cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prescribing Technology to Increase Uptake of Depression Treatment in Primary Care: A Pre-implementation Focus Group Study of SOVA (Supporting Our Valued Adolescents)

Supporting Our Valued Adolescents (SOVA) is a web-based technology intervention designed to increase depression and anxiety treatment uptake by adolescents in the context of an anonymous peer community with an accompanying website for parents. With a goal of informing the design of a hybrid effectiveness-implementation randomized controlled trial, we conducted a pre-implementation study in two primary care practices to guide implementation strategy development. We conducted focus groups with primary care providers (PCPs) at three different timepoints with PCPs (14 total) from two community practices. A baseline survey was administered using Evidence-Based Practice Attitude Scale (EBPAS) and Physician Belief Scale (PBS). Subsequently, during each focus group, PCPs listened to a relevant presentation after which a facilitated discussion was audio recorded and transcribed. After timepoint 1, a codebook based on Consolidated Framework for Intervention Research (CFIR) and qualitative description were used to summarize findings and inform implementation strategies that were then adapted based on PCP feedback from timepoint 2. PCPs were provided with resources to implement SOVA over 5 months and then a third focus group was conducted to gather their feedback. Based on EBPAS and PBS, PCPs are willing to try new evidence-based practices and have positive feelings about taking care of psychosocial problems with some concerns about increased burden. During focus groups, PCPs expressed SOVA has a relative advantage and intuitive appeal, especially due to its potential to overcome stigma and reach adolescents and parents who may not want to talk about mental health concerns with their PCP. PCPs informed various implementation strategies (e.g., advertising to reach a wider audience than the target population; physical patient reminders). During timepoint 3, however, they shared they had a difficult time utilizing these despite their intention. PCPs requested use of champions and others to nudge them and priming of families with advertising, so that the PCP would not be required to initiate recommendation of the intervention, but only offer their strong endorsement when prompted. The process of conducting a pre-implementation study in primary care settings may assist with piloting potential implementation strategies and understanding barriers to their use. Trial registration NCT03318666.
Improving Efficiency and Meeting Expectations Without Compromising Care on Trauma Surgical Rounds.

Abstract Background Care teams on complex surgical services face a growing list of competing expectations. Approaches to quality improvement must use minimal resources and address both system and human requirements to meet expectations without compromising care. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that iterative prototyping, combined with a rigorous quantitative evaluation approach, can effectively improve system and stakeholder efficiency on daily trauma surgical rounds at an academic safety-net hospital and level 1 trauma center. Materials and methods This study occurred between May 2017 and October 2017 at the Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center. Care team members rounding on the trauma service included attending trauma surgeons, fellows, residents, interns, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, and medical students. We used human-centered design to develop and test solutions to improve the surgical rounding process. Each prototype was evaluated using qualitative design research methods, which informed the next iteration. Time observations of rounding activities were adopted from the Lean methodology and tracked before and after implementation. Intern work hours, on-time operative starts, and discharge order times were also tracked before and after implementation. Results Four prototypes were designed and iteratively implemented, producing care team satisfaction by the end of the implementation period. Discharge order times decreased by a median of 58 min, intern work hours were decreased by 97 min/d, and first operative case on-time starts increased from 40% to 63% (P Conclusions Iterative prototyping as part of a human-centered design methodology is a powerful tool to address complex systems with diverse interests and competing priorities. Rapid, in-context prototyping is feasible on a complex trauma surgical service and can result in improved workflows and efficiency for the system and its stakeholders.
MR fingerprinting for rapid simultaneous T1, T2, and T1ρ relaxation mapping of the human articular cartilage at 3T

Purpose To implement a novel technique for simultaneous, quantitative multiparametric mapping of the knee articular cartilage. Methods A novel MR fingerprinting pulse sequence is proposed and implemented for simultaneous measurements of proton density, T1 , T2, and T1 ρ relaxation times at 3T. The repeatability and reproducibility of the proposed technique were assessed in model phantoms. Institutional review board-approved MR fingerprinting imaging sequence was performed on healthy volunteers and patients with mild knee osteoarthritis. The Wilcoxon test was used to compare healthy controls and patients. The intra- and intersubject repeatability were assessed with coefficient of variation and the RMS coefficient of variation, respectively RESULTS: The Bland-Altman plots demonstrated an average difference of 4.67 ms, -0.09 ms, and 0.05 ms between 2 scans in the same scanner; and 9.68 ms, 0.29 ms, and -0.72 ms between the scans acquired on 2 different scanners for T1 , T2 , and T1 ρ , respectively. The in vivo knee study showed excellent repeatability with RMS coefficient of variation less than 3%, 6%, and 5% for T1 , T2 , and T1 ρ , respectively. The Wilcoxon test showed a significant difference between control and mild osteoarthritis patients for T1 (P = .04), T2 (P = .01), and T1 ρ (P = .02) relaxation time in medial tibial cartilage, as well as for T2 relaxation time (P = .02) in medial femoral cartilage. Conclusion The proposed MRF sequence is fast and can simultaneously measure the T1 , T2 , T1 ρ , and B 1 + maps in a single scan. It is able to discriminate between mild osteoarthritis patients and healthy volunteers.
Effects of metabolic state on the regulation of melanocortin circuits

Dysfunction in neurophysiological systems that regulate food intake and metabolism are at least partly responsible for obesity and related comorbidities. An important component of this process is the hypothalamic melanocortin system, where an imbalance can result in severe obesity and deficits in glucose metabolism. Exercise offers many health benefits related to cardiovascular improvements, hunger control, and blood glucose homeostasis. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the exercise-induced improvements to the melanocortin system remain undefined. Here, we review the role of the melanocortin system to sense hormonal, nutrient, and neuronal signals of energy status. This information is then relayed onto secondary neurons in order to regulate physiological parameters, which promote proper energy and glucose balance. We also provide an overview on the effects of physical exercise to induce biophysical changes in the melanocortin circuit which may regulate food intake, glucose metabolism and improve overall metabolic health.
Abstract A16: A novel death receptor ligand fabclavine inhibits cancer and cancer stem cell proliferation by extrinsic apoptosis

Many antibiotics produced by bacteria also have antineoplastic activity. Examples of such bacterial compounds include actinomycin D, doxorubicin, mitoxantrone, bleomycin, mitomycin, etoposide, and others. Recently, it was identified that Xenorhabdus budapestnesis (Xbu) produces a secondary metabolite, fabclavine, that has antibiotic property. Here, for the first time we demonstrate that fabclavine exhibits potent cytotoxic activity against ovarian cancer cells and ovarian cancer stem cells and demonstrate its mechanism of action, Fabclavine was isolated and purified from cell-free supernatants of Xbu cultures and analyzed by mass spectrometry. Proliferation assays conducted on several ovarian cancer cell lines Ovcar3, OVCA433, ID8, and breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and 4T1 demonstrate that fabclavine inhibits the cancer cell proliferation at nanomolar (250-400nM) concentration. Fabclavine is ten times more potent than cisplatin in inhibiting cell proliferation of ovarian cancer cell line OVCA33 and breast cancer cell line MCF7. We also tested the effect of fabclavine in 3D culture of ovarian cancer cell lines. The results indicate, even in 3D culture, fabclavine killed 40-50% of the cells at 300nM concentration. In addition, fabclavine was also tested against ovarian cancer stem cells isolated from five ovarian cancer patients and grown in 3D culture. Fabclavine inhibited the growth of stem cells by 70-85%. In cancer cell lines fabclavine induced apoptosis in 20-30% cells after 24-hour treatment. Caspase activity assay for caspase3, caspase8, and caspase9 shows a significant increase in caspase3 and caspse8 activity with no change in caspase9 activity, suggesting an activation of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway in the fabclavine-treated cells. This observation was supported by the increase in phospho-FADD upon exposure to fabclavine. When conjugated to agarose beads, fabclavine efficiently precipitated two death receptors, DR4 and DR5, from ovarian and breast cancer cell extracts. These experiments indicate that fabclavine is a novel DR4/5 ligand and should therefore be considered as a death receptor-targeting agent for the treatment of ovarian and other tumors. We will present data on the comparison of DR4/5 binding to fabclavine versus its natural ligand, TRAIL, and will also present data from PDex and mouse xenograft models on the ex vivo and in vivo effects of fabclavine on the proliferation of ovarian tumors and cancer stem cells. Citation Format: Arvinder Kapur, Mayur Kajla, Susan Paskewitz, Allegra Cappuccini, Pooja Mehta, Geeta Mehta, Manish Patankar. A novel death receptor ligand fabclavine inhibits cancer and cancer stem cell proliferation by extrinsic apoptosis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 13-16, 2019; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(13_Suppl):Abstract nr A16.
A Highly Efficient SGEMM Implementation using DMA on the Intel/Movidius Myriad-2

Reducing energy consumption and achieving high energy efficiency in computation has become the top priority in High Performance Computing. High energy efficiency generally requires high resource utilization since energy demand for any applications and architectures is dependent on active time. We show that by using DMA the 28nm CMOS node Myriad-2 Vision Processing Unit can achieve 25 GFLOPs/W for FP32 matrixmultiplication. Our main contributions are: (i) An analysis of data transfer needs for inner and outer-product formulations of matrix multiplication with respect to the Myriad-2 memory hierarchy, (ii) An efficient use of DMA for managing matrix block transfers between on-chip and main memory (iii) A detailed analysis of the effects of matrix block shapes and DRAM page faults on performance and energy efficiency.
K-combined random fields: Basic properties and stochastic orderings

This paper introduces the K-combined vector random field, whose finite-dimensional characteristic functions are made up of certain power functions and whose finite-dimensional density functions are...
Community Archives as Community Building Tools

This paper explores the concept of community archives as community building tools. Through a systematic review of literature, we have found consistent themes in how communities participate in community archives and the effects archives have on the formation of community identity. We discuss the ways in which physical archival spaces, events in the community, and digital archives work to create representation and engage communities that have historically been left out of the archives as well as how community archival practices differ from mainstream archives. These differences sometimes cause conflicts between community archives and more traditional archival institutions which we also acknowledge in this review. In these ways we present the unique role community archives play in not only their communities, but also the wider archival profession.
Methods to study exercise and sports epigenetics

Abstract Exercise and sports are known to be correlated with positive health outcomes such as increased cardiac output, increased muscle mass, and reduced risk of chronic diseases. Although genetic factors will play a role in these traits, we are now just starting to appreciate the importance of epigenetics and how epigenetics can modify the influence of genotype. In the previous two chapters of this volume, contributors defined what physical activity is and outlined the molecular basis of epigenetic change. In this chapter, we discuss the methods used to study epigenetics with some emphasis on athletic populations. We also highlight some of the experimental and bioinformatics challenges faced by the research community.
SAW-Less Direct RF Transmitter With Multimode Noise Shaping and Tri-Level Time-Approximation Filter

This article presents a multimode direct radio frequency (RF) transmitter capable of a high in-band dynamic range and a low out-of-band (OOB) noise floor. It features a hybrid digital-to-analog converter (DAC) with a reconfigurable dual-band delta-sigma modulator to lower the quantization noise floor at one or two frequency bands. Additionally, a tri-level time-approximation filter is proposed to further suppress OOB noise with high tunability and stopband attenuation. The objective is to demonstrate a low-noise floor without using a surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter. For a 256-quadratic-amplitude modulation (QAM) signal with 17.4-dBm average output power at a 2.2-GHz carrier, the silicon prototype achieves -40-dB error vector magnitude (EVM) and -169-dBc/Hz noise spectral density (NSD) at 68-MHz offset by consuming a total power of 1.2 W.
End-to-end Learning for Fair Ranking Systems.

The learning-to-rank problem aims at ranking items to maximize exposure of those most relevant to a user query. A desirable property of such ranking systems is to guarantee some notion of fairness among specified item groups. While fairness has recently been considered in the context of learning-to-rank systems, current methods cannot provide guarantees on the fairness of the proposed ranking policies. This paper addresses this gap and introduces Smart Predict and Optimize for Fair Ranking (SPOFR), an integrated optimization and learning framework for fairness-constrained learning to rank. The end-to-end SPOFR framework includes a constrained optimization sub-model and produces ranking policies that are guaranteed to satisfy fairness constraints while allowing for fine control of the fairness-utility tradeoff. SPOFR is shown to significantly improve current state-of-the-art fair learning-to-rank systems with respect to established performance metrics.
Terahertz Metallic Metasurfaces Prototyping Using Hot Stamping

We present a very simple, rapid and low-cost prototyping technique to make metallic 2D patterns for the terahertz range. We demonstrate arrays of split-ring resonators and wire-grid polarizers.
An Emerging South-South Coalition Strategy: China, Africa and Latin America

Concomitant with the astronomical rise of China in international politics, there has been an increased frequency and intensity of foreign relations between Global South states. This research attempts to, first, illuminate these largely overlooked foreign policy activities, and, second, to evaluate the implications of the trends. A South-South strategy is based on improving the position of developing countries in multilateral organizations, struggling against international marginalization, enhancing economic and technical cooperation, and challenging hegemonism and imperialism. This study concludes that a South-South coalition framework is a useful model for understanding Global South states’ foreign policy behavior and for addressing future conflicts.
Community Media: Finding a spot on the dial: Firehouse Broadcasting from Bloomington, Indiana

Community radio is characterized by access, public participation in production and decision making and, predominantly, by listener-financing. The intention is that management of the station is in the hands of those who use and listen to it. Though the workings of such stations are never easy, the structure does offer the possibility of accountability to the audience/user in a way state and commercial stations do not. Jon Bekken, Community Radio at the Crossroads An editorial appearing in the 11 January 1996 edition of the Bloomington Voice , a free weekly newspaper serving south central Indiana, criticized recent programming decisions by Bloomington's community radio station, WFHB. According to the editorial, WFHB fails to live up to its promise of providing alternative news and information to the greater Bloomington community. The opinion piece suggests that WFHB's reluctance to air “controversial” programming stems from fears that such programs might offend some listeners and underwriters, possibly leading them to withdraw their financial support for the station. The editorial concludes that while WFHB provides a diverse and welcome mix of music and entertainment features, the station is reluctant to air politically progressive programming in order to accommodate conservative listeners and local business interests. Published within days of the station's third anniversary, the editorial signaled a shift in popular attitudes toward WFHB. Prior to the editorial's publication, press coverage WFHB received in the Bloomington Voice , as well as the Herald-Times , Bloomington's only daily newspaper, was nothing short of unqualified praise.
Reaction of cystathionase with the fluorescent probe bis(dansyl)cystine.

Abstract The enzyme cystathionase from rat liver is inactivated by incubation with 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) at pH 7.4. The reaction of four —SH groups per mole of enzyme brings about 95% loss of the homoserine deaminase activity. Kinetically, the reactive —SH groups can be classified into two classes. The substrate l-homoserine or the competitive inhibitor l-alanine has no effect on the rate of inactivation. The thiol groups of the enzyme undergo an exchange reaction with the dye bis(5-dimethylaminonaphthalene sulfonyl)-l-cystine (bis(dansyl)cystine). The reaction of approximately two —SH groups with the dansylated reagent causes 40% loss of the homoserine deaminase activity. The absorption and fluorescence properties of the dansylated enzyme were used to gain information about the microenvironment surrounding the reactive —SH groups. The fluorescence properties—emission maximum (515 nm), relative fluorescence yield (20), and fluorescence decay time (18 ns)—of the dye bound to the enzyme are identical to the fluorescence properties of bis(dansyl)cystine in a nonpolar mixture containing dioxane:water (95:5). On the basis of these results, it is proposed that the —SH groups which react with bis(dansyl)-cystine are located in a nonpolar environment. The inactivation of the enzyme by bis(dansyl)cystine cannot be related to dissociation of the cofactor pyridoxal-5-P from the catalytic site.
Keeping in touch with angiogenesis

Ischemic peripheral neuropathy is a frequent, severe and irreversible complication of critical limb ischemia. Therapeutic angiogenesis may ameliorate vascular insufficiency and may also provide direct beneficial effects on neural integrity, indicating a new paradigm for the treatment of neuronal disorders (pages 405–413 ).
Dual algorithm for l(1) isotonic optimization on a partially ordered set

Let X be a partially ordered finite set with a partial order $<<.$ A real-valued function g on X is called isotone with respect to $<<$ if g(x) $\le$ g(y) whenever x, y $\in$ X and X $<<$ y. Let G(X) be the set of all isotone functions on x. The problem being considered here is:(UNFORMATTED TABLE OR EQUATION FOLLOWS)$$\hbox{Minimize}\sum\sbsp{{\rm x}\in{\rm X}}{}\vert {\rm f(x)} - {\rm g(x)}\vert\hbox{ subject to } {\rm g}\in{\rm G(X).}\leqno{\rm (D):}$$(TABLE/EQUATION ENDS) This isotone optimization problems originates mainly from order restricted statistical inference. The ${\rm L}\sb2$ version of this problem has been fully discussed. In considering this ${\rm L}\sb1$ problem, we try to take advantage of duality. For any x in X, let U(x) and L(x) denote the immediate successors of x and the immediate predecessors of x respectively. Define the set $\cal L$ by $\cal L$ = $\{$ (x,y) $\vert$ x $\in$ X, y $\in$ U(x) $\}.$ Let w and F be functions on X and $\cal L$ respectively. The dual problem proposed here is:(UNFORMATTED TABLE OR EQUATION FOLLOWS)$$\line{{\rm (P)}\:\quad\hbox{Maximize }\sum\sbsp{{\rm x}\in{\rm X}}{}{\rm f(x)w(x)}\hbox{ subject to}}\vskip4pt\vbox{\halign{\quad#\hfil\quad&&\quad#\hfil\quad\cr (P-1):&w(x)\quad$\{0,+1,-1\},$&x $\in$ X\cr (P-2):&F(x,y) $\ge$ 0,&(x,y) $\in {\cal L}$\cr (P-3):&w(x) = $\sum\sbsp{{\rm y}\in{\rm U(x)}}{}{\rm F(x{,}y)} - &\sum\sbsp{{\rm z}\in{\rm L(x)}}{}{\rm F(z{,}x), x\in X}$.\cr}}$$(TABLE/EQUATION ENDS)A finite algorithm which utilizes network flows is constructed that solves both the primal and the dual simultaneously. This algorithm is also used to prove the duality theorems. The optimal criteria obtained are: (UNFORMATTED TABLE OR EQUATION FOLLOWS)$$\eqalign{\hbox{Condition A: }&\hbox{For each x in X, w(x) = sgn \lbrack f(x) $-$ g(x)\rbrack}\cr &\hbox{whenever f(x) $\ne$ g(x)}\cr \hbox{Condition B: }&\sum\sbsp{\rm x\in X}{}{\rm w(x)g(x)} = 0.\cr}$$(TABLE/EQUATION ENDS)
2,4‐Pentanedione

(keto) [123-54-6] C5H8O2 (MW 100.13) InChI = 1S/C5H8O2/c1-4(6)3-5(2)7/h3H2,1-2H3 InChIKey = YRKCREAYFQTBPV-UHFFFAOYSA-N (enol) [1522-20-9] InChI = 1S/C5H8O2/c1-4(6)3-5(2)7/h3,6H,1-2H3/b4-3- InChIKey = POILWHVDKZOXJZ-ARJAWSKDSA-N (carbon–carbon condensations involving mono-, di-, and trianions; formation of pyrazoles, isoxazoles, pyrroles, and pyridines; catalysis by metal chelates) Alternate Names: acetylacetone; acac. Physical Data: liquid, bp 45 °C/30 mmHg;26 d 0.975 g cm−3. Keto form: mp −23 °C; bp 134–136 °C.24 Enol form: mp −9 °C.24 Solubility: misc organic solvents; sol dil HCl; slightly sol hot H2O.24 Form Supplied in: commercially available liquid, in which the enol form predominates; the keto form predominates in aq soln. Preparative Methods: conveniently prepared by BF3-catalyzed reaction of acetone and acetic anhydride, or by reaction of ethyl acetate, acetone, and NaOEt.25 Purification: distillation after drying over anhyd K2CO3; several other methods are available.26 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: moderately toxic; reactions should be conducted in a well-ventilated fume hood.
Speech Recognition Using Neural Networks

The field of artificial neural networks has grown rapidly in recent years. This has been accompanied by an insurgence of work in speech recognition. Most speech recognition research has centered on stochastic models, in particular the use of hidden Markov models (HMMs) [9][28][29][30][45][47]. Alternate techniques have focused on applying neural networks to classify speech signals [6][11][48]. The inspiration for using neural networks as a classifier stems from the fact that neural networks within the human brain are used for speech recognition. This analogy unfortunately falls short of being close to an actual model of the brain, but the modeling mechanism and the training procedures allow the possiblility of using a neural network as a stochastic model that can be discrimitively trained.
Remembering Partition: Violence, Nationalism and History in India

Acknowledgements List of abbreviations 1. By way of introduction 2. The three partitions of 1947 3. Historians' history 4. The evidence of the historian 5. Folding the local into the national: Garhmukhteshwar, November 1946 6. Folding the national into the local: Delhi, 1947-8 7. Disciplining difference 8. Constructing community Select bibliography Index.
Aggregation and Species Discrimination in Newborn Snakes

In a study of the grouping tendencies of newborn snakes and their ability to discriminate each other by species, experiments were performed involving 20 brown snakes (Storeria dekayi) and 20 garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) released in the same enclosure after being born on the same day. Both species were found most often under covers, and under some covers more than others. They were also more likely to be found in clumps involving conspecifics, but mixed aggregations were common and there was no evidence of repulsion. Species discrimination was demonstrated. Thamnophis aggregated more extensively than Storeria and Storeria was more spatially disoriented by disturbances to the environment. Zusammenfassung Neugeborene Braunnattern (Storeria dekayi) und Strumpfbandnattern (Thamnophis sirtalis) wurden unmittelbar nach der Geburt in ein Terrarium mit Kiesboden und 8 Pappverstecken gegeben. Die 40 Schlangen (20 von jeder Art) wurden 11 Tage lang beobachtet. Nach funftagiger allgemeiner Beobachtung (Verteilung der Schlangen auf deckungsbietende Objekte, Gruppenbildung mit Beruhrung) wurden folgende Manipulationen durchgefuhrt: Wechsel der deckungsbietenden Objekte, Kafigdrehung, Veranderung des Bodenbelags (Kies) sowie Entfernen der Schlangen aus dem Kafig fur eine bestimmte Zeit. Die Ergebnisse haben gezeigt: 1. Beide Arten haben die starke Neigung, sich unter Objekten zu verstecken; 2. Individuen beider Arten gesellten sich eindeutig zu artgleichen, besonders zu Gruppen; 3. Bestimmte Orte im Kafig waren anziehend fur beide Arten; 4. Thamnophis war geselliger als Storeria, und 5. Gruppierungen von Storeria wurden durch Kafigmanipulationen starker gestort. Aggregationen und intraspezifisches Erkennen gibt es bei neugeborenen Schlangen; es ist von Art zu Art unterschiedlich und wird wahrscheinlich durch das Vomeronasalorgan vermittelt.
More screen time, less face time - implications for EHR design.

Rationale, aims and objectives Understanding the impact of health information technology on doctor-patient interaction is vital to designing better electronic health records (EHRs). This article quantitatively examines and compares clinically experienced physicians’ interactions with patients using paper or electronic health records in ambulatory primary care settings.
Vapor-phase raman spectrum and ring-puckering vibration of cyclopentene

Abstract The vapor-phase Raman spectrum of cyclopentene has been recorded and eleven lines corresponding to the Δν=2 transitions of the ring-puckering have been observed. A difference band sequence with 3070.4cm −1 as the reference band has also been observed.
Acute changes in left ventricular geometry after volume reduction operation

Background. After surgical removal of a volume load, regression of myocardial mass proceeds slowly relative to diminution in ventricular cavity size, resulting in increased wall thickness and decreased cavity dimensions, which may affect the filling properties and performance of the heart. We investigated the acute changes in ventricular geometry that occur after the Fontan operation and hemi-Fontan operation for tricuspid atresia, and compared them with closure of a ventricular septal defect in a two-ventricle heart. Methods. We reviewed the results of echocardiography performed before and 8 ± 7 days after (1) Fontan operation for tricuspid atresia (n = 9), (2) hemi-Fontan operation for tricuspid atresia (n = 10), and (3) closure of a ventricular septal defect (n = 13). Measurements were made from images of the left ventricle at end-diastole: (1) apical, septal, and posterior wall thickness; and (2) long- and short-axis cavity diameters, cross-sectional areas, and ventricular volume. Posterior wall thickness to cavity dimension ratio was calculated. Results. Wall thickness increased in all groups, with the greatest degree of increase after the Fontan operation. Cavity measures decreased most dramatically after the Fontan operation, with less dramatic and equivalent changes noted after the hemi-Fontan operation and ventricular septal defect closure. Posterior wall thickness to cavity diameter ratios were equivalent in all before operation, increased after operation, and were greatest after the Fontan operation. Conclusions. Changes in ventricular geometry identified as an increase in wall thickness and a decrease in cavity dimension are most dramatic after the Fontan operation. Changes seen after the hemi-Fontan operation are of a milder degree, which may in part explain the excellent clinical course after this operation.
Gender-based differences of percutaneous coronary intervention in the drug-eluting stent era.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide insights into percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) performed in women in the United States by evaluating gender-based PCI-practice patterns and outcomes. Background: Limited “real world” contemporary data exist on how the introduction of DES has impacted PCI in women. Methods and Results: Patients (359 women, 807 men) with de novo coronary artery disease having PCI (1,166) were evaluated during the first year, since the introduction of DES in the United States market (May 1, 2003 to April 30, 2004). Women were more likely to be older, hypertensive, obese, diabetic, and have heart failure. Men were more likely to be smokers and have more vessels with obstructive coronary artery disease. PCI procedural success rates, number of vessels attempted, percentage DES utilization, and in-hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE; death, new myocardial infarction, urgent revascularization) were similar for both genders. However, women had significantly higher unadjusted mortality (3.9% versus 1.6%, P = 0.01), cumulative vascular complications (12.0% versus 4.2%, P < 0.0001), and renal failure (2.5% versus 0.7%, P = 0.01). After adjustment for confounding variables, mortality was similar between genders, but a significant association with vascular complications and trend toward higher rates of renal failure persisted in women. Conclusions: In this study of the modern era of PCI with DES utilization, in-hospital MACE is similar between men and women. However, the differences in baseline comorbidities and the proclivity for vascular and renal complications highlight the need for further investigation and improvements to optimize outcomes of PCI in women. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Occipitoatlantal and atlantoaxial dislocation

Abstract Vertical distractive forces at the craniovertebral junction can affect the occipitoatlantal joint or the atlantoaxial joint. These lesions are part of the same spectrum of injuries. They share the same mechanism of injury and high mortality rate. They usually represent a pure ligamentous injury that causes severe instability and requires early fixation.
Composition of gas hydrates of CHClF2, CCl2F2 and SF6

Abstract Gas hydrates are forms of ice stabilized by the presence of molecules of gas occupying cavities in the solid water lattice. There are two common forms: structure I and structure II. The mean free diameters of the two types of cavities in structure I are about 5.0 and 5.8 angstroms. Very small gas molecules such as Xe or H 2 S can occupy both. In the past it has been considered that gas molecules of larger diameter than 5.0 angstroms could not occupy the smaller cavities. It has now been shown through measurement of hydration numbers of CHClF 2 (diameter about 5.4 angstroms) under various pressures at 0°, that some of the small cavities are filled. This state of affairs also exists for CH 3 Br. In structure II, the mean diameters of the two types of cavities are about 5.0 and 6.6 angstroms. Hydration numbers of SF 6 (diameter about 5.8 angstroms) and CCl 2 F 2 (about 6.2 angstromsm) show that nearly all of the large cavities but essentially none of the small cavities are occupied.
Pacemaker Neurons: Effects of Regularly Spaced Synaptic Input

The consequences of inhibitory or excitatory synaptic input between pacemaker neurons were predicted mathematically and through digital-computer simulations, and the predicted behavior was found to occur in abdominal ganglia of Aplysia and in stretch receptors of Procambarus. Discharge patterns under conditions that do not involve interneuronal feedback are characteristic and self-stabilizing. Paradoxically, increased arrival rates of inhibitory input can increase firing rates, and increased excitatory input rates can decrease firing rates.
Conservation tillage induced changes in organic carbon, total nitrogen and available phosphorus in a semi-arid alkaline subtropical soil

Abstract A multi-year experiment was conducted to compare the effects of conservation tillage (no-till and ridge-till) with conventional plow tillage on organic C, N, and resin-extractable P in an alkaline semi-arid subtropical soil (Hidalgo sandy clay loam, a fine-loamy, mixed, hyperthermic Typic Calciustoll) at Weslaco, TX (26°9′N 97°57′W). Tillage comparisons were established on irrigated plots in 1992 as a randomized block design with four replications. Soil samples were collected for analyses 1 month before cotton planting of the eighth year of annual cotton (planted in March) followed by corn (planted in August). No-till resulted in significantly ( p p Against the background of improved soil organic C and N, bicarbonate extractable P was greater in the top 8 cm of soil. Some of the improvement, however, appeared to come from a redistribution or “mining” of P at lower soil depths. The results indicate that stratification and redistribution of nutrients were consistent with known effects of tillage modification and that slow improvements in soil fertility are being realized.
Registration of ‘DP-1’ Peanut

The peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. subsp. hypogaea var. hypogaea) cultivar DP-1 (Reg. No. CV-103, PI 633047) was developed by the University of Florida, Florida Agricultural Experiment Station and approved for release in 2002. Tested under the experimental designation UF97318, DP-1 has runner market-type seed and pod size with a runner growth habit. Under irrigation, it matures about 150 d after planting, which places it in the category of late relative maturity. Release of DP-1 was based on its resistance to spotted wilt caused by tomato spotted wilt tospovirus, white mold caused by Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc., and late leaf spot caused by Cercosporidium personatum (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Deighton, as well as competitive pod yield and grade characteristics.
Optical rotatory power of 90° twisted nematic liquid crystals

A technique was developed and used to measure the rotatory power of 90° twisted nematic liquid crystals in the visible and infrared spectral regions. Experimental results for two liquid crystal mixtures, BDH‐E7 and ZLI‐1132, are in very good agreement with theoretical calculations for a wide spectral range and for different liquid crystal thicknesses. A quantitative relationship between liquid crystal birefringence, wavelength, and cell thickness was derived for use in the design of IR liquid crystal light valves with high contrast ratios and minimum response times.
A Photoluminescent, Segmented Oligo-Polyphenylenevinylene Copolymer with Hydrogen-Bonding Pendant Chains

The syntheses and electronic spectroscopy of E,E-2,5-bis[2-hydroxyethoxy]-1,4-bis[2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl-1,2-ethenediyl]benzene, 3, and alternating block copolymer analogue alt-poly[1,8-octanedioxy-2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-phenylene-1,2-(E)-ethenediyl-2,5-(2-hydroxyethoxy)-1,4-phenylene-1,2-(E)-ethenediyl-3,5-dimethoxy-1,4-phenylene], 2, are described. Polymer 2 has UV−vis absorbances at 320 nm (shoulder) and 389 nm (maximum), with fluorescence emission at 449 nm (maximum) and 480 nm (shoulder) upon excitation at various wavelengths. Model compound 3 shows virtually identical spectral behavior. Neat solid films of polymer 2 show UV−vis absorbance in the 400−450-nm region (broad) and fluorescence at about 490 nm. The 40-nm shift from solution to neat film emission for 2 is attributed to hydrogen-bond-assisted interactions between chromophores in the solid state. The fluorescence quantum yields in chloroform at room temperature (365-nm excitation) for 2 and 3 are 0.36 and 0.74, respectively, relative to quinine...
Activation of immediate early genes after acute stress

WE used in-situ hybridization to study the effect of acute stress on induction of the immediate early genes (IEGs), c-fos and zif/268, in the rat brain. After one hour of restraint plus intermittent tail shock, messenger RNA (mRNA) levels for both genes were significantly increased bilaterally in th
Study on Slot Bottom Size of Stringing Pulley Based on Reducing Conductor Abrasion

Slot bottom size has directly effect on conductor abrasion,Chinese Technical Regulation of design for Stringing blocks of overhead transmission lines (DL/T371-2010) clearly states that slot bottom size should be no less than 20 times of the size of conductor to be extended. In this paper, based on effect of slot bottom size on conductor abrasion,the size of slot bottom of stringing pulley is analyzed. Some useful suggestions are given.
Formulation of a moment method for multidimensional Fokker-Planck equations.

A moment method for general {ital n}-dimensional ({ital n}{ge}1) Fokker-Planck equations in semi-infinite domains with mixed boundary conditions is developed in this paper. Generally, time evolution equations of moments include terms with reduced distribution functions. With mixed boundary conditions in {ital n}-dimensional phase spaces, the reduced distribution functions are not explicitly known. This adds an openness to the time evolution equations of moments. We develop an auxiliary set of variables that allow the removal of this type of openness by introducing it into a general moment truncation scheme. The other openness of moment equations caused by the general phase space dependence of drift and diffusion coefficients is removed by using the conventional central moment truncation scheme. The closed set of time evolution equations of moments is numerically solved with the LSODA{r_brace} package of computer programs [A. Hindmarsh, in {ital Scientific} {ital Computing}, edited by R. Stepleman {ital et} {ital al}. (North-Holland, Amsterdam, 1983), pp. 55--64]. The method is applied to three examples. The coupling of moments and reduced moments is first demonstrated by an interstitial clustering process in diatomic materials. Then, the moment equations for a one-dimensional Fokker-Planck equation in a semi-infinite domain are derived as a special case ofmore » the present method. The moment equations of the one-dimensional Fokker-Planck equation derived by Ghoniem [Phys. Rev. B 39, 11 810 (1989)] for atomic clustering are thus recovered in the second example. Finally, the moment method is also tested by applying it to a two-dimensional Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process, which can be solved analytically. Numerical calculations of the first three moments with truncation only at second-order moments are in very good agreement with the analytical results. Truncation at fourth-order moments is found to give similar results for the first three moments.« less
Muon drift chamber wire bond failure analysis

Abstract We report here on the detailed analysis of a gold-coated tungsten wire of the type used in many multi-wire proportional chambers and drift chambers. The wire was attached under tension to a printed circuit board bond pad using standard tin/lead9 solder and was observed to pull out of the solder under uniform tensile loading. Examinations of the failed wire end were performed using electron beam microprobes to study the elemental composition of the residual material on the wire. It is found that the thin gold coating is removed from the surface of the tungsten and alloyed with tin from the solder, forming a nonuniform coating on the wire surface. A surroundung lead-rich region is inferred from this result, leading to the wire failure because of the low shear strength of lead. Discussions of previous work on wire failure and wire aging in high energy physics experiments and similar experiences in the electronics industry are presented.
Central nervous system disorders after renal transplantation in cats.

Objective—This study describes the incidence and severity of postoperative central nervous system (pCNS) disorders in feline renal transplant recipients. Study Design—A retrospective study based on the medical records of cats that received renal allografts from 1987 to 1996. Animals or Sample Population—Fifty-seven client-owned cats received renal allografts for the treatment of renal failure. Methods—The frequency, duration, severity, and treatment of episodes of pCNS disorders were recorded from the medical records. Results Twelve (21%) of 57 cats had pCNS disorders 1 hour to 5 days after the surgical procedure. Seven cats survived; four had single or multiple seizure episodes, and two had seizure episodes or disorientation followed by a period of coma. One cat became temporarily ataxic and blind after restraint for venipuncture. Five cats died; all had episodes of disorientation or seizures, or both, that progressed to a nonrecoverable comatose state, respiratory arrest or cardiac arrest, or both. There were no significant differences between the two groups in preoperative serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, or cholesterol levels, and intraoperative blood pressure measurements. There were no significant differences in the postoperative serum glucose levels, electrolytes levels, or osmolality between the two groups. The cats with pCNS disorders had a mean preoperative trough cyclosporine A (CyA) whole blood level of 429 ng/mL; cats without pCNS disorders had a significantly (P=.0116) higher mean preoperative trough CyA whole blood level of 736 ng/mL. Conclusion—Central nervous system disorders are a common and often fatal complication of renal transplantation in cats. Clinical Relevance—Recognition of pCNS disorders, and possible causes, will help develop hypotheses to investigate the problem.
Iterative projection strategies for the least-squares fitting of tree structures to proximity data

A least squares optimization strategy is first reviewed and applied to the task of fitting a given collection of symmetric proximity values defined between the objects from one set by a collection of reconstructed proximity values, satisfying a fixed set of constraints, generated from some specified graph-theoretic structure, such as an ultrametric or an additive tree, selected for representing the objects. Our method uses itcrative projection on to closed convex sets defined by the collection of given constraints characterizing the structural representation specified, and in contrast to least squares optimization methods that impose such constraints through the use of penalty functions, avoids the use of the latter, as well as the implementation of any gradient-based optimization technique. Secondly, just as various penalty-function/ gradient-based optimization techniques have been turned into heuristic search strategies for such particular structures of interest as ultrametrics or additive trees, the use of iterative projection is suggested as a general heuristic search strategy for locating the best structural representations to impose in the first place, where the collection of constraints used may vary over the course of the optimization process. Our evaluation of the expected results uses several data sets previously analysed in the literature. Finally, several other applications of iterative projection as a heuristic optimization technique are discussed, including the consideration of data beyond that of a single symmetric proximity matrix (for example, extensions to two-mode proximity matrices, i.e. between two distinct object sets, and to three-way proximity matrices either symmetric or not), and to representations based on sums of matrices where each is constrained separately to conform to some desired representational structure.
Transformation kinetics of anisotropic particles in thin films

Abstract The combined effects of growth rate anisotropy and finite size effects upon the transformation rate of two-dimensional films are examined. Probabilistic arguments used in previous studies are applied to derive expressions for X(t) , the fraction transformed as a function of time, for the limiting cases of large and small seeding densities. Numerical calculations show that in the former situation'the transformation law deviates only slightly from that of the infinite sample result, while in the latter case the transformation rates are slower. For elliptical particles, the transformation rate is reduced slightly as the anisotropy increases.
A three-dimensional, biaxially textured oxide nanofence composed of MgO single crystal nanobelt segments.

A unique, three-dimensional (3D), biaxially textured, MgO, nanofence comprised of single crystal MgO nanobelt segments or links was synthesized via epitaxial growth on (100) SrTiO3 substrates. Individual single crystal MgO nanobelt segments comprising the nanofence have a square cross-section with dimensions in the range of 10?20?nm and with lengths in the range from 100?nm up to 1??m. X-ray diffraction shows that the 3D MgO nanofence has an epitaxial relation with (100) SrTiO3 substrates with a cube-on-cube, {100}100 orientation and with values of the full width at half-maximum of the (200) ?-scan and the (110) -scan at 4.5? and 5.5?, respectively. Such a biaxially textured oxide nanofence with single crystal segments can be used as a 3D nanotemplated substrate for epitaxial growth of wide-ranging, 3D, electronic, magnetic and electromagnetic nanodevices.
Consolidated strategy for the analysis of microarray spike-in data

As the number of users of microarray technology continues to grow, so does the importance of platform assessments and comparisons. Spike-in experiments have been successfully used for internal technology assessments by microarray manufacturers and for comparisons of competing data analysis approaches. The microarray literature is saturated with statistical assessments based on spike-in experiment data. Unfortunately, the statistical assessments vary widely and are applicable only in specific cases. This has introduced confusion into the debate over best practices with regards to which platform, protocols and data analysis tools are best. Furthermore, cross-platform comparisons have proven difficult because reported concentrations are not comparable. In this article, we introduce two new spike-in experiments, present a novel statistical solution that enables cross-platform comparisons, and propose a comprehensive procedure for assessments based on spike-in experiments. The ideas are implemented in a user friendly Bioconductor package: spkTools. We demonstrated the utility of our tools by presenting the first spike-in-based comparison of the three major platforms–Affymetrix, Agilent and Illumina.