cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vasovagal syncope in children requiring pacemaker implantation

Four children presented with episodic loss of consciousness. Two of the children were siblings. Neurologic causes were initially suspected in all but extensive evaluations and EEGs excluded seizures. ECGs in one patient demonstrated first- and second-degree AV block and first-degree AV block in another. The QT and QTc intervals were normal in all. Eyeball pressure in all patients produced profound bradycardia. All patients became asymptomatic after the implantation of pacemakers, although one died 15 months afterward from another cause.
Generation of a novel phase-space-based cylindrical dose kernel for IMRT optimization.

Purpose: Improving dose calculation accuracy is crucial in intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). We have developed a method for generating a phase-space-based dose kernel for IMRT planning of lung cancer patients. Methods: Particle transport in the linear accelerator treatment head of a 21EX, 6 MV photon beam (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) was simulated using the EGSnrc/BEAMnrc code system. The phase space information was recorded under the secondary jaws. Each particle in the phase space file was associated with a beamlet whose index was calculated and saved in the particle’s LATCH variable. The DOSXYZnrc code was modified to accumulate the energy deposited by each particle based on its beamlet index. Furthermore, the central axis of each beamlet was calculated from the orientation of all the particles in this beamlet. A cylinder was then defined around the central axis so that only the energy deposited within the cylinder was counted. A look-up table was established for each cylinder during the tallying process. The efficiency and accuracy of the cylindrical beamlet energy deposition approach was evaluated using a treatment plan developed on a simulated lung phantom. Results: Profile and percentage depth doses computed in a water phantom for an open, square field size were within 1.5% of measurements. Dose optimized with the cylindrical dose kernel was found to be within 0.6% of that computed with the nontruncated 3D kernel. The cylindrical truncation reduced optimization time by approximately 80%. Conclusions: A method for generating a phase-space-based dose kernel, using a truncated cylinder for scoring dose, in beamlet-based optimization of lung treatment planning was developed and found to be in good agreement with the standard, nontruncated scoring approach. Compared to previous techniques, our method significantly reduces computational time and memory requirements, which may be useful for Monte-Carlo-based 4D IMRT or IMAT treatment planning.
Beginning regular exercise in early pregnancy: Effect on fetoplacental growth

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to test the null hypothesis that beginning regular, moderate-intensity exercise in early pregnancy has no effect on fetoplacental growth. Study Design: Forty-six women who did not exercise regularly were randomly assigned at 8 weeks either to no exercise (n = 24) or to weight-bearing exercise (n = 22) 3 to 5 times a week for the remainder of pregnancy. Outcome variables included antenatal placental growth rate and neonatal and placental morphometric measurements. Results: The offspring of the exercising women were significantly heavier (corrected birth weight: 3.75 ± 0.08 kg vs 3.49 ± 0.07 kg) and longer (51.8 ± 0.3 cm vs 50.6 ± 0.3 cm) than those born to control women. The difference in birth weight was the result of an increase in both lean body mass and fat mass. In addition, midtrimester placental growth rate was faster (26 ± 2 cm 3 /wk vs 21 ± 1 cm 3 /wk) and morphometric indexes of placental function were greater in the exercise group. There were no significant differences in neonatal percentage body fat, head circumference, ponderal index, or maternal weight gain. Conclusions: These data indicate that beginning a moderate regimen of weight-bearing exercise in early pregnancy enhances fetoplacental growth. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;183:1484-8.)
Women and trade unions 1870–1920: The quandary of the reformer

(1973). Women and trade unions 1870–1920: The quandary of the reformer. Labor History: Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 42-55.
Uranium-series dating of sediments from searles lake: differences between continental and marine climate records.

One of the major unresolved questions in Pleistocene paleoclimatology has been whether continental climatic transitions are consistent with the glacial δ 18 O marine record. Searles Lake in California, now a dry salt pan, is underlain by sediment layers deposited in a succession of lakes whose levels and salinities have fluctuated in response to changes in climate over the last 3 x 10 6 years. Uraniumseries dates on the salt beds range from 35 x 10 3 to 231x 10 3 years. This range of dates allows identification of lake-sediment horizons that are time correlatives of the boundaries of marine isotope stages from the recent 3/4 boundary back to the 8/9 boundary. The 5/6 boundary coincided with a deepening of the lake, but the analogous 1/2 boundary coincided with desiccation. The 3/4, 4/5, 6/7, 7/8, and 8/9 boundaries correspond in age to horizons that record little or no change in sedimentation or climate. These hydrologic results demonstrate that the continental paleoclimate record at this mid-latitude site does not mimic the marine record.
Un modèle fonctionnel murin d’ischémie d’effort de la patte arrière

Objectif A ce jour, les modeles murins d’exercice sur tapis roulant ont ete utilises pour etudier la physiologie globale et l’angiogenese au cours de l’ischemie des pattes arrieres. Le but de nos experiences etait de developper un modele murin d’ischemie d’effort des membres afin de reproduire la claudication humaine. L’objectif primaire etait de determiner si l’exercice sur tapis roulant refletait une reponse hemodynamique compatible avec la reponse hyperemique observee chez les humains. Methodes Des souris âgees hypercholesterolemiques ApoE deficitaires (ApoE -/- , n = 13) ont ete soumises a une ligature de l’artere femorale (LAF) et etudiees apres recuperation de la phase ischemique aigue. La perfusion peripherique des pattes arrieres au repos a ete determinee par des evaluations successives en laser Doppler (LD) 0, 7 et 14 jours suivant la LAF. Durant les experimentations, les souris ont egalement ete testees pour un score ischemique pre etabli en 5 points cliniques s’adressant aux degres d’amputation digitale, de necrose et de cyanose compares avec le membre controlateral non ischemique. Apres stabilisation du ratio LD (flux dans le membre ischemique / flux dans le membre controlateral non ischemique) et du score ischemique clinique, les souris ont ete soumises a un exercice sur tapis roulant pendant deux jours (10 min a 10 m/min, inclinaison de 10°) suivi par un exercice quotidien sur tapis roulant de 60 minutes (13 m/min, inclinaison de 10°) jusqu’au 25 eme jour. Une evaluation par LD de la perfusion avant et apres exercice a ete effectuee a deux reprises a la suite de la mise en route de l’exercice quotidien. Durant l’evaluation, apres les premieres 15 minutes d’exercice, un LD a ete effectue en quatre exemplaires, afin d’identifier les ratios de pics de flux. L’analyse statistique a inclus des tests non apparies et une analyse de variance. Resultats Apres LAF, le ratio de flux LD a atteint un nadir entre les 1 er et 2 eme jour, puis s’est stabilise au 14 eme jour et est reste stable jusqu’au 25 eme jour. Le score ischemique clinique s’est stabilise au 7 eme jour et est reste stable durant toute la duree de l’experimentation. En se basant sur la stabilisation du score clinique ischemique et du ratio LD, l’exercice a repris au 15 eme jour. Le pic de ratio LD a 15 minutes de l’exercice s’est accru significativement compare avec le ratio pre exercice a J17 (0,48 ± 0,04 vs. 0,34 ± 0,04, p eme jour (0,37 ± 0,03 vs. 0,27 ± 0,03, p Conclusion Une stabilisation clinique et hemodynamique de perfusion du membre est evidente dans les 14 jours suivant la LAF. La LAF suivie par l’ischemie d’effort permet d’observer une reponse reversible hyperemique relative similaire a celle observee chez les claudicants humains a l’exercice. Un modele murin de LAF associe a une ischemie d’effort pourrait etre utile afin d’evaluer les variations metaboliques, inflammatoires et dependantes du flux associees a la claudication chez les humains.
LC-MS/MS quantitation of esophagus disease blood serum glycoproteins by enrichment with hydrazide chemistry and lectin affinity chromatography.

Changes in glycosylation have been shown to have a profound correlation with development/malignancy in many cancer types. Currently, two major enrichment techniques have been widely applied in glycoproteomics, namely, lectin affinity chromatography (LAC)-based and hydrazide chemistry (HC)-based enrichments. Here we report the LC–MS/MS quantitative analyses of human blood serum glycoproteins and glycopeptides associated with esophageal diseases by LAC- and HC-based enrichment. The separate and complementary qualitative and quantitative data analyses of protein glycosylation were performed using both enrichment techniques. Chemometric and statistical evaluations, PCA plots, or ANOVA test, respectively, were employed to determine and confirm candidate cancer-associated glycoprotein/glycopeptide biomarkers. Out of 139, 59 common glycoproteins (42% overlap) were observed in both enrichment techniques. This overlap is very similar to previously published studies. The quantitation and evaluation of significantly...
Rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocyte migration in vitro in response to dental plaque.

Human dental plaque extracts in Gey's medium and whole human saliva were tested in the Boyden Chamber system for chemotactic activity against rabbit peritoneal polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Positive controls were a semipurified bacterial chemotactic factor and a complement derived chemotactic factor, Gey's medium alone served as a negative control. The method appeared to be very sensitive as concentrations of less than one mg plaque per ml medium gave a clear chemotactic response. Whole human saliva was less chemotactic than dental plaque. Incubation of equal concentrations of plaque extract in both the upper and lower compartments of the Boyden Chamber did not result in a large increase in cell migration, indicating that most cell migration in reaction to dental plaque extract in this system depends on a concentration gradient. The chemotactic factor or factors were present in plaque at the time it was collected, they were readily dissolvable in water, and they were heat stable. The dose range in which dental plaque extract would evoke a chemotactic response was variable and usually very narrow. Replicate tests. yielded highly variable results indicating that this method is not suitable for quantitative comparisons. Extracts of the same dilution were prepared from dental plaque samples from a small population with varying degrees of gingivitis. Differences in chemotactic response to those samples could not be related to the intensity of gingivitis.
Mitochondrial development in Trypanosoma brucei brucei transitional bloodstream forms

Intermediate and short stumpy bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei brucei are transitional stages in the differentiation of mammal-infective long slender bloodstream forms into the procyclic forms found in the midgut of the tsetse vector. Although the mitochondria of the proliferative long slender forms do not accumulate rhodamine 123, the mitochondria of the transitional forms attain this ability thus revealing the development of an electromotive force (EMF) across the inner mitochondrial membrane. The EMF is inhibited by 2,4-dinitrophenol, rotenone and salicylhydroxamic acid but not by antimycin A or cyanide. Consequently, NADH dehydrogenase, site I of oxidative phosphorylation, is the source of the EMF and the plant-like trypanosome alternative oxidase (TAO) supports the electron flow serving as the terminal oxidase of the chain. Although the TAO is present in the long slender forms as well, it serves only as the terminal oxidase for electrons from glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. The data presented here, combined with older data, lead to the conclusion that the mitochondria of transitional intermediate and short stumpy forms likely produce ATP. This putative production is either by F1F0 ATPase driven by the complex I proton pump or by mitochondrial substrate level phosphorylation, or most likely by both. These conclusions contrast with the previously held dogma that all bloodstream form mitochondria are incapable of ATP production.
Large‐scale hydraulic tomography and joint inversion of head and tracer data using the Principal Component Geostatistical Approach (PCGA)

The stochastic geostatistical inversion approach is widely used in subsurface inverse problems to estimate unknown parameter fields and corresponding uncertainty from noisy observations. However, the approach requires a large number of forward model runs to determine the Jacobian or sensitivity matrix, thus the computational and storage costs become prohibitive when the number of unknowns, m, and the number of observations, n increase. To overcome this challenge in large-scale geostatistical inversion, the Principal Component Geostatistical Approach (PCGA) has recently been developed as a “matrix-free” geostatistical inversion strategy that avoids the direct evaluation of the Jacobian matrix through the principal components (low-rank approximation) of the prior covariance and the drift matrix with a finite difference approximation. As a result, the proposed method requires about K runs of the forward problem in each iteration independently of m and n, where K is the number of principal components and can be much less than m and n for large-scale inverse problems. Furthermore, the PCGA is easily adaptable to different forward simulation models and various data types for which the adjoint-state method may not be implemented suitably. In this paper, we apply the PCGA to representative subsurface inverse problems to illustrate its efficiency and scalability. The low-rank approximation of the large-dimensional dense prior covariance matrix is computed through a randomized eigen decomposition. A hydraulic tomography problem in which the number of observations is typically large is investigated first to validate the accuracy of the PCGA compared with the conventional geostatistical approach. Then the method is applied to a large-scale hydraulic tomography with 3 million unknowns and it is shown that underlying subsurface structures are characterized successfully through an inversion that involves an affordable number of forward simulation runs. Lastly, we present a joint inversion of head and tracer test data using MODFLOW and MT3DMS as coupled black-box forward simulation solvers. These applications demonstrate the advantages of the PCGA, i.e., the scalability to high-dimensional inverse problems and the ability to utilize multiple forward models as black boxes.
Reflex motor output to torque pulses in man: identification of short- and long-latency loops with individual feedback parameters.

Abstract Pseudo-random torque disturbances were applied to the human forearm to characterize the relations between the reflex motor output and the kinematic variables using a linear model. The best least-squares fit to the model relating average electromyographic activity to forearm angular position, velocity and acceleration was obtained by assuming separate time delays for each kinematic variable. Best estimates for the time delays were 86 ms for position, 25 ms for velocity and 45 ms for acceleration. The central structures which could be primarily involved in mediating the velocity and acceleration feedbacks are discussed.
Diffuse extent of coronary atherosclerosis in fatal coronary artery disease

In 4 subsets of patients with coronary artery disease, the amounts of narrowing of the 4 major epicardial coronary arteries were compared (left main, left anterior descending, left circumflex and right) by atherosclerotic plaques. Among 129 patients studied at necropsy, an average of 2.7 of the 4 arteries were narrowed greater than 75% in cross-sectional area at some point; in control subjects, narrowing was seen in an average of 0.7 arteries. Patients with unstable angina pectoris had a greater incidence of narrowing (3.2 arteries) than did patients with sudden coronary death (2.8), acute myocardial infarction (MI) (2.7) or healed MI (2.3). Each of the 4 major arteries was divided into segments 5 mm in length, and histologic sections were prepared and stained by the Movat method. A total of 6,461 segments were analyzed from the 129 patients and 1,849 from the 40 controls. In the 129 patients, 35% of the 5-mm segments were narrowed 75 to 100% in cross-sectional area (compared with 3% in control subjects). The group with unstable angina had the highest percentage (48%) of severely narrowed segments compared with the groups with sudden coronary death (36%), acute (34%) and healed MI (31%). Only 8% of the 6,461 segments were narrowed less than or equal to 25% in cross-sectional area, and virtually none of the 6,461 segments was normal; thus, 92% of the coronary segments were narrowed greater than 25% in cross-sectional area by atherosclerotic plaque alone. Among patients with fatal coronary artery disease studied at necropsy, therefore, the atherosclerotic process is severe and diffuse in the major epicardial coronary arteries.
Association of gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor α2 gene (GABRA2) with alcohol use disorder.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in mammalian brain. GABA receptor are involved in a number of complex disorders, including substance abuse. No variants of the commonly studied GABA receptor genes that have been associated with substance dependence have been determined to be functional or pathogenic. To reconcile the conflicting associations with substance dependence traits, we performed a meta-analysis of variants in the GABAA receptor genes (GABRB2, GABRA6, GABRA1, and GABRG2 on chromosome 5q and GABRA2 on chromosome 4p12) using genotype data from 4739 cases of alcohol, opioid, or methamphetamine dependence and 4924 controls. Then, we combined the data from candidate gene association studies in the literature with two alcohol dependence (AD) samples, including 1691 cases and 1712 controls from the Study of Addiction: Genetics and Environment (SAGE), and 2644 cases and 494 controls from our own study. Using a Bonferroni-corrected threshold of 0.007, we found strong associations between GABRA2 and AD (P=9 × 10−6 and odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.27 (1.15, 1.4) for rs567926, P=4 × 10−5 and OR=1.21 (1.1, 1.32) for rs279858), and between GABRG2 and both dependence on alcohol and dependence on heroin (P=0.0005 and OR=1.22 (1.09, 1.37) for rs211014). Significant association was also observed between GABRA6 rs3219151 and AD. The GABRA2 rs279858 association was observed in the SAGE data sets with a combined P of 9 × 10−6 (OR=1.17 (1.09, 1.26)). When all of these data sets, including our samples, were meta-analyzed, associations of both GABRA2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms remained (for rs567926, P=7 × 10−5 (OR=1.18 (1.09, 1.29)) in all the studies, and P=8 × 10−6 (OR=1.25 (1.13, 1.38)) in subjects of European ancestry and for rs279858, P=5 × 10−6 (OR=1.18 (1.1, 1.26)) in subjects of European ancestry. Findings from this extensive meta-analysis of five GABAA receptor genes and substance abuse support their involvement (with the best evidence for GABRA2) in the pathogenesis of AD. Further replications with larger samples are warranted.
PIN-amplifier receiver OEICs with a single 5-V power supply and a large photosensitive area

Receiver optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEICs) for long-wavelength optical fiber communications attract a lot of attention because of their high-speed operation and high functionality. A receiver OEIC with an ultra-wide bandwidth of 6 GHz and an eight-channel receiver OEIC array with gigabit/s operation have been successfully demonstrated in recent years.1,2 In addition, receiver OEICs have a great potential for mass production, which results in cost reduction of components for optical fiber communication systems such as optical data-links. For such a use, a large photosensitive area and a single power supply are required for easy assembly, easy handling, and simplification of the systems. Most of the receiver OEICs ever reported, however, had a relatively small photosensitive area to reduce the input capacitance for high-speed operation, and required more than two power supplies to achieve high performance. Few receiver OEICs with a single power supply have been reported.3,4 In this paper, we report PIN-amplifier receiver OEICs with a single 5-V power supply and a large photosensitive area, of which the primary use is in low-cost short-haul optical fiber communications, such as local area networks.
CNS insensitivity to pyrethroids in the resistant kdr strain of house flies

Abstract Solutions of tetramethrin, RU 11679, or cismethrin caused uncoupled convulsions in 30–40 min in exposed thoracic ganglia from S NAIDM house flies at concentrations down to 10 −10 M : whereas these same compounds at 10 −6 M concentrations failed to produce poisoning symptoms when perfused onto the exposed ganglia of the kdr strain of house fly. The pyrethroid analogs examined had a negative temperature coefficient of action on the exposed thoracic ganglia from S NAIDM flies. DDT and GH-74 possessed positive temperature coefficients of action on the exposed thoracic ganglion of susceptible house flies. It is concluded that the central nervous system of the kdr strain of house fly is resistant to pyrethroid action; furthermore, the resistance appears to be widespread throughout the house fly nervous system, involving sensory, motor, and central neural elements.
Spade: An H chondrite impact-melt breccia that experienced post-shock annealing

The low modal abundances of relict chondrules (1.8 Vol%) and of coarse (i.e. >= 2200 micron-size) isolated mafic silicate grains (1.8 Vol%) in Spade relative to mean H6 chondrites (11.4 and 9.8 vol%, respectively) show Spade to be a rock that has experienced a significant degree of melting. Various petrographic features (e.g., chromite-plagioclase assemblages, chromite veinlets, silicate darkening) indicate that melting was caused by shock. Plagioclase was melted during the shock event and flowed so that it partially to completely surrounded nearby mafic silicate grains. During crystallization, plagioclase developed igneous zoning. Low-Ca pyroxene that crystallized from the melt (or equilibrated with the melt at high temperatures) acquired relatively high amounts of CaO. Metallic Fe-Ni cooled rapidly below the Fe-Ni solws and transformed into martensite. Subsequent reheating of the rock caused transformation of martensite into abundant duplex plessite. Ambiguities exist in the shock stage assignment of Spade. The extensive silicate darkening, the occurrence of chromite-plagioclase assemblages, and the impact-melted characteristics of Spade are consistent with shock stage S6. Low shock (stage S2) is indicated by the undulose extinction and lack of planar fractures in olivine. This suggests that Spade reached a maximum prior shock level equivalent to stage S6 and then experienced post-shock annealing (probably to stage Sl). These events were followed by a less intense impact that produced the undulose extinction in the olivine, characteristic of shock stage S2. Annealing could have occurred if Spade were emplaced near impact melts beneath the crater floor or deposited in close proximity to hot debris within an ejecta blanket. Spade firmly establishes the case for post-shock annealing. This may have been a common process on ordinary chondrites (OC) asteroids.
A flat laser array aperture

We describe a design concept for a flat (or conformal) thin-plate laser phased-array aperture. The aperture consists of a substrate supporting a grid of single-mode optical waveguides fabricated from a linear electro-optic material. The waveguides are coupled to a single laser source or detector. An arrangement of electrodes provides for two-dimensional beam steering by controlling the phase of the light entering the grid. The electrodes can also be modulated to simultaneously provide atmospheric turbulence modulation for long-range free-space optical communication. An approach for fabrication is also outlined.
Performance model of flooding in OLSR

OLSR is one of the most well developed routing protocols for MANETs. OLSR as a link state routing protocol relies on its flooding mechanism to disseminate topology information to all nodes in the network. However, the performance of the flooding algorithm is poorly understood. In this paper models of key performance metrics of this algorithm are presented. Specifically, it describes a model for the control overhead generated by the flooding algorithm and a model of efficiency in terms of network coverage. The models are validated against simulations. The results presented in this paper have significant implications for the standardization process.
Bulk dynamics in high energy collisions

Empirical scaling laws abstracted from observations pertaining to soft particle production in heavy ion collisions provide interesting connections with phenomena observed in elementary collisions (p+p, e+e−). Connections are made between these simple empirical rules and Landau's hydrodynamical model. The implications and problematics of the Landau initial conditions for strong interaction phenomenology are discussed, with some emphasis on their relevance to elementary collisions.
E-cadherin is required for intestinal morphogenesis in the mouse

E-cadherin, the primary epithelial adherens junction protein, has been implicated as playing a critical role in nucleating formation of adherens junctions, tight junctions, and desmosomes. In addition to its role in maintaining structural tissue integrity, E-cadherin has also been suggested as an important modulator of cell signaling via interactions with its cytoplasmic binding partners, catenins, as well as with growth factor receptors. Therefore, we proposed that loss of E-cadherin from the developing mouse intestinal epithelium would disrupt intestinal epithelial morphogenesis and function. To test this hypothesis, we used a conditional knockout approach to eliminate E-cadherin specifically in the intestinal epithelium during embryonic development. We found that E-cadherin conditional knockout mice failed to survive, dying within the first 24 hours of birth. Examination of intestinal architecture at E18.5 demonstrated severe disruption to intestinal morphogenesis in animals lacking E-cadherin in the epithelium of the small intestine. We observed changes in epithelial cell shape as well as in the morphology of villi. Although junctional complexes were evident, junctions were abnormal, and barrier function was compromised in E-cadherin mutant intestine. We also identified changes in the epithelial cell populations present in E-cadherin conditional knockout animals. The number of proliferating cells was increased, whereas the number of enterocytes was decreased. Although Wnt/β-catenin target mRNAs were more abundant in mutants compared with controls, the amount of nuclear activated β-catenin protein was dramatically lower in mutants compared with controls. In summary, our data demonstrate that E-cadherin is essential for intestinal epithelial morphogenesis and homeostasis during embryonic development.
Adverse drug reactions and the elderly.

Virtually all medications can produce undesirable side effects. The elderly are more likely to experience these adverse reactions as the result of age-related increases in the frequency of drug use, sensitivity to drug effects, and prevalence of predisposing conditions that can increase the frequency and severity of adverse drug reactions. Because the prevalence of disease increases with age, the elderly are frequent medication users. Persons age sixty-five or older comprise 12 percent of the U.S. population but use 32 percent of prescribed medications. The point-prevalence of prescription drug use is 80 percent for persons age sixty-five or older in the community, and even higher for those in nursing homes. The classes of medications used most commonly by the elderly include cardiovascular drugs, antimicrobials, analgesics, hypoglycemic agents, psychotropic drugs, and anti-arthritics. Increased sensitivity to drug effects among the elderly results from changes in pharmacokinetics (how the body absorbs, transforms, and excretes medications) and pharmacodynamics (the effect of the drug on the body). For many drugs, both the half-life of and active levels produced by a given dose increase with age, and for some drugs, a given active drug level will have a greater effect in older persons. This increase in sensitivity results from age-related changes in gastrointestinal, hepatic, and renal function; body composition; and drug receptor dynamics. Agerelated losses of physiologic function also may predispose the older patient to adverse drug reactions. For example, there is an average loss of approximately 0.5 to 1 percent of kidney filtering capacity each year after the fourth decade, so that a typical eighty-year-old has only 60–80
Emergency Management Challenges for the Obama Presidency

Abstract In 2002, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was placed within a newly created Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in reaction to 9/11. The flawed response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, especially flooding in New Orleans (NOLA), exposed numerous problems with the federal response. The Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act of 2006 (PKEMRA) called for some 300 changes in federal emergency management. The article outlines the major FEMA-related management challenges faced by the Obama Administration in implementing PKEMRA and places the discussion within the broader context of the role of DHS.
Projections from bed nuclei of the stria terminalis, anteromedial area: cerebral hemisphere integration of neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral aspects of energy balance.

The anteromedial area of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (BSTam) is the relatively undifferentiated region of the anterior medial (anteromedial) group of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (BSTamg), which also includes the more distinct dorsomedial, magnocellular, and ventral nuclei. The overall pattern of axonal projections from the rat BSTam was analyzed with the PHAL anterograde pathway tracing method. Brain areas receiving relatively moderate to strong inputs from the BSTam fall into five general categories: neuroendocrine system (regions containing pools of magnocellular oxytocin neurons, and parvicellular corticotropin-releasing hormone, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, somatostatin, and dopamine neurons); central autonomic control network (central amygdalar nucleus, descending paraventricular nucleus, and ventrolateral periaqueductal gray); hypothalamic visceromotor pattern generator network (5 of 6 known components); behavior control column (descending paraventricular nucleus and associated arcuate nucleus; ventral tegmental area and associated nucleus accumbens and substantia innominata); and behavioral state control (supramammillary and tuberomammillary nuclei). The BSTam projects lightly to thalamocortical feedback loops (via the medial-midline-intralaminar thalamus). Its pattern of axonal projections, combined with its pattern of neural inputs (the most varied of all BST cell groups), suggest that the BSTam is part of a striatopallidal differentiation involved in coordinating neuroendocrine, autonomic, and behavioral or somatic responses associated with maintaining energy balance homeostasis.
Neurochemistry of late‐life major depression: A pilot two‐dimensional MR spectroscopic study

Purpose To evaluate a two-dimensional localized chemical shift correlated spectroscopy (L-COSY) sequence in elderly patients with major depression. Materials and Methods A total of 33 healthy elderly subjects and 15 elderly patients with major depression were investigated. A voxel size of 3 × 3 × 3 cm3 was chosen in the dorsolateral prefrontal region with predominantly white matter, with the use of three slice-selective radiofrequency (RF) pulses (90°, 180°, and 90°). A chemical shift-selective (CHESS) sequence was used prior to volume localization for the presaturation of water. The two-dimensional raw data matrix consisted of 1024 complex points along the detection period (t2), and 100 increments along the evolution period (t1), resulting in a total acquisition time of approximately 27 minutes per acquisition. The metabolite ratios were calculated using the two-dimensional peak volumes with respect to the diagonal peak volume of total creatine (Cr) at 3.0 ppm. Results In the 33 elderly subjects, the mean ratio of choline (Cho) to Cr was 10% higher in men compared to women (P < 0.05), consistent with earlier findings obtained by one-dimensional MRS. When the metabolite ratios were compared in a subsample of 16 elderly female controls and 12 depressed female patients, the depressed geriatric patients had higher levels of myoinositol (mI), phosphoethanolamine (PE), and glutamate/glutamine (Glx) than the controls, although the differences were not statistically significant. Conclusion Our pilot study shows the feasibility of performing two-dimensional L-COSY successfully in elderly subjects and patients with late-life mood disorders. These findings are consistent with and expand on our earlier findings in major depressive disorder (MDD) detected with one-dimensional MRS. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2004;20:1039–1045. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Treatment trends and outcomes of small-cell carcinoma of the bladder.

Purpose Treatment for small-cell carcinoma of the bladder is largely guided by case reports, retrospective reviews, and small prospective trials. This study aimed to study outcomes using a large population-based database. Methods The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare database (1991–2005) was used to analyze how different treatment combinations of specific bladder surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation affected patient outcomes. Trends in the use of these combinations over time were also analyzed. Results A total of 533 patients were retrieved from the database. A bladder-sparing approach involving transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) combined with chemotherapy and radiation yielded no significant difference in overall survival compared with patients undergoing at least a cystectomy (of whom over 90% received radical cystectomy) with chemotherapy ( p > 0.05). The analysis of treatment trends indicated that these two general strategies for cure combined to account for fewer than 20% of patients. A majority of patients (54%) received TURBT as their only surgical treatment, and a subset analysis of these patients indicated that chemotherapy played a role in all stages of disease ( p p Conclusion Relatively few patients with small-cell carcinoma of the bladder receive potentially curative therapies. Chemotherapy should be a major component of treatment. Cystectomy and bladder-sparing approaches represent two viable strategies and deserve further investigation to identify the patients who may benefit from organ preservation or not. In addition, the role of radiation in regional-stage disease should be investigated further, because it positively affects survival after TURBT.
The development and early care and education of dual language learners: Examining the state of knowledge

Abstract Early care and education (ECE) programs, policymakers and practitioners across the United States are facing the reality of the increase in the population of dual language learners (DLLs). To address these children's unique and varied characteristics and experiences, ECE programs find that they must adjust and adapt their efforts. However, there is limited evidence for early childhood strategies to support DLLs and limited understanding of DLLs’ development. There are increased accountability requirements for ECE programs to meet the needs of all children, including DLLs. This special section “The Development and Early Care and Education of Dual Language Learners: Examining the State of Knowledge” includes six articles reporting on the research activities of the Center for Early Care and Education Research – Dual Language Learners (CECER-DLL). The Center was federally funded to advance the research field to improve assessment, child care, and education for DLLs from birth through five years of age. This introduction and commentary discusses the most relevant findings from the set of critical reviews of literature and the secondary analysis of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey-Birth Cohort conducted by the Center. Also, the major methodological challenges and research gaps found in the literature reviewed, across topic areas, are presented and recommendations for future directions to advance research on the development and early care and education of DLLs are provided.
Sparse Estimation of Conditional Graphical Models With Application to Gene Networks.

In many applications the graph structure in a network arises from two sources: intrinsic connections and connections due to external effects. We introduce a sparse estimation procedure for graphical models that is capable of isolating the intrinsic connections by removing the external effects. Technically, this is formulated as a conditional graphical model, in which the external effects are modeled as predictors, and the graph is determined by the conditional precision matrix. We introduce two sparse estimators of this matrix using the reproduced kernel Hilbert space combined with lasso and adaptive lasso. We establish the sparsity, variable selection consistency, oracle property, and the asymptotic distributions of the proposed estimators. We also develop their convergence rate when the dimension of the conditional precision matrix goes to infinity. The methods are compared with sparse estimators for unconditional graphical models, and with the constrained maximum likelihood estimate that assumes a know...
Guard rings: Theory, experimental quantification and design

This paper will first focus on the theory of guard rings and the importance of understanding for internal and external latchup. This will be followed by electrical characterization and the demonstrates integration of parameterized cell guard ring structures in a Cadencetrade based design methodology for the construction of ESD structures, I/O design, and latchup for radio frequency (RF) CMOS and Silicon Germanium technology. The importance of the guard ring p-cell allows for evaluation of internal and external latchup, and the ability to verify the presence of the guard ring for whole chip design checking, verification and synthesis will be discussed.
The impact of fat tailed returns on asset allocation

This paper analyzes the asset allocation problem of an investor who can invest in equity and cash when there is time variation in expected returns on the equity. The solution methodology is multistage stochastic asset allocation problem with decision rules. The uncertainty is modeled using economic scenarios with Gaussian and stable Paretian non-Gaussian innovations. The optimal allocations under these alternative hypothesis are compared. Our computational results suggest that asset allocation may be up to 20% different depending on the utility function and the risk aversion level of the investor. Certainty equivalent return can be increased up to .13% and utility can be improved up to .72% by switching to the stable Paretian model.
Eastern mosquitofish resists invasion by nonindigenous poeciliids through agonistic behaviors

Florida is a hotspot for nonindigenous fishes with over 30 species established, although few of these are small-bodied species. One hypothesis for this pattern is that biotic resistance of native species is reducing the success of small-bodied, introduced fishes. The eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki is common in many freshwater habitats in Florida and although small-bodied (<50 mm), it is a predator and aggressive competitor. We conducted four mesocosm experiments to examine the potential for biotic resistance by eastern mosquitofish to two small-bodied nonindigenous fishes, variable platyfish (Xiphophorus variatus) and swordtail (X. hellerii). Experiments tested: (1) effect of eastern mosquitofish density on adult survival, (2) effect of eastern mosquitofish on a stage-structured population, (3) role of habitat structural complexity on nonindigenous adult survival, and (4) behavioral effects of eastern mosquitofish presence and habitat complexity. Eastern mosquitofish attacked and killed non-native poeciliids with especially strong effects on juveniles of both species. Higher eastern mosquitofish density resulted in greater effects. Predation on swordtails increased with increasing habitat complexity. Eastern mosquitofish also actively drove swordtails from cover, which could expose non-native fish to other predators under field conditions. Our results suggest that eastern mosquitofish may limit invasion success.
The analysis of transient Doppler frequency shift from microcavitation

By transmitting a probing wave (29.4 MHz) toward a microbubble, a transient Doppler frequency shift is observed by estimating the transient frequency of the backscattered signal. An analytical solution is obtained by modeling the scatterer as a quasi-static sphere. The model is used to explain the experimental data. By using Prony's method or eigenanalysis, the frequency shift of the probing wave is clearly shown. The time and frequency correspondence for bubble growth and collapse indicate an acceptable match. >
Dynamically Modeling Patient's Health State from Electronic Medical Records: A Time Series Approach

In this paper, we present a method to dynamically estimate the probability of mortality inside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) by combining heterogeneous data. We propose a method based on Generalized Linear Dynamic Models that models the probability of mortality as a latent state that evolves over time. This framework allows us to combine different types of features (lab results, vital signs readings, doctor and nurse notes, etc) into a single state, which is updated each time new patient data is observed. In addition, we include the use of text features, based on medical noun phrase extraction and Statistical Topic Models. These features provide context about the patient that cannot be captured when only numerical features are used. We fill out the missing values using a Regularized Expectation Maximization based method assuming temporal data. We test our proposed approach using 15,000 Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) obtained from the MIMIC II public dataset. Experimental results show that the proposed model allows us to detect an increase in the probability of mortality before it occurs. We report an AUC 0.8657. Our proposed model clearly outperforms other methods of the literature in terms of sensitivity with 0.7885 compared to 0.6559 of Naive Bayes and F-score with 0.5929 compared to 0.4662 of Apache III score after 24 hours.
Frequency domain synthesis for maximal rejection of persistent bounded disturbances

A frequency domain design methodology was proposed by S. Jayasuria and M.A. Franchek (1988) for synthesizing controllers that maximize the size of a persistent bounded disturbance while satisfying time domain constraints placed on the system states and the input and the bandwidth limits on actuators and sensors. The design technique is based on mapping the time domain constraints into the frequency domain to determine bounds within which the loop transfer function must lie. The design procedure, although effective, remains theoretically incomplete. Necessary and sufficient conditions under which the design method yields a valid closed-loop system are given. The technique is applied to a speed control system. >
Physicians report on patient encounters involving direct-to-consumer advertising

ABSTRACT: We surveyed a national sample of 643 physicians on events associated with visits during which patients discussed an advertised drug. Physicians perceived improved communication and educat...
Scheimpflug measurement of intraocular lens position after piggyback implantation of foldable intraocular lenses in eyes with high hyperopia

Purpose To investigate the position of 3-piece foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs) after piggyback implantation for high hyperopia. Setting University Eye Hospital, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Methods Eight eyes of 5 highly hyperopic patients had phacoemulsification and implantation of 2 foldable IOLs. In 3 eyes, both IOLs were implanted in the capsular bag. In 5 eyes, 1 IOL was placed in the capsular bag and the second IOL in the ciliary sulcus. Intraocular lens optic tilt and decentration, combined thickness of both IOLs, and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were measured postoperatively over a period of 18 months using Scheimpflug photography. Results All eyes with both IOLs in the capsular bag showed interpseudophakic opacification, with a mean increase in combined IOL thickness of 0.4 mm, a decrease in ACD of 0.3 mm, and a corresponding hyperopic shift of 4.00 diopters. Eyes in which the anterior IOL was placed in the ciliary sulcus showed no changes in refraction or combined IOL thickness. In these eyes, the anterior IOL had a higher mean decentration (0.49 mm ± 0.20 [SD] after 12 months) than the posterior IOL (0.21 ± 0.13 mm after 12 months). Conclusions Piggyback IOL implantation with placement of 2 foldable IOLs in the capsular bag can be followed by a hyperopic shift that may be caused in part by displacement of the IOLs. Placement of the anterior IOL in the ciliary sulcus can lead to higher decentration of this IOL.
Dental Abnormalities in the Deciduous and Permanent Dentitions of Individuals with Cleft Lip and Palate

ANORMALITATES DENTAL IN LE DENTITION PRIMARI E PERMANENTE DE INDIVIDUOS CON FiSSURA DE LABIOS E/o DE PALATO.—Le dentitiones primari e permanente de 39 subjectos con fissura del labios e/o del palato esseva studiate a base de material in le collection de modulos serial del Centro pro le Studio de Palatos Fisse al Universitate Illinois. Le objectivo esseva determinar le natura, le frequentia, e le distribution de anormalitates morphologic del coronas. Plus anormalitates dental occurreva in fissuras palata que in altere typos. Ex un gruppo total de 1716 unitates dental, 189 esseva anormal (11 pro cento). In casos de fissura palatal, le dentes mandibular esseva afficite non minus frequentemente que le dentes maxillar.
Absolute QoS differentiation in optical burst-switched networks

A number of schemes have been proposed for providing quality-of-service (QoS) differentiation in optical burst-switched (OBS) networks. Most existing schemes are based on a relative QoS model in which the service requirements for a given class of traffic are defined relative to the service requirements of another class of traffic. In this paper, we propose an absolute QoS model in OBS networks which ensures that the loss probability of the guaranteed traffic does not exceed a certain value. We describe two mechanisms for providing loss guarantees at OBS core nodes: an early dropping mechanism, which probabilistically drops the nonguaranteed traffic, and a wavelength grouping mechanism, which provisions necessary wavelengths for the guaranteed traffic. It is shown that integrating these two mechanisms outperforms the stand-alone schemes in providing loss guarantees, as well as reducing the loss experienced by the nonguaranteed traffic. We also discuss admission control and resource provisioning for OBS networks, and propose a path clustering technique to further improve the network-wide loss performance. We develop analytical loss models for the proposed schemes and verify the results by simulation.