cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The fine structural synaptic organization of the cat lateral cuneate nucleus. A study of sequential alterations in degeneration.

Summary The fine structural, synaptic anatomy of the lateral cuneate nucleus of Clarke-Monakow (LCN) has been investigated for the first time in both normal adult cats and animals subjected to dorsal root deafferentation by C1-T7 unilateral, extradural rhizotomies. The normal nucleus contains two distinguishable cell types, the larger of which probably represents the origin of the cuneocerebellar tract. Few axosomatic synapses are present on either cell type and profiles with flattened synaptic vesicles predominate on each. The populations of presynaptic profiles in general are divisible into two types: a large (LR) variety (2–6 μm) with round synaptic vesicles and an asymmetrical contact; a second (SF) type of smaller processes (0.6–2.5 μm) with flattened synaptic vesicles and a symmetrical type of contact. Both types contact dendrites of all sizes. Axoaxonic synapses are present and have the SF presynaptic to the LR bouton. Operated material with survival times of 13 h to 16 days after C1-T7 dorsal root deafferentation reveals a sequential transition from electron-lucent to electron-dense presynaptic and axonal profiles which seems to involve the entire population of LR boutons. It is suggested that these profiles represent the terminals of the primary dorsal root afferents which correspond to both group I and group II muscle afferents. The possible functional significance of these findings is discussed. The observed morphologic transition of presynaptic profiles is correlated to the general process of axonal degeneration in the nervous system. Potential origins for the unaltered (SF) presynaptic profiles are considered. Some aspects of the frequently observed deafferented specialization sites are discussed.
The impact of clickers in nursing education: a review of literature

Learner participation and engagement has proven effective and essential across educational settings. Clickers, also known as classroom response systems (CRS), are widely used across disciplines, and their effectiveness has been demonstrated in higher education. However, few studies have been conducted on clicker use in nursing education. The purpose of this article is to examine the literature on how clickers can best be used to promote learner engagement among undergraduate nursing students and to better classroom education. This literature review addresses three key characteristics of clicker use in nursing, medical, pharmacy, and paramedic education found in fifteen empirical studies: interactivity and participation; satisfaction and learning outcomes; and formative assessment and contingent teaching. Nurse educators must take advantage of the latest technology such as clickers to provide more effective and efficient education.
Design and validation of a novel assessment tool for laparoscopic suturing of the vaginal cuff during hysterectomy.

Objective The aim of this study was to design and validate a new assessment tool for laparoscopic vaginal cuff suturing in a box trainer. Design A primary grading tool was constructed including a novel checklist component and a previously validated global rating scale. A four-step validation process was then undertaken. Face validity was determined by a survey of a panel of experts in the field of minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. Content validity was assessed via analysis of consistency and variability of the experts’ ratings, and items were removed or rephrased according to the experts’ comments. Participants Overall, five novices and five expert laparoscopic surgeons were videotaped performing suture closure of a latex vaginal cuff model in a box trainer. The videotapes were reviewed by two raters. Discriminate validity, along with interrater and intrarater reliabilities, was assessed by analysis of the video ratings. Setting The Simulation, Training, Research, and Technology Utilization System center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a tertiary medical center in Boston, MA. Results The final assessment tool is presented. Conclusion We have validated an assessment tool for vaginal cuff suturing in a box trainer.
Neonatal sepsis workups in infants >/=2000 grams at birth: A population-based study.

Background. Few data are available on the outcome of neonatal sepsis evaluations in an era when intrapartum antibiotic therapy is common. Methods. We identified all newborns weighing ≥2000 g at birth who were ever evaluated for suspected bacterial infection at 6 Kaiser Permanente hospitals between October 1995 and November 1996, reviewed their records and laboratory data, and tracked them to 1 week after discharge. We analyzed the relationship between key predictors and the presence of neonatal bacterial infection. Results. Among 18 299 newborns ≥2000 g without major congenital anomalies, 2785 (15.2%) were evaluated for sepsis with a complete blood count and/or blood culture. A total of 62 (2.2%) met criteria for proven, probable, or possible bacterial infection: 22 (.8%) had positive cultures and 40 (1.4%) had clinical evidence of bacterial infection. We tracked all but 10 infants (.4%) to 7 days postdischarge. There were 67 rehospitalizations (2.4%; 2 for group B streptococcus bacteremia). Among 1568 infants who did not receive intrapartum antibiotics, initial asymptomatic status was associated with decreased risk of infection (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: .26; 95% confidence interval [CI]: .11–.63), while chorioamnionitis (AOR: 2.40; 95% CI: 1.15–5.00), low absolute neutrophil count (AOR: 2.84; 95% CI: 1.50–5.38), and meconium-stained amniotic fluid (AOR: 2.23; 95% CI: 1.18–4.21) were associated with increased risk. Results were similar among 1217 infants who were treated, except that maternal chorioamnionitis was not significantly associated with neonatal infection. Conclusions. The risk of bacterial infection in asymptomatic newborns is low. Evidence-based observation and treatment protocols could be defined based on a limited set of predictors: maternal fever, chorioamnionitis, initial neonatal examination, and absolute neutrophil count. Many missed opportunities for treating mothers and infants exist.
Reproductive systems and evolution in vascular plants

Differences in the frequency with which offspring are produced asexually, through self-fertilization and through sexual outcrossing, are a predominant influence on the genetic structure of plant populations. Selfers and asexuals have fewer genotypes within populations than outcrossers with similar allele frequencies, and more genetic diversity in selfers and asexuals is a result of differences among populations than in sexual outcrossers. As a result of reduced levels of diversity, selfers and asexuals may be less able to respond adaptively to changing environments, and because genotypes are not mixed across family lineages, their populations may accumulate deleterious mutations more rapidly. Such differences suggest that selfing and asexual lineages may be evolutionarily short-lived and could explain why they often seem to be of recent origin. Nonetheless, the origin and maintenance of different reproductive modes must be linked to individual-level properties of survival and reproduction. Sexual outcrossers suffer from a cost of outcrossing that arises because they do not contribute to selfed or asexual progeny, whereas selfers and asexuals may contribute to outcrossed progeny. Selfing and asexual reproduction also may allow reproduction when circumstances reduce opportunities for a union of gametes produced by different individuals, a phenomenon known as reproductive assurance. Both the cost of outcrossing and reproductive assurance lead to an over-representation of selfers and asexuals in newly formed progeny, and unless sexual outcrossers are more likely to survive and reproduce, they eventually will be displaced from populations in which a selfing or asexual variant arises.
g-Boson renormalization effects in the interacting Boson model for nondegenerate orbits

Abstract A nonperturbative model-space truncation procedure is utilized to include the effects of a single g boson on the parameters of the neutron-proton Interacting Boson Model in the realistic case of nondegenerate single-particle orbits. Particular emphasis is given to the single-boson energies ϵd ϱ ( ϱ = v , π ), with numerical results presented for the even isotopes of Hg. Only part of the observed renormalization is obtained. Possible sources of further renormalizations to ϵd ϱ are discussed. Results are also presented for the renormalizations of the boson quadrupole parameters κ and χ ϱ .
Toward an Integrative Framework for Evaluation Practice

Evaluation has been beset with serious divisions, including the paradigm wars and the seeming segmentation of evaluation practice into distinct evaluation theories and approaches. In this paper, we describe key aspects of an integrative framework that may help evaluators move beyond such divisions. We offer a new scheme for categorizing evaluation methods within four inquiry modes, which are “families” or clusters of methods: description, classification, causal analysis, and values inquiry. In addition, we briefly describe a set of alternative evaluation purposes. We argue that, together with a form of realist philosophy, the framework of inquiry modes and evaluation purposes (1) provides a common lexicon for evaluators, which may help the field in moving beyond past divisions, and (2) offers a useful approach to evaluation planning.
Collateral damage in acute zonal occult outer retinopathy.

Purpose To evaluate the disease involvement in a patient with acute zonal occult outer retinopathy (AZOOR). Design Observational case report. Methods A patient with acute zonal occult outer retinopathy was imaged with fundus photography, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, and autofluorescence photography. Results There was subtle depigmentation in the central portion of the lesion with a drusen-like deposit at the outer border. Fluorescein angiography showed a transmission defect centrally and a blocking defect at the border where the drusenoid material accumulated. Autofluorescent photography demonstrated that the drusenoid material was intensely autofluorescent, consistent with the presence of lipofuscin, and the central portion of the lesion showed atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium. Indocyanine green angiography showed atrophy of the choriocapillaris underlying areas of atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium. Conclusions In this case acute zonal occult outer retinopathy caused an area of retinal pigment epithelium cell death with lipofuscin-laden cells at the border of the expanding lesion and associated atrophy of the underlying choriocapillaris.
Inhibition of coenzyme activation of aspartate aminotransferase

Forty compounds were surveyed for their effect on the activation of pig heart apoaspartate aminotransferase by pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate. Most of the nucleotides, sugar phosphates, coenzymes, phospholipid precursors and inorganic oxyanions tested were found to be inhibitory. With few exceptions, the only requirement for a substance to be inhibitory is the presence of a di- or polyanionic moiety analogous to the 5'-phosphate group of the cofactor. In spite of the lack of overall structural similarity to pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate, inorganic pyrophospate and apparently other inhibitors are characterized by dissociation constants comparable in magnitude to that previously reported for the natural cofactor. The physiological significance of the inhibition of coenzyme activation of apoaspartate aminotransferase by these common biological compounds is not known.
PRO-MOTION: Support for mobile database access

In order to provide data consistency in the presence of failures and concurrency, database methods will continue to be important to the processing of shared information in a mobile computing environment. It is important, therefore, that we develop transaction processing systems that accommodate the limitations of mobile computing, such as frequent disconnection, limited battery life, low-bandwidth communication and reduced storage capacity, so that we can migrate existing database applications to mobile environments. In this paper, motivated by these needs, we propose a mobile transaction processing system that supports disconnected transaction processing in a mobile client-server environment. The proposed system employs compacts, which encapsulate access methods, state information and consistency constraints, to allow for local management of database transactions on mobile computers.
Use of Mott compression garment in postoperative cesarean-delivery patients

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the use of an abdominal compression garment (Mott Binder) in postoperative cesarean patients. Methods: Seventy-seven pregnant subjects were prospectively studied using a newly designed abdominal binder as compared with a standard postoperative bandage, with the binder placed immediately postoperatively. Binder subjects used the device at least through the first postoperative day (POD1) and as desired afterward. Pain, wound complication, length of stay, and patient satisfaction were analyzed using the Student t test, ANOVA, and χ 2 , with P Results: Results are summarized in the table (± SD): Binder (n = 58) Control (n = 19) P Hospital stay (days) 3.9 ± 0.6 3.8 ± 0.7 NS PO medication doses 9.6 ± 4.8 10.4 ± 4.0 NS POD1 pain score 1.8 ± 1.3 2.3 ± 1.4 NS Wound infection 4 2 NS Two binder subjects had wound-site erythema. Two of the 19 controls and none of the 58 binder patients had superficial wound dehiscence. Subjective satisfaction with the binder was appreciable (control randomization was not possible after 19 controls were enrolled secondary to patient preference for the binders). Conclusion: Use of the Mott postoperative binder resulted in subjective satisfaction from its users despite absence of objective benefit. A nonsignificant reduction in superficial wound dehiscence through binder use warrants additional study.
Chronic Continuous or Intermittent Infusion of Cocaine Differentially Alter the Concentration of Neurotensin-like Immunoreactivity in Specific Rat Brain Regions

Chronic Continuous or Intermittent Infusion of Cocaine Differentially Alter the Concentration of Neurotensin-like Immunoreactivity in Specific Rat Brain Regions
SU‐GG‐T‐488: Dosimetric Parameter Comparison of the Electronic Tissue Compensator Technique with the Conventional Physical Wedge Technique for the Whole Breast Treatment

Purpose: To compare a dosimetric benefit between electronic tissue compensator (ETC) technique and the conventional physical wedge (PW) technique for a whole breast (WB) tangential field irradiation treatment. Method and Materials: 17 breast cases, with chest wall separation 16 to 26 cm at normalization point slice, were included in this study. Eclipse Planning System (V7.3) was used to generate a plan. The plan remained with a same beam setup, beam weighting, normalization point, and energy (6MV or 6MV mixed with 18MV) in both technique for each case. The breast tissue was outlined as a planning target volume (PTV). For a PTV dose coverage information, PTV encompassed by 95% isodose line (V95) and PTV received the minimum dose (Dmin) were studied. To examine a high dose region, a PTV received at least 105% prescription dose (V105) was computed. To study dose inhomogeneity (DI) in the PTV, a ratio of the difference of Dmax and Dmin to the prescription dose was estimated. In additional, a total MU from each plan was recorded to not only measure the linac beam on time, but also as a factor for the machine scatter and leakage evaluation. Results: By comparing with the PW plan, (1) The PTV coverage, V95, showed quite similar (difference within 0.5%) in both techniques and Dmin was lower on a percentage of 1.2±9.1 from ETC plan; (2) The hotspot, V105, was reduced by a percentage of 2.9±2.2 in ETC plan. (3) DI was decreasing by a percentage of 1.3±12.3 in ETC plan. The total MU reduced by about 8.9±17.1 percent in ETC plan. Conclusion: ETC technique presented a dosimetric benefit for the WB tangential field treatment. And these benefits were subjected to case‐by‐case study. A careful comparison is needed for the treatment plan selection.
Xenogeneic patch closure of the small intestine: a novel approach to fistula management.

Previous work from our laboratory demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing placental-derived collagen tissue matrix (CTM) as a bowel wall substitute. We reasoned that this technique would also be suitable in managing intestinal fistulae. To test this hypothesis, we created a chronic cecal fistula in rats and randomly managed some with primary repair and others with CTM replacement. Leak rates, mortality, bursting pressures and histologic scores were similar, suggesting that a chronic fistula can be successfully managed with either a CTM or primary repair.
Positively invariant regions for strongly coupled reaction-diffusion systems with a balance law

are nonnegative constants. Systems such as theseand their quasilinear generalizations have received much attention be-cause they arise in several chemical and biological models. The reader isreferred to the expository article by Ni 6 and to further references thatmay be found in 3 and 4 . 2. POSITIVELY INVARIANT SETS FOR WEAKLYCOUPLED SYSTEMSWe will first state a result from 5 on positively invariant regions, butsince we will not need it in its full generality we will only state a specialcase of Theorem 16 from that paper and under much simplified hypothe-ses. In particular, we will avoid tangential derivatives in the boundaryconditions and we will impose simple regularity requirements on thecoefficients.Let be a bounded domain in
ENERGY BALANCE IN COOL QUIESCENT PROMINENCES

The energy balance for cool quiescent prominences is examined using a 6000 km, 6000 K isothermal slab model prominence with a density gradient dictated by a modified Kippenhahn-Schluter model. The model is irradiated from both sides by the coronal, chromospheric, and photospheric radiation fields. The radiative transfer problem is solved in detail for the Lyman continuum and Hα to determine the net radiative energy loss for hydrogen. An estimate of the energy loss for Ca ii H and K indicates that this source of energy loss is unimportant when compared with the hydrogen radiation. The radiative energy loss is easily balanced by the conductive energy gain from the corona.
The Library of Congress and Cataloging's Future

ABSTRACT A recent change in cataloging at the Library of Congress, and the recent publication of reports calling for broader changes in cataloging generally, have made catalogers wonder about their future, and about what to expect from LC. This article examines LC's historical relations with other libraries, the content of proposals for broad changes in cataloging, the significance for cataloging of commercial “content organizers” such as Google, and expectations from a new Working Group on the Future of Bibliographic Control, commissioned by LC to report in 2007.
Short-term effect of two therapeutic methods on myofascial pain and dysfunction of the masticatory system

In conclusion, a short-term intervention with IS therapy was found to result in a substantial decrease in facial pain for most of the subjects treated. Generally, groups were not found to be significantly different in respect to palpation pain change from session 1 to session 2. Neither therapy significantly altered the range of mouth opening. EMG findings were variable but suggest that RI therapy may alter muscle myoelectric activity. From these findings, ice and stretch of the masticatory and neck musculature would appear to be a good short-term adjunctive therapy to control pain with little apparent risk of negative effects.
Wireless smartphone communication for medical telemetry systems

Summary form only given. The conventional monitoring technologies at the bedside in the hospital consist of a body-worn device and central monitoring station with wired connections. At the hospital settings, the patients' vital parameters such as blood pressure, ECG, temperature, oxygen saturation can easily be monitored through a nurse stationed at the central monitoring station. Although this technology offers unique features and timely patient monitoring and treatment for patients in the clinic, there is no technology to continually monitor the health conditions of the patients after they are released from the hospital. Development of wireless telehealth technologies is critical in providing a solution to this clinical need. Such devices that can provide the wireless telemetry consist of three parts; the sensor, associated electronics and the telemetry unit. In this study, we develop an alternate communication approach using wireless communication and new display technologies to assist healthcare providers in monitoring patients outside the clinic. Our main concentration will be the telemetry link and associated electronics therefore we chose a temperature sensor to show the validity and functionality of the device. More specifically, we investigate the efficiency and practicability for a wireless network in a two channel temperature monitoring system. Two wireless protocols were investigated: a Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1) ad-hoc network and a Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) ad-hoc network. To do so, two subsystems were designed: a sensor system and a display system. The sensor system consists of two thermometers and a wireless transmitter/receiver. The data will be communicated to the display system wirelessly. The display consists of a wireless transmitter/receiver and a iOS mobile device. The results concerning the efficacy and practicability of the designed system and the integration with a radiometer will be presented.
Is carpal tunnel release under-utilized in veterans with spinal cord injury?

AbstractObjectiveCarpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common disorder among individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Although carpal tunnel release is highly effective, the procedure may be under-utilized in this population. This study attempts to identify if CTS is under-treated in Veterans with SCI.DesignThe Veterans Affairs (VA) National Patient Care Database was used for data compilation within fiscal years 2007 and 2008. Using ICD-9-CM diagnoses codes, individuals with SCIs were identified, including those diagnosed with CTS. Current procedural terminology (CPT) codes further showed those who had undergone surgical intervention including open and endoscopic release of the transverse carpal ligament. The VA SCI cohort was compared to the general VA population with regard to demographics, diagnosis, surgical intervention, and treatment location.ResultsA total of 19 296 veterans with SCI were identified within the 2-year period. The prevalence of CTS within this cohort was 3.5%, compared to 2.1% in the g...
Information, order and knowledge in economic and ecological systems: implications for material and energy use

Abstract Ecological and economic systems are open systems that require energy to change the thermodynamic states of materials from naturally occurring to more valued forms. These changes are accompanied by information flows and changes in the order of systems and their surroundings. In this paper, thermodynamics is used to assess these system changes and relate them to the knowledge present in a system. Particular emphasis is given to (1) the fundamental relationships among material, energy and information flows, and changes in order and knowledge, (2) the role of equilibrium and non-equilibrium thermodynamics in assessing system change, (3) the increasing role of material and energy flows through economic systems, and (4) the necessity for improved societal valuation of these flows.
Bundling for B2B procurement auctions: Current state and best practices

This study provides an overview of the current state of practice in bundling multiple items together for B2B procurement auctions. On the basis of insight obtained from 30 case study firms and an exploratory survey, the paper presents conditions, uses and contents of bundles and discusses the benefits and challenges of bundling. Successful approaches are illustrated from participating firms. For the interested practitioner, the paper outlines how this activity should be integrated into the firm's strategic procurement process. Furthermore, a proposed framework views bundling in the context of applicability and suggests generalisations. In addition, a scoring model is proposed, which provides guidance for the practicing professional in answering the question whether to bundle items together or not.
H. G. Bronn and the history of nature.

The German paleontologist H. G. Bronn is best remembered for his 1860 translation and critique of Darwin’s Origin of Species, and for supposedly twisting Darwinian evolution into conformity with German idealistic morphology. This analysis of Bronn’s writings shows, however, that far from being mired in an outmoded idealism that confined organic change to predetermined developmental pathways, Bronn had worked throughout the 1840s and 1850s on a new, historical approach to life. He had been moving from the study of plant and animal forms in the abstract towards placing them into geological and biogeographical context, analyzing patterns of progress and adaptation, explaining species diversity and individual variation, and applying biological insights to practical problems such as artificial breeding. Even though Bronn never fully accepted the idea of species transformation, he saw Darwin’s theory as a bold new move toward his own goal of establishing a comprehensive, historical science of life, and he presented it as such in his translation and commentary. Thus Darwin’s ideas gained a quick and generally favorable hearing in Germany not because of their easy assimilability into an older tradition, but because of their appeal to the innovative Bronn.
Antibacterial Activity of Bone Allografts: Comparison of a New Vancomycin-Tethered Allograft with Allograft Loaded with Adsorbed Vancomycin

Bacterial contamination of bone allograft is a significant complication of orthopedic surgery. To address this issue, we have engineered a method for covalently modifying bone allograft tissue with the antibiotic vancomycin. The goal of this investigation was to compare the biocidal properties of this new allograft material with those of vancomycin physisorbed onto graft material. The duration of antibiotic release from the vancomycin-modified allograft matrix was determined, and no elution was observed. In contrast, the adsorbed antibiotic showed a peak elution at 24h that then decreased over several days. We next used an Staphylococcus aureus disk diffusion assay to measure the activity of the eluted vancomycin. Again we found that no active antibiotic was eluted from the covalently modified allograft. Similarly, when the vancomycin-modified allograft morsel was used in the assay, no measurable elution was observed; amounts of antibiotic released from the adsorbed samples inhibited S. aureus growth for 4-7 days. Probably the most telling property of the allograft was that after 2 weeks, the tethered allograft was able to resist bacterial colonization. Unlike the elution system in which vancomycin was depleted over the course of days-weeks, the antibiotic on the allograft was stably bound even after 300 days, while its biocidal activity remained undiminished for 60 days. This finding was in stark contrast to the antibiotic impregnated allograft, which was readily colonized by bacteria. Finally we chose to evaluate three indicators of cell function: expression of a key transcription factor, expression of selected transcripts, and assessment of cell morphology. Since the tethered antibiotic appeared to have little or no effect on any of these activities, it was concluded that the stable, tethered antibiotic prevented bacterial infection while not modifying bone cell function.
Some reasons why algebraic topology is important in neuropsychology: perceptual and cognitive systems as fibrations

Abstract The topological structure of fibration (a total space coupled with a base space by a projection mapping) appears to be found throughout the CNS. Neuropsychological structure and functioning are analysed in terms of such fibrations, and application made to perceptual and cognitive systems. The key feature of “mechanistic” cognition appears to be a CNS embodiment of the category of simplicial sets. Specific structures for problem-solving and memory are determined in terms of this category.
Automatic generation of simulation models from neutral libraries: an example

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have proposed the development of neutral libraries of simulation components. The availability of such libraries would simplify the generation of simulation models, enable component-based modeling, and speed Internet-based simulation services. The result would be a reduction in the complexity of simulation modeling and analysis. In this paper, we consider a discrete-event simulation of the flow of jobs through a job shop. We describe the information requirements for the components in that simulation and provide formal models based on those requirements. We then derive a database structure from these formal models and discuss the population of that database with the data entries for a sample job shop. Finally, we examine the translators we developed to go from the neutral representation of the simulation components to the representation required by a commercial simulation package.
Methanol Decomposition on Cu(111): A DFT Study

Abstract Self-consistent periodic DFT–GGA calculations are used to investigate the methanol decomposition pathway on both equilibrium and stretched Cu(111) surfaces. The thermochemistry and kinetics of the decomposition via sequential hydrogen abstraction are both found to be highly unfavorable. The second step in this pathway, the abstraction of hydrogen from the methoxy intermediate, has large thermochemical (∼0.6 eV) and kinetic (∼1.4 eV) barriers. Our thermochemical results indicate that methanol, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide are weakly bound to the surface and will likely desorb before undergoing any reaction under UHV conditions. In contrast, methoxy, formyl, and atomic hydrogen are much more strongly bound. Introduction of a 4% lateral strain to the Cu(111) lattice decreased the transition state energy of the methoxy hydrogen abstraction step, suggesting that strain might facilitate the kinetics of this reaction.
Resident and attending physician attitudes regarding an audience response system.

Purpose Audience response system (ARS) technology is increasingly being incorporated into radiology education. The aim of this study was to gauge resident and attending physician attitudes regarding the use of an ARS in resident conferences. Methods An anonymous survey was sent to 38 residents and 57 attending physicians to gauge their attitudes regarding the use of an ARS in resident lectures using a 5-point, Likert-type scale (1 = strongly disagree, 2=disagree, 3=neither agree nor disagree, 4=agree, and 5=strongly agree). Results A total of 30 of 38 residents (78.9%) and 26 of 57 attending radiologists (45.6%) responded. Residents viewed the incorporation of an ARS into lectures positively, replying that they learned better from lectures incorporating an ARS (mean, 4.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.74-4.32), felt more comfortable answering questions using it (mean, 4.53; 95% CI, 4.25-4.81), and were more likely to attend a lecture that incorporated its use (mean, 3.70; 95% CI, 3.37-4.03). The use of an ARS by attending physicians was limited (9 of 26 [34.6%]), with respondents citing a lack of adequate training. Those attending physicians who used it viewed the system positively, stating that residents were more engaged when they used an ARS (mean, 4.33; 95% CI, 3.87-4.79). An ARS somewhat helped the faculty members gauge resident understanding of the lecture material (mean, 3.67; 95% CI, 2.95-4.40) and prepare future lectures (mean, 3.33; 95% CI 2.68-3.98). Conclusions Both residents and attending physicians favorably view audience response technology as a means to enhance education in didactic and case-based settings. Increased training on how to incorporate its use into teaching may drive additional utilization.
Molecular expression and functional activity of sodium dependent multivitamin transporter in human prostate cancer cells.

Abstract Nutrient transporters expressed on cell membrane have been targeted for enhancing bioavailability of poorly permeable drugs. Sodium dependent multivitamin transporter (SMVT) is once such carrier system, utilized for improving drug targeting to specific tissues. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to characterize SMVT in human derived prostate cancer cells (PC-3). Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis has provided product band at 774 bp, specific to SMVT. The mechanism and intracellular regulation of [3H]-biotin is also studied. [3H]-biotin uptake is found to be time and concentration dependent with K m and V max values of 19 ± 2 μM and 23 ± 1 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively. The uptake process is saturable in micromolar concentration range but linear in nanomolar concentration range. [3H]-biotin uptake shows significant sodium, temperature, pH and energy dependency. The process is strongly inhibited by unlabeled biotin and structural analogs such as desthiobiotin, pantothenate, lipoate and valeric acid. Intracellular regulatory pathways such as Ca 2+ /calmodulin and PKC pathway but not PTK pathway appears to play an important role in modulating [3H]-biotin uptake. This study for the first time confirms the molecular expression of SMVT and demonstrates that SMVT, responsible for biotin uptake is functionally active in PC-3 cells.
Jointly optimizing multi-user rate adaptation for video transport over wireless systems: Mean-fairness-variability tradeoffs

User perceived video quality depends on a variety of only partially understood factors, e.g., the application domain, content, compression, transport mechanism, and most importantly psycho-visual systems determining the ultimate Quality of Experience (QoE) of users. This paper centers on two key observations in addressing the problem of joint rate adaptation for video streams sharing a congested resource. First, we note that a user viewing a given video will experience temporal variations in the dependence of perceived video quality to the compression rate. Intuitively this is due to the possibly changing nature of the content, e.g., from an action to a slower scene. Thus, in allocating rates to users sharing a congested resource, in particular a wireless system where additional temporal variability in users' capacity may be high, content dependent tradeoffs can be realized to deliver a better overall average perceived video quality. Second, we note that such adaptation of users' rates, may result in temporal variations in video quality which combined with perceptual hysteresis effects will degrade users' QoE. We develop an asymptotically optimal online algorithm, requiring minimal statistical information, for optimizing users' QoE by realizing tradeoffs across mean, variance and fairness. Simulations show that our approach achieves significant gains in viewers' QoE. The novelty of this work lies not only in tackling the fundamental problem of achieving fair allocations of perceived video quality across a user population with time varying sensitivities and capacity, but, in addition, in integrating the deleterious impact that variations in perceived quality has on their QoE.
An experimental study of zinc chloride speciation from 300 to 600 °C and 0.5 to 2.0 kbar in buffered hydrothermal solutions

Abstract The solubility of sphalerite (ZnS) was measured in KCl-HCl-H 2 O solutions at 300–600°C and 0.5–2.0 kbar. The silicate assemblage K-feldspar-muscovite (or andalusite)-quartz was used to buffer the solution to acid conditions, resulting in the total solubility reaction 2 K + + KAl 2 AlSi 3 O 10 ( OH ) 2 + 6 SiO 2 + ZnS + nCl − = ZnCl n (2− n ) + 3 KAlSi 3 O 8 + H 2 S . (muscovite) (quartz) (sphalerite) (K-feldspar) A computer retrieval technique was used to derive average chloride ligand numbers for chlorozinc species at 0.25–2.0 molal total chloride. This technique mathematically solves for the average ligand number using a series of pertinent chemical relations at P and T . Mono- and di-chlorozinc species were found to predominate throughout the pressure-temperature-composition range investigated. The logarithms of the first and second dissociation constants for ZnCl 2 0 were evaluated over the P - T range; for example, at 1 kbar, the values −0.41 and −1.42 were computed for the logarithm of the first dissociation constant, while −7.62 and −10.57 were computed for the logarithm of the second dissociation constant, for 400 and 500°C, respectively. Results are compared to past studies conducted at subcritical conditions and differ in that we find no evidence for more highly coordinated chloro-zinc species except possibly for ZnCl 3 − at 600°C, 1 and 2 kbar. Our results are consistent with electrostatic theory, which favors lower charged to neutral molecules in low dielectric-constant media.
Display devices in image processing.

Hardware arrangements and methods are proposed in which optoelectronic devices, such as image converters and special purpose CRT's, are used for image processing operations, e.g., correlations-integral transforms, such as the Fourier transform, filtering, implementation of special algorithms, and one-dimensional functional representations. These operations are to be performed in parallel or partly in parallel at an over-all speed far exceeding that of a fast digital computer, with the output appearing as sequential electric signals. The accuracy will be adequate for experimental but not for analytic inputs. Specific recommendations are made on needed improvements in the performance of display devices and the standardization of developmental models, which would permit optimization of the proposed systems and increase their range of applicability.
Workers' Involvement in the Soviet Union: From Lenin to Gorbachev

This article discusses the evolution of Soviet attitudes toward workers' participation. The major emphasis is on developments of the last two decades, especially the most recent period. I suggest that Brezhnev was the first Soviet leader to raise the issue of workers' participation—at, however, only a mythological level. Mikhail Gorbachev, however, includes workers' participation as a genuine element in his program for workplace reform in the Soviet Union. Soviet managers and apparatchiks have reacted with open hostility to this innovation, while the majority of Soviet workers are skeptical about the implementation of this idea. The first year of Gorbachev's reforms bears witness to some modest progress along the lines of workers' participation, mostly in the movement to establish cooperatives in which workers, encouraged by the government, are able to create free cooperatives with the right to select their managers and make decisions about the distribution of the cooperative's income. However, there is a...
Power-Performance Yield optimization for MPSoCs using MILP

In nanometer technology regime, process variation (PV) causes uncertainties in the processor frequency and leakage power, affecting the overall performance and energy efficiency of Multi-Processor System-on-Chips (MPSoCs). Mostly, the Power and Performance Yield optimizations are not done simultaneously while scheduling the tasks at the system level. We demonstrate the significance of optimizing both Power and Performance Yields simultaneously in task scheduling in order to minimize the effects of process variation at the system level. In this paper, we present process variation aware task scheduling algorithms and define a new design metric, called Power-Performance Yield (PPY) to guide the scheduling procedure. The PPY is modeled considering the spatial correlation characteristic of systematic process variation, log-normal distributions of leakage power and an energy-aware slack budgeting approach. We propose a novel mathematical formulation using Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) technique and also employ an improved Simulated Annealing (SA) based stochastic technique for PPY optimization. The experimental results on TGFF generated random task graphs and E3S benchmark suite demonstrate average PPY improvements of 16.9% and 31% over two other SA based schemes that separately optimize Performance Yield and Power Yield, respectively. With accurate PV-aware modeling, we obtain average PPY improvements of 9.65% and 30.3% under strong correlations and 12.9% and 29.8% under weak correlations when compared to two other existing scheduling schemes that lack appropriate modeling.
A Proximal Change Experiment Testing Two Communication Exercises With Intimate Partner Violent Men

This study tests the immediate impact of two interventions for intimate partner violent (IPV) men in affecting behavioral and emotional change during arguments with their partners. Couples with an abusive male partner (N=100) discussed an area of conflict twice, interrupted by a brief intervention. Men were randomly assigned to receive (a) an editing-out-the-negative skills training, (b) an accepting influence skills training, or (c) a time-out. IPV men in both skills-training conditions showed greater decreases in aggressive feelings than IPV men in the time-out condition based on their self-report and observed affective behavior. Women also reported feeling less aggressive when their husbands were assigned to one of the skills-training conditions as compared to the control (time-out) condition. Results suggest that IPV men can learn to adopt new communication skills and that they do appear to have a positive impact on the emotional tone of their arguments. Clinically, communication skills training may be a useful addition to battering intervention programs, although these skills may need to be taught to both men and women involved in violent relationships.
Potentiation of Ca2+-dependent K+ activation by theophylline is independent of cyclic nucleotide elevation.

Potentiation of Ca2+-dependent K+ activation by theophylline is independent of cyclic nucleotide elevation
Decisional conflict among Chinese family caregivers regarding nursing home placement of older adults with dementia

Abstract Purpose: To describe factors influencing decisional conflict among Chinese family caregivers regarding nursing home placement of older adults with dementia. Design and Methods: Individual interviews were used to collect data with 30 Chinese family caregivers of older adults with dementia in Taiwan. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Factors influencing caregivers' decisional conflict included the Chinese value of filial piety, limited financial resources and information, placement willingness of the older adult, family disagreement, distrust of nursing home care quality, and limited nursing home availability. Factors influencing caregivers' decisional conflict post placement included disappointment with nursing home care quality and self-blame for the placement decision. Implications: Findings resulting from this study indicate that Chinese family caregivers experience decisional conflict during the nursing home decision making process as well as after the placement decision. It is important to provide appropriate decision support beginning before admission and across the trajectory of the older person's nursing home stay in order to decrease decisional conflict and facilitate a more positive decision making process for caregivers, family members, and older adults with dementia.
I-125 and I-123 labelled iodobenzyl bromide, a useful alkylating agent for radiolabelling biologically important molecules

The radioiodination of 4-trimethylsilylbenzyl bromide in acetic acid with no carrier added I-125 and I-123 iodide ion and N-chlorosuccinimide (NCS) is a rapid, high yielding process which produces high specific activity 4-[I-125 or I-123]iodobenzyl bromide. This radiolabelled alkylating agent has been efficiently reacted with N,N-dimethylaniline and triphenylphosphine to generate radiolabelled quaternary ammonium and phosphonium salts, and should be useful for labelling other biologically important molecules which possess suitable nucleophilic functional groups.
Impulse approximation in nuclear pion production reactions: absence of a one-body operator

The impulse approximation of pion production reactions is studied by developing a relativistic formalism, consistent with that used to define the nucleon-nucleon potential. For plane wave initial states we find that the usual one-body (1B) expression ${\mathcal{O}}_{1\mathrm{B}}$ is replaced by ${\mathcal{O}}_{2\mathrm{B}}=\ensuremath{-}\mathit{iK}({m}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}/2){\mathcal{O}}_{1\mathrm{B}}/{m}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}$, where $K({m}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}/2)$ is the sum of all irreducible contributions to nucleon-nucleon scattering with energy transfer of ${m}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}/2$. We show that ${\mathcal{O}}_{2\mathrm{B}}\ensuremath{\approx}{\mathcal{O}}_{1\mathrm{B}}$ for plane wave initial states. For distorted waves, we find that the usual operator is replaced with a sum of two-body operators that are well approximated by the operator ${\mathcal{O}}_{2\mathrm{B}}$. Our new formalism solves the (previously ignored) problem of energy transfer forbidding a one-body impulse operator. Using a purely one pion exchange deuteron, the net result is that the impulse amplitude for $\mathit{np}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}d{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ at threshold is enhanced by a factor of approximately two. This amplitude is added to the larger ``rescattering'' amplitude and, although experimental data remain in disagreement, the theoretical prediction of the threshold cross section is brought closer to (and in agreement with) the data.
Dental insurance and its impact on preventive dental care visits for U.S. children

ABSTRACT Background The authors sought to describe the proportion and characteristics of U.S. children with dental insurance and to assess the relationship between dental insurance and preventive dental care (PDC). Methods The authors used the National Survey of Children's Health, designed to represent all U.S. children. Outcomes of interest were dental insurance status and at least one PDC visit in the previous year. Results Seventy-seven percent of U.S. children had dental insurance; of these, 29 percent had public dental insurance. Overall, 16.3 million children lacked dental insurance, 2.6 times the number of children who did not have medical insurance. Children uninsured for dental care were less than half as likely to have received PDC. Among children without dental insurance, 3 million were potentially eligible for public dental insurance and 8 million had private medical insurance but no dental insurance. While the majority of children younger than 3 years had dental insurance, few received PDC (for example, 76 percent of 2-year-olds had dental insurance but less than one-quarter had received PDC). Race/ethnicity was an important modifier in the relationship between insurance coverage and PDC. African-American children, regardless of dental insurance type, were significantly less likely than white children to have received PDC. Conclusions Dental insurance, whether public or private, is associated with the receipt of PDC. However, disparities in PDC disproportionately affect young children and black and multiracial children, even those with dental insurance. Despite recent increases in the number of children with dental insurance, 2.6 times as many children did not have dental insurance compared with those who had medical insurance. Clinical Implications The authors offer recommendations to increase the availability of dental insurance to U.S. children.