cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Educational Intervention to Improve Inpatient Documentation of High-risk Diagnoses by Pediatric Residents.

OBJECTIVES: Diagnoses extracted from physician notes are used to calculate hospital quality metrics; failure to document high-risk diagnoses may lead to the appearance of worse-than-expected outcomes for complex patients. Academic hospitals often rely on documentation authored by trainees, yet residents receive little training in this regard. In this study, we evaluate inpatient pediatric resident notes to determine which high-risk diagnoses are commonly missed and assess the efficacy of a multitiered intervention to improve the documentation of these diagnoses. METHODS: In a baseline review of 220 charts, 13 frequently missed high-risk diagnoses were identified in 2013. Interventions began in 2014, including physician education and reference cards. The intervention also included note template prompts for 4 of the diagnoses. Using a standardized rubric, we reviewed charts for 3 years (2013, 2014, and 2015). The average within-disease probability of missed high-risk diagnoses was compared across time. RESULTS: There was a decrease in the probability of undocumented target high-risk diagnoses after the intervention (52% vs 36% in 2014 [odds ratio = 0.51; P CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric residents were significantly less likely to omit a high-risk diagnosis in their notes after implementation of our documentation improvement program, suggesting that curriculum development is an effective method of improving documentation, with the goal of improving the accuracy of health systems performance indices.
Computational Analysis of Merchant Marine GPS Data

Abstract : A series of quantitative and structural analyses are applied to geospatial data regarding the movement of Merchant Marine vessels in the English Channel. CASOS has been tasked with developing new computational techniques for analyzing data about Merchant Marine behavior under a Social Network Analysis framework. In this paper we describe an experiment doing so for geospatial data from AIS transponders in 1700+ Merchant Marine vessels during exercise in the English Channel. Our analysis has three phases: Spatial clustering algorithms are used to detect places of interest and relationships between entities the data. Extracted relational information is analyzed in network form. A suite of network analytic measures are applied to find patterns on the network and individual node levels. We apply an intervention analysis which models an intervention (surveying ships at ports) and suggests a strategy for allocating surveillance. The analysis framework is unusual in taking a relational perspective to spatial data, and novel in its principled treatment of the relationship between spatial, two mode, and one mode network representations of data, and in its approach to proposing intervention strategy.
Biomimetic Binding and Activation of Dioxygen with Copper Complexes

Abstract Synthetically derived copper(I) coordination complexes have been used to study O 2 -binding and copper mediated oxidation/oxygenations, of interest and relevance in chemical and biological processes. Three spectroscopically and structurally distinct types of {LCu 2 -O 2 } complexes are described, where each Cu(I) n (n = 1,2) precursor is able to bind O 2 reversibly. Reactivity comparisons show that two of the three species possess nucleophilic or basic peroxo ligands, while the other has a non-basic O 2 2- ligand also acting as an electrophile. The latter complex is suggested to have a μ-η 2 :η 2 peroxo coordination. This type of species is also present in a reaction system mimicking copper monooxygenases; here, the {Cu 2 -O 2 } intermediate is able to hydroxylate an arene substrate which is part of the dinucleating ligand.
The Neglect of Epistemology

The NEGLECT OF EPISTEMOLOGYrefers to the lack of concern by scientists for epistemological issues.1
Dynamics of Interpersonal Coordination

Everyday human actions often occur in a social context. Past psychological research has found that the motor behavior of socially situated individuals tends to be coordinated. Our research performed over the last 20 years has sought to understand how the mutuality, accommodation, and synchrony found in everyday interactional coordination can be understood using a dynamical theory of behavioral order, namely coordination dynamics. Using laboratory interpersonal tasks, we have demonstrated that when two people are asked to rhythmically coordinate their limbs they show behavioral phenomena identical to those found in bimanual interlimb coordination, which has been mathematically modeled as a dynamical process. Research has demonstrated that these same dynamical organizing principles can coordinate the rhythmic movements of two people unintentionally and that the weaker, intermittent coordination that ensues is affected by both perceptual (e.g., attentional focus and information pickup activity of the visual system) and dynamical constraints (e.g., intrapersonal rhythmic synergies and period basin of entrainment). Other research has investigated how traditional social and personality properties of a dyad (rapport, social competence) relate to dynamical properties of a dyad’s coordinated movements and how the stability of coordinated movements mirrors the stability of mental connectedness experienced in social interactions.
Exceptional Branch Points Without the Condition k>l

Now let Open image in new window be a nonplanar minimal surface in normal form at the exceptional branch point w=0 with \(k \not= l\) which does not satisfy k>l. We have $$\hat{X}_w (w) = (A_1 w^n + A_2w^{n+1} + \cdots, R_m w^m + \cdots)$$ with m>n, \(A_{1} \not= 0\), \(R_{m} \not= 0\). As in Chap. 5 we introduce C j and \(C'_{j} \in \mathbb{R}^{2}\) by Open image in new window Set $$\varTheta_j := (j-1) + (n+1);$$ then $$w \hat{X}_w (w) = \biggl(A_1 w^{n+1} + \sum_{j> 1} C_j w^{\varTheta_j} + \sum _{j> 1} C'_j w^{\varTheta_j}, R_m w^{m+1} + \cdots\biggr).$$
Combining morphine and ibuprofen does not improve pain control compared with using either drug alone following musculoskeletal injury in children

Commentary on: Le May S, Ali S, Plint AC, et al . Oral analgesics utilization for children with musculoskeletal injury (OUCH trial): an RCT. Pediatrics 2017;140:e20170186. Ibuprofen is considered the standard first-line treatment for musculoskeletal injury pain among children, yet provides inadequate relief for many patients.1 Combining morphine with ibuprofen may improve pain. However, there are growing concerns among both the medical community and the public about the risks associated with opioids.2 Thus, before recommending morphine alongside ibuprofen, we first need more information about associated benefits and risks. To fill this gap in knowledge, Le May and colleagues set out to assess whether the …
Clare of Assisi and the Thirteenth-Century Church: Religious Women, Rules, and Resistance. By Catherine M. Mooney. (Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016. Pp. 291. $65.00.)

The author of this study has written a superb book about Clare of Assisi and the 1253 rule for mendicant women attributed to her. She shows herself to be a sympathetic reader of Clare's life and wr...
Automated Abstraction of Manipulation Domains for Cost-Based Reactive Synthesis

When robotic manipulators perform high-level tasks in the presence of another agent, e.g., a human, they must have a strategy that considers possible interferences in order to guarantee task completion and efficient resource usage. One approach to generate such strategies is called reactive synthesis . Reactive synthesis requires an abstraction , which is a discrete structure that captures the domain in which the robot and other agents operate. Existing works discuss the construction of abstractions for mobile robots through space decomposition; however, they cannot be applied to manipulation domains due to the curse of dimensionality caused by the manipulator and the objects. In this work, we present the first algorithm for automatic abstraction construction for reactive synthesis of manipulation tasks. We focus on tasks that involve picking and placing objects with possible extensions to other types of actions. The abstraction also provides an upper bound on path-based costs for robot actions. We combine this abstraction algorithm with our reactive synthesis planner to construct correct-by-construction plans. We demonstrate the power of the framework on a UR5 robot, completing complex tasks in face of interferences by a human.
Neuroticism as mental noise: Evidence from a continuous tracking task.

Objective Prominent theories of Neuroticism emphasize its potential link to threat- or punishment-sensitivity processes. Even in the absence of external threats, though, Neuroticism may predispose people to a sort of "mental noise," or cognitive instability, that creates problems for ongoing efforts after control. If this is the case, cognitive views of Neuroticism might be needed to complement the primarily emotion-related views that currently exist. Method In a four study program of research (total N = 541), momentary forms of monitoring and control were assessed using variants of a continuous tracking task. Results As hypothesized, the dimension of Neuroticism was consistently linked to performance deficits, regardless of whether aversive sounds were present or not (Studies 1-3), and the relevant deficits also predicted daily levels of negative affect (Study 4). Conclusions The results support the idea that momentary self-regulation is noisier in the context of higher levels of Neuroticism.
Patterns of Health Care Costs Due to External Ventricular Drain Infections.

Background External ventricular drain (EVD) infections are a significant cause of morbidity among neurosurgical patients and have been correlated with increased length of hospital stay and longer requirements for intensive care. To date, no studies have examined the financial impact of EVD infections. Methods Patients who underwent EVD placement between December 2010 and January 2016 were included in the study. Clinical records were retrospectively reviewed and health care cost data were obtained from the hospital's finance department. Clinical information included patient demographics, details from the hospital course, and outcomes. Total costs, direct/indirect, and fixed/variable costs were analyzed for every patient. Results Over the 5-year study period, 246 EVDs were placed in 243 patients with an overall infection rate of 9.9% (N = 24). The median EVD duration for infected versus noninfected patients was 19 and 9 days, respectively (P Conclusions EVD infection has a substantial effect on clinical morbidity and healthcare costs. These results demonstrate the imperative need to improve EVD infection prevention, particularly in the setting of a value-based health care system.
Morphine Upregulates Kappa-opioid Receptors of Human Lymphocytes

Opioids such as morphine are potent analgesic and addictive compounds. Chronic morphine use also induces immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive effects, as especially evident in HIV-infected patients. Morphine acts on the immune cells primarily through its binding to mu- opioid receptors on the plasma membrane. However, morphine modulation of immune functions still exists in mu-opioid receptor knockout mice, suggesting that in addition to the mu opioid receptors, morphine may also act by mechanisms mediated by either delta or kappa opioid receptors. To determine whether morphine activates kappa opioid receptors (KOR), a quantitative competitive RT-PCR procedure was utilized to quantify the KOR gene expression of morphine-treated cells. A segment of KOR transcript spanning the second extracellular loop, which has the reported dynorphin specificity, and the seventh transmembrane domain of the receptor was amplified from the total RNA of morphine-treated CEM x174 lymphocytes, along with a competitor molecule. The competitor was constructed by deleting a 33-nucleotide fragment from KOR. The results of the competitive RT/PCR indicated that CEMxl74 cells expressed KOR mRNA constitutively, in the order of femto-grams. Treatment of 10 μM of morphine resulted in the up-regulation of KOR gene expression 24 hr post-treatment. The observed morphine effect could be reversed by treating the cells with either naloxone (a KOR-partially selective antagonist) or nor-Binaltorphimine (a KOR-selective antagonist).
Reliability Analysis for a Hybrid Microgrid based on Chronological Monte Carlo Simulation with Markov Switching Modeling

Hybrid microgrids (MG) are being deployed to solve grid unavailability issues. Reliability is one of the main concerns for microgrid owners and investors. The intermittency of renewable resources and the failure of microgrid components could lead to blackouts, suggesting the importance of reliability evaluation. MG reliability evaluation is suggested to be factored in the design process considering minimization of the initial and operating costs of the system. This work presents a methodology to evaluate the reliability of MG components and MG system availability. A combined methodology using Chronological Monte Carlo Simulation (CMCS) and Markov switching model (MSM) is used to evaluate the availability of the components and the energy production adequacy of a MG. A case study for a small commercial retail application is used as an example of how the methodology is applied. The results show that the installation of a fossil-based backup unit leads to higher reliability values than upsizing the existing components solution.
A computation of partial isomorphism rank on ordinal structures

We compute the partial isomorphism rank, in the sense Scott and Karp, of a pair of ordinal structures using an Ehrenfeucht-Fraisse game. A complete formula is proven by induction given any two arbitrary ordinals written in Cantor normal form.
Intertemporal Approach to the Current Account

A country's current account balance with the rest of the world can be understood as a reflection of the optimal saving decisions of its residents. This intertemporal theory posits that the current account is driven by the desire to smooth consumption over time in response to random shocks to income. The theory can be generalized to consider the effects of investment decisions, shocks to interest rates, and various consumer preferences. When the theory is generalized to consider these features, it appears to be empirically relevant for numerous countries and enhances understanding of the increasing frequency of large current account imbalances.
Locally Finite Observables in sYM

A `locally-finite' observable is one for which there is no region of divergence anywhere in the space of real loop momenta; it can therefore be computed (in principle) without regularization. In this work, we prove that all two-loop ratio functions in planar, maximally supersymmetric Yang-Mills theory are locally-finite.
Lessons learned from frontline skilled nursing facility staff regarding COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

BACKGROUND: Presently a median of 37.5% of the U.S. skilled nursing facility (SNF) workforce has been vaccinated for COVID-19. It is essential to understand vaccine hesitancy among SNF workers to inform vaccine campaigns going forward. OBJECTIVE: To describe the concerns raised among healthcare workers and staff from SNFs during town hall meetings. DESIGN: Sixty-three SNFs from four corporations were invited to send Opinion Leaders, outspoken staff from nursing, nurse aid, dietary, housekeeping or recreational therapy, to attend a 1-h virtual town hall meeting. Meetings used a similar format where the moderator solicited concerns that the attendees themselves had or had heard from others in the facility about the COVID-19 vaccine. Physicians and moderators used personal stories to address concerns and reaffirmed positive emotions. SETTING: Twenty-six video town hall meetings with SNF staff. PARTICIPANTS: Healthcare workers and staff, with physicians serving as content experts. MEASUREMENT: Questions and comments about the COVID-19 vaccines noted by physicians. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety three staff from 50 facilities participated in 26 meetings between December 30, 2020 and January 15, 2021. Most staff reported getting information about the vaccine from friends or social media. Concerns about how rapidly the vaccines were developed and side effects, including infertility or pregnancy related concerns, were frequently raised. There were no differences in concerns raised by discipline. Questions about returning to prior activities after being vaccinated were common and offered the opportunity to build on positive emotions to reduce vaccine hesitancy. CONCLUSIONS: Misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine was widespread among SNF staff. Sharing positive emotions and stories may be more effective than sharing data when attempting to reduce vaccine hesitancy in SNF staff.
Modeling as-manufactured fiber-reinforced microstructures based on X-ray microcomputed tomography

Abstract A new approach is presented to convert X-ray microcomputed tomography (μCT) image data of as-manufactured fiber-reinforced microstructures into high-fidelity finite element (FE) meshes. The mesh-generation approach leverages existing image segmentation and meshing tools to generate FE meshes of a woven-fabric and fiber-reinforced composite (FRCs), where constituents in each microstructure are represented explicitly. Segmentation of fibers from X-ray μCT images was performed using a template-matching/Kalman-filter estimation algorithm, and flaws were segmented using Trainable Weka Segmentation. Segmentation data were converted into reduced-order images, which were subsequently imported into Simpleware™ for mesh generation. To demonstrate advancements of the mesh-generation process, biaxial and uniaxial FE simulations were performed in Abaqus® for the woven- and FRC microstructures, respectively. Results reveal that the mesh-generation approach allows for modeling of distinct interactions between constituents, including contact/friction between fibers and interactions at the fiber-matrix interfaces. Results from this work demonstrate that X-ray μCT images of complex fiber-reinforced microstructures can be converted into high-fidelity meshes, but the high number of elements required for discretization necessitates additional work to improving mesh efficiency.
Systematic Review and Regression Modeling of the Effects of Age, Body Size, and Exercise on Cardiovascular Parameters in Healthy Adults.

PURPOSE Blood pressure, cardiac output, and ventricular volumes correlate to various subject features such as age, body size, and exercise intensity. The purpose of this study is to quantify this correlation through regression modeling. METHODS We conducted a systematic review to compile reference data of healthy subjects for several cardiovascular parameters and subject features. Regression algorithms used these aggregate data to formulate predictive models for the outputs-systolic and diastolic blood pressure, ventricular volumes, cardiac output, and heart rate-against the features-age, height, weight, and exercise intensity. A simulation-based procedure generated data of virtual subjects to test whether these regression models built using aggregate data can perform well for subject-level predictions and to provide an estimate for the expected error. The blood pressure and heart rate models were also validated using real-world subject-level data. RESULTS The direction of trends between model outputs and the input subject features in our study agree with those in current literature. CONCLUSION Although other studies observe exponential predictor-output relations, the linear regression algorithms performed the best for the data in this study. The use of subject-level data and more predictors may provide regression models with higher fidelity. SIGNIFICANCE Models developed in this study can be useful to clinicians for personalized patient assessment and to researchers for tuning computational models.
Analysis of Thermal Track Buckling in the Lateral Plane

The determination of the safe temperature increase in the rails of a continuously welded track, to prevent lateral buckling is presented. The criterion used is based on the post-buckling equilibrium branches of the track. The range of safe temperature increases is defined asT 0<T L , whereT L is the smallest value of the temperature rise at which a deformed state of equilibrium (thus, a buckled state) becomes possible. The post-buckling equilibrium states are determined analytically. To obtain a consistent formulation of the problem use is made of the principle of virtual displacements and the variational calculus for variable matching points. The obtained formulations are nonlinear, but can be solved exactly. Solutions are presented for four buckled configurations. The results are presented graphically for a typical railroad track presently in use on main lines. The obtained results are compared with the corresponding results of other investigators.
Hacia una (de)construcción del teatro breve de Manuel Bretón de los Herreros

The short plays of Manuel Breton de los Herreros (1796-1873) have been traditionally identified with a group of twenty five plays, composed in one or two acts, which were compiled within the posthumous edition of his works in 1883-1884. The present essay follows a comprehensive criterion and includes eighteen additional writings that complete the corpus of the Breton de los Herreros’ short plays. Under the hypothesis of the existence of a self-censorship process that progressively elided such a group of comedies, this article argues how the author, his biographers, and his later critics favoured an irregular literary criticism about this significant dramatic sub-genre. Concepts like political writing and conscious self-censorship will be incorporated here to the studies about Breton de los Herreros.
Who are My Competitors? - Let the Customer Decide

Many competitive industries find it challenging to identify their competition set, and despite the widely accepted importance of competition set to strategy development and daily operations, few data-driven approaches have been developed to address this challenge. In this paper, we propose a simple and intuitive methodology to identify true competitors from the customer perspective using online search and click-stream data. We use data from the hotel industry to build two competition networks: one based on our customer-centric approach, and the other based on price-matching patterns from the hotelier perspective. The customer-based competition network has an average degree of six to eight, consistent with the average number of competitors found in hotel managers surveys. Our approach also reveals a property of the competition network in hotel industry | small degree of separation. A hotel is connected with another within three steps of competitive links, which has important implications for how price perturbations travel through competitive links. Comparing the two networks, we find a 50% mismatch, with hoteliers tending to ignore independent and distant hotels while over-emphasizing branded and nearby hotels. This result is robust to many alternative measures of competition. Finally, this proposed methodology can easily be applied to many other industries to aid businesses in identifying their key competitors and to enrich our understanding of networked competition.
Capitellum excision: Mechanical implications and clinical consequences

Controversy exists regarding the optimal treatment of isolated fractures of the capitellum that are not amenable to open reduction and internal fixation. Excision of the capitellum could result in instability of the elbow, though only limited the clinical or laboratory evidence exists to support this outcome. The aim of our study was to determine if capitellum excision leads to significant instability by measuring the relative change in varus–valgus displacement of the elbow. The varus–valgus displacement was recorded in 11 cadaveric elbows before and after isolated excision of the capitellum. Specimens were testing in varus-loaded and valgus-loaded positions with and without a 1 kg weight on the forearm. The varus–valgus displacement at the elbow was measured using a 3D motion capture system. Capitellum excision did not significantly change varus–valgus displacements in either the adducted, varus, or valgus position of the elbow (p = 0.80, p = 0.28, p = 0.51). Furthermore, the addition of the 1 kg external functional load to the forearm did not produce a significant change in the varus and valgus loaded positions (p = 0.16, p = 0.36). Our results demonstrate that excision of the capitellum in the setting of intact ligamentous structures does not result in significant instability in either the adducted varus loaded or valgus loaded positions of the elbow. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:346–350, 2014.
Micrometeorological measurements of mercury vapor fluxes over background forest soils in eastern Tennessee

Abstract We used the modified Bowen ratio method to estimate the fluxes of vapor-phase elemental Hg (Hg0) over background forest soils during the summer and fall of 1993. Fluxes were derived from the concentration gradients of total gaseous Hg between sampling heights of 25 and 165 cm and the concurrently determined turbulent diffusion coefficients of reference trace gases (i.e. H2O or CO2). The concentration and gradient data of Hg0 measured during the campaigns generally fell in relatively narrow ranges of 1.52–3.68 and −0.16 to 0.32 ng m−3 (over 140 cm), respectively: means ( ± 1 S.D.) for the corresponding; emission and deposition fluxes were found to be 7.5 ± 7.0 (n= 30) and −2.2 ± 2.4 ng m−2 h−1 (n=9), respectively. From the data collected during a series of sequential measurements, reproducible patterns of diurnal exchange emerged: (1) small bidirectional fluxes of Hg0 in the morning, (2) peak emissions near midafternoon, and (3) generally insignificant exchange during the nighttime. The fluxes of Hg over soil surfaces appear to be driven by a combined effect of several meteorological factors, including wind speed, vertical mixing, and soil temperature. Comparison of environmental conditions for both emission and deposition events showed that the direction of fluxes may be strongly influenced by the stability conditions of the boundary layer. The overall results of our emission and dry-deposition measurements in concern-with recent studies of wet-deposition rates in the forest ecosystem suggest that source strengths of this forest soil system may be of the same order of magnitude as sink strengths.
A single base pair change in proline biosynthesis genes causes osmotic stress tolerance.

Abstract A single base pair change has been found in a site corresponding to a regulatory region of the first enzyme in the proline biosynthetic pathway. This change alters feedback inhibition and is responsible for the synthesis of high levels of proline that enable Escherichia coli to withstand osmotic stress.
Incidence and pattern of second primary malignancies in patients with index oropharyngeal cancers versus index nonoropharyngeal head and neck cancers

BACKGROUND A recent review of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry suggested that patients with index squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oropharynx (SCCOP) are less likely to develop second primary malignancies (SPM) than patients with index SCC of nonoropharyngeal sites (oral cavity, larynx, hypopharynx). The objectives of this study were to determine the impact of index primary tumor site on SPM risk and to explore factors that potentially affect this risk within a large, prospectively accrued cohort of patients with index SCC of the head and neck (SCCHN). METHODS A cohort of 2230 patients with incident SCCHN was reviewed for development of SPM. Kaplan-Meier analysis, log-rank testing, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to detect the impact of various factors, including index tumor site, on SPM risk. RESULTS The SPM rate was lower for patients with index SCCOP than for patients with index nonoropharyngeal cancer (P < .001). Among patients with SCCOP, former smokers had a 50% greater risk of SPM, and current smokers had a 100% greater risk of SPM than never-smokers (Ptrend = .008). Also among patients with SCCOP, those with the classic SCCHN phenotype had an SPM risk similar to that of patients with index nonoropharyngeal cancers; those with a typical human papillomavirus phenotype had a very low SPM risk. SPM most commonly occurred at nontobacco-related sites in patients with index SCCOP and at tobacco-related sites in patients with index nonoropharyngeal cancers. CONCLUSIONS In patients with SCCHN, index cancer site and smoking status affect the risk and distribution of SPM. Cancer 2013;119:2593–2601. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
934-23 Reproducibility of Qualitative and Quantitative Angiographic Findings in the New Approaches to Coronary Intervention (NACI) Registry

To assess the reliability of qualitative morphologic and quantitative angiographic measurements from the NACI Registry Angiographic Core Laboratory, repeat analysis of 135 lesions was performed g2 months after the initial analysis. Pre- and post-procedural lesion morphology was evaluated by a trained technician utilizing standardized criteria; all readings were then reviewed at a separate sitting by an expert panel. Quantitative angiographic analysis was performed using contrast-filled guiding catheters and a validated edge-detection system (ImageComm). Reproducibility for lesion morphology was graded as poor-slight (k = 0.0-0.2), fair (k = 0.21-0.40), moderate (k = 0.41-0.60), substantial (k = 0.61-0.80), and almost perfect (k = 0.81-1.00). lntraclass (R) and Pearson (r) correlation coefficients are provided for quantitative angiographic measurements. Reading #1 Reading #2 Kappa (k) ±SE Pre-Procedural (%) Total Occlusion/Eccentricity 3.0/58 3.0/61 1.00/0.75 0/0.06 Angulation/Thrombus 18/9.0 17/6.0 0.72/06.8 0.08/0.12 Tortuosity/Calcification 3.0/5.3 1.5/8.3 0.66/0.64 0.22/0.13 Post-Procedural (%) Any Dissection/Staining 8.6/2.6 8.6/1.7 0.89/0.80 0.08/0.20 TIMI l3/Spasm 5.1/3.4 4.3/1.7 0.71/0.66 0.16/0.23 Ectasia/Lumen Irregularity 6.9/6.0 5.2/6.0 0.55/0.54 0.17/0.17 Thrombus/Haziness 2.6/12.0 2.6/15.4 0.32/0.28 0.25/0.12 Quantitative Angiography Reading #1 Reading #2 Δ ± SD R/r Reference Diameter mm 2.77 ± 0.64 2.78 ± 0.64 017 ± 0.16 0.93/0.93 Pre-MLD, mm 087 ± 0.68 0.91 ± 0.66 0.19 ± 018 0.93/0.93 Pre-% Diameter Stenosis 69 ± 20 68 ± 20 6 ± 6 0.91/0.91 Final- MLD, mm 2.23 ± 0.85 2.13 ± 0.83 0.22 ± 0.22 0.93/0.94 Final-% Diameter Stenosis 22 ± 21 25 ± 21 7 ± 7 0.88/0.90 We conclude that Core Laboratory measurements of pre-procedural morphology, post-procedural dissection (±staining), and quantitative angiographic indices are highly reproducible in the NACI Registry, although reliability is lower for selected findings, including post-procedural thrombus and haziness.
Photochemical air pollution injury to potatoes in the Atlantic coastal states

Photochemical oxidants, primarily ozone, can cause severe injury to potatoes, including premature senescence of leaves, death of plants, and reduced yield of tubers. Under some controlled conditions, ozone produced leaf injuries similar to those observed in fields. Studies were initiated in 1969 comparing growth of eight varieties in greenhouses with carbonfiltered and unfiltered air. The yields of sensitive varieties were reduced as much as 50% in unfiltered air. Tolerant varieties produced about the same yields in both environments, but their yields in filtered air tended to ozone, and to pollutants in unfiltered air, were assessed in 1972. A summary of 4 years of oxidant data at Beltsville is provided. The severe leaf injury and yield loss (about 50%) with some potato varieties on the Eastern Shore of Virginia in 1971 are attributed primarily to oxidant air pollutants. In 1971 and 1972, oxidants reached about the same maximum levels as at Beltsville.
Crystal structure of 2,5-anhydro-1-O-(p-tolylsulfonyl)-D-mannitol.

Abstract 2,5-Anhydro-1- O -( p -tolylsulfonyl)- d -mannitol, C 13 H 18 SO 7 , M r = 318.4, monoclinic, C 2, a = 26.370(6), b = 7.9741(11), c = 6.6801(6) A, β = 91.401(11)°, V = 1404.3(6) A 3 , Z = 4, D X = 1.506 g/cm 3 , Cu K α, λ = 1.54184 A, μ = 23.03 cm −1 , F(000) = 672, T = 296(1) K, R = 0.042 for 2832 observations with I > 3σ( I ) (of 2864 unique data). On the esterified side of the molecule, three bond lengths and three bond angles show small changes compared to the unesterified side, which is similar to the symmetrical parent compound, 2,5-anhydro- d -mannitol. The conformation of the five-membered ring is E 5 with P = 49.3° and τ m = 38.1°. The hydroxymethyl groups adopt g + and g − dispositions similar to the parent molecule. The three hydroxyl groups are involved in a network of intermolecular hydrogen bonds both as donors and acceptors.
Weakly Complete Problems are Not Rare

Certain natural decision problems are known to be intractable because they are complete for E, the class of all problems decidable in exponential time. Lutz recently conjectured that many other seemingly intractable problems are not complete for E, but are intractable nonetheless because they areweakly complete for E (i.e., they are in E and hard for more than a measure 0 subset of E). The main result of this paper shows that Lutz's intuition is at least partially correct: many more problems are weakly complete for E than are complete for E.
Large deviations for the invariant measure of a reaction-diffusion equation with non-Gaussian perturbations

In this paper we establish a large deviations principle for the invariant measure of the non-Gaussian stochastic partial differential equation (SPDE) ∂ t v e =ℒv e +f(x,v e )+eσ(x,v e ) $$\ddot W_{tx} $$ . Here ℒ is a strongly-elliptic second-order operator with constant coefficients, ℒh:=DH xx-αh, and the space variablex takes values on the unit circleS 1. The functionsf and σ are of sufficient regularity to ensure existence and uniqueness of a solution of the stochastic PDE, and in particular we require that 0<m≦σ≦M wherem andM are some finite positive constants. The perturbationW is a Brownian sheet. It is well-known that under some simple assumptions, the solutionv 2 is aC k (S 1)-valued Markov process for each 0≦κ<1/2, whereC κ(S 1) is the Banach space of real-valued continuous functions onS 1 which are Holder-continuous of exponent κ. We prove, under some further natural assumptions onf and σ which imply that the zero element ofC κ(S 1) is a globally exponentially stable critical point of the unperturbed equation ∂ t υ0 = ℒυ0 +f(x,υ0), that υe has a unique stationary distributionv K, υ on (C κ(S 1), ℬ(C K (S 1))) when the perturbation parameter e is small enough. Some further calculations show that as e tends to zero,v K, υ tends tov K,0, the point mass centered on the zero element ofC κ(S 1). The main goal of this paper is to show that in factv K, υ is governed by a large deviations principle (LDP). Our starting point in establishing the LDP forv K, υ is the LDP for the process υe, which has been shown in an earlier paper. Our methods of deriving the LDP forv K, υ based on the LDP for υe are slightly non-standard compared to the corresponding proofs for finite-dimensional stochastic differential equations, since the state spaceC κ(S 1) is inherently infinite-dimensional.
On maximum likelihood and restricted maximum likelihood approaches to estimation of variance components

Two variations of the dispersion-mean correspondence model for varince components lead to the ML and REML equations. This formulation provides for addition of a nonnegativity constraint to the computational method of T. W. Anderson (1971, 1973), an iterative procedure for obtaining ML and REML estimates, which not only assures that estimates will be within the parameter space, but contributes to the stability of the algorithm as well. Estimates of the variance components obtained in this way (which includes MINQUE) are simulated for four balanced and two unbalanced random effects designs. The effect of the nonnegativity constraint on mean squared error is compared to the alternative of replacing negative values of unconstrained estimates to zero, for both the REML and ML approaches. For the two unbalanced designs, the effect of initial starting values and the significance of iterating are also assessed. The simulation results are an extension of those reported by Rich and Brown (1979) for the REML approac...
A functional taxonomy of epidermal appendages in mice based on the distribution of nerve endings.

Existing data on integumental nerve endings provide a basis for classification of the visible epidermal appendages (hairs and dermatoglyphic pads) in mice. Hairs that have long tips (tylotrichs and bristles) are surrounded by large encapsulated cylinders of coarse nerve fibers. Half of these hairs (tylotrichs) are associated with disk-shaped dermatoglyphic pads, which contain innervated Merkel cells. Hairs that have short tips are surrounded by small cylinders of fine nerve fibers, but contiguous dermatoglyphic pads and dermal capsules are missing. Constrictions in the shafts of short-tipped hairs vary unpredictably and are not readily correlated with nerve endings. Analysis of the distribution, structure and physiology of nerve endings and dermatoglyphic pads makes possible (1) the recognition of meaningful features of hair structure (e.g., contour of the tip) that are involved in the transmission of mechanical energy to tactile receptors, and (2) the disregard of equivocal features of hair structure (e.g., 1 constriction in the shaft), which vary between the sexes, among body regions and among inbred strains.
PMMA biosensor for nucleic acids with integrated mixer and electrochemical detection

This paper discusses the design, microfabrication and use of an electrochemical biosensor based on a polymer substrate for cost effectiveness and disposability. As model analyte, amplified hsp70 mRNA from Cryptosporidium parvum was chosen. Microfluidic channels were fabricated in poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) using hot embossing with a copper master. The electrochemical transducer, an interdigitated ultramicroelectrode array (IDUA) was also realized directly on the PMMA surface. First, the unstructured PMMA surface was UV functionalized. An 8 min UV treatment resulted in a carboxylic acid density of approximately 8 nmol/cm(2) on the PMMA surface. The surface carboxylic acid groups were then conjugated to cystamine using water-soluble carbodiimide chemistry. Gold (200 nm) was then evaporated onto the thiol-functionalized surface. Using standard photolithography techniques, the IDUA containing 10 microm wide electrodes with 5 microm gaps was then formed followed by a gold etch. The PMMA surface containing the microchannel was subsequently bonded to the PMMA surface containing the IDUA using UV-assisted thermal bonding. The additional UV treatment also served to decrease the water contact angle of the surface from 62.5 degrees +/-0.7 degrees to 48.4 degrees +/-0.2 degrees thus, aiding with the capillary flow in the device. The hsp70 mRNA was isolated from C. parvum oocysts and amplified using nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA). The amplicon was detected in a sandwich hybridization assay with capture probe-coated superparamagnetic beads and reporter probe-tagged liposomes. The liposomes entrapped potassium ferro/ferrihexacyanide to enable amperometric quantification of the amplicon on the IDUA. Amplified mRNA from only 1 oocyst was detectable with this PMMA biosensor. The final detection device measured approximately 10 mm x 40 mm x 3 mm and contained two detection channels for dual analyses.
Studies of the comparative toxicity of Kochia scoparia (L.) schrad (fireweed)

Abstract Dunkin-Hartley albino guinea pigs were fed Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad (fireweed), a plant which caused photosensitization in domestic animals, and exposed to ultraviolet light daily for 15 days. Guinea pigs were also dosed with chloroform (300 to 400 mg/kg i.p.) to create liver dysfunction. Serum sorbitol dehydrogenase (SD; EC 1.1.1.14) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT; EC 2.6.1.2) were measured to evaluate liver damage. Kidneys were examined for oxalate crystals. Guinea pigs receiving chow and chloroform had elevated SD levels which returned to normal after 72 h. Fireweed-fed animals also receiving chloroform had SD levels that did not return to the control range. There was no significant effect on ALT serum levels. All guinea pigs fed fireweed and dosed with chloroform died within 11 days. Oxalate crystals were found in kidneys of 1 guinea pig fed fireweed and 5 guinea pigs fed fireweed and receiving chloroform. No signs of photosensitization developed in any animals. The results suggest a potentiating effect of fireweed and chloroform.
Technique for studying the sample volume of ultrasonic Doppler devices

The sample volume of continuous and pulsed ultrasonic Doppler velocity detectors can be examined using a small underwater jet. A test probe (line of velocity) is formed by the jet when it is seeded with silicone antifoam emulsion. A novel collection tube downstream from the nozzle prevents the spent scatters from contaminating the test tank. Studies are conducted by pointing the sound beam at the jet and moving the transducer and, in addition, for the pulsed Doppler, the range gate. The amplitude of the detected Doppler signal against range is then plotted. A method for determining the length of the sample volume from these plots is shown.
Ventilatory responses to exercise in humans lacking ventilatory chemosensitivity.

1. In healthy humans during aerobic exercise ventilation increases and mean arterial PCO2 usually remains constant over a wide range of CO2 production. 2. Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is associated with ineffective chemoreceptor regulation of breathing and severe hypoventilation during sleep (requiring mechanical ventilation) reflecting abnormalities in the brainstem respiratory complex or its chemoreceptor input. Such patients can have adequate spontaneous ventilation during resting wakefulness and participate in normal activities. 3. If children with CCHS have normal ventilatory responses to exercise then chemoreceptors are not necessary for this ventilatory response or the resultant control of Pa,CO2 during exercise. We studied five children with CCHS (aged 8-17 years) with abnormally low ventilatory responses to steady-state increased end-tidal PCO2 (< 9 ml min-1 kg-1 mmHg-1) and five age-matched controls. 4. Depth and rate of breathing, end-tidal PCO2, end-tidal PO2, CO2 production, O2 utilization and heart rate were monitored during the following conditions: whilst subjects stood at rest; following the onset of treadmill exercise (4 m.p.h.); during steady-state exercise (4 m.p.h.); during an incremental maximal exercise test; and during recovery from exercise. 5. There were no significant differences in the ventilatory responses between CCHS subjects and controls during the onset of treadmill exercise, in the dynamic response in achieving the steady-state exercise, during steady-state exercise, in the recovery from steady-state exercise, or during incremental exercise (up to the point of presumed blood lactate accumulation, as indicated by gas exchange criteria). There was a very small mean increase in PCO2 in both groups during steady-state exercise (controls 1.4 mmHg; CCHS 2.2 mmHg). 6. The only differences which emerged between groups were (i) slightly more variability in PCO2 in the CCHS group during steady-state exercise, and (ii) the CCHS subjects did not hyperventilate, as the controls did, at exercise levels above the point of presumed blood lactate accumulation. 7. Breath-by-breath coefficient of variation of ventilation was significantly reduced in both groups during steady-state exercise compared to rest. There were no differences between groups in either state. 8. We conclude that chemoreceptors are not necessary for an appropriate ventilatory response to aerobic exercise. Hence, other stimuli, such as afferent information from the exercising limbs or signals related to activation of the motor cortex, can increase alveolar ventilation in close proportion to CO2 production. 9. The lack of hyperventilatory response to blood lactate accumulation during heavy exercise provides good evidence that these CCHS patients have ineffective peripheral chemoreception.
Interplay Between Amyloid Beta-Peptide and Cholesterol in Bilayer

The interaction between lipid bilayers and amyloid beta-peptide (Aβ) is of great interest in understanding Alzheimer's disease (AD). Accumulating evidence points to a positive association of cholesterol in the membrane and AD, but a molecular-level interaction between cholesterol and Aβ has not been established. As an essential part of the membrane, cholesterol enhances the fluidity of the lipid bilayer, which may reduce membrane permeation caused by Aβ, potentially alleviating its ability to rupture the membrane. On the other hand, cholesterol increases the binding affinity of Aβ to model lipid membranes, as Aβ shows little affinity to cholesterol-free membranes. We studied the Aβ conformations change in a model lipid membrane of DMPC/DMPG/cholesterol by circular dichroism, isothermal titration calorimetry and fluorescence. The structural changes in lipid bilayers caused by Aβ was studied by grazing angle neutron diffraction (GAND) on multilamellar lipid membrane samples in conjunction with solution Small-Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) on lipid vesicles. The experiments combine to provide new molecular level details about how cholesterol and Aβ interact in the lipid membrane.
A note on the support of units in group rings

Abstract We call attention to a certain condition (U) on the support of units in group rings and relate this property to the semi-simplicity problem. Examples of group rings having property (U) are described as well as related conditions on the support of units in group rings.
Influence of resin properties on interlaminar shear strength of glass/epoxy/MWNT hybrid composites

Samples of glass fiber epoxy composites made with resin containing 0.5 wt.% multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) have shown enhanced interlaminar shear strength relative to unmodified epoxy when evaluated using compression shear test. Improvement in the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of the composites can be due to an increase in the matrix shear strength or an increase in the fiber–matrix interface strength or both. In this work, we conducted tests to assess the relative contributions of the matrix shear properties and the glass fiber–epoxy interface to the ILSS enhancement. Samples of reinforced matrix were prepared by dispersing 0.5% MWNT by weight in epoxy. Both the reinforced resin and neat resin control samples were subjected to identical ultrasonic agitation. Shear properties of the neat epoxy film and the MWNT reinforced epoxy film were investigated using a shear punch tests on miniature specimens (6.4 mm diameter, 0.5 mm thick). The strength of the fiber–matrix interface for both modified and unmodified matrix was also characterized using the microdroplet test. The results show that the change in ILSS is primarily due to the contribution from the strengthening of the fiber matrix interface and not from a change in the matrix shear strength.