cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stress cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with observation unit care reduces cost for patients with emergent chest pain: a randomized trial.

Study objective We determine whether imaging with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an observation unit would reduce medical costs among patients with emergent non-low-risk chest pain who otherwise would be managed with an inpatient care strategy. Methods Emergency department patients (n=110) at intermediate or high probability for acute coronary syndrome without electrocardiographic or biomarker evidence of a myocardial infarction provided consent and were randomized to stress cardiac MRI in an observation unit versus standard inpatient care. The primary outcome was direct hospital cost calculated as the sum of hospital and provider costs. Estimated median cost differences (Hodges-Lehmann) and distribution-free 95% confidence intervals (Moses) were used to compare groups. Results There were 110 participants with 53 randomized to cardiac MRI and 57 to inpatient care; 8 of 110 (7%) experienced acute coronary syndrome. In the MRI pathway, 49 of 53 underwent stress cardiac MRI, 11 of 53 were admitted, 1 left against medical advice, 41 were discharged, and 2 had acute coronary syndrome. In the inpatient care pathway, 39 of 57 patients initially received stress testing, 54 of 57 were admitted, 3 left against medical advice, and 6 had acute coronary syndrome. At 30 days, no subjects in either group experienced acute coronary syndrome after discharge. The cardiac MRI group had a reduced median hospitalization cost (Hodges-Lehmann estimate $588; 95% confidence interval $336 to $811); 79% were managed without hospital admission. Conclusion Compared with inpatient care, an observation unit strategy involving stress cardiac MRI reduced incident cost without any cases of missed acute coronary syndrome in patients with emergent chest pain.
Inhibition of Lipid Synthesis in Escherichia coli Cells by the Antibiotic Cerulenin

The antibiotic cerulenin markedly inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli. The effects of the antibiotic on cellular syntheses were studied by measuring the incorporation of labeled precursors into lipids and macromolecules. During the first 40 min after the addition of cerulenin to a culture of growing cells, lipid synthesis was inhibited more than 90% and ribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis about 25%, whereas protein synthesis was not affected. At later periods after cerulenin addition (1 to 2 h), the inhibition of cell growth and of lipid and protein synthesis was complete. Upon removal of cerulenin from the culture, growth was restored and lipid synthesis resumed more rapidly than did the synthesis of protein. Addition of both palmitate and oleate, but not of either fatty acid alone, reversed the inhibition of growth by cerulenin. These findings support the conclusion that the antibiotic effects of cerulenin are due to a specific inhibition of fatty acid synthesis.
Nicotinic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease

Approximately 20 years after the formulation of the cholinergic hypothesis to explain the cognitive symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, cholinesterase therapy remains the mainstay of treatment for this disorder, Although partially effective, currently available agents have limited effects on cognitive function and long-term efficacy appears modest. Direct or indirect stimulation of nicotinic cholinergic receptors may offer an additional therapeutic strategy. Ongoing investigations of the molecular substructure of central nervous system nicotinic receptors, their accompanying pharmacology, and the effects of nicotinic agents on cognitive function have suggested the possibility that nicotinic stimulation may have beneficial effects in Alzheimer's disease and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Studies from our laboratory and others have explored the role of central nervous system nicotinic mechanisms in normal human cognitive and behavioral functioning as well as their role in Alzheimer's disease. Results from acute therapeutic trials with nicotine arid novel nicotinic agents suggest that nicotinic stimulation in Alzheimer's disease patients can improve the acquisition and retention of verbal and visual information and decrease errors in cognitive tasks, as well as improve accuracy and response time, Whether such results will translate into improved clinical functioning remains to be fully tested. Development of subtype-selective nicotinic agonists with an improved safety profile will enable long-term testing of the efficacy of nicotinic stimulation on cognitive performance as well as potential cytoprotective effects. Direct or indirect (allosteric) modulation of nicotinic receptor function offers a new opportunity for Alzheimer's disease therapeutics.
Prediction of transient displacement, velocity, and force on projectiles penetrating cohesive soils

Abstract A closed-form solution is developed for predicting transient displacement, velocity, and force as well as residual displacement and duration for both flat and pointed projectiles penetrating cohesive soils. Because transient response can be represented as a 3 parameter space of nondimensional numbers, displacement, velocity, and force are each presented in a single graph. Experimental test data for different soils and penetrator contours are used to demonstrate the validity of both transient and residual responses. Of great importance in this solution and soil dynamics in general is the advancement of a hypothesis for the dynamic interaction of intergranular stress, pore water pressure, and pore air pressure in the resisting force that retards penetration. Because fundamental dynamic pore pressure theory is used to develop this analysis, basic soil properties (cohesive yield strength, density, and degree of saturation) are used to characterize the cohesive soil.
Atrial fibrillation in heart failure: prognostic significance and management.

Patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) have a poor prognosis and are at increased risk of dying suddenly or from progressive pump dysfunction. Atrial and ventricular arrhythmias commonly occur in patients with CHF and are a significant source of symptoms, morbidity, and mortality. Atrial fibrillation occurs in up to 9% of patients over the age of 80 and in 15%–X30% of patients with CHF [1]. The prevalence of atrial fibrillation increases with progression of NYHA heart failure class from less than 10% in NYHA class I to almost 50% in NYHA class IV CHF [2].
LOGICAL SYNTAX IN WITTGENSTEIN'S TRACTATUS

P.M.S. Hacker has argued that there are numerous misconceptions in James Conant's account of Wittgenstein's views and of those of Carnap. I discuss only Hacker's treatment of Conant on logical syntax in the ‘Tractatus’. I try to show that passages in the ‘Tractatus’ which Hacker takes to count strongly against Conant's view do no such thing, and that he himself has not explained how he can account for a significant passage which certainly appears to support Conant's reading.
Exploiting Amodal Cues for Robot Perception

This paper presents an approach to detecting, segmenting, and recognizing rhythmically moving objects that generate sound as they move. We show selectivity and robustness in the face of distracting motion and sounds. Our method does not require accurate sound localization, and in fact is complementary to it. The work is implemented on the humanoid robot Cog 1 . We are motivated by the fact that objects that move rhythmically are common and important for a humanoid robot. The humanoid form is often argued for so that the robot can interact well with tools designed for humans, and such tools are typically used in a repetitive manner, with sound generated by physical abrasion or collision; consider hammers, chisels, saws etc. We also work with the perception of toys designed for infants { rattles, bells etc. { which could have utility for entertainment/pet robotics. Our goal is to build the perceptual tools required for a robot to learn to use tools and toys through demonstration. We show that our approach also applies to robot perception of itself and humans, and relate our work to ndings in infant development research.
An open conformation of mammalian cytochrome P450 2B4 at 1.6-Å resolution

The xenobiotic metabolizing cytochromes P450 (P450s) are among the most versatile biological catalysts known, but knowledge of the structural basis for their broad substrate specificity has been limited. P450 2B4 has been frequently used as an experimental model for biochemical and biophysical studies of these membrane proteins. A 1.6-A crystal structure of P450 2B4 reveals a large open cleft that extends from the protein surface directly to the heme iron between the α-helical and β-sheet domains without perturbing the overall P450 fold. This cleft is primarily formed by helices B′ to C and F to G. The conformation of these regions is dramatically different from that of the other structurally defined mammalian P450, 2C5/3LVdH, in which the F to G and B′ to C regions encapsulate one side of the active site to produce a closed form of the enzyme. The open conformation of 2B4 is trapped by reversible formation of a homodimer in which the residues between helices F and G of one molecule partially fill the open cleft of a symmetry-related molecule, and an intermolecular coordinate bond occurs between H226 and the heme iron. This dimer is observed both in solution and in the crystal. Differences between the structures of 2C5 and 2B4 suggest that defined regions of xenobiotic metabolizing P450s may adopt a substantial range of energetically accessible conformations without perturbing the overall fold. This conformational flexibility is likely to facilitate substrate access, metabolic versatility, and product egress.
A randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy of mandibular implant-supported overdentures and conventional dentures in diabetic patients. Part V: food preference comparisons.

Abstract Statement of Problem. The functional benefits of replacing old dentures with new conventional mandibular dentures or implant-supported overdentures has not been fully determined. Purpose. This study assessed the impact of these 2 types of replacement dentures on the food choices of diabetic patients. Material and Methods. A total of 68 diabetic patients with original complete dentures participated in this study. Diabetes was controlled with insulin in 38 patients (IT) and without insulin in 30 patients (NIT). All subjects received conventional maxillary dentures; 25 received mandibular conventional dentures (CD), and 43 received overdentures with plastic clips and a Hader bar attached to 2 osseointegrated implants (IOD). Subjects rated their perceptions of taste acceptability, texture acceptability, and chewing ease on a 4-point nominal scale and eating frequency on a 5-point scale for 13 specific foods at baseline (with original dentures) and at 6 months post-treatment completion (PTC). Fisher exact tests were used to compare the change in percentage distributions of responses with treatment. A 2 × 2 × 2 repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to compare mean scores between the 2 denture groups, 2 diabetic groups, and 2 time intervals for each of the 13 foods and 4 questions related to food acceptability. Results. At baseline, no significant differences were found between the frequency distributions of responses in the CD and IOD groups or the IT and NIT groups for all 52 comparisons. With both types of study dentures, a higher percentage of patients perceived deterioration rather than improvement in function. When percentage distributions based on actual positive or negative change (treatment effect) in patient responses were compared, significant differences were found for 3 of the 52 responses, in favor of the IOD group. ANOVA demonstrated significant mean differences for 4 of the 52 comparisons. Conclusion. Both types of study dentures resulted in declines in the perceived taste and texture acceptability of almost all test foods. Declines in perceived chewing ease and eating frequency were more common and greater in the CD than in the IOD group. Both types of study dentures failed to affect food choices, as evidenced by declines or limited improvement in the perceived frequency with which most foods were eaten. (J Prosthet Dent 2002;87:62-73.)
Accelerometer type cardiac transducer for detection of low-level heart sounds

The authors compare several different cardiac transducers and describe the development of a low-mass, accelerometer-type cardiac transducer which fulfils these objectives. The accelerometer weighs approximately 5 g and has a theoretical sensitivity of 125 mV/g in the frequency range 200-800 Hz. The basic design allows for easy modification of sensitivity and resonant frequency. This transducer has been effective in detecting sound associated with turbulent blood flow in partially occluded coronary arteries. >
HEURISTIC LOT-SIZING PERFORMANCE IN A ROLLING-SCHEDULE ENVIRONMENT*

This paper examines the impact of a rolling-schedule implementation on the performance of three of the better known lot-sizing methods for single-level assembly systems——Part-Period-Cost-Balancing, Silver-Meal, and Wagner-Whitin algorithms—and a modified version of the Silver-Meal procedure. The main finding is that under certain conditions the computationally simpler Silver-Meal heuristic can provide cost performance superior to that of the Wagner-Whitin algorithm.
Clasp design for extension-base removable partial dentures

Abstract A clasp design that can be employed for abutment teeth on extension-base removable partial dentures has been presented. The clasp, referred to as an R.P.I. clasp, minimizes tooth coverage and reduces stress on the abutment tooth.
Personality traits across cultures

Current questions in the study of personality traits across cultures include (a) the universality versus cultural uniqueness of trait structure, (b) cultural differences in trait levels, (c) the consistency and validity of traits and their measures across cultures, and (d) the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural contexts of personality. Although the Five Factor Model (FFM) of personality continues to find cross-cultural support, new research suggests that the model may be difficult to replicate in less educated or preliterate groups and that indigenous social–relational concepts may be distinguishable from the FFM in some cultures. In lexical studies, two or three broad dimensions may replicate better across cultures than alternative models. Substantial evidence suggests that mean trait profiles of cultures may be reasonably accurate. Nonetheless, research on response styles and measurement invariance raises questions about cross-cultural trait comparisons. Findings regarding cultural differences in trait-related consistency and validity are mixed. Researchers are offering innovative theory and research on the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural contexts of personality.
The torturer's horse: Agency and animals in history

Historians need to understand the nature of historical agency and how animals relate to this central if contested historiographical concern. Focusing on the specific context of the Napoleonic Wars and in particular the Duke of Wellington and his horse Copenhagen, I show why agency is a continuum, not limited to the complex and intentional acts of a rational man, for instance a field marshal, but extending to basic actions, group actions, and less self-conscious actors, for instance a horse. Therefore, agency can include animals. Any action, however, must be placed into a context of reasons or understandings, the “pertinent context.” The place of animals as agents will naturally vary across historical time in great part depending on prevalent contemporary cultural assumptions. In some periods animals have operated as difficult-to-discern “secret agents.” I stress the variable and fluid notions of agency that have emerged in posthumanistic and actor network theoretical contexts. And I develop the idea of special associations—what I call unities—in which especially close, disciplined actors are produced, such as the skilled horse-and-rider of the nineteenth century. Ultimately, historical agency is likely always to involve human beings, but there is also space for animals to act with people.
Scattering of hole excitations in a one-dimensional spinless quantum liquid

Luttinger liquid theory accounts for the low-energy boson excitations of one-dimensional quantum liquids, but disregards the high-energy excitations. The most important high-energy excitations are holes, which have infinite lifetime at zero temperature. At finite temperatures, they can be scattered by thermally excited bosons. We describe the interaction of a hole with the bosons by treating it as a mobile impurity in a Luttinger liquid. This approach enables us to evaluate the scattering probability at arbitrary interaction strength. In general, the result is expressed in terms of the hole spectrum, its dependence on the density and momentum of the fluid, and the parameters of the Luttinger liquid Hamiltonian. In the special case of Galilean invariant systems, the scattering probability is expressed in terms of only the hole spectrum and its dependence on the fluid density. We apply our results to the problem of equilibration of one-dimensional quantum liquids.
Serratus anterior muscle transplantation for treatment of soft tissue defects in the hand

Abstract The inferior three slips of the serratus anterior muscle have been used as a free tissue transfer in 18 patients for the reconstruction of dorsal and palmar defects in the hand. Mean follow-up was 2.8 years. There were 12 18 flaps for palmar coverage and 6 18 for dorsal coverage. All flaps survived. On the basis of this experience we conclude that this flap has three attributes making it suitable for palmar and dorsal metacarpal resurfacing: (1) low donor site morbidity, (2) the three separate slips are easily divisible for contouring, and (3) durability and adhesion provide a stable resurfacing for grasp.
The production of antibody by invading B cells is required for the clearance of rabies virus from the central nervous system.

Background: The pathogenesis of rabies is associated with the inability to deliver immune effectors across the blood-brain barrier and to clear virulent rabies virus from CNS tissues. However, the mechanisms that facilitate immune effector entry into CNS tissues are induced by infection with attenuated rabies virus. Methodology/Principal Findings: Infection of normal mice with attenuated rabies virus but not immunization with killed virus can promote the clearance of pathogenic rabies virus from the CNS. T cell activity in B cell–deficient mice can control the replication of attenuated virus in the CNS, but viral mRNA persists. Low levels of passively administered rabies virus– neutralizing antibody reach infected cells in the cerebellum of B cell–deficient mice but are not sufficient to mediate virus clearance. Production of rabies virus-specific antibody by B cells invading CNS tissues is required for this process, and a substantial proportion of the B cells that accumulate in the CNS of mice infected with attenuated rabies virus produce virusspecific antibodies. Conclusions/Significance: The mechanisms required for immune effectors to enter rabies virus-infected tissues are induced by infection with attenuated rabies virus but not by infection with pathogenic rabies viruses or immunization with killed virus. T cell activities can inhibit rabies virus replication, but the production of rabies virus–specific antibodies by infiltrating B cells, as opposed to the leakage of circulating antibody across the BBB, is critical to elimination of the virus. These findings suggest that a pathogenic rabies virus infection may be treatable after the virus has reached the CNS tissues, providing that the appropriate immune effectors can be targeted to the infected tissues.
Medical Clinics Versus Usual Care for Patients With Both Diabetes and Hypertension: A Randomized Trial

Background Group medical clinics (GMCs) are widely used in the management of diabetes and hypertension, but data on their effectiveness are limited. Objective To test the effectiveness of GMCs in the management of comorbid diabetes and hypertension. Design Randomized, controlled trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00286741) Setting 2 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in North Carolina and Virginia. Patients 239 patients with poorly controlled diabetes (hemoglobin A(1c) [HbA(1c)] level > or =7.5%) and hypertension (systolic blood pressure >140 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure >90 mm Hg). Intervention Patients were randomly assigned within each center to either attend a GMC or receive usual care. Clinics comprised 7 to 8 patients and a care team that consisted of a primary care general internist, a pharmacist, and a nurse or other certified diabetes educator. Each session included structured group interactions moderated by the educator. The pharmacist and physician adjusted medication to manage each patient's HbA(1c) level and blood pressure. Measurements Hemoglobin A(1c) level and systolic blood pressure, measured by blinded research personnel at baseline, study midpoint (median, 6.8 months), and study completion (median follow-up, 12.8 months). Linear mixed models, adjusted for clustering within GMCs, were used to compare HbA(1c) levels and systolic blood pressure between the intervention and control groups. Results Mean baseline systolic blood pressure and HbA(1c) level were 152.9 mm Hg (SD, 14.2) and 9.2% (SD, 1.4), respectively. At the end of the study, mean systolic blood pressure improved by 13.7 mm Hg in the GMC group and 6.4 mm Hg in the usual care group (P = 0.011 by linear mixed model), whereas mean HbA(1c) level improved by 0.8% in the GMC group and 0.5% in the usual care group (P = 0.159). Limitation Measurements of effectiveness may have been limited by concomitant improvements in the usual care group that were due to co-intervention. Conclusion Group medical clinics are a potent strategy for improving blood pressure but not HbA(1c) level in diabetic patients. Primary funding source U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Health Services Research and Development Service.
Single-Chain Antibody Displayed on a Recombinant Measles Virus Confers Entry through the Tumor-Associated Carcinoembryonic Antigen

To redirect the tropism of the vaccine strain of measles virus (MV), Edmonston B, to a targeted cell population, we displayed on the viral hemagglutinin (H) a single-chain antibody (scAb) specific for the tumor-associated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). We generated H fusion proteins with three forms of the scAb appended, differing in the lengths of the linkers separating the VH and VL domains and thus in the oligomerization states of the scAbs. All proteins were stable, appeared properly folded, and were transported to the cell surface, but only H displaying the long-linker form of scAb was functional in supporting cell-cell fusion. This protein induced extensive syncytia in cells expressing the normal virus receptor CD46 and also in CD46-negative cells expressing the targeted receptor, human CEA. Replication-competent MV with H replaced by H displaying the long-linker form of scAb was recovered and replicated efficiently in both CD46-positive and CD46-negative, CEA-positive cells. Thus, MV not only tolerates the addition of a scAb on its H protein but also infects cells via a novel interaction between the scAb and its targeted receptor.
Multivisceral transplantation for megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome

Background Megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder causing a functional neonatal bowel obstruction. Its etiopathogenesis is not fully understood. The prognosis is poor in the majority of cases; most patients die before the age of 6 months. In this report, we describe our experience with three patients with MMIHS in whom multivisceral transplantation was performed. Methods Three patients with MMIHS underwent multivisceral transplantation. All patients were females with a history of long-term total parenteral nutrition (TPN) with TPN-related cholestatic liver disease. Results Patient 1 died 17 months after transplantation because of aspiration after revision of her feeding gastrostomy. At the time of death, the graft was functioning and the patient was completely off TPN. Patient 2 is alive 17 months after transplant. She is a fully functional, active 2-year-old and has also recently begun oral feeding after intensive rehabilitation. Patient 3 died on day 44 of multisystem failure. Conclusions This is the first report in the literature of multivisceral transplantation for MMIHS. Although one of the three patients died 44 days after surgery from multiorgan system failure, the other two patients had long-term survival after transplant and both grew well on enteral feeding alone. One patient died 17 months from a non-transplant-related complication, while the other is living at home off of TPN, with almost complete dietary rehabilitation 17 months after transplant. Our case reports suggest that multivisceral transplantation is a valuable therapeutic option for patients affected by MMIHS with TPN-induced liver failure.
Approximation techniques for the analysis of large traffic-groomed tandem optical networks

We consider a traffic-groomed optical network consisting of N nodes arranged in tandem. This optical network is modeled by a tandem queueing network of multirate loss queues with simultaneous resource possession. Two approximation methods are proposed for the analysis of this queueing network assuming that the total number of servers in each multi-rate loss queue is very large. The accuracy of these two approximation methods as well as the accuracy of the familiar link independence algorithm is verified by simulation. As an additional contribution, the simulation estimates have been obtained using adaptive rare-event simulation techniques based on importance sampling. This is because call blocking probabilities tend to be very small and it is not feasible to estimate them using standard simulation techniques.
Improving Childhood Vaccination Rates

U.S. parents who decline or delay selected vaccinations or refuse to vaccinate their children are a diverse group. Vaccine coverage can be increased by focusing on parents who encounter barriers to obtaining vaccines or hesitate because of fears about safety.
Magnetic performance of a variable period, fast excitation, wiggler

With the objective of carrying out an Inverse Free Electron Laser (IFEL) electron accelerator experiment, an iron dominated (Vanadium Permandur) fast excitation, laminated (variable period length) planar wiggler, making use of copper field reflectors, has been constructed and has been measured in several period length tapering configurations. This report presents an analysis and experimental results of this wiggler, typically of which the parameters are /spl lambda/(w)=3.7 cm, B(max)=1.8 T. >
The Design and Evolution of the eROSI Robot

The eROSI (educational, research-oriented, sensing, inexpensive) robot is a robotic platform designed by the Center for Distributed Robotics at the University of Minnesota. It was designed for two purposes; an educational platform and a distributed robotics platform. These two purposes require very different and oftentimes contradictory abilities. As an educational platform, it must be easy to use and program for. It must also be non-intimidating to students who may not have much experience with robotics. As a research platform, it must be powerful enough to run useful behaviors, and expandable with new sensors. These two different purposes have driven the design of the eROSI robot through three generations of development. The first two generations have been tested and evaluated in terms of its two intended purposes. The feedback generated was then used to modify the design of the robot to better accommodate its intended purposes. The eROSI robot is still an ongoing project and aims to create a better platform for both research and education.
Revisiting Black Medical School Extinctions in the Flexner Era

Abraham Flexner's 1910 expose on medical education recommended that only two of the seven extant medical schools for blacks be preserved and that they should train their students to "serve their people humbly" as "sanitarians." Addressing charges of racism, this article traces the roots of the recommendation that blacks serve a limited professional role to the schools themselves and presents evidence that, in endorsing the continuance of Howard's and Meharry's medical programs, Flexner exhibited greater leniency than he had toward comparable schools for white students. Whether his recommendations to eliminate the other five schools were key factors in their extinction is addressed here by examining 1901-30 enrollment patterns. Those patterns suggest that actions of the American Medical Association and state licensing boards, combined with the broader problem of limited premedical educational opportunities for blacks, were more consequential than was the Flexner report both for the extinction of the schools and for the curtailed production of black doctors.
On the Wrongness of Cheating and Why Cheaters Can't Play the Game

(1988). On the Wrongness of Cheating and Why Cheaters Can't Play the Game. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport: Vol. 15, No. 1, pp. 57-68.
Observations of oxidation products above a forest imply biogenic emissions of very reactive compounds

Abstract. Vertical gradients of mixing ratios of volatile organic compounds have been measured in a Ponderosa pine forest in Central California (38.90° N, 120.63° W, 1315m). These measurements reveal large quantities of previously unreported oxidation products of short lived biogenic precursors. The emission of biogenic precursors must be in the range of 13-66µmol m-2h-1 to produce the observed oxidation products. That is 6-30 times the emissions of total monoterpenes observed above the forest canopy on a molar basis. These reactive precursors constitute a large fraction of biogenic emissions at this site, and are not included in current emission inventories. When oxidized by ozone they should efficiently produce secondary aerosol and hydroxyl radicals.
Diagnostic Ability of Fourier-Domain vs Time-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography for Glaucoma Detection

Purpose To compare retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness assessments and the discriminating ability of Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) with that of time-domain optical coherence tomography (TD-OCT) for glaucoma detection. Design Prospective, nonrandomized, observational cohort study. Methods Normal and glaucomatous eyes underwent complete examination, standard automated perimetry, optic disc photography, TD-OCT (Stratus OCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, California, USA), and FD-OCT (RTVue; Optovue Inc, Fremont, California, USA). One eye per subject was enrolled. Two consecutive scans were acquired using a 3.46-mm diameter scan with TD-OCT and a 3.45-mm diameter scan with FD-OCT. For each of 5 RNFL parameters, the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve was calculated to compare the ability of FD-OCT and TD-OCT to discriminate between normal and glaucomatous eyes. Results Fifty healthy persons (mean age, 65.3 ± 9.9 years) and 50 glaucoma patients (mean age, 67.7 ± 10.5 years) were enrolled. Average, superior, and inferior RNFL thickness measurements (in micrometers) were significantly ( P P P > .05) using FD-OCT (average, 0.88; superior, 0.80; inferior, 0.94) and TD-OCT (average, 0.87; superior, 0.79; inferior, 0.95). Conclusions Cross-sectional peripapillary RNFL thickness measurements obtained using FD-OCT generated with the RTVue are greater than those obtained with TD-OCT and have similar diagnostic performance for glaucoma detection.
Parameters and pitfalls to consider in the conduct of food additive research, Carrageenan as a case study.

This paper provides guidance on the conduct of new in vivo and in vitro studies on high molecular weight food additives, with carrageenan, the widely used food additive, as a case study. It is important to understand the physical/chemical properties and to verify the identity/purity, molecular weight and homogeneity/stability of the additive in the vehicle for oral delivery. The strong binding of CGN to protein in rodent chow or infant formula results in no gastrointestinal tract exposure to free CGN. It is recommended that doses of high Mw non-caloric, non-nutritive additives not exceed 5% by weight of total solid diet to avoid potential nutritional effects. Addition of some high Mw additives at high concentrations to liquid nutritional supplements increases viscosity and may affect palatability, caloric intake and body weight gain. In in vitro studies, the use of well-characterized, relevant cell types and the appropriate composition of the culture media are necessary for proper conduct and interpretation. CGN is bound to media protein and not freely accessible to cells in vitro. Interpretation of new studies on food additives should consider the interaction of food additives with the vehicle components and the appropriateness of the animal or cell model and dose-response.
Monitoring, Identification, and Intervention for Metabolic Disorders in Veterans with Psychotic Disorders

MONITORING, IDENTIFICATION AND INTERVENTION FOR METABOLIC DISORDERS IN VETERANS WITH PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS. Michael H. Swetye, Christopher B. Ruser, Mohini Ranganathan, and Robert M. Rohrbaugh. Department of Psychiatry, Veteran Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT. In light of growing evidence that certain antipsychotics may cause potentially lifethreatening metabolic side-effects, the purpose of this study was to determine how regularly mental health clinicians (MHCs) currently monitor and manage metabolic abnormalities in overweight and obese patients with psychotic disorders. We hypothesized that MHCs monitor, identify and intervene for metabolic abnormalities in their patients at significantly lower rates than primary care physicians (PCCs), and that such rates may jeopardize patient health. We performed a one-year cross-sectional medical record review of primary care and mental health routine outpatient visit notes from the West Haven Campus of the Veteran Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System. We reviewed the records of a cohort of 123 veterans who met the following inclusion criteria: (1) primary diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder; (2) at least one routine mental health visit at the West Haven VA facility between July 1, 2005 and June 30, 2006; and (3) overweight or obese, as determined by a body mass index (BMI) > 25. We excluded all deaths.
Insecticide Resistance in Selected Stored-Product Insects Infesting Peanuts in the Southeastern United States

Field strains of the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), the almond moth, Ephestia cautella (Walker), and the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), collected from peanut and oilseed storage facilities throughout the Southeastern United States, were tested for susceptibility to malathion, dichlorvos, and pirimiphos-methyl [Actellic]. Probit-mortality regression lines indicate that malathion resistance is both widespread and severe, but no dichlorvos resistance was detected in any strain tested. No significant cross-resistance to pirimiphos-methyl was evident, although flat slopes for the dosage-mortality regression lines for several P. interpunctella strains indicate a potential for the development of resistance to this insecticide.
Fuzzy decision analysis for integrated environmental vulnerability assessment of the Mid-Atlantic region

A fuzzy decision analysis method for integrating ecological indicators was developed. This was a combination of a fuzzy ranking method and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The method was capable of ranking ecosystems in terms of environmental conditions and suggesting cumulative impacts across a large region. Using data on land cover, population, roads, streams, air pollution, and topography of the Mid-Atlantic region, we were able to point out areas that were in relatively poor condition and/or vulnerable to future deterioration. The method offered an easy and comprehensive way to combine the strengths of fuzzy set theory and the AHP for ecological assessment. Furthermore, the suggested method can serve as a building block for the evaluation of environmental policies.
Composition of rat seminal vesicles and effects of testosterone propionate on lipid distribution.

SummaryIn sexually immature rats (wt 77 g) the seminal vesicles weighed 2.1 mg (dry wt0 and contained 0.3 mg total N and 0.1 mg lipid, whereas in sexually mature animals (wt 386 g) the glands weighed 394 mg with 59.5 mg N and 4.7 mg lipid. A diffuse cytoplasmic sudanophilia was observed in the columnar epithelium of the seminal vesicles of sexually mature males. Following castration there was a marked accumulation of lipid in the basal end of the cuboidal cells. The administration of testosterone propionate caused the diffuse sudanophilia to appear. Phospholipid was observed in the secretory granules. A marked reduction in phospholipid reaction was observed following gonadectomy due to the disappearance of the granules. A marked increase in the granules and associated phospholipid reaction was noted following hormone replacement.
Study on guide strategy of infrared imaging/millimeter wave radar combined seeker

Analyzes the technical characters of IR imaging sensor and MMW Radar,introduces the working process of IR/MMW combined seeker,in order to improve its capability of anti-jamming,using the IR target feature to distinguish warship target and IR disturber,combined with the actual situation of anti-ship missile,a new guide strategy of end stage was presented that suited the anti-ship IR/MMW combined seeker.
Skin Biopsy and Patient-Specific Stem Cell Lines

The generation of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells permits the development of next-generation patient-specific systems biology models reflecting personalized genomics profiles to better understand pathophysiology. In this chapter, we describe how to create a patient-specific iPS cell line. There are three major steps: (1) performing a skin biopsy procedure on the patient; (2) extracting human fibroblast cells from the skin biopsy tissue; and (3) reprogramming patient-specific fibroblast cells into the pluripotent stem cell stage.
Urodynamic evaluation of the continence mechanism following urethral lengthening--reimplantation and enterocystoplasty.

AbstractIn an attempt to create continence in myelomeningocele children we performed urethral lengthening/submucosal reimplantation, a form of bladder neck reconstruction, to create a valve allowing catheterizable access to the bladder. We present the urodynamic findings of 23 patients 4 to 89 months (mean 43.1 months) after bladder neck reconstruction and enterocystoplasty to determine the continence mechanism of this 1-way valve and characteristics of the augmented bladder. Standard cystometrograms with simultaneous pressure recording of the submucosal portion of the neourethra were undertaken with a 10F, triple lumen, urethral pressure profile catheter.Baseline pressures in the submucosal neourethra were higher than in the bladder (mean 25.3 versus 13.4cm. water, p 0.05) cystoplasty ...
Android Malware Detection Using Category-Based Machine Learning Classifiers

Android malware growth has been increasing dramatically as well as the diversity and complicity of their developing techniques. Machine learning techniques have been applied to detect malware by modeling patterns of static features and dynamic behaviors of malware. The accuracy rates of the machine learning classifiers differ depending on the quality of the features. We increase the quality of the features by relating between the apps' features and the features that are required to deliver its category's functionality. To measure the benign app references, the features of the top rated apps in a specific category are utilized to train a malware detection classifier for that given category. Android apps stores such as Google Play organize apps into different categories. Each category has its distinct functionalities which means the apps under a specific category are similar in their static and dynamic features. In other words, benign apps under a certain category tend to share a common set of features. On the contrary, malicious apps tend to have abnormal features, which are uncommon for the category that they belong to. This paper proposes category-based machine learning classifiers to enhance the performance of classification models at detecting malicious apps under a certain category. The intensive machine learning experiments proved that category-based classifiers report a remarkable higher average performance compared to non-category based.
MP14: UTILIZATION OF THE INVASIVE CARDIAC LABORATORY FOR IMMEDIATE CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION: A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Purpose of Study Immediate cardiac catheterization is indicated for patients presenting with ST elevation (STE) myocardial infarction, and door-to-balloon time should be Methods Used In a retrospective chart review, charts from all STEMI code patients presenting between the dates 1/1/15–9/1/15 were studied. The presenting EKG was evaluated to determine whether STE criteria (as per ACC guidelines) were met. The charts were reviewed for angiographic data to determine whether there was ≥90% stenosis of a coronary artery (≥90%) or not (≤90%). Clinical parameters were studied to determine if there were any differences between the groups. Summary of Results The study group included 50 patients who went to the cardiology catheterization lab emergently secondary to an indication of STE; 33/50 (66%) patients met guideline criteria for ST elevation (STE+) while 17/50 (34%) did not (STE−). In the STE+ group, 29/33 (88%) had ≥90% occlusion of a coronary artery, while 10/17 (59%) in the STE-group had this degree of stenosis. The sensitivity and specificity of STE for ≥90% coronary artery occlusion on angiography was 74% and 64% respectively. The PPV of STE for >90% stenosis was 88%, while the NPV was 41%. Conclusions Significant STE in the proper clinical situation is a Class 1 indication for immediate coronary catheterization. However, 34% referred for immediate catheterization in this study did not meet ACC criteria for STEMI. Although a significant % in the NSTEMI group had ≥90% stenosis, urgent catheterization is only indicated in this group when there is a clinical parameter which dictates the necessity of immediate evaluation.
Karol Wojtyla-John Paul II's Idea of Ultimate Reality and Meaning

La conception du monde Karol Wojtyla trouve en grande partie son origine dans l'observation et l'experience de la condition humaine. Il est peut-etre le representant le plus notable du thomisme de Lublin et sa pensee est caracterisee par un personnalisme existentiel. De nombreux chretiens et non-chretiens pensent que Jean-Paul II est une figure particulierement apte a conduire l'Eglise catholique, mais egalement ceux qui cherchent verite et liberte. A travers ses discours et ses ouvrages, il cherche a attirer l'attention de ceux qui tentent de trouver une alternative aux philosophies individualistes et materialistes du monde contemporain
An In Vitro Approach for Directly Observing Muscle-Tendon Dynamics with Parallel Elastic Mechanical Assistance

Lower-limb exoskeletons are a promising tool for restoring or augmenting locomotion performance. While engineering advances have led to marked improvements on the machine side of the human machine interface, fundamental aspects of the physiological response of the human user remain unknown—especially at the level of individual leg muscles. One complication is that it is difficult to make direct measurements from muscles in humans without being invasive. Here we offer a novel benchtop approach by introducing a ‘smart’ robotic interface into the framework of biological muscle-tendon work loop experiments in order to simulate the local dynamical environment muscles experience in vivo during locomotion with exoskeleton assistance. Using this framework we demonstrate that providing force in parallel with a muscle-tendon using an ‘exo-tendon’ can have unintended consequences, disrupting the ‘tuned’ spring-like mechanics of the underlying biological muscle tendon unit.
Optimizing how we teach research methods

Courses: Research Methods (undergraduate or graduate level)Objective: The aim of this exercise is to optimize the ability for students to integrate an understanding of various methodologies across research paradigms within a 15-week semester, including a review of procedural steps and experiential learning activities to practice each method, a criteria for understanding how to consume primary research, and a recognition of how the methodological techniques can be used in the classroom and in professional settings.
Piezoelectric Vibratory Gyroscopes

This paper summarizes our recent work on piezoelectric vibratory angular rate sensors (gyroscopes). The operating principle and basic behaviors of piezoelectric gyroscopes are explained by a simple example. Structural shapes and vibration modes that can be used to make gyroscopes are summarized and classified. Some common behaviors of piezoelectric gyroscopes are identified. Results from the three-dimensional equations of a rotating piezoelectric body and the corresponding zero-, one- and two- dimensional theories of piezoelectric parallelepipeds, beams, rings, plates, and shells are discussed.
Perinatal transmission in infants of mothers with chronic hepatitis B in California

AIM To evaluate maternal hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA as risk for perinatal HBV infection among infants of HBV-infected women in California. METHODS Retrospective analysis among infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers who received post vaccination serologic testing (PVST) between 2005 and 2011 in California. Demographic information was collected from the California Department of Public Health Perinatal Hepatitis B Program databaseand matched to birth certificate records. HBV DNA level and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status were obtained from three large commercial laboratories in California and provider records if available and matched to mother infant pairs. Univariate analysis compared infected and uninfected infants. Multivariate analysis was restricted to infected infants and controls with complete maternal HBV DNA results using a predefined high HBV DNA level of > 2 × 107 IU/mL, a 5:1 ratio of cases to controls and a two-sided confidence level of 95%. RESULTS A total of 17687 infants were born to HBsAg positive mothers in California between Jan 1 2005 and Dec 31, 2011. Among 11473 infants with PVST, only 125 (1.1%) were found to be HBV infected. Among these infected infants, lapses in Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommended post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) occurred in only 9 infants. However, PEP errors were not significantly different between infected and uninfected infants. Among the 347 uninfected and infected infants who had maternal HBeAg and HBV DNA level, case-control analysis found HBeAg positivity (70.4% vs 28.9%, OR = 46.76, 95%CI: 6.05-361.32, P < 0.001) and a maternal HBV DNA level ≥ 2 × 107 IU/mL (92.6% vs 18.5%, OR = 54.5, 95%CI: 12.22-247.55, P < 0.001) were associated with perinatal HBV infection. In multivariate logistic regression, maternal HBV DNA level ≥ 2 × 107 IU/mL was the only significant independent predictor of perinatal HBV infection. CONCLUSION In California, transmission is low and most infected infants receive appropriate PEP and vaccination. Maternal HBV DNA ≥ 2 × 107 IU/mL is associated with high risk of perinatal infection.