cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patient-Ventilator Interaction During Acute Lung Injury, and the Role of Spontaneous Breathing: Part 2: Airway Pressure Release Ventilation

Airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) and bi-level positive airway pressure (BIPAP) are proposed to reduce patient work of breathing (WOB) sufficiently and to obviate issues related to patient-ventilator synchrony, so that spontaneous breathing can be maintained throughout the course of acute lung injury (ALI). Thus, APRV/BIPAP should reduce requirements for sedation and muscle paralysis, and thereby reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation. Only 17 human, animal, or lung-model studies have examined these claims, either directly or indirectly. Most did not target patients with ALI. Studies on sedation use have serious methodological limitations. Other studies found that APRV/BIPAP either increased WOB and asynchrony, or had no effect on energy expenditure. To supplement the discussion of patient WOB during APRV/BIPAP in ALI, 4 clinical examples showed marked elevation and wide variation in patient WOB. One plausible explanation is that spontaneous breathing is superimposed upon the mechanical ventilation pattern. Thus a variety of "breathing environments" exist during APRV/BIPAP that affect patient WOB and respiratory drive differently and perhaps unpredictably. This characteristic of APRV/BIPAP makes WOB comparisons with traditional modes problematic. Furthermore, the theoretical benefits of APRV, in terms of controlling patient WOB, appear particularly limited when lung-protective ventilation is used for ALI patients with high minute ventilation demand. Future research should focus on issues of WOB and synchrony, so that reasonable ventilation protocols can be devised to test clinical outcomes against traditional modes. To date, low-level evidence suggests that promoting spontaneous breathing with APRV/BIPAP may not be appropriate in patients with relatively severe ALI/ARDS.
Potential impact on the global atmospheric N2O budget of the increased nitrogen input required to meet future global food demands

Abstract In most soils, biogenic formation of N 2 O is enhanced by an increase in available mineral N through increased nitrification and denitrification. N-fertilization, therefore, directly results in additional N 2 O formation. In addition, these inputs may lead to indirect formation of N 2 O after N leaching or runoff, or following deposition of NO y and NH x from gaseous losses of NO x and NH 3 . Anthropogenic N input into agricultural systems includes N from synthetic fertilizer, animal wastes, increased biological N-fixation, mineralization of crop residue returned to the field and cultivation of organic soils through enhanced organic matter mineralization. Nitrous oxide may be emitted (1) directly to the atmosphere from agricultural fields, (2) from animal confinements or pastoral systems, or (3) from N applied to agricultural systems which is transported into ground and surface waters through atmospheric deposition, sewage and surface runoff and eventually into surface water (rivers and oceans) where additional N 2 O is produced. Eventually, all N that moves through the soil system will be either terminally sequestered in soil or buried sediments or denitrified in aquatic systems. Using Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) databases for fertilizer input, crop and animal production, and human population and the IPCC (1997) methodology for estimating N 2 O from soil, we first estimated the N input into food production and then calculated N 2 O emissions derived from N input into food production systems from 1500 until the year 2020. Using these estimates for N 2 O emissions (∼6 Tg N in 1990 and ∼9 Tg N in 2020) as input to a simple atmospheric box model we estimated global atmospheric N 2 O concentrations over time. During the 20th century, a fast expansion of agricultural land coupled with intensification of land use probably caused about 80% of the net increase in atmospheric N 2 O, from ∼275 ppbv in 1900 to ∼294 ppbv in 1970, to projected concentrations of ∼317 in 2000 and ∼345 in 2020. With the increasing amount of fertilizer N application needed to feed an additional 1.5 billion people in the next 20 years, an accelerated rate of N 2 O accumulation in the atmosphere is calculated for the coming decades. This is in contrast with the observed trends during the past decade, which indicate a linear increase in atmospheric N 2 O, but is in line with observed trends during the whole 20th century, which show a non-linear increase in atmospheric N 2 O.
The four-parameter kappa distribution

Many common probability distributions, including some that have attracted recent interest for flood-frequency analysis, may be regarded as special cases of a four-parameter distribution that generalizes the three-parameter kappa distribution of P.W. Mielke. This four-parameter kappa distribution can be fitted to experimental data or used as a source of artificial data in simulation studies. This paper describes some of the properties of the four-parameter kappa distribution, and gives an example in which it is applied to modeling the distribution of annual maximum precipitation data.
Growth and Toxigenesis of the Chrysomonad Prymnesium parvum as a Function of Salinity

SYNOPSIS The euryhaline chrysomonad Prymnesium parvum (Carter) was grown in artificial (ASW) and natural sea water (NSW) media at salinities 1.3-33.3 ‰, and constant illumination. Low salinities (< 10‰) increased the doubling time (DT) and induced higher levels of protein and nucleic acids. DT was lowest for cells in ASW at 25 ‰ and NSW 17.9 ‰. The protein content was more variable. RNA content was lowest for cells at ca. 10 ‰. The DNA content was lowest for cells in 10‰ ASW and 11‰ NSW. Generally, the cells grew faster in NSW but had less protein and RNA than cells in ASW. The highest hemolytic content was in cells grown at 22.8 ‰ ASW or NSW. Glycerol enhanced growth rate and toxin synthesis within 24 hr of addition to the cells. Hemolysis was inhibited by high pH's. A membrane fraction containing ca. 20% of the hemolysin was isolated by density gradient centrifugation.
Scheduling real-time transactions using priority

Abstract Compared with traditional databases, real-time database systems have a distinct feature: they must satisfy timing constraints associated with transactions. This requires that transactions in realtime database systems should be scheduled to consider both data consistency and timing constraints. The paper addresses the issues associated with transaction scheduling and concurrency control in real-time database systems. As a specific example of real-time transaction scheduling, a priority-based scheduling algorithm is discussed, together with a performance study using a database prototyping environment.
Interactions of N2O, NO and CO2 with (100) nickel using combined LEED and mass spectrometer measurements

Abstract Results were obtained with combined LEED and Mass Spectrometer equipments. On first admission of N2O to the outgassed system in the pressure range 2 to 5 × 10−8 Torr, nitrogen was formed by decomposition but no oxygen was observed. In addition to some dissociation of N2O on (100) Ni, some adsorption of N2O occurred in a lattice structure similar to that of the nickel substrate. Subsequent heating at 200–300°C caused weak desorptions of CO and N2O, the oxygen being removed as CO. The adsorbed N2O was easily replaced by CO at room temperature. The work function of the clean surface was increased 0.1 eV by exposure to N2O, probably due to adsorbed oxygen as a decomposition product of N2O as well as adsorbed N2O. On first admission of NO, substitutional desorption of CO from tube components occurred and the resulting CO adsorbed on the crystal surface was later substitutionally desorbed by NO. NO was strongly adsorbed on the crystal surface primarily in an amorphous form but with some lattice structure similar to that of the nickel substrate. The adsorbed NO was removed as CO and N2 by heating. NO was strongly adsorbed on both clean and slightly contaminated surfaces. There was no evidence of a surface reaction between adsorbed NO and oxygen atoms to form NO2. Adsorption of NO caused a maximum decrease in work function of 0.38 eV. Admission of CO2 to the system caused no substitutional desorption of CO. Adsorbed CO2 molecules were dissociated on the clean crystal surface at room temperature to form adsorbed CO and O when the exposure reached a rather critical value of about 10−6 Torr-min, as indicated by both sharp decreases in LEED intensity and increases in work function. Heating the crystal at 200 to 300°C caused desorption of both CO and CO2. A slightly contaminated surface, produced by heating the crystal at 850°C for a few hours, was very inactive for CO2 adsorption or dissociation.
Plato and the origin of mental health

This essay examines the history of the concept of mental health. Its origin can be traced to Plato, who argued that immorality is to the soul what disease is to the body. The purpose of this argument was to answer those who thought that morality is a set of social conventions, and in that sense, is contrary to nature. Plato responded by turning to those who made a systematic study of nature--the medical writers of his day--and claiming that if proper balance is needed to maintain a healthy body, the same is true of the soul. Thus the natural state of the soul is one in which the various parts agree on which should rule. This does not mean that Plato sought to excuse immoral behavior by treating it as a medical condition, only that he regarded immoral behavior as contrary to nature and thus treatable. Although later attempts to define mental health are not as rigid as Plato's, it is remarkable how many of his insights are still applicable, in particular the claim that morality and mental health, though not identical, are nonetheless linked. A case in point is the experience of wanting something but not liking the fact that you want it. Plato regarded internal conflict of this sort as a paradigm case of psychic dysfunction. I argue that we can regard it as either a moral failing or a mental one.
On the fault-diameter of the star graph

Abstract We derive the fault-diameter of the star graph using a combinatorial method, thereby resting the previously open question of finding the exact value for the fault diameter of the star graph. This method is based on counting the number of node-disjoint paths of optimal length between a given pair of nodes in the graph and distributing the faulty nodes among these paths in a worst-case fashion. The fault-diameter for the n-star graph is shown to be Dn + 1 for n ⩾ 7, where Dn is the diameter of the fault-free star graph.
Post-prandial blood amino acid patterns in patients with hepatic anorexia.

Summary Fasting and post-prandial blood amino acid patterns were estimated by means of paper chromatography in 25 normal controls, 21 patients with hepatic anorexia, and 9 patients with liver disease and a good appetite. It was usually possible to separate visually the individuals with good appetite from the others solely on the basis of the amino acid patterns. Confirmation was obtained by densitometric measurement of the chromatograms.
Call for Papers for the 1983 Annual Meeting of The American Dairy Science Association

The 78th Annual Meeting of the American Dairy Science Association will be held at University of Wisconsin, Madison, June 2 6 June 29, 1983. All members of the Association are encouraged to present papers. Abstracts must be received by division or section chairperson no later than March 1. Abstracts of papers for s tudent competi t ion should be accompanied by a letter of intent. Type the abstract on the form supplied by the ADSA Executive Secretary according to directions on the form; submit original and one copy to the chairperson of the division or section. Follow style of the Journal; refer to abstracts published in the May 1975 Journal for guidance. Indicate clearly in the title the nature of the research and in the abstract objectives, design, and major results. Make the data meaningful with brief essential statistics. Papers must have sufficient substance to justify presentation, but the author(s) should also exercise care not to try to present too much factual material for the audience to comprehend. Only 12 minutes are allotted to develop and communicate the ideas to the audience. If critical data are to be exposed fully, only one, two, or possibly three major points can be developed fully. Presentation of material in 12 minutes that is of such scope as to require 30 minutes for its full revelation is a disservice to the audience. More at tention should be given to providing an oppor tuni ty for discussion and questions following paper presentations. Abstracts of research accepted for publication by a scientific joui'nal before the annual meeting are not acceptable. The Program Committee favors the general policy that a person present only one paper. If the total number of papers submitted by the membership is too great to include in the program, the Committee will assign some papers to be read by title only. Stimulating the highest quality of applied and fundamental research is the goal of the Committee. Mathematical and statistical units should be rechecked to avoid costly corrections in final printing. Careful experimental design and interpretat ion of results are necessary prerequisites. Compliance with the instructions for preparation of abstracts will simplify tasks of the Program Committee and of the Editors ' offices. Careful editing of abstracts before submission is essential. Mimeographed copies (200) of pert inent details and data are desirable for distribution at the time of presentation. Projected material, such as 2 × 2 slides, should include large lettering for easy reading. Names and addresses of the chairperson to whom abstracts should be sent are given below. If acknowledgment of the receipt of the abstract is not received by March 15, the appropriate chairman should be contacted.
Quantitative Myocardial Ultrasonic Integrated Backscatter Measurements During Contrast Injections

We and others have shown that normal myocardium exhibits 4 to 5 dB diastolic-to-systolic cyclic variation (CV) of integrated backscatter. To investigate the effect of intramyocardial contrast on integrated backscatter, we injected 5% sonicated albumin, containing microbubbles in the range of 5 µm in diameter, into the left atrium in nine open-chest dogs. The dogs were anesthetized and placed in the right lateral decubitus position on a specially designed table with a cutout allowing ultrasound imaging from below. Ultrasonic data was obtained from the right precordium by use of a prototype M-mode integrated backscatter system implemented in a commercially available two-dimensional system. Usable data were obtained in eight of nine dogs. Integrated backscatter increased up to 13 dB after contrast injections. There was a significantly decreased CV of integrated backscatter during myocardial contrast in all eight dogs. The mean level of CV of integrated backscatter for the eight dogs decreased from 4.7 dB (530 beats analyzed) without contrast to 2.8 dB during contrast (436 beats analyzed). There was a trend to greater CV at higher levels of contrast. Septal excursion, as measured by M-mode echocardiography simultaneously with integrated backscatter by the same ultrasound beam, was similar with and without contrast (mean 8.2 vs 8.3 mm). Thus left atrium contrast injection produces quantitatively measurable integrated backscatter effects. Cyclic variation of integrated backscatter decreases with contrast. However, at higher contrast levels the decrease tends to be smaller. These effects should be considered during quantitative tissue characterization and myocardial contrast studies.
Acute Myocardial Infarctions, Strokes and Influenza: Seasonal and Pandemic Effects

The incidence of myocardial infarctions and influenza follow similar seasonal patterns. To determine if acute myocardial infarctions (AMIs) and ischaemic strokes are associated with influenza activity, we built time-series models using data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. In these models, we used influenza activity to predict the incidence of AMI and ischaemic stroke. We fitted national models as well as models based on four geographical regions and five age groups. Across all models, we found consistent significant associations between AMIs and influenza activity, but not between ischaemic strokes and influenza. Associations between influenza and AMI increased with age, were greatest in those aged >80 years, and were present in all geographical regions. In addition, the natural experiment provided by the second wave of the influenza pandemic in 2009 provided further evidence of the relationship between influenza and AMI, because both series peaked in the same non-winter month.
The Effects of a Single Mode III Loading Cycle on Mode I Crack Initiation and Growth Toughnesses in a Cross-Ply [90 /0 ]2s Ti-6A1-4V/SiCf Composite

The effects of a single Mode III loading cycle on the subsequent Mode I crack initiation and growth toughnesses in a cross-ply [90%/0°] 2s , Ti-6Al-4V/Sic f composite have been investigated. A Mode III cycle with ΔJ III = 8 kJ/m 2 was found to have no measurable effect on either the initiation or growth toughnesses. In contrast, a Mode III cycle with ΔJ III = 14 kJ/m 2 resulted in a significant decrease in the subsequent Mode I crack initiation toughness. It also caused a reduction in the crack growth toughness until the crack had extended beyond the damage zone produced during the Mode III excursion. The results are rationalized on the basis of the fracture mechanisms as well as the deformation field produced by Mode III loading. The Mode III damage effect has implications for failure criteria for composites under multiaxial loading.
Ecosystem effects of expanding populations of Avicennia germinans in a Louisiana salt marsh

The advancement of species poleward, due to global warming, has recently been documented worldwide. In Louisiana, Avicennia germinans (black mangrove) is moving northward into Spartina alterniflora salt marshes. Mangroves were historically restricted to southernmost islands and beaches by winter freezes; however, recently a noticeable expansion has occurred. The influence that mangroves have on ecosystem processes within Louisiana salt marshes has not been documented. Thus, this research examined the effects of mangrove expansion on sediment accretion, organic matter production and decomposition, and carbon assimilation, as well as edaphic parameters. Our results indicate that presently mangrove expansion has had no major effects on the ecosystem processes measured. Sediment accretion, belowground production, decomposition, and carbon assimilation were similar between Avicennia and Spartina. Where mangroves expanded into the surrounding salt marsh, elevation, redox potential, bulk density, and soil ammonium were slightly higher, while soil moisture and porewater salinity were somewhat lower. Because the mangroves are small in stature and areal extent, significant effects on ecosystem processes may presently be somewhat muted. However, if stands continue to grow, noted effects may occur in the future. Our research provides a baseline from which future ecosystem responses may be evaluated as mangroves in Louisiana continue to develop.
UAVSAR: New NASA Airborne SAR System for Research

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is currently building a reconfigurable, polarimetric L-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR), specifically designed to acquire airborne repeat track SAR data for differential interferometric measurements. Differential interferometry can provide key deformation measurements, important for studies of earthquakes, volcanoes, and other dynamically changing phenomena. Using precision real-time GPS and a sensor controlled flight management system, the system will be able to fly pre-defined paths with great precision. The expected performance of the flight control system will constrain the flight path to be within a 10 m diameter tube about the desired flight track. The radar will be designed to be operable on a Unpiloted Arial Vehicle (UAV) but will initially be demonstrated on a NASA Gulfstream III. The radar will be fully polarimetric, with a range bandwidth of 80 MHz (2 m range resolution), and will support a 16 km range swath. The antenna will be electronically steered along track to assure that the antenna beam can be directed independently, regardless of the wind direction and speed. Other features supported by the antenna include elevation monopulse and pulse-to-pulse re-steering capabilities that will enable some novel modes of operation. The system will nominally operate at 45,000 feet (13,800 m). The program began as an Instrument Incubator Project (IIP) funded by NASA Earth Science and Technology Office (ESTO).
Enzyme-ligand interactions that drive active site rearrangements in the Helicobacter pylori 5'-methylthioadenosine/S-adenosylhomocysteine nucleosidase

The bacterial enzyme 5'-methylthioadenosine/S-adenosylhomocysteine nucleosidase (MTAN) plays a central role in three essential metabolic pathways in bacteria: methionine salvage, purine salvage, and polyamine biosynthesis. Recently, its role in the pathway that leads to the production of autoinducer II, an important component in quorum-sensing, has garnered much interest. Because of this variety of roles, MTAN is an attractive target for developing new classes of inhibitors that influence bacterial virulence and biofilm formation. To gain insight toward the development of new classes of MTAN inhibitors, the interactions between the Helicobacter pylori-encoded MTAN and its substrates and substrate analogs were probed using X-ray crystallography. The structures of MTAN, an MTAN-Formycin A complex, and an adenine bound form were solved by molecular replacement and refined to 1.7, 1.8, and 1.6 A, respectively. The ribose-binding site in the MTAN and MTAN-adenine cocrystal structures contain a tris[hydroxymethyl]aminomethane molecule that stabilizes the closed form of the enzyme and displaces a nucleophilic water molecule necessary for catalysis. This research gives insight to the interactions between MTAN and bound ligands that promote closing of the enzyme active site and highlights the potential for designing new classes of MTAN inhibitors using a link/grow or ligand assembly development strategy based on the described H. pylori MTAN crystal structures.
Low Energy Compacted Concrete Grout Micropiles

Results from a series of small diameter vertical drilled and compacted grout micropiles that were installed and load tested to failure in axial tension are presented. Tests were performed in the clay crust at the National Geotechnical Experimentation Site at the University of Massachusetts. Micropiles with a diameter of 76 mm and length of 3.05 m were tested. The micropiles were constructed by incrementally applying dynamic compaction energy from the SPT hammer of a conventional drill rig to the concrete grout as the hole was filled. The results of the tension tests showed that in comparison with a micropile constructed using gravity free-fall placement of the concrete, the pullout capacity of the micropiles was significantly increased when compaction energy was used. This increase is primarily due to the increase in lateral stress produced by the compaction.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The Voices of Hospice Medical Directors

The value of interdisciplinary collaboration is a significant aspect of the palliative care philosophy, as identified by the founder of the modern hospice movement Cecily Saunders. The purpose of this descriptive study was to explore the experiences of hospice medical directors within this collaborative context. Open-ended interviews with 17 hospice medical directors were done and their responses were thematically analyzed. These narratives present a very positive collaborative experience by these medical directors in their hospice settings. Assisting medical directors to find time and financial opportunities for professional development and support within their role was found to be an opportunity to further improve collaboration.
Interferon and Immunoglobulin G as Immunological Markers in Chronic Schizophrenia

The hypothesis that the etiology of schizophrenia may involve a viral infection is certainly not new (Menninger, 1926). One refinement of the hypothesis has led to the concept that the disorder may involve an abnormal immune response, such as production of a central nervous system (CNS) autoantibody, perhaps following exposure to viral antigens (Knight, 1982). While the viral/immunologic hypothesis has generated decades of research, these investigations have failed to yield definitive evidence to support or refute the concept (DeLisi and Crow, 1986; Torrey and Kaufmann, 1986). Nevertheless, the rapid advances being made in understanding the molecular processes involved in viral pathogenesis and immune regulation are presenting dramatic new opportunities to test this hypothesis.
Prospective evaluation of chronic pain associated with posterior autologous iliac crest bone graft harvest and its effect on postoperative outcome.

Background Autogenous Iliac Crest Bone Graft (ICBG) has been the "gold standard" for spinal fusion. However, bone graft harvest may lead to complications, such as chronic pain, numbness, and poor cosmesis. The long-term impact of these complications on patient function and well-being has not been established but is critical in determining the value of expensive bone graft substitutes such as recombinant bone morphogenic protein. We thus aimed to investigate the long-term complications of ICBG. Our second aim was to evaluate the psychometric properties of a new measure of ICBG morbidity that would be useful for appropriately gauging spinal surgery outcomes.
Dynamic Responsiveness in Congress: When Do Representatives and Institutions Respond to Redistricting-Induced Constituency Change?

The demographic makeup of district constituencies has been shown to predict individual representatives’ voting support for minority interests. Redistricting induced changes in constituency ideology also elicits corresponding shifts in ideological voting behaviors of individual representatives. But do redistricting induced shifts in constituency demographics produce corresponding shifts in support for group interests in increasingly certain electoral environments? By examining the extent which demographic changes induced by the 2000 redistricting correspond with changes in group support from the 107th to the 108th Congresses, as measured by the NHLA, LCCR, NAACP, and DW Nominate, we show that changes in individual voting behavior is driven by partisan trends, not responsiveness to specific district constituencies. These findings indicate a dramatic lack of dynamic responsiveness, and suggest that contemporary partisan Gerrymandering may diminish “delegate” representation in Congress.
Outcomes of interventions for carotid blowout syndrome in patients with head and neck cancer.

Background The purpose of this study was to examine outcomes of a patient cohort undergoing intervention for carotid blowout syndrome associated with head and neck cancer. Methods Patients with head and neck cancer who presented with carotid distribution bleeding from 2000 to 2014 were identified in the medical record. Primary outcomes were short- and midterm mortality and recurrent bleeding. Standard statistical methods and survival analysis were used to analyze study population characteristics and outcomes. Results Thirty-seven patients were included in the study. The mean age was 60.1 ± 11.4 years (74% male). All malignancies were squamous cell type, stage IV, in a variety of primary locations: 32% oral cavity, 24% larynx, 16% superficial neck, with the remainder in the oropharynx, nasopharynx, and hypopharynx. Fifty-one percent of bleeds were of common carotid, 29% external carotid, and 19% internal carotid origin. Among the patients, 68% presented with acute hemorrhage, 24% with impending bleed, and 8% with threatened bleed. All patients underwent intervention: 38% received endovascular coil embolization, 30% stent grafts, 22% surgical ligation, and 10% primary vessel repair or bypass grafting. Although major complications were rare, 10.8% of patients had perioperative stroke. Sixteen recurrent bleeding episodes involving 12 arteries occurred in 11 patients (29.73%). Median rebleeding time was 7 days (interquartile range, 6-49). Estimated recurrent bleeding risk at 30 days and 6 months was 24% and 34%, respectively. Of the patients, 91.9% survived to hospital discharge. The 90-day and 1-year estimated survivals were 60.9% and 36.6%, respectively. Conclusions Carotid blowout syndrome associated with head and neck cancer carries poor mid- and long-term prognoses; however, mortality may be related more to the advanced stage of disease rather than carotid involvement or associated intervention. Both surgical and endovascular approaches may be efficacious in cases of acute hemorrhage but carry a significant risk of periprocedural stroke and recurrent bleeding.
Noninvasive Hemodynamic Monitoring for Combat Casualties

The aims of this study were to develop and to test a noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring system that could be applied to combat casualties to supplement conventional vital signs, to use an advanced information system to predict outcomes, and to evaluate the relative effectiveness of various therapies with instant feedback information during acute emergency conditions. In a university-run inner city public hospital, we evaluated 1,000 consecutively monitored trauma patients in the initial resuscitation period, beginning shortly after admission to the emergency department. In addition to conventional vital signs, we used noninvasive monitoring devices (cardiac index by bioimpedance with blood pressure and heart rate to measure cardiac function, arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry to reflect changes in pulmonary function, and tissue oxygenation by transcutaneous oxygen tension indexed to fractional inspired oxygen concentration and carbon dioxide tension to evaluate tissue perfusion). The cardiac index, mean arterial pressure, pulse oximetry (arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation), and transcutaneous oxygen tension/fractional inspired oxygen concentration were significantly higher in survivors, whereas the heart rate and carbon dioxide tension were higher in nonsurvivors. The calculated survival probability was a useful outcome predictor that also served as a measure of severity of illness. The rate of misclassification of survival probability was 13.5% in the series as a whole but only 6% for patients without severe head injuries and brain death. Application of noninvasive hemodynamic monitoring to acute emergency trauma patients in the emergency department is feasible, safe, and inexpensive and provides accurate hemodynamic patterns in continuous, on-line, real-time, graphical displays of the status of cardiac, pulmonary, and tissue perfusion functions. Combined with an information system, this approach provided an early outcome predictor and evaluated, with an objective individualized method, the relative efficacy of alternative therapies for specific patients.
Simulation of Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer of Flat Plate Heat Sinks With Spiral Inserts

High performance electronic chips are finding applications in almost all equipments in the modern world. However, these chips are coupled with potential overheating, which has been a serious concern for manufacturers as well as researchers ever. One of the best options for electronics cooling is to take advantage of heat sinks. Over years, many studies are focused on optimal designs of heat sinks, while some are also targeted at heat transfer enhancement. To explore how the heat sink performance can be further improved, this study integrates spiral tape inserts into the narrow channel of plate-finned heat sinks. Numerical simulation is carried out to examine the flow and heat transfer behavior of heat sinks with spiral inserts. Different parameters such as insert width, twist ratio, and the flow Reynolds number are investigated. It is observed that the inserts significantly increase the heat transfer rate with a penalty of higher pressure loss. In one of the cases studied, the heat transfer is increased by 368% with a rise of 810% in pressure drop. However, the inserts can produce a net benefit when the same pressure loss or fan power is considered. Therefore, the inserts can help make the heat sink more effective by reducing its size.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
General Anesthetic Gases and the Global Environment

General anesthetics are administered to approximately 50 million patients each year in the United States. Anesthetic vapors and gases are also widely used in dentists' offices, veterinary clinics, and laboratories for animal research. All the volatile anesthetics that are currently used are halogenated compounds destructive to the ozone layer. These halogenated anesthetics could have potential significant impact on global warming. The widely used anesthetic gas nitrous oxide is a known greenhouse gas as well as an important ozone-depleting gas. These anesthetic gases and vapors are primarily eliminated through exhalation without being metabolized in the body, and most anesthesia systems transfer these gases as waste directly and unchanged into the atmosphere. Little consideration has been given to the ecotoxicological properties of gaseous general anesthetics. Our estimation using the most recent consumption data indicates that the anesthetic use of nitrous oxide contributes 3.0% of the total emissions in the United States. Studies suggest that the influence of halogenated anesthetics on global warming will be of increasing relative importance given the decreasing level of chlorofluorocarbons globally. Despite these nonnegligible pollutant effects of the anesthetics, no data on the production or emission of these gases and vapors are publicly available. The primary goal of this article is to critically review the current data on the potential effects of general anesthetics on the global environment and to describe possible alternatives and new technologies that may prevent these gases from being discharged into the atmosphere.
Effects of stimulus rotation on discrimination learning by monkeys

Monkey performance on object and pattern discriminations was compared under various stimulus rotational conditions: (1) positive and negative stimuli remain constant, (2) only positive stimulus rotates, (3) only negative stimulus rotates, (4) both stimuli rotate. Performance was best at the condition in which only the negative stimulus rotated.
Analyzing Cross-Classification Data: An Improved Method for Predicting Events:

The limitations of prediction methods used to analyze categorical data are discussed. A new approach, prediction logic, is introduced that overcomes these limitations and provides a more precise te...
A New Look at Building Facades as Infrastructure

ABSTRACT Like the hard surfaces of streets and sidewalks in an urban environment, the vertical and horizontal surface area on the outside of urban buildings contributes to the constant heating of large cities around the world. However, little is done to design this surface to benefit the public sphere. Instead, the facade of a building performs either as a component that focuses only on the quality of comfort for interior occupants, while ignoring effects on the exterior of the building, or as an identifiable aesthetic for the building's owners. This essay proposes the rethinking of the building facade as a steward of outdoor pedestrian welfare, and the conception of public health as an added function of the building envelope−a concept that may fall into the jurisdiction of public works. If the huge total surface area of a city's buildings is thought of as part of the city's infrastructure, then its public contribution may not only make outdoor areas comfortable, clean, and enjoyable, but also help to alleviate the bigger problem of rising temperatures in cities.
Discrete-variable time-frequency quantum key distribution

We demonstrate a setup for realizing a four-dimensional time-frequency quantum key distribution protocol, where discrete temporal states are secured using discrete frequency states. The high-dimensional frequency states are detected using a tree of passively stabilized time-delay interferometers.
Digital romance: the sources of online love in the Muslim world:

Social media creates new virtual public spaces where young women and men living in socially conservative non-Western societies can communicate in order to meet and engage in forbidden intimacies. I...
Projection of American dustiness in the late 21 st century due to climate change

Climate models project rising drought risks over the southwestern and central U.S. in the twenty-first century due to increasing greenhouse gases. The projected drier regions largely overlay the major dust sources in the United States. However, whether dust activity in U.S. will increase in the future is not clear, due to the large uncertainty in dust modeling. This study found that changes of dust activity in the U.S. in the recent decade are largely associated with the variations of precipitation, soil bareness, and surface winds speed. Using multi-model output under the Representative Concentration Pathways 8.5 scenario, we project that climate change will increase dust activity in the southern Great Plains from spring to fall in the late half of the twenty-first century – largely due to reduced precipitation, enhanced land surface bareness, and increased surface wind speed. Over the northern Great Plains, less dusty days are expected in spring due to increased precipitation and reduced bareness. Given the large negative economic and societal consequences of severe dust storms, this study complements the multi-model projection on future dust variations and may help improve risk management and resource planning.
Review of miglustat for clinical management in Gaucher disease type 1.

Gaucher disease is a progressive lysosomal storage disorder caused by the deficiency of glucocerebrosidase, and characterized by intralysosomal storage of glucosylceramide that leads to dysfunction in multiple organ systems. Intravenous enzyme replacement with imiglucerase is the accepted standard for treatment of symptomatic patients and has been effective in reducing many of the signs and symptoms of type I Gaucher disease in the majority of patients without serious adverse effects. An alternative therapeutic approach is substrate reduction therapy with N-butyldeoxynojirimycin (NB-DNJ) (miglustat; Zavesca®), an imino sugar that reversibly inhibits glucosylceremide synthase and reduces intracellular storage of glucosylceramide. Miglustat was recently approved in Europe and the United States for symptomatic patients with mild to moderate clinical manifestations for whom enzyme replacement therapy is not an option. This review article discusses the results of clinical studies and use of miglustat as a therapeutic agent in patients with type I Gaucher disease.
Bottom-up processes influence the demography and life-cycle phenology of Hawaiian bird communities.

Changes in climate can indirectly regulate populations at higher trophic levels by influencing the availability of food resources in the lower reaches of the food web. As such, species that rely on fruit and nectar food resources may be particularly sensitive to these bottom-up perturbations due to the strength of their trophic linkages with climatically-influenced plants. To measure the influence of climatically-mediated, bottom-up processes, we used climate, bird capture, bird count, and plant phenology data from the Big Island of Hawaii to construct a series of structural equation and abundance models. Our results suggest that fruit and nectar-eating birds arrange life cycle events around climatically-influenced food resources, while some of these same food resources also influence seasonal patterns of abundance. This trend was particularly strong for two native nectarivores, ‘I'iwi and ‘Apapane, where we found that the dissimilar timing of molting and breeding activity was associated with peak abundance of the two most common flowers at our study site which, in turn, were each driven by dissimilar climatic cues. Given the rapidly changing Hawaiian climate, we suggest that determining behavioral plasticity, or evolutionary capacity of birds to mitigate changes in climatically-influenced food resources, should be recognized as a future research priority.
Peanut: Origin and Botanical Descriptions

Since the first description of the cultivated peanut, Arachis hypogaea L. by Linneaus in 1753, to the recent monograph on the taxonomy of genus Arachis (Krapovickas and Gregory in Bonplandia 8(1–4):1–186, 1994; Krapovickas and Gregory in Bonplandia 16(Supl.):1–205, 2007), our knowledge of the genetic structure of the genus including its origin, variability, and geographical distribution of various species has significantly improved. Large germplasm collections have been accumulated in several countries to preserve the genetic diversity and characterize the germplasm resources for efficient utilization in peanut improvement programs. Plant growth and development including the origin and botanical classification of the cultivated species have been revisited here to summarize our current knowledge of the taxon. In spite of these advances, taxonomic and phylogenetic ambiguities still exist. It is likely that the recent advances in peanut genome sequencing and the availability of new and additional molecular markers and other genomic tools might help clarify the genetic structure of genus Arachis and of the cultivated species, A. hypogaea.
Bias and variability in morphology features of lung lesions across CT imaging conditions

CT imaging method can influence radiomic features. The purpose of this study was to characterize the intra-protocol and inter-protocol variability and bias of quantitative morphology features of lung lesions across a range of CT imaging conditions. A total of 15 lung lesions were simulated (five in each of three spiculation classes: low, medium, and high). For each lesion, a series of simulated CT images representing different imaging conditions were synthesized by applying 3D blur and adding correlated noise based on the measured noise and resolution properties of five commercial multi-slice CT systems, representing three dose levels (CTDIvol of 1.90, 3.75, 7.50 mGy), three slice thicknesses (0.625, 1.25, 2.5 mm), and 33 clinical reconstruction kernels. Five repeated image volumes were synthesized for each lesion and imaging condition. A series of 21 shape-based morphology features were extracted from both “ground truth” (i.e., pre-blur without noise) and “image rendered” lesions (i.e., post-blur and with noise). For each morphology feature, the intra-protocol and inter-protocol variability was characterized by calculating the average coefficient of variation (COV) across repeats and imaging conditions, respectively (average was across all lesions). The bias was quantified by comparing the percent relative error in the morphology metric between the imaged lesions and ground truth lesions. The average intra-protocol COV metric ranged from 0.2% to 3%. The average inter-protocol COV ranged from 3% to 106% with most features being around 30%. Percent relative error was most biased at 73% for Ellipsoid Volume and least biased at -0.27% for Flatness. Results of the study indicate that different reconstructions can lead to significant bias and variability in the measurements of morphological features.
Abstract 9733: Atrial Fibrosis is Associated With Higher DC Cardioversion Failure Rates in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Introduction: DC cardioversion (DCCV) is commonly performed in atrial fibrillation (AF). We examined the association between atrial fibrosis quantified using late gadolinium enhancement MRI (LGE-MRI) and acute success and recurrence of AF following DCCV. Methods: Persistent AF patients without previous catheter ablation who underwent LGE-MRI and DCCV were included in the study. Acute DCCV success was defined by achievement of sinus rhythm. Demographic patient data as well as comorbidities and medications were collected from chart revisions. Results: 241 patients were included (63% male). 186 patients (77.48%) were on oral anti-coagulation, 31 (12.9%) were on class I anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD) and 46 (19.1%) were on class III AAD at the time of cardioversion. DCCV was acutely successful in 183 patients (75.9%). AF recurred after DCCV in 194 patients (80.5%) after an average follow up of 81 days. In univariate analysis, atrial fibrosis (HR 1.04; p=0.049) and body mass index (BMI) (HR 1.04; p=0.03) were associated with DCCV failure, while left atrial area, beta blocker, calcium channel blocker, class I and class III anti-arrhythmic drug use were not. In multivariate analysis, only atrial fibrosis was a significant predictor of DCCV failure (HR 1.03; p=0.03). During follow up, anti-arrhythmic drug use (class I drugs HR 0.21; p=0.045; class III drugs HR 0.27; p=0.042) was associated with maintenance of sinus rhythm. Conclusions: LGE-MRI quantified atrial fibrosis predicts failure of DCCV in persistent AF patients while AAD use was associated with maintenance of sinus rhythm.
The application of mechanical diagnosis and therapy on hip osteoarthritis: A case report.

Background: The prevalence and cost of hip osteoarthritis (OA) is rising. Mechanical diagnosis and therapy (MDT) is an orthopedic classification and treatment system based on mechanical and symptom...
Plug size and density during greenhouse conditioning do not affect late summer and early fall production of June-planted ‘Albion’ strawberry (Fragaria X ananassa Duch.) in the plasticulture system

Abstract The influences of plug size and plant density during conditioning of ‘Albion’ strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) plants were evaluated for off-season field production in New Jersey, USA. Two plug densities (168 and 336 plants m−2, 75 cm3 cell volume) during conditioning in a greenhouse were evaluated. Conditioning consisted of 5 weeks under LD (natural daylength supplemented with 24 h incandescent radiation) with 100 ppm N the first week and 800 ppm N once each week during last 4 weeks. Controls were kept for 5 weeks under ND (natural daylength) with 100 ppm N once each week. Following conditioning, plants were evaluated in off-season plasticulture. Larger (134 cm3) plugs were conditioned at 168 plants m−2 to compare with the smaller cells (75 cm3) conditioned at the same density. Inflorescence, runner and branch crown production were monitored and fruit harvested from July through September. Conditioning accelerated flowering and fruiting. New inflorescence production in July was significantly enhanced with conditioning but treatment effects on flowering did not persist. Cumulative yield through early August was enhanced by conditioning however total yield was not affected by conditioning. Conditioning had no effect on branch crown production and significantly reduced runner production. Plug production at a higher density reduced flowering but the short day response was alleviated with conditioning. Smaller plugs flowered earlier, produced more inflorescences and produced fewer runners than plants from larger plugs. Plug size and density ultimately did not affect total yield regardless of treatment.