cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recommendations for Testing and Treating Outpatient Cancer Patients in the Era of COVID-19.

The clinical spectrum of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still not fully understood. Cancer patients are uniquely vulnerable to COVID-19, and many have been or will be infected. Although an unfortunate minority will die from the infection, most will recover. This poses a challenge in which clinicians must weigh the benefits of initiation or resumption of antineoplastic therapy against the risks that antineoplastic treatment may worsen outcomes related to COVID-19 infection. A recent study of 423 patients at our institution found that patients in active cancer treatment who develop COVID-19 infection did not fare any worse than other hospitalized patients, yet guidance as to who requires testing prior to antineoplastic therapy and when to resume therapy post-COVID-19 diagnosis remains unknown. Our institution, therefore, commissioned a task force to help create guidelines for treating oncologists using available published literature. The task force focused on the ambulatory care testing guidelines only, because all inpatients receiving antineoplastic therapy are tested for COVID-19 prior to hospital admission. The guidelines focus solely on the safety and well-being of the individual patient undergoing antineoplastic therapy and are not designed to address infection control issues.
A sub-1-volt analog metal oxide memristive-based synaptic device with large conductance change for energy-efficient spike-based computing systems

Nanoscale metal oxide memristors have potential in the development of brain-inspired computing systems that are scalable and efficient. In such systems, memristors represent the native electronic analogues of the biological synapses. In this work, we show cerium oxide based bilayer memristors that are forming-free, low-voltage (∼|0.8 V|), energy-efficient (full on/off switching at ∼8 pJ with 20 ns pulses, intermediate states switching at ∼fJ), and reliable. Furthermore, pulse measurements reveal the analog nature of the memristive device; that is, it can directly be programmed to intermediate resistance states. Leveraging this finding, we demonstrate spike-timing-dependent plasticity, a spike-based Hebbian learning rule. In those experiments, the memristor exhibits a marked change in the normalized synaptic strength (>30 times), when the pre- and post-synaptic neural spikes overlap. This demonstration is an important step towards the physical construction of high density and high connectivity neural networks.
Spin in Schr\"odinger-quantized Pseudoclassical Systems

We examine the construction of the spin angular momentum in systems with pseudoclassical Grassmann variables. In constrained systems there are many different algebraic forms for the dynamical variables that will all agree on the constraint surface. For the angular momentum, a particular form of the generators is preferred, which yields superselection sectors of irreducible spin^c(n) representations rather than reducible so(n) representations when quantized in the Schrodinger realization.
Pain Variability Predicts Subjective Function in Individuals with Patellofemoral Pain: A Short Report.

Individuals with patellofemoral pain (PFP) experience pain during various functional activities. Long-term pain is a common consequence of PFP, yet little is known about daily pain variability. Twenty-five individuals with PFP completed the Anterior Knee Pain Scale (AKPS) and recorded daily pain over 10-days. Pain was evaluated by two measures of intensity (baseline pain, 10-day average pain) and two measures of variability (mean square of successive differences [MSSD], probability of acute change [PAC]). Associations between AKPS and the four pain measures were calculated with Pearson correlations. A linear regression was performed to examine the amount of variance in the AKPS explained by the four pain measures. Greater MSSD values were moderately associated with lesser AKPS scores (r =-.648, p<.001). MSSD and 10-day averaged pain was the strongest predictor of AKPS (R2=.565, p<.001). Pain variability provides a unique perspective in the pain experience and predicts patient-oriented function in individuals with PFP.
Nonsteady Flow for Wells with Decreasing Discharge

A solution for nonsteady flow to a well completely penetrating homogeneous elastic artesian aquifer is developed. Because a continuous lowering of the water level inside wells normally corresponds to a decreasing pumping rate, it is desirable to introduce this factor into the flow problem. Consideration is given to a discharge-time exponential function that approaches an approximately constant pumping rate. The solution for the drawdown is expressed in terms of the discharge and aquifer characteristics. Discharge parameters can be determined from pumping-rate test data. A graphical solution is developed for the determination of the aquifer characteristics. This graphical solution required the numerical computation and the tabulation of a variable well function that appears in the drawdown expression. Generally, the solution developed provides greater accuracy in the calculation of the aquifer characteristics and drawdown, especially for short-period pumping tests.
Can CT predict the source of arterial hemorrhage in patients with pelvic fractures

The objective of the study was to evaluate the ability of hemorrhage site and location as demonstrated on pelvic CT to predict the source of arterial hemorrhage in patients with traumatic pelvic fractures. CT scans of 104 consecutive patients who had sustained traumatic pelvic fracture and undergone emergent pelvic angiography were digitized, and fracture-related hemorrhage area and volume were measured at multiple locations within the pelvis. Clots that measured greater than 10 cm2 were compared to angiographic results. The χ2 test was used to find locations on CT that were significantly associated with specific arterial injuries found on angiography. Sixty-one (58%) of the patients had arterial bleeding at angiography. The most commonly injured arteries were the internal pudendal and the superior gluteal. Specific locations on CT were statistically significant indicators of injury to the superior gluteal artery (relative risk=2.9, 95% CI 1.2–7.3, P=0.013), the anterior division of the internal iliac artery (relative risk=3.2, 95% CI 1.4–4.1, P=0.006), and the internal pudendal arteries (relative risk=2.0, 95% CI 1.1–4.0, P=0.037). More blood was visible on CT when an artery was injured (mean volume with negative angiogram=318 ml, mean volume with positive angiogram=554 ml, (P=0.007)). The rectus sheath region at the top of the iliac crest (P=0.004), pelvic sidewalls at the L5–S1 disk space level (P=0.001), and gluteal regions also at the L5–S1 disk space level (P=0.012) were significant indicators of a positive arteriogram. CT can help predict the specific bleeding artery to potentially guide angiographic intervention.
Security technology decision tree tool

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center has developed a decision tree tool, to help users implement security measures based on intrusion detection and automated video surveillance technology. The security technology decision tree tool (STDTT) is a computer application that leads the user through specification of security objectives, identification of constraints attributable to noninterference with mission, and consideration of possible security scenarios, with guidance in equipment selection as the outcome. Even if contractors perform the actual security design and implementation, STDTT will prepare in-house personnel to effectively assess whether proposed security designs are compatible with local activity, with personnel resources for assessment, response, and maintenance, and with year-round weather and terrain conditions.
Gene Therapy of Genetic Diseases of Blood Cells

The article contains sections titled: Genetic Diseases of Blood Cells Allogeneic HSCT as Treatment of Genetic Diseases of Blood Cells Gene Therapy Severe Combined Immune Deficiency (SCID) Introduction SCID due to ADA Deficiency X-Linked SCID Wiskott–Aldrich Syndrome Chronic Granulomatous Disease Hemoglobinopathies Lysosomal Storage Diseases and Metabolic Diseases Gene Correction by Homologous Recombination Summary Keywords: Allogeneic; Autologous; Bone marrow transplant; Gene therapy; Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD); Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF); Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC); Haplotype; Hemoglobinopathies; Homologous recombination; Insertional oncogenesis; LAM-PCR; Lentivirus; Myeloablation; Primary immune deficiency; Retroviral vector; Retrovirus; Syngeneic; Transduction; Zinc finger; Zinc finger nuclease
Introduction to Logistic Regression

This introduction to logistic regression describes the reasons for the popularity of the logistic model, the model form, how the model may be applied, and several of its key features, particularly how an odds ratio can be derived and computed for this model.
The Contemporary Presidency: Civil‐Military Friction and Presidential Decision Making: Explaining the Broken Dialogue

This article examines the perennial mutual frustration between presidents and their military advisors over decisions to use force. What often appears to be a personality-driven or political debate between the commander in chief and his strong-minded military advisors actually has deeper institutional and cultural roots. The “professional” military officer has certain expectations about how to craft “best military advice” for the president that are deeply embedded into the organizational culture and in fact hard-wired into the institutionalized and incredibly detailed military planning processes. This planning process is designed with expectations about the roles civilian leadership will play in providing guidance, which are in many ways out of synch with the expectations of the president and his civilian advisors. Ultimately, the output of the military's planning process fails to deliver the type of nuanced advice in the form of creative options that the president needs.
How to Make Practical Use of Therapeutic Alliance Research in Your Clinical Work

One primary purpose for psychotherapy research is linking empirically based findings to applied treatment interventions. This use of research can potentially define optimal strategies and techniques that can help guide psychotherapy practice in the field. While caution is warranted considering the varied methodological attributes and findings across different studies, clinicians may be informed by the preponderance of extant data. Extensive prior research has consistently found a significant relationship between therapeutic alliance with therapy process and outcome [1–4]. Moreover, alliance has been found to be one of the most robust predictors of positive psychotherapy outcome regardless of the type of therapy utilized or whether assessed by therapist, client, or independent observer [1]. Thus, alliance research has the potential to significantly inform the treatment approach for a wide range of practicing therapists. With this in mind, the aim of this chapter is to review and summarize the contemporary research on the relationship between specific therapist attributes and interventions on the therapeutic alliance. The synthesized research is inclusive and incorporates varied models of psychotherapy, including humanistic, experiential, cognitive-behavioral, supportive–expressive, interpersonal, motivation-enhancing, relational, and other prevalent psychotherapy orientations. We will first summarize techniques that have been found to significantly enhance the alliance during specific, initial phases of psychotherapy and then move to therapist activities and characteristics that have been found to positively or negatively affect the alliance across treatment. Finally, we will discuss how these therapist activities and characteristics related to alliance may be related to both the initiation and resolution of treatment ruptures.
Family Firm Governance and Financial Policy Choices in Newly Public Firms

Manuscript Type Empirical Research Question/Issue Using agency theory and socioemotional wealth perspective as the theoretical framework, we evaluate the extent to which financing choices subsequent to going public and their economic consequences differ for family firms relative to non-family firms. Research Findings/Insights Our results suggest that family firms maintain higher post-IPO leverage and longer debt maturity structure relative to non-family firms. Further, family firms raise less external capital subsequent to going public relative to non-family firms. The reluctance of family firms to raise post-IPO capital, however, results in higher investment sensitivity to internal cash flows and consequently inefficient investment. In addition, family firm financing choices differentially influence various facets of post-IPO performance. Theoretical/Academic Implications This study suggests that agency conflicts among firm stakeholders as well as socioemotional wealth considerations are important determinants of family firm financing behavior subsequent to going public. Further, ownership structure is an important determinant of the extent IPO firms capitalize on the opportunity to raise capital subsequent to going public to finance investments. Practitioner/Policy Implications Our results offer insights to entrepreneurs, managers, venture capitalists, and other capital market participants with regard to the link between firm ownership structure and the economic benefits of going public
A modified bathtub curve with latent failures

Burn-in and stress screening are becoming increasingly popular in the commercial electronics industry as customers become increasingly sensitive to failures occurring in the useful life of a product or system. For example, thermal stress screening (TSS) is an assembly-level electronics manufacturing process that evolved from the burn-in processes used in NASA and DoD programs. While burn-in subjects the product to expected field extremes to expose infant mortalities (latent failures), TSS briefly exposes a product to fast temperature rate-of-change and out-of-spec temperatures to trigger failures that would otherwise occur during the useful life of the product. In support of this known failure behavior, the classical bathtub curve should be modified to aid in the economic modeling of various screen types. We have conducted extensive modeling efforts that have resulted in a systematic approach to explicitly modeling the latent failures in the bathtub curve. In this paper, we describe the efforts that have been dedicated to model the latent failures known to exist in many products and systems. The resulting failure distribution is a truncated, mixed Weibull distribution. This model is proving to be an effective and relatively simple means to model the complex nature of failures of a system. With this increased flexibility, we can measure the impact of stress screens in varying conditions and ultimately design optimal screens.
Accelerated time integrator for multiple time scale homogenization

Summary This manuscript presents an accelerated time domain homogenization methodology for prediction of material and structural failure under fatigue loading. The methodology is based on mathematical homogenization theory applied to the time domain. The method addresses the computational challenge associated with the scale disparity between the characteristic fatigue load period and the overall fatigue life. Cycle sensitive continuum damage mechanics modeling is used to describe the progressive damage accumulation under fatigue loading. The original initial boundary value problem is decomposed into coupled fast and slow time scale problems. A quasilinear approximation to the fast time scale problem is introduced to efficiently evaluate the response under a fatigue load cycle. The effect of the new time integrator on the thermodynamic consistency of the resulting system of discrete equations is demonstrated for a general class of continuum damage mechanics models. The proposed method is numerically verified based on a scalar damage model and a spatially multiscale damage model used for predicting fatigue life of composite materials. The proposed accelerated time integrator is shown to have reasonable accuracy and is orders of magnitude more computationally efficient when compared with previously proposed time homogenization methods. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparison of circulating CA15-3 and carcinoembryonic antigen levels in patients with breast cancer.

An immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) has been used to determine circulating levels of the breast cancer-associated antigen, CA15-3. Of 1,050 normal control subjects, serum from 99 (9.4%) had CA15-3 antigen levels greater than 22 U/mL, while that from 58 (5.5%) and 14 (1.3%) had levels greater than 25 U/mL and 30 U/mL, respectively. In contrast, 115 of 158 patients (73%) with metastatic breast cancer had CA15-3 levels greater than 22 U/mL. Thirteen of 26 patients (50%) with only local metastases, 27 of 34 (79%) of those with only bone metastases, and 20 of 24 (83%) with hepatic metastases had CA15-3 levels greater than 22 U/mL. Furthermore, nine of 31 patients (29%) with primary breast cancer had CA15-3 levels greater than 22 U/mL. CA15-3 and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels were compared for the same patient population. Significantly more patients with metastatic breast cancer had elevated CA15-3 levels than had elevated CEA levels (P less than .001). Furthermore, the CA15-3 IRMA was more sensitive than the CEA assay in patients with only bone metastases, as well as those with only local metastases. Significantly more patients with primary carcinoma of the breast also had elevated CA15-3 than had elevated CEA levels (P less than .02). CA15-3 levels were greater than 22 U/mL in patients with nonmalignant conditions, including five of 25 patients (20%) with benign breast diseases, and 23 of 52 patients (44%) with benign liver diseases. Furthermore, CA15-3 levels were also greater than 22 U/mL in 24 of 54 patients (44%) with gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies, 12 of 17 patients (71%) with bronchogenic carcinoma, and 29 of 44 patients (66%) with epithelial ovarian carcinoma. Serial CA15-3 levels correlated with clinical disease course. Nineteen of 21 patients (91%) with tumor progression had at least a 25% increase in CA15-3 levels. Conversely, seven of nine patients (78%) with tumor regression had at least a 50% decrease in CA15-3 levels. Among 27 patients with stable disease, 16 (59%) had levels that did not vary by more than +/- 25% of the original CA15-3 levels. These results indicate that the CA15-3 antigen is a sensitive marker for the evaluation and monitoring of patients with breast cancer.
Fourier self-deconvolution in the analysis of near infrared spectra of chemically complex samples

A demonstrated analytical tool for band enhancements in the mid-IR, Fourier self-deconvolution can serve similarly in the analysis of NIR spectra even when the spectra, obtained with dispersion instruments in the diffuse reflectance mode, have broad, overlapping bands not easily resolved. Unlike derivative enhancement methods, Fourier self-deconvolution preserves peak areas so that the deconvolted results may prove advantageous in using multilinear calibration techniques. Band enhancements of both synthetic and real spectra are discussed.
A multi-field approach to modeling the dynamic response of cellular materials

A multi-field approach is developed for simulating the continuum-scale mechanical response of cellular materials. This approach departs from traditional methods used to model cellular materials, which focus almost exclusively on the mechanical response of the cellular solid, while essentially ignoring the fluids permeating these material systems. In the present work, conservation equations are derived in multi-field form, producing a coupled set of governing equations with source terms depending on gradients in the cellular solid stress, but also on gradients in the permeating fluid pressure and momentum exchange resulting from relative motion between the cellular solid and permeating fluid fields. The multi-field equations of motion are implemented in a standard finite-volume computational test bed and used to study the dynamic response of cellular material systems. The influence of various permeating fluids, along with the effects of aperture size, loading rate, and boundary conditions, also are examined. By incorporating an advanced constitutive model for cellular solids into a multi-field response formulation, a promising new approach for simulating the finite-strain dynamic response of cellular materials is offered. Results demonstrate that the permeating fluid can play a major role in the general response of cellular material systems, contributing to the overall load-carrying capacity of the materials and affecting rate dependence and signal propagation speeds. Furthermore, the results point to the usefulness of the multi-field formulation and provide evidence to suggest that any modeling approach developed for cellular materials gives a proper accounting of the pressure evolution and flow behavior of the fluids present in these material systems.
Planar separators and parallel polygon triangulation

Abstract We show how to construct an O(√n)-separator decomposition of a planar graph G in O(n) time. Such a decomposition defines a binary tree, where each node corresponds to a subgraph of G and stores an O(√n)-separator of that subgraph. We also show how to construct an O(nϵ)-way decomposition tree in parallel in O(log n) time so that each node corresponds to a subgraph of G and stores an O(n12+ϵ)-separator of that subgraph. We demonstrate the utility of such a separator decomposition by showing how it can be used in the design of a parallel algorithm for triangulating a simple polygon deterministically in O(log n) time using O(n/log n) processors on a CRCW PRAM.
Mitochondrial gene expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. IV. Effects of yeast cytosol on mitochondrial protein synthesis, degradation, and respiration

It has been known for some time that the addition of a crude yeast cytosolic fraction to isolated mitochondria stimulates the rate of amino acid incorporation into protein in the isolated organelles. However, the mechanism and importance of this phenomenon relative to mitochondrial function has not been established. While it has been assumed that this effect is at the level of translation, the recognition that newly synthesized mitochondrial translation products are rapidly degraded in isolated yeast mitochondria raises the possibility that cytosol affects amino acid incorporation by inhibiting proteolysis. Using pulse-chase experiments we demonstrate that the rate constants of degradation of the nascent products are not affected by yeast cytosol. Further, not only is proteolysis not inhibited by cytosol, but the loss of label caused by proteolysis is actually increased. This increase is directly related to an increase in the size of the nascent product pool which increases simply as a consequence of increasing the rate of translation. By utilizing an approach in which the loss of label due to proteolysis is minimized, the true stimulatory activity of the cytosolic fraction on synthesis was determined (2.1-fold vs. 1.3-fold by the previous method). Pulse-chase experiments in the presence of pactamycin, an initiation inhibitor, demonstrate that yeast cytosol causes an initial increase in the rate of translational initiation without increasing the rate of elongation. However, at later intervals the yeast cytosol acts primarily to maintain the rate of elongation which falls steadily in the controls. Finally, the presence of yeast cytosol dramatically increases the length of incubation time in which the mitochondrial preparation consumes oxygen and maintains coupled respiration, parameters that fall rapidly in the controls. Thus, a yeast cytosolic fraction may function to promote the stability of the mitochondrial preparation, which in turn may account for the increase in rates of translation, particularly with regard to maintaining rates of elongation.
Phospholipid vesicles containing bovine heart mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase exhibit proton translocating activity in the presence of gramicidin

Abstract Phospholipid vesicles containing bovine heart mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COV) were characterized for electron transfer and proton translocating activities in the presence of the mobile potassium ionophore, valinomycin, and the channel-forming ionophore, gramicidin, in order to determine if the ionophores modify the functional properties of the enzyme. In agreement with previous work, incubation of COV with valinomycin resulted in a perturbation of the absorbance spectrum of oxidized heme aa3 in the Soret region (430 nm); gramicidin had no effect on the heme aa3 absorbance spectrum. Different concentrations of the two ionophores were required for maximum respiratory control ratios in COV; 40- to 70-fold higher concentrations of valinomycin were required to completely uncouple electron transfer activity when compared to gramidicin. The proton translocating activity of COV incubated with each ionophore gave a similar apparent proton translocated to electron transferred stoichiometry ( H + e − ratio) of 0.66 ± 0.10. However, COV treated with low concentrations of gramicidin (0.14 mg/g phospholipid) exhibited 1.5- to 2.5-fold higher rates of alkalinization of the extravesicular media after the initial proton translocation reaction than did COV treated with valinomycin, suggesting that gramicidin allows more rapid equilibration of protons across the phospholipid bilayer during the proton translocation assay. Moreover, at higher concentrations of gramicidin (1.4 mg/g phospholipid), the observed H + e − ratio decreased to 0.280 ± 0.020, while the rate of alkalinization increased an additional 2-fold, suggesting that at higher concentrations, gramicidin acts as a proton ionophore. These results support the hypothesis that cytochrome c oxidase is a redox-linked proton pump that operates at similar efficiencies in the presence of either ionophore. Low concentrations of gramicidin dissipate the membrane potential in COV most likely by a channel mechanism that is different from the carrier mechanism of valinomycin, yet does not make the phospholipid bilayer freely permeable to protons.
Friction properties of amorphous carbon ultrathin films deposited by filtered cathodic vacuum arc and radio-frequency sputtering

Abstract The friction properties of ultrathin films of amorphous carbon ( a -C) deposited on Si(100) substrates by filtered cathodic vacuum arc and radio-frequency sputtering were investigated by surface force microscopy. Deposition parameters yielding a -C films with high sp 3 content were used to deposit films of thickness between 5 and 35 nm. The coefficient of friction of both types of a -C films was measured with a 1-μm-radius conical diamond tip and normal loads in the range of 20–640 μN. The results show a strong dependence of the friction properties on the surface roughness, thickness, and structure of the a -C films, which are influenced by the intricacies of the deposition method. The dependence of the coefficient of friction on normal load and the dominance of adhesion and plowing friction mechanisms are interpreted in terms of the through-thickness variation of carbon atom hybridization of the a -C films.
Predictive risk factors for periannular extension of native valve endocarditis. Clinical and echocardiographic analyses.

The study objective is to identify clinical, microbiologic, and/or echocardiographic risk factors present early in the course of native valve endocarditis that predict subsequent development of periannular extension of infection. A multivariate computer-generated analysis of 21 clinical-microbiologic parameters and 11 two-dimensional echocardiographic parameters in patients with native valve endocarditis was designed. These parameters were statistically compared in operated-on patients with native valve endocarditis with and without periannular extension of infection. The study took place in a 600-bed acute-care, nonreferral, municipal hospital primarily servicing an indigent patient population. Seventy-three documented episodes of native valve endocarditis occurred between the years of 1973 and 1987, including 29 operated-on patients with surgically confirmed periannular extension of infection and 44 operated-on patients without periannular extension of infection. Multivariate logistic-regression analyses of multiple clinical, microbiologic, and echocardiographic parameters which are potentially predictive of eventual periannular extension of native valve endocarditis were carried out. The only two independent parameters that significantly predicted periannular infection among patients with native valve endocarditis were (1) aortic valve involvement and (2) abuse of intravenous (IV) drugs (p
Percutaneous Absorption of Hair Dyes: Correlation with Partition Coefficients

A homologous series of hair dyes was selected for percutaneous absorption studies with excised human skin. The permeability constants obtained for the dyes were compared with octanol/water and skin membrane/ water partition coefficients. The compounds examined were: p -phenylenediamine, o -phenylenediamine, 2-ni- tro- p -phenylenediamine, 2-amino-4-nitrophenol, 4- chloro- m -phenylenediamine, and 4-amino-2-nitro- phenol. Skin absorption of the dyes was observed when they were applied in an aqueous solution. With one exception, the octanol/water partition coefficients were in the same rank order as the permeability constants. The determination of the partitioning of the hair dyes between water and either stratum corneum or epidermis was more complex. Preliminary stratum corneum/water partition studies resulted in values that were in the reverse order of skin permeation. When binding of the compounds to components of the membrane was saturated, the partition values more closely duplicated the rank order of permeability of the dyes. Prediction of percutaneous absorption of substances based on their partition coefficients may he confounded if these compounds are capable of binding to skin.
Nursing management of vaginal agenesis

Vaginal agenesis is generally diagnosed and treated in adolescence, presenting special problems to the nursing management of these young women. Fifty‐four patients with this defect were assessed from diagnosis through 2–10 years after surgical correction. This article summarizes psychological and physical aspects of their care so that nurses may reduce the emotional impact of the defect on the young woman and promote self‐care capacities leading to an optimal surgical result and emotional well‐being.
617 FACTOR XI AND XII IN CRITICALLY ILL NEONATES

It has been reported that factors XI and XII are low in neonates and rise slowly in the post-natal period, lowest levels are reported in the premature. This study demonstrates that in very sick newborns, levels of these factors are extremely low, irrespective of gestational age and do not rise in the immediate postnatal period. Of 25 consecutive babies in the ICU with severe RDS or sepsis and no evidence of bleeding, PTT was > 80 secs in 23 on at least one occasion (mean 116, range 84-200, mean control 43). All corrected with contact product; (mean 41 secs, range 31-50; mean control 30), indicating low factor XI and/or XII. In 14 babies these factors were measured. Factor XI was 4-47% (mean 17%) and factor XII 9-38% (mean 20%). These levels are lower than those previously reported in newborns; also in 5 infants of comparable age not in the ICU, PTT was 47-77 secs. Mean age at time of study was 2.8 days, range 1-8, mean birth weight 1628g (range 700-3250). There was no correlation between birth weight or age and factor levels. In 5 babies studied 1-4 days later, levels declined in 4 and were unchanged in I. In vitro inhibition could not be demonstrated. There was no evidence of DIC or gross hepatic disfunction (PT mean 14.3 secs, range 11-17, fibrinogen > 150mg%, FSP 70%). Thus in very sick newborns factors XI and XII are extremely low. This is unrelated to birth weight but may relate to poor clinical status. Other factors were in normal range for age, suggesting specific impairment of a particular liver enzyme or increased catabolism of XI and XII.
Jugular phlebectasia in children: is it rare or ignored?

Abstract Background/Purpose: Phlebectasia of the jugular veins is a venous anomaly that usually presents in children as a soft cystic swelling in the neck during straining. The purpose of this report is to discuss the differential diagnosis, the methods of imaging, the mode of treatment, and to demonstrate some factors that have made us believe that the condition may not be an actual rarity but rather has been ignored. Methods: Eight cases of unilateral internal jugular phlebectasia were treated surgically (ie, excision of the dilated portion of the vein) from 1987 to 1998. The age of the patients ranged from 3 to 14 years. There were 3 girls and 5 boys. The lesions were right sided in 6, and left sided in 2 children. The patients underwent surgery after comparative ultrasonographic confirmation of the diagnosis. Furthermore, the authors prepared a simple questionnaire for evaluating the level of knowledge about this lesion among the related specialists. One hundred ten physicians were asked to describe the jugular phlebectasia and its ideal treatment. Results: All of the patients were discharged from the hospital 24 hours after surgery. Follow-up periods ranged from 6 months to 6 years and no complaints were noted at the time of most recent visits. Our questionnaire results showed that 96% of 73 pediatricians, 37% of 22 otorhinolaryngologists, and 40% of 15 pediatric surgeons did not know what the jugular phlebectasia was. Conclusions: Color Doppler sonography alone is sufficient for the diagnosis of jugular phlebectasia. The authors recommend surgical excision in asymptomatic cases for cosmetic and psychological purposes. The rarity of the lesion may be caused by a lack of knowledge among the related physicians and the tendency of reporting only surgical results.
Intergroup Attitudes as a Function of Different Dimensions of Group Identification and Perceived Intergroup Conflict

This study investigates the multidimensional nature of group identity and how different dimensions are uniquely related to ingroup and outgroup evaluations, intergroup bias, and perceived intergroup conflict. A three-dimensional model of group identity—consisting of a cognitive, evaluative, and affective-ties component—was supported across ascribed, achieved, and face-to-face groups. As predicted, of the three dimensions, affective ties to the ingroup was the best overall predictor of intergroup bias. In support of social identity theory, the impact of the evaluative and cognitive dimensions on group attitudes was significantly moderated by perceptions of conflict. Additionally, as predicted, group identification led to exaggerated positive evaluations of the ingroup, while perceived conflict led to exaggerated negative evaluations of the outgroup. Theoretical implications and future research avenues are discussed.
A comparison of near-field beamforming and acoustical holography for sound source visualization

AbstractAcoustical holography procedures make high-resolution visualization possible via estimation of the sound intensity on surfaces closer to the sources than the near-field measurement surface. Another source localization technique, beamforming, has been used to estimate the direction of arrival of sound from sources that typically lie in the far-field. However, little work has been done using beamforming as a visualization technique based on near-field measurements. As a result, the performance of beamforming and acoustical holography in terms of source resolution capabilities has not been directly compared when using near-field measurements. In this work, point source beamforming was used to visualize sources based on near-field measurements. Acoustic intensity estimated from beamformed pressure measurements was compared with the absolute intensity estimated using acoustical holography techniques. In addition to noise-free, anechoic simulations, cases of measurement pressure with random noise were g...
Representative Midwestern US Cycles: Synthesis and Applications

This paper proposed a set of representative real-world driving cycles in Midwestern US, which are capable of capturing the dependence of driving patterns on driving distance. Recent analyses of the real-world driving in USA show that most of certification cycles lead to underestimation of energy consumption per mile compared to the naturalistic driving patterns. Real-world driving is a mix of local driving and highway driving. Furthermore, the driving patterns show high dependency on the driving distance. To cover the wide range of real-world driving distances, five synthetic cycles are generated ranging from 4.78 miles to 40.71 miles following the real-world driving distance distribution. Each individual cycle is constructed by a stochastic process using the extracted driving information from the naturalistic trip data in the Midwestern US. While constructing the cycle set, the statistical criteria for validating the cycle representativeness are processed to capture the clear distance dependency and remove random variations. The synthesized cycles are subsequently used for Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEVs) or Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEVs) design and control studies for the assessment of the impact of electrified vehicles on the grid.
E1B 55k-independent dissociation of the DNA ligase IV/XRCC4 complex by E4 34k during adenovirus infection

The ligase IV/XRCC4 complex plays a central role in DNA double-strand break repair by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). During adenovirus infection, NHEJ is inhibited by viral proteins E4 34k and E1B 55k, which redirect the Cul5/Rbx1/Elongin BC ubiquitin E3 ligase to polyubiquitinate and promote degradation of ligase IV. In cells infected with E1B 55k-deficient adenovirus, ligase IV could not be found in XRCC4-containing complexes and was observed in a novel ligase IV/E4 34k/Cul5/Elongin BC complex. These observations suggest that dissociation of the ligase IV/XRCC4 complex occurs at an early stage in E4 34k-mediated degradation of ligase IV and indicate a role for E4 34k in dissociation of the ligase IV/XRCCC4 complex. Expression of E4 34k alone was not sufficient to dissociate the ligase IV/XRCC4 complex, which indicates a requirement for an additional, as yet unidentified, factor in E1B 55k-independent dissociation of the ligase IV/XRCC4 complex.
Diffuse basal ganglia or thalamus hyperechogenicity in preterm infants

Objective To determine the incidence and factors associated with diffuse basal ganglia or thalamus hyperechogenicity (BGTH) in preterm infants. Study design (1) Review of serial neurosonograms among neonates with gestational age (GA) Results Among 289 infants, 24 (8.3%) had diffuse BGTH. Color Doppler flow imaging was normal in nine patients. The incidence of diffuse BGTH was inversely related to GA (P Conclusions In our series, diffuse BGTH occurred in 8.3%, and was associated with factors similar to those previously reported. In contrast, several series have reported almost exclusively linear or punctuate hyperechoic foci, corresponding to hyperechogenicity of the lenticulostriate vessels. Our data provide further evidence to suggest that diffuse BGTH and hyperechogenicity of the lenticulostriate vessels are two different entities. Additional studies are required to determine the long-term significance of diffuse BGTH.
What variety of attention is automatically captured by peripheral cues

Previous studies have shown that the voluntary allocation of attention to a location in space can influence accuracy in two ways. First, additional processing resources can be allocated to the attended location, leading to an improvement in perceptual quality for objects presented at that location. Second, decision processes can be restricted to information arising from the attended location, which improves accuracy without influencing the perceptual representation. The present study examined the operation of these two attentional mechanisms when nonpredictive peripheral cues were used to capture attention automatically. Experiment 1 showed that, like predictive cues, nonpredictive cues influence accuracy by summoning perceptual resources and also by influencing decision processes. However, both the cues and the targets in this experiment were defined by luminance increments, making it possible that the cuing effects were mediated by a task-controlled attentional set rather than being fully automatic. Experiments 2 and 3 examined this possibility by using luminance-defined cues and color-defined targets; evidence was again obtained for both perceptual-level and decision-level attention effects. The capture of attention by a nonpredictive peripheral cue thus appears to influence both perceptual resource allocation and postperceptual decision processes.
Application of conversational norms to the interpretation of survey results as a function of participants' need for cognition.

(2004). Application of Conversational Norms to the Interpretation of Survey Results as a Function of Participants' Need for Cognition. The Journal of Psychology: Vol. 138, No. 1, pp. 91-94.
Arthritis, occupational class, and the aging US workforce.

Objectives. The working poor sometimes delay retirement to survive. However, their higher risk of disease and disability threatens both their financial survival and their ability to work through the retirement years. We used the burden of disease attributable to arthritis by occupational class to illustrate the challenges faced by the older poor.Methods. We merged data from the National Health Interview Survey, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, and the National Death Index into a single database. We then calculated and compared age- and occupational class–specific quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) between workers with and without arthritis by using unabridged life tables.Results. White-collar workers have a higher overall health-related quality of life than do other workers, and suffer fewer QALYs lost to arthritis at all ages. For instance, whereas 65-year-old white-collar workers without arthritis look forward to 17 QALYs of future life, blue-collar workers with arthritis experience only 11, and are m...
Biological agents – hope and caution

Having actively participated in the field of growth factor research since the early days of growth factor discovery 1 , 2 I can comment with great delight and amazement on the progress made since those early days. Not only our basic knowledge has expanded exponentially, but growth factors, their receptors and complicated signaling systems became legitimate targets of sometimes quite effective chemotherapy. This issue brings a variety of interesting papers dealing with various aspects of tumor therapy, ranging from traditional combination protocols for management of cholangiocarcinoma 3 to novel hypofractionated stereotactic radiation therapy of pituitary adenomas 4 to several papers which critically appraise the state of the art of cancer treatment with several recently introduced biological agents. 5-8
Overtone spectra of fluorinated ether anesthetics at 4 and 5 quanta of C–H stretch

Abstract We present laser photoacoustic spectra for three fluorinated ether anesthetics (enflurane CHF2OCF2CHF, isoflurane CF3OCHClCHF2, and desflurane CF3OCHFCHF2) at the third and fourth C–H stretch overtones. Each fluorinated ether possesses two C–H bonds, and we attempt to use conformer-specific local-mode calculations to assign the observed peaks. Experimental spectra capture C–H stretches for enflurane’s four conformers, and are limited to the spectral range predicted for the two lowest energy conformers of isoflurane and desflurane. These later two anesthetics show multiple peaks towards higher frequency, where calculations predict the lowest-energy conformer’s terminal C–H overtone to appear. While a full Fermi-resonance analysis is beyond the scope of this work, adding Fermi resonance between the C–H stretch and H–C–O bend lends more plausibility to the simulations.
Liquid chromatographic determination of amikacin in serum with spectrophotometric detection

A simple, accurate, and specific liquid chromatographic procedure Is described for the determination of gentamlcln in 50 vL of serum. Gentamicln and slsomlcin (IS) were converted into their trinitrophenyl derivatives by reaction with a water soluble derivatizlng agent at 70~ for 30 minutes. The derivatives were extracted from the crude mixture with chloroform, which was separated, evaporated, and the residue reconstituted in acetonitrlle. Gentamlcin was separated Into three major Isomers (C1, C=, and C1,) on a reversedphase octyl column by eluting with a mobile phase. The eluted compounds were detected at 340 nm and quantified from their peak heights or peak areas. Chromatography was complete in "=11.0 minutes. The lower limit of detection for gentamlcln was 40.5 mg/L, analytical recoveries varied from 96.6% to 99.3%, Ilnearity extended to 15.0 rag/L, and day-to-day precision was between 2.2% to 2.9%.
A Sensitivity Study on Optimum Delayed Feedback Vibration Absorber

A sensitivity analysis is presented for a novel tuned vibration absorber. The active tuning of the absorber is achieved using partial state feedback with a controlled time delay. The final structure, which is named Delayed Feedback Vibration Absorber (DFVA), is optimized to yield minimum M peak of the primary system involved for a given wide band of excitation frequencies. The optimization is performed over the absorber's structural properties and the feedback control parameters. An optimal tuning over optimally designed passive absorber is conducted first, and separately a collective optimization over both the absorber structure and the control is studied. The assurance of the stability of the time-delayed system, which forms a critical constraint on the optimization, is also discussed, Regardless of the nature of the optimal operation, the parametric variations in the structure can influence the vibration absorption performance significantly, This concern is addressed via a sensitivity analysis. Primarily, the variations on the absorber stiffness and damping properties are studied. The findings of this effort provide tools for determining the acceptable tolerance limits of the absorber properties.
Influence of supplemental high molecular weight pullulan or γ-cyclodextrin on ileal and total tract nutrient digestibility, fecal characteristics, and microbial populations in the dog

Abstract This study was conducted to determine if supplemental pullulan and γ-cyclodextrin affect canine nutrient digestibility, microbial populations, and fecal characteristics. Ileal cannulated dogs were fed a commercial diet, and treatments were administered daily in a 5×5 Latin square design: (i) no supplement; (ii) 2 g pullulan; (iii) 4 g pullulan; (iv) 2 g γ-cyclodextrin; (v) 4 g γ-cyclodextrin. Ileal and fecal samples were collected the last 4 d of each 14-d period. Increasing pullulan tended (p < 0.10) to linearly increase ileal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli and quadratically increase fecal lactobacilli. A similar response was noted in ileal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli with γ-cyclodextrin. γ-Cyclodextrin resulted in a quadratic decrease (p < 0.05) in fecal Clostridium perfringens. Increasing pullulan linearly increased (p < 0.05) fecal score, while γ-cyclodextrin resulted in a linear decrease (p < 0.05). Pullulan and γ-cyclodextrin supplementation may have beneficial effects on the microbial...