cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the Results of Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty and Stenting with Medical Treatment for Claudicants Who Have Superficial Femoral Artery Occlusive Disease

The outcomes of medical management of peripheral vascular disease localized to the superficial femoral artery (SFA) were compared with those obtained by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with or without stenting in a review of selected studies. The natural history of localized SFA disease is favorable, with major amputation rates less than 10% and revascularization in only 18% of patients over a 10-year interval. Conservative treatment of claudicants shows increases (150%) in walking distance if the ankle brachial index (ABI) is over 0.6 and patients stop smoking. Analysis of 10 trials (882 patients) of PTA with or without stenting found that the overall primary patency rates at 12 months were 71.1% for PTA plus stenting and 58.3% for PTA alone. Technical success with PTA with or without stenting is over 90%, and early results at 6 months are superior to those with exercise. In three randomized controlled trials, however, the difference between PTA and medical treatment at 2 years, whether measured by walking distance or ABI, was not significant, nor was the quality of life. For long-term improvement in walking distance (> 1 year) in the claudicant, intervention is not superior to medical treatment and a monitored exercise program. Consideration should be given to including a nonintervention control group and 2-year outcomes in the evaluation of new SFA stents.
Personality Characteristic Adaptations: Multiracial Adolescents' Patterns of Racial Self-Identification Change

For multiracial adolescents, forming a sense of self and identity can be complicated, even at the level of classifying themselves in terms of racial group membership. Using a Race Self Complexity (Winston et al., 2004) theoretical framework, this study used an open-ended question to examine the racial self-identification fluidity of 66 adolescents during the 7th, 8th, and 11th grades. This sample included 22 Black/White1 multiracial adolescents, as well as a matched sample of 22 Black and 22 White adolescents. Seventy-three percent of the multiracial adolescents changed their racial self-identification in the form of two time change patterns with a number of consolidating and differentiating racial self-identification variations. There was no change for the monoracial adolescents. These results suggest that within the lives of multiracial adolescents, the process of racial self-identification may be a personality characteristic adaptation to the meaning of race in American society that may change across time, place, and role.
Developmental time course of acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors' expression in distinct cellular populations of the rat central nervous system.

Acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (aFGF and bFGF, respectively) are expressed in high levels in adult central nervous system (CNS). We report the time course of developmental appearance and distribution of these factors and of two FGF receptors, FGFR-1 and FGFR-2, in the CNS of rats ranging in age from embryonic day 16 to adult. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that sensory neurons in the midbrain were the first cells to contain detectable aFGF immunoreactivity at embryonic day 18. The next cell group to contain aFGF were motor neurons, which were found to be aFGF-positive at the day of birth. A number of other subcortical neuronal populations were observed to contain aFGF immunoreactivity after postnatal day 7. Adult levels and distribution patterns of aFGF were reached in all CNS areas by postnatal day 28. Basic FGF immunoreactivity was observed at postnatal day 0 in neurons in the CA2 subfield of hippocampus. Astrocytes contained detectable bFGF immunoreactivity, starting at postnatal day 7. Adult levels and patterns of distribution of bFGF were reached in all CNS areas by postnatal day 28. These immunohistochemical observations were confirmed by using bioassay and Western blot techniques. FGFR-1 and FGFR-2 mRNA were expressed in significant levels in all CNS areas at all time points analyzed. The observation that aFGF and bFGF appear in specific and distinct cellular populaitions at relatively late developmental times suggests that these FGFs may be involved in spe6ific mechanisms of CNS maturation, maintenance, and repair. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Health care expenditures of children and adults with spina bifida in a privately insured U.S. population

BACKGROUND: We provide new estimates of medical care utilization and expenditures over the lifespan for persons living with spina bifida in the United States. Updated estimates are essential for calculations of lifetime costs and for economic evaluations of prevention and management strategies for spina bifida. METHODS: We analyzed data from the 2001–2003 MarketScan database on paid medical and prescription drug claims of persons covered by employer-sponsored health insurance in the United States. Medical care utilization and expenditures during 2003 were analyzed for persons with a diagnosis of spina bifida recorded during 2001–2003 who had 12 months of coverage in a fee-for-service health plan. To calculate expenditures during infancy, a separate analysis was performed for those born during 2002 with claims and expenditures data during the first 12 months of life. We compared medical expenditures for persons with and without spina bifida by age groups. RESULTS: Average incremental medical expenditures comparing patients with spina bifida and those without were $41,460 per year at age 0, $14,070 at ages 1–17, $13,339 at ages 18–44, and $10,134 at ages 45–64. Children ages 1–17 years with spina bifida had average medical expenditures 13 times greater than children without spina bifida. Adults with spina bifida had average medical expenditures three to six times greater than adults without spina bifida in this privately insured population. CONCLUSIONS: Although per capita medical care utilization and expenditures are highest among children, adults constitute an important and growing share of the population living with spina bifida. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 79:552–558, 2007. 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. y
Homogeneous, asymptotically reliable serial production lines: theory and a case study

A model of homogeneous, asymptotically reliable serial production lines is introduced, analyzed, and applied to the problem of performance evaluation of a modular paint shop at an automobile assembly plant. The results obtained indicate that the homogeneous, asymptotically reliable production lines are, on the one hand, simpler for analysis than traditional models and, on the other, sufficiently rich to reflect the behavior of real manufacturing systems. The asymptotic theory developed gives analytical formulas for production rates as a function of system parameters and, therefore, can be used as an inexpensive tool for the analysis and design of manufacturing processes in mass production systems, eliminating, in some cases, the necessity of complex and costly computer simulations. >
Investigation of efficient spectral splitting for concentrator modules using luminescent materials

One approach to high efficiency photovoltaic (PV) involves the manipulation of the incident radiation spectrum. The idea is to present an optical spectrum to the PV that is well matched to the bandgap of the PV material. Solar thermophotovoltaics (TPV) is one example. Another is the use of optics to spatially separate components of the solar spectrum and direct each toward individual PV cells [1]. Wavelength selective mirrors based on dielectric stacks is one solution, but workable designs based on them do not permit a large number of spectral channels. This study investigates the potential of a new concept for dividing solar radiation into spectral channels using an optical design that (1) is simple, easily manufactured, and extensible to many spectral channels, and (2) does not achieve high geometric concentration. The concept is based on the approach of stacked luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) for dividing the solar spectrum using fluorophores that are tuned to different spectral bands [2]. However, whereas multicolor LSCs are perform two functions using the same optical component — spectral division and concentration — our concept uses luminescent materials for the sole purpose of spectral splitting. The particular design we investigate uses a cylindrical optical matrix that guides light by total internal reflection. Along the length of this light guide are sections that are doped with a luminescent material — in this case semiconductor nanocrystals (see figure). We find that the optical efficiencies can be quite high (QE > 90%, PE > 80%) compared to what one might intuitively expect. Furthermore, when we couple the output to a PV model based on experimental cell performance parameters we find that solar-to-electric conversion could exceed 30% using existing materials. Although this does not exceed what can be achieved by HCPV designs on multijunction epitaxially grown stacks, the concept is easily extensible to an arbitrarily large number of spectral channels. This advantage could be used as a route to many more junctions than other approaches permit. In addition to modeling results, preliminary analysis of engineering challenges is also presented (heat rejection, sensitivity to fluorescence quantum yield, etc).
Oral Health Disparities and Unmet Dental Needs among Preschool Children in Chelsea, MA: Exploring Mechanisms, Defining Solutions

Background: Significant disparities exist in children’s receipt of preventive dental care (PDC) in the United States. Many of the children at greatest risk of dental disease do not receive timely PDC; when they do receive dental care, it is often more for relief of dental pain. Chelsea is a low-income, diverse Massachusetts community with high rates of untreated childhood caries. There are various dental resources available in Chelsea, yet many children do not access dental care at levels equivalent to their needs. Objective: Using Chelsea as a case-study, to explore factors contributing to forgone PDC (including the age 1 dental visit) in an in-depth way. Methods: We used a qualitative study design that included semi-structured interviews with parents of preschool children residing in Chelsea, and Chelsea-based providers including pediatricians, dentists, a dental hygienist and early childhood care providers. We examined: a) parents’ dental attitudes and oral health cultural beliefs; b) parents’ and providers’ perspectives on facilitators and barriers to PDC, reasons for unmet needs, and proposed solutions to address the problem. We recorded, transcribed and independently coded all interviews. Using rigorous, iterative qualitative data analyses procedures, we identified emergent themes. Results: Factors perceived to facilitate receipt of PDC included Head-Start oral health policies, strong pediatric primary care/dental linkages, community outreach and advertising, and parents’ own oral health experiences. Most parents and providers perceived there to be an adequate number of accessible dental services and resources in Chelsea, including for Medicaid enrollees. However, several barriers impeded children from receiving timely PDC, the most frequently cited being insurance related problems for children and adults. Other barriers included limited dental services for children <2 years, perceived poor quality of some dental practices, lack of emphasis on preventionbased dental care, poor care-coordination, and insufficient culturally-appropriate care. Important family-level barriers included parental oral health literacy, cultural factors, limited English proficiency and competing priorities. Several solutions were proposed to address identified barriers. Conclusion: Even in a community with a considerable number of dental resources, various factors may preclude access to these services by preschool-aged children. Opportunities exist to address modifiable factors through strategic oral health policies, community outreach and improved care coordination between physicians, dentists and early childhood care providers.
Factors Determining the Preservation of Protein Status during Dietary Protein Deprivation

Changes in protein content and function were investigated in male Sprague-Dawley Crl:Cd rats that were either fasted, consumed a diet con taining 1.5 g fat/100 g initial body weight per day or received ad libitum an 85% carbohydrate, minimal nitrogen diet. Fasted rats became moribund after 9-10 days and were both hypoglycA©mie and hypoketonemic. In contrast, rats fed the fat-only and high carbohydrate, minimal nitrogen diets survived the 28-day study period. Although rats consuming the high carbohydrate, minimal nitrogen diet lost less body weight and nitrogen than either fasted animals or rats receiving the fat-only diet, they also had a loss of delayed hyper- sensitivity recall to tuberculin antigen and a 55% decrease in plasma essential amino acid concentrations. Rats fed the fat-only diet maintained delayed hy- persensitivity recall and near normal concentrations of plasma essential amino acids despite a greater loss of body nitrogen than was observed in terminally fasted animals. Plasma albumin concentrations and total liver protein content showed comparable decreases in rats consuming the two incomplete diets. We concluded that nonprotein calories prolong survival in the rat and fat or pre dominantly glucose calories are sufficient at preventing mortality. However, the source or quantity of nonprotein calories consumed during periods of protein deprivation can markedly alter individual tissue protein status and func tion. J. Nutr. Ill: 1287-1296, 1981.
Observational Process–Outcome Associations for Real-World Ambulatory Heart Failure Care Moving Toward Clarity, or Clouding the View?

“The best estimate of treatment effect to be expected from a patient treated outside the trial is still the overall estimate.” —Robert Califf and David DeMets1 A number of ambulatory heart failure therapies have been shown to be efficacious when studied in randomized controlled trials. These include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), β-blockers (BB), aldosterone antagonists (AA), implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), anticoagulation, and education. On the basis of these data, clinical practice guidelines recommend these therapies in appropriately selected patients.1a,–,3 For those well supported recommendations for which there is also sufficient simplicity in use and transparency of contraindications, process performance metrics have been adopted as measures of quality. Article see p 1601 However, treatment effects seen in trials are derived from patient populations that are generally much younger, with less comorbidity than is encountered in routine clinical care.4,5 Trials are also conducted under idealized circumstances under closer monitoring than often occurs after widespread uptake of therapies as standard of care. This potential difference between idealized efficacy and real-world effectiveness has encouraged an increasing number of observational studies of evidence-based therapies in the general patient population. In this issue of Circulation , Fonarow and colleagues6 report the association between performance on 7 current and emerging outpatient heart failure process-of-care measures (ACE/ARB, BB, AA, CRT, and ICD for patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, anticoagulation for patients with atrial fibrillation, and heart failure education) and subsequent clinical outcomes. This analysis is made possible by the Registry to Improve the Use of Evidence-Based Heart Failure Therapies in the Outpatient Setting (IMPROVE HF), which provides one of the few comprehensive looks at outpatient heart failure care in the United States. For this reason, IMPROVE HF is …
Network Theory, Filters, and Equalizers

Part III is concerned with ladder and lattice filters, attenuation and phase equalizers, and dividing networks. The fundamental equations and design procedures involved in both ladder and lattice filters are reviewed. Tables and charts are given for aiding in the design of M-derived filters having terminal half sections. It is possible in this way, without making calculations other than placing numbers in simple formulas, to design filters having characteristics that will meet most requirements. Consideration is given to filters terminated with other than half sections, particularly MM′ and fraction terminations. A chart is given for the design of MM′ terminating sections, which give unusually good impedance characteristics at the terminals. Fractional terminations, which are used when filters are to be placed in series or in parallel, are considered with particular reference to complementary filters. The factors controlling the cutoff frequencies, attenuation and phase characteristics, and impedance characteristics of lattice filters are reviewed. The attenuation and phase behavior of such filters can be given almost any desired characteristic by suitably locating an adequate number of critical frequencies (i.e., zeros and poles of impedance) in the pass bands, while the behavior of the image impedances can be similarly controlled by the location and number of the critical frequencies in the attenuating bands. Particular consideration is given to the requirements that the critical frequencies in the pass band must satisfy in order to obtain a substantially linear phase-shift characteristic in the pass band. The relationship between ladder and lattice filters is reviewed.
Tomorrow's Psychiatric Nurses: Where Are We Today in Providing Students' Clinical Experiences?

BACKGROUND: The increased enrollment of students, scarcity of faculty, and reduction in psychiatric beds challenge traditional ways of providing clinical psychiatric nursing experience to undergraduates.OBJECTIVE:The purpose of the study was to describe the current clinical psychiatric nursing experiences of undergraduates throughout the country.STUDY DESIGN:An online survey was dispersed to undergraduate nurse educators to describe clinical experiences in psychiatric mental health nursing. The survey included demographic questions, questions about students' clinical experiences, and open-ended questions regarding choices of and obstacles to a successful clinical experience.RESULTS:The 160 respondents reported concerns such as availability and quality of clinical sites, poor nursing role models, number of clinical hours, and lack of valuing their expertise. The results raise questions about the minimum number of hours needed to achieve competencies in psychiatric nursing, what simulations or laboratory ex...
Compact Modeling of LDMOS Transistors for Extreme Environment Analog Circuit Design

The cryogenic characterization (93 K/-180°C to 300 K/27°C) and compact modeling of a high-voltage (HV) laterally diffused MOS (LDMOS) transistor that exhibits carrier freeze-out are presented in this paper. Unlike low-voltage MOS devices, it was observed that HVMOS structures experience freeze-out effects at much higher temperatures, resulting in an output current roll-off beyond a transition temperature. Standard compact models generally do not guarantee performance below 218 K (-55°C), and freeze-out effects are certainly not incorporated in them. This causes the models to fail to track at lower temperatures, and designers relying on these models would be misled. In this paper, the temperature-scaling equations of the MOS Model 20 LDMOS model are modified to reflect the device operation down to 93 K, which is sufficient for designing sensor interface circuitry for lunar applications. The model is then validated against an LDMOS device designed by engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, using the IBM SiGe 5AM process. A modified parameter extraction procedure has also been developed. This generalized approach is compact model friendly and can also be implemented for other standard models. Analog circuits designed with this new model are currently being tested at the International Space Station.
The disposition and excretion of ethanol by the horse

The disposition and excretion of ethanol in horses has been studied after oral administration. Ethanol was rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The highest concentration of ethanol in blood and in parotid saliva occurred within 1 h of administration. The concentrations were dose dependent. The mean rate of disappearance of ethanol from blood was 6.3 mg/100 ml/h. The ratio of the concentration of ethanol in parotid saliva to that in venous blood was 1.16:1. The mean rate of elimination was 51 mg/kg body weight/h. The proportion of ethanol excreted in the urine was 0.7% of the dose.
Intentional Content and Non- Combatant Immunity: When Has One Intentionally Killed a Non-Combatant?

Just war theory forbids intentionally killing civilians but allows killing them as side-effects. The question thus arises whether when a combatant believes the person he is killing is a civil- ian, or believes the person might be a civilian, the combatant is intentionally killing a civilian. This article examines Jeff McMahan’s and Adil Haque’s answers to these questions, and argues that their analysis fails to engage fully with the underlying question of representational con- tent. The article sets forth a theory of the boundaries of intentions, arguing that the critical inquiry is what other senses the actor ascribes to his intentional object. For results – such as bombing a factory that will kill children in a nearby school, this means those results that are either conceptually or empirically entailed in a way that the actor cannot imagine one result occurring without the other. For circumstances – such as killing this person whom the agent believes to be a civilian, this approach yields that known circumstances fall into the content of the intention because the agent understands he is acting upon this person or this thing. The article then examines Gideon Yaffe’s approach whereby he claims that one may intend cir- cumstances or results to which one ascribes a probability, when the circumstance/result is particularly salient to the actor. This paper rejects Yaffe’s view that these recklessness cases may be instances of intention. It then claims that when the agent believes a circumstance may exist, even to a high probability, because he is reserving judgment as to whether that descrip- tion applies to his intentional object, that description is not another meaning that he ascribes to his intentional object and is therefore not intended.
Complications of Laparoscopic and Robotic Reconstructive Procedures for Urinary Incontinence and Pelvic Organ Prolapse

Recognition of the impact of pelvic floor disorders in women has increased significantly in recent years. A contemporary study evaluating the prevalence of pelvic floor disorders including urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in US women demonstrated that 23.7% of women complain of at least one pelvic floor disorder [1].
Wearable Computing

To give you a preview of IEEE Pervasive Computing's October-December special issue on wearable computing, this installment of Notes from the Community focuses on submissions about wearables. The topics range from the origins of wearable computing to unusual examples of wearables, and from emerging uses to wearables in popular culture.
Variable Optical Attenuator for Large Scale Integration: Design and Optimization

A thermo-optic variable optical attenuator design, based on controllable polymer waveguide bend radiation, is presented. Initial experiments demonstrated an attenuation range >30dB with an applied power of 250mW and average insertion losses of 1.5dB.
Instabilities and Point Defects at Step-Free Si(001) and (111) Terraces During High Temperature Annealing

In this paper we describe observations on the stability of extremely large Si(001) and (111) terraces that are formed by a technique described previously. Following annealing at high temperature and quenching, a series of concentric pits of monoatomic depth are observed with spacing between successive pits of the order of several microns; pits do not form on (111) until the terraces get extremely large. The occurrence of small islands or small pits on the terraces of quenched samples gives information on the majority point defect at the annealing temperature. On (001) samples that are slowly cooled from the annealing temperature, it is observed that pairs of atomic steps have formed on the large terrace; we believe that these result from the tendency of the surface to minimize the strain energy associated with the (2 × 1) reconstruction.
Polystyrene Nanoparticles Alter the Stability of Model Cell Membranes

Due to their small size, nanoparticles have the ability to penetrate pulmonary and vascular tissue, and as a result, are classified as potential human carcinogens. On the other hand, nanoparticle insertion into targeted cells can play a key role in drug delivery and gene therapy applications, prompting a need to more thoroughly characterize nanoparticle/membrane interactions. Because nanoparticle interactions with biological membranes exist, but have not been fully characterized, the stability of model cell membranes was observed in the presence of particles. Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) composed of canonical ternary mixture of lipids of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC)/1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC)/cholesterol (1:1:1) with 0.8% mol fluorescent lipid were made in the presence of functionalized polystyrene nanoparticles at varying concentrations. A change in the vesicle size distribution in the presence of NP indicates that inclusion of particles affects the stability of bilayer curvature. Aminated polystyrene particles were shown to limit the size of stable GUVs even at low particle concentrations of 0.025 wt%. Association of the positively charged particles at the lipid/water interface resulted in extruded lipid tubules from the vesicle surface. Carboxylated particles produced a less dramatic effect. This may be attributed to the greater charge density of the carboxylated particles, compared to those with amine functionalization, such that a higher inter-particle repulsion could prevent nanoparticle arrangement on the surface. In both cases, high nanoparticle concentration completely prevented the formation of GUVs, indicating a concentration dependent effect. The effect of the nanoparticles on the membrane material properties of the vesicles will also be discussed.
Exaggerated sympathoexcitatory reflexes develop with changes in the rostral ventrolateral medulla in obese Zucker rats

Obesity leads to altered autonomic reflexes that reduce stability of mean arterial pressure (MAP). Sympathoinhibitory reflexes such as baroreflexes are impaired, but reflexes that raise MAP appear to be augmented. In obese Zucker rats (OZR) sciatic nerve stimulation evokes larger increases in MAP by unknown mechanisms. We sought to determine the autonomic underpinnings of this enhanced somatic pressor reflex and whether other sympathoexcitatory reflexes are augmented. We also determined whether their final common pathway, glutamatergic activation of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), was enhanced in male OZR compared with lean Zucker rats (LZR). Sciatic nerve stimulation or activation of the nasopharyngeal reflex evoked larger rises in splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) (79% and 45% larger in OZR, respectively; P < 0.05) and MAP in urethane-anesthetized, ventilated, paralyzed adult OZR compared with LZR. After elimination of baroreflex feedback by pharmacological prevention of changes in MAP and heart rate, these two sympathoexcitatory reflexes were still exaggerated in OZR (167% and 69% larger, respectively, P < 0.05). In adult OZR microinjections of glutamate, AMPA, or NMDA into the RVLM produced larger rises in SNA (∼61% larger in OZR, P < 0.05 for each drug) and MAP, but stimulation of axonal fibers in the upper thoracic spinal cord yielded equivalent responses in OZR and LZR. In juvenile OZR and LZR, sympathoexcitatory reflexes and physiological responses to RVLM activation were comparable. These data suggest that the ability of glutamate to activate the RVLM becomes enhanced in adult OZR and may contribute to the development of exaggerated sympathoexcitatory responses independent of impaired baroreflexes.
Selection and Evaluation of Knowledge Bases for Teacher Education Programs

Accreditation is referred to in the previous chapter as a “true form” of evaluation in teacher education because it requires an institution to address a set of minimum standards set by the profession. The first category of the revised National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Accreditation (NC ATE) standards is “Knowledge Bases for Professional Education.” The first Standard, I. A., states: the unit ensures that its professional education programs are based on essential knowledge, established and current research findings, and sound professional practice. Each program in the unit reflects a systematic design with an explicitly stated philosophy and objectives. Coherence exists between (1) courses and experiences, and (2) purposes and outcomes (NCATE, 1987).
Introduction to Glycolysis (The Embden-Meyerhoff Pathway (EMP))

Abstract: Glycolysis is the major route of catabolism for glucose, fructose, and galactose. Anaerobic glycolysis proceeds at a fast pace in fast growing cancer cells, thus resulting in lactic acid production. Anaerobic glycolysis is nearly universal among all cell types, although the end products may vary. Anaerobic glycolysis is used for “quick energy” in type IIB skeletal muscle fibers. The liver, kidneys, brain, and heart normally account for about 7% of the body mass, yet receive almost 70% of the cardiac output at rest. These organs normally consume about 58% of the O2 utilized in the resting state. The cornea and lens rely heavily on anaerobic glycolysis. Mature red blood cells rely exclusively on anaerobic glycolysis.
Contribution Limits and Transparency in a Campaign Finance Experiment

We experimentally compare electoral outcomes when donor contribution limits are varied. The effect of contribution limits is studied under three levels of transparency: one where donors' preferences and donations are unobserved by the candidate and public; one where they are observed by the candidate but not the public; and one where they are observed by all. We find that a combination of stricter contribution limits and full transparency is most successful at limiting donors' influence on policy choice. We also find that stricter contribution limits improve social welfare in some treatments. We further find that the partial and no anonymity settings lead to “centrist bias,” whereby implemented policies, on average, are more centrist than the candidate's preferences in most treatments.
High-Frequency Impedance Measurements for Microsecond State Detection

This work investigates the use of the electromechanical impedance (EMI) method at high frequencies for application in state detection in highly dynamic systems; a key aspect of which is the excitation and measurement of PZT impedance at higher frequency bands than those typically used in structural health monitoring, in ranges greater than 1 MHz. The use of impedance analyzers, which are typically used in EMI measurements, are not considered for this work due to their slow measurement speeds, large size, heavy weight, and high cost. Instead, an alternative impedance measurement approach from the literature will be leveraged. The alternative method, which allows impedance measurements to be made using standard data acquisition devices, was originally developed to present a low-cost solution to impedance measurement. The focus of this work, however, is the adaptation of the alternative measurement approach to allow accurate impedance measurements at frequency ranges in excess of 1 MHz. The accuracy of the alternative system’s impedance measurements will be verified by comparison with theoretical models. First, the impedance response of a simple RLC circuit with well understood dynamics will be experimentally tested and then the resulting measurements will be compared to analytical solutions of the circuit impedance to validate the measurement system. This alternative measurement system is then used to perform high frequency impedance measurements on a piezoelectric wafer embedded in a structure in order to detect structural damage. The long-term goal of this research is the deployment of an impedance measurement system using high-speed real-time hardware, such as field-programmable gate array technology which has significantly higher sampling rates and calculation speeds compared to traditional data acquisition systems, to enable microsecond state detection of structures operating in highly dynamic environments using the EMI method. Microsecond state detection has a number of potential applications, such as in aerospace technology, the mining industry, and civil architecture.
‘Moving the universe’: the Atwood Sphere and the Adler Planetarium in Chicago

In January 1997, the Adler Planetarium in Chicago added a new attraction to its offerings. It was an especial addition: not just another exhibition or a new sky show, but a relatively large, full-f...
The Underutilization of Rehabilitation to Treat Physical Impairments in Breast Cancer Survivors

Breast cancer survivors can experience multiple neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, pain, and functional disorders as a result of their cancer and its treatment. Common disorders include shoulder dysfunction, postmastectomy syndrome, chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy, axillary cording, lymphedema, and a host of others. Cancer rehabilitation is a process that helps breast cancer and other survivors to obtain and maintain the highest possible physical, social, psychological, and vocational functioning within the limits created by cancer and its treatments. There are good data supporting the safety and efficacy of cancer rehabilitation in the treatment of many breast cancer-related impairments, including shoulder dysfunction and lymphedema, among others. Despite the goals and efficacy of cancer rehabilitation, there is a marked underuse of services. The reasons for this phenomenon are many, but broadly result from a lack of knowledge about cancer rehabilitation on the part of patients and referring clinicians, limited access to services, and suboptimal adherence. This article explores underutilization of cancer rehabilitation in breast cancer survivors and provides an opportunity to consider ways to improve this gap in care.
Coda: Making Geography Relevant

If the National Task Force on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement (2012) is correct that there is a crisis of civic engagement in higher education, geography's “out in the world” approach and ...
How guiding coalitions promote positive culture change in hospitals: a longitudinal mixed methods interventional study

Background Quality collaboratives are widely endorsed as a potentially effective method for translating and spreading best practices for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) care. Nevertheless, hospital success in improving performance through participation in collaboratives varies markedly. We sought to understand what distinguished hospitals that succeeded in shifting culture and reducing 30-day risk-standardised mortality rate (RSMR) after AMI through their participation in the Leadership Saves Lives (LSL) collaborative. Procedures We conducted a longitudinal, mixed methods intervention study of 10 hospitals over a 2-year period; data included surveys of 223 individuals (response rates 83%–94% depending on wave) and 393 in-depth interviews with clinical and management staff most engaged with the LSL intervention in the 10 hospitals. We measured change in culture and RSMR, and key aspects of working related to team membership, turnover, level of participation and approaches to conflict management. Main findings The six hospitals that experienced substantial culture change and greater reductions in RSMR demonstrated distinctions in: (1) effective inclusion of staff from different disciplines and levels in the organisational hierarchy in the team guiding improvement efforts (referred to as the ‘guiding coalition’ in each hospital); (2) authentic participation in the work of the guiding coalition; and (3) distinct patterns of managing conflict. Guiding coalition size and turnover were not associated with success (p values>0.05). In the six hospitals that experienced substantial positive culture change, staff indicated that the LSL learnings were already being applied to other improvement efforts. Principal conclusions Hospitals that were most successful in a national quality collaborative to shift hospital culture and reduce RSMR showed distinct patterns in membership diversity, authentic participation and capacity for conflict management.
Renovating the CRA

Congress enacted the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) in 1977 to prod commercial banks to lend to borrowers in low-income inner city neighborhoods. Such prodding appears unnecessary today because of the competition for loans in virtually all markets. Political realities probably preclude eliminating the CRA, but it could undergo market-based reform that would make such lending more efficient. The author proposes implementing a "lending voucher" system wherein banks would have to acquire a certain amount of CRA vouchers each year, which would represent a certain amount of money lent to low-income neighborhoods. However, the banks would not need to make the loans directly; the vouchers could be purchased from banks that specialize in such lending.
H2 Kinematics in Planetary Nebulae

The evolution of planetary nebulae is controlled largely by hardening of the radiation field from the central star and by hydrodynamic interactions between the “fast wind” and the slower red giant wind. These processes also result in the heating and dissociation of H2 and in the production of H2 vibration-rotation lines in the near-infrared. Both mechanisms tend to produce high gas temperatures and, at high densities, a thermal population of states. Kinematic studies provide vital information on the geometry and expansion of the nebulae and offer a discriminant between shocked and photodissociated regions.
Enzymatic conjugation of erythrocyte glutathione with 1-chloro-2,4- dinitrobenzene: the fate of glutathione conjugate in erythrocytes and the effect of glutathione depletion on hemoglobin

Erythrocyte glutathione (GSH) can be rapidly depleted by incubating the cells with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), which forms 2,4-dinitrophenyl-S-glutathione with GSH through the reaction catalyzed by glutathione S-transferase. GSH-CDNB conjugate thus formed stays undegraded within the erythrocytes. This indicates that in the erythrocytes, mercapturic acid pathway is inoperative. Depletion of GSH in the intact erythrocytes by CDNB results in rapid oxidation of large amounts of hemoglobin to methemoglobin. When glutathione S-transferase-free hemolysate of erythrocytes is incubated with CDNB, the depletion of GSH as well as methemoglobin formation are minimal. Glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities of the erythrocytes are not affected by CDNB. These studies provide a specific enzymatic method for rapid removal of erythrocyte GSH and also indicate that GSH is vital in maintaining a reduced environment within the erythrocytes.
Extinction in the Fossil Record

Extinction measures from the fossil record provide an essential tool to understand the large-scale changes of diversity over time, the effect of major extinctions on diversity, and the global-scale mechanisms that may have caused extinctions. A major impediment to measuring extinction is the ability to detect geological ranges of species and to be assured that an absence is an extinction and not an artifact of sampling. Paleontological research has focused on the level of genus and a large paleontological database has been established that allows accounting for sampling intensity, preservation problems, biogeographic coverage, and geological evidence for environmental change. Focus has been on mass extinctions, which are believed to be caused by major environmental changes such as bolide impact, major volcanic episodes, or other factors that have changed global climate or ocean chemistry.
Psychosocial and Palliative Care

This chapter will address the psychosocial aspects of intensive care, specifically for immunocompromised patients and their caregivers. It will highlight the emotional needs of patients and families in the PICU and consider how psychological interventions and pediatric palliative care (PPC) aim to bolster adaptive adjustment and coping and maximize well-being. It is important to recognize the inherent diversity of the population of immunocompromised patients receiving critical care. There is a wide range in terms of their medical diagnoses and the duration and intensity of medical treatments experienced and, most fundamentally, in terms of the individual differences that exist across patients and their family systems. As such, the experience of admission to an intensive care unit for this population should be considered within the larger context of a patient and family’s global experience of treatment.
Ethnic identity and substance use in multiracial youth: the moderating role of support networks.

Background: Substance use in multiracial adolescents exceeds rates identified in the general population. Despite this fact, there is limited research examining risk and protective factors for multiracial substance use. Objectives: The current study examined the moderating effect of social support on the relationship between ethnic identity and substance use in a sample of multiracial adolescent youth. Methods: Multiracial youth (N = 523) completed a survey that asked questions related to their ethnic identity, perceived social support, and substance use. A series of path analyses were conducted to test the hypothesized relationships between ethnic identity, social support, and substance use. Results: Analyses indicated that ethnic affirmation was negatively related to frequency of, but not quantity of substance use. Teacher support was negatively related to both frequency and quantity of substance use, while parent support was only related to frequency. Further, teacher and parent support emerged as moderators of ethnic affirmation and frequency and quantity of substance use respectively. Conclusions/Importance: Our findings add to the current understandings of the relationship between ethnic identity, social support, ethnic identity, and substance use among the understudied multiracial adolescent population.
Reflections on the Impact of Race and Ethnicity on Juvenile Court Outcomes and Efforts to Enact Change

There are persistent racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system. The current paper reviews how and whether public and private strategies have effectively reduced such disparities and bias within the juvenile justice system. The review initially provides a description of the overrepresentation and continuous presence of racial and ethnic minority youth in the juvenile justice system. Next, two traditional explanations for these juvenile justice disparities are discussed (i.e., differential offending perspective, selection bias perspective). The current paper then focuses on reviewing three primary initiatives aimed at reducing racial/ethnic disparities in juvenile justice settings, discussing barriers and successes to each practice. These include the Federal Disproportionate Minority Contact mandate of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative model, and the Models for Change initiative. Overall, our review indicated that efforts to reduce racial and ethnic minority youth overrepresentation and selection bias are often ineffective, though some practices do have mixed support. Finally, our review concludes with an integrated discussion of how the politico-legal environment can impact both racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system and the ability to enact change.
Cochlear basal turn patency in unrecognized perilymph gushers.

Abstract Objectives Perilymph gusher (PLG), an uncommon complication of otologic surgery, has been attributed to communication between the cochlea and the internal auditory canal (IAC). Subtle osseous defects may be missed on routine review of computed tomography (CT). This study aimed to quantify cochlear basal turn patency not seen on axial CT in patients with PLG and compare those against patients without intraoperative PLG. Methods Ears that underwent cochlear implantation or stapedotomy with preoperative helical CT that was interpreted as “normal” at a tertiary referral center. An otologist and a radiologist independently and in a blinded fashion measured the dimensions of cochlear basal turn patency on CT images in oblique plane and parasagittal planes along the interface of the cochlea and IAC fundus. Results Sixty-one ears were reviewed, including 3 with surgically confirmed PLGs and 12 with apparent dehiscence without a PLG. Mean defect width with PLG was 0.83 mm (range 0.75–0.9 mm) and without PLG was 0.43 mm (range 0.3–0.65 mm, p = 0.011). A greater proportion of PLGs occurred in ears with defects (3 of 15) than in ears without (0 of 46, p = 0.013). Using a cutoff of 0.75 mm, a greater proportion of PLGs occurred with defect width >0.75 mm (3 of 3) than in defects Conclusions CT dehiscence between the IAC and cochlear basal turn, particularly with a width > 0.75 mm, should be considered a risk for PLG with stapedotomy or cochlear implantation.
Ion Mobility Spectrometry and Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Estradiol Glucuronide Isomers

Estradiol is an estrogenic steroid that can undergo glucuronidation at two different sites, which results in two estradiol glucuronide regioisomers. These isomers can be produced by different enzymes and can have different biological activities before being eliminated from the body. Although there have been previous methods that can distinguish the two isomers, these methods often have long acquisition times or high cost per analysis. In this study, traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry (TWIMS) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) was employed to separate estradiol glucuronides using alkali metal adduction in positive ion mode, where the sodiated dimer adduct provided adequate separation both in single-component standards and in two-component mixtures. Additionally, in negative ion mode, tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was used to quantitatively determine the relative composition of the two isomers. This was possible due to differences in the energetic requirements for loss of the glucuronic acid, which was characterized by energy-resolved collision-induced dissociation (CID). This work demonstrated that the intensity of the glucuronic acid neutral loss product as compared with the intensity of the intact precursor ion can be used to determine the percentage of each isomer present in a mixture. Overall, TWIMS successfully separated estradiol glucuronide isomers in positive ion mode and MS/MS via CID enables relative quantitation of each isomer in negative ion mode.
Racial taxation: schools, segregation, and taxpayer citizenship, 1869-1973,

School finance and taxation has received limited attention in the historiography of American education. Due to the complexity and constant change in the tax code, which is entangled with various le...