cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The relation of autopsy rate to physicians' beliefs and recommendations regarding autopsy☆

Abstract Purpose Multiple factors have affected the decline in autopsy rates. Our goal was to determine the relation of physicians' recommendations regarding autopsy, as well as patient and surrogate decision-maker characteristics, to autopsy performance. Methods We assessed measures related to autopsy performance using data from two teaching institutions in the Study to Understand Prognoses and Preferences for Outcomes and Risks of Treatments. We included patients who had died within 6 months of their index hospitalization and for whom information was available on autopsy performance, physicians' response to questions about autopsy, and interviews with surrogate decision makers about autopsy performance. We assessed the association between autopsy performance and the strength of a physician's recommendation for autopsy, adjusting for patient, surrogate, and physician characteristics. Results Of the 680 patients who died, 59% (n = 402) met our inclusion criteria. Based on physician and surrogate responses, the expected autopsy rate was 42% while the actual autopsy rate was 23%. The autopsy rate was higher when the physician's recommendation for autopsy was strong or very strong at the time of death compared with when autopsy was not recommended strongly or not at all ( P P Conclusion Autopsies are less likely to be performed when not recommended strongly or not at all. Training physicians (or others) how to recommend autopsies may increase autopsy rates.
TRANSIENT W-BAND EPR STUDY OF SEQUENTIAL ELECTRON TRANSFER IN PHOTOSYNTHETIC BACTERIAL REACTION CENTERS

Electron-spin polarized (ESP) EPR spectra at W-band (95 GHz) were obtained for deuterated Fe-removed/Zn-substituted photosynthetic bacterial reaction centers (RCs) to investigate the influence of the rate of charge separation on the observed P+QA- charge separated state. Temperature dependent ESP EPR spectra for kinetically characterized Zn-substituted RCs from Rb. sphaeroides R-26 having different rates (kQ) of the electron transfer from the bacteriopheophytin to the quinone acceptor were obtained. The Zn−RCs exhibited either the native “fast” (200 ps)-1 kQ or a “slow” (3−6 ns)-1 kQ at 298 K as determined from transient optical measurements. Sequential electron-transfer polarization modeling of the polarized W-band EPR spectra obtained with these samples was used to address the reason for the differences in the electron-transfer rates. Herein, we report the kQ rate constant, the temperature dependence of kQ, and the reorganization energy for the P+H-QA and P+HQA- electron-transfer step determined from SE...
Quantitative Modeling of Faceted Ice Crystal Growth from Water Vapor Using Cellular Automata

We describe a numerical model of faceted crystal growth using a cellular automata method. The model was developed for investigating the diffusion-limited growth of ice crystals from water vapor, when the surface boundary conditions are determined primarily by strongly anisotropic molecular attachment kinetics. We restricted our model to cylindrically symmetric crystal growth with relatively simple growth morphologies, as this was sufficient for making quantitative comparisons between models and ice growth experiments. Overall this numerical model appears to reproduce ice growth behavior with reasonable fidelity over a wide range of conditions. More generally, the model could easily be adapted for other material systems, and the cellular automata technique appears well suited for investigating crystal growth dynamics when strongly anisotropic surface attachment kinetics yields faceted growth morphologies.
Ion exchange kinetics: the removal of oxalic acid from glycol solutions

Abstract The kinetics for the removal of oxalic acid from glycol solutions through the use of the ion exchange resin, Permutit SKB, has been studied. The mechanism was found to be controlled by the combined resistances of both the liquid and resin phases. The equilibrium relationship of the system was determined experimentally and the results were found to fit a Freundlich type of equation. Liquid film mass transfer coefficients were established and correlated with the variables of this system. Simple experimental procedures together with the diffusion equation enabled the determination of the diffusion coefficient for the resin phase. This information in conjunction with the proper mathematical developments has made possible the prediction of the break-through curve which has been found to be in agreement with experimental results.
The discontinuity of neurosis and schizophrenia.

Abstract The evidence from genetic, physiological and behavioral studies adds up to the conclusion that neurosis and schizophrenia are behavioral disorders with separate and probably entirely unrelated etiologies. The genetic factor in schizophrenia does not coincide with that of neurosis. Several physiological features have been found in schizophrenics that are absent in normal people and neurotic patients. In particular there is evidence of an abnormality of autonomic reactivity in schizophrenics that persists even in remission. The behavioral differences between the two conditions are many. The early symptoms of schizophrenia are characteristic and distinctly not neurotic. Neurotic behavior is much more responsive to external stimulus conditions, and is lastingly modifiable by conditioning procedures in a way that schizophrenic behavior is not. There is also notable difference in response to selected performance tests.
Lesions of testis and epididymis associated with prenatal diethylstilbestrol exposure.

Abstract Cryptorchidism and retention of Mullerian duct structures occur with high frequency among the male offspring of CD-1 mice treated with 100 micrograms diethylstilbestrol/kg body weight on days 9 through 16 of pregnancy. Hyperplasia of the rete testis and Mullerian duct structures were found in many of the DES-treated male mice, as was a low but significant number of reproductive tract neoplasms.
Validating the Family History Scoring System application to identify Lynch syndrome families

Background The FHSS (a points-based scoring system) was previously used to identify families at high risk of an inherited colorectal cancer syndrome. AM-I (Amsterdam-I) families scored high (≤12), but some scored low (≥8) when scored from unaffected relative’s perspective [1]. The FHSS is being applied to Lynch families (MMR+) and familial colon cancer type X (Type X) to see if the scoring system would yield similar results.
The design, development, and implementation of a microprocessor-based ECG analysis system

This paper describes the research effort to design, develop, and implement a microprocessor-based ECG data acquisition, reduction, and analysis system for operation in real-time. This unit can be attached to three-channel ECG carts and provide an immediate on-site analysis. The basic design and development efforts include (1) the data acquisition, reduction, and matrix assembly, (2) ECG arrhythmia, P-wave, and axis analysis, (3) ECG contour analysis, and (4) a real-time three-channel data acquisition unit. Decision tables are used in the analysis. The implementation of these projects into a small microprocessor-based unit coupled to a three-channel recorder is now in progress. This system, coupled with a small printer, will provide immediate on-site ECG analysis for most cardiovascular dysfunctions.
Cost effectiveness: summary.

(2002). Cost effectiveness: Summary. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Other Motor Neuron Disorders: Vol. 3, No. sup1, pp. S67-S69.
Risperidone-associated new-onset diabetes.

Abstract Background: Weight gain, and its associated complications such as the development of diabetes, is becoming increasingly recognized as an important potential side effect of the novel antipsychotic drugs. Methods: Two retrospective cases are described in which patients with schizophrenia developed diabetes while taking the antipsychotic medication risperidone. Results: Both patients had preexisting risk factors for diabetes and developed insulin resistance in the context of weight gain. Both cases necessitated medical intervention and one patient requires ongoing treatment with insulin. Conclusions: Although the exact mechanism of antipsychotic induced diabetes remains obscure, weight gain appears to be a significant risk factor. Careful monitoring of weight and fasting glucoses is recommended for any patient taking novel antipsychotic medications.
Erythema elevatum diutinum: A clinical and histopathologic study of 13 patients

Background: Erythema elevatum diutinum is a rare condition representing a chronic leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Objective: Clinical and laboratory features of the disease were reviewed to better understand the disease. Methods: The medical records and histopathologic slides of 13 patients with erythema elevatum diutinum were studied. Results: The lesions were violaceous, deep red, or brown and typically were papules or plaques. Lesions were most often located on the extensor surfaces of the extremities. Associated medical problems included 'hematologic abnormalities in six patients: IgA clonal gammopathies (four), multiple myeloma (one), and myelodysplasia (one). Erythema elevatum diutinum preceded the myeloproliferative disorders by an average of 7.8 years. All patients showed vasculitis. Leukocytoclasia was present in 27 of 35 specimens. The predominant cell type in the inflammatory infiltrate was polymorphonuclear leukocytes or a mixture of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes. Conclusion: The most significant finding of this study is the association of erythema elevatum diutinum with hematologic disease, most frequently an IgA monoclonal gammopathy.
CORR Insights®: Is TKA Using Patient-specific Instruments Comparable to Conventional TKA? A Randomized Controlled Study of One System

This CORR Insights® is a commentary on the article “Is TKA Using Patient-specific Instruments Comparable to Conventional TKA? A Randomized Controlled Study of One System” by Roh and colleagues available at: DOI: 10.1007/s11999-013-3206-1. The author certifies that he, or a member of his immediate family, has no funding or commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc.) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article. All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research ® editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request. The opinions expressed are those of the writers, and do not reflect the opinion or policy of CORR ® or the Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons®. This CORR Insights® comment refers to the article available at DOI: 10.1007/s11999-013-3206-1.
An appraisal of the Lambourne appraisal.

It is my good fortune to have had two rewarding experiences of personal contact with Robert A. Lambourne. The first was at a week-long conference on health and salvation in Germany under the auspices of the World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation. The second was at Princeton Seminary where, a year ago, Dr. Lambourne visited us for a few days as he was "casing the joint" about pastoral theology in this country. When the Editor asked me routinely, as a member of the Editorial Advisory Board, to read the manuscript of the Lambourne article, I did so with pleasure; and as soon as I could get to my typewriter, strongly recommended the publication of this remarkably perceptive paper. Even though I thought then as I do now that Lambourne has given us just exactly the kind of fresh perspective we need, and thus that his is one of the most important pieces ever published by this journal, I had, and have, a few questions; and so I made the mistake of offering to write a critique to go alongside the Lambourne paper. The Editor took me up. Since I have to take covenants seriously, I was committed; and here we are. Before going into my pitch, which is mostly appreciation though not devoid
Conceptual modeling applied to computer-aided architectural design

Abstract A possible approach to inter-system integration is proposed using a neutral file format and application protocols. Structural information is modeled in a relational database system which in turn converts the data to an IDES format and passes it on to a program for building space frame analysis.
Social Facilitation and Development in Ephestia kühniella Z

Total time required for larval and pupal development in Ephestia kuhniella Z. was significantly modified when habitable space of the food mass was increased by dilution with a nontoxic sawdust. Doubling the living space resulted in an increased developmental rate, presumably due to a reduction in the number of larval interactions. Tripling the living space, however, produced a somewhat unexpected delay in development, accompanied by a marked increase in variance about the means for both males and females.
Spray pyrolysis and heat treatment of CuInSe2 for photovoltaic applications

Abstract Thin films (about 1 μm) of CuInSe2 were prepared by spray pyrolysis. The component ratios in the spray solutions and the glass substrate temperature were varied in order to produce films of the desired stoichiometry and the importance of this starting ratio is demonstrated. The optimum spray conditions were suggested by thermodynamical calculations using a free energy minimization computer program applied to the Cu-In-Se system. Optical absorption studies of the films verified the existence of the proper compound. Heat treatments of the films were performed in order to produce conductivities and crystal structures for photovoltaic applications and are discussed in detail. In particular for CuInSe2 which gives the sphalerite structure under most spray conditions, a short heat treatment of a film with a starting Cu:In:Se ratio of 1.1:1:4 for 10 min at temperatures of 600, 500 and 400°C is described, which produces the chalcopyrite structure.
Evaluation of a Commercially Available Laser-Scanning Microdensitometer for Emission Spectrographic Measurements

The photographic emulsion is one of the oldest detectors used in atomic emission spectroscopy. Although overshadowed by modern electronic detectors for quantitative measurements, there remain significant advantages in their use for qualitative spectroscopic studies. Relative to direct reader and electronic image detector (i.e., photodiode array and charge-coupled device) simultaneous multichannel measurement schemes, photographic emulsions provide considerably greater detection flexibility for qualitative analytical determinations. Their large physical size and low cost allow simultaneous measurements with resolution and wavelength coverages that are not attainable with any other system (and at a cost that any research program can afford). Admittedly, the nonlinear response of the photographic emulsion to emission intensity requires the use of complex calibration schemes for quantitation, but for qualitative spectroscopic information, no other detector scheme can acquire the amount of information that this simple two-dimensional detector can.
WE‐B‐224‐01: Cranial SRS/SRT

In the 50‐plus years since it was first introduced, stereotactic radiosurgery, high‐dose irradiation of cranial neoplasms delivered in a single fraction, has become a standard of care in the treatmentbraintumors, vascular malformations, functional disorders, and pain. Modern radiosurgery can be performed non‐invasively and on an outpatient basis, yet with an extremely high degree of accuracy. Within the past ten years, the field of radiosurgery has seen numerous technological enhancements, including: the development of dedicated devices for stereotactic delivery, the use of relocatable frames to facilitate fractionated delivery, the development of image guided and “frameless” approaches, and the application to extracranial tumor sites. Each of these developments is accompanied by its own challenges in assuring targeting and dosimetric accuracy. In this presentation we review the fundamentals aspects of stereotactic targeting and delivery, the technologies for stereotactic localization and treatment of cranial targets, and the quality assurance aspects associated with establishing and maintaining a clinical radiosurgery program. Specifically, the presentation will: 1. Differentiate how radiation is delivered for Gamma Knife and Linac‐based (conventional and robotic)stereotactic radiosurgery. 2. Define the treatment planning parameters for Gamma Knife and Linac‐based stereotactic radiosurgery. 3. Discuss measures for assuring accuracy in stereotactic localization and dose delivery for Gamma Knife and Linac‐based stereotactic radiosurgery.
The portrayal of mental illness on prime-time television.

In this content analysis of television, the portrayal of persons with mental disorders was highly correlated with the portrayal of violent crime. The mentally ill were found to be nearly 10 times more violent than the general population of television characters, and 10 to 20 times more violent (during a two week sample) than the mentally ill in the U.S. population (over the course of an entire year). The mentally ill on television were also judged to have a negative impact on society and a negative quality of life. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Non-invasive MRI of mouse models of atherosclerosis

Early detection and characterization of atherosclerotic lesions susceptible to sudden rupture and thrombosis may decrease morbidity and mortality. Plaque development has been extensively studied using MRI in animal models of rapidly progressing atherosclerosis. These transgenic mice develop atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic root by 10 weeks of age and throughout the vasculature thereafter. Transplantation of lesion-containing segments of the thoracic aorta into wild-type mice results in nearly total reversal of atherosclerosis, making it possible to study both progression and regression of plaques in this model. MRI permits the non-invasive accurate assessment of atherosclerotic plaque burden and the differentiation between the lipid and fibrous content of individual plaques, thus providing a non-invasive approach to serially monitor the evolution of individual plaques in the mouse models. Emergence of novel contrast agents that target a diverse set of molecules within the plaque are now helping to elucidate the changes at the cellular and molecular levels during plaque progression and regression.
Lunar solar power

The Earth continually intercepts /spl sim/175,000 terawatts of solar power. However, just a fraction of this sunlight is captured every year by the biosphere in the form of newly separated atmospheric carbon and oxygen, mostly from water. Each year the trees, grasses and grains of the continents' biomass capture thermal energy, in the form of new plant mass, but only /spl sim/0.03% of the primary solar energy. The article discusses various ways that solar energy can be exploited on Earth. It then proposes a lunar solar power system in which solar power is collected on the Moon and transferred to Earth via microwave power beams. It is impractical and costly simply to gather solar power on Earth because Earth's atmosphere and clouds reflect solar power back to space, absorb it, and block it from reaching the surface of Earth. The lunar solar power system overcomes these problems.
The minimum feature set problem

Abstract One approach to improving the generalization power of a neural net is to try to minimize the number of nonzero weights used. We examine two issues relevant to this approach, for single-layer nets. First we bound the VC dimension of the set of linear-threshold functions that have nonzero weights for at most s of n inputs. Second, we show that the problem of minimizing the number of nonzero input weights used (without misclassifying training examples) is both NP-hard and difficult to approximate.
Sonographic Detection of Metastatic Disease of the Pyloris

Adult pyloric stenosis may be associated with many diseases, including portal hypertension, cirrhosis, gastritis, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), anorexia nervosa, syphilis, leukemia, lymphoma, and primary and metastatic cancer. Therefore, it is important that the screening abdominal ultrasound examination include pyloric-antral evaluation in those patients presenting with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and abnormal laboratory values. Irregularity or decreased echogenicity of the gastric wall should be noted. The gastric wall thickness should approximate the size of the common bile duct in comparison. Wall thickness of greater than 4-6 mm is abnormal and needs documentation and further diagnostic evaluation.
Determining the impact of sex preferences on fertility: A consideration of parity progression ratio, dominance, and stopping rule measures

The two methods commonly used to assess the effect of sex preferences on fertility are inadequate to the task. Parity progression ratio analyses suffer from logical problems stemming from the heterogeneity of sex preferences and the riskiness of fertility decisions. While conjoint measurement-dominance procedures overcome these logical problems, they cannot yield quantitative estimates of the impact of sex preferences on fertility. A stopping rule measure which overcomes these limitations is proposed and described and its potential for determining the effect of sex predetermination methods on population is discussed.
Erosion risk analysis by GIS in environmental impact assessments: a case study—Seyhan Köprü Dam construction

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a systematically constructed procedure whereby environmental impacts caused by proposed projects are examined. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) are crucially efficient tools for impact assessment and their use is likely to dramatically increase in the near future. GIS have been applied to a wide range of different impact assessment projects and dams among them have been taken as the case work in this article. EIA Regulation in force in Turkey requires the analysis of steering natural processes that can be adversely affected by the proposed project, particularly in the section of the analysis of the areas with higher landscape value. At this point, the true potential value of GIS lies in its ability to analyze spatial data with accuracy. This study is an attempt to analyze by GIS the areas with higher landscape value in the impact assessment of dam constructions in the case of Seyhan-Kopru Hydroelectric Dam project proposal. A method needs to be defined before the overlapping step by GIS to analyze the areas with higher landscape value. In the case of Seyhan-Kopru Hydroelectric Dam project proposal of the present work, considering the geological conditions and the steep slopes of the area and the type of the project, the most important natural process is erosion. Therefore, the areas of higher erosion risk were considered as the Areas with Higher Landscape Value from the conservation demands points of view.
LIMITATIONS OF ROUTINE SPIRAL COMPUTERIZED TOMOGRAPHY IN THE EVALUATION OF BLUNT RENAL TRAUMA

AbstractPurpose: We have observed that injury to the renal collecting system may be missed during routine abdominal spiral computerized tomography (CT) for trauma. A definitive protocol for spiral CT has been established to identify all cases of renal collecting system injury.Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 35 consecutive cases of blunt renal trauma evaluated with spiral CT between 1994 and 1997 at our Level I trauma center was performed. Each patient received 100 cc intravenous contrast at 2 cc per second. There was a 60-second delay after the start of contrast infusion before scanning was initiated.Results: Of the 35 cases 3 (8.6%) injuries to the renal collecting system were detected on delayed scans obtained after the initial CT failed to demonstrate contrast extravasation. Therefore, at our institution we have modified the protocol for spiral CT for abdominal trauma by repeating scans of the kidneys after the initial scans are completed.Conclusions: Injury to the renal collecting sys...
Dosimetric Comparison of Multi-Channel Vaginal Cylinder High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy to One Single Channel Vaginal Cyliner for Patients with Vaginal Cancer

an outside facility and referred for the brachytherapy procedure. All of the insertions were performed by a single brachytherapist with various resident physicians. The mean insertion time was 23 mins, range 7-77 min, std dev 12, std error 1.05. The mean time from insertion to HDR treatment was 179 mins, range 115-290 mins, std dev 37, std error 3.3. The mean time preop was 86 mins, image time 32 mins, HDR treatment, instrument removal and recovery, 128 mins. The total time in clinic was 5.5 hrs. The mean insertion time accounted for 13% of the workflow process required up to HDR treatment delivery. There were 32 days (25%) when 2 implantations were performed. For the insertion time, the greater the implant number per patient was significiantly associated with a decreased total insertion time, with and without covariates, p50.002. For the treatment planning time, greater than 1 implant per date was significantly associated with increasing time, p50.0151.
Solid state memory development in IBM

Memory technology in IBM processors has undergone a 280 000-fold increase in density, a 20 000 times decrease in powerper bit, and a 10 to 100 times increase in speed during the last twenty-five years. These improvements have brought many advantages to users of information processing equipment, including a 650-fold reduction in the cost per bit of memory. During this period, processor memory technology evolved from cathode ray storage tubes in the early 1950s, through ferrite cores and thin magnetic films in the 1950s and 1960s, to bipolar and MOSFET semiconductor memories in the late 1960s through the 1970s. This paper describes these developments and the technical innovations that made them possible. It also describes continuing exploratory efforts, including work on magnetic bubbles-the newest solid state memory technology.
New tools for courseware production

PRODUCING SIGNIFICANT QUANTITIES of high-quality computer-based instructional materials is a major challenge. Using a computer as a medium for education is one of the most technically demanding man-machine interactions requiring not only calculational capabilities but also involving interactive graphics, response analysis, and complex sequencing. Moreover, pedagogical and esthetic aspects are much less well understood in this new medium than in older educational media such as books and lectures. We will attempt to provide a framework for understanding the organizational and technical issues associated with courseware production for university courses. We will focus on the production of university courses in which the computer plays a major but not the only role. We consider courses in which students typically spend several hours per week in computer-based activities but may also have lectures, discussions, textbooks, etc. Producing such substantial amounts of computer-based material is quite different from writing a few short programs to be used occasionally as adjuncts to a course, and careful attention must be paid to organizational and technical issues. First we will contrast the advantages and disadvantages of production by teams and by individuals. We favor making it technically and organizationally feasible for individual faculty members to write their own materials if they wish. If the technical tools are good enough to make this feasible, teams can also be more productive. The second part of this paper describes and contrasts existing tools including “formatters, ” non-programming authoring systems, standard programming languages, and special-purpose educational programming languages.
Conducting Heterointerface of Polar-Nonpolar Band Gap Insulators

Recently, the heterointerface between two band insulators, LaAlO3 and SrTiO3 has received much attention due to its high conducting behavior. The origin of conducting carriers at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface has been mainly explained by two distinct models: the polar catastrophe model and the atomic inter-diffusion model. The polar catastrophe model is based on a half electron transferred from polar LaAlO3 to nonpolar SrTiO3 to avoid the divergence of electric field without any atomic diffusions. The atomic inter-diffusion model is based on the transfer of dopants from LaAlO3 to SrTiO3 near the interface. However, the origin of the conducting carriers is still under debate and needs to be investigated further. In this study, we have examined the origin of conducting carriers at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterointerface using the self-consistency calculations of Schrodinger equation and Poisson equation. We have studied the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 heterointerfaces with and without atomic diffusions. From the self-consistency calculations, carrier distributions, band structures, energy levels, and wavefunctions have been obtained. It has been found that the majority of electron is localized within a few nm from the interface forming two-dimensional electron gas, and multi-subbands are occupied indicating a multi-channel conducting behavior. We also calculated the electron mobility at the interface using the linearized Boltzmann equation including various scattering mechanisms, such as acoustic phonon, polar optical phonon, and remote charged layers in LaAlO3. The calculated mobility has been compared with available experimental data as a function of temperature and thickness of LaAlO3.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Flow Development in a Circular Duct With a Highly Distorted Inlet Condition

The development of air flow downstream of a stationary fan located in a circular duct was investigated. The objective of the research was to study the evolution of the velocity profiles and pressure gradients at various axial locations. The velocity profiles were measured at three different Reynolds numbers using a five-hole directional probe. Because the stationary fan caused the inlet velocity profile to be highly distorted, it was determined experimentally that the development length exceeded 20 duct diameters. Since this was greater than the length of the apparatus, a corresponding numerical model of the flow was generated using the commercial CFD software Fluent-6.1/6.2. The numerical model was validated against the experimental results. The hydrodynamic development length was therein determined numerically.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Anal canal duplication associated with presacral cyst

Anal canal duplications are rare congenital malformations, with fewer than 50 reported cases in the literature. Anal canal duplications are noncommunicating second anal orifices located posterior to the true anus without other associated hindgut duplications. Typically, these are asymptomatic, tubular malformations that present in females before the age of 6 years. Here, we report on a 16-year-old girl with a symptomatic anal canal duplication associated with a presacral cystic component. This is an unusual presentation of an already rare entity. An overview of the clinical presentation, radiologic workup, surgical treatment, and histologic features of anal canal duplications is provided.
Monolayer-protected gold nanoparticles prepared using long-chain alkanethioacetates.

This letter describes the preparation of monolayer-protected nanoparticle clusters (MPCs) from the adsorption of n-tetradecanethioacetate onto colloidal gold nanoparticles using the Brust−Schiffrin two-phase synthesis method. The MPCs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet−visible (UV−vis) spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. These studies found that the monolayer coatings on the gold nanoparticles were nearly indistinct with regard to chemical composition, monolayer structure, and Au−S ligation when compared to those prepared from the analogous adsorption of n-tetradecanethiol (i.e., the thioacetate headgroup adsorbs to gold as a thiolate, with concurrent loss of the acetyl group). Under equivalent conditions of formation, however, the size of the gold nanoparticles formed was larger when using the alkanethioacetate adsorbate (e.g., 4.9 ± 1.2 nm) compar...
Improving psychotherapy outcome: the use of immediate electronic feedback and revised clinical support tools.

The benefits of psychotherapy have been well documented; however, 5–10% of clients worsen while in treatment and another minority shows no response. The effects of feedback timing (delayed or immediate) and type (progress feedback and Clinical Support Tool [CST] feedback), aimed at reducing deterioration and improving outcomes, were examined in a sample of 1101 clients whose outcome was contrasted across experimental groups and with two archival groups: a delayed progress feedback and CST feedback group (n = 1374) and a treatment-as-usual control group (n = 1445). Progress feedback to therapists improved outcomes, especially for cases at risk for a negative outcome, but direct progress feedback to clients did not. Effects were significantly enhanced by using the manual-based CST. There were no significant differences in outcome between the 1-week-delayed CST feedback and 2-week-delayed CST feedback groups; however, clients in the week-delayed CST feedback timing condition attended three less sessions, on average, than their 2-week-delayed CST feedback counterparts while maintaining similar treatment gains. Results were interpreted as supporting the value of monitoring client progress and feeding back this information to therapists as well as assisting therapists in problem solving with cases at risk for treatment failure. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photonic radio-frequency arbitrary waveform generation using a virtually-imaged phased-array (VIPA) direct space-to-time pulse shaper at 1.55 /spl mu/m

10-50 GHz arbitrary radio-frequency waveforms with a temporal aperture up to 1.0 ns and peak-to-peak amplitudes as high as 400 mV are generated using a virtually-imaged phased-array direct space-to-time (VIPA-DST) pulse shaper at 1.55 mum
Effect of oxidation on mold compound-copper leadframe adhesion

The effect of oxidation on adhesion between a mold compound and copper leadframe material was investigated for OCN and DCP molding compounds and one copper alloy. The oxidation temperatures selected were 175 and 200/spl deg/C and the bake times were varied between 5 minutes and 118 hours. Adhesion strength results obtained by the button shear test method indicated that the DCP mold compound-Cu adhesion was virtually unaffected by oxidation of the Cu at both 175 and 200/spl deg/C for exposure times up to 50 minutes. The adhesion in the case of the OCN mold compound was lower and exhibited a sharp decrease with increasing bake time at both temperatures. The degradation in adhesion strength was attributed primarily to the low cohesive strength of the copper oxide layer.
The Neurospora crassa mutant NcΔEgt-1 identifies an ergothioneine biosynthetic gene and demonstrates that ergothioneine enhances conidial survival and protects against peroxide toxicity during conidial germination.

Abstract Ergothioneine (EGT) is a histidine derivative with sulfur on the imidazole ring and a trimethylated amine; it is postulated to have an antioxidant function. Although EGT apparently is only produced by fungi and some prokaryotes, it is acquired by animals and plants from the environment, and is concentrated in animal tissues in cells with an EGT transporter. Monobromobimane derivatives of EGT allowed conclusive identification of EGT by LC/MS and the quantification of EGT in Colletotrichum graminicola and Neurospora crassa conidia and mycelia. EGT concentrations were significantly (α = 0.05) higher in conidia than in mycelia, with approximately 17X and 5X more in C. graminicola and N. crassa, respectively. The first EGT biosynthetic gene in a fungus was identified by quantifying EGT in N. crassa wild type and knockouts in putative homologs of actinomycete EGT biosynthetic genes. NcΔEgt-1, a strain with a knockout in gene NCU04343, does not produce EGT, in contrast to the wild type. To determine the effects of EGT in vivo, we compared NcΔEgt-1 to the wild type. NcΔEgt-1 is not pleiotropically affected in rate of hyphal elongation in Vogel’s medium either with or without ammonium nitrate and in the rate of germination of macroconidia on Vogel’s medium. The superoxide-producer menadione had indistinguishable effects on conidial germination between the two strains. Cupric sulfate also had indistinguishable effects on conidial germination and on hyphal growth between the two strains. In contrast, germination of NcΔEgt-1 conidia was significantly more sensitive to tert-butyl hydroperoxide than the wild type; germination of 50% (GI50) of the NcΔEgt-1 conidia was prevented at 2.7 mM tert-butyl hydroperoxide whereas the GI50 for the wild type was 4.7 mM tert-butyl hydroperoxide, or at a 1.7X greater concentration. In the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide and the fluorescent reactive oxygen species indicator 5-(and-6)-carboxy-2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate, significantly (P = 0.0002) more NcΔEgt-1 conidia fluoresced than wild type conidia, indicating that EGT quenched peroxides in vivo. While five to 21-day-old conidia of both strains germinated 100%, NcΔEgt-1 conidia had significantly (P
Prediction, Detection, and Correction of Faraday Rotation in Full-Polarimetric L-Band SAR Data

With the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensor PALSAR onboard the Advanced Land Observing Satellite, a new full-polarimetric spaceborne L-band SAR instrument has been launched into orbit. At L-band, Faraday rotation (FR) can reach significant values, degrading the quality of the received SAR data. One-way rotations exceeding 25 deg are likely to happen during the lifetime of PALSAR, which will significantly reduce the accuracy of geophysical parameter recovery if uncorrected. Therefore, the estimation and correction of FR effects is a prerequisite for data quality and continuity. In this paper, methods for estimating FR are presented and analyzed. The first unambiguous detection of FR in SAR data is presented. A set of real data examples indicates the quality and sensitivity of FR estimation from PALSAR data, allowing the measurement of FR with high precision in areas where such measurements were previously inaccessible. In examples, we present the detection of kilometer-scale ionospheric disturbances, a spatial scale that is not detectable by ground-based GPS measurements. An FR prediction method is presented and validated. Approaches to correct for the estimated FR effects are applied, and their effectiveness is tested on real data.
Maximizing resource sharing in WDM mesh networks with path-based protection and sparse OEO regeneration

We propose a resource-sharing scheme that supports three kinds of sharing scenarios in a WDM mesh network with path-based protection and sparse OEO regeneration. Several approaches are used to maximize the sharing of wavelength-links and OEO regenerators.
Distributed Stochastic Power and Rate Allocation for Energy Minimization in Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we propose a distributed stochastic algorithm for power and rate allocation in ad hoc wireless sensor networks. The problem we deal with is formulated as a transmission-plus-circuit energy optimization problem. We showed that the optimal solution can be obtained by solving two power and rate subproblems while either one parameter is fixed. Based on this result we developed two recursive algorithms for power and rate adaptation, respectively. It has been proved that these two recursive algorithms of updating power and rate will converge to a solution pair minimizing the total energy consumption of all the active sensor nodes in a mean square sense. The rate of convergence of these two algorithms is exponential so that the optimal power and rate values can be achieved in a few bit durations. The simulation results reveal that the energy consumption can be largely reduced if powers and rates are updated via the proposed algorithms.
Multi-detector row CT imaging of blunt abdominal trauma

CT is the imaging modality of choice to evaluate hemodynamically stable patients suffering blunt abdominal trauma. During the past five years, single-slice helical CT has been replaced by multidetector row CT (MDCT). This development has revolutionized cross-sectional imaging for blunt trauma patients. Volumetric imaging with helical CT has been a major factor supporting the nonoperative management of solid organ injury. Trauma centers in the United States are replacing single-slice helical CT scanners with state-of-the-art MDCT in suites proximate to the patient receiving area and with facilities for monitoring and maintaining physiologic support. The ability to obtain high-resolution images with MDCT during optimal contrast enhancement at unparalleled speed helps detect the presence and define the extent of injuries, and crucially, to diagnose hemorrhage and vascular injuries. This article describes our current imaging protocol with MDCT-16 (i.e., 16 detector MDCT), the spectrum of diagnostic findings seen in blunt abdominal injury, and the role of MDCT in the characterization of hemorrhage and planning injury management.
A stochastic approach to Dubins feedback control for target tracking

A nonlinear system gives rise to many inherent difficulties when designing a feedback control. Motivated by a fixed-speed, fixed-altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that tracks an unpredictable target, we seek to control the turning rate of a planar Dubins vehicle. We introduce stochasticity in the problem by assuming the target performs a random walk, which both aides in the computation of a smooth value function and further accounts for all realizations of target kinematics. A Bellman equation based on an approximating Markov chain that is consistent with the stochastic kinematics is used to compute a control policy that minimizes the expected value of a cost function based on a nominal UAV-target distance. Our results indicate how uncertainty in the target motion affects the control law, and simulations illustrate that the control can further be applied to any continuous, smooth trajectory with no need for further computation.
PR-1 gene family of grapevine: a uniquely duplicated PR-1 gene from a Vitis interspecific hybrid confers high level resistance to bacterial disease in transgenic tobacco

A functional contribution of pathogenesis-related 1 (PR-1) proteins to host defense has been established. However, systematic investigation of the PR-1 gene family in grapevine (Vitis spp.) has not been conducted previously. Through mining genomic databases, we identified 21 PR-1 genes from the Vitis vinifera genome. Polypeptides encoded by putative PR-1 genes had a signal sequence of about 25 residues and a mature protein of 10.9–29 kDa in size. PR-1 mature proteins contained a highly conserved six-cysteine motif and pI values ranging from 4.6 to 9. A major cluster with 14 PR-1 genes was mapped to a 280-kb region on chromosome 3. One particular PR-1 gene within the cluster encoding a basic-type isoform (pI 7.77), herein named VvPR1b1, was isolated from various genotypes of grapevine (Vitis spp.) for functional studies. Sequence analysis of PCR-amplified DNA revealed that all genotypes contained a single VvPR1b1 gene except for a broad-spectrum bacterial and fungal disease resistant Florida bunch grape hybrid, ‘BN5-4’, from which seven different homologues were identified. Duplication of VvPR1b1-related genes encoding acidic-type PR-1 isoforms was also observed among several genotypes. However, transgenic expression analysis of grapevine PR-1 genes under strong constitutive promoters in transgenic tobacco revealed that only the basic-type VvPR1b1 gene duplicated in ‘BN5-4’ was capable of conferring high level resistance to bacterial disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci.
Adherence and persistence with single-dosage form extended-release niacin/lovastatin compared with statins alone or in combination with extended-release niacin.

Background:Lipid-lowering therapies have been shown to reduce cardiovascular events and mortality; patient cooperation with therapy varies. A fixed-dose combination product, extended-release niacin/lovastatin (ERNL), has been shown to be beneficial in lipid management; however, little is known regarding patient behavior with ERNL therapy.Objective:To evaluate patient adherence and persistence with ERNL, statin monotherapy (SM), extended-release niacin (ERN) monotherapy, and ERN plus a statin (ERN-S).Methods:Prescription claims for lipid-lowering therapies were obtained from a pharmacy benefits manager between 2002 and 2003. Claims for a total of 2389 patients were analyzed for adherence and persistence, using medication possession ratios (MPRs) and proportions of days covered (PDCs). Adherence and persistence were defined, respectively, as an MPR or PDC greater than or equal to 0.80. Logistic regression was conducted to detect differences among groups. Covariates included age, gender, copay, and number of...
Bronchoscopic Cryobiopsy for the Diagnosis of Diffuse Parenchymal Lung Disease

Background Although in some cases clinical and radiographic features may be sufficient to establish a diagnosis of diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD), surgical lung biopsy is frequently required. Recently a new technique for bronchoscopic lung biopsy has been developed using flexible cryo-probes. In this study we describe our clinical experience using bronchoscopic cryobiopsy for diagnosis of diffuse lung disease. Methods A retrospective study of subjects who had undergone bronchoscopic cryobiopsy for evaluation of DPLD at an academic tertiary care center from January 1, 2012 through January 15, 2013 was performed. The procedure was performed using a flexible bronchoscope to acquire biopsies of lung parenchyma. H&E stained biopsies were reviewed by an expert lung pathologist. Results Twenty-five eligible subjects were identified. With a mean area of 64.2 mm2, cryobiopsies were larger than that typically encountered with traditional transbronchial forceps biopsy. In 19 of the 25 subjects, a specific diagnosis was obtained. In one additional subject, biopsies demonstrating normal parenchyma were felt sufficient to exclude diffuse lung disease as a cause of dyspnea. The overall diagnostic yield of bronchoscopic cryobiopsy was 80% (20/25). The most frequent diagnosis was usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (n = 7). Three of the 25 subjects ultimately required surgical lung biopsy. There were no significant complications. Conclusion In patients with suspected diffuse parenchymal lung disease, bronchoscopic cryobiopsy is a promising and minimally invasive approach to obtain lung tissue with high diagnostic yield.
North-East Asian Seas-Conflicts, Accomplishments and the Role of the U n ited States

North-east Asia does not have a formal maritime regime, and has had to deal with its many conflicts in an ad hoc and pragmatic fashion. The region has three significant conflicts over the sovereignty of islands, numerous unresolved maritime boundary disputes, and confrontational military situations in the Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait. Despite these deep differences, the strong-willed countries of this region have been able to work together to reach bilateral agreements regarding the exploitation of resources. Their fishery agreements have been creative and constructive, and zones of shared exploitation and development have been established where appropriate. The countries of the region now need to seek long-term solutions in order to provide a stable maritime regime, and to deal with the serious environmental problems of their ocean areas. The United States has been a de facto member of this region, because of its role in providing a military balance, and might be able to help mediate some of the festering disputes that interfere with the ability of the countries of North-east Asia to work constructively together.