cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sjögren-Larsson syndrome: technique and timing of prenatal diagnosis.

Background Sjogren-Larsson syndrome is an autosomal recessive disease with sequelae including ichthyosis, mental retardation, and spasticity. Although fetal skin biopsy has permitted prenatal diagnosis of Sjogren-Larsson syndrome in the late second trimester, it is accompanied by substantial risks, including fetal loss, premature labor, and detection at a gestational age close to the legal limit for pregnancy termination in most states. A new technique involving biochemical assay of cultured amniocytes for reduced levels of fatty alcohol:oxidized nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-oxidoreductase may allow earlier and less invasive detection of Sjogren-Larsson syndrome. Case A 38-year-old Lebanese woman, gravida 6, para 3, presented for prenatal diagnosis of Sjogren-Larsson syndrome following a history of two children born with the disease. At 19 weeks' gestation, multiple fetal skin biopsies were obtained by ultrasound-guided transabdominal percutaneous insertion of biopsy forceps. Histologic examination of the specimen revealed no evidence of Sjogren-Larsson syndrome. However, assay of fatty alcohol:NAD(+)-oxidoreductase in cultured amniocytes obtained at fetal skin biopsy showed a profound enzymatic deficiency. Additional fetal skin biopsies were obtained at 23.5 weeks' gestation, and histologic examination was positive for Sjogren-Larsson syndrome. The patient elected to terminate the pregnancy, and a subsequent autopsy on the fetus confirmed Sjogren-Larsson syndrome. Conclusion This case demonstrates the limitations of histologic examination of fetal skin specimens for the diagnosis of Sjogren-Larsson syndrome and indicates the potential value of biochemical detection from fetal amniocytes. This new technique may allow earlier diagnosis of Sjogren-Larsson syndrome, is less invasive, and may be less psychologically traumatic for the patient if she elects to terminate the pregnancy.
Salmonella and broiler processing in the United States: Relationship to foodborne salmonellosis

Abstract Salmonella is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness worldwide, with over 40,000 cases reported each year in the United States alone. Salmonella is often associated with foods of animal origin, with chicken and dishes containing chicken often thought to be the most likely source. The Food Safety Inspection Service of the United States Department of Agriculture keeps data on the serotypes of Salmonella isolated from Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point verification samples obtained each year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) publishes the most common Salmonella serotypes isolated from human disease each year. In addition, CDC maintains records of all reported foodborne outbreaks and the vehicle of illness, when determined. This review examines the overall prevalence of Salmonella serotypes isolated from broilers, the serotypes most commonly associated with human illness, and serotypes most commonly found in foodborne salmonellosis associated with chicken or chicken containing products.
Avoidance response of Midge Larvae (Chironomus Tentans) to sediments containing heavy metals

Avoidance reactions of chironomid larvae to contaminated sediment taken from a heavy metal impacted lake were studied. Heavy metal levels in the test sediment ranged from background of 0.6 parts per million (ppm) cadmium, 77 ppm zinc and 17 ppm chromium to a maximum of 1,029 ppm cadmium, 17,262 ppm zinc and 2,106 ppm chromium. A linear relationship was established between cadmium and zinc levels in the sediment and avoidance by chironomids.
Absolute quantum yield of O(1D2) in the photolysis of ozone in the hartley band

The absolute quantum yield of O(1D2) in the photolysis of ozone in the Hartley band, between about 230 and 280 nm, has been determined using the isotopic exchange reaction between C16O2 and 18O(1D2). A value of 1.00 ± 0.05 has been obtained within a 95% confidence limit. A value of unity may therefore be accepted as the average quantum yield of O(1D2) atoms in the 230–280-nm region within an uncertainty of only several percent.
Phototherapy of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia: Bilirubin in unexposed areas of the skin

The effect of shading small areas of the skin during phototherapy with opaque patches was studied. It was observed that the areas under the patches were consistently more pigmented than the exposed areas and that the color difference between the shaded and unshaded areas was greatest when the serum bilirubin concentration was decreasing in contrast to increasing concentrations. Results obtained suggest that (1) a separate and strong binding mechanism exists which holds bilirubin in the extravascular space and (2) the most likely site for the photodecomposition of bilirubin is in the outermost 2 mm of the skin.
On the dynamic fracture of structural metals

Some fundamental aspects of dynamic crack growth in structural steels are presented and discussed. The discussion takes the form of a direct comparison of experimental results to elastic-plastic analyses, and attempts to clarify the role of material inertia and plasticity in the dynamic crack growth process. In addition the relation of crack growth criteria to micromechanical void growth models is considered.
Fourth-year medical student opinions and basic knowledge regarding the field of radiology.

Rationale and Objectives This study evaluates the opinions and knowledge of fourth-year US medical students regarding radiology and analyzes the influence of a required or nonrequired radiology rotation as a reflection of the effectiveness of radiology medical student education. Methods and Materials Our institutional review board granted exempt status. An invitation e-mail was sent to 137 US medical schools. Upon receiving approval a second email was sent containing our voluntary anonymous online survey hyperlink to forward to their fourth-year class. Survey topics included demographics, radiology educational experiences, attitudes toward the field, and basic radiology knowledge. Responses were collected between August 4 and September 26, 2011. Results A total of 444 fourth-year medical students from 37 medical schools participated: 89% planned to enter a nonradiology specialty, 10.8% were required to take a dedicated radiology rotation, 34.9% completed one, 77% planned to complete one by graduation, 88.4% thought radiology often changes patient care or is at least as important as physical exam, 91.4% underestimated the cancer risk of an abdomen and pelvis computed tomography by at least one order of magnitude, and 72.9% by at least two orders. Seventy-seven percent had never heard of the American College of Radiology (ACR) Appropriateness Criteria. Respondents underestimated the potential risks of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); with 58.3% aware intravenous gadolinium can cause nephrogenic systemic fibrosis and 79.4% aware of potential injury from metallic projectiles. 40.4% indicated that non-radiologist clinicians in specific medical specialties interpret their respective imaging studies at least as accurately as corresponding subspecialty radiologists. Other results include student opinions regarding teleradiology, radiologist lifestyle, and compensation. Conclusions Fourth-year medical students recognize the importance of radiology but are poorly informed regarding radiation safety, MRI safety, and ACR Appropriateness Criteria, despite 34.9% having a dedicated rotation. This highlights the need for adoption of the Alliance of Medical Student Educators in Radiology curriculum.
Origin of the Economic Order Quantity formula; transcription or transformation?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to speculate on how the Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) formula was developed.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a literature review and analysis.Findings – Ford Whitman Harris's contribution to the EOQ formula is significantly original.Practical implications – Origins of work and questions of plagiarism can be ambiguous. The speculations here illustrate some of the ambiguities inherent in trying to use citations to give appropriate credit for ideas. They also help scholars understand the creative process and perhaps to teach in a way that enhances the creativity of students.Originality/value – The paper specifies the link between Lord Kelvin and Ford Whitman Harris.
P‐221L: Late‐News Poster: New Blue Phosphorescent Host for High‐efficiency White OLED

A new blue phosphorescent host with an electron transporting dibenzothiophene molecular skeleton connected to hole transporting carbazolyl moiety has been developed. Using this material, an all-phosphorescent white OLED with a high power efficiency of 60 lm/W, a low driving voltage of 3.6V and a color-rendering index of 75 at practical brightness of 1000 cd/m2 can be achieved.
Federal excise tax increase and its effects on U.S. tobacco production

Using the equilibrium displacement model, we examine the impact on tobacco farms of the decrease in cigarette sales due to the increase in prices induced by the federal excise tax hike that went to effect on April 1, 2009. First we estimate the effect of the increase in the federal excise tax on cigarette price and sales. Then, we estimate the effect of the decrease in cigarette sales on tobacco farms. Results suggest that under a scenario of market power implied by a conjectural elasticity of 0.11 manufactures could charge $0.23 per pack more than the federal excise tax increase, which would be enough to offset the estimated 1.42 billion-pack sales decline and to maintain the industry’s revenue net of taxes. This decrease in cigarette sales induced by the increase in the federal excise tax would result in the tobacco leaf output and price declining by 2.85 and 0.41%, respectively. As a result, the tobacco leaf sector would sustain a loss of 3.25% in revenue, amounting to nearly $48.4 million.
Prediction of surface roughness and wavelength with progress of cut in grinding

Abstract The topography of a grinding wheel was modeled as a convolution of random waves of large wavelength for the grain and of small wavelength for the cutting edges. The superimposition of these two waveforms gives the “characteristic grain”. On the basis of these concepts, expressions for the roughness and wavelengths, taking into account elastic deflection, were derived for the ground surface along the longitudinal and transverse directions. The fracture and attritious wear mechanisms were used to introduce separate wear rates for the grains and the cutting edges with the progress of cut. These wear rates were used in developing expressions for the roughness and wavelength of the surface generated with the subsequent cuts. Given the wheel type and dressing conditions, predictions obtained from these expressions were validated with the experimental results.
UTILIZATION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES AMONG HOMELESS ADULTS IN LOS ANGELES

Objectives.Even though psychiatric disorders are disproportionately present among the homeless, little is known about the extent to which homeless people receive treatment for those problems or the factors that are associated with receiving treatment. This article examines utilization and predictors
Compact spaces, compact cardinals, and elementary submodels

Abstract If M is an elementary submodel and X a topological space, then XM denotes the set X∩M given the topology generated by the open subsets of X which are members of M. Call a compact space squashable iff for some M, XM is compact and XM≠X. The first supercompact cardinal is the least κ such that all compact X with |X|⩾κ are squashable. The first λ such that λ2 is squashable is larger than the first 1-extendible cardinal.
Evaluation of a laparoscopic liver resection in the setting of cirrhosis

Introduction: Patients presenting with cirrhosis and hepatic tumours represent a fragile group that have typically been avoided in early series of laparoscopic liver resection. This study was undertaken to evaluate the results of a laparoscopic hepatectomy in the setting of cirrhosis. Methods: Subgroup analysis of patients with cirrhosis within a series of 327 patients undergoing a laparoscopic resection was performed. Comparisons were made with patients without cirrhosis where appropriate to highlight differences in patient selection and outcomes. Specific variables assessed included operative details and short-term outcomes including length of stay (LOS), morbidity and mortality. Outcomes specific to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were also assessed. Results: There were 52 patients with cirrhosis undergoing a laparoscopic hepatic resection. Ninety per cent of patients were Childs class A, with a median model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score of 8. Hepatitis C was the most common cause of cirrhosis (88.5%), whereas the most common indication for an operation was HCC (71.2%). Resections were generally limited, with the median number of segments resected being 2 (range: 1–4). Complications occurred in 13 (25%) patients, with a 90-day mortality of 5.8%. The median LOS was 3 days. Conclusions: A laparoscopic hepatectomy is safe in the setting of cirrhosis, provided the application of appropriate selection criteria and sufficient experience with the procedure.
Realizing Brouwer's sequences

Abstract When Kleene extended his recursive realizability interpretation from intuitionistic arithmetic to analysis, he was forced to use more than recursive functions to interpret sequences and conditional constructions. In fact, he used what classically appears to be the full continuum. We describe here a generalization to higher type of Kleene's realizability, one case of which, ( U , R )-realizability, uses general recursive functions throughout, both to realize theorems and to interpret choice sequences. ( U , R )-realizability validates a version of the bar theorem and the usual continuity principles, while also providing naturally, as Kleene's 1965 realizability does not, for versions of lawless sequence axioms, as well as of Church's Thesis.
Focusing Events, Mobilization, and Agenda Setting

The policy literature often mentions the agenda-setting influence of focusing events, but few policy studies systematically examine the dynamics of these events. This article closes this gap by examining focusing events, group mobilization and agenda-setting. Using natural disasters and industrial accidents as examples, most focusing events change the dominant issues on the agenda in a policy domain, they can lead to interest group mobilization, and groups often actively seek to expand or contain issues after a focusing event. I explain how differences in the composition of policy communities and the nature of the events themselves influence group and agenda dynamics. The organization of policy communities is an important factor in agenda setting, but agenda setting and group politics vary considerably with the type of event and the nature of the policy community.
Electrical test structures replicated in silicon-on-insulator material

Measurements of the linewidths of submicrometer features made by different metrology techniques have frequently been characterized by differences of up to 90 nm. The purpose of the work reported here is to address the special difficulties that this phenomenon presents to the certification of reference materials for the calibration of linewidth-measurement instruments. Accordingly, a new test structure has been designed, fabricated, and undergone preliminary tests. Its distinguishing characteristics are assured cross-sectional profile geometries with known side-wall slopes, surface planarity, and compositional uniformity when it is formed in mono-crystalline material at selected orientations to the crystal lattice. To allow the extraction of electrical linewidth, the structure is replicated in a silicon film of uniform conductivity which is separated from the silicon substrate by a buried oxide layer. The utilization of a Silicon-On-Insulator (SKI) substrate further allows the selective removal of substrate material from local regions below the reference features, thus facilitating measurements by optical and electron-beam transmission microscopy. The combination of planar feature surfaces having known side-wall slopes is anticipated to eliminate factors which are believed to be responsible for methods divergence in linewidth measurements, a capability which is a prerequisite for reliable certification of the linewidths of features on reference materials.
Optical intensity mapping on the nanometer scale by near-field photodetection optical microscopy

Near-field photodetection optical microscopy (NPOM) is a fundamentally new approach to near-field optical microscopy. This scanning-probe technique uses a nanometer-scale photodiode detector as a near-field optical probe. We have fabricated probes for NPOM that have optically sensitive areas as small as 100 nm × 100 nm. These new NPOM probes have been employed to image light transmitted through holes in an aluminum film. Near-surface optical interference is observed near defects and edges of the aluminum film. The optical edge response is shown to be of the order of 100 nm.
Model studies of particle/solid interactions

Abstract The interaction of keV particles with surfaces has traditionally been expressed in terms of successive single binary elastic collisions. In this study, molecular dynamics calculations of 100 eV to 6 keV incident particles scattering from single crystal surfaces are performed using three particle interaction models. We find that for some incident conditions, a simultaneous interaction model is needed to produce accurate trajectory simulations. This extended model takes into account the simultaneous interactions among the primary particle and all the other atoms in the system but not the ones among the substrate atoms. A fair agreement between the calculated results of this extended interaction model and that of the full dynamics model is observed for nearly the entire energy regime studied. The range of primary energies where the binary collision model is adequate in describing forward scattering processes is discussed.
Patterns of gamete incompatibility between the blue mussels Mytilus edulis and M. trossulus

Previous research on gametic incompatibility in marine invertebrates suggests that for highly dispersive marine invertebrate species, barriers to fertilization among closely related taxa are often incomplete and sometimes asymmetric. The nature of these barriers can dramatically affect the patterns of gene flow and genetic differentiation between species, and thus speciation. Blue mussels, in the genus Mytilus, are genetically distinct in allopatry yet hybrids are present wherever any two species within the group co-occur. The present study sampled M. edulis (L.) and M. trossulus (Gould) in May and June 2001 from the East Bay section of Cobscook Bay, Maine, USA (latitude 44°56′30″N; longitude 67°07′50″W), where the two species are sympatric. Gamete incompatibility was investigated in a series of laboratory fertilizations carried out in July 2001. The proportion of fertilized eggs typically exceeded 80% at sperm concentrations of 103–104 ml−1 among intraspecific matings (n=18), but was <30% even at sperm concentrations in excess of 105–106 ml−1 for interspecific matings (n=13). Further analysis indicated that approximately 100- to 700-fold higher sperm concentrations were required to achieve 20% fertilization in interspecific matings relative to intraspecific matings, indicating strong barriers to interspecific fertilization. The proportion of fertilized eggs did not follow this general pattern in all matings, however. The eggs from two (out of five) M. edulis females were almost as receptive to M. trossulus sperm as they were to M. edulis sperm. In contrast, the eggs from all M. trossulus females (n=3) were unreceptive to M. edulis sperm, suggesting that fertilization barriers between these species may be asymmetric. Given the experimental design employed in this study, the results are also consistent with a strong maternal or egg effect on the level of interspecific gamete compatibility in M. edulis.
Feminist Family Therapy for Treating Female Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Female survivors of childhood sexual abuse make up a population that warrants special clinical attention. Despite the amount of literature devoted to childhood sexual abuse, little attention has been paid to the culture of the individual survivor and her family in the field of couple and family therapy. There are unique aspects about women's experiences with childhood sexual abuse that require attention to gender and cultural issues. To attend to this identified gap, an overview of some of the common problem areas that survivors and their families experience is provided, and feminist family therapy is discussed as a suggested treatment approach.
Laminar droplet flow in combined hydrodynamically and thermally developing region of circular tubes

Abstract Forced convective heat transfer to laminar droplet flow in the combined hydrodynamically and thermally developing region of a circular tube is studied numerically for constant heat flux conditions. The saturated liquid droplets in the vapor flow are considered as equivalent heat sinks distributed in the superheated vapor stream. Numerical calculations are performed for the variations of droplet size, mean vapor velocity, and the local Nusselt number in the streamwise direction until the single-phase fully developed condition is reached. The important roles of the liquid droplets and the developing vapor velocity on the forced convective heat transfer to droplet flow in the combined entrance region of a circular tube are clearly demonstrated.
New all-optical architectures for nonlinear photonic switching and routing

Effect of nonlinear polarization rotation in birefringent optical fiber was used to distinguish the different levels of incident optical beams. This effect was employed to design all-optical switching and routing devices for processing of bit word streams and optical polarization transistor to amplify optical pulses. These devices can be used to perform summation and multiplication of binary words. Serial and parallel representation of the bit words discussed from the point of view bit flow architecture of optical computers. A method of time distributed parallel representation of the bit words is proposed. It is shown that this representation permits to obtain such form of the result that the beginning of the result may be used in further computations before the previous computation is completed. Thus, in spite of the fact that the whole process of multiplication of two N-bite words required 2N time steps of computation, the delay between receiving the beginning of the input words and sending the beginning of the result to the next processor is only one time step. The performance of all-optical computer may be improved by the use of extremely short femtosecond optical pulses. In this case, nonlinear effects can compensate the dispersion broadening of the optical pulses and soliton regime of propagation is achieved. Nonlinear interaction between the optical solitons with orthogonal polarization permits to perform high- performance computations.
U or Inverted‐U? That Is the Question

Fields (The Economic Journal, vol. 103, 1993, pp. 1228–35) provides a forceful argument in favor of a U-shaped path for inequality during a period of high-income-sector enlargement in a dual-economy model. This paper explores the assumptions necessary to derive Fields’s controversial result and demonstrates that in fact a U-shaped pattern is possible using the Atkinson index, but some bizarre assumptions about inequality aversion are required.
TH-C-ValB-07: Enhanced 4D CBCT Imaging for Slow-Rotating On-Board Imager

Purpose: Four‐dimensional (4D) cone‐beam CT(CBCT) is currently obtained by respiratory phase binning of the acquired projections followed by independent CBCTreconstruction of the rebinned projections for each phase. Due to the significantly reduced number of projections in a single phase bin, the quality of 4D‐CBCT images is severely degraded. In this work, we develop a technique to combine the data from all phases for greatly enhanced 4D CBCT.Method and Materials: 4D‐CBCT data were acquired with “extremely‐slow‐gantry‐rotation” protocol (1 deg/sec) on a Varian Acuity system. The respiratory phase binning was achieved by automatic texture matching of the CBCT projections, and 4D‐CBCT images were subsequently obtained by Feldkamp reconstruction of the phase‐binned data. Finally, to enhance the quality, the 4D‐CBCT images were superimposed via deformable registration based on maximum mutual information and BSpline model. The method was quantitatively evaluated with numerical and physical phantom experiments. Three clinical cases are also being investigated. Results: The numerical and physical phantom studies showed that 4D CBCT resulted in less motion artifacts than 3D CBCT, however, the view‐aliasing artifacts are visible in 4D CBCTimages due to limited number of projections being used for reconstructing each phase, this led to large fluctuation of the CT numbers in any uniform region and generally reduced contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR). In comparison, the proposed 4D CBCT technique scientifically improved the CT number accuracy, the image uniformity, and the CNRs.Conclusion: A novel technique for 4D CBCTimaging with a slow‐rotating onboard imager has been developed. It integrates information of different respiratory phases to achieve an enhanced image quality. The improvement on the CT number accuracy is extremely important to image‐guide radiation therapy for online treatment planning and off‐line dose verification.
Formaldehyde source interaction studies under whole-house conditions.

Abstract This study was designed to determine the effect of source combinations on formaldehyde levels under whole-house conditions. Evaluations were conducted on particleboard (applied as subflooring) and hardwood plywood panelling (applied as a wall covering) both singly and in combination, and on urea-formaldehyde foam insulation and particleboard. Formaldehyde source combination/interaction evaluations revealed several different outcomes, including no augmentation of formaldehyde levels, a slight augmentation (30–50%) and complete addivity. Additivity was observed for regular and low emission grade particleboard and hardwood plywood combinations and for urea-formaldehyde foam insulation and particleboard subflooring. In contrast, controlled chamber studies employing samples of the same wood materials revealed no additive effects. Results of these studies raise questions about the reliability of using laboratory evaluations alone to predict formaldehyde levels under real-world residential conditions.
Medium-precision null-screen testing of off-axis parabolic mirrors for segmented primary telescope optics: the large millimeter telescope.

The feasibility of using null screens for testing the segments of a parabolic segmented telescope mirror for the Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT) is analyzed. An algorithm for designing the null screen for testing the off-axis segments of conic surfaces is described. Actual screen designs for the different classes of segments of the LMT are presented. The sensitivity of the test and the required accuracies for the fabrication and positioning of the screen are analyzed. A measuring accuracy of ∼12 µm in surface sagitta is within the reach of the technique.
Structural analysis of convolutional codes via dual codes

A linear correspondence is developed between the states of a rate- k/n convolutional encoder G and the states of a corresponding syndrome former H^T , where H is an encoder of the code dual to the code generated by G . This correspondence is used to find an expression for the number of all-zero paths of length \tau in the code trellis; the answer depends only on the constraint lengths of the dual code. A partial answer to the resynchronization problem also falls out of this development.
Time-Based Modeling of Human Performance

This paper presents a probabilistic approach to modeling human performance. Instead of focusing on mean performance, the effects of taskload on the distributions of performance variables are examined. From such data, probabilities of given levels of performance can be derived and methods of measurement that expand the analyses beyond those of the mean developed. Results from two experiments, one abstract, the other realistic, are presented in terms of timely performance on required tasks. As taskload increased, the participants were less likely to act on the experimental tasks at an earliest opportunity than under low taskload, resulting in increase of “too late” errors. Measurement of taskload and performance in temporal terms also allowed for bracketing and making inferences about mental workload, which is not directly measurable.
Brazilian archaeology from a Brazilian perspective

Archaeology in Brazil shares many empirical similarities with Latin American and North American research but, as a social science, it has remained isolated from mainstream theoretical and methodological advances. The large size of the country, the lack of resources and government support, the difficulties of working in tropical environments, the lack of monumental architecture, and Brazil's being neither a Spanish- nor an English-speaking country have all been thought of as shaping Brazilian archaeology and its failure to integrate into a larger, Latin American or international context.
Atherogenic ω-6 Lipids Modulate PPAR- EGR-1 Crosstalk in Vascular Cells

Atherogenic ω-6 lipids are physiological ligands of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and elicit pro- and antiatherogenic responses in vascular cells. The objective of this study was to investigate if ω-6 lipids modulated the early growth response-1 (Egr-1)/PPAR crosstalk thereby altering vascular function. Rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs) were exposed to ω-6 lipids, linoleic acid (LA), or its oxidized form, 13-HPODE (OxLA) in the presence or absence of a PPARα antagonist (MK886) or PPARγ antagonist (GW9662) or PPAR-specific siRNA. Our results demonstrate that ω-6 lipids, induced Egr-1 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) mRNA and protein levels at the acute phase (1–4 hrs) when PPARα was downregulated and at subacute phase (4–12 hrs) by modulating PPARγ, thus resulting in altered monocyte adhesion to RASMCs. We provide novel insights into the mechanism of action of ω-6 lipids on Egr-1/PPAR interactions in vascular cells and their potential in altering vascular function.
Comprehensive synthesis of early intensive behavioral interventions for young children with autism based on the UCLA young autism project model.

A 3-part comprehensive synthesis of the early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI) for young children with autism based on the University of California at Los Angeles Young Autism Project method (Lovaas in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 55, 3–9, 1987) is presented. The three components of the synthesis were: (a) descriptive analyses, (b) effect size analyses, and (c) a meta-analysis. The findings suggest EIBI is an effective treatment, on average, for children with autism. The conditions under which this finding applies and the limitations and cautions that must be taken when interpreting the results are discussed within the contextual findings of the moderator analyses conducted in the meta-analysis.
The ACCE method: an approach for obtaining quantitative or qualitative estimates of residual confounding that includes unmeasured confounding

Background: Nonrandomized studies typically cannot account for confounding from unmeasured factors. Method: A method is presented that exploits the recently-identified phenomenon of “confounding amplification” to produce, in principle, a quantitative estimate of total residual confounding resulting from both measured and unmeasured factors. Two nested propensity score models are constructed that differ only in the deliberate introduction of an additional variable(s) that substantially predicts treatment exposure. Residual confounding is then estimated by dividing the change in treatment effect estimate between models by the degree of confounding amplification estimated to occur, adjusting for any association between the additional variable(s) and outcome. Results: Several hypothetical examples are provided to illustrate how the method produces a quantitative estimate of residual confounding if the method’s requirements and assumptions are met. Previously published data is used to illustrate that, whether or not the method routinely provides precise quantitative estimates of residual confounding, the method appears to produce a valuable qualitative estimate of the likely direction and general size of residual confounding. Limitations: Uncertainties exist, including identifying the best approaches for: 1) predicting the amount of confounding amplification, 2) minimizing changes between the nested models unrelated to confounding amplification, 3) adjusting for the association of the introduced variable(s) with outcome, and 4) deriving confidence intervals for the method’s estimates (although bootstrapping is one plausible approach). Conclusions: To this author’s knowledge, it has not been previously suggested that the phenomenon of confounding amplification, if such amplification is as predictable as suggested by a recent simulation, provides a logical basis for estimating total residual confounding. The method's basic approach is straightforward. The method's routine usefulness, however, has not yet been established, nor has the method been fully validated. Rapid further investigation of this novel method is clearly indicated, given the potential value of its quantitative or qualitative output.
Permeability characteristics of multilayer fiber reinforcements. Part I: Experimental observations

The fluid permeability characteristics of homogeneous and heterogeneous multilayer fabric assemblies were determined by a radial in-plane flow technique. The permeabilities and flow anisotropies of multilayer assemblies generally differ from those of the constituent layers. In homogeneous assemblies, the creation of interlaminar pores can increase the effective in-plane permeability. In heterogeneous assemblies, the effective in-plane permeabilities and anisotropies are governed by the high permeability layers or directions. A transverse flow mechanism contributes to filling the low permeability layers and keeping the fluid front macroscopically uniform.
Immunoreactivity of Pluripotent Markers SSEA-5 and L1CAM in Human Tumors, Teratomas, and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Pluripotent stem cell markers can be useful for diagnostic evaluation of human tumors. The novel pluripotent marker stage-specific embryonic antigen-5 (SSEA-5) is expressed in undifferentiated human induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs), but little is known about SSEA-5 expression in other primitive tissues (e.g., human tumors). We evaluated SSEA-5 immunoreactivity patterns in human tumors, cell lines, teratomas, and iPS cells together with another pluripotent cell surface marker L1 cell adhesion molecule (L1CAM). We tested two hypotheses: (1) SSEA-5 and L1CAM would be immunoreactive and colocalized in human tumors; (2) SSEA-5 and L1CAM immunoreactivity would persist in iPSCs following retinal differentiating treatment. SSEA-5 immunofluorescence was most pronounced in primitive tumors, such as embryonal carcinoma. In tumor cell lines, SSEA-5 was highly immunoreactive in Capan-1 cells, while L1CAM was highly immunoreactive in U87MG cells. SSEA-5 and L1CAM showed colocalization in undifferentiated iPSCs, with immunopositive iPSCs remaining after 20 days of retinal differentiating treatment. This is the first demonstration of SSEA-5 immunoreactivity in human tumors and the first indication of SSEA-5 and L1CAM colocalization. SSEA-5 and L1CAM warrant further investigation as potentially useful tumor markers for histological evaluation or as markers to monitor the presence of undifferentiated cells in iPSC populations prior to therapeutic use.
In Praise of Exclusion

Most theoretical accounts of descriptive representation focus almost exclusively on the question, “Why do certain groups need to be brought into democratic institutions?” They emphasize the democratic gains obtained through adding more voices to the political arena. However, in order to improve the representation of historically disadvantaged groups, democratic theorists need to consider when it is justifiable, desirable, and even morally necessary to limit, or even deny, access and influence to overrepresented, privileged groups. Democratic citizens need an ethics of marginalization—that is, ethical standards for evaluating how democracies can and should use informal norms to limit the power and influence of certain citizens within the framework of an equal regime of formal rights. The author proposes one standard, the oppression principle, for evaluating how democratic citizens marginalize: democracies should marginalize those who oppress and those whose privileged status sustains oppression.
Articulated object tracking by rendering consistent appearance parts

We describe a general methodology for tracking 3-dimensional objects in monocular and stereo video that makes use of GPU-accelerated filtering and rendering in combination with machine learning techniques. The method operates on targets consisting of kinematic chains with known geometry. The tracked target is divided into one or more areas of consistent appearance. The appearance of each area is represented by a classifier trained to assign a class-conditional probability to image feature vectors. A search is then performed on the configuration space of the target to find the maximum likelihood configuration. In the search, candidate hypotheses are evaluated by rendering a 3D model of the target object and measuring its consistency with the class probability map. The method is demonstrated for tool tracking on videos from two surgical domains, as well as in a human hand-tracking task.
Bacterial concentration reduction in swine waste amended livestock feed using a single-screw dry-extrusion process

A study was conducted to determine the eAciency of a dry-extrusion process to reduce or eliminate bacterial contamination of swine waste amended livestock feed. Separated swine waste solids were mixed with ground corn and soybean hulls and dry-extruded at temperatures of 110‐135∞C for no more than 30 s to produce animal feed. Swine waste, pre- and post-extrusion livestock feed, and commercial swine feed samples were collected aseptically and analysed for total coliform, Escherichia coli, fecal coliform, heterotrophic, and non-specific anaerobic/facultative bacteria using standard culturing techniques. Selected pre-extrusion feed samples were inoculated with liquid cultures of Bacillus stearothermophilus to test eAciency of the dry-extrusion process to eliminate heatresistant spore-forming bacteria. Bacterial concentrations recovered from post-extrusion livestock feed were significantly reduced from other sample types analysed. Based on these data, it is apparent that a single-screw, dry-extrusion process can consistently disinfect animal feed. However, careful monitoring of the extrusion process may be necessary for consistent sterilization. ” 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
An important indirect drug interaction between dronedarone and warfarin that may be extrapolated to other drugs that can alter gastrointestinal function.

To the Editor: I read with interest the article by Shirolkar et al entitled “Dronedarone and vitamin K antagonists: a review of drug-drug interactions” in the American Heart Journal (2010;160:577-82). They did an admirable job in discussing typical drug interactions with warfarin (essentially pharmacokinetic rather than pharmacodynamic)— especially as they apply to amiodarone but not to dronedarone—as judged from dronedarone's basic pharmacology and its clinical trials. However, an indirect interaction of clinical importance was not considered in this review. Vitamin K antagonists work by inhibiting the formation of vitamin K–dependent hepatic protein synthesis, culminating in the reduction of several important clotting factors. Agents such as amiodarone and others that can alter the handling of warfarin (its binding and/or metabolism/elimination) can alter its effects, resulting in increased or decreased anticoagulant effect. These would be considered direct pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions. However, among the factors that can alter the manifestations of warfarin therapy is the availability of vitamin K from the gut. Drugs or disorders that alter intestinal flora and the bacterial production of vitamin K therein can also affect warfarin therapy, by increasing its apparent action, resulting in a rise in the international normalized ratio (INR). This should also be true for drugs or conditions that accelerate gastrointestinal transit time, thus reducing the time for vitamin K formation and absorption. I have now encountered 3 patients who had entirely stable INR values on a stable warfarin regimen before the administration of dronedarone. Dronedarone was administered for atrial fibrillation management in each of the 3 and showed clinically acceptable efficacy in 2. Each of the 3, however, developed some degree of diarrhea on dronedarone (one of its more common adverse effects). The diarrhea was reduced by an empirical trial of limiting both lactose products and fiber in the diet (although none of the 3 had any prior history of any food intolerance). However, during the period of diarrhea in each patient, their previously stable INR values rose (by 11⁄2to 2-fold) and required a reduction in their warfarin dose for correction. Hence, despite any direct pharmacokinetic interaction of dronedarone with warfarin, there can be an indirect effect, as noted in these 3 patients, of clinical significance if gastrointestinal function is altered. Physicians, therefore, need to be cognizant not only of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug interactions but also those that can arise indirectly via an effect (from drug and/or disease) on substrates that are essential for drug action.
Impaired pulmonary conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II in rats exposed to chronic hypoxia.

The effects of exposing rats to hypoxia at normal atmospheric pressure for periods of 21–24 days on intrapulmonary conversion of angiotensin I (ANG I) to angiotensin II (ANG II) were examined using an isolated rat lung preparation perfused at constant flow. 125I-ANG I (160 fmol) was injected alone and with graded doses (0.1, 1.0, and 100 nmol) of unlabeled ANG I into the pulmonary artery, and the effluent was collected for measurement of ANG I, ANG II, and metabolites. At low doses of injected ANG I (125I-ANG I alone or with 0.1 or 1.0 nmol unlabeled ANG I), the percent conversion of ANG I to ANG II was 67.5 +/- 2.1 (SE), 65.1 +/- 2.0, and 62.5 +/- 1.6 in 21-day hypoxia-exposed animals and 83.8 +/- 2.7, 81.4 +/- 3.9, and 79.6 +/- 2.3 (P less than 0.01) in control rats maintained under normoxic conditions. At the highest dose (100 nmol) of injected ANG I, percent conversion was reduced in both hypoxic and control groups to 46.8 +/- 5.0 and 64.0 +/- 6.0, respectively (P less than 0.05). Mean transit times of labeled material through the pulmonary circulation were not significantly different in hypoxic vs. normoxic lungs at any ANG I load, suggesting that the decreased conversion seen in hypoxic lungs was not related to altered kinetics of substrate exposure. Thus chronic hypoxia is associated with significant inhibition of transpulmonary ANG I conversion that is independent of perfusate flow. We postulate that this phenomenon is due to alterations at the endothelial membrane level.
Calibration of watershed models using cloud computing

Understanding hydrologic systems at the scale of large watersheds and river basins is critically important to society when faced with extreme events, such as floods and droughts, or with concerns about water quality. A critical requirement of watershed modeling is model calibration, in which the computational model's parameters are varied during a search algorithm in order to find the best match against physically-observed phenomena such as streamflow. Because it is generally performed on a laptop computer, this calibration phase can be very time-consuming, significantly limiting the ability of a hydrologist to experiment with different models. In this paper, we describe our system for watershed model calibration using cloud computing, specifically Microsoft Windows Azure. With a representative watershed model whose calibration takes 11.4 hours on a commodity laptop, our cloud-based system calibrates the watershed model in 43.32 minutes using 16 cloud cores (15.78x speedup), 11.76 minutes using 64 cloud cores (58.13x speedup), and 5.03 minutes using 256 cloud cores (135.89x speedup). We believe that such speed-ups offer the potential toward real-time interactive model creation with continuous calibration, ushering in a new paradigm for watershed modeling.
Concerning the Measurement and Magnitude of Heat, Water Vapor, and Carbon Dioxide Exchange from a Semiarid Grassland

Grassland environments constitute approximately 40% of the earth’s vegetated surface, and they play a key role in a number of processes linking the land surface with the atmosphere. To investigate these linkages, a variety of techniques, including field and modeling studies, are required. Using data collected at the Central Plains Experimental Range (CPER) in northeastern Colorado from 25 March to 10 November 2004, this study compares two common ways of measuring turbulent fluxes of latent heat, sensible heat, and carbon dioxide in the field: the eddy covariance (EC) and Bowen ratio energy balance (BREB) methods. The turbulent fluxes measured by each of these methods were compared in terms of magnitude and seasonal behavior and were combined to calculate eddy diffusivities and examine turbulent transport. Relative to the EC method, the BREB method tended to overestimate the magnitude of the sensible heat, latent heat, and carbon dioxide fluxes. As a result, substantial differences in both the diurnal pattern and long-term magnitudes of the water and carbon budgets were apparent depending on which method was used. These differences arise from (i) the forced closure of the surface energy balance and (ii) the assumption of similarity between the eddy diffusivities required by the BREB method. An empirical method was developed that allows the BREB and EC datasets to be reconciled; this method was tested successfully using data collected at the CPER siteduring2005.Ultimately, however, theBREB andEC methodsshowimportantdifferencesthatmust be recognized and taken into account when analyzing issues related to the energy, water, or carbon cycles.
Scattering of a Plane Wave on a Ferrite Cylinder at Normal Incidence

The scattered field is given as a series of cylinder functions. If the ferrite cylinder is magnetized along its axis the scattering pattern becomes asymmetrical about the direction of incidence. Approximation formulas for the thin cylinder and the far field zone are given. It is shown that in the first approximation the amplitude is an even function and the phase angle of the field is an odd function of the scattering angle. Exact numerical results have been obtained with a Univac digital computer. By a suitable arrangement of the ferrite cylinders, a unidirectional pattern can be obtained which is controlled by the applied magnetic dc field.
Investigation of querying techniques for federated sensor networks

Federated sensor networks (FSNs) connect and combine several partitioned wireless sensor networks (WSNs) to extend the scope of WSNs to larger scale geographical areas. The federated and sparsely/intermittently connected nature of FSNs introduce several challenges for deploying middleware services such as routing, querying, tracking, time synchronization. In this paper, we investigate the challenges for deploying a querying service on FSNs. We review several querying protocols proposed in the WSNs literature and identify the applicability and shortcomings of these protocols for FSNs. Based on our investigation, we suggest open research directions for building an efficient querying service for FSNs.