cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk Factors for Death After Heart Transplantation: Does a Single-Center Experience Correlate With Multicenter Registries?

Abstract Background . Risk factors for death after heart transplantation (Tx) are frequently documented from multicenter registries. Although this information is helpful, it reflects a whole range of experiences and results, and may not translate to a particular center. This study was performed to (1) evaluate pre-Tx factors affecting mortality in a single-center experience, and (2) compare these factors with risk factors obtained from multicenter registry reports. Methods . Review of our transplant database between January 1984 and December 1995 identified 405 adults who received a primary heart Tx. Multiple factors were analyzed, including demographics, Tx era, cytomegalovirus status, United Network for Organ Sharing status of recipient, presence of pulmonary hypertension, previous cardiac operations, mechanical ventilation or circulatory support, ischemia time, number of rejection episodes, and preoperative flow cytometry crossmatching. Results . One- and 5-year survival rates were 87.8% and 73.4%, respectively (Kaplan-Meier). Contrary to multicenter registry reports, our data indicate that reoperative procedures, left ventricular assist device support, increasing donor and recipient age, and ischemia time up to 4.2 hours are not risk factors for death after Tx. Likewise, mode of donor death is not a risk factor affecting outcome. Significant risk factors for mortality identified by multivariate analysis included early transplant era (1984 to 1989; p = 0.002), female donor ( p = 0.042), cytomegalovirus-seropositive donor ( p = 0.048), high pulmonary vascular resistance ( p = 0.018), and intraaortic balloon pump support ( p = 0.03). It also identified a positive B-cell flow cytometry crossmatch ( p = 0.015) to be a risk factor with univariate analysis. Conclusions . Our data identify a group of recipients, reportedly at high risk in multicenter registries, who are not at increased risk of death after Tx. This information supports the growing experience with older donors and recipients and with bridged transplants, and has allowed us to expand our donor pool. These prognostic factors at evaluation allow more liberal selection of patients and donors for transplantation.
A TECHNIQUE FOR THE SLIDE CULTURE OF FUNGI.

IN an attempt to obtain uncontaminated slide cultures of various fungi in the biological laboratories of the University of Pittsburgh, where a sterile chamber is not available and where conditions are as yet particularly unfavorable because of unplastered walls and many cross-draughts, a technique was employed which permitted all stages of typical growth on one slide and also made available a slide culture particularly satisfactory for permanent mounting. Microscope slides were sterilized in 30 x 140 mm test-tubes, which were ordered from a local supply house to fit the regulation size slides. Sterile agar medium, tubed in quantities of 3 to 5 cc, was melted and cooled to the point of gelation. The agar was shaken to break up any lumps which were forming; the plug was removed, the mouth of the tube flamed, and the agar poured over the sterile slide in a similarly flamed tube. As the agar flowed down the slide it hardened and formed an uneven layer on which several light inoculations were made. A very dilute suspension of spores in the agar to be poured was sometimes substituted for the latter step. After about forty-eight hours of incubation at room temperature, the agar film was usually dry enough to permit the elimination of drying before mounting. The *unevenness of the film allowed for all stages of growth from spore germination to spore formation. Plasmolysis was exhibited only at the center of old colonies, or where the agar layer was insufficiently thick. No difference was observed between slides incubated without the addition of sterile water to the tube and those incubated with several cubic centimeters. A simple technique, recommended by Henrici,' was used for permanent mounting. After fixation for several minutes in a solution of 100 cc 50 per cent. alcohol, 6.5 cc formalin, and 2.5 cc glacial acetic acid, a change was made to 35 per cent. alcohol and then to distilled water. Staining five minutes in an acid dye was followed by washing in distilled water until all the stain was removed from the agar. The slide was then dried in air overnight and mounted in balsam.
Effects of castration and androgen replacement on erectile function in a rabbit model.

We investigated, in a rabbit model, the effects of castration and testosterone replacement on: 1) the hemodynamics of the corpus cavernosum; 2) α-1 adrenergic receptor protein expression; 3) neural NO synthase protein expression and activity; 4) phosphodiesterase type 5 activity; and 5) trabecular smooth muscle/connective tissue balance. One week after bilateral orchiectomy, animals were treated for 7 days with vehicle alone, testosterone, or estradiol. Intact control animals received vehicle only. Systemic arterial blood and intracavernosal pressures (ICP) were measured in each animal before and after electrical stimulation of the cavernosal nerve.α 1-adrenergic receptor protein expression was determined by ligand binding studies. NO synthase expression and activity were determined by Western blot analyses and conversion of l-arginine to citrulline, respectively. Phosphodiesterase type 5 activity was determined by hydrolysis of guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) in tissue extracts in the absence...
Chemical and kinetic mechanisms of aspartate-β-semialdehyde dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli

Abstract The chemical and kinetic mechanisms of purified aspartate-β-semialdehyde dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli have been determined. The kinetic mechanism of the enzyme, determined from initial velocity, product and dead end inhibition studies, is a random preferred order sequential mechanism. For the reaction examined in the phosphorylating direction l -aspartate-β-semialdehyde binds preferentially to the E-NADP-P 1 complex, and there is random release of the products l -β-aspartyl phosphate and NADPH. Substrate inhibition is displayed by both P 1 and NADP. Inhibition patterns versus the other substrates suggest that P 1 inhibits by binding to the phosphate subsite in the NADP binding site, and the substrate inhibition by NADP results from the formation of a dead end E-β-aspartyl phosphate-NADP complex. The chemical mechanism of the enzyme has been examined by pH profile and chemical modification studies. The proposed mechanism involves the attack of an active site cysteine sulfhydryl on the carbonyl carbon of aspartate-β-semialdehyde, with general acid assistance by an enzyme lysine amino group. The resulting thiohemiacetal is oxidized by NADP to a thioester, with subsequent attack by the dianion of enzyme bound phosphate. The collapse of the resulting tetrahedral intermediate leads to the acyl-phosphate product and liberation of the active site cysteine.
87Sr/86Sr test of the degree of impact-induced slope failure in the Maastrichtian of the western North Atlantic

Analyses of 8 7 Sr/ 8 6 Sr in foraminifera and sedimentological observations suggest that the Chicxulub impact was not the trigger for slumps or a hiatus within the Maastrichtian section recovered at Ocean Drilling ProgramSites 1049, 1050, and 1052 (subtropical western North Atlantic). The slumps and hiatus occur within a sequence dominated by pelagic chalk. The 8 7 Sr/ 8 6 Sr measurements show a general increase through the Maastrichtian at each site, but suggest chronostratigraphic gaps on the order of 10 6 yr across the slumps. Some of the slumps have burrowed upper surfaces and are composed of material that is older and coarser grained than the bounding chalks. Pelagic deposition punctuated by gravity flows easily explains the Maastrichtian record on Blake Nose, whereas an impact-based explanation for slumping is difficult to reconcile with sedimentological and geochemical observations.
The use of multiobjective calibration and regional sensitivity analysis in simulating hyporheic exchange

[1] We describe an approach for calibrating a two-dimensional (2-D) flow model of hyporheic exchange using observations of temperature and pressure to estimate hydraulic and thermal properties. A longitudinal 2-D heat and flow model was constructed for a riffle-pool sequence to simulate flow paths and flux rates for variable discharge conditions. A uniform random sampling approach was used to examine the solution space and identify optimal values at local and regional scales. We used a regional sensitivity analysis to examine the effects of parameter correlation and nonuniqueness commonly encountered in multidimensional modeling. The results from this study demonstrate the ability to estimate hydraulic and thermal parameters using measurements of temperature and pressure to simulate exchange and flow paths. Examination of the local parameter space provides the potential for refinement of zones that are used to represent sediment heterogeneity within the model. The results indicate vertical hydraulic conductivity was not identifiable solely using pressure observations; however, a distinct minimum was identified using temperature observations. The measured temperature and pressure and estimated vertical hydraulic conductivity values indicate the presence of a discontinuous low-permeability deposit that limits the vertical penetration of seepage beneath the riffle, whereas there is a much greater exchange where the low-permeability deposit is absent. Using both temperature and pressure to constrain the parameter estimation process provides the lowest overall root-mean-square error as compared to using solely temperature or pressure observations. This study demonstrates the benefits of combining continuous temperature and pressure for simulating hyporheic exchange and flow in a riffle-pool sequence.
RIPPLE: A NEW MODEL FOR INCOMPRESSIBLE FLOWS WITH FREE SURFACES

A new free surface flow model, RIPPLE, is summarized. RIPPLE obtains finite difference solutions for incompressible flow problems having strong surface tension forces at free surfaces of arbitrarily complex topology. The key innovation is the continuum surface force model which represents surface tension as a (strongly) localized volume force. Other features include a higher-order momentum advection model, a volume-of-fluid free surface treatment, and an efficient two-step projection solution method. RIPPLE's unique capabilities are illustrated with two example problems: low-gravity jet-induced tank flow, and the collision and coalescence of two cylindrical rods.
Driver Braking Performance to Surprise and Expected Events

Meta-analyses have shown that the driver braking characteristics reported in the literature often vary due to differences in study methodologies (Green, 2000; Muttart, 2005; Summala, 2000). This paper provides additional insight on driver braking performance by 1) characterizing driver behavior during the execution of surprise and expected braking maneuvers, and 2) investigating the effect of gender, age, and vehicle driven on this behavior. Sixty-four drivers performed surprise and expected braking maneuvers from 45 mph (72.4 km/h) at an inflatable barricade, and subsequently performed expected braking maneuvers in response to an auditory alarm. Participants drove one of two instrumented vehicles: 1) a 2006 Mercedes-Benz R350, or 2) a 2007 Volvo S80. Drivers' braking inputs and corrected stopping distance were measured. Results indicate that drivers' braking performance varied by gender, age, and vehicle driven. These results and their relationship to the extant braking literature are discussed. The find...
Correlated electrical conductivity and mechanical property analysis of high-density polyethylene filled with graphite and carbon fiber

Abstract The development of conductive polymer composites remains an important endeavor in light of growing energy concerns. In the present work, graphite (G), carbon fiber (CF) and G/CF mixtures are added to high-density polyethylene (HDPE) to discern if mixed fillers afford appreciable advantages over single fillers. The effects of filler type and composition on electrical conductivity, composite morphology and mechanical properties have been examined and correlated to establish structure–property relationships. The threshold loading levels required for G and CF to achieve measurable conductivity in HDPE have been identified. Addition of CF to HDPE/G composites is found to increase the conductivity relative to that of HDPE/G composites at the same filler concentration. This observed increase depends on CF length and becomes more pronounced at and beyond the threshold loading of the HDPE/G composite. Scanning electron microscopy is employed to elucidate the morphology of these multicomponent composites, whereas dynamic mechanical analysis reveals that filler concentration, composition and CF length impact both the magnitude and temperature dependence of the dynamic storage modulus.
The recurrent distal 22q11.2 microdeletions are often de novo and do not represent a single clinical entity: a proposed categorization system.

The recurrent distal 22q11.2 microdeletions are often de novo and do not represent a single clinical entity: a proposed categorization system
Back to Basics: Introducing the ABCs of Courtesy:

This column provides an opportunity for readers to share with their colleagues some of the creative techniques that they have sucjessfully developed or adapted in their work with couples andfamilies. If it works wellfor you, others may also be able to adapt it for their purposes, or be stimulated to invent or adapt another technique. Send manuscripts to Robert Sherman, 12 Berkshire Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512, or send to the Editor indicating it is for this column.
A protease that increases during a period of enzymic and metabolic adjustment in Tetrahymena.

Abstract The specific activity of a neutral protease (assayed at pH 8, using azocasein as substrate) in Tetrahymena doubled or tripled within a few hours after the onset of shaking of statically grown, stationary phase cultures. The increase occurred during a period when several peroxisomal enzymes were decreasing. The increase was prevented by actinomycin D or cycloheximide, both of which also prevented the decrease in peroxisomal enzymes. Protease activity towards hemoglobin at pH 3.6 increases during this period, but to a lesser extent, while activity towards BANA (α-N-benzoyl- d,l -arginine 2-naphthylamide) was almost unchanged. The three protease activities have been partially purified by gel filtration and affinity chromatography, and are indistinguishable on this basis. Chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex yields three peaks having activity towards BANA but not towards hemoglobin and azocasein, and two peaks having activity towards all three substrates. The activities towards azocasein and hemoglobin are also indistinguishable on the basis of sensitivity to a variety of inhibitors, to temperature, and chromatography on CM Sephadex. The partially purified protease has an absolute sulfhydryl requirement when azocasein is used as substrate and is inhibited by leupeptin, chymostatin, TLCK, TPCK, and iodacetamide but not by pepstatin or PMSF. Activity towards BANA is much more susceptible to these inhibitors than is that towards azocasein. About half of the activity towards azocasein sediments with the large particle (40,000g-min) fraction. The distribution between two components of this fraction resembles that of a lysosomal marker. However, the activity did not follow the distribution of marker enzymes of any of the typical cell organelles when either subfraction was centrifuged through a sucrose density gradient, nor did it follow; the distribution pattern of the other two protease activities. Much of the activity, in fact, remained at the top of the gradient, even after repeated washings of the particulate fraction or fractionation in the presence of a membrane-stabilizing agent or a protease inhibitor. The protease or proteases appears to be in part responsible for the rapid loss of enzyme activity that is characteristic of Tetrahymena homogenates. The existence of a protease that can attack cellular enzymes at physiological pH suggests that extralysosomal breakdown of proteins can occur in a eukaryotic cell and may be of importance in the regulation of cellular enzyme levels.
A heat pipe transient analysis model

Abstract A two-dimensional, heat pipe transient analysis model, ‘HPTAM’, is developed for simulating operations of fully-thawed heat pipes. The model is benchmarked using transient experimental data of a horizontal water heat pipe. The calculated steady-state water vapor and wall axial temperature profiles and the transient power throughput are in good agreement with measurements. Also presented and discussed are the calculated axial distributions of liquid and vapor pressures, effective radius of curvature of the liquid meniscus at the liquid-vapor interface, and liquid pooling and recession following step function heatup and cooldown transients of the water heat pipe.
The biochemistry of compounds with anti-microtubule activity in plant cells

The experimental use of anti-microtubule compounds has revealed essential functions of microtubules in plant cytoskeletal arrays, including the pre-prophase band, the mitotic and meiotic spindles, the phragmoplast, and the cortical array. The most commonly used plant microtubule depolymerization compounds are colchicine, and several synthetic herbicides belonging to three different chemical classes, the dinitroanilines, phosphoric amides, and N-phenyl carbamates. Taxol, a secondary plant product, is the only drug found to promote the polymerization of plant microtubules. This paper summarizes our current understanding of the biochemical interactions of colchicine, anti-microtubule herbicides, and taxol with plant tubulin and microtubules.
Hemorrhagic myelolipoma of adrenal gland after blunt trauma.

Abstract A case of adrenal myelolipoma is reported in a patient in whomsymptoms of hematuria and flank pain developed after the patient had sustained blunt trauma. Adrenal myelolipomas are usually found incidentally at autopsy. However, the symptomatic presentation of this patient was probably caused by traumatic intratumor hemorrhage. The etiology and pathogenesis of these tumors are discussed in relation to their occasional symptomatic presentation and to their differential diagnosis.
Temperature Effect On The Extraction Of Am(iii), U(vi), And Sr(ii) By Dialkyl-substituted Alkylenediphosphonic Acids

Solvent extraction reagents containing the diphosphonic acid group exhibit extraordinary affinity for tri-, tetra-, and hexavalent actinides. Use of these reagents has been proposed for actinide separation and preconcentration procedures. A new extractant, P,P′-di(2-ethylhexyl) benzene-1,2-diphosphonic acid (H2DEH[1,2-BzDP]), has been synthesized. Its metal extraction characteristics are reported and compared to the previously synthesized P,P′-di(2-ethylhexyl) methylene-(H2DEH[MDP]), ethylene-(H2DEH[EDP]), and butylene-(H2DEH[BuDP]) diphosphonic acids. Different degrees of aggregation and different extraction mechanisms and stoichiometries have been reported for these ligands. In this work, thermodynamic parameters associated with the extraction of selected metal ions by these ligands were measured to provide further insight into the mechanism of the extraction processes involved. Knowledge of the enthalpy, entropy, and free-energy changes, in combination with other fundamental principles governing extrac...
Growth in high serum concentrations leads to rapid deadaptation of cells previously adapted to growth in an extremely low concentration of serum.

Abstract A subline of NIH 3T3 cells adapted to multiply in 0.25% calf serum (CS) by frequent passage (every 2-3 days) at low population density in 0.25% CS was deadapted by frequent successive passages of the cells in 10% CS for 3 weeks. The cells adapted to 0.25% CS multiplied with an average doubling time of 16.9 hr in 10% CS, and cells that had always been kept in 10% CS multiplied with an average doubling time of 14.6 hr, so there was weak selection for the latter in the higher serum concentration. When adapted cells were subjected to two passagers in 10% CS prior to assay of growth in 0.25% CS, a 4-day lag period was evident before commencement of exponential growth, and there was a decrease in saturation density. Further delay of growth in 0.25% CS developed as the number of passages of cells in 10% CS increased. The marked delay of growth in 0.25% CS of the bulk population after a few days in 10% CS argued against selection in 10% CS of rare nonadapted mutants from the adapted population and for an epigenetic origin of the change. Reconstruction experiments utilizing adapted cells mixed with non-adapted cells in 0.25% CS buttressed this explanation. Eight clones of the adapted population exhibited some loss of growth capacity in 0.25% CS after a single passage in 10% CS, though the extent of loss varied from clone to clone. The results support the idea that all cells in the adapted population respond to the lifting of growth constraints with loss of their growth potential under highly constrained conditions. They are consistent with the concept of progressive state selection in which selection operates on fluctuating metabolic states of individual cells rather than on genetic variants.
Design and characterization of GaN∕InGaN solar cells

We experimentally demonstrate the III-V nitrides as a high-performance photovoltaic material with open-circuit voltages up to 2.4V and internal quantum efficiencies as high as 60%. GaN and high-band gap InGaN solar cells are designed by modifying PC1D software, grown by standard commercial metal-organic chemical vapor deposition, fabricated into devices of variable sizes and contact configurations, and characterized for material quality and performance. The material is primarily characterized by x-ray diffraction and photoluminescence to understand the implications of crystalline imperfections on photovoltaic performance. Two major challenges facing the III-V nitride photovoltaic technology are phase separation within the material and high-contact resistances.
Teachers’ attitudes towards adolescent sexuality and life skills education in rural South Africa

This study investigated the attitudes of 43 teachers and school administrators towards sex education, young people’s sexuality and their communities in 19 secondary schools in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and how these attitudes affect school-based HIV prevention and sex education. In interviews, teachers expressed judgemental attitudes towards young people’s sexuality and pregnant students, and focused on girls’ perceived irresponsible behaviour instead of strategies to minimise HIV risk. Despite general awareness of the HIV epidemic, few teachers perceived it as an immediate threat, and teachers’ own HIV risk was infrequently acknowledged. Teachers perceived themselves to have higher personal standards and moral authority than members of the communities and schools they served. Male administrators’ authority to determine school policies and teachers’ attitudes towards sexuality fundamentally affect the content and delivery of school-based sexuality education and HIV prevention activities. Opportunities to create a supportive educational environment for students and for female teachers are frequently missed. Improving teachers’ efficacy to deliver impartial, non-judgemental and accurate information about sex and HIV is essential, as are efforts to acknowledge and address their own HIV risks.
Uranyl Acetate Causes DNA Single Strand Breaks In Vitro in the Presence of Ascorbate (Vitamin C)

Uranium is a radioactive heavy metal with isotopes that decay on the geological time scale. People are exposed to uranium through uranium mining, processing, the resulting mine tailings, and the use of depleted uranium in the military. Acute exposures to uranium are chemically toxic to the kidney; however, little is known about chronic exposures, for example, if there is a direct chemical genotoxicity of uranium. The hypothesis that is being tested in the current work is that hexavalent uranium, as uranyl ion, may have a chemical genotoxicity similar to that of hexavalent chromium. In the current study, reactions of uranyl acetate (UA) and ascorbate (vitamin C) were observed to produce plasmid relaxation in pBluescript DNA. DNA strand breaks increased with increasing concentrations of a 1:1 reaction of UA and ascorbate but were not affected by increasing the ratio of ascorbate. Plasmid relaxation was inhibited by coincubation of reactions with catalase but not by coincubation with the radical scavengers m...
Microtubule assembly in cold-adapted organisms: functional properties and structural adaptations of tubulins from antarctic fishes.

Abstract Fishes native to the coastal waters of the Antarctic have adapted to habitat and body temperatures in the range −1.8 to +2°C. Their cytoplasmic microtubules, unlike those of mammals and temperate poikilotherms, have evolved to assemble efficiently at these low temperatures. To learn about the underlying molecular adaptations, my laboratory is studying microtubule proteins [tubulin αβ dimers and microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs)] and tubulin genes from several Antarctic fishes, including the rockcods Notothenia coriiceps and Gobionotothen gibberifrons. We find that the assembly-enhancing adaptations of the fish microtubule proteins are intrinsic to the tubulin subunits themselves. Furthermore, microtubule formation by Antarctic fish tubulins is strongly entropy driven, due in part to an increased reliance, relative to tubulins from other species, on hydrophobic interactions. Based on analyses of tubulin polypeptides and cDNAs, we suggest that the structural adaptations of Antarctic fish tubulins most likely involve alterations in the primary sequences of tubulin isotypes. With respect to neural β tubulins from other vertebrates, for example, the class II β-tubulin isotype of N. coriiceps brain contains seven unique amino acid substitutions and one novel insertion in its 446-residuc primary sequence. Most of these changes are located in a structural domain that forms contacts between tubulin dimers during microtubule assembly and would be expected to enhance polypeptide flexibility, thereby facilitating addition of tubulin to microtubule ends. The acidic carboxy-terminal tails of the α and β tubulins, by contrast, appear not to be sites of cold adaptation of polymerization. We have also found that brain and egg tubulins from Antarctic fishes differ strikingly in their polymerization efficiencies, which demonstrates, in agreement with the multitubulin hypothesis, that tissue-specific tubulin isoforms can possess distinct functional properties. Thus, study of microtubule proteins from organisms, such as the Antarctic fishes, that have adapted to extreme thermal regimes should contribute significantly to an understanding of the quaternary interactions that control microtubule assembly in all eukaryotes.
UKAS accreditation in an HV laboratory : a management perspective

Throughout the world, HV laboratories are adjusting to the philosophy of measurement system traceability and accreditation. The stimulus for this change has been the recent revision and publication of IEC Standard 60-2: 1994; the standard itself is concerned with 'High Voltage Test Techniques' and Part 2 applies to 'Measuring Systems'. The revised standard introduces the concept of 'approval' of high voltage measuring systems via a hierarchy of measurement systems with ultimate traceability to national reference standards. For a few laboratories already acting as a key national institution, accreditation might be a fairly straightforward exercise and indeed a number in this category have already achieved this status. But for many other laboratories, having an industrial or manufacturing background, it is probably a daunting prospect. Following the author's own experience, this paper highlights the key factors that high voltage laboratories must consider in preparation for a UKAS assessment and life thereafter.
ACCURACY OF TWO PROCEDURES FOR ESTIMATING RELIABILITY OF MASTERY TESTS

In mastery testing, reliability is often viewed as the consistency of mastery-nonmastery decisions across repeated testings (Huynh, 1976, 1978a; Subkoviak, 1976; Swaminathan, Hambleton, & Algina, 1974). On the basis of scores obtained from two test administrations (test-retest or parallel-form), an individual examinee may be assigned to one of four categories. Two of these categories indicate that the examinee has been consistently classified either as a master or as a nonmaster by both administrations of the test. The remaining two categories reflect a disagreement in classification. In recent educational measurement literature, two indices of reliability for mastery tests, the raw agreement index p and the corrected-for-chance kappa index (K), have emerged: p is simply the combined proportion of examinees assigned to the categories labeled nonmasterynonmastery and mastery-mastery; K represents the extent to which test scores improve the consistency of decisions beyond the level expected by chance. The relationship between kappa and other parameters such as cutoff score and classical test reliability may be found in Huynh (1978a). In many practical situations, repeated testing is not feasible, yet there is a need to estimate the consistency of mastery classifications. In order to accomplish this, models typically are imposed on the test data in order to project the test score distribution which would result if a second test administration were conducted. For the estimation of reliability (or decision consistency) in mastery testing, there are at least two procedures which rely on data collected from a single test administration. The procedure proposed by Huynh (1976) assumes that the test scores are distributed as predicted by a univariate or bivariate beta-binomial model. The Subkoviak technique (1976) in its simplest form assumes that scores are binomially distributed and that the regression of true score on observed test score is linear. Subkoviak (1978) compared these two procedures using simulated data. The data reported in Table 2 of his paper clearly indicated that the procedures acted almost identically in terms of estimation bias and standard error. The data provided by Subkoviak (1976) also indicated that the single-administration beta-binomial estimate for the p index tended to underestimate the two-administration estimate of decision consistency. However, the data were produced by simulations using a very small number (50) of repetitions. Thus, sampling errors may have been large enough to account for most of the observed differences cited.
Theory and experiment of 3D sensing based on eye-hand camera

A new method of extracting depth from blurring and magnification of objects or local scene has been presented. Assuming no active illumination, the images are taken at two camera positions of a small displacement, using a single standard camera with telocentric lens. Thus, the depth extraction method is simple in structure and efficient in computation. Fusing the two disparate sources of depth information, magnification and blurring, the proposed method provides more accurate and robust depth estimation. This paper describes the process of various experimentations performed to validate this concept and describes the present work that has been done in that field. The experimental result shows less than 1% error for an optimal depth range. The ultimate aim of this concept would be the construction of dense 3D maps of objects and real time continuous estimation of depth.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Endoscopic Endonasal Pituitary Surgery: Impact of Surgical Education on Operation Length and Patient Morbidity

Objectives To determine the difference in operative times and associated complications for cases performed solely by attending-level surgeons versus cases assisted by surgeons-in-training for endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgeries. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Tertiary-care academic medical center. Participants A total of 228 patients having undergone endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgery from 2005 to 2011. Main Outcome Measure Duration of surgery comparing attending only (AO) and trainee-assisted (TA) surgeries. Results Thirty-seven (19%) of 198 cases were identified as AO surgeries, the remaining 161 (81%) were TA. Operative times (minutes) for the AO group were significantly shorter than the TA group (149.1 ± 54.8 vs 219.5 ± 83.7, p p = 0.318), decreased estimated blood loss (408 mL vs 523 mL, p = 0.176), fewer postoperative complications (27% vs 37%, p = 0.268), and shorter length of stay (3.5 vs 4.3 days, p = 0.294). Conclusions This is the first study in otolaryngology or neurosurgery to compare operative times and outcomes for AO versus TA cases at a single academic institution. Operative times were significantly decreased and a trend toward a decrease in patient morbidity was noted for cases performed solely by attendings. The valuation of teaching activities in the operating room is a necessary first step toward optimizing the allocation of resources and funding of surgical education.
Receiver-side adaptive opto-electronic chromatic dispersion compensation

We demonstrate, via comprehensive simulation, a receiver-side adaptive chromatic dispersion compensation technique which reconstructs the received optical signal as an electrical baseband signal and subsequently applies linear electrical filtering to remove chromatic dispersion.
Fragrance material review on (Z)-2-penten-1-ol

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of (Z)-2-penten-1-ol when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented.
Use of zonisamide in pediatric patients.

Zonisamide is a broad-spectrum antiepilepsy drug approved in the United States for the adjunctive treatment of partial seizures in adults with epilepsy. Studies in Japan have established zonisamide as effective and safe for use in children, but there is limited information from the United States concerning its use in pediatric patients. This chart-review study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and appropriate dosage of zonisamide for treating seizures in pediatric and adolescent patients. Charts of 50 pediatric patients (mean age 9.1 years, range 9 months to 20 years) who received zonisamide were evaluated for demographic characteristics, seizure types, dosage (mean = 15.8 mg/kg/day), response, concurrent medications, and adverse events. After treatment, 8 patients were seizure-free, and 11 others had ≥50% improvement in seizure control, including 11 of the 28 patients for whom treatment with six or more antiepileptic drugs was insufficient. Thirty-one patients experienced at least one adverse event while receiving zonisamide, and 14 discontinued as a result.
Meta-analysis of safety and efficacy of uninterrupted warfarin compared to heparin-based bridging therapy during implantation of cardiac rhythm devices.

Optimal management of perioperative anticoagulation in patients undergoing pacemaker or implantable cardioverter–defibrillator implantation is not yet established. We performed a meta-analysis of the published literature to assess the safety and efficacy of perioperative heparin-based bridging therapy versus uninterrupted warfarin therapy in patients undergoing pacemaker or implantable cardioverter–defibrillator implantation. We performed a systematic review of MEDLINE (1950 to 2012), EMBASE (1988 to 2012), Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (fourth quarter 2011), and reports presented at scientific meetings (1994 to 2011). Randomized controlled trials, case–control, or cohort studies comparing the safety and efficacy of uninterrupted warfarin therapy to heparin-based bridging therapy were eligible. Outcomes reported in eligible studies were rates of bleeding and thromboembolic events. Of 3,195 reports initially reviewed, we identified 8 studies enrolling 2,321 patients for the meta-analysis. Maintenance of therapeutic warfarin was associated with significantly lower bleeding postoperatively compared to heparin-based bridging therapy (odds ratio 0.30, 95% confidence interval 0.18 to 0.50, p
Blind topology identification for power systems

In this paper, the blind topology identification problem for power systems only using power injection data at each bus is considered. As metering becomes widespread in the smart grid, a natural question arising is how much information about the underlying infrastructure can be inferred from such data. The identifiability of the grid topology is studied, and an efficient learning algorithm to estimate the grid Laplacian matrix (i.e., the graph equivalent of the grid admittance matrix) is proposed. Finally, the performance of our algorithm for the IEEE-14 bus system is demonstrated, and the consistency of the recovered graph with the true graph associated with the underlying power grid is shown in simulations.
Lead, sulfur and phosphorus interactions with platinum and palladium metal foils

Abstract This paper describes the chemical interactions at the active metal surface of platinum and palladium oxidation catalysts subjected to lead, phosphorus and sulfur contaminants. A method of probing the chemical environment of the supported metal surface in catalysts has been developed using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). The poisoning of Pt and Pd is seen as an accumulation dependent process. The noble metal surfaces first saturate with lead without accumulation of sulfur or phosphorus. The initial accumulation of lead on Pd is different than Pt. At low exposures lead is depleted from the Pd surface. It appears that lead is drawn from the surface into the bulk of the oxidized palladium because of the solubility of PbO in PdO. On platinum, however, no such driving force exists and lead depletion is not indicated. Subsequent accumulation on the lead poisoned Pt or Pd consists of oxidized sulfur, phosphorus and lead. Compound identifications on both Pt and Pd were accomplished using peak shift and structure analyses with respect to AES spectra obtained from PbSO4 and Na4P2O7.
The phenomenon of conglomerate crystallization. IV. The structure and absolute configuration of [Λ(δλ)(−)589-cis-Co(en)2(NO2)2][trans-Co(NH3)2(NO2)4] a substance containing clavic dyssymmetric cations and anions

Abstract The crystal structure and the absolute configurations of the species present in the title compound were established by X-ray crystallographic methods. The substance crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group P212121, with lattice constants of a = 6.521(2), b = 10.735(2), c = 26.085(5) A and V = 1825.93 A3. The calculated density (z = 4) is 1.994 gm·cm−3, given the molecular weight of 548.1574 gm·mol−1. The data were collected with MoKα radiation (λ = 0.71069 A) and the reduced set consisted of 3680 data for which I ⩾ 3σ(I). After refinement of the trial structure was complete, comparison was made with the results of refining its enantiomorph. The values of (R, Rw for the trial solution and for the enantiomorph were, respectively, (0.0375, 030389) and (0.0476, 0.0468) which indicates that the initially chosen coordinates were the correct ones for the diastereoisomeric pair present in the crystal selected for data collection. The above choice of absolute configuration was also confirmed by the measurement of Bijvoet differences between 28 reflections. The configuration of the cation is the same as that recently found in Λ(δλ)[(−)589-cis-bisethylenediamineCo(NO2)2]Cl, with which it shares the interesting property of having one lel and one ob conformated ethylenediamine ring. The anion, surprisingly, has almost the identical conformation and configuration found in optically active crystals of K[trans-Co(NH3)2(NO2)4] recently studied at this laboratory. Both the cation and the anion of this salt share the common feature of displaying Clavic dyssymmetry, a newly recognized form of atropisomerism leading to an unusually high ratio of spontaneous resolutions of potentially optically active species. Differences in the CoN(NH2) distances in the cation between those cis and those trans to the -NO2 ligands (av. cis = 1.956 A; av. trans = 1.985 A) clearly document the existence of a trans effect. In the anion, the CoN(NH3) distances average to 1.948 A, in good agreement with the results for the cis pair of the cation, as expected. The results obtained here are in full accord with our previous work on these ions and the importance of this study lies no on the geometrical details of the ions in question; rather, they contribute to an understanding of the phenomenon of conglomerate crystallization, spontaneous resolution of enantiomeric pairs into a mechanical mixture of pure, antipodal, crystals.
Loss of p53 Ser18 and Atm results in embryonic lethality without cooperation in tumorigenesis.

Phosphorylation at murine Serine 18 (human Serine 15) is a critical regulatory process for the tumor suppressor function of p53. p53Ser18 residue is a substrate for ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) and ATM-related (ATR) protein kinases. Studies of mice with a germ-line mutation that replaces Ser18 with Ala (p53S18A mice) have demonstrated that loss of phosphorylation of p53Ser18 leads to the development of tumors, including lymphomas, fibrosarcomas, leukemia and leiomyosarcomas. The predominant lymphoma is B-cell lymphoma, which is in contrast to the lymphomas observed in Atm−/− animals. This observation and the fact that multiple kinases phosphorylate p53Ser18 suggest Atm-independent tumor suppressive functions of p53Ser18. Therefore, in order to examine p53Ser18 function in relationship to ATM, we analyzed the lifespan and tumorigenesis of mice with combined mutations in p53Ser18 and Atm. Surprisingly, we observed no cooperation in survival and tumorigenesis in compound p53S18A and Atm−/− animals. However, we observed embryonic lethality in the compound mutant animals. In addition, the homozygous p53Ser18 mutant allele impacted the weight of Atm−/− animals. These studies examine the genetic interaction of p53Ser18 and Atm in vivo. Furthermore, these studies demonstrate a role of p53Ser18 in regulating embryonic survival and motor coordination.
Colchicine binding activity and tyrosyl tubulin ligase activity in normal and cystic fibrosis fibroblasts

Abstract Colchicine binding was measured in the cytosol and particulate fractions of normal human fibroblasts and in cystic fibrosis fibroblast cultures. Colchicine binding in the cytosol fraction of the cystic fibrosis cultures was 37%–42% lower than the binding in normal fibroblasts. Particulate colchicine binding was 1%–3% of the total binding in all cell cultures. The activity of tyrosyl tubulin ligase, an enzyme tightly associated with tubulin, was 31%–49% lower in the cystic fibrosis cell cultures.
Blood pressure in vegetarians and non-vegetarians: a cross-sectional analysis

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between dietary status and blood pressure (BP) in a population of adult Seventh Day Adventists attending a statewide church conference. A total of 215 conferees ( age=52 yrs.) volunteered to complete a lifestyle questionnaire (LSQ) designed to obtain information on selected demographic and psychosocial variables, medical history, and dietary and other health-related habits. Height and weight were measured, and a minimum of two blood pressure readings using a random baseline mercury sphygmomanometer were taken from each individual by observers blind to the participants' LSQ responses. Participants were divided into vegetarian and nonvegetarian categories hased on self-reported dietary habits. Significantly fewer (X 2 =14.4, p
Four Imperatives for Preventing Demolition by Neglect

Population and land-use relocation in the United States contributes to the generation of many functionless, unmaintained historic structures. Many once-vital buildings have been removed, while others have simply been abandoned and left to decay or ‘demolished through neglect’. The National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2008 suggests that more than 500 communities are experiencing significant numbers of teardowns, but there is a lack of research on both the exact number of heritage structures that have fallen into neglect and the provisions necessary to prevent neglect. In response to growing concerns about the climbing rate of these structures, this paper assesses both the rationale behind the neglect of historic structures and current preventative techniques and policies. The purpose is to distil the requirements necessary for prevention of demolition by neglect into imperatives to guide future preservation policy.
Autodetection of ancient Arabian tombs in high-resolution satellite imagery

The small size of the HCTs, vast search regions, and rugged terrain make mapping them in the field difficult and costly. In this article, a detection algorithm is described and quantitatively evaluated and establishes the feasibility of automatically detecting these tombs in satellite imagery. By narrowing the search to a smaller set of candidate locations, wide area discovery and mapping can be performed much more effectively.
Friction and elasticity on a molecular scale

A molecular scale atomic force microscopy study of friction and elasticity is presented on a one-component lipid bilayer system - a model boundary lubricant. With a real area of contact on the order of the lattice spacings of the sample, the elastic compliances of single lipid molecules are recorded - the first report of a molecularly resolved elasticity map. The anisotropic and highly ordered structure of the lipid bilayer has been observed to cause contrast information in friction on molecularly flat areas, and to be dependent on the sliding direction. This anisotropic behavior of friction has been measured to be independent of normal elastic compliances. Only asymmetric indentation which causes in-plane compliances leads to heterogeneities in the elasticity map. In this fundamental study of friction, the effects of adhesion and elasticity are discussed.
Harmonic distortion reduction technique of the power amplifier for very high frequency ultrasonic transducer applications

Power amplifiers are used to trigger the transducers in order to generate the acoustic waves into the desired target. The resolution of the ultrasound imaging systems is related with the sensitivity of the transducers so the high voltage output signals of the power amplifiers are required to be used to drive the transducers. Therefore, a linear power amplifier is more attractive choice because of its higher dynamic range of the output signals. The novel pre-distortion circuit using the passive resistor, capacitor and inductor components with a power MOSFET device was designed to enhance the dynamic range of the power amplifiers. The dynamic range of the power amplifiers is defined as the characteristic to amplify an input signal with less distortion. This characteristic can be improved by reducing the harmonic distortion components of the high voltage signals produced by the power amplifiers.