cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improved diagnostic performance of exercise thallium-201 single photon emission computed tomography over planar imaging in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease: a receiver operating characteristic analysis

Abstract Qualitative interpretation of tomography and planar scintigrams, a five point rating scale and receiver operating characteristic analysis were utilized to compare single photon emission computed tomography and conventional planar imaging of myocardial thallium-201 uptake in the accuracy of the diagnosis of coronary artery disease and individual vessel involvement. One hundred twelve patients undergoing cardiac catheterization and 23 normal volunteers performed symptom-limited treadmill exercise, followed by stress and redistribution imaging by both tomographic and planar techniques, with the order determined randomly. Paired receiver operating characteristic curves revealed that single photon emission computed tomography was more accurate than planar imaging over the entire range of decision thresholds for the overall detection and exclusion of coronary artery disease and involvement of the left anterior descending and left circumflex coronary arteries. Tomography offered relatively greater advantages in male patients and in patients with milder forms of coronary artery disease, who had no prior myocardial infarction, only single vessel involvement or no lesion ≥50 to 69%. Tomography did not appear to provide improved diagnosis in women or in detection of disease in the right coronary artery. Although overall detection of coronary artery disease was not improved in patients with prior myocardial infarction, tomography provided improved identification of normal and abnormal vascular regions, particularly of the left anterior descending and circumflex artery regions. These results indicate that single photon emission computed tomography provides improved diagnostic performance compared with planar imaging in many clinical subgroups, and suggest that it represents the diagnostic imaging procedure of choice in exercise thallium-201 perfusion studies.
Tissue engineering and the development of Apligraf®, a human skin equivalent

In recent years, skin grafting has evolved from the initial autograft and allograft preparations to biosynthetic and tissue-engineered living skin replacements. This review details the pioneering work of numerous investigators that led to the following precursors of tissue-engineered skin replacement: cultured autologous keratinocyte grafts, cultured allogeneic keratinocyte grafts, autologous/allogeneic composites, acellular collagen matrices, and cellular matrices. It also discusses the rationale for the development of the newer products and describes the technical advances leading to the development of Apligraf®, a tissue-engineered human skin product.
Influence of two-body potential on the ground-state properties of solid helium

Abstract The wrong volume dependence of calculated solid helium ground-state properties is shown to be due, at least partly, to the inadequate choice of the inter-atomic pair potential.
Detection of the isoflavone aglycones genistein and daidzein in urine using solid-phase microextraction-high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Abstract An improved method of detection of the isoflavone aglycones, genistein and daidzein, is reported using solid-phase microextraction–high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (SPME–HPLC–ESI-MS). Extraction of the isoflavonoids from urine using SPME with a Carbowax–templated resin fiber coating allows rapid preconcentration of the analytes without the usual sample preparation required by other methods. Detection of the analytes is accomplished by HPLC–ESI-MS. Analysis of spiked samples of urine resulted in a linear range of 0.25 to 250 ng/ml for daidzein and 0.27 to 27.0 ng/ml for genistein. Limits of detection of daidzein and genistein were measured at 25.4 pg/ml for daidzein and 2.70 pg/ml for genistein. Daidzein and genistein were detected in urine following consumption of a soy drink.
Changes in Visual Impairment Prevalence by Period of Diagnosis of Diabetes: The Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy

Objective To examine relationships of period of diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) to the prevalence of visual impairment (VI). Design Population-based longitudinal study. Participants Nine hundred fifty-five persons (3719 participant visits) 4 to 80 years of age at baseline who lived in an 11-county area in southern Wisconsin who were diagnosed with T1DM before 30 years of age contributed to the prevalence of VI. Methods Five eye examination visits occurred in the following periods: 1980 through 1982, 1984 through 1986, 1990 through 1992, 1995 through 1996, and 2005 through 2007. Age of diagnosis of T1DM was grouped as before 1960, 1960 through 1969, 1970 through 1974, and 1975 through 1979. Best-corrected visual acuity (VA) using a modification of the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy protocol was measured. Main Outcome Measures Visual impairment was defined as best-corrected VA in the better eye of 20/40 or worse. Results While controlling for duration of T1DM, there was a lower prevalence of VI for more recent periods of diagnosis of diabetes (odds ratio per category, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.88–0.93; P Conclusions More recently diagnosed T1DM was associated with a lower prevalence of VI. This is likely because of the diminishing incidence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and clinically significant macular edema (CSME) resulting from better glycemic control and more timely interventions with photocoagulation for CSME and PDR in those with more recently diagnosed T1DM. Financial Disclosure(s) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.
From diagnosis and classification to complications and therapy. DCCT. Part II? Diabetes Control and Complications Trial.

I have long been concerned about our approach to diagnosing diabetes. While one can readily agree that an elevated blood glucose level is a key component of diabetes, I strenuously argue that the cause of that blood glucose elevation is also of critical importance, i.e., a deficiency in insulin action. Diabetes is, after all, an endocrine disease, and it has always disturbed me as to how little diagnostic attention is paid to the concentration of the hormone involved. This is, I believe, unlike virtually all other endocrine diseases. Instead of measuring insulin (along with glucose), we have become obsessed with the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which I view as a highly variable test of an unnatural gastronomic excess.
Formation of casein micelles in golgi vesicles of mammary tissue.

Abstract With the aid of electron microscopy it has been possible to observe from a single secreting cell several Golgi vesicles showing typical stages in the formation of casein micelles. Photomicrographic evidence of interaction between Golgi vesicle membrane and plasma membrane at secretion is also presented. It is suggested that casein micelle formation may continue in milk after secretion.
Systematic review of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is a cerebrovascular disorder associated with multifocal arterial constriction and dilation. RCVS is associated with nonaneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, pregnancy and exposure to certain drugs. The primary clinical manifestation is recurrent sudden-onset and severe (‘thunderclap’) headaches over 1–3 weeks, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, photophobia, confusion and blurred vision. The primary diagnostic dilemma is distinguishing RCVS from primary CNS arteritis. Diagnosis requires demonstration of the characteristic ‘string of beads’ on cerebral angiography with resolution within 1–3 months, although many patients will initially have normal vascular imaging. Many treatments have been reported to ameliorate the headaches of RCVS, but it is unclear whether they prevent hemorrhagic or ischemic complications.
A stress-point resolution system based on module signatures

This paper introduces a framework to provide design and testing guidance through a stress-point resolution system based on a module signature for module categorization. A stress-point resolution system includes stress-point identification and the selection of appropriate mitigation activities for those identified stress-points. Progress has been made in identifying stress-point to target the most fault-prone modules in a system by the module signature classification technique. Applying the stress-point prediction method on a large Motorola production system with approximately 1500 modules and comparing the classified modules to change reports, misclassification errors occurred at a rate of less than 2%. After identifying the stress point candidates, localized remedial actions should be undertaken. This algorithmic classification may suggest more insights into defect analysis and correction activities to enhance the software development strategies of software designers and testers.
Chlorine inhalation produces nasal airflow limitation in allergic rhinitic subjects without evidence of neuropeptide release

Background Seasonal allergic rhinitic (SAR) subjects are more physiologically reactive to airborne irritants than non-rhinitic (NR) subjects; however the mechanism underlying this difference is unclear. Objective We sought to determine whether irritantinduced nasal airflow limitation involves neuropeptide release into nasal lining fluid, and if so, whether such release occurs differentially by rhinitic status. Methods Eight SAR and 8 NR subjects were exposed to 1.0 ppm chlorine and filtered air in random order during separate visits; exposures were via nasal mask and lasted 15 min. Rhinomanometry was performed before, immediately post-, and 15 min post-exposure. Following a minimum of 2 weeks time, exposures and symptom reporting were repeated with nasal lavage pre- and post-exposure. Neuropeptides (substance P, cacitonin gene-related protein, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and neuropeptide Y) as well as markers of plasma leakage (albumin and urea) and glandular secretion (lysozyme and 7F10-mucin) were measured using standard methods. Results Cl2 provocation significantly increased nasal airway resistance in SAR but not NR subjects (p < 0.05). Neuropeptide levels in nasal lavage fluid, on the other hand, were unaffected, with the exception of a paradoxical increase in vasoactive intestinal peptide in non-rhinitic controls post-Cl2 provocation. Conclusions Irritant-induced nasal airflow limitation is more pronounced among SAR than NR subjects. We could not, however, demonstrate a role for neuropeptide release in the nasal congestive response of SAR subjects. 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Methods, Mechanisms, and Pathophysiology. Neural and neuro-immune mechanisms of visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized as functional because a pathobiological cause is not readily apparent. Considerable evidence, however, documents that sensitizing proinflammatory and lipotoxic lipids, mast cells and their products, tryptases, enteroendocrine cells, and mononuclear phagocytes and their receptors are increased in tissues of IBS patients with colorectal hypersensitivity. It is also clear from recordings in animals of the colorectal afferent innervation that afferents exhibit long-term changes in models of persistent colorectal hypersensitivity. Such changes in afferent excitability and responses to mechanical stimuli are consistent with relief of discomfort and pain in IBS patients, including relief of referred abdominal hypersensitivity, upon intra-rectal instillation of local anesthetic. In the aggregate, these experimental outcomes establish the importance of afferent drive in IBS, consistent with a larger literature with respect to other chronic conditions in which pain is a principal complaint (e.g., neuropathic pain, painful bladder syndrome, fibromyalgia). Accordingly, colorectal afferents and the environment in which these receptive endings reside constitute the focus of this review. That environment includes understudied and incompletely understood contributions from immune-competent cells resident in and recruited into the colorectum. We close this review by highlighting deficiencies in existing knowledge and identifying several areas for further investigation, resolution of which we anticipate would significantly advance our understanding of neural and neuro-immune contributions to IBS pain and hypersensitivity.
Photorefractive effects in tantalum-doped potassium niobate

Photorefractive gain is measured in poled 1% tantalum-doped potassium niobate (KNbO(3)). Two-wave mixing experiments are presented which exploit the r(42) coefficient of KNbO(3) by employing nonsymmetric geometries which rotate the grating vector away from the optic axis. The effect of this rotation on the exponential gain coefficient is shown. Experimental results are compared to an analytic expression derived for this parameter. The experiments were performed using an argon laser stabilized at lambda = 514.5 nm. The light was extraordinarily polarized, and the beams were incident on the b-face of the crystal. The absorption and the response time of the crystal were measured. Losses due to scattering and phase conjugation were also investigated.
SOI chip design and charging damage

In this paper we discuss some aspects of antennas in real designs in SOI technology, and show how the concepts manifest themselves in actual chips, where second-order effects such as resistance and the details of the processing sequence can play an important role. We also discuss the ramifications of a more recent technique which inserts bulk contacts into the SOI design, thereby imposing a bulk-like character to the antenna rules, while maintaining the performance advantages of SOI.
Minimally disturbed, multicycle, and reproducible synchrony using a eukaryotic "baby machine".

Summary A eukaryotic ‘‘baby machine’’ has been developed that produces synchronized cultures that display up to
Forest Values of National Park Neighbors in Costa Rica

Global environmental concern and action have increased markedly over the past few decades. Rather than resulting in uniform environmental values across the globe, we argue that distinct environmentalisms are socially constructed in different places through the complex interactions between the global environmental values and locally unique historical, political, and environmental factors. We analyze forest-related mental and cultural models-including both beliefs and values-using text analysis of transcripts and field notes from 67 qualitative interviews in five villages adjacent to La Amistad International Park in Costa Rica. We find that global environmental discourse has played a key role in framing the way rural people think and talk about forests. Consewation-oriented discourse has largely replaced earlier frontier views of forests as resources to be exploited and converted to agricultural lands. We find that the new forest beliefs and values are genuine, but also that they are sometimes superficial and lack motivating force. Local people are exposed to influential environmental discourses that see forests as something to be protected for heritage values and as a source of national development through ecotourism and bioprospecting, which often place forest conservation in opposition to their livelihood needs. This conflict has produced mediating discourses that acknowledge forest conservation as good while creating a legitimate place for rural landowners and their livelihood needs in the forested landscape. The result is unique local forest beliefs and values that are different from both earlier local beliefs and global and national environmental discourses.
Joint Probabilistic Data Association for Multitarget Tracking with Possibly Unresolved Measurements

In a multitarget environment, when tracking crossing targets, a model is needed for the situation where the measurements from two targets are merged into one due to an inherent resolution threshold. A multidimensional model for the merged measurements is proposed and the resulting pdf is presented. This model is applied to augment the Joint Probabilistic Data Association (JPDA) algorithm used for tracking multiple targets in a cluttered environment, so that it can handle, in a more realistic manner, the situation of crossing targets.
Insight into the pathophysiology of restless legs syndrome.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a disorder of sensation with a prevalence of around 2–5% of the population. Relevant to understanding the possible pathophysiological mechanism is the fact that RLS is extremely responsive to dopaminergic agents. A second issue is that iron deficiency states may precipitate RLS in as much as 25–30% of people with iron deficiency. Studies looking at basal ganglia dopaminergic function using PET and SPECT techniques have shown a decrease in binding potential for the dopamine receptor and transporter. Similar phenomena occurs in iron-deficient animals. Using MRI techniques and CSF analysis of iron-related protein, studies have suggested a reduction in brain iron concentration occurs in RLS patients. The relevance of CNS iron metabolism to the pathophysiology of RLS is discussed. J. Neurosci. Res. 62:623–628, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Are Risky Youth Less Protectable As They Age? The Dynamics of Protection During Adolescence and Young Adulthood.

Research on recidivism in criminal justice and desistance in criminology are not integrated. Yet, both fields are moving towards models that look at how positive elements in a person’s environment can impact a person’s behavior, conditional on different levels of risk. This study builds on this observation by applying interactional theory and the concept of Risk–Needs–Responsivity to theorize that both Needs and Responsivity will change over time in predictable ways. We then use a novel empirical approach with the Rochester Youth Development Study to show that even in late adolescence, individuals who are at risk for violence can be protected from future violence and risky behavior like gun carrying with positive events in their environment and personal life. In young adulthood, fewer people are still at risk for violence, and those who are at risk are harder to protect from future violence and gun carrying.
The role of inflammation in alloimmunization to antigens on transfused red blood cells.

Purpose of review To discuss how inflammation affects humoral alloimmunization to antigens on transfused red blood cells (RBCs). Recent findings Recently, three unique murine models of humoral alloimmunization to transfused RBCs have been described. As in humans, RBC alloimmunization rates in recipient mice are variable, with segregation into responder and nonresponder groups. Because the recipient mice are genetically identical, environmental factors may play a role in regulating alloimmunization. These models have further been used to demonstrate that recipient inflammation has a complex regulatory effect upon alloimmunization. Isolated case reports in humans raise the possibility of a similar role of inflammation in regulating alloimmunization to RBCs. Summary It is currently unknown why some human transfusion recipients mount strong alloantibody responses, whereas others do not. Human leukocyte antigen immunogenetics likely play a substantial role. However, within groups with the genetic capacity to respond to a given RBC antigen, recipients still segregate into responders and nonresponders. The data reviewed herein indicate that recipient inflammation in mice has the capacity to regulate alloimmunization. Future studies will be required to further understand these effects and to investigate if similar biology regulates alloimmunization to transfused RBCs in humans.
Properties of Propagating Structures with Variable Parameter Elements

A MATRIX representation which is particularly useful for the linear analysis of circuits with time-varying parameters will be given and will be applied to the case of a variable capacitance transmission line. The line will first be treated on the assumption that only a signal and a pump frequency (2?signal = ?pump) are important, and the conditions which should be satisfied by the respective propagation constants if gain is to be obtained will be presented. If the line is assumed capable of propagating combination frequencies at a velocity close to that of the pump and signal, then the results may be drastically modified. In particular, we will consider the effect of the combination frequency ?signal+?pump. Also treated will be the case where all combination frequencies are allowed to propagate along a dispersionless line.
Optimized Components in Frame Synthesis

The incorporation of optimized thin-walled beam elements into procedures for the minimum-weight design of indeterminate elastic planar frame structures is examined. It is shown that all frame structures composed of beam elements with thin-walled cross sections will be fully stressed in the sense that each element should be proportioned to be on the verge of local instability under at least one independent load condition. This fact leads to a formulation of the design requirements as an inequality-constrained minimization problem with the only variables being moments of inertia of the elements. Solutions are examined numerically by use of a nonlinear programing technique. The formulation also suggests a simple and efficient direct iterative procedure for obtaining designs which are fully-stressed with respect to both local buckling and yielding. For the examples considered, both procedures are shown to produce identical results. Nomenclature A = cross-sectional area D = depth of beam cross section E = Young's rnodulus / = moment of inertia K = buckling coefficient M = bending moment 9fTl = maximum absolute value of M in element W = weight Z = section modulus kAjki = constants I — length t = thickness p = specific weight ay = yield stress a = Wl/Z
The Binomial Coefficient

We now turn our attention to one of the most fundamental and useful notions in all of combinatorics, the binomial coefficient. You may recall the binomial coefficient from high-school algebra class. However, we will give several other interpretations for this concept.
Parkin and defective ubiquitination in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by the progressive loss of dopamine (DA) neurons. Accompanying the loss the of DA neurons is the accumulation of Lewy bodies and neurites, intracytoplasmic proteinaceous inclusions that contain alphasynuclein, synphilin-1, components of the ubiquitin proteasomal pathway and parkin. Recent advances indicate that PD is due in some individuals to genetic mutations in alpha-synuclein, DJ-1, PINK-1, LRRK2, and parkin. Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which mutations in familial-linked genes cause PD holds great promise for unraveling the mechanisms by which DA neurons degenerate in PD. Parkin is E3-ubiquitinprotein ligase that ubiquitinates itself and promotes its own degradation. Familial associated mutations of parkin have impaired ubiquitin ligase function suggesting that this may be the cause of familial autosomal recessive PD. Parkin might be required for formation of Lewy bodies as Lewy bodies are absent in patients with parkin mutations. Parkin interacts with and ubiquitinates the alphasynuclein interacting protein, synphilin-1. Formation of Lewy-body-like ubiquitinpositive cytosolic inclusions occurs upon coexpression of alpha-synuclein, synphilin-1 and parkin. Nitric oxide inhibits Parkin’s E-3 ligase activity and its protective function by nitric oxide through S-nitrosylation both in vitro and in vivo. Nitrosative and oxidative stress link parkin function with the more common sporadic form of Parkinson’s disease and the related α-synucleinopathy, DLBD. Development of new therapies for PD and other disorders associated with nitrosative and oxidative stress may follow the elucidation of the pathways by which NO S-nitrosylates and inhibits parkin. Moreover, parkin and alpha-synuclein are linked in common pathogenic mechanism through their interaction with synphilin-1 and parkin may be important for the formation of Lewy bodies.
Exendin-4 treatment of nonobese diabetic mice increases beta-cell proliferation and fractional insulin reactive area.

Abstract Objective The notion of combining immunomodulatory agents with the incretin exendin-4 (Ex-4) has seen considerable favor as a potential therapy for the reversal of type 1 diabetes in man. While the addition of Ex-4 provides modest improvement to the effectiveness of immunological-based monotherapies in reversing hyperglycemia in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse, the mechanism of action underlying this effect remains controversial and formed the basis for this investigation. Research Design and Methods Female NOD mice with new onset diabetes received either Ex-4 (0.2 μg) or saline via daily intraperitoneal injection for 30 days. To maintain viability after diagnosis of diabetes, animals also received subcutaneous insulin pellets. When persistent hyperglycemia returned, animals were sacrificed and histological studies performed to assess beta-cell proliferation (BrdU+/insulin+; Ki67+/insulin+) and fractional insulin reactive area. Results Ex-4-treated animals experienced diabetes reversal rates no better than controls. Despite this, Ex-4-treated mice demonstrated increased fractional insulin area ( P =.035) and beta-cell proliferation as evidenced by elevated BrdU ( P =.0001) and Ki67 staining ( P =.04) with insulin co-localization. Also noteworthy, Ex-4-treated mice had poor weight gain following diagnosis in comparison to saline-treated animals ( P =.003). Conclusions Ex-4 monotherapy (0.2 μg daily–10 μg/kg per day) in NOD mice with new onset diabetes increases beta-cell proliferation and fractional insulin area. Ex-4 remains a promising component of combination therapies for type 1 diabetes. Additional studies are needed to identify a dose that maximizes beta-cell proliferation and minimizes potential side effects.
Hydrothermal Processes at Seafloor Spreading Centers: Application of Basalt-Seawater Experimental Results

Both the chemistry of seafloor hot springs and the chemical changes exhibited by basalts during alteration to greenschist facies assemblages have been accurately predicted by laboratory experiments reacting seawater with basalt. Although the experiments were run as an isothermal, closed-system, batch process, they largely succeeded in duplicating the products of the natural open-system, continuous flow process. For the solutions, this resulted mainly from rapid reaction rates at high temperature, relative to flow rates in the natural systems, so that equilibrium with the secondary mineral assemblage represented a significant control on solution composition both in the experiments and in nature. For the rocks, it resulted from a similar alteration history in which largely unreacted seawater reached greenschist facies temperatures before reacting with the basalts, and from element exchanges between rock and solution which were coupled via charge balance constraints so that the batch process in the experiments simulated the incremental process in nature.
Genetic studies of kanamycin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus

Attempts to isolate directly kanamycin resistant transductants in Staphylococcus aureus were unsuccessful, although genes determining heme synthesis could be transduced. Use of the replica plating method, however, gave evidence that kanamycin resistance had been co-transduced along with the genes controlling the production of heme-containing enzymes of the electron transport system. In the presence of kanamycin, bacteriophage was unable to produce plaques on phage-susceptible cells, and this antiphage effect of kanamycin was probably a reason why the direct transduction of kanamycin resistance was not detected, although many attempts and variations in the procedure were made. Treatment of a kanamycin resistant culture of S. aureus with acridine orange or ethidium bromide indicated that kanamycin resistance was conferred by a chromosomal factor.
The perception and endogenous modulation of pain.

Pain is often perceived an unpleasant experience that includes sensory and emotional/motivational responses. Accordingly, pain serves as a powerful teaching signal enabling an organism to avoid injury, and is critical to survival. However, maladaptive pain, such as neuropathic or idiopathic pain, serves no survival function. Genomic studies of individuals with congenital insensitivity to pain or paroxysmal pain syndromes considerable increased our understanding of the function of peripheral nociceptors, and especially of the roles of voltage-gated sodium channels and of nerve growth factor (NGF)/TrkA receptors in nociceptive transduction and transmission. Brain imaging studies revealed a “pain matrix,” consisting of cortical and subcortical regions that respond to noxious inputs and can positively or negatively modulate pain through activation of descending pain modulatory systems. Projections from the periaqueductal grey (PAG) and the rostroventromedial medulla (RVM) to the trigeminal and spinal dorsal horns can inhibit or promote further nociceptive inputs. The “pain matrix” can explain such varied phenomena as stress-induced analgesia, placebo effect and the role of expectation on pain perception. Disruptions in these systems may account for the existence idiopathic pan states such as fibromyalgia. Increased understanding of pain modulatory systems will lead to development of more effective therapeutics for chronic pain.
Alloying Pt Sub-nano-clusters with Boron: Sintering Preventative and Coke Antagonist?

Immobilized Pt clusters are interesting catalysts for dehydrogenation of alkanes. However, surface-deposited Pt clusters deactivate rapidly via sintering and coke deposition. The results reported here suggest that adding boron to oxide-supported Pt clusters could be a “magic bullet” against both means of deactivation. The model systems studied herein are pure and B-doped Pt clusters deposited on MgO(100). The nonstoichiometric boride cluster obtained via such alloying is found to anchor to the support via a covalent B–O bond, and the cluster-surface binding is much stronger than in the case of pure Pt clusters. Additionally, B introduces covalency to the intracluster bonding, leading to structural distortion and stabilization. The energy required to dissociate a Pt atom from a boride cluster is significantly larger than that of pure Pt clusters. These energetic arguments lead to the proposal that sintering via both Ostwald ripening and particle coalescence would be discouraged relative to pure Pt clusters...
Diabetes benefit management: evolving strategies for payers.

Abstract Over the next quarter century, the burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is expected to at least double. Currently, 1 in every 10 healthcare dollars is spent on diabetes management; by 2050, it has been projected that the annual costs of managing T2DM will rise to $336 billion. Without substantial, systemic changes, T2DM management costs will lead to a potentially untenable strain on the healthcare system. However, the appropriate management of diabetes can reduce associated mortality and delay comorbidities. In addition, adequate glycemic control can improve patient outcomes and significantly reduce diabetes-related complications. This article provides an overview of key concepts associated with a value-based insurance design (VBID) approach to T2DM coverage. By promoting the use of services or treatments that provide high benefits relative to cost, and by alternatively discouraging patients from utilizing services whose benefits do not justify their cost, VBID improves the quality of healthcare while simultaneously reining in spending. VBID initiatives tend to focus on chronic disease management and generally target prescription drug use. However, some programs have expanded their scope by incorporating services traditionally offered by wellness and disease management programs. The concept of VBID is growing, and it is increasingly being implemented by a diverse and growing number of public and private entities, including pharmacy benefit managers, health plans, and employers. This article provides key background on VBID strategies, with a focus on T2DM management. It also provides a road map for health plans seeking to implement VBID as part of their programs.
The Political Development of Public Policy: Institutions, Intercurrence, and the Community Reinvestment Act

Although Congress continues to pass urban redevelopment programs and local actors attempt to use these policies to address urban problems, many policies do not live up to initial expectations. Urban policy scholars tend to focus on local political or economic arrangements to explain this phenomenon, while public policy scholars emphasize the role of special interest or bureaucratic influence on policy success or failure. Neither approach studies the institutional arrangements motivating urban policy, nor do they do they study these arrangements over time, as the policies evolve. In this paper, I suggest a new framework for exploring urban policy: intercurrence. I operationalize this theoretical framework, drawn from American Political Development (APD) scholarship, to examine the institutional ordering mechanisms in Community Reinvestment Act (CRA). I argue that challenges to successful policy implementation can best be appreciated by understanding how institutional arrangements inherent to American politics, including the relationship between the public and private sectors, federalism, and separation of powers, circumscribe policy creation and then implementation at the local level.
Numerical Investigation of Flow in an Over-Expanded Nozzle with Porous Surfaces

A new porous condition has been implemented in the PAB3D solver for simulating the flow over porous surfaces. The newly-added boundary condition is utilized to compute the flow field of a non-axisymmetric, convergent-divergent nozzle incorporating porous cavities for shock-boundary layer interaction control. The nozzle has an expansion ratio (exit area/throat area) of 1.797 and a design nozzle pressure ratio of 8.78. The flow fields for a baseline nozzle (no porosity) and for a nozzle with porous surfaces (10% porosity ratio) are computed for NPR varying from 2.01 to 9.54. Computational model results indicate that the over-expanded nozzle flow was dominated by shock-induced boundary-layer separation. Porous configurations were capable of controlling off-design separation in the nozzle by encouraging stable separation of the exhaust flow. Computational simulation results, wall centerline pressure, mach contours, and thrust efficiency ratio are presented and discussed. Computed results are in excellent agreement with experimental data.
Abortion and public health: Time for another look

Four decades after Roe v. Wade, abortion remains highly contentious, pitting a woman's right to choose against a fetal claim to life. Public health implications are staggering: the US annual total of more than one million induced abortions equals nearly half the number of registered deaths from all causes. Sentiment regarding abortion is roughly evenly split among the general public, yet fundamental debate about abortion is largely absent in the public health community, which is predominantly supportive of its wide availability. Absence of substantive debate on abortion separates the public health community from the public we serve, jeopardizing the trust placed in us. Traditional public health values—support for vulnerable groups and opposition to the politicization of science—together with the principle of reciprocity weigh against abortion. Were aborted lives counted as are other human lives, induced abortion would be acknowledged as the largest single preventable cause of loss of human life.Lay Summar...
Orbital minimization method with ℓ 1 regularization

Abstract We consider a modification of the orbital minimization method (OMM) energy functional which contains an l 1 penalty term in order to find a sparse representation of the low-lying eigenspace of self-adjoint operators. We analyze the local minima of the modified functional as well as the convergence of the modified functional to the original functional. Algorithms combining soft thresholding with gradient descent are proposed for minimizing this new functional. Numerical tests validate our approach. In addition, we also prove the unanticipated and remarkable property that every local minimum of the OMM functional without the l 1 term is also a global minimum.
Impact of transgenic Bt gene rice to Chilo suppressalis(Walker)larvae and arthropod community under field conditions

The resistance to Chilo suppressalis(Walker) larvae and impact on arthropod community of a transgenic Bt gene rice was evaluated under both laboratory and field conditions.The results showed that the mortality of transgenic Bt gene rice against C.suppressalis larvae was more than 90% and significantly higher than the control rice.Both the occurrence and damage of C.suppressalis larvae in transgenic Bt gene rice plots were lower than those of the control rice plots.Compared with the control rice plots,there were no significant differences in community indices such as species richness,dominance index,Shannon-Wiener diversity index and evenness index in transgenic Bt gene rice plots.Moreover,there were no significant differences in the five guilds dominance in the transgenic Bt gene rice plots and the control rice plots.It was apparent that the transgenic Bt gene rice had high resistance to its target pests and no significant adverse impact on the arthropod community structure and guild dominance under the field conditions.
Study on effective communication of nurse and parents in department of paediatrics

Study on the skill of communication for nurse with infants patient's parents ,thus realized the communication with infant patients ,and to enhance trust and support ,made the patients has a best therophy effectine .
The value of ATP stress echocardiography and selective coronary angiography for long-term follow-up in children with coronary artery lesions caused by Kawasaki disease

Objective To explore the value of ATP stress echocardiography and selective coronary angiography(SCAG) for long-term follow-up in children with coronary artery lesions by Kawasaki disease.Methods The ATP stress echocardiography and SCAG were perfomed on 9 children (1 female and 8 males) with a history of Kawasaki disease(5 with giant coronary aneurysms,3 with coronary aneurysms ,and 1 with dilatation of bilateral coronary arteries in acute stage). The average age of the patients was (7.89±2.62) years(4-12 years) when SCAG was taken,the follow-up period was 1.5-7years[average( 3.44±1.67)years]from onset.Results The wall motion abnormality in 6 cases, decreased coronary flow reserve in 5 cases were found by ATP stress echocardiography. SCAG showed : the multiple bilateral coronary aneurysms in 4 cases(1 of them with LAD stenosis; 2 of 4 with right coronary artery tortuous and stenosis); left anterior descending coronary aneurysms with right coronary artery occlusion and collateral branches in 1 case;dilatation of coronary arteries in 4 cases . Comparing with SCAG, 3 distal coronary aneurysms in 2 cases ; coronary stenosis in 3 cases, coronary collateral branches in 2 cases were found by ATP stress echocardiography. Comparing with ATP stress echocardiography, 5 of 6 cases with wall motion abnormalities were found to have coronary tortuous and stenosis in relative diferent arteries by SCAG. Conclusions The coronary artery lesions caused by Kawasaki disease may last for long time,it is nesscery to have long-term follow up for patients with kawasaki disease.The ATP stress echocardiography is safe and reliable for detecting the myocardial ischemia; The selective coronary angiography can show the coronary artery lesions in number, diferent form and site, especially in finding coronary stenosis,distal aneurysms and coronary collateral branches. It is very helpful to evaluate the coronary artery lesions caused by Kawasaki disease for long-term follow-up.
Sources in the Development of Mathematics: The Gamma Function

Preliminary Remarks The problem of interpolating the sequence of factorials 0!, 1!, 2!, 3!, … appeared in Wallis's 1655 book on the quadrature of a circle. Specifically, the problem would be to find a function f(x) of a positive real variable x , such that f ( x + 1) = x f (x) and f (n) = ( n - 1)!, when n is a positive integer. One might wish to have f(n) = n ! but we will identify f (x) with the gamma function Γ (x) , so we shift the function f(n) = n ! to the right by a unit. In his book, Wallis solved this problem for half-integral values of x but did not work out the details of the general case. Strangely, for seventy years after this, mathematicians did not take up this subject. Euler and Stirling made significant contributions to this problem starting in the late 1720s. They worked independently, Euler in Russia and Stirling in Scotland; their approaches and aims were also distinct. In the mid-1730s, they came to know of each other's work and had a brief correspondence. Always the algorist, Euler was interested in obtaining analytic expressions for the interpolating function f(x) . His first paper on the subject, written in 1730, gives two different representations of f(x) , one as an infinite product and the other as a definite integral. On the other hand, Stirling was a numerical analyst interested in finding efficient methods for computing f(x) .
First, Second, or Third Person

Ethnography is conventionally written in first person, from the researcher’s point of view. Point of view is analogous to the camera angle in film–we see the action through a particular perspective. In this case we see the action from the perspective of the researcher.
Lean Sigma Case Study

The following is a case study of a fictitious pediatric practice. The goal is to demonstrate how Lean Sigma tools can be applied systematically to improve processes in healthcare.
Lymphotoxin: stimulation and regulation of colony-stimulating factors in fibroblasts

Colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) are pivotal for proliferation and function of hematopoietic cells. We found that lymphotoxin, a product of activated lymphocytes, stimulates accumulation of granulocyte- macrophage (GM)-CSF and macrophage (M)-CSF proteins and mRNAs in fibroblasts. An increase in GM- and M-CSF mRNA levels occurred within 2 hours after addition of 1,000 U/mL lymphotoxin and levels plateaued over the next 24 hours. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) was about five times more potent than lymphotoxin at low concentrations, and was nearly 1.5 to to 2 times more potent at maximally stimulating concentrations of the cytokines. Stimulation by lymphotoxin did not require either new protein synthesis or protein kinase-C stimulation. Stability studies of GM- and M-CSF transcripts in fibroblasts showed that M-CSF mRNA was five times more stable (half-life [t 1/2], 100 minutes) than GM-CSF mRNA (t 1/2, 20 minutes). Stability of these mRNAs was unchanged after stimulation of the cells with lymphotoxin. In addition, exposure of cells to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate did not alter stability of M-CSF mRNA but markedly prolonged the stability of GM-CSF mRNA. This is consistent with data showing that the AT-rich consensus region in the 3′ untranslated region of many transiently expressed cytokines including GM-CSF but not M-CSF, play a major role in their mRNA stability. Our results suggest that activated lymphocytes can affect hematopoietic cell function and growth by stimulating production of CSFs by mesenchymal cells.
Constructing Technological Distances from U.S. Patent Data

This paper provides a general outline to construct technological distance measures from U.S. Patent data using a preliminary scoring method.
Femoral head ostectomy for the treatment of acetabular fracture and coxofemoral joint luxation in a Potbelly pig

Objective To report the successful surgical treatment of a comminuted left acetabular fracture, a dorsally luxated left femoral head, and avulsion of the ligament of the femoral head by femoral head ostectomy (FHO) and physical therapy in a companion Potbelly pig. Study Design Case report. Animals A 1-year-old, 13 kg, castrated male, companion Potbelly pig. Methods The pig presented with a nonweight bearing left pelvic limb lameness of 3 weeks' duration that was noticed shortly after the pig got caught under a fence. Under general anesthesia a lateral approach was made to the fractured limb. A FHO was performed as described for dogs. Following surgery, a period of physical therapy was initiated based on protocols described for dogs. Results The canine surgical procedure with the approach modified for pigs was successfully performed in our pig. Following surgery, the pig was comfortable and weight bearing. A physical therapy regimen of supervised activity, stairs, and water therapy was used to rehabilitate the leg, as well as a weight management protocol to maintain ideal body condition. The owner was highly satisfied with the outcome. Telephone follow-up with the owner at 12 months after surgery revealed no impairment to movement, and the pig was maintaining normal ambulation without lameness. No complications were observed with this case. Conclusion FHO, as described for dogs, provided a favorable outcome for hip luxation caused by acetabular fracture, luxation, and avulsion of the femoral head ligament in this small size Potbelly pig.
Combining ATRP and FRP Gels: Soft Gluing of Polymeric Materials for the Fabrication of Stackable Gels

Stackable gels comprised of layers of dissimilar polymers were synthesized by combining conventional free radical polymerization (FRP) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using two approaches: (i) polymerization of a pre-gel solution containing a monomer and cross-linker introduced on top of a previously prepared gel, and (ii) simultaneous polymerization of two immiscible pre-gel solutions remaining in contact. All permutations of FRP and ATRP yielded single-piece, connected, amphiphilic gels regardless of the order of polymerization. Furthermore, multi-layer ATRP gels combining different polymers were synthesized with the FRP layer as a gluing agent. A 10-layer amphiphilic stackable gel combining n-butyl methacrylate (BMA) and 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA), and a 10-layer stackable gel combining BMA, DMAEMA and di(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEO2MA) were synthesized. This patching method, combining conventional FRP gels with ATRP ones, offers an efficient path to the formation of complex stackable gel architectures.
Endophyte Effects on Photosynthesis and Water Use of Plant Hosts: A Meta-Analysis

Endophytes – bacteria, fungi, and yeast living inside plants – can provide multiple benefits such as growth promotion and stress tolerance for their host to be successful in diverse environments. In this chapter, we review current literature to provide a meta-analysis on how the benefits conferred by endophytes are modulated through photosynthesis and water relations of the host plants. A total of 30 articles collectively demonstrated that endophyte inoculations led to photosynthetic improvements characterized by an increase in chlorophyll content, photochemical efficiency, or net CO2 assimilation rate. An increase in leaf N content by either biological N fixation or N assimilation and translocation facilitated by endophytes, in part, accounted for these improvements. In addition, water use efficiency (WUE) of the host plants was enhanced by endophytes but this response was highly variable among studies conducted under different environmental conditions. An efficient osmoregulation and stomatal control modulated by endophytes are among the potential mechanisms that explain the improvements in WUE. We suggest that future studies need to consider the cost-benefit perspective of the plant-endophyte associations in terms of carbon, water, and nitrogen balances.