cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intraglottal velocity and pressure measurements in a hemilarynx model

Determining the mechanisms of self-sustained oscillation of the vocal folds requires characterization of the pressures produced by intraglottal aerodynamics. Because most of the intraglottal aerodynamic forces cannot be measured in a tissue model of the larynx, current understanding of vocal fold vibration mechanism is derived from mechanical, analytical, and computational models. Previous studies have computed intraglottal pressures from measured intraglottal velocity fields and intraglottal geometry; however, this technique for determining pressures is not yet validated. In this study, intraglottal pressure measurements taken in a hemilarynx model are compared with pressure values that are computed from simultaneous velocity measurements. The results showed that significant negative pressure formed near the superior aspect of the folds during closing, which agrees with previous measurements in other hemilarynx models. Intraglottal velocity measurements show that the flow near the superior aspect separates from the glottal wall during closing and may develop into a vortex, which further augments the magnitude of negative pressure. Intraglottal pressure distributions, computed by solving the pressure Poisson equation, showed good agreement with pressure measurements. The match between the pressure computations and its measurements validates the current technique, which was previously used to estimate intraglottal pressure distribution in a full larynx model.
Effect of varied question format on boaters’ norms

Studies on recreationists’ norms from different sites have reported different percentages of recreationists who have norms, leading some to question whether such differences result from different question formats. A random sample of 365 boaters on the Clackamas River in Oregon was used to explore the effects of two formats on the presence of norms for three social impacts (encounters with other boaters, time waiting at launch site, and percentage of time in sight of other boaters) and on the level of agreement among those boaters who had personal norms. In a two‐choice format, boaters could state a norm or indicate that the impact did not matter to them. A three‐choice format added a third option: “The impact matters to me, but I cannot give a number.’’ Between 16 and 39% of boaters selected the third option, depending on the impact in question. The three‐choice format resulted in fewer boaters saying they had norms, but also lowered the variability among those who gave norms.
Goal Orientations: Two, Three, or More Factors?

Goal orientation research has developed two branches. One branch uses a two-factor dispositional model. The other branch uses a three-factor domain-specific model. The present multiwave study exami...
General conditions for the unique solvability of initial-value problem for nonlinear functional differential equations

We establish general conditions for the unique solvability of the Cauchy problem for systems of nonlinear functional differential equations.
A representation of Gaussian processes

Abstract A problem of great interest which has been treated by many authors is that of determining the properties of the envelope of noise with or without carriers. In Rice's classical paper [Mathematical analysis of random noise, Bell Syst. tech. J. 24 (1), 46–156] a Gaussian noise current is decomposed into two independent orthogonal Gaussian processes with the same variance. This decomposition and the numerous corollaries derived from it are open to criticism on two counts. First, they are based on heuristic, nonrigorous, arguments. Second, they are based on a special formulation for stationary Gaussian noise. In this brief paper we show that the decomposition together with the associated properties can be deduced in a mathematically sound fashion for any stationary Gaussian process.
Evaluation of a fiber optic immunosensor for quantitating cocaine in coca leaf extracts

A fiber optic evanescent fluoroimmunosensor was used to rapidly detect and quantitate coca alkaloids as cocaine equivalents in leaf extracts of five Erythroxylum species. A monoclonal antibody (mAb) made against benzoylecgonine (BE), a major metabolite of cocaine, was immobilized covalently on quartz fibers and used as the biological sensing element in the portable fluorometer. Benzoylecgonine-fluorescein (BE-FL) was used as the optical signal generator when it bound to the fiber. If present, cocaine competed for the mAb and interfered with the binding of BE-FL, thereby reducing the fluorescence transmitted by the fiber. Calibration curves were prepared by measuring (over 30 s) the rates of fluorescence increase in the absence, or presence of cocaine. Ethanol or acid extracts of dry coca leaves were assayed by this fiber optic biosensor, gas chromatography and a fluorescent polarization immune assay. Biosensor values of cocaine content of leaves from five Erythroxylum species were not significantly different from gas chromatography values, but had higher variance. The biosensor assay was rapid and did not require cleanup of the crude leaf extracts. Cocaine in acid extracts was reduced significantly after 4 weeks at 23 degrees C and after 3 weeks at 37 degrees C. Fibers (mAb-coated), stored at 37 degrees C in phosphate-buffered solution (0.02% NaN3), gave stable responses for 14 days.
Sodium‐Ion Batteries

The status of ambient temperature sodium ion batteries is reviewed in light of recent developments in anode, electrolyte and cathode materials. These devices, although early in their stage of development, are promising for large-scale grid storage applications due to the abundance and very low cost of sodium-containing precursors used to make the components. The engineering knowledge developed recently for highly successful Li ion batteries can be leveraged to ensure rapid progress in this area, although different electrode materials and electrolytes will be required for dual intercalation systems based on sodium. In particular, new anode materials need to be identified, since the graphite anode, commonly used in lithium systems, does not intercalate sodium to any appreciable extent. A wider array of choices is available for cathodes, including high performance layered transition metal oxides and polyanionic compounds. Recent developments in electrodes are encouraging, but a great deal of research is necessary, particularly in new electrolytes, and the understanding of the SEI films. The engineering modeling calculations of Na-ion battery energy density indicate that 210 Wh kg−1 in gravimetric energy is possible for Na-ion batteries compared to existing Li-ion technology if a cathode capacity of 200 mAh g−1 and a 500 mAh g−1 anode can be discovered with an average cell potential of 3.3 V.
Prognosis of airway obstruction and feeding difficulty in the Robin sequence.

Objective To evaluate the course and prognosis of airway obstruction and feeding difficulty in the Pierre Robin sequence (PRS). Methods Retrospective review of 60 patients with PRS between 1993 and 2002 at the University of California, Davis Medical Center. Patients were placed into diagnostic subgroups: (1) Isolated PRS; (2) Syndromic PRS (known syndrome with PRS); (3) Unique PRS (unique anomalies with PRS). Data regarding severity, duration, and management of airway obstruction and feeding difficulty were collected. Results Airway obstruction requiring intervention beyond positional therapy was seen in 28% isolated, 42% syndromic, and 58% unique PRS. One-third of patients who failed positional therapy were temporarily stabilized with a nasopharyngeal airway or endotracheal intubation. The remaining two-thirds of patients, who failed positional therapy required a surgical airway procedure. Four patients underwent mandibular distraction osteogenesis, resulting in successful decannulation or avoidance of tracheostomy. Thirteen patients underwent tracheostomy; mean duration of tracheostomy-dependence was 17.0 months in Isolated PRS and 31.7 months in Unique PRS (p < 0.01). Successful decannulation by age of 3 years was confirmed in 85% of patients who underwent tracheostomy. Tube feeding was required in 53% Isolated, 67% Syndromic, and 83% Unique PRS. Forty-two percent of PRS patients with a successful positional airway still demonstrated feeding difficulty. Short-term (0–3 months) and intermediate (4–18 months) tube feeding was more commonly required in Isolated and Syndromic PRS, while long-term (beyond 18 months) gastrostomy tube feeding was more commonly required in Unique PRS (p < 0.01). By 3 years of age, a successful oral diet was seen in 91% Isolated, 92% Syndromic, and 78% Unique PRS. Conclusions Diagnostic subgroups based on the presence of additional anomalies help families and physicians in understanding the severity and duration of feeding and airway difficulty in PRS. Two-thirds of PRS patients who fail positional therapy may ultimately require a surgical airway procedure. Feeding difficulty can be present in the absence of clinically significant airway obstruction. Families and physicians should be encouraged that by 3 years of age, most patients were successfully taking an oral diet without airway obstruction.
Diffusional edge enhancement observed by NMR in thin glass capillaries

Abstract In NMR microscopy the effect of molecular diffusion is usually to degrade resolution and sensitivity due to destructive interference of signals from the moving spins. In samples there may exist regions that differ markedly in the translational diffusion coefficient of the molecules whose spatial distribution is being imaged, and in particular, samples may contain barriers impermeable to the translating spins. We present an experimental demonstration that, in the presence of a magnetic field gradient, a reduction in the translational mean free path of liquid molecules, due to barriers, results in the enhancement of magnetization near barriers. Monte Carlo simulations are compared with experiments. The observed effects are induced by barriers not compartmentalization. This edge enhancement may provide a means through NMR microscopy of visualizing small impermeable structures that might otherwise be invisible.
Reinvestigation of the claim that bis-(η5-cyclopentadienyl)tin(II) and (η5-cyclo-pentadienyl)tricarbonyltungsten hydride form bis-[(η5-cyclopentadienyl)tricarbonyltungsten]tin(II)

Bis-(η5-cyclopentadienyl)tin(II) and (η5-cyclopentadienyl)tricarbonyltungsten hydride form tris-[(η5-cyclopentadienyl)tricarbonyltungsten]tin(IV) hydride which is readily halogenated by halogenated hydro-carbon solvents to form the corresponding tin(IV) halides rather than the bis-[(η5-cyclopentadienyl)tricarbonyl-tungsten]tin(II) product previously claimed.
Adjusting the 1980 census of population and housing.

Abstract In 1980, several cities and states sued the U.S. Census Bureau to correct census results. This correction would adjust for the differential undercounting of Blacks and Hispanics, especially in cities. In this article, the authors, each of whom testified for New York City and State in their joint lawsuit against the Census Bureau, describe the likely pattern of the undercount and present a method to adjust for it. We first explain why the undercount is concentrated among minority populations living in large cities. We describe the demographic and survey data available for adjustment from the Census Bureau's Post Enumeration Program. We present adjustment results obtained by two simple methods—synthetic estimation, and sample estimation for a few large subclasses. The Census Bureau used the latter method, known as the National Vacancy Check, to adjust the results of the 1970 census. We also describe our regression-based, composite method for adjustment. This method takes sample estimates of the und...
Human egasyn binds beta-glucuronidase but neither the esterase active site of egasyn nor the C terminus of beta-glucuronidase is involved in their interaction.

Lysosomal beta-glucuronidase shows a dual localization in mouse liver, where a significant fraction is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by interaction with an ER-resident carboxyl esterase called egasyn. This interaction of mouse egasyn (mEg) with murine beta-glucuronidase (mGUSB) involves binding of the C-terminal 8 residues of the mGUSB to the carboxylesterase active site of the mEg. We isolated the recombinant human homologue of the mouse egasyn cDNA and found that it too binds human beta-glucuronidase (hGUSB). However, the binding appears not to involve the active site of the human egasyn (hEg) and does not involve the C-terminal 18 amino acids of hGUSB. The full-length cDNA encoding hEg was isolated from a human liver cDNA library using full-length mEg cDNA as a probe. The 1941-bp cDNA differs by only a few bases from two previously reported cDNAs for human liver carboxylesterase, allowing the anti-human carboxylesterase antiserum to be used for immunoprecipitation of human egasyn. The cDNA expressed bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate (BPNP)-inhibitable esterase activity in COS cells. When expressed in COS cells, it is localized to the ER. The intracellular hEg coimmunoprecipitated with full-length hGUSB and with a truncated hGUSB missing the C-terminal 18-amino-acid residue when extracts of COS cells expressing both proteins were treated with anti-hGUSB antibody. It did not coimmunoprecipitate with mGUSB from extracts of coexpressing COS cells. Unlike mEg, hEg was not released from the hEg-GUSB complex with BPNP. Thus, hEg resembles mEg in that it binds hGUSB. However, it differs from mEg in that (i) it does not appear to use the esterase active site for binding since treatment with BPNP did not release hEg from hGUSB and (ii) it does not use the C terminus of GUSB for binding, since a C-terminal truncated hGUSB (the C-terminal 18 amino acids are removed) bound as well as nontruncated hGUSB. Evidence is presented that an internal segment of 51 amino acids between 228 and 279 residues contributes to binding of hGUSB by hEg.
The quality and effectiveness of descriptive rubrics

This review synthesizes the findings of studies of the use of rubrics in education settings published from 2005 to 2013. The review included studies only if the rubrics involved met the definition of having coherent sets of criteria and performance level descriptions for those criteria. Compared to the results of a previous review by Jonsson and Svingby (Educational Research Review 2(2): 130–144, 2007), the frequency, scope, and rigor of studies of rubrics have increased in recent years. Rubrics yield information of sufficient quality if certain conditions are met, most notably having clear and focused criteria. Evidence regarding the effects of rubrics on performance is positive overall. Evidence of the effects of rubrics on self-regulation of learning is mixed, though positive associations between rubric use and motivation to learn were identified in some studies.
Atrial Natriuretic Peptides and Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate Metabolism

Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), consisting of amino acids 99-126 of the 126 amino acid ANF prohormone, increases cyclic guanosine monophosphate (GMP) (thought to be the mediator of its physiologic effects) in plasma and urine of human subjects. Long-acting natriuretic peptide, vessel dilator, and kaliuretic peptide, consisting of amino acid 1-30, 31-67, and 79-98, respectively, of this same prohormone have natriuretic, diuretic, kaliuretic, and blood pressure lowering properties in humans. These three new peptide hormones increase cyclic GMP in vitro but were never investigated to determine whether they also cause extrusion of cyclic GMP from cells, resulting in an increase of cyclic GMP in plasma and/or urine. Infusion of each of these peptide hormones at their 100 ng/kg body weight/min concentrations for 60 minutes into healthy humans resulted in a sevenfold increase in cyclic GMP in plasma and urine secondary to ANF, but no significant increase secondary to the other atrial peptide hormones. Based on the current data, ANF has a unique effect on the metabolism of cyclic GMP, causing it to be extruded from the cell, whereas the other three atrial peptides represent the more classical metabolism of cyclic GMP via cyclic GMP phophodiesterases.
COMPARING SOME METHODS OF ESTIMATING MEAN AREAL RAINFALL

: A comparison of 13 different methods of estimating mean areal rainfall was made on two areas in New Mexico, U.S.A., and one area in Great Britain. Daily, monthly and yearly rainfall data were utilized. All methods, in general, yielded comparable estimates, especially for yearly values. This suggested that a simpler method would be preferable for estimating mean areal rainfall in these areas.
Efficacy of Epidural Morphine Versus Intravenous Morphine for Post-Thoractotomy Pain in Dogs

SUMMARY We compared the effects of epidural and intravenous morphine on analgesic effectiveness, vital signs, cortisol and catecholamine concentrations in dogs. Twelve healthy mongrel dogs undergoing experimental thora-cotomy under non-opioid general anaesthesia were randomly assigned to two groups: group A (n=6) received 0.15 mg/kg morphine epidurally, and group B (n=6) received 0.15 mg/kg morphine IV. Postoperatively, animals were observed hourly for the first 10 hours, then at 18 and 24 hours, and heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate and pain score were measured. Serum cortisol and plasma catecholamines were measured at 0, 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours postoperatively. Epidural morphine was associated with a significant reduction in pain, cortisol levels, systolic blood pressure (all p
Linearization of shape-memory heat-transfer model using Chebyshev expansion

The primary factor governing response time in SMA actuators is heat transfer rate which is represented by a nonlinear differential equation for cooling by free convection. To use classical control theory for controlling the temperature of the SMA wire, the nonlinear model must be linearized. In this paper, the heat transfer rate model is linearized using Chebyshev polynomials. This method of linearization has the same desirable local stability properties as the more traditional Taylor series expansion. It is shown that the maximum errors between the actual and linearized responses and their derivatives using Chebyshev linearization are smaller in magnitude than the errors obtained using Taylor series expansion, making Chebyshev linearization more desirable for this application.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Assessing the Benefits and Costs of New Therapies for Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Clinicians and researchers are paying renewed attention to hepatitis B because of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA testing; improved understanding of HBV-related disease; and introduction of potent, ora...
Impact of enhanced external counterpulsation on Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class in patients with chronic stable angina: a meta-analysis.

Study Objective. To evaluate the true magnitude of benefit from enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) by determining the effect of EECP on Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) angina class in patients with chronic stable angina. Design. Meta-analysis of 13 prospective studies that evaluated patients with stable angina and reported adequate data on CCS angina class. Patients. A total of 949 adult patients with stable angina who underwent EECP treatment. Measurements and Main Results. A systematic literature search of studies published between 1950 and February 2009 was performed. Studies were included for meta-analysis if they were reported in the English language, included human subjects, had a prospective study design, and reported adequate data on CCS angina class. The EECP treatment consisted of 35 sessions—1 hour/day, 5 days/week, for 7 weeks. Improvement in angina class was reported as the weighted proportion of patients improving by at least one CCS class from before to after EECP treatment. Heterogeneity was assessed by performing subgroup analyses and using the Cochran Q statistic. Publication bias was assessed by inspection of funnel plots and the Egger bias statistic. Among the 13 studies incorporating 949 patients, angina class was reduced by at least one CCS score in 86% of the patients (95% confidence interval 82–90%, Q statistic p=0.008]. Inspection of funnel plots showed some asymmetry, but the Egger bias statistic showed no publication bias (p=0.97). Conclusion. The results of our meta-analysis call for further long-term studies to determine the place of EECP therapy in the management of chronic stable angina. Currently, EECP therapy should be considered for patients with stable angina who are refractory to or not suitable for invasive therapy and/or medical management.
Hemodynamic considerations in the development of narrowing of the aorta

Abstract In the normal fetus the level of blood flow across the aortic isthmus is lower than after birth. This is reflected by a smaller diameter of the isthmus in relation to the ascending and descending aorta. We postulated the effects of various congenital heart lesions on aortic isthmus development in the fetus on the basis of assumed changes in flow patterns. These alterations have been confirmed by studies of cineangiograms in newborn infants. In congenital heart lesions with reduced pulmonary arterial outflow, the diameter of the aortic isthmus is wider than normal, presumably because it carries a greater than normal flow in the fetus. In lesions interfering with left ventricular outflow the aortic isthmus may be underdeveloped. However, in aortic atresia the isthmus is normally developed since it carries a normal flow but in a retrograde manner. We reviewed the clinical data and angiograms of 41 infants less than 3 months old who had aortic obstruction. They could be divided into 2 distinct groups. Twenty-three with aortic isthmus narrowing or interruption had a large ventricular septal defect and a high incidence of complex anomalies such as double outlet right ventricle. The remaining 18 infants with localized juxtaductal narrowing had a low incidence of associated intracardiac lesions. The appearance of the localized juxtaductal coarctation suggested that aortic obstruction may not be present during fetal life because the widely patent ductus arteriosus obviates aortic obstruction. We postulated that constriction of the ductus arteriosus after birth would produce obstruction. This was confirmed experimentally in fetal lambs with surgically simulated juxtaductal coarctation.
Robust automated synthesis methodology for integrated spiral inductors with variability

In order to synthesize spiral inductor designs to meet stringent design requirements, fundamental trade-offs in the design space must be analyzed and exploited. In this paper, we develop a robust automated synthesis methodology to efficiently generate spiral inductor designs using multi-objective optimization techniques and surrogate functions to approximate Pareto surfaces in the design space. Using our synthesis methodology, we also demonstrate how to reduce the impact of process variation and other sources of modeling error on spiral inductors. Our results indicate that our synthesis methodology efficiently optimizes inductor designs based on the application's design requirements with an improvement of up to 51% in key inductor design constraints while reducing the impact of process and model variations.
Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) irradiation for lower extremity telangiectases and small reticular veins: efficacy as measured by vessel color and size.

background. Laser treatment of lower extremity telangiectases and small reticular veins has remained difficult because of vessel color, diameter, depth, and associated high-pressure flow. Traditionally, larger-caliber blue leg veins do not respond well to laser treatment. Nd:YAG laser (1064 nm) irradiation is absorbed by oxyhemoglobin and reduced hemoblogin and is associated with greater depth of penetration than other previously studied vascular lasers. objective. To evaluate a millisecond contact-cooled 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of telangiectases and small reticular veins. methods. Twenty-one lower extremity sites, with Fitzpatrick skin types I–IV, received two laser treatments separated by a 4 to 6-week period. Blue and red vessels, ranging in size from 0.25 to 4.0 mm were treated. Pulse durations of 10–50 msec were utilized at fluences of 90–187 J/cm2. Three months after the last treatment, patients were evaluated for vessel improvement and complications. results. Seventy-one percent of lower extremity vessels had improvement graded as significant. All vessel colors and sizes were successfully treated. The only complication at 3 months was postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. conclusion. 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser irradiation with associated contact cooling is a safe and effective treatment for telangiectases and small reticular veins of the lower extremities.
Looking deeper than the gradebook: Assessing cultural diversity attitudes among undergraduates

Identification of college students' attitudes about diversity issues is an important part of the assessment of student development across many fields of study. This article discusses an action research approach and classroom application strategies stemming from a survey of 88 pre-service teacher candidates on their attitudes toward homosexuality, race, social class, and women's equality, following a university course on diversity. Data were examined using a Rasch model approach to determine and compare linear attitude measures and resulting change from pretest to posttest. Findings included endorsement difficulty changes among diversity issues as well as changes in student attitudes, primarily though not exclusively in concert with the course curriculum. Teaching approaches including the use of personal narratives were considered relative to findings. Areas for enhancement of instructional strategies were identified. Implications for teacher-scholars on examining linear measures of student attitudes and improving instruction on diversity issues in higher education were discussed. Educators around the world are faced with numerous challenges associated with effectively promoting the learning engagement of a diverse population of students. As part of many university programs in the United States attempting to help future educators understand cultural diversity, one or more undergraduate courses specifically dealing with diversity issues are typically required. Goals associated with such diversity courses usually include greater understanding of the many types of student diversity, and the many implications of cultural and other differences within educational settings. Toward addressing these goals, awareness of commonly held misunderstandings about diversity is often central to the curriculum. While teacher education programs usually examine whether teacher candidates have sufficiently learned the required material from diversity courses, these programs often overlook whether the candidate's attitudes have changed in ways that coincide with the research-based information provided in the course and the general awareness expected of many school teachers. This article describes a study that begins to address this neglected aspect of teacher candidate assessment within the context of a University course dealing with multiculturalism. Furthermore, considering that teacher candidates study across college or university settings in the physical sciences, social sciences, or humanities, this examination of teacher candidates has relevance to many fields of study. That is, attitudes of future educators are influenced by the context of
Fluorescence decay and depolarization of probes in membranes

Radiative decay rate depends on the efficiency of coupling between the emission dipole and the electromagnetic field. Therefore, in optically discontinuous and/or anisotropic environments the radiative rate is dependent on the orientation of the emission dipole. Single-bilayer phospholipid membranes are interesting systems for the study of this phenomenon because in these systems the functional dependence of the radiative rate is simple and the effect is stronger than in liquid crystals. The orientational dependence of the radiative rate results in a non-exponential total fluorescence intensity decay. Orientational distribution of the probe in the gel-phase membrane can be determined from the total intensity decay. In the liquid-phase membrane the coupling between decay and rotation leads to a polarized intensity decay behavior entirely different than that in isotropic media. Experimental data are consistent with every theoretical prediction.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Integrative care for the management of low back pain: use of a clinical care pathway

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 use of a care pathway designed to guide treatment by an integrative group of providers within a randomized controlled trial. A clinical care pathway was used by a multidisciplinary group of providers, which included acupuncturists, chiropractors, cognitive behavioral therapists, exercise therapists, massage therapists and primary care physicians. Treatment recommendations were based on an evidence-informed practice model, and reached by group consensus. Research study participants were empowered to select one of the treatment recommendations proposed by the integrative group. Common principles and benchmarks were established to guide treatment management throughout the study. Thirteen providers representing 5 healthcare professions collaborated to provide integrative care to study participants. On average, 3 to 4 treatment plans, each consisting of 2 to 3 modalities, were recommended to study participants. Exercise, massage, and acupuncture were both most commonly recommended by the team and selected by study participants. Changes to care commonly incorporated cognitive behavioral therapy into treatment plans. This clinical care pathway was a useful tool for the consistent application of evidence-based care for low back pain in the context of an integrative setting. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00567333
Bone and Gastric Bypass Surgery: Effects of Dietary Calcium and Vitamin D

Objective:To examine bone mass and metabolism in women who had previously undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and determine the effect of supplementation with calcium (Ca) and vitamin D. Research Methods and Procedures: Bone mineral density and bone mineral content (BMC) were examined in 44 RYGB women (≥3 years post-surgery; 31% weight loss; BMI, 34 kg/m2) and compared with age- and weight-matched control (CNT) women (n = 65). In a separate analysis, RYGB women who presented with low bone mass (n = 13) were supplemented to a total 1.2 g Ca/d and 8 μg vitamin D/d over 6 months and compared with an unsupplemented CNT group (n = 13). Bone mass and turnover and serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were measured. Results:Bone mass did not differ between premenopausal RYGB and CNT women (42 ± 5 years), whereas postmenopausal RYGB women (55 ± 7 years) had higher bone mineral density and BMC at the lumbar spine and lower BMC at the femoral neck. Before and after dietary supplementation, bone mass was similar, and serum PTH and markers of bone resorption were higher (p < 0.001) in RYGB compared with CNT women and did not change significantly after supplementation. Discussion: Postmenopausal RYGB women show evidence of secondary hyperparathyroidism, elevated bone resorption, and patterns of bone loss (reduced femoral neck and higher lumbar spine) similar to other subjects with hyperparathyroidism. Although a modest increase in Ca or vitamin D does not suppress PTH or bone resorption, it is possible that greater dietary supplementation may be beneficial.
Craniopharyngioma : a personal (Boston) experience

The author reports his experience with 79 craniopharyngiomas operated since 1988. The review demonstrates that the biological behavior of these tumors is extremely variable, and that surgical management requires resourcefulness, judgement, and flexibility in the operating room. Tumors will recur after total resection (15% in this series) and after subtotal resection and radiation therapy (22%) and adjuvant treatments of all types, and no treatment guarantees a cure. The invasiveness of the tumor leads to difficult-to-treat long-term complications, particularly obesity and behavior disturbances. An extremely long-term follow-up of up to 20 years is necessary in many patients in order to determine the ultimate outcome of treatment.
Expanding Integrated Vector Management to promote healthy environments

Integrated Vector Management (IVM) strategies are intended to protect communities from pathogen transmission by arthropods. These strategies target multiple vectors and different ecological and socioeconomic settings, but the aggregate benefits of IVM are limited by the narrow focus of its approach; IVM strategies aim only to control arthropod vectors. We argue that IVM should encompass environmental modifications at early stages – for instance, infrastructural development and sanitation services – to regulate not only vectors but also nuisance biting arthropods. An additional focus on nuisance biting arthropods will improve public health and quality of life and minimize social-disparity issues fostered by pests. Optimally, IVM could incorporate environmental awareness and promotion of control methods proactively to reduce threats of serious pest situations.
Survival Trends in Head and Neck Cancer: Opportunities for Improving Outcomes

This editorial discusses the Pulte and Brenner article on the recent survival trend observed in patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck.
The Career Development Inventory in Review: Psychometric and Research Findings:

First published over 15 years ago, the Career Development Inventory (CDI; Super, Thompson, Lindeman, Jordaan, & Myers, 1979) measures readiness for making educational and vocational choices and ope...
Technology and Teacher Preparation in Exemplary Institutions: 1994 to 2003

In a 1994 study commissioned by the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment, Mergendoller, Johnston, Rockman, & Willis (1994) examined four exemplary institutions to identify their approaches to integrating technology into teacher education. A decade later, the field would benefit from a comparison of current approaches of infusing technology into teacher education to the 1994 findings. This study examines the approaches of the first seven teacher education programs to receive the ISTE NETS Distinguished Achievement Award. Current approaches to the process are outlined, including the identification of the key factors impacting their implementation. A comparison of the 1994 and the present study reveals that the systematic coordination of experiences in the teacher preparation program, a unifying theme throughout the program, and a shared vision of technology and teaching are instrumental and may help guide future efforts of technology integration into teacher preparation.
Nonspherical mirrors to reduce thermoelastic noise in advanced gravitational wave interferometers

We introduce and study a non-Gaussian paraxial cavity mode that has a special beam intensity by properly designing the end mirrors of a resonator. The final aim is to reduce the thermoelastic noise generated by the interaction between the field and the mirror by optimizing the shape of both. We present numerical results for the special design of a resonator as long as the Fabry-P\'erot arms of the gravitational wave detector Laser Interferometric Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO). We discuss the alignment stability of such a cavity and we present the most important investigations we have done for implementing the reshaped mirrors we propose in the next LIGO configuration. We implement different numerical tools in order to understand the impact of both a small misalignment in the Fabry-P\'erot cavity and imperfections in the radial profile of the mirrors on the power built up inside the resonators and on the signal at the dark port of the beam splitter. The results of all the simulation runs are compared with an analytical model that takes into account mismatch problems and losses.
Wishful search: interactive composition of data mashups

With the emergence of Yahoo Pipes and several similar services, data mashup tools have started to gain interest of business users. Making these tools simple and accessible ton users with no or little programming experience has become a pressing issue. In this paper we introduce MARIO (Mashup Automation with Runtime Orchestration and Invocation), a new tool that radically simplifies data mashup composition. We have developed an intelligent automatic composition engine in MARIO together with a simple user interface using an intuitive "wishful search" abstraction. It thus allows users to explore the space of potentially composable data mashups and preview composition results as they iteratively refine their "wishes", i.e. mashup composition goals. It also lets users discover and make use of system capabilities without having to understand the capabilities of individual components, and instantly reflects changes made to the components by presenting an aggregate view of changed capabilities of the entire system. We describe our experience with using MARIO to compose flows of Yahoo Pipes components.
Membrane Potential Controls Calcium Entry into Descending Vasa Recta Pericytes

We tested the hypothesis that constriction of descending vasa recta (DVR) is mediated by voltage-gated calcium entry. K+ channel blockade with BaCl2 (1 mM) or TEACl (30 mM) depolarized DVR smooth m...
Fast Gauss mixture image classification based on the central limit theorem

The Gauss mixture model (GMM)-based vector quantizer with the quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) distortion measure provides an approach to statistical image classification problems. Recent work has concentrated on designing tree-structured vector quantizers for image classification problems using the QDA distortion measure and the BFOS algorithm for pruning. It has been shown that the tree-structured design often increases the correct classification rate for the same design complexity, avoids over-fitting by pruning and makes it possible to include other classification algorithms such as adaptive boosting. Both the full-search design and the tree-structured design are based on clustering using the Lloyd algorithm. Even when the true underlying distribution of the feature vectors follows (approximately) a Gauss mixture distribution, the variances of the Gaussian components estimated by the clustering algorithm tend to be less than those of the true distribution. Hence, clustering introduces a variance bias. The work reported here intends to reduce the effects of the variance bias using the independent central limit theorem when the feature vectors are formed as (weighted) sums of the image block pixels. This is done through a joint quantization of the means and covariances of the image blocks and the feature vectors derived from the image blocks. Our simulations indicate that, both for the full-search design and the tree-structured design, our algorithm leads to an improvement in the classification accuracy. Finally, for the tree-structured classifier, we introduce a fast algorithm, which uses only the median eigenvalue of the covariance matrix (instead of the full covariance matrix) of each Gaussian component in the classification stage.
Execution mode management and CU/PE overlap in an SIMD/SPMD parallel language/compiler

Language constructs (and their implementations) for execution mode management and achieving the overlap of control unit and processor operations in an explicitly parallel programming language are described. These are targeted to reconfigurable parallel processing systems, where the machine's processors are capable of operating in both the single-instruction-multiple data (SIMD) and single program-multiple data (SPMD) modes of parallelism. The SPMD mode of parallelism is a subset of the multiple instruction-multiple data (MIMD) mode where all processors execute the same program. By providing all aspects of the language with an SIMD and an SPMD version that are syntactically and semantically equivalent, the language facilitates experimentation with and exploitation of hybrid SIMD/SPMD machines. >
Placental metabolism in relation to toxicology.

(1973). Placental Metabolism in Relation to Toxicology. CRC Critical Reviews in Toxicology: Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 125-158.
Comparison of Transferred Versus Nontransferred Pediatric Patients Admitted for Sepsis

Abstract Objective Little is known about the characteristics of pediatric patients transferred for medical care. Thus, we aimed to compare pediatric patients admitted for sepsis as transfers versus those who were not admitted as transfers. Methods Retrospective study using The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 2009 Kids' Inpatient Database. Inclusion diagnosis of sepsis based on an All Patient Refined Diagnosis-Related Group of 720: Septicemia & Disseminated Infections resulted in 16,894 patients. Transfer status was based on admission codes. Weighted statistical analysis was conducted using STATA 12.1 (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX). Institutional review board approval was obtained. Results Weighted analysis found significant differences between transferred versus nontransferred patients in the following areas: highest severity of illness subclass (45.1% vs. 18.7%, P P P P P P P Conclusion Our study found that patients diagnosed with sepsis and transferred are more severely ill with a higher number of chronic conditions, longer lengths of stay, more procedures performed, higher mortality, and higher total and daily costs.
Histology of turkey papillae after manual semen collection

Papillae from mature turkey males were removed before and after semen collection and examined by light microscopy. The surface mucosa consisted of deeply folded columnar epithelial cells and a discontinuous layer of basal cuboidal cells. Underlying this layer was a lamina propia of loose connective tissue containing fibroblasts, fibrous elements, and to a lesser extent, plasma cells, lymphocytes, and macrophages. A pseudostratified columnar epithelium consisting of nonsecretory cells lined the lumen of the papillae. The accompanying lamina propria was thin but highly vascular and included fibroblasts and macrophages. Occupying most of the space between the two mucosae was a smooth muscle layer. Immediately after semen collection capillaries throughout the papillae were dilated and congested with red blood cells (RBCs). Scattered throughout the papillae were extravascular RBCs, suggestive of extensive primary hemorrhage. Although heterophils and macrophages were observed throughout the papillae 24 hr after semen collection, only macrophages were involved in the phagocytosis of extravascular RBCs. Macrophage phagocytic activity was evident at 48 hr and occasionally 72 hr after semen collection. By 72 hr few extravascular RBCs were observed.
New species of Cyrtopogon from Wyoming.

Cyrtopogon sabroskyi n. sp. is described from specimens collected near Wamsutter and Greybull, Wyo. Both male and female genital and accessory sclerites are fully described and illustrated. The species is most closely related to C. ablautoides Melander, from which it can be distinguished by characters on the male hypopygium and the female eighth sternite.
Enhancing Effect of Type Specific Antistreptococcal Antibodies on Emergence of Streptococci Rich in M-Protein.

SummaryStreptococci rich in M-protein emerged by natural selection from populations of group A streptococci poor in M-protein during rotation with human blood without homologous type specific antistreptococcal antibodies. When populations of these selected streptococci were then rotated with mixtures of human blood and diluted homologous type specific antistreptococcal rabbit sera, the M-protein content of surviving streptococci was greater, as much as 8-fold, than that of streptococci which survived rotation with human blood alone. In control experiments, when populations of the selected streptococci were rotated with mixtures of human blood and diluted heterologous type specific antistreptococcal rabbit sera, the M-protein content of surviving streptococci was no greater than that of streptococci which survived rotation with human blood alone.
Migration patterns among Floridians with AIDS, 1993-2007: implications for HIV prevention and care.

Understanding patterns of migration (ie, moving to another county or farther) and characteristics of migrants with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is important because moving to a new community affects migrants and the communities to which they migrate. Although moving can result in positive outcomes such as improved access to health care and social services, moving can be stressful, may result in loss of social support, and may disrupt treatment, thus adversely affecting clinical outcomes.1–4 A net in-migration of people infected with HIV can affect the social services and healthcare systems of communities.2,3,5,6 Federal funding and resource distribution for HIV prevention and care are partially based on where people are first diagnosed and reported to local and state health departments.7 As such, any areas having a net in-migration after HIV diagnosis would be disadvantaged with respect to receipt of resources. Previous studies indicate that people diagnosed as having HIV are relatively mobile, although longer-distance moves are less common than shorter-distance moves. The 1996 HIV Cost and Services Utilization Survey, which used a representative sample of people receiving HIV-related clinical care, indicated that 32% of respondents had moved to a different city, but only 17% had moved to a noncontiguous county or farther.8,9 Long-distance movers tend to be disproportionately men, non-Hispanic white, and have a reported HIV transmission mode of men who have sex with men (MSM).9–12 Long-distance moving also has been associated with injection drug use (IDU).9,12 The HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic in the United States has changed over time with respect to the characteristics of people who are reported to have HIV (eg, a higher percentage of minorities and women) and to improved treatment, which has substantially lengthened survival,13–17 and these factors may affect migration patterns. One study analyzing migration patterns among a population-based sample of people with AIDS considered deaths only through 2001 and did not analyze moves within states.18 To address these information gaps, we sought to describe migration patterns between the time of diagnosis and death among people in Florida diagnosed as having AIDS, the state with the third highest HIV diagnosis rate in the United States in 2011.19 Furthermore, we sought to describe characteristics associated with migration.