cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Temporal variability: Effects of extraversion and time of day upon children's test responses☆

Abstract The present study investigated the effects of Time of Day tested and Extraversion upon the temporal variability of children's test responses. Junior high students were tested on repeated occasions in either early morning or afternoon sessions. The Kinetic Family Drawing Test and Wide Range Achievement Test-Arithmetic generated three variability measures. As hypothesized, a significant Time of Day x Extraversion interaction occurred on the family drawings; introverts were more consistent over time of day while extraverts became more inconsistent. Variability in arithmetic answers was found to increase over time of day for boys but not for girls. Variability in choice of problem attempted was multiply determined. Sex accounted for the greatest amount of variance in overall temporal variability scores. The results were discussed within Eysenck's arousal based personality theory and provides support of the notion that there are systematic individual differences in the variability of children's test responses.
Time dependence of unstable-particle decay

Abstract The exponential decay law of unstable particles is discussed in the framework of a multichannel scattering problem. Particular attention is given to the power-law terms. They are shown to be very general phenomena, associated with all thresholds and occurring whether or not there are unstable particles produced. A simple physical interpretation is proposed.
The First GLOBMET Symposium

The First GLOBMET Symposium was held in Dushanbe, Tadzhikistan, U.S.S.R., August 19–24, 1985. GLOBMET (Global Meteor Observation System) was first proposed by the Soviet Geophysical Committee in Moscow (specifically, by committee members B. L. Kashcheyev and V. A. Nechitailenko) and was accepted by the Middle Atmosphere Program (MAP) Steering Committee of the Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics (SCOSTEP, part of the International Council of Scientific Unions) as a MAP project in 1982. While the atmospheric dynamics data from the system are of primary interest to MAP, GLOBMET also encompasses the astronomical radio and optical observations of meteoroids and the physics of their interaction with the earth's atmosphere.
Effect of altered lymphocyte function on immunologic disorders in nzb/nzw mice

NZB/NZW F1 female mice were treated with the immunosuppressive enzyme L-asparaginase (Asnase) for up to 32 weeks. Asnase diminished circulating anti-DNA and antinuclear antibodies, diminished deposition of γ-globulins in kidneys, significantly delayed the onset of proteinuria, and reduced deaths from nephritis. These effects were associated with reduction of cellular IgM antibody synthesis to both T-dependent and T-independent antigens, but the graft-versus-host reaction was not affected. After several weeks of therapy, antibodies against Asnase appeared in the circulation, the effect on antibody synthesis was lost, ANA and anti-DNA appeared, followed by proteinuria and deaths from nephritis. Therefore Asnase proved to be an effective therapy in NZB/NZW mice, but its usefulness was limited by the appearance of inactivating antibodies.
Adaptive radiation-induced epigenetic alterations mitigated by antioxidants

Humans are exposed to low-dose ionizing radiation (LDIR) from a number of environmental and medical sources. In addition to inducing genetic mutations, there is concern that LDIR may also alter the epigenome. Such heritable effects early in life can either be positively adaptive or result in the enhanced formation of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Herein, we show that LDIR significantly increased DNA methylation at the viable yellow agouti (Avy) locus in a sex-specific manner (P=0.004). Average DNA methylation was significantly increased in male offspring exposed to doses between 0.7 and 7.6 cGy, with maximum effects at 1.4 and 3.0 cGy (P<0.01). Offspring coat color was concomitantly shifted toward pseudoagouti (P<0.01). Maternal dietary antioxidant supplementation mitigated both the DNA methylation changes and coat color shift in the irradiated offspring. Thus, LDIR exposure during gestation elicits epigenetic alterations that lead to positive adaptive phenotypic changes that are negated with antioxidants, indicating they are mediated in part by oxidative stress. These findings provide evidence that in the isogenic Avy mouse model, epigenetic alterations resulting from LDIR play a role in radiation hormesis, bringing into question the assumption that every dose of radiation is harmful.—Bernal, A. J., Dolinoy, D. C., Huang, D., Skaar, D. A., Weinhouse, C., Jirtle, R. J. Adaptive radiation-induced epigenetic alterations mitigated by antioxidants.
Bony abnormalities in classic bladder exstrophy: the urologist's perspective.

Abstract Introduction As the primary practitioner managing patients with classic bladder exstrophy (CBE), it is incumbent upon the pediatric urologist to understand the associated orthopedic anomalies and their management. Methods A Pubmed search was performed with the keyword exstrophy. Resulting literature pertaining to orthopedics and published references were reviewed. Results Anatomic changes to the bony pelvis include outward rotation, acetabular retroversion with compensatory femoral anteversion, anterior pubic shortening, and pubic diastasis. Imaging options have improved, which impacts surgical planning. Surgical approach, including type of osteotomy and method of pubic approximation, is evolving. Most centers employ immobilization after surgery, with external fixation, Bryant’s traction, Buck’s traction, and spica casting being the most common methods. Orthopedic complications range from minor pin-site infections to neurologic and vascular compromise. Most experts agree osteotomy aids bladder closure beyond 72 h of life, but effect on continence remains controversial. Although no significant orthopedic benefit has been expounded, it may be too early to appreciate improvement in frequency or severity of osteoarthritis or hip dysplasia. Conclusion While orthopedic surgeons remain vital to managing exstrophy patients, knowledge of the anatomy, imaging, surgical approaches, and immobilization enable effective communication with parents and other physicians, improving care for these complicated patients.
Multi-MitraClip therapy for severe degenerative mitral regurgitation: "anchor" technique for extremely flail segments

In high-risk or inoperable patients, implantation of MitraClip for treatment of severe symptomatic mitral regurgitation (MR) from central (A2/P2 pathology, EVEREST patient) is effective in reducing symptoms and improving functional class. Extending the use of MitraClip to the non-EVEREST patient is of considerable interest. MitraClip implantation for wide flail segments and non-central MR is technically more challenging but represents an important and highly prevalent subset of patients. We present a case of an 82-year-old male referred to our institution for medically refractory primary MR. Trans-esophageal echocardiogram demonstrated severe (4+) MR, annular dilatation, P3 > P2 mitral valve prolapse, malcoaptation, and wide flail gaps and widths. The patient's age, frailty, chronic kidney disease, and mild cognitive impairment rendered him a candidate for MitraClip therapy. Our target area, the areas of maximum flail (A3/P3), proved too wide for grasping. Hence, the first clip was deployed medial to the target area. Subsequent deployment, in a sequential fashion (“zipper technique”), was not technically feasible due to persistent instability of the target area. Consideration was given to an alternative approach by “anchoring” our target area where the 2nd and 3rd clips were deployed lateral to the A3/P3 segment in efforts to “anchor” the maximum flail segment. This maneuver allowed final clip deployment into a more stable target area. Subsequent imaging demonstrated reduction in MR from 4+ to 1+ with preservation of a normal transmitral gradient. We report the first successful US case of four MitraClip implantation for the treatment of severe primary MR by “anchoring” flail segments. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Foam separation of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Bacillus subtilis var. niger.

An experimental investigation established the effect of the presence of inorganic salts on the foam separation of Pseudomonas fluorescens and of Bacillus subtilis var. niger (B. globigii) from aqueous suspension by use of a cationic surfactant. For P. fluorescens, 5.0 μeq/ml of NaCl, KCl, Na2SO4, K2SO4, CaCl2, CaSO4, MgCl2, or MgSO4 produced increases in the cell concentration in the residual suspension (not carried into the foam) from 2.9 × 105 up to 1.6 × 106 to 2.8 × 107 cells per milliliter (initial suspensions contain from 3.3 × 107 to 4.8 × 107 cells per milliliter). The exceptional influence of magnesium was overcome by bringing the cells into contact first with the surfactant and then the salt. For B. subtilis, the presence of 5.0 μeq/ml of any of the eight salts increased the residual cell concentration by one order of magnitude from 1.2 × 104 to about 4.0 × 105 cells per milliliter. This occurred regardless of the sequence of contact as long as the surfactant contact period was sufficient. The presence of salts increased collapsed foam volumes with P. fluorescens and decreased collapsed foam volumes with B. subtilis.
APOBEC3G levels predict rates of progression to AIDS

APOBEC3G (hA3G) is a newly discovered cellular factor of innate immunity that inhibits HIV replication in vitro. Whether hA3G conferrs protection against HIV in vivo is not known. To investigate the possible anti-HIV activity of hA3G in vivo, we examined hA3G mRNA abundance in primary human cells isolated from either HIV-infected or HIV-uninfected individuals, and found that hA3G mRNA levels follow a hierarchical order of long-term nonprogressors>HIV-uninfected>Progressors; and, hA3G mRNA abundance is correlated with surrogates of HIV disease progression: viral load and CD4 count. Another group later confirmed that HIV-infected subjects have lower hA3G mRNA levels than HIV-uninfected controls, but did not find correlations between hA3G mRNA levels and viral load or CD4 count. These conflicing results indicate that a more comprehensive, conclusive investigation of hA3G expression levels in various patient cohorts is urgently needed. For exploring whether hA3G abundance might influence HIV disease progression, we have formulated a hypothesis that inlcudes two parts: a) in vivo, the basal hA3G mRNA expression level per PBMC is a constant – with minor physiologic fluctuations – determined by host genetic and epigenetic elements in a healthy individual; and that the basal hA3G mRNA expression levels in a population follow a Normal (or Gaussian) distribution; b) that although HIV infects randomly, it results in more rapid disease progression in those with lower hA3G mRNA levels, and slower disease progression in those with higher hA3G mRNA levels. This hypothesis could be tested by a straighforward set of experiments to compare the distribution of hA3G mRNA levels in HIV-uninfected healthy individuals and that in HIV-infected, antiretroviral therapy-naive subjects who are at early and late stages of infection. Testing this hypothesis will have significant implications for biomedical research. a) It will link hA3G to the mechanisms underlying slower disease progression in long-term nonprogressors. And, b) It may help to establiseh a new prognostic marker, the hA3G abundance measurement, for HIV-infected patients.
Research Directions for Treatment of Depression

Late-life depression is an immense public health problem for which research on treatment interventions is very much needed. Between 1950 and 1990, average longevity worldwide increased from 46.6 years to 64.7 years (United Nations, 1993). With this surge in the elderly population has come an increased prevalence of late-life depression and its sometimes severe consequences. Older people with depressive symptoms have a threefold increase in mortality (Ashby et al., 1991). As many as 15% to 25% of nursing home residents in the United States have major depression (NIH Consensus Development Panel, 1992), and between 50% and 80% of elderly people who commit suicide have major depression (Clark, 1991; Conwell et al., 1991; Finkel & Rosman, 1995).
Materials in maxillofacial prosthetics

Maxillofacial prosthetic materials are classified in two main groups: extraoral and intraoral prosthetic materials. Among extraoral prosthetic materials vinyl chloride polymers, poly (methyl methacrylate), silicone, and polyurethane are discussed for use in facial prosthetics. At present silicones and polyurethane materials are considered most desirable for their strength, even though both are somewhat difficult to color. Intraoral prosthetic materials include silicones, poly (methyl methacrylate), Tantalum, Ticonium, Vitallium, and Titanium mesh materials. Here again, silicone is particularly valued for its tissue tolerability. Metallic mesh materials have the advantage of permitting granulated tissue to migrate through the mesh. The criteria for ideal materials in maxillofacial prosthetics are as follows: extraoral prostheses should not irritate the surrounding tissues, yet it should be strong enough about the periphery to endure. It should be translucent, light weight, easy to process, and easy to manipulate prior to processing. It should be resistant to various chemicals such as ether, oil and to sunlight, heat, and cold. Implantable prosthetic materials must not be physically modified by the soft tissue; must not be capable of inciting inflammatory or foreign body reaction; must be chemically inert, noncarcinogenic, capable of resisting strain, easy to construct, and easy to sterilize. Progress toward meeting these criteria depends upon cooperation between laboratory and clinical researchers.
Conversion of voltage-mode biquads to current-mode

A new procedure for obtaining cascadable, opamp based current-mode biquads from voltage-mode biquads without the use of voltage-mode to current-mode transformations is presented. Two new multi opamp biquads circuits are derived and used to construct lowpass, highpass, bandpass, notch, and allpass filters. A single opamp bandpass circuit is also derived. Laboratory results are provided.
Ultrastructure of neurons in the nucleus basalis of meynert in squirrel monkey

The nucleus basalis of Meynert in the squirrel monkey exhibits numerous labeled neurons following the retrograde transport of horseradish perox-idase from occipital cortical injection sites. The typically large, often clustered, labeled cells are seen most frequently in association with the fibrous bordering structures of the substantia innominata and in the internal and external laminae of the globus pallidus. Ultrastructurally the copious cytoplasm of nucleus basalis neurons abounds with organelles. Large, vacuo-lated lipofuscin granules proliferate as a function of age and are not evident in younger monkeys. Approximately 4% of the somal surface is occupied by symmetrical synapses with either flat or pleomorphic vesicles. The remainder is covered mostly by neuroglial processes. Somatic spines bearing synapses are occasionally observed. In the neuropil surrounding nucleus ba-salis somata, the synapses onto dendrites and spines are mostly asymmetrical with large, round vesicles. Labeled nucleus basalis cells in the substantia innominata immediately lateral to the optic tract are larger and rounder than cells in the internal and external pallidal laminae. However, no remarkable ultrastructural differences were observed between nucleus basalis so-mata in the substantia innominata and external pallidal lamina, or between horseradish peroxidase-labeled and unlabeled large cells.
Leveraging biodiversity knowledge for potential phyto-therapeutic applications

Objective To identify and highlight the feasibility, challenges, and advantages of providing a cross-domain pipeline that can link relevant biodiversity information for phyto-therapeutic assessment. Materials and methods A public repository of clinical trials information (ClinicalTrials.gov) was explored to determine the state of plant-based interventions under investigation. Results The results showed that ∼15% of drug interventions in ClinicalTrials.gov were potentially plant related, with about 60% of them clustered within 10 taxonomic families. Further analysis of these plant-based interventions identified ∼3.7% of associated plant species as endangered as determined from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red List. Discussion The diversity of the plant kingdom has provided human civilization with life-sustaining food and medicine for centuries. There has been renewed interest in the investigation of botanicals as sources of new drugs, building on traditional knowledge about plant-based medicines. However, data about the plant-based biodiversity potential for therapeutics (eg, based on genetic or chemical information) are generally scattered across a range of sources and isolated from contemporary pharmacological resources. This study explored the potential to bridge biodiversity and biomedical knowledge sources. Conclusions The findings from this feasibility study suggest that there is an opportunity for developing plant-based drugs and further highlight taxonomic relationships between plants that may be rich sources for bioprospecting.
Response by authors re: Differentiation of oncocytoma and renal cell carcinoma in small renal masses (<4 cm): the role of 4-phase computerized tomography

Throughout medicine, there is a recurrent paradigm of development of noninvasive/less invasive testing used to identify patients who may then be able to forgo relatively more invasive diagnostic testing and treatment. In the realm of cardiology, reconstructed advanced imaging has been extensively investigated as a substitute for cardiac catheterization [1]. In the realm of urology, we have long pursued use of PSA testing to identify men at risk for the prostate cancer and have used this to aid in the selection of patients to undergo prostate biopsy. More recently, further refinements in overall care to those patients diagnosed with prostate cancer, in response to potentially excessive diagnosis and treatment related morbidity, have been introduced with the development of active surveillance protocols to aid in the identification of patients with prostate cancer that may potentially be spared treatment-associated morbidity [2]. In the case of renal tumors, to date, only limited advancements have taken place in terms of preoperative characterization of renal masses. Due to lack of such advancements, notably in the case of small renal masses, we as urologists, in the majority of cases, essentially resort to excisional biopsy of these poorly characterized lesions, for lack of better preoperative characterization. Though partial nephrectomy has certainly undergone a number of refinements and technical advances, this procedure, even in centers of excellence, has well defined risk for morbidity [3]. The effects and nature of renal ischemia are also currently under investigation at a large number of institutions due to concerns over what long-term impact this may have for the patient [4, 5].
Coercion Theory, Self-Control, and Social Information Processing: Understanding Potential Mediators for How Parents Influence Deviant Behaviors

Research has demonstrated that (in)effective parenting influences whether a child/adolescent engages in deviant behaviors; however, research is mixed regarding whether that influence is direct. After a review of theoretical and empirical evidence, parenting factors outlined by several theories appear important in explaining the association between parenting and deviance. More importantly, however, is that the parental influence may not be direct, but rather mediated through a child/adolescent's level of self-control and social information processing skills. As such, evidence suggests that to fully understand the complex association between parenting and deviance, parenting and mediating factors from multiple theories must be explored simultaneously.
Composition and enzymatic activity of the extracellular matrix secreted by germlings of botrytis cinerea.

Germlings of Botrytis cinerea, an important fungal pathogen of plants, produce an extracellular matrix (ECM), or ensheathing film, that serves, in part, in their attachment (R. P. Doss, et al., Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 61:260–265, 1995). The composition of this film has been ascertained by using samples obtained by growing germlings on a glass surface, removing the fungal mycelium by vigorous washing, and collecting the tightly attached film by scraping the substratum with a razor blade. Slightly over half of the dry weight of the ECM was found to be carbohydrates (about 20%), proteins (about 28%), and lipids (about 6%). Hydrolysis of the carbohydrate portion of the ECM revealed that glucose was the most prominent monosaccharide present, comprising about 60% of the total monosaccharides. Also present were mannose (about 35%) and myo-inositol (about 5%). The proteinaceous fraction of the ECM was made up of a number of polypeptides separable by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The lipid fraction of the ECM, analyzed by thin-layer chromatography, was made up of several simple lipid components, including free fatty acid, mono- and triacylglycerol, wax ester, fatty alcohol, and several unidentified components. No complex lipids were detected. Isolated ECM exhibited polygalacturonase and laccase activity and was able to catalyze the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl butyrate, a model substrate for assessing cutinase activity. Cellulase, pectin lyase, and pectin methyl esterase activities were noted with both heated and unheated ECM preparations. Proteinase activity was not detected.
Acute and chronic angiotensin hypertension: neural and nonneural components, time course, and dose dependency

We examined the mechanisms mediating hypertension in conscious rats during acute and chronic infusion of angiotensin II (ANG II) at pressor doses (50, 100, and 200 ng.kg-1.min-1). Trimethaphan-induced blood pressure reduction was inversely related to the acute dose of ANG II, consistent with a constrictor action of ANG II on vascular smooth muscle and withdrawal of sympathetic tone. During chronic ANG II infusion, the entire increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) was inhibited by trimethaphan, consistent with neural mediation. During acute ANG II hypertension, the AT1-specific receptor blocker losartan induced a large fall in MAP (64 +/- 4 mmHg) in ganglion-blocked (chlorisondamine) rats, whereas, during chronic ANG II hypertension, losartan had only a small hypotensive effect (11 +/- 3 mmHg). To determine the time course of the change from vascular smooth muscle action to neural action, we measured MAP in response to trimethaphan during the first 24 h of ANG II infusion. After 5 h, the minimal MAP in response to trimethaphan was significantly higher than that before ANG II. After 10 h of infusion, trimethaphan decreased MAP to pre-ANG II levels. That is, the neural component was fully active after only 10 h of infusion in rats. Finally, chronic administration of ANG II resulted in a dose-related increase in MAP that, at all doses, was completely inhibited by trimethaphan. These findings are consistent with ANG II acting primarily on vascular smooth muscle during acute infusion and via neural pathways during chronic treatment. The transition from direct smooth muscle to indirect neural action is rapid in rats (< 10 h), and the MAP and neural responses to ANG II are dose related during chronic hypertension.
The Political Economy Literature on North-South RelationsAlternative Approaches and Empirical Evidence

In the past ten years, the field of international political economy has experienced a rapid and controversial growth in interest among social scientists and statesmen. Much of this increase in interest can be attributed to the emergence of dependency theory to challenge traditional American paradigms in international and development studies. Thus, it appears to be an opportune time for interested scholars to embark upon a comprehensive and systematic evaluation of the field. To that end, this essay represents an effort to compare and evaluate four major approaches to the study of international political economy in general, as well as the issue of inequality between and within nations in particular. The formal comparative research, which speaks to the issues raised in the theoretical discussion, is also reviewed.
Deformation of Confined Poly(ethylene oxide) in Multilayer Films

The effect of confinement on the deformation behavior of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) was studied using melt processed coextruded poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid) (EAA) and PEO multilayer films with varying PEO layer thicknesses from 3600 to 25 nm. The deformation mechanism was found to shift as layer thickness was decreased between 510 and 125 nm, from typical axial alignment of the crystalline fraction, as seen in bulk materials, to nonuniform micronecking mechanisms found in solution-grown single crystals. This change was evaluated via tensile testing, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). With the commercially relevant method of melt coextrusion, we were able to overcome the limitations to the testing of solution-grown single crystals, and the artifacts that occur from their handling, and bridged the gap in knowledge between thick bulk materials and thin single crystals.
Impaired mobility: Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a complicated degenerative disorder which can be chronic or acute in nature. Its etiology is unclear although it has been associated with both cell- and humoral-mediated autoimmune mechanisms. Pathophysiologic effects of the disease include inflammation, demyelination of peripheral nerves, loss of granular bodies and degeneration of the basement membrane of the Schwann cell. This results in ascending paralysis and loss of cranial nerve function. Manifestations may be acute or chronic, and temporary or permanent, depending upon the degree of neuronal destruction. Due to the pervasive nature of GBS, nursing care is a challenge. Assessment of motor, respiratory and cardiac function is of key importance. Total care of the patient focuses on risks related to impaired mobility and ineffective airway clearance. Psychosocial care and patient education are also integral components of care.
Mote Design Supported with Remote Hardware Modifications Capability for Wireless Sensor Network applications

Many Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) applications are new and their requirements may not be fully anticipated during the sensor networks design and development stage. We are presenting a sensor network infrastructure that support motes’ with remote hardware and software modification to match the target applications need. Using the proposed infrastructure in next-generation WSNs will produce flexible infrastructures that will provide over-the-air remote design modification even after the deployment of WSNs on the sensing field. In this paper, we are presenting the design concept and challenges of such infrastructure. Also, we present the use of the infrastructure in one possible environmental monitoring application such as forest fire. The development of such infrastructure will have an impact on advances the research on the real-time remote sensing, heterogeneous WSN, and WSNs applications.
Photonic-plasmonic mode coupling in on-chip integrated optoplasmonic molecules.

We investigate photonic–plasmonic mode coupling in a new class of optoplasmonic materials that comprise dielectric microspheres and noble metal nanostructures in a morphologically well-defined on-chip platform. Discrete networks of optoplasmonic elements, referred to as optoplasmonic molecules, were generated through a combination of top-down fabrication and template-guided self-assembly. This approach facilitated a precise and controllable vertical and horizontal positioning of the plasmonic elements relative to the whispering gallery mode (WGM) microspheres. The plasmonic nanostructures were positioned in or close to the equatorial plane of the dielectric microspheres where the fields associated with the plasmonic modes can synergistically interact with the evanescent fields of the WGMs. We characterized the far-field scattering spectra of discrete optoplasmonic molecules that comprised two coupled 2.048 μm diameter polystyrene microspheres each encircled by four 148 nm diameter Au nanoparticles (NPs), ...
Types of Markov Fields and Tilings

The method of types is one of the most popular techniques in information theory and combinatorics. However, thus far the method has been mostly applied to 1-D Markov processes, and it has not been thoroughly studied for general Markov fields. Markov fields over a finite alphabet of size $m\ge 2$ can be viewed as models for multidimensional systems with local interactions. The locality of these interactions is represented by a shape $\mathcal {S}$ while its marking by symbols of the underlying alphabet is called a tile. Two assignments in a Markov field have the same type if they have the same empirical distribution, i.e., if they have the same number of tiles of a given type. Our goal is to study the growth of the number of possible Markov field types in either a $d$ -dimensional box of lengths $n_{1}, \ldots , n_{d}$ or its cyclic counterpart, a $d$ -dimensional torus. We relate this question to the enumeration of nonnegative integer solutions of a large system of Diophantine linear equations called the conservation laws. We view a Markov type as a vector in a $D=m^{| {\mathcal {S}}|}$ dimensional space and count the number of such vectors satisfying the conservation laws, which turns out to be the number of integer points in a certain polytope. For the torus, this polytope is of dimension $\mu =D-1-\mathrm {rk}( {\mathrm {\mathrm{C}}})$ , where $\mathrm {rk( {\mathrm {\mathrm{C}}})}$ is the number of linearly independent conservation laws $ {\mathrm {\mathrm{C}}}$ . This provides an upper bound on the number of types. Then, we construct a matching lower bound leading to the conclusion that the number of types in the torus Markov field is $\Theta (N^\mu )$ , where $N=n_{1}\ldots n_{d}$ . These results are derived by geometric tools, including ideas of discrete and convex multidimensional geometry.
Role of cardiopulmonary bypass in single vessel coronary revascularization: implications for MID-CABG.

Background Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting (MID-CABG) is being utilized for the treatment of coronary artery disease in selected patients. This innovative procedure has generated numerous technical issues relating to coronary revascularization, including whether to perform the revascularization with or without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods We addressed this issue indirectly by analyzing the 1995 New York State CABG registry, comparing patients who had single vessel bypass without CPB (Non-CPB Group) to a similar cohort of patients who had CABG performed on CPB (CPB Group). The database showed stratification of patients selected for bypass grafting without CPB to a significantly higher risk group, as shown by increased age, higher incidence of reoperation, transmural MI, congestive heart failure, carotid/cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease. Results Patients in the Non-CPB Group had a higher incidence of postoperative malignant ventricular arrhythmias and heart block requiring pacemaker insertion. Otherwise, the incidence of postoperative complications was similar between the two groups. Conclusions There were no statistical differences in the hospital mortality or the length of hospitalization between the two groups. In conclusion, the data showed a definite trend toward doing higher risk cases off CPB. These cases had an acceptable early morbidity and mortality outcome. The results were comparable to a group of lower risk patients with single vessel CABG done on cardiopulmonary bypass. However, further follow-up are required to evaluate long-term outcomes and confirm the utility of this surgical option.
Some model results on hemoglobin kinetics and its relationship to oxygen transport in blood.

In attempting the difficult process of constructing a mathematical model to represent transport of oxygen within the microcirculation, numerous simplifying assumptions are made to reduce the geometrical and physicochemical relationships to a mathematically tractable form. Any simplification which reduces the model’s mathematical complexity carries with it the implicit requirement that this simplification is, in some sense, justified. There is, of course, a continuing need to reexamine the assumptions and the modeling process with each improvement in experimental data and/or change in the geometrical concepts of the microcirculation.
Advantages and limitations of nanoparticle labeling for early diagnosis of infection

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Nanoparticle-based disease diagnostics harness a range of unique physical and chemical phenomena for the detection of biomarkers at exceedingly low levels. This capability potentially enables the diagnosis of disease earlier in its progression and improves the likelihood of positive treatment outcomes. This review highlights recent work in this area, and then projects the next steps needed to move this emerging capability beyond the research laboratory.Areas covered: This review examines the advantages and limitations of in vitro health care diagnostic tests that utilize nanoparticles (e.g. noble metal, quantum dot, and magnetic). It includes a brief overview of their unique properties, syntheses, and applicable readout strategies. This is followed by a brief synopsis of the obstacles faced when attempting to translate nanoparticle-based diagnostics from the R&D laboratory to the clinic and other arenas (i.e. the difficulties common to in vitro diagnostics), and then by a much more i...
Low Risk 4T Score Can Rule out Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia.

Abstract 1328 Poster Board I-350 Background Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a clinicopathologic diagnosis based on pretest clinical assessment aided by the 4T score and confirmed by laboratory testing for the presence of anti-heparin-platelet factor 4 antibody (HIT Ab). Prompt and accurate diagnosis of HIT is paramount due to an extraordinarily high risk of thrombosis, and the inherent risk of bleeding and high cost of direct thrombin inhibitors (DTI). The polyspecific enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (poly-ELISA) for the HIT Ab is the most commonly available test that detects IgG, IgM and IgA HIT Ab. The IgG-specific ELISA detects only IgG HIT Ab, the antibody that is known to cause HIT. The use of a second step ELISA with high-dose heparin in the reagent improves the specificity by demonstrating heparin-dependence of the antibody detected. The 4T score was developed to predict the probability of HIT. This score takes into account the severity of thrombocytopenia, timing of platelet fall with relation to heparin use, presence of new thrombosis, and other causes of thrombocytopenia. The high negative predictive value of the 4T score has been validated in multiple studies (Bryant et al, BJH 2008). However, the polyspecific ELISA was used in most of these studies, increasing the possibility of false positive tests. Study We have collected a database of patients being tested for HIT at our institution, where the IgG-specific ELISA along with high-dose heparin inhibition is being used to detect the HIT Ab. We performed a retrospective review of the last 165 ELISAs performed and the clinical circumstances of the testing. We hypothesize that the high negative predictive value of the 4T score combined with the more specific IgG-specific ELISA could be used to rule out HIT and avoid the cost of testing and empiric use of DTI. Results 4T scores of 165 patients were analyzed and compared to the results of the HIT Ab. The distribution of optical density units of the ELISA according to 4T score is shown in Figure 1. Of the 165 patients, 107 patients (64%) had a 4T score of 0-3. Of those 107 patients, 2 patients had OD>0.4; both had no significant inhibition with the addition of high-dose heparin (Table 1). Thus none of the 107 patients had a positive IgG-specific ELISA for HIT Ab. Thus having a low 4T score has a sensitivity of 100% for IgG-specific ELISA for HIT Ab, specificity of 71%. This translates to a positive predictive value of 26%, and a negative predictive value of 100% (Table 2). Conclusion Based on our data, we conclude that patients with low 4T scores (0-3) are highly unlikely to have HIT. Therefore, we propose that patients with a low 4T score do not need the laboratory workup or empiric treatment for HIT. Since the majority of patients suspected to have HIT have low 4T scores, reserving testing and empiric therapy for patients with intermediate and high 4T scores can lead to significant cost savings, and avoidance of potentially devastating bleeding complications with DTI therapy. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Small Molecule-Based Pattern Recognition To Classify RNA Structure.

Three-dimensional RNA structures are notoriously difficult to determine, and the link between secondary structure and RNA conformation is only beginning to be understood. These challenges have hindered the identification of guiding principles for small molecule:RNA recognition. We herein demonstrate that the strong and differential binding ability of aminoglycosides to RNA structures can be used to classify five canonical RNA secondary structure motifs through principal component analysis (PCA). In these analyses, the aminoglycosides act as receptors, while RNA structures labeled with a benzofuranyluridine fluorophore act as analytes. Complete (100%) predictive ability for this RNA training set was achieved by incorporating two exhaustively guanidinylated aminoglycosides into the receptor library. The PCA was then externally validated using biologically relevant RNA constructs. In bulge-stem-loop constructs of HIV-1 transactivation response element (TAR) RNA, we achieved nucleotide-specific classification...
What We Say vs. What They Do: A Comparison of Middle-School Coding Camps in the CS Education Literature and Mainstream Coding Camps (Abstract Only)

In attempts to broaden participation in computing, the computer science education community has developed a wide variety of outreach activities to encourage students of different ages to learn computational thinking techniques and to develop an interest in computer science. In their recent surveys of the CSed literature, Decker, McGill, and Settle identify over eighty papers on K-12 outreach activities, of which approximately forty address middle-school coding camps. However, summer coding camps are offered by a much wider variety of organizations than computer science educators committed to diversifying the field. Some are offered by organizations committed to diversity, such as Black Girls Code and Girls Who Code. Others are offered by universities for recruitment, and necessarily to support diversification. Still others are offered by for-profit entities. What are the relationships between the two models of camp? Do the ideas that appear in the research literature filter out to the more mainstream camps, or do the more mainstream camps provide a very different model of computer science? In this project, we reviewed both the computer science education literature (52 sources representing 45 camps) and summer code camps identified on the World-Wide Web (480 different camps). In this poster, we report on common approaches and themes that others may choose to adapt or adopt. We also explore significant differences between the research-centered camps and the mainstream camps in approach, language, and apparent outreach goals.
Factors Associated With Classification of Hyperplastic Polyps as Sessile Serrated Adenomas/Polyps on Morphologic Review.

Background Distinguishing sessile serrated adenomas/polyp (SSA/P), a subset of serrated polyps, from hyperplastic polyps (HPs) remains a challenge and has surveillance implications. Our goal was to identify clinical and pathologic factors associated with serrated polyps originally read as HPs being reassessed as SSA/Ps versus confirmed as HPs. Methods Data were collected from consecutive patients with a right-sided HP and a corresponding comparison group with conventional adenomas between 1993 and 2003. Two experienced gastrointestinal pathologists, blinded to polyp and clinical factors, reinterpreted the HPs using current SSA/P classification criteria. These HPs were classified as SSA/P when diagnostic histologic feature(s) were present in at least 3 crypts. Analyses, conducted on a per polyp basis, examined the factors associated with risk of individual HPs being reassessed as SSA/Ps as opposed to being confirmed as HPs. Results Of the 702 HPs (355 adults), 188 (26.8%) were reclassified as SSA/Ps. Predictors of HPs being reinterpreted as SSA/Ps included: size ≥5 mm [odds ratio (OR), 2.09; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.34-3.26], proximal location (OR, 2.83; 95% CI, 1.69-4.74), synchronous adenomas with advanced pathology (OR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.22-5.55) and ≥1 synchronous HPs (other than HP being reassessed) reclassified as SSA/Ps (OR, 11.76; 95% CI, 6.75-20.49). Conclusions Because HP versus SSP is not very reproducible the predictors of SSA/P that we identified, including size, location, and synchronous lesions, can offer some additional help to endoscopists when determining surveillance intervals in patients with serrated polyps. In addition, observed association between SSA/P with advanced conventional neoplasia (but not low-grade adenomas) suggests 2 distinct groups of patient predisposition, one with both advanced conventional and important serrated precursors (SSA/P) and the other largely restricted to nonadvanced conventional adenomas and HPs only. Whether the association reported here has to do with SSA/P diagnosis per se or generally larger size of SSA/P remains to be determined in future studies.
Does Enrollment in High-Deductible Health Plans Encourage Price Shopping?

Objective To investigate whether enrollment in high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) led enrollees to choose lower-priced providers for office visits and laboratory tests. Study Setting Claims data from more than 40 large employers. Study Design We compared the change in price for office visits and laboratory tests for enrollees who switched to HDHPs versus enrollees who remained in traditional plans. We estimated separate models for enrollees who changed providers versus those who remained with the same provider to disentangle the effects of HDHPs on provider choice and negotiated prices. Data Collection Claims data from 2004 to 2010 on 1.8 million enrollees. Principle Findings After enrollment in HDHPs, 28 percent of enrollees changed physicians for office visits (compared to 19 percent in the Traditional Plan group, p < .01); however, this did not result in a statistically significant reduction in price for office visits. About 25 percent of enrollees changed providers for laboratory tests (compared to 23 percent in the Traditional Plan group, p < .01), resulting in savings of about $2.09 or a 12.8 percent reduction in price per laboratory test. We found that HDHPs had lower negotiated prices for office visits but not for laboratory tests. Conclusions High-deductible health plan enrollment may shift enrollees to lower cost providers, resulting in modest savings.
Associations between seasonal variation and post-operative complications after total hip arthroplasty

Background: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) complication rates are low, but pose marked challenges during the post-operative care period. Therefore, it is important to determine which risk factors are associated with an increased rate of these complications. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the association between seasonal variations and the 30-day post-operative complication rates following THA. Specifically, we evaluated a large prospectively collected national database for: (I) overall complication rates; (II) seasonal variations in incidence; and (III) specific quarter (Q), if any, associations. Methods: This multi-center observational cohort study was conducted by analyzing 102,682 THA surgeries listed in the American College of Surgeon National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database (ACS-NSQIP) from January 1st, 2011 to December 31st, 2015. All surgeries were divided into 4 groups based on the quarter of the year in which the surgery was performed. We identified 20 complications listed in the ACS-NSQIP and calculated 30-day post-operative complication rates. Univariate analysis was performed to compare complication rates between different seasons. Multivariate analysis was performed to control for potential confounding variables. Results: The overall complication rate in this cohort was 1.09%. Upon tabulation of the different post-operative THA complication incidence rates sorted by quarters, 16 out of 20 outcomes had Conclusions: Overall, our results indicate a low complication rate in this cohort of patients who underwent a THA (1.09%). There was no correlation between seasonal variation and 30-day complication rates following THA, except for bleeding risk, which remains unexplained. These findings suggest that elective THA does not have to be scheduled around specific times of the year in order to avoid 30-day post-operative complications.
En face optical coherence tomography

This chapter discusses the en face optical coherence tomography findings in several inflammatory retinochoroidal disease entities including multiple evanescent white dot syndrome, acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy, serpiginous chorioretinitis, persistent placoid maculopathy, multifocal chorioretinitis, and acute macular neuroretinopathy. These entities can be characterized by isolated inflammation and dysfunction of the inner/outer retina, retinal pigment epithelium, choroid, or, more commonly, a combination of all of these. En face optical coherence tomography offers the ability to track changes over time, showing great details of individual retinal layers, and allows for the correlation in vivo of retinal lesions with specific secondary changes including photoreceptor damage and cystoid macular edema.
Expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in primary spontaneous pneumothorax: MMP-9 as a potential biomarker for surgical intervention

Background: Primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) is usually caused by the spontaneous rupture of pleural blebs or bullae. We aimed to investigate the mechanism of bulla formation related to PSP development. Methods: Twenty-four adolescents with PSP were enrolled prospectively and gene expression analysis of 10 lung tissue biopsies was performed to identify differentially expressed genes associated with PSP. Pathway and network analysis was performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) web tool. Results: Gene network analysis revealed pathways related to cell-extracellular matrix interactions were significantly different between lesion and normal sites of lung biopsies. Biologic functions including proteolysis in biological process (BP), extracellular matrix in cellular component (CC), and peptidase, endopeptidase and metallopeptidase activity in molecular function (MF) were predominantly found in up-regulated genes as compared to down-regulated genes. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) genes were overexpressed and MMP-1 and MMP-9 were expressed with more than 10-fold difference. Most importantly, MMP-9 was not only overexpressed in the cells of PSP lung tissues (neutrophils, alveolar macrophage and mesothelial cells) but also was significantly associated with the need for surgical intervention. Conclusions: An imbalance of cell-extracellular matrix interactions caused by MMPs may result in alveolar destruction, distal emphysema and blebs formation, leading to the development of PSP. MMP-9 expression could potentially be a valuable marker for the surgical intervention of adolescent patients with PSP.