cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Perioperative Retinal Artery Occlusion: Risk Factors in Cardiac Surgery from the United States National Inpatient Sample 1998–2013

Purpose To study the incidence and risk factors for retinal artery occlusion (RAO) in cardiac surgery. Design Retrospective study using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS). Methods The NIS was searched for cardiac surgery. Retinal artery occlusion was identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes. Postulated risk factors based on literature review were included in multivariate logistic models. Main Outcome Measures Diagnosis of RAO. Results A total of 5 872 833 cardiac operative procedures were estimated in the United States from 1998 to 2013, with 4564 RAO cases (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 4282–4869). Nationally estimated RAO incidence was 7.77/10 000 cardiac operative procedures from 1998 to 2013 (95% CI, 7.29–8.29). Associated with increased RAO were giant cell arteritis (odds ratio [OR], 7.73; CI, 2.78–21.52; P P P P P P = 0.002), diabetes mellitus (DM) with ophthalmic complications (OR, 1.89; CI, 1.10–3.24; P = 0.02), and aortic insufficiency (OR, 1.85; CI, 1.26–2.71; P = 0.002). Perioperative bleeding, aortic and mitral valve surgery, and septal surgery increased the odds of RAO. Negatively associated with RAO were female gender (OR, 0.77; CI, 0.66–0.89; P P = 0.049), acute coronary syndrome (OR, 0.72; CI, 0.58–0.89; P = 0.003), atrial fibrillation (OR, 0.82; CI, 0.70–0.95; P = 0.01), congestive heart failure (OR, 0.73; CI, 0.60–0.88; P P = 0.001), and smoking (OR, 0.82; CI, 0.70–0.97; P = 0.02). Conclusions Risk factors for RAO in cardiac surgery include giant cell arteritis, carotid stenosis, stroke, hypercoagulable state, and DM with ophthalmic complications; associated with lower risk were female gender, thrombocytopenia, acute coronary syndrome, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, DM 2, and smoking. Surgery in which the heart was opened (e.g., septal repair) versus surgery in which it was not (e.g., CABG) and perioperative bleeding increased the risk of RAO.
Financing for Gender Equality: Reframing and Prioritizing Public Expenditures to Promote Gender Equality

Gender equality has been widely embraced as a priority in a number of developing countries in recent years. Despite the stated goal, governments frequently note they lack the fiscal space to fund public sector investments to promote equality in education, health and livelihoods. Public spending on gender equality could more usefully be construed as an investment rather than simply an expense. This chapter considers the main macroeconomic challenges for financing for gender equality. Crucial theoretical linkages between expenditures to promote gender equality and fiscal space are identified. This is supported by empirical evidence on the beneficial effects of inclusive and equitable policies in a variety of developing countries. Key alternative policies and measures in relation to financing for gender equality that deserve policymakers’ attention are described.
Yeast genome, by design.

A core theme in synthetic biology, “understanding by creating,” inspired the effort to generate the first synthetic cell, JCVI-Syn1.0 ( 1 ). The project Sc2.0 is elevating this concept by attempting to create a synthetic version of a more evolved organism, Saccharomyces cerevisiae , a eukaryotic single-celled yeast. In a set of papers in this issue ( 2 – 8 ), scientists of the Sc2.0 project who previously constructed a single yeast chromosome ( 9 ) now report constructing five additional yeast chromosomes (more than one-third of the entire genome) (see the photo). Using a variety of phenotypic assays and structural and functional genomics techniques, the researchers observed that the synthetic chromosomes drive biological processes just like the natural, native chromosomes.
By faith alone: Pentecostals, Wesley, and the reformation

This article argues for a continuity between Pentecostals, Wesley, and Protestant Reformers on sola fide. The Protestant Reformers retained the idea from the Middle Ages that faith is an affective movement within the soul and that the formation of Christ within the soul is tantamount to the right ordering of the affections. The presence of Christ is the Spirit’s work of forming the affections so that they embody Christ’s own character and thus Christ himself. Drawing on Wesley’s ‘heart religion’ with its emphasis on the affections, a Pentecostal understanding of regeneration and the role of faith retains the focus on rightly ordered affections. This focus reveals both the continuity with Protestant Reformers and the centrality of affections in the spiritual life.
Age trends in rates of substance use disorders across ages 18–90: Differences by gender and race/ethnicity

Background Although research has documented age differences in substance use, less is known about how prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) vary across age and differ by gender and race/ethnicity.
Idiosyncratic service experiences: When customers desire the extraordinary in a service encounter

Abstract For many customers “good” service is not enough to create an experience that warrants telling others. Customers want an extraordinary service experience, but what does that really mean? Through an initial qualitative study, the authors tackle this question and conceptualize a term called Idiosyncratic Service Experience (ISE) to represent the interpersonal aspects that create these unique or special service experiences. ISE is a higher order construct made up of a) perceived employee effort, b) surprise, and c) perceived employee empathy. Further, the authors examine the antecedents and consequences of ISEs in a structural model. The results of our study found that ISEs promoted feelings of delight which lead to a higher tolerance to future failures, decreased price consciousness, and stimulated self-enhancing word-of-mouth. We also explore how exception making or the willingness of an employee to break a service norm influences ISEs and evaluations of delight.
The Lofty Lives of Aerial Consumers: Linking Population Ecology and Aeroecology

Integrating population ecology and aeroecology is important for conservation for species that depend on aerial habitats. Assessing population response to anthropogenic stressors is key to predicting species at risk of extirpation or extinction, yet can be particularly challenging for species that predominately use the aerosphere. In this chapter, we focus on two aerial vertebrate consumers (purple martins and Brazilian free-tailed bats) as well-studied model systems to explore interactions between environmental forcing, behaviors, and population ecology. We also explore new recent progress on using radar-based methods to quantify aerial populations and discuss the utility of these novel approaches for a more promising integration of aeroecology and population ecology.
Strategic Players for Identifying Optimal Social Network Intervention Subjects.

Abstract We present a method whereby social network ties are used to identify behavioral leaders who are situated in the network such that these individuals are: 1) able to influence other individuals who are in need of and most receptive to intervention, thereby optimizing the impact of the intervention; and 2) not embedded with ties to individuals that are likely to be behaviorally antagonistic to the intervention or that would compromise the optimal impact of intervention. In this study we developed a method that we call Strategic Players, which is a solution for identifying a set of players who are close to a target subset of the network (i.e., the target group), and far away from the subset we wish to avoid (i.e. the avoid group), where the proximity to either the target or avoid group may be facilitated by network members who are in neither group (i.e. the neutral group). This solution seeks to maximize the diffusion of the behavior to the target group while minimizing contact and influence to the avoid group. We apply this method to two different social networks, and one simulated social network.
Comparative Morphometry of the Wisconsin Miniature Swine TM Thoracic Spine for Modeling Human Spine in Translational Spinal Cord Injury Research.

Background/Aims Spine and spinal cord pathologies and associated neuropathic pain are among the most complex medical disorders to treat. While rodent models are widely used in spine and spinal cord research and have provided valuable insight into pathophysiological mechanisms, these models offer limited translatability. Thus, studies in rodent models have not led to the development of clinically effective therapies. More recently, swine has become a favored model for spine research because of the high congruency of the species to humans with respect to spine and spinal cord anatomy, vasculature, and immune responses. However, conventional breeds of swine commonly used in these studies present practical and translational hurdles due to their rapid growth toward weights well above those of humans. Methods In the current study, we evaluated the suitability of a human-sized breed of swine developed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Wisconsin Miniature SwineTM (WMSTM), in the context of thoracic spine morphometry for use in research to overcome limitations of conventional swine breeds. The morphometry of thoracic vertebrae (T1-T15) of 5-6 months-old WMS was analyzed and compared to published values of human and conventional swine spines. Results The key finding of this study is that WMS spine more closely models the human spine for many of the measured vertebrae parameters, while being similar to conventional swine in respect to the other parameters. Conclusion WMS provides an improvement over conventional swine for use in translational spinal cord injury studies, particularly long-term ones, because of its slower rate of growth and its maximum growth being limited to human weight and size.
Topical vancomycin surgical prophylaxis in pediatric open craniotomies: an institutional experience

OBJECTIVETopical antimicrobial compounds are safe and can reduce cost and complications associated with surgical site infections (SSIs). Topical vancomycin has been an effective tool for reducing SSIs following routine neurosurgical procedures in the spine and following adult craniotomies. However, widespread adoption within the pediatric neurosurgical community has not yet occurred, and there are no studies to report on the safety and efficacy of this intervention. The authors present the first institution-wide study of topical vancomycin following open craniotomy in the pediatric population.METHODSIn this retrospective study the authors reviewed all open craniotomies performed over a period from 05/2014 to 12/2016 for topical vancomycin use, SSIs, and clinical variables associated with SSI. Topical vancomycin was utilized as an infection prophylaxis and was applied as a liquid solution following replacement of a bone flap or after dural closure when no bone flap was reapplied.RESULTSOverall, 466 consecutive open craniotomies were completed between 05/2014 and 12/2016, of which 43% utilized topical vancomycin. There was a 1.5% SSI rate in the nontopical cohort versus 0% in the topical vancomycin cohort (p = 0.045). The number needed to treat was 66. There were no significant differences in risk factors for SSI between cohorts. There were no complications associated with topical vancomycin use.CONCLUSIONSRoutine topical vancomycin administration during closure of open craniotomies can be a safe and effective tool for reducing SSIs in the pediatric neurosurgical population.
Spectroscopy (Raman, XPS, and GDMS) and XRD analysis for studying the interaction between nuclear grade graphite and molten 2LiF-BeF2 (FLiBe) at 700 °C.

Abstract FLiBe-exposed IG-110 graphite and a control IG-110 sample were analyzed by Raman, XPS, GDMS, and XRD, and the complete raw data sets are provided in the Supplementary Information . These data sets enable full reproducibility and transparency of the data analysis we reported in the accompanying research paper titled “Fluorination of Nuclear Graphite IG-110 in Molten FLiBe salt at 700 °C”, published in the Journal of Fluorine Chemistry, and facilitates quantitative comparison with future similar studies by other research groups. In this data article, we provide plots of the peak fitting for all Raman spectra from each sampling point on the graphite surface. We also provide the measured impurity concentrations of the IG-110 samples, as measured by GDMS; this data was not reported nor discussed in the accompanying research paper. The method and software used for peak fitting for the spectra from Raman, XPS, and XRD are listed separately.
Pretend synchrony: synchronous verification of asynchronous distributed programs

We present pretend synchrony, a new approach to verifying distributed systems, based on the observation that while distributed programs must execute asynchronously, we can often soundly treat them as if they were synchronous when verifying their correctness. To do so, we compute a synchronization, a semantically equivalent program where all sends, receives, and message buffers, have been replaced by simple assignments, yielding a program that can be verified using Floyd-Hoare style Verification Conditions and SMT. We implement our approach as a framework for writing verified distributed programs in Go and evaluate it with four challenging case studies— the classic two-phase commit protocol, the Raft leader election protocol, single-decree Paxos protocol, and a Multi-Paxos based distributed key-value store. We find that pretend synchrony allows us to develop performant systems while making verification of functional correctness simpler by reducing manually specified invariants by a factor of 6, and faster, by reducing checking time by three orders of magnitude.
Desire for Continued Pessary Use Among Women of Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Ethnic Backgrounds for Pelvic Floor Disorders.

Objective This study aimed to describe the association between patient ethnicity/race and desire to continue using a pessary for the treatment of pelvic floor disorders. Methods We performed a secondary analysis of a randomized trial among women presenting for pessary fitting. The primary outcome was the desire to continue using a pessary at 3 months. Bacterial vaginosis by Nugent score and vaginal symptoms (discharge, itching, pain, sores) were also evaluated. Logistic or multiple linear regression was performed with correction for body mass index, education level, parity, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and randomization to TrimoSan gel. Results One hundred fourteen women (41 Hispanic and 73 non-Hispanic) were eligible for this analysis. Women self-identified as white (65/114; 57%), Hispanic (41/114, 36%), Asian (3/114; 2.6%), Native American (4/114; 3.5%), and "other" (1/114, 0.9%) race, with no self-identified African American women (0/114) meeting the inclusion criteria. No significant difference in desire to continue pessary use was found between Hispanic and non-Hispanic women (58.5% vs 63%; P = 0.69; corrected odds ratio [cOR], 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43-2.90) or across races (P = 0.89). Hispanic women had significantly higher risk of bacterial vaginosis (34% vs 16%; P = 0.04; cOR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.01-8.39), higher Nugent scores (5.4 ± 2.3 vs 4.3 ± 2.3; P = 0.02; corrected coefficient, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.10-2.10), and more vaginal pain (17.1% vs 2.8%; P = 0.01; cOR, 9.14; 95% CI, 1.37-61.17) at 3 months. Conclusions Despite increased vaginal pain and vaginal microbiome disturbances in Hispanic women using a pessary, no significant differences in the desire to continue using the pessary existed.
Is Cognitive Training Worth It? Exploring Individuals’ Willingness to Engage in Cognitive Training

We assessed how much time individuals would be willing to spend engaging in game-based cognitive training to gain prolonged functional independence. In study 1 (N = 294), participants completed a survey with questions assessing how much time they would be willing to invest in daily cognitive training to extend their functional independence by certain amounts of time using a slider response that ranged from 0 to 100 min. Participants also completed surveys that measured self-perceived health and cognitive functioning, personality, and other demographic variables. Even for relatively small gains, participants reported being willing to dedicate an average of 11 min every day to cognitive training, with some participants willing to engage for significantly longer. The best predictor of willingness to invest time in training was belief in cognitive training efficacy, followed by openness to experience, and participants’ self-perceived cognitive deficit. Study 2 examined the same question in a sample of 120 older adults, this time allowing for open-ended responses. Participants reported being willing to invest significantly more time, ranging from more than 40 min every day to gain just 1 week of independence, to over 2.5 h every day to gain an additional 3 years of independence. Again, perception of cognitive training efficacy was the strongest predictor of willingness to invest time. Results confirm that older adults are willing to invest significant amounts of time to gain independence later in life and have implications for predicting the adoption of, and adherence to, potentially effective treatments for cognitive decline.
Estimating Distribution System Water Demands Using Markov Chain Monte Carlo

AbstractThe use of drinking water distribution system models has been around for decades and requires good demand estimates to ensure adequate hydraulic and water quality representation. Traditiona...
Development of a New Tandem Ion Exchange and Size Exclusion Chromatography Method To Monitor Vaccine Particle Titer in Cell Culture Media.

A new tandem chromatography method was developed to directly measure the titers of various vaccine candidate molecules in cell culture without a prior purification step. The method utilized a stron...
Spatial variation of cold front wind-driven circulation and quasi-steady state balance in Lake Pontchartrain Estuary

Abstract Circulation in a low-salinity estuary with restricted openings to the ocean is mainly driven by wind and to a lesser extent by water level fluctuations at the open boundaries. Numerical model experiments are conducted using a baroclinic Finite Volume Community Ocean Model (FVCOM) for wind-driven circulations during a period encompassing a total of 16 cold fronts in the Lake Pontchartrain Estuary. The work is focused on the examination of the spatial structure of circulation in response to local and remote winds. A quasi-steady state balance between the surface slope and wind stress is further analyzed. The accuracy of the balance is evaluated by comparing the FVCOM calculated surface slope with that from the steady state balance equation. Results show that this balance is more accurate in the cross-estuary direction than that in the along-estuary direction (R2 ∼ 0.94 vs. 0.60). This difference in the accuracy of the quasi-steady state balance between the cross- and along-estuary directions is caused by the open boundary - a tidally-induced mean slope exists. In addition, even if the tidal effect is removed, the accuracy still decreases toward the open end for slopes in both directions. Remote wind effect and residual flow through the eastern open boundary tend to introduce a departure from the quasi-steady state balance in both along- and cross-estuary directions. Remote wind effect decreases into the interior due to bottom friction. Local wind effect tends to produce downwind flows in coastal, shallow water regions and on the surface, but upwind flows near the bottom, a result consistent with barotropic wind-driven circulations; while the remote wind effect is important mostly near the open boundary. Furthermore, quasi-steady state balance is more accurate in the along-estuary direction before cold front passages then after, because of the relatively higher occurrence of the wind in that direction before the cold fronts than after. In contrast, this quasi-steady state balance is less accurate in the cross estuary direction before cold front passages than after, because of the relatively lower occurrence of the wind in that direction before the cold fronts than after.
An Investigation of Social Development and Demonstration in Preadolescent Girls Within the Context of an Outdoor Adventure-Based Setting

This study investigated social development and demonstration in preadolescent girls within the context of an outdoor adventure-based program. Researchers implemented an 11-week outdoor adventure-based program for seven girls aged 10 to 12. A case study design including pre- and postsurveys, weekly small-group discussion responses, comment box submissions, and researcher observations was used to obtain data on the participants’ social approaches and the factors influencing social dynamics within the group. Major themes identified within the group included cohesion, the facilitator’s role, participant’s perception of role, recognition of growth, independence, and task orientation and group organization. The results and limitations of this study support the need for further exploration of an outdoor adventure-based program for preadolescent girls. View Jeanine Rossi's video about this article Subcscribe to JOREL
Reimagining Assessment Through Play: A Case Study of MetaRubric

Younger generations of learners want to have a sense of ownership and play active roles in their own learning processes. While many innovative pedagogical approaches in higher education aim to provide learning experiences that empower students as partners in their educational experience, assessment can fail to offer that ownership. In this chapter, we describe how bringing play into assessment could transform both educators’ and students’ roles in assessment processes, and how a playful take on assessment could introduce social, iterative, and democratised assessment processes. We further illustrate how play could be integrated with assessment using the case of MetaRubric, a playful assessment design tool that educators can play to learn about the features of good rubrics, or have students play to co-create rubrics in a playful way. We conclude the chapter by discussing the potential benefits of playful assessment for assessment of and with younger generations.
When the Going Gets Tough, the Books Get Cooked:Product Market Competition and Financial Misconduct

This paper extends the research on financial misconduct by developing a new perspective based on general strain theory, and more specifically on the strain effect of product market competition. Pre...
Soil–Plant Transfer of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products

Land application of organic wastes such as sewage effluent, biosolids, and animal wastes can introduce pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) into soils. Food plants grown in soils receiving organic wastes may take up PPCP contaminants and accumulate them in the edible tissues. The purpose of this review is to summarize the latest findings on root uptake of PPCPs and their transfer in soil–plant systems, aiming to identify potential risks associated with organic waste application in crop production systems. The processes and mechanisms of root uptake of PPCPs and their subsequent transfer in plants are intensively discussed in the present review. Soil properties, PPCP physicochemical properties, and plant species are demonstrated as the most important factors influencing the uptake and transfer of PPCPs in soil–plant systems. The metabolism processes and mechanisms of PPCPs in plant tissues are further elucidated with exemplification of commonly used PPCPs. The estimated daily intake is employed to assess the potential risks of consuming PPCP-containing foods based on their accumulation in edible plant tissues. Two innovative treatment techniques are proposed as cost-effective practices to reduce PPCP transfer into plants from organic wastes. Accumulation of PPCPs in edible plant tissues is governed by the combined processes of their root uptake, translocation, and metabolism in plants. This paper reviews the latest research advances in understanding the transfer of PPCPs in soil–plant systems, proposes mitigation practices to minimize PPCP entry into food chains, and identifies research challenges.
The Making of a Profession

This chapter examines the relation between pioneering pedagogy and professionalism, ultimately, with a view to justifying the establishment of accredited degree programs in philosophical practice. It develops a broader perspective on professionalism, by examining four criteria necessary for the legislative recognition of a profession in New York State and by showing how philosophical practice currently satisfies three of those four criteria. In New York, the recognition of a profession falls under the aegis of the Department of Education. The four necessary criteria certainly justify this situation: programs of training at universities or institutes chartered by the State and accredited by professional accrediting bodies, established criteria (including an examination) for certification of practitioners, established body of knowledge as reflected in the publication of reference books and professional journals and regularly scheduled scientific meetings, and established code of ethics.
The Bernstein problem for complete lagrangian stationary surfaces

In this paper, we investigate the global geometric behavior of lagrangian stationary surfaces which are lagrangian surfaces whose area is critical with respect to lagrangian variations. We find that if a complete oriented immersed lagrangian surface has quadratic area growth, one end and finite topological type, then it is minimal and hence holomorphic. The key to the proof is the mean curvature estimate of Schoen and Wolfson combined with the observation that a complete immersed surface of quadratic area growth, finite topology and L2 mean curvature has finite total absolute curvature.
Recall of Psychiatric History in Cross-sectional Surveys: Implications for Epidemiologic Research

Data from a variety of sources suggest the possibility of significant errors in lifetime recall of psychiatric illness. Remote episodes of illness may often be forgotten, especially among patients with milder or less recurrent illness or those who received no treatment. These errors in recall may lead to significant underestimation of true lifetime prevalence and may produce the appearance of large temporal increases in risk in the absence of any true change. When assessing lifetime history, cross-sectional surveys may differentially underestimate prevalence in the elderly and in those with less severe or recurrent illness. While lifetime risk of depression and other psychiatric disorders may not be increasing as rapidly as suggested by cross-sectional surveys, the overall impact of such disorders over the life span may be significantly greater than previous community surveys have indicated.
Threonine Concentration in the Prepyriform Cortex Has Separate Effects on Dietary Selection and Intake of a Threonine-Imbalanced Diet by Rats

Dietary selection and intake of a threonine-imbalanced diet were evaluated after increasing the concentration of the dietary limiting amino acid in the prepyriform cortex. Selection against the threonine-imbalanced diet in favor of a protein-free diet was reversed when 2 or 4 nmol threonine was injected bilaterally into the prepyriform cortex. However, intake of the threonine-imbalanced diet was significantly increased only after injection of 2 nmol threonine. The reduced intake of the threonine-imbalanced diet, compared to the basal diet, after injection of 4 nmol threonine was not the result of an excess in the concentration of amino acid (or nitrogen) injected into the PPC because intake of the threonine-basal diet was not reduced when 4 nmol threonine was administered. Intake of the threonine-imbalanced diet was also increased after injection of 2 nmol threonine plus 2 nmol isoleucine but not after injections of 2 nmol isoleucine. The changes in food intake when an imbalanced diet is fed appear to be the result of at least two separable responses: recognition of a diet as having an amino acid imbalance, as indicated by dietary choice, and reduction in food intake. The results of this study indicate that changing the concentration of the dietary limiting amino acid in the prepyriform cortex influenced dietary selection and food intake separately.
Protecting the Environment During Construction

Present practice appears to indicate that nonpoint source pollution will be controlled most effectively by a combination of fitting the development to the particular site, reducing, if possible, the grading and exposure of bare soils, and by applying control measures at the proper times. Methods to reduce the amount of erosion and the resulting pollution due to the transportation of sediments are presented and an expression designed to measure soil loss is outlined. Examples and construction cases are presented. The importance of air quality and control of miscellaneous wastes such as pesticides and fertilizers is emphasized. The control of storm water during construction and the life of the facilities being built is also discussed.
Fangs, Venom, and Fear Unraveled

The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. by Jonathan A. Campbell and William W. Lamar. Comstock (Cornell University Press), Ithaca, NY, 2004. 2 vols. 962 pp. $149.95, £86.95. ISBN 0-8014-4141-2. This profusely illustrated, comprehensive survey of venomous snakes and lizards of the Americas also includes overviews of mimicry, evolution, and the medical management of snakebites.
Using characteristic changes in laboratory values to assist in the diagnosis of hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome.

Objectives. (1) To determine whether the laboratory abnormalities in hemorrhagic shock encephalopathy syndrome (HSES) follow a characteristic pattern of evolution; and (2) to describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of this group of children. Design. Retrospective review of hospital records. Setting. Pediatric intensive care unit in an academic children9s hospital. Patients. Seventeen children who received the diagnosis of HSES. Measurements. (1) To support the diagnosis of HSES, the following laboratory tests were obtained: creatine phosphokinase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, anemia, thrombocytopenia, coagulation abnormalities, and a metabolic acidosis; and (2) patient characteristics at the time of admission and during the illness and patient outcome were recorded. Results. The median time for laboratory abnormalities in HSES to reach the most aberrant levels was 1.2 to 1.4 days. After reaching maximal deviation, the laboratory values gradually returned to normal. The severity of laboratory abnormalities was not predictive of mortality. All patients were comatose, had seizures, and required fluid resuscitation. Respiratory failure occurred in 12 (71%) of 17 patients. Vasopressor infusions were used for 8 (47%). Viral cultures were performed in 15 patients and were positive in 8 (53%). Eleven (64%) patients survived. Conclusions. The laboratory abnormalities that are characteristic of HSES follow a distinctive pattern of evolution during the course of the illness. Although the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of this pattern of laboratory abnormalities are not known, it might provide a useful tool in diagnosing HSES and excluding other illnesses. Viral illness is common in HSES. The severity of illness and mortality in this group of patients is similar to other descriptions of HSES.
Management of Hypertension

Recent recommendations by the Joint National Committee on the Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC) 7 reflect a paradigm shift in the classification and treatment of hypertension. Incorporating findings of current clinical trials and surveys, JNC 7 reoriented the focus of hypertension management toward an intensive delineation of risk and concentration on goal achievement. This chapter analyzes the evolution of risk stratification, improvement of treatment strategies, and identification of modifiable risk patterns that affect blood pressure (BP) goal achievement. We will survey the components of evaluation and identify potential barriers to successful goal-oriented hypertension management.
Peer-to-Peer Computing Enabled Collaboration

This paper discusses how peer-to-peer computing is emerging as a disruptive technology for global collaborative solutions. It explains how peer-to-peer computing can enable new collaborative solutions while significantly decreasing IT costs and improving IT asset utilization. An overview of the technology and usage models are discussed whilst the benefits are illustrated through a short case study from Intel. Finally the value proposition for peer-to-peer computing is summarized.
Overview of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s nondestructive evaluation (NDE) program

NASA's Office of Safety and Mission Assurance sponsors an Agency-wide NDE Program that supports Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology, Human Exploration and Development of Space, Earth Science, and Space Science Enterprises. For each of these Enterprises, safety is the number one priority. Development of the next generation aero-space launch and transportation vehicles, satellites, and deep space probes have highlighted the enabling role that NDE plays in these advanced technology systems. Specific areas of advanced component development, component integrity, and structural heath management are critically supported by NDE technologies. The simultaneous goals of assuring safety, maintaining overall operational efficiency, and developing and utilizing revolutionary technologies to expand human activity and space-based commerce in the frontiers of air and space places increasing demands on the Agencies NDE infrastructure and resources. In this presentation, an overview of NASA's NDE Program will be presented, that includes a background and status of current Enterprise NDE issues, and the NDE investment areas being developed to meet Enterprise safety and mission assurance needs through the year 2009 and beyond.
Pathogenesis of placentitis in the goat inoculated with Brucella abortus. II. Ultrastructural studies.

Pregnant goats were inoculated intravenously or in uterine arteries with Brucella abortus, and tissues from the uterus and placenta were examined by electron microscopy. Identification of B. abortu...
Surgery in Developing Countries Essential Training in Residency

Hypothesis A surgical elective in a developing country setting is an essential new component of academic residency training. Design A survey of residents and faculty within the Department of Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, and a collaborative program piloted between the Department of Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, and Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, including a 6-week clinical elective. Setting Mulago and Nsambya hospitals in Kampala, Uganda. Participants Two residents and 3 faculty advisors at the University of California, San Francisco. Intervention Development of a 6-week pilot clinical surgical elective. Main Outcome Measures Assessment of the level of interest in international health in an academic surgery program; pathology and case variety, diagnostic methods, and surgical and anesthetic resources and techniques in a pilot developing country. Results Forty percent of residents enter residency with prior international health experience whereas 90% express interest in a developing country elective. Twenty-five percent of faculty participate in voluntary international surgical service and research projects. As a result of the survey and the level of interest in our program, 2 visits to Uganda were made and a residency elective rotation was successfully created. This resulted in exposure of residents to the educational benefits of learning in a resource-constrained setting: a broader scope of surgical conditions and pathology, greater reliance on history-taking and physical examination skills in a low-technology environment, and sociocultural aspects of care provision. Greater questions about global health equity, access to information, and the role of surgery in public health are raised along with potential challenges in international collaboration. Conclusions A developing country surgical experience complements the academic mission of service, training, and research and should be an essential component of surgical training programs. There is interest among residents and faculty in such a program as well as a need for greater commitment to north-south collaborations among academic surgical institutions and societies, as has been successfully implemented abroad. More generally, surgery is an integral part of public health and health systems development worldwide.
Contemporary surgical management of rectovaginal fistula in Crohn's disease

Rectovaginal fistula is a disastrous complication of Crohn's disease (CD) that is exceedingly difficult to treat. It is a disabling condition that negatively impacts a women's quality of life. Successful management is possible only after accurate and complete assessment of the entire gastrointestinal tract has been performed. Current treatment algorithms range from observation to medical management to the need for surgical intervention. A wide variety of success rates have been reported for all management options. The choice of surgical repair methods depends on various fistula and patient characteristics. Before treatment is undertaken, establishing reasonable goals and expectations of therapy is essential for both the patient and surgeon. This article aims to highlight the various surgical techniques and their outcomes for repair of CD associated rectovaginal fistula.
Geometrical fuzzy clustering algorithms

Fuzzy clustering algorithms are a basic tool for cluster analysis. Among these, the geometrical fuzzy clustering algorithms are used when the clustering problem can be viewed as trying to find linear or ellipsoidal concentrations in data. This paper provides a theoretical framework in which currently used geometrical fuzzy clustering algorithms become special cases. Also, a family of functions called feasible are defined which can be used to construct such algorithms and convergence results are obtained.
A high-brightness source of narrowband, identical-photon pairs.

We generated narrowband pairs of nearly identical photons at a rate of 5 × 104 pairs per second from a laser-cooled atomic ensemble inside an optical cavity. A two-photon interference experiment demonstrated that the photons could be made 90% indistinguishable, a key requirement for quantum information-processing protocols. Used as a conditional single-photon source, the system operated near the fundamental limits on recovery efficiency (57%), Fourier transform–limited bandwidth, and pair-generation-rate–limited suppression of two-photon events (factor of 33 below the Poisson limit). Each photon had a spectral width of 1.1 megahertz, ideal for interacting with atomic ensembles that form the basis of proposed quantum memories and logic.
Mouse model of X-linked chronic granulomatous disease, an inherited defect in phagocyte superoxide production

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a recessive disorder characterized by a defective phagocyte respiratory burst oxidase, life-threatening pyogenic infections and inflammatory granulomas. Gene targeting was used to generate mice with a null allele of the gene involved in X-linked CGD, which encodes the 91 kD subunit of the oxidase cytochrome b. Affected hemizygous male mice lacked phagocyte superoxide production, manifested an increased susceptibility to infection with Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus fumigatus and had an altered inflammatory response in thioglycollate peritonitis. This animal model should aid in developing new treatments for CGD and in evaluating the role of phagocyte-derived oxidants in inflammation.
Fostering Collaborative Education through Internet Technologies

This paper focuses on the emerging opportunities available through the Internet to foster collaborative education efforts among institutions of higher education and industry partners. The integration of client-server and peer-to-peer protocols into standard technological platforms can leverage the expertise found at different institutions in order to create a common knowledge-base repository to unlock the creative potential of engineering educators. This paper introduces such a platform for the construction engineering and management domain called “Virtual Coach.” Descriptions of the major objectives for the platform are presented as well as explanations of the type of interactive exercises to be supported known as situational simulations.
Body Size and Lactation Rate

Summary The influence of age on lactation rate can be determined when the effect of body size is derived independently. This derivation can be made on the basis of the theory that lactation capacity is proportional to the metabolic body size ( 3 4 power of body weight) of the cows. There are two reasons why the effect of body size on lactation rate cannot be calculated from records within one herd: first, the variability of lactation rate, aside from the influence of size, ranges from±10 to±20 per cent of the mean rate, even in well-bred herds kept under uniform conditions; second, size differences within each of those herds are usually rather small. The unreliability of results from a recent attempt to calculate size effects on lactation rates within a herd is demonstrated. A table is calculated showing the number of cows necessary to distinguish significantly between production rate per unit weight and production rate per unit of metabolic body size. A table is supplied in which metabolic body size of cows can be read directly when body weight in pounds is given. Lactation rate per unit of metabolic body size ( 3 4 power of body weight) is a sound basis for calculating the effects of age on lactation rate. The average daily milk production during a 10-month period, expressed as milk energy or fat-corrected milk, and divided by the mean metabolic body size, is suggested as an important result in summaries of production records. When the cows have been kept under quasi-optimal conditions, such a result may be known as relative lactation capacity. This term, which expresses quantitatively the inherent ability of cows for milk production, would be useful as a major criterion for breeding dairy cattle.
A Tandem Cross-Coupling/SNAr Approach to Functionalized Carbazoles

A novel route to functionalized carbazoles utilizing a tandem Suzuki cross-coupling/SNAr protocol is described. This process was found to be compatible with a variety of electron-withdrawing groups including aldehydes, esters, and sulfones. Using this method, a concise total synthesis (four steps, 50% overall yield) of the carbazole alkaloid glycosinine was achieved.
Comparison of hyperspectral imagery with aerial photography and multispectral imagery for mapping broom snakeweed

Broom snakeweed Gutierrezia sarothrae Pursh Britt. & Rusby is one of the most widespread and abundant rangeland weeds in western North America. The objectives of this study were to evaluate airborne hyperspectral imagery and compare it with aerial colour-infrared CIR photography and multispectral digital imagery for mapping broom snakeweed infestations. Airborne hyperspectral imagery along with aerial CIR photographs and digital CIR images was acquired from a rangeland area in south Texas. The hyperspectral imagery was transformed using minimum noise fraction MNF and then classified using minimum distance, Mahalanobis distance, maximum likelihood, and spectral angle mapper SAM classifiers. The digitized aerial photographs and the digital images were respectively mosaicked as one photographic image and one digital image; these were then classified using the same classifiers. Accuracy assessment showed that the maximum likelihood classifier performed the best for the three types of images. The best overall accuracies for three-class classification maps snakeweed, mixed woody and mixed herbaceous were 91.0%, 92.5%, and 95.0%, respectively, for the CIR photographic image, the digital CIR image and the MNF-transformed hyperspectral image. Kappa analysis showed that there were no significant differences in maximum likelihood-based classifications among the three types of images. These results indicate that airborne hyperspectral imagery along with aerial photography and multispectral imagery can be used for monitoring and mapping broom snakeweed infestations on rangelands.
Some applications of polarography for investigation of equlibria in aqueous solutions of organic compounds

There are two possibilities how to follow equilibria of organic compounds established in aqueous solutions using polarography: for very fast reactions, information can be obtained from shifts of half-wave potentials. For slowly established equilibria, the changes in the limiting current are followed. In both cases variation of the half-wave potentials or limiting currents with concentration of a reactant, present in excess, is followed. The types of reactions, which had been followed in this way, are as follows: hydration-dehydration equilibria, additions of hydroxide ion to carbonyl and nitroso compounds, the role of slowly established acid-base equilibria involving C-acids; further also reactions involving the addition of ammonia, primary amines, hydroxylamine, and hydrazine to carbonyl compounds.
Hazard analysis critical control point: A review

Abstract Hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) is a food process control system developed in the early 1970s to ensure the safety of foods for the United States space program. Since the 1970s HACCP has evolved into a recognized means to assure the safety of foods throughout the food industry both within the United States and elsewhere. Based on the principle of prevention rather than detection, HACCP has been extensively and successfully used in the low‐acid canned food industry since the early 1970s. Since that time, HACCP has achieved greater prominence with a refinement of the HACCP principles and the application of HACCP to other processes and products. The purpose of this review is to trace the evolution of HACCP to its present‐day applications in the food industry and discuss its importance for the production of a safer food supply.
Regulation of Type IV Secretion Apparatus Genes during Ehrlichia chaffeensis Intracellular Development by a Previously Unidentified Protein

The type IV secretion (T4S) system is critical for the virulence of several pathogens. In the rickettsial pathogen Ehrlichia chaffeensis, the virBD genes are split into two operons, the virB3-virB6 (preceded by sodB) and virB8-virD4 operons. Between these two operons, there are duplications of virB4, virB8, and virB9. In this study we found that transcription of all five loci was downregulated prior to the release of E. chaffeensis from host THP-1 cells and was upregulated at the initiation of exponential growth. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed an E. chaffeensis-encoded protein that specifically bound to the promoter regions upstream of the virBD loci. The protein was purified from the bacterial lysate by affinity chromatography using a biotinylated promoter region upstream of sodB. Mass spectrometry identified the protein as an E. chaffeensis 12.3-kDa hypothetical protein, which was designated EcxR. Recombinant EcxR bound to the promoter regions upstream of five individual virBD loci. EcxR also activated transcription of all five virBD loci in lacZ reporter constructs. The expression of ecxR was positively autoregulated by EcxR. These results suggest that the five virBD loci are coordinately regulated by EcxR to allow developmental stage-specific expression of the T4S system in E. chaffeensis.