cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity of a Trajectory Model to the Spatial and Temporal Resolution of the Meteorological Data during CAPTEX

Abstract Some recent analyses of long-range transport and dispersion indicated conflicting results regarding the improvement in trajectory calculations when either the spatial or temporal density of the meteorological data are enhanced. Tests conducted with a variety of combinations of meteorological data, collected during CAPTEX, showed that increased temporal resolution did increase trajectory accuracy; however, it was not significantly different from enhancing the spatial coverage. Trajectory error was assumed to equal the distance between the centroid locations of the measured and calculated air concentration patterns. The most accurate trajectories were calculated when both spatial and temporal resolution were enhanced, such that the rms trajectory error was decreased from 180 km to 154 km for travel times of 24 to 42 h. Although the inclusion of surface observations did not improve calculated trajectories, the addition of vertical motion in the trajectory calculation methodology resulted in a furthe...
Do systolic BP and pulse pressure relate to ventricular enlargement

Background and purpose To evaluate the association between systolic, diastolic and pulse pressure, and increase in ventricular size (VS). Observations in laboratory animals suggest intraventricular pulse pressure (systolic–diastolic) may play a role in ventricular enlargement. Methods Initial magnetic resonance (MR) scans and vascular risk factors evaluation were performed in 1812 Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities participants in 1994–1995. In 2004–2006, 1130 participants underwent repeat MR. VS was rated using a validated nine-point scale. Multiple logistic regression analysis assessed association between blood pressure measures and pulse pressure, and the change between the MR scans of VS controlling for age, sex and race. Results At baseline 1112 participants (385 black women, 200 black men, 304 white women and 223 white men) had a mean age of 61.7 ± 4.3 years. In adjusted models pulse pressure at baseline was associated with an increase in VS [odds ratio (OR) 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.40], as was systolic pressure (OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.03–1.58). Conclusions Systolic pressure and pulse pressure are associated with future development of increased VS. The findings are consistent with the animal literature that increased pulse pressure predisposes to risk of future increased VS. High pulse pressure might play a role in the pathogenesis of normal pressure hydrocephalus.
Beliefs and attitudes affecting intentions to share information in an organizational setting

Information resource management (IRM) asserts that information is a resource that managers should use wisely to improve their organization's operations and to ensure that their company is competitive in today's marketplace. One IRM principle is sharing information in ways that enhance efficiency and effectiveness. Yet, there are many examples where information is not readily shared. Workers' beliefs and attitudes towards sharing information may help explain this shortcoming. In this study, we propose a model that defines the influences on one's intent to share information, based upon the theory of reasoned action (TRA). We then test our model by surveying the workers in a unit of a large governmental organization that often fails to reap the benefits, despite proclamations of support for IRM principles. Our study explored the employees' beliefs and attitudes about sharing organizational information and suggests that the role that attitude plays may be more complicated than first considered.
Role of Primary Tumor Resection Among Chemotherapy-Treated Patients with Synchronous Stage IV Colorectal Cancer: A Survival Analysis

Introduction The benefit of an operation to remove the primary tumor among patients with synchronous stage IV colorectal cancer is controversial. This study analyzed the survival benefits associated with primary tumor resection among chemotherapy-treated stage IV colorectal cancer patients.
Culture and behavior: Applying log-linear models for transitions between offices in a Mexican festival system

Abstract The question of how well cultural models correspond with actual behavior is fundamental to anthropology, yet relatively little explored in the literature. For the cargo (religious festival) system of San Rafael Tepatlaxco (Tlaxcala, Mexico), data are available on both office-holding behavior and informants’ accounts of the system. We used log-linear models to analyze data on transitions between offices and investigate the degree to which behavioral data match the system as characterized in informants’ reports. Results suggested that the behavioral data are relatively consistent with the hierarchy of offices reported by informants, but that the hierarchy constrains moves between offices less than might be expected. The findings highlight the complexity of both the cargo system itself and the assessment of correspondence between behavioral data and cultural models.
Attachment and extracellular matrix differences between tendon and synovial fibroblastic cells

Fibroblasts of the synovium of sheathed tendons were isolated, and their biochemical properties were compared with those of the fibroblasts of the remaining tendon. The synovial cells had a lower attachment efficiency than did the tendon cells. On the day of cell isolation the synovial cells synthesized collagen as 10% of their total protein, whereas the tendon cells synthesized 30% collagen. After growth in fetal bovine serum (FBS), the percentage of collagen synthesized by both populations decreased; however, the synovial cells still made less collagen than did the tendon cells (5 versus 11%). On the basis of cyanogen bromide peptide analysis, the synovial cells were found to synthesize Types I and III collagen in primary culture, whereas the tendon cells synthesized only Type I. The synovial cells aslo synthesized two to three times less sulfated glycosaminoglycans in culture than did the tendon cells. Thus, the two cell, populations differed in attachment efficiency and in their biosynthesis of collagen and sulfated glycosaminoglycans. These differences reflect extracellular matrix differences that have been observed in the tendon in vivo. In addition, the results augment existing data showing that not all fibroblasts have identical phenotypes.
Midbrain acoustic circuitry in a vocalizing fish.

The mapping of auditory circuitry and its interface with vocal motor systems is essential to the investigation of the neural processing of acoustic signals and its relationship to sound production. Here we delineate the circuitry of a midbrain auditory center in a vocal fish, the plainfin midshipman. Biotin injections into physiologically identified auditory sites in nucleus centralis (NC) in the torus semicircularis show a medial column of retrogradely filled neurons in the medulla mainly in a dorsomedial division of a descending octaval nucleus (DO), dorsal and ventral divisions of a secondary octaval nucleus (SO), and the reticular formation (RF) near the lateral lemniscus. Biotin-filled neurons are also located at midbrain-pretectal levels in a medial pretoral nucleus. Terminal fields are identified in the medulla (ventral SO, RF), isthmus (nucleus praeeminentialis), midbrain (nucleus of the lateral lemniscus, medial pretoral nucleus, contralateral NC, tectum), diencephalon (lateral preglomerular, central posterior, and anterior tuber nuclei), and telencephalon (area ventralis). The medial column of toral afferent neurons is adjacent to and overlapping the positions of DO and SO neurons shown previously to be linked to the vocal pacemaker circuitry of the medulla. Midshipman are considered "hearing generalists" because they lack the peripheral adaptations of "specialists" that enhance the detection of the pressure component of acoustic signals. Whereas the results indicate a general pattern of acoustic circuitry similar to that of specialists, they also show central adaptations, namely, a vocal-acoustic interface in DO and SO related to this species' vocal abilities.
Constructing More Meaningful Relationships: Mnemonic Instruction for Special Populations

This article describes a model for reconstructing associative learning tasks along the dimensions of meaningfulness and concreteness, and for providing pictorial elaborations between stimulus and response information to promote learning in a variety of content domains. The research reviewed is of direct relevance to students with histories of learning failure in schools; we argue that such elaborative strategies are suitable especially for these handicapped learners. Initial investigations of mnemonic techniques involving the use of keywords and pegwords are described. Next, the broader approach of “reconstructive elaborations,” incorporating such strategies as the keyword method, is described. Several recent field investigations are presented, in which this approach was implemented in classrooms over extensive time periods. Finally, we discuss future applications, with particular reference to the transfer issue.
Intranet 2.0 from a Project Management Perspective.

Library intranets require flexibility and efficiency and enhance the internal communication and collaborative nature of creating and organizing the institution's information. At the University of Houston Libraries, the focus was on public services, so little attention was given to the intranet—the tool every department relied on for quick access to their content. Text-heavy, static Web pages with poor organization and outdated information made the site unusable. In 2008, the University of Houston Libraries assembled a team to begin the considerable task of redesigning the intranet with Drupal, a popular open source content management system that would allow for interactive information sharing, user-centered design, and new ways of collaboration. This article outlines on the overall project management of the intranet redesign process, including methods used for collecting staff feedback, evaluating existing and potential content, creating a new information architecture focused on departments and committees...
Impact of strange quark matter nuggets on pycnonuclear reaction rates in the crusts of neutron stars

This article presents an investigation into the pycnonuclear reaction rates in dense crustal matter of neutron stars contaminated with strange quark matter nuggets. The presence of such nuggets in the crustal matter of neutron stars would be a natural consequence if Witten's strange quark matter hypothesis is correct. The methodology presented in this article is a recreation of a recent representation of nuclear force interactions embedded within pycnonuclear reaction processes. The study then extends the methodology to incorporate distinctive theoretical characteristics of strange quark matter nuggets, like their low charge-per-baryon ratio, and then assesses their effects on the pycnonuclear reaction rates. Particular emphasis is put on the impact of color superconductivity on the reaction rates. Depending on whether quark nuggets are in this novel state of matter, their electric charge properties vary drastically, which turns out to have a dramatic effect on the pycnonuclear reaction rates. Future nuclear fusion network calculations may thus have the potential to shed light on the existence of strange quark matter nuggets and on whether they are in a color superconducting state, as suggested by QCD.
Antagonism by diphenylaminoethanol of GABA-induced inhibition of Deiters neurones.

Abstract In cats anaesthetized with chloralose-urethane (10 mg kg , i.V.), diphenylaminoethanol reduced cerebellar disfacilitation of ventral Deiters neurones. Diphenylaminoethanol administered intravenously and by iontophoresis antagonized inhibition induced by iontophoretic γ-aminobutyric acid but not that induced by iontophoretic glycine. Following 10 and 20 mg kg diphenylaminoethanol, cerebellar inhibition of dorsal Deiters neurones was reduced by 10 and 17% respectively. Iontophoretic diphenylaminoethanol did not increase but sometimes depressed the firing rate, but the 20 mg kg intravenous dose caused increased bursting firing. These data indicate that the block by diphenylaminoethanol of cerebellar disfacilitation of spinal monosynaptic reflexes previously reported by Huffman and Yim (1969) is due in part to γ-aminobutyric acid antagonism by diphenylaminoethanol, which is consistent with the role of γ-aminobutyric acid as the inhibitory transmitter released by Purkinje axons. The bursting firing observed after the higher dose of diphenylaminoethanol would also contribute to the reduction of cerebellar disfacilitation.
Dislocations and the reconstruction of (111) fcc metal surfaces.

It is shown that a pair of hexagonal dislocation structures can be used as a basis for understanding the herringbone pattern and the node networks that have been observed in the structure of several (111) metal surfaces and overlayers. The hexagons are composed of the dissociation patterns of perfect edge dislocations, which are derived from the well-known concepts of the Thompson tetrahedron. At each corner there is a unit threading dislocation; the actual location of this dislocation alternates between the inner and outer Shockley partial dislocation. One of the hexagons will form when there is an excess of vacancies in the surface layer, the other when there are excess atoms. The hexagons can each be reduced to give a corresponding threefold node also terminated by threading dislocations. From such a model, structural characteristics of (111) surface reconstructions such as the presence of perfect edge dislocations on only one side of the stacking fault, can be understood. Whether the herringbone pattern or the node array will be observed in a particular case will depend on the details of the specific systems. In particular, the balance between the mechanisms of the dislocation pattern formation and the equilibrium configuration may be important. The threading dislocations play a critical role in these processes.
Reflection-Impulsivity and Short-Term Memory in Emotionally Disturbed Children

In an investigation of the relationship between the reflection-impulsivity cognitive dimension and short-term memory in emotionally disturbed children, 42 Ss were administered the Matching Familiar Figures Test and the Visual-Aural Digit Span Test. Analysis of covariance indicated that on all memory tasks the reflective Ss were better than the impulsive subjects.
Making Class Participation a Reality

The classroom is core to the educational process. It is here that university community begins and teachers ". .. create the common ground of intellectual commitment (Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching 1990, 12). Uninspiring classrooms where students are rarely motivated and where instructors, sometimes out of despair, do little more than mechanically cover the material need to be brought to life. The classroom experience is too important to be surrendered to despair and uninspired teaching. Class participation, by bringing students actively into the educational process, provides one means for enhancing our teaching and bringing life to the classroom. A recent report on the state of higher education, while recognizing the important role played by lectures, stresses the need for a variety of teaching styles. Seeing the passive student as "one of the greatest challenges facing higher education," it recommends the increased use of active modes of teaching that require students to take greater responsibility for their learning. Among the modes recommended are small group discussions, simulations, in-class presentations, and debates (Study Group on the Conditions of Excellence in American Higher Education 1984, 27). Chickering, Gamson, and Barsi are even more emphatic in asserting that:
Three-dimensional inverse scattering of a dielectric target embedded in a lossy half-space

A modified iterative Born method is applied for three-dimensional inversion of a lossless dielectric target embedded in a lossy half-space. The forward solver employs a modified form of the extended Born method, and the half-space Green's function is computed efficiently via the complex-image technique. Example results are shown, with all scattering data based on a computational model, utilizing a rigorous forward solver distinct from that employed in the inversion. In addition, distinct gridding schemes are used in the forward and inverse solvers. Simple Tikhonov regularization is found to yield adequate results for inversion of noisy data.
MAKING SENSE OF RELIGION IN POLITICAL LIFE

▪ Abstract After a long period of postwar neglect by mainstream scholars, religion assumed a new prominence in political science during the late 1970s. Despite the latter-day significance accorded religion by the discipline, the product of several unexpected real-world events, much of the recent research has focused on specific episodes or groups without drawing on or developing general theories. Social movement theory (SMT), particularly in its most recent incarnation, offers a way to address the three critical questions about religiously engaged political movements: What are the motives for political activity by religious groups? By what means do these groups facilitate political action? What features and conditions of the political system provide them opportunities for effective political action? This review explores various expressions of religiously based political action from the vantage point of SMT. We conclude that the translation of religious grievances into political action is contingent on a s...
Impact of Topiramate on Serum Bicarbonate Concentrations in Adults

BACKGROUND:Topiramate is an antiepileptic medication with multiple pharmacologic effects, including inhibition of carbonic anhydrase activity. It is associated with metabolic acidosis in both children and adults.OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the incidence and magnitude of the effect of topiramate on serum bicarbonate concentrations in an adult population.METHODS:This was a retrospective cohort study. Data were evaluated to assess the relationship between serum bicarbonate concentrations before and during topiramate therapy.RESULTS:Fifty-four patients (40 females) with a mean age of 47.6 years (range 19–89) were included in the study. Mean ± SD serum bicarbonate concentrations before and during topiramate therapy were 26.8 ± 2.9 mEq/L (range 21–36) and 21.7 ± 3.6 mEq/L (range 13–29), respectively, with a mean difference of 5.1 (95% CI 3.7 to 6.5; p < 0.001). Twenty-six patients (48%) had low serum bicarbonate concentrations while on topiramate, with a mean concentration of 18.8 mEq/L (range 13–21).CONCLUSIONS:Topi...
Transposases are the most abundant, most ubiquitous genes in nature

Genes, like organisms, struggle for existence, and the most successful genes persist and widely disseminate in nature. The unbiased determination of the most successful genes requires access to sequence data from a wide range of phylogenetic taxa and ecosystems, which has finally become achievable thanks to the deluge of genomic and metagenomic sequences. Here, we analyzed 10 million protein-encoding genes and gene tags in sequenced bacterial, archaeal, eukaryotic and viral genomes and metagenomes, and our analysis demonstrates that genes encoding transposases are the most prevalent genes in nature. The finding that these genes, classically considered as selfish genes, outnumber essential or housekeeping genes suggests that they offer selective advantage to the genomes and ecosystems they inhabit, a hypothesis in agreement with an emerging body of literature. Their mobile nature not only promotes dissemination of transposable elements within and between genomes but also leads to mutations and rearrangements that can accelerate biological diversification and--consequently--evolution. By securing their own replication and dissemination, transposases guarantee to thrive so long as nucleic acid-based life forms exist.
Knee-attributable medical costs and risk of re-surgery among patients utilizing non-surgical treatment options for knee arthrofibrosis in a managed care population.

AbstractObjective:To determine if differences in costs and risks of re-hospitalization and/or re-operation exist between arthrofibrosis patients treated with low intensity stretch (LIS) or high intensity stretch (HIS) mechanical therapies, or physical therapy alone (No Device).Study Design:This observational cohort study utilized administrative claims data to identify arthrofibrosis patients, age <65 years, with continuous enrollment for the 6 months prior to and following the index knee event date.Methods:The index knee event was defined as the knee injury/surgery preceding device use for the LIS and HIS groups and the knee injury/surgery prior to the diagnosis of arthrofibrosis for the No Device group. Knee-attributable medical costs (KAMC), accrued over 6-month pre- and post-index periods, as well as risks of re-operation, re-injury, and re-hospitalization were compared between groups. Multivariate models were used to evaluate group differences in utilization and costs when controlling for age, sex, an...
Ecologic Studies in Epidemiology: Concepts, Principles, and Methods

An ecologic study focuses on the comparison of groups, rather than individuals; thus, individual-level data are missing on the joint distribution of variables within groups. Variables in an ecologic analysis may be aggregate measures, environmental measures, or global measures. The purpose of an ecologic analysis may be to make biologic inferences about effects on individual risks or to make ecologic inferences about effects on group rates. Ecologic study designs may be classified on two dimensions: (a) whether the primary group is measured (exploratory vs analytic study); and (b) whether subjects are grouped by place (multiple-group study), by time (time-trend study), or by place and time (mixed study). Despite several practical advantages of ecologic studies, there are many methodologic problems that severely limit causal inference, including ecologic and cross-level bias, problems of confounder control, within-group misclassification, lack of adequate data, temporal ambiguity, collinearity, and migration across groups.
Multiparametric characterization of grade 2 glioma subtypes using magnetic resonance spectroscopic, perfusion, and diffusion imaging.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to derive quantitative parameters from magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopic, perfusion, and diffusion imaging of grade 2 gliomas according to the World Health Organization and to investigate how these multiple imaging modalities can contribute to evaluating their histologic subtypes and spatial characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MR spectroscopic, perfusion, and diffusion images from 56 patients with newly diagnosed grade 2 glioma (24 oligodendrogliomas, 18 astrocytomas, and 14 oligoastrocytomas) were retrospectively studied. Metabolite intensities, relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) were statistically evaluated. RESULTS: The 75th percentile rCBV and median ADC were significantly different between oligodendrogliomas and astrocytomas (P < .0001) and between oligodendrogliomas and oligoastrocytomas (P < .001). Logistic regression analysis identified both 75th percentile rCBV and median ADC as significant variables in the differentiation of oligodendrogliomas from astrocytomas and oligoastrocytomas. Group differences in metabolite intensities were not significant, but there was a much larger variation in the volumes and maximum values of metabolic abnormalities for patients with oligodendroglioma compared with the other tumor subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Perfusion and diffusion imaging provide quantitative MR parameters that can help to differentiate grade 2 oligodendrogliomas from grade 2 astrocytomas and oligoastrocytomas. The large variations in the magnitude and spatial extent of the metabolic lesions between patients and the fact that their values are not correlated with the other imaging parameters indicate that MR spectroscopic imaging may provide complementary information that is helpful in targeting therapy, evaluating residual disease, and assessing response to therapy.
Bioanalytical inaccuracy: a threat to the integrity and efficiency of research

In recent years, the threats to the integrity of science posed by the dishonesty of a small minority of scientists,1 and the biases held by most scientists,2,3 have become a topic of lively discussion. We believe that faulty measurement of biochemical compounds is sufficiently common that it also serves to undermine the integrity and efficiency of science. We approach this neglected area by first discussing a series of erroneous reports in the neuroscience literature that we are personally familiar with owing to our areas of research interest. Then we attempt to explain the underlying factors that contribute to the problem and make suggestions about how to minimize and mitigate the problem.
Pregnancy of the Early-Career Psychiatrist

OBJECTIVE: Since the 1970s the number of women physicians has steadily increased and is expected to continue to climb into the next century. Psychiatry is a medical specialty that has been successful in attracting women. As more young women enter psychiatry, more colleagues will be pregnant in the workplace. This paper explores some of the practical issues that pregnancy poses for the early-career psychiatrist, her colleagues, and her patients. METHODS: A MEDLINE search was conducted. Literature on the pregnant physician, the pregnant therapist, and the pregnant resident was reviewed. Recommendations found in these resources were combined with the author's observations to create a single resource paper that outlines common problems and practical strategies for the psychiatrist who is pregnant. RESULTS: The integration of the psychiatrist's maternal identity with her professional identity is a task that often begins during pregnancy. The fear of abandonment is a common theme for patients under her care. Re...
On-Chip circuit for monitoring frequency degradation due to NBTI

This work describes the design and characterization of a unique circuit which can be easily integrated into a microprocessor product in order to determine the degradation of circuit speed caused by negative bias temperature instability (NBTI)-induced shifts under typical product operating voltage and temperature. These data can subsequently be compared to models for circuit degradation in order to assess the validity of the models.
Effect of floor density on growth performance of Pearl Grey guinea fowl replacement pullets

ABSTRACT Little is known of the optimal floor density for the Pearl Grey (PG) guinea fowl pullet. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of varying floor density on the growth performance of PG guinea fowl pullets. In 3 replicates, 1-d-old guinea keets (n = 786) were weighed individually and randomly assigned to floor pens covered with pine wood shavings at 80, 69, 60, and 53 birds/pen, equivalent to densities of 18, 15.6, 13.6, and 12 birds/m2, respectively. The birds were allowed feeder space of 2.3, 2.7, 3.1, and 3.5 cm/bird, respectively, and water space of 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, and 1.8 cm/bird, respectively. The photoperiod was 23 h at 0 to 11 wk of age (WOA) and 8 h at 12 to 16 WOA. Birds were fed diets comprising 3,000 and 3,100 kcal of ME/kg of diet at 0 to 4 and 5 to 8 WOA, respectively, and 24% CP. At 9 to 16 WOA, the diets comprised 3,100 kcal of ME/kg and 18% CP. Feed and water were provided for ad libitum consumption. Body weight and feed consumption were measured weekly. Overall, BW gains were higher (P
Adaptive Multimodality Sensing of Landmines

The problem of adaptive multimodality sensing of landmines is considered based on electromagnetic induction (EMI) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) sensors. Two formulations are considered based on a partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) framework. In the first formulation, it is assumed that sufficient training data are available, and a POMDP model is designed based on physics-based features, with model selection performed via a variational Bayes analysis of several possible models. In the second approach, the training data are assumed absent or insufficient, and a lifelong-learning approach is considered, in which exploration and exploitation are integrated. We provide a detailed description of both formulations, with example results presented using measured EMI and GPR data, for buried mines and clutter
The Bohr Theory and the Approximate Harmonics in the Infra-Red Spectra of Diatomic Gases

Infra-red spectra of diatomic gases; a quantum theory. The author's earlier theoretical explanation of the occurrence of approximate harmonics in the infra-red spectra of HCl, HBr and CO, based on the non-linearity of the law of force governing the relative displacement of the component atoms, encountered three difficulties: it did not explain the inexactness of the harmonics; it gave a wrong ratio for the asymmetry constants of the fundamental and harmonic bands; and it was in serious conflict with Kirchhoff's law. It is now shown that by adopting Bohr's hypotheses that the molecules possess a series of discrete, non-radiating states of vibration and that the frequencies radiated and absorbed are determined by the energy emitted or absorbed, a new explanation is obtained which seems to overcome the difficulties mentioned above. In connection with the discussion the author presents a full account of his theory of the asymmetry of the bands, which postulates a decrease in the frequency of vibration of a rotating diatomic molecule with increasing angular velocity, a consequence of the non-linearity of the law of force. It is found that the theory gives the observed value of the ratio of the asymmetry constants only if it is assumed that the minimum kinetic energy for vibratory motion is not finite as for rotary motion in the Bohr theory, but is zero.Kirchhoff's law; suggested limitation. The author's theory of the structure of these band spectra is based on a theory which involves a minor contradiction to Kirchhoff's law since it leads to the conclusion that the ratio of the intensities of any two component parts of an absorption band is independent of the temperature. This suggests that Kirchhoff's law may not hold in such cases.
The Effects of Pain, Supination, and Grip Strength on Patient-Rated Disability After Operatively Treated Distal Radius Fractures

Purpose The correlation between physician-observed parameters and patient-rated disability in distal radius fractures is complex and poorly understood. Anecdotal clinical experience suggests that supination is an important factor in the return of functional status after distal radius fracture. To explore this relationship, we conducted a retrospective multivariate linear regression analysis of an existing patient database to evaluate the hypothesis that range of motion and other objective parameters are important determinants of patient-rated disability. Methods We analyzed a prospectively gathered registry of patients undergoing operative fixation of distal radius fractures using physical examination parameters measured at each follow-up visit and patient-based outcomes including Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire and visual analog scale for pain. We constructed a multivariate linear regression model to evaluate the association of range of motion, grip strength, and visual analog scale score with the DASH score. Results We analyzed data from 190 patients and 611 total clinic visits. Pain, grip strength, and supination were significantly correlated with DASH scores, controlling for all other factors. These 3 variables were able to predict 56% of the variability of the DASH score. Flexion-extension, radial-ulnar deviation, and pronation had no significant correlation to DASH score. Conclusions Pain, strength, and supination appear to be important determinants of patient-rated outcomes after distal radius fracture. Pain and strength continuously improve over time up to 2 years after surgery, whereas supination plateaus more quickly, usually within the first 3 to 6 months. Type of study/level of evidence Diagnostic II.
Cross-talk between RhoH and Rac1 in regulation of actin cytoskeleton and chemotaxis of hematopoietic progenitor cells

RhoH, a hematopoietic-specific and constitutively active member of the Rho guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) family, has been implicated in the negative regulation of Rac GTPase-mediated signaling in hematopoietic cells. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the functional interaction between RhoH and Rac in primary cells are poorly understood. Here we show that deletion of Rhoh in hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) leads to increased stromal-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α)–induced chemotaxis and chemokinesis (random migration). The abnormally enhanced migration of Rhoh−/− HPCs is associated with increased Rac1 activity and translocation of Rac1 protein to the cell membrane, where it colocalizes with cortical filamentous-actin (F-actin) and lipid rafts. Expression of the dominant-negative mutant Rac1N17 inhibits the cortical F-actin assembly and chemotaxis of wild-type and Rhoh−/− HPCs to the same extent. Conversely, overexpression of RhoH in HPCs blocks the membrane translocation of Rac1–enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) and active Rac1V12–EGFP proteins and impairs cortical F-actin assembly and chemotaxis in response to SDF-1α stimulation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the subcellular localization and inhibitory function of RhoH in HPCs are regulated by C-terminal motifs, including a CKIF prenylation site. Together, we have identified an antagonistic role of RhoH in regulation of cortical F-actin assembly and chemotaxis via suppressing Rac1 membrane targeting and activation in primary HPCs.
Enalapril (MK-421), A New Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor: Acute and Chronic Effects in Heart Failure

Enalapril (MK-421) is a new oral angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor which was administered to eight patients with chronic congestive heart failure. Four hours after enalapril administration (10 to 20 mg), mean arterial pressure fell from 95.6 ± 11.4 (SD) to 84.8 ± 17.6 mm Hg (p 2 . These hemodynamic effects persisted during one month of enalapril administration. Baseline plasma renin activity of 0.76 ± 1.07 ng/ml/hr rose to 3.23 ± 2.87 ng/ml/hr (p
Automated MRI driven image guided robotic brain surgery

Surgical planning and decision making are the key towards successful surgical operations. The state of the art image guided surgery and intra operative MRI provide a complete and comprehensive picture of the navigational space by accurately localizing tumors or lesions and assessing their extents. However the surgery is still 'decided' and 'executed' by human surgeons. The paper proposes a novel approach for an automated MRI driven image guided brain surgery. An expert system based on the surgeons' surgical planning approaches was developed. The optimal path for tumor resection based on minimizing the surgical effort and penetration area was computed. A series of experiments were conducted to validate the methodology developed.
Hospital Care of Individuals with Advanced Dementia

Elders with advanced dementia are frequently hospitalized although this is often burdensome and has limited clinical benefit. A multidisciplinary advanced dementia consult service (ADCS) was developed to educate families and medical providers regarding the expected course of disease and facilitate decision making regarding issues that commonly arise in advanced dementia. Individuals with advanced dementia were identified using modifications to the electronic medical record, physician order entry system, and administrative data. The ADCS intervention included inpatient consultation and printed educational materials for surrogate decision makers. Pilot testing was conducted using a pre-post design and a variety of outcomes were evaluated including concordance of treatment with goals of care, surrogate knowledge regarding advanced dementia, and quality of communication during hospitalization. Given the small size of the pilot study, descriptive statistics were utilized. Hospice referral was more common in the intervention group. Rehospitalization, emergency room visits, and feeding tube placement were more common in the control group. Proxy data showed that those in the intervention group more commonly reported understanding what to expect in advanced dementia and higher satisfaction with quality of communication. An ADCS is a feasible intervention which can be readily implemented in a variety of acute care settings. As healthcare financing evolves, programs such as the ADCS will be increasingly beneficial as preliminary findings suggest that it improves care for elders with advanced dementia and their families while having the ability to reduce cost through elimination of unnecessary interventions and rehospitalizations.
Social Cognitive Correlates of Physical Activity in Black Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract Objective To examine variables from social cognitive theory as correlates of physical activity in black and white individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Design Cross-sectional. Setting National survey. Participants Black (n=151) and white (n=185) individuals with MS were recruited through the North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis Registry. Intervention Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures The battery of questionnaires included information on demographic and clinical characteristics, physical activity, exercise self-efficacy, function, social support, exercise outcome expectations, and exercise goal setting and planning. Results Black individuals with MS reported significantly lower levels of physical activity compared with white individuals with MS. Physical activity levels were significantly correlated with self-efficacy, outcome expectations, functional limitations as impediments, and goal setting in black participants with MS. The pattern and magnitude of correlations were comparable with those observed in white participants based on Fisher z tests. Conclusions Researchers should consider applying behavioral interventions that target social cognitive theory variables for increasing physical activity levels among black individuals with MS.
Neutron resonance spectroscopy in vanadium, manganese, and cobalt

High-resolution total neutron cross-section measurements in natural vanadium, manganese, and cobalt were made in the energy range up to a few hundred keV with the Columbia University Nevis neutron velocity spectrometer using a 200-m flight path and a nominal resolution of 0.5 ns/m. These cross-section data were analyzed with an R-matrix multilevel code, and the resonance parameters (E/sub lambda/, GAMMA/sub n/, J/sup ..pi../, S/sub 0/, D) were obtained. In addition, making use of the published thermal energy data, the parameters of the bound levels were determined. From these measurements the values of S/sub 0/ up to 215-keV neutron energy for vanadium, up to 200 keV for manganese, and up to 80 keV for cobalt have been obtained. The value of spin cut-off factor sigma is found to vary from 2.7 to 4 for these nuclei. These results do not show any J dependence on the strength function.
A new computational approach to the synthesis of fixed order controllers

The research described in this dissertation deals with an open problem concerning the synthesis of controllers of fixed order and structure. This problem is encountered in a variety of applications. Simply put, the problem may be put as the determination of the set, S of controller parameter vectors, K = (k 1,k2,...,kl), that render Hurwitz a family (indexed by F ) of complex polynomials of the form {P0( s,α) + i=1 l Pi(s,α) ki, α ∈ F }, where the polynomials Pj(s,α), j = 0,...,l are given data. They are specified by the plant to be controlled, the structure of the controller desired and the performance that the controllers are expected to achieve. Simple examples indicate that the set S can be non-convex and even be disconnected. While the determination of the non-emptiness of S is decidable and amenable to methods such as the quantifier elimination scheme, such methods have not been computationally tractable and more importantly, do not provide a reasonable approximation for the set of controllers. Practical applications require the construction of a set of controllers that will enable a control engineer to check the satisfaction of performance criteria that may not be mathematically well characterized. The transient performance criteria often fall into this category. From the practical viewpoint of the construction of approximations for S , this dissertation is different from earlier work in the literature on this problem. A novel feature of the proposed algorithm is the exploitation of the interlacing property of Hurwitz polynomials to provide arbitrarily tight outer and inner approximation to S . The approximation is given in terms of the union of polyhedral sets which are constructed systematically using the Hermite-Biehler theorem and the generalizations of the Descartes' rule of signs.
A USUAL ARRHYTHMIA IN AN UNUSUAL HEART

Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) may have variable locations of the AV node, either based on their anatomy or prior surgical interventions. Slow pathway locations may be unknown or located at unconventional sites, making catheter based interventions quite challenging. A 25-year-old man
A topological analysis of targeted In-111 uptake in SPECT images of murine tumors

Single-photon emission computed tomography images of murine tumors are interpreted as the values of functions on a three-dimensional domain. Motivated by Morse theory, the local maxima of the tumor image functions are analyzed. This analysis captures tumor heterogeneity that cannot be identified with standard measures. Utilizing decreasing sequences of uptake values to filter the images, a modified form of the standard persistence diagrams for 0-dimensional persistent homology as well as novel childhood diagrams are constructed. Applying statistical methods to time series of persistence and childhood diagrams detects heterogeneous uptake of radioactive antibody within tumors over time and distinguishes uptake in two groups of mice injected with different labeled antibodies.
The frank-starling mechanism involves deceleration of cross-bridge kinetics and is preserved in failing human right ventricular myocardium

Cross-bridge cycling rate is an important determinant of cardiac output, and its alteration can potentially contribute to reduced output in heart failure patients. Additionally, animal studies suggest that this rate can be regulated by muscle length. The purpose of this study was to investigate cross-bridge cycling rate and its regulation by muscle length under near-physiological conditions in intact right ventricular muscles of nonfailing and failing human hearts. We acquired freshly explanted nonfailing (n = 9) and failing (n = 10) human hearts. All experiments were performed on intact right ventricular cardiac trabeculae (n = 40) at physiological temperature and near the normal heart rate range. The failing myocardium showed the typical heart failure phenotype: a negative force-frequency relationship and β-adrenergic desensitization (P 0.05), indicating that this regulatory mechanism is preserved in heart failure. Length-dependent assessment of twitch kinetics mirrored these findings; normalized dF/dt slowed down with increasing length of the muscle and was virtually identical in diseased tissue. This study shows for the first time that muscle length regulates cross-bridge kinetics in human myocardium under near-physiological conditions and that those kinetics are preserved in the right ventricular tissues of heart failure patients.
Special setting calculation program of 220 kV Zhou-chao transmission line ground distance protection

The three-stage ground distance protection is generally configured in 220 kV transmission line protection program.With the development of power grids,the structure is increasingly complex.The main transformer of the next substation under different operation mode may cause the distance protection scope too large or the protection low sensitivity,and the difficult cooperation between the higher and the lower-level protection.By taking Chengde 220 kV Zhou-chao transmission line and 220 kV substation of Chaohe as an example,some existing problems in setting calculation were analyzed and discussed in this paper.The cooperation principle of setting was adjusted and the program that the 145 bus-tie breaker in the middle voltage side of the main transformer delayed 0.3 s for tripping to split operation was put forward.The system short-circuit impedance was increased to make the coordination between upper protection and lower protection more reasonable,and the line operation reliability was improved.
Abstract 245: Role Of Melanocortin-4-receptor In The Blood Pressure Regulation In Female Hyperandrogenemic Rats, A Model Of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are characterized by hyperandrogenemia, hirsutism, infertility, and enlarged cystic ovaries. Obesity and hypertension are also frequently found in women with PCOS, although the mechanisms responsible for the elevated blood pressure (BP) are unclear. Thus we tested the hypothesis that the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R), known to contribute to obesity hypertension in males, contributes to the elevated BP in hyperandrogenemic female rats, a model of PCOS. Female Sprague Dawley rats (4 wks) were implanted with dihydrotestosterone (DHT; 7.5mg/90 days sc) or placebo pellets (PL) (n=5/grp) and aged to 12 wks. Body weight and food intake (whether rats were pair fed or had ad libitum access) were measured daily. Two wks following implantation of radiotelemetry transmitters and intracerebroventricular cannulae, baseline mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured for 5 days; then rats received MC3/4R antagonist, SHU-9119 (SHU; 1 nmol/h ICV) or vehicle for 7 days and MAP was recorded. DHT-treated rats had higher body weight and MAP than PL rats (BW: PL: 266.0±8.7; DHT: 348.5±10.4 g, p<0.01; MAP: PL rats: 102±5; DHT: 114±5 mmHg, p<0.05). SHU significantly increased food intake and body weights in both placebo (PL) and DHT-treated rats fed ad libitum (PL: 379.2±28.5; DHT: 451/3±7.3 g, p<0.01 DHT vs PL; 0.01 SHU vs control), but had no effect on MAP compared to controls (PL: 104±5; HAF rats: 114±5 mmHg; p<0.05, HAF vs PL; p=NS, SHU vs controls). However, in other rats, when pair fed with little increase in body weight (PL: 253.7±2.0, SHU: 261.0±0.6, p<0.05; DHT: 306.7±2.6, SHU: 316.7±1.5 g, p<0.05), SHU decreased MAP in DHT treated rats but not placebo controls (PL rats: 102±1, SHU: 103±2 mmHg; p=NS; DHT rats: 110±1 vs. SHU: 97±1 mmHg; p<0.001). Thus MC4R antagonist reduces MAP in DHT-treated rats only when food intake and body weight are controlled. These data suggest that activation of MC4R contributes to elevated BP in our model of PCOS and may also contribute to the elevated BP in women with PCOS. Supported by NIH R01HL66072, P01HL05971 and AHA 14POST18640015.