cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intravital microscopy evaluation of angiogenesis and its effects on glucose sensor performance.

An optical window model for the rodent dorsum was used to perform chronic and quantitative intravital microscopy and laser Doppler flowmetry of microvascular networks adjacent to functional and non-functional glucose sensors. The one-sided configuration afforded direct, realtime observation of the tissue response to bare (unmodified, smooth surface) sensors and sensors coated with porous poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA). Microvessel length density and red blood cell flux (blood perfusion) within 1mm of the sensors were measured bi-weekly over two weeks. When non-functional sensors were fully implanted beneath the windows the porous coated sensors had twofold more vasculature and significantly higher blood perfusion than bare sensors on Day 14. When functional sensors were implanted percutaneously, as in clinical use, no differences in baseline current, neovascularization or tissue perfusion were observed between bare and porous coated sensors. However, percutaneously implanted bare sensors had two-fold more vascularity than fully implanted bare sensors by Day 14, indicating other factors, such as micromotion, might be stimulating angiogenesis. Despite increased angiogenesis adjacent to percutaneous sensors, modest sensor current attenuation occurred over 14 days, suggesting that factors other than angiogenesis may play a dominant role in determining sensor function.
Microneurography: a technique producing information about factors affecting cardiovascular control.

This article discusses the technique of microneurography and its limitations. Stimuli capable of changing sympathetic neural discharge, recorded from peripheral nerves in conscious subjects, are noted. The notion that both internal and external stimuli can alter sympathetic activity should encourage psychophysiologists to examine these factors as possible elements used by subjects to process signals representing a component of autonomic behavior.
M3tk: A Robot Mobility and Manipulation Modeling Toolkit

In this brief paper, we present an overview of the M3tk software for modeling robotic systems. M3tk contains basic kinematics, inverse kinematics, dynamics and inverse dynamics capabilities for articulated multi-rigid body systems. Written in C++, the software features a core kinematics and dynamics library, a linear algebra library specialized for use with the algorithms in M3tk, and a Graphical User Interface with full 3D visualization. It contains implementations of multiple contact mechanics models and the ability to model terrain through heightfields. M3tk also features an ability to model terrains with spatially distributed properties. There is also an ability to manipulate objects using a joystick. This paper summarizes M3tk without delving into the details of the code.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Thermal phase transitions at the percolation threshold

Abstract We present a simple argument, valid in all dimensions for a wide range of quenched dilute spin models, for the equality of the pair correlation function and the pair connectedness function at the point p = pc, T = 0 is approached along the T axis.
Effect of standard vs extended Roux limb length on weight loss outcomes after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass

Background: Increasing the length of the Roux limb in open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) effectively increases excess weight loss in superobese patients with a body mass index (BMI) >50 kg/m2. Extending the RYGB limb length for obese patients with a BMI 50% excess weight loss (p = 0.07) was observed in the extended Roux limb group. Conclusions: In this series, no difference in weight loss outcome variables were observed up to 1 year after laparoscopic RYGB. Thus, extending Roux limb length from ≤100 cm to 150 cm did not significantly improve weight loss outcome in patients with a BMI < 50 kg/m2.
Deposition of immune complexes containing cationized antibodies in myocardial small blood vessels of mice.

Abstract Small myocardial blood vessels constitute a site for preferential deposition of preformed cationic immune complexes. This preferential deposition was demonstrated with a limited dose (100 μg) of cationized rabbit antibodies to human serum albumin, injected into C57B1 6J mice either alone or in the form of preformed immune complexes. Heart, kidney, liver, intestine, and skeletal muscle were examined for immune deposits by immunofluorescence microscopy. Highly cationized antibodies injected alone showed deposition in glomeruli and in the liver along the sinusoids but not in other tissues. Immune complexes containing native rabbit antibodies deposited only in liver in a Kupffer cell pattern. Moderate and highly cationized antibodies in immune complexes deposited in myocardial small blood vessels, liver, and glomeruli, but not in intestine or skeletal muscle. These complexes deposited via electrostatic interactions since unrelated polycationic molecules, protamine sulfate or cationized rabbit serum albumin, injected 1 min prior to cationic antibodies in immune complexes blocked deposition in myocardial small vessels, glomeruli, and liver. Administration of protamine or cationized rabbit serum albumin 1 min after deposition of cationized immune complexes resulted in displacement of the immune deposits in heart, kidney, and liver, but not when the injection was given 1 hr later. The presented data indicate that with passage of time the immune deposits rearrange and forces other than charge-charge interactions retain them in myocardial vessels.
Two-step sequences with extended temkin nonuniform reactivity—Rate-determining step revisited

Within the Temkin-type approach for two-step mechanisms, the problem of the rate-determining step (rds) and its possible shift on a nonuniform surface is reexamined. The nonuniformity concept is extended to its maximum limits and a new transfer rule is derived for the model's intrinsic linear free energy relationships. For any thermodynamically allowable coupling of the two steps, this provides a quantitative estimation of rds shift, which is unimportant for reasonable model parameters. The proposed transfer rule leads to a unique analytical solution for the local turnover rate, whatever the steps' coupling.
The autonomy of religious experience

In this paper I want to make a start at defending the idea that the experience of God, or, as I shall say, the perception1 of God plays an epistemic role with respect to beliefs about God importantly analogous to that played by sense perception with respect to beliefs about the physical world. To be sure, what it takes for an important analogy depends on just what epistemic role sense perception does play, and that is a matter of considerable controversy. Nevertheless, it is admitted on (almost) all hands that sense perception does provide us with knowledge (justified belief) about perceived things, happenings, and situations in the physical environment of the perceiver, and that this perceptual knowledge is essential to our having any further knowledge about the physical world. My idea is that, likewise, one's perceptions of God can furnish one with knowledge (justified belief) about what God is doing vis-a-vis the person at that moment (sustaining her in being, filling her with love or peace, strengthening her, communicating a certain message, or just being present). Call beliefs of this sort M-beliefs ("M" for "manifestation"). And, likewise, this perceptual knowledge of God is essential to any other knowledge of God we may acquire. This paper constitutes only a small part of the elaboration and defence of this idea. One segment I will not get into concerns the way in which perceptual knowledge fits into the total picture, either with respect to our knowledge of the physical world or with respect to our knowledge of God. Hence I will not try to identify the other contributions to knowledge in either sphere, nor will I go into the ways in which perceptual knowledge supports, and/or is supported by, other sorts of knowledge. Instead, I will concentrate on defending a very modest claim concerning the epistemic status of our perception of God. Think of the matter in this way. With respect both to sense perception and the perception of God, the fact that X
Integrated nanopore/microchannel devices for ac electrokinetic trapping of particles

We report integrated nanopore/microfluidic devices in which the unique combination of low pore density, conical nanopore membranes with microfluidic channels created addressable, localized high-field regions for electrophoretic and dielectrophoretic trapping of particles. A poly(ethylene terephthalate) track-etched membrane containing conical pores ∼130 nm in diameter at the tip and ∼1 μm in diameter at the base was used as an interconnect between two perpendicular poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic channels. Integration of the nanopore membrane with microfluidic channels allowed for easy coupling of the electrical potentials and for directed transport of the analyte particles, 200 nm and 1 μm polystyrene microspheres and Caulobacter crescentus bacteria, to the trapping region. Square waves applied to the device generated electric field strengths up to 1.3 × 105 V/cm at the tips of the nanopores in the microchannel intersection. By varying the applied potentials from ±10 to ±100 V and exploring frequenci...
Smoke and Mirrors: Globalized Terrorism and the Illusion of Multilateral Security

Smoke and Mirrors: Globalized Terrorism and the Illusion of Multilateral Security, Frank P. Harvey, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2004, p. x, 345. Following the second Gulf War, international observers were quick to criticize the unilateral behaviour of the United States. Without a UN mandate, the allies had undermined the very institution they had created to foster multilateralism following the Second World War. Yet, Frank Harvey makes the case that not only is unilateralism the new trend in American foreign policy, it is desirable in an age of terrorism and nuclear proliferation. Harvey begins by scrutinizing the foundations of multilateralism and their applicability to the post 9/11 world. He concludes that not only is the higher moral ground associated with multilateralism a fallacy, but that multilateralism can be dangerous in an era where rapid responses to security threats are needed. To justify his conclusions, Harvey examines both the buildup to the 2003 Iraq conflict and the issue of Ballistic Missile Defense. He concludes with an analysis of future U.S. and Canadian security policy.
Intraventricular administration of gabapentin in the rat increases flurothyl seizure threshold.

Abstract Introduction : We investigated efficacy of prolonged intraventricular gabapentin (GBP) infusion in the rat flurothyl epilepsy model. Methods : Sprague–Dawley rats, under anesthesia, were implanted with bilateral Alzet model 2001 osmotic pumps. The pumps infused GBP 80 μg/μL (3.8 mg/day) or isotonic saline control at 1.0 μL/h into each ventricle for 5 days. After 5 days of GBP infusion, seizures were induced by flurothyl dripped onto filter paper. Time to first myoclonic jerk, first partial seizure and first tonic–clonic seizure was recorded by an observer unaware of the treatment group. Determination of seizures was behavioral. Results : Data were obtained from 54 rats. First tonic–clonic seizure was at 295.8 ± 58.8 s ( n = 28) for control rats, versus 338.0 ± 89.9 s ( n = 26) for rats with GBP in the pump ( p = 0.049). First myoclonic jerk occurred at 158.7 ± 20.8 versus 164.6 ± 33.5 s ( p = 0.44, n.s.). Regression of time to seizure versus weight was not significant. No animal had measurable serum levels ( Discussion : GBP instilled into the lateral ventricles by pump for 5 days delays onset of generalized tonic–clonic seizures produced by flurothyl in the rat. Time to first myoclonic or partial seizure was not influenced. Effects were not due to systemic absorption of GBP. This study provides a proof-in-principle for intraventricular therapy with AEDs.
Quasidiagonal Morphisms and Homotopy

Abstract Adapting certain methods of Voiculescu we show that the quasidiagonality of C*-algebras is invariant under completely positive deformations coming from asymptotic morphisms. We define a notion of quasidiagonal morphism. The quasidiagonality of morphisms from exact separable C*-algebras is shown to be invariant under completely positive deformations.
A Simplified Model of ARIS for Optimal Controller Design

Many space-science experiments require active vibration isolation. Boeing's Active Rack Isolation System (ARIS) isolates experiments at the rack (vs. experiment or sub-experiment) level, with multi e experiments per rack. An ARIS-isolated rack typically employs eight actuators and thirteen umbilicals; the umbilicals provide services such as power, data transmission, and cooling. Hampton, et al., used "Kane's method" to develop an analytical, nonlinear, rigid-body model of ARIS that includes full actuator dynamics (inertias). This model, less the umbilicals, was first implemented for simulation by Beech and Hampton; they developed and tested their model using two commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software packages. Rupert, et al., added umbilical-transmitted disturbances to this nonlinear model. Because the nonlinear model, even for the untethered system, is both exceedingly complex and "encapsulated" inside these COTS tools, it is largely inaccessible to ARIS controller designers. This paper shows that ISPR rattle-space constraints and small ARIS actuator masses permit considerable model simplification, without significant loss of fidelity. First, for various loading conditions, comparisons are made between the dynamic responses of the nonlinear model (untethered) and a truth model. Then comparisons are made among nonlinear, linearized, and linearized reduced-mass models. It is concluded that these three models all capture the significant system rigid-body dynamics, with the third being preferred due to its relative simplicity.
The relative biological effectiveness of photon radiation from encapsulated iodine-125, assessed in cells of human origin: I. Normal diploid fibroblasts.

The relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of photon radiation from encapsulated Iodine-125 "seed" sources has not previously been investigated in human cells. The RBE of 125I photons relative to 137Cs gamma rays was examined in normal diploid human fibroblasts derived from lung and skin. The cells were irradiated in plateau phase using a specially designed incubator-irradiator which permitted simultaneous 125I and 137Cs irradiation. The cells were irradiated at various dose rates ranging from 7 to 70 cGy/hr. Dosimetry was performed using Monte Carlo computer calculations to simulate the 125I irradiations and the exposure-standardization measurements made by the U.S. National Bureau of Standards which are the basis for the specified strengths of 125I seeds. Simulation of the exposure standardization measurements revealed systematic errors due to the unrecognized presence of low-energy fluorescence X rays. The specified activity of the type of seeds used for this study (high-activity, no radiographic marker) was found to be too high by more than 10%. The RBE of 125I assessed with both lung fibroblast lines was found to be 1.2 and was 1.3 for the skin fibroblasts. The RBE did not change over the range of dose rates tested. In fact, for both 125I and 137Cs, the dose response curves did not change with dose rate over the range tested, implying full repair of sublethal damage at dose rates below 70 cGy/hr in these non-dividing cells.
Marshall Dimock on leadership: Keeping the human element alive in large institutions

Marshall Dimock sought and found unity of life in human values. He accepted increasingly big businesses and governments as inevitable, but he found growing bureaucratization hostile to humanity and vitality within organizations and unresponsive to customers and citizens. He looked to leadership as an antidote to bureaucracy. Dimock supported vigorous leadership by individuals in key roles, but he consistently espoused high-involvement of people in leader-ship throughout organanizations and society generally.
A new model for the initiation of treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder: An exploratory study

Abstract Exposure and response prevention is a first-line treatment for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Despite its efficacy, patients often refuse or drop out, and it can require a substantial amount of time and cost. The current study examined the efficacy of a new model for initiating treatment for OCD, which might produce a rapid decrease in symptoms and experiential avoidance. This model uses a brief, intensive group intervention to reduce OCD and related symptoms by modifying OCD-related beliefs and then engaging in behavioral experiments. Cognitive components of treatment are emphasized and patients are encouraged to adopt a simple yet paradoxical mindset. Thirty-three individuals with OCD participated and completed measures of OCD-related beliefs and symptoms, depressive and anxiety symptoms, and experiential avoidance at three time intervals – pre-treatment, post-treatment, and one-month follow-up. Results indicated significant reductions from pre-treatment to post-treatment on nine out of 10 measures. All gains were maintained or decreased further from post-treatment to follow-up. There were significant reductions on all 16 measures from pre-treatment to follow-up, providing preliminary support for the efficacy of this model. It will be important to continue to examine the efficacy of this model in randomized controlled trials.
Immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy for a murine fibrosarcoma with C. granulosum and C. parvum.

Prophylactic and therapeutic effectiveness of killed C. granulosum and C. parvum bacteria was investigated against a methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma in syngeneic C3Hf/Bu mice. Subcutaneous or intravenous treatment of mice with 0.25 mg of these bacteria greatly reduced the number of tumor nodules (metastases, colonies) in the lung generated by 105 or 106 fibrosarcoma cells inoculated intravenously 7 days later. The treatment also prolonged the survival of tumor-cell recipients, and to some mice afforded complete protection against tumor growth. Number of lung metastases and survival of the recipients were more affected by intravenous than by subcutaneous treatment with the bacteria. Given intravenously to mice 3 days after intravenous inoculation of 2×105 fibrosarcoma cells, these non-specific immunostimulants significantly reduced the number of pulmonary colonies and prolonged survival of mice. In contrast, subcutaneous application of the bacteria was only slightly effective. Both C. granulosum and C. parvum administered intravenously to mice 3 days following subcutaneous injection of 4×105 fibrosarcoma cells did not affect the development of subcutaneous tumors. However, when the tumors had grown to 25-17 mm in diameter 67% and 80% of them underwent complete and lasting regressions in mice treated with C. granulosum and C. parvum, respectively. C. granulosum and C. parvum were approximately equally effective against both intravenously and subcutaneously injected tumor cells.
Application of aspartic acid racemization to forensic odontology: post mortem designation of age at death.

Abstract The extent of racemization of aspartic acid in the dentin of healthy, carious and impacted teeth was used to define the ages of individuals at the time of their death. These determinations were performed with an error of ±4 years. This method holds the promise of simplifying procedures in, and extending the application of forensic odontology. The current error range of this method may be reduced by analyzing teeth of the same positional types from deceased individuals of known age. Using this method, it appears that post mortem preservation of up to 10 years has a negligible effect on the values determined for the age of individuals at death.
Glomerular ultrastructure in the kidney of a hibernating animal.

Kidney samples were obtained from ten hibernating and ten control 13-lined ground squirrels. Citellus tridecemlineatus. The tissue was fixed in cold buffered 2% osmium tetroxide, dehydrated in graded alcohols and embedded in Maraglass. Sections were made with glass knives on a Porter-Blum microtome and viewed with RCA-EML and RCA-EMU 3 electron microscopes. Observations and comparisons were made of the glomerular capillaries in samples from both groups. In comparison with data on other animals reported in the literature, the basement membrane of the renal glomerulus of the control ground squirrel is approximately twice as thick, averaging 2,000–2,500 A in width. Hibernation results in several structural modifications of the glomerular ultrafilter as follows: (1) the endothelial pores are decreased in number and size; (2) the podocytic foot processes are swollen and the slit pores reduced in size; and (3) the basement membrane thickens, averaging 4,000–5,000 A in width, and becomes irregular in contour. It is concluded that the porosity of the glomerular ultrafilter decreases during hibernation. This aids in explaining the decrease in the rate of urine formation which occurs during this time of lowered body temperature and metabolic depression.
Impacts in nature and in the laboratory workshop

Impact is probably the most widespread geologic process in our solar system. All of the planets, moons, and asteroids have extensively cratered surfaces; on many, impact is the dominant process acting on the crust, and on others it is the primary mode of resurfacing. As we look to detailed mapping and exploration of the planets, an understanding of shock metamorphism is essential for both geological understanding and construction of impact-resistant structures. At the same time, the discovery of shocked minerals at the K/T boundary has highlighted the role of impacts in the evolution of life on Earth and led to an intensified search for terrestrial impact effects. The most striking aspect of shock deformation is the extreme rapidity of the process. Whereas geologists are used to tectonic events requiring millions of years or more, an impact process can accomplish the same strain in a billionth of a second. Thus, over 20 orders of magnitude separate tectonic strain rates from those seen in shock; the gap is more than 10 orders of magnitude even for “fast” deformation (10−4/s) in conventional uniaxial presses. Typically, impactites are intensely deformed—and often chemically reactive—with densely-packed fractures, twins, or dislocations, and melting is common. Despite their obvious importance, impact processes and products are much less well studied and understood than slow-strain-rate processes.
Reliability-based strength limit state for steel railway bridges

Railway bridges require special attention to provide safe and economical service. To assess the reliability of a structure, all critical parameters need to be specified. Load and resistance are random in nature; hence, the probabilistic approach is the best method for accurate evaluation of the performance of a bridge. In this study, identification of critical parameters was conducted on a typical through-plate girder, riveted, open deck railway bridge. This type of structure is a weakest link system. In such a system, the failure of one component can lead to failure of the entire structural system. This research involved identification of the basic load and resistance parameters and the development of analytical procedures for modelling the structural behaviour. The finite element method (FEM) was used to investigate the structural performance characteristics of the evaluated bridge. A three-dimensional structural model was developed to determine stress distribution in the members and connections. Based ...
Attribution of emotion in advanced Alzheimer's disease: Family and caregiver perspectives:

This qualitative study explored family and caregiver perspectives on the expression of emotion by individuals in the middle and late stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Indepth interviews were conducted with family members and facility staff Respondents readily ascribed expression of a wide range of emotions to individuals in the advanced stages of AD. More negative than positive emotions were identified. Caregivers attributed much of the negative emotion to individual response to the difficulties imposed by the disease. Differences by stage of the disease and sudden shifts in mood were also described, including a difficult period coinciding with recognition of increasing deficits and their consequences in the middle stages.
Bioaccumulation of PCB Congeners by Diporeia spp.: Kinetics and Factors Affecting Bioavailability

Abstract The toxicokinetics of four polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were determined for the amphipod Diporeia spp. exposed to selected PCB congeners through both water and sediment to determine the effect of temperature and organism size (mass). For compounds with log K ow 6 or greater, the water-only uptake coefficient (k u ) was inversely proportional to the size of the organism at all temperatures. For monochlorobiphenyl, k u was directly proportional to organism mass only at 16°C. Increasing temperature resulted in increasing uptake rate coefficients for all compounds except hexachlorobiphenyl (HCBP) where k u did not appear to depend on temperature. The hydrophobicity of the contaminants did not contribute significantly to changes in uptake rate from water. The elimination rate constant (k e ) was inversely proportional to organism size but was not significantly affected by temperature. The elimination rate constant declined exponentially with increasing log K ow . As log K ow increased, the effect of organism mass on k e was greatly reduced. The uptake from sediment was affected by temperature and the congener log K ow . At lower temperatures, the uptake coefficient from sediment (k s ) declined with increasing log K ow , while at higher temperatures, it exhibited a slight upward trend. Smaller animals had much higher uptake rates from sediment than large or medium size animals. Small animals exhibited very high biota-sediment accumulation factors (5.4 to 20.8) over 4 to 16°C for HCBP (BSAF, concentration in the organism normalized to the lipid content divided by the concentration in the sediment normalized to the organic carbon content). The relationship between BSAF and log K ow was exponential for both laboratory and field data.
Egg removal and intraspecific brood parasitism in the European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

From 1983 to 1986 we monitored 284 European starling (Sturnus vulgaris) nests in New Jersey for evidence of intraspecific brood parasitism and egg removal during the laying period. Egg removal occurred significantly more often at nests where intraspecific brood parasitism was detected (12 of 35 nests, 34%) than at unparasitized nests (23 of 249 nests, 9%). Brood parasitism (92% of parasitized nests) and egg removal (74% of nests with egg removal) were most common at nests where egg laying began in April of each year (i.e., early nests). Egg removal occurred at 26 (19%) and brood parasitism at 32 (23%) of 138 early nests. Both brood parasitism and egg removal were concentrated during the first four days in the laying period when brood parasitism is most likely to be successful and when host nests are most vulnerable to parasitism (Romagnano 1987). Both parasitism and removal usually involved a single egg at each nest. We detected brood parasitism and egg removal on the same day at five of 12 nests (42%) where both were observed. Because starlings do not remove foreign eggs from their nests once they begin laying (Stouffer et al. 1987) we hypothesize that parasite females sometimes removed host eggs while parasitizing nests.
Incorporating Best Practices Into Undergraduate Critical Care Nursing Education

Incorporation of best clinical practices into the baccalaureate critical care nursing curriculum is important. At The College at Brockport, best clinical practices are introduced early in the semester and are reinforced throughout the semester in both class and clinical settings. Among the best clinical practices included are those recommended by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, The Joint Commission, Quality and Safety Education for Nurses, the Surviving Sepsis Campaign, and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices. The culminating assignment of the semester requires students to focus on patient safety. Students describe the use of the National Patient Safety Goals and other best practices in the critical care setting. The role of the nurse leader and exploration of near-miss and work-around events also are described. Nursing students need to provide safe competent nursing care by incorporating best practices into their clinical practice now and in the future when they become registered professional nurses.
An unconditionally stable fully conservative semi-Lagrangian method

Semi-Lagrangian methods have been around for some time, dating back at least to [3]. Researchers have worked to increase their accuracy, and these schemes have gained newfound interest with the recent widespread use of adaptive grids where the CFL-based time step restriction of the smallest cell can be overwhelming. Since these schemes are based on characteristic tracing and interpolation, they do not readily lend themselves to a fully conservative implementation. However, we propose a novel technique that applies a conservative limiter to the typical semi-Lagrangian interpolation step in order to guarantee that the amount of the conservative quantity does not increase during this advection. In addition, we propose a new second step that forward advects any of the conserved quantity that was not accounted for in the typical semi-Lagrangian advection. We show that this new scheme can be used to conserve both mass and momentum for incompressible flows. For incompressible flows, we further explore properly conserving kinetic energy during the advection step, but note that the divergence free projection results in a velocity field which is inconsistent with conservation of kinetic energy (even for inviscid flows where it should be conserved). For compressible flows, we rely on a recently proposed splitting technique that eliminates the acoustic CFL time step restriction via an incompressible-style pressure solve. Then our new method can be applied to conservatively advect mass, momentum and total energy in order to exactly conserve these quantities, and remove the remaining time step restriction based on fluid velocity that the original scheme still had.
Prior aspirin use and outcomes in acute coronary syndromes

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients taking aspirin before an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are at higher risk of recurrent events or mortality. Background Controversy exists whether prior aspirin use is an independent predictor of worse outcomes in patients who experience an ACS. Methods We evaluated 66,443 ACS patients from a merged database of previous Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction trials. We evaluated the differences in ACS type, total mortality, and the composite end point of death, myocardial infarction (MI), recurrent ischemia, or stroke between prior aspirin and nonprior aspirin users. We used multivariate analysis to control for differences in baseline characteristics. Results Prior aspirin users (n = 17,839) were older (63 years vs. 59 years) and had more coronary risk factors and evidence of coronary artery disease (MI, angina, prior intervention) than nonprior aspirin users (n = 48,604) (all p non–ST-segment elevation MI > ST-segment elevation MI) than their nonaspirin user counterparts (p Conclusions Prior aspirin use was associated with more comorbidities and coronary disease and a higher risk of recurrent MI, but not mortality. As such, it should best be considered a marker of a patient population at high risk for recurrent adverse events after ACS.
Frequency combs with multi-gigahertz spacing from semiconductor mode-locked lasers and applications in multi-heterodyne detection for the measurement of arbitrary optical waveforms

We present an etalon-stabilized mode-locked laser with 10 GHz combline-to-combline spacing featuring a novel cavity design and the application of said comb-sources in multi-heterodyne detection. These frequency combs can be used as local oscillators for the measurement and analysis of arbitrary optical waveforms with periodic time domain structures. Experimental results obtained by heterodyning pulsed and phase modulated laser sources are presented.
Spontaneous neoplasms of lagomorphs

Many of the same neoplastic processes reported in companion animal medicine have been documented in lagomorphs. With only a few reports in the literature regarding rabbits and hares, the behavior of many of these tumors cannot be predicted. Further, based on limited current knowledge, the practitioner is left to make decisions for diagnostics and therapeutics in these cases based upon current recommendations for companion animals with adjustments for lagomorph physiology. We hope that this review of lagomorph neoplasia will inform the general practitioner of the occurrence of these tumors, promote further documentation and research of these processes in rabbits, and encourage the practitioner of rabbit medicine along with rabbit owners to consult with veterinary oncologists regarding neoplastic processes in rabbits rather than just giving a guarded prognosis.
Evaluating NRC's Recommendations for Educating Children with Autism a Decade Later.

Over a decade ago, the National Research Council (NRC) published the influential book, Educating Children with Autism. To survey parents and state-level special education administrators to evaluate how NRC’s recommendations, as published in Educating Children with Autism, have impacted educational practices for children with autism in the US. 149 parents of children with autism and 35 state-level special education administrators from 35 states were surveyed on the degree to which they agreed with NRC’s recommendations and the degree to which they believed NRC’s recommendations have been implemented. Parents and administrators agreed with most NRC recommendations; however, disagreements between parents and administrators were evident regarding labeling of students with autism, intensity of services, and training of staff. Conversely, parents and administrators concurred that the recommendations had been poorly to modestly implemented, overall. Lowest levels of implementation were found for training of qualified staff, research-based curricula, and mental health supports for families. Qualitative analysis of parents’ comments highlighted that vigorous advocacy was necessary for their children to receive appropriate services consistent with NRC’s recommendations. Over a decade following publication of Educating Children with Autism, most of NRC’s recommendations have not been fully implemented. Policy makers should focus particular attention on improving professional training, disseminating research-based practices, and providing mental health supports for families.
Immunohistologic studies of bone marrow biopsies on frozen sections: An analysis of 42 cases

An immunohistologic study of bone marrow biopsy frozen sections from 42 cases involved by a variety of reactive and neoplastic disorders is presented. Thirteen cases also were studied using other methods, including cytochemistry, surface marker analysis of cell suspensions, and/or DNA hybridization. Thirty-four of 42 cases (81%) were adequately phenotyped on frozen tissue using a panel of antibodies for hematolymphoid-associated antigens. The immunostains from the remaining eight cases were unsatisfactory, primarily as a result of heavy background staining. Eighteen cases were lymphoproliferative disorders of B-cell phenotype and 12 of these showed surface monotypic immunoglobulin expression by the frozen section technique. Six cases showed B- or pre-B-cell antigens but no surface immunoglobulins. Of the remaining 16 patients, two cases showed myeloid markers and three showed T-cell phenotype. Nine cases showed a mixture of polyclonal B- and T-cell populations. Keratin was demonstrated in a single case of metastatic carcinoma included in the study. These results indicate that the majority of hematopoietic processes can be successfully phenotyped on bone core frozen sections and demonstrate the usefulness of immunohistologic study of the frozen bone marrow biopsy specimens, especially when the specimens for other modalities are not available or are inadequate. The keys to achieving the best results from the frozen bone marrow immunohistochemistry were the gentle handling of the specimens and the preparation of high-quality, cryostat-cut frozen sections.
An unusual case of gastroschisis with gallbladder evisceration and late postrepair chylous ascites

This report describes an infant with gastroschisis who presented with gallbladder evisceration and developed ascites after abdominal wall closure.
Lattices Generated by Discrete Jordan Algebras

The discrete Jordan Algebras of 1×1, 2×2 and 3×3 hermitian matrices over integer elements of the four division algebras are considered. They are transformed under discrete subgroups of groups associated with the magic square. Points corresponding to a discrete Jordan matrix belong to a lattice generated by Weyl reflections that are expressed by means of Jacobson’s triple product. Special cases include the O(32), E8×E8 and E10 lattices that occur in superstring theories.
Sample Weighting Methods and Estimation of Totals in the Consumer Expenditure Survey

Abstract The widely used Principal Person method of weighting households in federal government surveys uses external post-Censal information on population to improve survey sample weights by a form of poststratification. While the Principal Person Methodology can be viewed as part of a procedure to adjust for nonresponse and undercoverage, it is not oriented for efficiently incorporating ancillary information or combining information from multiple surveys into survey estimates of subdomain totals. In this article a generalized least squares adjustment algorithm is shown to incorporate ancillary information in a way that, in principle, reduces the design variance of estimated survey totals. The flexibility of the method is exploited in an application to the Consumer Expenditure Survey that makes use of its “weighting control” and “composition” features.
Characterization of Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins from Human Breast Cancer Cells

The insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGF-BPs) are structurally and immunologically distinct from the IGF type 1 or type 2 receptors and are characterized by two major forms: a large, GH-dependent BP found in human plasma (Mr = 150 k) and a small GH-independent BP (Mr = 28-42 k) present in human plasma, amniotic fluid, and HEP G2 cells. Using affinity cross-linking techniques, we have identified several binding proteins secreted by human breast cancer cell lines (Hs578T, MDA-231, T-47D, and MCF-7). Under nonreducing conditions these proteins migrated at an apparent Mr = 35, 28, 27, and 24 k, while reducing conditions revealed bands of apparent Mr = 35, 32, 27, and 24 k. Competitive binding studies in T-47D-conditioned media demonstrated that these BPs bound more IGF-II than IGF-I, and that IGF-II potently inhibited binding of either IGF-I or -II. Immunological studies using a polyclonal antibody against the HEP G2 small BP revealed no immunoreactive BP in conditioned media from MCF-7 and T-47D and only slight immunoreactivity in conditioned media from Hs578T and MDA 231. Analysis by Northern blot, using a probe from the cDNA sequence of the HEP G2 BP, demonstrated that Hs578T and MDA-231 cell lines contained small amounts of the 1.65 kilobase mRNA characteristic of the HEP G2 BP, while MCF-7 and T-47D tested negative.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Correspondences between biomathematical and causal models for clinical decision making.

Due to incompleteness and other uncertainties, biomathematical models are unsuitable for direct use in clinical decision making. In this research work, we develop a procedure to derive clinical decision-making causal models from mathematical representation. The process involves obtaining the determination ordering for an incompletely specified system of equations. The concept of determination ordering is extended to dynamic systems of equations, in order to derive clinically usable causal models. The procedure to transform biomathematical models into causal representation has been machine-implemented for fluid flow models of the eye. A case-structured natural language system (CHRONOS) has been developed to accept, process, and store causal as well as biomathematical models. The system obtains the determination ordering for the biomathematical models and stores their causal representation. The system has the capability to compare the causal models. The deductive capabilities of the system can be used by a clinician to consult the diagnostic reasonings of the biomathematical and causal models.
Measuring critical deficits in shared decision making before elective surgery

Abstract Objective Identifying patient factors correlated with specific needs in preoperative decision making is of clinical and ethical importance. We examined patterns and predictors of deficiencies in informed surgical consent and shared decision-making in preoperative patients. Methods Validated measures were used to survey 1034 preoperative patients in the preoperative clinic after signed informed consent. Principal component analysis defined correlated groupings of factors. Multivariable analysis assessed patient factors associated with resultant groupings. Results 13% of patients exhibited deficits in their informed consent process; 33% exhibited other types of deficits. Informed consent deficits included not knowing the procedure being performed or risks and benefits. Other deficits included not having addressed patient values, preferences and goals. Non-English language and lower educational level were factors correlated with higher risk for deficits. Conclusion Deficits exist in over a third of patients undergoing preoperative decision-making. Sociodemographic factors such as language and educational level identified particularly vulnerable groups at risk for having an incomplete, and possibly ineffective, decision-making process. Practice implications Interventions to identify vulnerable groups and address patient centered surgical decision making in the pre-operative setting are needed. Focused interventions to address the needs of at-risk patients have potential to improve the surgical decision-making process and reduce disparities.
Geochemical constraints on the origin of secondary magnetizations in the Cambro-Ordovician Royer Dolomite, Arbuckle Mountains, southern Oklahoma

Abstract Geochemical and paleomagnetic results from Cambro-Ordovician Royer Dolomite in the Arbuckle Mountains, southern Oklahoma, suggest a connection between dolomite type and magnetizations. One dolomite type, which is most common in the vicinity of the Arbuckle Anticline, has a dull luminescence, low δ 18 O values, coeval to slightly lower 87 Sr 86 Sr ratios and contains an easterly Cambro-Ordovician magnetization in magnetite. To the southeast, closer to the Ouachita Mountain front, most of the Royer dolomite contains a southeasterly and shallow magnetization in magnetite that is interpreted to be Late Paleozoic in age. In contrast to the other dolomites, these dolomites contain abundant authigenic K-feldspar and pyrite, radiogenic 87 Sr 86 Sr ratios, and have a bright (red) luminescence, all of which are consistent with alteration by basinal fluids. At one site, a stromatolitic bioherm, dolomites similar to those at the Arbuckle Anticline are surrounded by the altered dolomites. The distribution of specimen directions at this site is streaked between a Cambro-Ordovician and Late Paleozoic direction. The results of this study suggest a connection, either direct (by causing precipitation) or indirect (by increasing permeabilities for another fluid), between a radiogenic fluid and a chemical magnetization in magnetite. The relatively unaltered dolomites at the stromatolitic bioherm site escaped the almost pervasive alteration and remagnetization caused by the basinal fluids close to the Ouachita Mountains, a potential source for the fluids.
A location information-based route discovery protocol for mobile ad hoc networks

A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is a set of mobile nodes that agreed upon forming a temporary, spontaneous network in spite of the lack of any infrastructure or centralized administration. MANET topology changes frequently and arbitrarily due to node mobility. Therefore, an efficient routing protocol is required to cope with the dynamic change of MANET topology, which requires discovering and maintaining new routes, in this paper we propose a route discovery protocol based on location information, which could be provided to MANET nodes by a Global Positioning System (GPS). Our route discovery protocol utilizes the essential features of Voronoi diagrams in order to reduce the search space of routes by allowing only a small subset of MANET nodes, called authorized forwarders, to forward a route request. This results in a restrictive, selective route discovery protocol, which significantly reduces the routing overhead compared to other location-based routing protocol, such as LAR.
The dual gate base resistance controlled thyristor

A new device concept, called the dual gate base resistance controlled thyristor (DG-BRT), is introduced for simultaneously obtaining the low on-state voltage drop of a thyristor together with a good forward biased safe operating area. The two gates are used to control an N-channel and a P-channel MOSFET integrated with a thyristor structure using the DMOS process. When a positive bias is applied to both gates, the device operates in the thyristor-mode with a low on-state voltage drop at even high current densities. When a negative bias is applied to the OFF-gate, the device operates in the IGBT-mode with the saturated current controlled by the positive bias applied to the ON-gate. The results of two-dimensional numerical simulations and measurements performed on devices with 600 V forward blocking capability are reported.