cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phenomapping of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction using machine learning-based unsupervised cluster analysis

Aim To identify distinct phenotypic subgroups in a highly-dimensional, mixed-data cohort of individuals with heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) using unsupervised clustering analysis. Methods and results The study included all Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) participants from the Americas (n = 1767). In the subset of participants with available echocardiographic data (derivation cohort, n = 654), we characterized three mutually exclusive phenogroups of HFpEF participants using penalized finite mixture model-based clustering analysis on 61 mixed-data phenotypic variables. Phenogroup 1 had higher burden of co-morbidities, natriuretic peptides, and abnormalities in left ventricular structure and function; phenogroup 2 had lower prevalence of cardiovascular and non-cardiac co-morbidities but higher burden of diastolic dysfunction; and phenogroup 3 had lower natriuretic peptide levels, intermediate co-morbidity burden, and the most favourable diastolic function profile. In adjusted Cox models, participants in phenogroup 1 (vs. phenogroup 3) had significantly higher risk for all adverse clinical events including the primary composite endpoint, all-cause mortality, and HF hospitalization. Phenogroup 2 (vs. phenogroup 3) was significantly associated with higher risk of HF hospitalization but a lower risk of atherosclerotic event (myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death), and comparable risk of mortality. Similar patterns of association were also observed in the non-echocardiographic TOPCAT cohort (internal validation cohort, n = 1113) and an external cohort of patients with HFpEF [Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibition to Improve Clinical Status and Exercise Capacity in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (RELAX) trial cohort, n = 198], with the highest risk of adverse outcome noted in phenogroup 1 participants. Conclusions Machine learning-based cluster analysis can identify phenogroups of patients with HFpEF with distinct clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes.
Forgotten but not gone: FMRI evidence of implicit memory for negative stimuli 24 hours after the initial study episode.

Abstract Endel Tulving conducted pioneering work on the explicit and implicit memory systems and demonstrated that priming effects can be long-lasting. It is also well-established that emotion can amplify explicit and implicit memory. Prior work has utilized repetition suppression (RS) of the fMRI-BOLD signal—a reduction in the magnitude of activity over repeated presentations of stimuli—to index implicit memory. Using an explicit recognition memory paradigm, we examined emotional modulation of long-term implicit memory effects as revealed by repetition suppression (i.e., comparing second-exposure forgotten items to first-exposure correct rejections). Forty-seven participants incidentally encoded line-drawings of negative, positive, and neutral scenes followed by the full color image. Twenty-four hours later, participants underwent fMRI during a recognition memory test in which old and new line-drawings were presented. Implicit and explicit memory effects were defined by the contrasts of New-Correct Rejections > Old-Misses and Old-Hits > New-Correct Rejections, respectively. Wide-spread Negative RS was found in frontal and occipito-temporal cortex that was greater than Neutral RS in the right orbito-frontal cortex and inferior frontal gyri. Valence-specific Negative RS, compared to Positive RS, was observed in the left inferior occipital gyrus. There was no strong evidence for emotional modulation of amygdala RS, but functional connectivity analyses revealed valence-specificity: Negative and positive valence were associated with repetition suppression and repetition enhancement of amygdala-occipital connectivity, respectively. Negative implicit memory patterns in most frontal regions—but not occipital areas—overlapped with explicit memory effects. Thus, implicit memory effects for a single visual stimulus presentation are modulated by emotional valence, can be observed 24hours after initial exposure, and show some overlap with explicit memory.
Psychiatric Predictors of COVID-19 Outcomes in a Skilled Nursing Facility Cohort

The author has voluntarily withdrawn this manuscript because of questions raised about privacy issues in the conduct of this retrospective chart review. That issue is being contested by the author. Therefore, pending resolution of this matter, the author does not wish this work to be cited as reference for the project. If you have any questions, please contact the corresponding author.
Oil red O staining for lipid-laden macrophage index of bronchoalveolar lavage: interobserver agreement and challenges to interpretation.

Introduction Oil Red O (ORO) staining on cytologic specimens with calculation of the lipid-laden macrophage index (LLMI) is used as a part of the workup in a number of clinical settings, particularly when aspiration is of concern. As a part of ongoing internal quality improvement measures, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the interobserver agreement of the LLMI calculation and to identify factors that affect the variability of the calculation. Materials and methods There were 9 study participants, which included 3 trainees, 3 cytotechnologists, and 3 cytopathologists. Each participant reviewed 100 ORO-stained bronchoalveolar lavage slides and assigned an LLMI score to each case. The scores were categorized into 3 groups according to the associated aspiration risk: low, LLMI 90. The participants were also requested to note any challenges to the calculation for each case. Results The interobserver agreement among all participants was fair (κ = 0.23). Stratified by participant group, the interobserver agreement among the trainees was fair (κ = 0.24), among cytotechnologists was fair (κ = 0.32), and among cytopathologists was moderate (κ = 0.60). In 70 cases, at least one participant scored the case at least one category higher than the other participants; in 47 cases there was a two category difference. A primary diagnostic challenge reported by participants was macrophage pigmentation (hemosiderin, anthracosis). Conclusions We found only fair interobserver agreement among all 9 participants in the study. Hemosiderin and anthracotic pigmentation was a major factor impeding LLMI calculation resulting in overestimation of the LLMI.
Expanding living donor liver transplantation: Report of first US living donor liver transplant chain

Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) enjoys widespread use in Asia, but remains limited to a handful of centers in North America and comprises only 5% of liver transplants performed in the United States. In contrast, living donor kidney transplantation is used frequently in the United States, and has evolved to commonly include paired exchanges, particularly for ABO-incompatible pairs. Liver paired exchange (LPE) has been utilized in Asia, and was recently reported in Canada; here we report the first LPE performed in the United States, and the first LPE to be performed on consecutive days. The LPE performed at our institution was initiated by a nondirected donor who enabled the exchange for an ABO-incompatible pair, and the final recipient was selected from our deceased donor waitlist. The exchange was performed over the course of 2 consecutive days, and relied on the use and compliance of a bridge donor. Here, we show that LPE is feasible at centers with significant LDLT experience and affords an opportunity to expand LDLT in cases of ABO incompatibility or when nondirected donors arise. To our knowledge, this represents the first exchange of its kind in the United States.
Practical demonstration of time bias with administration of adjuvant therapy in lung cancer.

PURPOSE/BACKGROUND Immortal time bias (ITB) can hinder appropriate interpretations of studies administering adjuvant therapies. Given the increase in National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) analyses evaluating postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) as an adjuvant therapy, we sought to practically demonstrate the effects of ITB by performing a series of simulated NCDB analyses. METHODS A simulated NCDB analysis was performed to examine how the reported benefit of PORT in stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) may change with adjustment for ITB utilizing sequential land mark analysis (SLMA) and time dependent Cox (TDC) modeling. RESULTS On the simulation analysis of 6440 NSCLC patients, we found that the omission of PORT without ITB adjustment was associated with an increased risk of death (HR 1.17, p < 0.0001). After performing a sequential LMA, the detrmient of omitting PORT continued to decrease until it was no longer significant at 8 months, HR 1.05 (p = 0.09). With the TDC model, although still significant, the relative benefit of PORT decreased, to a HR of 1.07 (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS Immortal time bias can alter the results of survival analyses if not carefully accounted for. Adjusting for this bias is essential for accurate data interpretation and to better quantify the impact and effect size of adjuvant therapies such as PORT.
Phases of psychological response in COVID-19: A preliminary heuristic.

Objective: To explore the putative phases of the psychological response to disaster: preimpact, impact, heroic, honeymoon, disillusionment, and recovery, and make recommendations for corresponding interventions. Conclusions: Disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic are often characterized by chaos and uncertainty. As a result, public health disaster planning and response represent formidable challenges. Although disasters can result from a wide array of hazards, regardless of the agent at work, they may follow a rather predictable trajectory of psychological phases. A heuristic of those phases can provide an opportunity for a more organized disaster mental health response and more efficient utilization of scarce resources.
Supply chain resilience for vaccines: review of modeling approaches in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

Despite rapid success in bringing SARS-CoV-2 vaccines to distribution by multiple pharmaceutical corporations, supply chain failures in production and distribution can plague pandemic recovery. This review analyzes and addresses gaps in modeling supply chain resilience in general and specifically for vaccines in order to guide researchers and practitioners alike to improve critical function of vaccine supply chains in the face of inevitable disruptions.,Systematic review of the literature on modeling supply chain resilience from 2007 to 2020 is analyzed in tandem with the vaccine supply chain manufacturing literature. These trends are then used to apply a novel matrix analysis to seven Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) annual filings of pharmaceutical corporations involved in COVID-19 vaccine manufacture and distribution.,Pharmaceutical corporations favor efficiency as they navigate regulatory, economic and other threats to their vaccine supply chains, neglecting resilience – absorption, adaptation and recovery from inevitable and unexpected disruptions. However, explicitly applying resilience analytics to the vaccine supply chain and further leveraging emerging network science tools found in the academic literature, such as artificial intelligence (AI), stress tests and digital twins, will help supply chain managers to better quantify efficiency/resilience tradeoffs across all associated networks/domains and support optimal system performance post disruption.,This is the first review addressing resilience analytics in vaccine supply chains and subsequent extension to operational management through novel matrix analyses of SEC Filings. The authors provide analyses and recommendations that facilitate resilience quantification capabilities for vaccine supply chain managers, regulatory agencies and corporate stakeholders and are especially relevant for pandemic response, including application to the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
Magnetoelectrics and multiferroics: Materials and opportunities for energy-efficient spin-based memory and logic

With the explosion of Internet traffic, the rise of large data centers, and smart technologies on the horizon, forecasts of the global energy consumption from information, and communications technologies are expected to rise from ~ 8% in 2020 to ~ 21% in 2030. The future demand will challenge the supply of electricity and has technology makers looking for ways to improve the efficiency of information and communication devices. In recent years, advances in magnetoelectric and multiferroic materials now provide the basis for nonvolatile spin-based logic and memory elements that have a projected energy efficiency orders of magnitude larger than the complementary metal-oxide semiconductor transistor. The possibilities are exciting, yet significant challenges remain. This article summarizes key materials, recent advancements, and current challenges in electric-field-controlled magnetism for realizing these potentially transformational devices. A perspective and potential considerations are given. With the explosion of Internet traffic, the rise of large data centers, and smart technologies on the horizon, forecasts of the global energy consumption from information and communications technologies are expected to rise from ~8% in 2020 to ~21% in 2030. The future demand will challenge the supply of electricity and has technology makers looking for ways to improve the efficiency of information and communication devices. In recent years, advances in magnetoelectric and multiferroic materials now provide the basis for nonvolatile spin-based logic and memory elements that have a projected energy efficiency orders of magnitude larger than the CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) transistor. The possibilities are exciting, yet significant challenges remain. This article summarizes key materials, recent advancements, and current challenges in electric-field controlled magnetism for realizing these potentially transformational devices. A perspective and potential considerations are given.
What If We Leave It Up to Chance? Admissions Lotteries and Equitable Access at Selective Colleges:

Many prominent social scientists have advocated for random-draw lotteries as a solution to the “problem” of elite college admissions. They argue that lotteries will be fair, equitable, eliminate co...
Record-low thermospheric density during the 2008 solar minimum

[1] We use global-average thermospheric total mass density, derived from the drag effect on the orbits of many space objects, to study the behavior of the thermosphere during the prolonged minimum in solar activity between cycles 23 and 24. During 2007–2009 thermospheric densities at a fiducial altitude of 400 km were the lowest observed in the 43-year database, and were anomalously low, by 10–30%, compared with climatologically expected levels. The density anomalies appear to have commenced before 2006, well before the cycle 23/24 minimum, and are larger than expected from enhanced thermospheric cooling by increasing concentrations of CO2. The height dependence of the mass density anomalies suggests that they are attributable to a combination of lower-than-expected exospheric temperature (−14 K) and reductions in the number density of atomic oxygen (−12%) and other species (−3%) near the base of the diffusive portion of the thermosphere.
High-Energy Ion Beam Analysis

It is very hard to identify the earliest application of high-energy ion beam analysis (IBA), which was a natural outgrowth of accelerator-based atomic and nuclear physics that started in the 1940s with the development of particle accelerators. In these early experiments, the composition of the target to be studied was well known, and it was the nuclear scattering or reaction cross-section that was measured. It would not be surprising if one of the very first nuclear physics pioneers turned this emphasis around and used their beams to measure the compositional uniformity of an unknown sample. Perhaps the earliest known proposal for IBA was that of E. Rubin in 1949 at the Stanford Research Institute, which spelled out the principle of Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS). Another very early application of IBA was performed by Harald Enge at MIT. Enge used mega-electron-volt deuterons from one of Van de Graaff's first accelerators with a magnetic spectrometer to measure the constituents of aluminized Formvar in perhaps the earliest materials analysis application of nuclear reaction analysis (NRA). It is interesting to note that the use of magnetic spectrometers to obtain ultrahigh depth resolution is now common. High-Energy IBA is generally thought to apply when the ion beam has energy greater than 0.5 MeV. There are several attributes of high-energy IBA, including (1) the ability to measure virtually any element in the periodic table, at times with isotopic specificity; (2) the ability to determine concentration as a function of depth; (3) that trace element sensitivity is not uncommon; and (4)that the technique is nondestructive with respect to the chemical makeup of the sample. The periodic table given provides a convenient overview of high-energy IBA capabilities. Keywords: ion beam analysis; periodic table; elastic scattering; mass resolution; nuclear reaction analysis; particle-induced x-ray emission; heavy-ion backscattering; rutherford backscattering spectrometry
Some Liked It Hot: Jazz Women in Film and Television, 1928–1959

Reviewed Medium: book Authors: Kristin A. McGee Year: 2009 Pages: 336 Publisher: Wesleyan University Press ISBN: 978-0-8195-6907-3 (hard cover). Prices: $75.00 USD(hard cover).
Pigment sludge and stone formation in the acutely ligated dog gallbladder.

We studied the effects of stasis of gallbladder bile in a dog model. Three days after cystic duct ligation, all gallbladders contained sludge, and the mucosa was covered by densely adherent mucus with solid particles 1–4 mm in diameter (gravel). Thirty percent of the animals developed stones (>4 mm), which appeared grossly like human pigment stones and microscopically like condensed biliary sludge. Centrifugation of bile yielded colorless pellets (3.8 ± 3.2 mg/ml) at day 0 and pigmented pellets (33.1 ± 11.0 mg/ml) at day 3 (p
Feasibility of Two Educational Methods for Teaching New Mothers: A Pilot Study.

Background: Printed health educational materials are commonly issued to prepare patients for hospital discharge. Teaching methods that engage multiple senses have been shown to positively affect learning outcomes, suggesting that paper materials may not be the most effective approach when educating new mothers. In addition, many written patient educational materials do not meet national health literacy guidelines. Videos that stimulate visual and auditory senses provide an alternative, potentially more effective, strategy for delivering health information. The acceptability of these methods, as perceived by nurses executing patient education initiatives, is important for determining the most appropriate strategy. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of 2 educational methods for teaching new mothers how to care for themselves and their infants after hospital discharge. Feasibility was measured by adequate enrollment, acceptability of the intervention to patients and nurses, and initial efficacy. Methods: New mothers (n=98) on a Mother-Baby Unit received health information focused on self-care and infant care delivered as either simple printed materials or YouTube videos on an iPad. Mothers completed a pretest, post-test, and an acceptability survey. Following completion of the initiative, nurses who participated in delivering the health education using one of these 2 methods were asked to complete a survey to determine their satisfaction with and confidence in using the materials. Results: Mothers, on average, were 26 years old; 72% had a high school education; and 41% were African American. The improvement in knowledge scores was significantly higher for the iPad group (8.6% vs 4.4%, P =.02) compared to the pamphlet group. Group ( B =4.81, P =.36) and time ( B =6.12, P .05). The nurses had a mean age of 44.3 years (SD 13.9) and had, on average, 16.6 years of experience (SD 13.8). The nurses felt confident and satisfied administering both educational modalities. Conclusions: The pamphlet and iPad were identified as feasible and acceptable modalities for educating new mothers about self-care and infant care, though the iPad was more effective in improving knowledge. Understanding the acceptability of different teaching methods to patient educators is important for successful delivery of informational materials at discharge. [Interact J Med Res 2015;4(4):e20]
Genetics of congenital central hypoventilation syndrome: lessons from a seemingly orphan disease.

The initial response to a publication on a pediatric “orphan disease” is not necessarily enthusiasm, especially if the reader is an adult intensivist or pulmonologist. Although considered insignificant because of their rarity, orphan diseases can serve as models for other, more global phenomena. For example, idiopathic congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS), although first described in 1970 (1), was considered exclusively as a rare disorder of respiratory control, with nearly all publications in case report or small series format for the next 20-plus years. Although many early reports described symptoms compatible with autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysregulation, and reports on familial patterns appeared, it took another decade for the familial nature of CCHS and the associated ANS dysregulation to be identified. The American Thoracic Society increased the visibility of CCHS with the 1999 ATS statement entitled “Idiopathic Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome: Diagnosis and Management” (2). The specific objectives were to (1) improve knowledge regarding CCHS to minimize delays in diagnosis; (2) state the components of a thorough diagnostic evaluation and for followup; (3) familiarize practitioners with diagnostic, treatment, and home health care options, and long-term outcomes; (4) emphasize the composite of ANS dysfunction beyond the narrow control of breathing deficit considered the hallmark of CCHS; and (5) provide evidence of a genetic component. Subsequent to the ATS statement we have documented an increase in the number of cases diagnosed, with earlier consideration of the disease. Nearly all subsequent publications have appeared in the genetics literature, leaving the readership of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine potentially uninformed regarding the remarkable progress in determining the genetic basis of CCHS as well as the inheritance pattern. This Pulmonary Perspective has been prepared for three reasons: (1) to demonstrate the lesson that a seemingly straightforward orphan disease with disordered respiratory control is actually a more global phenomenon of ANS dysregulation; (2) to bring the remarkable genetic progress in CCHS, culminating with the identification of a defining gene, the paired-like homeobox gene (PHOX)2b, to the adult and pediatric pulmonologist/intensivist readership of the Journal; and (3) to demonstrate that this unique study population holds great promise for furthering our under-
Large-scale simulation of polymer electrolyte fuel cells by parallel computing

A three-dimensional, electrochemical–transport fully coupled numerical model of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) is introduced. A complete set of conservation equations of mass, momentum, species, and charge are numerically solved with proper account of electrochemical kinetics and water management. Such a multi-physics model combined with the need for a large numerical mesh results in very intense computations that require parallel computing in order to reduce simulation time. In this study, we explore a massively parallel computational methodology for PEFC modeling, for the 8rst time. The physical model is validated against experimental data under both fully and low-humidi8ed feed conditions. Detailed results of hydrogen, oxygen, water, and current distributions in a PEFC of 5-channel serpentine ;ow-8eld are discussed. Under the fully humidi8ed condition, current distribution is determined by the oxygen concentration distribution. Cell performance decreases in low-humidity inlet conditions, but good cell performance can still be achieved with proper water management. Under low-humidity conditions, current distribution is dominated by the water distribution at high cell voltages. When the cell voltage is low, the local current density initially increases along the ;ow path as the water concentration rises, but then starts to decrease due to oxygen consumption. Under both fully and low-humidi8ed conditions, numerical results reveal that the ohmic losses due to proton transport in anode and cathode catalyst layers are comparable to that in the membrane, indicating that the catalyst layers cannot be neglected in PEFC modeling. ? 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
MR Assessment of Oral Cavity Carcinomas

Approximately half of head and neck carcinomas arise from the oral cavity. Imaging plays an essential role in the preoperative evaluation of oral cavity carcinomas. MR imaging is particularly advantageous in the evaluation of the oral cavity, with better depiction of the anatomy in this region and reduction of dental artifacts compared with CT. MR is also the preferred imaging modality for the evaluation of bone marrow invasion and perineural tumor spread, which are findings critical for treatment planning. Advanced MR imaging techniques may potentially better delineate true tumor extent, determine lymph node metastases, and predict treatment response.
GENDER AND MARITAL SATISFACTION: DATA FROM THE NATIONAL SURVEY OF FAMILIES AND HOUSEHOLDS '

In 1972, Bernard argued that marriage was good for men and bad for women. Subsequent research noted that wives, on average, reported lower marital satisfaction than husbands. Furthermore, when differences within couples existed on marital satisfaction, the wife was usually the less satisfied spouse; however, most previous studies of the gender/marital satisfaction relationship had not been based on nationally representative samples. A nationally representative sample from the 1988 Survey of Families and Households was used to assess the relationship of gender with marital satisfaction. Within-couple analyses indicated that wives were less satisfied with their marriages than husbands and that, when substantial within-couple differences occurred with respect to marital satisfaction, the wife was usually the less satisfied spouse. Results provide at least small support for feminist assertions about the relatively adverse nature of marriage for women in the United States.
Synthesis and Biophysical and Biological Evaluation of 2′-Modified Antisense Oligonucleotides

Abstract A series of 2′-deoxy-2′-substituted adenosine modified oligonucleotides were synthesized and evaluated for their thermodynamic stability (Tms) and resistance to nuclease degradation in fetal calf serum.
Double strange attractors in rigid body motion with linear feedback control

Abstract Euler's rigid body equations are modified with the addition of a linear feedback. A system of three quadratic differential equations is obtained which for certain feedback gains has two strange attractors. The attractor for an orbit is determined by the location of the initial point for that orbit.
Calculation of Discharge Current Waveforms in High Voltage Spark Sources. II. Extensions and Limitations of Closed-form Solution

Simulation of gap breakdown and dynamic impedance effects in high voltage spark sources is performed using an algebraically exact solution to an approximate model of source behavior. The importance of diode shunt capacitance in determining gap breakdown behavior is shown. Limitations in generality and implicit use of numerical methods in dynamic situations lead naturally to consideration of numerical integration methods. Comparisons to hardware sources are made.
Perceived Taste Intensity and Duration of Nutritive and Non‐nutritive Sweeteners in Water using Time‐intensity (T‐I) Evaluations

This investigation compared the sweet and bitter taste characteristics of aspartame, acesulfame K, and alitame at equisweetness levels with 10% sucrose/water solutions at 22°C using the time-intensity (T-I) sensory technique. Alitame was comparable to sucrose in all taste characteristics. Aspartame had similar taste characteristics to sucrose with the exception of having greater sweet intensities with longer duration (P<0.001) following sample expectoration. Acesulfame K differed remarkably from sucrose. The sweet attribute of acesulfame K appeared quickly (P<0.05) before sample expectoration. This was followed by a moderately intense and lingering bitter character (P< 0.001) which reached maximum intensity after sample expectoration.
The dark side of glucose

Non-enzymatic glycation, cellular receptors and oxidant stress together have implications for the pathogenesis of cellular dysfunction in diabetes and beyond (pages 1057–1061).
Optimization of indirect photomeric detection of anions in high-performance capillary electrophoresis

Abstract Optimization of the indirect photometric detection in high-performance capillary electrophoresis is demonstrated. The influence of background electrolyte (BGE) concentration, capillary diameters, linear polymers, pH of BGE and types of BGE have been studied and assessed in terms of theoretical predictions. The experimental results fit the theoretical deduction very well. At optimized conditions, sub-femtomoles of simple anions can be detected, offering a 500-fold improvement compared to previous studies, and being close to the predicted limit of detection.
Ion exchange, extraction, separation and radiochemical determination of neptunium-237 in plutonium-238

Abstract Neptunium-237 in concentrations of 10 p.p.m. can be isolated from 10-mg quantities of plutonium-238, with sufficient purity to allow its determination by direct α-counting. After suitable treatment of the sample in hydrobromic acid medium, neptunium(V) is separated from the bulk of plutonium by cation exchange. The neptunium eluate is then treated with tin(II) chloride, and neptunium(IV) is extracted into TTA-xylene, leaving the last amount of plutonium in the aqueous phase. Uranium causes no problem and can be determined simultaneously in the same sample.
Vitamin D and Cognitive Decline in Elderly Persons: Further Details

Archives of Internal Medicine Vitamin D and Risk of Cognitive Decline in Elderly Persons David J. Llewellyn, PhD; Iain A. Lang, PhD; Kenneth M. Langa, MD, PhD; Graciela Muniz-Terrera, PhD; Caroline L. Phillips, MS; Antonio Cherubini, MD; Luigi Ferrucci, MD, PhD; David Melzer, PhD Background: To our knowledge, no prospective study has examined the association between vitamin D and cognitive decline or dementia. Methods: We determined whether low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) were associated with an increased risk of substantial cognitive decline in the InCHIANTI population-based study conducted in Italy between 1998 and 2006 with follow-up assessments every 3 years. A total of 858 adults 65 years or older completed interviews, cognitive assessments, and medical examinations and provided blood samples. Cognitive decline was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and substantial decline was defined as 3 or more points. The Trail-Making Tests A and B were also used, and substantial decline was defined as the worst 10% of the distribution of decline or as discontinued testing. Results: The multivariate adjusted relative risk (95% confidence interval [CI]) of substantial cognitive decline on the MMSE in participants who were severely serum 25(OH)D deficient (levels Conclusion: Low levels of vitamin D were associated with substantial cognitive decline in the elderly population studied over a 6-year period, which raises important new possibilities for treatment and prevention. Arch Intern Med. 2010;170(13):1135-1141.
Low-molecular weight organic compositions of acid waters from vegetable oil soapstocks

Alkaline extracts (soapstocks) from canola, corn, cottonseed, peanut, soybean, and sunflower oil refining were acidified, and identities and concentrations of the low-molecular weight organic components of the resulting acid waters were determined by gas chromatography, followed by mass spectroscopy, and by high-performance liquid chromatography. The main components of each acid water sample, in order of decreasing concentration and after omitting the fermentation product lactic acid, were phosphoric acid, α-glycerophosphate, and glycerol from canola;myo-inositol, phosphoric acid, α-glycerophosphate andmyo-inositol-1-phosphate from corn; glycerol, α-glycerophosphate,myo-inositol-1-phosphate, and β-glycerophosphate from cottonseed; phosphoric acid, glycerol, andmyo-inositol from peanut; α-glycerophospho-1-myo-inositol,myo-inositol-1-phosphate, α-glycerophosphate, and glycerol from soybean; and α-glycerophosphate, glycerol,myo-inositol-1-phosphate, and β-glycerophosphate from sunflower.
Single-locus molecular markers for inferring relationships at lower taxonomic levels: observations and comments

While DNA sequence data have made tremendous contributions to plant phylogenetics, a notable shortcoming has been the resolution of relationships among closely related, recently diverged species or infraspecific taxa. Resolution of relationships at these levels is of general importance in the study of plant evolution because it allows examination of the pattern of evolution of characters that may have been important in the divergence of lineages, i.e., characters associated with speciation as opposed to characters that evolved subsequent to divergence (Templeton, 1981; Coyne & Orr, 2004). In the last column, we discussed the continuing search for low-copy nuclear sequences with sufficient variation to resolve relationships at lower taxonomic levels (see Small & al., 2004 for recent excellent review); the present contribution considers the related topic of using single-locus molecular markers for studying relationships at these same levels. There have been several reviews of the advantages and limitations of various molecular markers at the population level (e.g., Arnold & Emms, 1998; Wolfe & Liston, 1998; Avise, 2004; Nybom, 2004), and there seems little need to revisit these topics at the present time. However, we have noted the increasing number of studies using single-locus markers to examine relationships among infraspecific taxa and congeneric species. In most cases, single-locus markers have been used for plants where sequences from the "tried and true" regions, such as noncoding plastid sequences and nuclear ITS, provided low resolution of relationships. Also, nearly all of these studies have used PCR-based, dominant markers. Thus, we will restrict our discussion to these markers and will not consider alternative ones such as
Suppression of pressure oscillations in an open cavity by passive pneumatic control

A computational investigation has been conducted to determine the effectiveness of a passive control technique in suppressing the oscillations in an open cavity exposed to a supersonic flow. Time-accurate solutions of the unsteady, Reynolds-averaged, Navier-Stokes equations were obtained with an explicit predictor-corrector algorithm; the passive control was implemented through the use of a simple linear pressure-velocity law along the porous cavity floor. The computational code was validated by comparisons with experimental data for the cavity flow without control. The computational results with control demonstrate that the oscillations are suppressed; the fluid dynamic mechanism of the control is seen to be a stabilization of the free-shear layer. Spectral analysis of the unsteady data shows that the resonant frequencies are essentially unchanged by the control. Beneficial reductions in the cavity resonant drag are also observed.
Public awareness of and support for infrastructure changes designed to increase walking and biking in Los Angeles County

OBJECTIVE: Policies to promote active transportation are emerging as a best practice to increase physical activity, yet relatively little is known about public opinion on utilizing transportation funds for such investments. This study sought to assess public awareness of and support for investments in walking and biking infrastructure in Los Angeles County. METHOD: In the fall of 2013, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health conducted a random digit dial telephone survey of registered voters in the region. The survey asked respondents to report on the presence and importance of walking and biking infrastructure in their community, travel behaviors and preferences, and demographics. RESULTS: One thousand and five interviews were completed (response rate 20%, cooperation rate 54%). The majority of participants reported walking, biking, and bus/rail transportation investments as being important. In addition, participants reported a high level of support for redirecting transportation funds to active transportation investment - the population average was 3.28 (between 'strongly' and 'somewhat' support) on a 4 point Likert scale. CONCLUSION: Voters see active transportation infrastructure as being very important and support redirecting funding to improve the infrastructure. These findings can inform policy-decisions and planning efforts in the jurisdiction. Language: en
G-Loops and Permutation Groups☆

Abstract A G -loop is a loop which is isomorphic to all its loop isotopes. We apply some theorems about permutation groups to get information about G -loops. In particular, we study G -loops of order pq , where p q are primes and p ∤ ( q − 1). In the case p = 3, the only G -loop of order 3 q is the group of order 3 q . The notion “ G -loop” splits naturally into “left G -loop” plus “right G -loop.” There exist non-group right G -loops and left G -loops of order n iff n is composite and n > 5.
Laparoscopic intraperitoneal intestinal anastomosis

A technique is described detailing how to laparoscopically perform a functional end-to-end intestinal anastomosis using currently available endoscopic staplers.
Intraventricular pressure gradients in left ventricular aneurysms determined by color M-mode Doppler method: an animal study.

Background Left ventricular aneurysm (LVA) may affect diastolic intraventricular blood flow. Color M-mode (CMM) Doppler flow propagation patterns are abnormal in the presence of apical aneurysms. The aim of this study was to validate the accuracy of CMM echocardiography for assessing the existence and size of LVA and to determine the intraventricular pressure gradient in LVA. Methods CMM of the transmitral inflow in early diastole was obtained from the apical 4-chamber view in 19 sheep. The presence of the break point where the velocity decreased abruptly in the mitral inflow (point D) was determined and the distance between the apex and point D was measured. The intraventricular pressure difference between the base and the apex was measured by a catheter while it was calculated using CMM with the Euler equation. Results The presence of the break point D showed 84% sensitivity and 100% specificity for determining the existence of an LVA. Distance between the apex and point D correlated well with scar size. Catheter- and CMM-derived intraventricular pressure difference correlated and agreed well (y = 1.0 × −0.2, r = 0.94). Conclusions The point of abrupt decrease in propagation velocity of the CMM recording indicated the presence and size of LVA. Intraventricular pressure gradients were determined noninvasively by CMM echocardiography with reasonable accuracy.
Structure and dynamics of the actin filament.

The structures of filamentous Mg-ATP-actin (F actin) in the presence and absence of KCl have been mapped with hydroxyl radicals (·OH) generated by synchrotron X-ray radiolysis. Proteolysis and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis revealed 52 reactive side-chain sites from 27 distinct peptides within actin. The reactivities of these probe sites with ·OH in the F-actin states are compared with those of Mg-ATP-G-actin (monomers) analyzed previously [Guan, J.-Q. et al. (2003) Biochemistry 42, 11992−12000]. Filament-dependent protection within subdomains 2, 3, and 4 and at the C terminus is consistent with longitudinal contacts of monomers within the filament helical structure as predicted by the Holmes model. In the absence of KCl, the extent of filament-dependent protection rarely reached 3-fold, consistent with a highly dynamic filament characterized by relatively weak interactions between actin protomers. However, in the presence of KCl, the extents of protection are significantly increased, consistent with a w...
Miniature Optical Microscope without Imaging Lens

Recently, JPL has invented and developed a miniature optical microscope, microscope-on-chip using micro-channel and solid state image sensors. It is lightweight, low-power, fast sped instrument, it has no image lens, does not need focus adjustment, and the total mass is less than 50g. A prototype has been built and demonstrated at JPL.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ (1930): the antiwar film and the image of the first world war

(1994). ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ (1930): the antiwar film and the image of the first world war. Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television: Vol. 14, No. 4, pp. 377-411.
Soliton dynamics of hydrogen-bonded networks: A mechanism for proton conductivity

The dynamics of protons in hydrogen-bonded quasi one-dimensional networks is described in terms of a diatomic lattice model with a doubly periodic on-site potential. The discrete system is reduced to a continuum double sine-Gordon equation for the protonic part plus an easily solvable differential equation for the heavy part. Its two-component kink solitons correspond to the ionic and Bjerrum defects. The correct response of these solitonic defects to an externally applied electric field makes this system a suitable model for qualitative and quantitative description of the protonic conductivity in hydrogen-bonded networks.
Database security—System architectures

Abstract Database security is a rapidly growing research area, spawning work in several different subareas proceeding independently in many directions. In surveying the subject this paper draws together some of this diverse work and attempts to indicate relationships among the parts. A theme of the paper is to recommend a system architecture approach to database security. Such a view is more likely to bring modularity, simplicity, isolatability and flexibility to overall system solutions than will ad hoc attempts to tune-up individual parts. Systems requirements are stated and the relation to operating system security is discussed. Security kernels, their history as well as their advantages and problems, are described. Security requirements found in databases, but not in operating systems, are introduced. Some models and experimental systems are reviewed, representing non-architectural and architectural approaches to non-secure and secure database systems. Some conclusions and trends for the furure are discussed.
The radiographic prevalence of geniculate ganglion dehiscence in normal and congenitally thin temporal bones

Objective:To determine the prevalence of a dehiscent geniculate ganglion on routine temporal bone computed tomography (CT).Study Design:Retrospective case review.Setting:Tertiary referral center.Patients:Two hundred seventy-eight consecutive temporal bone CT examinations for a total of 556 sides wer
Anastomotic healing in a small bowel transplantation model in the rat.

Anastomotic healing is impaired after intestinal surgery because of ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI), which can result in intestinal leaks leading to increased mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of transplant IRI and immune mechanisms on intestinal graft anastomotic healing. Orthotopic intestinal transplantations (OIT) were performed in rats. The experimental design consisted of six groups A–F (n = 5/group): A, allogeneic OIT treated with tacrolimus (1mg/kg/day); B, syngeneic OIT treated with tacrolimus; C, syngeneic OIT; D, allogeneic OIT; E, proximal and distal anastomoses performed in nontransplanted animals; F, same as in group E but treated with tacrolimus. Anastomotic bursting pressure (ABP), hydroxyproline content (HPC), and mucosal inflammatory infiltrate (MII) were determined at the anastomotic sites (proximal and distal) and compared between groups. ABP was significantly (p < 0.001) reduced in OIT groups A, B, C, and D compared to control groups E and F at both the proximal and distal anastomotic sites. HPC was ∼1 μg/mg of tissue in groups A, B, C, and D, and ∼5μg/mg of tissue in groups E and F. This demonstrates a significant (p < 0.001) reduction in HPC after OIT. MII was significantly (p < 0.001) increased in OIT groups when compared to nontransplanted control groups. MII was also significantly (p < 0.05) increased in allogeneic OIT groups A and D compared to syngeneic OIT groups B and C. Generally, ABP and HPC were inversely proportional to MII in both nontransplanted control and OIT groups. Reduced anastomotic strength was demonstrated in both syngeneic and allogeneic OIT anastomotic sites irrespective of immunosuppressive therapy, and is probably related to IRI.
Frozen matrix photolysis of Group VIII M(CO)2Cl2L2 derivatives: Direct observation of CO-loss species and photochemical isomerization

Abstract Photolysis of Group VIII complexes of the form M(CO) 2 X 2 L 2 and chelated ruthenium compounds, Ru(CO) 2 Cl 2 (κ 2 -L) in frozen matrices results in CO-loss. In the case of Fe(CO) 2 Br 2 (PMe 3 ) 2 evidence is presented for photochemical bromide ion elimination.
Selection of multilayer dielectric coatings for Fabry-Perot interferometry

The parameters appropriate to selection of multilayer dielectric coatings for Fabry-Perot interferometry in the ultraviolet and visible regions of the spectrum are discussed. A representative example is given.
Low-order moment expansions to tight binding for interatomic potentials: Successes and failures.

We discuss the use of moment-based approximations to tight binding. Using a maximum entropy form for the electronic density of states, we show that a general interatomic potential can be defined that is suitable for molecular-dynamics simulations and has several other desirable features. For covalent materials (C and Si), properties where the atoms are in equivalent environments are well converged at low-order moments. For defect environments, which offer a more critical (and relevant) test, the method is found to give less satisfactory results. For example, the vacancy formation energy for Si is too low by \ensuremath{\sim}2 eV at 10 moments relative to exact tight binding. Attempts to improve the accuracy were unsuccessful, leading to the conclusion that potentials based on this approach are inadequate for covalent materials. We speculate that this may be a deficiency of low-order moment methods in general. For metals, in contrast to the covalent systems, we find that the low-order moment approach is better behaved. This finding is consistent with the success of existing empirical fourth-moment potentials for metals.