cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting Introductory Psychology Test Scores: An Engaging and Useful Topic

Deciding which variables predict introductory psychology test scores is offered as a vehicle for enhancing students' interest in issues related to research methodology. Instructors who want to capitalize on this engaging topic are provided with a table of selected results from a previous study and suggestions for integrating the topic into their lectures.
Ocular contrapulsion in multiple sclerosis: clinical features and pathophysiological mechanisms

The objective was to describe in multiple sclerosis, a cerebellar eye movement syndrome that resulted from an acute episode of inflammatory demyelination. Contrapulsion is an ocular motor disturbance characterised by a triad of (1) hypermetric saccadic eye movements in a direction opposite from a precisely localised lesion within a specific white matter pathway, the uncinate fasciculus, at the level of the superior cerebellar peduncle (SCP); (2) hypometric saccades towards the side of the lesion; (3) oblique saccades directed away from the side of the lesion on attempted vertical saccades. Infrared oculography was used to demonstrate the characteristic features of contrapulsion in two patients with multiple sclerosis. Brain MRI showed lesions within the region of the uncinate fasciculus and superior cerebellar peduncle in both patients. Eye movement recordings showed saccadic hypermetria away from the side of the lesion and saccadic hypometria towards the side of the lesion. The hypometria decomposed into a series of stepwise movements as the eye approached the target. Oblique saccades directed away from the side of the lesion were seen on attempted vertical saccades. In conclusion, ocular contrapulsion can be seen in patients with multiple sclerosis and results from a lesion in the region of the SCP, involving the uncinate fasciculus.
Cell cycle analysis of facial mesenchyme in the chick embryo: II. Label dilution studies and developmental fate of slow cycling cells

The spatial distribution and developmental fate of quiescent and/or slow cycling cell populations of the primary palate were studied employing label-dilution techniques. 3 1/2-day-old chick embryos were labelled sequentially for 12 h with [3H]thymidine and then chased with cold thymidine. The embryos were reincubated to continue development and were subsequently sacrificed at intervals from the end of labelling at 4 days to 14 days of incubation (10 days after labelling) and processed for autoradiography. Retention of label was used as the assay for identification of quiescent and/or slow-cycling cells. Grain density over the nuclei of labelled cells was determined in the maxillary process and the roof of the stomodeum. Cells with a label density at later time points comparable to that found in cells immediately after the labelling period were defined as label-retaining cells, i.e. those which had become quiescent or had significantly altered generation times. The location and developmental fate of these cell populations were confirmed using slides containing adjacent sections stained with Nuclear Fast Red, Alcian Blue, and Tartrazine. The results demonstrated an association between label-retaining cells and chondrogenic differentiation in the roof of the stomodeum. Subpopulations of label-retaining cells (quiescent and/or slow cycling) which we believe to be prechondroblasts appeared in the chondrogenic region of the roof of the stomodeum prior to, or coincident with, cartilage formation. The retention of label, as evidenced by comparison of nuclear grain counts at the end of the labelling period with subsequent time points, indicated that a cell cycle block may have occurred in the prechondroblastic cell population. The block lasted until these cells expressed the chondrogenic phenotype, after which they resumed cell division.
Melting points of synthetic wax esters.

Saturated, monoenoic and dienoic wax esters, C26−C40, have been synthesized from even-numbered fatty alcohols and acids. In homologous series of saturated esters, the increments of melting points follow a regular trend except for those esters which have an acid moiety two carbon atoms shorter than the alcohol moiety. These wax esters have melting points higher than interpolation would predict. Monoenoic wax esters with the double bond in the alcohol chain have melting points about 10 C higher than their isomers with the double bond in the acid chain.
Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript Is a Potent Stimulator of GnRH and Kisspeptin Cells and May Contribute to Negative Energy Balance-induced Reproductive Inhibition in Females

Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) is a hypothalamic neuropeptide implicated in both metabolic and reproductive regulation, raising the possibility that CART plays a role in reproductive inhibition during negative metabolic conditions. The current study characterized CART's regulatory influence on GnRH and kisspeptin (Kiss1) cells and determined the sensitivity of different CART populations to negative energy balance. CART fibers made close appositions to 60% of GnRH cells, with the majority of the fibers (>80%) originating from the arcuate nucleus (ARH) CART/pro-opiomelanocortin population. Electrophysiological recordings in GnRH-green fluorescent protein rats demonstrated that CART postsynaptically depolarizes GnRH cells. CART fibers from the ARH were also observed in close contact with Kiss1 cells in the ARH and anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV). Recordings in Kiss1-GFP mice demonstrated CART also postsynaptically depolarizes ARH Kiss1 cells, suggesting CART may act directly and indirectly, via Kiss1 populations, to stimulate GnRH neurons. CART protein and mRNA levels were analyzed in 2 models of negative energy balance: caloric restriction (CR) and lactation. Both CART mRNA levels and the number of CART-immunoreactive cells were suppressed in the ARH during CR but not during lactation. AVPV CART mRNA was suppressed during CR, but not during lactation when there was a dramatic increase in CART-immunoreactive cells. These data suggest differing regulatory signals of CART between the models. In conclusion, both morphological and electrophysiological methods identify CART as a novel and potent stimulator of Kiss1 and GnRH neurons and suppression of CART expression during negative metabolic conditions could contribute to inhibition of the reproductive axis.
Creating a replicable, valid cross-platform buffering technique: the sausage network buffer for measuring food and physical activity built environments.

Background Obesity researchers increasingly use geographic information systems to measure exposure and access in neighborhood food and physical activity environments. This paper proposes a network buffering approach, the “sausage” buffer. This method can be consistently and easily replicated across software versions and platforms, avoiding problems with proprietary systems that use different approaches in creating such buffers.
An Evaluation of the Lander Approach to Ecology of Delinquency

A review of Bernard Lander's ecological study of delinquency and several replications of the study has led us to question the usefulness of further studies employing the statistical techniques of Lander. Lander's statements about the “fundamental” relationship of “anomie” and delinquency are not warranted in the light of the non-orthogonal rotation procedure utilized by Lander in his factor analysis. The major criticism, however, of the Lander approach is its inability to uncover unsuspected interaction effects. We suggest as an alternative Predictive Attribute Analysis, a multi-variate predictive technique which is capable of sensing unsuspected interaction effects. To illustrate this procedure, an ecological study of delinquency in Philadelphia is presented. Finally, alternate procedures of handling interaction are discussed in the light of six issues which criminal ecology faces.
Eversion endarterectomy of the carotid artery: technical considerations and recurrent stenoses.

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of residual and recurrent lesions after eversion endarterectomy of the carotid artery (E-CE) and compare these results with those following endarterectomy and patch closure (CE-P). Methods: We reviewed 274 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy in 1998 with electroencephalographic monitoring, general anesthesia, completion duplex scan, and 1-year follow-up. CE-P was preferred for patients who required temporary shunting. In the E-CE group an additional proximal 2-cm arteriotomy was made in the common carotid artery (CCA) in 79 patients, a longer arteriotomy was made for extensive involvement of the CCA in 14 patients, and the internal carotid artery was advanced proximally as a patch for the CCA arteriotomy closure in 14 patients. Stenoses of > 50% that were present at 1 month were considered residual, and those of > 50% that were present at 1 year but not at 1 month were considered recurrent. Results: There were five (1.8%) postoperative strokes (four after CE-P and one after E-CE, P = not significant). At 30 days there were 28 patients (10.2%) with residual stenoses > 50% (11 patients [10.2%] in the E-CE group and 17 patients [10.1%] in the CE-P group; P = not significant). The incidence of recurrent lesions of more than 50% was similar (4.6% for E-CE vs 4.7% for CE-P). Conclusion: The pattern of residual lesions and recurrent stenoses differs with each technique of endarterectomy. Proximal stenoses are more common after E-CE, and distal stenoses are more common after CE-P at both 1 month and 1 year. The frequency of proximal lesions is reduced in E-CE when either the internal carotid artery is advanced proximally onto the CCA or a long CCA arteriotomy is made. Distal recurrences do not seem to be a problem after eversion endarterectomy. (J Vasc Surg 2000;32:1052-61.)
Survival and recruitment of semi-aquatic turtles in an urbanized region

Turtles are long-lived organisms that require high survivorship to maintain stable populations. Additionally, turtles are thought to be particularly susceptible to negative effects associated with anthropogenic habitat modification such as increased presence of human-subsidized predators and increased road mortality. Recruitment may also be reduced in populations surrounded by developed landscapes because of high road densities which limits connectivity among habitats or because of limited nesting sites. To address the impacts of habitat development on turtle vital rates, we studied three species of semi-aquatic turtles, yellowbelly sliders (Trachemys scripta), eastern mud turtles (Kinosternon subrubrum), and common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina), in the urbanized Charlotte-metropolitan area of North Carolina. Mark-recapture data were analyzed in Program MARK using AIC model selection methods to evaluate models analyzing the effects of pond, sex, and time on both survivorship and recruitment rates. Our results yielded high survivorship estimates for sliders and snapping turtles (73–92.5% and 91.4–99.4%, respectively), indicating that these species were likely not severely affected by habitat modification. In contrast, mud turtles exhibited lower survivorship estimates (56.8–73.6%) than have been previously documented for this species, an observation we attribute to their reliance on terrestrial habitats where they may encounter greater densities of mesopredators in developed areas. Recruitment estimates indicated that most populations were subsidized by sizable additions each year, with the notable exception of snapping turtles whose movement may be limited by increased road densities. Our results suggest that anthropogenic habitat modification has species-specific effects and could imperil certain populations in urbanized areas.
The dilated slipped Banyan switching network architecture for use in an all-optical local-area network

A modification of the classical banyan switching network architecture, called the dilated slipped banyan, is described. This architecture is recursive and switching networks of any size perform permutation switching under a simple switching rule. They also exhibit column-control and dilation, properties that are particularly relevant to guided-wave and free-space photonic technologies. A photonic switching network, with this dilated slipped banyan architecture, is proposed as the hub of an all-optical active-star local-area network. The switching assignment at this hub is time-multiplexed on a fixed schedule that is known to all the terminals. This all-optical local-area network provides the equivalent of full-connectivity with high simultaneous data rates between every pair of terminals. A 16-terminal local-area network with 100 Mb/s of contention-free bandwidth between every pair of terminals is described. >
A Van Kampen theorem for π2

If the path connected topological space X has a countable open cover U with path connected elements, then π2(X,∗) is computed as a colimit determined by the second homotopy groups of the intersection of elements of U and the indices of the fundamental group injections of these intersections into the fundamental group of X. Aside from assuming that the inclusions induce such monomorphisms, certain other inclusions are also required to induce monomorphisms of fundamental groups and restrictions are placed on the arrangement of the elements of U.
Review of theory of mixing and reaction within a vortical structure

Constant-density, isothermal planar mixing layers with and without chemical reaction are studied. A series of problems involving an isolated vortex, a row of stable vortices, and an unstable vortex sheet are examined to understand the effects of coherent vortical structures on the mixing process. Diffusion is superimposed on the stretching and winding of the material lines. Probability density functions are calculated from the concentration profiles. Scalar dissipation rates are found to depend strongly on the vortex Reynolds number and weakly on the Schmidt number. Volumetric mixing rates are predicted to be identical on the high-speed and low-speed sides of a mixing layer.
Subcellular Localization of the Enzymes of the Arginine Dihydrolase Pathway in Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus

The enzymes of the arginine dihydrolase pathway were demonstrated in Tritrichomonas foetus and their subcellular localization determined for both T. foetus and Trichomonas vaginalis. Ornithine carbamyltransferase (anabolic and catabolic activities), ornithine decarboxylase and carbamate kinase activity were localized predominately (56-80%) in the non sedimentable fraction of both species. A large proportion (35-40%) of the arginine deiminase was, however, recovered in the large granular fraction, and this distribution was unchanged by increasing the ionic strength of the buffer. Upon density gradient centrifugation the particles containing arginine deiminase activity had an isopycnic density of 1.09 g/ml in percoll, and separated from hydrogenosomes (1.18 g/ml) and lysosomes (1.12 g/ml). Arginine deiminase was also the only enzyme of the dihydrolase pathway which demonstrated latency upon treatment of the 1.09 g/ml fraction with non-ionic detergents. The results demonstrate the presence of the arginine dihydrolase pathway in T. foetus and indicate that at least a portion of the arginine deiminase in trichomonads is membrane associated.
Peer Reviewers of Academic Journals: Who is Responsible for our Professional Literature

Scholarly journals provide a record of the research, issues, and concerns of a field. Authors have their names associated with their individual articles, while editors are connected with a publication. However, there is another group of individuals who are often left out of the record, although their contributions are just as critical in the formation of scholarly journals. This article will take a look at this group of peer reviewers, to provide demographic data as well as understanding for the reasons individuals take on the duty of peer reviewer.
Organic Fillers for Thermoplastics

Historically fillers have been low-cost bulking agents added to more expensive resins with cost reduction the main objective1. Property enhancement, such as improved impact resistance, heat distortion, etc., is often as important as cost in filler selection. While fillers can be used to improve resin properties, all successful fillers have the characteristic of not causing an unacceptable reduction in end-product properties2. The rising cost of resins and the need to economically enhance certain resin properties has provided an incentive to extend and modify resins with fillers. The challenge is to match the right filler to the right job.
A Concise History of Spain: The land and its early inhabitants

The Iberian Peninsula occupies several crucial crossroads, providing connections between Europe and Africa, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, and Europe and the Atlantic world. Spain's connections with Africa date from prehistoric times. When Muslim rulers controlled most of Spain during the Middle Ages, the close relationship with the North African world intensified. Today, Spain is the destination of choice for African would-be immigrants to Europe. Spain's connections with the rest of Europe are powerful as well, defined by history and geography and enhanced by the ties of the European Union. Spain's connections with Latin America date from the period of exploration and empire-building in the late fifteenth century. In our times, Spain provides an important link between Europe and Latin America, with the greatest number of flights between the two continents, the largest investment in Latin America of any European country, and the most Latin American immigrants in Europe. For the world as a whole, Spain is a major center of tourism. In 2007 Spain ranked second in the world in the number of tourists, according to the World Tourism Organization. In that year, some 59.2 million tourists entered the country, compared to a Spanish population of about 45 million, a clear indication of Spain's continuing importance as a nexus of travel, transportation, and exchange. This is a concise history of Spain, which we understand to mean a modern country that shares the Iberian Peninsula with Portugal. All of those geographical terms have a complex history, however. The Greeks called the whole peninsula “Iberia,” and the Romans called it “Hispania.” Between the end of the Roman Empire and the eighteenth century, “Spain” was more a term of convenience than a political reality, and other terms have come and gone to describe the land and its peoples. When the Muslims held Spain, they called the part they controlled “al-Andalus,” an area that varied in geographical extent as the area under Islamic control waxed and ultimately waned. Medieval Jews called the country “Sefarad.” Christian Spain in the Middle Ages contained a number of kingdoms and smaller entities. Castile and Aragon were the most prominent of those kingdoms and, by the end of the Middle Ages, controlled a large portion of the peninsula. The marriage of their rulers Isabel of Castile and Fernando of Aragon marked the origin of the modern definition of Spain.
INVITATION: An Elderly Friendly ICT-enabled Interactive Installation to Promote Social Participations

Many countries are facing significant challenges posed by aging populations, and many of these elderly people are increasingly socially isolated, raising the need to develop senior-friendly services and settings for community life. ICT-enabled technologies can be used to help the elderly maintain adequate degrees of social participation. This paper reports the design and production of an innovative recreation installation featuring elderly friendly technologies to enhance the social lives of elderly Chinese people. The contents are composed of modernized visualization elements of traditional Chinese painting designed to engage elderly Chinese people and promote interaction and participation.
Interventions to Reduce HIV Transmission in Homosexual Men

An understanding of any intervention to reduce the impact of an infectious disease always rests on three domains-an understanding of the biology of the infectious agent, an understanding of the epidemiology of the disease, and an understanding of the behavioral contribution to infection or disease progression. In the case of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the lack of a cure or vaccine at present means that in terms of biology there is little option to intervene except to reduce HIV disease progression. In the case of epidemiology, the misuse of the term “risk group” damaged early prevention efforts by focusing on identity rather than behavior. Nevertheless, epidemiology still makes a significant contribution to HIV prevention by highlighting the geographic and behavioral areas to target. However, it is the behavioral and contextual factors in all groups that best define the most appropriate areas for targeting preventive efforts and addressing interventions. There is an extensive literature on the behavioral and social factors associated with HIV transmission risk and we have chosen only a few of these to illustrate each domain of potential intervention.
Leaky-Wave Antennas Based on Capacitively Tuned Modulated Reactance Surfaces

The performance of a leaky-wave antenna that utilizes a sinusoidally modulated reactance surface is numerically investigated. In contrast to previously reported design methodologies, the sinusoidal reactance fluctuation is introduced in the structure by using lumped capacitors that load a frequency selective surface composed of simple uniformly distributed metallic strips. A key advantage of the approach presented herein is that it provides a pathway to realizing a reconfigurable surface impedance by allowing the lumped elements to be tunable. Using a 2-port network representation of the sub-unit-cell, the required capacitance-to-reactance map, necessary to determine the capacitor values that yield the desired sinusoidal reactance profile, can be rapidly extracted.
Hydrodynamic description of an unmagnetized plasma with multiple ion species. I. General formulation

A generalization of the Braginskii ion fluid description [S. I. Braginskii, Sov. Phys. - JETP 6, 358 (1958)] to the case of an unmagnetized collisional plasma with multiple ion species is presented. An asymptotic expansion in the ion Knudsen number is used to derive the individual ion species continuity, as well as the total ion mass density, momentum, and energy evolution equations accurate through the second order. Expressions for the individual ion species drift velocities with respect to the center of mass reference frame, as well as for the total ion heat flux and viscosity, which are required to close the fluid equations, are evaluated in terms of the first-order corrections to the lowest order Maxwellian ion velocity distribution functions. A variational formulation for evaluating such corrections and its relation to the plasma entropy are presented. Employing trial functions for the corrections, written in terms of expansions in generalized Laguerre polynomials, and maximizing the resulting functionals produce two systems of linear equations (for “vector” and “tensor” portions of the corrections) for the expansion coefficients. A general matrix formulation of the linear systems as well as expressions for the resulting transport fluxes are presented in forms convenient for numerical implementation. The general formulation is employed in Paper II [A. N. Simakov and K. Molvig, Phys. Plasmas 23, 032116 (2016)] to evaluate the individual ion drift velocities and the total ion heat flux and viscosity for specific cases of two and three ion species plasmas.
Inside versus outside: ion redistribution in nitric acid reacted sea spray aerosol particles as determined by single particle analysis.

Single particle analysis of individual sea spray aerosol particles shows that cations (Na+, K+, Mg2+, and Ca2+) within individual particles undergo a spatial redistribution after heterogeneous reaction with nitric acid, along with the development of a more concentrated layer of organic matter at the surface of the particle. These data suggest that specific ion and aerosol pH effects play an important role in aerosol particle structure in ways that have not been previously recognized.
ADRENAL GLAND DEHYDROGENASES AND CORTICOSTEROID PRODUCTION IN NORMAL AND ARTERIOSCLEROTIC FEMALE RATS.

SummaryThe adrenal glands of female breeder rats contain significantly less pentose phosphate cycle dehydrogenase activity than do the glands of virgin females. Consequently, less enzymatic potenti...
Teratogenic effect of trypan blue on the developing chick.

Summary1. Eggs of White Leghorn chickens were injected with saline solution of trypan blue into the yolk sac at 24 hours and into the subgerminal cavity at 24 and 36 hours. 2. Yolk sac injections caused a mortality of 74% and resulted in malformation of 52% of the survivors on the 10th day. 3. Subgerminal cavity injections caused 73% mortality at 24 hours and 45% mortality at 36 hours. Of the surviving embryos at 10 and 12 days, approximately 75% in each group were abnormal. 4. The abnormalities were essentially the same after both types of treatment and included, in order of incidence, rumplessness, hind limb defects, beak defects, eye defects, and gastroschisis. 5. It is concluded that, at least in the chick, trypan blue is capable of teratogenic action directly on the embryo and does not require as an intermediary site the maternal organism or a placenta.
Pressure gradient of unsteady flow of fluid in eccentric annulus with the inner cylinder reciprocating axially

In this paper,the Newtonian fluid model was used to describe rheological property of the produced fluid,and motion equation of unsteady flow of Newtonian fluid in eccentric annulus with the inner cylinder reciprocating axially was transformed by means of the method of undetermined coefficients.With the given flow rate,the expression of pressure gradient of the unsteady flow was established.The results show that instantaneous pressure gradient of the flow is obviously influenced by the eccentricity,the stroke and the frequency of the inner cylinder,and time-average pressure gradient decreases with the eccentricity,the stroke and the frequency of the inner cylinder increasing,respectively.
RESEARCH IN CONTROL OF THE INTELLIGENT WELL CONTROLS SYSTEM

The intelligent well control system is the machine-electro- fluid integration system using the computer to monitor and control real-time to pressure of the well mouth.The system adopted the computer electro- fluid proportional closed-loop control.The mathematical model of the system was established through the research.Putting to use the method of the PID and the expert control ,The computer autocontrol realized to the throttle well control system combining with the knowledge related to petroleum gas well control.Moving the throttle valve to the fluid the valve core displacement and the valve pressure drop carries on the quite accurate control.The maximum control pressure of the design was 105MPa.The error of the pressure control was less than 0.5MPa.Through the Talimu field test of this system it got consummation.the test indicated the system work steady,the pressure control precision was high.
Application of the SWAT model into the runoff simulation based on SUFI-2 Algorithm in Heihe river basin of Shaanxi Province

Parameter calibration and sensitivity analysis are very effective methods to improve the accuracy of the model,to determine the key parameters of the model and improve the model structure. Through the SWAT model,this paper simulated the Heihe River Basin,meanwhile carried out the sensitivity analysis for the model parameters based on the SUFI- 2 Algorithm. The results shown that:( 1) The main factor affecting the accuracy of the runoff simulation results in the Heihe River Basin was the parameter of the scs runoff curve.( 2) The model was calibrated and validated by using the measured runoff data of 2005 to 2011,the simulated determination coefficient( R2) and model efficiency coefficients( ENS) were total higher than 0.8.( 3) By comparing the SUFI-2 Algorithm with SCE- UA Algorithm,we can find out the SUFI- 2 Algorithm with higher accuracy and using short time.
A comparison of normal and nonnormal mixed models for number of lambs born in Norwegian sheep.

A comparison of linear (LM), threshold (TM), and Poisson (PM) mixed models for genetic analysis of number of lambs born (NLB) from 1-yr-old ewes was conducted using 37,718 and 18,633 records of two Norwegian breeds, Dala and Spaelsau, respectively. Models fitted included flock-year as a fixed effect and the random effect of sire. In the Poisson model, the residual variation was assumed to be Poisson, whereas it was normal in LM and multinomial in TM. The models were compared with respect to goodness of fit, predictive ability, and ranking of sires. Goodness of fit and predictive ability were assessed via the mean squared error and the correlation between observed NLB and fitted (predicted) values. Predictive ability was evaluated by estimating effects of sire and flock-year using a random half of the data and then using these estimates to predict records on the other half of the data. The heritability of NLB for Dala was estimated to be .20, .39, and .08 with LM, TM, and PM, respectively. For Spaelsau, corresponding estimates were .12, .26, and .00, respectively. In the PM, problems of low or zero estimates of sire variances were encountered. Hence, an alternative sire variance (PM-L) was approximated from the heritability estimated on the outward scale by REML. All models performed similarly with respect to goodness of fit, predictive ability, and ranking of sires. The TM was very slightly better for both breeds, but the PM and PM-L seemed clearly poorer than TM and LM. An approximate test rejected the hypothesis that the conditional distribution of NLB was Poisson.
The hemostatic mechanism after open-heart surgery. I. Studies on plasma coagulation factors and fibrinolysis in 512 patients after extracorporeal circulation.

Blood coagulation screening profiles were performed in 512 patients who underwent open-heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation. Severe coagulation disorders were found in 29 (5.6 per cent) patients. The most common abnormalities were low one-stage prothrombin time (PT) activities and impaired whole blood clot retractions. In the majority of patients the discrepancy between low PT's and normal or only slightly depressed factor II, V, VII, and X activities was explained by the presence of an inhibitor of the extrinsic system. Eight patients demonstrated the heparin rebound phenomenon but only I bled excessively. The pattern of severe hepatic dysfunction was found in 4 and severe depression of vitamin K-dependent factors due to oral anticoagulants in 2. Two had disseminated intravascular coagulation. Seventeen patients with normal coagulation screening profiles bled excessively postoperatively. Of these, 2 had moderate thrombocytopenia associated with a marked platelet functional abnormality. Revision of the wound in 13 revealed a surgical hemostatic defect and in 2 the cause of bleeding could not be determined.
Tissue expansion in reconstruction of acquired auricular defects.

Partial and total acquired ear deformities represent a challenge to the reconstructive surgeon because of the variety of possible defects. Tissue expansion is a reliable and innovative method to create more acceptable skin to cover the autogenous cartilaginous framework.
Psychotropic drug interactions in the patient with late-onset depression or psychosis. Part 2.

An elderly patient with mood disorder is usually treated with antidepressants and/or lithium, both of which are involved in several clinically important drug interactions. The literature cited illustrates the unique mechanisms of interactions for each of these two classes of drugs. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions reported with these medications are presented here. Heightened awareness by the clinician of various potentially dangerous drug combinations is greatly encouraged.
Aspects of the Chemical Energetics of Carbon–Aluminum Bonded Species

The current chapter discusses the chemical energetics of carbon-aluminum bonded species, both the “conventional” trivalent organoaluminum compounds such as monomeric Me3Al and its dimer and a variety of species of often surprising stoichiometry and structure. The study begins with the “simple” binary aluminum carbides, starting with AlC (neutral and ions). Incorporation of hydrogen leads to consideration of dimethylaluminum ionic compounds derived from the cationic [Me2Al]+ and anionic [Me2AlO]−. Methyldialuminum species with one Al–Al bond and at least one Al–C bond, ranging from [Al2Me]+ to [Al2Me7]−, are then examined. The experimental enthalpies of formation, vaporization and dimerization of trialkylalanes are tabulated. The most recent enthalpy of formation value for Et3Al is used to recommend slightly revised enthalpies of formation for trialkylalanes and the related alkylaluminum hydrides and halides. The interplay of aluminum and aromaticity is reviewed in the context of aluminum rich rings and clusters, relatively classical heterocycles such as aluminoles, and binding of neutral and cationic monoatomic Al with aromatics. The chapter closes with a discussion of aluminum halide complexes of benzene and cyclobutadiene derivatives. Keywords: aluminum carbide; trivalent organoaluminum compounds; monomers; dimers; neutral and related ions; dimethylaluminum species; methyldialuminum species; enthalpies of formation; enthalpies of vaporization; enthalpies of dimerization; alkylaluminum hydrides; alkylaluminum halides; aromaticity, rings and clusters; classical heterocycles; aluminum halide complexes
Robust penalty-weighted deblurring via kernel adaption using single image

Abstract Image blind deconvolution is well known as a challenging, ill-posed problem due to the uncertainty of the blur kernel and the noise condition. Based on our observations, blind deconvolution algorithms tend to generate disconnected and noisy blur kernels, which would yield a serious ringing effect in the restored image if the input image is noisy. Therefore, there is still room for further improvement, especially for noisy images captured under poor illumination conditions. In this paper, we propose a robust blind deconvolution algorithm by adopting a penalty-weighted anisotropic diffusion prior. On one hand, the anisotropic diffusion prior effectively eliminates the discontinuity in the blur kernel caused by the noisy input image during the process of kernel estimation. On the other hand, the weighted penalizer reduces the speckle noise of the blur kernel, thus improving the quality of the restored image. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified by both synthetic and real images with defocused or motion blur.
Implementation and analysis of practical algorithm for data security

In this paper, we present a complete implementation of the practical algorithm for data security (PADS) proposed by Albath et al., an end-to-end security scheme employing symmetric key encryption. The implementation takes full advantage of the modular design of the TinyOS environment. The simplicity of the algorithm allows for efficient implementation in hardware, a requirement for resource constrained devices. The protocol adds only four bytes of data per packet, on par with industry standards. Simulation and empirical results of the scheme are also provided. The analysis shows that the practical algorithm for data security is superior to standard security schemes.
Chain conformation-dependent thermal conductivity of amorphous polymer blends: the impact of inter- and intra-chain interactions

Polymers with high thermal conductivities are of great interest for both scientific research and industrial applications. In this study, model amorphous polymer blends are studied using molecular dynamics simulations. We have examined the effects of inter- and intra-chain interactions on the molecular-level conformations of the blends, which in turn impact their thermal conductivity. It is found that the thermal conductivity of polymer blends is strongly related to the molecular conformation, especially the spatial extent of the molecular chains indicated by their radius of gyration. Tuning the intra-chain van der Waals (vdW) interaction leads to different molecular structures of the minor component in the binary blend, but the thermal conductivity is not changed. However, increasing the inter-chain vdW interactions between the major and the minor components will increase the thermal conductivity of the blend, which is due to the conformation change in the major component that leads to enhanced thermal transport along the chain backbone through the intra-chain bonding interactions. The fundamental structure–property relationship from this study may provide useful guidance for designing and synthesizing polymer blends with desirable thermal conductivity.
Active Specific Immunotherapy of Malignant Diseases—Breaking Tolerance to Self-Antigens with Tumor Associated Antigen Mimics

Publisher Summary In recent years, there is a major emphasis on the development and application of active specific immunotherapy for the treatment of malignant diseases. This trend reflects realization of the limitations of chemotherapy in the treatment of malignant diseases and development of alternative therapeutic modalities with antitumor associated antigen (TAA), monoclonal antibodies (mAb), and with cytotoxic cells. TAA used as immunogens in patients with malignant diseases are self-antigens. Therefore, the major challenge of active specific immunotherapy of malignant disease is the development of strategies effective in breaking tolerance to a self-antigen i.e. to immunize hosts with antigens which are similar, but not identical to the original TAA. The chapter discusses the rationale and the advantages and disadvantages of the use of anti-id antibodies as immunogens in active specific immunotherapy of malignant diseases. The chapter reviews the results of clinical trials performed in patients with solid tumors by using anti-id antibodies, which bear the internal image of TAA expressed by solid tumors. Anti-id antibodies which mimic colorectal carcinoma associated antigens, melanoma associated antigens and ovarian carcinoma associated antigens have been tested in clinical trials. It also discusses the clinical significance of the cellular and humoral immunity elicited by anti-id antibodies. The approaches to overcome the limitations of active specific immunotherapy of malignant diseases with anti-id antibodies are described. The results provide convincing evidence that mouse and human anti-id antibodies, which bear the internal image of human TAA, are more effective than the corresponding TAA in breaking unresponsiveness to a self-antigen in patients with malignant diseases.
A Study of Power Supply Variation as a Source of Random Noise

In this paper, we consider the construction of True Random Numbers Generators (TRNGs) using variations in power supplies. We demonstrate that power supply line outputs do not have a constant voltage and the variations in voltage follow a normal distribution. These variations can be used to create truly random bits that demonstrates a high entropy rate based on the results obtained from the NIST Statistical Test Suite. In order to quantify the impact of variations on the input signal of a circuit, we analyze the impact of such variations using Monte-Carlo simulations as well as an actual implementation. Results were obtained for evaluating the accuracy and randomness of the data gathered from our proposed circuit. A detailed analysis of the effect of variations of different power supplies is also presented with observations on their usefulness as a TRNG. The key advantage of our power supply variation based TRNG is its simplicity of implementation.
Polysomnography results versus clinical factors to predict post-operative respiratory complications following pediatric adenotonsillectomy.

Abstract Objective Systematically review the published literature comparing the presence of clinical features (age, BMI, co-morbidities, etc.) versus polysomnogram (PSG) results in the prediction of major post-operative respiratory complications following pediatric adenotonsillectomy (T/A) for the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). Methods A systematic review of the PUBMED and EMBASE databases was performed to identify studies containing both clinical and PSG data predicting major post-operative respiratory complications following T/A. Inclusion criteria included English language and extractable data. Major respiratory complications were defined as events that required significant intervention (intubation, CPAP,etc.) and/or altered patient disposition. Random effect modeling was performed and study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria with a median sample size of 157 (range 26–1735) and published between 1992 and 2015. The most common study design was a case series. Most studies included multiple patients at high risk for respiratory complications (Syndromic, obese, etc.). The summary estimate of the major respiratory complication rate following T/A was only 5.8% (95% CI = 4.2–7.4%, p Conclusion The major respiratory complication rate following pediatric T/A for OSAS is low even amongst series of high risk patients. The majority of the published literature report that readily identified clinical factors predict the large majority of post-operative respiratory complications following T/A.
Granulome à cellules géantes: à propos d'une forme centrale et d'une forme périphérique

Giant cell granulomas and peripheral granulomas are 2 large entities of giant cell tumors. The giant cell granuloma in the bone is called the giant cell granuloma. It is common among young people (21%). Granulomas occurring at edentulous alveolar ridges or gums are called giant cells peripheral cells granuloma, occurring more frequently in adults. Their etiologies are multifac- torial; the diagnosis is made based on clinical, radiological parti- cularities, and confirmed by anatomo-histopathology. Treatment is usually surgical, but in some cases it is associated with drug therapy. Two cases are described in the present article, one central gra- nuloma occurring in a 5-year-old girl and the other, peripheral, occurring in a 62-year-old woman. The two cases treated surgi- cally did not recur, 6 years after surgery. Les granulomes centraux a cellules geantes et les granulomes peripheriques sont 2 grandes entites des tumeurs a cellules geantes. Le granulome a cellules geantes apparaissant dans l’os est appele granulome central a cellules geantes. Il est frequent chez les jeunes (21%). Les granulomes survenant au niveau des cretes alveolaires edentees ou gencives sont appe les granulomes peripheriques a cellules geantes, survenant plus frequemment chez les adultes. Leurs etiologies sont multifacto rielle, leur diagnostic est clinique et radiologique confirme par l'anatomopathologie. Le traitement est generalement chirurgical et etiologique mais dans certain cas associe a un traitement medicamenteux. Deux cas sont decrits dans cet article, l’un central survenant chez une jeune fille de 5 ans et l’autre, peripherique, survenant chez une femme de 62 ans. Les deux cas traites chirurgicale ment n’ont pas recidive, 6 ans apres chirurgie.
Clinical Frailty as an Outcome Predictor After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) score and frailty index are calculated routinely as part of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) assessment to determine procedure risk. We aim to evaluate the incremental improvement of STS risk score using frailty status in predicting short- and long-term outcome after TAVI. Study population included 544 consecutive TAVI patients who completed full frailty assessment and STS score calculation before the procedure. Frailty is defined by the presence of any 3 of the following 5 criteria: algorithm-defined grip strength and 15-foot walking tests, body mass index
ToxicDocs (www.ToxicDocs.org): from history buried in stacks of paper to open, searchable archives online.

As a result of a legal mechanism called discovery, the authors accumulated millions of internal corporate and trade association documents related to the introduction of new products and chemicals into workplaces and commerce. What did these private entities discuss among themselves and with their experts? The plethora of documents, both a blessing and a curse, opened new sources and interesting questions about corporate and regulatory histories. But they also posed an almost insurmountable challenge to historians. Thus emerged ToxicDocs, possible only with a technological innovation known as “Big Data.” That refers to the sheer volume of new digital data and to the computational power to analyze them. Users will be able to identify what firms knew (or did not know) about the dangers of toxic substances in their products—and when. The database opens many areas to inquiry including environmental studies, business history, government regulation, and public policy. ToxicDocs will remain a resource free and open to all, anywhere in the world.
An ecological momentary assessment evaluation of emotion regulation abnormalities in schizophrenia.

BackgroundPrior studies using self-report questionnaires and laboratory-based methods suggest that schizophrenia is characterized by abnormalities in emotion regulation (i.e. using strategies to increase or decrease the frequency, duration, or intensity of negative emotion). However, it is unclear whether these abnormalities reflect poor emotion regulation effort or adequate effort, but limited effectiveness. It is also unclear whether dysfunction results primarily from one of the three stages of the emotion regulation process: identification, selection, or implementation.MethodThe current study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to address these questions in the context of everyday activities. Participants included 28 outpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia (SZ) and 28 demographically matched healthy controls (CN) who completed 6 days of EMA reports of in-the-moment emotional experience, emotion regulation strategy use, and context.ResultsResults indicated that SZ demonstrated adequate emotion regulation effort, but poor effectiveness. Abnormalities were observed at each of the three stages of the emotion regulation process. At the identification stage, SZ initiated emotion regulation efforts at a lower threshold of negative emotion intensity. At the selection stage, SZ selected more strategies than CN and strategies attempted were less contextually appropriate. At the implementation stage, moderate to high levels of effort were ineffective at decreasing negative emotion.ConclusionsFindings suggest that although SZ attempt to control their emotions using various strategies, often applying more effort than CN, these efforts are unsuccessful; emotion regulation abnormalities may result from difficulties at the identification, selection, and implementation stages.
Stress-inoculation training: Principles and applications.

This cognitive-behavioral approach to stress management was applied to determine effective coping strategies for graduate social work program students, direct service social workers, and foster par...