cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reducing Violence Through the Integration of Hospital and Police Data

Objectives: The utilization of de-identified Emergency Department (ED) information on assaults to inform law enforcement and public health organizations has proven successful in European cities. In Cardiff, Great Britain real time geocoded hospital data has allowed for the development and evaluation of novel policy and program interventions for violence prevention. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of the implementing this model within the electronic medical record (EMR) in a pediatric ED and to describe initial findings. Methods: Beginning Jan 1, 2015 data …
Toxoplasma‐induced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis after haploidentical allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a disorder of immune regulation, manifested by fever, pancytopenia, hyperferritiniemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and extensive hemophagocytosis involving the bone marrow and spleen. HLH can occur in adults with an underlying hematopoietic malignancy, or with systemic infections. HLH following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is unusual, and the diagnosis may be challenging particularly because the diagnostic criteria in the HLH-2004 guidelines overlap with common post-transplant complications such as engraftment syndrome, graft-vs-host disease, and infections. HLH is commonly triggered by viral, bacterial and, less commonly, parasitic infections. Following HSCT, patients with latent Toxoplasma infection may develop systemic disease secondary to reactivation, and rarely this may lead to a HLH physiology, with a very high mortality rate. Herein we describe the successful management of disseminated toxoplasmosis associated with life-threatening HLH using tocilizumab and antimicrobial therapy.
Pregnancy associated breast cancer

Pregnancy associated breast cancer (PABC) defined as breast cancer occurring during pregnancy or within the first 1-2 years postpartum. Delay in diagnosis is common. Treatment is timed around gestational age. Surgery and chemotherapy are considered safe after the first trimester. Radiation, anti-her-2, and endocrine therapy are delayed until after delivery due to adverse fetal effects. Iatrogenic prematurity likely causes most long-term fetal sequelae. Multi-disciplinary care and social support are critical for patients and families with PABC.
Expansion-by-Analogy: A Vector Symbolic Approach to Semantic Search

In this paper, we develop an approach to semantic search that utilizes high-dimensional vector representations to infer the nature of the relationship between query concepts and other concepts in relevant documents. We do so by incorporating outside knowledge drawn from tens of millions of concept-relation-concept triplets, known as semantic predications, extracted from the biomedical literature using a Natural Language Processing (NLP) system called SemRep. Inference is accomplished in high-dimensional space using Expansion-by-Analogy, a novel analogical approach to pseudo-relevance feedback, in which the relationships between query concepts and other concepts in documents they occur in guide the query expansion process. The semantic vector based approaches developed in this work show improvements in performance over a baseline bag-of-concepts model, and these improvements are most pronounced on queries that are not conducive to keyword-based search.
Analysis of PV Array Fault Based on Multi-peak Model Optimization under Partial Shading Conditions

In the practical application of PV array, equipment aging, partial shading and other factors will lead to failure of PV array. In order to improve the output power of PV array, this paper proposes to optimize the multi-peak model. To improve the output power of PV array, the bypass diode with parameter correction is introduced. The output characteristics of multi-peak model optimization is analyzed by MATLAB simulation, which verified that the model optimization can reduce the power loss of PV array effectively.
Outdoor walking rounds: combining resident education and wellness.

Background It is challenging to achieve quality teaching on a busy resident service. Teams must balance the competing drivers of patient care, clinical efficiency, patient satisfaction and resident learning. Our novel outdoor walking rounds improve both the quality of resident instruction and their physician wellness without negatively affecting patient care. Methods Our team meets outside for attending rounds on the sidewalks or hiking trails near our hospital. The residents present their clinical plans as we walk. We are able to achieve more in-depth clinical discussions and teaching than with traditional rounds conducted inside. Residents were surveyed to compare their experiences with traditional rounds. Results Twenty-seven residents were surveyed over 5 years (29.6% were first-year residents, 33.3% were second-year residents and 37.0% were third-year residents): 81% of residents indicated that walking rounds improved the time dedicated to teaching; 100% of residents believed that the quality of teaching had improved; 70% of residents indicated that walking rounds improved their sense of physician wellness; and 59% of residents identified that walking rounds were as efficient, or more efficient, than traditional rounds. Discussion Striving to provide in-depth resident clinical teaching without negatively affecting the quality and efficiency of patient care is a tall order. Outdoor walking rounds are a teaching method that combines dedicated non-distracted time for resident teaching with exercise. Our study indicates that this teaching method improves the quantity and quality of dedicated teaching time, improves resident physician wellness and does so in an innovative way that maintains efficient patient care.
Optimal current shell approximation for solenoids of rectangular cross-section

The manipulation of magnetic objects using variable magnetic fields is a growing field of study with a variety of applications. Many magnetic manipulation systems use multiple electromagnets to generate magnetic fields. To control objects in real time, it is necessary to have a computationally efficient method of calculating the field produced by each solenoid anywhere in space. This paper presents a procedure to replace a real cylindrical solenoid of rectangular cross section with infinitely thin shells and rings that generate an equivalent magnetic field. The best approximation for a real solenoid is determined by its physical characteristics. The field produced by these idealized shapes can be calculated expediently using elliptic integrals as can the field gradient and higher-order derivatives. We find that for most real solenoids, the error in the magnetic field approximation is at most 2.5% at a 50% offset and in most cases is much less.
The limited capacity model of motivated mediated message processing: meta-analytically summarizing two decades of research

The Limited Capacity Model of Motivated Mediated Message Processing (LC4MP) aims to understand message processing dynamics. Despite 20 years of research, no meta-analysis has assessed LC4MP effects...
An octanol hinge opens the door to water transport

Despite their prevalent use as a surrogate for partitioning of pharmacologically active solutes across lipid membranes, the mechanism of transport across water/octanol phase boundaries has remained unexplored. Using molecular dynamics, graph theoretical, cluster analysis, and Langevin dynamics, we reveal an elegant mechanism for the simplest solute, water. Self-assembled octanol at the interface reversibly binds water and swings like the hinge of a door to bring water into a semi-organized second interfacial layer (a “bilayer island”). This mechanism is distinct from well-known lipid flipping and water transport processes in protein-free membranes, highlighting important limitations in the water/octanol proxy. Interestingly, the collective and reversible behavior is well-described by a double well potential energy function, with the two stable states being the water bound to the hinge on either side of the interface. The function of the hinge for transport, coupled with the underlying double well energy landscape, is akin to a molecular switch or shuttle that functions under equilibrium and is driven by the differential free energies of solvation of H2O across the interface. This example successfully operates within the dynamic motion of instantaneous surface fluctuations, a feature that expands upon traditional approaches toward controlled solute transport that act to avoid or circumvent the dynamic nature of the interface.
Fabrication of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) nanoparticles with fluorescent tracers for studies in mammalian cells

Fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) comprising polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with a hydrodynamic diameter of 158 ± 2 nm were synthesized in a bottom-up approach. Concentration-dependent uptake and cytotoxicity of PET NPs in macrophages are shown. The fabrication of well-characterized NPs, derived from high-commodity polymers, will support future studies to assess effects on biological systems.
Cognitive Dissonance and Disaster Risk Communication

Much of effective disaster risk communications practice is based on the equitable distribution of crisis messaging to the target population. Priority is given, for example, to getting an evacuation...
Subteam Replacement: Problem Definition and Fast Solution

In settings such as corporate management where team structure is highly volatile and large-scale personnel changes are commonplace, the ability to simultaneously replace multiple team members in a team is highly appreciated. We define the problem of Subteam Replacement to address this observation: given a team of people embedded in a social network to complete a certain task, and a subset of members - subteam - in this team which has become unavailable, find another set of people which can perform the subteam's role in the larger team. We propose a holistic evaluation metric and scalable solution for Subteam Replacement with strong theoretical guarantees and perform quantitative evaluations on both generated and real datasets.
Initiation of Moderately Frequent Cannabis use in Adolescence and Young Adulthood is Associated with Declines in Verbal Learning and Memory: A Longitudinal Comparison of Pre-versus Post-Initiation Cognitive Performance

Objective: Cannabis use is associated with relative cognitive weaknesses as observed by cross-sectional as well as longitudinal research. Longitudinal studies, controlling for relevant confounds, are necessary to differentiate premorbid from post-initiation contributions to these effects. Methods: We followed a sample of adolescents and young adults across ten years. Participants provided neurocognitive data and substance use information at two-year intervals. Participants who initiated cannabis and/or alcohol use were identified (n = 86) and split into alcohol-only initiators (n = 39) and infrequent (n = 29) and moderately frequent (n = 18) cannabis initiators. Participants completed the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task (RAVLT) and the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). Group differences before and after substance use initiation and the extent to which alcohol, nicotine, and cannabis use frequencies contributed to cognitive functions over time were examined. Results: After controlling for parental education, RAVLT new learning was worse in moderately frequent cannabis users prior to use initiation. RAVLT total learning and delayed recall showed significant declines from pre- to post-initiation in moderately frequent cannabis users. Regression analyses confirmed that frequencies of cannabis, but not alcohol, use contributed to post-initiation variations. Nicotine use showed an independent negative association with delayed memory. Findings for the IGT were not significant. Conclusions: Verbal learning and memory may be disrupted following the initiation of moderately frequent cannabis use while decreased new learning may represent a premorbid liability. Our use of a control group of alcohol-only users adds interpretive clarity to the findings and suggests that future studies should carefully control for comorbid substance use.
Single-Cell Unbiased Visualization With SCUBI

Visualizing reduced dimension representations with scatterplots is a crucial step in analyzing single-cell genomic data. However, this visualization has significant biases. The first bias arises when visualizing the gene expression levels or cell identities. The scatterplot only shows a subset of cells plotted last, and the cells plotted earlier are masked and unseen. The second bias arises when comparing the cell type compositions across samples. The scatterplot is biased by the unbalanced total numbers of cells across samples. We developed SCUBI, an unbiased method that visualizes the aggregated information of cells within non-overlapping squares to address the first bias, and visualizes the differences of cell proportions across samples to address the second bias. We show that SCUBI more faithfully visualizes the information in a real single-cell RNA-seq dataset and has the potential to change how reduced dimension representations are visualized in single-cell genomic data.
A Riveting New Era: The Birth of Interventional Cardiology

In this chapter, the author traces the history of the development of coronary intervention with the introduction of angioplasty and subsequently stenting of the coronary arteries. The pioneering saga of Drs. Andreas Roland Gruntzig and Dr. Geoffrey Hartzler in the introduction of coronary angioplasty for the treatment of angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction, respectively, is discussed. The contributions of Drs. Jacques Puel, Ulrich Sigwart, and Julio Palmaz in coronary stenting are also addressed. Intervention cardiology had a significant impact in the treatment of coronary artery disease and acute myocardial infarction in improving quality of life, reducing complications associated with myocardial infarction, and increasing survival.
Phosphate Absorption and Hyperphosphatemia Management in Kidney Disease: A Physiology-Based Review

Phosphate absorption occurs in the gastrointestinal tract through paracellular absorption and transcellular transport. The paracellular pathway does not saturate and has a significantly higher absorption capacity than does the transcellular pathway. Evidence indicates that this pathway is the primary mechanism of intestinal phosphate absorption, particularly with Western diets containing high amounts of phosphorus. Elevated serum phosphorus concentrations are associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality but serum phosphorus concentrations > 5.5 mg/dL are highly prevalent despite best efforts with dietary phosphate restriction, dialysis, and the use of phosphate binders. The efficacy of phosphate binders may be inherently limited because the mechanism of action does not target any phosphate absorption pathway. Thus, therapeutic innovations are needed to address the limitations of phosphate binders. Novel therapies leveraging new mechanistic understandings of phosphate absorption and the primacy of the paracellular pathway may improve phosphate control. Phosphate absorption inhibitors that target the pathway are a novel therapeutic class. Tenapanor is an investigational first-in-class nonbinder phosphate absorption inhibitor that inhibits the sodium-hydrogen exchanger isoform 3 to reduce paracellular permeability specific to phosphate. Phosphate absorption inhibitors may represent a new mechanistic approach to phosphate management with the potential to improve clinical outcomes.
A Practical Method for Determination of Nine Nucleosides in Tricholoma matsutake by UPLC/MS and Quantitative Analysis of Multicomponents Using Single Marker Method.

Nucleosides can be used as quality evaluation indicators of Tricholoma matsutake. In this work, a new ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS) strategy for quantitative analysis of multiple components using a single marker (QAMS) was proposed to determine nine nucleosides (adenosine, cytidine, guanosine, inosine, uridine, 2'-deoxyadenosine, 2'-deoxycytidine, 2'-deoxyguanosine, and 2'-deoxyuridine) in T. matsutake. Guanosine was set as the internal reference substance, whose content in T. matsutake was determined using the conventional external standard method. Relative correction factors (RCFs) between guanosine and eight other nucleosides were measured. The concentrations of the eight components were calculated with the obtained RCFs by QAMS. An ultrasonic extraction method is used for sample preparation. This method was validated to be sensitive, precise, and accurate with the LODs of 0.31-1.9 ng, the overall intraday and interday variations less than 4.08%, and the overall recovery over 89.0%. The correlation coefficients (r 2) of the calibration curves were higher than 0.9918. The values of vector angle analysis were above 0.99845, which indicates no significant differences between the conventional external standard method and the present QAMS method. As far as we know, this is also the first report of UPLC/MS analysis of nucleoside compounds by QAMS, providing an efficient and feasible quality assessment method for other natural products containing nucleosides.
Technology and the Great Pendulum of Education

AbstractThis article explores the role of technology in current educational practice. Conflicting perceptions presented by two major theorists in the field of instructional design, Richard Clark and Robert Kozma, provide the basis for this exploration. Their ongoing debate focuses on whether educational media, including computers, are more than a mere delivery system for instruction. Four questions emerging from this debate are examined: Does the presence of technology imply learning? What is the learner’s role in technology-based learning? Does one best method of learning exist? How important are teachers to the success of technology-based learning?
Regulation of tobamovirus gene expression.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) strains U1, OM, L, CGMMV, 0, and Cc. The production of each TMV protein is regulated differently, both in amounts and times of production. The chapter discusses some of the strategies that tobamoviruses uses to control gene expression: (1) different subgenomic RNA promoter/leader sequences control timing of expression of genes, (2) genes expressed via subgenomic mRNAs are expressed in decreasing amounts with increasing distances from the 3' terminus, and (3) TMV mRNAs appear to be translationally regulated differently from host mRNAs. Genome organization affects gene expression, but it appears to be equally important for the efficiency of replication and the ability of the genomic structure to be stably propagated. Different virus groups have evolved different gene arrangements. Tobamovirus genes expressed via subgenomic mRNAs appear to be expressed in increasing amounts when positioned nearer the 3’ terminus.
Self-sterilizing inoculating loop.

A self-sterilizing inoculating loop consisting of a step-down transformer and an adjustable timing circuit are described. Images
Enzymatic synthesis of disialogangliosides from monosialogangliosides by sialyltransferases from embryonic chicken brain.

Abstract A particulate preparation from embryonic chicken brain was previously described that catalyzed the transfer of sialic acid from CMP-N-acetylneuraminic acid to galactosyl → glucosyl → ceramide to give a monosialoganglioside, sialyl → galactosyl → glucosyl → ceramide (Reaction A). In the present studies, two monosialogangliosides served as acceptors in similar reactions, giving the corresponding disialogangliosides (Reactions B and C). Reaction B yields the major disialoganglioside of human brain; the acceptor is a ceramide-pentasaccharide containing a terminal galactose residue, and the sialic acid is transferred to this galactose unit. Reaction C involves the synthesis of N-acetylneuraminyl → N-glycolylneuraminyl → galactosyl → glucosyl → ceramide, where the terminal sialic acid is linked at C-8 to the N-glycolylneuraminic acid. The sialyl → sialyl unit occurs in brain tri- and tetrasialogangliosides, and in the minor disialogangliosides. Reaction B represents the last step in the synthesis of the major disialogangliosides from ceramide according to a proposed pathway, while Reaction C represents a branch in the pathway, and may be a key step in the synthesis of the minor disialogangliosides, and of the tri- and tetrasialogangliosides. Kinetic studies indicate that Reactions A, B, and C are catalyzed by different sialyltransferases in the particulate fraction.
A paradigm shift in public health structures: creating sustainable systems to achieve global healthcare equity

A paradigm shift is required to effectively serve the public health needs of the developing world. Such a shift will rely on more efficient partnerships between public health entities, as well as more sustainable models of providing care, and the application of new medical technologies.
«Mezclar verdades con fabulosos intentos»: metateatro y aporía en El gallardo español de Cervantes

Conocida es de todos la aficion de Cervantes por el teatro. En el «prologo al lector» de sus Ocho comedias y ocho entremeses nuevos, nunca representados, recuerda casi con nostalgia sus tempranos escarceos en el teatro, y se jacta de haber visto representar al gran Lope de Rueda. En el mismo lugar, menciona otras figuras del teatro espanol, pasadas y contemporaneas suyas, como Navarro, el «doctor Ramon», Miguel Sanchez, Mira de Amescua, Tarrega, Guillen de Castro, Gaspar de Aguilar, Luis Velez de Guevara, Antonio de Galarza, Gaspar de Avila y, claro, Lope de Vega. Cervantes sintio inevitablemente admiracion y rencor hacia el Fenix. Referencias a los aciertos, pero tambien a las fallas, de la formula lopesca de la comedia nueva, abundan en las paginas cervantinas^ Y es que, cuando Cervantes decidio volver al cultivo del teatro, ya corria el rumor, como hizo saber un autor de titulo al librero que compro la obra dramatica de Cervantes, de que de la prosa cervantina «se podia esperar mucho, pero que del verso nada». Con toda probabilidad y a pesar de que afirma en su prologo estar componiendo una comedia titulada El engano a los ojos, Cervantes no escribio otras obras dramaticas despues de la publicacion de este tomo (1615) y, sin embargo, no dejamos de hallar hasta en su ultimo escrito en prosa, el Persiles, diversos episodios
The capillary effects on water percolation in homogeneous snow

A theoretical basis for introducing capillary effects into the theory of water percolation through snow is given. A capillary pressure-liquid saturation relationship found in the laboratory is used together with the theory to make a quantitative examination of capillary effects. It is shown that capillarity accounts for less than 10% of the total force when water flux is 10–8 m s–1 although the percentage rapidly increases for smaller fluxes. The experiments suggest that the irreducible water content of dense snow is 7% of the pore volume. It is concluded that the wave-front diffusion seen in lysimeter studies is not the result of capillary action. Other possible causes are suggested.
Use of dexfenfluramine, fenfluramine and phentermine and the risk of stroke

Aims To estimate the incidence of newly diagnosed idiopathic stroke among users of fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine and phentermine compared to obese nonusers. Methods We conducted a cohort study with nested case-control analysis utilizing data from the General Practice Research Database in the UK. Eight thousand four hundred and twenty-three subjects aged 69 years or less at the start of follow-up were exposed to at least one of the three study drugs and 17 225 similarly obese subjects were not exposed to any of the study drugs. Results We identified 45 incident cases of idiopathic CVA in this cohort of subjects. The incidence of CVA among all current users of a diet drug was 1.3/1000 person-years (95% CI 0.5, 3.5). The incidence for current fenfluramine users (n=2) was 2.6/1000 person-years (95% CI 0.7, 9.6), for current dexfenfluramine users (n=1) 1.1/1000 person-years (95% CI 0.3, 3.8), and for current phentermine users 0/1000 person-years (95% CI 0.0, 12.9). The incidence in obese nonusers was 0.6/1000 person-years (95% CI 0.4, 0.9). The adjusted matched odds ratio (OR) for thrombotic stroke from the case-control analysis comparing current use of a diet drug to nonuse was 2.4 (95% CI 0.6, 9.1). There was only one exposed subject among seven who had haemorrhagic stroke. Conclusions The incidence of CVA in generally young obese subjects during use of fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine or phentermine is low. Although we found an OR of 2.4 comparing users of any of the anorexiants with nonusers, this is based on only three exposed cases and the confidence limits are wide. We conclude that our study does not support a substantial increased risk of stroke attributable to the use of fenfluramine, dexfenfluramine or phentermine.
Long-term Outcomes After Stepping Down Asthma Controller Medications: A Claims-Based, Time-to-Event Analysis.

BACKGROUND Long-term outcomes after stepping down asthma medications are not well described. METHODS This study was a retrospective time-to-event analysis of individuals diagnosed with asthma who stepped down their asthma controller medications using a US claims database spanning 2000 to 2012. Four-month intervals were established and a step-down event was defined by a > 50% decrease in days-supplied of controller medications from one interval to the next; this definition is inclusive of step-down that occurred without health-care provider guidance or as a consequence of a medication adherence lapse. Asthma stability in the period prior to step-down was defined by not having an asthma exacerbation (inpatient visit, ED visit, or dispensing of a systemic corticosteroid linked to an asthma visit) and having fewer than two rescue inhaler claims in a 4-month period. The primary outcome in the period following step-down was time-to-first asthma exacerbation. RESULTS Thirty-two percent of the 26,292 included individuals had an asthma exacerbation in the 24-month period following step-down of asthma controller medication, though only 7% had an ED visit or hospitalization for asthma. The length of asthma stability prior to stepping down asthma medication was strongly associated with the risk of an asthma exacerbation in the subsequent 24-month period: ≤ 4 months’ stability, 44%; 4 to 7 months, 34%; 8 to 11 months, 30%; and > 12 months, 21% ( P ≤ .001). CONCLUSIONS In a large, claims-based, real-world study setting, 32% of individuals have an asthma exacerbation in the 2 years following a step-down event.
Fuzzy models and potential outliers

Outliers or distorted attributes very often severely interfere with data analysis algorithms that try to extract few meaningful rules. Most methods to deal with outliers try to completely ignore them. This can be potentially harmful since the very outlier that was ignored might have described a rare but still extremely interesting phenomena. We describe an approach that tries to build an interpretable model while still maintaining all the information in the data. This is achieved through a two stage process. A first phase builds an outlier model for data points of low relevance, followed by a second stage which uses this model as filter and generates a simpler model, describing only examples with higher relevance, thus representing a more general concept. The outlier model on the other hand may point out potential areas of interest to the user. Preliminary experiments using an existing algorithm to construct fuzzy rule sets from data indicate that the two models in fact have lower complexity and sometimes even offer superior performance.
Body fatness and breast cancer risk in women of African ancestry

Background Obesity has been shown to be inversely associated with breast cancer risk in premenopausal women, while increasing risk in postmenopausal women. However, the current evidence is largely based on studies in Caucasian populations. Associations in women of African ancestry (AA), who have a higher prevalence of obesity, have been evaluated in few studies and results suggest different effects.
Th–U fractionation and mantle structure

Abstract In the Rio Grande rift (RGR) asthenospheric mantle-derived (high ϵ Nd ) alkali basalts are strongly enriched in 230 Th over 238 U (10–27%). In contrast, lithospheric mantle-derived alkali and tholeiitic lavas (high ϵ Nd ) have secular equilibrium ( 230 Th/ 238 U) values, within analytical error. These lavas are young, 3–50 ka old. Asmerom et al. reported ( 231 Pa/ 235 U) for one of the tholeiites of 1.40 [Y. Asmeron, H. Cheng, R. Thomas, M. Hirschmann, R.L. Edwards, 231 Pa– 235 U and 230 Th– 238 U Isotope Systematics in Continental Basalts, Mineral. Mag. 62 (1998) 81–92]. Thus, the lack of 230 Th enrichment is not due to magma transport or post-eruption related decay. The contrast in the ( 230 Th/ 238 U) between asthenospheric and lithospheric mantle lavas is exactly similar to the contrast preciously described by Asmerom and Edwards [Y. Asmerom, R.L. Edwards, U-series isotope evidence for the origin of continental basalts, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 134 (1995) 1-7], based on a study of lavas from the Colorado Plateau and the Pinacate volcanic field (PVF), Mexico. Collectively, there is a distinct separation between low ϵ Nd value lavas with no 230 Th enrichment on one hand and the high ϵ Nd lavas with large 230 Th excesses, 10–40% on the other, irrespective of whether they are tholeiites or alkali basalts. This observation, in corroboration with ( 231 Pa/ 235 U) data, show that source mineralogy of the point of initiation of melting is the deciding factor in Th–U fractionation during mantle melting. The lavas with no 230 Th enrichment are postulated to have a spinel lherzolite source, while a garnet peridotite source for lavas with 230 Th enrichment. It is shown that, degree of 230 Th enrichment during dynamic melting reflects the length and depth of the melting column. The factors that modulate the depth and length of the melting column include, variations in lithospheric thickness and heat flow. During the transient thermal pulse associated with igneous activity in continental rifts, the solidus should mirror the topology of the lithosphere. This is due to the thermal inertial of the lithosphere. The second related factor is the physical thickness of the lithosphere, which determines the height to which the melting column can rise to melt. Thirdly, the mantle solidus deepens in areas of high heat flow. The combined effects modulate the structure of the mantle solidus, resulting in differences in the length of the melting column and depth of initiation of melting. Thus, during dynamic melting, the areas with the thinnest lithosphere and highest heat flow, i.e. the longest and deepest melting column, have the highest degree of 230 Th enrichment, similar to MORB.
Influence of age, sex and adrenocortical status on hepatic reduction of cortisone in vitro.

Whole liver homogenates from male and female rats were studied for their ability to reduce the 17,21-dihydroxy-20-ketone sidechain and Δ4-3 ketone group of cortisone. The previously reported sex difference in both sidechain and ring A reduction was confirmed. Sidechain reduction is more rapid in the male; ring A reduction more rapid in the female. Castration of the male depressed sidechain reduction and increased the rate of ring A metabolism. These changes were prevented by testosterone administration if started immediately following surgery. Ovariectomized female rats showed no change in ring A activity and only a slight increase in the rate of sidechain reduction. Estradiol to males and testosterone to females depressed the sidechain and ring A reduction respectively. Neither pregnancy nor progesterone administration significantly influenced cortisone metabolism in homogenates from female rats. Injections of cortisone acetate reduced C-20-keto reductase activity in both males and females, had no effect...
Long‐term effects of ozone and simulated acid rain on the foliage dynamics of slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelm.)*

summary Seedlings from four half-sib families of Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelm. were planted in open-top chambers, and exposed to ozone and simulated acidic precipitation. Treatments were applied for 11 months per year for 28 months. The ozone concentrations were: charcoal filtered air (CF), nonfiltered ambient air (1×), twice the nonfiltered level (2 ×) and three times the nonfiltered level (3 ×). Ozone exposures were computer controlled to follow natural diurnal fluctuations in ambient ozone concentrations. Simulated acid rain at pH 3.3, 4.3 or 5.3 was delivered weekly at the same volume as average weekly rainfall to all chambers. Leaf area, bud number and fascicle survival were all highest in the CF chambers. Genetic differences between half-sib families were apparent in both leaf area and the number of live buds. Leaf area and fascicle survival were reduced with every increase in ozone exposure from CF to 3 ×. Leaf litterfall increased significantly with increasing ozone exposure. Leaf growth, measured by mean leaf area and mean dry weight per needle, was not affected by ozone exposure or by acid rain. It was concluded that ozone reduced leaf area mainly by causing premature leaf senescence. The only significant effect of acidic precipitation was enhanced leaf retention in trees irrigated with pH 3.3 solution. The results indicate that the increasing levels of trophospheric ozone may significantly reduce the growth of slash pine through foliage loss. The increased leaf retention caused by acid rain is unlikely to compensate for the detrimental effect of ozone.
Automated Synthesis of MEMS Fabrication Sequences Using Graph Grammars

The design of any MEMS component is subject to stringent manufacturing constraints. The knowledge about these constraints seems to be available to designers who have experienced the details of MEMS fabrication. In this paper, we put forth the idea of automatically generating a fabrication sequence for surface micro-machined MEMS components using the knowledge stored in grammar rules. As an analogy to CAD tools used in mechanical systems, we envision creating a tool which has the Pro-Engineer approach of determining fabrication sequences for a machine tool based on the final part shape. This tool could be an integral addition to the current MEMS design software so that the designers can freely draft devices and then allow an automated process to determine the fabrication sequence. In this paper we give a brief introduction about the graph grammars. Data from already designed MEMS components is extracted in the form of rules to create an expert system. We have also included an example of generation of the fabrication sequence for several MEMS components.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Risk of Radiation Induced Skin Injuries from Arrhythmia Ablation Procedures

Catheter guided ablation of cardiac arrhythmias is an effective and safe procedure for the treatment of most supraventricular and selected ventricular tachycardias. Because catheter manipulation is fluoroscopically guided, there is risk of radiation induced injury, especially during prolonged procedures. The Food and Drug Administration has recently issued a bulletin warning of the risks of acute skin injury occurring during fluoroscopically guided procedures that result in an exposure level exceeding 2 Gray units (Gy). This study was performed as an investigation into the risk of radiation induced skin injury during arrhythmia ablation procedures. The amount of radiation exposure for 500 patients who underwent ablation was calculated based upon fluoroscopy times and the entrance dose of radiation (0.02 Gy/min). The mean radiation exposure was 0.93 +/- 0.62 Gy. Although 5.6% of patients (n = 28) received enough radiation exposure to reach the threshold dose (2 Gy) for early transient erythema, no clinical manifestations of acute radiation induced skin injury were observed. No patients achieved the threshold dose for irreversible skin injury. Patients undergoing AV node ablation or modification received significantly less radiation (0.39 +/- 0.40 Gy and 0.79 +/- 0.44 Gy, respectively) than patients undergoing other ablation procedures (0.94-1.45 Gy, P < 0.05). There was no association between the magnitude of radiation exposure and the presence of underlying heart disease. Patients undergoing ablation of accessory pathways were exposed to more radiation if there was a right-sided pathway (1.69 +/- 0.93 Gy) compared to other sites (0.87-1.24 Gy, P < 0.05). This study demonstrates that the risk of significant radiation induced skin injury during arrhythmia ablation procedures is low provided that precautions are taken to minimize radiation exposure.
Rules for Spin and Parity Assignments Based on Log ft Values

A survey was made of $log\mathrm{ft}$ values for forbidden $\ensuremath{\beta}$ transitions. Three cases, $^{90m}\mathrm{Y}$, $^{65}\mathrm{Ni}$, and $^{144}\mathrm{Pm}$ decays, were examined experimentally. A number of low $log\mathrm{ft}$ values reported in the literature are superseded by more recent larger values. Empirical rules for making spin and parity assignments from $log\mathrm{ft}$ values are proposed.
Beyond community networking and CTCs: access, development, and public policy

Abstract Providing computers and Internet access to members of the community has taken several forms in many countries over the past several years. Called community networks, telecenters, community technology centers, or Free-Nets, such endeavors represent a range of institutional bases, of ideological premises, of State commitments, and of local empowerment. The research presented here focuses on one set of such efforts, a program whereby 36 communities of varying sizes in the state of Texas received up to $500,000 to establish community networks over a 2-year period. In evaluating the efforts of those towns and cities in terms of how they organized themselves—essentially the process features (management, access to expertise, organizing volunteers, organizing training, etc.) associated with their community networks—and in terms of outcomes attributable to local networking activities, formidable challenges facing these groups are found. This work compares the 36 sites and highlights the unique roles and difficulties of collaboration, institutional involvement and support, and the economic development and civic engagement processes associated with technology training and access. Assumptions about public access and the economic development outcomes associated with more broadly available computers and Internet connections vary widely across these communities, as did the actual achievements within the telecommunications projects. The policy community can benefit by examining these communities as it endeavors to extend broadband connectivity more thoroughly throughout the states. These community experiences underscore the limited utility of financial resources alone in trying to launch effective programs.
Conditioning history and the control of human avoidance and escape responding.

Inter-subject differences in response rates under free-operant avoidance and escape schedules are commonly obtained from humans. Data are presented which demonstrate that such differences can be controlled experimentally by giving subjects different conditioning histories. Subjects given a fixed-ratio history avoided and/or escaped from “point-loss periods” at higher rates than subjects given a differential-reinforcement-of-low-rates history. History related differences in response rates were maintained during 40 hr of escape responding. For low-rates history subjects, response rates under escape contingencies decreased as the rate of point-loss periods decreased.
Preoperative evaluation and surgery in isolated ventricular septal defects: a 21 year perspective

OBJECTIVE—To study short and long term results after surgical closure of isolated ventricular septal defects (VSDs) from 1976 to 1996, especially in relation to changes in preoperative evaluation during this period. DESIGN—Retrospective study. SETTING—Tertiary referral centre for paediatric cardiac care. PATIENTS—All children under 18 years of age who had corrective surgery for VSD between 1976 and 1996. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES—Preoperative evaluation, indications for surgery, diagnostic errors, and early and late results. RESULTS—A significant decrease in the use of invasive preoperative studies in favour of non-invasive methods was found; from 1976 to 1990, a total of 109/110 patients had preoperative invasive study as compared to 43/167 from 1991 to 1996 (p < 0.001). Pulmonary hypertension in small children, without detailed information on Qp:Qs ratio, as well as small or modest shunts without pulmonary hypertension, were more frequent indications for surgery in recent years. Early mortality after surgery occurred in 10 patients, with a significantly lower mortality rate found between 1991 and 1996 than between 1976 and 1990 (0.6% v 8.2%, p < 0.001). Children with large VSDs experienced perioperative complications significantly less often between 1991 and 1996 than between 1976 and 1990 (16/105 v 28/96, p < 0.05). Diagnostic errors showed a tendency to decrease between the two time periods. No late deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS—Significant reductions in early mortality, perioperative complications, and diagnostic mistakes were seen during the study period, even though less invasive diagnostic procedures were being performed. Keywords: ventricular septal defects; paediatric surgery; diagnostic measures; congenital heart defects
EUS-guided FNA of proximal biliary strictures after negative ERCP brush cytology results.

Background Accurate nonoperative diagnosis of proximal biliary strictures (PBSs) is often difficult. Objective To report our experience with EUS-guided FNA (EUS-FNA) of PBSs following negative or unsuccessful results with brush cytology during ERCP. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Single, tertiary referral hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. Patients Consecutive subjects from January 2001 to November 2004 who underwent EUS-FNA of a PBS documented by ERCP. Interventions EUS-FNA of PBS. Main Outcome Measures Performance of EUS-FNA, with the final diagnosis determined by surgical pathology study or the results of EUS-FNA and follow-up. Results A total of 291 biliary strictures undergoing EUS were identified. Of these, 26 (9%) had PBSs and 2 were excluded. EUS-FNA was not attempted in 1 because no mass was visualized. The second had a PBS seen on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, but no ERCP was performed. Twenty-four patients (14 men; mean age, 68 years) underwent EUS-FNA of a PBS following ERCP brush cytology studies that were either negative/nondiagnostic (20) or unable to be performed (4). EUS visualized a mass in 23 (96%) patients, including 13 in whom previous imaging detected no lesion. EUS-FNA (median, 4 passes; range, 1-11) demonstrated malignancy in 17 of 24 (71%) patients with findings showing adenocarcinoma (15), lymphoma (2), atypical cytology (3), or benign cells (4). No complications were noted. Pathology results from 8 of 24 (33%) patients who underwent surgery showed hilar cholangiocarcinoma (6), gallbladder cancer (1), and a benign, inflammatory stricture (1). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of EUS-FNA were 77% (95% confidence interval [CI], 54%-92%), 100% (95% CI, 15%-100%), 100% (95% CI, 83%-100%), 29% (95% CI, 4%-71%), and 79% (95% CI, 58%-93%), respectively. Limitations Histopathologic correlation of EUS-FNA findings was limited to 8 of 24 (33%) patients who underwent surgery. Conclusions EUS-FNA is a sensitive method for the diagnosis of PBSs following negative results or unsuccessful ERCP brush cytology. The low negative predictive value does not permit reliable exclusion of malignancy following a negative biopsy.
An endoscopic pancreatic function test with synthetic porcine secretin for the evaluation of chronic abdominal pain and suspected chronic pancreatitis.

Abstract Background: Pancreatic function tests are the most reliable methods for the diagnosis or exclusion of chronic pancreatitis in patients without obvious radiologic changes, but they are cumbersome, time consuming, and unavailable in clinical practice. Synthetic porcine secretin, a 27 amino acid peptide identical to the biologic form, is available for exocrine function testing. This study examined the utility of a simple, newly developed, purely endoscopic pancreatic function test with synthetic porcine secretin. Methods: Three groups of patients were studied: patients with chronic abdominal pain with and without risk factors for chronic pancreatitis, and patients with advanced chronic pancreatitis. All patients with abdominal pain had "pancreatic type" pain for greater than 6 months and negative radiographic imaging studies. All patients with chronic pancreatitis had advanced disease based on retrograde pancreatography and/or CT findings. Participants underwent the following protocol: (1) standard endoscopy to the descending duodenum with the patient under conscious sedation; (2) intravenous administration of secretin (0.2 μg/kg); (3) endoscopic duodenal fluid collection at 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after secretin injection; and (4) fluid analysis for bicarbonate concentration. Results: Eighteen patients were studied (5 abdominal pain without risk factors, 7 abdominal pain with risk factors, and 6 advanced chronic pancreatitis). Median peak (interquartile range) bicarbonate concentrations in meq/L for each group were, respectively, 87 (6, range 84-108), 72 (10, range 68-90), and 35 (27, range 18-88). Median peak bicarbonate concentration values for the 3 groups are significantly different ( p = 0.010; Kruskal-Wallis test). Bicarbonate secretion in patients with chronic pancreatitis was markedly reduced compared with that in patients with abdominal pain without risk factors ( p = 0.038; the Fisher exact test). The secretory function curve for patients with abdominal pain with risk factors was markedly abnormal, resembling the attenuated secretory curve seen in patients with chronic pancreatitis. The test was safe and well tolerated. Conclusions: A simple endoscopic pancreatic function test with synthetic porcine secretin appears to distinguish patients with known chronic pancreatitis from those with chronic abdominal pain without chronic pancreatitis. This simple, practical endoscopic test can be performed during upper endoscopy and may decrease the need for invasive procedures in patients with abdominal pain and normal radiographic imaging studies. (Gastrointest Endosc 2003;57:37-40.)
Relationship of health practices and mortality.

Abstract This paper explores the relationship of a number of personal health practices and mortality in the 5 1 2 years after a survey made in Alameda County, California in 1965. Age-adjusted mortality rates were higher for men, for persons reporting disability, and for those with inadequate incomes. The individual health practices, smoking, weight in relation to desirable standards for height, drinking, hours of sleep, regularity of meals, and physical activity, were related to mortality in the expected direction. When accumulated to form a health practice score from 0 to 7, the number of health practices showed a striking inverse relationship with mortality rates, especially for men. This relationship was independent of income level and physical health status. The age-specific death rates by number of health practices were used to develop a life table. The average life expectancy of men aged 45 who reported six or seven “good” practices was more than 11 years more than that of men reporting fewer than four. For women the relationship between health practices and mortality was less strong, and the difference between the life expectancy at age 45 for those who reported six or seven, and those who reported fewer than four, was 7 years.