cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cost-utility analysis of cataract surgery in the second eye

Abstract Objective To perform a reference case cost-utility analysis of second-eye cataract surgery by using the current literature on cataract outcomes and complications. Design Computer-based econometric modeling. Methods Visual acuity data of patients treated and observed over a 4-month postoperative period were obtained from the U.S. National Cataract Patient Outcomes Research Team report. The results from this prospective study were combined with those of other studies that investigated the complication rates of cataract surgery to complete the cohort of patients and outcomes. These synthesized data were incorporated with time trade-off utility values, which accounted for prior successful cataract surgery in the fellow eye. Cost-utility determinations were made with decision analysis, and present value modeling was used to account for the time value of money and health state consequences. Main outcome measures The number of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained was calculated for the study group undergoing second-eye cataract surgery, assuming that the postoperative vision in the second eye was equivalent to the vision in the first eye after surgery (20/27). This was divided into the cost of the procedure to find the number of year 2001 nominal U.S. dollars spent per QALY gained. Results Second-eye cataract surgery, as compared with unilateral pseudophakia, resulted in a mean gain of 1.31 undiscounted QALYs per patient treated. A 3% annual discount rate, dependent on the duration of benefit, was used, yielding 0.92 discounted QALYs gained over a 12-year life expectancy. The mean discounted cost of treatment for each patient totaled $2509. The cost divided by the QALYs gained (benefit) resulted in $2727 per QALY gained for this procedure. Sensitivity analysis varying costs and utility values revealed a range from $2045 to $3649 per QALY gained. Conclusions Second-eye cataract surgery is an extremely cost-effective procedure when compared with other interventions across medical specialties. The cost-effectiveness of second-eye surgery diminishes only slightly from the $2023 per QALY gained from first-eye cataract surgery. This suggests that patients with good vision in one eye and visual loss from cataract in the fellow eye derive substantial benefit from cataract extraction.
The transient performance of a hydraulic- turbine-driven inducer - Computer predictions and test verifications.

Turbopump weight minimization and low suction pressure requirements realized using high rotating speeds, hydraulic turbine driven upstream inducer and computer testing
Genotype differentiation of Agamid Adenovirus 1 in bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) in the USA by hexon gene sequence

Bearded dragons (Pogona vitticeps) are popular pets in the United States. Agamid Adenovirus 1 (AgAdV1) is an important infectious agent of bearded dragons. The only AgAdV1 sequences available to date are from a highly conserved region of the DNA polymerase gene. Degenerate primers were designed to amplify a variable region of the AgAdV1 hexon gene for sequencing. Genetic differences were identified within the hexon gene of 17 bearded dragons from 4 collections. Much less diversity was present in the polymerase gene. Bayesian analysis of the hexon nucleotide alignment identified two larger groups and two isolates that did not tightly cluster with these two groups. Multiple genotypes were identified within collections, and individual genotypes were seen in different collections. Three bearded dragons appeared to be infected by multiple strains. These findings show that this hexon region is useful for AgAdV1 genotyping, which can be used epidemiologically as well as in future investigations of AgAdV1 evolution and clinical implications of strain differences.
Effect of enzyme-matrix composition on potentiometric response to glucose using glucose oxidase immobilized on platinum

Glucose oxidase (beta-D-glucose:oxygen 1-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.3.4) was immobilized in a crosslinked matrix of bovine serum albumin, catalase, glucose oxidase and glutaraldehyde on platinum foil. When placed in glucose solution, this enzyme-electrode elicited a potentiometric response that varied with the changes in glucose concentration. The immobilized glucose oxidase was present at 7.4-10.1 micrograms enzyme protein/ml of matrix, as determined with 125I-labelled enzyme. The coupled enzyme activity was stable over 120 h; however, the apparent activity of the immobilized glucose oxidase was markedly less than that for the same amount of enzyme free in solution. This indicated a significant level of diffusional resistance within the enzyme-matrix. The potentiometric response to glucose increased significantly as either the thickness of the enzyme-matrix or the glutaraldehyde content was reduced; this also was attributed to diffusional effects. Several enzyme-electrodes, constructed without exogenous catalase and with different amounts of glucose oxidase, showed greater sensitivity in potentiometric response at low glucose oxidase loadings. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the potentiometric response arises from an interfacial reaction involving a hydrogen peroxide redox couple at a platinum surface. The data also suggest that an optimum range of hydrogen peroxide concentration exists for maximum electrode sensitivity.
Adhesives in Orthodontics: Are We Pushing the Envelope in the Right Direction?

The role of materials in the advancement of clinical orthodontic practice has been significant in the past several decades. Specifically, adhesion sciences have helped in the transition from banded appliances to bonded appliances for anterior teeth. This has afforded patients improved aesthetics and providers with more simple appliance manipulation. The goal of this study was to investigate some of the new areas of adhesion sciences including the possibilities of bonding metal directly to enamel surfaces. The role of metal surfaces containing alumina and their interaction with 10-methacryloyloxyl-dimethyl phosphate (MPD) in the bonding process is discussed. In addition, some of the fundamental principles at the basis of this new adhesion mechanism and the potential implications for future clinical practice are described.
Energy conditions outside a dielectric ball

We show analytically that the vacuum electromagnetic stress-energy tensor outside a ball with constant dielectric constant and permeability always obeys the weak, null, dominant, and strong energy conditions. There are still no known examples in quantum field theory in which the averaged null energy condition in flat spacetime is violated.
What librarians need to understand about the US Department of Justice v. Microsoft Corporation

Gives the background to, and describes, the suit filed against Microsoft by the US Department of Justice in October 1997. For those such as librarians, dealing with the requirements of information technology, argues that this case is important because it demonstrates the high stakes inherent in the software industry not only for the players, but also for users and purchasers of that software and the operating systems which will be used to display them.
La rehabilitación del centro histórico de Madrid

Due to its large surface, over 320 hectares, the historical centre of Madrid included areas with a very high level of architectural, urban, social and environmental decay, there being greatly marginalised districts which shelter immigrant population . In view of this on-going urban decay of the historical centre, the three administrations (state, regional and local) entered several agreements for the Rehabilitation of the Residential and Urban Heritage, which, together with the Cohesion Funds and the URBAN projects for Cinema and Theatre Itineraries, both financed by the European Union, intend to regenerate the urban base Coordination and management are in the hands of the Municipal Housing Corporation. The formula selected to intervene in the historical centre has been the declaration of Preferential Rehabilitation Areas, which focuses on the squares or main streets in each district. Another f ormula to intervene has been the rehabilitation of streets within the Cinema and Theatre Itineraries under the URBAN projects, the base of which is connected to the rehabilitation areas containing streets with prostitution and social marginalisation. The Cohesion Funds to upgrade the urban environment of Lavapies aim at adapting this district to the new needs of its population. Interventions aim at infrastructure renovation, street design improvement, accessibility, environment upgrading, rehabilitation of housing blocks to improve the quality of life of their inhabitants, developing accesses for cultural activities, support for the arts and crafts industry and small enterprises, social programmes and economic activity improvement Total investment in the Historical Centre amounts to 52,489 million pesetas (315 million euros) up to the year 2002 .
Water-soluble copolymers. VI. Dilute solution viscosity studies of random copolymers of acrylamide with sulfonated comonomers

Dilute solution viscosity of a series of random copolymers of acrylamide (AM) with sodium-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonate (NaAMPS) and with sodium-2-sulfoethylmethacrylate (NaSEM) has been studied using a four-bulb shear dilution capillary viscometer. The hydrodynamic volume of the copolymers in aqueous media was determined as a function of salt concentration, temperature, shear rate, and time. A linear relationship was observed between the intrinsic viscosity [η]0 and the reciprocal of the square root of ionic strength in sodium chloride solutions, with salt concentrations varying from 0.043M to 0.257M. Negative temperature coefficients for [η]0 indicate a decrease in the hydrodynamic volume of the ionic polymer molecules with increasing temperature. The relative zero-shear-intrinsic-viscosity change in distilled water to 0.257M sodium chloride aqueous media is used to elucidate viscosity–structure relationships. A maximum value is reached for this parameter at a composition of about 30 mol % of ionic comonomers for AM–NaAMPS and AM–NaSEM copolymer series.
Non-linear dispersion of water waves

The slow dispersion of non-linear water waves is studied by the general theory developed in an earlier paper (Whitham 1965b). The average Lagrangian is calculated from the Stokes expansion for periodic wave trains in water of arbitrary depth. This Lagrangian can be used for the various applications described in the above reference. In this paper, the crucial question of the ‘type’ of the differential equations for the wave-train parameters (local amplitude, wave-number, etc.) is established. The equations are hyperbolic or elliptic according to whether kh0 is less than or greater than 1.36, where k is the wave-number per 2π and h0 is the undisturbed depth. In the hyperbolic case, changes in the wave train propagate and the characteristic velocities give generalizations of the linear group velocity. In the elliptic case, modulations in the wave train grow exponentially and a periodic wave train will be unstable in this sense; thus, periodic wave trains on water will be unstable if kh0 > 1·36, The instability of deep-water waves, kh0 > 1·36, was discovered in a different way by Benjamin (1966). The relation between the two approaches is explained.
Effective Cleaning and Sanitizing of Polysulfone Ultrafiltration Membrane Systems

Polysulfone UF membranes that were soiled by Cheddar cheese whey were successfully cleaned in place. This cleaning procedure was completed in about 1 h. Most cleaning chemicals used were common and inexpensive. The cleaning procedure consisted of rinsing the membrane system for 2 min with water initially and after each cleaning solution. Sodium hydroxide at pH 11.0, with .1% of a nonionic surfactant added, was circulated for 20 min. After a 2-min rinse with water, a 1:1 mixture of nitric and phosphoric acids at pH 2 was circulated for 20 min and rinsed again with water. Finally, sodium hydroxide at pH 11.0, with 200 ppm of sodium hypochlorite added, was circulated for 20 min and rinsed. All cleaning solutions and all rinse waters were at 54 degrees C. Membranes cleaned by this procedure were found to be free from whey residue under examination by scanning electron microscopy. The cleaning process did not damage the membranes even when it was used continuously for 300 h. Microbial populations on the membrane were estimated by incubating small (4-cm2) sections of membrane in screw-cap vials filled with trypticase soy broth. From the portion of vials showing growth after 72 h at 32 degrees C, a most probable microbial population was calculated. Santizing cleaned polysulfone UF membranes with 100 ppm of sodium hypochlorite or 100 ppm of dichloroisocyanurate at 54 degrees C resulted in membranes free from viable microorganisms. When dichloroisocyanurate was used at 10 degrees C and 200 ppm, a most probable microbial population of 290/m2 was found. No microbial growth was detected when cleaned and sanitized membranes were stored in tap water for 24 h. This technique for cleaning UF membranes does not require the use of a holding solution containing santizers to control the growth of residual microorganisms.
181 THE EFFECT OF HALOTHANE (H) ON THYROID AND HEPATIC FUNCTION IN THE PREGNANT EWE

To evaluate the effect of H and surgery on thyroid and hepatic function in the pregnant sheep, 14 date bred ewes from 104 to 134 days gestation were anesthetized with 0.5 to 1.5% H in nitrous oxide and oxygen. The surgical procedure began 15 minutes later and lasted from 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Serum samples were obtained prior to and at 1/2 hour intervals for 2 hours after the start of H and at 24 and 48 hours post-operatively (PO). Pre-operatively, the mean serum (±SEM) thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) levels were 3.9±0.2 μg/dl and 117±8.3 ng/dl, respectively. The mean serum T4 level remained unchanged during the operative procedure but was elevated at 24 and 48 hours PO. The mean serum T3 level was lower at 2 hours post-anesthesia (84.8±10.8 ng/dl, p<0.025) returning to the pre-operative level by 48 hours. The mean T3/T4 ratio was decreased at 2 and 24 hours post-anesthesia, but returned to the pre-operative level by 48 hours. Pre-operatively, the mean SGOT (±SEM) level was 8.5±2.9 IU/L and the SGPT (±SEM) level was 61.7±7.1 IU/L and remained unchanged during the operative procedure. The mean SGOT level was increased at 48 hours PO (21.4±3.8 IU/L, p<0.025) and the mean SGPT level increased at 24 hours (147.6±20.4 IU/L, p<0.001) and 48 hours(170.6±17.1 IU/L, p<0.001) PO. Conclusion: In the pregnant ewe during the 3rd trimester, surgery under H anesthesia affects serum T4 and T3 levels and T3/T4 ratio and hepatic function tests for 48 hours3PO.
Treatment of a capillary hemangioma with the flashlamp pumped-dye laser

An 11 week old baby boy had an infected hemangioma of the right fifth finger. Necrosis and a purulent discharge that cultured staphylococcus aureus developed distally. All treatments were performed with the SPTL 1 flash-lamp pumped dye laser
Anomalous loss scaling in periodically absorbing media

The scaling of the transmission, absorption, and reflection properties of periodically absorbing media consisting of alternating lossy and lossless layers are studied as a function of the number of periods. These studies show that, at the structure transmission resonances, distributed loss—defined through both attenuation and absorption per unit length—decreases as the number of periods increases. The anomalous effect is the result of redistribution of the field to the lossless regions within the structure.
Frequency of Triggered Ca2+ Waves is Increased in Atrial Myocytes during Heart Failure

Triggered Ca2+ waves develop during rapid pacing in atrial myocytes and are therefore likely to contribute to action potential (AP) duration, thus establishing repolarization gradients and causing reentry. The goal of this study was to investigate how Ca2+ wave properties are altered in heart failure (HF). Myocytes were isolated from the left atrium of dogs paced rapidly for 5-6 weeks and Ca2+ cycling was studied during rapid pacing using rhod-2AM and confocal microscopy (37oC). In control myocytes, the incidence of triggered Ca2+ waves increased with pacing rate and this frequency dependence was shifted to slower rates in HF myocytes. The increase in wave frequency was directly related to the increase in diastolic [Ca2+] with increasing rate, which was exaggerated in HF myocytes. Propagation velocity and distance (percent of cell length) also decreased in HF and there was a shift in the distribution of propagation distance to more short waves and fewer long waves. A low concentration of caffeine (0.5mM, to increase RyR Ca2+ sensitivity) abolished triggered waves and restored normal Ca2+ transients even at high pacing rates. We conclude that 1) triggered Ca2+ wave frequency is increased in HF despite decreased propagation distance and velocity, 2) wave incidence in HF may be related to a greater sensitivity to the rate-induced rise in diastolic [Ca2+], and 3) the fact that low [caffeine] abolished waves and restored normal Ca2+ transients, suggests that triggered waves occur as a result of a reduced sensitivity of SR Ca2+ release to trigger Ca2+ influx. This form of aberrant Ca2+ cycling during the AP may affect the beat-to-beat regulation of AP duration, which may contribute to establishing the substrate for reentrant arrhythmias by formation of repolarization gradients, especially in the setting of HF.
Subcellular real-time in vivo imaging of intralymphatic and intravascular cancer-cell trafficking

With the use of fluorescent cells labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the nucleus and red fluorescent protein (RFP) in the cytoplasm and a highly sensitive small animal imaging system with both macro-optics and micro-optics, we have developed subcellular real-time imaging of cancer cell trafficking in live mice. Dual-color cancer cells were injected by a vascular route in an abdominal skin flap in nude mice. The mice were imaged with an Olympus OV100 small animal imaging system with a sensitive CCD camera and four objective lenses, parcentered and parfocal, enabling imaging from macrocellular to subcellular. We observed the nuclear and cytoplasmic behavior of cancer cells in real time in blood vessels as they moved by various means or adhered to the vessel surface in the abdominal skin flap. During extravasation, real-time dual-color imaging showed that cytoplasmic processes of the cancer cells exited the vessels first, with nuclei following along the cytoplasmic projections. Both cytoplasm and nuclei underwent deformation during extravasation. Different cancer cell lines seemed to strongly vary in their ability to extravasate. We have also developed real-time imaging of cancer cell trafficking in lymphatic vessels. Cancer cells labeled with GFP and/or RFP were injected into the inguinal lymph node of nude mice. The labeled cancer cells trafficked through lymphatic vessels where they were imaged via a skin flap in real-time at the cellular level until they entered the axillary lymph node. The bright dual-color fluorescence of the cancer cells and the real-time microscopic imaging capability of the Olympus OV100 enabled imaging the trafficking cancer cells in both blood vessels and lymphatics. With the dual-color cancer cells and the highly sensitive imaging system described here, the subcellular dynamics of cancer metastasis can now be observed in live mice in real time.
Novelty seeking, incentive salience and acquisition of cocaine self-administration in the rat

It has been suggested that incentive salience plays a major role in drug abuse and the development of addiction. Additionally, novelty seeking has been identified as a significant risk factor for drug abuse. However, how differences in the readiness to attribute incentive salience relate to novelty seeking and drug abuse vulnerability has not been explored. The present experiments examined how individual differences in incentive salience attribution relate to novelty seeking and acquisition of cocaine self-administration in a preclinical model. Rats were first assessed in an inescapable novelty task and a novelty place preference task (measures of novelty seeking), followed by a Pavlovian conditioned approach task for food (a measure of incentive salience attribution). Rats then were trained to self-administer cocaine (0.3 or 1.0 mg/kg/infusion) using an autoshaping procedure. The results demonstrate that animals that attributed incentive salience to a food-associated cue were higher novelty seekers and acquired cocaine self-administration more quickly at the lower dose. The results suggest that novelty-seeking behavior may be a mediator of incentive salience attribution and that incentive salience magnitude may be an indicator of drug reward.
Determination of copper in seawater by high-temperature gas chromatography with an atomic absorption spectrometric detector☆

Abstract A high-temperature gas-chromatographic system was applied to the determination of copper in artificial seawater.
Arterial versus venous sampling for activated coagulation time measurements during cardiac surgery: a comparative study.

Abstract Objective: Activated coagulation times (ACTs) are widely used for monitoring anticoagulation during cardiac surgery. Significant variability of this test is well known. Variability in test results was studied, which may arise from the sample drawing site. Design: Prospective study. Setting: University hospital. Participants: Sixty-five patients scheduled for surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass were enrolled in the study. Intervention: ACTs were assessed using the Hemochron 801 ACT machine. Samples were collected (1) baseline I from the arterial catheter before anesthetic induction, (2) baseline II from the arterial and venous collection sites after pulmonary artery catheterization, (3) after heparin administration, (4) 10 minutes after blood collection number 3, and (5) after protamine administration. Measurements and main results: At the baseline II, the ACT measures using venous blood were significantly higher than that obtained using an arterial sample (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference in ACT measures obtained using either arterial or venous blood samples at the other time points. After heparin administration, the ACT variability in individual patients was quite striking, with ranges of up to 600 seconds in repeated measures. Conclusion: During the period of systemic anticoagulation, there is great individual variability between ACT measures obtained from venous and arterial samples. Further studies are required to analyze the cause of differences at the baseline and the source of variable coagulation times after heparin.
Screened polarization waves and the energies of simple metals: Formulation

We investigate the effect that core polarization has on the energy of a simple metal. To do this we establish an approximate Hamiltonian based on the standard result for nearly-free-electron metals but generalized to include interactions between localized core electrons. An application of perturbation theory then leads to expressions for various contributions to the total energy and a reformulation of the one-electron Hamiltonian for use in structural applications. The fluctuating dipole interactions between the ions are dynamically screened by the valence electrons. In the crystalline context the corresponding excitations are screened polarization waves and are manifested as screened van der Waals forces between ions. The core electrons also participate in the screening of other interactions in the metal.
Parasitism patterns and the size-fecundity relationship in the acoustically orienting dipteran parasitoid Ormia ochracea

Female parasitoids are expected to distribute offspring among hosts in a manner that maximizes fitness. Several theoretical and empirical studies have focussed on clutch-size patterns in hymenopter...
Zonal harmonic model of Saturn's magnetic field from Voyager 1 and 2 observations

An analysis of the magnetic field of Saturn is presented which takes into account both the Voyager 1 and 2 vector magnetic field observations. The analysis is based on the traditional spherical harmonic expansion of a scale potential to derive the magnetic field within 8 Saturn radii. A third-order zonal harmonic model fitted to Voyager 1 and 2 observations is found to be capable of predicting the magnetic field characteristics at one encounter based on those observed at another, unlike models including dipole and quadrupole terms only. The third-order model is noted to lead to significantly enhanced polar surface field intensities with respect to dipole models, and probably represents the axisymmetric part of a complex dynamo field.
Michael Polanyi's Response to the Crisis of Modernity and Its Relation to Recent Developments in Theology

Abstract Michael Polanyi's theoretical response to the crisis of modernity ultimately leads to a consideration of theological issues, and Polanyi's attempt to address these issues has been extended by William H. Poteat. I argue that the theological formulations of both Polanyi and Poteat could be strengthened by a consideration of the work done by recent theologians, particularly Colin Gunton, and that, at the same time, the work of Polanyi and Poteat can extend the concepts developed by theologians like Gunton. Specifically, I argue that Gunton's analysis of the Trinity indicates that Polanyi and Poteat use a somewhat one-dimensional conception of God, at least in their explicit formulations. Conversely, Polanyi's understanding of knowledge and his recognition of the ambiguous nature of modernity and Poteat's discussion of the speech-act as a central model for Hebraic thought can actually point toward a more complete theorization of the Trinity and give a clearer indication of its political implications.
A fourth-order accurate local refinement method for Poisson's equation

We present a block-structured local refinement method for computing solutions to Poisson's equation in two and three dimensions. It is based on a conservative, finite-volume formulation of the classical Mehrstellen methods. This is combined with finite volume local refinement discretizations to obtain a method that is fourth-order accurate in solution error, and with easily verifiable solvability conditions for Neumann and periodic boundary conditions.
Trends in Childhood Obesity Research: A Brief Analysis of NIH-Supported Efforts:

Childhood obesity is an increasing health threat. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the primary funding agency for research into the causes, mechanisms, consequences, and prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. Using the NIH Strategic Plan for Obesity Research as the framework, this article summarizes the research that has been funded in the past five years as well as new research areas with great potential.
Stability of Intelligence from Preschool to Adolescence: The Influence of Social and Family Risk Factors

Intelligence scores of children in a longitudinal study were assessed at 4 and 13 years and related to social and family risk factors. A multiple environmental risk score was calculated for each child by counting the number of high-risk conditions from 10 risk factors: mother's behavior, mother's developmental beliefs, mother's anxiety, mother's mental health, mother's educational attainment, family social support, family size, major stressful life events, occupation of head of household, and disadvantaged minority status. Multiple risk scores explained one-third to one-half of IQ variance at 4 and 13 years. The stability between 4- and 13-year environmental risk scores (r = .77) was not less than the stability between between 4- and 13-year IQ scores (r = .72). Effects remained after SES and race, or maternal IQ, were partialled; multiple risk was important in longitudinal prediction, even after prior measurement of child IQ was accounted for; the pattern of risk was less important than the total amount of risk present in the child's context.
Clinical implications of new studies in the treatment of benign, potentially malignant and malignant ventricular arrhythmias.

For purposes of clinical management, ventricular arrhythmias have been divided into risk categories of benign, prognostically important (potentially malignant) and malignant. Benign arrhythmias occur in the setting of structurally normal hearts and do not require therapy unless associated with debilitating symptoms. Malignant arrhythmias such as sustained ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation deserve aggressive therapy to prevent recurrence. Arrhythmias occurring in the presence of organic heart disease (often ischemic disease) are frequently asymptomatic but prognostically important as a risk factor for sudden death or cardiac arrest. The common empiric practice to treat such arrhythmias (by about 40 to 50% of cardiologists in the United States) needs to be reassessed in the face of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial. For malignant arrhythmias, class IA agents (procainamide and quinidine) continue to be the standard of treatment, and class IB agents (e.g., mexiletine) may be used as alternative or additive therapy. Class IC agents are used as second-line therapy, especially in the setting of ischemic heart disease. Class III therapy with amiodarone is reserved for refractory patients because of potential toxicity. Sotalol, a new class II-III agent, may become a first-line drug. For prognostically important arrhythmias, beta blockers remain the agents of choice, class IC agents are contraindicated, and class IA or IB drugs, or both, should be used conservatively (i.e., only for symptomatic arrhythmias). For symptomatic but benign arrhythmias requiring treatment, beta blockers are safe although not always effective. Class IA, IB and IC agents may then be considered. In these patients, the proarrhythmic potential of quinidine and class IC agents remains a concern.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
'Condition diagramming': a new approach to teaching clinical integration.

Summary. Integration of clinical material appears to involve three major steps: (1) identification of the pertinent information; (2) organization of that information in some logical sequence; and (3) determination of its meaning to specific applications. The concept of ‘Condition Diagramming’ has been developed to help students to integrate the large volumes of clinical data that they are expected to learn. It utilizes a defined format to establish what information is needed and where it fits in relation to the patient's current status. Data organized in this manner may be easier to comprehend and use in medical decision-making. Several potential applications of this approach are presented.
1-D wavefunction localization and effective quantum wire behavior inside QWs deposited on textured GaN materials

Recent experiments measuring photoluminescence from AlGaN quantum wells deposited on textured (multi-faceted) GaN material have reported an order of magnitude increase in the internal quantum efficiency (Cabalu et al., 2006). Furthermore narrow spot size electroluminescence showed that radiation is emitted predominantly from "quantum wedges" (QWG) formed at the locations were plane quantum wells (QW) intersect at an angle, such as shown in Fig la.
The Bodily Incorporation of Mechanical Devices: Ethical and Religious Issues (Part 1)

A substantial portion of the developed world's population is increasingly dependent on machines to make their way in the everyday world. For certain privileged groups, computers, cell phones, PDAs, Blackberries, and IPODs, all permitting the faster processing of information, are commonplace. In these populations, even exercise can be automated as persons try to achieve good physical fitness by riding stationary bikes, running on treadmills, and working out on cross-trainers that send information about performance and heart rate.This essay is drawn from collaborative research conducted under the auspices of the “Altering Nature: How Religious Traditions Assess the New Biotechnologies” project at Rice University from 2002 to 2004 through the financial support of The Ford Foundation (Grant #1010-1601). The paper is submitted with the permission and acknowledgement of the project coordinators and The Ford Foundation. The authors also acknowledge the research and editorial assistance of Dr. Siobhan Baggot and Ms. Sarah Gehrke.
Internal model control with a predictive action for ship steering

The application of the internal model control (IMC) approach to the steering of a ship is described. The control algorithm is based on a prediction scheme and is designed to accomplish a desired course change in minimum steering time. Simulation results indicate that the algorithm is capable of achieving good tracking performance even in the case of large plant-model mismatches and unmodeled dynamics, better than what can be achieved with adaptive approaches with online identification. Prediction error feedback adds a high degree of robustness to the controller, enabling it to cope with uncertainties. >
Mitogenomic sequences better resolve stock structure of southern Greater Caribbean green turtle rookeries.

Analyses of mitochondrial control region polymorphisms have supported the presence of several demographically independent green turtle (Chelonia mydas) rookeries in the Greater Caribbean region. However, extensive sharing of common haplotypes based on 490-bp control region sequences confounds assessment of the scale of natal homing and population structure among regional rookeries. We screened the majority of the mitochondrial genomes of 20 green turtles carrying the common haplotype CM-A5 and representing the rookeries of Buck Island, St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands (USVI); Aves Island, Venezuela; Galibi, Suriname; and Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Five singlenucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified that subdivided CM-A5 among regions. Mitogenomic pairwise /ST values of eastern Caribbean rookery comparisons were markedly lower than the respective pairwise FST values. This discrepancy results from the presence of haplotypes representing two divergent lineages in each rookery, highlighting the importance of choosing the appropriate test statistic for addressing the study question. Haplotype frequency differentiation supports demographic independence of Aves Island and Suriname, emphasizing the need to recognize the smaller Aves rookery as a distinct management unit. Aves Island and Buck Island rookeries shared mitogenomic haplotypes; however, frequency divergence suggests that the Buck Island rookery is sufficiently demographically isolated to warrant management unit status for the USVI rookeries. Given that haplotype sharing among rookeries is common in marine turtles with cosmopolitan distributions, mitogenomic sequencing may enhance inferences of population structure and phylogeography, as well as improve the resolution of mixed stock analyses aimed at estimating natal origins of foraging turtles.
Homosexuals in the Armed Forces.

To assess possible morale and recruiting problems that might be associated with changing the military policy against admitting or retaining homosexual practitioners, a national systematic area-cluster sample of 4,340 adults and a Dallas sample of 842 were given a questionnaire concerning (1) feelings about nudity before homosexuals and heterosexuals, (2) military service and kind of discharge, (3) sharing communal facilities with homosexuals, (4) having a homosexual commanding officer, (5) having to depend upon a homosexual while under attack, (6) whether a change in policy would affect advice regarding joining the military, and (7) their opinion of current military policy. Consistent with other studies on the issue, 31% of homosexual versus 4% of heterosexual men reported less than honorable discharges. About three-quarters of the sample reported that, when disrobed, they were averse to being seen by homosexuals. About two-thirds of the men who had served, a majority of men who had not served, about a th...
Stress, maternal depression, and negative mother–infant interactions in relation to infant attachment

This research examined factors contributing to infant attachment security such as stressful events, maternal depression, negative parent- infant interactions, and spanking. The sample included 169 mostly European American mothers and infants who were qualified applicants to Early Head Start. In- terview and self-report measures of contextual stress, mothers' depressive symptoms, mother- infant negative interactions, and discipline strategies were administered by trained researchers when infants were 14 months old. In addition, mothers' completed the Attachment Q-set (AQS, version 3.0, Waters, 1987). Infant security was lower when maternal depression was higher, when mothers were more dissat- isfied in their interactions with infants, and when these infants were spanked more frequently. A path model was constructed to examine the direct and indirect paths from predictor variables to infant attach- ment security. Maternal depression, negative interactions, and spanking directly affected infant attachment security. Economic stress and relationship stress directly affected maternal depression and frequency of spanking, thereby indirectly influencing infant attachment security. These findings suggest that under- standing the influences on infant attachment security is essential for effective early prevention and inter- vention that promote optimal development. RESUMEN: Este estudio examina los factores que contribuyen a la seguridad en la afectividad infantil, tales como eventos que puedan causar estres, la depresion maternal, las negativas interacciones entre la madre y el infante, y el pegarle al nino. El grupo muestra estuvo compuesto de 169 madres en su mayoria de origen e europeo-americano e infantes que eran solicitantes aptos para el programa de "Early Head Start." Cuando los infantes tenian 14 meses, los entrenados investigadores llevaron a cabo entrev- istas y medidas de autoreporte acerca del estres contextual, los sintomas de depresion de las madres, las interacciones negativas entre la madre y el infante, asicomo las estrategias para disciplinar al infante. Adicionalmente, las madres completaron la prueba de Afectividad Q-set (Attachment Q-set, version 3.0,
CONSTRAINTS ON THE CRITERIA OF LEGALITY

No one denies that moral principles figure in legal argument and practice. However, the kind of role morality can or must play in law has been a topic of debate not only between positivists and their critics, but also within the positivist camp. The topic was brought into contemporary prominence by Ronald Dworkin, who in The Model of Rules I made the provocative observation that the legality of norms appears to depend sometimes on their substantive (moral) merits, and not just on their pedigree or social source. Ronald Dworkin, The Model of Rules I, in T AKING R IGHTS S ERIOUSLY 14 (1977). The observation was intended by Dworkin as a challenge to the positivism of H.L.A. Hart.
Designing verifiable expert systems

With the long-range goal of developing a practical methodology for complete verification and validation of expert systems, the authors have investigated methods for designing knowledge bases so that they can be easily verified. These methods are based on extensions of traditional software verification technology and on emerging artificial intelligence programming technology. After discussing the background of this work, the authors describe the methods and their benefits to verification and discuss ongoing and future research activities. >
A navigation function for a simple rigid body

A provably correct navigation algorithm for a simple rigid body in a planar environment cluttered with disc obstacles is presented. The algorithm specifies a collision-free path by subjecting the robot to the influence of a navigation function, a special artificial potential function whose most crucial property is the absence of undesired local minima. Unlike other unknown algorithms, it specifies a feedback control law that is guaranteed to move the physical robot to the goal without it hitting obstacles, subject to the bounded-torque capability of the robot's actuators. Previous work has shown that navigation functions are guaranteed to exist. Construction of navigation functions for a realistic situation is proposed. The implementation of the algorithm reveals a numerical difficulty, which is effectively corrected by making a slight heuristic modification to the navigation function. This is discussed and illustrated. >
The Talbot effect for a surface plasmon polariton

On the basis of an impedance boundary condition, we study theoretically the transmission of a surface plasmon polariton incident normally on a periodic row of circular metallic or dielectric dots deposited on a planar metallic substrate. The field of the transmitted surface plasmon polaritons displays periodic self-images of this row that are separated from it by multiples of a characteristic distance. This is the analogue for surface plasmon polaritons of the Talbot effect for volume electromagnetic waves.
An efficient chromatographic system for lipoprotein fractionation using whole plasma.

We have validated a semi-automatic procedure for the efficient isolation of plasma lipoproteins from 300 m l of whole plasma (actual injection volume 200 m l) by Fast Phase Liquid Chromatography (FPLC). Modified enzymatic assays were established to allow the determination of low concentra- tions (1-20 mg/dl) of triglycerides and cholesterol using the Beckman CX-5 Autoanalyzer. The sum of the cholesterol con- tents in the fractions corresponding to low density (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) can be demonstrated to be highly correlated to values obtained with dextran sulfate/ MgCl 2 precipitation for HDLc (slope 5 0.98, r 2 5 0.997) and ultracentrifugation (beta-quant) for LDLc (slope 5 1.03, r 2 5 0.988). Using pure lipoprotein fractions isolated by ultracen- trifugation, linear ranges of detection for HDLc and HDL apoA-I were performed at 18-95 mg/dl and 59-262 mg/dl, respectively. The ranges for LDLc were 41-435 mg/dl and 21-280 mg/dl for LDL apoB. The mean (range) fractional standard deviations for quadruplicate runs for 15 individual plasma samples ranging widely in lipoprotein concentrations were 0.97 (0.29-2.86%) for LDLc (range: 101.5-258.5 mg/ dl), 3.67 (0.62-14.11%) for HDLc (range: 27.1-85.1 mg/dl) and 2.19 (0.16-6.56%) for VLDL-TG (range: 6.1-515.0 mg/ dl).— Innis-Whitehouse, W., X. Li, W. V. Brown, and N-A. Le. An efficient chromatographic system for lipoprotein fraction- ation using whole plasma. J. Lipid Res. 1998. 39: 679-690.
The mammary stem cell hierarchy: a looking glass into heterogeneous breast cancer landscapes

The mammary gland is a dynamic organ that undergoes extensive morphogenesis during the different stages of embryonic development, puberty, estrus, pregnancy, lactation and involution. Systemic and local cues underlie this constant tissue remodeling and act by eliciting an intricate pattern of responses in the mammary epithelial and stromal cells. Decades of studies utilizing methods such as transplantation and lineage-tracing have identified a complex hierarchy of mammary stem cells, progenitors and differentiated epithelial cells that fuel mammary epithelial development. Importantly, these studies have extended our understanding of the molecular crosstalk between cell types and the signaling pathways maintaining normal homeostasis that often are deregulated during tumorigenesis. While several questions remain, this research has many implications for breast cancer. Fundamental among these are the identification of the cells of origin for the multiple subtypes of breast cancer and the understanding of tumor heterogeneity. A deeper understanding of these critical questions will unveil novel breast cancer drug targets and treatment paradigms. In this review, we provide a current overview of normal mammary development and tumorigenesis from a stem cell perspective.
VcfR: an R package to manipulate and visualize VCF format data

Software to call single nucleotide polymorphisms or related genetic variants has converged on the variant call format (VCF) as the output format of choice. This has created a need for tools to work with VCF files. While an increasing number of software exists to read VCF data, many only extract the genotypes without including the data associated with each genotype that describes its quality. We created the R package vcfR to address this issue. We developed a VCF file exploration tool implemented in the R language because R provides an interactive experience and an environment that is commonly used for genetic data analysis. Functions to read and write VCF files into R as well as functions to extract portions of the data and to plot summary statistics of the data are implemented. VcfR further provides the ability to visualize how various parameterizations of the data affect the results. Additional tools are included to integrate sequence (FASTA) and annotation data (GFF) for visualization of genomic regions such as chromosomes. Conversion functions translate data from the vcfR data structure to formats used by other R genetics packages. Computationally intensive functions are implemented in C++ to improve performance. Use of these tools is intended to facilitate VCF data exploration, including intuitive methods for data quality control and easy export to other R packages for further analysis. VcfR thus provides essential, novel tools currently not available in R.
An Automated Approach to the Design of Small Aerial Systems Using Rapid Manufacturing

Traditional engineering design processes focus on the generation of a completely defined solution for a specific set of design requirements. However, in the modern, rapidly evolving battlespace, Soldiers face the need for situationally specific aerial reconnaissance. Recent advances in automated manufacturing techniques, such as 3-D printing, have enabled the design of small unmanned aerial vehicles in which discrete components can be integrated with parametrically scaled and printed components. This approach enables mission-driven sizing, design, and synthesis of a product family using a small set of components. An integrated requirements and design process that separates the Soldier from any design engineering is presented. Mission requirements, performance models, component attributes, and manufacturing constraints are used to suggest a product architecture capable of fulfilling requirements. The process is executed to design an on-demand solution to specific aerial reconnaissance needs. Assembly takes place in a virtual environment prior to physical integration with off-the-shelf components. The resulting vehicle is then flown in a controlled environment to mimic the mission. A comparison of requirements to actual performance is presented. An assessment is made of the proposed capability and conclusions are drawn about the applicability and scalability of the approach.Copyright © 2015 by ASME