cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Numerical Solution of Helmholtz's Equation by Implicit Capacitance Matrix Methods

The numerical solution of Helmholtz's equation in an arbitrary bounded plane region is considered. Variants of the capacitance matrix method that greatly reduced storage requirements are developed. This approach allows the use of a very fine mesh with several hundered mesh points in each direction or the use of a cmputer with a small core storage. 4 tables.
Observations on prostate intrafraction motion and the effect of reduced treatment time using volumetric modulated arc therapy

Abstract Purpose Intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) has allowed accurate delivery of prostate radiotherapy; Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) offers an advancement of this technique with possible dosimetric advantages and delivery in a shorter time than standard IMRT. We hypothesize that treatment duration is a controllable factor associated with intrafraction target motion. Methods Included patients were treated for localized prostate cancer using IMRT or VMAT (RapidArc, Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA). Continuous motion data were monitored simultaneously using electromagnetic transponders (Calypso 4D Localization System, Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc, Seattle, WA). Displacements were recorded in the RL (right-left), SI (superior-inferior), and AP (anterior-posterior) directions at 10/second (Hz). Daily motion was reported as the mean ( R ) and 95th percentile ( R 95 ) displacement value for the entire session. Time effect was assessed by measuring daily displacement variables ( R , R 95 ) after each successive minute of treatment. Results Thirty-seven patients were included, accounting for 1332 treatment sessions. Mean session time was 7.4 minutes (range, 0.5-37.2; interquartile range, 4.8-9.2). R (0.06, 0.08, 0.11, 0.18) and R 95 (0.14, 0.18, 0.23, 0.36) values (RL, SI, AP, 3-dimensional [3D], respectively) were evaluated for the entire cohort. Regression analysis showed treatment time to be the strongest predictor of observed displacements ( P P P Conclusion Our study is unique in exploring the role of session duration on intrafraction motion in the setting of electromagnetic transponders as well as VMAT. Our main results demonstrate that observed intrafraction prostate motion during radiotherapy is greater with increasing session time. Additionally, VMAT, due to shorter treatment sessions, resulted in significant reduction (30%-40%) in intrafraction displacements.
Prehistoric Hawaiian Fishponds

One of the important technological concepts that was developed in the Hawaiian Islands is that of the fishpond. From the 14th to the 19th centuries, these sites served as aquariums for the raising of selected fish. From its inception until the 1900's, the fishpond progressed little in design and function. Its rudimentary nature was a function of both technology and religion. Because of the open ditches, sluice grates, and permeable walls, neither the types nor the quantity of juvenile fish entering or leaving could be controlled. In addition, religious beliefs prevented experimenting with fertilization to increase yield. Although seemingly inefficient, the native aquacultural system was not intended to produce a great amount of fish but rather to yield selected fish on call. Fishponds became symbols of the chiefly right to conspicuous consumption and to ownership of the land and its resources. They were manifestations of the chief's political power and his ability to control and tap his resources. As soon as the native aristocracy changed to a Western-style kingdom, the fishpond's function changed, until, by the 1930' s, the majority were simply archeological remains-mounds and walls of rock along a river or shore.
Pharmaceutical Compounds and Ecosystem Function: An Emerging Research Challenge for Aquatic Ecologists

The number of anthropogenic compounds that occur in aquatic ecosystems today is in the thousands, many at trace concentrations. One group of compounds that has captured the interest of both the scientific community and the general public is pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs), for example, hormones, chemotherapy drugs, antihistamines, stimulants, antimicrobials and various cosmetic additives. Toxicology of some PPCPs is currently understood, but their effect on ecological structure and function of aquatic ecosystems is largely unknown. We review sources and fates of these compounds in aquatic ecosystems and discuss how methods developed to study aquatic ecosystem ecology can contribute to our understanding of the influence of PPCPs on aquatic ecosystems. We argue that aquatic ecology has a well-developed tool kit for measuring the transformation, fate, and transport of solutes using assays and experiments and that these methods could be employed to investigate how PPCPs impact ecological function. We discuss the details of these approaches and conclude that application of existing ecological methods to the study of this issue could substantially improve our understanding of the effect of these compounds in aquatic ecosystems.
Unusual Features of Ventricular Tachycardia During Respiration and Exercise in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia

The role of catheter ablation techniques in the treatment of patients with tachycardia continues to evolve. If safe and effective, such a procedure could significantly alter the therapeutic approach in patients with rhythm disorders related to APs. As emphasized by Morady and Scheinman, 4 this technique clearly has advantages over the alternative of thoracotomy with open-heart surgery. In addition to the risks of prolonged general anesthesia and the complications of a median sternotomy and cardiopulmonary bypass, the surgical approach to patients with a posterior septal AP carries a 10 to 15% risk of surgically inducing permanent heart block. The risk of permanent heart block after catheter ablation of a posterior septal AP is unknown, but may well be less. In 10 dogs studied in our laboratory, all had transient heart block, but in no case did it persist for more than 20 minutes. Furthermore, in our patient, 3 cm separated the electrode adjacent to the AP and the electrode adjacent to the His bundle as estimated by fluoroscopy. This distance should allow for a reasonable margin of safety, given the relatively discrete size of catheter-induced lesions. 5 Experience with intentional catheter ablation of the His bundle supports this conctusion. 1,5 Unless the catheter is precisely positioned
Recurrent atrioventricular groove intramuscular arteriovenous malformation.

A 17-year-old patient presented with a recurrent right atrioventricular (AV) groove vascular tumor. The tumor was resected en bloc, including the AV groove extending into the right ventricle (RV) and tricuspid valve. The AV groove and tricuspid valve required extensive reconstruction. The histopathologic features were that of an arteriovenous malformation with a proliferative small vessel component—an extremely rare type of cardiovascular anomaly.
Atrial septal lipomatous hypertrophy and ischemic heart disease: an unusual presentation

Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum consists of the abnormal accumulation of fatty tissue. We report a patient with unsuspected massive lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum scheduled to undergo coronary artery surgery. This patient had experienced atrial arrhythmias and obstructive symptoms preoperatively that were ascribed to her coronary artery disease (CAD). The perioperative anesthetic and surgical management of patients with lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum and CAD is discussed.
Investigation of the Diurnal Variation of Marine Boundary Layer Cloud Microphysical Properties at the Azores

AbstractA new method has been developed to retrieve the nighttime marine boundary layer (MBL) cloud microphysical properties, which provides a complete 19-month dataset to investigate the diurnal variation of MBL cloud microphysical properties at the Azores. Compared to the corresponding daytime results presented in the authors' previous study over the Azores region, all nighttime monthly means of cloud liquid water path (LWP) exceed their daytime counterparts with an annual-mean LWP of 140 g m−2, which is ~30.9 g m−2 larger than daytime. Because the MBL clouds are primarily driven by convective instabilities caused by cloud-top longwave (LW) radiative cooling, more MBL clouds are well mixed and coupled with the surface during the night; thus, its cloud layer is deeper and its LWP is higher. During the day, the cloud layer is warmed by the absorption of solar radiation and partially offsets the cloud-top LW cooling, which makes the cloud layer thinner with less LWP. The seasonal and diurnal variations of ...
Intimate Injection Partnerships Are at Elevated Risk of High-Risk Injecting: A Multi-Level Longitudinal Study of HCV-Serodiscordant Injection Partnerships in San Francisco, CA

© 2014 Morris et al.Background: It is increasingly recognized that the risk for HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID), such as syringe sharing, occurs in the context of relationships between (at least) two people. Evid
Outcome specificity in deepened extinction may limit treatment feasibility: Co-presentation of a food cue interferes with extinction of cue-elicited cocaine seeking

Abstract Background We previously showed that presenting two cocaine cues simultaneously during extinction deepens the extinction of cue-elicited cocaine seeking ( Kearns et al., 2012 ). The present study investigated whether compounding a non-drug appetitive cue with a cocaine cue would similarly deepen extinction. Methods In Experiment 1, tone and click were each first established as discriminative stimuli for cocaine-reinforced responding and light was a cue for food-reinforced responding. In an initial extinction phase, all stimuli were presented individually. Then, during an additional compound extinction session, rats received 8 presentations of one of the cocaine cues (counterbalanced over subjects) simultaneously with light and 8 presentations of the other cue alone. A spontaneous recovery test was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the extinction treatments. Experiment 2 was performed under conditions designed to match those of Experiment 1, except food was the reinforcer in tone and click instead of cocaine. Results In Experiment 1, the cocaine cue compounded with the food cue during extinction controlled greater spontaneous recovery of cocaine seeking than the cocaine cue always presented alone. In contrast, Experiment 2 demonstrated deepened extinction of responding to a food cue when both compounded cues were food cues. Conclusions Results suggest that deepened extinction depends on the compound presentation of cues associated with the same reinforcer. Compound presentation of cues associated with different reinforcers could lead to an enhancement of responding. Care is urged in attempts to deepen the extinction of cue-elicited drug seeking by compounding drug cues with non-drug cues.
Proximity-based adjacency determination for facility layout

Abstract We define a new model for adjacency subgraph selection for the facility layout problem based on proximity and present some heuristics for its solution. The new model presents a more realistic representation of the problem than previous ones in that departments which are non-adjacent, yet “close” to each other, are compensated in the determination of the optimal adjacency subgraph. Empirical results comparing the heuristics with the method of Leung [ Management Science 38 , 594–605 (1992)] are reported.
Reflexivity in the Pornographic Films of Candida Royalle

Both conventional wisdom and prior scholarship indicate that women typically find pornography less appealing than men. Recently, researchers have suggested that the sexually explicit films of Candida Royalle represent a new form of pornography that is more attractive to women. We examined the films of Candida Royalle in terms of reflexivity, a film technique that draws attention to film conventions and the filmmaking process within the context of a film. We identify three reflexive processes that operate in Candida Royalle’s films and consider how they may contribute to the development of a subject space that makes her films more appealing to women, in comparison to traditional pornographic films. The benefits of this new subject space are considered.
Management of Urinary Tract Emergencies in Small Animals

This article focuses on some of the most commonly seen urinary tract emergencies in dogs and cats, with emphasis on basic pathophysiology, diagnosis, and emergency management of these cases.
Hardware and software tools and laboratory experiments for an undergraduate EET course in digital signal processing

An undergraduate EET course in digital signal processing with a heavy emphasis on laboratory based applications using the Analog Devices ADSP2101, 16 bit fixed point processor is described. Exercises in waveform generation, filtering and spectral estimation are covered and extended into DSP applications designed to spark the students' enthusiasm. Waveform generation is extended to include generation of a waveform derived from an automobile engine speed sensor, FIR filtering is extended into /spl times/8 output over-sampling of audio signals and the IIR filter is extended to a 6 band graphical audio equaliser. Elements of hardware interfacing through the processor's high speed serial ports are also included.
Determination of the composition of Ultra-thin Ni-Si films on Si: constrained modeling of electron probe microanalysis and x-ray reflectivity data

The homogeneous bulk assumption used in traditional electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) can be applied for thin-layered systems with individual layers as thick as 50 nm provided the penetration depth of the lowest accelerating voltage exceeds the total film thickness. Analysis of an NIST Ni-Cr thin film standard on Si using the homogeneous model yielded certified compositions and application of the same model to ultra-thin Ni-Si layers on GaAs yielded their expected compositions. In cases where the same element is present in multiple layers or in the substrate as well as the film, the homogeneous assumption in EPMA alone is not sufficient to determine composition. By combining x-ray reflectivity (XRR) thickness and critical angle data and using an iterative approach, quantitative compositional data in EPMA can be achieved. This technique was utilized to determine the composition of Ni-Si ultra-thin films grown on silicon. The Ni-Si composition determined using this multi-instrumental technique matched that of Ni-Si films simultaneously deposited on GaAs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The relationship of proton and heavy ion upset thresholds

A method of obtaining proton upset thresholds from heavy ion upset thresholds, and vice versa, is presented. Specifically, a simple relationship between the heavy ion LET (linear energy transfer) threshold for upset and the threshold for proton-induced upsets as described by the Bendel A parameter (A=L/sub 0.1/+15) is given. This relationship will enable either proton or heavy ion laboratory measurements to be used for estimating upset rates for both types of particles in space environments. Calculation of upset rates based on LET thresholds indicates that, for some orbits in the proton radiation belt, devices with thresholds of 10 to 45 MeV/mg/cm/sup 2/ might produce unacceptable proton upset rates. The proton upsets for devices with thresholds above 10 MeV/mg/cm/sup 2/ are caused by relatively rare reaction processes that occur at high proton energies. >
Mesomechanics of Porous Materials Under Intense Dynamic Loading

Intense dynamic loading of porous, granular materials results in a completely new class of phenomena, in comparison with their behavior considered in the previous chapter. It includes a complex geometry of plastic flow, as well as fracture and melting. The mechanical deformation (shock loading, plastic flow) of heterogeneous porous materials has an essentially multiscale nature. For example, the hierarchy of scales includes: Macroscales. Length of shock impulse, typical length of deformable part of the material. Mesoscales. Shock front thickness, shear band thickness, sizes of the particles and pores, sizes of fragmented material, size of plastic flow localized on the interfaces of particles, plastic flow around pores, spacing between shear bands, heat conductivity, and mass diffusion lengths. Very often this scale is close to the initial scale of material heterogeneity that makes the continuum approach problematic. Microscales. Sizes of lattice defects (dislocations, point defects, twins), possible additional scales parameters reflecting the nonlinear interaction, and collective dynamic behavior in molecular systems.
Neuropsychiatric assessment and intervention in Alzheimer's disease.

Dementia is a major public health problem in the United States and the world, requiring the expenditure of enormous economic and human resources. Dementia is common in the elderly, and, as the size of the aged population increases, the number of dementia victims will rise. Many dementias are fatal, producing the gradual erosion of intellectual abilities and eventual death of the patient. Demands made on family members and caregivers of dementia patients are extraordinary and often result in their emotional and financial exhaustion. Although basic science efforts are devoted to finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementing illnesses, there is an urgent need for research that has immediate applicability to the 4 million current dementia patients.
Fast residue coding for lossless textual image compression

Lossless textual image compression based on pattern matching classically includes a "residue" coding step that refines an initially lossy reconstructed image to its lossless original form. This step is typically accomplished by arithmetically coding the predicted value for each lossless image pixel, based on the values of previously reconstructed nearby pixels in both the lossless image and its precursor lossy image. Our contribution describes background typical prediction (TPR-B), a fast method for residue coding based on "typical prediction" which permits the skipping of pixels to be arithmetically encoded; and non-symbol typical prediction (TPR-NS), an improved compression method for residue coding also based on "typical prediction". Experimental results are reported based on the residue coding method proposed in Howard's (see Proc. of '96 Data Compression Conf., Snowbird, Utah, p.210-19, 1996) SPM algorithm and the lossy images it generates when applied to eight CCITT bi-level test images. These results demonstrate that after lossy image coding, 88% of the lossless image pixels in the test set can be predicted using TPR-B and need not be residue coded at all. In terms of saved SPM arithmetic coding operations while residue coding, TPR-B achieves an average coding speed increase of 8 times. Using TPR-NS together with TPR-B increases the SPM residue coding compression ratios by an average of 11%.
Training needs and supports for evidence-based decision making among the public health workforce in the United States

Preparing the public health workforce to practice evidence-based decision making (EBDM) is necessary to effectively impact health outcomes. Few studies report on training needs in EBDM at the national level in the United States. We report competency gaps to practice EBDM based on four U.S. national surveys we conducted with the state and local public health workforce between 2008 and 2013. We compared self-reported data from four U.S. national online surveys on EBDM conducted between 2008 and 2013. Participants rated the importance of each EBDM competency then rated how available the competency is to them when needed on a Likert scale. We calculated a gap score by subtracting availability scores from importance scores. We compared mean gaps across surveys and utilized independent samples t tests and Cohen’s d values to compare state level gaps. In addition, participants in the 2013 state health department survey selected and ranked three items that “would most encourage you to utilize EBDM in your work” and items that “would be most useful to you in applying EBDM in your work”. We calculated the percentage of participants who ranked each item among their top three. The largest competency gaps were consistent across all four surveys: economic evaluation, communicating research to policymakers, evaluation designs, and adapting interventions. Participants from the 2013 state level survey reported significantly larger mean importance and availability scores (p <0.001, d =1.00, and p <0.001, d = .78 respectively) and smaller mean gaps (p <0.01, d = .19) compared to the 2008 survey. Participants most often selected “leaders prioritizing EBDM” (67.9%) among top ways to encourage EBDM use. “EBDM training for specific areas” was most commonly ranked as important in applying EBDM (64.3%). Perceived importance and availability of EBDM competencies may be increasing as supports for EBDM continue to grow through trends in funding, training, and resources. However, more capacity building is needed overall, with specific attention to the largest competency gaps. More work with public health departments to both situate trainings to boost competency in these areas and continued improvements for organizational practices (leadership prioritization) are possible next steps to sustain EBDM efforts.
HCFC cleaning agents as alternatives for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) in the electronics industry

The planned phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) set forth in the Montreal Protocol has required CFC-113 users to examine alternative technologies for cleaning printed wiring boards (PWBs). One class of alternatives is HCFCs or hydrochlorofluorocarbon-based cleaning agents. The authors discuss the effectiveness and ecology of two HCFC alternatives (HCFC-123 and HCFC-141b), presenting the advantages and tradeoffs of each. They also compare the properties and performance of a specific HCFC blend designed for electronics cleaning (consisting of 62.2% HCFC-141b, 35% HCFC-123, 2.5% methanol, and 0.3% stabilizer) to those of CFC-113/methanol, the current industry standard. This HCFC blend has exceeded the performance of CFC-113/methanol for removing ionic contamination and residual rosin. In addition, the authors describe the equipment and process design considerations for HCFC alternatives. >
Sense-and-respond grids for adaptive enterprises

In today's competitive climate, enterprises must strive for maximum responsiveness and adaptive capability to stay abreast of complex interactions among customers, suppliers, manufacturers, markets, and other elements of their businesses. For several years, firms have used the sense-and-respond paradigm for monitoring and managing business solutions. Called S&R for short, this method, as popularized by Stephan Haeckel, is a way to institutionalize the virtue of adaptivity (1999). A new breed of platforms and tools that use the S&R paradigm to enhance business performance management are making it possible to build an effective decision-making process into an enterprise's software and equipment.
A Review of “UN Ideas That Changed the World”

The day-to-day work of the United Nations (UN) has been the focus of considerable scholarship. Less attention, however, has been accorded the organization's ideational role in promoting global chan...
Towards Cultural Inclusion: Using Mobile Technologies to Increase Access to Audio Description

Abstract: This paper describes a National Park Service (NPS) and University of Hawaii research project that is developing a mobile application for audio describing NPS print brochures for blind and visually impaired park users. The project has the potential to expand access to cultural and aesthetic material for blind and visually impaired people.
Comparison of Statically Optimized Proportional-Integral-Derivative and Functionally Optimized Controllers

This research effort is focused on developing an approach for comparing the performance differences between a Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller and a functionally optimized controller for a satellite attitude controller using control moment gyroscopes (CMGs) for attitude control. Developing an approach is challenging because the performance gains of a functionally optimized controller are dependent on one’s estimation of unknown PID gains. Though any random combination of gains will produce results that can be compared, the comparison would only represent one of an infinite number of solutions. However, with a well defined cost function, there should exist a set of gains that outperform other local gains, resulting in a local minimum that can be found through static optimization. When the functionally optimized trajectory is then compared to the statically optimized PID controller, the solution should provide the lower limit of improvement expected by using functional optimized controller over PID control.
Rethinking Military Gaming America's Army and Its Critics

With the extensive use of military force by the U.S. government over the past decade, more scholarly attention has been directed at how mass culture is mobilized to support military objectives. Vid...
Pathways of cluster growth and kinetic slowing down in a model of short-range attractive colloids.

We present the results of an extensive 3D Brownian dynamics simulation of the self-assembly of colloidal particles for a short-range attractive model that is quenched below its metastable critical point. In particular, results are obtained in the small-volume-fraction, low-temperature region in which we find so-called sticky beads that diffuse around the system, without reaching a final large cluster on the timescale of our simulation. For larger volume fractions in this low-temperature regime, a gel forms as the result of kinetically slowed down spinodal decomposition, as shown earlier for other short-range attractive models (Foffi, G.; De Michele, C.; Sciortino, F.; Tartaglia, P. Phys. Rev. Lett.2005, 94, 078301. Zaccarelli, E. J. Phys.: Condens. Matter2007, 19, 323101). We also show that for quenches below the critical point but above the intersection of the binodal with the glass line, two-step crystallization takes place. For sufficiently small volume fractions, the first step is the nucleation of de...
U.S. Monetary Policy and the Financial Crisis

This paper reviews U.S. Federal Reserve policy prior to and during the course of the recession that began in December 2007. It compares those policies to monetary policy during the Great Depression of the 1930s with which this recession has been likened. It then goes on to discuss what policymakers will need to do to in the future to avoid a surge in inflation and the difficulties which they are apt to face in implementing the necessary shift in policy.
An Improved Traffic Flow Model

To better carry out the planning and control of urban transport,a more effective mathematical model describing traffic flow was given.The new model is based on both the driver 's car-following behavior and general linkage between microscopic and macroscopic parameters.Since the model includes the effects of both the relative speeds and the relative distance with linear weighted method,it is more realistic.Meanwhile,some well-know continuum models are contained in this new model as special cases,such as Payne model,Wiltham model,and Zhang model.The characteristic velocity and linear stability of the new model were studied.The new model is inherently stable and controls the extent of non-anisotropic and diffusive influences through a dimensionless parameter called anisotropic factor.
Antagonist to GH-releasing factor inhibits growth and renal Pi reabsorption in immature rats

Compared with adult rats, the immature rat has an enhanced tubular capacity for phosphate reabsorption, which presumably facilitates the growth process. Since the main driving force for growth is t...
Impact of eliminating reflex urine cultures on performed urine cultures and antibiotic use

Inappropriate treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria is often the result of unnecessary urinalyses and urine cultures. This study aimed to determine the impact of stopping the practice of reflex urine cultures. Our study demonstrated that stopping urine reflex cultures decreased the number of urine cultures performed and there was a trend toward a decrease in antibiotic use.
Achieving fast consensus by edge elimination in a class of consensus dynamics with large delays

A class of linear time-invariant consensus network dynamics with homogeneous delays is studied in terms of agents' convergence speed depending on the network graph. For this system, it is known that consensus is guaranteed only if the inter-agent delay τ is less than a certain margin τ* known as the delay margin. Since an analytical calculation of settling time for time delay systems is extremely difficult, if not impossible, and since rightmost roots only provide a rough estimation of state decay rate, here we take a statistical approach and analyze numerous case studies through time-domain simulations of the consensus system impulse response. On benchmark problems, we show that the graph underlying the consensus network together with the ratio τ/τ* and agents' initial conditions determine reaching consensus faster/slower. Specifically, we report that (i) for relatively large delays with τ < τ*, there is a set of graphs obtained by removing some edges between the agents with which fast consensus can be achieved, by about an order of magnitude reduction in settling time, and (ii) removing from a fully connected graph the edge corresponding to the largest difference of initial state values will reduce the settling time in the presence of large time delay.
The Influence of Neighborhood Context on Exposure to and Use of Substances Among Urban African American Children

Substance use is a widespread problem among adolescents. According to the 2008 Monitoring the Future survey, almost half (45 %) of American youth have smoked cigarettes by the end of high school, 21 % of whom had tried them before the beginning of eighth grade; 72 % have consumed alcohol by the end of high school, with 39 % having done so by eighth grade; and half (47 %) of American children have tried an illicit drug by the time they leave high school (Johnston et al. 2009). However, most of the research on adolescent substance use has been conducted on primarily Caucasian samples (Lambert et al. 2004), leaving a paucity of research on substance use among ethnic minority adolescents (De La Rosa et al. 1993; Wallace et al. 1999). It is important to investigate substance use among ethnic minorities because racial and ethnic minority groups exhibit disproportionately adverse social outcomes associated with drug use, including poverty, violence, crime and arrest (REF). Prior research has shown that African American adolescents are less likely to smoke cigarettes (Felton et al. 1999; Kann et al. 1996) and consume alcohol (Blum et al. 2000) than their Caucasian peers. However, prevalence rates for drug use initiation by race/ethnicity indicate that while African Americans are less likely than Caucasians to initiate smoking tobacco and drinking by age 13, they are at greater risk of initiating cocaine and marijuana use at earlier ages (i.e., 17.2 %, 11.1 %, and 1.3 % for smoking, marijuana, and cocaine initiation before 13 years of age respectively (Kann et al. 1996).
Panic Disorder Comorbidity with Medical Conditions and Treatment Implications

Panic disorder (PD) is unique among the anxiety disorders in that panic symptoms are primarily of a physical nature. Consequently, comorbidity with medical illness is significant. This review examines the association between PD and medical illness. We identify shared pathophysiological and psychological correlates and illustrate how physiological activation in panic sufferers underlies their symptom experience in the context of the fight-or-flight response and beyond a situation-specific response pattern. We then review evidence for bodily symptom perception accuracy in PD. Prevalence of comorbidity for PD and medical illness is presented, with a focus on respiratory and cardiovascular illness, irritable bowel syndrome, and diabetes, followed by an outline for potential pathways of a bidirectional association. We conclude by illustrating commonalities in mediating mechanistic pathways and moderating risk factors across medical illnesses, and we discuss implications for diagnosis and treatment of both type...
Impact of symptom burden and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) on esophageal motor diagnoses.

Background High-resolution manometry (HRM) categorizes esophageal motor processes into specific Chicago Classification (CC) diagnoses, but the clinical impact of these motor diagnoses on symptom burden remain unclear. Methods Two hundred and eleven subjects (56.8±1.0 years, 66.8% F) completed symptom questionnaires (GERDQ, Mayo dysphagia questionnaire [MDQ], visceral sensitivity index, short-form 36, dominant symptom index, and global symptom severity [GSS] on a 100-mm visual analog scale) prior to HRM. Subjects were stratified according to CC v3.0 and by dominant presenting symptom; contraction wave abnormalities (CWA) were evaluated within “normal” CC. Symptom burden, impact of diagnoses, and HRQOL were compared within and between cohorts. Key Results Major motor disorders had highest global symptom burden (P=.02), “normal” had lowest (P<.01). Dysphagia (MDQ) was highest with esophageal outflow obstruction (P=.02), but reflux symptoms (GERDQ) were similar in CC cohorts (P=ns). Absent contractility aligned best with minor motor disorders. Consequently, pathophysiologic categorization into outflow obstruction, hypermotility, and hypomotility resulted in a gradient of decreasing dysphagia and increasing reflux burden (P<.05 across groups); GSS (P=.05) was highest with hypomotility and lowest with “normal” (P=.002). Within the “normal” cohort, 33.3% had CWA; this subgroup had symptom burden similar to hypermotility. Upon stratification by symptoms, symptom burden (GSS, MDQ, HRQOL) was most profound with dysphagia. Conclusions and Inferences Chicago Classification v3.0 diagnoses identify subjects with highest symptom burden, but pathophysiologic categorization may allow better stratification by symptom type and burden. Contraction wave abnormalities are clinically relevant and different from true normal motor function. Transit symptoms have highest yield for a motor diagnosis.
Designer Photosynthetic Organisms for Photobiological Production of Ethanol from Carbon Dioxide and Water

This chapter describes an invention on photosynthetic ethanol production through application of synthetic biology. The designer plants, designer algae, and designer plant cells are created such that the endogenous photosynthesis regulation mechanism is tamed, and the reducing power (NADPH) and energy (ATP) acquired from the photosynthetic water splitting and proton gradient-coupled electron transport process are used for immediate synthesis of ethanol (CH3CH2OH) directly from carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). This photobiological ethanol-production method eliminates the problem of recalcitrant lignocellulosics by bypassing the bottleneck problem of the conventional biomass technology. The photosynthetic ethanol-production technology is expected to have a much higher solar-to-ethanol energy-conversion efficiency than the conventional technology. Furthermore, this approach enables the use of seawater for photobiological production of ethanol without requiring freshwater or agricultural soil, since the designer photosynthetic organisms can be created from certain marine algae that can use seawater.
Effect of the Knowledge and Attitudes of a Support Person on Maternal Feeding Choice.

Background:Breastfeeding rates among urban, low-income populations are lower than the national average, and social support can affect breastfeeding initiation and duration both positively and negat...
Direct Comparison of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery and Microsurgery for Small Size Meningiomas.

Background Patients with small ( Methods A retrospective review (2005–2016) was performed of 90 consecutive patients with intracranial meningiomas who underwent either microsurgery ( n = 31) or Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) ( n = 59). The study population was evaluated clinically and radiographically after treatment. Results GKRS in meningiomas showed a significantly higher percentage of local control of tumor growth compared with microsurgery ( P = 0.02) 5 and 10 years ( P = 0.003) after treatment. The median RFS was also significantly higher in the GKRS group compared with the microsurgery group ( P = 0.04). There was no difference in RFS between Simpson grade I resection and GKRS ( P = 0.69). In univariate analysis, RFS after procedures was significantly affected by tumor involvement of cranial nerves, presence of comorbidities, and preoperative Karnofsky performance scale score ≤70. In multivariate analysis, only preoperative Karnofsky performance scale score ≤70 was a predictor of unfavorable outcome. Conclusions GKRS offers a high rate of tumor control and longer RFS that is comparable to Simpson grade I resection. Subtotal resection is not a good choice for small meningiomas. The treatment procedure should be tailored according to the presence of comorbidities and the maximum benefit for the patient.
Prospectiva para la internacionalización de los estudiantes de la educación superior como factor de integracion regional en el Paraguay

Prospectiva para la internacionalizacion de los estudiantes de la educacion superior como factor de integracion regional en el Paraguay, partiendo de la importancia de la internacionalizacion en la educacion superior estamos convencidos de que es primordial importancia para nuestra institucion por diversas razones. Fundamentalmente, una universidad que facilita y apoya la colaboracion nacional e internacional, a la par que la movilidad de su personal, de sus estudiantes y sus docentes. La movilidad academica es uno de los principales referentes de los procesos y estrategias de cooperacion educativa y, ademas de ser expresion directa de la colaboracion entre instituciones y estructuras gubernamentales. La internacionalizacion, regionalizacion y mundializacion de la Educacion Superior deberia basarse en la solidaridad y el respeto mutuos y en la promocion de los valores del humanismo y el dialogo intercultural. La internacionalizacion de la educacion superior en la Universidad Nacional de Caaguazu, se inicio en el ano 2012, con la creacion de una direccion General en el Rectorado de la misma Universidad, su fin principal es la de buscar acuerdos estrategicos para el desarrollo de las diferentes unidades academicas los acuerdos de cooperacion estan sustentados en cooperaciones estrategicas con los diferentes Ministerios del Gobierno Paraguayo.
Totally extraperitoneal approach for ventral hernia.

In open surgery, extraperitoneal sublay mesh implantation is generally preferred to intraperitoneal placement, following the same principles as in “giant prosthetic reinforcement of the visceral sac” described for inguinal hernia repair [1, 2]. Miserez and Penninckx in 2002 described an endoscopic totally preperitoneal ventral hernia repair in a small cohort of 15 cases [3]. Unfortunately, this technique has not spread, probably because of the technical difficulties that require, but not for effectiveness. This video demonstrates the detailed operative technique and feasibility for performing extraperitoneal mesogastric hernia repair endoscopically. After insufflation of CO2 in Retzius space, 3 trocars were introduced on semilunar line once identified the correct retromuscular plane. Blunt dissection was done up to midline. Above arcuate line, linea alba was incised in order to open the contralateral posterior rectus sheath and dissection proceeded laterally until the contralateral semilunar line. Hernia sac was reduced and the defect of posterior rectus sheath and peritoneum was closed with continuous suture. A composite mesh was placed without fixation. Operative time was 150 min without blood loss. Interruption of pain medication was in the first post operative day and discharge in second post operative day. One week after surgery, an ultrasound assessment was done to evaluate presence of seroma. Although this approach will not become the gold standard, certainly it presents some innovative elements such as non-exposure of the mesh with the abdominal viscera and the improvement of the comfort avoiding fixing system such as tacks. Comparison between the current endoscopic techniques is required. Totally extraperitoneal (TEP) approach for ventral hernia is safe and feasible.
How Research on the Cell Biology of Reproduction Can Contribute to the Solution of the Population Problem

Mankind is now confronted by two inseparable problems of awesome magnitude—the uncontrolled growth of the world population and a serious shortage of food for the undernourished millions already born and for the millions yet to be born. The attainment of zero population growth in some regions of this country has led to a regrettable complacency about the population problem. But the fact remains that some 200,000 persons are being added to the world population every day—74 million new mouths to feed every year. The United Nations has identified 43 countries with very low per capita income, inadequate diet, and large food deficits. It is especially distressing that the highest fertility rates are found in many of those same developing countries that are struggling to improve the lot of their people only to find that unchecked population growth is wiping out the gains achieved in agricultural production. Research on the cell biology of reproduction provides the understanding of basic mechanisms that is essential for progress in the limitation of human fertility and in the promotion of fertility in food-producing domestic animals.
Quality concerns over managers' quarterly earnings guidance

Abstract This paper investigates how often and to what extent quarterly earnings guidance is of poor quality, the causes of poor quality guidance, and the ultimate effect of such guidance on investors' earnings expectations. I operationalize poor quality guidance as that guidance which is directionally incorrect relative to the pre-guidance analyst consensus. Results show that 12% of the sample meets this definition. In terms of what causes directionally incorrect guidance, expectation management and forecast difficulty play an equally important role in determining directionally incorrect guidance. Both analysts and market participants are adversely impacted by directionally incorrect guidance, but substantially less so when the likelihood of directionally incorrect guidance increases. Finally, market participants appear to be more capable of using publicly observable cues to access the likelihood of directionally incorrect guidance increases.
Hallmarks of Reversible Separation of Living, Unperturbed Cell Membranes into Two Liquid Phases.

Controversy has long surrounded the question of whether spontaneous lateral demixing of membranes into coexisting liquid phases can organize proteins and lipids on micron scales within unperturbed, living cells. A clear answer hinges on observation of hallmarks of a reversible phase transition. Here, by directly imaging micron-scale membrane domains of yeast vacuoles both in vivo and cell free, we demonstrate that the domains arise through a phase separation mechanism. The domains are large, have smooth boundaries, and can merge quickly, consistent with fluid phases. Moreover, the domains disappear above a distinct miscibility transition temperature (Tmix) and reappear below Tmix, over multiple heating and cooling cycles. Hence, large-scale membrane organization in living cells under physiologically relevant conditions can be controlled by tuning a single thermodynamic parameter.
A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Femoral Artery Intima-Media Thickness:

Introduction.—Arterial intima thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery has been established as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. The role of femoral IMT remains incompletely defined. This study w...
Individual Differences in Fourth-Grade Math Achievement in Chinese and English

Language has been widely acknowledged as a determining factor in mathematical achievement. Less understood, however, is the relationship between students’ language and their performance on tests of mathematics when taking into consideration the presence of mathematical difficulties. We investigated the effects of two different language systems, Chinese and English, on the mathematical performance of fourth-grade (or age equivalent) students (N=23, 220) with varying levels of demonstrated mathematical and reading ability. For this investigation, we used a subset of the 2011 Progress in International Reading and Literacy Study (PIRLS) and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) from students who were tested in Chinese or English in nine countries. Findings from hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analyses revealed that the main effect of language on mathematical performance remained significant once variables for mathematical ability were added to the model. Further, significant language-by-mathematical ability interactions were observed when controlling for country, gender, maternal education, and age. Thus, the effect of language on mathematical performance may be especially salient in the presence of mathematical difficulties. Implications of these findings include the need for further investigations of language and its effects on mathematical performance for Chinese- and English-speaking students in order to clarify how this relationship may vary within specific language populations.
Hypofractionated Whole-Breast Irradiation in Women Less Than 50 Years Old Treated on 4 Prospective Protocols.

Purpose Hypofractionated whole-breast radiation therapy (RT) has proved to be equivalent to conventionally fractionated RT in multiple randomized trials. There is controversy regarding its use in younger women because of their underrepresentation in trials and the concern for late toxicity. We evaluated disease control and cosmetic outcomes in patients aged Methods and Materials From 2003 to 2015, 1313 patients were enrolled in 4 prospective protocols investigating the use of adjuvant hypofractionated RT after breast-conserving surgery with a daily or weekly concomitant boost. We identified the records of 348 patients aged Results With a median follow-up period of 66.9 months, the overall survival rate was 99.6%, the disease-free survival rate was 96.3%, and the local recurrence–free survival rate was 97.7% at 3 years. Clinician-rated cosmesis (n = 242) was excellent or good in 93.4% of cases and fair or poor in 6.6%. Patient-rated cosmesis (n = 259) was excellent or good in 86.1% and fair or poor in 13.9%. When patients rated themselves differently than their physicians, patients more often rated themselves poorly compared with their physicians (P = .0044, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test). Conclusions At a median follow-up of 5 years, an analysis of patients aged
Outcomes With Novel Oral Anticoagulants in Obese Patients who Underwent Electrical Cardioversion for Atrial Tachyarrhythmias

The efficacy of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in severely obese patients is uncertain as volume of distribution is related to weight, and few such patients were enrolled in the pivotal trials. As the month after direct-current cardioversion (DCCV) for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter is a high-risk period for stroke, we sought to evaluate the safety of performing DCCV in obese patients on NOAC. All patients who underwent DCCV after ≥3 weeks of NOAC or therapeutic warfarin treatment without a previous transesophageal echocardiogram over a 3-year period at a single center were included. Obesity groups were defined as normal (body mass index [BMI]