cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Education on Patient-Ventilator Synchrony, Clinicians’ Knowledge Level, and Duration of Mechanical Ventilation

BACKGROUND Improved recognition of patient-ventilator asynchrony may reduce duration of mechanical ventilation. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of education about patient-ventilator synchrony on clinicians' level of knowledge and patients' mean duration of mechanical ventilation. METHODS A quasi-experimental 1-group pretest-posttest study was performed in a 16-bed intensive care unit. Analysis included 33 clinicians and 97 ventilator patients. The intervention consisted of PowerPoint lectures on patient-ventilator synchrony. Data included test scores before and after the education, scores on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, and mean duration of mechanical ventilation. Differences in scores before and after education, mean duration of mechanical ventilation, and mean health evaluation scores before and after education were determined by using t tests. RESULTS Of the 33 clinicians, 17 were registered nurses and 16 were respiratory therapists. Posttest scores were 63% higher than pretest scores (P < .001). Before the lecture, 47 patients had a mean health evaluation score of 21 (SD, 7.8) and mean duration of mechanical ventilation of 5.4 (SD, 4.6) days. After the lecture, 50 patients had a mean health evaluation score of 24.6 (SD, 8.2) and mean duration of mechanical ventilation of 4.8 (SD, 4.3) days. Mean health evaluation score was marginally higher after the lecture (P = .054). Mean duration of mechanical ventilation did not differ (P = .54). CONCLUSIONS Clinicians' test scores increased significantly after patient-ventilator synchrony lectures. Mean duration of mechanical ventilation decreased by 0.6 days and health evaluation scores were marginally higher after the lectures.
This year’s model: fashion, media, and the making of glamour

This Year’s Model: Fashion, Media and the Making of Glamour examines fashion modeling to explore the interconnections between material and cultural transformations, technology, and changing underst...
A decomposition method for efficient manufacturing of complex parts

ABSTRACTThis paper presents a method to decompose three dimensional complex parts into readily available stock material to take advantage of advanced joining to build up a rigid assembly. The method generates many alternative assemblies by decomposing the solid geometry iteratively with cutting planes. Each assembly is then evaluated based on cost. The process continues until the developed search algorithm converges on a near optimal solution. Application of this method will reduce material waste, thus reducing per part processing time, energy consumption, and associated production costs. Example parts for a variety of metals show how the computational tool finds near optimal solutions for complex three dimensional solids.
Stable DNA-based reaction–diffusion patterns

We demonstrate reaction–diffusion systems that generate stable patterns of DNA oligonucleotide concentrations within agarose gels, including linear and “hill” (i.e. increasing then decreasing) shapes in one and two dimensions. The reaction networks that produce these patterns are driven by enzyme-free DNA strand-displacement reactions, in which reactant DNA complexes continuously release and recapture target strands of DNA in the gel; a balance of these reactions produces stable patterns. The reactant complexes are maintained at high concentrations by liquid reservoirs along the gel boundary. We monitor our patterns using time-lapse fluorescence microscopy and show that the shape of our patterns can be easily tuned by manipulating the boundary reservoirs. Finally, we show that two overlapping, stable gradients can be generated by designing two sets of non-interacting release and recapture reactions with DNA strand-displacement systems. This paper represents a step toward the generation of scalable, complex reaction–diffusion patterns for programming the spatiotemporal behavior of synthetic materials.
Hereditary Factors in Schizophrenia

The origin of the most frequently used current classification scheme for schizophrenia can be traced to Emil Kraepelin and Eugene Bleuler. The work by Kraepelin (1856–1926) was the culmination of efforts by the 19th-century psychiatrists to sort out the various types of mental disorders. Although he used the term dementia praecox, the disorder he described is very similar to that which is now called schizophrenia. His primary concern was to differentiate dementia praecox from manic-depressive psychosis. The major symptoms he described were hallucinations, delusions, negativism, deficient attention, and inappropriate emotional responses. He recognized four types: simple, hebephrenic, catatonic, and paranoid. His general view was that the disease process was organic, perhaps of a hereditary nature.
Afterword: Giving Life—Black Women’s Liberatory Praxis

Black Women’s Liberatory Pedagogies is to the millennial generation what texts like But Some of Us are Brave (Hull, G. T., Scott, P. B., & Smith, B., All the women are white, all the blacks are men, but some of us are brave: Black women’s studies. Feminist Press, 1982) and Ain’t I a Woman (Hooks, B., Ain’t I a woman: Black women and feminism. South End Press, 1981) were to older generations of Black women. I identify the core themes weaved throughout the chapter, including Black women finding voice to identify and name their race-gender-class-sexual orientation experiences, resisting hegemonic expectations, embracing resistance pedagogy and praxis, and teaching to heal. I end by challenging the reader to build on this work and enact transformative practices in the classroom and community.
Hydrologic responses to restored wildfire regimes revealed by soil moisture-vegetation relationships

Abstract Many forested mountain watersheds worldwide evolved with frequent fire, which Twentieth Century fire suppression activities eliminated, resulting in unnaturally dense forests with high water demand. Restoration of pre-suppression forest composition and structure through a variety of management activities could improve forest resilience and water yields. This study explores the potential for “managed wildfire”, whereby naturally ignited fires are allowed to burn, to alter the water balance. Interest in this type of managed wildfire is increasing, yet its long-term effects on water balance are uncertain. We use soil moisture as a spatially-distributed hydrologic indicator to assess the influence of vegetation, fire history and landscape position on water availability in the Illilouette Creek Basin in Yosemite National Park. Over 6000 manual surface soil moisture measurements were made over a period of three years, and supplemented with continuous soil moisture measurements over the top 1m of soil in three sites. Random forest and linear mixed effects models showed a dominant effect of vegetation type and history of vegetation change on measured soil moisture. Contemporary and historical vegetation maps were used to upscale the soil moisture observations to the basin and infer soil moisture under fire-suppressed conditions. Little change in basin-averaged soil moisture was inferred due to managed wildfire, but the results indicated that large localized increases in soil moisture had occurred, which could have important impacts on local ecology or downstream flows.
Suppes on Probability, Utility, and Decision Theory

This chapter surveys Patrick Suppes’ work on probability, utility, inference, causality and decision theory. Much of this work has been handily collected in [1], Part II, and wherever possible, I shall confine my references to that one source. The topics in question are closely intertwined, both with each other and with Suppes’ interests in measurement and learning theory. Where connections with those other topics might otherwise go unremarked, I shall not hesitate to point them out. Underlying all of Suppes’ work in this area is a concern to frame a realistic theory of rational decision and information processing, a theory sufficiently detailed ‘to generate the drawings for a machine… that can form concepts and make inductions’ ([1], p. 86).
Cancer Immunotherapy and Aging: Lessons From the Mouse

Cancer is a disease of the elderly. Since demographic trends indicate that over the next decades the number of elderly people will increase substantially, strategies for cancer prevention and therapy need to be optimized to older patients. Immunotherapy, either through passive or active immunization is a highly targeted type of therapy that is potentially less toxic than chemotherapy or radiation and could, therefore, be especially effective in older, more frail cancer patients. In particular active immunization, i.e., employing patient’s own immune system through vaccination, offers great promise since it can potentially keep cancer permanently at bay. However, it has been shown that older individuals do not respond to vaccine therapy as well as younger adults. This has been attributed to diminished T-cell responses, a phenomenon also observed in cancer patients per se. To develop cancer vaccines that are effective at older age, the availability of preclinical models that can predict age effects on cancer vaccination is critically important. In this review, current knowledge of diminished T-cell responses in cancer patients and elderly, the results of cancer vaccination in preclinical models and human clinical trials and the impact of aging on immunotherapy will be discussed. Finally, experimental approaches will be proposed how to make cancer vaccines more effective at older age.
Instruction Wake-Up in Wide Issue Superscalars

While the central window implementation in a superscalar processor is an effective approach to waking up ready instructions, this implementation does not scale to large instruction window sizes. We propose a new wake-up algorithm that dynamically associates explicit wake-up lists with executing instructions according to the dependences between instructions. Instead of repeatedly examining a waiting instruction for wake-up till it can be issued, this algorithm identifies and considers for wake-up a fresh subset of waiting instructions from the instruction window in each cycle. The direct wake-up microarchitecture (DWMA) that we present is able to achieve approximately 80%, 75% and 63% of the performance of a central window processor at high issue widths of 8, 16 and 32 respectively.
Olfactory System Theory

The most difficult problems in sensory neuroscience emerge when wrestling with the problems posed by natural scenes. In the olfactory system, variability in concentration, odor-background segmentation, and source separation are among the substantial challenges that must be overcome by posttransduction neural circuitry. Sophisticated neural circuits embedded in the olfactory cascade mediate the transformation of the olfactory representation from a broad rate code, closely tied to physical stimulus features and easily degraded by environmental variance, into a series of sparse, timing-sensitive cortical representations that begin to respond to the meaning, rather than the physics, of odor stimuli.
Absolute myocardial blood flow emerging role in coronary pathophysiology and clinical disease.

Recent studies have increased interest in quantifying absolute myocardial blood flow (MBF) noninvasively, particularly in maximally vasodilated coronary vascular beds. Reductions unrelated to epicardial coronary artery disease have become an important tool in the identification of microvascular
Evaluation of Placental Mesenchymal Stem Cell Sheets for Myocardial Repair and Regeneration.

Surgical solutions for congenital heart defects include implantation of synthetic materials that do not grow with the child. Reoperation associated with use of such materials would be greatly reduc...
Retroperitoneal hematoma secondary to spontaneous rupture of ovarian artery pseudoaneurysms: case report and review of literature.

Ovarian artery aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms are infrequent but important causes of retroperitoneal haematoma (Hill and Liekweg 2015; Toyoshima et al. 2015). They occur most commonly as a result of...
Point-of-Care Ultrasonography (POCUS) in a Community Emergency Department: An Analysis of Decision Making and Cost Savings Associated With POCUS.

OBJECTIVES Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) is an increasingly integral part of emergency medicine. This study investigated community emergency department physicians' choices regarding ultrasonography as a branch point in clinical decision making. METHODS During shifts covering all days of the week and all time-spans over a 3-month period, emergency department physicians were interviewed whenever POCUS was used. Questions focused on the role of POCUS in clinical management and on tests avoided because of ultrasonography use. Cost savings attributable to POCUS were calculated using Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and FairHealth data. Anonymization of data precluded follow-up testing to account for misdiagnosis. RESULTS On average, POCUS use eliminated $1134.31 of additional testing for privately insured patients, $2826.31 for out-of-network or uninsured patients, and $181.63 for Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services patients. Differences were significant when the total cost of eliminated additional testing was compared to a baseline of no savings (p < .001). Aggregate cost savings remained significant when analyses were broadened to include POCUS encounters that did not yield changes in management (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS When physicians' clinical expertise suggests that POCUS may be indicated, its use results in significant cost savings, even in encounters in which management is not directly impacted. POCUS, when incorporated earlier and more frequently into community hospital emergency medicine diagnostic protocols, can lower direct and indirect costs associated with diagnostic workups. Community emergency departments, in particular, would benefit from additional investigation informing specific guidelines for the integration of POCUS into clinical management and the role that this has in cost savings.
The effects of voice with(out) punishment: Public goods provision and rule compliance

Abstract We investigate the effect of voice exercised through comment-based participation on individual public goods provision. We implement a modified linear public goods game with treatments along two dimensions. First, we introduce a comment mechanism where individuals can provide unstructured feedback to influence a third-party rule-maker who determines a minimum contribution rule (MCR) at the beginning of the game. Second, we implement a probabilistic sanctioning mechanism for individuals who do not contribute at least the MCR. We find that without punishment, comments are insufficient to maintain high contribution levels over time. However, when enforcement is present, comment-based participation has a positive effect on players’ contributions to the public good and on their probability of compliance with the MCR. Comments also have a large positive effect on the MCR set by the rule-maker; players, in turn, respond to an increase in the MCR by making larger contributions to the public good.
Overall survival (OS) and metastasis-free survival (MFS) in men with biochemically relapsed (BCR) prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy (RP) managed with deferred androgen deprivation treatment (ADT): A combined Johns Hopkins and CPDR study

Abstract Background ADT prior to mets may not improve QoL or OS in BCR prostate cancer and may result in irreversible adverse events at high costs. Early use of novel androgen receptor targeting drugs (NARTD) prolonged MFS in nonmetastatic-castration resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC). However, clinical details prior to castration resistance and explicit criteria for starting ADT were not given. We hypothesize that deferring ADT until mets results in outcomes comparable to those reported with early ADT, irrespective of NARTD used in nmCRPC. Methods Retrospective review of men who underwent RP from1983 - 2014 within Johns Hopkins and the Center for Prostate Disease Research Multi-Center National Database, developed BCR and did not receive ADT until metastasis. Kaplan-Meier estimates of MFS and OS were defined from RP to event/last follow-up. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models identified predictive factors. Results 2,930 men fulfilled eligibility criteria: median age 61,17% African American, Gleason 6 (29%),7 (52%), 8-10 (18%), + margins 38%, median PSADT 27 mos. With a median F/U of 10 years, 20% developed M+ and received ADT, 27% died. Median MFS was 24 yrs (21-27 yrs) and median OS was 21 yrs (20-22 yrs) (Table). Age at surgery, pT stage, Gleason sum, surgical margin status and PSADT significantly predicted OS (p Table . 852P PSADT Overall # developed M + 595 (20%) 198 (45%) 309 (38%) Median MFS (all) not reached 12 (8-16) years 16 (15-21) years Median MFS (M+ only) 6 (6-7) years 3 (3-4) years 4 (4-5) years Median OS 21 (20-22) years 14 (12-17) years 17 (15-18) years Conclusions Deferred ADT until time of metastases results in long MFS and OS even with short PSADT suggesting that it remains possible that prolongation of MFS in nmCRPC may not reflect true overall net therapeutic benefits which requires prospective study to define specific patient selection and criteria for initial ADT implementation, control of post progression management and QoL/OS information. Legal entity responsible for the study The authors. Funding Has not received any funding. Disclosure C.H. Marshall: Research grant / Funding (self): Conquer Cancer Foundation (Bristol Meyers Squibb); Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Dava Oncology; Advisory / Consultancy: McGraw Hill. B. Trock: Advisory / Consultancy, Research grant / Funding (institution): Myriad Genetics; Research grant / Funding (institution): MDx Health. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
Preparation of Dibenzazepine-containing Polymers and Use as Fluorescent Functional Additives for Estimating Plastic Blend

Dibenzazepine-containing polymers were prepared by various polymerization methods and the effects of adding the obtained polymers to plastics were investigated. Dibenzazepine homopolymers were prepared by the oxidative polymerization of commercially available dibenzazepine derivatives and by the dehalogenative polymerization of corresponding dibromodibenzazepines. Dibenzazepine copolymers were prepared from dibromodibenzazepines. The addition of polymers to plastics afforded fluorescent function to them. The fluorescent behavior of a blend composite depended not only on the chemical structure of the polymers, but also on the plastic used as the matrix. The effects of adding dibenzazepine-containing polymer in plastic blends were investigated. When the compatibility of the plastic blend was higher, the fluorescence λmax of the blend became shorter. This suggested that the method using a dibenzazepine-containing polymer is adaptive for estimating of the compatibility of the blend composite by the simple method.
Bayesian Fisher Information and Detection of a Small Change in a Parameter

We have previously shown how the Bayesian Fisher Information (BFI) is related to the average of the Minimum Probability of Error (MPE) for the task of detecting a small change in a parameter. The prior probabilities for the two hypotheses corresponding to two nearby values of the parameter are derived from the prior distribution on the parameter, as they are for the Ziv-Zakai inequality. The average in this result and others to be discussed is performed over the parameter values using the prior. We extend this result to the case where a cost function is assigned to the detection task. In this case we determine the lowest order approximation of the average of the Bayesian Risk for the detection task. We have shown that there is a similar relation between the average Shannon Information (SI) for this detection task and the BFI, and that there is an integral relation between SI for any detection task and the MPE for that task. We will show the Bayesian perspective on this last result, and how these two results about SI are related.
Head and Neck Microsurgeon Practice Patterns and Perceptions Regarding Venous Thromboembolism Prophylaxis.

Background Patients undergoing head and neck (H&N) microvascular reconstruction comprise a population at high risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Free flap and VTE thromboprophylaxis may coincide but tend to vary from surgeon to surgeon. This study identifies VTE prophylaxis patterns and perceptions among H&N microsurgeons in the United States. Methods An online survey on VTE prophylaxis practice patterns and perceptions was emailed to 172 H&N microsurgeons in the United States using an anonymous link. Results There were 74 respondents (43% response rate). These surgeons completed residencies in otolaryngology (59%), plastic surgery (31%), and oral maxillofacial surgery (7%). Most underwent fellowship training (95%) and have practiced at an academic center (97%) for at least 6 years (58%), performing an average of 42 ± 31 HN 64% additionally used aspirin, while 4% used aspirin alone. The majority of surgeons (68%) reported having postoperative VTE complications, with six surgeons (8%) reporting patient deaths due to pulmonary embolism. A third of the surgeons have encountered VTE prophylaxis-related adverse bleeding events, but most still believe that chemoprophylaxis is important for VTE prevention (92%). While 35% of surgeons were satisfied with their current practice, most would find it helpful to have official prophylactic anticoagulation guidelines specific to H&N free flap cases. Conclusion The majority of microsurgeons experienced postoperative VTE complications after H&N free flap reconstruction despite the routine use of prophylactic anticoagulation. Though bleeding events are a concern, most surgeons believe chemoprophylaxis is important for VTE prevention and would welcome official guidelines specific to this high-risk population.
Child Adjustment after Parental Separation: Variations by Gender, Age, and Maternal Experiences of Violence during Marriage

This study examined variations in children’s post-separation adjustment based on child characteristics (gender and age) and maternal experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) during marriage. Mothers (N = 147) recruited within 12 weeks of a divorce filing took part in two interviews three months apart. They reported on marital IPV at Time 1, and their children’s (47% female; ages 3–17) adjustment 3 months later at Time 2. Four aspects of child adjustment were assessed using a standardized measure (hyperactivity, emotional symptoms, conduct problems, peer problems). Mothers were classified as having experienced coercive controlling violence (CCV; 23.8%), situational couple violence (SCV; 27.9%), or no violence (48.3%) during marriage. Gender differences were found on one of the four child adjustment indicators: boys had higher levels of hyperactivity than girls. Among boys but not girls, hyperactivity scores varied based on age and IPV type. Implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed.
Law and Development in the United States: A Nexus with Civil Rights

Several decades have passed since the civil rights movement began. The movement achieved historic success owing to the efforts of so many who dedicated their lives to the call of justice and equality. This remarkable success has led to an improved society that accords the legal protection of equal rights among different races, genders, and ethnic groups. Despite this important achievement, we still have a long way to fulfilling the full promise of the civil rights movement, which at its core lies the protection and promotion of equity and dignity of all people. The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., in one of his last speeches before his assassination, stated: “Now our struggle is for genuine equality, which means economic equality.” Growing economic disparities that exist along racial lines and across the country indeed pull us away from the ideals of the civil rights movement. Structural economic problems in the United States, such as chronic employment issues persisting in many regions and deepening economic polarization across the country, have exacerbated inequalities and social problems that divide the country. A fundamental change of paradigm is required to meet this challenge. These economic problems can no longer be overcome solely by individual efforts and self-reliance. The governments, including the federal, state, and local, must address them by facilitating economic development in our communities, in cooperation with the private sector, as has been successfully implemented elsewhere. Successful economic development that vitalizes economically depressed regions and bridges the economic gaps must be achieved before we can fully meet the objectives of the civil rights movement.
A Dedicated Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Unit during a Respiratory Pandemic: Lessons Learned from COVID-19 Part I: System Planning and Care Teams

Background: The most critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may require advanced support modalities, such as veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). A systematic, methodical approach to a respiratory pandemic on a state and institutional level is critical. Methods: We conducted retrospective review of our institutional response to the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the creation of a dedicated airlock biocontainment unit (BCU) to treat patients with refractory COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS). Data were collected through conversations with staff on varying levels in the BCU, those leading the effort to make the BCU and hospital incident command system, email communications regarding logistic changes being implemented, and a review of COVID-19 patient census at our institution from March through June 2020. Results: Over 2100 patients were successfully admitted to system hospitals; 29% of these patients required critical care. The response to this respiratory pandemic augmented intensive care physician staffing, created a 70-member nursing team, and increased the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) capability by nearly 200%. During this time period, 40 COVID-19 patients on VV-ECMO were managed in the BCU. Challenges in an airlock unit included communication, scarcity of resources, double-bunking, and maintaining routine care. Conclusions: Preparing for a surge of critically ill patients during a pandemic can be a daunting task. The implementation of a coordinated, system-level approach can help with the allocation of resources as needed. Focusing on established strengths of hospitals within the system can guide triage based on individual patient needs. The management of ECMO patients is still a specialty care, and a systematic and hospital based approach requiring an ECMO team composed of multiple experienced individuals is paramount during a respiratory viral pandemic.
Formins control dynamics of F-actin in the central cell of Arabidopsis thaliana.

In the female gamete of flowering plants, sperm nuclear migration is controlled by a constant inward movement of actin filaments (F-actin) for successful fertilization. This dynamic F-actin movemen...
Biomechanical analysis of ideal knee flexion angle for ACL graft tensioning utilizing multiple femoral and tibial tunnel locations

Objectives: Despite more anatomic reconstruction of the ACL, graft failure rate has been reported to be greater than 5% at 5 years. There is concern that anatomic reconstructions may not result in an isometric graft and may predispose the graft to stretching. The current biomechanical study evaluated excursion of the ACL with different drill points for both femoral and tibial tunnels. The purpose was to evaluate the excursion of the ACL with both anatomic and non-anatomic tunnel combinations and determine the optimal flexion angle to tension the ACL to minimize stretching of the graft during motion.
Memory retrieval impairment induced by hippocampal CA3 lesions is blocked by adrenocortical suppression

There is evidence that in rats, partial hippocampal lesions or selective ablation of the CA3 subfield can disrupt retrieval of spatial memory1 and that hippocampal damage disinhibits hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA)-axis activity, thereby elevating plasma levels of adrenocorticotropin and corticosterone2,3. Here we report evidence that attenuation of CA3 lesion-induced increases in circulating corticosterone levels with the synthesis inhibitor metyrapone, administered shortly before water-maze retention testing, blocks the impairing effects of the lesion on memory retrieval. These findings suggest that elevated adrenocortical activity is critical in mediating memory retrieval deficits induced by hippocampal damage.
A DC controller for continuous variable series reactors (CVSRs)

Continuous variable series reactors (CVSRs), as a cost effective alternative to flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) series compensators, have been proposed to continuously vary the line reactance and control the power flow. The development of the power electronics based dc controller (DCC) is essential and unique to meet the need of CVSR in utility transmission grid applications. In addition to supplying the needed dc current to the CVSR dc winding, the DCC has to deal with the interaction from the ac winding. CVSR, together with DCC, will be installed outdoor in a substation, so the operation environment could be extremely harsh. The detailed design and implementation of the DCC are presented, along with simulations demonstrating the close relationship between the load profile of dc winding and converter output impedance. A 1000 A, 20 kW field prototype has been constructed and tested with a 115 kV, 1500 A CVSR to experimentally verify the performance of the whole CVSR system.
No evidence favouring one irrigant versus another in root canal treatments.

DATA SOURCES The Cochrane Oral Health Group's Trials Register, CENTRAL, Medline, Embase, and LILACS databases were searched with no restrictions. STUDY SELECTION Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving single or multi-rooted permanent teeth requiring root canal treatment (RoCT) which compared irrigants against each other or against inactive irrigant or placebo were included. Combinations of irrigants were allowed and if used in conjunction with EDTA (ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid) or similar chelating agents. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Two review authors independently assessed risk of bias of included trials and extracted data. RESULTS Eleven trials (851 participants, 879 teeth) were included. Six trials were assessed at high risk of bias, three unclear and two low. Four compared sodium hypochlorite versus chlorhexidine, the other trials compared different interventions and only two of these trials included useable data on the primary outcomes of swelling and pain. Meta-analysis of sodium hypochlorite versus chlorhexidine indicated no strong evidence of a difference in the existence of bacterial growth between the interventions (risk ratio 0.73; 95% confidence interval 0.34 to 1.56; P = 0.41). None of the included trials reported any data on adverse effects nor radiological changes in periapical radiolucency. CONCLUSIONS Although root canal irrigants such as sodium hypochlorite and chlorhexidine appear to be effective at reducing bacterial cultures when compared to saline, most of the studies included in this review failed to adequately report these clinically important and potentially patient-relevant outcomes. There is currently insufficient reliable evidence showing the superiority of any one individual irrigant. The strength and reliability of the supporting evidence was variable, and clinicians should be aware that changes in bacterial counts or pain in the early postoperative period may not be accurate indicators of long-term success. Future trials should report both clinician-relevant and patient-preferred outcomes at clearly defined perioperative, as well as long-term, time points.
TOMASCH OSCILLATIONS IN THE DENSITY OF STATES OF SUPERCONDUCTING FILMS.

The mechanism which gives rise to the oscillatory structure in the quasiparticle density of states of superconducting films with spatially varying electron-electron interaction is discussed. It is shown that the Tomasch effect results from processes in which a quasiparticle is condensed into the sea of Cooper pairs, leaving behind a different but degenerate quasiparticle. The tunneling density of states is obtained for a composite two-region superconductor. The nature of the density-of-states structure depends strongly upon the ratio of the energy gaps of the two regions. In the low-energy range, bound eigenstates characterized by the quantization of the difference of the momenta of the degenerate quasiparticles are found for infinite mean free path. Explicit results are presented for the composite film systems In-Al and In-Pb for several values of the elctron mean free path.
PtN: A zinc-blende metallic transition-metal compound

With fully relativistic full potential augmented plane wave calculations we confirm that the recently synthesized compound PtN is crystallized in the zinc-blende structure and is metallic. We find that the density of states consists of four pieces and discuss how each contributes to the bonding.
Synthesis and coordination compounds of a bis(imino)acenaphthene (BIAN)-supported N-heterocyclic carbene

The bis(imino)acenaphthene-supported N-heterocyclic carbene IPr(BIAN) has been prepared by deprotonation of the precursor imidazolium chloride. Treatment of IPr(BIAN) imidazolium chloride with Ag2O afforded the silver complex [IPr(BIAN)]AgCl which can be converted into the corresponding gold complex [IPr(BIAN)]AuCl by reaction with (tht)AuCl (tht = tetrahydrothiophene). The iridium complex [IPr(BIAN)]Ir(COD)Cl was prepared by reaction of the imidazolium chloride with KOtBu and [Ir(COD)Cl]2 and subsequently converted to the carbonyl complex [IPr(BIAN)]Ir(CO)2Cl by exposure to an atmosphere of CO. All new compounds were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, multinuclear NMR, MS and HRMS data.
Surface stress sensors for detection of chemical and biological species

A miniature differential surface stress sensor consisting of two adjacent micromachined cantilevers (a sensing/reference pair) is developed for detection of chemical and biological species. Presence of analyte species is detected by measuring the differential surface stress associated with adsorption/absorption of chemical species on sensing cantilever. A novel interferometric technique is utilized to measure the differential surface stress induced bending of sensing cantilever with respect to reference cantilever. Sensor performance is characterized through measurement of surface stress associated with formation of alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold coated sensing cantilever. Chemisorptions and self-assembly of alkanethiol molecules onto the gold-coated cantilever surface leads to development of compressive surface stress. Magnitude of measured surface stress compares well with data reported in literature.
Modulation Detection Interference (MDI) in Listeners With Cochlear Hearing Loss

This study compared Modulation Detection Interference (MDI) in listeners with cochlear hearing loss and in listeners with normal hearing. The study was motivated by questions of temporal resolution...
Performance on an episodic encoding task yields further insight into functional brain development

To further characterize changes in functional brain development that are associated with the emergence of cognitive control, participants 14 to 28 years of age were scanned while performing an episodic encoding task with a levels-of-processing manipulation. Using data from the 12 youngest and oldest participants (endpoint groups), 18 regions were identified that showed group differences in task-related activity as a function of processing depth. One region, located in left inferior frontal gyrus, showed enhanced activity in deep relative to shallow encoding that was larger in magnitude for the older group. Seventeen regions showed enhanced activity in shallow relative to deep encoding that was larger in magnitude for the youngest group. These regions were distributed across a broad network that included both cortical and subcortical areas. Regression analyses using the entire sample showed that age made a significant contribution to the difference in beta weights between deep and shallow encoding for 17 of the 18 identified regions in the direction predicted by the endpoint analysis. We conclude that the patterns of brain activation associated with deep and shallow encoding differ between adolescents and young adults in a manner that is consistent with the interactive specialization account of functional brain development.
Studies on motile, nontubule-containing, filiform spermatozoa of the ostracod Cypridopsis: I. Spermiogenesis

Fine structural changes have been observed in spermatids of the ostracod Cypridopsis sp. During spermiogenesis the nucleus undergoes elongation and segregation into an inner and an outer compartment; two mitochondria become spirally aligned along three-fourths the length of mature spermatozoa; and the nuclear membrane, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi complex give rise to morphologically unique, bilaterally situated, membranous organelles. Early spermatids contain abundant amounts of granular endoplasmic reticulum. Portions of the endoplasmic reticulum are found in later spermatids as paired elements on alternate sides of the elongating nucleus and mitochondria. Such paired elements of endoplasmic reticulum are continuous with the outer leaflet of the nuclear membrane. The endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear membrane elaborate two bilaterally situated membranous organelles which extend three-fourths the length of mature spermatozoa. Vesicles from the Golgi complex align in repeat order along the full extent of the membranous organelle. Mature spermatozoa are 1.0 mm long, filiform, spirally patterned cells. The possible functional significance of the fine structure observed in this spermatozoon is discussed in terms of what is known about organelles found in more typical filiform spermatozoa.
Strategies for Primary HIV Prevention That Target Behavioral Change

In the absence of a vaccine or cure, behavioral change remains the major method to prevent transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Public awareness campaigns that disseminate information about the risks and routes of transmission, although important, have an insufficient influence on the behavioral changes essential to reduce the risk of HIV infection. Because of the complex interplay of cultural and psychosocial influences that guides human behavior, specific programs to decrease high-risk behavior have been developed for target populations. In this report, tested initiatives for preventing HIV infection are summarized and their success evaluated for men who have sex with men, injection drug users, and women of minority racial groups. Objective evidence of reductions in high-risk behavior in these 3 groups, which account for the majority of HIV transmissions in the United States, has critical implications for reducing the overall rate of new HIV infections.
Genetic testing for deafness--GJB2 and SLC26A4 as causes of deafness.

Abstract Recent advances in the molecular biology of hearing and deafness are being transferred from the research laboratory to the clinical arena. This transfer of knowledge will enhance patient care by making the diagnosis of hereditary deafness easier; however physicians and audiologists must clearly identify that subset of the deaf and hearing populations best served by this knowledge. It is also essential for physicians and audiologists to understand the limitations of genetic testing for deafness, and it is imperative that these limitations be appropriately explained to patients and their families. Learning outcomes The reader will be introduced to the concept of genetic testing for deafness. Two genes that make appreciable contributions to the autosomal recessive non-syndromic deafness (ARNSD) genetic load will be reviewed, GJB2 and SLC26A4. In addition, the unique aspects of genetic counseling for deafness and recurrence chance estimates are explained.
The effect of postural lean and body congruence on the judgment of psychotherapeutic rapport

Naturalistic studies have implicated both forward postural lean and interpersonally congruent limb configurations as nonverbal indices of social rapport, although both variables have been confounded with verbal and other nonverbal concomitants. In the present study direction of postural lean and congruence of body positions were systematically manipulated in each of six 40-second videotaped segments of simulated client-therapist interactions. Participating in the study were 30 male and 30 female undergraduate students, each of whom viewed one of six orders of the segments and rated the level of rapport in each interaction. A 2 × 3 × 2 × 6 analysis of variance on factors of Congruence, Lean, Sex, and Order revealed main effects of the Lean and Congruence variables (p<.001 andp<.05, respectively), and no significant main effects of Sex or Order. Both congruent limbs and forward-leaning postures on the part of the therapist and client were significant contributors to attributions of rapport.
A duplex theory of hate: Development and application to terrorism, massacres, and genocide.

This article presents a triangular theory of the structure of hate and a story-based theory of the development of triangles of hate. Hate is proposed to be 1 contributing cause of many, although ce...
Compact topological minors in graphs

Let e be a real number such that **image** and t a positive integer. Let n be a sufficiently large positive integer as a function of t and e. We show that every n-vertex graph with at least n1+e edges contains a subdivision of Kt in which each edge of Kt is subdivided less than 10/e times. This refines the main result in [A. Kostochka and Pyber, Combinatorica 8 (1988), 83–86] and resolves an open question raised there. We also pose some questions. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 67:139-152, 2011 © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sequence as explanation: The international politics of accounting standards

ABSTRACT The gravitational pull of US capital markets in the early 1990s created incentives for foreign multinational companies and governments to adopt or converge to American accounting standards, US Generally Accepted Accounting Standards (US GAAP). Fifteen years later, more than a hundred countries had accepted (or planned to accept) a single set of accounting standards – yet not the American ones. Instead, a London-based private body had become the world's standard setter, and even in the US there was serious discussion about phasing out national standards for multinational companies. My explanation for change in the international politics of accounting standards emphasizes two conceptual tools featured in this special issue: cross-border sequencing effects and internal institutional configurations and capacity building. Unlike previous work that centers on the rise of private or technical authority or gives pride of place to either EU regional reform and capacity building or US developments, this ar...
The Impact Of Violent Organized Crime Intensity and Uncertainty on Foreign Direct Investment

This paper examines the influence of regional violent organized crime on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). We unpack the impact of violent organized crime and distinguish between the roles of crime intensity and crime uncertainty. Furthermore, we explore different types of crime uncertainty and develop the notions of uncertainty as variation, irregularity, and potential institutional discontinuity. As a baseline, we first predict that organized crime intensity will negatively impact FDI. We also predict that the negative impact of crime intensity on FDI increases as its variation, irregularity, and the likelihood of potential institutional discontinuity increase. Finally, we predict the impact of potential institutional discontinuity to be higher than the impact of variation and irregularity. We aim to test these predictions analyzing fine-grained data based on quarterly FDI into Mexican states from 2001 to 2012 and monthly crime rates. This research seeks to contribute to the literature by pushing new dim...
SIV infection of rhesus macaques differentially impacts mononuclear phagocyte responses to virus-derived TLR agonists.

Background During progressive simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection, the ability of innate mononuclear phagocytes to function when responding to the invading pathogen has yet to be determined. Methods We generated single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) oligonucleotides from the infecting strain of virus and utilized them to stimulate mononuclear phagocytes from blood and lymph nodes of naive and SIVmac251-infected rhesus macaques. Results Soon after infection and continuing through to chronic disease, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC), monocytes, and macrophages from SIV-infected macaques were less able to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines after exposure to virus-derived toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists. In contrast, myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) became hyper-responsive during acute and stable chronic infection. Conclusions Plasmacytoid dendritic cells, monocytes, and macrophages may not instigate continued immune activation by recognizing the single-stranded RNA from SIV as they are left dysfunctional after infection. Conversely, mDC functionality may be beneficial as their hyper-responsiveness is related to slowed disease progression.
The rocks of Gusev Crater as viewed by the Mini‐TES instrument

[1] The Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) on board the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit is part of a payload designed to investigate whether a lake once existed in Gusev Crater. Mini-TES has observed hundreds of rocks along the rover's traverse into the Columbia Hills, yielding information on their distribution, bulk mineralogy, and the potential role of water at the site. Although dust in various forms produces contributions to the spectra, we have established techniques for dealing with it. All of the rocks encountered on the plains traverse from the lander to the base of the Columbia Hills share common spectral features consistent with an olivine-rich basaltic rock known as Adirondack Class. Beginning at the base of the West Spur of the Columbia Hills and across its length, the rocks are spectrally distinct from the plains but can be grouped into a common type called Clovis Class. These rocks, some of which appear as in-place outcrop, are dominated by a component whose spectral character is consistent with unaltered basaltic glass despite evidence from other rover instruments for significant alteration. The northwest flank of Husband Hill is covered in float rocks known as Wishstone Class with spectral features that can be attributed uniquely to plagioclase feldspar, a phase that represents more than half of the bulk mineralogy. Rare exceptions are three classes of basaltic “exotics” found scattered across Husband Hill that may represent impact ejecta and/or float derived from local intrusions within the hills. The rare outcrops observed on Husband Hill display distinctive spectral characteristics. The outcrop called Peace shows a feature attributable to molecular bound water, and the outcrop that hosts the rock called Watchtower displays a dominant basaltic glass component. Despite evidence from the rover's payload for significant alteration of some of the rocks, no unambiguous detection of crystalline phyllosilicates or other secondary silicates has been observed by Mini-TES. The mineralogical results supplied by Mini-TES provide no clear evidence that a lake once existed in Gusev Crater.