cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The economic impact of flexible endoscopy in a large academic surgical department.

Background: There has been considerable controversy concerning the value added to a general surgery practice when flexible gastrointestinal endoscopy is incorporated. The purpose of this study was to assess the economic impact of flexible endoscopy performed by general surgeons in a large academic practice. Methods: A retrospective review of gross billing charges for a group practice of 11 surgeons over the fiscal year 1999 was performed at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. The total billing for clinic visits and outpatient and inpatient surgical procedures was compiled, and the percentage attributable to flexible endoscopy was determined. Of the 11 surgeons, three had incorporated flexible endoscopy into their practice. Results: The three endosurgeons generated 33% of the total gross billing for the Department of General Surgery. Flexible endoscopy alone accounted for 12.2% of the total percentage of gross billings for the department. Meanwhile, this revenue was generated from only 8% of the workweek when performing flexible endoscopic procedures were performed. Conclusion: Flexible endoscopy can contribute significantly to the financial productivity of the general surgeon.
Radial variation of differential rotation in the solar electron corona

Long-lived brightness structures in the solar electron corona persist over many solar rotation periods and permit an observational determination of coronal magnetic tracer rotation as a function of latitude and height in the solar atmosphere. For observations over 1964–1976 spanning solar cycle 20, we compare the latitude dependence of rotation at two heights in the corona. Comparison of rotation rates from East and West limbs and from independent computational procedures is used to estimate uncertainty. Time-averaged rotation rates based on three methods of analysis demonstrate that, on average, coronal differential rotation decreases with height from 1.125 to 1.5 RS. The observed radial variation of differential rotation implies a scale height of approximately 0.7 RS for coronal differential rotation.
The Effects of Configuration Interaction on the Atomic Hyperfine Structure of Gallium

The effects on the hyperfine structure of the mixing of higher configurations with the ground configuration ${(4s)}^{2}4p$ of gallium is studied. It is found that the only configuration which need be considered is the $4s4p5s$. A Hartree wave function for the excited $5s$-state of gallium is calculated, and the extent of the mixing of this excited configuration with the ground configuration is determined. The coupling constants for magnetic and electric quadrupole hyperfine structure are computed with the use of the wave function for the ground state of gallium including the excited configuration. The determination of quadrupole moments from atomic hyperfine structure measurements is discussed and various methods of making this calculation compared. Beside the determination of the quadrupole moments of gallium, the quadrupole moments of aluminum, indium, and chlorine are estimated.
Prospective evaluation of initially ineffective defibrillation pulses on subsequent defibrillation success during ventricular fibrillation in survivors of cardiac arrest

The effect of initially ineffective defibrillation pulses on subsequent defibrillation success is not known. Therefore, the voltage, current and energy at the defibrillation threshold were compared with the defibrillation rescue pulse voltage, current and energy that terminated ventricular fibrillation when an ineffective pulse just below the defibrillation threshold had been used initially. This lower amplitude ineffective pulse was termed a “subdefibrillation threshold” pulse. The pulse that restored sinus rhythm after the subdefibrillation threshold pulse was delivered was termed the “subdefibrillation threshold rescue pulse.” This comparison was undertaken, intraoperatively, in 14 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors using a sequential-pulse catheter-patch defibrillation system. Each of the 14 patients required higher voltage, current, delivered energy and stored energy for defibrillation with the subdefibrillation threshold rescue pulse than with the defibrillation threshold pulse. The defibrillation threshold voltage was 451 ± 127 volts compared with a subdefibrillation threshold rescue voltage of 585 ± 147 volts (p < 0.00002). The defibrillation threshold current was 5.5 ± 2.4 amps compared with a subdefibrillation threshold rescue current of 7.2 ± 2.7 amps (p < 0.00001). Delivered and stored energies were 10.9 ± 7.4 and 12.3 ± 7.2 J, respectively, for the defibrillation threshold pulse and were 17.6 ± 9.4 J (p < 0.00002) and 20.5 ± 9.3 J (p < 0.00005), respectively, for the sub-defibrillation threshold rescue pulse. It is concluded that the risk of requiring considerably higher energies than anticipated for defibrillation must be incurred, should defibrillation fail because of an initially insufficient defibrillation pulse. Such an occurrence might result in death should the energies necessary for defibrillation exceed the output limits of the implantable device.
Molière's Dom Juan Adapted for Brecht's Berliner Ensemble

In keeping with Brecht's aesthetic policy of adapting world dramatic classics for his Epic Theatre, the Berliner Ensemble used its collaborative adaptation of Moliere's Dom Juan to inaugurate its permanent home, the Theater am Schiffbauerdamm, in March, 1954. Like the other post‐1950 adaptations meant for the permanent repertory of this new theatre company, the reworked Moliere comedy exhibits Brecht's theoretical and practical theatre aims, particularly in its performance potential as a recognizably Molieresque comedy rooted in commedia dell'arte style and also as a Brechtian comedy defined by the gestical thrust of “the socially comic” (das gesellschaftlich komische). In addition to rescuing Moliere's socially satirical Don Juan from subsequent theatrical tradition's romantic heroizing of him, the Brechtian version redefines the charming social parasite as both a ridiculous egoist and an example of a dangerously attractive, theatrically mythic personality type. In this, the Brechtian version recovers an...
Kronecker graphical lasso

We consider high-dimensional estimation of a (possibly sparse) Kronecker-decomposable covariance matrix given i.i.d. Gaussian samples. We propose a sparse covariance estimation algorithm, Kronecker Graphical Lasso (KGlasso), for the high dimensional setting that takes advantage of structure and sparsity. Convergence and limit point characterization of this iterative algorithm is established. Compared to standard Glasso, KGlasso has low computational complexity as the dimension of the covariance matrix increases. We derive a tight MSE convergence rate for KGlasso and show it strictly outperforms standard Glasso and FF. Simulations validate these results and shows that KGlasso outperforms the maximum-likelihood solution (FF), in the high-dimensional small-sample regime.
ONTOGENETIC REORGANIZATION OF THE ROOT MERISTEM IN THE COMPOSITAE

A B S T R A C T The organization of the root meristem in selected Compositae was investigated to determine whether changes in the pattern of cell arrangement occurred during root growth in species other than Helianthus annuus. Embryonic, short, and long primary roots of one species of each of twelve genera were prepared for microscopic examination. Additional intermediate growth stages were prepared for Echinacea pallida. The meristem of embryonic roots showed layers of initials typical for dicotyledons. The meristem in many of the short roots of eight species was reorganized by the development of a secondary columella. The long roots showed patterns similar to the embryonic roots. In three species which maintained closed meristems, two layers of cortical initials were common in the embryonic root, and as a general trend, a single layer of cortical initials became more common during root elongation. The cellular changes that resulted in the initiation of a secondary columella are characterized by the conversion of cortical initials to secondary columella initials by a shift in their plane of cell division. It is proposed that the size and shape of the quiescent center changes as the conversion takes place. No intermediate stages were observed which could account for the reduction of two layers of cortical initials to one layer. THE APICAL ORGANIZATION of roots has not been studied extensively among members of the Compositae except for Helianthus annuus L. Following Hanstein's histogenic interpretation of apical meristems in angiosperms (1868, 1870), Reinke (1871) described the root meristem of Helianthus annuus L. as having three tiers of initials and suggested that this organization was characteristic for all angiosperms. A single tier was associated with the vascular cylinder and another tier with the cortex, while the third tier gave rise to the epidermisrootcap complex. Other structural patterns of root apex organization in angiosperms were described in several broad surveys, e.g., Janczewski (1874), Eriksson (1876), and Flahault (1878). Janczewski's Type III, considered to be the most common pattern in dicot root tips, corresponded to Reinke's typical root tip with three layers of initials. Guttenberg (1947) and his associates (Guttenberg, Burmeister, and Brosell, 1955) described the root meristem of Helianthus annuus L. and Anoda triangularis D. C. at different growth stages. In both species the three-layered embryonic root meristem was modified during root elongation. The cortical initials (Guttenberg's connecting cells) gave rise to vertical files of cells which constituted a secondary columella in the rootcap. The resultant pattern of organization was termed an open
Bidirectional regulation of mitochondrial gene expression during developmental neuroplasticity of visual cortex.

The first several months of life are a critical period for neuronal plasticity in the visual cortex, during which anatomical and physiological development depends upon visual experience. Rearing in darkness slows the time course of this critical period, such that at 5 weeks normal cats are more plastic than dark-reared cats, while at 20 weeks dark-reared cats are more plastic. This study reports the identification of a subset of mitochondrial genes that are regulated in this manner. Opponent patterns of bidirectional expression were found: several genes (ATPase 6, cytochrome b, NADH dehydrogenase subunits 4 and 2) showed elevation in normal cats at 5 weeks and in dark-reared cats at 20 weeks (“plasticity” genes); others (NADH dehydrogenase subunits 3 and 5) showed the opposite (“anti-plasticity” genes). These findings add a new dimension to the growing evidence that changes in mitochondrial gene expression are involved in the neuroplastic response.
Old Age Support in Contemporary Urban China from Both Parents’ and Children’s Perspectives

This article explores the links between old age support and the characteristics of both parents and children drawing on survey data collected in Baoding, China, in 1994. Three specific forms of support are examined: monetary transfers, in-kind gifts, and help with daily activities. Hierarchical modeling is applied to the analysis from children’s perspective to control for the unobserved family heterogeneity. Results indicate that intergenerational support within families is currently the major source of old age security in Chinese society. Analyses from both parents’ and children’s perspectives support the corporate group/mutual aid model, which largely sees the provision of help as dependent on elderly parents’needs and children’s capacities. Although living away from children does not affect whether elderly parents receive economic help, it does constrain their receiving help on daily activities. Policy implications of the findings are discussed.
Intolerance of uncertainty as a vulnerability factor for hoarding behaviors

Abstract Background Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) has been identified as a key vulnerability factor among numerous anxiety related conditions. It has been suggested that individuals engage in uncertainty-motivated behaviors such as avoidance, as a way to cope with ambiguous and potentially distressing situations. Patterns of behavioral avoidance have also been observed in a substantial number of hoarding patients and are thought to directly contribute to the avoidance of discarding. However, no studies to date have examined the potential relationship between IU and hoarding. The primary aim of the current investigation was to examine the association between IU and hoarding behaviors. Method Participants consisted of 279 college students from a large southern university. Results Results revealed that IU was a significant predictor of hoarding severity after controlling for relevant covariates. Moreover, when looking at the relationships among IU subfactors and hoarding, results indicated that Factor 1 was significantly associated with hoarding severity whereas Factor 2 was not. Limitations Future research should attempt to replicate the findings within clinical populations. Additionally, due to the cross sectional nature of the study, future work should utilize a longitudinal design. Conclusions The current study provides additional evidence that IU is an important individual difference variable associated with various anxiety related conditions. Moreover, our findings revealed that IU is a unique and robust predictor of hoarding behaviors. Increasing our knowledge of vulnerability factors in compulsive hoarding has important implications for the classification of this disorder within DSM-V. Additionally, this information could inform future research and treatment programs.
Age Dependent Expression of CaVβ1a Subunit in Aging Skeletal Muscle

Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) into the cytosol is a crucial part of excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling. E-C uncoupling, a deficit in Ca2+ release from the SR, is thought to be responsible for at least some of the loss in specific force observed in aging skeletal muscle. E-C uncoupling may be caused by alterations in the expression of voltage-dependent calcium channel α1s (CaV1.1) and β1a (CaVβ1a) subunits. In addition to its classical role augmenting CaV1.1 trafficking and function, overexpression of CaVβ1a has recently been implicated by our laboratory as a negative regulator of CaV1.1 membrane expression. While previous studies have found CaV1.1 expression declines in old rodents, CaVβ1a expression had not been examined in aging models. We conducted western blot analyses to examine CaVβ1a expression in mouse skeletal muscle at four age groups across the animal's lifespan. Investigation of CaVβ1a expression was further segregated by muscle compartment location, fiber type composition, and mouse strain. Our results show a substantial increase of CaVβ1a expression both early and very late in life of FVB mice, regardless of fiber type or location. In order to examine the specific subcellular location where this increased quantity of CaVβ1a resides, we performed immunocytochemistry on dissociated single FDB fibers. Additional western blot analyses were performed on isolated subcellular fractions from young and old animals. Together with previous data from our laboratory showing decline in CaV1.1 as a result of both, aging and CaVβ1a artificial overexpression, these studies suggest a novel role of CaVβ1a, and that endogenous overexpression of CaVβ1a during old age may contribute to the coincident loss of specific force in skeletal muscle.
GaAs Integrated Optoelectronics

As data rates and pin counts increase interconnection of chips, boards and modules will become increasingly difficult by conventional means. Optical interconnection through the use of high speed serial optical links will be an attractive and viable alternative technique. GaAs optical and electronic device technology has advanced to the stage where the monolithic integration of both components is possible. While initial implementations will be rather simple, it is now possible to project that in the next ten years VLSI complexity circuits incorporating both optical and electronics functions will become a reality.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Change in the growth rate of localized pancreatic adenocarcinoma in response to gemcitabine, bevacizumab, and radiation therapy on MDCT.

Purpose To depict treatment response to chemoradiotherapy by comparing tumor growth rate between treated and untreated patients and to compare depicted response with objective response according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 guideline. Methods and Materials This Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act–compliant, retrospective study was approved by the institutional review board. Volume doubling time (DT) of histologically confirmed locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma was calculated in 16 patients treated with chemoradiotherapy and 10 untreated patients by incorporating interscan interval (Δt) and tumor volume at baseline (V0) and follow-up (V1) obtained by semiautomated segmentation into the following equation: DT=Δt · log 2/log (V1/V0). Reciprocal of doubling time (RDT), which is the linear representation of tumor growth rate, was calculated by use of the following equation: RDT=365/DT. The lowest RDT value of 2.42 in untreated patients was considered as the cutoff value for depiction of treatment response. Depicted response rate was defined as the proportion of patients with an RDT value of less than 2.42. Depicted response was compared with objective response according to the RECIST 1.1 guideline. The significance level was set at p Results There was a significant difference in mean RDT between treated (range, −7.12 to 3.27; mean, −1.27; median, −1.30) and untreated (range, 2.42 to 10.74; mean, 5.33; median, 4.26) patients ( p p p > 0.05). Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 response was concordant with RDT and RECIST response in 12 patients (75.00%) (κ, 0.38) and 9 patients (56.25%) (κ, 0.24), respectively. Conclusions There was a significant difference between depicted response according to RDT and objective response according to RECIST. Reciprocal of doubling time might serve as a valuable biomarker for evaluation of treatment response when depiction of small changes in tumor size is concerned.
Bootstrap assisted goodness of fit tests in the frequency domain

The validity of a stationary time series model may be measured by the goodness of fit of the spectral distribution function. Anderson (Technical Report 27, 1991; Technical Report 309, 1995; Stanford University) has worked out the closed-form characteristic functions for the Cramer–von Mises criterion for general linear processes, under the condition that all values of the parameters are specified. The asymptotic approach is not easily implemented and usually requires a case by case analysis. In this paper we propose a bootstrap goodness-of-fit test in the frequency domain. By properly resampling the residuals, we can consistently estimate the p values for many weakly dependent semiparametric models with unspecified parameter values. This is the content of the main theorem that we try to explain. A group of simulations is conducted, showing consistent significance level and good power. The special tests are applied to the lynx data and reveal structure unexplained by the AR(1) model fitted by Tong (J. R. Stat. Soc. A 140 (1977), 432–36). A possible generalization with application to financial data analysis is also discussed.
A Mode of Regulation of β-Catenin Signaling Activity in Xenopus Embryos Independent of Its Levels

Abstract The signaling activity of β-catenin is thought to be regulated by phosphorylation of a cluster of N-terminal serines, putative sites for GSK3β. In the prevailing model in the literature, GSK3β-dependent phosphorylation of these sites targets β-catenin for ubiquitin-mediated degradation. Wnt signaling inhibits GSK3β activity and this blocks degradation, allowing β-catenin to accumulate and signal. We show here that β-catenin activity is not regulated solely by protein stability. Mutations in the putative GSK3β phosphorylation sites of β-catenin enhance its signaling activity, but this cannot be accounted for by accumulation of either total or cadherin-free protein. Instead, the mutant protein has a threefold higher specific activity than the wild type both in vivo and in an in vitro signaling assay. We conclude that the N-terminal serines convey a layer of regulation upon β-catenin signaling in addition to the effects these sites exert upon protein stability.
Scanning electron microscopic examination of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans on different support matrix materials in packed bed and fluidized bed bioreactors

Thiobacillus ferrooxidans was used in fixed-film bioreactors to oxidize ferrous iron to ferric iron. The test support matrix materials included activated carbon particles, glass beads, and ion-exchange resin particles. The experimental systems included a fluidized bed approach, which was evaluated with activated carbon only, and a packed bed approach which was tested with each of the support matrix materials. The colonization of the matrix surface was examined with scanning electron microscopy. There were contrasting differences in the bacterial colonization and accumulation of Fe(III) precipitates on the matrix surface among the test materials. The packed bed activated carbon bioreactor displayed the fastest kinetics and the highest amount of cell sorption as well as the roughest and most porous matrix surface.
Psychometric Properties of Maze Tasks in Middle School Students

Maze tasks are commonly used as brief assessments of reading performance to measure students’ reading progress and evaluate the effectiveness of their instructional programs (National Center on Student Progress Monitoring, 2010). A Maze is a multiple-choice cloze task that students complete while silently reading a short passage (Shinn & Shinn, 2002). The first sentence of the passage is intact. Thereafter, every seventh word of the passage is replaced with three words inside parenthesis, two of which are distracters. The student’s score is typically the number of words chosen correctly in three minutes. Maze tasks are appealing as a progress-monitoring tool because they can yield multiple data points to chart growth across the school year and can be administered in a group format, thereby providing teachers with a means of assessing the reading proficiency of their entire class within minutes (Wayman, Wallace, Wiley, Ticha, & Espin, 2007). Maze tasks may also measure reading comprehension more directly because correct replacements are generated by means of language-based processes that help to build a mental model of the text (i.e., use of background knowledge, inference making, vocabulary, and comprehension-monitoring strategies), potentially providing greater face validity than oral reading fluency (ORF) probes for assessing processes related to reading comprehension (Fuchs, Fuchs, & Maxwell, 2002).
Quantitative assessment of pulmonary perfusion with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.

The feasibility of qualitative assessment of pulmonary perfusion using dynamic contrast enhanced MRI with ultra-short TE has recently been demonstrated. In the current study, quantitative analysis was attempted based on the indicator dilution principle using a pig model of pulmonary embolism. The results were compared with the absolute pulmonary perfusion obtained with colored microspheres. The inverse of apparent mean transit time (1/tau(app)), distribution volume (V), and V/tau(app) were correlated well with the absolute lung perfusion. This study demonstrates that MR has the potential to evaluate pulmonary perfusion quantitatively. Magn Reson Med 42:1033-1038, 1999.
New Stability Measure for Multimachine Power Systems

A new measure of the relative transient stability of a multimachine power system based on the Lyapunov stability theory is introduced. Techniques of sensitivity analysis are used to determine numerically the influence of variations or errors in the estimation of the system parameters on the transient stability of a power system. In particular, data is presented for an application of these ideas to a one machine infinite bus system.
Recovery of fat in potatoes by the Ross and Treadway procedure

The percent recovery of fat added to blanched potato slices at levels of about 1 to about 15% was determined by the Ross and Treadway procedure. Solvent was removed from the extracts by combustion or by evaporation.
Model-Based Tabular Structure Detection and Recognition in Noisy Handwritten Documents

Tabular structure detection and recognition can be a valuable step in the analysis of unstructured documents. The noisy handwritten documents we try to analyze may contain pre-printed rulings as the substrate, hand-drawn rulings, machine-printed text, handwritten text, and signatures, in addition to the tabular structures which we wish to decompose into basic cells, rows, and columns. Although work has been done to machine-printed documents, noisy handwritten documents may require modified and/or new techniques. In this work, we try to detect and decompose tabular structures into 2-D grids of table cells simultaneously. First, we detect "key points" that help determine the physical and logical structure of tables. Then, we make use of the 2-D grid assumption to build grids of key points. Finally, we extract structural features for the Min-Cut/Max-Flow algorithm to recognize tabular structures. Experiments on 22 tables which contain 584 table cells show a cell precision of 100% and a cell recall of 93.3%.
Differential gain and non-linear gain compression of GaInNAsSb/GaAs lasers at 1.5/spl mu/m

We present temperature dependent measurements of differential gain, dg/dn, and nonlinear gain compression, /spl epsiv/. At 20/spl deg/C, dg/dn=92/spl times/10/sup -16/cm/sup 2/ and /spl epsiv/=1.4/spl times/10/sup -16/cm/sup 3/. The 57K characteristic temperature of dg/dn limited T/sub 0/. Large /spl epsiv/ caused spectral broadening at high power.
The Daughter's Subversion in Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres

Abstract A Thousand Acres seems at the start like a novel in which loyal daughters and sons are bound to honored fathers with unbreakable chains of affiliation. Two confident patriarchs, Larry Cook and his neighbor Harold Clark, feel securely in possession of their children and their acreage; trusting in the permanence of both those holdings, the two farmers compete to extend their ownership of tractors, furniture, and other durable goods. Harold's prodigal son, Jess, returns home in May 1979, having been away since 1966 when he fled the draft and the Vietnam War. Larry's two eldest daughters, Ginny and Rose, live near him, care for him, and cook his meals; his youngest, Caroline, visits frequently from Des Moines.
PREPARATION AND CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF CALIFORNIUM OXYFLUORIDE, CfOF.

Abstract A single crystal of CfOF was prepared by hydrolysis of CfF 3 at high temperature. It was identified by comparison of X-ray diffraction data with those of lanthanide and other actinide oxyfluorides. The crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques, and the parameters were refined by the method of least squares. The observed, face-centered cubic structure is of the fluorite type, with oxygen and fluorine atoms randomly distributed over the anion sites. The unit cell dimension is 5·561 A (σ = 0·004 A), from which the Cf-(O, F) distance was calculated to lie between that predicted for the Sm-(O, F) and Eu-(O, F) distances in SmOF and EuOF. Isotropic thermal parameters, 2·6 A 2 for Cf and 3·4 A 2 for the average (O, F) anion, were obtained.
Comparison of an Introductory Level Undergraduate Statistics Course Taught with Traditional, Hybrid, and Online Delivery Methods

In light of the lack of consensus on the effectiveness of online education, there continues to be a need for more quantitative studies comparing hybrid, online, and traditional delivery methods. This paper compares and contrasts the three delivery methods to determine what differences exist in student completion, performance, effort, and satisfaction. Our results show better performance from the traditional section when compared to the others. We do not find statistically significant differences in student effort or in student completion. Student satisfaction was high in all sections.
The inaccuracy of ICD-9-CM Code 530.2 for identifying patients with Barrett's esophagus

SUMMARY. Barrett's esophagus (BE) is a chronic complication associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease. The ICD-9-CM code used for BE, 530.2, is also used for patients with ‘ulcer of the esophagus.’ We aimed to determine if the ICD-9-CM code of 530.2 is reliable for identifying cases of Barrett's esophagus within databases for research purposes. We reviewed the records of all patients assigned code 530.2 at two university medical center hospitals and a veterans' administration hospital over a cumulative 16-year period. Billing records provided information about where the code was assigned, whether it was a major or minor diagnosis, and if the code was assigned on multiple occasions for each patient. Histology and endoscopy records were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus. Among 435 patients with code 530.2 in their records, 354 (82%) had an esophageal biopsy reported and 393 (90%) had an endoscopy report available for review. Only 182 (42%) had specialized intestinal metaplasia documented in a biopsy from an area of salmon-colored mucosa arising above the esophagogastric junction (51% of those with histology available). There were 288 patients (66%) with an endoscopic diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus (73% of those with an endoscopy reported). Variables associated with documented specialized intestinal metaplasia were age ≥ 60 (OR 2.3; 95% CI 1.4–3.7), multiple assignments of 530.2 (OR 3.2; 95% CI 2.0–5.0), and assignment of 530.2 in a gastrointestinal (GI) clinic or an endoscopy unit (OR 3.5; 95% CI 2.0–6.3). The positive predictive value of the code being assigned in a GI location was 48% (95% CI 43–54%). Therefore, ICD-9-CM code of 530.2 is not specific for the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus. The usage of code 530.2 in a GI setting was not sufficiently predictive of BE to be reliable for rigorous epidemiological studies.
SU‐FF‐T‐311: Exposure of An Ultrasound System for Prostate Localization to Neutrons

Purpose:Ultrasound systems are commonly used for confirming prostate localization. At our center, these devices are used for both photon and proton treatments. The question arose as to whether the neutron environment in the proton room would adversely affect their operation and, lacking any manufacturer's information regarding neutron exposure to the instrument, it was decided to determine the neutron dose around the ultrasound unit in a treatment room housing a 6/18 MV linear accelerator.Method and Materials: The ultrasound device is stored at the side of the room when not in use, close to the primary beam for a gantry angle of 90°. TLDs were placed on all four sides of the device, on the wall along the gantry rotation axis and on both sides of a short maze. The purpose of the TLDs on the walls was to provide a constancy check; this was particularly true for the TLD on the gantry axis since the readings should be independent of the gantry angle. Results: Six sets of TLDs were left in for periods of 16, 5.5, 4, 2, 1 and 2 days. For those periods, the number of MUs delivered to all the patients was computed using the record and verify system. The average number of MUs per day for both energies was 16,000 ± 20% and for 18 MV was 7,900 ± 9%. The variation is due to the change in the number of IMRT treatments delivered with time. The results are 0.366, 0.145, 0.140 and 0.176 mrem/MU (proximal/distal to source; proximal/distal to beam) for neutrons and 0.230, 0.083, 0.078 and 0.176 mrem/MU for photons.Conclusion: Based on use till now, the results establish a lower limit of 1650 rem on the neutron dose that the ultrasound system can tolerate.
Gene dose of apolipoprotein E type 4 allele and the risk of Alzheimer's disease in late onset families

The apolipoprotein E type 4 allele (APOE-epsilon 4) is genetically associated with the common late onset familial and sporadic forms of Alzheimer9s disease (AD). Risk for AD increased from 20% to 90% and mean age at onset decreased from 84 to 68 years with increasing number of APOE-epsilon 4 alleles in 42 families with late onset AD. Thus APOE-epsilon 4 gene dose is a major risk factor for late onset AD and, in these families, homozygosity for APOE-epsilon 4 was virtually sufficient to cause AD by age 80.
SOURCES OF STRUCTURE IN CONGRESSIONAL BEHAVIOR: THE INFLUENCE OF IDEOLOGY ON FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC POLICY VOTES

Some researchers claim that different issues are dominated by different congressional voting patterns. Others argue that a single ideological dimension is sufficient to characterize votes on most issues. This analysis compares foreign and domestic policy votes in the U.S. Senate. The results show that the determinants of Senate voting behavior are very similar for both foreign and domestic policy issues. Ideology has strong direct and indirect effects, constituent influence plays a secondary, more indirect role, and partisanship is a minor influence for issues of domestic policy only. Overall, the expectations of the unidimensional, ideological model of congressional behavior are borne out, while pluralist explanations receive little support.
THE HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF HARLAN H. BARROWS1

ABSTRACT The career of Harlan H. Barrows illustrates some of the methodological problems of the history of geographic thought as well as some of the facts of the establishment of historical geography in the American university world. Barrows “environmentalist’ position, as applied in the development of this field, allowed him to make significant shifts from the quest for a more precise formulation of the effects of environmental influences to an implicit recognition of the central role of human choices. Barrows’writings and particularly his teaching show the pace and direction of the shift clearly. In the light of the accessible published literature, supplemented by certain manuscript sources, persistent descriptions of his work in historical geography which place it under the rubric of “environmental determinism'’are shown to be mistaken. Barrows was an exciting lecturer whose main influence was exercised through his famous introductory course in the historical geography of the United States. What we can...
Epidemiology and Transmission Dynamics of West Nile Virus Disease

From 1937 until 1999, West Nile virus (WNV) garnered scant medical attention as the cause of febrile illness and sporadic encephalitis in parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe. After the surprising detection of WNV in New York City in 1999, the virus has spread dramatically westward across the United States, southward into Central America and the Caribbean, and northward into Canada, resulting in the largest epidemics of neuroinvasive WNV disease ever reported. From 1999 to 2004, >7,000 neuroinvasive WNV disease cases were reported in the United States. In 2002, WNV transmission through blood transfusion and organ transplantation was described for the first time, intrauterine transmission was first documented, and possible transmission through breastfeeding was reported. This review highlights new information regarding the epidemiology and dynamics of WNV transmission, providing a new platform for further research into preventing and controlling WNV disease.
Letter to the Editor---The Progress-Curve Computer

In the aircraft industry, costs are generally expected to decrease as experience in production increases. To take account of this relation between the quantity produced and the cost of production, the theory of the progress curve was developed which states that within limits there tends to be a linear relation between the percentage increase in output and the percentage decrease in price. Thus costs may be represented by a straight line on a logarithmic grid.
AVERAGE PULSAR ENERGIES AT CENTIMETRE WAVELENGTHS.

Pulsars observed for average energies at centimeter wavelengths, using azimuth elevation antenna
Numerical models of giant planet formation with rotation

A 1D quasi-spherical approximation is presently used under the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium to model giant-planet formation processes that encompass the accretion and transport of angular momentum for both radiative and convective zones. These calculations have been conducted up to masses comparable to those of Saturn. Angular momentum transport is strong, leading to strong concentration of angular momentum in the outer convective zones which develop envelope masses greater than 30 earth masses. When the models are allowed to contract near the calculation's end, the ratio of centrifugal force to gravity at the outer radius rises sufficiently to validate the quasi-spherical approximation.
APPLICATION OF THE DIFFUSION HYPOTHESIS TO MEMBRANE POTENTIALS.

A system consisting of two aqueous solutions, containing equal concentrations of lactic acid, but different concentrations of Na lactate, separated by a layer of amyl alcohol has been described. This system exhibits electrical properties ranging (as the concentration of NaL is increased) from those characteristic of a simple Donnan equilibrium to those characteristic of simple diffusion. The fact that the Donnan P.D. can be treated as a special case of a diffusion potential has been emphasized. The experiments call attention to the effect of the thermodynamic properties of the membrane, and it is suggested that such properties as conductivities, ionic mobilities, and distribution coefficients in membranes of any sort should be investigated. The experiments afford an interesting example of "phase reversal."
Disease associated cytokine SNPs database: An annotation and dissemination model

Cytokines mediate crucial functions in innate and adaptive immunity. They play valuable roles in immune cell growth and lineage specification, and are associated with various disease pathologies. A large number of low, medium and high throughput studies have implicated association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in cytokine genes with diseases. A preponderance of such experiments has not shown any causality of an identified SNP to the associated disease. Instead, they have identified statistically significant SNP-disease associations; it is likely that some of these cytokine gene variants may directly or indirectly cause the disease phenotype(s). To fill this knowledge gap and derive study parameters for cytokine SNP-disease causality relationships, we have designed and developed the disease associated cytokine SNP database (DACS-DB). DACS-DB has data on 456 cytokine genes, approximately 63,000 SNPs, and 853 SNP-associated diseases. In DACS-DB, among other attributes, we present functional annotation, and heterozygosity allele frequency for the SNPs, and literature-validated SNP association for diseases. Users of the DB can run queries such as the ones to find disease-associated SNPs in a cytokine gene, and all the SNPs involved in a disease. We have developed a web front end (available at http://www.iupui.edu/~cytosnp) to disseminate this information for immunologists, biomedical researchers, and other interested biological researchers. Since there is no such comprehensive collection of disease associated cytokine SNPs, this DB will be vital to understand the role of cytokine SNPs as markers in disease, and more importantly, in causality to disease thus helping to identify drug targets for common inflammatory diseases.
Abnormal serotonin receptor expression in DBA/2 mice associated with susceptibility to sudden death due to respiratory arrest

Previous studies indicate that DBA/2 mice may be a useful model of human sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), since these mice exhibit generalized convulsive seizures followed by respiratory arrest (RA). Respiratory deficits, following generalized convulsive seizures, are observed prior to SUDEP in patients. RA that occurs in DBA/2 mice following sound-induced seizures can be prevented by treatments that activate serotonin (5-HT) receptors. 5-HT receptor subtypes in brainstem respiratory centers are important in regulating normal respiration. The present study compared the expression of 5-HT subtype receptor proteins in excised brainstem tissue, containing the rostral ventral medulla respiratory region in DBA/2 mice vs. seizure-resistant C57BL/6J mice, using Western blot analysis. The results indicate that expression of specific 5-HT(2C), 5-HT(3), and 5-HT(4) receptor proteins in the brainstem tissue of DBA/2 mice is significantly diminished, while expression of the 5-HT(2B) receptors is significantly enhanced as compared to C57BL/6J mice. No difference in expression of 5-HT transporter protein is seen. These findings suggest that the DBA/2 mice are susceptible to RA, in part, because of the altered expression of 5-HT receptors. Preliminary studies indicate that 5-HT(2C) receptors may be particularly important, since a 5-HT(2C) agonist is very effective in blocking RA in DBA/2 mice.
A real time power system simulation laboratory environment

A laboratory environment for research, teaching and demonstration of power system behavior developed at Arizona State University is described. The main driver is a real-time digital simulation of a large power system. A full-graphic human interface made up of several levels of one-line diagrams, tables and other displays permits the observation of the power system behavior in real time; it also makes it possible to affect its behavior by introducing supervisory control actions. These programs operate on a database, which can be changed to represent different power systems. The simulation and the database are run on a VAX 11-785 mainframe computer, while the human interface is run on an Apollo DN570 workstation with a 19-inch full-graphic color display. The two computers are linked via a high-speed Ethernet data link. The program-to-program communication was specifically developed for this application. The total environment created is that of a power system control center. It can be used to demonstrate and teach power system behavior as well as to experiment with all facets of the energy management system. >
SYNTHESIS OF PHOSPHOROTHIOATE ANALOGS OF PHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOL 3,4,5-TRISPHOSPHATE

Abstract Phosphorothioate analogs of phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate have been synthesized using Me3N-Me3SiCl reagent in a critical exhaustive cleavage of O-benzyl phosphorothioate triester intermediates. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.
Promoting Critical Thinking and Inquiry through Maps in Elementary Classrooms

This article encourages elementary teachers to offer opportunities for their students to critically analyze maps as part of powerful geography instruction in order to help them become well-informed...
Tradeoffs in radar networking

The networked radar air picture is built using input from radars in many different locations. In an ideal world, each radar can track every target continuously. However, the laws of physics do not permit this. Target fades, terrain blockage, and spurious signals all conspire to make the situation not ideal. As a result, in general, no one radar is able to create a complete surveillance picture - hence the need for networking. Various alternatives have been considered for radar networking. This paper attempts to organize and categorize the alternatives and quantify the differences between them. Three fundamental radar networking characteristics are considered: the data distribution process (robustness and capacity), data grouping approach (measurement-to-track and track-to-track), and data-sharing approach used.
Biomarkers of PTSD: military applications and considerations

Background : Although there are no established biomarkers for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as yet, biological investigations of PTSD have made progress identifying the pathophysiology of PTSD. Given the biological and clinical complexity of PTSD, it is increasingly unlikely that a single biomarker of disease will be identified. Rather, investigations will more likely identify different biomarkers that indicate the presence of clinically significant PTSD symptoms, associate with risk for PTSD following trauma exposure, and predict or identify recovery. While there has been much interest in PTSD biomarkers, there has been less discussion of their potential clinical applications, and of the social, legal, and ethical implications of such biomarkers. Objective : This article will discuss possible applications of PTSD biomarkers, including the social, legal, and ethical implications of such biomarkers, with an emphasis on military applications. Method : Literature on applications of PTSD biomarkers and on potential ethical and legal implications will be reviewed. Results : Biologically informed research findings hold promise for prevention, assessment, treatment planning, and the development of prophylactic and treatment interventions. As with any biological indicator of disorder, there are potentially positive and negative clinical, social, legal, and ethical consequences of using such biomarkers. Conclusions : Potential clinical applications of PTSD biomarkers hold promise for clinicians, patients, and employers. The search for biomarkers of PTSD should occur in tandem with an interdisciplinary discussion regarding the potential implications of applying biological findings in clinical and employment settings. Keywords : Posttraumatic stress disorder; biomarkers; clinical utility; ethics; translation For the abstract or full text in other languages, please see Supplementary files in the column to the right (under Article Tools) This paper is part of the Special Issue: PTSD in the military: prevalence, pathophysiology, treatment . More papers from this issue can be found at http://www.eurojnlofpsychotraumatol.net (Published: 14 August 2014) Citation: European Journal of Psychotraumatology 2014, 5 : 23797 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v5.23797
Effects of cell design on electrochemical measurements in submicroliter volumes

Abstract We describe cells of various geometries for electrochemical measurements in submicroliter volumes. Three microelectrodes are embedded in a fluoropolymer, and the drop of solution to be analyzed is placed on the three electrodes. In this paper we describe the effects of the geometry of the three electrodes. In particular, band and disk working electrodes are compared. Also, the effect of spacing of the electrodes is explored. In order to achieve analysis of very small volumes the electrodes must be only slightly separated. However, diffusion of products from one electrode to another may affect the voltammograms.
Preliminary examination of sex differences in depressive symptoms among adolescent psychiatric inpatients: the role of anxious symptoms and generalized negative affect.

Assessed the emerging view that generalized negative affect and anxious symptoms are important in understanding sex differences in depressive symptoms. Sixty-three adolescent psychiatric inpatients (32 boys, 31 girls), ages 12 to 16 (M = 13.87, SD = 1.36), completed measures of positive and negative affect and anxious and depressive symptoms. Results demonstrated, as predicted, that depressive and anxious symptoms were more highly associated in adolescent girls than boys. Furthermore, girls with depressive symptoms were more likely to have comorbid anxious symptoms than boys with depressive symptoms. Sex differences were not found for adolescents with specific depressive symptoms and specific anxious symptoms (i.e., the absence of comorbidity). Our findings supported the possibility that sex differences in pure forms of depression are overestimated and that comorbid internalizing conditions may be more prevalent in adolescent girls than boys.