cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seizure freedom score: a new simple method to predict success of epilepsy surgery.

SummaryObjective We aim to develop a new scale that predicts seizure outcomes after resective epilepsy surgery. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent surgery for medically refractory epilepsy at our center between 1999 and 2012. Four predictive outcome indicators were selected: preoperative seizure frequency, history of generalized tonic–clonic seizures, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and epilepsy duration. A score of 0 or 1 was given if the indicator was associated with poor or good outcome, respectively. A seizure freedom score (SFS) was calculated by adding these four categories (total score ranged from 0 to 4). A modified SFS (m-SFS) was then calculated with two additional outcome indicators: invasive electroencephalography (EEG) evaluation (IEI) (performed or not performed) and lobe of resection (temporal vs. extratemporal), for a score ranging from 0 to 6. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to calculate the probability of seizure freedom in the overall group. Statistical significance was tested using the log-rank test and comparison of 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results The study population included 466 patients with 244 (52%) male. Seizure freedom rates were directly correlated with the SFS score: at 10 years, 36.9% of patients with SFS of 0 were seizure-free, as opposed to 45% for SFS = 1, 60% for SFS = 2, 72% for SFS 3 or above (p = 0.002). When calculated including the IEI and the localization, the score's performance improved: 24% of patients with a m-SFS of 0 were seizure-free at 10 years, as opposed to 38–59% for m-SFS = 1–3, and 75–79% for m-SFS of 4–6 (p < 0.001). Significance An easily measurable seizure freedom score could be a reliable tool to synthesize multiple seizure outcome predictors into a single simple score to predict postoperative seizure freedom. This tool will help with patient and family counseling and estimation of surgical candidacy at both early (SFS) and advanced (m-SFS) stages of a surgical evaluation.
Globalization, Development and International Migration: A Cross-National Analysis of Less-Developed Countries, 1970–2000

It is widely argued that globalization and economic development are associated with international migration. However, these relationships have not been tested empirically. We use a cross-national empirical analysis to assess the impact of global and national factors on international migration from less-developed countries. An interdisciplinary analytical framework is developed. We then use several modeling techniques to analyze panel data on a set of less-developed countries from 1970 to 2000. Three central findings emerge from these analyses. First, foreign direct investment has a significant, differential effect across sectors of the economy: FDI in the primary sector increases the level of net emigration, while FDI in the secondary sector has a deterrent effect. Second, economic development has a significant, nonlinear effect on net emigration levels, the so-called “migration hump.” Finally, we find a strong cumulative causation effect of migration, meaning that migration has a strong internal momentum after it has been initiated. The implications of the findings are discussed in the context of contemporary migration theory.
Management of the evaluation function within the federal government

Barriers to efficient and effective management of federal program evaluation are described, and strategies for overcoming them are detailed.
Monitoring for resistant populations of Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri and epiphytic bacteria on citrus trees treated with copper or streptomycin using a new semi-selective medium

Streptomycin has been tested as an alternative to copper bactericides, which are routinely used for the control of citrus canker (Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri, Xcc) in citrus producing areas where the disease is endemic. A major concern is that excessive use of copper as a bactericide may lead to development of copper-resistant strains of Xcc. In this study, we developed a semi-selective medium to recover copper or streptomycin-resistant strains of Xcc from citrus leaves. The newly developed semi-selective medium was used to monitor the effect of a 21-day-interval copper or streptomycin spray program on Xcc for three consecutive seasons and on citrus epiphytic bacterial populations for two seasons in a commercial grapefruit grove. Although, no copper- or streptomycin-resistant strains of Xcc were isolated after three seasons, we observed a significant increase over time in the frequency of citrus epiphytic bacteria resistant to these chemicals. Overall, the proportion of epiphytic bacteria resistant to streptomycin on treated and untreated leaves was proportionally lower than the copper-resistant bacterial population. When application of each bactericide was suspended for the season, the proportion of bactericide-resistant bacteria in the epiphytic population decreased to that of the non-treated bacterial population. Availability of an alternative bactericide, such as streptomycin, to integrate into a copper-based program would reduce the amount of each bactericide sprayed in citrus orchards and possibly lower the selection pressure for bacterial resistance to these chemicals.
Antigenic transformations in Paramecium aurelia, variety 4, stock 51 under the influence of trypsin and chymotrypsin

Abstract Exposure of P. aurelia to trypsin and chymotrypsin results in the death of a large percentage of the population. Not all antigenic types are equally affected; antigen types 51B and 51E are most affected by exposure to trypsin, while antigen type 51B is most affected by the action of chymotrypsin. Type 51A does not transform when exposed to either trypsin or chymotrypsin, or after the animals have been removed from the enzyme preparations. Type 51B shows little transformations. Types 51C, 51D and 51E transform readily during and after exposure to these two enzymes. In every instance exposure to the enzymes, followed by growth at 20 °, 27 ° or 32 ° results in the transformation to more type 51A than growth at these temperatures alone. Exposure to chymotrypsin leads invariably to more transformation to type 51A than does exposure to trypsin. Exposure of type 51D to either trypsin or chymotrypsin gives rise to type 51J. The obtained results are analogous with those obtained by transformations, resulting from exposure to antiserum or exposure to different temperatures.
Transmission Electron Microscopy Studies of NaLaMgWO6: Spontaneous Formation of Compositionally Modulated Stripes

Transmission electron microscopy studies of the perovskite NaLaMgWO6 reveal the formation of a complex, compositionally modulated structure. Annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy images and scanning transmission electron microscopy−electron energy-loss spectroscopy scans show that this modulation involves a repeating pattern of La-rich and La-poor stripes, each stripe 6ap or ∼24 A wide (where ap is the edge length of the simple cubic perovskite unit cell). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy images clearly show, and electron diffraction patterns confirm, a periodicity of 12ap along either the [100]p or [010]p direction. Available evidence suggests a spontaneous separation into stripes that possess the nominal stoichiometry, NaLaMgWO6, alternating with Na-poor/La-rich stripes that have a stoichiometry of (LaxNa1−3x)LaMgWO6. X-ray powder diffraction measurements are insensitive to this intricate structural complexity, which may be a more widespread feature of (A+Ln3+)MM′O...
Directed retinal nerve cell growth for use in a retinal prosthesis interface.

PURPOSE. Retinal prosthetic devices that use microelectrode arrays to stimulate retinal nerve cells may provide a viable treatment for degenerative retinal diseases. Current devices are based on electrical field-effect stimulation of remaining functional neural elements. However, the distance between target neurons and electrodes limits the potential density of electrodes and the ability to stimulate specific types of retinal neurons that contribute to visual perceptions. This study was conducted to investigate the use of microcontact printing (CP) to direct cultured or explant retinal ganglion cell (RGC) neurites to precise and close stimulation positions and to evaluate the cell types that grow from a retinal explant. METHODS. RGCs and whole retinal explants were isolated from postnatal day-7 Sprague-Dawley rats using immunopanning purification and microdissection, respectively. Aligned CP was used to direct the growth of RGC neurites from pure cultures (n 105) and retinal explants (n 64) along laminin patterns and to individual microelectrodes. Immunofluorescence stains (n 39) were used to determine the cell types that grew out from the retinal explants. RESULTS. RGC neurite growth was directed reproducibly along aligned laminin micropatterns to individual microelectrodes in pure RGC cultures and from full-thickness explanted rat retinas in 92% of experiments, neurites from pure RGC cultures extended along the laminin lines with an average length of 263 118 m (SD; n 27) after 24 hours. Neurites from retinal explants extended in more than 80% of experiments and were observed to grow to an average length of 279 78 m( n 64) after 2 days in culture. These neurites grew up to 3 mm after 1 month of culture on the laminin micropatterns. Immunohistochemical stains demonstrated that extended processes from both RGCs and glial cells grew out of retinal explants onto stamped laminin lines.
Raman analysis of single-crystal, lead-doped TlCaBa2Cu2O7

Abstract A single-phase crystal of TlCaBa 2 Cu 2 O 7 (Tl-1122 structure) doped with lead has been characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and magnetization measurements. The onset of superconductivity was ∼60 K. Polarized Raman spectra of the oriented crystal exhibit phonon bands at 525, 148, and 120 cm −1 of A 1g symmetry and a weak band at 278 cm −1 of B 1g symmetry. The origin of these vibrational modes is discussed in relationship to the modes of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− x , a closely related structure. Bands at 1360, 1560, and 2710 cm −1 , possibly resulting from magnetic spin excitations, were obtained from one side of the crystal but not the opposite side.
Description of the Analysis of a Wide Range of Volatile Organic Compounds in Whole Air Samples Collected during PEM-Tropics A and B

A large number of hydrocarbons, halocarbons, and organic nitrates were quantified in whole air samples acquired for the NASA-sponsored GTE missions PEM-Tropics A and B. The samples were collected in electropolished stainless steel canisters from two aircraft while flying over the Pacific Basin. Two nominally identical multicolumn multidetector gas chromatographic analytical systems were employed. Whole air samples were also used as working and calibrated standards and were collected specifically for this purpose. This paper describes the analytical procedure employed during PEM-Tropics B. Minor differences in the PEM-Tropics A system will also be discussed. More than 3900 samples were analyzed for 34 gases during PEM-Tropics A, over 4500 samples were analyzed for 58 gases during PEM-Tropics B. An overview is presented of the collection, analysis, and quantification of whole air samples during the PEM-Tropics missions, along with an analysis of the analytical precision achieved during these missions.
Role for small nuclear RNAs in “programming” chromosomal information?

ALTHOUGH small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) have been studied extensively1,2, almost nothing is known about how they function in cells. I present here the results of a detailed study of the behaviour of snRNAs during mitosis, which has uncovered what may be the first important clue as to their function. I suggest, from observations of the pattern of snRNA association with mitotic chromosomes, that snRNAs are involved in specifying which genes are transcribed. Between 4 and 10 electrophoretically distinct snRNAs are found in species from protozoa to mammals, ranging from 65 to 200 nucleotides long. The snRNAs, which generally comprise less than 0.5% of total cellular RNA, are largely confined to the nuclei during interphase; some, however, are probably present in the interphase cytoplasm–although at concentrations much below that in the nucleus3. Such molecular characteristics as base compositions, methylation patterns and nucleotide sequences have been determined for at least some snRNAs, but have provided no recognisable clues regarding function. No evidence is available that snRNAs are part of the cellular translation machinery, as is true for the more abundant transfer, ribosomal and messenger RNAs, and their metabolic stability argues against a function as primers in DNA replication4. It has been suggested that certain snRNAs are related to ribosomal RNA processing2, cell proliferation5 and gene expression—but no data in support of these views are definitive. The snRNAs have been shown to be released to the cytoplasm during division, then to return virtually intact to the post-division daughter nuclei6,7.
Insulin independence for more than 10 years in 32 pancreas transplant recipients from an historical era

Until microencapsulation of islets or β-cells or genetically engineered insulin-producing cells are in hand, the best option for preventing microvascular complications in type 1 diabetes is a allogeneic pancreas transplant. True, the surgery is difficult mandating long hospital stays. Also, when compared with a kidney transplant alone, both morbidity and mortality are greater in recipients of a combined pancreas and kidney transplant. Najarian reviewed his extraordinary experience with 867 pancreas transplants performed since July 1966. In this report, the 20 pancreas recipients transplanted between 1978 and 1986 who were alive with a functioning graft 10 to 17 years posttransplant were analyzed. By means of a mail questionnaire, responses on life quality were obtained from 14 survivors of whom all 14 preferred their sometimes tenuous life with a pancreas graft to that of medical diabetes management. Indeed, a remarkable 13 of 14 respondents thought that they would now be dead had they not received a pancreas transplant. Our limited, and thus far, short term observation of pancreas recipients confirms such broad patient acceptance. Physicians must deliver what is available today while eyeing a better future. Pancreas transplants though difficult, expensive, and stressful are nevertheless the preferred therapeutic option for all those with type 1 diabetes who are younger than age 45.
The U.S.-OPEC energy conflict the payoff matrix by the Analytic Hierarchy Process

In this paper we study the U.S.-OPEC oil conflict and compute the payoff matrix for each of the two players using the Analytic Hierarchy Process by first evaluating the strategies of each player according to their intrinsic merits and then according to their relative strengths when considered against each of the opponent's strategies. We compose the two results to derive the pay-off matrix. We then identify and study equilibrium payoffs and discuss their strategies.
Team therapy in a rheumatology unit

Abstract Brief inpatient group therapy by a husband-wife team on a rheumatology service has promoted greater communication among patients, staff personnel, and physicians, as well as between patients and their families in management of acute episodes in chronic illness. Method, contents, and potential results are presented.
Thermal modeling for warpage effects in organic packages

INTRODUCTION Maintaining the integrity of the heat dissipation path for high end microelectronic devices has become increasingly challenging as the industry migrates from ceramic to organic packaging. Typically, flip chip organic packages undergo significant thermal and mechanical stresses throughout the manufacturing process, including chip join, underfill, encapsulation, BGA attach and card join. As a result of the mismatch of thermal and mechanical properties between the components, significant warpage is generated in the organic substrate, the chip, and the thermal interface material (TIM1) on completion of the assembly. Warpage affects not only the substrate coplanarity but also the thermal performance of the TIM1. At room temperature, the center of an adhesive TIM1 is under compression between the lid and chip while the corners and edges are under tensile stress. The effective thermal conductivity for the portions of the TIM1 under tensile stress can be significantly lower due to the elongation of the gap and the narrowing of the heat flow area. The present paper describes an approach to model the thermal performance of an adhesive thermal interface material taking into account the warpage effects and the inherent out-of-flatness in the heat spreader. Reasonable agreement is obtained between the modeling results and thermal measurements for a representative thermal test vehicle. The present modeling approach can potentially be used to optimize the component design and the bond and assembly process to achieve optimum thermal performance.
Correlations Between Nucleophilicities and Selectivities in the Substitutions of Tetrahydropyran Acetals

Selectivities that deviate from SN1 stereoelectronic models in the nucleophilic substitutions of tetrahydropyran acetals were investigated. When weak nucleophiles were employed, stereoselectivities conformed to known SN1 stereoelectronic models. In contrast, stereoselectivities in the substitutions of acetals with strong nucleophiles depended on reaction conditions. Erosions in selectivities were observed when strong nucleophiles were employed in the absence of coordinating counterions. These erosions in selectivities are attributed to rates of nucleophilic additions to oxocarbenium ion intermediates that approach the diffusion limit. When triflate counterions were present, however, SN2-like pathways became accessible with strong nucleophiles. In most cases examined, the major stereoisomers formed from reactions that proceeded through SN2-like pathways were opposite to the major stereoisomers formed from the analogous reactions that proceeded through SN1 pathways.
Gonadotropic and antigonadotropic activity of ewe serum following chronic treatment with human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG).

SummaryThree ewes were immunized with HCG. All ewes had high anti-HCG titers (>200 rat units/ml) and elevated serum LH levels as determined by ventral prostate weight assays and radioimmunoassays following the third series of immunizing injections. A significant increase in uterine weight was produced by the antisera in intact immature female rats. The antisera failed to neutralize the biological activity of ovine LH in the ventral prostate weight assay, but the antisera were able to block the occurrence of estrus to varying degrees in all ewes and blocked ovulation in two of the ewes as judged by the absence of corpora lutea at the time of laparotomy. One of the ewes showed an enlarged vulva and mammary development 6 weeks following cessation of the third series of injections. It is postulated that the elevated serum LH levels and blockage of estrus and ovulation are due to the ability of the anti-HCG to block the action of endogenous LH on its end organ, thus altering the secretion of the gonadal hormones.
A serotonin and βHCG‐producing islet cell carcinoma associated with focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver

A 48-year-old woman is described with a pancreatic islet cell carcinoma that had no clinical evidence of hormone production. This neoplasm was removed by radical distal pancreatectomy. Immunohistochemical and extraction studies performed on the tumor tissue revealed that it was producing serotonin and beta HCG. Circulating levels of these hormones were elevated in preoperative serum samples that had been frozen. Beta HCG, a known tumor marker, has remained normal following operation, and this mirrors her clinical course since she has no evidence of disease 1.5 yr after operation. This patient also had focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver. It is possible that the trophoblastic hormone, beta HCG, which was being produced in excess by the islet tumor, may have directly or indirectly caused or facilitated the development of focal nodular hyperplasia.
Design of zoom lenses used to test optical surfaces having a large radius of curvature

We describe a new method of testing optical surfaces having a very large radius of curvature. The method combines a Fizeau interferometer with a set of specially designed zoom lenses. The zoom lenses make the test setup compact, convenient and flexible in testing optical surfaces having a very large radius of curvature. We review the design of the zoom lenses used for this purpose, and describe their performance, showing that reasonably good reference beams can be provided by these lenses to test optical surfaces having a large and variable range of radii.
International Cooperative Efforts in Energy Supply

During the 1970s and into the next decade, petroleum and natural gas derived in conventional ways will continue to constitute the major share of the fuel consumed in the United States and the world. After 1985 other forms of energy will increase in importance. Since the demand for oil and gas will increase in the near term, it is likely that prices will also rise. Thus, during the next ten to twenty years, the supply and price of oil and gas will be critical elements in the energy policy of both consuming, and exporting, nations. An ideal solution to the supply-price matter would be a rise in the supply of oil and gas which would meet the demand until alternative energy sources are available. Concurrently, the price of oil and gas should rise, but should not substantially exceed the cost of the alternative sources being developed. In order to pursue such an ideal solution, it must be understood that there is a real problem: the current energy difficulties are not created by an oil conspiracy; the price of...
Articulating and Stationary PARSIVEL Disdrometer Measurements in Conditions with Strong Winds and Heavy Rainfall

AbstractThe influence of strong winds on the quality of optical Particle Size Velocity (PARSIVEL) disdrometer measurements is examined with data from Hurricane Ike in 2008 and from convective thunderstorms observed during the second Verification of the Origins of Rotation in Tornadoes Experiment (VORTEX2) in 2010. This study investigates an artifact in particle size distribution (PSD) measurements that has been observed independently by six stationary PARSIVEL disdrometers. The artifact is characterized by a large number concentration of raindrops with large diameters (>5 mm) and unrealistic fall velocities (<1 m s−1). It is correlated with high wind speeds and is consistently observed by stationary disdrometers but is not observed by articulating disdrometers (instruments whose sampling area is rotated into the wind). The effects of strong winds are further examined with a tilting experiment, in which drops are dripped through the PARSIVEL sampling area while the instrument is tilted at various angles, s...
Estrogen replacement therapy in women with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) occurs more commonly in men than in women, and women get the disease later in life compared to men. This epidemiologic aspect of the disease raises the question as to whether estrogen may be neuroprotective in delaying or preventing ALS. Postmenopausal women with ALS were separated into two groups dependent upon whether or not they took estrogen replacement therapy. Women who used estrogen had onset of their disease at an earlier age compared to those not taking hormonal replacement. There was no difference in survival in those patients taking estrogen compared to those not on the medication. Women with ALS were more likely to take estrogen compared to a control group of patients with neurological diseases other than motor neuron disease. Therefore, no evidence for a neuroprotective role of estrogen in postmenopausal women with ALS was found.
A further note on Hennessy's “Symbolic debugging of optimized code”

When attempting to debug optimized programs, most debuggers may give misleading information about the value of variables at breakpoints. Hennessy proposed a set of algorithms for generating optimized code and determining when, in the generated code, the reported values would be misleading, and under certain circumstances actually recovering the ``expected'''' value of the variable (i.e., one that would not be misleading). We point out where the assumptions made by Hennessy need to be revised due to advances in compiler and debugger technology, and give references for current work on this revised problem. ([To appear in TopLas.]supersedes 91-04)
Decreased energy expenditure is caused by abnormal body composition in infants with Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Abstract Objective Infants with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) are hypotonic and underweight before the onset of childhood obesity. This study evaluates body composition in the PWS infant and its relationship to energy expenditure. Study design Sixteen infants and toddlers with PWS (mean age, 12.4±6 months; eight female subjects) underwent analysis of body composition with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and deuterium dilution, and energy expenditure with both doubly labeled water and indirect calorimetry. Results Percent body fat was significantly increased (male subjects, P P P P = .04) in infants with PWS when compared with age-matched published data for normal infants. Meanwhile, total energy expenditure was significantly decreased (male subjects, P = .025; female subjects, P Conclusion Compared with published data for infants without PWS, infants with PWS demonstrate increased percent body fat, decreased FFM, and decreased energy expenditure. Importantly, total energy expenditure per kilogram of FFM appears similar in infants with and without PWS. We conclude that lower energy expenditure in infants with PWS is caused by decreased FFM.
Politics Beyond the Point of Production: Class Struggle and Regional Underdevelopment in Northern Ireland:

This paper explores the "underdevelopment" of Northern Ireland as a product of class struggle. It is argued that in the post-World War II period there can be seen two phases of underdevelopment: the first is where the Northern Ireland working class, both Protestant and Catholic, refused the Keynesian development that was being offered by the subversion of the welfare state; the second is a "political strike" by capital-a refusal by capital to invest in the Province in an attempt to control and discipline the working class initiative. This initiative by the working class has taken place primarily in the "community" and not in the factory, i.e., "beyond the point of production." The paper concludes that development/underdevelopment must be seen not in terms of the "laws of motion" of the capitalist mode of production, but in terms of the contest of power between the working class and capital. Further, the two phases of underdevelopment are indicative of the changing strategies of capital and presupposes cha...
P3HT Nanopillars for Organic Photovoltaic Devices Nanoimprinted by AAO Templates

Free-standing nanorod arrays of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) were fabricated on indium tin oxide/glass substrates using anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates. The AAO templates were treated with a low molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane mold-release agent to reduce their surface energy of the template and interactions with the P3HT. Using a thermal nanoimprinting process, the templates were easily removed, generating nanorods on the surfaces of P3HT thin films. These unique structures were investigated for application in organic photovoltaic devices.
Out-of-Hospital Endotracheal Intubation Experience and Patient Outcomes

Study objective Previous studies suggest improved patient outcomes for providers who perform high volumes of complex medical procedures. Out-of-hospital tracheal intubation is a difficult procedure. We seek to determine the association between rescuer procedural experience and patient survival after out-of-hospital tracheal intubation. Methods We analyzed probabilistically linked Pennsylvania statewide emergency medicine services, hospital discharge, and death data of patients receiving out-of-hospital tracheal intubation. We defined tracheal intubation experience as cumulative tracheal intubation during 2000 to 2005; low=1 to 10 tracheal intubations, medium=11 to 25 tracheal intubations, high=26 to 50 tracheal intubations, and very high=greater than 50 tracheal intubations. We identified survival on hospital discharge of patients intubated during 2003 to 2005. Using generalized estimating equations, we evaluated the association between patient survival and out-of-hospital rescuer cumulative tracheal intubation experience, adjusted for clinical covariates. Results During 2003 to 2005, 4,846 rescuers performed tracheal intubation. These individuals performed tracheal intubation on 33,117 patients during 2003 to 2005 and 62,586 patients during 2000 to 2005. Among 21,753 cardiac arrests, adjusted odds of survival was higher for patients intubated by rescuers with very high tracheal intubation experience; adjusted odds ratio (OR) versus low tracheal intubation experience: very high 1.48 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15 to 1.89), high 1.13 (95% CI 0.98 to 1.31), and medium 1.02 (95% CI 0.91 to 1.15). Among 8,162 medical nonarrests, adjusted odds of survival were higher for patients intubated by rescuers with high and very high tracheal intubation experience; adjusted OR versus low tracheal intubation experience: very high 1.55 (95% CI 1.08 to 2.22), high 1.29 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.59), and medium 1.16 (95% CI 0.97 to 1.38). Among 3,202 trauma nonarrests, survival was not associated with rescuer tracheal intubation experience; adjusted OR versus low tracheal intubation experience: very high 1.84 (95% CI 0.89 to 3.81), high 1.25 (95% CI 0.85 to 1.85), and medium 0.92 (95% CI 0.67 to 1.26). Conclusion Rescuer procedural experience is associated with improved patient survival after out-of-hospital tracheal intubation of cardiac arrest and medical nonarrest patients. Rescuer procedural experience is not associated with patient survival after out-of-hospital tracheal intubation of trauma nonarrest patients.
Dual use of immunohistochemistry for film densitometry and light microscopy

In the present study, we applied the principles of immunoblotting and light microscopy immunohistochemistry to develop a combined methodology that allows obtaining optical density data in films, as well as morphological and protein distribution data on slides using the same brain tissue section, thus maximizing the data obtained from a single sample. This is especially important when experiments are performed using very valuable or unique tissue samples, which is a very common case in the study of the human brain. The ideal methodology should combine the possibility of measuring levels of expression of a marker, and the capability to map accurately the distribution of that marker in the region of interest. To achieve this, two things are required: first, the technique needs to be sensitive enough to obtain optical density or intensity measurements of the marker, and second, a good preservation of the tissue is needed for the study of distribution patterns and morphological analysis. Here we show that our combined methodology produced reliable results for different tissue preservation conditions (fresh-frozen and fixed tissue), in different species (rat and human), in different brain areas (substantia nigra and striatum), and for the detection of different markers (tyrosine hydroxylase and μ-opioid receptor). This methodology also combines the accuracy of optical density data acquisition in film with obtaining histological slides from the same sample. In summary, the methodology proposed here is very versatile and does not require the use of specialized equipment, other than the routine equipment present in an anatomy laboratory.
Health and happiness in young Swiss adults

Purpose: To explore whether self-reported happiness is associated with mental and physical health status among young adults. Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 1257 randomly selected university students in Geneva, Switzerland. The questionnaire included an item that probed the feeling of happiness in the past month, the Short Form-12 health survey (from which mental and physical health scores were computed), scales to measure self-esteem, stress, and social support, reports of various life problems, and socio-demographic information. Results: Most participants felt happy all of the time or most of the time (63%). In multivariate analysis, feeling happy all or most of the time was strongly associated with better mental health (odds ratios for consecutive quartiles of mental health scores: 1.0 (reference), 6.8 (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.5–10.1), 19.2 (95% CI: 12.2–30.2), 39.9 (95% CI: 22.4–71.0)), but also with the feeling of getting enough love and affection (item from the social support scale, odds ratio: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.4–2.7), female sex (odds ratio: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1–2.1), being Swiss (odds ratio: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.3–2.5), and higher self-esteem (odds ratios for consecutive quartiles ranged from 1.0 to 3.5, 95% CI: 2.1–5.8). The association between happiness and physical health was weak and statistically non-significant. Conclusions: The strong association between happiness and mental health suggests that asking people if they are happy may help identify mental health care needs. Self-reported happiness may also be a useful outcome measure for evaluation of health interventions.
For professional mediators, it's about more than assessing the case's value

Mediation is not just inviting a retired judge into your negotiations to put a price on settlement. But some sophisticated corporate attorneys still see it in those stark terms, writes Jeff Kichaven of Los Angeles. He describes why professional mediators bring value to cases, rather than merely setting values for cases.
Overlapping tiling for fast random access of low-dimensional data from high-dimensional datasets

Volume visualization with random data access poses significant challenges. While tiling techniques lead to simple implementations, they are not well suited for cases where the goal is to access arbitrarily located subdimensional datasets (e.g., displaying a 'band' of several parallel lines of arbitrary orientation from a 2D image; being able to display an arbitrary 2D planar 'cut' from a 3D volume). Significant effort has been devoted to volumetric data compression, with most techniques proposing to tile volumes into cuboid subvolumes to enable random access. In this paper we show that, in cases where subdimensional datasets are accessed, this leads to significant transmission inefficiency. As an alternative, we propose novel server-client based data representation and retrieval methods which can be used for fast random access of low dimensional data from high dimensional datasets. In this paper, 2D experiments are shown but the approach can be extended to higher dimensional datasets. We use multiple redundant tilings of the image, where each tiling has a different orientation. We discuss the 2D rectangular tiling scheme and two main algorithm components of such 2D system, namely, (i) a fast optimal search algorithm to determine which tiles should be retrieved for a given query and (ii) a mapping algorithm to enable efficient encoding without interpolation of rotated tiles. In exchange for increased server storage, we demonstrate that significant reductions, a factor of 2 in bandwidth reduction, can be achieved relative to conventional square tiling techniques. The transmission rate can be reduced even more by allowing more storage overhead. This method speeds up the random access procedure and saves memory on the user's side. Here we use the 2D example to retrieve random lines (or sets of lines) from a 2D image. While our experiments are based on extracting 1D data from 2D datasets, the proposed method can be extended to 3D or higher dimensions. The associated basic concepts and analysis (namely the extraction of 2D slices from 3D datasets) and a more detailed discussion focusing on the 3D and higher dimensional case will be presented in another paper. In this paper, we design a tiling method that locates the rotation centers at points on a square Cartesian grid pattern and has the tile rotation angles uniformly distributed around each rotation center. The angles of the tiles associated to each rotation center are the same. Other various ways of tiling method design are also possible The performance by using other tiling methods will be addressed in future work.
Design of Series-Elastic Actuators for Dynamic Robots With Articulated Legs

A series-elastic actuator (SEA) can provide remarkable performance benefits in a robotic system, allowing the execution of highly dynamic manuevers, such as a jump. While SEAs have been used in numerous robotic systems, no comprehensive understanding of an optimal design exists. This paper presents a new analytical basis for maximizing an SEA thrust performance for jumping from rest with an articulated leg. The analytical SEA model is validated with simulation and experimental results from a prototype leg. An SEA decouples the dynamic limitations of a dc motor actuator from the joint, allowing larger lift-off velocities than with a directly driven joint. A detailed analysis of the complex dynamic response of an SEA during the thrust phase leads to a new maximum impulse criterion, where motor speed is approximately half the no-load speed at the moment of peak motor torque. The analytical model and this proposed criterion are used to develop a simple equation for selecting SEA design parameters. Lastly, a novel unidirectional SEA design is presented that allows for accurate positioning of the leg during flight.
ExoSnap: a modular approach to semantic synchronization and snapshots

Current approaches to application-specific synchronization suffer from a limitation that precludes the use of generic "commodity" servers because they require to run the type-specific synchronization code at the servers. This is a problem for "cloud computing" systems that must rely on commodity components to exploit economies of scale yet need to adapt to application needs to provide good performance. We describe a new approach that overcomes the limitation. The new approach splits the synchronization code, so that the type-specific code runs outside the server, on the client side, and the generic performance-critical code runs in the server. New type-specific synchronization protocols can be developed without modifying the servers, providing the ability to use commodity servers.
Association of the metabolic syndrome with physical activity performance in patients with schizophrenia.

Abstract Aim The primary aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) limits physical activity (PA) in patients with schizophrenia. A secondary aim was to investigate cross-sectional associations of leisure-time PA, sports participation and PA performance with MetS parameters. Methods Patients with schizophrenia who had MetS ( n =37) were compared with those without MetS ( n =69). Patients were assessed for PA performance using a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) and PA participation using the Baecke PA questionnaire, as well as for antipsychotic medication dose (expressed in chlorpromazine equivalents), negative symptoms and smoking behaviour. Results The two patient groups were similar in age, gender, mean antipsychotic medication dose, negative symptomatology and smoking behaviour. Distance achieved on the 6MWT was 13.7% shorter ( P P =0.001) and less physically active during leisure time ( P =0.002). Also, the distance of the 6MWT was moderately correlated with body mass index ( r =−0.44, P r =−0.43, P r =0.60, P r =0.42, P Conclusion MetS is associated with poorer PA performance in patients with schizophrenia. The additional burden of MetS places patients with schizophrenia at even greater risk for physical and functional limitations in daily life.
3H-methyl scopolamine binding to dispersed pancreatic acini

Maximal amylase release occurred with 10-5 M carbachol and slightly greater than half maximal response occurred with 3×10-7 M carbachol in dispersed pancreatic acini. The preparation released more than 45% of its initial amylase content after 60 min of maximal carbachol stimulation. Electron microscopy revealed depletion of zymogen granules and the presence of secretory material in the ductules after carbachol stimulation. At 37° C, maximal binding of methyl scopolamine occurred in about 45 min with 3×10-10 M 3H-methyl scopolamine. The dissociation constant for 3H-methyl scopolamine was 6.8×10-10 M and saturation occurred at 109 pm/g protein. The I.C. 50 for 3H-methyl scopolamine inhibition of carbachol-induced amylase secretion was 7 × 10-10 M.
PDM-PAM conversion system

The requirements and methods for changing pulse amplitude modulation to pulse duration modulation are met by a PDM to PAM Converter. This unit functions over a wide range of input signals and can include, if desired, servo correction of zero and full scale references. As part of an integrated system, the converter is augmented with an all electronic commutator simulator, gate generators, and patching facilities. The converter features provisions for switching in the absence of up to five information channels, protection against generation of false master pulses, and a compensated duty-cycle circuit.
From the personal to the profound: understanding the blog life cycle

This ongoing research project investigates the changes that occur to weblogs (blogs) throughout their lifespan. It examines both the markers that indicate a particular phase of its existence in our emerging life cycle model and the drivers that move the community through those cycles. Emphasis is placed on identifying likely causes for abandonment at each phase. Implications of this research are both social, promoting the health of the blogosphere in general, and technical, appropriately mapping tools to correct life cycle stages.
Role of CD4+ and CD8+ T-Cell Responses against JC Virus in the Outcome of Patients with Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML) and PML with Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a severe demyelinating disease of the brain caused by JC virus (JCV). To assess the role of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cells against JCV in the clinical outcome of PML and PML in the setting of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), we tested gamma interferon (IFN-γ) response by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) and intracellular cytokine staining (ICS) in 117 subjects, including 66 PML patients with different clinical outcomes. Both assays were concordant and demonstrated that the cellular immune response against JCV is associated with better clinical outcome. PML survivors had an early CD8(+) T-cell response more frequently than PML progressors (100% versus 27.3%; P = 0.001), while only a trend was observed for the early CD4(+) T-cell response between these two groups (80% versus 45.5%; P = 0.18). Although IRIS itself was more frequent in the PML survivor group, there was no difference in IFN-γ-producing CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cells between IRIS and non-IRIS PML patients, suggesting that T-cells expressing other cytokines likely have a role in the immunopathogenesis of IRIS. ELISpot and ICS assays are useful prognostic markers of PML evolution and may help in the clinical management of these patients.
Affective Self-Regulation Trajectories during Secondary School Predict Substance Use Among Urban Minority Young Adults

This study explored the relationship between trajectories of affective self-regulation skills during secondary school and young adult substance use in a large multi-ethnic, urban sample (N = 995). During secondary school, participants completed a measure of cognitive and behavioral skills used to control negative, unpleasant emotions or perceived stress. As young adults, participants reported on the frequency and quantity of their alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use in a telephone interview. Controlling for demographic variables, self-regulation did not significantly change over adolescence, although there was significant variation in participants' rates of growth and decline. Lower seventh grade self-regulation and less steep increases in self-regulation were predictive of higher young adult substance use. Male participants had significantly lower initial self-regulation and higher young adult substance use. The results suggest that interventions that build affective self-regulation skills in adolescence may decrease the risk of young adult substance use.
Sources of Marital Dissatisfaction Among Newly Separated Persons

Reported sources of marital dissatisfaction were examined in a sample of 153 newly separated persons, virtually all of whom subsequently divorced. Respondents were asked about their own marital dissatisfactions and about the dissatisfactions of their spouses in 18 different categories of behavior and attitude. Factor analysis of the responses yielded a highly coherent set of marital dissatisfaction source clusters that were relatively independent of each other. A number of these clusters were based upon similar expressions of marital dissatisfaction attributed to both respondent and spouse. Analysis of demographic and mental health characteristics revealed that many of these cluster scores were significantly associated with age, length of marriage, parent status, and with the respondent's role in the initiation of the marital separation. In addition, several marital dissatisfaction source cluster scores were significantly related to measures of psychological well-being and adaptation to the early marital ...
A Statistical Method for Empirical Testing of Competing Theories

Empirical testing of competing theories lies at the heart of social science research. We demonstrate that a well-known class of statistical models, called finite mixture models, provides an effective way of rival theory testing. In the proposed framework, each observation is assumed to be generated either from a statistical model implied by one of the competing theories or more generally from a weighted combination of multiple statistical models under consideration. Researchers can then estimate the probability that a specific observation is consistent with each rival theory. By modeling this probability with covariates, one can also explore the conditions under which a particular theory applies.We discuss a principled way to identify a list of observations that are statistically significantly consistent with each theory and propose measures of the overall performance of each competing theory. We illustrate the relative advantages of our method over existing methods through empirical and simulation studies.
COTTAGE CHEESE FROM ULTRAFILTERED SKIM MILK

Ultrafiltration of skim milk was conducted at 4.4, 21.0 and 49.0°C to provide retentates for cottage cheese trials. Fractionation at 21.0 and 49.0°C improved initial permeation flux rate (PR) by 50 and 300%, respectively, over that observed at 4.4°C. Rates of decline of PR de creased with increasing temperature. Retentate ratios of undenatured whey protein nitrogen:casein nitrogen (CN) and proteosepeptone:CN were unchanged during ultrafiltration whereas nonprotein nitrogen:CN declined at each temperature. Calcium concentration of permeate was 1–2% less at 49.0 than 4.4°C because of increased calcium concentration of retentate at higher temperature. Large curd, creamed cottage cheese was prepared successfully from each retentate, cooking temperature and/or time being reduced because of initially firmer curd. Intermediate temperature (21.0°C) processing induced rapid microbial proliferation after > 2 hr. The utility of ultrafiltration as a preconcentration step for continuous cottage cheese production is discussed.