cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Linkage between Employee and Patient Satisfaction in Home Healthcare

Greater accountability for patient outcomes, reduced reimbursement, and a protracted nursing shortage have made employee and patient satisfaction results central performance metrics and strategic imperatives in healthcare. Key questions are whether the two interact and if so, how can that relationship be leveraged to obtain maximum gains in both employee and patient satisfaction. This article examines the experience of a large, nonprofit home care agency in exploring these issues. The agency found that organizational commitment to patient care and customer service are fundamental to patient satisfaction. The more employees perceived that the organization is focused on quality and customers, the more patient satisfaction increased. Among nurses, work-life balance, fair compensation, and regard for employees all influenced patient satisfaction.
Ethnicity is not Enough: Latino-Led Multiracial Coalitions in Los Angeles

The concept of deracialized electoral strategies has been applied primarily to African-American candidates running in majority white or racially mixed jurisdictions. The author explores the use of deracialized electoral strategies by victorious Latino city council candidates in Los Angeles. These candidates ran in Latino-majority city council districts, yet faced multiracial electorates. To build cross-racial support, the winning Latino candidates employed deracialized political styles, issue stances, and mobilization strategies. On the council, Latinos have pursued a largely deracialized agenda.
Monte Carlo study of frustrated XY models on a triangular and square lattice

The critical behavior of the fully frustrated XY model on a triangular and square lattice is investigated by Monte Carlo simulations. From a finite-size-scaling analysis we determine the critical exponents associated with the chirality order parameter. Contrary to previous simulations, we find the exponents to be inconsistent with the pure Ising values. We argue that these results are in favor of a single transition in a new universality class.
On the Flow Fields of Inertial Impactors

The flow field in an inertial impactor was studied experimentally with a water model by means of a flow visualization technique. The influence of such parameters as Reynolds number and jet-to-plate distance on the flow field was determined. The Navier-Stokes equations describing the laminar flow field in the impactor were solved numerically by means of a finite difference relaxation method. The theoretical results were found to be in good agreement with the empirical observations made with the water model.
THERMOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF LONG-TERM GLOBAL MODAL AND LOCAL DEFORMATION MEASUREMENTS OF THE KISHWAUKEE BRIDGE USING THE BOOTSTRAP

In this paper we present a comparative analysis of global frequency and local deformation data for a large concrete bridge. The asymptotic probability distributions of the central statistics are presented, and compared with empirical bootstrap estimates. Bootstrapped distributions are calculated from reference data obtained during 1999–2000 and used to develop change-point alarm criteria for the structure, using reasonable sensitivity measures developed from FEM simulations and structural analysis. The implications of the frequency data are discussed in conjunction with the strain and displacement measurements in order to discern if the load carrying capacity of the bridge has been affected. The critical need for more advanced temperature compensation models for large structures continually in thermal disequilibrium is discussed.
SEISMIC DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF UNDERGROUND STRUCTURES

Underground facilities are an integral part of the infrastructure of modern society and are used for a wide range of applications, including subways and railways, highways, material storage, and sewage and water transport. Underground facilities built in areas subject to earthquake activity must withstand both seismic and static loading. Historically, underground facilities have experienced a lower rate of damage than surface structures. Nevertheless, some underground structures have experienced significant damage in recent large earthquakes, including the 1995 Kobe, Japan earthquake, the 1999 Chi-Chi, Taiwan earthquake and the 1999 Kocaeli, Turkey earthquake. This report presents a summary of the current state of seismic analysis and design for underground structures. This report describes approaches used by engineers in quantifying the seismic effect on an underground structure. Deterministic and probabilistic seismic hazard analysis approaches are reviewed. The development of appropriate ground motion parameters, including peak accelerations and velocities, target response spectra, and ground motion time histories, is briefly described. In general, seismic design loads for underground structures are characterized in terms of the deformations and strains imposed on the structure by the surrounding ground, often due to the interaction between the two. In contrast, surface structures are designed for the inertial forces caused by ground accelerations. The simplest approach is to ignore the interaction of the underground structure with the surrounding ground. The free-field ground deformations due to a seismic event are estimated, and the underground structure is designed to accommodate these deformations. This approach is satisfactory when low levels of shaking are anticipated or the underground facility is in a stiff medium such as rock. Other approaches that account for the interaction between the structural supports and the surrounding ground are then described. In the pseudo-static analysis approach, the ground deformations are imposed as a static load and the soil-structure interaction does not include dynamic or wave propagation effects. In the dynamic analysis approach, a dynamic soil structure interaction is conducted using numerical analysis tools such as finite element or finite difference methods. The report discusses special design issues, including the design of tunnel segment joints and joints between tunnels and portal structures. Examples of seismic design used for underground structures are included in an appendix at the end of the report.
THE N2 NEURAMINIDASE OF HUMAN INFLUENZA VIRUS HAS ACQUIRED A SUBSTRATE SPECIFICITY COMPLEMENTARY TO THE HEMAGGLUTININ RECEPTOR SPECIFICITY

A survey of 10 human influenza A viruses of the N2 serotype, isolated between 1957 and 1987, has revealed a drift in neuraminidase linkage specificity. While the earliest N2 strains examined exhibit strict specificity for cleavage of the NeuAc alpha 2,3Gal sequence, N2 isolates from 1967 to 1968 also show limited activity towards the NeuAc alpha 2,6Gal linkage. In strains isolated in 1972 and later, the N2 neuraminidase has approximately equal activity towards both types of linkages. The NeuAc alpha 2,6Gal linkage cleaved by the later N2 neuraminidases is the preferred receptor determinant of human H2 and H3 hemagglutinins. Thus, the acquired neuraminidase specificity of the later isolates allows elution of bound virus from erythrocytes derivatized to contain the NeuAc alpha 2,6Gal linkage, while earlier isolates, which cleave only the NeuAc alpha 2,3Gal sequence, fail to elute from these erythrocytes. These results suggest that the observed drift in N2 neuraminidase specificity in the direction of the preferred H2 and H3 receptor determinant may facilitate release of progeny virus from host cells.
An essential function for the nuclear receptor RORγt in the generation of fetal lymphoid tissue inducer cells

Lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) cells are associated with early development of lymph nodes and Peyer's patches. We show here that during fetal life the nuclear hormone receptor RORgamma(t) is expressed exclusively in and is required for the generation of LTi cells. RORgamma(t+) LTi cells provide essential factors, among which lymphotoxin-alpha1beta2 is necessary but not sufficient for activation of the mesenchyma in lymph node and Peyer's patch anlagen. This early LTi cell-mediated activation of lymph node and Peyer's patch mesenchyma forms the necessary platform for the subsequent development of mature lymphoid tissues.
Multi-document summarization by visualizing topical content

This paper describes a framework for multi-document summarization which combines three premises: coherent themes can be identified reliably; highly representative themes, running across subsets of the document collection, can function as multi-document summary surrogates; and effective end-use of such themes should be facilitated by a visualization environment which clarifies the relationship between themes and documents. We present algorithms that formalize our framework, describe an implementation, and demonstrate a prototype system and interface.
(μ-1,2-Peroxo)diiron(III/III) Complex as a Precursor to the Diiron(III/IV) Intermediate X in the Assembly of the Iron-Radical Cofactor of Ribonucleotide Reductase from Mouse†

Stopped-flow absorption and freeze-quench electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and Mossbauer spectroscopies have been used to obtain evidence for the intermediacy of a (mu-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III/III) complex on the pathway to the tyrosyl radical and (mu-oxo)diiron(III/III) cluster during assembly of the essential cofactor in the R2 subunit of ribonucleotide reductase from mouse. The complex accumulates to approximately 0.4 equiv in the first few milliseconds of the reaction and decays concomitantly with accumulation of the previously detected diiron(III/IV) cluster, X, which generates the tyrosyl radical and product (mu-oxo)diiron(III/III) cluster. Kinetic complexities in the reaction suggest the existence of an anti-cooperative interaction of the monomers of the R2 homodimer in Fe(II) binding and perhaps O2 activation. The detection of the (mu-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III/III) complex, which has spectroscopic properties similar to those of complexes previously characterized in the reactions of soluble methane monooxygenase, stearoyl acyl carrier protein Delta9 desaturase, and variants of Escherichia coli R2 with the iron ligand substitution, D84E, provides support for the hypothesis that the reactions of the diiron-carboxylate oxidases and oxygenases commence with the formation of this common intermediate.
The Gum Nebula.

A historical review of observations on the Gum Nebula is given together with a survey of knowledge on its size, emission features, and dynamics of expansion. The ultraviolet spectrum of Zeta Puppis is examined in terms of features caused by various absorption lines, and radio emission from Vela X is analyzed, together with the effects of nebular plasma on the propagation of radio pulses from pulsars in the Nebula. The density distribution and the possibility of being produced by the Vela X supernova are discussed.
Cooperativity in concanavalin A-binding to thymocyte membranes: correlation with polymerization of a receptor glycoprotein.

Abstract At low concanavalin A-concentrations, binding of this lectin to isolated thymocyte microsomal membranes exhibits positive cooperativity, with a Hill coefficient of 1.75. Treatment of the membranes with low levels of glutaraldehyde leads to the selective cross-linking of a 55,000 D glycoprotein, a known concanavalin A receptor. A parallel increase in lectin-binding and a concomitant shift to high-affinity, non-cooperative binding occurs.
Assuring Quality for National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Dietary Coding

Abstract Dietary intake estimates from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) are used to evaluate public health policies and monitor the health and nutritional status of the US population. High quality data are needed to monitor trends in food and nutrient intakes. During the recent NHANES 1999 pilot test, quality control procedures for reviewing and coding dietary recall data were pretested and finalized for the main survey. The quality of the coded dietary data was addressed at three critical stages. Initially, dietary recall coding guidelines and procedures were developed, documented, and indexed in a coder manual. Methodologies and materials from previous national dietary surveys were reviewed. Coders were trained on the specifics of the survey databases and coding procedures. All trainees were required to code test intakes to demonstrate proficiency in the use of the survey databases and coding guidelines. During the second stage, checks of coded data assured that procedural standards were met. Coding managers reviewed coder notes and resolved outstanding questions. Formatted reports assisted in editing for new foods, modified recipes, and best food code choice. Duplicate coding was performed on ten percent of all dietary recalls. Coders were retrained as needed. During the final stage, coded data were reviewed from a variety of perspectives. Automated reports listed unusual amounts and outlier values for final verification and editing. Dietary survey data presents interesting challenges to researchers. The US food supply is dynamic which necessitates frequent database updates. Well-documented and tested quality control and data review processes assure the research community of high quality, national dietary data for years to come.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of preimplantation genetic screening and in vitro fertilization versus expectant management in patients with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss.

Objective To determine whether in vitro fertilization with preimplantation genetic screening (IVF/PGS) is cost effective compared with expectant management in achieving live birth for patients with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Design Decision analytic model comparing costs and clinical outcomes. Setting Academic recurrent pregnancy loss programs. Patient(s) Women with unexplained RPL. Intervention(s) IVF/PGS with 24-chromosome screening and expectant management. Main Outcomes Measure(s) Cost per live birth. Result(s) The IVF/PGS strategy had a live-birth rate of 53% and a clinical miscarriage rate of 7%. Expectant management had a live-birth rate of 67% and clinical miscarriage rate of 24%. The IVF/PGS strategy was 100-fold more expensive, costing $45,300 per live birth compared with $418 per live birth with expectant management. Conclusion(s) In this model, IVF/PGS was not a cost-effective strategy for increasing live birth. Furthermore, the live-birth rate with IVF/PGS needs to be 91% to be cost effective compared with expectant management.
Measurements of off-state electrical stress in InAlN/AlN/GaN heterostructure field-effect transistors with varying In compositions

We report on the electrical stress results in GaN-based heterostructure field-effect transistors (HFETs) with InAlN barriers. We monitored the DC characteristics and low-frequency phase noise behavior for the devices at pre- and poststress conditions for five different wafers with In compositions varying from 12% to 20% in the barriers of the structures. The devices were stressed under off-state conditions with a gate bias of -10V (pinch-off condition) and zero drain bias for 10hr. From the acquired data we observed that at higher In composition, HFETs became less sensitive to the stress. At lower In composition we noted up to 30 dBc/Hz higher low frequency noise for stressed devices over the entire frequency range of 1 Hz-100 kHz. The change in drain current and change in noise power due to electrical stress decrease as the In composition in the barriers of the HFETs increases. The most relevant stress effect is revealed by a drain current reduction which is consistent with higher noise level measured. It was found that the HFET degradation is minimum for nearly lattice matched condition InAlN barriers, i.e.; 17% In composition, at which the sheet electron density (channel current) is comparable with that in lower In composition (12% In). This latter result is promising for power applications in which reliability of devices functioning at higher drain current is crucial. The results may also be beneficial to decouple the effect of off-state stress from the hot electron and self heating effects.© (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Predicting Loss of Pulmonary Function After Pulmonary Resection for Bronchogenic Carcinoma

Studies of regional pulmonary function using radioactive 133xenon gas and spirometric tests (forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in the first second) were performed before and after unilateral pulmonary resection for cancer of the lung. Ninety-one patients were evaluated; 47 underwent total pneumonectomy, and 44 underwent lobectomy. The postoperative serial evaluations were classified into short-term and long-term studies (less than or more than three months, respectively). The preoperative and postoperative data were utilized to derive formulas for predicting an estimate of the overall functional loss after pulmonary resection based on the number of segments removed. The correlation between the predicted and measured postoperative values was good for resections involving more than three segments (r = 0.83). Prediction for smaller resections was unreliable. While both regional and overall pulmonary functions were relatively stable after pneumonectomy, there was a disproportionate early loss, followed by significant functional improvement with time following lobectomy. The anticipation of and preparation for this early loss of function may be crucial in the treatment of these patients.
Automobile Ownership and Travel by the Poor: Evidence from the 2009 National Household Travel Survey

Income, or the lack of it, influences household transportation decisions and the ways in which individuals travel. Low-income households are less likely to own cars and more likely to travel by modes other than the automobile. Less is known, however, about the specific determinants of travel among the poor, which was the purpose of this analysis. This study used data from the 2009 National Household Travel Survey to examine the relationship between income and automobile ownership and the role of automobile ownership in explaining person miles traveled. An analysis was then made of whether these determinants varied by income group. The results indicated that low-income adults rapidly convert rising income into additional mobility at faster rates than higher-income adults. Further, automobile ownership increases person miles traveled for all adults; however, it is particularly influential in increasing the travel of low-income adults. Households accrue greater marginal benefits by moving from zero to one ve...
Extracellular Matrix Functions in Follicle Maturation

The extracellular matrix (ECM) promotes and/or inhibits many cellular processes, including but not limited to proliferation, differentiation, and survival, which must occur for follicle growth and oocyte maturation. The ECM regulation of cellular processes in ovarian cells is being investigated in many animal models, including avian, rat, bovine, porcine, rabbit, sheep, human, and mouse. Granulosa cells are more frequently employed; however, the culture of intact follicles and ovaries has been developed and enables ECM functions in folliculogenesis to be studied. ECM components that have been examined are used individually (collagen, laminin, fibronectin) or collectively (Matrigel, isolated basal lamina, and ECM produced by cell lines) in both two- and three-dimensional model systems. In granulosa cell cultures, ECM affects morphology, aggregation and communication, survival, proliferation, and steroidogenesis; whereas follicle and ovary cultures demonstrate a regulation of folliculogenesis. This article describes the ECM functionality on ovarian cells throughout development, and highlights the potential of developing technologies to identify structure-function relationships in follicle maturation.
Nonconvergence of surface energies obtained from thin-film calculations

It is demonstrated that one of the most common methods used to determine surface energies from thin-film total-energy calculations introduces a computational error that increases linearly with the thickness of the film. This linear divergence is shown to have had a major impact on a recent calculation of the Li(111) surface energy, using one- to five-layer-thick films.
Quantum size effect in tunnel junctions

The quantized energy levels of a thin film associated with quasiparticle motion normal to the film surface are shown to be reflected by a periodic structure in the differential conductance of a tunnel junction which involves the thin film.
Mexican American birthweight and child overweight: unraveling a possible early life course health transition.

Mexican American children have a weight distribution that categorizes them as relatively healthy at birth but relatively unhealthy by age 3. This early life course transition in health based on weight raises the question of whether Mexican American children “outgrow” the epidemiologic paradox of favorable birth outcomes despite social disadvantage or whether their birthweight distribution places them on trajectory for overweight in childhood. We address this question using newly available 9-year follow-up data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing birth cohort study linked to pre-natal medical records. We systematically investigate the roles of birthweight, pre-natal factors, and childhood factors in explaining racial/ethnic differences in childhood overweight. Our main finding is that Mexican American children do outgrow the paradox: Their rates of childhood overweight are higher than expected given their birthweight distribution. Observed pre-natal and childhood factors do not explain the elevat...
Carbon Flux via the Pentose Phosphate Pathway Regulates the Hepatic Expression of the Glucose-6-phosphatase and Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase Genes in Conscious Rats

Hepatic gene expression of P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and glucose-6-phosphatase (Glc-6-Pase) is regulated in response to changes in the availability of substrates, in particular glucose (Glc; Massillon, D., Barzilai, N., Chen, W., Hu, M., and Rossetti, L. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 9871-9874). We investigated the mechanism(s) in conscious rats. Hyperglycemia per se caused a rapid and marked increase in Glc-6-Pase mRNA abundance and protein levels. By contrast, hyperglycemia decreased the abundance of PEPCK mRNA. Importantly, inhibition of glucokinase activity by glucosamine infusion blunted both the stimulation of Glc-6-Pase and the inhibition of PEPCK gene expression by Glc, suggesting that an intrahepatic signal (metabolite) generated by the metabolism of glucose at or beyond Glc-6-P was responsible for the regulatory effect of Glc. The effect of Glc on the L-type pyruvate kinase gene is mediated by xylulose-5-P (Doiron, B., Cuif, M., Chen, R., and Kahn, A. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271, 5321-5324). Thus, we next investigated whether an isolated increase in the hepatic concentration of this metabolite can also reproduce the effects of Glc on Glc-6-Pase and PEPCK gene expression in vivo. Xylitol, which is directly converted to xylulose-5-P in the liver, was infused to raise the hepatic concentration of xylulose-5-P by approximately 3-fold. Xylitol infusion did not alter the levels of Glc-6-P and of fructose-2,6-biphosphate. However, it replicated the effects of hyperglycemia on Glc-6-Pase and PEPCK gene expression and resulted in a 75% increase in the in vivo flux through Glc-6-Pase (total glucose output).
On meta complexity of propositional formulas and propositional proofs

A new approach to defining complexity of propositional formulas and proofs is suggested. Instead of measuring the size of these syntactical structures in the propositional language, the article suggests to define the complexity by the size of external descriptions of such constructions. The main result is a lower bound on proof complexity with respect to this new definition of complexity.
Oestrous state dynamics in chemical communication by captive female Asian elephants

Abstract In many mammals, reproductive status is revealed through chemical cues in urine. The reproductive status of receivers may influence their interest in such signals. For social mammals that live in matrilineal groups, females may benefit by detecting the reproductive condition of herdmates. Responses to urine during oestrous cycles of senders and receivers are potential indicators of signal functions. We examined the chemosensory responses, first by four captive female Asian elephants, Elephas maximus , over their oestrous cycles to familiar follicular and luteal phase urine and second by 14 different female Asian elephants to unfamiliar conspecific follicular and luteal phase urine. We asked whether females could distinguish the reproductive state of another female as measured by their differential response to luteal- and follicular-phase urine. We further examined the influence of the receiver's reproductive status on response levels. Females responded more with specific tactolfactory trunk behaviours to follicular- than to luteal-phase urine, but only when the receiving female was in her follicular phase. Like their male conspecifics, Asian elephant females can detect changes in the reproductive state of conspecifics. The functional significance of this ability has yet to be determined but may be related more to the resource holding power of females in follicular phase than to a means for females to synchronize oestrous cycles. Such female–female communication may have important effects on social group dynamics. Copyright 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.
Diel Rates of N2-fixation and Denitrification in a TransplantedSpartina alternifloraMarsh: Implications for N-flux Dynamics

Abstract Magnitudes and diel patterns of N2-fixation (acetylene reduction, AR) and potential denitrification (acetylene block technique, DNF) rates were determined in a transplantedSpartina alternifloramarsh. Rates of AR in transplanted marsh surface sediments exceeded rates in an adjacent natural marsh by 5- to 10-fold. In late May, surface sediments from two sites in the transplanted marsh were inhabited by two distinct cyanobacterial communities, each exhibiting a unique diel pattern of AR. Sediments dominated by filamentous, non-heterocystous cyanobacterial species exhibited a nighttime peak in AR, supplying an estimated N input of 50 mg N m−2 day−1. Sediments dominated by heterocystous and coccoid cyanobacterial species exhibited a daytime peak in AR and an estimated N input of 145 mg N m−2 day−1. In August, surface sediments from five sites in the transplanted marsh were dominated by non-heterocystous cyanobacteria and diatoms. At this time, all sites exhibited a similar diel pattern in AR rates, with a midday minimum and dawn or dusk maxima. The estimated average daily N input was 37 mg N m−2 day−1. There was an inverse relationship between hourly AR and CO2fixation (estimated by14CO2uptake) rates, suggesting an inhibitory effect of oxygenic photosynthesis on AR. Oxygen also appeared to inhibit DNF; in May, low DNF rates were noted during the day with higher rates occurring at night. Overall, DNF rates were three orders of magnitude less than N2-fixation rates; thus, the balance between these processes results in a significant input of N to the transplanted salt marsh. We hypothesize that the reduced vascular plant canopy and coarser sediment characteristic of transplanted marshes may enhance the development and production of benthic microalgal communities dominated by cyanobacteria. Microbially-mediated N-cycling in young, transplanted salt marshes may differ significantly from values recorded from mature, natural salt marshes.
Human liver aldehyde dehydrogenases: new method of purification of the major mitochondrial and cytosolic enzymes and re-evaluation of their kinetic properties

Abstract A new purification procedure, based on dye-adsorption and affinity chromatography, has been developed for the isolation of the two major ALDH isozymes from human liver: ALDH-1 (cytosolic, pI 5.2) and ALDH-2 (mitochondrial, pI 4.9). The procedure affords milligram quantities of ALDH-1 and -2 at 850- and 275-fold purifications, respectively, from 50 g of liver in two days. Kinetic parameters for acetaldehyde oxidation were determined with these purified enzymes, because there is a wide discrepancy in the absolute magnitude of these parameters in the biochemical literature. The Michaelis constants for ALDH-1 and -2, determined from initial velocities (for ALDH-1) and single reaction progress curves (for ALDH-2), are 180 ±10 μ M and 0.20 ± 0.02 μ M , respectively (pH 7.5 and 9.5, saturating NAD+ in both cases). This three orders of magnitude difference in K m values is much greater than that reported previously in all but one study.
Double Pulse Transthoracic Defibrillation in the Calf Using Percent Fibrillation Cycle Length as Spacing Determinate

Recent studies have found that when multiple pulses of energy are used for defibrillation with implantable electrodes, the spacing between these pulses is better determined as a percentage of the fibrillation cycle length (CL), rather than as a fixed function of time. Here, this concept is further tested in the transthoracic defibrillation of calves, which are approximately the size of heavy humans. Eleven 90-110 kg calves (101 +/- 6 kg) were used in evaluating the effectiveness in achieving transthoracic ventricular defibrillation of ten double pulse waveforms (two 50 A 4-ms rectangular monopulses) having leading edge-to-edge spacings of 4 ms (a 50 A 8-ms rectangular monopulse) and 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, 110, 120, 130 percent fibrillation CL, respectively. In each of these waveforms, the total time when 50 A current was flowing (on time) was 8 ms. Our results show an unequivocal adverse interaction between the pulses, when the spacing is around 60%-70% fibrillation CL; but that the two pulses combined to defibrillate as effectively as a single 8-ms pulse when the spacing is around 110%-130% fibrillation CL. Electrocardiographic analysis suggests that the adverse interaction is due to a refibrillation phenomenon. This study confirms that double pulses can interact and have a negative effect on defibrillation efficacy. Our data suggests that the mechanism of this interaction involves the second pulse reinitiating fibrillation when the pulse separation is in a critical range of values. Our results are also compatible with the hypothesis that the spacing of multiple pulses is better determined as a percentage of the fibrillation CL than as absolute time, although more study is necessary to fully test this hypothesis.
Square Root SAM: Simultaneous Localization and Mapping via Square Root Information Smoothing

Solving the SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) problem is one way to enable a robot to explore, map, and navigate in a previously unknown environment. Smoothing approaches have been investigated as a viable alternative to extended Kalman filter (EKF)-based solutions to the problem. In particular, approaches have been looked at that factorize either the associated information matrix or the measurement Jacobian into square root form. Such techniques have several significant advantages over the EKF: they are faster yet exact; they can be used in either batch or incremental mode; are better equipped to deal with non-linear process and measurement models; and yield the entire robot trajectory, at lower cost for a large class of SLAM problems. In addition, in an indirect but dramatic way, column ordering heuristics automatically exploit the locality inherent in the geographic nature of the SLAM problem. This paper presents the theory underlying these methods, along with an interpretation of factorization in terms of the graphical model associated with the SLAM problem. Both simulation results and actual SLAM experiments in large-scale environments are presented that underscore the potential of these methods as an alternative to EKF-based approaches.
Urinary Incontinence: Diagnosis and Treatment in the Elderly

Urinary incontinence is a prevalent condition among the elderly. History and physical exam are helpful in delineating the specific type or types of urinary incontinence present. When beginning treatment, clinicians should consider functional status, comorbidity, and goals of therapy. Therapeutic options include behavioral therapy, physical therapy, pharmacologic management, neuromodulation, mechanical devices, and surgery. The treatment options with the most data in the elderly are behavioral therapy and antimuscarinic medications, both showing effectiveness. Limited data are available for the other modalities, but generally show that they are effective in older patients. In this update, data from many recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews are synthesized to help guide treatment decisions for elderly patients suffering from urinary incontinence.
Regiospecific photoisomerization of fluorinated (E,E)-1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadienes

Abstract Photoisomerization of five fluorinated E , E -1-(R-phenyl)-4-phenyl-1,3-butadienes in solution (R = 1 : p -monofluoro, 2 : m , m ′-difluoro, 3 : m , m ′, p -trifluoro, 4 : o , o ′, m , m ′-tetrafluoro, 5 : o , o ′, m , m ′, p -pentafluoro) was investigated via direct irradiation. Our results indicated that cis–trans photoisomerization of the fluorinated 1,4-diphenyl-1,3-butadienes in the excited singlet state took place exclusively at the C C bonds closer to the fluorine substituents.
PERCEIVED INFORMATION STRUCTURE: IMPLICATIONS FOR DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM DESIGN

Top-level decision making in business organizations is characterized by high degrees of uncertainty, incomplete information, and conflicting objectives. To support top-level decision making effectively, decision support systems (DSSs) have been proposed. Information supplied by a DSS must be selective in that not all possible information sets may be feasibly or economically represented in the data base. This study suggests that discovery of perceptual complexity (dimensionality) of information items, and the subsequent categorization of decision makers having the same perceptions of those information items, is a first step in the ultimate design of an effective DSS. Through the use of multidimensional scaling in a field setting, this study shows the feasibility of creating relatively homogeneous groups of decision makers according to the content and number of dimensions associated with various information items. Further results of the research suggest that information can be tailored to classes of users, which has cost-benefit implications as well as the potential to improve the quality of the resultant decisions.
Follow-up of surgical correction of aortic arch anomalies causing tracheoesophageal compression: a 38-year single institution experience

Abstract Objective Anomalies of the aortic arch (vascular rings) are uncommon anomalies in which preferred strategies for diagnosis and treatment may vary among institutions. In this study, we report a description of our approach and review of our 38-year experience in patients surgically treated for vascular rings. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of all patients with/without symptomatic tracheoesophageal compression secondary to anomalies of the aortic arch and great vessels diagnosed from 1970 to 2008. A total of 183 patients underwent surgical repair. Median age at the time of the operation was 5 months (range, 3 days to 30 years). Patients were classified into 5 major subtypes based on their surgical anatomy as follows: right aortic arch-left ligamentum (n = 77), double aortic arch (n = 67), aberrant (retroesophageal) right subclavian artery (n = 30), pulmonary sling (n = 8), and innominate artery compression (n = 1). Six patients (3%) had an associated Kommerell diverticulum. In patients with a double aortic arch, 82% had a dominant right arch and 18% had a dominant left arch. Preoperatively, 80 patients (44%) had stridor, and 86 patients (47%) had recurrent upper respiratory tract infection. Results Associated cardiac diagnosis were present in 54 (30%) of 183 of all patients with vascular rings. Left thoracotomy was a common operative approach in all patients except pulmonary artery sling patients where a median sternotomy was the preferred approach. There were 3 early and 5 late deaths (all patients had complex cardiac anomalies) with a median follow-up of 6 years. Overall survival was 96% at 35 years. Postoperative complication occurred in 3 patients (2%) as follows: tracheostomy because of severe distal tracheal compression (n = 2) and left true vocal cord paralysis (n = 1). None of the patients showed any evidence of recurrent vascular ring anomalies at last follow-up. Of the children, 75% (135/180) were free from compressive symptoms within 1 year of the operation. Conclusions Vascular anomalies with/without tracheoesophageal compression present symptomatically in a variety of ways, and noninvasive methods are used to identify the specific lesion and associated cardiac defects. Surgical repair is associated with low or no mortality in patients with uncomplicated complex of vascular anomalies.
Construction engineering and project management III: simulation of the residential lumber supply chain

This paper describes the lumber supply chain for a case study of a large homebuilder, extending through multiple tiers from the homebuyer to the lumber company. The builder required its framing subcontractor to accept the risk for lumber cost fluctuations. Under this agreement, the framing subcontractor provided a fixed lumber cost, which could only periodically adjusted. The lumber supply chain leading to the framing subcontractor was found to be of long and variable duration. The function of the builder-framer/lumber yard-lumber company portion of the supply chain was simulated in order to evaluate the cost effectiveness of this strategy, using historical records of lumber prices to model commodity price fluctuations. Based on the simulation results, the risk transfer strategy appears to induce a risk premium generally in excess of the true commodity price risk.
Alvimopan, a selective peripherally acting mu-opioid antagonist.

Abstract Alvimopan is a novel, peripherally acting μ-opioid antagonist that is being developed for the management of acute postoperative ileus and for the reversal of the delayed gastrointestinal and colonic transit that result in symptoms such as constipation, nausea and motility disorders in patients treated with opiate analgesics. There is a clinical need for effective medications for the treatment of postoperative ileus and opiate-induced constipation and other motility disorders. This review addresses the basic and applied pharmacology and current evidence for the use of the medication, alvimopan, in clinical gastroenterology.
Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Tachycardia Late After Complete Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot Using the Pace Mapping Technique

While surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot has improved the long-term outlook for this patient population, sudden death late after repair remains a problem. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) originating in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) is a well described, clinically important finding following surgical repair of tetralogy and a number of investigators suggest that this VT plays a critical role in the etiology of sudden death. We report two patients with RVOT VT late after repair of tetralogy who underwent successful radiofrequency ablation of their tachycardia.
Assessing the property value impacts of the dispersed subsidy housing program in Denver

This study tests the hypothesis that the acquisition of existing property by the public housing authority and its subsequent rehabilitation and occupancy by subsidized tenants significantly reduced the property values of surrounding single-family homes in Denver during the 1990s. This assessment examined pre- and post-occupancy sales, while controlling for the idiosyncratic neighborhood, local public service, and zoning characteristics of the areas in order to identify which sorts of neighborhoods, if any, experienced declining property values as a result of proximity to dispersed housing tenants. The analyses revealed that proximity to a subsidized housing site generally had an independent, positive effect on single-family home sales prices. The most notable exception to this pattern occurred in neighborhoods more than 20 percent of whose residents were black. Proximity to dispersed public housing sites in these neighborhoods resulted in slower growth in home sales prices in an other-wise booming housing market and suggest a threshold within “vulnerable” neighborhoods whereby any potential gains associated with rehabilitating existing units are offset by the increased concentration of poor residents. © 2001 by the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management.
Neuroimmunologic control of asthma

Asthma is characterized by airway inflammation and reversible airway hyperresponsiveness. The clinical signs correlate with the typical pathologic changes that are associated with asthma, namely airway-centered inflammatory infiltrates and smooth muscle constriction. Although most asthma research has emphasized the specific contribution of the airway smooth muscle and pulmonary inflammatory responses in asthma, investigations have tested the hypothesis that all of the diverse cell types of the lung are involved. Asthma is no longer considered to be an isolated abnormality of bronchial smooth muscle or a specific inflammatory cell type, but rather its cause is recognized as a generalized dysfunction of pulmonary immune responses, both innate and acquired. These investigations highlight the importance of interactions between different pulmonary cell types in promoting the asthma diathesis. This synthetic view of asthma has highlighted potential roles for cell types that traditionally are not associated with asthma. There is accumulating evidence that the neural and neuroendocrine systems of the lung interact with the pulmonary immune system. Neural mediators can modulate the pulmonary inflammatory response by triggering vasodilation, tissue edema, and the influx of inflammatory cells [1,2]. These effects have been termed neurogenic inflammation [3]; however, a growing body of data suggests that the interactions between pulmonary inflammatory responses and the neural and neuroendocrine systems of the lung are more complex. There are suggestions that the neural and neuroendocrine systems of the lung have reciprocal interactions with the components of the pulmonary immune system. This reciprocal transregulation is called a neuroimmune response. Understanding these regulatory responses will help elucidate novel mechanisms implicated in the pathophysiology of asthma.
U–Pb detrital zircon geochronology and its implications: The early Late Triassic Yanchang Formation, south Ordos Basin, China

Abstract U–Pb detrital zircon geochronology has been used to identify provenance and document sediment delivery systems during the deposition of the early Late Triassic Yanchang Formation in the south Ordos Basin. Two outcrop samples of the Yanchang Formation were collected from the southern and southwestern basin margin respectively. U–Pb detrital zircon geochronology of 158 single grains (out of 258 analyzed grains) shows that there are six distinct age populations, 250–300 Ma, 320–380 Ma, 380–420 Ma, 420–500 Ma, 1.7–2.1 Ga, and 2.3–2.6 Ga. The majority of grains with the two oldest age populations are interpreted as recycled from previous sediments. Multiple sources match the Paleozoic age populations of 380–420 and 420–500 Ma, including the Qilian–Qaidam terranes and the North Qilian orogenic belt to the west, and the Qinling orogenic belt to the south. However, the fact that both samples do not have the Neoproterozoic age populations, which are ubiquitous in these above source areas, suggests that the Late Triassic Yanchang Formation in the south Ordos Basin was not derived from the Qilian–Qaidam terranes, the North Qilian orogenic belt, and the Qinling orogenic belt. Very similar age distribution between the Proterozoic to Paleozoic sedimentary rocks and the early Late Triassic Yanchang Formation in the south Ordos Basin suggests that it was most likely recycled from previous sedimentary rocks from the North China block instead of sediments directly from two basin marginal deformation belts.
The effect of portal hypertension on indomethacin-induced small intestinal ulceration in the rat.

SUMMARY The purpose of this study was to determine whether portal hypertension potentiates intestinal ulceration induced by indomethacin. Portal hypertension was produced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by two-staged ligation of the portal vein. Sham-operated rats were used as controls. The rats were given 20 mg/kg of indomethacin intragastrically, 7 and 14 days, respectively, after complete portal vein ligation. Forty-eight and 72 h after indomethacin, portal pressures were measured and the whole small intestine removed for quantitative measurement of the percent of the mucosa ulcerated by computerized image analysis. There were no differences in the area of ulceration between the portal hypertensive and sham-operated rats at either 7 or 14 days, despite the presence of significant portal hypertension. Portal hypertension does not appear to potentiate small intestinal ulceration induced by indomethacin in rats.
The QCD glueballs in the presence of dynamical fermions in a small periodic box

Abstract We present first results for the masses of the 0 ++ and 2 ++ glueballs obtained from a simulation of lattice QCD on a 4 3 ·24 lattice with the effects of dynamical fermions included using the pseudo-fermion method. The masses are determined from the exponential falloff of adjoint line correlation functions. We find that M 2 ++ M 0 ++ , extending an earlier result by Berg, Billoire and Vohwinkel for the pure gauge case to the full theory.
Surface x-ray-scattering measurements of the substrate-induced spatial modulation of an incommensurate adsorbed monolayer.

Abstract : We report in-situ surface X-ray scattering measurements of electrochemically deposited TI monolayers on Ag(III). We find that the TI adlayer forms an incommensurate, two dimensional solid and we determine the spatial modulation in the TI monolayer that is induced by the periodic potential of the substrate. The modulation of the TI monolayer changes the intensity of the X-ray scattering from the Ag substrate (the Ag crystal truncation rods), since the modulation wavevectors are commensurate with the substrate periodicity. By measuring the intensity changes along the Ag truncation rods, we determined the first Fourier component of the longitudinal part of the substrate induced modulation to be 0.03 angstroms, and the spacing of the TI monolayer above the Ag surface to be 3.05 angstroms.
Diet and cancer.

Differences in food intake patterns are positively correlated with differences in the incidence of various cancers in world populations. It is postulated here that dietary factors play a vital role in the genesis of several major neoplasms, specifically gastric and colon carcinomas. In addition to the food consumed, such variables as total caloric intake, nutrtional excess or deficit, exposure to carcinogens and consumption of alcohol also increase the risk of cancer. Through recognition of these factors and subsequent long-term manipulation of diet, it should be possible to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality.