cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Alternative metrics for real-ear-to-coupler difference average values in children.

Background Ideally, individual real-ear-to-coupler difference (RECD) measurements are obtained for pediatric hearing instrument-fitting purposes. When RECD measurements cannot be obtained, age-related average RECDs based on typically developing North American children are used. Evidence suggests that these values may not be appropriate for populations of children with retarded growth patterns. Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine if another metric, such as head circumference, height, or weight, can be used for prediction of RECDs in children. Research design Design was a correlational study. For all participants, RECD values in both ears, head circumference, height, and weight were measured. Study sample The sample consisted of 68 North American children (ages 3-11 yr). Data collection and analysis Height, weight, head circumference, and RECDs were measured and were analyzed for both ears at 500, 750, 1000, 1500, 2000, 3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz. A backward elimination multiple-regression analysis was used to determine if age, height, weight, and/or head circumference are significant predictors of RECDs. Results For the left ear, head circumference was retained as the only statistically significant variable in the final model. For the right ear, head circumference was retained as the only statistically significant independent variable at all frequencies except at 2000 and 4000 Hz. At these latter frequencies, weight was retained as the only statistically significant independent variable after all other variables were eliminated. Conclusions Head circumference can be considered as a metric for RECD prediction in children when individual measurements cannot be obtained. In developing countries where equipment is often unavailable and stunted growth can reduce the value of using age as a metric, head circumference can be considered as an alternative metric in the prediction of RECDs.
Assessment of the value of ~(99)Tc~m-MIBI stress rest SPECT imaging for evaluation of the outcomes of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Objective To assess the value of stress rest 99 Tc m MIBI (ST RE) SPECT imaging for evaluation of perfusion improvement, prediction of restenosis (RS) and cardiac event rate in patients after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) Methods 99 Tc m MIBI ST RE SPECT imaging was performed on 100 patients [(52±9) years old] (14±15) months after PTCA On 30 of the 100 patients, ST RE SPECT imaging were also performed before PTCA, and 30 patients underwent coronary angiography (CAG) The perfusion findings of myocardial segments were qualitatively classified into four patterns: normal (N), reversible defect (RD), partial reversible defect (PRD) and fixed defect (FD) Restenosis was predicted on the basis of RD or PRD During the follow up, cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina and revascularization were considered as cardiac events Results ①Among 100 patients, RD or PRD was observed in 28 patients, indicating myocardial ischemia (IS); FD was observed in 20 patients, indicating MI The rate of occurance of ischemic segments had no significant difference between patients with or without MI(P0 05) ②Among 30 patients, perfusion imaging was improved in 23 patients, the improved rate was 76 7% The number of ischemic segments was decreased from 100 (37%) before PTCA to 10 (3 7%) after PTCA (P0 000 1) ③RS was detected in 12 of 30 patients or in 20 of 45 vessels Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value and accuracy of ST RE SPECT for predicting RS were 83 3%, 92 0%, 88 8%, 85 1% and 86 7%, respectively ④During follow up, rate of cardiac event was 46 4% (13/28) in ischemic group and that was significantly higher than that in non ischemic group (1 4%, 1/72, P0 000 1) Conclusions ST RE 99 Tc m MIBI SPECT is a useful noninvasive method for evaluating the effect of PTCA and for predicting RS, and it is of high value for predicting cardiac events
Outcomes assessment applied to CLS curriculum revision evaluation.

OBJECTIVE To describe the application of outcomes measurement and assessment to curriculum revision. SETTING A baccalaureate level clinical laboratory science (CLS) program in an academic health center. PRACTICE DESCRIPTION Professional portion of CLS educational program. PRACTICE INNOVATION Curriculum revision. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS Student retention, remediation and performance data; student, employer and faculty feedback. RESULTS Outcome measures indicated which innovations were successful and which were less successful. CONCLUSION Outcome measures can provide valuable information and guidance for curriculum evaluation, renewal, improvement and redesign.
An evaluation of approaches for using unlabeled data with domain adaptation

We consider the problem of adding a large unlabeled sample from the target domain to boost the performance of a domain adaptation algorithm when only a small set of labeled examples is available from the target domain. In particular, we consider the problem setting motivated by the tasks of splice site prediction and protein localization. For example, for splice site prediction, annotating a genome using machine learning requires a lot of labeled data, whereas for non-model organisms, there are only some labeled data and lots of unlabeled data. With domain adaptation one can leverage the large amount of data from a related model organism, along with the labeled and unlabeled data from the organism of interest to train a classifier for the latter. Our goal is to analyze the three approaches of incorporating the unlabeled data—with soft labels only (i.e., Expectation-Maximization), with hard labels only (i.e., self-training), or with both soft and hard labels—for the splice site prediction and protein localization in particular, and more broadly for a general iterative domain adaptation setting. We provide empirical results on splice site prediction and protein localization indicating that using a combination of soft and hard labels performs as good as the best of the other two approaches of integrating unlabeled data.
The United Kingdom in the Second Half of the 19th Century: Maturity and Relative Decline

The main task of this chapter is to explain and use a set of macroeconomic time-series tools to describe the performance of the UK macroeconomy in the 1850–1910 period. There are some new topics here, but the emphasis is on material (and controversies) already in the literature for the most part. We will have some cross-country comparisons, as well, but most of these will be with the United States, as is the fashion in the literature. Later chapters will make the obvious European comparisons where, indeed, Britain often provides the benchmark. This is particularly the case in Chapter 8.
How Aristotelians Can Make Faith a Virtue

Neo-Aristotelian virtue ethics identifies the virtues with the traits the fully virtuous person possesses. Further, it depicts the fully virtuous person as having all the cognitive perfections necessary for possessing practical wisdom. This paper argues that these two theses disqualify faith as trust, as construed on contemporary accounts of faith, as a virtue. For faith’s role as a virtue depends on limitations of its possessor that are incompatible with the psychological profile of the fully virtuous person on the neo-Aristotelian picture. I argue that because of tensions internal to the standard neo-Aristotelian view and the compelling arguments in recent literature that faith is a virtue, the neo-Aristotelian has good reason to revise her account of virtue and picture of the fully virtuous person.
Zika virus disease for neurologists

Abstract Purpose of review: Zika virus (ZIKV) was not initially thought to be an important cause of neurologic disease, but with the recent epidemic in the Western Hemisphere, there is a growing body of evidence for possible neurologic complications. This review discusses these in addition to what is known about modes of transmission, testing for the virus, as well as future directions. Recent findings: ZIKV disease has been associated with microcephaly and congenital eye disease in infants, as well as with Guillain-Barre syndrome, uveitis, myelitis, and meningoencephalitis in adults. Summary: Even though most infections are asymptomatic, there are important possible neurologic complications of ZIKV disease in both children and adults of which neurologists should be aware.
Reliability characteristics of 200 GHz f/sub T//285 GHz f/sub MAX/ SiGe HBTs

The reliability characteristics of SiGe HBTs with 200 GHz f/sub T/ and 285 GHz f/sub MAX/ are shown and discussed. We review the degradation from avalanche operation, and it is found that the degradation can be predicted using an empirical model that includes integrated avalanche charge and V/sub CB/. The model predicts acceptable lifetime degradation with operation up to 1.5-2/spl times/BV/sub CEO/. We also present, for the first time, detailed device degradation from accelerated temperature and current stress. The degradation observed compares favorably against other published silicon-based bipolar devices under comparable accelerated current stress.
Sustained Nitric Oxide Release from a Tertiary S-Nitrosothiol-based Polyphosphazene Coating

Nitric oxide (NO) occurs naturally in mammalian biochemistry as a critical signaling molecule and exhibits antithrombotic, antibacterial, and wound-healing properties. NO-forming biodegradable polymers have been utilized in the development of antithrombotic or antibacterial materials for biointerfacial applications, including tissue engineering and the fabrication of erodible coatings for medical devices such as stents. Use of such NO-forming polymers has frequently been constrained by short-term release or limited NO storage capacity and has led to the pursuit of new materials with improved NO release function. Herein, we report the development of an NO-releasing bioerodible coating prepared from poly[bis(3-mercapto-3-methylbut-1-yl glycinyl)phosphazene] (POP-Gly-MMB), a polyphosphazene based on glycine and the naturally occurring tertiary thiol 3-mercapto-3-methylbutan-1-ol (MMB). To evaluate the NO release properties of this material, the thiolated polymer POP-Gly-MMB-SH was applied as a coating to gla...
Inclusive Production of π ± , K ± , p , p ¯ in High-Energy p − p Collisions

We have measured the single-particle inclusive cross sections for $p+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}+X$, ${K}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}+X$, $p+X$, $\overline{p}+X$ in the low-${p}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ region (\ensuremath{\lesssim} 1.5 GeV/c) as a function of the radial scaling variable ${X}_{R}$ in $p\ensuremath{-}p$ collisions at 100, 200, and 400 GeV at Fermilab. The measured $\frac{{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}}{{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}}$ and $\frac{{K}^{+}}{{K}^{\ensuremath{-}}}$ ratios are shown to be remarkably similar to the same ratios which have recently been measured at large ${p}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ at 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} in the center-of-mass system.
Extraction of (key,value) pairs from unstructured ads

In this paper, we focus on the problem of extracting structured labeled data from short unstructured adpostings from online sources like Craigslist, where ads are posted on various topics, such as job postings, rentals, car sales etc. A fundamental challenge in addressing this problem is that most ad-postings are highly unstructured, short-text postings written in an informal manner with no inherent grammar or welldefined dictionary. In this paper, we propose unsupervised and supervised algorithms for extracting structured data from unstructured ads in the form of (key, value) pairs where the keys naturally represent topicspecific features in the ads. The unsupervised algorithm is centered around building an affinity graph, using the words from a topic-specific corpus of such ads where the edge weights represent affinities between words; the (key, value) extraction algorithm identifies specific groups of words in the affinity graph corresponding to different classes of key attributes. The supervised algorithm uses a Conditional Random Field based training algorithm to identify specific structured (key, value) pairs based on pre-defined topic-specific structural data representations of ads. Based on a corpus of car and apartment ad-postings from Craigslist, the unsupervised algorithm reported an accuracy of 67.74% and 68.74% for car and apartment ads respectively. The supervised algorithm demonstrated an improved performance with accuracies of 74.07% and 72.59% respectively.
Weight regain in patients with symptoms of post-bariatric surgery hypoglycemia

Abstract Background Weight regain (WR) and symptoms of post–bariatric surgery hypoglycemia (PBSH) are metabolic complications observed in a subset of postbariatric patients. Whether hypoglycemic symptoms are an important driver of increased caloric intake and WR after bariatric surgery is unknown. Objective This study aims to determine whether patients with PBSH symptoms have greater odds for WR. Setting Tertiary academic hospital. Methods Patients who underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass or sleeve gastrectomy at our tertiary academic hospital from August 2008 to August 2012 were mailed a survey, from which weight trajectory and PBSH symptoms were assessed. Percent WR was calculated as 100×(current weight−nadir weight)/(preoperative weight−nadir weight) and was compared between dates of survey completion and bariatric surgery. The primary outcome was WR≥10%, as a reflection of the median WR among respondents. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine clinical factors that indicate greater odds for WR≥10% at the P Results Of 1119 potential patients, 428 respondents (40.6%) were eligible for analysis. WR was observed in 79.2% (n = 339), while 20.8% (n = 89) experienced either weight loss or no WR at a mean of 40.6±14.5 months. Median WR was 10.8% (interquartile range, 5.6–19.4). Odds of WR≥10% was significantly increased in those who experienced PBSH symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.04–2.65), reported less adherence to nutritional guideline (OR = 2.36; 95% CI: 1.52–3.67), and had a longer time since surgery (OR = 1.05; 95% CI: 1.03–1.07). Conclusions We found evidence that the presence of PBSH symptoms was associated with WR. Future studies should elucidate the role of hypoglycemia among other factors in post–bariatric surgery WR.
Pediatric Orthopedic Hoverboard Injuries: A Prospectively Enrolled Cohort

Hoverboards pose a significant risk of musculoskeletal injury to pediatric riders. A prospectively enrolled cohort yielded 9 pediatric patients injured while riding hoverboards in 2016. Eight of the injuries involved the upper extremity, and one involved the lower extremity. No riders wore any safety equipment and injury patterns modeled those seen in skateboard riders.
Marshall and Slutsky on the Theory of Demand

This paper provides a reconciliation of the Marshallian and Slutsky theories of demand. Incidentally, it also demonstrates that vertically parallel indifference curves involve unitary price elasticity and clarifies Marshall's analysis of consumer's surplus. In Figure 1 the consumer is assumed to be initially in equilibrium at A , where he purchases OA′ of X (a composite commodity) at a price of P , as indicated by price line FA , and devotes OM of his given money income to all uses, Y , other than expenditures on X . Thus Y represents dollars spent on all uses other than X . The price of X is then allowed to decrease to ( P − Δ P ) as indicated by price line FB and the quantity of X increases to ( X + Δ X ), or to OB′ , while the price of Y remains constant at unity, and the quantity of Y decreases to ON . Since the consumer's money income remains constant, any change in the total amount spent on X must produce an equal and an opposite change in the total amount spent on all other goods. The change in the total amount spent on all other goods is defined as the difference between the amount spent on X in the initial position at A and that spent on X in the new position at B , or as: .
Palliative Medicine Family Conferences Reduce Spokesperson Distress and Enhance Communication in Advanced Cancer.

Abstract Introduction: Family conferences (FCs) may be important in communication. There is limited evidence about their value in palliative medicine. We examined specific information needs of pati...
Uniformization and Embedding of Riemann Surfaces

In this chapter, we consider certain complex analytic characterizations of Riemann surfaces (some topological and \(\mathcal {C}^{\infty}\) characterizations appear in Chap. 6). The first goal is the following Riemann surface analogue of the classical Riemann mapping theorem in the plane:
Das Interalveolarseptum der Lunge

Die Interalveolarsepten stellen Trennwande dar, welche die Alveolarsackchen oder die Luftraume der Lunge voneinander trennen. Sie bilden das respiratorische Gewebe, das heist, den Ort des Gasaustausches zwischen Luft und Blut. Sie sind so dunn, das erst bei der Untersuchung mit dem Elektronenmikroskop ihre Struktur deutlich zutage trat. In der vorliegenden Aufnahme sind Teile von einigen Alveolarsackchen (AS) enthalten, von denen jedes von einem auserst dunnen einschichtigen Epithel (Ep) ausgekleidet ist. Die Epithelauskleidung, welche in diesem Bild ziemlich deutlich uber eine weite Strecke verfolgt werden kann, zeigt in ihrem Verlauf keine Unterbrechung.
Design and experimental evaluation of a flooded-bed dust scrubber integrated into a longwall shearer

Abstract Continuous mining machines operating in U.S. underground coal mines have, for decades, utilized flooded-bed dust scrubbers for capturing and removing respirable dust generated at the production face. However, the application of dust scrubbers to longwall mining systems has not yet been successful. Considering that nearly 60% of U.S. underground coal production is from longwall mines, the successful application of dust scrubbers to longwall mining systems could have a significant impact on miner health. A full-scale mock-up of a longwall shearer was constructed and equipped with a flooded-bed dust scrubber designed to capture dust produced by the headgate cutting drum. The mockup was installed at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Longwall Dust Gallery and a series of 40 experiments was conducted to evaluate the scrubber's performance. Results show that the scrubber achieved a 56% reduction of respirable dust in the return airway and a 74% reduction of respirable dust in the walkway area near the shearer. Although these tests were conducted under a controlled environment, the results suggest that a similar scrubber design could be very effective at achieving a significant reduction in respirable dust in longwall mining systems.
Temporal dynamics in the daily lives of health practitioners

The working days of health practitioners are long and often hectic. This paper examines the minutiae of how health practitioners, particularly physicians and nurses, organize their time throughout ...
A Class of Cavity-Based UWB Multi-Beamformers With Applications to Sub-6 GHz 5G

A new class of cavity-based, true-time delay multibeam former is proposed. Rotman lens optics are implemented for broadband and low phase-error response. The proposed topology offers markedly improved efficiency over microstrip based designs, while operating inside a sealed, metal cavity. A prototype design is presented which operates at Stein's theoretical efficiency limit for passive RF beamforming over the UWB frequency band (3.1 to 10.6 GHz) with excellent multi-beam fidelity.
Model-driven Timing Consistency for Active Malware Redirection

Decoy I/O on computers in production is designed to redirect malware towards phantom devices, where malware are intercepted and hence are immediately detected, pinpointed, and possibly controlled and leveraged against the threat actors. On their part, malware seek inconsistencies in their targets to detect decoys and avoid falling into a trap, possibly before it is too late for them. In this paper we explore modeling and simulation based on the queueing network formalism to provide decoy network interface cards and their associated network targets with an infallible timing consistency. We propose a practical approach that integrates the findings of modeling and simulation into the operating system kernel, and thus creates a usable source of timing consistency for network decoys. We implemented this work within the code of a decoy Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) for Process Control (OPC) server. We tested our tool against malware samples involved in recent cyber attack campaigns, and thus discuss the findings in the paper.
Replacing tDCS with theta tACS provides selective, but not general WM benefits

Abstract Working memory (WM) can be improved after repeated training sessions paired with noninvasive neurostimulation techniques. Previously, we reported that WM training paired with tDCS succeeded behaviorally by enhancing anterior-posterior theta phase coherence and reducing alpha power. Here, in two experiments we tested several theta and alpha frequencies and two transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) montages in an effort to shortcut WM training while preserving behavioral gains. In Experiment 1, in separate sessions participants received online tACS at two frequencies derived from the previous study with the respective goal of improving and impairing WM performance. We selected the mean group peak value theta (7 Hz) to benefit WM and alpha (11 Hz) to impair WM. Stimulation (tACS) over right frontoparietal sites (F4-P4) during 3-back WM tasks (object, spatial) produced no behavioral consequences. In Experiment 2 we stimulated at a slower theta frequency (4.5 Hz), which was also significant in our prior study, and tested whether frontoparietal or bifrontal montages would be more effective at improving WM. This experiment revealed selectively improved object WM after right frontoparietal tACS alone. In summary, one session of tACS failed to produce the magnitude or breadth of WM gains observed after 4–10 tDCS-WM training sessions. In short, despite looking for loopholes we found little tACS savings.
Caecal fermentation characteristics of commonly used feed ingredients

Background Commercial horse feeds utilise cereal grains and byproducts; however, their effects on the caecal environment remain poorly characterised. Objective Characterise the effect of commonly used feed ingredients on caecal pH and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration. Study design 6 × 6 Latin square. Methods Two days prior to the start of the study, 6 caecally cannulated Quarter horses were moved into individual stalls where Smooth bromegrass hay (brome) was offered at 2.0% BW/d split between 2 feedings (0600 and 1800). On day 0, caecal digesta was collected every 2 h for 12 h relative to the 0600 feeding to establish control values for horses consuming only brome (HAY). On day 1, horses began consuming their respective treatments which consisted of beet pulp (BP), maize (M), dehydrated alfalfa (A), oats (OAT), soybean hulls (SBH), or wheat middlings (WM) at 0.25% BW/d split into 2 feedings. On day 7 of each treatment period, caecal digesta was collected every 2 h for 12 h and analysed for pH and VFA. Data were analysed using mixed ANOVA with repeated measures, fixed effects of treatment and time, and random effects of horse and period. Results There was a main effect of hour (P ≤ 0.05) indicative of post-prandial shifts in caecal metabolites. There were no main effects of treatment on pH or VFA concentration (P ≥ 0.3). Effects of hour × treatment (P ≤ 0.04) were observed for all response variables. Regardless of treatment or hour, caecal pH remained well within normal limits. Three horses exhibited signs of lower oesophageal choke immediately after consumption of BP pellets. Limitations Interactions between ingredients when mixed for formulation of a concentrate warrant further research. Furthermore, a short adaptation period was chosen to mimic common management practices. Conclusion Minimal differences in caecal fermentation parameters were detected when ingredients were fed at a common inclusion level.
Self-Management Coaching: Promoting Postoperative Recovery and Caregiving Preparedness for Patients With Lung Cancer and Their Family Caregivers.

BACKGROUND Quality of life (QOL) for patients undergoing lung resection and their family caregivers (FCGs) is often affected by surgical treatment for lung cancer. OBJECTIVES Patients and FCGs have a great deal of distress that affects their QOL. Introducing self-management skills soon after diagnosis improves patient and FCG outcomes. METHODS This article presents a intervention model for providing patients and FCGs with self-management skills. Patients and FCGs will learn how to identify and overcome challenges, set goals, and address unmet needs throughout the phases of surgery. The model and case examples are presented. FINDINGS Patients and FCGs gained self-efficacy. They were able to identify potential stressors that would otherwise become burdensome. Patients remained in control of their preoperative care and recovery, resulting in continued independence. FCGs achieved healthier well-being, which increased positive caregiving experiences.
Risk factors for 30-d readmission after colorectal surgery: a systematic review.

Abstract Background Readmission rates after colorectal surgery remain an ongoing clinical concern. Recent initiation of penalties for excess readmissions in medical patients has encouraged surgeons to reduce readmissions for surgical patients. We conducted a systematic review of the published literature for the purpose of identifying patient-related risk factors for 30-d readmissions after colorectal surgery. Methods PubMed and Web of Science were queried for relevant English-language studies published before January 1, 2015, evaluating 30-d hospital readmissions after colorectal surgery in adult patients. Studies were included in this review only if they used a multivariable model to assess various patient-associated predictors and were excluded if the study size was less than 100 patients. Results A total of 20 clinical research studies made up of 8 (40%) chart reviews and 12 (60%) administrative data met inclusion criteria. Most studies took place in the United States, and a variety of procedures (e.g., colectomy, rectal resection, stoma creation) and indications for surgery (e.g., cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease) were evaluated. The average ages of included patients was between 37 and 78 y and 36%–97% were men. Readmission rates ranged from 9%–25%. Overall, older age, comorbid conditions, preoperative immunosuppressive therapy, postoperative complications, and nonhome discharge were the most consistent and strongest predictors of readmission. Conclusions These identifiable risk factors highlight targets for interventions in an effort to reduce unplanned readmissions. Determining the most efficacious and cost-efficient means to reduce these preventable hospitalizations could save millions of valuable health care dollars.
Epstein-Barr Viral Antigen in Single Cell Clones of Two Human Leukocytic Lines

Abstract A method was devised for obtaining single cell clones of human leukocytic cell lines in the presence of a human placental cell feeder layer. Clones of two lines, LS-B and EB3, which contain Epstein-Barr viral (EBV) antigen in approximately 1% of cells were tested for EBV antigen. Since all EB3 clones and LS-B clones contained EBV antigen, it is concluded that in vitro EBV genome is associated with all of the cells.
The Monetary Value of Saving a High-Risk Youth

Programs targeted at high-risk youth are designed to prevent high-school dropout, crime, drug abuse, and other forms of delinquency. Even if shown to be successful in reducing one or more social ill, a key policy question is whether the cost to society from that intervention program exceeds its benefits. Although the costs of intervention programs are often available, the benefits are more illusive. This paper provides estimates of the potential benefits from "saving" a high-risk youth, by estimating the lifetime costs associated with the typical career criminal, drug abuser, and high-school dropout. In the absence of controlled experimental data on the number of career criminals averted, one can ask the reverse question—How many career criminals must be prevented before the program "pays for itself?" Based on a 2% discount rate, the typical career criminal causes $1.3$1.5 million in external costs; a heavy drug user, $370,000 to $970,000; and a high-school dropout, $243,000 to $388,000. Eliminating duplication between crimes committed by individuals who are both heavy drug users and career criminals results in an overall estimate of the "monetary value of saving a high-risk youth" of $1.7 to $2.3 million.
Relation among personality and symptoms in nonulcer dyspepsia and the irritable bowel syndrome

Abstract The importance of personality traits in nonulcer dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome is a controversial issue. We wished to assess the distribution of abnormal personality traits in nonulcer dyspepsia and the irritable bowel syndrome, define any relation among personality and symptoms, and determine whether personality factors discriminate among patients with functional, psychiatric, or organic gastrointestinal diseases. Patients with nonulcer dyspepsia (n = 31), irritable bowel syndrome (n = 67), organic gastrointestinal disease (n = 64), and somatoform disorder (n = 36) and healthy controls (n = 128) were studied. Before diagnostic evaluation by an independent physician, all patients completed the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory and a symptom questionnaire. Symptom scores for abdominal pain and the Manning criteria, which is considered to be diagnostic for the irritable bowel syndrome, were evaluated. Personality scales in patients with nonulcer dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, and organic disease were very similar. However, patients in the other groups differed from somatoform disorder on nearly all scales. In nonulcer dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome, and organic disease, hypochondriasis weakly correlated with pain. Subgroups of irritable bowel syndrome patients with predominant constipation and those with predominant diarrhea had similar personality traits, although hypomania was minimally increased in constipation. Patients who fulfilled the Manning criteria for irritable bowel syndrome had more psychological distress than those who did not. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory correctly classified somatoform disorder and health 81% and 75% of the time, respectively, but it classified nonulcer dyspepsia and irritable bowel syndrome correctly in only 32% and 34% of cases. Our results suggest that psychopathology may not be the major explanation for functional gastrointestinal disorders.
KAM tori and whiskered invariant tori for non-autonomous systems

Abstract We consider non-autonomous dynamical systems which converge to autonomous (or periodic) systems exponentially fast in time. Such systems appear naturally as models of many physical processes affected by external pulses. We introduce definitions of non-autonomous invariant tori and non-autonomous whiskered tori and their invariant manifolds and we prove their persistence under small perturbations, smooth dependence on parameters and several geometric properties (if the systems are Hamiltonian, the tori are Lagrangian manifolds). We note that such definitions are problematic for general time-dependent systems, but we show that they are unambiguous for systems converging exponentially fast to autonomous. The proof of persistence relies only on a standard Implicit Function Theorem in Banach spaces and it does not require that the rotations in the tori are Diophantine nor that the systems we consider preserve any geometric structure. We only require that the autonomous system preserves these objects. In particular, when the autonomous system is integrable, we obtain the persistence of tori with rational rotational. We also discuss fast and efficient algorithms for their computation. The method also applies to infinite dimensional systems which define a good evolution, e.g. PDE’s. When the systems considered are Hamiltonian, we show that the time dependent invariant tori are isotropic. Hence, the invariant tori of maximal dimension are Lagrangian manifolds. We also obtain that the (un)stable manifolds of whiskered tori are Lagrangian manifolds. We also include a comparison with the more global theory developed in Blazevski and de la Llave (2011).
The Productivity Impacts of Formal and Informal Land Rights: Evidence from Madagascar

This paper studies the relationship between land rights and agricultural productivity. Whereas previous studies used proxies for soil quality and instrumental variables to control for the endogeneity of land titles, the data used here include precise soil quality measurements, which in principle allow controlling for the unobserved heterogeneity between plots. Empirical results suggest that formal land rights (i.e., land titles) have no impact on productivity, but that informal land rights (i.e., landowners' subjective perceptions of what they can and cannot do with their plots) have heterogeneous impacts on productivity.
Apical membrane localization of ouabain-sensitive K(+)-activated ATPase activities in rat distal colon

This study sought to establish the presence of K(+)-activated adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) activity in the colonic mucosa of the rat distal colon. K(+)-activated ATPase activity was present in apical membranes but not in basolateral membranes. K(+)-activated ATPase activity in apical membranes represented an approximate 10-fold enrichment compared with that in the homogenate. Na(+)-K(+)-activated ATPase activity was also present in homogenate but was enriched less than fourfold in apical membranes. K(+)-activated ATPase activity in apical membranes had both ouabain-sensitive and ouabain-insensitive components. In contrast, Na(+)-K(+)-activated ATPase activity was completely inhibited by ouabain. Similar half-maximal concentrations for K+ and pH activation curves were found for both ouabain-sensitive and ouabain-insensitive fractions. In addition to K+, the ouabain-sensitive fraction of K(+)-activated ATPase activity was stimulated by Rb+, NH+4, and Cs+, whereas the ouabain-insensitive fraction was activated only by Rb+. K(+)-activated ATPase activity was significantly inhibited by vanadate but not by N-ethylmaleimide or omeprazole. In the proximal colon, in contrast to the distal colon, active K+ absorption is not present, and K(+)-activated ATPase is approximately 20% of that in the distal colon. These studies demonstrate that K(+)-activated ATPase is present in apical membranes of rat distal colon and permit the speculation that this enzyme represents a unique and distinct ATPase (compared with either Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase or gastric parietal cell K(+)-ATPase) and is likely linked closely to the active K+ absorptive process present in this epithelium.
Effect of corticosteroids on arginine vasopressin–containing vasopressor therapy for septic shock: a case control study

Abstract Purpose Studies showing corticosteroids decrease time to shock reversal in septic shock did not include arginine vasopressin, which also may reduce the duration of catecholamine therapy. Thus, the effect of corticosteroids on vasopressin-containing vasopressor regimens is unknown. We designed this study to evaluate the effect of corticosteroids on time to vasopressin-containing vasopressor withdrawal and the proportion of patients alive without vasopressors at day 7. Methods This retrospective, case-control study included patients admitted to the intensive care units of an academic medical center who received vasopressin-containing vasopressor regimens for septic shock with or without concomitant corticosteroids. Twenty-one corticosteroid-treated patients were matched to those without corticosteroids. Results Both groups had similar Acute Physiology And Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II, Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores. There was no significant difference in median time to vasopressor withdrawal (65 hours vs 20 hours, P = .09) whether corticosteroids were given or withheld. Patients who received corticosteroids, however, were significantly more likely alive without vasopressors at day 7 than patients who received a vasopressin-containing vasopressor regimen alone (80.9% vs 47.6%, P = .02). Conclusions Although corticosteroids did not improve the time to withdrawal of vasopressin-containing vasopressor therapy they significantly increased the proportion of patients alive without vasopressors at day 7.
Relationship between σxx and σyx - integral quantum hall effect

Abstract The possibility of a Kramers-Kronig relation between the longitudinal and transverse conductivities of a 2-D electron gas in the presence of a magnetic field is investigated. The longitudinal (σ xx ) and the transverse (σ yx ) conductivities are expressed as the real and imaginary part of a complex conductivity (σ). A formal expression is derived for σ within the independent particle approximation. In the classical limit, σ is analytic in the upper complex ω c plane, where ω c is the cyclotron frequency. Hence the usual Kramers-Kronig relation holds for σ c . We modeled a quantum correction (σ q ) to σ and found that σ q is non-analytic in the upper half plane, hence the total σ does not satisfy a Kramers-Kronig relation.
Photoadaption in marine phytoplankton : Response of the photosynthetic unit

Some species of phytoplankton adapt to low light intensities by increasing the size of the photosynthetic unit (PSU), which is the ratio of light-harvesting pigments to P700 (reaction-center chlorophyll of Photosystem I). PSU size was determined for 7 species of marine phytoplankton grown at 2 light intensities: high (300 μE m-2 s-1) and low (4 μE m-2 s-1); PSU size was also determined for 3 species grown at only high light intensity. PSU size varied among species grown at high light from 380 for Dunaliella euchlora to 915 for Chaetoceros danicus. For most species grown at low light intensity, PSU size increased, while the percentage increase varied among species from 13 to 130%. No change in PSU size was observed for D. euchlora. Photosynthetic efficiency per chlorophyll a (determined from the initial slope of a curve relating photosynthetic rate to light intensity) varied inversely with PSU size. In contrast, photosynthetic efficiency per P700 was enhanced at larger PSU sizes. Therefore, phytoplankton species with intrinsically large PSU sizes probably respond more readily to the rapid fluctuations in light intensity that such organisms experience in the mixed layer.
Variation in Behavioral Deficits and Patterns of Recovery After Stroke Among Different Rat Strains

Pre-clinical models of stroke therapeutics depend upon the ability to detect differences in infarct volume as well as in the short- and long-term outcomes of treated animals. Little attention has been paid to interstrain differences in these outcomes and the importance of defining the most appropriate behavioral tests. In this study, we evaluate long-term outcome from stroke in three different rat strains. Lewis, Wistar, and Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were subjected to 2-h middle cerebral artery occlusion and survived for up to 49 days. Behavioral tests were performed weekly. There was continuous assessment of rotational/circling activity in the home cage by use of an automated software program. A separate group of animals was sacrificed at 24 h to determine infarct volume. Infarct volume was similar in all three strains. Mortality was significantly higher in SD rats (P < 0.001). Rotational/circling activity at 24 h was correlated with cortical infarct volume in Wistar and SD rats (ρ = 0.67, P = 0.04 and ρ = 0.72, P = 0.01, respectively). Wistar and SD rats displayed more rotational/circling activity following stroke than Lewis rats, but Lewis rats evidenced more impairment on complex motor tasks like the rotarod. Further, computer automated analysis of rotational activity was more sensitive than subjective assessment, with SD rats showing a preference for clockwise rotations to 49 days after stroke despite normalization of the neurological score after 21 days. There are significant interstrain differences in survival and in the patterns of neurological impairment and recovery after stroke. These differences must be taken into account in pre-clinical studies, but may also be capitalized upon to understand genetic contributions to injury. Finally, computerized assessment of behavior is more sensitive than subjective assessment for detecting behavioral changes.
Visual deficits and recovery following monocular lid closure in a prosimian primate

The behavioral consequences of long-term monocular lid closure in 6 deprived and 2 normal prosimian primates (Galago crassicaudatus) were examined using a visual field perimetry technique and a variety of visuomotor tests. Deprived galagos had their right lid sutured either within 8 (n = 4) or 38 (n = 2) days postpartum and were reared under these conditions for at least 8 months. Normal galagos responded briskly on all visuomotor tests including tracking, response to visual threat, ability to descend from a platform, and obstacle avoidance. Perimetry tests of these animals showed that the visual field with both eyes open was 180 degrees while each eye tested individually had a 135 degrees field. Deprived galagos tested with their experienced eye exhibited normal visuomotor behavior and normal visual fields. Following reverse suture all deprived animals behaved initially as if blind on all tests. Over the next 4-8 weeks these animals showed some limited recovery on the visuomotor tasks. Tests of perimetry indicated that by the end of four weeks of testing, vision was limited to the deprived monocular segment where it remained stable to the end of the testing period. With both eyes open, deprived galagos exhibited a normal 180 degrees visual field. Curiously, however, when stimuli were introduced simultaneously in corresponding points in both monocular segments of the field, the majority of orienting responses of deprived subjects favored the right deprived eye. Under similar testing conditions one normal subject favored its right eye and the other its left eye. The reversibility of monocular deprivation was explored further either by extending the period of forced use of the deprived eye in one animal or by removing the non-deprived eye in another animal. No further improvement in visual field perimetry was seen following a longer period of forced use of the deprived eye. In contrast, a substantial increase in the visual field could be demonstrated one month following removal of the originally experienced eye: the deprived eye field expanded to include the entire 90 degrees ipsilateral hemifield. The contralateral field of the deprived eye, however, continued to remain blind even after one year. These behavioral results suggest that although the original binocular competitive disadvantage suffered by the deprived eye during development is relatively permanent, it can partially be ameliorated by late removal of the non-deprived eye.
Immunological Cross-Reactivity of Type I–III Intermediate Filaments in the Common Carp: In Situ Localization with Use of Heterologous Antibodies

Abstract The intermediate filaments (IFs) are a multigenic family of 10-nm cytoskeletal polypeptides that have been partially classified according to their cell-specific expression patterns in mammals. Since the IFs have been highly conserved during vertebrate evolution, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the immunological cross-reactivity and tissue distribution patterns of IF types I, II, and III in the common carp Cyprinus carpio. A panel of six heterologous antibodies were evaluated with a streptavidin–biotin–peroxidase complex detection system. The monoclonal antibody AE3, specific for human cytokeratins 1–8 (type II IFs), stained a wide variety of epithelial and nonepithelial tissues. Staining with the AEI monoclonal antibody, specific for human cytokeratins 10, 14–16, and 19 (type 1 IFs), resulted in similar, although generally less intense, staining of all tissues relative to the AE3 antibody. However, the AE1 antibody stained myocardial and skeletal muscle fibers in contrast to th...
Process modeling of HgCdTe infrared photodectors

A physically based process model for simulating the fabrication of HgCdTe photodiodes has been developed. The models included in the simulator are based on atomic level mechanisms governing the interaction of point defects, extended defects, and dopants. The core of the simulator is a set of coupled partial differential equations for point defect/dopant diffusion. The simulator models the processing of n on p, ion implanted homojunction long wavelength infrared photodiodes. Because the models are physically based, the simulator can be used with other materials and device architectures if properly calibrated. The simulator includes modules for annealing and boundary conditions, ion implantation, and reactive ion etching and can produce both one and two dimensional dopant and defect profiles. Coupled with device and performance simulators, it forms a powerful tool for design and optimization of HgCdTe photodiodes. The simulator operates in a client/server mode in an intranet or internet environment. A web browser interface provides a user friendly front end for inputting processing parameters and outputting simulation results.
Thermal processing and properties of bioplastic sheets derived from meat and bone meal

Chemical modification of plasticized meat and bone meal (MBM) and its thermal processing into bioplastic sheets is reported. Specifically, MBM plasticized with 30 wt% glycerol and modified with calcium hydroxide (CH) (0, 3, 7, and 10 wt%) was batch compounded at 100°C, 15–30 min, and 60 rpm followed by thermal compaction at 140°C to produce sheets. The effect of CH content on the chemical structure, processability, and tensile properties (static and dynamic) of modified MBM sheets were studied. Fine particle size of MBM and moderate environment humidity produced well-consolidated sheets. Increase in CH content to about 7 wt% was found to increase tensile strength and modulus, whereas the strain to failure decreased. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis of modified MBM sheets showed that the changes in mechanical properties could be attributed to increased interactions between protein chains, which were further aided by the precipitation of the fat portion of MBM. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
A possible neurotransmitter-neuroendocrine mechanism in naphthalene-induced atresia of the ovary of the red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii

Abstract The ovaries in red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, exposed to 10 ppm naphthalene for 48 hr were smaller than those of crayfish kept in clean water. 5-Hydroxytryptamine stimulated ovarian maturation in naphthalene exposed crayfish after their return to clean water. Neurosecretory material accumulated in the brains and thoracic ganglia of naphthalene exposed crayfish. Extracts of brains and thoracic ganglia from naphthalene exposed crayfish were more effective in stimulating ovarian maturation than were extracts of brains and thoracic ganglia from unexposed crayfish. It is hypothesized that naphthalene inhibits release of the gonad-stimulating hormone from neuroendocrine cells in the brain and thoracic ganglia whereas 5-hydroxytryptamine stimulates release of this hormone.