cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crowdsourcing as a method for collecting data pertaining to the effects of alcohol on perceptions of partner aggression.

BACKGROUND Efforts designed to investigate the effects of recent alcohol use on the perception of intimate partner aggression have been stultified by significant financial and logistical barriers that warrant the development of supplemental research methods that may result in more prolific investigation of the phenomenon. OBJECTIVES The current study explored the viability of using online crowdsourcing to assess the effects of recent alcohol use on the perception of partner aggression. METHOD Mechanical Turk was used to recruit a convenience sample of 60 males who were asked to provide information on their own use of partner aggression, their most recent episode of alcohol use, and their perception of the behaviors and characters depicted in a written partner aggression vignette. Data were evaluated using five separate hierarchical multiple regression models predicting participant perception. RESULTS Analyses revealed that 35% of the sample had used partner aggression in the past year and that 22% of the sample had consumed alcohol in the past day. Nonviolent participants perceived the aggressor and the behavior more negatively than partner violent participants. Some indicators revealed that recent alcohol use was associated with more positive perceptions of partner aggression. CONCLUSION Expected associations among prior partner aggression, recent alcohol use, and perception of partner aggression vignettes were observed. Crowdsourcing may represent a source for data evaluating the effects of recent alcohol use on perceptions of aggression. Methodological refinement will benefit research and, ultimately, clinical prevention and intervention.
Cystic Fibrosis Sputum Rheology Correlates With Both Acute and Longitudinal Changes in Lung Function.

Background Cystic fibrosis (CF) airway secretions are abnormal, contributing to decreased clearance and a cycle of infection and inflammation. CF sputum properties may predict disease progression. We hypothesized that sputum viscoelasticity and clearance abnormalities would inversely correlate with pulmonary function during exacerbation and that sputum properties would return to baseline after therapy. Methods We collected sputa longitudinally from 13 subjects with CF with moderate to severe lung disease during both clinical stability and exacerbation. Dynamic rheology was analyzed, using a cone-and-plate rheometer. Mucociliary clearability was measured on mucus-depleted frog palate, cough clearability in a simulated cough machine, and sputum hydration as percent solids was measured following lyophilization. Results Elastic modulus G ′ and viscous modulus G ′′ increased during exacerbation and returned to baseline levels with recovery ( P P 1 % predicted was inversely correlated with G ′ and G ′′ ( P G ′ and G ′′ vs FEV 1 % predicted was statistically homogeneous among subjects (estimated common slope m = –3.84, P P Conclusions Among these subjects with CF, there is a striking identity of the slope defining the relationship between ln G ′ or ln G ′′ and FEV 1 . There are dramatic increases in dynamic viscosity and elasticity during a pulmonary exacerbation with return to baseline at recovery. This suggests that sputum viscoelastic properties are tightly associated with lung function and disease status.
Toward Controllable Hydraulic Coupling of Joints in a Wearable Robot

In this paper, we develop theoretical foundations for a new class of rehabilitation robot: body-powered devices that route power between a user's joints. By harvesting power from a healthy joint to assist an impaired joint, novel bimanual and self-assist therapies are enabled. This approach complements existing robotic therapies aimed at promoting recovery of motor function after neurological injury. We employ hydraulic transmissions for routing power, or equivalently for coupling the motions of a user's joints. Fluid power routed through flexible tubing imposes constraints within a limb or between homologous joints across the body. Variable transmissions allow constraints to be steered on the fly, and simple valve switching realizes free space and locked motion. We examine two methods for realizing variable hydraulic transmissions: using valves to switch among redundant cylinders (digital hydraulics) or using an intervening electromechanical link. For both methods, we present a rigorous mathematical framework for describing and controlling the resulting constraints. Theoretical developments are supported by experiments using a prototype fluid-power exoskeleton.
Imaging of the sublingual and submandibular spaces

Divided by the mylohyoid muscle, the sublingual and submandibular spaces represent a relatively small part of the oral cavity, but account for a disproportionate amount of pathological processes. These entities are traditionally separated into congenital, infectious/inflammatory, vascular and neoplastic aetiologies. This article reviews the relevant anatomy, clinical highlights and distinguishing imaging features necessary for accurate characterisation. • The mylohyoid sling is a key anatomical landmark useful in surgical planning. • Congenital lesions and infectious/inflammatory processes constitute the majority of pathology. • Depth of invasion is key when staging tumours in the oral cavity.
An evolutionary spectral representation for blind separation of biosignals

Blind source separation (BSS) methods are used to separate sources from a mixed observations with very little prior knowledge of the mixing coefficients or sources. In this paper we propose an evolutionary spectral representation to implement BSS. Introduced by Priestley, evolutionary spectral theory generalizes the definition of spectrum for nonstationary processes. Under certain conditions, the evolutionary spectrum at each instant of time can be estimated from a single realization of a process such that it is possible to study processes with changing spectral patterns. In particular we are interested in the problem of separation of individual biosignals from electrophysiological recordings mixed by volume conduction. As biosignals such as electrocardiogram and electroencephalogram recordings are prime examples of nonstationary signals, evolutionary spectral representations can be used for the analysis of them. Our proposed evolutionary spectral representation is based on the discrete prolate spheroidal sequences (DPSS). Also known as Slepian sequences, the DPSS are defined to be the sequences with maximum spectral concentration for a given duration and bandwidth. Using the relation between discrete evolutionary transform and evolutionary periodogram, we derive the Slepian evolutionary spectrum. After the evolutionary spectrum is computed, we implement it for the BSS problem and compare with the well known time-frequency methods (Wigner-Ville distribution and S-transform) for performance evaluation.
Application of the Boltzmann Transport Equation to Ion Implantation in Semiconductors and Multilayer Targets

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the application of the Boltzmann transport equation to ion implantation in semiconductors and multilayer targets. In the chapter, the Boltzmann transport equation is applied to the following ion implantation situations: (1) the calculation of range and recoil distributions in multilayer targets; and (2) calculations of damage distributions and stoichiometry disturbances in semiconductors. The Boltzmann transport equation provides a very comprehensive treatment of the general ion implantation problem. The transport equation predicts the spatial distribution of recoils and, thus, provides the theoretical information needed to determine the fractional atomic displacement necessary for amorphization of silicon, and the degree of stoichiometric imbalance that is produced when energetic ions are incident on a target having more than one type of host atom. The Boltzmann transport equation is used increasingly for ion implantation problems, in compound semiconductors, and for a variety of silicon processing applications, particularly where thin surface coatings are present on the sample surface.
Immunoreactivity against tau, amyloid precursor protein, and beta-amyloid in the human retina.

PURPOSE Increased immunoreactivity (IR) of beta-amyloid and the amyloid-associated proteins tau and amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the brain have been linked to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. However, the expression of these proteins has not been investigated in the normal or diseased human retina. METHODS Using immunohistochemical techniques, we examined the distribution and age-related changes of anti-tau-1, anti-tau-2, anti-APP, and anti-beta-amyloid IR in the human retina at various ages (n = 24), in retinitis pigmentosa (RP, n = 6), and in age-related macular degeneration (ARMD, n = 10). RESULTS Tau-1 immunoreactivity was intense in the inner retinal layers and did not change with age or in RP. Eyes with ARMD showed less intense staining but exhibited a similar distribution. Tau-2 IR was faint and did not change with age but was mildly increased in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) of eyes with RP and in the retina of eyes with ARMD. APP IR was most prominent in the ganglion cell and nerve fiber layer, and it appeared to increase in ganglion cells of older persons and in RPE cells of eyes with RP and ARMD. Beta-amyloid IR was only detected focally in sub-RPE deposits in eyes from older persons. CONCLUSIONS The proteins investigated in this study are present in the human retina. The staining pattern of tau is different from the brain, but it shows no age-related changes. The increased immunoreactivity of APP in retinal ganglion cells of older eyes and in RPE cells of eyes with RP and ARMD, as well as the patchy staining of beta-amyloid within sub-RPE deposits, might indicate a relationship of these proteins to retinal aging and possibly to retinal degeneration in RP.
Active learning with deep Bayesian neural network for laser control

New control techniques are required to utilize the full potential of next generation high-energy high-repetition-rate pulses lasers while ensuring their safe operation. During automated optimization of an experiment, the control system is required to identify and reject unsafe laser configurations proposed by the optimizer. Using conventional physics codes render impossible when applied to a high energy laser system with 1ms or less time between shots, and also including laser fluctuations and drift. To mitigate this, we are using a deep Bayesian neural network to map the laser’s input power spectrum to its output power spectrum and demonstrate the speed of this approach. The Bayesian neural network can provide an estimate of its own uncertainty as a function of wavelength. A recently developed algorithm enables the uncertainty to be calculated inexpensively using multiple dropout layers inserted into the model. The uncertainty estimates are used by an active learning algorithm to improve the accuracy of the model and intelligently explore the input domain.
Team Knowledge Sharing, Communication, Conflict, & Transactive Memory : Implications for Performance

This paper develops and tests a theory about the effects of knowledge sharing and task conflict on transactive memory system (TMS) and team performance. Knowledge variety, a key antecedent to TMS d...
Irish-American Catholics in a West Coast Metropolitan Area

Belief systems concerning alcohol usage available to us in emic terms often only tell us certain values about drinking. They may indicate whether drinking is positively accepted at all, who is allowed to drink, in what quantity, under what circumstances, and with what results. Much less frequently we learn about the insiders’ explanations of why they believe they drink. Causal models exist, but they tend to be etically derived. Ordinarily they are imposed post hoc by psychologists, psychiatrists, sociologists, or less often, anthropologists. As anthropologists, we aim to make our proposals as informed as possible by the insiders’ point of view.
A View from the Bridge: Antigenic Determinants in Immunoregulation

Although Louis Pasteur was not the first person to apply the principles of immunity, he was the first immunologist since he emphasized the role of antigen to immune responses (though he misinterpreted this role, it was nevertheless a landmark discovery). Since that time, immunologists have worked to dissect the immune response from both ends, that is, to ascertain the various components of the interacting forces of the immune system and to discover the roles that each portion of the antigen have in eliciting these effects.
Health care system leadership views on competencies for a collaborative-ready health workforce

Abstract Background The inability to meet the population health needs of a diverse society has become a driving focus in the revolution and evolution of health care. This transformation must consider community health system leadership perspectives in determining the elements necessary to produce desired change within a local context. Purpose To determine what a regional sample of health care system leaders believe are the required prioritized competencies that entry-level healthcare professionals must demonstrate in order to contribute to a successful interprofessional practice model. Method In-depth interviews and ranking surveys were used to determine leadership perspectives on the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) interprofessional competencies of greatest priority relative to their organizational values. Discussion & conclusions Findings demonstrated that health systems in this region expect entry-level clinicians to possess excellent non-technical traits and abilities to contribute to quality collaborative practice outcomes, with ten specific key interprofessional competencies identified to guide academic interprofessional curricular design and performance assessment.
Retrieval of Filters with Embedded Apices

A 65-year-old patient with a history of DVT and contraindication to anticoagulation status post IVC filter placement 3 months ago is now tolerating anticoagulation and presents for IVC filter retrieval (Fig. 7.1).
Comments on “Stellar engines: Design considerations for maximizing acceleration”

Abstract In the commented paper, an equation is generated for the acceleration that a passive (class A) stellar engine, or ‘Shkadov thruster’, is capable of producing. However, the equation listed in the commented paper is incorrect—one of the assumptions it is based off of is erroneous, and it does not properly account for the reflectivity of the Shkadov thruster's mirror surface. Here, we derive the correct equation. In summary, the geometric prefactor of Eq. 1 in the commented paper, given as (1/2 + 1/6)e, should instead be (3/4)e.
Web-based Calculator Predicts Surgical Site Infection after Thoracolumbar Spine Surgery

Background Surgical-site infection (SSI) after spine surgery leads to increased length of stay, reoperation, and worse patient quality of life. We sought to develop a web-based calculator that computes an individual's risk of a wound infection following thoracolumbar spine surgery. Methods We performed a retrospective review of consecutive patients undergoing elective degenerative thoracolumbar spine surgery at a tertiary-care institution between January 2016 and December 2018. Patients who developed SSI requiring reoperation were identified. Regression analysis was performed and model performance was assessed using receiver operating curve analysis to derive an area under the curve. Bootstrapping was performed to check for overfitting, and a Hosmer–Lemeshow test was employed to evaluate goodness-of-fit and model calibration. Results In total, 1259 patients were identified; 73% were index operations. The overall infection rate was 2.7%, and significant predictors of SSI included female sex (odds ratio [OR] 3.0), greater body mass index (OR 1.1), active smoking (OR 2.8), worse American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (OR 2.1), and greater surgical invasiveness (OR 1.1). The prediction model had an optimism-corrected area under the curve of 0.81. A web-based calculator was created: https://jhuspine2.shinyapps.io/Wound_Infection_Calculator/ . Conclusions In this pilot study, we developed a model and simple web-based calculator to predict a patient's individualized risk of SSI after thoracolumbar spine surgery. This tool has a predictive accuracy of 83%. Through further multi-institutional validation studies, this tool has the potential to alert both patients and providers of an individual's SSI risk to improve informed consent, mitigate risk factors, and ultimately drive down rates of SSIs.
Silencing CircHIPK3 Sponges miR-93-5p to Inhibit the Activation of Rac1/PI3K/AKT Pathway and Improves Myocardial Infarction-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction

The ceRNA network involving circular RNAs (circRNAs) is essential in the cardiovascular system. We investigated the underlying ceRNA network involving circHIPK3 in myocardial infarction (MI). After an MI model was established, cardiac function was verified, and myocardial tissue damage in mice with MI was evaluated. A hypoxia model of cardiomyocytes was used to simulate MI in vivo, and the expression of and targeting relationships among circHIPK3, miR-93-5p, and Rac1 were verified. The apoptosis of cardiomyocyte was identified. Gain- and loss-of-functions were performed to verify the ceRNA mechanism. The MI-modeled mice showed cardiac dysfunction and enlarged infarct size. CircHIPK3 was highly expressed in mouse and cell models of MI. Silencing circHIPK3 reduced infarct size, myocardial collagen deposition, and myocardial apoptosis rate and improved cardiac function. CircHIPK3 sponged miR-93-5p, and miR-93-5p targeted Rac1. Overexpression of miR-93-5p inhibited MI-induced cardiomyocyte injury and eliminated the harmful effect of circHIPK3. CircHIPK3 acted as ceRNA to absorb miR-93-5p, thus promoting the activation of the Rac1/PI3K/AKT pathway. We highlighted that silencing circHIPK3 can upregulate miR-93-5p and then inhibit the activation of Rac1/PI3K/Akt pathway, which can improve MI-induced cardiac dysfunction.
Evaluation of multi-level barriers and facilitators in a large diabetic retinopathy screening program in federally qualified health centers: a qualitative study

Recommended annual diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening for people with diabetes has low rates in the USA, especially in underserved populations. Telemedicine DR screening (TDRS) in primary care clinics could expand access and increase adherence. Despite this potential, studies have observed high variability in TDRS rates among clinics and over time, highlighting the need for implementation supports. Previous studies of determinants of TDRS focus on patients’ perspectives, with few studies targeting upstream multi-level barriers and facilitators. Addressing this gap, this qualitative study aimed to identify and evaluate multi-level perceived determinants of TDRS in Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), to inform the development of targeted implementation strategies. We developed a theory-based semi-structured interview tool based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). We conducted 22 key informant interviews with professionals involved in TDRS (administrators, clinicians, staff). The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Reported barriers and facilitators were organized into emergent themes and classified according to CFIR constructs. Constructs influencing TDRS implementation were rated for each study site and compared across sites by the investigators. Professionals identified 21 main barriers and facilitators under twelve constructs of the five CFIR domains. Several identified themes were novel, whereas others corroborated previous findings in the literature (e.g., lack of time and human resources, presence of a champion). Of the 21 identified themes, 13 were classified under the CFIR’s Inner Setting domain, specifically under the constructs Compatibility and Available Resources. Themes under the Outer Setting domain (constructs External Incentives and Cost) were primarily perceived by administrators, whereas themes in other domains were perceived across all professional categories. Two Inner Setting (Leadership Engagement, Goals and Feedback) and two Process (Champion, Engaging) constructs were found to strongly distinguish sites with high versus low TDRS performance. This study classified barriers and facilitators to TDRS as perceived by administrators, clinicians, and staff in FQHCs, then identified CFIR constructs that distinguished high- and low-performance clinics. Implementation strategies such as academic detailing and collection and communication of program data and successes to leadership; engaging of stakeholders through involvement in implementation planning; and appointment of intervention champions may therefore improve TDRS implementation and sustainment in resource-constrained settings.
Recent Advances of Data Biclustering with Application in Computational Neuroscience

Clustering and biclustering are important techniques arising in data mining. Different from clustering, biclustering simultaneously groups the objects and features according their expression levels. In this review, the backgrounds, motivation, data input, objective tasks, and history of data biclustering are carefully studied. The bicluster types and biclustering structures of data matrix are defined mathematically. Most recent algorithms, including OREO, nsNMF, BBC, cMonkey, etc., are reviewed with formal mathematical models. Additionally, a match score between biclusters is defined to compare algorithms. The application of biclustering in computational neuroscience is also reviewed in this chapter.
Optimization of the ARIES T-Tube Divertor Concept

The current T-tube divertor design consists of modular helium cooled units. The individual units consist of a steel inner cartridge enclosed in a tungsten alloy outer structure. On top of the outer...
Are Clinical Vignette Questions Harder Than Traditional Questions in Gross Anatomy Course

The increased integration of clinical scenarios throughout the first-year gross anatomy course is widely supported in the USA. This early introduction of clinically relevant material has created a need for new assessments of relevant knowledge that include questions based on clinical vignettes. However, little is known about how dental/medical students handle these clinical vignette questions (CVQ) in gross anatomy examinations. Thus, using meaningful ways to compare CVQ with traditional questions (TQ) could justify validation of the CVQ assessment format for this course. This study compared student performance on matched sets of CVQ and TQ test items before and after training on CVQ items in a summer 2014 and 2015 pre-matriculation program gross anatomy course. The subject matter for this course consisted of two blocks (back and upper limb; head and neck), accompanied by cadaveric dissection. Our data show that, in comparison with the TQ format, students fared poorly in the CVQ format (P < 0.05) under two conditions: (1) no advanced training on this format, or (2) unprepared for the test. However, an encouraging finding of our study suggests that training on CVQ items before testing may greatly improve student performance on this specific format for high-performing groups (grades ≥ 70). Training did not seem to exert any beneficial effect on low-performing groups (grades < 70) in this study. Thus, our current study recommends the early familiarization/training on CVQ items in the gross anatomy course and possibly other basic science courses.
Innovation on Demand: New Product Development Using TRIZ

This book describes a revolutionary methodology for enhancing technological innovation called TRIZ. The TRIZ methodology is increasingly being adopted by leading corporations around the world to enhance their competitive position. The authors explain how the TRIZ methodology harnesses creative principles extracted from thousands of successful patented inventions to help you find better, more innovative, solutions to your own design problems. You'll learn how to use TRIZ tools for conceptual development of novel technologies, products and manufacturing processes. In particular, you'll find out how to develop breakthrough, compromise-free design solutions and how to reliably identify next generation products and technologies. Whether you're trying to make a better beer can, find a new way to package microchips or reduce the number of parts in a lawnmower engine, this book can help. Written for practicing engineers, product managers, technology managers and engineering students.
Living and Dying with Alzheimer’s Disease: A Case Presentation

The following is a case presentation on the life of Leslie Bernard Wynne, an individual crippled by Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) during the last five years of his life. The case study briefly describes the disease process, discusses the genetic component of late-onset AD in regards to the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, provides a suggested care plan which spans the course of illness from diagnosis until death, outlines treatment options, highlights common comorbidities, and considers the availability of genetic testing. Recommendations based on best practices and research available are provided throughout and have been integrated into the suggested plan of care. The case study also includes recollections of the family of Mr. Wynne during his illness and exposes the great emotional and physical toll that Alzheimer’s takes beyond the diagnosed individual.
Contamination of Ambient Air with Acinetobacter baumannii on Consecutive Inpatient Days

ABSTRACT Acinetobacter-positive patients had their ambient air tested for up to 10 consecutive days. The air was Acinetobacter positive for an average of 21% of the days; the rate of contamination was higher among patients colonized in the rectum than in the airways (relative risk [RR], 2.35; P = 0.006). Of the 6 air/clinical isolate pairs available, 4 pairs were closely related according to rep-PCR results.
Tómatelo a Pecho (A Personal Account of My Experience with Breast Cancer)

After being diagnosed with breast breast cancer, Felicia Marie Kanul has the commitment to share her story, boost projects and broadcasting awareness with institutions and women about this illness. As a precedent she developed Cancer de Mama: Tomatelo a Pecho, it was launch in 2008 with the support of Instituto Carso de la Salud. She has a MA and PhD in Economics for the Harvard University and serves as a Director of the Harvard Global Equity Initiative, she also is a Senior Economist at the Mexican Health Foundation.
1990 IEEE Annual Conference on Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects, 27th, Reno, NV, July 16-20, 1990, Proceedings

Various papers on nuclear and space radiation effects are presented. The general topics addressed include: basic mechanisms of radiation effects, dosimetry and energy-dependent effects, hardness assurance and testing techniques, single-event upset and latchup, isolation technologies, device and integrated circuit effects and hardening, spacecraft charging and electromagnetic effects.
A test of the massive binary black hole hypothesis: Arp 102B

The emission-line spectra of several AGN have broad peaks which are significantly displaced in velocity with respect to the host galaxy. An interpretation of this effect in terms of orbital motion of a binary black hole predicts periods of a few centuries. It is pointed out here that recent measurements of the masses and sizes of many low-luminosity AGN imply orbital periods much shorter than this. In particular, it is found that the elliptical galaxy Arp 102B is the most likely candidate for observation of radial velocity variations; its period is expected to be about 3 yr. The H-alpha line profile of Arp 102B has been measured for 5 yr without detecting any change in velocity, and it is thus found that a rather restrictive observational test of the massive binary black hole hypothesis already exists, albeit for this one object.
Ecological impacts of seed harvester ants on soil attributes in a Larrea -dominated shrubland

The influence of seed harvester ant ( Pogonomyrmex rugosus ) colonies on soil properties and soil surface and moisture characteristics was investigated through comparison of adjacent, nonnest (reference, 4 m beyond ant colony) areas in Las Vegas, Nevada. Effects of ant colonies on both terrace and slope sites were investigated. Soil moisture content and soil bulk density in a creosote bush ( Larrea tridentata )--dominated shrubland were significantly lower, while soil temperature, soil organic matter, and percent pore space were significantly higher in soils with ant nests relative to adjacent reference soils. Soil pH and texture did not differ significantly between nest and reference soils. Among soil surface characteristics, percent bare soil and rock (gravel, cobble, and boulder) cover were not significantly different between nest and reference soils. In evaluating soil moisture characteristics, soils with ant nests had a significantly higher water infiltrability and greater depth of water penetration, but a significantly lower area of water spread (surface-water runoff) at both terrace and slope sites. Between the 2 geomorphic surfaces, water infiltrability and depth of water penetration were significantly greater at the terrace than at the slope. Water-borne soil movement (fluvial erosion) was significantly greater at the slope than terrace but did not differ significantly between nest and reference soils. The presence of active P. rugosus colonies in the L. tridentata -dominated shrubland altered certain soil properties and appeared to have a protective influence on the soil by fostering more infiltration and less runoff of surface water in southern Nevada.
Managing recurrent carotid artery disease with redo carotid endarterectomy: a 10-year retrospective case series.

Background Choosing the optimal treatment modality for patients with recurrent carotid artery stenosis depends upon many variables, including the etiology of the recurrent plaque morphology and the location of the recurrent lesion. The most important considerations for interventions are the safety, short- and long-term durability of the repair, and the surgical team's skills and experience. We reviewed the results of our operative series on primary and redo carotid endarterectomy (CEA) data to evaluate the short- and long-term outcomes of surgical intervention. We also evaluated the relationship between plaque lesion characteristics with respect to the development of recurrent stenosis. Methods The charts of all patients who underwent CEAs and redo CEAs (RCEAs) performed by one vascular surgeon were retrospectively reviewed for a 10-year period. Preoperative data, including patients' demographics and interval between the primary CEAs and RCEAs, were recorded and summarized. The surgical procedure, location, and morphologic characteristics of the carotid lesions (primary or recurrent) were also recorded. Surgical outcomes, including local complications, systemic complications, length of stay, restenosis rate, and short-and long-term stroke rates, were reviewed. Results From 1997 to 2007, one vascular surgeon performed 1324 consecutive CEA procedures on a total of 1198 patients. Restenosis that required RCEA was performed on 212 patients, which included 192 first RCEAs and 27 second RCEAs. All patients who underwent primary CEAs were original patients of the senior author. RCEAs were performed on 7 of our original patients, and the remaining RCEA cases were referred patients. The interval from primary CEA to first RCEA ranged from 2 months to 29 years, with an average of 4.4 years. In this group of patients, the male/female ratio was 45%/55% and average age was 61 years (range 38–74 years). Eighty-three percent (159 of 192) used tobacco, compared with 54% in the primary CEA group. Also, in this group of patients, cranial nerve injuries occurred in 25 of the 192 patients (13%). The majority of these injuries were temporary, but 4 patients had prolonged injury and 1 patient had a permanent injury. One nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) occurred. There were no incidents of stroke or death. Significant restenosis occurred in 3 patients (1.5%) over an average of 2.1 years. These statistics compare favorably with finding from our series of primary CEAs, in which cranial nerve injury was 4% (44 of 1105), postoperative myocardial infarction was 0.5% (6 of 1105), stroke rate was 0.18% (2 of 1105), and death rate was 0%, with significant restenosis occurring in 0.36% (4 of 1105) of patients over an average of 4.4 years. Conclusions In our retrospective study, the stroke and restenosis rates after RCEAs were similar to those after primary CEA. Therefore, we consider RCEA to be a viable therapeutic option in patients with carotid disease that recurs after a primary CEA.
Solid state nucleation in the Ti-Si ultrathin film system

We have observed phase nucleation in ultrathin Ti films deposited. upon Si substrates using transmission electron diffraction (TED). After subjecting the samples to vacuum annealing at various temperatures, we find that the first compound phase formed is a metastable super structure of the Si lattice. We present evidence that this phase is the same one seen previously in thicker films which was labeled as “TiSi”.
Effects of a self-administered health history on new-patient visits in a general medical clinic.

Self-administered health history questionnaires (SAHHQs) are widely used in ambulatory care settings to save provider time and to assure completeness of the clinical data base. A controlled, prospective study was undertaken in a general medical clinic to evaluate the impact of an extensively pretested, highly reliable, 120-item self-administered health history questionnaire developed for new patient visits. Seventy-seven patients were randomly assigned to the SAHHQ or control groups. Time analyses were performed on audiotapes of the encounters. Patients' charts were scored on explicit criteria for data completeness. Problem recognition was determined by comparison of pre-encounter and postencounter problem lists. SAHHQ and control visits did not differ significantly in total encounter time (44.7 versus 48.3 minutes, respectively). Less time was spent in SAHHQ encounters on data base questions (2.5 versus 3.9 minutes, p = .003). Chart data were more complete for SAHHQ patients (p less than .001). The completeness of senior staff charts was more affected by the presence of the SAHHQ than residents' charts (p = .03). Physicians tended to recognize more new problems in SAHHQ visits. Mutual (physician and patient) recognition of problems occurred more often in the SAHHQ visits (p = .05). Carefully designed SAHHQs increase recorded data base completeness and may increase problem recognition, but do not result in major time savings.
Housing for the Elderly Cognitive Considerations

A post-occupancy evaluation of highrise versus garden apartment housing was carried out with 77 residents of two highrise and two garden apartment public housing complexes for the elderly. The study's primary purpose was to assess the impact on satisfaction and coping ability of an array of design configurations and features, such as spatial layout and corridor discriminability, suggested by an information-processing theoretical framework. Findings indicate that design solutions do influence resident's degree of disorientation, perception of hazards, and provide different kinds of satisfactions. Court residents derive satisfaction from physical aspects of ground-level design and proximity to nature, while highrise residents experience greater attentional demands and confusion but have a supportive social environment.
Why is graphics hardware so fast

NVIDIA has claimed that their graphics processors (or GPUs) are improving at a rate three times faster than Moore's Law for processors. A $25 GPU is rated from 50-100 gigaflops and approximately 1 teraop (8-bit ops). Alongside this increase in performance is new functionality. The most recent innovation is user-programmable vertex and fragment stages that allow GPUs to compute a wide range of new visual effects enabling movie-quality games. Announced chips have as many as 200 programmable floating point units operating in parallel. The result is that the latest generation of commodity graphics and game chips are powerful data-parallel computer.Why are these graphics processors so fast? Will the future performance of GPUs continue to increase faster than CPUs? Can these GPUs be used for scientific computing? And, if so, how might they be programmed?
UTILIZING KEYMATH TEACH AND PRACTICE TO IMPROVE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS' ARITHMETIC SKILLS '

Summary.-This experiment employed a pre- and a posttest supplemented by a diagnostic test for the treated group of 22 to compare students' progress with nvo methods of teaching arithmetic. The traditional Saxon Math 87 group performed better than the group given the KeyMath Teach and Practice after a diagnostic pretest. Implications are discussed. The improvement of arithmetic skills is an important educational concern. With students enrolled in a middle-school m a southwestern rural school the present study employed a pretest and posttest, the Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement-Comprehensive Form (Kaufman & Kaufman, 1985), the Diagnostic Inventory of Essential Mathematics, the KeyMath Revised (Comolly, 1988) coupled with a criterion, competency-based remediation program, KeyMath Teach and Practice which is tied to the specific weaknesses (Connolly, 1991), to improve arithmetic slulls. The control group received the traditional Saxon Math 87 (Hake & Saxon, 1991), a nationally recognized program. Since this research was conducted during one term of public school, subjects were not randomly placed. Scores on Math Applications and Computations were analyzed using split-plot factorial 2 x 2 analysis of variance with the Math Composite scores from the Kaufman test as covariate and group (one and two, ns =22 and 18) and time (pre- and posttest) as independent variables. For each measure, three hypotheses could be tested: the effects of group membership, time of administration, and their interaction. Table 1 presents means and standard deviations for the two groups on each measure at pretest and posttest. These values for the interaction appear in Table 2. The KeyMath Teach and Practice group performed less well than the Saxon Math 87 group, on Math Computation. When this score was entered as a covariate, F,,, was 15.86 (p=.0001). The KeyMath group was specifically hked to the scores on the KeyMath assessment. Also, Saxon Math 87 depends on use of language, a problem for 33 students were of Hispanic orlgin (12 were Euro-American). Of anecdotal interest is that many
Major Groove Derivatization of an Unnatural Base Pair

An unnatural base pair that is replicated and transcribed with good efficiency would lay the foundation for the long term goal of creating a semisynthetic organism, but also would have immediate in vitro applications, such as the enzymatic synthesis of site-specifically modified DNA and/or RNA. One of the most promising of the unnatural base pairs that we have identified is formed between d5SICS and dMMO2. The ortho substituents of these nucleotides are included to facilitate unnatural base pair extension, presumably by forming a hydrogen-bond with the polymerase, but the synthesis of the unnatural base pair still requires optimization. Recently, we have shown that meta and/or para substituents within the dMMO2 scaffold can facilitate unnatural base pair synthesis, although the mechanism remains unclear. To explore this issue, we synthesized and evaluated several dMMO2 derivatives with meta-chlorine, -bromine, -iodine, -methyl, or -propinyl substituents. Complete characterization of unnatural base pair and mispair synthesis and extension reveal that the modifications have large effects only on the efficiency of unnatural base pair synthesis and that the effects likely result from a combination of changes in steric interactions, polarity, and polarizability. The results also suggest that functionalized versions of the propinyl moiety of d5PrM should serve as suitable linkers to site-specifically incorporate other chemical functionalities into DNA. Similar modifications of d5SICS should allow labeling of DNA with two different functionalities, and the previously demonstrated efficient transcription of the unnatural base pair suggests that derivatives might similarly enable site-specific labeling of RNA.
Semantically annotating research articles for interdisciplinary design

Biologically inspired design is an important emerging movement in engineering design. Finding relevant biological sources of inspiration from existing biology literature is one of the important challenges of this activity. We conjecture that annotating biology articles with lightweight Structure-Behavior-Function (SBF) models is one way to address this challenge. We present Biologue, a social citation cataloging system that allows its users to gather, organize, share, and most importantly, annotate scholarly articles with SBF models. This feature not only allows the implementation of search mechanism that is more targeted to the needs of designers seeking bio-inspiration, but also helps designers make sense of the articles returned by the search mechanism.
Treating apraxia of speech with an implicit protocol that activates speech motor areas via inner speech

Background: Treatments of apraxia of speech (AOS) have traditionally relied on overt practice. One alternative to this method is implicit phoneme manipulation which was derived from early models on inner speech. Implicit phoneme manipulation requires the participant to covertly move and combine phonemes to form a new word. This process engages a system of self-monitoring which is referred to as fully conscious inner speech.Aims: The present study aims to advance the understanding and validity of a new treatment for AOS, implicit phoneme manipulation. Tasks were designed to answer the following questions. (1) Would the practice of implicit phoneme manipulation improve the overt production of complex consonant blends in words? (2) Would this improvement generalise to untrained complex and simpler consonant blends in words? (3) Would these treatment tasks activate regions known to support motor planning and programming as verified by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)?Method & Procedures: The parti...
Deep Venous Thrombosis in the Spastic Upper Limb

Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the upper extremity (UE) is an uncommon diagnosis, whereas DVT of the lower extremity is a well-known cause of morbidity and mortality in the rehabilitation patient. Patients with UE DVT secondary to venous stasis, vessel wall abnormalities, hypercoagulability, venous instrumentation and cancer have been previously reported in the literature. To our knowledge no case of DVT in a spastic upper extremity has been noted. A case report of a patient with UE DVT in a spastic extremity secondary to traumatic brain injury is presented, with a discussion of the aetiology, diagnosis and management of this disorder.
The ultrastructure and development of tubular and crystalline P-protein in the sieve elements of certain papilionaceous legumes

The ultrastructure of the primary sieve elements of several papilionaceous legumes was studied using hypocotyl and young internode segments fixed in glutaraldehyde followed by osmium tetroxide. In particular, the study sought to determine whether the crystalline “flagellar inclusions” characteristic of these species are developmentally related to the P-protein bodies present in the phloem of these and other legumes and of angiosperms generally. The crystalline inclusions consist of a central body terminated at one or both ends by a gradually tapering tail. The central body is usually spindle shaped in longitudinal section and square in cross section. In all species examined, the inclusion is first seen as a small, thin crystal in the cytoplasm of young sieve elements. The crystal enlarges and acquires tails as the sieve element develops. In certain species, exemplified byDesmodium canadense, numerous tubules are formed in the cytoplasm near the crystal and appear to be concerned in its growth. The observations on the structure and interactions of these two components, tubules and crystalline inclusions, suggest that both represent forms of P-protein: the tubules are continuous with the crystal and are striated like the crystal near the tubule-crystal junction, suggesting that they are adding onto the crystal body; the tubules closely resemble the P-protein tubules described in the literature in that they measure 157 A in diameter, accumulate in spindle-shaped bundles, and disperse into striated fibrils late in the ontogeny of the sieve element; and finally, the crystal also disperses into fine filaments. The crystalline inclusion therefore probably represents still another aggregation state of P-protein, one that is characteristic of papilionaceous legumes. The different stages of crystal aggregation and the diverse forms of P-protein now known are discussed briefly in relation to the control of macromolecular assembly and subunit packing.
Islands of fitness compact genetic algorithm for rapid in-flight control learning in a Flapping-Wing Micro Air Vehicle: A search space reduction approach

On-going effective control of insect-scale Flapping-Wing Micro Air Vehicles could be significantly advantaged by active in-flight control adaptation. Previous work demonstrated that in simulated vehicles with wing membrane damage, in-flight recovery of effective vehicle attitude and vehicle position control precision via use of an in-flight adaptive learning oscillator was possible. A significant portion of the most recent approaches to this problem employed an island-of-fitness compact genetic algorithm (ICGA) for oscillator learning. The work presented in this paper provides the details of a domain specific search space reduction approach implemented with existing ICGA and its effect on the in-flight learning time. Further, it will be demonstrated that the proposed search space reduction methodology is effective in producing an error correcting oscillator configuration rapidly, online, while the vehicle is in normal service. The paper will present specific simulation results demonstrating the value of the search space reduction and discussion of future applications of the technique to this problem domain.
Temporal cross-section for carrier capture by self-assembled quantum dots

Time-resolved studies of the wetting layer photoluminescence is combined with state-filling spectroscopy of the quantum dot emission to obtain carrier transfer rates from the wetting layer to the quantum dot states. This method allows us to obtain the capture rates as a function of wetting layer carrier concentration, a result that cannot be obtained from a time-dependent measurement of the quantum dot emission itself. The results show unamibiguously that the capture efficiency increases significantly with the carrier concentration in the wetting layer, indicating the dominant role of Auger processes in the capture dynamics. In the analysis the concept of capture cross section per unit time is introduced to take into account possible changes in capture times for different dot areal densities.
Autonomic hyperreflexia during upper extremity surgery

A case is presented of autonomic hyperreflexia in a quadriplegic patient occurring during upper extremity surgery. Tourniquet ischaemia is proposed as the likely causative stimulus. An understanding of the afferent neural pathways involved in this physiological response may be useful in better understanding the subjective phenomena of tourniquet pain in neurologically intact individuals.