cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Avocado consumption decreases LDL particle number and small, dense LDL cholesterol in overweight and obese subjects (249.8)

We evaluated the effects of a moderate fat diet high in MUFA provided by one avocado per day on lipoprotein particle number and lipoprotein subfractions compared to a moderate fat diet (with equivalent fatty acid content) and a lower fat diet. A randomized 3-period cross-over, controlled feeding study was conducted in healthy, overweight and obese men and women (n=45, 21-70 years, BMI 25-35 kg/m2) with LDL-C in the 25-90th percentile. Following a 2 wk run-in average American diet (AAD), 3 isocaloric diets (5 wk each) were fed: 1) a lower-fat diet (LF: 24% fat, 59% CHO, 16% PRO); 2) a moderate fat diet providing one HASS avocado/day (136g) (AV: 34% fat, 49% CHO, 16% PRO); and 3) a moderate fat diet using high oleic acid oil as the main source of MUFA (MF: 34% fat, 49% CHO, 16% PRO). Fasting blood samples were collected after each diet. Lipoprotein subfractions were measured by the vertical auto profile (VAP), lipoprotein particle number was measured directly by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscop...
Compressional Heating of Accreting White Dwarfs in CV's

In recent years several Dwarf Novae (DN) systems have been observed in quiescence, when the accretion rate is low and the WD photosphere can be directly detected. The WDs are observed to cool after the DN outburst from high effective temperatures to lower effective temperatures (T_eff) thought to be indicative of the thermal state of the deep interior of the WD. Sion has argued that the most likely energy source for this quiescent luminosity is the gravitational compression of the WD interior, which rejuvenates an otherwise cold WD into a much hotter state. We are undertaking a theoretical study of the compressional heating of WD's, extending down to the very low time averaged accretion rates, ~10^{-11}M_sun/yr, applicable to the post-turnaround CV's (the ``TOADS''). Nuclear burning is unstable at these 's, so we have incorporated the recurrent heating and cooling of the WD throughout the classical novae limit cycle. In addition to self-consistently finding the range of T_eff as a function of during the cycle, we also self-consistently find the ignition masses. Comparing these theoretical masses to the observed ejected masses will tell us whether the WD mass in CV's is secularly increasing or decreasing. We close by comparing our results to the accumulated observations of quiescent DN and making predictions for the colors of low CV's in quiescence that are applicable to searches for faint CVs in the field and galactic globular clusters.
Modeling and Control of Ibuprofen Crystal Growth and Size Distribution

In this work, we focus on multiscale modeling and control of a seeded batch crystallization process used to produce ibuprofen crystals. For the modeling of the crystal growth process, we consider kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) simulations comprising of molecule adsorption, desorption, and migration type microscopic surface events. To account for growth rate variability, we propose a model for growth rate dispersion (GRD), based on available experimental data, which will be applied at the individual crystal growth level in the kMC simulations. Finally, a model predictive controller (MPC) is developed in order to control the crystal size distribution of ibuprofen in the batch crystallization process and the MPC closed-loop performance is compared against constant temperature control (CTC) and constant supersaturation control (CSC) policies. The proposed MPC is able to deal with the constraints of the control problem, in addition to minimizing the spread of the crystal size distribution in a superior fashion compared to the other control methodologies, which improves the crystal product quality at the end of the batch.
Characterization of the brushless, doubly-fed machine by magnetic field analysis

The magnetic fields produced by the stator windings and induced via the rotor of a composite, cascade induction machine are investigated with simplified operating assumptions. The rotor used is the single-layer, modified cage developed by A. R. W. Broadway and L. Burbridge (see Proc. IEE, vol.117, p.1277-90, 1970). The input and control circuits share the same stator coils. The operation of the machine is dependent upon spatial harmonics of the stator and rotor conductor structures; therefore, the spatial harmonic contents of the excitation and induced fields are determined. A design formula for minimizing low-order, undesirable harmonics produced by the stator coils is presented. The form of the field harmonics and their direction of travel with respect to the rotor are established. Based upon the physical interactions of the rotor fields, a novel steady-state equivalent circuit with two excitation sources is established, along with the form of the requisite coupling factors. Contributions of the harmonic fields to the instantaneous and average torques are considered. >
Animal-Assisted Brief Therapy—A Solution-Focused Approach, T. Pichot and M. Coulter

This book was written as a guide for therapists as part of a treatment process. Throughout the 236 pages, the eight chapters and appendices provide specific information on the history, philosophy, ...
A scalable sharing architecture for a parallel database system

Exploiting parallelism is a key to building high-performance database systems. Several approaches to building database systems that support both inter- and intra-query parallelism have been proposed. These approaches can be broadly classified as either Shared Nothing (SN) or Shared Everything (SE). Although the SN approach is highly scalable, it requires complex data partitioning and tuning to achieve good performance whereas the SE approach suffers from non-scalability. We propose a scalable sharing approach which combines the advantages of both SN and SE. We propose a comprehensive database architecture that includes the underlying hardware, and data partitioning and scheduling strategies, to promote scalable sharing. We analyze the performance and scalability of our approach and compare with that of a SN system. We find that for a variety of workloads and data skew our approach performs and scales at least as well as a SN system that uses the best possible data partitioning strategy. >
Physiological roles revealed by ghrelin and ghrelin receptor deficient mice

Ghrelin is a hormone made in the stomach and known primarily for its growth hormone releasing and orexigenic properties. Nevertheless, ghrelin through its receptor, the GHS-R1a, has been shown to exert many roles including regulation of glucose homeostasis, memory & learning, food addiction and neuroprotection. Furthermore, ghrelin could promote overall health and longevity by acting directly in the immune system and promoting an extended antigen repertoire. The development of mice lacking either ghrelin (ghrelin-/-) or its receptor (ghsr-/-) have provided a valuable tool for determining the relevance of ghrelin and its receptor in these multiple and diverse roles. In this review, we summarize the most important findings and lessons learned from the ghrelin-/- and ghsr-/- mice.
Nationalism and Political Development

IF IT WERE NECESSARY to select the most important single force behind the revolutionary drive of the rising peoples of Asia and Africa, the choice would inevitably go to nationalism. For none of its potential rivals can an effective case be made. Indeed, almost all of them contribute in one fashion or another to the mounting nationalist demand. Arnold Toynbee, profuse with capitals, may denounce Nationalism as a "disastrous corruption," "a perversion of Industrialism and Democracy," or "the monstrous outcome of the impact of our modem Western Democracy upon the Parochial State"; but to the peoples newly asserting their claim to equal status in the world, nationalism is the essence of what they seek. In the debates in the United Nations on the Covenants on Human Rights the right of self-determination has frequently been considered the foundation on which all other rights rest; self-determination denied, no other right can be secure. It is in this light that peoples around the globe have viewed nationalism, assuming that the remaining goods they seek will flow from its attainment. The usual version of this goal is an acknowledged equality expressed in sovereign independence; more rarely, an adequate substitute may be found in free association with another country as is the case between Puerto Rico and the United States, or between British Togoland and Ghana, or perhaps within the French Community. The prime rival to nationalism as a driving force is presumed to be the desire for an improved standard of living. From time to time it is asserted that the ordinary poverty-stricken Asian and African is really interested only in seeing an end put to his poverty. This is a highly dubious proposition. The evidence indicates that he regards at least temporary economic privation as an appropriate price to pay for national salvation. It has also been contended that his real demand is for a transition to modernity, as manifested in economic and social development. In some part the pressure for economic development derives from the same root as the desire for an improved standard of living. However, it also has nationalist implications in its drive for equality. (31
Atomic-scale composition fluctuations in III-V semiconductor alloys.

Composition fluctuations in epitaxially grown III-V compound semiconductor alloys are observed with atomic resolution in direct space. A tunneling microscope technique is employed on the (110) cross-sectional plane of epitaxially grown InGaAsP-InP and AlGaAs-GaAs multilayers cleaved in ultrahigh vacuum. The tunneling polarity is used to image the filled-state group-V (As,P) sublattice in InGaAsP and the empty-state group-III (Al,Ga) sublattice in AlGaAs. In both compounds, the atomic-scale variations observed in the charge density reflect the composition fluctuations in the respective sublattices: an attempt is made to identify different elements of similar valence (Al,Ga). The definition of the heterojunction interface can be directly assessed on the atomic scale.
Gamma-ray bursts from magnetospheric plasma oscillations. II - Model spectra

Several mechanisms for the primary release of energy in gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) may result in the excitation of relativistic, magnetospheric plasma oscillations above the polar cap of a neutron star. This paper presents a survey of detailed calculations of the inverse Compton scattering interaction between the sinusoidally accelerated particles in relativistic, magnetospheric plasma oscillations and the self-consistently determined thermal radiation from the stellar surface. The upscattered photons are boosted to gamma-ray energies and a Monte Carlo simulation is used to obtain the spectrum for different viewing angles relative to the magnetic field in the oscillating region. It is shown that several GRB spectral characteristics may be understood in the context of a model wherein the overall spectrum changes with aspect angle as a result of the superposition of four components with different angular distributions.
Homoisoleucine: A translationally-active leucine surrogate of expanded hydrophobic surface area

Hil of a strong peptide! Homoisoleucine (Hil) serves as an effective surrogate for leucine with respect to protein translation in bacterial cells. Replacement of Leu by Hil stabilizes coiled-coil peptides, as shown by the elevation of the thermal denaturation temperature. The increase in denaturation temperature is larger than that observed previously for replacement of Leu by trifluoroleucine.
A rapid method for removal of zinc from the metallo neutral proteases.

Abstract The use of long-term dialysis techniques to prepare apoenzyme from some of the microbial neutral proteases is limited by their instability to these conditions. Gel filtration over Sephadex G-25 equilibrated with pH 7.2 Hepes buffer (0.01 M ) containing 2×10 −3 M 1, 10-phenanthroline and 0.01 M CaCl 2 has proved to be a rapid and efficient method for preparation of apoenzyme for thermolysin and the B. subtilis and B. cereus neutral proteases.
What Is the Optimal Blood Pressure in Patients After Acute Coronary Syndromes? Relationship of Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Events in the Pravastatin or Atorvastatin Evaluation and Infection Therapy–Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (PROVE IT-TIMI) 22 Trial

Background—Aggressive blood pressure (BP) control has been advocated in patients with acute coronary syndrome, but few data exist in this population relative to cardiovascular outcomes. Methods and Results—We evaluated 4162 patients enrolled in the PRavastatin Or atorVastatin Evaluation and Infection Therapy–Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (PROVE IT-TIMI) 22 trial (acute coronary syndrome patients randomized to pravastatin 40 mg versus atorvastatin 80 mg). The average follow-up BP (systolic and diastolic) was categorized into 10-mm Hg increments. The primary outcome was a composite of death due to any cause, myocardial infarction, unstable angina requiring rehospitalization, revascularization after 30 days, and stroke. The secondary outcome was a composite of death due to coronary heart disease, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or revascularization. The relationship between BP (systolic or diastolic) followed a J- or U-shaped curve association with primary, secondary, and individual outcomes, with in...
J-Integral Estimation Procedures

Deux modeles differents sont presentes. Le premier est base sur l'extension de la relaxation de l'energie des deformations elastiques, le second est base sur la difference de potentiel d'energie entre deux eprouvettes ayant des fissures tres peu differentes
Löffler Endocarditis Presenting With Recurrent Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia Diagnosed by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A 56-year-old white man was admitted with palpitations, chest pressure, and dyspnea on exertion. He had an embolic stroke 2 months before admission without a defined embolic source. He had history of well-controlled hypertension and allergic asthma treated with theophylline. On admission, the resting ECG revealed sinus rhythm, right axis deviation, anterolateral ST-segment depression, and a normal QT interval (Figure 1). His cardiac biomarkers were elevated to indicate myocardial injury (troponin I, 2.66 ng/mL; creatine kinase-MB, 5.8 ng/mL). While in hospital, he developed episodes of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (Figure 2) requiring multiple cardioversions and eventually temporary pacing. The initial peripheral blood count revealed a marked leukocytosis (22 000/μL) with a severe hypereosinophilia (47%, 10 000/μL). A transthoracic echocardiogram showed a normal-size left ventricle (LV) with normal global systolic function. The right ventricle (RV) was mildly enlarged with a mildly decreased systolic function. The LV and RV apexes appeared thickened and hypokinetic (Movie I in the online-only Data Supplement). Subsequent left and right cardiac catheterization demonstrated normal coronary arteries and elevated right and left heart filling pressures (right atrial pressure, 20 mm Hg; capillary wedge pressure, 23 mm Hg) with signs of restrictive physiology (Figure 3). An extensive workup for conditions associated with hypereosinophilia was negative. The patient had no rash or other evidence of vasculitis. Parasitosis was ruled out with serial …
Methanol—hydrogen separation by capillary condensation in inorganic membranes

Abstract A NaOH-poisoned γ-alumina membrane with 4-nm diameter pores was used to separate CH3OH from a H2/CH3OH mixture. Between 373 and 473 K, CH3OH condensed in the pores for certain pressure ranges, and was preferentially removed through the pores. Separation factors as high as 600 for CH3OH over H2 were obtained. Capillary condensation was observed at CH3OH pressures (0.60 ± 0.05 Psat) much lower than those predicted by the Kelvin equation. Causes for the deviations are indicated.
Pathophysiology of Pruritus

Pruritus is the result of complex interactions between a stimulus, various mediators, the peripheral and central nervous systems, the subject’s immediate mental state, previous experiences and competing external stimuli. This article discusses what is known of these interactions and how they may apply to pruritus in small animals.
Syntheses of rac/meso-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C5H3)2}-Zr{RN(CH2)3NR}, structural analyses of rac-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C5H3)2}Zr{RN(CH2)3NR} (where R is SiMe3 or Ph), and meso to rac isomerization

Abstract Syntheses of rac/meso-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C5H3)2}Zr{Me3SiN(CH2)3NSiMe3} (rac-3/meso-3) and rac/meso-{PhP(3-t-Bu-C5H3)2}Zr{PhN(CH2)3NPh} (rac-4/meso-4) were achieved by metallation of K2[PhP(3-t-Bu-C5H3)2] · 1.3 THF (2) with Zr{RN(CH2)3NR}Cl2(THF)2 (where R = SiMe3 or Ph, respectively) using ethereal solvent. These isomeric pairs were characterized by 1H, 13C{1H}, and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy; rac-3 and rac-4 were also examined via single crystal X-ray crystallography. The structures of rac-3 and rac-4 are notable in the tendency of the cyclopentadienyl rings towards η3 coordination. While isolated samples of rac-3/meso-3 and rac-4/meso-4 slowly isomerize in tetrahydrofuran-d8 to equilibrium ratios, the isomerization rate for 3 is more than 15-fold greater than that for 4. In addition, equilibrium ratios are rapidly reached when isolated samples of rac-3/meso-3 and rac-4/meso-4 are exposed to tetrabutylammonium chloride in tetrahydrofuran-d8 solvent. We propose that a nucleophile (either chloride or the phosphine interannular linker) brings about dissociation of one cyclopentadienyl ring, thus promoting the rac/meso isomerization mechanism.
THE DISTRIBUTION OF BOWHEAD WHALES, BALAENA MYSTICETUS, IN THE CHUKCHI SEA

Under a U.S.-U.S.S.R. cooperative Marine Mammal Project, shipboard cruises were made in 1979, 1980 and 1982, primarily to determine whether there is a substock of western Arctic bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) that summers in the western Chukchi Sea instead of migrating to the Beaufort Sea. More than 100 bowheads were sighted along the north Chukotka coast of Siberia in October 1979, and more than 200 bowheads were sighted there in September 1980. None were seen anywhere in the Chukchi Sea in late July and August 1982. We conclude that the September and October sightings were of animals returning early from the Beaufort Sea and that, other than occurrences peripheral to the main migration, there are no large concentrations in the Chukchi in the summer and there is apparently no western Chukchi substock.
Concussions in college football A multivariate analysis

The purpose of this investigation was to examine risk patterns of concussion in college football. Multivariate models were used to interpret the data. Specifically, log-linear modeling and analysis techniques were incor porated into the investigation. An average of 49 college teams were studied over the 8 year period 1975 to 1982. This represented over 36,000 athlete-seasons and 395 team-seasons. The data selected were limited to 1,005 game-related concussions. The general hy potheses tested were the null hypothesis that the vari ables of team (offense and defense), player position, situation (rushing and passing), and activity (block and tackle) had no effect on the occurrence of these game- related concussions.It was found that concussions were a persistent and regular but relatively infrequent type of injury in college football. Concussions accounted for 75% of the total number of injuries on or about the head. The injuries were examined relative to player position, situation, and activity using a log-...
Lidocaine Concentrations in Bronchoscopic Specimens

We measured lidocaine concentrations in bronchoscopic specimens and found that bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) concentrations (16 ± 7 μg/ml) were lower than those in bronchial washings (967 ± 379 μg/ml [p 5,000 μg/ml) occurred in one early and two late bronchial washings but no BAL specimens. No correlation between lidocaine dose and measured concentrations was noted in any specimen category; however, highest bronchial washing concentrations occurred with the use of greater than 250 mg of lidocaine. We conclude that BAL specimens are suitable for culturing pathogens that may be inhibited by lidocaine. Furthermore, collecting bronchial washings late in the procedure or limiting the lidocaine dosage do not reliably decrease measured lidocaine concentrations.
The intermolecular dynamics of liquid water

We present the complete intermolecular dynamical spectrum of liquid water, by merging the data sets from femtosecond nonlinear‐optical polarization spectroscopy with the depolarized, Bose–Einstein corrected Raman spectrum to cover the frequency range from 0–1200 cm−1. The impulse response function for liquid water at room temperature is calculated, including all of the intermolecular motions.
OA11.01. Integrative care for the management of low back pain: design of a clinical care pathway

Purpose For the treatment of chronic back pain, it has been theorized that integrative care plans can lead to better outcomes than those achieved by monodisciplinary care alone, especially when using a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and non-hierarchical team approach. This paper describes the development and implementation of a care pathway designed to guide treatment by an integrative group of providers within a randomized controlled trial.
The Word Accentuation Test - Chicago

A reading test for Spanish speakers in the United States was developed called the Word Accentuation Test-Chicago. The construction and validation of this 40 item test was modeled after reading tests developed in Spain and Argentina, and is based on irregular accentuation of words. The Word Accentuation Test-Chicago was validated on 45 community participants using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III in Spanish. Better reading performance was associated with higher intelligence test performance, with an additional 5% of the variation in intelligence score accounted for by reading performance after controlling for age and education. These results indicate that the Word Accentuation Test-Chicago is a psychometrically sound measure of Spanish reading ability that is robustly related to general cognitive ability.
Cardiac‐Like Action Potentials Recorded from Spontaneously‐Contracting Structures Induced in Post‐Nodal Pieces of Chick Blastoderm Exposed to an RNA‐Enriched Fraction from Adult Heart

In 19–20-h-old chick embryonic blastoderm, the portion anterior to Hensen's node contains the cells which are destined to give rise to the heart, whereas the cells in the portion of the blastoderm posterior to Hensen's node (the post-nodal piece, PNP) normally do not. However, when the PNP was isolated from the blastoderm by cutting 0.6 mm posterior to Hensen's node and the isolated PNP was exposed to an RNA-enriched extract obtained from adult chicken heart, a spontaneously contracting tubular structure was formed in vitro within 1 week. Typical cardiac action potentials, both spontaneous and evoked, were recorded by intracellular microelectrodes from cells within these contracting tubules. Actinomycin D or cycloheximide prevented the inducing effect of the RNA extract. Induction of tubule formation and the appearance of excitability did not occur in untreated controls or in PNPs treated with RNA-containing extracts from adult chicken liver. These results indicate that cells not originally destined to become myocardial cells can be induced to gain many of the properties of heart cells by an RNA-enriched fraction from adult heart, and that this induction is dependent upon protein synthesis. Although it is not known what substance is the active principle, it is likely to be RNA.
Scaling behavior of semiclassical gravity

Using the idea of metric scaling we examine the scaling behavior of the stress tensor of a scalar quantum field in curved space-time. The renormalization of the stress tensor results in a departure from naive scaling. We view the process of renormalizing the stress tensor as being equivalent to renormalizing the coupling constants in the Lagrangian for gravity (with terms quadratic in the curvature included). Thus the scaling of the stress tensor is interpreted as a nonnaive scaling of these coupling constants. In particular, we find that the cosmological constant and the gravitational constant approach UV fixed points. The constants associated with the terms which are quadratic in the curvature logarithmically diverge. This suggests that quantum gravity is asymptotically scale invariant.
Propranolol in the treatment of hypertension.

With heightened awareness of the need for better treatment of millions of hypertensive patients, physicians have markedly increased their use of antihypertensive drugs in the past few years. Empiri...
Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension.

The diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension first requires a clinical suspicion, as symptoms are often nonspecific. After the diagnosis is made, appropriate classification into the various categories of pulmonary hypertension is essential in order to manage the patient’s disease and symptoms appropriately. Therapy is targeted at the underlying cause of the pulmonary hypertension, as well as its effects on the cardiovascular system. Until recently, the treatment of both primary and secondary pulmonary arterial hypertension was limited to supportive therapy alone. With the advent of novel therapeutic agents, more focused therapies designed to treat the pulmonary vasculopathy have become available. These include pulmonary vasodilators such as continuous intravenous prostacyclin, and experimental agents currently undergoing clinical trials. For patients with pulmonary hypertension secondary to pulmonary venous hypertension, therapies differ. In cases where there is left-sided heart disease leading to pulmonary venous hypertension, treatment is aimed at repairing or ameliorating the underlying heart disease. Patients with pulmonary venous hypertension due to extrinsic compression of the central pulmonary veins, or pulmonary veno-occlusive disease have few options, and treatment is generally palliative. In patients with pulmonary hypertension that is associated with disorders of the respiratory system or hypoxemia, the pulmonary hypertension is due to a reactive pulmonary vasoconstriction. Reversal of this vasoconstriction with pulmonary vasodilators can be harmful because of the risk of increasing perfusion to nonventilated lung units. Pulmonary hypertension due to chronic thrombotic or embolic disease can be treated surgically, if the obstructive thrombi are proximal enough for the surgeon to resect them. More distal pulmonary emboli, however, cannot be resected, but there is emerging evidence that the chronic administration of pulmonary vasodilators can be effective in treating this form of the disease.
Cognitive profiles in dementia: Alzheimer disease vs healthy brain aging.

Objective: To re-examine proposed models of cognitive test performance that concluded separate factor structures were required for people with Alzheimer disease (AD) and older adults without dementia. Methods: Five models of cognitive test performance were compared using multistep confirmatory factor analysis in 115 individuals with autopsy-confirmed AD and 191 research participants without clinical dementia from longitudinal studies at the Washington University AD Research Center. The models were then cross-validated using independent samples of 323 people with clinically diagnosed dementia of the Alzheimer type and 212 cognitively healthy older adults. Results: After controlling for Alzheimer-specific changes in episodic memory, performance on the battery of tests used here was best represented in people both with and without dementia by a single model of one general factor and three specific factors (verbal memory, visuospatial ability, and working memory). Performance by people with dementia was lower on the general factor than it was by those without dementia. Larger variances associated with the specific factors in the group with dementia indicated greater individual differences in the pattern of cognitive deficits in the stage of AD. Conclusions: A hybrid model of general and specific cognitive domains simplifies cognitive research by allowing direct comparison of normal aging and Alzheimer disease performance. The presence of a general factor maximizes detection of the dementia, whereas the specific factors reveal the heterogeneity of dementia’s associated cognitive deficits. GLOSSARY: AD = Alzheimer disease; BD = Block Design; BNT = Boston Naming Test; BVRT = Benton Visual Retention Test; CDR = Clinical Dementia Rating; CFA = confirmatory factor analysis; CFI = comparative fit index; DAT = dementia of the Alzheimer type; DS-B = Digit Span Backward; DS-F = Digit Span Forward; DSym = Digit Symbol; INFO = information; LBs = Lewy bodies; LM = Logical Memory; MC = Mental Control; NIA = National Institute on Aging; PA = Paired Associate Learning; RMSEA = root mean square error of approximation; TOI = tests of invariance; TRA = Trailmaking A; WF = Word Fluency.
Pre-oxygenation enhances induction with sevoflurane as assessed using bispectral index monitoring.

Background: Several methods may enhance the inhalational induction of anesthesia. In this randomized double-blind study, we evaluated the speed of induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane with or without pre-oxygenation. Methods: Fifty-four patients scheduled for hysteroscopy received for 10 min air or 100% oxygen via a facemask followed by ≥ 7% sevoflurane in 100% oxygen. During the first 300 s of sevoflurane administration, bispectral index (BIS) values were recorded every 30 s in all patients. In 14 patients, seven in each group, BIS, endtidal CO2, tidal volume, respiratory rate, SpO2, and heart rate were recorded every minute during the pre-induction period and every 30 s during the first 5 min of sevoflurane administration. Results: The BIS, endtidal CO2, tidal volume and respiratory rate did not differ between the oxygen or air breathing groups (P = 0.696, P = 0.999, P = 0.388, and P = 0.875, respectively), though the oxygen group exhibited lower tidal volumes by 16–20%. The SpO2 and heart rates were higher in the oxygen breathing group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.042, respectively). During sevoflurane administration, BIS values were lower in the oxygen group vs. the group breathing air, in particular at 90, 120, 150, 180 and 210 s (P = 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.001 and P = 0.030, respectively). The endtidal CO2 and the tidal volumes between the groups did not differ. The two groups differed in the SpO2 and the heart rates during induction (P = 0.004 and 0.003, respectively). Conclusions: Before sevoflurane administration, breathing 100% oxygen for 10 min enhances induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane.
The course of inattentive and hyperactive–impulsive symptoms in children with new onset seizures

The purpose of the present study was to determine the prevalence of inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms in children with newly diagnosed epilepsy, explore the course of these symptoms over time, and examine factors associated with change in these symptoms. Parents of children (n=42) were administered the Attention Deficit Disorder Evaluation Scale-Home Version (ADDES-HV) at the time of diagnosis. The ADDES-HV was readministered after the child's seizures were controlled. Prior to initiation of anticonvulsant therapy, 31% of the children were rated as having clinically significant problems with inattention and 31% with hyperactivity-impulsivity. At follow-up, 27% had elevated symptoms of inattention and 24% had hyperactivity-impulsivity. Analysis of this change indicated that children with a normal MRI were more likely to have decreased hyperactive-impulsive behaviors following control of their seizures. Results suggest the need for assessment and monitoring of attention in children with epilepsy.
WE-A-BRB-08: Comparison of Brachytherapy Dose Distribution Using the Gamma-Index Method

Purpose: The gamma‐index method was developed to quantitatively compare treatment planning system (TPS)‐derived dose distributions for external‐beam radiotherapy with measured dose distributions. However, the clinical medical physicist does not measure brachytherapydose distributions and the use of this method for brachytherapy appears novel. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of several TPS‐derived brachytherapydose distributions in comparison to reference brachytherapydose distributions, and suggest dose and distance criteria such as those recommended in the AAPM Task Group 56 report. Methods: Reference brachytherapydose distributions from Monte Carlo(MC) simulations were commissioned into the Pinnacle TPS. MC and TPS dose distributions for several HDR and LDR sources were imported into the OmniPro I'mRT software and compared. Sensitivity of distance‐to‐agreement for 1 mm = = 3 mm and delta(D) >= 3% criteria, r = 50%/mm). A potentially useful standard is delta(d) = 2 mm and delta(D) = 2%. Conclusions: The gamma‐index method was used to evaluate brachytherapydose distribution comparisons, and agreement criteria were proposed. The medical physics community may further investigate this method and consider standardized criteria for brachytherapydosimetry.
Using peer mentors during periods of uncertainty

This article shows how peer relationships in work settings can affect adjustments and personal and professional growth during stressful periods caused by mergers and acquisitions. After identifying subordinate, peer and mentoring relationships and demonstrating how individuals normally form such relationships at various career stages, the study finds that peer relationships may provide an antidote to stress at all professional levels. Moreover, accountants tend to favor the psycho‐social aspect of peer relationships during and after a merger.
Detecting and destroying cancer cells in more than one way with noble metals and different confinement properties on the nanoscale.

Today, 1 in 2 males and 1 in 3 females in the United States will develop cancer at some point during their lifetimes, and 1 in 4 males and 1 in 5 females in the United States will die from the disease. New methods for detection and treatment have dramatically improved cancer care in the United States. However, as improved detection and increasing exposure to carcinogens has led to higher rates of cancer incidence, clinicians and researchers have not balanced that increase with a similar decrease in cancer mortality rates. This mismatch highlights a clear and urgent need for increasingly potent and selective methods with which to detect and treat cancers at their earliest stages.Nanotechnology, the use of materials with structural features ranging from 1 to 100 nm in size, has dramatically altered the design, use, and delivery of cancer diagnostic and therapeutic agents. The unique and newly discovered properties of these structures can enhance the specificities with which biomedical agents are delivered, ...
ASSESSMENT OF TEACHERS' BELIEFS ABOUT CLASSROOM USE OF CRITICAL-THINKING ACTIVITIES

This article reports five studies in which a scale for assessing teachers’ beliefs about classroom use of critical-thinking (CT) activities was developed and its scores evaluated for reliability and validity. The Critical Thinking Belief Appraisal (CTBA) is based on a four-factor “advantage effect” model: the theoretical premise that teachers’ CT-related decision making is associated with their beliefs about the effectiveness of (a) high-CT activities for high-advantage learners, (b) high-CT activities for low-advantage learners, (c) low-CT activities for high-advantage learners, and (d) low-CT activities for low-advantage learners. Results indicated that the scale produced scores with high reliability; a stable factor structure; and satisfactory discriminant, construct, and predictive validity. The studies supported the theoretical and practical utility of the construct and measure of teachers’ beliefs about classroom use of CT activities.
Regional pulmonary function in metastatic carcinoma to the lung studied with xenon‐133

Lung function was studied in 21 patients with nodular pulmonary metastases. Routine pulmonary function studies demonstrated that reduction in vital capacity and arterial PO2, related to the degree of tumor involvement, are characteristic features of metastatic lung disease. The reduced arterial PO2 is largely explained by increased right to left shunt. Regional pulmonary function studied with xenon-133 and 8 scintillation detectors revealed frequent ventilatory defects in the vicinity of single metastases. In patients with multiple bilateral metastases, defects in pulmonary blood flow and ventilation were commonly observed in the vicinity of the tumor masses.
Age and maturing out of heavy drinking among Anglo and minority male drinkers: A comparison of cross-sectional data and retrospective drinking history techniques

Data from a random sample of 164 Anglo, 168 African American, and 149 Mexican American male regular drinkers compare the use of cross-sectional data on current consumption patterns versus retrospective lifetime drinking history data in studying ethnic differences in "maturing out" of heavy drinking among male drinkers. Crosssectional analyses among males in their 20s, 30s, and 40s on current consumption indexes suggest that maturing out of heavy drinking may be more of an Anglo phenomenon. Drinking history analyses suggest that the process takes place in both majority and minority male drinkers in their 20s, although slightly earlier among Anglos. Although Mexican Americans were less likely to report heavy or problem drinking stages, heavy drinkers in this ethnic group reported heavy drinking earlier and for longer periods of time than did otherdrinkers. Analyses suggest that ethnic differences in the maturing out phenomenon may be more subtle than is suggested in the cross-sectional analysis.
A randomized, clinical trial of a home safety intervention based in an emergency department setting.

Objective. To assess the effectiveness of an emergency department (ED)-based home safety intervention on caregivers’ behaviors and practices related to home safety. Methods. We conducted a randomized, clinical trial of 96 consecutive caregivers of children who were younger than 5 years and presented to an urban pediatric ED for evaluation of an acute unintentional injury sustained in the home. After completing a structured home safety questionnaire via face-to-face interview, caregivers were randomly assigned to receive either comprehensive home safety education and free safety devices or focused, injury-specific ED discharge instructions. Participants were contacted by telephone 2 months after the initial ED visit for repeat administration of the safety questionnaire. The pretest and posttest questionnaires were scored such that the accrual of points correlated with reporting of safer practices. Scores were then normalized to a 100-point scale. The overall safety score reflected performance on the entire questionnaire, and the 8 category safety scores reflected performance in single areas of home injury prevention (fire, burn, poison, near-drowning, aspiration, cuts/piercings, falls, and safety device use). The main outcome was degree of improvement in safety practices as assessed by improvement in safety scores. Results. The intervention group demonstrated a significantly higher average overall safety score at follow-up than the control group (73.3% ± 8.4% vs 66.8% ±11.1) and significant improvements in poison, cut/piercing, and burns category scores. Caregivers in the intervention group also demonstrated greater improvement in reported use of the distributed safety devices. Conclusions. This educational and device disbursement intervention was effective in improving the home safety practices of caregivers of young children. Moreover, the ED was used effectively to disseminate home injury prevention information.
Use of ACR Method to Estimate Closure and Residual Stress Free Small Crack Growth Data

Life predictions for small cracks emanating from material inhomogeneities or small flaws caused by manufacturing or corrosion damage are becoming increasingly important for several reasons, including: concerns over widespread fatigue damage; a shift in philosophy for fatigue initiation design from stress-life (S-N) to the equivalent initial flaw size (EIFS) approach, and the greater usage of unitized structure. For these reasons, development of accurate fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) data in the near threshold region is needed, which is not influenced by closure or residual stress. Threshold data ARE often generated from long crack specimens by load shedding as outlined in ASTM E 647. However, this data can be non-conservative and variable due to load history effects caused by crack closure. Generating closure-free short crack FCGR data requires much more sophisticated instrumentation and testing techniques than long crack testing, making it prohibitively expensive to perform on a routine basis. Small crack tests also sample only a small volume of material and typically exhibit large scatter, so multiple tests must be performed in order to determine the typical or average behavior of the material. As a result of these disadvantages, use of long crack tests to estimate short crack behavior is the preferred approach. The objective of this study was to evaluate the adjusted compliance ratio (ACR) method for obtaining residual stress and closure-free data from long crack tests and to compare the ACR method against the current ASTM opening load method. The ACR method was developed by Donald for estimating the closure-free ΔKeff FCGR curve from standard long crack tests. To evaluate the method's ability to estimate closure-free data, standard ASTM long crack tests and short corner crack tests were conducted on 7075-T651 and 2324-T39 alloys. The ΔKeff FCGR data resulting from the application of the ACR method to the ASTM long crack test results were then compared with the closure-free short corner crack data. Additionally, to assess the method's ability to account for residual stresses, long crack tests using ASTM standard middle crack and compact tension specimens, prepared from alloy 7055-T74511, were conducted, and the resulting ΔKapplied and ΔKeff FCGR data were compared.
Gender and aggression in marital relationships : A life-span perspective

This study examines the relationship between age, gender, and marital aggression by comparing conflict resolution strategies, physical aggression, and injury across 6,185 married young, middle and older aged men and women. We found a consistent age effect such that younger participants used more maladaptive conflict resolution strategies, engaged in more physical arguments, and sustained more injuries than older participants. In terms of gender differences, women compared to men used calm discussions less (the least reported by women who were young) and heated arguments more. Analyses on the relation among age, gender, and injuries showed that more young and middle-aged women than men reported that they had sustained injuries at the hands of their spouse and more young men than women reported inflicting injury on their spouse. The results are discussed in relation to research on gender differences in intimate violence and the association of age and intimate aggression in general.
Photovoltaic Devices with a Low Band Gap Polymer and CdSe Nanostructures Exceeding 3% Efficiency

We report the fabrication and measurement of solar cells approaching a power conversion efficiency of 3.2% using a low band gap conjugated polymer poly[2,6-(4,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b′]dithiophene)-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] and CdSe nanoparticles. These devices exhibit an external quantum efficiency (EQE) of >30% in a broad range of 350−800 nm with a maximum EQE of 55% in a range of 630−720 nm. We also present certified device efficiencies of 3.13% under AM 1.5 illumination.
Multiple analogues of binomial coefficients and families of related special numbers

Multiple qt-binomial coefficients and multiple analogues of several celebrated families of related special numbers are constructed in this paper. These higher-dimensional generalizations include the first and the second kind of qt-Stirling numbers, qt-Bell numbers, qt-Bernoulli numbers, qt-Catalan numbers and the qt-Fibonacci numbers. Certain significant applications are also studied including two discrete probability measures on the set of all integer partitions.
Workload- based power management for parallel computer systems

This paper describes and evaluates predictive power management algorithms that we have developed to minimize energy consumption and unmet demand in parallel computer systems. The algorithms are evaluated using workload data obtained from production servers from several applications, showing that energy savings of 20% or more can readily be achieved, with a small degree of unmet demand and acceptable reliability, availability, and serviceability (RAS) impact. The implementation of these algorithms in IBM system management software and the possibilities for future work are discussed.
Chemical Composition and Vitamin Content of Royal Jelly.

SummaryThe composition and vitamin content of royal jelly, the substance responsible for the differentiation of the two castes of the female honeybee (Apis mellifera L.), has been determined by standard chemical methods and biological assays. Royal jelly has the following chemical composition: moisture, 66.05%; protein, 12.34%; total lipid, 5.46%; total reducing substance, 12.49%; ash, 0.82%; undetermined, 2.84%. Royal jelly protein has an average digestion coefficient of 81% and a biological value of 75% as determined by the Mitchell method. Royal jelly proved to be a good source of vitamin B1, containing from 1.0 to 1.5 international units per gram. It contained no demonstrable amount of vitamin A or vitamin C. It has been previously shown that royal jelly contains little, if any, vitamin E.
Electrographic studies of isoflurane (Forane)

Abstract In cats with electrodes chronically implanted in selected structures of limbic, sensory and diffuse projection systems, anaesthetic concentrations of isoflurane (Forane ® ) induced spontaneous high voltage spike activity, occasionally interrupted by brief periods of burst suppression. Significant residual behavioural or electrographic disturbances were not observed over a 14-day period after exposure to the anaesthetic. In acute experiments, evoked responses recorded in primary somatosensory pathways were little affected by anaesthetic concentrations of isoflurane, while those recorded in structures of the diffuse projection system were markedly depressed. The relation of isoflurane to its structural isomer enflurane (Ethrane ® ), is discussed.
The Conjunctive Analysis of Case Configurations: An Exploratory Method for Discrete Multivariate Analyses of Crime Data

Derived from comparative approaches in both qualitative and quantitative research, the current study describes a simple exploratory technique for the multivariate analysis of categorical data. This technique is referred to as the conjunctive analysis of case configurations. After describing the logic and underlying assumptions of this conjunctive method, it is applied and illustrated in the study of the federal sentencing of drug offenders. The relative value of this conjunctive approach for purposes of exploratory data analysis and its overall utility as a method for confirmatory research are also discussed.