cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A randomized comparison of automated intermittent mandatory boluses with a basal infusion in combination with patient-controlled epidural analgesia for labor and delivery.

Abstract Background Automated mandatory boluses (AMB), when used in place of a continuous basal infusion, have been shown to reduce overall local anesthetic consumption without compromising analgesic efficacy in patient-controlled epidural analgesia (PCEA). We hypothesized that our PCEA+AMB regimen could result in a reduction of breakthrough pain requiring epidural supplementation in comparison with PCEA with a basal infusion (PCEA+BI). Methods We recruited sixty-two healthy ASA I nulliparous parturients in early labor. The parturients were randomized to receive 0.1% ropivacaine+fentanyl 2μg/mL either via PCEA+BI (PCEA with basal continuous infusion of 5mL/h) or PCEA+AMB (PCEA with AMB of 5mL every hour instead of a basal infusion) immediately following successful induction of combined spinal–epidural (CSE) analgesia. Block characteristics, incidence of breakthrough pain requiring epidural supplementation, side effects, obstetric outcomes, Apgar scores and overall maternal satisfaction with analgesia were noted. Results The time-weighted hourly consumption of ropivacaine (PCEA and clinician supplementation for breakthrough pain) was significantly lower in the PCEA+AMB group (mean=7.6mL, SD 3.2) compared to the PCEA+BI group (mean=9.3mL, SD 2.5; P P Conclusion PCEA+AMB, when compared to PCEA+BI, confers greater patient satisfaction and a longer duration of effective analgesia after CSE despite reduced analgesic consumption.
Post-diagnosis family adaptation influences glycemic control in women with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Family adaptation to type 2 diabetes management after nutrition education was studied as part of a 2.5-year ethnography. Data analysis included descriptive data (observations, transcribed audio recordings, written field notes) and quantitative data (self-monitored morning fasting blood glucose, food records) from the families of 5 New York suburban women. The following inferences emerged from data analysis. Among the women with improved glycemic control, the home and family routines had changed. Diabetes management was observed as certain tasks: food tasks, patient care tasks, management tasks, and medical advice tasks. The social context of the women's daily lives influenced their glycemic control; specifically, family members other than the women with diabetes took on new "hospital roles and routines." Nutrition education should be directed toward assessing existing family social support and helping women organize and supplement this support to ensure the successful completion of the tasks of diabetes self-management. J Am Diet Assoc. 2001;101:918–922.
Electrodeposition of nanometer-sized ferric oxide materials in colloidal templates for conversion of light to chemical energy

Colloidal crystal templates were prepared by gravitational sedimentation of 0.5 micron polystyrene particles onto fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) electrodes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) shows that the particles were close packed and examination of successive layers indicated a predominantly face-centered-cubic (fcc) crystal structure where the direction normal to the substrate surface corresponds to the (111) direction. Oxidation of aqueous ferrous solutions resulted in the electrodeposition of ferric oxide into the templates. Removal of the colloidal templates yielded ordered macroporous electrodes (OMEs) that were the inverse structure of the colloidal templates. Current integration during electrodeposition and cross-sectional SEM images revealed that the OMEs were about 2 µm thick. Comparative X-ray diffraction and infrared studies of the OMEs did not match a known phase of ferric oxide but suggested a mixture of goethite and hematite. The spectroscopic properties of the OMEs were insensitive to heat treatments at 300°C. The OMEs were utilized for photoassisted electrochemical oxidation. A sustained photocurrent was observed from visible light in aqueous photoelectrochemical cells. Analysis of photocurrent action spectra revealed an indirect band gap of 1.85 eV. Addition of formate to the aqueous electrolytes resulted in an approximate doubling of the photocurrent.
Hippocampal Unit Activity during Classical Aversive and Appetitive Conditioning

Rats were trained with a tone being followed by either food or electric shock, on alternate days. Unit activity during application of the conditioned stimulus was recorded from the dorsal hippocampus. The results indicate differentiation of the hippocampal system. Dentate units respond by augmentation to a conditioned stimulus which leads to food and by inhibition to the same stimulus when it precedes electric shock. The hippocampus proper responds by augmentation in both situations. The intensity of the hippocampal response to the conditioned stimulus on the first day of training is higher if the unconditioned stimulus is food than if it is electric shock. These data cast light on the functions of the dorsal dentate-hippocampal connections and the hippocampus proper during aversive and appetitive conditioning.
Simple Method Of Correcting The Aberrations Of A Beamsplitter In Converging Light

A simple method of correcting exactly the third order aberrations of a tilted plate beam-splitter in converging light is presented. Various well corrected design examples are given.
The asymptotic form of the laminar boundary-layer mass-transfer rate for large interfacial velocities

The convective diffusion of matter from a stationary object to a moving fluid stream is distinct from pure heat transfer because of the appearance of a finite interfacial velocity at the solid surface. This velocity is related to the rate of mass transfer by a dimensionless group B in such a way that for −1 3 and that the transition region between the pure heat-transfer analogy (B ∼ 0) and the B [Gt ] 1 asymptote may be described by a simple graphical interpolation. These results may easily be extended to three-dimensional surfaces of revolution by the usual co-ordinate transformations of boundary-layer theory.
Targeted nanoparticles in imaging: paving the way for personalized medicine in the battle against cancer

The way we view cancer has advanced greatly in the past few decades from simplistic approaches to finely honed systems. This transition has been made possible because of advancements on two fronts: the first is the rapidly expanding knowledge base of the mechanisms and characteristics of cancer; the second is innovation in imaging agent design. Rapid advancements in imaging and therapeutic agents are being made through the evolution from one-dimensional molecules to multi-functional nanoparticles. Powerful new agents that have high specificity and minimal toxicity are being developed for in vivo imaging. Here we detail the unique characteristics of cancer that allow differentiation from normal tissue and how they are exploited in nanoparticle imaging development. Firstly, genetic alterations, either endogenous or induced through gene therapy, are one such class of characteristics. Proteomic differences such as overexpressed surface receptors is another targetable feature used for enhanced nanoparticle retention. Increased need for nutrients and specific growth signals to sustain proliferation and angiogenesis are further examples of how cancer can be targeted. Lastly, migration and invasion through a unique microenvironment are two additional traits that are exploitable, due to differences in metalloproteinase concentrations and other factors. These differences are guiding current nanoparticle design to better target, image and treat cancer.
An analysis of the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination rehabilitation section.

Objective One subject tested by the Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE) is rehabilitation. Our purpose was to analyze the OITE's rehabilitation section to (1) identify the rehabilitation subjects that are tested, (2) evaluate trainee performance on this section, and (3) evaluate the literature cited for this section as an aide to the trainee preparation for future OITE examinations. Design This study included OITE examinations from 2004 through 2009. The rehabilitation sections of these examinations were analyzed for content, type of questions asked (taxonomy 1: direct recall; taxonomy 2: diagnosis; taxonomy 3: evaluation/decision making and development of a treatment plan), and literature cited. The mean score in the rehabilitation section of the OITE from 2004 to 2009 was also evaluated, and literature citations were tabulated. Setting Orthopaedic surgery residency. Results In the 2004-2009 OITE examinations, a total of 1619 questions were administered, of which 53 (3.3%) related to rehabilitation. The most common rehabilitation questions assessed knowledge of prosthetic/orthotics (20.8%) and neuro-orthopedics (20.8%). Other questions addressed amputation (18.9%), physical therapy treatment and outcomes (18.9%), rehabilitation terminology (9.4%), and spinal cord injury (7.7%). Most frequently, the questions evaluated the trainee's direct recall of the subject (51%), evaluation/decision making and development of a treatment plan (30.1%), and diagnosis (18.9%). The mean score in the rehabilitation section of the OITE from 2004 through 2009 was 54.1% (range, 40% to 77.8%). A total of 53 references was used. The 3 most common references were the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery-American Volume (10), Orthopaedic Knowledge Update (volumes 7 through 9) (8), and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research (7). Conclusion To our knowledge, our study is the first to analyze the rehabilitation section of the OITE. Our results will help the trainee prepare for the examination by focusing on the appropriate content and literature.
Magnesium abnormalities of skeletal muscle in dermatomyositis and juvenile dermatomyositis.

Objective To characterize abnormalities in magnesium levels in the muscles of patients with dermatomyositis (DM) and juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) and to evaluate the beneficial effects of prednisone and immunosuppressive therapy in elevating free magnesium (Mg2+) and ATP-bound magnesium (Mg-ATP). Methods The study groups consisted of 12 adult patients with DM and 10 juvenile patients with JDM. The 2 control groups were 11 normal adults and 6 healthy children. Levels of total ATP in the quadriceps muscles of the subjects were determined during rest, exercise, and recovery, using noninvasive P-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Concentrations of the biologically active free Mg2+ and the enzymatically active Mg-ATP complex were determined from the spectroscopy data by calculation of the chemical shifts of the β-phosphate peak of ATP. Results Mg-ATP levels in DM and JDM myopathic muscles were at least 37% lower than those in normal muscles during rest, exercise, and recovery from exercise (P < 0.0005). Free Mg2+ levels were normal in DM and JDM myopathic muscles at rest, but were significantly lower than control values during exercise and recovery (P < 0.029 and P < 0.005 for DM and JDM, respectively). Prednisone and immunosuppressive therapy partially reversed the magnesium abnormalities, as evidenced by elevation of the levels of Mg-ATP and free Mg2+. Conclusion Low levels of Mg-ATP and free Mg2+ are concordant with weakness and fatigue observed in DM and JDM patients. Immunosuppressive therapy alleviates, in part, the magnesium deficits in the diseased muscles. Therefore, Mg-ATP and free Mg2+ may play a significant role in the pathophysiology of these diseases.
An algorithm for zero-skew clock tree routing with buffer insertion

We study the problem of multi-stage zero skew clock tree construction for minimizing clock phase delay and wire-length. In existing approaches clock buffers are inserted only after the clock tree is constructed. The novelty of this paper lies in simultaneously performing clock tree routing and buffer insertion. We propose a clustering-based algorithm which uses shortest delay as the cost function. We show that the feasible positions for clock tree nodes and buffers can be generalized from diagonal segments (merging segments) to rectangles (merging blocks). Buffers are large components and must be placed pairwise disjointly. We also show that the problem of finding legal positions for buffers such that no buffers overlap can be formulated as a shortest path problem on graphs, and can be solved by the Bellman-Ford algorithm. By making use of the spacial properties of the graphs, we further speedup the Bellman-Ford algorithm. The experimental results show that our algorithm greatly outperforms the approach of inserting buffers after clock routing.
Glycopeptide storage in skin fibroblasts cultured from a patient with alpha-mannosidase deficiency.

Abstract Patients with mannosidosis, an inherited deficiency of lysosomal alpha-mannosidase, accumulate large amounts of mannose-rich oligosaccharides (the "core" of the carbohydrate units of many glocoproteins) in brain and liver and excrete these partial degradation products in their urine. A profound alpha-mannosidase deficiency was demonstrated in fibroblasts cultured from a skin biopsy obtained from a child with mannosidosis. Further, abnormal glycopeptides rich in mannose and similar to oligosaccharides found in the patient's urine were isolated from fibroblast extracts by a variety of chromatographic procedures and by virtue of their binding to a concanavalin A-Sepharose 4B affinity column. This storage material contained mannose, N-acetylglucosamine, and asparagine in the ratio 3 : 1 : 1 together with a few toher amino acids and had a molecular weight of approximately 1,100. There was no evidence for excretion of storage material by mannosidosis fibroblasts or for any abnormality in cell surface glycoprotein composition. The glycopeptide nature of the storage material isolated from cultured skin fibroblasts may be attributed to the low level of N-aspartyl-beta-glucosamindase (EC 3.5.1.-) activity in these cells.
Antiferromagnetic phase transition in a nonequilibrium lattice of Rydberg atoms

We study a driven-dissipative system of atoms in the presence of laser excitation to a Rydberg state and spontaneous emission. The atoms interact via the blockade effect, whereby an atom in the Rydberg state shifts the Rydberg level of neighboring atoms. We use mean-field theory to study how the Rydberg population varies in space. As the laser frequency changes, there is a continuous transition between the uniform and antiferromagnetic phases. The nonequilibrium nature also leads to a novel oscillatory phase and bistability between the uniform and antiferromagnetic phases.
Adaptive beamforming for coherent signals and interference

In this paper we introduce a new adaptive array beam-former able to work well even when the desired signal and the interference are coherent. The present adaptive beamformers fail to operate in these cases. The results of simulations support the theoretical predictions.
Optimization of Semiempirical Quantum Chemistry Methods via Multiobjective Genetic Algorithms: Accurate Photodynamics for Larger Molecules and Longer Time Scales

Excited-state photodynamics is important in numerous varieties of important materials applications (e.g., liquid crystal display, light emitting diode), pharmaceuticals, and chemical manufacturing ...
Learning to Discover Social Circles in Ego Networks

Our personal social networks are big and cluttered, and currently there is no good way to organize them. Social networking sites allow users to manually categorize their friends into social circles (e.g. 'circles' on Google+, and 'lists' on Facebook and Twitter), however they are laborious to construct and must be updated whenever a user's network grows. We define a novel machine learning task of identifying users' social circles. We pose the problem as a node clustering problem on a user's ego-network, a network of connections between her friends. We develop a model for detecting circles that combines network structure as well as user profile information. For each circle we learn its members and the circle-specific user profile similarity metric. Modeling node membership to multiple circles allows us to detect overlapping as well as hierarchically nested circles. Experiments show that our model accurately identifies circles on a diverse set of data from Facebook, Google+, and Twitter for all of which we obtain hand-labeled ground-truth.
Clear cell carcinoma of the ovary mimicking struma ovarii and carcinoid tumor

Clear cell carcinomas are considered as high-grade tumor often with poor prognosis. We describe 2 cases of clear cell carcinomas of the ovary mimicking benign or less aggressive tumors encountered in the female genital track. The first case is mimicking a benign monodermal teratoma, the so-called struma ovarii, and the second mimicking a carcinoid tumor.
Accidental Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

In this case report of an accidental automobile carbon monoxide poisoning, we identify the following risk factors: freezing temperature, young passenger age, location in the rear of the auto, smaller patient mass, and auto disrepair. The pathogenesis of carbon monoxide poisoning is reviewed. Emergency treatment and suggested criteria for hyperbaric oxygen use in pediatric patients are discussed.
Limb Loss and Regeneration in Two Grabs: The King Crab Paralithodes camtschatica and the Tanner Crab Chionoecetes bairdi

The incidence of limb loss and regeneration in two species of benthic Crustacea, the king crab Paralithodes camtschatica, an anomuran, and the tanner crab Chionoecoetes bairdi, a brachyuran, is surveyed in populations from the Bering Sea. 29.4 % of young juvenile P. camtschatica and 14.8 % of adults had lost at least one limb. The overall incidence of limb loss in C. bairdi was 38.8 %, with female adults less prone to damage than males and juveniles. Limb loss increases in frequency in more posterior limbs. Right hand limbs are lost more often than left in both species. This “right handedness” appears to be widespread in crabs and may be due to the greater vulnerability of leading limbs. The frequency distribution of limb regenerate lengths in a population of young juveniles suggests that at least four instars must be passed before limb symmetry is restored.
Asymptomatic Inflammatory Bowel Disease Presenting With Mucocutaneous Findings

Although inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) typically presents with gastrointestinal complaints, mucocutaneous lesions are commonly associated and can precede gastrointestinal symptoms, thereby alerting the clinician to the diagnosis of IBD before the onset of gastrointestinal symptoms. Nine children are reported who had no gastrointestinal symptoms suggestive of IBD but presented with mucocutaneous findings of IBD and were subsequently diagnosed with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis based on characteristic features on gastrointestinal endoscopy and/or biopsies. The majority of the patients had oral and perianal lesions. We believe that IBD is a common etiology for persistent oral lesions in the pediatric population. In addition to a good history, children with unexplained oral mucous membrane lesions should have an examination of the rectal and genital mucosa as well as tests for complete blood count, iron levels, sedimentation rate, albumin, and occult blood in the stool with endoscopy and biopsies to rule out IBD if indicated.
Abstract 44: A Slowly Inactivating Sodium Current Contributes to the Prolongation of the Action Potential in Aging Cardiomyocytes

Aging is associated with alterations in the electrical properties of the heart resulting in an increased incidence of arrhythmic events and perturbation of cardiac performance. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the late sodium current (I NaL ), which presents slow inactivation kinetics, is upregulated in myocytes from old hearts contributing to the electrical remodeling of the senescent myocardium. For this purpose, the electrical profile of young (3-5 months) and old (24-30 months) C57BL6 mice was established at the organ and cellular levels. In comparison to young mice, old animals presented enlarged left ventricles and declined systolic and diastolic functions. The QRS complex and QT interval of the ECG were significantly prolonged in old animals, indicating that aging delays the electrical activation and recovery of the myocardium. The latter property was confirmed by slower repolarization phases of epicardial monophasic action potentials (AP) in old hearts, using perfused Langendorff preparations. Moreover, old hearts were more prone to develop arrhythmia by programmed electrical stimulation. By patch-clamp technique, myocytes from old mice showed a 2- and 1.7-fold increase in the time to 50% and 90% repolarization of the AP, respectively, than cells from young animals. In voltage-clamp mode, I NaL , which is operative during the repolarization phase of the AP, was 1.7-fold larger in cells obtained from old hearts with respect to young. Activation, steady state inactivation and time constants for I NaL were comparable in young and old myocytes, indicating that the enhanced late current was mediated by an increased maximal conductance. In old myocytes, blockade of I NaL with low doses of tetrodotoxin or mexiletine reduced by 24-48% the intermediate and late repolarization phases of the AP, whereas in young cells this intervention affected to a lesser extent only the late repolarization phase. Finally, administration of mexiletine in old mice shortened the QT interval by 25%, restoring ventricular electrical recovery. In conclusion, the late sodium current I NaL is upregulated with aging and contributes to the slower repolarization of the senescent myocardium.
Investigation of Human First-Person Guidance Strategy from Gaze Tracking Data

This paper investigates human guidance strategies in first-person guidance tasks. A first-person guidance simulation setup is used, which records human gaze, vehicle trajectory and control inputs. For the evaluation of human guidance strategy, an optimal control framework that is formulated using the interaction patterns embedded in the corresponding optimal solution is presented. A metric called ISE (instantaneous sub goal error) is proposed to evaluate human guidance strategies. This paper also investigates the relationship among vehicle dynamic behavior, human gaze and environment.
Group Worker's Role in Guiding Social Process in a Medical Institution

The purpose of this paper is to apply social system theory to understanding the guidance of social process in a medical in stitution, with special emphasis on the role of the group worker. A brief description of the agency as a social system will be given, followed by an analysis of the role of the program worker in the acute ward. The institution is Irvington House in Irv ington, New York, a private, nonprofit agency whose primary purpose is the treat ment of boys and girls, ages 6 to 16 and older, who suffer from rheumatic fever. It is hoped that the fruitfulness of certain concepts will be demonstrated by their application to some aspects of the agency's work.
Hippocampal Sclerosis but Not Normal Aging or Alzheimer Disease Is Associated With TDP-43 Pathology in the Basal Forebrain of Aged Persons

Transactivating responsive sequence (TAR) DNA-binding protein 43-kDa (TDP-43) pathology has been described in various brain diseases, but the full anatomical distribution and clinical and biological implications of that pathology are incompletely characterized. Here, we describe TDP-43 neuropathology in the basal forebrain, hypothalamus, and adjacent nuclei in 98 individuals (mean age, 86 years; median final mini-mental state examination score, 27). On examination blinded to clinical and pathologic diagnoses, we identified TDP-43 pathology that most frequently involved the ventromedial basal forebrain in 19 individuals (19.4%). As expected, many of these brains had comorbid pathologies including those of Alzheimer disease (AD), Lewy body disease (LBD), and/or hippocampal sclerosis of aging (HS-Aging). The basal forebrain TDP-43 pathology was strongly associated with comorbid HS-Aging (odds ratio = 6.8, p = 0.001), whereas there was no significant association between basal forebrain TDP-43 pathology and either AD or LBD neuropathology. In this sample, there were some cases with apparent preclinical TDP-43 pathology in the basal forebrain that may indicate that this is an early affected area in HS-Aging. We conclude that TDP-43 pathology in the basal forebrain is strongly associated with HS-Aging. These results raise questions about a specific pathogenetic relationship between basal forebrain TDP-43 and non-HS-Aging comorbid diseases (AD and LBD).
Positive tone oxide nanoparticle EUV (ONE) photoresists

ABSTRACT Nanoparticles with a variety of organic/inorganic combinations have been investigated and the negative tone patterning was demonstrated using EUV radiation. Zirconium methacrylate (ZrMAA) nanoparticles had sensitivity with EUVexpos ure as high as 4.2 mJ/cm 2 with a resolution up to 22 nm, and an LER of 5.6 nm. Meanwhile, the dual-tone behavior of ZrMAA photoresists using e-beam and deep UV exposures is another attractive feature of the nanoparticlephotoresists, which may be further applied with EUV lithography. The current study investigates the positive tone patterning of ZrMAA and the process-dependent image reversal. Our proposed patterning mechanism is furtherillustrated and optimized based in a positive tone behavior study .Keywords: nanoparticle photoresist, positive-tone patterning, dual-tone, Ebeam, lithography 1. INTRODUCTION As required by advanced IC manufacturing, ever smaller feature size is required to accommodate more transistors per silicon die[1] [2]. Extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) is one of the candidates for next generationlithography as an extendible technology, which promises to resolve sub-10 nm half-pitch (hp) features and thus follow the roadmap of Moores Law[3] [4]. As a rapidly evolving emerging technology, technical challenges are under activ eresearch include a reliable power source, EUVL resist, defect free mask and qualified illuminator optics[5]. Newphotoresist materials are one of the key drivers for further size shrinkage, which will be developed to support simultaneous optimization in sensitivity, resolution and line edge roughness at a short wavelength (13.5 nm ).Hybrid metal-oxide nanoparticles are among the most competitive candidates due to its high etch resistance,good compatibility with photoacid generator (PAG) a nd amorphous phase nature[6]. Methacrylate bound ZrO
Measuring the Importance of Ethical Situations As a Source of Role Conflict: A Survey of Salespeople, Sales Managers, and Sales Support Personnel

AbstractAlthough the topic of salesforce ethics has received considerable attention, researchers have paid little attention to differences in ethical perceptions among members of sales organizations who are involved in the sales task. Since there exists a potential for disagreement within the firm, and since various groups affect salesperson behavior, the perceptions of the various groups should be known. This paper presents a study in which ethical behavioral situations in selling are examined from the perspectives of salespeople, sales managers, and sales support personnel. Results suggest agreement among all three groups that ethics is a matter of concern for all of them.
Optimal Models of Prosodic Prominence Using the Bayesian Information Criterion.

This study investigated the relation between various acoustic features and prominence. Past research has suggested that duration, pitch, and intensity all play a role in the perception of prominence. In our past work, we found a correlation between these acoustic features and speaker agreement over the placement of prominence. The current study was motivated by a need to enrich our understanding of this correlation. Using the Bayesian information criterion, we show that the best model for a feature that cues prosody is not necessarily a single Gaussian. Rather, the best model depends on the feature. This finding has consequences for our understanding of the role of these features in the perception of prosody and for prosody recognition systems.
The properties of property alignment

The performance of alignment systems on property matching lags significantly behind that on class and instance matching. This work seeks to understand the reasons for this and consider possible avenues for improvement. The paper contains an in-depth exploration of the performance of current alignment systems on the only commonly accepted alignment benchmark that involves matches between properties. A second benchmark involving properties is also proposed. Finally, an entirely string-based approach targeted towards aligning properties is presented and evaluated using both benchmarks.
DNA Replication, Recombination, and Repair

The instructions needed for producing all the components of a cell and for regulating their functions are encoded in the sequence of DNA. Accurate transmission of this information to the progeny and protection of the genome from chemical degradation are essential to life. Complementary base pairing in duplex DNA provides an elegant means for accurate replication of DNA and repair of DNA damage. Each strand of the duplex provides a template for generating the other strand and in essence acts as a “back-up copy” of the information. The many different proteins and enzymes required to physically manipulate large DNA polymers in replication, recombination, and repair, take advantage of the complementary base pairing between the strands to accomplish their tasks. These enzymes are capable of a sufficient level of accuracy to maintain genetic integrity, yet also allow a low level of mutations to generate genetic diversity ultimately allowing a population to adapt to changing conditions. Understanding how the cellular machinery functions to replicate, recombine, and repair the genome is central to understanding evolution of species and the origin of genetic diseases and cancer.
Differences between four voxel-based dosimetry methods for 90Y microsphere therapy

1277 Objectives In this study, we assessed differences between four different voxel-based dosimetry methods (VBDM) for tumor, liver, and lung doses following 90Y microsphere therapy (YMT) based on 90Y bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT. Simulations were used to investigate VBDM accuracy. Sensitivity of liver and lung dose estimates to organ segmentation was assessed. Methods VBDM investigated were Monte Carlo (MC), soft-tissue kernel (SK), soft-tissue kernel with density correction (SKD), and local deposition (LD). A total of 17 YMT cases were analyzed. Mean absorbed doses were calculated for tumor, normal liver (NL), and right lung (RL). Simulations with various SPECT spatial resolutions (FHWM) and lung shunt fractions (LS) were performed to estimate the accuracy of VBDMs around the liver-lung interface. Sensitivity of absorbed dose to organ segmentation was assessed from patient data by excluding volume near the liver-lung interface. Results For tumor mean absorbed doses, SKD was within 2% of MC, and all other VBDM were within 5%; similar results were found for NL. LD and SKD overestimated the RL mean absorbed dose compared to MC on average by 15% and 21%, respectively; SK underestimated the RL absorbed dose on average by -60%. Simulations (20 mm FWHM, 20% LS) showed that SKD, LD, and MC were within 10% of the true value deep (>39 mm) in lung; SK significantly underestimated the absorbed dose deep in lung by ~-70%. LD, SK, SKD, and MC were within 10% of true values deep (>12 mm) in the liver. Excluding 1, 2, and 3 cm of RL near the liver-lung interface changed the resulting RL mean absorbed dose by -21.8%, -38.0%, and -48.4%, respectively. An average change of -7% in the NL absorbed dose was seen when excluding 3 cm near the interface. Conclusions SKD, SK, and LD are equivalent to MC for liver tumors and NL. SK underestimates RL absorbed doses relative to MC whereas LD and SKD overestimate. RL mean absorbed doses are strongly influenced by the liver-lung interface region. Research Support NIH/NCI R01CA138986
Are International Classification of Diseases Codes in Electronic Health Records Useful in Identifying Obesity as a Risk Factor When Evaluating Surgical Outcomes

This research addresses an important methodological issue on patient safety and obesity for the purposes of examining clinical and administrative data for the reliability of using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnoses codes alone to reliably identify obesity as a comorbidity and risk factor in care and management. The findings of this research confirm ICD codes for the obese surgical populations were underutilized. Despite more than 70% of patients classified as overweight or obese, ICD-9 codes for obesity were assigned in less than 10% of the overall sample. Patients in the extreme category of obesity (body mass index [BMI] >40 kg/m) were more likely to have a corresponding ICD-9 code compared with patients in the BMI range of 25 to 40 kg/m. International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision coding for obesity was underutilized in patients with a BMI of greater than 25 kg/m. The associated health risks, costs, and potential adverse events associated with obesity make it imperative to continue to study the barriers to coding.
State Development, Parity, and International Conflict

This article explains the empirical connection between dyadic capability differences and international conflict as a consequence of how, when, and where states enter the international system. State capabilities are largely static, and, since states enter the system in geographic clusters, the processes of state maturation affect contiguous and regionally proximate states similarly. This makes dyadic capability differences static as well. The lack of change in capability differences over time suggests that the parity-conflict relationship is largely a product of the factors associated with state system entry. Indeed, as I demonstrate, several different proxies for the conditions of state system entry separately eliminate any statistical relationship between parity and militarized dispute onset, 1816–2001. I also find no relationship between parity and the wars that have occurred during that same time period. These results have a number of implications for the role of power and capabilities in explaining international conflict.
Dynamic Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography Angiography for Neurovascular Pathologies.

Background This article illustrates, summarizes, and reviews the multifaceted application of four-dimensional (4D) computed tomography angiography (CTA) in the characterization and diagnosis of various cerebrovascular and tumor-associated vascular pathologies through the presentation of clinical cases, including acute and chronic stroke, arteriovenous malformations, aneurysm, moyamoya disease, and hypervascularity associated with a tumor and its relationship to preoperative embolization. The technical nuances and limitations of the 4D-CTA technique are also discussed. Case Description We present 6 cases that best elucidate the application and technical nuances of 4D-CTA and its advantages over traditional digital subtraction angiography. Along with discussion of the utility of 4D-CTA, we also examine the limitations of this technique. Conclusions Intracranial vascular lesions can be detected with 4D-CTA and clinically evaluated using information related to vascular flow dynamics. The use of 4D-CTA provides data related to ongoing vascular changes as well as accurate spatial delineation of cerebrovascular pathologies. Overall, 4D-CTA is increasing its role in neuroimaging by providing superior information regarding structural three-dimensional imaging quality and real-time flow.
Fraudulent Conveyances Masquerading As Asset Protection Trusts

Viewed with a dispassionate but slightly skeptical eye, transfers to asset protection trusts are fraudulent conveyances pure and simple. I think so and the evidence points that way. The asset protection trust is a simulacrum of the well-known and thoroughly conventional mode of holding assets for a “beneficiary” by a “trustee” under the terms of an elaborate document. Trusts, of course, are widely used in estate planning and elsewhere in circumstances where one person, the settlor, wishes to make assets available to another on the settlor’s terms; a parent might use a trust to put aside assets for a minor child or for several grandchildren to share for their education. Typically the settlor wishes to direct or limit the beneficiary’s use of the principal and income because of the beneficiary’s tender age or because the settlor fears that the beneficiary will waste the assets or otherwise use them for a purpose contrary to the settlor’s wishes. The prototypical asset protection trust is different. In it the settlor and the beneficiary are the same person. When he is also the beneficiary, the settlor has the direct right to enjoy the assets; even when he is not the beneficiary, the settlor frequently has the indirect right to enjoy the assets by retaining the power to remove any trustee who does not honor the settlor’s requests. Invariably these trusts have “spendthrift” terms that purport to remove the trust assets from the reach of the settlor’s creditors. Seventeen states have adopted statutes that authorize asset protection trusts. All of these statutes change the law that prevailed before their enactment. Prior to the adoption of these statutes, the law in all of the states invalidated self-settled spendthrift trusts under a common law principle that found all such provisions to be a violation of public policy or because they were found to be fraudulent conveyances. As elaborated below, these statutes wipe out the contrary common law in the states where they are enacted and they modify the state fraudulent conveyance law to make a creditor’s fraudulent conveyance path more difficult.
Bribery in MNEs: The Dynamics of Corruption Culture Distance and Organizational Distance to Core Values

We examine how corporate bribery is impacted by cultural distance between multinational enterprises (MNEs) home and host countries, and organizational distance to core values between MNE entry modes and MNE headquarters. Tension between external and internal legitimacy helps to explain why cultural and organizational distances will affect MNE bribery. The empirical analysis used data from cross-border transactions by MNEs that were sanctioned by US regulatory officials between 1978 and 2011. We find statistical support for all hypotheses capturing main and moderating effects and suggest that MNEs may be seriously risking their legitimacies from transactions in corruption-prone host countries.
Aminopeptidase Modified Hydrolytic Enzymes to Improve the Efficiency of Sugar Production from Alkaline Pretreated Switchgrass

Cellulases and β-glucosidases (βGSD) are enzymes commonly used in the biofuel industry. In this study, smaller-sized variants were generated with aminopeptidase such that high catalytic capabilities were retained. Under the defined experimental conditions, the degree of hydrolysis was greater using cellulase substrates, compared to βGSD, based on ortho phthaldialdehyde (OPA) assay data (44% versus 15%). Proteolysis of cellulases was also evident based on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) protein banding patterns seen after peptidase treatment. Residual cellulase activity was retained after peptidase hydrolysis (67% to 73%) based on standard filter paper assays. Peptidase treated cellulases and βGSD were then utilized for hydrolysis of alkaline-pretreated switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Interestingly, the efficiency of the reaction, defined as milligrams of sugar produced per filter paper unit, was higher using truncated cellulases for bioprocessing reactions (~14%), especially in the absence of sodium azide. Conversely, incubation of βGSD with peptidase revealed minimal proteolysis with low impact on the efficiency of hydrolysis.
Optoelectronic Plasmonic Metamaterials with a Quantum Cascade Structure

Through transmission and reflection measurements, we show that the optical properties are preserved when a quantum cascade structure is incorporated into a plasmonic semiconductor metamaterial with negative refraction.
Humanizing Human Geography Online: The Quality Matters Journey

In 2015, nearly 18 percent of undergraduate students enrolled in online courses at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS; UCCS 2016a). Human geography is taught at the UCCS Department o...
Induced anisotropy in oxide glasses

Thermomechanically, optically, and chemically induced anisotropy in oxide glasses is reviewed. Optical anisotropy observed as birefringence and/or dichroism is correlated with form or distribution anisotropy in microstructure.
New Phantom Design for “Mapping” Spatial Resolution in SPECT Imaging

A new phantom design to determine spatial resolution in Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) imaging systems is described. Specifically, spotial resolution in terms of full width at half maximum (FWHM) values can be determined simultaneously at multiple areas within the volumetric field of view. These values can then be assigned to their respective position or “mapped” within the field of view to demonstrate variations in spatial resolution.
Improving NDE Through Multiple Inspections

Current nondestructive evaluation techniques generally do not produce identical indications when applied to flaws of the same length. The chance of detecting a given crack length depends on many factors, such as the location, orientation and shape of the flaw, materials, inspectors, inspection environments, etc. As a result, the probability of detection (POD) for all cracks of a given length has been used in the literature to define the capability of a particular NDE system in a given environment. Some POD curves are shown in Fig. 1 for various laboratory inspection techniques. Many other POD curves can be found, for instance, in Refs. 1–3.
Introduction to Therapy Dogs

Complementary treatments may include goal-directed dog visits to specific populations, called animal-assisted therapy, or more casual encounters designed to provide socialization and increase comfort, called animal-assisted activities. Therapy dogs may be permitted into areas that may typically restrict animals (e.g., schools, hospitals, and hospices) during the time when the dogs are providing therapeutic services. Therapy dog visits have been shown to provide both subjective and objective improvements in pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations with a broad range of medical conditions. Studies have shown significant physiological changes in humans after experiencing therapy dog visits. Ethical issues surrounding therapy dog visits have been addressed.
Decay of Pt 193

The $Q$ value for the electron-capture decay of ${\mathrm{Pt}}^{193}$ has been determined to be 60.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.0 keV, from a measurement of the endpoints of the $L$- and $M$-shell capture internal bremsstrahlung. The partial half-life for $L$ capture was found to be 620\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}250 yr by the determination of the specific activity of a sample.
Thomas Aquinas on Our Freedom to Use Our Habitus

This paper considers Thomas Aquinas’s claim that we can use certain habitus at will. Focusing on moral habitus, this claim is interpreted as a claim about the freedom human beings have with regard to their character traits: they can freely choose to act or not act according to their character traits. After giving a brief account of how, for Aquinas, character traits influence our actions via our emotions, the paper examines whether this freedom is of a libertarian or of a compatibilist kind. A libertarian reading is defended on the basis of certain remarks of Aquinas’s about the act of contrition.
Prediction of the Renal Elimination of Drugs With Cystatin C vs Creatinine: A Systematic Review.

Abstract Serum cystatin C has been proposed as a kidney biomarker to inform drug dosing. We conducted a systematic review to synthesize available data for the association between serum cystatin C and drug pharmacokinetics, dosing, and clinical outcomes in adults (≥18 years). PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE, EBSCO CINAHL, and Scopus were systematically searched from 1946 to September 2017 to identify candidate studies. Studies of cystatin C as a predictor for acute kidney injury or for management of contrast-associated acute kidney injury were excluded. Also, studies were excluded if drug concentrations were unavailable and if a reference standard for drug dosing (eg, serum creatinine) was not concurrently reported. The outcomes of interest included drug clearance (L/h), concentrations (mg/L), target level achievement (%), therapeutic failure (%), and drug toxicity (%). We included 28 articles that evaluated 16 different medications in 3455 participants. Vancomycin was the most well-studied drug. Overall, cystatin C–based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRCystatin C) was more predictive of drug levels and drug clearance than eGFRCreatinine. In only one study were target attainment and outcomes compared between 2 drug-dosing regimens, one based on eGFRCreatinine-Cystatin C and one dosed with the Cockcroft-Gault creatinine clearance equation. Compared with eGFRCreatinine, use of eGFRCystatin C to predict elimination of medications via the kidney was as accurate, if not superior, in most studies, but infrequently were data on target attainment or clinical outcomes reported. Drug-specific dosing protocols that use cystatin C to estimate kidney function should be tested for clinical application.
Framing Effects and Mobilization along the Marcellus Shale

How do social movements mobilize supporters to their cause? Social movement scholars have emphasized the importance of framing by media, political leaders, social movements, and other actors. While there is extensive research on framing in mass communication and the effect that media frames have on public opinion, there is less research on how framing may affect an individual’s willingness to mobilize for a cause. Some scholars have discussed the resonance of a frame for a target audience (Snow and Benford 1988). Others have argued that “mobilizing potency” may be a good proxy for frame resonance, because it taps into the ability of a social movement to gain supporters for protests, petitions, or other actions (Johnston and Noakes 2005). However, few studies have sought to systematically test the link between frame resonance and mobilization. This study seeks to fill that gap in the literature by testing the relationship between framing effects and mobilization. Using the case of shale gas development along the Marcellus Shale, this study employs both in-the-field interviews and an experiment that assesses how certain frames affect individual perceptions and their willingness to mobilize for a particular social movement. This study fits neatly in the intersection between the political communication and social movement literatures and contributes to both. In particular, it offers a link between framing effects and mobilization for social movement scholars, and further study on the production of frames and frames in competition to build on the political communication literature.