cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The positive effects of early integrated palliative care on patient coping strategies, quality of life, and depression.

92Background: In a recent trial, early integrated palliative care (PC) improved quality of life (QOL) and reduced depressive symptoms in patients with newly-diagnosed incurable lung and gastrointestinal (GI) cancer. The mechanisms by which PC benefits these outcomes are unclear. We examined whether early integrated PC improved patients’ coping strategies and the degree to which changes in coping mediated intervention effects on QOL and depressive symptoms. Methods: From 5/2011 to 7/2015, we enrolled 350 patients with newly diagnosed incurable lung or non-colorectal GI cancer in a randomized trial of early PC integrated with oncology care vs. oncology care alone at Massachusetts General Hospital. Patients completed self-report measures of QOL (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and use of active and avoidant coping strategies (Brief Cope) at baseline, 12, and 24 weeks. Linear regression was used to assess the effects of the early PC inter...
The use of co-occurrence patterns in single image based food portion estimation

Measuring accurate dietary intake is considered to be an open research problem in the nutrition and health fields. Food portions estimation is a challenging problem as food preparation and consumption process pose large variations on food shapes and appearances. We use geometric model based technique to estimate food portions and further improve estimation accuracy using co-occurrence patterns. We estimate the food portion co-occurrence patterns from food images we collected from dietary studies using the mobile Food Record (mFR) system we developed. Co-occurrence patterns is used as prior knowledge to refine portion estimation results. We show that the portion estimation accuracy has been improved when in-corporating the co-occurrence patterns as contextual information.
A Practical Approach for the Estimation of Strength and Resilient Properties of Cementitious Materials

Cementitious stabilization of granular soils has been proven to be a cost-saving option for the use of materials with marginal quality in the construction and rehabilitation of pavement structures....
Osteomyelitis Risk Factors Related to Combat Trauma Open Tibia Fractures: A Case-Control Analysis.

Objectives:We assessed osteomyelitis risk factors in US military personnel with combat-related open tibia fractures (2003–2009).Methods:Patients with open tibia fractures who met the diagnostic criteria of osteomyelitis were identified as cases using Military Health System data and verified through
Seamless Assembly of Biological Parts into Functional Devices and Higher Order Multi-Device Systems.

A new method is described for the seamless assembly of independent, prefabricated and functionally tested blunt-end, double strand nucleic acid parts (DNA fragments) into more complex biological devices (vectors) and higher order multi-device systems. Individual parts include bacterial selection markers, bacterial origins of replication, promoters from a variety of different species, transcription terminators, shuttle sequences and a variety of "N" and "C" terminal solubility/affinity expression tags. Pre-assembly modification of parts with DNA modifying enzymes is not required. Seamless assembly of multiple parts is accomplished in a single step using a specialized thermostable enzyme blend in about 30 minutes. Combinatorial assembly of parts is an inherent feature of the new process, substantially simplifying device and system optimization. To underscore the utility of the new process, parts were assembled into several protein expression devices in order to identify the optimal expression construct for a model target gene, as an example of the utility of the assembly process, and a higher order multi-device system is also described, for the over-expression of a four-enzyme bio-synthetic pathway, and optimized for end-product accumulation in E. coli as a paradigm for how this assembly process could be used to address the assembly of more complex biological pathways.
Microsorum × tohieaense (Polypodiaceae), a New Hybrid Fern from French Polynesia, with Implications for the Taxonomy of Microsorum

A new hybrid microsoroid fern, Microsorum × tohieaense (Microsorum commutatum × Microsorum membranifolium) from Moorea, French Polynesia is described based on morphology and molecular phylogenetic analysis. Microsorum × tohieaense can be distinguished from other French Polynesian Microsorum by the combination of sori that are distributed more or less in a single line between the costae and margins, apical pinna wider than lateral pinnae, and round rhizome scales with entire margins. Genetic evidence is also presented for the first time supporting the hybrid origin of Microsorum × maximum (Microsorum grossum × Microsorum punctatum), and possibly indicating a hybrid origin for the Hawaiian endemic Microsorum spectrum. The implications of hybridization for the taxonomy of microsoroid ferns are discussed, and a key to the microsoroid ferns of the Society Islands is provided.
Large-Scale Hydrostatic Motions

For many motions in both the ocean and the atmosphere, the horizontal scale far exceeds the vertical scale of the motion. For example, motions in the ocean occurring in the thermocline will have a vertical scale of a kilometer or less, while the horizontal scales might be of the order of hundreds of kilometers. Motions in the ocean induced by traveling meteorological systems will have such large scales. If the motion has such disparate scales in the vertical and horizontal, we can expect important influences on the dynamics. First of all, we would expect that the vertical velocity will be small compared with the horizontal velocity, since the motion consists of nearly flat trajectories. That in turn could mean that the vertical acceleration is small. Such dynamical consequences often allow simplifications to our treatment of the physics, and we are always looking for such simplifications so that we can make progress with more difficult problems; not just make life easier for ourselves.
Historical Review of the Metered Section Area for the Guarded-Hot-Plate Method

Results of an extensive literature review and investigation of the metered section area for the guarded-hot-plate method, standardized as ASTM C177, Standard Test Method for Steady-State Heat Flux Measurements and Thermal Transmission Properties by Means of the Guarded-Hot-Plate Apparatus, are presented. The guarded-hot-plate apparatus is a primary linear-heat-flow method generally used to determine the thermal conductivity of insulating and building materials. The review examined technical publications from 1885 to 1990 and identified 31 papers of interest. Historical versions of ASTM C177 were also researched as well as test methods from other standard development organizations. The investigation revealed that, over the past 100 years, researchers have independently developed two main approaches for the computation of the metered section area. An assessment of the calculation techniques is presented for round plates with diameters from 250 to 1,000 mm, a guard-to-meter aspect ratio of 2, and guard gap widths of 1-4 mm. The gap effects are not negligible because large gaps (4 mm) on small plates (250 mm) can lead to errors of 10 % or more on the computation of the metered section area, ultimately affecting the uncertainty of the test results of the guarded-hot-plate method. The results of this study are applicable to other thermal conductivity test methods that employ a primary thermal guard to promote 1-D heat flow.
Ex vivo Fucosylation Enhances Regulatory T Cell Anti-Graft Versus Host Disease Potency in Mice

Abstract Emerging preclinical data indicate a potential therapeutic use of regulatory T cells (Tregs) to suppress or eliminate graft versus host disease (GVHD). Adoptive therapy with Tregs has been examined as a prophylactic strategy for GVHD. Thus far, 1:1 ratio of Tregs to conventional T cells (Tcons) has been required to prevent GVHD, and such high targeted cell doses are hard to achieve in a clinical setting due to variability in Treg frequency and expansion potential. As a result, novel strategies are needed to generate clinically-effective Treg products. Additionally, since the ability of Tregs to enter inflamed tissues has been shown to be critically dependent on their ability to bind E- and P-selectins, we sought to exploit this pathway to improve Treg homing. Incubation of culture expanded Cord Blood (CB) Tregswith fucosyltransferase-VI (FTVI) increased the degree of fucosylation from 8% to 64%. Importantly, fucosylated Tregs are able to suppress T cell proliferation in an in vitro allogeneic mixed lymphocyte assay and show preferential increase in the E-selectin binding ability when compared to untreated Tregs. We injected 10e6 Tregs vs. 10e6 fucosylated Tregs followed by 10e7 peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the sublethally irradiated NOD/SCID gamma null (NSG) xenogenic GVHD mouse model, and recipients of untreated Tregs showed weight loss as early as day 6 whereas fucosylated Treg recipients retained weight until day 12 (Fig 1). Fucosylated Tregs were detected in the peripheral blood of mice until day 31 as opposed to day 12 for untreated Tregs. As compared to recipients of untreated Tregs, lower numbers of GVH-inducing allogeneic T-cells were detected in the secondary lymphoid organs in the fucosylated Treg recipients (Table 1). The overall survival of fucosylated Treg recipients was significantly superior to that of untreated Treg recipients (Fig 2). We conclude that prophylactic treatment with fucosylated Tregs prevents GVHD and improves survival in a xenogenic mouse model at doses that are i) at less than 1:1 ratio with conventional T-cells (Tcon) and ii) are lower as compared to untreated Tregs. We believe that by overcoming the 1:1 dose requirement of Tregs: Tcons, we will be able to effectively translate Treg based adoptive therapy into the clinic for the prevention of GVHD. Establishing fucosylated Tregs as a preventive strategy for GVHD will result in a major breakthrough in the field of stem cell transplantation eliminating a major life threatening outcome of the therapy. Download : Download high-res image (78KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure 1 . Download : Download high-res image (73KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure 2 . Download : Download high-res image (108KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure 3 . Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Comparative Analysis of ML Classifiers for Network Intrusion Detection

With the rapid growth in network-based applications, new risks arise, and different security mechanisms need additional attention to improve speed and accuracy. Although many new security tools have been developed, the fast growth of malicious activities continues to be a severe issue, and the ever-evolving attacks create serious threats to network security. Network administrators rely heavily on intrusion detection systems to detect such network intrusive activities. Machine learning methods are one of the predominant approaches to intrusion detection, where we learn models from data to differentiate between abnormal and normal traffic. Though machine learning approaches are used frequently, a deep analysis of machine learning algorithms in the context of intrusion detection is somewhat lacking. In this work, we present a comprehensive analysis of some existing machine learning classifiers regarding identifying intrusions in network traffic. Specifically, we analyze classifiers along various dimensions, namely feature selection, sensitivity to hyperparameter selection, and class imbalance problems that are inherent to intrusion detection. We evaluate several classifiers using the NSL-KDD dataset and summarize their effectiveness using a detailed experimental evaluation.
Preservice Teachers' Noticing of Instances for Revision during Rehearsals: A Comparison across Three University Contexts.

ABSTRACTThis study investigated how practice-based science methods courses, at three different institutions, provided opportunities for preservice teachers (PSTs) to develop new ways of enacting an...
The Translator’s Extended Mind

The rapid development of natural language processing in the last three decades has drastically changed the way professional translators do their work. Nowadays most of them use computer-assisted translation (CAT) or translation memory (TM) tools whose evolution has been overshadowed by the much more sensational development of machine translation (MT) systems, with which TM tools are sometimes confused. These two language technologies now interact in mutually enhancing ways, and their increasing role in human translation has become a subject of behavioral studies. Philosophers and linguists, however, have been slow in coming to grips with these important developments. The present paper seeks to fill in this lacuna. I focus on the semantic aspects of the highly distributed human–computer interaction in the CAT process which presents an interesting case of an extended cognitive system involving a human translator, a TM tool, an MT engine, and sometimes other human translators or editors. Considered as a whole, such a system is engaged in representing the linguistic meaning of the source document in the target language. But the roles played by its various components, natural as well as artificial, are far from trivial, and the division of linguistic labor between them throws new light on the familiar notions that were initially inspired by rather different phenomena in the philosophy of language, mind, and cognitive science.
Immigration, Emigration, Fungible Labour and the Retreat from Progressive Taxation

With emphasis on the US, this chapter explores the role that taxation plays in the movement of people and capital. The chapter addresses the relationship between taxes and retention of capital, including tax incentives for capital investment, shifting tax burdens from capital to labor as progressive taxation wanes, and rules preventing the escape of capital from its current taxing jurisdiction. Next, the discussion moves on to consider how taxes supplement immigration policy to attract capital currently outside the jurisdiction. The chapter then queries whether taxes play any significant role in attracting or retaining skilled labor before identifying how tax trends disadvantage "less desirable", fungible, frequently immigrant labor in response to anti-immigration and anti-immigrant public sentiment. The chapter concludes by observing a relationship between taxation and the unwillingness of societies to help those who culturally, ethnically, racially or religiously differ from the bulk of the membership in the society as that society may change from time to time.
Kinetics and computational analysis of cholinesterase inhibition by REVERC3, a bisdemethoxycurcumin-rich Curcuma longa extract: Relevance to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Objectives: Cholinesterase inhibition is a common strategy to treat Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, we have investigated the cholinesterase inhibitory effects of a first-of-its-kind turmeric ex...
Early clinical and radiographic results of reverse shoulder arthroplasty with press-fit metaphyseal humeral fixation

Abstract Background Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) has seen a recent transition from cemented to press-fit humeral stems. Several press-fit designs have focused on proximal fixation, yet there remains a paucity of data on their performance. The purpose of this study is to report early radiographic and clinical results of a third-generation RSA system, featuring metaphyseal porous metal fixation. Methods A retrospective review was performed on primary RSA patients treated with a single third-generation standard-length implant system incorporating proximal osteointegration features with a minimum 2-year follow-up. Patient-reported outcome measures, including the Simple Shoulder Test, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, Visual Analog Scale for pain, and Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation, as well as measured active motion (forward elevation, external, and internal rotation) were recorded at pre- and postoperative intervals. Immediate postoperative radiographs were used to measure filling ratios at the epiphyseal, metaphyseal, and diaphyseal levels. Most recent radiographs were also reviewed for bone adaptations, acromial fractures, scapular notching, and humeral loosening. Results There were 90 patients included in the study, with an average age of 73 years (± 7.23) and clinical follow-up of 32 months (± 7.25). Indications included osteoarthritis with a rotator cuff tear (51%), osteoarthritis without a cuff tear (40%), fracture sequelae (2%), and locked anterior dislocation (2%). There were significant improvements in all measured motions and patient-reported outcome measures at the most recent follow-up, with good to excellent satisfaction in 91.1% of patients. High mean epiphyseal (0.90 ± 0.06) and metaphyseal (0.83 ± 0.07) filling ratios together with low mean diaphyseal filling ratio (0.48 ± 0.07) represented proximal fixation. There were 6 cases with scapular notching, 5 postoperative acromial fractures, and 2 with temporary postoperative neuropathy. Proximal bone resorption was seen in 18.9% of cases, and there were no cases of humeral loosening, baseplate failure, or need for revision. Conclusion Primary RSA with a third-generation press-fit humeral component with metaphyseal fixation provides excellent early outcomes with no loosening and low rates of proximal stress-shielding. Results of this study support the use of an inlay humeral component with osteointegration features that facilitate proximal stem fixation. Level of Evidence Treatment Study
COVID-19 as a disruptor: innovation and value in a national virtual fracture conference

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the educational value of a national virtual fracture conference implemented during the COVID-19 disruption of resident education. Design: Survey study. Setting: National virtual conference administered by the Orthopaedic Trauma Association. Participants: Attendees of virtual fracture conference. Intervention: Participation at a national virtual fracture conference. Main outcome measure: Surveys of perception of quality and value of virtual conferences relative to in-person conferences. Results: Ninety-six percent of participants rated the virtual fracture conference as similar or improved educational quality relative to conventional in-person fracture conference. Participants also felt they learned as much (35%) or more (57%) at each virtual fracture conference compared to the amount learned in-person. The quality of interpersonal interactions at both the resident-faculty level and faculty-faculty level was also perceived to be overall superior to those at participants' own institutions. Learners felt they were more likely to engage the primary literature as well. Overall, 100% of participants were likely to recommend virtual conference to their colleagues and 100% recommended continuing this conference even after COVID-19 issues resolve. Conclusions: We found that learners find significant educational value in a national virtual fracture conference compared to in-person fracture conferences at their own institution. COVID-19 has proven to be a disruptor not only in health care but in medical education as well, accelerating our adoption of innovative and novel resident didactics. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III.
The association between inflammatory bowel disease and migraine or severe headache among US adults: Findings from the National Health Interview Survey, 2015-2016.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of migraine or severe headache among US adults by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) status. BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence in clinical settings suggests a higher prevalence of migraine among patients with IBD than those without IBD. METHODS: Data from 60,436 US adults aged ≥18 years participating in the 2015 and 2016 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were analyzed. The relationship between IBD status and migraine or severe headache was assessed overall and stratified by levels of selected characteristics including sex, age, race/ethnicity, education, poverty status, marital status, smoking status, obesity status, serious psychological distress, and major chronic condition status. RESULTS: Overall, the age-adjusted prevalence of migraine or severe headache was 15.4% (n = 9062) and of IBD was 1.2% (n = 862). A higher age-adjusted migraine or severe headache prevalence was reported among participants with IBD than those without IBD (28.1% vs. 15.2%, p < 0.0001). The association of migraine or severe headache with IBD remained significant overall [adjusted prevalence ratio (95% CI) = 1.59 (1.35-1.86)] and within the levels of most other selected characteristics after controlling for all other covariates. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirmed a higher prevalence of migraine or severe headache among US adults with IBD than those without. Healthcare providers might assess migraine or severe headache among patients with IBD to improve management and quality of life.
Spatiotemporal patterning of acoustic gaze in echolocating bats navigating gaps in clutter.

Summary We challenged four big brown bats to maneuver through abrupt turns in narrow corridors surrounded by dense acoustic clutter. We quantified bats' performance, sonar beam focus, and sensory acquisition rate. Performance was excellent in straight corridors, with sonar beam aim deviating less than 5° from the corridor midline. Bats anticipated an upcoming abrupt turn to the right or left by slowing flight speed and shifting beam aim to “look” proactively into one side of the corridor to identify the new flightpath. All bats mastered the right turn, but two bats consistently failed the left turn. Bats increased their sensory acquisition rate when confronting abrupt turns in both successful and failed flights. Limitations on biosonar performance reflected failures to switch beam aim and to modify a learned spatial map, rather than failures to update acquisition rate.
Observing Behaviors in Functional Assessment

Many of the principles developed under the theories of operant conditioning and applied behavior analysis were later applied to functional assessment. This chapter covers the basic concepts of operational definitions, time sampling, frequency counts, inter-rater reliability, observer drift, and related principles. How these concepts have been applied in the functional assessment literature, are also covered.
The Morality of Gay Rights: An Exploration in Political Philosophy

Preface Abbreviations Introduction: Why Morality? Chapter 1. Neutral Liberalism 1. Rawl's Political Liberalism 2. Rawls from a Gay Rights Perspective 3. Dworkin's Liberal Equality and Moral Bracketing 4. The Later Dworkin: Individual Ethics and the Liberal Society Chapter 2. Pragmatic Liberalism 1. Rorty's Pragmatism 2. Rorty from a Gay Rights Perspective 3. Posner's Pragmatism and Human Sexuality 4. Rational Man as Moral Man Chapter 3. Moral Liberalism 1. Needs, Capabilities, and the Leading of Full Human Lives 2. Relationships, Attachments, and Autonomy 3. Moral Liberalism and Gay Rights Chapter 4. Communitarianism 1. Sandellian Values and Communities 2. The Role of Community in the Lives of Lesbians and Gay Men 3. Walzer and Justice 4. Internal Social Criticism: Same-Sex Marriage and Parenting by Lesbians and Gay Men Chapter 5. Postmodernism 1. Foucault and Sexual Ethics 2. Agency vs. Autonomy in Foucault's Late Writings 3. Codes of Conduct and a Gay and Lesbian Sexual Ethic Notes Justice
Comparison of contraction periods to assess isometric muscular strength in elementary school girls

The purpose of the investigation was to compare contraction periods on two test conditions to assess isometric muscular strength in elementary school girls. Test conditions included a 2-s make and 5-s make test with the order of the tests counterbalanced. Twenty-five girls aged 9-11 were assessed with a hand held dynamometer on two separate occasions 5-7 days apart. Muscle groups were tested alternating body sides and upper and lower muscle groups including hip flexion, knee extension, elbow flexion and shoulder abduction. Based on the data analysis, it was concluded that either contraction period with the make-test procedure was sufficient to assess isometric muscular strength in elementary school girls.
ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF TIER 2 SOCIAL–BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS

The purpose of this study is to identify the essential features of Tier 2 interventions conducted within multitier systems of behavior support in schools. A systematic literature search identified 12 empirical studies that were coded and scored according to a list of Tier 2 specific RE-AIM criteria, related to the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance. Most studies met the following criteria: efficient identification of students, training required for staff implementation, integration with Tier 1 support, standard protocol approach, assessment of implementation fidelity, and parental involvement. However, there was less consistency in meeting the following criteria: reliable and valid methods for student identification, weekly data review to monitor progress, evaluation of behavioral and learning outcomes, program length of between 2 to 6 months, use of maintenance strategies, and teacher involvement. For the subsequent descriptive analysis, the 12 studies were categorized into 6 groups and the strategies used to address RE-AIM criteria were compared and discussed. The essential features identified will help researchers replicate Tier 2 interventions and help schools select and adapt Tier 2 interventions that are matched to their needs and resources.
Oxidation of deoxy myoglobin by [Fe(CN)6]3−

Abstract The ability of myoglobin (Mb) to reversibly bind O2 and other ligands has been well characterized. Mb also participates with a variety of redox metals to form metmyoglobin (metMb). By using an anaerobic stopped-flow device we have measured outer-sphere oxidation by [Fe(CN)6]3− of native sperm whale myoglobin, recombinant wild-type Mb, and a series of mutant Mb proteins in which the distal His-64 was changed to Gly, Phe, Leu or Val. Second-order rate constants for oxidation of mutant proteins are 10–15 times greater than for recombinant or native (kox ~ 106 M− s−). We attribute the reduced rate of oxidation of wild-type protein to a higher reorganization energy imposed by the presence of the unique water/His-64/heme interaction, which is absent in the mutant proteins.
Social Cognitive Development

Social cognitive development (SCD) is a field of psychology that is concerned with the origins and development of representations and processes involved in social thought and interactions. Topics of study in social cognitive development are diverse and include theory of mind, social preferences and attitudes, relationships, aggression, morality, and prosocial behavior. Keywords: social cognition; developmental psychology; origins
Social Support Matters: Longitudinal Effects of Social Support on Three Dimensions of School Engagement From Middle to High School

This study examined the relative influence of adolescents’ supportive relationships with teachers, peers, and parents on trajectories of different dimensions of school engagement from middle to high school and how these associations differed by gender and race or ethnicity. The sample consisted of 1,479 students (52% females, 56% African American). The average growth trajectories of school compliance, participation in extracurricular activities, school identification, and subjective valuing of learning decreased from 7th to 11th grades (mean ages = 12.9 years to 17.2 years). Different sources of social support were not equally important in their impact on school engagement, and the effect of these sources differed by the aspect of engagement studied. For instance, peer social support predicted adolescents’ school compliance more strongly and school identification less strongly than teacher social support.
Norbornyllactone-substituted xanthines as adenosine A1 receptor antagonists

During the search for second-generation adenosine A(1) receptor antagonist alternatives to the clinical candidate 8-(3-oxa-tricyclo[3.2.1.0(2,4)]oct-6-yl)-1,3-dipropyl-3,7-dihydro-purine-2,6-dione (BG9719), we developed a series of novel xanthines substituted with norbornyl-lactones that possessed high binding affinities for adenosine A(1) receptors and in vivo activity.
CELL WALL CHEMISTRY AND FINE STRUCTURE IN LEPTOIDS OF DENDROLIGOTRICHUM (BRYOPHYTA): THE END WALL

Leptoids (sieve elements) of Dendroligotrichum are characterized by a highly oblique end wall which is composed of cellulose (birefringent; IKI-H2SO4-positive), polyuronides (toluidine blue-positive), pectins (hydroxylamine-positive) and natural aldehydes (silver hexamine and silver proteinatepositive). Cytochemically the end wall appears identical to the unevenly thickened lateral wall. Electron cytochemical localization of aldehydes with silver proteinate reveals two distinct wall layers in comparison to the 3-layered lateral wall. Plasmodesmata are present in the end wall with a frequency of 15-20 per ,mm2. A characteristic feature of end wall plasmodesmata is an expanded median cavity which is 0.12-0.15 ,mm in diameter. Frequently an electron-dense substance, whose chemical nature and origin are unknown, occludes the plasmodesmata.
Relaxation of the electron spin in quantum dots via one- and two-phonon processes

Abstract We have studied direct and Raman processes of the decay of electron spin states in a quantum dot via radiation of phonons corresponding to elastic twists. Universal dependence of the spin relaxation rate on the strength and direction of the magnetic field has been obtained in terms of the electron gyromagnetic tensor and macroscopic elastic constants of the solid.
A history of cardiac auscultation and some of its contributors.

Abstract Before the 19th century, physicians could listen to the heart only by applying their ear directly to the chest. This “immediate auscultation” suffered from social and technical limitations, which resulted in its disfavor. With the invention of the stethoscope by Laennec in 1816, “mediate auscultation” became possible, introducing an exciting and practical new method of bedside examination. Over the past 2 centuries, many illustrious physicians have contributed to the understanding of cardiac auscultation by providing an explanation for the sounds and noises that are heard in the normal and diseased heart. This article traces the lives and achievements of those who have contributed importantly to cardiac auscultation. Auscultation remains a low cost, but still sophisticated procedure that intimately connects the physician to the patient and transfers that all-important clinical power known as “the laying on of the hands.” When used with skill, it may correctly determine whether more expensive testing should be ordered. In this way, the stethoscope deserves our continued respect and more attention as an indispensable aid for the evaluation of our patients.
STUDIES ON ENDOTHELIAL REACTIONS : VI. THE ENDOTHELIAL RESPONSE IN EXPERIMENTAL TUBERCULOUS MENINGOENCEPHALITIS.

1. Experimental cerebral and meningeal tubercles in the rabbit are formed from cells of endothelial origin. 2. These cells are derived apparently from other sources than the neighboring capillary endothelium alone. 3. The circulating macrophages, which, in this case, are capable of multiplying by mitosis while still free in the blood, are drawn upon in the formation of the cerebral tubercle. 4. Splenectomy has not materially decreased the available supply of circulating macrophages in this experiment. 5. While these cells may originate in the endothelium of the liver and bone marrow, the lung appears to play a much more important role in this respect than has been hitherto suspected.
Application of Microforming to Create Chondrocyte Home Sites in a Natural Cartilage Matrix

Articular cartilage degeneration is a central pathological feature of osteoarthritis. Cartilage in the adult does not regenerate in vivo and, as a result, cartilage damage in osteoarthritis is irreversible. With our ever-aging population, osteoarthritis has become a leading cause of disability and unfortunately, no optimal treatments for osteoarthritis are currently available. To address this problem, a research community is focused on the development of both natural and synthetic biodegradable tissue scaffolds. The scaffolds must contain depressions or holes for the purpose of chondrocyte seeding and growth in order to create an implantable construct. In addition to chondrocytes, cartilage tissue consists of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Studies of many tissue types have established that ECM plays an important role in regulating cell behavior and controlling processes such as tissue differentiation and tumor progression. Unlike most natural tissues, adult cartilage ECM is exceptionally dense and lacking in vascularity, which makes it difficult for chondrocytes to be transplanted directly into the matrix. Current methods of creating cell home sites through chemical decellularization of the ECM degrade the mechanical integrity of the cartilage tissue. The research conducted here used a mechanical, rather than chemical, method to create cell home sites. A novel micropunching machine was developed to fabricate 200 μm diameter holes in cartilage, thereby creating a porous natural scaffold while maintaining a healthy ECM. Equine articular cartilage slices were harvested from the cadaver’s back knee joint and cryo-sectioned into 100 μm thick slices. Using die clearances of 3.7%, 6.8%, and 8.9%, the results indicate that micro-scale holes can be mechanically punched in cartilage tissue. The maximum punching force showed a slight trend of decreasing as die clearance increased, but there was no statistical significance. Punching force, as well as hole size, was highly dependent on sample hydration. Upon inspection, the resulting hole sizes were approximately 50 μm to 150 um, indicating 25% to 75% shrinkage in reference to the male punch diameter. Finally, the resulting hole shape was observed to be slightly non-circular and the edges of the hole exhibited a raggedness, which was indicative of the cartilage tearing during hole punching.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Theory of Closed Interacting Strings

Abstract Using the equations of motion obtained from the Nambu Lagrangian, we study closed strings. Interactions are introduced in the system via certain topological transformations. using the method of functional integration. The Born term turns out to be equal to the Virasoro-Shapiro amplitude. Not all the variables used in the calculation are independent and the physical states therefore satisfy certain conditions. However the interactions are such that those states not satisfying the extra conditions decouple from the rest. The amplitude for the scattering of excited states, the vertex functions and the volume elements for tree aand one-loop amplitudes are calculated. The amplitude for tree or one-loop graphs can be simply obtained from the corresponding amplitude in open string theory.
Ground-state properties for "charged" bosons in d dimensions from a renormalization-group treatment.

A low-density Bose system comprised of two sets of particles with different intraset and interset short-ranged interactions are studied in arbitrary space dimension d with use of a renormalization-group approach. For the range of parameters where the ground-state is nonbinding, a density expansion for the chemical potential will be given. For d2 the character of this expansion is governed by the renormalization flow to a nontrivial stable fixed point of the renormalization equations. For dg2 the expansion is governed by the flow to a trivial noninteracting fixed point and the results are expressed in the terms of two pseudopotentials. The case d=2 is marginal and is characterized by the presence of logarithmic corrections. For the range of parameters where the ground-state is binding, several different phases and corresponding phase boundaries will be located. For d\ensuremath{\le}2 we find a strong-coupling molecular phase, the constituents of which are formed from the opposite charges of the original system, and a condensed phase. For dg2 we find in addition a weak-coupling binding phase, and a strong-coupling phase with correlations characterizing a tendency to interset pairing.
The solar absolute spectral irradiance 1150-3173 A - May 17, 1982

The full-disk solar spectral irradiance in the spectral range 1150-3173 A was obtained from a rocket observation above White Sands Missile Range, NM, on May 17, 1982, half way in time between solar maximum and solar minimum. Comparison with measurements made during solar maximum in 1980 indicate a large decrease in the absolute solar irradiance at wavelengths below 1900 A to approximately solar minimum values. No change above 1900 A from solar maximum to this flight was observed to within the errors of the measurements. Irradiance values lower than the Broadfoot results in the 2100-2500 A spectral range are found, but excellent agreement with Broadfoot between 2500 and 3173 A is found. The absolute calibration of the instruments for this flight was accomplished at the National Bureau of Standards Synchrotron Radiation Facility which significantly improves calibration of solar measurements made in this spectral region.
Prediction of the space-varying point spread function for reconstruction of anisoplanatic adaptive optics images

Atmospheric turbulence corrupts astronomical images formed by ground-based telescopes. Adaptive optics (AO) systems allow the effects of turbulence-induced aberrations to be reduced for a narrow field of view (FOV) corresponding approximately to the isoplanatic angle θ 0 . For field angles larger than θ 0 , the point spread function (PSF) gradually degrades as the field angle increases. In this paper, we present a technique to predict the PSF as function of the field angle. The predicted PSF is compared to the simulated PSF and the mean square (MS) error between the predicted and the simulated PSF never exceeds 2.7%. Simulated anisoplanatic intensity images of a star field are reconstructed by mean of a block-processing method using the predicted PSF. Two methods for image recovery are used: the Tikhonov regularization and the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm. The deconvolution results using the space-varying predicted PSF are compared to deconvolution results using the space-invariant on-axis PSF. The reconstruction technique using the predicted PSF shows an improvement of the MS error between the reconstructed image and the object of 7.2% to 84.8% compared to the on-axis PSF reconstruction.
Microsurgical denervation of the spermatic cord for chronic orchialgia: long-term results from a single center.

Purpose: We assessed the long-term efficacy, complications and patient perceptions of microsurgical denervation of the spermatic cord in the treatment of chronic orchialgia.Materials and Methods: Microsurgical denervation of the spermatic cord was performed on 95 testicular units in 79 men (mean age 40.3 years, mean duration of pain 62 months, 16 bilateral) for chronic orchialgia. Conservative management failed in all, and patients were evaluated with an extensive medical history and physical examination. To be a candidate for microsurgical denervation of the spermatic cord each man would have responded either completely or partially to spermatic cord block (greater than 50% decrease in pain) and had no identifiable reversible etiology. Postoperative pain rating scales (0 to 10) were used to determine efficacy.Results: Mean followup was 20.3 months (range 1 to 102 months) and complete, durable relief was noted in 67 (71%) testicular units, partial relief in 17 (17%), and unchanged in 11 (12%). No patients...
Direct paternal care and aggression: an empirical exploration using the Standard Cross‐Cultural Sample

Purpose – The rates of direct paternal care vary greatly across human cultures and primate species. Prior research reveals important hormonal differences between average fathers and non-fathers in the same population, such as higher levels of prolactin and oxytocin and lower levels of testosterone. This evidence raises the question of whether rates of aggression would be lower in populations with higher paternal care. This study aims to test this hypothesis. Design/methodology/approach – Analyses of correlation and x 2 -tests were applied to data from the Standard Cross-Cultural Sample, a database of 186 pre-industrial societies chosen for their independence for cross-cultural research, to test the hypothesized relationship between paternal care and societal aggression. Findings – High infant-father closeness was found to be significantly associated with low levels of aggression towards other societies (external war), as predicted. There was not a statistically significant finding between infant-father closeness and aggression inside a given society. Research limitations/implications – This study only reports a correlational effect owing to the nature of the data. More research is needed to determine causality and to better understand the mechanisms underlying the found association. One future direction of research is to examine a similar question across difference nonhuman primate species. Originality/value – This paper reports a previously unknown association between father closeness and low external warfare. It might inspire future research that could lead to interventions intended to reduce aggression.
Climate Change And Health Risks: Assessing And Responding To Them Through ‘Adaptive Management’

Climate change and associated changing weather patterns, including severe weather events, are expected to increase the prevalence of a wide range of health risks. Yet there is uncertainty about the timing, location, and severity of these changes. Adaptive management, a structured process of decision making in the face of imperfect information, is an approach that can help the public health field effectively anticipate, plan for, and respond to the health risks of climate change. In this article I describe adaptive management and how it could increase the effectiveness of local and national strategies, policies, and programs to manage climate-sensitive health outcomes.
Shaking up the historical (Film): Christophe Gans's Le Pacte des loups/The Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001)

ABSTRACTAt a cost of nearly $29 million, Christophe Gans's Le Pacte des loups/The Brotherhood of the Wolf (2001) was one of the most expensive French films ever made. Packed with stunning visual effects, long and carefully choreographed fight scenes, and elements of gothic horror and porn, the film has often been seen as an action-packed blockbuster made with the intention of rivalling Hollywood rather than a serious work in keeping with the auteurist ideals of French film-making. This reading of the film, however, obscures the fact that Le Pacte des loups probably has more in common with the French heritage film than with American action films, and that its subject matter—the French Revolution—is one of the most privileged subjects in French historical film-making. A closer reading of the film reveals that it functions to explore the nature of history and historical narrative, and particularly the relationship between history and cinema, and that it asserts the representational nature of all historical n...
Internal markets and the theory of the firm

A growing number of companies are explicitly replacing bureaucratic internal resource allocation with internal markets. But if markets work well within firms, why are there firms at all? Why does not all allocation take place on ‘external’ markets? This paper seeks to resolve this apparent anomaly by viewing the firm as a membership club rather than as a command structure. Members join the firm and pay its membership fee when the value of the local public goods they receive exceeds the opportunity cost of joining. Some of the most important public goods provided by firms are variously referred to as organizational capabilities, competencies, or routines. These can often be characterized as public goods because they are ultimately based on knowledge, and hence involve a degree of nonrival consumption. A firm survives when its internal environment generates value-creating capabilities, competencies, and routines. The firm will continue to exist as long as the owners of its human and physical capital find it more profitable to transact inside this environment than outside. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recent developments in computed tomography at GSECARS

A facility for x-ray computed microtomography (CMT) is operating as a national user facility for earth and environmental sciences research on the bending magnet beamline at the GeoSoilEnviroCARS sector at the Advanced Photon Source (APS). We present an analysis of the source of noise in the reconstructed data, compared to data on similar samples from another instrument. We also report on careful characterization of the CCD detector, on new highspeed data collection strategies, and applications to high-pressure tomography.
Three soliloquies on tobacco industry funding of university research

The view on tobacco industry funding for university research, from three very differing perspectives
P earl: a probabilistic chart parser

This paper describes a natural language parsing algorithm for unrestricted text which uses a probability-based scoring function to select the "best" parse of a sentence. The parser, Pearl, is a time-asynchronous bottom-up chart parser with Earley-type top-down prediction which pursues the highest-scoring theory in the chart, where the score of a theory represents the extent to which the context of the sentence predicts that interpretation. This parser differs from previous attempts at stochastic parsers in that it uses a richer form of conditional probabilities based on context to predict likelihood. Pearl also provides a framework for incorporating the results of previous work in part-of-speech assignment, unknown word models, and other probabilistic models of linguistic features into one parsing tool, interleaving these techniques instead of using the traditional pipeline architecture. In preliminary tests, Pearl has been successful at resolving part-of-speech and word (in speech processing) ambiguity, determining categories for unknown words, and selecting correct parses first using a very loosely fitting covering grammar.
Distributions of Wall Shear Stress in Venular Convergences of Mouse Cremaster Muscle

Objective:Wall shear stress regulates a variety of vascular functions and can be affected by variations in blood viscosity and wall shear rate independently. Therefore, the distribution of wall shear stress was characterized in converging flow regions of postcapillary venules to identify the relative contributions of shear rate and viscosity to wall shear rate and to determine whether venular branching directly affects the local shear environment. Methods:Blood viscosity was evaluated as a function of vessel diameter and hematocrit, determined from fluorescent red blood cell (RBC) flux. Wall shear rate was measured directly from velocity profiles acquired using fluorescent RBC tracking or was estimated assuming Poiseuille flow conditions. Wall shear stress was calculated for measurements made across regions of converging flow. Results:Measurements of wall shear stress showed no significant variation with location across the convergence (p< 0.9). Measures of viscosity showed little variation, for local mea...