cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chimerical boson expansions

Abstract It is shown that a boson expansion with the mathematical properties originally postulated by Kishimoto and Tamura does not exist. The true nature of the expansion actually obtained is unmasked.
Thermal management of power electronics modules packaged by a stacked-plate technique

Abstract The research presented in this paper is part of a multidisciplinary research program of the Center for Power Electronics Systems at Virginia Tech. The program supported by the Office of Naval Research focuses on the development of innovative technologies for packaging power electronics building blocks. The primary objective of this research is to improve package performance and reliability through thermal management, i.e., reducing device temperatures for a given power level. The task of thermal management involves considering trade-offs in the electrical design, package layout and geometry, materials selection and processing, manufacturing feasibility, and production cost. Based on the electrical design of a simple building block, samples of packaged modules, rated at 600 V and 3.3 kW, were fabricated using a stacked-plate technique, termed metal posts interconnected parallel plate structure (MPIPPS). The MPIPPS technique allows the power devices to be interconnected between two direct-bond copper substrates via the use of metal posts. Thermal modeling results on the MPIPPS packaged modules indicate that the new packaging technique offers a superior thermal management means for packaging power electronics modules.
Kinematical and chemical evolution of the galactic disc

We have calculated models for the kinematical and chemical evolution of the Galactic disk that include the infall of metal-free gas and the stochastic acceleration of disk stars. Our models are similar in some respects to those of Chiosi (1980) and Vader & de Jong (1981), but the results are compared with a greater variety of observational data. A complete description of this work will appear shortly in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
High-throughput screening of stem cell therapy for globoid cell leukodystrophy using automated neurophenotyping of twitcher mice

Globoid cell leukodystrophy (Krabbe's disease) is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder that results from the deficiency of galactosylceramidase, a lysosomal enzyme involved in active myelination. Due to the progressive, lethal nature of this disease and the limited treatment options available, multiple laboratories are currently exploring novel therapies using the mouse model of globoid cell leukodystrophy. In order to establish a protocol for motor function assessment of the twitcher mouse, this study tested the capability of an automated system to detect phenotypic differences across mouse genotypes and/or treatment groups. The sensitivity of this system as a screening tool for the assessment of therapeutic interventions was determined by the administration of murine bone marrow-derived stem cells into twitcher mice via intraperitoneal injection. Animal behavior was analyzed using the Noldus EthoVision XT7 software. Novel biomarkers, including abnormal locomotion (e.g., velocity, moving duration, distance traveled, turn angle) and observed behaviors (e.g., rearing activity, number of defecation boli), were established for the twitcher mouse. These parameters were monitored across all mouse groups, and the automated system detected improved locomotion in the treated twitcher mice based on the correction of angular velocity, turn angle, moving duration, and exploratory behavior, such as thigmotaxis. Further supporting these findings, the treated mice showed improved lifespan, gait, wire hang ability, twitching severity and frequency, and sciatic nerve histopathology. Taken together, these data demonstrate the utility of computer-based neurophenotyping for motor function assessment of twitcher mice and support its utility for detecting the efficacy of stem cell-based therapy for neurodegenerative disorders.
An FDD wideband CDMA MAC protocol with minimum-power allocation and GPS-scheduling for wireless wide area multimedia networks

A frequency division duplex (FDD) wideband code division multiple access (CDMA) medium access control (MAC) protocol is developed for wireless wide area multimedia networks. In order to reach the maximum system capacity and guarantee the heterogeneous bit error rates (BERs) of multimedia traffic, a minimum-power allocation algorithm is first derived, where both multicode (MC) and orthogonal variable spreading factor (OVSF) transmissions are assumed. Based on the minimum-power allocation algorithm, a multimedia wideband CDMA generalized processor sharing (GPS) scheduling scheme is proposed. It provides fair queueing to multimedia traffic with different QoS constraints. It also takes into account the limited number of code channels for each user and the variable system capacity due to interference experienced by users in a CDMA network. To control the admission of real-time connections, a connection admission control (CAC) scheme is proposed, in which the effective bandwidth admission region is derived based on the minimum-power allocation algorithm. With the proposed resource management algorithms, the MAC protocol significantly increases system throughput, guarantees BER, and improves QoS metrics of multimedia traffic.
Perception Gaps Between IS Students and Recruiters About the Entry-Level Skill Requirement

Dramatic changes in the U.S economy and offshore outsourcing trends in the IT (Information Technology) industry have affected the IS (Information Systems) job market and recruiters with regard to IS knowledge/skills that their new hires should possess. Facing these changes presents a challenge to IS recruiters and students. There is an urgent need for a study that exams the perception gaps between IS recruiters and students about the knowledge/skill sets required for a new entry-level IS hire. This study presents the findings from a survey of IS recruiters and IS students in the U.S., detailing the differences of their understanding about the knowledge/skills requirement.
Improved serum leptin and ghrelin following bariatric surgery predict better postoperative cognitive function.

Background and PurposezzBariatric surgery is associated with improved cognitive function, but the mechanisms underlying these gains remain poorly understood. Disturbed leptin and ghrelin systems are common in obese individuals and are associated with impaired cognitive function in other samples. Bariatric surgery has been shown to improve serum leptin and ghrelin levels, and these changes may underlie postoperative cognitive improvements. MethodszzEighty-four patients completed a computerized cognitive test battery prior to bariatric surgery and at 12 months postoperatively. Participants also submitted to an 8-hour fasting blood draw to quantify serum leptin and ghrelin concentrations at these same time points. ResultszzBaseline cognitive impairments and disturbed leptin and ghrelin levels improved at the 12-month follow-up compared to presurgery. Higher leptin levels were associated with worse attention/executive function at baseline; no such findings emerged for ghrelin. Regression analyses controlling for baseline factors and demographic characteristics showed that both decreased leptin and increased ghrelin following surgery was associated with better attention/executive function at the 12-month follow-up. These effects diminished after controlling for the postoperative change in body mass index (BMI); however, BMI change did not predict 12-month cognitive function. ConclusionszzImprovements in leptin and ghrelin levels following bariatric surgery appear to contribute to postoperative cognitive benefits. These gains may involve multiple mechanisms, such as reduced inflammation and improved glycemic control. Future studies that employ neu roimaging are needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms and determine whether the effects of bariatric surgery on leptin and ghrelin levels can attenuate adverse brain changes and/or risk of dementia in severely obese individuals.
Drug and alcohol abuse intervention in American Indian communities.

(1985). Drug and Alcohol Abuse Intervention in American Indian Communities. International Journal of the Addictions: Vol. 20, No. 1, pp. 139-171.
Viscoelastic interphases in polymer–matrix composites: theoretical models and finite-element analysis

Abstract We investigate the mechanical property predictions for a three-phase viscoelastic (VE) composite by the use of two micromechanical models: the original Mori–Tanaka (MT) method and an extension of the Mori–Tanaka solution developed by Benveniste to treat fibers with interphase regions. These micro-mechanical solutions were compared to a suitable finite-element analysis, which provided the benchmark numerical results for a periodic array of inclusions. Several case studies compare the composite moduli predicted by each of these methods, highlighting the role of the interphase. We show that the MT method, in general, provides the better micromechanical approximation of the viscoelastic behavior of the composite; however, the micromechanical methods only provide an order-of-magnitude approximation for the effective moduli. Finally, these methods were used to study the physical aging of a viscoelastic composite. The results imply that the existence of an interphase region, with viscoelastic moduli different from those of the bulk matrix, is not responsible for the difference in the shift rates, μ22 and μ66, describing the transverse Young's axial shear moduli, found experimentally.
Antigenic requirement for induced rejection of long-surviving murine heart transplants.

Primarily vascularized B10.BR mouse cardiac allografts survive long-term in untreated B6AF1 recipients. We found that sudden complete rejection of the grafts was produced by sequential "triple treatment" with BCG, cyclophosphamide, and a small number of donor-strain lymphocytes. Neither the graft itself, nor donor-strain platelets or frozen-thawed lymphocytes were an effective substitute for the intact donor-strain lymphocytes. Thus the long-surviving graft presents target antigens but lacks the antigenic characteristics required to stimulate a rejection response that are expressed on lymphocytes.
Genetic response to rapid climate change: it's seasonal timing that matters

The primary nonbiological result of recent rapid climate change is warming winter temperatures, particularly at northern latitudes, leading to longer growing seasons and new seasonal exigencies and opportunities. Biological responses reflect selection due to the earlier arrival of spring, the later arrival of fall, or the increasing length of the growing season. Animals from rotifers to rodents use the high reliability of day length to time the seasonal transitions in their life histories that are crucial to fitness in temperate and polar environments: when to begin developing in the spring, when to reproduce, when to enter dormancy or when to migrate, thereby exploiting favourable temperatures and avoiding unfavourable temperatures. In documented cases of evolutionary (genetic) response to recent, rapid climate change, the role of day length (photoperiodism) ranges from causal to inhibitory; in no case has there been demonstrated a genetic shift in thermal optima or thermal tolerance. More effort should be made to explore the role of photoperiodism in genetic responses to climate change and to rule out the role of photoperiod in the timing of seasonal life histories before thermal adaptation is assumed to be the major evolutionary response to climate change.
Structural, energetic and elastic properties of Cu2ZnSn(SxSe1−x)4 (x = 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25, 0) alloys from first-principles computations

We have computed the structural, energetic and elastic properties of the Cu2ZnSn(SxSe1� x)4 (x = 1, 0.75, 0.5, 0.25, 0) alloys using ab initio density functional theory. For alloys containing both S and Se, a careful choice of permutations of positions for S and Se has to be made for accurately finding the minimum energy structure. The computed lattice constants increase as the fraction of S atoms in the unit cell decreases. However, the internal parameters did not show much variation with alloy composition. The computed elastic constants show that all alloys are mechanically stable. All the elastic constants and moduli, except C16, increase in magnitude while Poisson’s ratio stays the same as the S content of the alloys increases. The computed magnitudes of elastic constant C16 were found to be two orders of magnitude lower compared to the other elastic constants. 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Asian Conflicts and the Iraq War: A Comparative Framing Analysis

This study examines the news coverage of the Iraq War and Asian conflicts by eight newspapers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Philippines to compare the framing of two different ...
A Comparison of Three Desktop Chemistry Analyzers for the Pediatric Practice

Three desktop chemistry analyzers most frequently utilized in physicians' offices are compared for performance and precision: the DT60 (Kodak), Vision™ (Abbott), and Reflotron® (Boehringer-Mannheim). The manufacturers' instructions were followed for all the reagents, calibrators and controls provided with each analyzer used. Precision, stability, dynamic range, interferences, and comparison of analyses of 50-100 patient samples with standard laboratory instruments were evaluated. Within-run precision on all three instruments was acceptable, the coefficient of variation (% CV) ranging from 0.8-5.4% and run-to-run precision CV of 1.1-7.3%. Within-run precision for glucose, blood urea, nitrogen, cholesterol and sodium for an experienced technologist, a clerk without any laboratory experience and a physician with no recent laboratory training were compared: the total CV varied between 1.1 and 6.3%. There are differences in the way bilirubin and hemoglobin interfere with the chemistries on the analyzers. Instr...
Multilingualism and Assessment: Achieving Transparency, Assuring Quality, Sustaining Diversity—Proceedings of the ALTE Berlin Conference, May 2005, by Lynda Taylor and Cyril J. Weir (Eds.): Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2008, 351 pp., $50.00 (paperback).

This volume of Studies in Language Testing (27) provides an overview of key issues language testers have to consider as the globalizing European community sets out to assess language proficiencies ...
A Near‐Infrared Laser‐Activated “Nanobomb” for Breaking the Barriers to MicroRNA Delivery

A near-infrared laser-activated "nanobomb" is synthesized using lipid and multiple polymers to break the extra-cellular and intracellular barriers to cytosolic delivery of microRNAs. The nanobomb can be used to effectively destroy tumors and cancer stem-like cells in vitro and in vivo with minimal side effects.
Issues in Human Factors Evaluations of Augmented Reality Systems

Human factors evaluations have been a part of the research on augmented reality (AR) systems for a long time, but the field has not included this type of work extensively. The importance and challenges associated with conducting human factors research in AR are outlined in this chapter, with a few examples from the literature and well-known AR applications used as examples. Two suggestions are made for researchers to incorporate into their human factors research in AR.
American VAT – The Carousel Fraud Threat: Will the EU Show the US the 'Way Forward'

On Thursday, March 29, 2007 the European Commission, Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union, will host a one-day Conference on Fiscal Fraud – Tackling VAT Fraud: Possible Ways Forward. The conference is based on the Communication of May 31, 2006 explaining the need to develop a coordinated strategy to improve the fight against fiscal fraud. This paper indicates that the EU examination of carousel fraud points the way forward for advocates of a US VAT as well. About 40% of EU VAT fraud appears to be 'missing trader intra-community' (MTIC) or carousel fraud. The best estimates of EU losses to carousel fraud are put at 23 billion euros annually. UK studies put domestic losses from carousel fraud at 2.98 to 4.47 billion euros.Fraud concerns understandably resonate deeply among American advocates of a federal level VAT in the US. It needs to be taken into consideration that inserting a national credit-invoice VAT into the US fiscal fabric would be to set out the welcome mat for an American carousel fraud, as well as the more traditional VAT frauds. The vulnerability of a US VAT to carousel fraud is a direct result of the American tendency for national, state and local tax systems to 'piggy backing' on one another is taken into account.
Expression and mutation of the tumor suppressor gene p53 in AIDS- associated Kaposi's sarcoma

Alteration of the p53 gene is the most frequent event reported in human cancer, and p53 mutations have been observed in various neoplasms, including certain forms of skin cancer. Therefore, we postulated that p53 may also be involved in Kaposi's sarcoma associated with AIDS (AIDS-KS). Expression of the p53 gene was examined in freshly isolated tumor biopsy specimens from 15 patients with AIDS-KS. p53 mRNA was detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in both the AIDS-KS tumors and in normal skin control samples. p53 protein was detected in 4 of the 15 AIDS-KS specimens by immunohistochemical staining. Single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis PCR-products (PCR-SSCP) was used for detection of mutations of the p53 gene. One of the p53 positive AIDS-KS samples showed mobilized shifts in exon 6 suggestive of a mutation. Sequencing data showed the mutation to be located in codon 210. We examined other mechanisms that could stabilize p53 protein. SV40 large T antigen and adenovirus E1B protein were not found in the AIDS-KS specimens. MDM2, a p53-binding protein, was also detected in five of the AIDS-KS specimens, two of which also contained p53-positive cells. These observations suggest that the tumor suppressor gene p53 may be involved in the pathogenesis of AIDS-KS.
Abstract A39: Initial characterization of genetically engineered mice carrying a conditional allele of a splicing factor gene (U2AF1) commonly mutated in myeloid disorders.

Putative “driver” mutations in genes encoding splicing factors---including recurrent mutations in U2AF1, which encodes a component of the U2 auxiliary factor to regulate pre-mRNA splicing---have been identified in myeloid dysplasias, related neoplasms, and lung adenocarcinomas. To study the functional impact of U2AF1 mutations, we have created transgenic mice carrying a conditional mutant allele, MG-S34F, at the endogenous U2AF1 locus. We have crossed the MG-S34F mice with mice carrying a Mx1-Cre transgene, and demonstrated efficient Cre-mediated recombination and expression of U2AF1-S34F in bone marrow cells two weeks after treatment with poly IC. Bone marrow cells from compound transgenic mice had a modest but statistically significant reduction in their ability to form monocyte and granulocyte colonies in culture. A small cohort of mice is also being followed for long-term hematologic defects after exposing these mice to low doses of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU). While U2AF1-S34F expression coupled with ENU treatment has not produced myeloid leukemia after 3 months, a low ratio of U2AF1-S34F to wild-type U2AF1 RNA in blood cells implies that expression of U2AF1-S34F affects normal hematopoiesis or survival of blood cells in mice. We are now expanding our mouse cohort to study the hematologic defects apparently induced by U2AF1-S34F in greater detail. Citation Format: Dennis Liang Fei, Harold Varmus. Initial characterization of genetically engineered mice carrying a conditional allele of a splicing factor gene (U2AF1) commonly mutated in myeloid disorders. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Hematologic Malignancies: Translating Discoveries to Novel Therapies; Sep 20-23, 2014; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2015;21(17 Suppl):Abstract nr A39.
THE EFFECTS OF GUT METABOLISM TO HYPERBIRIRUBINEMIA AFTER ESOPHAGEAL SURGERY

Hyperbirirubinemia after operation for esophageal cancer is frequently seen, but no etiologic theory has been established as yet. In this experiment the mechanism of postoperative hyperbirirubinemia (PHB) was investigated in term of gut metabolism, and intestinal decontamination was also evaluated in esophageal cancer surgery. In the 19 cases, plasma endotoxin and aminogram were measured perioperatively. PHB was found in 5 of 5 cases with positive plasma endotoxin. Glutamin and alanin were significantly lower in the patients with PHB than those without PHB during operation. These results suggested that lowered glutamin and alanin during surgical stress may be associated with derangement in the intestinal mucosa which induced with breakedown in the gut barrier function. In the next experiment, the effects of intestinal decontamination to the patients with PHB were evaluated. Intestinal decontamination of kanamycin 1200 mg/day lowered the maximal value of total birirubin in this group compared to the control group, though there was no significant difference in the frequency of PHB. From these result, it is concluded that the cause of PHB may be translocation of endotoxin from impared gut mucosa.
The Truffle Microbiome: Species and Geography Effects on Bacteria Associated with Fruiting Bodies of Hypogeous Pezizales

Fungi that produce their fruiting bodies underground within the soil profile are known commonly as truffles. Truffle fruiting bodies harbor a diverse but poorly understood microbial community of bacteria, yeasts, and filamentous fungi. In this study, we used next-generation 454 amplicon pyrosequencing of the V1 and V4 region of the bacterial 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) in order to characterize and compare effects of truffle species and geographic origin on the truffle microbiome. We compared truffle microbiomes of the glebal tissue for eight truffle species belonging to four distinct genera within the Pezizales: Tuber, Terfezia, Leucangium, and Kalapuya. The bacterial community within truffles was dominated by Proteobacteria, Bacterioides, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes. Bacterial richness within truffles was quite low overall, with between 2–23 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Notably, we found a single Bradyrhizobium OTU to be dominant within truffle species belonging to the genus Tuber, irrespective of geographic origin, but not in other truffle genera sampled. This study offers relevant insights into the truffle microbiome and raises questions concerning the recruitment and function of these fungal-associated bacteria consortia.
Nanostructure of a-Si:H and Related Materials by Small-Angle X-Ray Scattering

The use of small-angle x-ray scattering to examine nanostructural features of a-Si:H and the related alloys a-SiGe:H and a-SiC:H will be reviewed. A wide range of H, Ge, and C compositions has been investigated. The films examined came from several film- and device-making groups and represent current state-of-the-art solar cell material or attempts to develop improved and more stable material. A detailed comparison of the three classes of materials reveals dramatic differences in nanostructure. The diffuse component of the small-angle scattering, not recognized or discussed in previous small-angle scattering experiments on these materials by other groups, is shown to contain potentially valuable information on the atomic-scale structure.
Misbehaving science: controversy and the development of behavior genetics

What does it mean for science to misbehave? This is the question that drives Aaron Panofsky's detailed and compelling account of behavior genetics. Tracing the field's history since its inception i...
Advanced metastatic testicular cancer: the need for reporting results according to initial extent of disease.

AbstractDuring an 8-year period 63 consecutive patients were treated for the first time for extensive metastatic nonseminomatous testicular cancer. Four patients did not respond sufficiently to chemotherapy to be considered surgical candidates, while 59 underwent surgical resection of retroperitoneal disease. Of these 59 patients 19 had concomitant wedge resection of associated pulmonary disease and 9 had a planned subsequent resection of residual pulmonary disease. Of the 63 patients 16 had stage B3 disease alone and 47 presented with pulmonary metastases associated with varying degrees of retroperitoneal disease. The most important determinant for survival was extent of pulmonary disease. Of 17 deaths 14 occurred among patients presenting with extensive pulmonary disease. Patients with minimal to moderate pulmonary disease have done well regardless of the extent of coexistent abdominal disease, 24 of 27 (89 per cent) remaining in sustained complete remission. Of 16 patients with massive palpable abdomin...
Paul Klee’s Memory in Exile

In 1915 Paul Klee had established for himself a reasoned equation between memory and abstraction and expressed it with the metaphor of the crystal. In 1934 he reactivated the metaphor under the impact of a text by Andre Breton about the crystal as the symbol of a biographical coherence of life and art. In 1940, he adapted the title, and biographical significance, of Paul Gauguin’s Whence Do We Come? Who Are We? Where Are We Going ? for a similar retrospective survey of his art. This recurrent quest for a reassurance of autobiographical continuity was Klee’s response to the precariousness of his exile situation and his deteriorating health. Such a continuity was urgent for his notion of a cohesive “development”, which required the artist both to draw on earlier stages and to project the future direction of his oeuvre.
Practice Wisdom Meets Evidence-Based Practice: Building Capacity in Agencies

ABSTRACTAgencies have a need to develop and evaluate therapeutic practices that show efficacy in treating specific client problems. University-agency collaborations combine the wisdom of practitioners with research skills that appraise evidence of efficacy, operationalize concepts and skills, and identify and implement evaluation methods. This article discusses the processes involved as practitioners and administrators collaborated with university researchers to transform a well-established mutual aid (MA) model of group work into an evidence-based model that showed efficacy in preventing substance use with adolescent populations. A case study will include the phases of the collaboration including relationship building, reviews of similar programs, identification of appropriate evaluation measures, development of a curricular-based manual and analysis and interpretation of the data for use in applying for funding. Implications for agency practice that respond to current demands in social services will be ...
A PIECEWISE LINEAR PETROV-GALERKIN ANALYSIS OF THE BOX-METHOD

For the type of boundary value problems which figure in the drift-diffusion semiconductor model, the perpendicular-bisecting box-method discretization yields M-matrices and maximum stability on Delaunay triangulations, whereas the piecewise linear finite element discretization need not. In two dimensions this discrepancy is due to variability of coefficients in the drift-diffusion equations. In three dimensions the difference is, furthermore, of geometric origin. Some results for both dimensionalities are presented and discussed.
Generalization of the Darcy-Buckingham Law: Optimality and Water Flow in Unsaturated Media

The Darcy-Buckingham law extends Darcy’s law from single phase flow in the subsurface to multiphase flow and was discovered by Edgar Buckingham (1867–1940). It is valid under the local-equilibrium condition that, however, does not always hold especially when fingering flow occurs. This chapter is devoted to generalizing the Darcy-Buckingham law by relaxing the local-equilibrium condition. The new development is based on an optimality principle that water flow in unsaturated media self-organizes in such a way that the resistance to water flow is minimized. Unlike the traditional form of the Darcy-Buckingham law, the relative permeability in the generalization is also a function of water flux, which is a direct result of the non-equilibrium flow behavior. The generalized Darcy-Buckingham law has been shown to be consistent with laboratory observations and field data for gravitational fingering flow in unsaturated soils. It is also the theoretical foundation for the active fracture model, the key constitutive relationship for modeling flow and transport in the unsaturated zone of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, that is the national geological disposal site for high-level nuclear waste in USA.
Anemia is not a risk factor for developing pulmonary embolism.

Abstract Objective Our aim was to validate the previously published claim of a positive relationship between low blood hemoglobin level (anemia) and pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods This was a retrospective study of patients undergoing cross-sectional imaging to evaluate for PE at an academic medical center. Patients were identified using billing records for charges attributed to either magnetic resonance angiography or computed tomography angiography of the chest from 2008 to 2013. The main outcome measure was mean hemoglobin levels among those with and without PE. Our reference standard for PE status included index imaging results and a 6-month clinical follow-up for the presence of interval venous thromboembolism, conducted via review of the electronic medical record. Secondarily, we performed a subgroup analysis of only those patients who were seen in the emergency department. Finally, we again compared mean hemoglobin levels when limiting our control population to an age- and sex-matched cohort of the included cases. Results There were 1294 potentially eligible patients identified, of whom 121 were excluded. Of the remaining 1173 patients, 921 had hemoglobin levels analyzed within 24 hours of their index scan and thus were included in the main analysis. Of those 921 patients, 107 (11.6%; 107/921) were positive for PE. We found no significant difference in mean hemoglobin level between those with and without PE regardless of the control group used (12.4 ± 2.1 g/dL and 12.3 ± 2.0 g/dL [ P = .85], respectively). Conclusions Our data demonstrated no relationship between anemia and PE.
Atmospheric pCO 2 control on speleothem stable carbon isotope compositions

Abstract The stable carbon isotope compositions of C3 plants are controlled by the carbon isotope composition of atmospheric CO2 (δ13Ca) and by the stomatal response to water stress. These relationships permit the reconstruction of ancient environments and assessment of the water use efficiency of forests. It is currently debated whether the δ13C values of C3 plants are also controlled by atmospheric pCO2. Here I show that globally-averaged speleothem δ13C values closely track atmospheric pCO2 over the past 90 kyr. After accounting for other possible effects, this coupling is best explained by a C3 plant δ13C sensitivity of − 1.6 ± 0.3 ‰ / 100 ppmV CO2 during the Quaternary. This is consistent with 20th century European forest tree ring δ13C records, providing confidence in the result and suggesting that the modest pCO2-driven increase in water use efficiency determined for those ecosystems and simulated by land surface models accurately approximates the global average response. The δ13C signal from C3 plants is transferred to speleothems relatively rapidly. Thus, the effect of atmospheric pCO2 should be subtracted from new and existing speleothem δ13C records so that residual δ13C shifts can be interpreted in light of the other factors known to control spleleothem δ13C values. Furthermore, global average speleothem δ13C shifts may be used to develop a continuous radiometric chronology for Pleistocene atmospheric pCO2 fluctuations and, by correlation, ice core climate records.
Differential Regulation of MicroRNA Expression In Polycythemia Vera CD34+ Cells

Abstract 4785 Introduction: Polycythemia vera (PV) is a clonal stem cell disorder characterized by unregulated red cell, white cell and platelet production, a phenotype attributable to an activating point mutation (V617F) in JAK2, a tyrosine kinase utilized for signaling by Type 1 hematopoietic growth factor receptors. However, it is generally conceded that JAK2 V617F is not the initiating mutation in PV, nor are any of the other gene mutations, deletions and amplifications discovered to date. Deregulated gene transcription is also a feature of PV but a unified mechanism for this also cannot be ascribed to the currently known genetic defects. MicroRNAs (miRs) are non-coding 18–22nt RNAs that function as posttranscriptional gene repressors by binding to complementary target sequences in the mRNA 3′UTR to inhibit protein translation. There is growing evidence that miRs regulate hematopoiesis not only at the committed hematopoietic progenitor cell level but also at the level of the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC). Studies of miR behavior in PV have documented differential expression during erythroid differentiation as well as differential expression in granulocytes and platelets. However, PV is a stem cell disorder and to date there has been no analysis of miR behavior in PV HSC. We report here differential miR expression in PV peripheral blood (pb) CD34+ cells. Methods: We studied pb CD34 + cells from eight PV patients (four females and four males, all JAK2 V617F-positive) and six normal donors (three females and three males) in conjunction with a study of mRNA expression in PV pb CD34+ cells by oligonucleotide microarray. Using total cell RNA, microRNA expression was analyzed with the Agilent Human microRNA Microarray Kit Version 3, which contains probes for 866 human miRs. The TaqMan MicroRNA Assay (Applied Biosystems) was used for quantitative reverse-transcription PCR to verify differential miR expression. The Student unpaired t test was used for statistical analysis and P values £ 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Overall, in the 8 PV patients as a group, there were 130 positive calls with differential regulation of 81 miRs (p Conclusion: These data establish the presence of differential miR expression in PV HSC and provide insight into potential mechanisms for PV HSC expansion, confirm a genetic basis for the gender-specific differences that characterize PV and identify novel therapeutic targets for drug discovery. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
A population service evaluation of the ADHD pathway of children and young people's services, Malta

Introduction ADHD is the commonest neurodevelopmental disorder in young people (YP) aged 5–18 years. YP with untreated ADHD are 5 times more likely to develop co-morbid psychiatric disorders. Objectives To carry out a population service evaluation of the assessment process and management of YP with ADHD at Child and Young People's Service (CYPS), Malta age 0–16 years for 2014. Aims To describe the service input, assessment and treatment of YP attending CYPS and compare to ADHD NICE guidelines 2008. Methods All patients diagnosed with ADHD at CYPS throughout 2014 were included. The incidence of YP with ADHD on treatment age 3–16 years in Malta was calculated. Information was collected from; (i) retrospective case file review and (ii) methylphenidate and atomoxetine registry and compared with NICE guidelines. Results One hundred and thirty-six YP were diagnosed with ADHD. The minimum 12-month incidence of ADHD on treatment (3–16 years) in Malta was 553 per 100,000. Pre-diagnosis assessments were more frequently performed by other YP services (n = 97, 71.3%, P ≤ 0.01). A psychiatrist or paediatrician confirmed the diagnosis in 113 (83.1%). Sixty-two (45.3%) of YP were prescribed medication, 50 (36.8%) were referred for parental skills course and 55 (40.4%) psychotherapy. Mean waiting time for first appointment was 187.6 days (CI ± 26.9, 0–720), and first specialist review was 301.0 days (CI ± 34.4, 0–800) ( Table 1 , Table 2 , Table 3 ). Conclusions The incidence for YP (3–16 years) with ADHD on treatment was lower than the US. Since most pre-diagnostic assessments were carried out by other services, this raised the question about the reliability and validity. We recommend a diagnostic MDT meeting following the multimodal assessment to diagnose ADHD. Medication prescribing followed NICE overall, standardising non-pharmacological management is required.
The Far Ultraviolet Cotton Effects of Synthetic Polyamino Acids

The far ultraviolet Cotton effects of synthetic polyamino acids have been studied extensively in several laboratories. Since the conformation of some of the polymers was established by other methods, attempts have been made to correlate the Cotton effect data with conformation. Poly-α-l-glutamic acid and poly-α-l-lysine are the most thoroughly investigated polymers, and they have proved their value as models for the study of protein conformation. Very important in this field are the discoveries of Blout, Schmier, and Simmons (1962), Sarkar and Doty (1966), and Greenfield, Davidson, and Fasman (1967).
The quantitative and qualitative contributions of faith based organizations to healthcare: The Kenya case

Though difficult to ascertain because faith based organizations (FBOs) might keep a low profile, be confused with other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), or survey respondents may not know the nature of facilities attended to, these organizations have a long presence in teaching health personnel and delivering health services in many rural and remote populations in the developing world. It is argued that their large networks, logistics agreements with governments, and mission-driven stance brings them closer to the communities they serve, and their services believed of higher quality than average. Kenya has a long history of established FBOs substantial recent health investment by the government. We aimed to find the quantitative and qualitative contributions of FBOs by analyzing two recent data sources: the live web-based nationwide Master Health Facility List, and the 2010 nationwide Service Provision Assessment (SPA) survey. Using this information, we found that FBOs contribute to 11% of all health facilities’ presence in the country, doubling to 23% of all available beds, indicating their relative strength in owning mid-level hospitals around the country. We also constructed an index of readiness as a weighted average from services offered, good management practices and availability of medicines and commodities for 17 items assessed during the SPA survey. We found that FBOs topped the list of managing authorities, with 70 percent of health facility readiness, followed closely by the government at 69 percent, NGOs at 61 percent and lastly a distant private for profit sector at 50 percent. These results seem to indicate that FBOs continue to contribute to an important proportion of health care coverage in Kenya, and that they do so with a relatively high quality of care among all actors. It would be of interest to replicate the analysis with similar databases for other countries in the developing world.
Shaping semantic networks with transcranial direct current stimulation

Images depict specific objects (e.g., a specific dog), yet are named with categorical labels (e.g., "dog"). We examined how semantic representations activated by images may be influenced by implicit labelling. Participants saw images of familiar objects and generated words associated with each image while undergoing transcranial direct current stimulation over the posterior superior temporal gyrus. Additional participants judged how representative generated associates were of the picture category and guessed the category based on the associates. Anodal stimulation was predicted to up-regulate labelling and thereby increase the extent to which participants produced associate that were more representative of the pictured category. Associates generated by anodally stimulated subjects were found to be more representative and enabled more accurate guessing of the category from which they were generated. The general pattern of results was replicated in a follow-up study using words rather than picture cues. Together these results suggest labelling may help stabilise semantic representations, leading to more robust representation of category-relevant information.
The Effect of Visual Clutter on Driver Eye Glance Behavior

Drivers’ eye glance behavior was examined as they drove on a variety of roadways that varied in visual clutter and the presence or absence of advertising billboards. Eye glance behavior appeared to be more heavily influenced by the nature of the driving task than by the stimulus attributes along the roadside. The mean proportion of glances to the road ahead ranged between 0.80 and 0.87 across conditions. The lowest mean proportion of glances to the road ahead was seen in conditions of high visual clutter, which contained off-premise billboards. Under high levels of clutter, drivers directed more glances to the left and right side of the road than under conditions of low clutter. The longest mean glance durations away from the forward roadway were to the right side of the road (0.105 s) and not to billboards. Mean glances to billboards were 0.078 s and 0.087 s under low and high clutter environments, respectively. The results showed that level of visual clutter present in the highway environment affects how drivers glance at scenes. However, this did not appear to be at the expense of focusing on the forward roadway.
Studies on multi-antibiotic resistant strains of staphylococcus aureus

Twenty-seven isolates ofStaphylococcus aureus were found to be resistant to methicillin, nafcillin, tobramycin, gentamicin, amikacin, cefoxitin, clindamycin, erythromycin and chloramphenicol by disc diffusion testing and tube dilution studies; they were sensitive to cefamandole, cephalothin and vancomycin by disc testing. A discrepancy between minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations was noted for the cephalosporins which was not appreciated on disc testing. All isolates were very sensitive to rifampin (minimum bactericidal concentration 0.3 mg/l). All isolates were susceptible to phage type 83A. A subpopulation of variant small-colony forms ofStaphylococcus aureus was recovered when superinhibitory amounts of aminoglycosides and methicillin were used. The variantStaphylococcus aureus strains retained the same antibiotic susceptibility patterns and phage type as their parent strain ofStaphylococcus aureus. Further studies are in progress concerning these isolates and their impact on the hospital flora at our institution.
Surgical Treatment of Rectocele: Gynecologic Approaches

Unlike surgery to treat urinary stress or fecal incontinence, for which a patient usually undergoes careful preoperative evaluation, the gynecologic preoperative evaluation of a symptomatic posterior vaginal bulge typically includes only a history and physical examination. Gynecologists have not adopted the performance of defecography or other evaluation techniques for the evaluation of this anatomic defect. Although 80% of colorectal surgeons use defecography, only 6% of gynecologists use it. In addition, differentiation between enterocele and rectocele components of posterior vaginal wall prolapse is typically performed on a clinical and intraoperative basis, rather than radiographically. It is unclear at this time whether surgical therapy outcomes are negatively impacted by the lack of preoperative evaluation beyond a history and physical exam. Most gynecologists consider repair of the rectocele to be commonly necessary during routine pelvic reconstructive procedures, and it is associated with low morbidity for their patients. Herniation of the rectum or posterior vaginal wall into the vaginal canal, resulting in a vaginal bulge, is commonly termed a rectocele. Women may complain of perineal and vaginal pressure, obstructive defecation, constipation, and the need to splint or digitally reduce the vagina in order to effectuate a bowel movement. These anatomic defects arise from a superior, inferior, or lateral tear or central stretching of the rectovaginal fascia. If the weakness is present below the levator musculature, it is termed a rectocoele. If the weakness occurs above the levator muscles, it is more likely an enterocele. Very commonly, both anatomic defects coexist. Although anatomic cure rates with surgery are high, there are conflicting reports with regard to functional outcome, postoperative defecatory symptoms, and sexual dysfunction including dyspareunia. Marked differences exist between the management approaches followed by urogynecologists and colorectal surgeons. Rectocele repair, or posterior colporrhaphy, represents one of the most commonly performed gynecologic pelvic reconstructive procedures. In a recent survey, 100% of gynecologists surveyed managed rectoceles, whereas 68% of colorectal surgeons manage them. There are a large number of gynecologic indications for rectocele repair (Table 19.1). The restoration of normal anatomy to the posterior vaginal wall is referred to as an enterocele repair if it involves the upper posterior vaginal wall, and as a posterior repair or colporrhaphy if the lower wall is involved. Although sometimes used interchangeably with the term rectocele 19 Surgical Treatment of Rectocele: Gynecologic Approaches
A comparison of approaches to Importance-Performance Analysis

Several different approaches have been used to undertake Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA), aka quadrant analysis or gap analysis. This study compares methods across 15 datasets and finds that ...
What is the Origin of the Rest of the Elements

All the nuclei from carbon to lead, and even beyond to thorium and uranium, are produced by nuclear reactions in stars. The reactions that produce each group of nuclei operate under conditions of density and temperature that characterize the phase of stellar evolution in which these reactions occur. Thus helium is made in hydrogen burning, carbon and oxygen are produced in helium burning, neon and more oxygen are made carbon burning, and so forth until the final phase of nucleosynthesis that occurs in massive stars makes iron and nickel. Along the way, during helium burning, heavier nuclei up to bismuth are synthesized. Massive stars ultimately explode as supernovae, which enables another process that produces nuclei as heavy as thorium and uranium. This chapter provides the basic features of all of these processes, as well as some of the basic characteristics of supernovae.
Organization of the Rapid Response System

The patient admitted to the hospital is already an individual who is at risk because of an underlying pathology that requires inpatient care. When patients decline, they have evidence of clinical deterioration (hypoxia, hypotension, tachypnoea, tachycardia, altered level of consciousness) that is often documented in the medical record 8 to 48 hours prior to a crisis being detected. Furthermore, even if symptoms of critical illness are discovered, they maybe undertreated [2, 3]. This gap between needs and resources can lead to death. The best hospitals are able to find and treat sudden-onset critically ill patients (often with transfer to the intensive care unit — ICU) before harm occurs [1]. In essence, these sudden-onset critically ill patients have an immediate increased need of the resources available for their care. The failure to resolve the mismatch between patient needs and available resources is the cause of the medical emergency [4]. This chapter discusses the system for detecting patients with sudden critical care needs outside the intensive care unit (ICU), and then reliably and efficiently provide them with the resources their lives depend upon.
A REVIEW OF ELEMENTARY APPROXIMATION TECHNIQUES FOR PLASTIC DEFORMATION OF PULSE-LOADED STRUCTURES

ABSTRACT The techniques reviewed and compared include single degree of freedom models, the mode approximation technique, and upper and lower bounds on maximum displacement and response time. These are discussed in terms of rigid-perfectly plastic response to general load pulses (Fig. 1). The relations between the techniques and to results for elastic-plastic structures are discussed.