase the relevance of magnetic resonance imaqinq, particularly functional magnetic resonance imaging, for clinical application. The main focus will be on magnetic resonance imaging, but many of the comments have a general relevance across imaging modalities.
Darstellungsmodelle und quantitative Analyse

Jede betriebswirtschaftliche Uberlegung, die mit Hilfe von graphischen oder anderen Darstellungen durchgefuhrt wird, kann als Unternehmensforschung betrachtet werden. Man mus also nicht unbedingt mit mathematisch-statistischen Daten arbeiten, um die richtige Entscheidung fallen zu konnen. Oft ist es sogar leichter und zweckmasiger, mit Darstellungsmodellen zu arbeiten als mit mathematischen Formeln, da eine bildliche Darstellung der bestehenden Probleme genauso viele Anhaltspunkte zu rationellen Entscheidungen bieten kann wie die mathematisch-statistischen Darstellungen (Modelle). Haufig stost auf dem Gebiet der betriebswirtschaftlichen Entscheidungsfunktion die Konstruktion von ubersichtlichen und dennoch funktionsfahigen Modellen auf grose Schwierigkeiten. Oft scheitert die Modellkonstruktion an der Komplexitat der abzubildenden Systeme. Wo die Zusammenhange zwischen Zahlen, Mengengrosen, zeitlichen Aufeinanderfolgen von Bearbeitungsgangen, Kosten und sonstigen Maseinheiten zu komplex werden, mus der Unternehmensforscher mathematische Modelle konstruieren. Wo man aber mit verhaltnismasig wenigen Faktoren arbeiten kann, um die Beziehungen zwischen den Problemkomponenten und den Resultaten sehen zu konnen, ist es zweckmasiger, mit Darstellungsmodellen, bildlichen Modellen, zu arbeiten. Merkmal der Darstellungsmodelle ist es, das sie sich hauptsachlich auf solche Problemgebiete der Betriebswirtschaft erstrecken, die sich mathematisch nicht leicht — wenn uberhaupt — darstellen lassen. So ubertragt man z. B. in ein bildliches Modell (1) die Zerlegung der Arbeitsgange, (2) die raumliche Einteilung der in den Werkstatten gebrauchten Werkzeugmaschinen und maschinellen Anlagen, (3) den Produktionszeitplan und (4) den toten Punkt (Gewinnschwelle), wobei man die Vertriebs- bzw. Herstellungsmenge zu den Kosten und den erwarteten Erlosen unter der Annahme verschiedener Preise in Beziehung setzt.
What are x and y

Consistent Classes of Quantities. An ordered pair whose second member (or value) is a number, while its first member (or object) may be anything, will be referred to as a quantity. By a consistent class of quantities—briefly, c.c.q. —we mean a class of quantities that does not contain two quantities with equal objects and unequal values. Reviving Newton’s term, we will refer to c.c.q.’s also as fluents. The class of all objects (of all values) of the quantities belonging to a fluent is called the domain (the range) of the fluent.
How to Create Simple STELLA® Models to Solve Basic Equations

Biomarkers such as levels of cholesterol in the blood plasma, triglycerides, glucose, urinary creatinine, and anthropometric measures such as the ratio of weight to height, body composition, and body mass index represent keys to monitoring human health and assessing risk for disease. For this reason, educators and counselors in medicine, nutrition, and public health employ many formulae and quantitative relationships that provide means to assess health status and plan corrective actions or therapies for their patients. This is true not only for patients with established heart disease, diabetes, or obesity, but also for individuals who are interested in preventative medicine or personal strategies for maintaining fitness and minimizing the effects of aging.
Computer Savvy But Technologically Illiterate

We humans are toolmakers. Since the time of our ancient ancestors, human ingenuity has created tools that alter the natural world in ways that deeply affect our lives. Imagining a sector of modern life that is not influenced by machines and devices of human design is difficult. Agriculture, medicine, transportation, communication, and entertainment continue to undergo profound changes in light of technological advancements.
Critical care medicine: An ongoing journey.

Although 70% of ICU patients survive hospitalization, the mortality rate 1 year after discharge may exceed 50%.