cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intraoperative endovascular ultrasonography

The early experience using intra-operative endovascular ultrasonography (EU) is reported in eight patients undergoing lower extremity revasularization. In four patients, intra-operative EU successfully characterized inflow stenoses that were inadequately imaged with pre- operative arteriography. Two patients were found to have hemodynamically significant inflow stenoses, and were treated with intra-operative balloon angioplasty followed by repeat EU. The other two patients were found to have non-hemodynamically significant inflow stenoses requiring no treatment. Additional outflow procedures were required in all four patients. In the remaining four patients, EU was used to evaluate the completeness of TEC rotary atherectomy, of Hall oscillatory endarterectomy, of thrombectomy of the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries, and of valve lysis during in situ saphenous vein grafting, respectively. In the latter case, the valve leaflets were not clearly seen. In the other cases, EU assisted the surgeon. Angioscopy and angiography were available for comparison. In one case, angioscopy failed because of inability to clear the field while inspecting retrograde the limb of an aorto-bi-femoral graft. EU however was possible. No complications of EU occurred. EU is a safe procedure indicated when characterization of a lesion is needed prior to an intervention or when evaluation of the intervention's success is desired. We did not find it useful in valve lysis for in-site grafting.
An Array of Planar Apertures for Near-Field Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy

We have developed a method of performing near-field fluorescence correlation spectroscopy via an array of planarized circular apertures of 50 nm diameter. This technique provides 1 μs and 60 nm resolution on proximal samples, including live cells, without incorporating a scanning probe or pulsed lasers or requiring penetration of the sample into the aperture. Millions of apertures are created in an array within a thin film of aluminum on a coverslip and planarized to achieve no height distinction between the apertures and the surrounding metal. Supported lipid bilayers and plasma membranes from live cells adhere to the top of this substrate. We performed fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to demonstrate the sub-diffraction-limited illumination with these devices.
The deployment of an oceanographic deep sea Tri-Mooring

A three-legged deep-sea mooring was successfully deployed and recovered by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the fall of 1973. The Tri-mooring supported a rigid three-dimensional array of current and temperature sensors for measuring internal waves in the main thermocline (600-1000 meters depth). The mooring was deployed in 5455 meters of water 700 kilometers southwest of Bermuda for a period of six weeks. Deploying the mluti-legged mooring was made complex by (1) the configuration of the mooring which put the apex 300 meters below the surface when any two anchors were in place, and (2) the use of 1/4" wire with an R.B.S. of 6600# as the legs of the mooring. The problem of attaching all three mooring legs to the apex float before it submerged was overcome by the use of an auxiliary mooring which supported one leg on the surface throughout the deployment sequence. The light weight nature of the mooring made it susceptible to failure due to dynamic and high static loading. Nylon working lines and good sea condition prevented dynamic loading. R/V Knorr, equipped with twin eycloidal propulsion, provided the position keeping capability and fine control maneuverability to avoid stressing the system. An acoustic navigation system was used to continually monitor ship position and to track the anchors as they were lowered to the bottom. Three-dimensional ship and anchor positions relative to a network of three acoustic transponders were accurate to ten meters. The maneuverability of the R/V Knorr combined with the reliability and precision of relative navigation enabled the anchors to be placed within twenty meters of the ideal target positions. The apex of the mooring stabilized within two meters of the design depth.
How to fit demand side management (DSM) into current Chinese electricity system reform

Abstract DSM is one of the best and most practical policy tools available to China for balancing environmental protection and economic growth. The new round of electricity system reform provides a good opportunity to consolidate and integrate DSM policy and expedite its development and implementation. DSM policy can be upgraded by incorporating it into the current electricity system reform. Comparing the potential acceleration of electricity price reform with the possibility of imposing a System Benefit Charge (SBC), the author argues that support for a SBC would be much easier to gather among policymakers and stakeholders in a short time and would have a much better policy effect in the current situation. The author discusses three kinds of price discrimination related to the DSM development in China: time-based electricity pricing, electricity price discrimination for industrial structure adjustment in China (Fujian Province as a case), and direct power purchases by large customers and preferential tariff policy. These can be well designed to be combined with DSM and energy efficiency policy.
Social class, occupational status, occupational self-direction, and job income: A cross-national examination

This paper evaluates the relationships of social class position, occupational status, and occupational self-direction to job income in three modern industrial societies, the United States, Japan, and Poland. In doing so, it goes beyond Wright and Perrone's analysis of 1977, which sought to establish the importance of social class by comparing the relative power with which occupational status and social class, defined in terms of relationship to the means of production, predict income. In carrying out analyses, we have also had to face the basic sociological issue of the nature and measurement of occupational status and have adopted a confirmatory factor analytic approach to the problem. Our substantive findings show that social class position has its strongest effect on income in Poland, and occupational self-direction also has an uniquely strong effect there. The singular importance of occupational status in Japan is noted and contrasted with the United States, where occupational status, social class, and education all have significant independent effects on job income.
Secondary structures for splice junctions in eukaryotic and viral messenger RNA precursors

Thermodynamically stable secondary structures have been found for adjacent splice junctions of 17 introns from 10 eukaryotic and viral mRNA precursors. Complementary regions in these structures position the exons to be ligated in a favourable orientation for splicing. The possible role of these structures in a general splicing mechanism in described.
Sjögren's syndrome and other rheumatic disorders presenting to a neurology service

A prospective study of 100 consecutive admissions to a university neurology inpatient service was done to assess the prevalence and spectrum of autoimmune rheumatic disorders, most specifically Sjogren's syndrome (SS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and lupus anticoagulant (LA)-associated disorders. All patients underwent a physical exam (PE), a rheumatic disease questionnaire, and serologic testing (ANA, RF, and LA). The 100 patients consisted of 36 men and 64 women, aged 17 to 98 (mean 60) years and included 47 white, 45 black and eight other. Definite rheumatic diseases were found in 11%. These included three with previously undiagnosed SS and neurologic symptoms of seizures and dementia [1], psychiatric disease [1], and embolic cerebrovascular accident (CVA) [1]. Also present were three CVA patients with LA; one migraine patient with known SLE and LA; and one each with CNS Whipples disease, Behcet's disease, isolated CNS angiitis, and B27+ spondyloarthritis. With respect to SS questions and PE findings, three groups of patients were identified: +Questionnaire; +PE 14 patients, aged 33–81 (mean 73) years; 13 F, 1 M who were not further evaluated although significant seroreactivity was present in three (RF 2, LA 1). +Questionnaire; −PE 16 patients, aged 32–98 (mean 56) years; 13 F, 3 M. Four patients had further evaluation, diagnostic for SS in three of them (33 abnormal lip biopsies, 23 KCS, 23 anti-Ro). Another four had unexplained seroreactivity (ANA 2, RF 1, LA 1). -Questionnaire; +PE 12 patients, aged 24–77 (mean 54) years; 10 F, 2 M, not further evaluated although four had seroreactivity in the setting of idiopathic neurologic disorders. In conclusion, sicca complaints and PE findings may occur independently and yet not preclude the diagnosis of SS. Definite SS was present in 3% of this population and not evaluated in another possible 11%. Evaluation for SS in neurologic patients should be more aggressively pursued.
Oxandrolone induced lean mass gain during recovery from severe burns is maintained after discontinuation of the anabolic steroid

Weight loss and lean mass loss from burn induced catabolism can be more rapidly restored when the anabolic steroid oxandrolone is added to optimum nutrition compared to nutrition alone. Our purpose in this study was to determine whether the regained lean body mass (LBM) is retained 6 months after stopping oxandrolone. Forty-five severe burn patients, entering the recovery phase were randomized into a nutrition group alone or with the addition of oxandrolone, 20 mg per day upon admission to the acute burn rehabilitation (RH) unit. Oxandrolone was discontinued after at least 80% of the involuntary weight loss occurring in the acute burn period, was restored. Body composition was measured using bioelectric impedence analysis (BIA). We found that patients receiving oxandrolone, in the rehabilitation unit, regained weight and lean mass two to three times faster than with nutrition alone. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). All patients were discharged from RH on a nutrition and exercise program and monitored in the outpatient burn center. After 6 months, body weight and body composition were again measured. We found that the body weight and lean mass which was restored during RH, was maintained 6 months after discontinuation of oxandrolone. Lost lean mass was not yet restored in the nutrition alone group. We can conclude that body weight and lean mass which is lost, due to burn induced catabolism, can be effectively restored in the post-burn recovery period with oxandrolone. The body weight and lost lean mass which is regained, is maintained 6 months after stopping the drug.
Tin and fluoride uptake in human enamel in situ: electron probe and chemical microanalysis.

When the electron probe was used to scan the intact enamel surfaces of teeth topically treated with stannous fluoride, it was concluded that tin concentration occurring in circumscribed trapping regions (about 125 μ diameter and 20 μ deep) is about 20,000 ppm. By chemical microanalysis, it was found that fluoride concentration increases by about 20 percent in treated enamel.
An Experimental and Numerical Investigation Into the Effects of Squealer Blade Tip Modifications on Aerodynamic Performance

Gas turbine blades using the so-called squealer tip configuration represent a majority of the high-pressure first stage blades in service. The squealer tip in its most basic format is simply a two-tooth labyrinth seal projecting from the blade tip towards the stationary shroud or casing. As with all blade tip configurations, the geometry is a compromise between aerodynamics, cooling, mechanical stress, durability, and repair. While many proposed blade tip innovations involve more complex geometries, this study seeks to determine if a simpler geometry, other than a flat tip, can provide equivalent aerodynamic performance with a reasonable chance of satisfying all other design factors. Using an annular sector blade cascade, total pressure loss surveys are measured with three blade tip geometries, the standard squealer tip, a single-sided suction side seal strip, and the single-sided strip with a pressure side winglet added. The same cascade is modeled numerically as a periodic passage for each of the geometries tested. Experiment and simulation both utilize all blade tip cooling flow injection locations and nominal magnitudes, as well as a constant tip clearance above the suction side seal strip. Experimental data show that the removal of the pressure side seal strip reduces the area-averaged total pressure loss slightly, while the addition of a winglet returns the performance to the baseline result. Numerical predictions indicate essentially equal performance for all geometries. The numerical results provide insight into the loss mechanisms of both the tip leakage flows and the coolant injection flows. This study, when combined with literature data on heat transfer and cooling, concludes that the simpler single-sided suction seal strip is better overall than the commonly employed squealer tip.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Purpura following exposure to DDT

Summary Five cases of purpura occurring in children following exposure to DDT mixtures are presented. The known toxic effects of DDT in animals and human beings are briefly discussed. The purpuric manifestations were extensive and associated with marked thrombocytopenia in four of five cases. Recovery is relatively prompt with a change of environment and without specific medication. The only noxious agent that might be incriminated was a DDT spray product. As all available data indicate the innocuousness of the vehicles employed, the DDT appears to be responsible for the development of purpura.
Efficient chromosome encoding and problem-specific mutation methods for the flexible bay facility layout problem

Two chromosome encoding methods are compared for finding solutions to the nondeterministic polynomial-time hard flexible bay facilities layout problem via genetic algorithm (GA). Both methods capitalize on the random key GA approach to produce chromosomes that are viable for any combination of allele values. In addition, the effect of four problem-specific mutation methods is assessed for one of the encoding methods. The novel mutation methods are shown to have a substantial effect on performance. Optimal GA parameter settings for the problem-specific mutation methods are found empirically
Lowering the error floors of irregular high-rate LDPC codes by graph conditioning

This paper applies a graph conditioning algorithm, called the approximate cycle extrinsic message degree (ACE) algorithm, to design high-rate (R/spl ges/1/2) irregular LDPC codes. The algorithm was shown to be an effective tool to lower the error floors of lower-rate (R/spl les/1/2) LDPC codes. However, for high-rate LDPC codes, due to the large number of degree-2 variable nodes in the optimal degree distribution, the error floor is high and it is more difficult to condition the graph. By constraining the number of degree-2 nodes, we found that the ACE algorithm can dramatically lower the error floor with little compromise of the threshold. A rate-3/4, length-10688 LDPC code is proposed whose AWGN channel performance is within 0.67 dB of the Shannon limit at BER=10/sup -5/ and its error floor is lower than 10/sup -7/. Compared to existing semi-regular codes which lower the floor by adopting non-optimal degree distributions, our graph-conditioned codes provides 0.38 dB of performance improvement at BER=10/sup -5/. The same design criteria also apply well to medium-length LDPC code design and are suitable for rate-compatible applications using the information-nulling technique. The rate-compatible scheme has consistently good thresholds and low error floors for 1/2/spl les/ R/spl les/ 8/9.
The Analysis of Neutral Red and of the Pyronins

Neutral red and the pyronins cannot be evaluated by means of reduction with titanous chloride, and market supplies of the stains contain nitrogenous dye intermediates which render other chemical methods of determining dye content unreliable.Data are furnished in the present paper which will enable the analyst to obtain reliable dye-content values with samples of these dyes by means of a convenient spectrophotometric technic.
A SENSE OF INJUSTICE

The literature on the impact of processing a defendant through the criminal justice system has long assumed that this experience created a “sense of injustice” for defendants which militated against rehabilitative efforts within correctional settings. The current research examined this assumption with data collected from a sample of inmates in a medium and a maximum security institution within a midwestern state. The findings serve to question the assumption of the development of a sense of injustice, as most inmates perceive themselves as having been treated fairly by the criminal justice system. It is also found that there is little relationship between attitudes toward the preprison criminal justice system and measures of prisonization. The results are discussed in reference to their relevance to the functional and importation models of prisonization.
Generalized multiprocessing and multiprogramming systems

In this paper, the following definitions have been followed:1. Multiprogramming---the time-sharing of a processor by many programs operating sequentially. Many programs are available and in memory but only one program is actually being executed at a given time. Control of object programs is provided by a supervisory control program. Thruput is highest when many programs can be interleaved to use hardware most efficiently. In general, the time required to complete a selected program will be increased over single program operation.2. Multiprocessing---independent and simultaneous processing accomplished by the use of several duplicate hardware units. Specifically, duplicate logical and arithmetic units are assumed, although systems with separate input-output channels can also be said to be multiprocessors. Note that "processors" do not include storage units while "computers" do. (Table 1.2.2)3. Scheduling---is the determination of the sequence in which job programs will use the available facilities. Scheduling assignments are based on the availability of all required facilities, the priority of the job program and the relative priorities of other programs. Scheduling algorithms aim to optimize performance of the system with respect to chosen goals.4. Allocation---is the assignment of particular facilities: core memory, tapes, disk files to a job program.5. Interrupt and Trapping are considered synonymous. Both mean the ability, provided by hardware, to monitor particular conditions in the system during execution of all other operations and to provide an alarm signal which can interrupt a processor to obtain required action. Program interrupts or Intentional interrupts are really branching operations which sometimes use the alarm signal hardware.
1,5-C2B3H5 and C5H8, 1,5-C2B3H3 and C5H6: Carborane-hydrocarbon structural analogs with unusual three-center bonds†

The electronic structure of the polyhedral carboranes 1,5-dicarba-closo-pentaborane(5) and 1,5-dicarba-closo-pentaborane(3) is studied using ab initio calculations, and compared to that of their hydrocarbon analogs bicyclo[1.1.1]pentane and [1.1.1]propellane, respectively. The high symmetry and common topology of the carborane-hydrocarbon structural analogs force similar bonding patterns, and the carboranes show a unique three-center, two-electron CBC bond not previously observed in these species. This three-center bond is formally analogous to the σ-bridged-π bond in the hydrocarbons, but its strength is low and its CC bond long. Analysis of the bonding in these carboranes along with that in 1,3-diborabicyclo[1.1.1]pentane, another[1.1.1]propellane analog, shows that the strength of their three-center bonds is directly related to the nature of the bridging group, but is independent of the type of bridgehead atom. 1,3-Diboretene, the carborane analog of bicyclo[1.1.0]butane, is also found to exhibit a similar bonding pattern to its hydrocarbon analog and to possess a CBC bond.
The expanding role of endoscopic skull base surgery.

AbstractThe endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) is a surgical technique where a small aperture, the nostrils, can give access to the whole ventral skull base. Its principles differ from the ones of traditional skull base approaches where a wide external opening is often accompanied by a relatively small working area. Most of the results of EEAs published in the literature come from retrospective case series and the follow-up is still limited, however the consensus is that this technique is safe and effective in selected cases and when performed within dedicated skull base centres. This article sets to give an overview of the current state of endoscopic skull base surgery, based on the recent evidence and our centre's experience with nearly 2000 EEAs. The team's experience with endoscopic as well as open approaches plays a critical role in achieving satisfactory results when treating pathologies of the skull base. Guided by the principle of least neural and vascular manipulation, the team should be able to...
An exploration into patient preference for injectable therapy over surgery in the treatment of female urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: To explore patient preference for injectable therapy over open surgery in the treatment of urinary incontinence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-eight female patients presented for treatment of urinary incontinence. During the initial interview process, they were asked to quantify their preference for injectable therapy over surgery by specifying the lowest success rate they would accept and still try injectable therapy. The results were summarized and assessed in relation to patient age and history of previous urogynecologic surgery. RESULTS: The mean lowest acceptable success rate for all 58 surveyed patients was 34%, with 23 (40%) accepting a success rate of only 10%. Although not statistically significant, the data suggested that older patients may tend to accept lower success rates than younger patients (mean of 39% for patients aged less than 60 years compared to 22% for those aged 80 years or older). There was no difference in response based on history of previous urogynecologic surgery. CONCLUSION: Patients appear willing to accept a relatively low success rate for injectable therapy compared to open surgery.
Is planned neck dissection necessary for head and neck cancer after intensity-modulated radiotherapy?

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine regional control of local regional advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), along with the role and selection criteria for neck dissection after IMRT. Methods and Materials: A total of 90 patients with stage N2A or greater HNSCC were treated with definitive IMRT from December 1999 to July 2005. Three clinical target volumes were defined and were treated to 70 to 74 Gy, 60 Gy, and 54 Gy, respectively. Neck dissection was performed for selected patients after IMRT. Selection criteria evolved during this period with emphasis on post-IMRT [ 18 F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in recent years. Results: Median follow-up for all patients was 29 months (range, 0.2–74 months). All living patients were followed at least 9 months after completing treatment. Thirteen patients underwent neck dissection after IMRT because of residual lymphadenopathy. Of these, 6 contained residual viable tumor. Three patients with persistent adenopathy did not undergo neck dissection: 2 refused and 1 had lung metastasis. Among the remaining 74 patients who were observed without neck dissection, there was only 1 case of regional failure. Among all 90 patients in this study, the 3-year local and regional control was 96.3% and 95.4%, respectively. Conclusions: Appropriately delivered IMRT has excellent dose coverage for cervical lymph nodes. A high radiation dose can be safely delivered to the abnormal lymph nodes. There is a high complete response rate. Routine planned neck dissection for patients with N2A and higher stage after IMRT is not necessary. Post-IMRT [ 18 F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography is a useful tool in selecting patients appropriate for neck dissection.
Item grouping and item randomization in personality measurement

This paper describes a study examining the impact of item order in personality measurement on reliability, measurement equivalence and scale-level correlations. A large sample of university students completed one of three forms of the International Personality Item Pool version of the Big Five personality inventory: items sorted at random, items sorted by factor, and items cycled through factors. Results showed that the underlying measurement model and the internal consistency of the IPIP-Big Five scale was unaffected by differences in item order. Also, most of the scale-level correlations among factors were not significantly different across forms. Implications for the administration of tests and interpretation of test scores are discussed, and future research directions are offered.
Novel Sustainable and Structured Model, System and Methodology for Engineering Competency Development

Rapid technology evolution in the semiconductor industry induces new challenges for multinational corporations to hire competent engineers for design & development related job functions. This technology movement requires hired college graduates and experienced engineers to continuously upgrade their technical knowledge in order to keep up with the pace. However, there is no established model to systematically guide the technical workforce on how to address this problem in breadth and depth. Upon conducting a site-wide needs analysis, we discovered the absence of engineering curriculum for engineers from across various divisions, departments and functions and also responsible for the design & development of multi products: microprocessor, chipset, network processor, motherboard and networking modules. This paper presents the novel technical training model, system and method in solving the problem. The model describes the engineering development curricula (EDC), the system refers to the Engineering Development Team (EDT) and the methodology describes the curricula execution by the EDT to ensure quality, sustainability and timeliness. Finally, we depict result indicators and measurements techniques
Pseudo-boolean functions and the multiplicity of the zeros of polynomials

A highlight of this paper states that there is an absolute constant c 1 > 0 such that every polynomial P of the form P(z) = Σ =0 a j z j , a j ∈ ℂ with $$\left| {a_0 } \right| = 1, \left| {a_j } \right| \leqslant M^{ - 1} \left( {\begin{array}{*{20}c} n \\ j \\ \end{array} } \right), j = 1,2, \ldots ,n,$$ for some 2 ≤ M ≤ e n has at most $$n - \left\lfloor {{c_1}\sqrt {n\log M} } \right\rfloor $$ zeros at 1. This is compared with some earlier similar results reviewed in the introduction and closely related to some interesting Diophantine problems. Our most important tool is an essentially sharp result due to Coppersmith and Rivlin asserting that if F n = {1, 2, …, n}, there exists an absolute constant c > 0 such that $$\left| {P(0)} \right| \leqslant \exp (cL)\mathop {\max }\limits_{x \in {F_n}} \left| {P(x)} \right|$$ for every polynomial P of degree at most $$m \leqslant \sqrt {nL/16} $$ with 1 ≤ L < 16n. A new proof of this inequality is included in our discussion.
The AraC-Like Transcriptional Regulator DhbR Is Required for Maximum Expression of the 2,3-Dihydroxybenzoic Acid Biosynthesis Genes in Brucella abortus 2308 in Response to Iron Deprivation

Phenotypic evaluation of isogenic mutants derived from Brucella abortus 2308 indicates that the AlcR homolog DhbR (2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid [2,3-DHBA] biosynthesis regulator) modulates the expression of the genes involved in 2,3-DHBA production, employing 2,3-DHBA or brucebactin as a coinducer.
Dynamin 2 Potentiates Invasive Migration of Pancreatic Tumor Cells through Stabilization of the Rac1 GEF Vav1

The large GTPase Dynamin 2 (Dyn2) is markedly upregulated in pancreatic cancer, is a potent activator of metastatic migration, and is required for Rac1-mediated formation of lamellipodia. Here we demonstrate an unexpected mechanism of Dyn2 action in these contexts via direct binding to the Rac1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) Vav1. Surprisingly, disruption of the Dyn2-Vav1 interaction targets Vav1 to the lysosome for degradation via an interaction with the cytoplasmic chaperone Hsc70, resulting in a dramatic reduction of Vav1 protein stability. Importantly, a specific mutation in Vav1 near its Dyn2-binding C-terminal Src homology 3 (SH3) domain prevents Hsc70 binding, resulting in a stabilization of Vav1 levels. Dyn2 binding regulates the interaction of Vav1 with Hsc70 to control the stability and subsequent activity of this oncogenic GEF. These findings elucidate how Dyn2 activates Rac1, lamellipod protrusion, and invasive cellular migration and provide insight into how this specific Vav is ectopically expressed in pancreatic tumors.
Virtual Center: A characteristic of minimum power broadcast trees in wireless ad hoc networks

In this paper, we explore the structure of optimal solutions of minimum power broadcast tree problem in wireless ad hoc networks and present a new algorithm based on the findings. Our previous work shows that the optimal solutions have common characteristic (Incremental Minimality) which makes it reasonable to design an incremental algorithm to find the minimum power broadcast trees. In this work, we identify one more characteristic (Virtual Center) which complements the incremental minimality. The optimal solutions tend to have a major subtree which can be obtained by an incremental method starting from a center node which may not be the source node of the broadcast. Our finding is about the center node (called as virtual center) and the major subtree (called as virtually centered subtree) rooted at the virtual center. We propose a new algorithm which is based on the concept of virtual center by dynamically changing the center to find the best candidate for the virtual center. The proposed algorithm effectively utilizes the Virtual Center characteristic and the empirical computation results support the validity of the characteristic by superior performance compared to algorithms in literature.
Examination of selected synthesis and room-temperature storage parameters for wood adhesive-type urea–formaldehyde resins by 13C-NMR spectroscopy. V

The effects of posttreatments of particleboard adhesive-type urea–formaldehyde resins were studied. The resins were synthesized with formaldehyde/first urea (F/U1) mol ratios of 1.40, 1.60, 1.80, 2.10, and 2.40 and then the second urea was added to give a final formaldehyde/urea ratio of 1.15 in alkaline pH. The resins were posttreated at 60°C for up to 13.5 h and the 2.5-h heat-treated resin samples were stored at room temperature for up to 27 days. Resins sampled during the posttreatments were examined by 13C-NMR and evaluated by bonding particleboards. In the posttreatments, hydroxymethyl groups on the polymeric resin components dissociated to formaldehyde and reacted with the second urea, and methylene and methylene–ether groups were formed from reactions involving the second urea. Methylene–diurea and urea groups bonded to UF polymers were identified. As a result, the viscosity of the resins initially decreased but later increased along with the cloudiness of the resins. Bond-strength and formaldehyde-emission values of particleboard varied with posttreatment variables as well as with the F/U1 mol ratios used in the resin syntheses. The results would be useful in optimizing resin synthesis and handling parameters. Various reaction mechanisms were considered. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 1896–1917, 2003
Bottom-up fuzzy partitioning in fuzzy decision trees

FID is a publicly available fuzzy decision tree software package for classifying fuzzy data. This paper describes a new bottom-up domain partitioning technique, which has just been implemented to complement the previously available top-down technique.
Effect of tempol on diabetes-induced decreases in retinal blood flow in the mouse.

Purpose: The purpose was to investigate the effect of the superoxide dismutase mimetic tempol on decreases in retinal blood flow that are found in diabetic mice.Materials and Methods: Streptozotocin (STZ) was injected into male C57BL/6 mice to induce hyperglycemia. One week following the STZ injection, subsets of the mice were given drinking water with or without 1 mM tempol for an additional three weeks. At the end of the four-week protocol, microvascular parameters were quantified via intravital microscopy, and included measurements of retinal diameters, red blood cell (RBC) velocities, blood flow rates, and wall shear rates.Results: Diabetes induced ~40–45% decreases in retinal blood flow rate (p < 0.001) four weeks following injection of STZ. The decrease in blood flow rate occurred with decreases in microvascular diameters (D) and RBC velocities (V). The average percentage decrease in velocity was greater than the percentage decrease in diameter and, therefore, wall shear rates (= 8 V/D) were ~25% lo...
A single-switch single-stage active power factor corrector with high quality input and output

A new mode of operation of a SEPIC-type power factor corrector is analyzed and presented. Compared with the previously known mode it produces much less harmonic distortion and additionally a well regulated output voltage at no extra costs. Furthermore the voltage in the energy storage capacitor is no longer load dependent.
Integrity of the exon 6 sequence is essential for tissue-specific alternative splicing of human leukocyte common antigen pre-mRNA.

Abstract By alternative splicing, exons 4, 5, and 6 of the human leukocyte common antigen (LCA) gene are included in B-cell mRNA but excluded from thymocyte mRNA. A mini-LCA gene that contains only LCA exons 2, 6, and 8 faithfully reproduces this tissue-specific alternative splicing in mouse B and thymocyte cell lines. Elimination of almost all of the intron sequences associated with exon 6 had no effect on the alternative splicing, while linker-scanning analysis showed that a significant length of the exon 6 sequence is essential for alternative splicing.
Euro Currency Trends In The Global Market

This study presents preliminary evidence on the long-term relationship between the euro and major international financial and non-financial assets. A secular relationship, if it exists, should provide the impetus for the new European currency to not only sustain itself over the long haul but also become a commanding international currency just like the U.S. dollar. Empirical results show that the pricing of crude oil is inversely related to the value of the euro, priced in U.S. dollars. Unit root tests show that series are stationary after first differencing, and cointegrated. However, Granger causality tests reveal that the euro does not Granger-cause crude oil price. Also, there is no reverse causality from oil to euro. Nonetheless, a two-way causality exists between the euro and the U.S. stock market. Contrary to the findings in earlier studies, there is no evidence of causality from the U.S. stock market to leading European financial market series.
Exposure to early life pain: long term consequences and contributing mechanisms

From an evolutionary perspective, adaptations of an organism to its early environment are essential for survival. The occurrence of early life perturbation, coincident with increased developmental plasticity, provides a unique opportunity for such adaptations to become programmed and persist throughout life. However, adaptations that are beneficial to maintaining homeostasis in one's early environment may result in extreme response strategies that confer vulnerability or dysfunction later in life. This review summarizes recent findings in human and animal studies demonstrating that early life pain results in a hypo-/hyper-sensitive phenotype in response to acute and persistent pain and stress later in life. Changes in cognition and immune function in response to early life pain have also been observed. Recent data on the neural mechanisms underlying these long-term changes are discussed, as well as potential strategies to minimize the impact of early life pain.
2006 Outstanding AFCPE Conference Paper Financing Long Term Care: Risk Management Intentions and Behaviors of Couples

Qualitative methods were used to examine how couples perceive and articulate their intentions and behaviors in regard to managing the risk of financing long term care. Two overall decision making styles for addressing the risk of long term care were identified: scrambling and advance planning. Scramblers may or may not have any intentions to address the risk of long term care. Advance planners are goal oriented and are working to achieve their definition of financial security. Some are focused on preparing for a long and healthy later life, whereas others are addressing the risk of long term care.
A New Concept in Design of Rheolytic Thrombectomy Devices: The Coanda Effect

The Coanda effect, which was first named by Henri Coanda in 1910, is the phenomenon when a fluid, gas or liquid, attaches to a solid surface, called the Coanda surface. The direction of this adhered flow changes along with the surface because of the Van der Walls forces or surface tension. Therefore, the pressure distribution of the ambient fluid is also altered due to the bent attached Coanda flow. The fluid material properties, Coanda flow velocity, curvature of the Coanda surface, velocity of the ambient fluid flow, and distance to the wall above the Coanda flow are the primary factors affecting this pressure distribution. In experimental studies, Panitz and Wasan [1] evaluated the pressure distribution of the Coanda effect by using pressure sensors on the Coanda surface and a colored dye solution in the flow. By means of photographs and experimental data, they describe the influence of different heights of the shroud (a sheath plate above the Coanda surface) and the secondary flow entrainment (flow of ambient fluid) on the pressure profiles. Vortices occur beneath the Coanda flow when the height of the shroud is lower than a specified reference. Cutbill et al. [2] developed a high speed Coanda flow k-e turbulence model in the application of PHOENICS to improve the prediction of the mixing rate, shock wave structure and flow separation. The pressure drop occurs near the Coanda surface in both experimental and computational prediction results.© 2009 ASME
Impact on Campaign Discourse

In recent years, there has been considerable concern about the tone, style, and content of political campaigns. In many races, by the time of voting, “ad fatigue” grips the voters. The arrival of Election Day is not seen as a time to celebrate democracy but rather as a period to be thankful that campaign ads no longer litter the airways. There is a more fundamental sense in which Election Day is not seen as the fruition of the nation's democratic electoral process. As Figure 4-1 reveals, turnout in presidential elections has hovered around 50 percent for the last eight elections; turnout in congressional elections, especially those held in nonpresidential years has been considerably lower. Political reformers feel that citizen discontent is the result, in part at least, of the content of electoral campaigns. To be sure, voters are bombarded with campaign messages of all types, with television and radio ads, with direct mail, with telephone messages, with literature on the doorstep, with speeches, Web sites, and more. These messages and the campaigns are covered on television and in the newspapers. Candidates debate each other in front of a variety of audiences, most often in person but on important occasions before media audiences. But the relevant question is whether the delivered messages are those the voters need to receive.
Implementation of the American Society of Anesthesiology's guidelines to reduce prolonged fasting times in pediatric preoperative patients: a best practice implementation project.

Background The American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) guidelines for pediatric preoperative fasting have been a standard for well over a decade. However, use of protocols involving an excessive fasting duration exposes patients to the physiological impacts of fluid volume loss. Objectives The current project aimed to improve fluid supplementation during presurgical fasting in pediatric patients at an academic medical center. Specific objectives were to increase clinical staff knowledge regarding ASA fasting standards and implement them in specific pediatric patient populations. Methods The Joanna Briggs Institute Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System and Getting Research into Practice tools were used. A baseline audit assessed compliance with best practice criteria regarding staff education, patient/family instruction and preoperative fasting times. Intervention outcomes were evaluated in a post implementation criteria audit. Results Although compliance with fasting less than 12 hours more than doubled, only half of these patients/parents adhered to the guidelines. No excessive fasting events were attributed to a language barrier. There were no insufficient fasting events. Conclusion Moderate success with fasting compliance was demonstrated when patients/parents were taught the multi-step ASA non per os (nothing by mouth) instructions. This complexity may have contributed to non-compliance and pointed to the need for enhanced teaching strategies. No operative start delays related to insufficient fasting indicated surgical scheduling flexibility was not at risk, and anesthesia providers had adopted the guidelines. Interdisciplinary engagement in this project was significantly impacted by director level communication which will be a key strategy for future implementations.
Pediatric Minimum Speech Test Battery.

Assessment of patient outcomes and documentation of treatment efficacy serves as an essential component of (re)habilitative audiology; however, no standardized protocol exists for the assessment of speech perception abilities for children with hearing loss. This presents a significant challenge in tracking performance of children who utilize various hearing technologies for within-subjects assessment, between-subjects assessment, and even across different facilities. The adoption and adherence to a standardized assessment protocol could help facilitate continuity of care, assist in clinical decision making, allow clinicians and researchers to define benchmarks for an aggregate clinical population, and in time, aid with patient counseling regarding expectations and predictions regarding longitudinal outcomes. The Pediatric Minimum Speech Test Battery (PMSTB) working group—comprised of clinicians, scientists, and industry representatives—commenced in 2012 and has worked collaboratively to construct the first PMSTB, which is described here. Implementation of the PMSTB in clinical practice and dissemination of associated data are both critical for achieving the next level of success for children with hearing loss and for elevating pediatric hearing health care ensuring evidence-based practice for (re)habilitative audiology.
Law of the Diminishing Increment in the Fattening of Steers and Hogs

* Paper read before the American Farm Economics Association, December 29, 1923, revised so as not to duplicate the previous article in the Journal on this subject. Jour. Farm Econ., January, 1923, "Application of the Law of Diminishing Returns to Some Fertilizer and Feed Data." This subject is treated in more detail in Part I (by Spillman) in Spillman and Lang's "Law of Diminishing Returns," World Book Co., Yonkers, N. Y. (in press).
Dual-cavity optically and electrically resonant modulators for efficient narrowband RF/microwave photonics

We propose doubly and triply resonant electro-optic modulators for efficient narrowband RF-to-optical signal conversion. Using a dual-optical-cavity design, we predict 30dB higher conversion gain than single-cavity modulators, and another 5–10dB using a realistic electrical resonance.
Systemic Thrombolysis for Pulmonary Embolism: Who and How

Anticoagulation has been shown to improve mortality in acute pulmonary embolism (PE). Initiation of anticoagulation should be considered when PE is strongly suspected and the bleeding risk is perceived to be low, even if acute PE has not yet been proven. Low-risk patients with acute PE are simply continued on anticoagulation. Severely ill patients with high-risk (massive) PE require aggressive therapy, and if the bleeding risk is acceptable, systemic thrombolysis should be considered. However, despite clear evidence that parenteral thrombolytic therapy leads to more rapid clot resolution than anticoagulation alone, the risk of major bleeding including intracranial bleeding is significantly higher when systemic thrombolytic therapy is administered. It has been demonstrated that right ventricular dysfunction, as well as abnormal biomarkers (troponin and brain natriuretic peptide) are associated with increased mortality in acute PE. In spite of this, intermediate-risk (submassive) PE comprises a fairly broad clinical spectrum. For several decades, clinicians and clinical trialists have worked toward a more aggressive, yet safe solution for patients with intermediate-risk PE. Standard-dose thrombolysis, low-dose systemic thrombolysis, and catheter-based therapy which includes a number of devices and techniques, with or without low-dose thrombolytic therapy, have offered potential solutions and this area has continued to evolve. On the basis of heterogeneity within the category of intermediate-risk as well as within the high-risk group of patients, we will focus on the use of systemic thrombolysis in carefully selected high- and intermediate-risk patients. In certain circumstances when the need for aggressive therapy is urgent and the bleeding risk is acceptable, this is an appropriate approach, and often the best one.
Lyme Disease: Infectious and Noninfectious Features

Lyme disease (LD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed tick-borne bacterial diseases worldwide. It is caused by species within the Borrelia genus, spread by the Ixodes ticks. The initial sign of the disease is a ring-shaped rash with occasional central clearing, called erythema migrans (EM). If untreated, LD can result in early disseminated manifestations including generalized EM, carditis and central nervous system involvement, and late manifestations, including arthritis. LD generally responds well to a short course of antibiotics. However, about 10–15% of patients with Lyme arthritis fail the initial course of antibiotics, and some of those develop a chronic inflammatory arthritis optimally treated with local or systemic immunosuppressive agents. This is likely to be an autoimmune process, and these patients have similar human leukocyte antigen types as observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Lessons learned from this illness may help us better understand the pathophysiology of postinfectious and possibly other forms of idiopathic arthritis as well.
Turbulence in Very-High Mach Number, Laser-Accelerated Material

Most flows in nature are turbulent. Often, turbulence critically influences the nature of an important event. For example, satellite communications can be interfered with by natural or man-made turbulence in the earth’s atmosphere1; x and gamma rays in the 1987A supernova appeared prematurely because of turbulence2; the rate of star formation depends on the nature of interstellar turbulence3; turbulent mixing influences the efficiency of inertial-confinement-fusion pellets4. There are many other examples in aeronautics, chemistry, and combustion.