cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identifying areas for curricular program improvement based on perceptions of skills, competencies, and performance.

Educational program evaluation and program improvement are processes that can be enhanced by involving multiple stakeholders and measurement tools. The purpose of this study was to compare faculty and resident physician perceptions of both teaching quality and resident competence for 13 core psychiatric skills and the six Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education general competencies. Additionally, resident performance as assessed by portfolios was descriptively examined relative to these perceptions of skills and competencies. Using this combination of data, the authors propose a useful approach for identifying areas for improvement within a medical residency’s program curriculum. Ten teaching faculty members (100%) and 18 residents (82%) within a psychiatry department completed parallel surveys. Trained raters scored resident-completed portfolio entries. Nonparametric and descriptive analyses were used to compare the various data sources. In general, faculty and residents showed congruence in their perceptions about resident performance. They agreed on the quality of teaching skills and general competencies. General competency scores from the portfolios were congruent with this perspective. However, there were mismatches in perceptions and performance on portfolios for some areas. Of the 13 core psychiatric skills examined, only one area, neuropsychiatry, was rated below average by both faculty and residents, while the median portfolio performance score was below competent for four skills, including neuropsychiatry. Faculty rated resident competence significantly higher than residents rated themselves for biopsychosocial formulation and medical psychiatry. This study describes and highlights the usefulness of a multidimensional approach that includes resident and faculty perspectives and externally rated performance measures to assist in identifying potential target areas for curriculum improvement.
RNA changes in goldfish brain during learning.

Acquisition of new swimming skills by goldfish during learning experiments is accompanied by changes in the base ratio of RNA. Several hypotheses are put forward to explain these changes.
Two mechanisms of photoendocrine transduction in cultured chick pineal cells: pertussis toxin blocks the acute but not the phase-shifting effects of light on the melatonin rhythm

We have recently described a system, using dispersed chick pineal cells in static culture, which displays a persistent, photosensitive, circadian rhythm of melatonin release. Light has two apparent effects on this melatonin rhythm: the first is an acute inhibition of melatonin output, the second is entrainment of the underlying pacemaker. These two effects could be mediated by the same or different mechanisms. Pertussis toxin, which acts to block the function of transducin and certain other G-proteins, blocked the acute effects of light on chick pineal cells, but not the ability of light pulses to induce phase-dependent phase shifts of the rhythm. There must, therefore, be at least two mechanistic pathways by which light affects chick pineal melatonin production. Transducin or other pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins would appear to be involved in the acute effects of light on the melatonin-synthesizing apparatus, but not in the effects of light on the circadian pacemaker which generates the melatonin rhythm. Some plausible pertussis toxin-sensitive mechanisms are discussed.
Concomitant chemotherapy and radiation therapy certainly improves local control.

In recent years, descriptors such as “chemoradiotherapy” and “radiochemotherapy” have been coined as shorthand for the joint use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. To date, the ad hoc application of these terms to a variety of multimodality care plans has fostered an imprecision in terminology that we believe should be rectified. We would like to propose the acronym CERT (Chemotherapy Enhanced Radiation Therapy) to describe regimens in which chemotherapy, delivered concurrently with radiotherapy, primarily improves the local or localregional effect(s) of radiotherapy. This would stand in contrast to regimens in which chemotherapy primarily seeks to prevent the subsequent appearance of distant metastatic disease. A brief review of several relevant head-and-neck cancer trials helps illustrate the rationale for this nomenclature. Table 1 shows several recent influential trials that tested concurrently applied chemotherapy and radiotherapy (1–10). In most, concurrent therapy resulted in relatively little difference in the subsequent appearance of distant metastases. Instead, the common theme is a statistically significant improvement in local control or local and regional control that translates into improved disease-free survival, with or without a significant improvement in overall survival. The pattern holds for a variety of chemotherapy agents, a variety of radiotherapy regimens, and a variety of clinical situations. This pattern is not similarly seen in trials of sequential bimodality therapy, whether the chemotherapy is delivered before or after radiotherapy. In a recent review, Bernier and Bentzen (11) state, “The consistent, frequently cited, message from the meta-analyses is that patients with locally advanced tumours achieve a modest, but highly statistically significant survival benefit from concurrent chemo-radiation (CRT) whereas neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and adjuvant chemotherapy (AdjCT) did not convey a significant survival advantage.” Thus we believe that adoption of the term CERT, emphasizing the specific role that concurrent chemotherapy plays in enhancing the effects of radiotherapy (in the doses and schedules that are currently being adopted) will help sharpen our thought processes, hopefully leading to future refinements and advances.
Effect of high-energy proton irradiation on DC characteristics and current collapse in MgO and Sc2O3 passivated AlGaN/GaN HEMTs

MgO or Sc 2 O 3 passivated AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) were irradiated with 40 MeV protons at a dose equivalent to ∼10 years in low-earth orbit. Very little change in drain-source current, transconductance, or diode ideality factor was observed under these conditions, but the reverse breakdown increased due to a decrease in channel electron density. In addition, no significant change was observed in the drain-source current under pulsed conditions, indicating that the proton irradiation did not alter the effectiveness of the MgO and Sc 2 O 3 in passivating surface states.
Early heterosexual debut: situations of sexual possibility during the transition to adolescence

Preadolescent sexuality among urban, minority youth is considered within a normative developmental context. Fourth- and fifth-grade children living in an urban, primarily African-American, low-income neighborhood were interviewed regarding situations of sexual possibility and contigencies of heterosocial and heterosexual behavior. Findings are discussed in light of factors that may influence early heterosexual debut. Language: en
Association of exposure to diabetes in utero with adiposity and fat distribution in a multiethnic population of youth: the Exploring Perinatal Outcomes among Children (EPOCH) Study

Aims/hypothesis To evaluate whether exposure to maternal gestational diabetes (GDM) is associated with adiposity and fat distribution in a multiethnic population of children.
Giant Epidermoid Involving 3 Cranial Bones

We describe a patient with an incidental finding of an expansile osteolytic lesion centered in the sphenoid involving 3 cranial bones—frontal, temporal, and sphenoid—and invading the brain parenchyma and orbit. Biopsy demonstrated an epidermoid. The lesion was excised through frontotemporal craniotomy. Despite the benign nature of the tumor, the epidermoid had a destructive pattern of growth. Complete resection was needed to adequately address the inflammatory mass effect of the large lesion.
Evaluation of stresses and forces in selected I-bars using the finite element method.

Purpose Three-dimensional models of half-round, tapered and full-round, untapered I-bar clasps of varying configurations and material properties were constructed. The purpose of this study was to examine the stresses and reaction forces produced within each model upon deflection to 0.01 in (0.254 mm), 0.02 in (0.508 mm), and 0.03 in (0.762 mm) at 1 mm from the tip using the finite element method. Materials and Methods Three-dimensional computer models of half-round and full-round clasps were constructed using solid eight-node brick elements. The half-round, tapered I-bar clasp model was 2.4 and 1.4 mm in diameter at the base and tip, respectively. The full-round, tapered I-bar clasp model was 1 mm in diameter. Three design groups were created for each clasp form. Group A had 25% of the total length in the straight anchor end of the I-bar clasp, B had 35%, and C had 50%. All models were 31 mm in length and had a radius of curvature of 5 mm. Different material properties were incorporated into the models. Each model was deflected at a point 1 mm from the tip to 0.01 in (0.254 mm), 0.02 in (0.508 mm), and 0.03 in (0.762 mm). Results The stresses and forces produced as a result of the deflection applied to each clasp were viewed and displayed graphically. The maximum von Mises stresses in megapascals and the reaction force in newtons (N) were recorded. Stresses varied in each clasp in the range of 0 to 154.3 MPa for the half-round, tapered I-bar clasp models, and 0 to 100.9 MPa for the full-round I-bar clasp models at 0.01-in deflection. Reaction force measured near the tip of the clasp models was between 1.60 N and 6.31 N for the half-round, and between 0.22 N to 2.13 N for the full-round I-bar clasp models. For all clasps studied, as the deflection increased, the location of stress within each group remained the same regardless of the material properties; however, the stress and force values increased linearly. Conclusions The location of maximum stress varied with the length of the anchor portion of the clasps studied. Maximum stresses were located on the flat side of the half-round, tapered I-bar clasp model.
MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG DISEASE

Severe airflow obstruction is one of the most common causes of acute respiratory failure encountered in medical ICUs. Although most patients with life-threatening exacerbations of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) respond to a noninvasive approach, in certain instances, endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilatory support are necessary for survival. Although often lifesaving, mechanical ventilation of patients with severe airflow obstruction is associated with many complications that may result in serious morbidity or even death.69 An important cause of ventilator-related complications is excessive dynamic pulmonary hyperinflation, 72 a process that occurs primarily in the setting of severe airflow obstruction. In addition, patients may suffer complications related to the drugs used to treat underlying airway disease or to facilitate ventilatory support by inducing relaxation of respiratory muscles. 44 46 This article review selected topics relevant to the use of mechanical ventilation in patients with severe airflow obstruction. Areas discussed include the bedside assessment of respiratory system mechanics, the ventilatory determinants of dynamic pulmonary hyperinflation, the role of controlled hypoventilation with permissive hypercapnia, and the delivery of bronchodilators during mechanical ventilation. Weaning from mechanical ventilation and the use of noninvasive ventilation are covered elsewhere in this issue.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis as a cause of false positive bile duct brushing cytology: report of two cases.

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic cholestatic liver disease of unknown etiology characterized by ongoing inflammation, destruction, and fibrosis of intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. Irregular narrowing and dilation of the biliary duct system produces the characteristic beaded pattern seen on cholangiogram. Malignant degeneration resulting in cholangiocarcinoma is a well-recognized sequela of PSC. Bile duct brushing cytology is the primary screening technique for cholangiocarcinoma. It is associated with a relatively low sensitivity but high specificity. Few false positive bile duct brushings have been reported in the literature, with the majority of these having occurred in a background of PSC. We report two patients with PSC in whom bile duct brush cytologies were falsely positive for carcinoma. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2005;32:119–124. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Malaria parasite Pfs47 disrupts JNK signaling to escape mosquito immunity

Malaria is a devastating disease that accounts for nearly one million deaths every year. Caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium, malaria transmission requires the bite of a mosquito to transmit the parasite from one host to another. Thus, understanding the parasite life cycle in the mosquito host is of prime importance. In PNAS, Ramphul et al. (1) show that a protein, Pfs47, expressed in the mosquito stages of the malaria parasite can disrupt mosquito JNK signaling to render parasites “invisible” to the mosquito immune system, and in this way increase its survival and chances of transmission.
Antifungal activity of a new triazole, D0870, compared with four other antifungal agents tested against clinical isolates of Candida and Torulopsis glabrata

Abstract D0870 is a new triazole agent with potent, broad-spectrum antifungal activity. We investigated the in vitro activity of D0870, fluconazole, itraconazole, amphotericin B, and 5-fluorocytosine (5FC) against 319 clinical isolates of Candida spp. and Torulopsis glabrata . In vitro susceptibility testing was performed using a microdilution broth method performed according to NCCLS guidelines. D0870 was very active (MIC 90 of 0.12 μg/ml and 0.5 μg/ml at 24 and 48 h incubation, respectively) against all of the yeast isolates. D0870 was 2- to 32-fold more active than amphotericin B and 2- to 8500-fold more active than 5FC. By comparison with the other triazoles, D0870 was generally 2- to 16-fold more active than itraconazole and ≥16-fold more active than fluconazole. More than half (53%) of C. albicans isolates with elevated fluconazole and itraconazole MICs (≥128 μ g/ml and >8.0 μ g/ml, respectively) were inhibited by ≤1.0 μ g/ml of D0870. Based on these studies, D0870 has promising antifungal activity and warrants further in vitro and in vivo investigation.
A comparative study of four independent methods to measure LDL particle concentration

Abstract Background Low-density lipoprotein particle concentration (LDL-P) is generally more predictive of clinical cardiovascular endpoints than LDL cholesterol (LDL-C). Few studies have directly compared multiple LDL-P methods, particularly with ultracentrifugation. Objective Examine comparability and precision of 4 LDL-P methods. Methods We divided serum from 48 subjects into blinded triplicates and measured LDL-P in 3 separate laboratories by 4 methods: ultracentrifugation (reference method), a novel electrophoretic method, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) by 2 independent methods: a 400 MHz Vantera ® instrument supplied by Liposcience (LS-NMR) and operated at ARUP Laboratories, and a 600 MHz Bruker instrument (ASCEND 600) operated at Health Diagnostic Laboratory (HD-NMR). Results Of the 4 methods, ultracentrifugation was the most precise and LS-NMR the least; the latter had a significantly greater CV (p Conclusions This LDL-P method comparison may prove useful for future research and clinical applications.
Charge transfer in a multi-implant pinned-buried photodetector

This work presents a charge transfer model for a multi-implant (graded) pinned-buried photodetector for high frame rate imaging applications. The model takes into account the initial charge of each implanted region which is divided into a large number of small areas and the maximum effective transit length of the far and near electrons by taking into account the fringing field effect due to graded implants under uniform illumination condition. The model predicts 1.5 /spl mu/s for a single-implant and 500 ns for a three-implant photodetector for collection of 90% of the initial charge. The computed values agree well with the experimental results for a three-implant 70 /spl mu/m/spl times/45 /spl mu/m photodetector measured at a rate of 10/sup 6/ frames/s with uniform illumination by 100 ns LED pulses.
Direct addressed caches for reduced power consumption

A direct addressed cache is a hardware-software design for an energy-efficient microprocessor data cache. Direct addressing allows software to access cache data without a hardware cache tag check. These tag-unchecked loads and stores save the energy of a tag check when the compiler can guarantee an access will be to the same line as an earlier access. We have added support for tag-unchecked loads and stores to C and Java compilers. For Mediabench C programs, the compiler eliminates 16-76% of data cache tag accesses, with half of the benchmarks avoiding over 40% of the data tag checks. For SPECjvm98 Java programs, the compiler eliminates 18-63% of data cache tag checks. These tag check reductions translate into data cache energy savings of 9-40%, and overall processor and cache energy savings of 2-8%.
Genes involved in the repression of mutacin I production in Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus mutans is considered a primary pathogen for human dental caries. Its ability to produce a variety of peptide antibiotics called mutacins may play an important role in its invasion and establishment in the dental biofilm. S. mutans strain UA140 produces two types of mutacins, the lantibiotic mutacin I and the non-lantibiotic mutacin IV. In a previous study, we constructed a random insertional-mutation library to screen for genes involved in regulating mutacin I production, and found 25 genes/operons that have a positive effect on mutacin I production. In this study, we continued our previous work to identify genes that are negatively involved in mutacin I production. By using a high-phosphate brain heart infusion agar medium that inhibited mutacin I production of the wild-type, we isolated 77 clones that consistently produced mutacin I under repressive conditions. From the 34 clones for which we were able to obtain a sequence, 17 unique genes were identified. These genes encompass a variety of functional groups, including central metabolism, surface binding and sugar transport, and unknown functions. Some of the 17 mutations were further characterized and shown to increase mutacin gene expression during growth when the gene is usually not expressed in the wild-type. These results further demonstrate an intimate and intricate connection between mutacin production and the overall cellular homeostasis.
Observations on “Angel Wing” in White Chinese Geese

Abstract This wing deformity in waterfowl has been known for many years (Peters, 1933; and Luhmann, 1936). Domestic ducks, geese, swans, and numerous other waterfowl kept in zoos or parks exhibit the character (Peters, 1933; Luhmann, 1936; and Groves, 1960). Angel wing is normal in the Sebastopol goose, but it is a defect causing disqualification in other breeds. According to Peters (1933), the deformity is seen only in birds bred by man. Peyton and Peyton (1961) stated that the turned-up wing tip is the most common deformity of incubator-hatched geese. The abnormality may be observed as a unilateral or bilateral twisting of the wing feathers (Figures 1 and 2). The wings will not lie in the normal position along the body due to a malformation of the skeleton (Peters, 1933). The ligaments, especially on the lateral side of the carpel joint, are loose so that the joint shakes when the bird …
Playing with information: How end users think about and integrate dynamic data

End users are exposed to tremendous amounts of information from the Internet on a daily basis. As a result, they must decide how to manage and assimilate that information into their daily activities. We argue that web mashups may be one way for end users to manage their data integration needs. In this paper, we present a study that investigates the types of online information that end users encounter and the types of interactions between information sources that they imagine to be useful. To do this, we examine the first steps of the mashup creation process - data gathering and data integration. Moreover we report on the observations of end users creating a data mashup using an online tool. Finally, we offer a plan for future work.
Biodiversity meets the atmosphere: A global view of forest canopies

The forest canopy is the functional interface between 90% of Earth's terrestrial biomass and the atmosphere. Multidisciplinary research in the canopy has expanded concepts of global species richness, physiological processes, and the provision of ecosystem services. Trees respond in a species-specific manner to elevated carbon dioxide levels, while climate change threatens plant-animal interactions in the canopy and will likely alter the production of biogenic aerosols that affect cloud formation and atmospheric chemistry.
Black Model Appearance and Product Evaluations

Whites associate product quality with Caucasian facial features, blacks with Negroid features, but both rate products more favorably when the model exhibits stereotypical racial features.
Autoradiographic Evidence for the Impermeability of Mouse Peritoneal Macrophages to Tritiated Streptomycin

Cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages were found to be relatively impermeable to streptomycin. Based on radioactivity measurements and radioautographic evidence, macrophages were impermeable to tritiated dihydrostreptomycin for periods up to 20 hr of incubation. Little or no intracellular streptomycin could be detected even when incubation was carried out in the presence of therapeutic blood levels of carrier dihydrostreptomycin. When the cultured mouse macrophages were allowed to phagocytize staphylococci, yeast cells, or polystyrene latex particles in the presence of tritiated streptomycin, the impermeability of the cells to the antibiotic was not affected. These observations suggested that the process of phagocytosis does not facilitate the intracellular accumulation of streptomycin, as seems to be the case for the fixed phagocytic cells of the liver.
From the clinics to the courts: the role evidence should play in litigating medical care.

Throughout this collection of essays, the Institute of Medicine and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality have identified an issue whose importance and nuances we are only beginning to appreciate. Although medicine has long claimed to be rooted in science, actual clinical care has often had only a limited scientific basis, resulting in inexplicably wide variations of care (Wennberg 1996). The past few years have witnessed a marked interest in evidence-based medicine (EBM), stemming from several concerns. First, decades of double-digit health care inflation led to a recognition that enormous amounts of money have been wasted on interventions with little proven value. Health plans facing pressures to keep premiums down and profits up have moved aggressively to curb wasteful practices such as excessive hospitalizations and needless surgeries. The ruling norm under lavish insurance—“If it might help and probably won’t harm, do it”—has given way to a leaner norm: “Don’t do it, unless you can demonstrate its value.” Under this new rule even common, widely accepted clinical routines have met coverage denials, and irate providers are scrambling to gather the kind of data necessary to document the value of their care (Morreim 1994). Second, the more forward-looking health plans aim, not just to cut costs, but to render care more rational. In many cases physicians’ clinical routines are based not so much on empirical evidence as on local
Broadcast gossip algorithms: Design and analysis for consensus

Motivated by applications to wireless sensor, peer-to-peer, and ad hoc networks, we have recently proposed a broadcasting-based gossiping protocol to compute the (possibly weighted) average of the initial measurements of the nodes at every node in the network. The class of broadcast gossip algorithms achieve consensus almost surely at a value that is in the neighborhood of the initial node measurements? average. In this paper, we further study the broadcast gossip algorithms: we derive and analyze the optimal mixing parameter of the algorithm when approached from worst-case convergence rate, present theoretical results on limiting mean square error performance of the algorithm, and find the convergence rate order of the proposed protocol.
Regeneration of Coastal Marsh Vegetation Impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

The dynamics of plant regeneration via seed and vegetative spread in coastal wetlands dictate the nature of community reassembly that takes place after hurricanes or sea level rise. The objectives of my project were to evaluate the potential effects of saltwater intrusion and flooding of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on seedling regeneration in coastal wetlands of the Gulf Coast. Specifically I tested hypotheses to determine for species in fresh, brackish and salt marshes of the Gulf Coast if 1) the pattern of seed germination and seedling recruitment differed with distance from the shoreline, and 2) seed germination and seedling recruitment for various species were reduced in higher levels of water depth and salinity. Regarding Hypothesis 1, seedling densities increased with distance from the shoreline in fresh and brackish water marshes while decreasing with distance from the shoreline in salt marshes. Also to test Hypothesis 1, I used a greenhouse seed bank assay to examine seed germination from seed banks collected at distances from the shoreline in response to various water depths and salinity levels using a nested factorial design. For all marsh types, the influence of water level and salinity on seed germination shifted with distance from the shoreline (i.e., three way interaction of the main effects of distance nested within site, water depth, and salinity). Data from the seed bank assay were also used to test Hypothesis 2. The regeneration of species from fresh, brackish, and salt marshes were reduced in conditions of high salinity and/or water, so that following hurricanes or sea level rise, seedling regeneration could be reduced. Among the species of these coastal marshes, there was some flexibility of response, so that at least some species were able to germinate in either high or low salinity. Salt marshes had a few fresher marsh species in the seed bank that would not germinate without a period of fresh water input (e.g., Sagittaria lancifolia) as well as salt water species (e.g., Avicennia germinans, Salicornia bigelovii). Nevertheless, the species richness of seeds germinating from the seed bank of freshwater marshes was reduced more than in salt marshes, indicating that freshwater marsh regeneration may be more affected by hurricanes and/or sea level rise than salt marshes. From the perspective of short-term seed germination and recruitment following hurricanes, species recruitment is dependent on the post-disturbance conditions of water and salinity.
Forced attention to specific applicant qualifications: Impact on physical attractiveness and sex of applicant biases.

The effect of forced postponement of a hiring decision until after specific qualifications had been evaluated was examined as a procedure to reduce sex and physical attractiveness discrimination. Ninety six male and 148 female undergraduates evaluated the qualifications of an attractive, average, or unattractive male or female applicant. Ratings of specific qualifications preceded or followed an overall and hiring decision rating. Results indicated that the order variable influenced ratings of specific qualifications but not the overall or hiring decision. Sex of subject and attractiveness did affect the hiring decision with male and attractive applicants being preferred.
Collaborative signal processing for action recognition in body sensor networks: a distributed classification algorithm using motion transcripts

Body sensor networks are emerging as a promising platform for remote human monitoring. With the aim of extracting bio-kinematic parameters from distributed body-worn sensors, these systems require collaboration of sensor nodes to obtain relevant information from an overwhelmingly large volume of data. Clearly, efficient data reduction techniques and distributed signal processing algorithms are needed. In this paper, we present a data processing technique that constructs motion transcripts from inertial sensors and identifies human movements by taking collaboration between the nodes into consideration. Transcripts of basic motions, called primitives, are built to reduce the complexity of the sensor data. This model leads to a distributed algorithm for segmentation and action recognition. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our framework using data collected from five normal subjects performing ten transitional movements. The results clearly illustrate the effectiveness of our framework. In particular, we obtain a classification accuracy of 84.13% with only one sensor node involved in the classification process.
Daily Health Symptoms of Mothers of Adolescents and Adults with Fragile X Syndrome and Mothers of Adolescents and Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Health symptoms of mothers of adolescents and adults with fragile X syndrome (FXS; n = 112) were compared to a nationally-representative sample of mothers of similarly-aged children without disabilities (n = 230) as well as to a sample of mothers of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD; n = 96). Health symptoms experienced in the previous 24 h were recorded during 8 consecutive days of a daily diary study. Both mothers of a son or daughter with FXS and mothers of a son or daughter with ASD had a higher proportion of days with headaches, backaches, muscle soreness, fatigue, and hot flashes than mothers of children without disabilities. Mothers of children with disabilities appear to be at particular risk for health problems, highlighting a need for comprehensive services for families across the lifespan.
Applications of Advanced, Waveform Based AE Techniques for Testing Composite Materials

Advanced, waveform based acoustic emission (AE) techniques have been previously used to evaluate damage progression in laboratory tests of composite coupons. In these tests, broad band, high fidelity acoustic sensors were used to detect signals which were then digitized and stored for analysis. Analysis techniques were based on plate mode wave propagation characteristics. This approach, more recently referred to as Modal AE, provides an enhanced capability to discriminate and eliminate noise signals from those generated by damage mechanisms. This technique also allows much more precise source location than conventional, threshold crossing arrival time determination techniques. To apply Modal AE concepts to the interpretation of AE on larger composite structures, the effects of wave propagation over larger distances and through structural complexities must be well characterized and understood. In this research, measurements were made of the attenuation of the extensional and flexural plate mode components of broad band simulated AE signals in large composite panels. As these materials have applications in a cryogenic environment, the effects of cryogenic insulation on the attenuation of plate mode AE signals were also documented.
The Ethnos in the Polis: Political Ethnography as a Mode of Inquiry

In the social sciences, there is renewed attention to political ethnography, a research method that is based on close-up and real-time observation of actors involved in political processes, at times even extending the definition of these processes to move beyond categories of state, civil society, and social movements. This article examines the emergence of political ethnography from a number of disciplinary locations, such as political science, the cultural turn in sociology, and anthropology, and shows the value of this new approach for understanding how politics work in everyday life.
Nonlinear Dependencies And Chaos In The Bilateral Exchange Rate Of The Dollar

Employing the daily bilateral exchange rate of the dollar against the Canadian dollar, the Swiss franc and the Japanese yen, we conduct a battery of tests for the presence of low-dimension chaos. The three stationary series are subjected to Correlation Dimension tests, BDS tests, and tests for entropy. While we find strong evidence of nonlinear dependence in the data, the evidence is not consistent with chaos. Our test results indicate that GARCH-type processes explain the nonlinearities in the data. We also show that employing seasonally adjusted index series enhances the robustness of results via the existing tests for chaotic structure.
Concurrent balloon dilation of stenosed aortopulmonary Gore-Tex shunts and branch pulmonary arteries∗

Cyanotic congenital heart defects (CCHD) with severe pulmonary stenosis or atresia exhibit hypoxemia and cyanosis secondary to pulmonary oligemia and right-to-left shunt. Even though a substantial proportion of these patients can be surgically corrected at presentation, such correction is not
Neutron resonances in /sup 100/Mo and valence neutron capture

Neutron resonance interactions with /sup 100/Mo were studied at a time-of-flight facility. The transmission of two oxide samples (97.4% /sup 100/Mo) was measured at a 78.20 m flight path and the neutron capture cross section was measured at 40.12 m. Resonance analyses yielded parameters of 124 resonances. Capture ..gamma..-ray spectra from 11 resolved resonances were measured with a Ge(Li) detector at a 10.45 m flight path. In contrast to neighboring nuclei, partial radiation widths of strong p-wave resonances are not in agreement with valence model predictions.
Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia

HIT is an immune-mediated reaction caused by antibodies to PF4/heparin complexes. HIT typically occurs 5–14 days after heparin exposure but could appear sooner in patients who were previously exposed to heparin within the past 100 days. Typical presentation includes a decline in platelet count by 50 % from baseline. The diagnosis of HIT can be complex and should utilize both clinical presentation and laboratory confirmation. The treatment of HIT consists of discontinuing the heparin-based agent and initiating a non-heparin anticoagulant. The most common treatment options are the direct thrombin inhibitors; however, there is emerging data to suggest the use of fondaparinux or the direct oral anticoagulants can also be used to treat HIT.
A fracture-mechanics-based model for wellbore strengthening applications

Abstract Wellbore strengthening is an effective method to mitigate lost circulation, a major non-productive-time drilling complication, which utilizes lost circulation materials (LCMs) to bridge small preexisting, drilling-induced, or natural fractures on the wellbore wall. Although a number of successful field applications have been reported, the fundamental mechanisms of wellbore strengthening are still not fully understood. Based on linear elastic fracture mechanics, this paper illustrates an analytical solution for investigating geomechanical aspects of wellbore strengthening operations. The proposed solution (1) provides a fast procedure to predict fracture-initiation pressure before and after bridging a preexisting fracture in wellbore strengthening; (2) considers effects of wellbore-fracture geometry, in-situ stress anisotropy, and LCM bridge location. The solution is validated by comparison with available fracture mechanics examples, then used to investigate and quantify the effect of several parameters on wellbore strengthening with a sensitivity study. Results show that the wellbore can be effectively strengthened by enhancing fracture-initiation pressure with wellbore strengthening operations, but the magnitude of strengthening is affected by LCM bridge location, in-situ stress anisotropy, and formation pore pressure. The proposed solution illustrates how wellbore strengthening works, and provides useful considerations for field operations.
A case report of Bartonella endocarditis with pancytopenia

Abstract A 9-year-old male with history of complex congenital heart disease presented with intermittent fevers and chills of 3-month duration along with pancytopenia. Given a high suspicion of endocarditis despite negative blood cultures, a literature search for culture-negative endocarditis yielded the possibility of less common organisms, including zoonotic agents. There were only isolated case reports of Bartonella causing pancytopenia. Further testing revealed positive Bartonella henselae by DNA PCR in the patient who was treated with an antibiotic regimen consisting of doxycycline, Bactrim, and rifampin and ultimately had the homograft removed. Given the rarity of Bartonella endocarditis, ∼3% of all endocarditis, 1 , 2 and the additional testing necessary for diagnosis, one must consider this possible diagnosis with a high index of suspicion.
Gold Nanoplates as Cancer-Targeted Photothermal Actuators for Drug Delivery and Triggered Release

The selective exposure of cancerous tissue to systemically delivered chemotherapeutic agents remains a major challenge facing cancer therapy. To address this question, a near infrared responsive oligonucleotide-coated AS1411, hairpin, or both gold nanoplate loaded with doxorubicin is demonstrated to be nontoxic to cells without triggered release, while being acutely toxic to cells after 5 minutes of laser exposure to trigger DOX release. Conjugation of oligonucleotides to the nanoplates is confirmed by an average increase in hydrodynamic diameter of 30.6 nm, an average blue shift of the plasmon resonance peak by 36 nm, and an average −10 mV shift in zeta potential of the particles. DOX loading through intercalation into the hairpin DNA structure is confirmed through fluorescence measurements. For both GNP-Hairpin and GNP-Hairpin-AS1411, ~60% of loaded DOX is released after the first 5 minutes of laser exposure λ=817 nm, with complete release after two more 5-minute exposures. Preliminary proof of concept is demonstrated in vitro using A549 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines as models for breast and lung cancer, respectively. Exposure of cells to untriggered DOX-loaded conjugate with no laser exposure results in little to no toxicity, while laser-triggered release of DOX causes significant cell death.
Software Design for Automatic Embroidery Machine

The paper introduces key techniques to implement automatic embroidery machine and also the software flow chart.
Worsening risk for the development of dysplasia or cancer in patients with chronic ulcerative colitis.

Objectives: Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) are at increased risk for developing dysplasia or cancer (neoplasia) and are usually offered colonoscopic surveillance to reduce their risk of cancer-related mortality. The causes of neoplasia may be related to features of UC (the extent, severity, activity, and age at onset of the disease) and to environmental factors (medications, vitamin and mineral supplementation, diet, or industrial pollutants). To determine whether and how the risk (and hence the risk factor profile) for the development of neoplasia changes over time, we conducted an historical cohort study. Methods: From 445 adult patients with UC proximal to the splenic flexure seen in the Department of Gastroenterology between 1986 and 1992, a random sample of 209 patients was selected. Patients with UC for less than 8 yr or colectomy or neoplasia detected within 2 yr of referral were excluded, leaving 98 patients in the cohort, half of whom had disease onset during or before 1972. Results: After controlling for age at disease onset and duration of disease at first colonoscopy, we found that patients with an earlier year of disease onset were 85% less likely to develop neoplasia than patients with a later year of disease onset (hazard rate ratio 0.15, 95% confidence interval 0.03-0.66). Conclusion: These data suggest that the risk for developing neoplasia in UC patients increases with increasing calendar year, implying a worsening risk factor profile
Neurosurgical Aspects of Injuries of the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine

Two case presentations provide the basis for a discussion of the early care of the patient who has sustained trauma to the thoracic spine, lumbar spine, or both, with neural deficit. Basic principles which undergird the acute phase of management are enunciated, and the accepted as well as the controversial aspects of indications for operative therapy are discussed.
Tree Biomechanics with Special Reference to Tropical Trees

All structures, whether engineered or natural, must obey the same physical laws and processes. Trees are particularly susceptible to these laws and processes because they are structures, composed mostly of wood, that begin and end their lives in the same location, which can experience dramatic changes in abiotic and biotic conditions (e.g., rainfall and epiphyte loads, respectively). The biomechanical behavior of trees is reviewed by presenting and discussing a few equations, with a particular emphasis on the effects of wind on branches, trunks, and roots. Limited space precludes a detailed review of these equations. Therefore, some basic references are listed to provide the necessary details. An important point is that unlike engineered objects and the engineering theory that deals with them, trees are growing biological entities that violate many of the assumptions of engineering theory. Consequently, the equations presented here provide only a first order approximation of how trees will respond to static (self) and dynamic (wind) loadings. Understanding the limits of these equations, therefore, is a critical first lesson in dealing with the biomechanical behavior of trees, regardless of whether they grow in tropical, temperate, or desert conditions. In the final analysis, every tree will ultimately fail. The challenge is to anticipate when and how.
The Impact of High Saturated Fat and High Glycemic Index Foods on Cognitive Function and Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers: Does a Typical Western Diet Cause Alzheimer’s Disease?

Diets high in saturated fat and simple sugars, collectively termed the “Western diet,” are a risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease in several epidemiologic studies. Experiments in humans and animals have confirmed this association, and have shown that components of the Western diet increase brain biomarkers related to Alzheimer’s disease, including beta-amyloid, phosphorylated tau, and neuroinflammation, and decrease hormones such as insulin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor. In addition, the Western diet magnifies traditional vascular risk factors such as hypertension and insulin resistance, which not only increases the risk of vascular dementia, but also exacerbates Alzheimer’s pathology. The Western diet may also increase the risk of other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s. Given the importance of diet in modulating dementia risk, this area needs further study, and comprehensive interventions at both individual and public health levels are desperately needed to stave off these devastating neurological disorders.
Standardized Checklist for Otoscopy Performance Evaluation: A Validation Study of a Tool to Assess Pediatric Otoscopy Skills.

Abstract Introduction Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most frequently diagnosed pediatric illness in the United States and the most common indication for antibiotic prescription. Skill in pediatric...
Aspen Snag Yields Record Bitterbrush Seed Cache.

FIGURE 3. Diagrams for cutting panels and information on approximate cost of 5by 5-foot panels for three types of welded wire. Loops are formed from horizontal wires as shown-other wires between panels are cut off. Diagrams A and E were used for cages in FIGURE 1, left and right, respectively. an odd number of panels is joined, one wire stay must be removed to permit cages to fold flat. The size and number of panels needed to protect an area of a given size can easily be determined. The following formulae give the radius of the circular area that would be inscribed by joining various numbers of panels of equal size (where “L”=length of one side):
Cooperative Silencing of Chicken ρ- and βH- Globin Gene Expression by Chicken β-Globin Regulatory Elements: Involvement of GATA-1, NF-E2, and RNA Polymerase II.

Abstract The chicken β-globin locus represents a well characterized, model system where the relationship between chromatin structure, transcription and DNA replication can be studied. The locus contains several regulatory elements including an intergenic enhancer as well as upstream regulatory elements that may function either alone or in combination with the intergenic enhancer as an LCR. The availability of the recombination proficient chicken B cell line DT40 has allowed the introduction of mutations into the endogenous chicken β-globin locus and phenotypic analysis after microcell mediated chromosome transfer into human erythroleukemia (K562) cells. Using this system, we have introduced deletions in the chicken β-globin intergenic enhancer as well as 5′ HS 1,2, and 3. A chicken chromosome marked by insertion of a selectable marker gene into the upstream folate receptor gene locus or 5′ HS1 followed by Cre recombinase mediated removal of the selectable marker gene served as control “wild type” chromosomes. Expression of the embryonic ρ and fetal βH chicken globin genes were repressed by the intergenic enhancer, 5′ HS1, or 5′HS2. No ρ or βH globin gene expression was detected in K562 cells containing control chicken chromosomes, while ρ and βH mRNA were activated when the intergenic enhancer, 5′ HS1, or 5′HS2 were deleted. Transcriptional activation of the ρ and βH genes correlated with hyperacetylation of histones H3 and H4, loss of methylated K9 histone H3, and binding of RNA polymerase II to the gene promoters. The status of methylated CpG dinucleotides at the promoters did not correlate with the transcriptional status of the genes. The phenotype of the 5′ HS1, and HS2 deletions were surprisingly similar to that of the intergenic enhancer, which suggested these elements may function either in the same pathway or complex. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments that assayed RNA polmerase II (pol II), GATA-1 and NF-E2 p45/ p18 binding at regulatory elements and gene promoters in targeted cell lines supported this hypothesis and suggested a potential role for 5′HS3 in gene activation. However, targeted deletion of 5′ HS3, unlike the other chicken β-globin regulatory elements, showed no transcriptional phenotype. Our results demonstrate the intergenic enhancer, 5′HS1, and 5′ HS2 function through a common silencing mechanism involving pol II, GATA-1, and NF-E2/P18.