cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Practically speaking: Rethinking hand hygiene improvement programs in health care settings

Background Hand hygiene is widely recognized as the single most effective means of reducing health care–associated infections. Implementing a credible hand hygiene program and maintaining high compliance among staff is both expected and required of hospitals. However, beyond general guidelines, few resources are available for establishing an institution-wide hand hygiene program that is both successful and sustainable over the long term. Methods Beginning in 2008, we completely overhauled the approach to hand hygiene at our institution. We created small teams consisting of a representative from Quality Assessment, an Infection Prevention Practitioner, and staff from a particular unit. Teams began by discussing the current barriers to hand hygiene success. They then set their own goals for hand hygiene compliance. Staff learned the World Health Organization (WHO) hand hygiene guidelines, which recently had been adopted as part of hospital infection prevention policy. Using the WHO guidelines, teams diagrammed detailed workflows for several of their most common patient care tasks. Wherever hand hygiene was indicated, the workflow was marked with a number corresponding to one or more of the WHO’s “5 moments for hand hygiene.” At the end of the 12-week period, staff members were trained to observe each other and began officially collecting and submitting data to Infection Prevention. Results Between 2006 and 2008, our average institutional hand hygiene compliance held steady at 60%-70%. After the new program was launched in 2008, compliance reached 97% and has been maintained at this level ever since. In addition to the 19 areas of the hospital that were observed previously, 15 ambulatory facilities and 5 regional sites are now included in the data. Conclusion This article describes a novel approach to measuring, monitoring, and ultimately increasing hand hygiene compliance at our hospital. Our objective is to provide concrete, practical strategies for other institutions faced with the challenge of building or revamping their own hand hygiene programs.
Heat Resistance of Three Strains of Psychrophilic Organisms Added to Skimmilk for Cottage Cheese Manufacture

Abstract The thermal resistance characteristics of Pseudomonas viscosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens , and Pseudomonas fragi were determined in sterile skimmilk at 110, 115, and 120° F. The thermal resistance of each organism was completely characterized by D and z values calculated from survivor curve data. P. fragi was more heat-resistant than the two other organisms. The results obtained provided evidence that these microorganisms would not survive the normal pasteurization of milk or skimmilk. Furthermore, the survival of these microogranisms during the different stages of making Cottage Cheese was determined. The following conclusions can be drawn from this investigation: (a) These microorganisms do not survive a cooking process of 120° F. for 30min.; (b) generation of these organisms during incubation is not a problem, because the acidity developed by the time of cutting the curd, produces a 90% reduction in count; (c) none of the species of Pseudomonas added to the skimmilk before it was made into cheese could be isolated from the creamed cheese during a storage period of 4 wk. at 38° F.
Growth hormone, prolactin and cortisol responses and growth patterns in hyperkinetic children treated with dextro-amphetamine. Preliminary findings.

Abstract A prospective study of growth was undertaken in two groups of hyperkinetic children: a d-amphetamine-treated (index) group and a phenothiazine-treated (control) group. This study was coupled with longitudinal overnight sleep-endocrine assessments in the index group. At the end of the first year seven index subjects have been studied for growth and sleep-endocrine measures and eight control subjects have been studied for growth changes only. The significant findings are: (1) growth retardation in the index group; (2) inhibition of mean sleep-related prolactin secretion; (3) a highly significant correlation between loss of expected height percentile during the first year and decrease of mean sleep related prolactin at 6 months, as compared to baseline. These findings suggest that growth inhibition secondary to chronic d-amphetamine administration in hyperkinetic children might be mediated by inhibition of prolactin secretion.
Danger and usefulness: An alternative framework for understanding rapid evaluation effects in perception?

Previous studies have shown effects of rated danger and usefulness on lexical access. All of them have used stimuli selected for connotations of danger and/or usefulness. Stimuli for the present lexical decision study were all of the nouns, verbs, and adjectives from the Balota et al. (2002) English Lexicon Project (subject to constraints relating to experimental control; none had anything to do with danger or usefulness). The interaction between danger and usefulness ratings previously demonstrated (Wurm & Vakoch, 2000; Wurm, Vakoch, Seaman, & Buchanan, 2004; Wurm, Whitman, Seaman, Hill, & Ulstad, 2007) was found for nouns, even when age of acquisition was controlled. It was also found for verbs and adjectives. The interaction is believed to reflect competing pressures to (1) avoid dangerous objects/events and (2) approach valuable resources. It may be a manifestation of the rapid evaluation effects pervasive in the literature. Post hoc analyses showed that danger and usefulness explain as much variance as valence and arousal, or evaluation, potency, and activity.
Macromelia masquerading as an acromegaloid syndrome in an adult with Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome.

� Objective: To describe a case of Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome in an adult patient with symmetric macromelia suggestive of an acromegaloid syndrome. � Methods: We report clinical and laboratory data that were extracted from the medical records of the study patient. We also survey the relevant reports identified through a MEDLINE search of the English-language literature published between January 1, 1996, and June 2, 2007, using the phrase, Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome. � Results: A 28-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for weeping lymphedema of the left lower extremity. He had pronounced symmetric hypertrophy of all distal extremities, port-wine stains on his right neck, and varicosities on his left groin. The patient’s insulinlike growth factor 1 concentration was 92 ng/mL (reference range, 117-329 ng/mL), which did not support the diagnosis of acromegaly. Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome is a rare congenital condition that belongs to a family of disorders characterized by tissue overgrowth. Classically, the syndrome presents as a triad of vascular malformations, cutaneous hemangiomas, and bone or soft-tissue hypertrophy usually affecting one extremity. The tissue hypertrophy in this syndrome is typically localized and asymmetric. � Conclusion: The recognition that the tissue hypertrophy in Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome can occur symmetrically will help avoid unnecessary and extensive workup for acromegaly. (Endocr Pract. 2008;14:109-111) Abbreviations: IGF-1 = insulinlike growth factor 1; KTS = KlippelTrenaunay syndrome
Regional employment impact of rapidly escalating energy costs

Abstract This paper presents a methodology for incorporating price-induced technological substitution into a regional input-output forecasting model. The model was used to determine the employment impacts of rapidly escalating energy costs on the Riverside-San Bernardino (California) SMSA. The results indicate that the substitution effect between energy and other goods was dominated by the income effect. A reallocation of consumer expenditures from labour intensive to energy intensive goods occured, resulting in a two-to threefold increase in the unemployment rate among low-skilled individuals.
Establishment of active chromatin structure at enhancer elements by mixed-lineage leukemia 1 to initiate estrogen-dependent gene expression

A number of genome-wide analyses have revealed that estrogen receptor α binding to and regulation of its target genes correlate with binding of FOXA1, a pioneer factor, to nearby DNA sites in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The enhancer element-specific histone H3K4me1/2 mark is enriched at the specific FOXA1/ERα recruitment sites in chromatin, but the mechanism by which these enhancer marks are established in chromatin before hormone treatment is unclear. Here, we show that mixed-lineage leukemia 1 (MLL1) protein is a key determinant that maintains permissive chromatin structure of the TFF1 enhancer region. MLL1 occupies the TFF1 enhancer region and methylates H3K4 before hormone stimulation. In vitro, MLL1 binds directly to the CpG-rich region of the TFF1 enhancer, and its binding is dependent on hypomethylation of DNA. Furthermore, the depletion of MLL1 in MCF-7 cells results in a dramatic decrease of chromatin accessibility and recruitment of FOXA1 and ERα to the enhancer element. Our study defines the mechanism by which MLL1 nucleates histone H3K4 methylation marks in CpG-enriched regions to maintain permissive chromatin architecture and allow FOXA1 and estrogen receptor α binding to transcriptional regulatory sites in breast cancer cells.
Voltage dip at maximum angular swing in the context of direct stability analysis

The critical clearing time of transient stability analysis represents maximal fault duration beyond which the system loses synchronism. In many practical situations utilities are concerned with post-fault transient voltage dips below certain specified values. For most cases dips below 0.8 p.u. will occur for clearing times which are shorter than this critical clearing time. Normally, the maximum voltage dip will occur at the point of peak angle swing. Since, in the context of direct stability analysis, the peak angular swing occurs at the point where the transient potential energy is also at its maximum, it follows that lowest voltage dips will occur at the maximum of this potential energy. In the approach proposed, transient potential energy is maximized along a linear trajectory connecting the clearing angle to the unstable equilibrium point. This approach is verified against time-domain simulations. Subsequently, it is shown that VAr capacitive support can improve on the voltage dip condition. A fast approximate approach to voltage dip computations is shown to be justified, leading the way to a direct stability program based on voltage dip considerations. >
Three-dimensional coverage planning for an underwater inspection robot

To support autonomous, in-water inspection of a ship hull, we propose and implement new techniques for coverage path planning over complex 3D structures. Our main contribution is a comprehensive methodology for sampling-based design of inspection routes, including an algorithm for planning, an algorithm for smoothing, and an analysis of probabilistic completeness. The latter two outcomes are the first of their kind in the area of coverage planning. Our algorithms give high-quality solutions over expansive structures, and we demonstrate this with experiments in the laboratory and on a 75 m Coast Guard cutter.
Retrospective analysis of vivax malaria patients presenting to tertiary referral centre of Uttarakhand

Abstract Introduction Despite the high prevalence of Plasmodium vivax (P vivax) malaria, research into its complications has lagged disproportionately as compared to Plasmodium falciparum (P falciparum) malaria. Material and methods The present retrospective observational study was conducted on cases with P vivax mono-infection presenting with severe malaria on the basis of one or more criteria as per the World Health Organization guidelines being used for severe falciparum malaria in children, as well as other manifestations been classified as complicated malaria, during an outbreak of malaria in a single tertiary referral hospital of north India. Results Seventy-four patients of acute malaria presented during the outbreak, of which 50 cases with P vivax mono-infection were included for the study. Complicated malaria was diagnosed in 41/50 cases, with thrombocytopenia being the commonest manifestation. Other presentations of severe malaria in our patients were liver dysfunction (with or without jaundice) 31/50 cases, respiratory involvement 14/50 cases, renal impairment 11/50 cases, circulatory collapse (Shock) 8/50 cases, severe anaemia 3/50 cases and central nervous system (CNS) involvement 2/50 cases. Conclusion The term “benign tertian malaria” no longer holds true for P vivax mono-infection. The authors wish to open a new front for researches on the possible genotypic abnormalities that the parasite or its carrier might have acquired over decades and has transformed into a species with the malignant potential of P falciparum .
Implementation of new iterative techniques for solutions of Thomas-Fermi and Emden-Fowler equations

Abstract Results of computational trials of recently developed iterative techniques for finding positive solutions of boundary-value problems for the Thomas-Fermi and generalized Emden-Fowler equations are presented. Proofs of convergence of iterative techniques have been established in other papers by the authors. The proofs, and therefore the iterative techniques, are based upon solutions of linear Sturm-Liouville problems related to the original nonlinear problems.
TextSL: a screen reader accessible interface for second life

TextSL is a screen reader accessible interface for the popular virtual world of Second Life that lets the users interact using a command-based interface. Our research identified that it is challenging to make virtual worlds accessible to users with visual impairments as virtual worlds are densely populated with objects while at the same time many virtual world objects lack meta-data.
Retinoid receptors in human lung cancer and breast cancer

Retinoids, the natural and synthetic vitamin A derivatives, are known to inhibit the proliferation of lung cancer and breast cancer cells and the growth of carcinogen-induced bronchogenic squamous cell carcinoma and mammary tumors, and have been used as chemoprevention agents against both types of cancer. However, clinical trials of retinoids in patients with advanced lung cancer and breast cancer have not been successful. In studying how retinoid sensitivity is lost in cancer cells, we have found that lack of the retinoic acid receptor beta (RAR beta) gene expression and its abnormal regulation by retinoic acid (RA) are common features in human lung cancer and breast cancer cells. The absence and abnormal RA regulation of RAR beta correlates with the loss of anti-proliferation effect of RA in hormone-independent breast cancer cells, and is due to different abnormalities found in cancer cells. Furthermore, expression of RAR beta gene in hormone-independent breast cancer cells restores their RA sensitivity. These data demonstrate that RAR beta can mediate the growth inhibitory effect of RA and suggest that the lack of RAR beta may contribute to retinoid resistance in certain cancer cells.
The United Nations’ Regional Seas Programme: How Does It Measure Up?

This article describes the United Nations’ Regional Seas Programme in terms of its basic structure, goals, and current status; discusses alternative approaches to determine program effectiveness; and presents a process‐related evaluation of the program. The paper analyzes and critiques the effectiveness of the Regional Seas Programme based on the five program goals described in each regional action plan: environmental assessment, environmental management, environmental legislation, and institutional and financial arrangements. The analysis shows that the Regional Seas Programme has a record of substantial programmatic achievements to address regional marine pollution issues. However, the process evaluation does point out some weaknesses in the overall program including: difficulty in characterizing environmental problems, the narrow focus of environmental management programs and protocols, and inadequate funding by participating states. Finally, at this point in the program there is a critical need for de...
Use of bipolar radiofrequency energy in delayed repair of acute supraspinatus tears in rats

The purpose of this study is to determine if bipolar radiofrequency energy (bRFE) can enhance delayed surgical repair of acute supraspinatus tendon tears. Bilateral supraspinatus tendon tears were created in 42 Sprague-Dawley rats and repaired at 6 weeks either with or without bRFE augmentation. There were 8 control (sham) rats. Treatment rats were euthanized at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after repair. All specimens underwent biomechanical and histologic evaluation. Compared with standard repair, bRFE-treated repairs showed a greater average maximum stress (8.475 N/m2 versus 3.95 N/m2) at 12 weeks, which was not significant (P with bRFE versus 14.29% without bRFE. Histologically, both standard and bRFE-treated repairs were indistinguishable from controls at 12 weeks. The use of bRFE showed no definitive effect on delayed repair of acute rat rotator cuff tears.
Optimal transceivers for DMT based multiuser communication

This paper considers discrete multitone (DMT) modulation for multiuser communications where different users are supported by the same system. These users may have differing quality of service (QoS) requirements, as quantified by their respective bit rate and symbol error rate specifications. Our goal is to minimize the transmitted power given the QoS specifications for the different users, subject to the knowledge of colored interference at the receiver input. In particular we find an optimum bit loading scheme that distributes the bit rate transmitted across the various subchannels belonging to the different users, and subject to this bit allocation, determine an optimum transceiver.
Homogeneity ranges and Te2-pressure along the three-phase curves for Bi2Te3(c) and a 55–58 at.% Te, peritectic phase

Abstract The partial pressure of Te2, P2, has been determined for preannealed Bi-Te samples between 44 and 70 at.% Te and 400 and 635°C by measuring the optical density of the vapor between 7000 and 1990 A. Values of P2 and 10 3 T were obtained along the three-phase curves of the Bi2Te3(c) phase and of a 55–58 at.% Te phase decomposing peritectically at 563 ± 2°C. The detailed liquidus line between 44 and 70 at.% and the solidus line for Bi2Te3 are obtained. The homogeneity range of the latter is roughly symmetrical about the ideal 60 at.% composition and is a maximum of about 0.4 at.% wide, between 460 and 520°C. Bi2Te3 melts congruently at 586.0°C and 59.95 at.% Te. It is shown that the antistructure model provides a nearly correct relationship between composition and carrier concentration in Bi2Te3. The P2 isotherms, however, deviate from mass-action law predictions.
Well-Controlled Formation of Polymeric Micelles with a Nanosized Aqueous Core and Their Applications as Nanoreactors

Polymeric micelles with a polystyrene (PS) shell and a protonated poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P4VP)/water core were readily prepared via diffusion of HCl and water from the top aqueous phase containing HCl (pH = 1) into the bottom phase of the PS-b-P4VP solution in chloroform. The resultant protonation of the pyridine units of the P4VP block drove the micellization. Meanwhile, due to the high polarity of the core, water molecules also diffused through the chloroform medium into the core. 1H NMR characterizations demonstrate that at the early stage, the water molecules in the core are the bound and intermediate water; longer diffusion times resulted in the appearance of free water molecules coexisting with the bound and intermediate water in the core. Thus, polymeric micelles with an aqueous core (PMACs) were formed. The process of forming PMACs is well-controllable, and the stability of PMACs in chloroform is high. These characteristics make PMACs promising as nanoreactors to prepare inorganic nanoparticles or...
Decreased Serum Antibody Responses to Recombinant Pneumocystis Antigens in HIV-Infected and Uninfected Current Smokers

Serologic studies can provide important insights into the epidemiology and transmission of Pneumocystis jirovecii. Exposure to P. jirovecii can be assessed by serum antibody responses to recombinant antigens from the major surface glycoprotein (MsgC), although factors that influence the magnitude of the antibody response are incompletely understood. We determined the magnitudes of antibody responses to P. jirovecii in comparison to adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in HIV-infected and uninfected patients and identified predictors associated with the magnitude of the response. We performed a cross-sectional analysis using serum samples and data from 153 HIV-positive and 92 HIV-negative subjects enrolled in a feasibility study of the Veterans Aging Cohort 5 Site Study (VACS 5). Antibodies were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Independent predictors of antibody responses were determined using multivariate Tobit regression models. The results showed that serum antibody responses to P. jirovecii MsgC fragments were significantly and independently decreased in current smokers. Antibodies to P. jirovecii also tended to be lower with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hazardous alcohol use, injection drug use, and HIV infection, although these results were not statistically significant. These results were specific to P. jirovecii and did not correlate with adenovirus. Antibody responses to RSV were in the inverse direction. Thus, current smoking was independently associated with decreased P. jirovecii antibody responses. Whether smoking exerts an immunosuppressive effect that affects the P. jirovecii antibody response, colonization, or subsequent risk for disease is unclear; prospective, longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate these findings further.
Debt A Disciplining Force for Managers or a Debilitating Force for Organizations

Some scholars have argued that the use of leverage can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of firms by disciplining managers. In fact, many U.S. corporations significantly increased their use ...
An Accurate Sequentially Markov Conditional Sampling Distribution for the Coalescent With Recombination

The sequentially Markov coalescent is a simplified genealogical process that aims to capture the essential features of the full coalescent model with recombination, while being scalable in the number of loci. In this article, the sequentially Markov framework is applied to the conditional sampling distribution (CSD), which is at the core of many statistical tools for population genetic analyses. Briefly, the CSD describes the probability that an additionally sampled DNA sequence is of a certain type, given that a collection of sequences has already been observed. A hidden Markov model (HMM) formulation of the sequentially Markov CSD is developed here, yielding an algorithm with time complexity linear in both the number of loci and the number of haplotypes. This work provides a highly accurate, practical approximation to a recently introduced CSD derived from the diffusion process associated with the coalescent with recombination. It is empirically demonstrated that the improvement in accuracy of the new CSD over previously proposed HMM-based CSDs increases substantially with the number of loci. The framework presented here can be adopted in a wide range of applications in population genetics, including imputing missing sequence data, estimating recombination rates, and inferring human colonization history.
Chronic tissue response to untethered microelectrode implants in the rat brain and spinal cord.

Objective. Microelectrodes implanted in the central nervous system (CNS) often fail in long term implants due to the immunological tissue response caused by tethering forces of the connecting wires. In addition to the tethering effect, there is a mechanical stress that occurs at the device– tissue interface simply because the microelectrode is a rigid body floating in soft tissue and it cannot reshape itself to comply with changes in the surrounding tissue. In the current study we evaluated the scar tissue formation to tetherless devices with two significantly different geometries in the rat brain and spinal cord in order to investigate the effects of device geometry. Approach. One of the implant geometries resembled the wireless, floating microstimulators that we are currently developing in our laboratory and the other was a (shank only) Michigan probe for comparison. Both electrodes were implanted into either the cervical spinal cord or the motor cortices, one on each side. Main results. The most pronounced astroglial and microglial reactions occurred within 20 μm from the device and decreased sharply at larger distances. Both cell types displayed the morphology of non-activated cells past the 100 μm perimeter. Even though the aspect ratios of the implants were different, the astroglial and microglial responses to both microelectrode types were very mild in the brain, stronger and yet limited in the spinal cord. Significance. These observations confirm previous reports and further suggest that tethering may be responsible for most of the tissue response in chronic implants and that the electrode size has a smaller contribution with floating electrodes. The electrode size may be playing primarily an amplifying role to the tethering forces in the brain whereas the size itself may induce chronic response in the spinal cord where the movement of surrounding tissues is more significant.
Remarks on particle size distributions of ultrafine binary particles with one involatile component

Abstract The approximation of equilibrium distributions for binary ultrafine particles with one involatile component is examined. The expansion of the differential-difference equation for condensation growth is discussed. Under certain conditions, it is found that the steady state Fokker-Planck equation provides a useful approximation to the equilibrium distributions. Conditions requiring inclusion of a diffusive term in simulating condensation growth of binary ultrafine aerosols are discussed. For aerosol mixtures, it is shown that condensation growth of an initial unimodal distribution can lead to bimodal distributions.
Alternative training models for surgical residency.

The general surgery residency is now over 100 years old and its structure has not changed appreciably, although the hospital and surgical practice environment of the early 21st century bears little resemblance to that of Halsted's time. In the last several years, more and more academic surgeons have expressed doubts about the effectiveness of our residency structure in providing the high-quality, reproducible, measurable educational experience that we all desire. This article discusses some alternative models for surgical residency training, including spending more time in residency on the things general surgeons actually do, and changing the training system from hospital-based teams to other models.
What is ideology

Political ideology has been a confusing topic for social analysts, and those who attempted to eschew judgmental reductions of others’ conceptions and develop a non-polemical political psychology found ideology behaving in ways that defeated their theories of political reasoning. I argue that political ideology can best be understood as actors’ theorization of their own position, and available strategies, in a political field.
Persistence of self in advanced Alzheimer's disease.

The theme of diminishing self is common in the popular and health care literature about the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease. In her narrative on the experience of having Alzheimer’s disease, Diana Friel McGowin wrote, there is “less and less of me every day” (1993, p. 33). Spouses say this is not the man or woman I married, or they describe the person as just a shell of what he or she once was (Jenkins & Price, 1996). Nursing home staff appear to believe the same thing, frequently avoiding all but task-oriented communication with people in the latest stages of the disease (Ekman, Norberg, Viitanen, & Winblad, 1991) on the assumption that the severely demented experience life as meaningless (Norberg & Asplund, 1990). Similar assumptions are found in the health care literature (Downs, 1997). A person’s attempts at speech in the later stages have been described as nonsensical and devoid of meaning or insight, contributing to the impression of a diminishing self (Bohling, 1991). Also noted is the lack of “reference to the speaker as ego” (Kertesz, 1994) leaving the same impression. The consciousness of the individual is described as gradually fading away (Lyman, 1989) or becoming “a continuously fading dream,” (Bayles, 1995, p. 362). The progressive decline associated with this disease is well known. Lyman (1989) used the term “self-deterioration” to characterize it and Cohen (1991) wrote of the death of the mind before physical death. Ronch (1996) adds, “The loss of self happens before the very eyes of the person whose self is vanishing.” (p. 25). In the last of the six phases of the subjective experience of Alzheimer’s disease proposed by Cohen, separation from self is said to occur. Humanness and a personal, subjective experience of the disease are maintained until this last stage in which the person is described as reacting only to sensory stimuli.
Joint Fiber and SOA Impairment Compensation Using Digital Backward Propagation

An electronic scheme for joint postcompensation of fiber and semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) impairments based on coherent detection and digital backward propagation is proposed and demonstrated. A 10-GBd amplitude-phase-modulated transmission system was demonstrated experimentally using semiconductor optical amplification. The Q-factor of the received signal was improved by 5 dB with simultaneous fiber and SOA impairment compensation in the electrical domain.
Sputum induction as a method of analyzing pulmonary cells: reproducibility and acceptability.

Sputum induction has been proposed as a noninvasive method of sampling airway cells for assessing airway inflammation in asthma. Although useful in the research setting, the applicability of this technique to a respiratory clinic, where it might prove useful for clinical management of anti-inflammatory therapy, has not been assessed. We therefore studied the effect of sputum induction in terms of patient acceptability, effect upon airway caliber, and reproducibility of the total cell and differential cell count at 2 weeks in 20 asthmatic subjects first attending an asthma clinic. We compared such patients with normal controls. Thirty-seven subjects underwent sputum induction on two occasions (20 asthmatics and 17 normal subjects) separated by a 2-week interval, using a standardized protocol. Acceptability was assessed by questionnaire. Airway caliber was measured by serial spirometry, using albuterol premedication for asthmatic subjects. Sputum was induced by inhalation of 3.5% saline over 12 min. Total c...
Níveis de cromo-ácido nicotínico em dietas de suínos em crescimento e terminação

RESUMO - O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de niveis crescentes de cromo dietOtico, naforma de AEcido nicotinico, sobre o desempenho e nas caracteristicas de carcaca de suinos. Noventa e seissuinos (Landrace x Large White x Duroc), machos castrados e fŒmeas, com peso mOdio inicial de25,93–0,57 kg foram distribuidos ao acaso em baias de dois animais do mesmo sexo, segundo umesquema fatorial 6 x 2 (6 niveis de Cr e 2 sexos). Uma dieta basal (0 ppb Cr) foi suplementada com 100,200, 300, 400 e 500 ppb de Cr, na forma de Cr-AEcido nicotinico, incluido atravOs do premix vitaminico.Os animais, aos 70 dias de experimento, foram pesados, abatidos, e as carcacas avaliadas utilizando-sea pistola Hennessy e o MOtodo Brasileiro de Classificacao de Carcacas. Houve efeito significativo(P 0,05) do nivel de Cr sobre qualquer dos parâmetros estudados, seja dedesempenho ou de avaliacao de carcaca por qualquer dos mOtodos utilizados. A adicao de niveis de atO500 ppb de Cr, na forma de Cr-AEcido nicotinico, nao altera o desempenho e a qualidade de carcaca desuinos em crescimento e em terminacao.Termos para indexacao: suinocultura, desempenho, qualidade de carcaca.LEVELS OF CHROMIUM-NICOTINIC ACID IN DIETS FOR GROWING-FINISHING PIGSABSTRACT - Ninety-six barrows and gilts (Landrace x Large White x Duroc), with average initialweight of 25.93–0.57 kg, were used in order to evaluate the effects of Cr on performance and carcasscharacteristics, in a random block design, according to a 6 x 2 factorial arrangement (6 Cr levels x2 sexes). A basal diet (0 ppb Cr) was supplemented with 100, 200, 300, 400 e 500 ppb Cr, asCr-nicotinic acid, added to the vitamin premix. On the 70
Degradation-Based Swapping Policy With Application to System-Level Manufacturing Utilization

Degradation is an inevitable course of any manufacturing tool, machine or system. The degradation of the health state of manufacturing tools results in some sort of an ineludible maintenance action which could be both costly and happening in a critical production time. In most manufacturing systems, a fleet of identical machines are assigned different tasks towards satisfying requirements within the production process. We introduce a degradation-based resource allocation policy to optimally utilize a fleet of identical machines. The policy, denoted as Degradation Based Swapping Optimization (DBSO), incorporates the optimal implementation of swapping scheduled tasks and scheduling maintenance actions throughout a finite time horizon to minimize projected maintenance costs and/or utilize the manufacturing productivity towards pre-specified logistics objectives. A mathematical model for the policy is provided and this model is optimized using elitist genetic algorithm and simulated annealing algorithm where numerical results have been introduced. The proposed policy succeeds in establishing substantial savings in the simulated example which amount to 43% of the estimated maintenance costs in comparison to the scenario where fixed scheduling is applied.© 2012 ASME
Inequality, Unemployment and Crime: A Cross-National Analysis*

In order to contribute to the development of an international perspective on crime and to examine a central tenet similar to many theoretical perspectives on the etiology of crime, cross-national d...
Thoracoscopic mediastinal repositioning for postpneumonectomy syndrome.

Postpneumonectomy syndrome is characterized by excessive mediastinal rotation and shift resulting in main bronchial obstruction. 1 More common in children, women, and those undergoing their first thoracic procedure, this entity of symptomatic airway compression may occur after right or left pneumonectomy. 2,3 Symptoms including stridor, dyspnea, and recurrent respiratory infections should be investigated by computed tomography (CT) and bronchoscopy. Patients found to have postpneumonectomy syndrome should undergo prompt therapy to alleviate their symptoms and prevent irreversible malacic changes of the airway. Here we report thoracoscopic mediastinal repositioning with intrapleural prostheses in a young woman in whom dyspnea and stridor developed after a right pneumonectomy.
A genomic approach to biomarker discovery in human autoimmune diseases

An integrative evaluation of the complex network of alterations underlying the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases was until recently difficult to conceive. Technological advances in the past 10 years, however, now permit us to analyze DNA, RNA or protein in patient samples on a genome-wide scale. These techniques are changing the face of clinical research and opening the path for novel approaches to patient care. The analysis of patient blood transcriptional profiles offers a means to investigate immunological mechanisms relevant to human diseases on a genome-wide scale. In addition, such studies provide a basis for the discovery of clinically-relevant biomarker signatures. We have designed a strategy for microarray analysis that is based on the identification of transcriptional modules formed by genes coordinately expressed in multiple disease datasets. Mapping changes in gene expression at the module-level generates disease-specific transcriptional fingerprints and provides a stable framework for the visualization and functional interpretation of the data. We have applied this approach to study patients with rheumatic diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Juvenile Arthritis. These studies have provided important insight regarding the pathogenesis of these diseases and have led to the identification of therapeutic targets. This approach is currently being used to identify biomarkers of diagnosis, disease activity and response to treatment. More quantitative and sensitive high throughput RNA profiling methods are starting to be available and will soon permit transcriptome analyses to become routine tests in the clinical setting.
An efficient center-fed circular patch antenna loaded with an annular ring

A center-fed circular microstrip patch antenna with a coupled annular ring was introduced in this paper. This antenna has a monopole-like radiation pattern within the broad bandwidth of the antenna. It has an attractive low profile configuration with a only 1.5 mm height (Lt 0.03 lambda at 5.8 GHz). The 10 dB return loss bandwidth of the antenna is 12.8% and a gain of 5.7 dB at 5.8 GHz. This antenna has a good potential for wireless communications.
The puzzling argument of antireflux surgery in obese patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease: can the excellent perioperative safety of antireflux surgery make up for better comprehensive long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery?

The prevalence of obesity has more than doubled in United States over the past 3 decades. The increased prevalence of obesity has also corresponded with a parallel increased prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In fact, obese patients have a 2.5 times elevated risk of developing GERD symptoms. Pandolfino et al 1st proposed a physiopathologic mechanism by which obesity may lead to GERD. Pandolfino et al have shown that increased visceral fat in obese patients may increase their intragastric pressure with a resulting increased gastroesophageal pressure gradient and abnormal esophageal acid exposure. Other studies have also shown that central obesity (a marker for increased visceral fat) is associated with Barrett’s esophagus, a known complication of GERD. As shown by Edelstein et al, the odds of developing long-segment Barrett’s esophagus were 4.3 for patients with the highest waist-to-hip ratio. With such a strong association between Barrett’s esophagus and obesity,
Enhanced recognition of ischemia by three variable analysis of the exercise stress test

Abstract Background ECG ST-segment deviations have been the standard measure of coronary artery disease (CAD) during the exercise stress test (EST). Our past research has shown other ECG variables to be significant in EST. This study evaluates the benefit of routinely combining these variables in the detection of CAD. Methods Sequential patients ( n = 439) with suspected CAD referred for EST had their cases reviewed. Clinical and ECG variables were associated with myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) scintigrams used to detect ischemia during maximum EST. Results An increase in P-wave duration was the most sensitive predictor of ischemia with a sensitivity of 64.3%, a specificity of 86.5%, and a positive predictive power (PPP) of 57.8%. ST elevation ≥ 1 mm in lead AVR had a sensitivity of 53.1%, a specificity of 78.3%, and a PPP of 41.3%. ST depression ≥ 1 mm in leads V 4 –V 6 had a sensitivity of 11.2%, a specificity of 94.7%, and a PPP of 37.9%. When these variables were combined, specificity and PPP increased to 100% ( p Conclusions EST evaluation solely by ST deviation fails to identify a significant portion of ischemic cases. Combinations of ΔPWD, ST elevation in AVR, and ST depression improved the identification of ischemia.
DRA Audio Coding Standard

This chapter presents DRA (Dynamic Resolution Adaptation) audio coding standard [97] as an example to illustrate how to integrate the technologies described in this book to create a practical audio coding algorithm. DRA algorithm has been approved by the Blu-ray Disc Association as part of its BD-ROM 2.3 specification [99] and by Chinese government as its national standard [100].
Standardized precipitation index and nitrogen rate effects on crop yields and risk distribution in maize

Crop performance in rainfed cropping systems generally is dependent on rainfall amount and distribution. The objective of this study was to analyze the long-term consequences of rainfall expressed as a standardized precipitation index (SPI) and fertilizer nitrogen (N) on yields and risk probabilities of maize in the udic-ustic moisture regimes in the Great Plains in Nebraska. The SPI is a precipitation index for classifying drought stress conditions. The study was conducted on a Kennebec silt loam (Cumulic Hapludoll) over an 11-year period, 1986‐1996, using monoculture maize (Zea mays L.) and maize in rotation with soybean (Glycine max.(L.) Merr.) in combination with N fertilizer levels between 0 and 160 kg ha 1 . Maize yields in monoculture ranged from 4.8 to 5.7 Mg ha 1 , and from 6.4 to 6.8 Mg ha 1 in rotation. The differences in yields between monoculture and rotation were larger at low N rates and decreased as N fertilizer increased above 40 kg ha 1 . Current year’s maize yields either exhibited a weak or no response to N fertilizer in years when the preceding preseason (October‐April) and the previous growing season (May‐August) were dry (negative SPI value). Regression of yield as the dependent variable and the 12-month April SPI as the independent variable explained up to 64% of yield variability in a curvilinear relationship. Optimum SPI values were in the range of 1.0 to 1.0, substantiating the adaptability and performance of crops under mild stress as proposed by other scientists. Prediction of subsequent yields using past SPI data was relatively better in rotations (R 2 D41‐50%) than in monoculture (R 2 D15‐40%). Risk, calculated as the lower confidence limit of maize returns over variable cost of fertilizer, was less in rotations than in monoculture, and in both cropping systems returns were maximized with the application of N fertilizer at 40 kg ha 1 . Used with other criteria, the SPI can be a practical guide to choice of crops, N levels, and management decisions to conserve water in rainfed systems. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
An Equilibrium Statistical Theory for Large-Scale Features of Open-Ocean Convection

A ‘‘most probable state’’ equilibrium statistical theory for random distributions of hetons in a closed basin is developed here in the context of two-layer quasigeostrophic models for the spreading phase of open-ocean convection. The theory depends only on bulk conserved quantities such as energy, circulation, and the range of values of potential vorticity in each layer. For a small Rossby deformation radius typical for open-ocean convection sites, the most probable states that arise from this theory strongly resemble the saturated baroclinic states of the spreading phase of convection, with a rim current and localized temperature anomaly. Furthermore, rigorous explicit nonlinear stability analysis guarantees the stability of these steady states for a suitable range of parameters. Both random heton distributions in a basin with quiescent flow as well as heton addition to an ambient barotropic flow in the basin are studied here. Also, systematic results are presented on the influence of the Rossby deformation radius compared to the basin scale on the structure of the predictions of the statistical theory.
Preventive health care for children

This article discusses immunization, development, vision, blood pressure, dentition, behavioral, and environmental screening for preschool children. The authors then discuss screening for children in the early school years. Injury and violence prevention and topics of sexuality for the preadolescent are also presented.
Institutionalizing Activism: The History of the Sherman Park Community Association

The story of the Sherman Park Community Association illustrates how concurrent commitments to ideology, community, and organizational viability pose challenges to a community-based organization. In...
Periependymal Abnormalities in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders and Multiple Sclerosis: A Case-Control Study (P07.066)

Objective: Our aim is to evaluate differences in lesional pattern between Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOsd) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Background NMOsd and MS differ with respect to clinical course, prognosis and treatment, but cannot always be reliably differentiated based on brain MRI. Periependymal abnormalities are reported in both conditions, but there are no studies that examine differences in the lesional pattern of periependymal abnormalities in MS and NMOsd. Design/Methods: We evaluated MR images of 17 NMO IgG seropositive patients with NMOsd and equal number of age, sex and disease duration-matched MS patients. The sequences evaluated were axial T1 postcontrast, axial FLAIR and sagittal FLAIR. A neuroradiologist blinded to the diagnosis evaluated MRIs with respect to periventricular lesional pattern (A=no lesions,B=smooth periventricular, C=smooth+periventricular lesions, D=only periventricular lesions, E=diffuse irregular confluent); ependymal enhancement; genu and splenium ependymal hyperintensity (graded as thin, medium or thick); 9Dawson fingers9-type lesions on FLAIR images. Group comparison was carried out with Fisher9s exact test (two-tailed). Results: Distribution of patterns follows: Pattern A) 8 NMOsd vs none MS (p=0.003); Pattern B) 5 NMOsd vs. 1 MS (p=0.17); Pattern C) 3 NMOsd vs. 5 MS (p=0.69); Pattern D) 1 NMOsd vs. 3 MS (p=0.60); pattern E) 0 with NMOsd vs. 8 MS (p=0.003). Genu hyperintensity on FLAIR was noted in 8/17 NMO (6 thin, 1 medium and 1 thick) and 9/17 MS (4 thin, 2 medium and 3 thick) (p=1). Splenium FLAIR hyperintensity in 5/17 NMO (2 thin, 1 medium and 2 thick) and 8/17 MS (2 thin, 3 medium and 3 thick) (p=0.48). Dawson fingers in 6/17 NMO and in 15/17 MS (p=0.04). Conclusions: Our study suggests that certain periependymal lesional patterns may be useful to discriminate NMOsd from MS. 9Dawson finger9 appear to be more common in MS than in NMOsd. Large prospective studies are necessary to validate our findings. Disclosure: Dr. Raz has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kister has nothing to disclose. Dr. Omari has nothing to disclose. Dr. Herbert has received personal compensation for activities with Biogen Idec, Teva Neuroscience, Serono, Inc., and Bayer Pharmaceuticals Corporation as a consultant.Dr. Herbert has received research support from Teva Neuroscience, Novartis, Biogen Idec, BioMS, and INC Research. Dr. Lui has nothing to disclose. Dr. Loh has nothing to disclose.