cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PARTIAL CROSS-VALIDATION OF LOW CORRELATION FOR SCORES ON THE TEST OF VISUAL-MOTOR INTEGRATION AND THE BEERY-BUKTENICA DEVELOPMENTAL TEST OF VISUAL-MOTOR INTEGRATION '

Szrmmaq.-The aim of this study was to funher investigate the correlation between a well established test, the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of V~sual-Motor Integration and a new copying test, the Test of Visual-Motor Inregr.~t~on. For scores on the tests of 71 children from a public school in Italy, the colrelar~nn is .34, which is consistent with earlier evidence and indicates that the Test of Visual-Motor Integration is not a subsutute For the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of VisualMotor Integration. The purpose of the study was to estimate the correlation between the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery, 1997) and the Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Hammd, Pearson, & Voress, 1996). Both tests require the subject to copy a sequence of geometric forms with pencil on paper. The Beery-Buktenica was first published in 1967 (Beery, 1967a, 1967b; Beery & Buktenica, 1967) and since then it has been used internationally to measure the abdity to coordinate visual and rnotor behaviors. It is a well established test with solid norms and it constitutes a useful tool for the early identification and the prevention of learning disabilities. The Test of Visual-Motor Integration was published in 1996, and its manual reports a correlation with the Beery-Buktenica of .95 (adjusted for attenuation) for 49 children with dsabhties whose average age was 9 yr. (ranging from 5.5 to 12.5 years). A recent study (Preda, 1997) compared the scores on both tests for 103 children from a public school, whose average age was 9.1 years, and found a correlation of only .33 (p < .001) which is too low to support the equivalency between the two tests suggested in the Test of Visual-Motor Integration manual. The present aim was to cross-validate that finding to evaluate whether the Test of Visual-Motor Integration can be used as a substitute for the Beery Buktenica'Developrnental Test of Visual-Motor Integration. Method.-A total of 71 children from a public school in Milan, Italy,
Circadian rhythm reprogramming during lung inflammation

Circadian rhythms are known to regulate immune responses in healthy animals, but it is unclear whether they persist during acute illnesses where clock gene expression is disrupted by systemic inflammation. Here we use a genome-wide approach to investigate circadian gene and metabolite expression in the lungs of endotoxemic mice and find that novel cellular and molecular circadian rhythms are elicited in this setting. The endotoxin-specific circadian programme exhibits unique features, including a divergent group of rhythmic genes and metabolites compared with the basal state and a distinct periodicity and phase distribution. At the cellular level, endotoxin treatment also alters circadian rhythms of leukocyte counts within the lung in a bmal1-dependent manner, such that granulocytes rather than lymphocytes become the dominant oscillating cell type. Our results show that inflammation produces a complex re-organization of cellular and molecular circadian rhythms that are relevant to early events in lung injury.
Racial differences in minimum lower leg vascular resistance in normotensive young adults with positive and negative parental histories of hypertension.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether peripheral hemodynamic differences exist in young adult normotensive African Americans and white Americans with a positive and negative parental history of hypertension. METHODS The participants were healthy men of whom 13 were African Americans and nine white Americans with a positive parental history and 19 were African Americans and 13 white Americans with a negative parental history. Lower leg blood flows were obtained at rest and during reactive hyperemia. Lower leg minimum vascular resistance (Rmin) was computed from reactive hyperemic blood flow measured by venous occlusion plethysmography, and mean arterial blood pressure was determined by auscultation of the brachial artery. RESULTS Resting blood flow and mean arterial pressure were similar in all groups. A significant race x parental history interaction effect was observed for lower leg Rmin. In the white men the lower leg Rmin was significantly greater in the positive than the negative parental group (P < 0.05). Lower leg Rmin was significantly greater in African Americans than in white men without a parental histoy (P < 0.05). Mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were similar among the groups. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that lower leg Rmin is greater in young white men with a positive parental history of hypertension than those with a negative parental history. In African Americans with either positive or negative parental histories, lower leg Rmin is not different. This finding suggests that heredity may have a greater influence in white populations than in African Americans on the structural changes in resistance vessels. The study also suggests that African Americans have an earlier structural change in the resistance vessels compared with white people, regardless of a parental history of hypertension. This suggests that factors other than heredity are of importance in changing the structure of the resistance vessels.
THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONG HOURS EMPLOYED, PERCEIVED WORK INTERFERENCE, AND GRADES AS REPORTED BY UNDERGRADUATE SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS

This article reports on an exploratory research study that found that working a half-time job while pursuing a full-time course load is typical for most undergraduate social work students. Average number of hours worked and perceived work interference with studies were associated with lower overall grade point average.
Comparison of Boer, Kiko, and Spanish meat goat does for stayability and cumulative reproductive output in the humid subtropical southeastern United States

Longevity is the amount of time breeding females stay active in a herd by avoiding death or culling because of illness or reproductive failure. This is a trait of economic relevance in commercial small ruminant breeding herds as it affects lifetime reproductive output. The purpose of this study was to determine if breed of meat goat influences breeding doe survival rates and cumulative reproductive performance under semi-intensive management. Boer (n = 132), Kiko (n = 92) and Spanish (n = 79) does were evaluated for longevity trends and cumulative kid production. The herd was managed on humid subtropical pasture. Does had the chance to complete 2 to 6 production years. Survival curves were analyzed for 2 culling methods. The actual culling practice removed does after two failures to wean a kid. An alternative culling protocol removed doe records after the first failure to wean a kid. Kid production traits analyzed across herd life were the total number of kids weaned and cumulative kid weight weaned to the 2-, 3-, and 5-year stayability endpoints. Most (82%) doe exits were illness-related under the actual culling method. Reproductive failure represented 51% of doe exits under the alternative culling protocol. Boer does had greater survival declines (P < 0.01) from 2 to 6 years of herd life compared with Kiko and Spanish under both culling protocols. Boer does had lower stayability rates (P < 0.01) at each year endpoint for both culling protocols. Under the alternative protocol, over 50% of Boer does failed to complete 2 years, whereas over 50% of Kiko and Spanish does successfully completed 4 years. Boer does had lower (P < 0.01) total number of kids weaned and cumulative weight weaned through each stayability endpoint compared with Kiko and Spanish. Boer does had low stayability and cumulative kid production rates compared with Kiko and Spanish does. Poor health was the primary driver of does exiting the herd. Kiko and Spanish does did not differ for longevity and lifetime performance indicators.
Effects of selective D1 and D2 dopamine antagonists on cocaine self-administration in the rat

The effect of the selective D1 antagonist, SCH 23390, and the selective D2 antagonist, spiperone, was investigated in rats trained to self-administer intravenous cocaine on a fixed-ratio (FR) 5 schedule of reinforcement. Both SCH 23390 and spiperone pretreatment increased responding up to doses of 10.0 µg/kg, and decreased responding at higher doses. Since rate of responding maintained by a drug can be influenced by factors other than its reinforcing efficacy, behavior maintained by cocaine was also investigated under a progressive-ratio schedule. The breaking point obtained under this schedule is used as a measure of the efficacy of the reinforcer and this value is not exclusively determined by response rate. With the progressive-ratio schedule, both SCH 23390 and spiperone produced dose-dependent decreases in the highest ratio completed in rats self-administering cocaine. The results obtained using the FR 5 and progressive-ratio schedules suggest that both D1 and D2 receptors are involved in mediating the reinforcing effects of cocaine.
Experimental evolution in bacteria.

(1978). Experimental Evolution in Bacteria. CRC Critical Reviews in Microbiology: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 33-52.
The characteristics of anxiety and depression symptom severity in older adults living in public housing.

Background: Anxiety and depression are common in older adult public housing residents and frequently co-occur. To understand anxiety and depression more fully in this socioeconomically disadvantaged population, this study relies on the Social Antecedent Model of Psychopathology to characterize anxiety and depression symptoms concurrently.Methods: 190 public housing residents aged 60 years and older in Rochester, New York, participated in a research interview during which they reported on variables across the six stages of the Social Antecedent Model. GAD-7 and PHQ-9 assessed anxiety and depression symptoms, respectively.Results: In these older adult residents, anxiety and depression symptom severity scores were correlated (r = 0.61; p < 0.001). Correlates of anxiety and depression symptom severity were similar for both outcomes and spanned the six stages of the Social Antecedent Model. Multivariate linear regression models identified age, medical comorbidity, mobility, social support, maladaptive coping, and recent life events severity as statistically significant correlates. The regression models accounted for 43% of anxiety and 48% of depression symptom variability.Conclusions: In public housing residents, late-life anxiety and depression symptoms were moderately correlated. Anxiety symptom severity correlates were largely consistent with those found for depression symptom severity. The broad distribution of correlates across demographic, social, medical, and behavioral domains suggests that the context of late-life anxiety and depression symptomatology in public housing is complex and that multidisciplinary collaborative care approaches may be warranted in future interventions.
Protein evolution in two co-occurring types of Symbiodinium: an exploration into the genetic basis of thermal tolerance in Symbiodinium clade D.

The symbiosis between reef-building corals and photosynthetic dinoflagellates (Symbiodinium) is an integral part of the coral reef ecosystem, as corals are dependent on Symbiodinium for the majority of their energy needs. However, this partnership is increasingly at risk due to changing climatic conditions. It is thought that functional diversity within Symbiodinium may allow some corals to rapidly adapt to different environments by changing the type of Symbiodinium with which they partner; however, very little is known about the molecular basis of the functional differences among symbiont groups. One group of Symbiodinium that is hypothesized to be important for the future of reefs is clade D, which, in general, seems to provide the coral holobiont (i.e., coral host and associated symbiont community) with elevated thermal tolerance. Using high-throughput sequencing data from field-collected corals we assembled, de novo, draft transcriptomes for Symbiodinium clades C and D. We then explore the functional basis of thermal tolerance in clade D by comparing rates of coding sequence evolution among the four clades of Symbiodinium most commonly found in reef-building corals (A-D). We are able to highlight a number of genes and functional categories as candidates for involvement in the increased thermal tolerance of clade D. These include a fatty acid desaturase, molecular chaperones and proteins involved in photosynthesis and the thylakoid membrane. We also demonstrate that clades C and D co-occur within most of the sampled colonies of Acropora hyacinthus, suggesting widespread potential for this coral species to acclimatize to changing thermal conditions via ‘shuffling’ the proportions of these two clades from within their current symbiont communities. Transcriptome-wide analysis confirms that the four main Symbiodinium clades found within corals exhibit extensive evolutionary divergence (18.5-27.3% avg. pairwise nucleotide difference). Despite these evolutionary distinctions, many corals appear to host multiple clades simultaneously, which may allow for rapid acclimatization to changing environmental conditions. This study provides a first step toward understanding the molecular basis of functional differences between Symbiodinium clades by highlighting a number of genes with signatures consistent with positive selection along the thermally tolerant clade D lineage.
Lithium hexamethyldisilazide-mediated enolizations: influence of triethylamine on E/Z selectivities and enolate reactivities.

Lithium hexamethyldisilazide (LiHMDS) in triethylamine (Et3N)/toluene is shown to enolize acyclic ketones and esters rapidly and with high E/Z selectivity. Mechanistic studies reveal a dimer-based mechanism consistent with previous studies of LiHMDS/Et3N. E/Z equilibration occurs when <2.0 equiv of LiHMDS are used. Studies of the aldol condensation and Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of the resulting Et3N-solvated enolates show higher and often complementary diastereoselectivities when compared with analogous reactions in THF. The Et3N-solvated enolates also display a marked (20-fold) acceleration of the Ireland-Claisen rearrangement with evidence of autocatalysis. A possible importance of amine-solvated enolates is discussed.
A hyaluronic acid-binding contact lens with enhanced water retention.

Abstract Purpose As a main component of an artificial tear or eyedrop, hyaluronic acid (HA) prolongs water retention, slows tear removal, improves tear film stability, reduces protein adsorption at the ocular surface and permits uninterrupted blinking. Here, we hypothesized that the contact lens modified with an HA-binding peptide (HABpep) could locally bind and concentrate exogenous HA present in eyedrops to the modified contact lens surface, which exhibited superior water retention. Methods To bind HA, a contact lens surface was covalently modified by HABpep with and without a poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacer. Bound HA and its retention over time on the modified surfaces were evaluated by fluorescence measurements. A comparative water evaporation study was performed to determine water retention in an HA-bound contact lens. Results Fluorescence studies showed that the contact lens was successfully modified by HABpep with or without a PEG spacer, and HA bound to the contact lens surface. Furthermore, the bound HA via HABpep significantly reduced water loss from the modified contact lens. Conclusion HABpep strategies that locally bind and concentrate HA to create a thin coating of a therapeutic molecule on surfaces could provide physical and biological benefits to treat ocular surface dysfunction. The surface bound HA via HABpep enhanced water retention in the modified contact lens.
Wearing ambidextrous vinyl gloves does not impair manual dexterity.

Universal precautions mandate that health care workers wear gloves to prevent the unintended spread of bloodborne pathogens. Gloves may affect manual dexterity, generally delaying task completion. Our previous study showed that wearing the wrong size latex surgical glove degraded manual dexterity. The use of non-sterile and non-latex gloves may limit certain risks and be more cost-effective. However, such gloves may produce different results. We hypothesized that ambidextrous vinyl examination gloves would degrade manual dexterity compared with bare hands. We studied 20 random subjects from a medical environment. Subjects performed a standard battery of Grooved Pegboard tasks while bare-handed, wearing ambidextrous non-sterile vinyl gloves that were their preferred size, a size too small, and a size too large. The order was randomized with a Latin Square design to minimize the effects of time, boredom, and fatigue on the subjects. Subjects were also invited to comment on the fit of different size gloves. ...
Absorption and disposition of aluminum in the rat

Abstract The kinetics of aluminum were determined in the rat. Intravenous bolus and oral doses of 8.1-mg/kg of aluminum as the chloride salt were administered to six rats. Serial blood samples and total urine and feces were collected and assayed for aluminum by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The fraction absorbed orally (mean ± SEM) was 0.27 ± 0.03; the half-life was 5.29 ± 0.47 h; the steady-state volume of distribution was 38.4 ± 6.4 ml/kg, and the clearance was 8.87 ± 1.76 mL•h −1 •kg −1 . It was found that aluminum did not significantly penetrate the cellular components of blood. Plasma protein binding was determined to be ∼98%. Sixty percent of the intravenous dose was excreted in the urine and the remaining 40% was excreted in the feces.
Using The Internal Rate Of Return Method To Consider The Potential Degree Offerings Of A Liberal Arts College

This paper considered the case of a liberal arts institution of higher learning that is hoping to improve its market competitiveness through the addition of either a graduate certificate program in human resources or the addition of a full graduate degree in human resources. An examination of internal rate of return financial value capital budgeting calculations was the quantitative tool through which the two alternatives were examined, with respect to estimated student enrollment data, over a period of five years. The capital budgeting outcomes indicated that the full degree program is the preferred alternative. Therefore, it was recommended that the institution consider the implementation of the full degree program as a viable method of increasing its revenues and enhancing its competitiveness.
The Finger in the Dike: Campaign Finance Regulation After McConnell

In McConnell v. FEC, the Supreme Court largely rejected the plaintiff's claims that the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA), commonly known as McCain-Feingold, violated the First Amendment. In deferring to the congressional judgment declaring additional restrictions on the financing of campaigns for federal office necessary, the Court read its own First Amendment case law narrowly, but adhered to the fundamentals laid down in Buckley v. Valeo, its landmark precedent from 1976. In so doing, the Court once again left federal campaign finance law as a hodge-podge of limitations and loopholes. Moreover, a general lack of enthusiasm from Congress, the President, the courts, and the Federal Election Commission (FEC) assures the continued influence of big money in the national political scene.
Race Research and the Ethics of Belief

On most accounts, beliefs are supposed to fit the world rather than change it. But believing can have social consequences, since the beliefs we form underwrite our actions and impact our character. Because our beliefs affect how we live our lives and how we treat other people, it is surprising how little attention is usually given to the moral status of believing apart from its epistemic justification. In what follows, I develop a version of the harm principle that applies to beliefs as well as actions. In doing so, I challenge the often exaggerated distinction between forming beliefs and acting on them.1 After developing this view, I consider what it might imply about controversial research the goal of which is to yield true beliefs but the outcome of which might include negative social consequences. In particular, I focus on the implications of research into biological differences between racial groups.
Effect of 8-azaguanine on encephalomyocarditis virus multiplication.

SummaryThe effect of azaG on EMC virus multiplication was investigated. It was found that the analog induces a delay in the onset of virus growth and slows the growth rate. This effect seems to be independent of host cells macromolecular synthesis, and indirect evidence suggests that it is also independent of incorporation into viral RNA. There is evidence that the synthesis of various virus-directed proteins may be primarily affected. It is suggested that an azaG-substi-tuted GTP cofactor may interfere in the transfer capacity of s-RNA. This hypothesis could explain the ability of azaG to inhibit EMC replication at low intracellular concentration of azaG products as it would be expected in azaG-R cells which lack IMP-GMP pyrophosphorylases. A known secondary mechanism for the formation of azaG nucleotides could provide sufficient amounts of an azaG-cofactor to inhibit viral multiplication in this system.
Photon Transport in Luminescent Solar Concentrators based on Semiconductor Nanoparticles

Photon transport in luminescent solar concentrators using semiconductor nanoparticles is modeled by Monte Carlo simulations. Using quantum dots proves to be highly efficient, while using aligned nanorods reduces the escape of light significantly.
Integration and Group Structure: An Area for Research

vation which can disregard the immediate consequences of action and transcend the negative evidence is perhaps more frequently found in the middle class than in the working class. Economic security, leisure, and education all contribute to the development of the capacity for becoming independent of the environment and of the drive to change or manipulate the environment. The role also requires that the individual accept the isolation and unpopularity which the aggressive assertion of his views necessarily evokes in return for popularity among a small and deviant group. But because propaganda is the key function in this phase the propagandist's popularity is probably more intense among his followers than at any other stage in the movement's development. And it is possible, too, that he needs this strong reassurance to carry out his functions. All roles in a social movement require some degree and some kind of creative activity. Hyndman's role called for a high degree of creative activity since he had no precedents to guide him and only a vague measuring stick to judge whether or not he was doing the right thing. He had to assume the responsbility of playing by ear and the risk that the wrong notes would be struck. Yet there are limits here, too. For if the attitude is carried to an extreme it becomes anti-social. Other members of the group resent the omniscience and break away, weakening rather than strengthening the movement. This problem continually plagued the Federation. Groups broke away to form other groups in the hope that without the domination of Hyndman they could operate more effectively, only to repeat the same pattern. Further research is needed to delineate the role more completely and to examine what the variations are possible within it and what the limiting cases are. It would be valuable, too, to learn something of the origin of the characteristics required to fulfill the demands of the role. Such information can contribute to a theory of social movements and a theory of social change.
Complement-dependent neutralization of transmissible gastroenteritis virus by monoclonal antibodies.

Monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to each of the 3 major structural proteins of transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) of swine were compared as to their virus neutralizing activity in the presence or absence of guinea pig complement. MAbs to the peplomer protein had neutralizing activity for TGEV with or without complement and the titers were similar in either case. MAbs to the matrix protein had neutralizing activity for TGEV only in the presence of complement. Antibodies to the nucleocapsid protein were without neutralizing activity with or without complement.
Error Analysis in an Automated Narrative Information Extraction Pipeline

In this paper, we present our method for automatically extracting narrative information of characters and their narrative roles from natural language stories. In our corpus of 15 unannotated folk tales, our Voz system identifies 87% of the characters in the stories and correctly assigns 68% of the character roles. To better understand the sources of error in our system, we present an analytical methodology to study how the error is introduced by different modules and how it propagates through the pipeline. This methodology allows us to identify the bottleneck with the largest impact on the final error, which might be different from the module with the largest individual error in isolation. Our methodology can be applied to a wide variety of similar information extraction pipelines.
Paradoxical Herniation following Decompressive Craniectomy in the Subacute Setting

Decompressive craniectomy is reserved for extreme cases of intracranial hypertension. An uncommon complication known as paradoxical herniation has been documented within weeks to months following surgery. Here we present a unique case within days of surgery. Since standard medical treatment for intracranial hypertension will exacerbate paradoxical herniation, any abrupt neurological changes following decompressive craniectomy should be carefully investigated. Immediate treatment for paradoxical herniation is placement of the patient in the supine position with adequate hydration. Cranioplasty is the ultimate treatment option.
Water and Society in Early Medieval Italy, AD 400–1000: Water, baths, and corporeal washing

In the first five hundred of the “thousand years without a bath,” people invested considerable effort, ingenuity, and resources in securing water supplies for their various bathing complexes. Though this “frivolous” use of water cannot compare to vital functions like irrigation or quenching thirst, still water for bathing was important to early medieval Italians. Naturally enough, it was important in different ways at different times during the early Middle Ages, for the history of water supply is never static, being molded instead by shifts in the outlooks and requirements of users. This chapter delineates some of these differences in a panoramic sketch of the history of bathing, which highlights the gradual move away from large, easily accessible baths, the increasing reliance on private sources of water for an always more private, intimate bath, and the surprising endurance of very Roman notions on the purpose and function of baths in urban societies. As will emerge, the most relevant innovation in bathing customs in postclassical Italy was the gradual separation of the cleansing bath from the recreational bath (both types of bath existed in antiquity, but they went together). Such an innovation had repercussions on how people bathed. As customs of communal bathing lost their allure (this is another theme in the history of early medieval bathing), the patronage of public baths by rulers did too: by the ninth century subsidized baths were rather rare, for rulers did not include provision of public baths among their duties.
Antenna Matching Techniques

The role of the antenna coupler is to provide an impedance matching function in either of two ways: narrowband or broadband. With narrowband matching a near perfect impedance match is achieved at a single frequency. With broadband matching a less than perfect impedance match is accepted in order to get an optimal match over a broad range of frequencies. This paper presents the current techniques used for narrowband antenna couplers. Included is the basic approach to be followed, some of the pitfalls, and general engineering advice. It is assumed that the reader has a computer at his/her disposal. Broadband matching of antennas in application where it is advantageous.
Kinematics of Long-Chain Variable Geometry Truss Manipulators: An Overview of Solution Techniques

This paper is intended to provide an overview of several novel solution techniques which have been developed to solve the kinematics of variable-geometry-truss manipulators. This topic is briefly explored by first introducing two simple one-bay manipulators. These simple Variable-Geometry-Truss (VGT) manipulators can be used as the fundamental building blocks in constructing long-chain, high degree-offreedom manipulators. The more important issue of performing kinematic analyses on long chains of these manipulators will also be addressed. To yield solutions in real-time, this topic requires many innovative solution techniques such as hierarchical solution methods, structural optimization, and parallel computation. To serve as examples, the basic elemental structures discussed will be used to construct a thirty-degree-of-freedom planar manipulator and a sixty-degree-of-freedom spatial manipulator.
The Pediatric Asthmatic

The incidence of allergies and asthma in the Western world has been increasing over the past 30 years. However, more recent data suggests that over the past 5–10 years, the overall global trends of asthma incidence have begun to stabilize (1). Urbanization and industrialization has contributed to the increase in developed countries, but the reasons for this are still unclear. Asthma is estimated to be responsible for 1 in every 250 deaths worldwide. Many of these deaths are preventable, and specific issues have been identified that may contribute to this high mortality rate. Factors that contribute to high ­mortality and morbidity include slow access to care and medications, inadequate environmental control of allergens and irritants, dietary changes, genetic variations, cultural barriers, lack of education amongst patients and providers, insufficient resources, and improper use of health care dollars.
Existence as a Property

This paper is a defense of the view that existence is a property. Since the view is still a minority one, a fair amount of space is allotted to defending it against objections and counter-arguments. Positive arguments aren’t lacking, however, and emerge in the course of the discussion. Not all of the many positive or negative arguments which follow are wholly original—a fact to be expected in this context—but a fair number are, and both sorts of argument are seamlessly interwoven in the warp and woof of what follows.
Statin therapy improves survival in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension: a propensity score matching study

Inflammation is an increasingly recognized hallmark of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Statins have been shown to attenuate key pathologic mechanisms via pleiotropic effects in animal models. However, clinical benefit of statins in patients with PH is unknown and their effect on mortality has not been studied. We performed a retrospective analysis of patients between January 2002 to January 2012, with severe PH (pulmonary artery systolic pressure ≥60 mmHg) and preserved left ventricular function (ejection fraction ≥50%), defined by transthoracic echocardiograms. Patients were divided into two groups based on statin therapy for 12 consecutive months after diagnosis of PH. Propensity score matching was performed. Subgroup analysis was done based on COPD status. Study endpoint was 1-year all-cause mortality and hospitalization. 2363 patients (age 71 ± 16; 31% male) were included; 140 (6%) were on statin therapy. Overall 1-year mortality was 34%. Following propensity score matching, 138 patients were included in the statin group and 624 patients in the no-statin group; all-cause mortality was significantly lower in the statin group compared with the no-statin group [15.2 vs. 33.8%, HR 0.42 (95% CI 0.27, 0.66), p < 0.001], but hospitalization was comparable between two groups. After stratifying patients based on COPD status, patients with COPD showed a marginally significant survival benefit from statins [HR 0.53 (95% CI 0.26, 1.10), p = 0.09]; and statins significantly reduced 1-year all-cause mortality in patients without COPD [HR 0.36 (95% CI 0.19, 0.67), p = 0.001]. We found no significant difference in the effect of statins on patients with COPD compared to those without (p = 0.16). Statin therapy is associated with reduced mortality risk in patients with severe PH and preserved left ventricular function. This beneficial effect was not found to be dependent on COPD status. These novel findings should be confirmed in large randomized trials.
Floquet topological phases protected by time glide symmetry

Nonequilibrium systems under periodic driving realize novel topological phases that cannot be achieved in equilibrium systems. One unique feature of periodically driven systems is that they can host a purely dynamical symmetry that involves time translation. This work explores a new class of Floquet topological phases protected by one realization of such dynamical symmetry, i.e., ``time glide symmetry'', which is defined by a combination of reflection and time translation. Lattice models with time glide symmetric driving that are introduced show stable gapless surface states along with nontrivial topological numbers defined with time glide symmetry. In addition, a general classification theory of time glide symmetric topological phases is obtained by using a Clifford algebra approach.
Age and Computer Skill Level Difference in Aging-Centered Design: A Case Study of a Social Type Website

According to the estimation of US Census Bureau, the age demographic will change from 13 percent of the population aged 65 and older in 2010 to 19 percent in 2030 [1]. With the fast growing number of elderly population, designers may be driven by market to consider an aging-centered design. However, the real challenge of aging-centered design may not only be the preference or interest by age difference but also the technology gap of using computer.
Modeling and control of a cable driven modular snake robot

This paper presents the modeling and control of a planar snake robot composed of modular, single degree of freedom bending units. The goal of this research is to design a snake robot that minimizes the number of degrees of freedom necessary for planar serpentine locomotion, while closely approximating the idealized sinusoidal shape of a moving snake. The use of an underactuated, multi-link module as the snake's basic functional unit aims at simplifying the control of snake robots while retaining the advantages of highly articulated designs. The design and dynamic model of the snake robot are presented, and a controller is developed that demonstrates path following between waypoints and disturbance rejection, under viscous and Coulomb frictional models. Controller design for the reduced-DOF snake is presented and related to the control of snake robots that independently actuate all of their joints. Key control and design parameters are then optimized to produce curvature profiles that maximize the robot's forward speed.
Automatic detection of heart sounds and clicks with murmurs

This paper proposes an automatic heart sound and click detection algorithm. The proposed approach can accurately detect the first heart sound (S 1 ), the second heart sound (S 2 ), and systolic or any diastolic click that occurs. Phonocardiogram data are divided into short data segments in several milliseconds where defined features carrying essential information regarding loudness and marked time locations are extracted. These features are examined through an expert system to identify S 1 , S 2 , systoles, diastoles, and clicks. The performance of the algorithm was validated with a variety of clinical heart sounds episodes featuring murmurs and clicks.
System Impact and Demographics of Abdominal Surgical Emergencies

The portion of the population over 65 years is expected to continue to increase until 2030. This population has increased healthcare utilization compared to younger adults and frequently requires unplanned surgical procedures. To optimally care for older adults undergoing emergency general surgery, a system-based, multidisciplinary team should be utilized. This chapter reviews components of the ideal system, current American College of Surgeon guidelines for geriatric patients, and available tools for system design. Frailty instruments for emergency surgery and potentially preventable complications relevant to this high-risk population are discussed.
Associations of Abdominal Muscle Area and Radiodensity with Adiponectin and Leptin: The Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Author(s): Vella, Chantal A; Cushman, Mary; Van Hollebeke, Rachel B; Allison, Matthew A | Abstract: ObjectiveThis study examined the associations of muscle area and radiodensity with adiponectin and leptin.MethodsA total of 1,944 participants who enrolled in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis underwent computed tomography to quantify body composition and measurements of adiponectin, leptin, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and resistin.ResultsThe mean age and BMI of participants were 64.7 years and 28.1 kg/m2 and 49% were female. With adjustment for age, gender, race/ethnicity, traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors, inflammatory biomarkers, physical activity, and sedentary behavior, a 1-SD increment in total abdominal, stability, and locomotor muscle area was associated with a 19%, 17%, and 12% lower adiponectin level, respectively (P l 0.01 for all) but not leptin (P g 0.05). Muscle radiodensity was more robustly associated with adiponectin and leptin in the multivariable linear regression models. That is, with full adjustment for all covariates, a 1-SD increment in total abdominal, stability, and locomotor muscle radiodensity was associated with a 31%, 31%, and 18% lower adiponectin level (P l 0.01 for all) and a 6.7%, 4.6%, and 8.1% higher leptin level (P l 0.05 for all), respectively.ConclusionsThe data suggest that increases in muscle area and radiodensity may have positive impacts on chronic inflammation and, in turn, reduce the risk of cardiometabolic disease.
UV-B radiation and shrub canopy effects on surface litter decomposition in a shrub-invaded dry grassland

Abstract Background & Aims We assessed the joint role of shrub cover and UV-B on decomposition in a Sonoran Desert grassland. UV is considered an important driver of biogeochemistry in arid grasslands and shrub proliferation in these landscapes can alter both abiotic and biotic drivers of biogeochemistry. Methods We manipulated ambient solar UV-B exposure of Prosopis velutina leaf litter under and away from shrub canopies and assessed decomposition responses over 320 days. Results Leaf litter mass declined 40% during the first 50 days, but only an additional 10% during the remaining 270 days. Decomposition was slower under shrubs, where ground temperatures and total solar radiation were lower than locations away from shrubs. However, the presence/absence of UV-B radiation had no detectable influence on mass loss either under or away from shrubs. UV-B exposure decreased N immobilization suggesting UV-B photodegradation is facilitating microbial access to litter N. Conclusions Higher decomposition of litter away from shrubs may reflect a combination of greater rates of thermal degradation and photodegradation. While UV-B did not directly influence decomposition rates, exposure may alter litter nutrient dynamics. Our study suggests landscape-scale decomposition could decline with increases in woody plant canopy cover owing to shrub-driven changes in microclimate.
Narcissism as a Life Span Construct: Describing Fluctuations Using New Approaches

Personality trait development has been linked to the major life transitions and developmental challenges individuals confront across the life span. This work typically focuses on how people may be encouraged to increase on the dispositional characteristics that promote success during these transitions, such as conscientiousness and emotional stability. The current chapter focuses on employing these same theoretical frameworks for understanding how individuals change on narcissism from adolescence through adulthood, focusing on “normal range” levels of narcissistic traits, rather than clinical manifestations. This chapter explores how individuals may change their dispositions as a result of experiencing the benefits in daily life associated with lower levels of narcissism. In addition, we describe how a socioanalytic approach to personality traits proffers new opportunities for considering how to change narcissism over time, by intervening upon the state-level manifestations of the trait. The chapter concludes by setting forth an agenda for future research, focusing on the need for additional studies that chart the trajectory of narcissism over time, as well as efforts to formally test the potential framework for explaining change in narcissism over time.
Time-varying risks of second events following a DCIS diagnosis in the population-based Vermont DCIS cohort.

Long-term disease-free survival patterns following surgical, radiation, and endocrine therapy treatments for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) are not well characterized in general US practice. We identified 1252 women diagnosed with DCIS in Vermont during 1994–2012 using data from the Vermont Breast Cancer Surveillance System, a statewide registry of breast imaging and pathology records. Poisson regression and Cox regression with time-varying hazards were used to evaluate disease-free survival among self-selected treatment groups. With 7.8 years median follow-up, 192 cases experienced a second breast cancer diagnosis. For women treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS) alone, the annual rate of second events decreased from 3.1% (95% CI 2.2–4.2%) during follow-up years 1–5 to 1.7% (95% CI 0.7–3.5%) after 10 years. In contrast, the annual rate of second events among women treated with BCS plus adjuvant radiation therapy increased from 1.8% (95% CI 1.1–2.6%) during years 1–5 to 2.8% (95% CI 1.6–4.7%) after 10 years (P < 0.05 for difference in trend compared to BCS alone). Annual rates of second events also increased over time among women treated with BCS plus adjuvant radiation and endocrine therapy (P = 0.01 for difference in trend compared to BCS alone). The rate of contralateral events increased after 10 years for all groups with adjuvant treatments. The rate of second events did not vary over time among women who underwent ipsilateral mastectomy (P = 0.62). Long-term risk of a second event after DCIS varies over time in a manner dependent on initial treatment.
Clinical tests to determine femoral version category in people with chronic hip joint pain and asymptomatic controls.

Abstract Study design Controlled laboratory cross-sectional. Objectives To investigate the relationship between femoral version (FV), measured by MRI (FVMRI), Craig's test and hip rotation range of motion (ROM). To determine rotation ROM values associated with FVMRI categories: excessive anteversion, normal version and retroversion. Background Abnormal FV values are associated with hip disorders, such as osteoarthritis, structural instability, acetabular labral tears and femoroacetabular impingement. Clinical assessment of FV may allow clinician to identify the effect of bony abnormalities on hip rotation ROM to guide clinical decisions. Methods Thirty-eight participants with chronic hip joint pain (CHJP) and 38 matched controls participated. MRI was used to determine FVMRI. A digital inclinometer was used to assess Craig's test, hip internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) with hip flexed to 90° (90°), and hip IR/ER with hip in neutral flexion/extension (0°). ROM differences (ROMdif) were determined by subtracting ER from IR. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between FVMRI and clinical variables. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare rotation ROM among FVMRI categories. Results There were no differences between CHJP and control groups in demographics, FVMRI, Craig's test or ROM. ROMdif0° showed the highest correlation (r = 0.63) with FVMRI, then IR90° (r = 0.61) and Craig's test (r = 0.61). Differences were noted among FVMRI categories for rotation ROM except hip ER90°. Conclusion Hip rotation ROM and Craig's test may be used for screening when imaging is not indicated. A 20° difference between hip IR and ER ROM would be suggestive of abnormal FV.
Simultaneous proton resonance frequency shift thermometry and T1 measurements using a single reference variable flip angle T1 method

A computer implemented method for measuring T1 in an anatomical region of interest during a dynamic procedure includes acquiring a reference MR image of the anatomical region of interest using a first flip angle. A first set of dynamic MR images of the anatomical region of interest are acquired using a second flip angle. The reference MR image and the first set are used to calculate a reference T1 value for tissue in the anatomical region of interest. During an intervention where the T1 value may change, a second set of dynamic MR images of the anatomical region of interest is acquired using the second flip angle. The reference MR image and the second set are used to calculate an estimated T1 value. The reference T1 value, the estimated T1 value, and the first and second flip angles may then be used to correct the estimated T1 value.
Gastric secretory derangement in Menetrier's disease. Report of two cases.

Two cases of Menetrier's disease with occult gastrointestinal albumin loss, absence of free hydrochloric acid, and increased uropepsinogen excretion are presented. The absence of free hydrochloric acid is explained by the combination of edema and inflammatory reaction interfering with passage of the hydrochloric acid into the gastric cavity and its neutralization by the increased amount of albumin exuded into the stomach. The decrease in gastric pepsinogen secretion associated with an increased uropepsinogen excretion is probably due to a derangement of the normal exocrine-endocrine partition.
A Survey on Traffic Signal Control Methods.

Traffic signal control is an important and challenging real-world problem, which aims to minimize the travel time of vehicles by coordinating their movements at the road intersections. Current traffic signal control systems in use still rely heavily on oversimplified information and rule-based methods, although we now have richer data, more computing power and advanced methods to drive the development of intelligent transportation. With the growing interest in intelligent transportation using machine learning methods like reinforcement learning, this survey covers the widely acknowledged transportation approaches and a comprehensive list of recent literature on reinforcement for traffic signal control. We hope this survey can foster interdisciplinary research on this important topic.