cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Encoding HTN planning in propositional logic

Casting planning problems as propositional satisfiability problems has recently been shown to be an effective way of scaling up plan synthesis. Until now, the benefits of this approach have only been utilized in primitive action-based planning models. Motivated by the conventional wisdom in the planning community about the effectiveness of hierarchical task network (HTN) planning models, in this paper we adapt the "planning as satisfiability" approach to HTN planning models. HTN planning models can be thought of as an augmentation of primitive action based planning models with a grammar of legal solutions, provided in the form of non-primitive tasks and task reduction schemas. Accordingly, we argue that any action-based encoding scheme can be generalized to handle HTN planning models. Informally, this generalization involves adding constraints to the encoding to ensure that the solutions produced by solving the encoding will conform to the grammar provided by the HTN planning model. The constraints can be added in either a "top-down" or "bottom-up" fashion, resulting in two HTN encoding schemes for each primitive action-based encoding scheme. We illustrate this process by providing three different HTN encodings. We discuss the asymptotic sizes of these encodings, as well as the complexity of finding models for them.
Patient Demographics and Extracorporeal Membranous Oxygenation (ECMO)-Related Complications Associated With Survival to Discharge or 30-Day Survival in Adult Patients Receiving Venoarterial (VA) and Venovenous (VV) ECMO in a Quaternary Care Urban Center

Objective Investigate how a multitude of patient demographics and extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO)-related complications affect 30-day survival or survival to discharge. Design Retrospective observational study. Setting Urban university hospital, quaternary care center. Participants Patients who underwent ECMO circulatory support from January 2012 to May 2016. Interventions Date-based data extraction, univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Measurements and Main Results The hospital database contained complete data for 235 adult patients who received venoarterial ECMO (74.04 %) and venovenous ECMO (25.96 %); 106 patients (45.11%) survived. The independent predictors significant in the odds of in-hospital mortality in a multiregression model were age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.028, p = 0.008), extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) after unsuccessful high-quality CPR (OR = 7.93, p =0.002), cardiogenic shock as the primary indication for circulatory support (OR = 2.58, p = 0.02), acute kidney injury (AKI) before ECMO initiation (OR = 7.53, p Conclusion The most significant findings of advancing age, time spent on ECMO, AKI, ECMO use in the setting of cardiogenic shock, ECPR, and limb ischemia as a complication of ECMO all independently increase the odds of in-hospital and 30-day mortality. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate a significant relationship between limb ischemia and mortality.
Nanophotonic optical gyroscope with reciprocal sensitivity enhancement

An integrated silicon photonic optical gyroscope achieves two orders of magnitude size reduction and a factor of thirty better phase-shift sensitivity using reciprocal sensitivity enhancement. Optical gyroscopes measure the rate of rotation by exploiting a relativistic phenomenon known as the Sagnac effect1,2. Such gyroscopes are great candidates for miniaturization onto nanophotonic platforms3,4. However, the signal-to-noise ratio of optical gyroscopes is generally limited by thermal fluctuations, component drift and fabrication mismatch. Due to the comparatively weaker signal strength at the microscale, integrated nanophotonic optical gyroscopes have not been realized so far. Here, we demonstrate an all-integrated nanophotonic optical gyroscope by exploiting the reciprocity of passive optical networks to significantly reduce thermal fluctuations and mismatch. The proof-of-concept device is capable of detecting phase shifts 30 times smaller than state-of-the-art miniature fibre-optic gyroscopes, despite being 500 times smaller in size. Thus, our approach is capable of enhancing the performance of optical gyroscopes by one to two orders of magnitude.
Abstract WMP93: Addressing Stroke Patient and Family Reasons for Not Calling 911

Objective: Our Comprehensive Stroke Center regularly provides community outreach and stroke education. The stroke team educates on signs and symptoms of stroke, risks factors, and 911 activation. E...
A classical non-quantum all-time time-symmetrical zero-energy single-bounce model for the creation, big bang, and death of the universe

In this paper, we show how the ΛCDM (Lambda Cold Dark Matter) Standard Model for cosmology can be extrapolated backwards through the big bang into the infinite past to yield an all-time model of the universe with scale factor given by aglobal(t) = Ωm,0 ΩΛ,01/3 sinh 3t 2tΛ2/3defined and continuous for all t ∈ (−∞,∞) and smooth (C∞) and satisfying Friedmann’s equation for all t≠0. At the big bang t = 0, there is a nondifferentiable cusp singularity and our model shows some details of the behavior of the universe at this singularity. Our model is a zero-energy single-bounce model and an examination of the (a,ȧ)-plot of the E = 0 level curve gives critical information about the initial and final states of the universe, about the evolution of the universe, and about the behavior of the universe at the big bang. Our results show that much can be said classically about the birth, big bang and death of the universe before one needs to reach for quantum gravitational effects.
Quality Measures in Postmastectomy Breast Reconstruction: Identifying Metrics to Improve Care.

Background Specific measures tailored to the properties of individual procedures will ensure the appropriate evaluation of quality. Because postmastectomy breast reconstruction (PMBR) is becoming increasingly common, a review of the literature is timely to identify potential breast reconstruction-specific measures that can be applied by institutions and national healthcare organizations to improve quality. Methods We searched PubMed and Embase for studies examining the quality of care for patients undergoing PMBR. Data extracted from the articles include basic study characteristics, the number of quality metrics, type of quality metric (defined by Donabedian model), and the domain of quality (defined by the National Academy of Medicine). Results A total of 2,158 articles were identified in the initial search, and 440 studies were included for data extraction. The most common type of quality measure was outcome measures (91%), and the least common measure was structure measures (1%). The most common metrics were operative time (41%), hospital type (28%), and aspects of the patient-provider interactions (20%). Additionally, we found that timeliness and equity were least common among the 6 National Academy of Medicine domains. Conclusions We identified metrics utilized in the PMBR, some of which can be further investigated through high-level evidence studies and incorporated into policy. Because many factors influence surgical outcomes and breast reconstruction is driven by patient preferences, an inclusion of structure, process, and outcome metrics will help improve care for this patient population. Moreover, nonpunitive initiatives, specifically quality collaboratives, may provide an avenue to improve care quality without compromising patient safety.
Crowdsensing for Spectrum Discovery: A Waze-Inspired Design via Smartphone Sensing

We study Waze-inspired spectrum discovery, where the cloud collects the spectrum sensing results from many smartphones and predicts location-specific spectrum availability based on information fusion. Observe that with limited sensing capability, each smartphone can sense only a limited number of channels; and further, the more channels each smartphone senses, the less accurate the sensing results would be. In particular, we consider two different smartphone sensing models: a homogeneous model and a heterogeneous model. To develop a comprehensive understanding, we cast the spectrum discovery problem as a matrix recovery problem, which is different from the classical matrix completion problem, in the sense that it suffices to determine only part of the matrix entries in the matrix recovery formulation. It is shown that the widely-used similarity-based collaborative filtering method would not work well because it requires each smartphone to sense too many channels. With this motivation, we propose a location-aided smartphone data fusion method and show that the channel numbers each smartphone needs to sense could be dramatically reduced. Moreover, we analyze the partial matrix recovery performance by using the location-aided data fusion method. Both theoretical analysis and numerical results corroborate the intuition that with each smartphone sensing more channels, the recovery performance improves at first but then degrades beyond some point because of the decreasing sensing accuracy.
Challenging Native Speakerism in Literacy Research and Education

Scholars have examined the myth of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) as model minorities in education and specifically within mathematics education, yet less is known about how this myt...
Social Communication and Structural Language of Girls With High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder

Purpose The purpose of this study was to characterize social communication and structural language of school-age girls with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (HF-ASD) compared to a matched group of girls who are typically developing (TD). Method Participants were 37 girls between 7;5 and 15;2 (years;months)-18 HF-ASD and 19 TD. Children completed the Test of Pragmatic Language-Second Edition (TOPL-2) and Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Fifth Edition. Parents completed the Children's Communication Checklist-2 United States Edition (CCC-2) and Receptive and Expressive Communication subdomains of the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Second Edition. Results In the area of social communication, girls with HF-ASD earned significantly lower scores and were more often classified as having an impairment on the TOPL-2 and the CCC-2. However, 28% and 33% earned average scores on the TOPL-2 and the CCC-2, respectively. In the area of structural language, no significant differences were found between groups on Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals-Fifth Edition indexes. In contrast, girls with HF-ASD earned significantly lower scores and were more often classified as having an impairment on the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-Second Edition. Sixty-one percent and 83% scored below average on the Receptive and Expressive Communication subdomains, respectively. Conclusions It has been argued that girls with HF-ASD, when compared to boys with HF-ASD, may have advantages for social communication and structural language that mask their impairments. However, when compared to girls who are TD, girls with HF-ASD demonstrated impaired social communication and structural language. Clinicians should include and carefully examine multiple sources of information when assessing girls with HF-ASD.
Both gastric electrical stimulation and pyloric surgery offer long-term symptom improvement in patients with gastroparesis

Gastroparesis (GP) is hallmarked by nausea, vomiting, and early satiety. While dietary and medical therapy are the mainstay of treatment, surgery has been used to palliate symptoms. Two established first-line surgical options are gastric electrostimulation (GES) and pyloric procedures (PP) including pyloroplasty or pyloromyotomy. We sought to compare these modalities’ improvement in Gastroparesis cardinal symptom index (GCSI) subscores and potential predictors of therapy failure. All patients undergoing surgery at a single institution were prospectively identified and separated by surgery: GES, PP, or combined GESPP. GCSI was collected preoperatively, at 6 weeks and 1 year. Postoperative GCSI score over 2.5 or receipt of another gastroparesis operation were considered treatment failures. Groups were compared using Pearson’s chi-squared and Kruskal–Wallis one-way ANOVA. Eighty-two patients were included: 18 GES, 51 PP, and 13 GESPP. Mean age was 44, BMI was 26.7, and 80% were female. Preoperative GCSI was 3.7. The PP group was older with more postsurgical gastroparesis. More patients with diabetes underwent GESPP. Preoperative symptom scores and gastric emptying were similar among all groups. All surgical therapies resulted in a significantly improved GCSI and nausea/vomiting subscore at 6 weeks and 1 year. Bloating improved initially, but relapsed in the GES and GESPP group. Satiety improved initially, but relapsed in the PP group. Fifty-nine (72%) had surgical success. Ten underwent additional surgery (7 crossed into the GESPP group, 3 underwent gastric resection). Treatment failures had higher preoperative GCSI, bloating, and satiety scores. Treatment failures and successes had similar preoperative gastric emptying. Both gastric electrical stimulation and pyloric surgery are successful gastroparesis treatments, with durable improvement in nausea and vomiting. Choice of operation should be guided by patient characteristics and discussion of surgical risks and benefits. Combination GESPP does not appear to confer an advantage over GES or PP alone.
Preliminary Evaluation of a Novel Insect-Based Sausage Diet for Juvenile Corn Snakes (Pantherophis guttatus)

Diet options for captive snakes are limited at the commercial level. Sausage diets can be developed that allow for the use of alternative protein sources (e.g., insect based) and address issues related to the feeder mice industry (e.g., expense, calorie dense, injuries from live prey, and zoonoses). In this 4-month-long cross-over feeding trial, juvenile male corn snakes (n = 9; Pantherophis guttatus) were fed either an experimental insect-based sausage diet or a frozen-thawed mouse. Each diet was fed for 2 months during the cross-over study. Snakes were fed twice weekly at 15% of their body weight. If snakes refused to eat, force feeding was instituted. Physical examinations and morphometrics, including weight, snout–vent length, tail length, and girth, were measured at the beginning and end of each 2 month period. Feces were collected to assess apparent digestibility of both diets, and palatability was determined by consistent voluntary ingestion. There were no significant changes between diet groups regarding health or growth parameters of snakes. Changes in weight were significant, but only as a factor of time (F = 14.083, P = 0.003). Sodium (–54.15%) and iron (10.4%) for the sausage diet and copper (20.15%) and manganese (–10.1%) from the frozen mouse diet were poorly digested. In regard to palatability, willingness to eat the offered diet on a consistent basis was significantly lower for the snakes receiving the sausage diet (P = 0.028). The results of this study suggest that insect-based sausages can be used to diversify captive snake diets as long as palatability is addressed.
Techno-economic analysis of the impact of dynamic electricity prices on solar penetration in a smart grid environment with distributed energy storage

Abstract This study investigates the technical and economic feasibility of using high levels of solar energy penetration up to 400 MW into a smart grid system of 60,000 smart houses. A novel non-cooperative Stackelberg game is introduced that incorporates the profitability of the supply-side and helps in solving problems related to overgeneration and photovoltaic curtailment. The non-cooperative game is intended to find the optimal dynamic prices that would leverage distributed storage through the demand-side to stabilize the power grid operation. Ten cases are studied with five photovoltaic plant sizes and two battery designs. A novel quantitative analysis of high levels of solar penetration as a percentage of the total electricity demand is introduced to evaluate the technical feasibility of the studied cases. To evaluate the economic viability of the proposed smart grid system, four metrics were used: the levelized cost of energy, the levelized cost of storage, the payback period, and the net present value. Two out of ten studied cases were concluded to be the most promising cases, one with a solar photovoltaic plant size of 200 MW and the other with 300 MW. The case with 300 MW solar plant is preferred as it paves the way for more solar energy deployment with a solar penetration percentage up to 67.78%. This case had a payback period of 10.72 years and a net present value of $51.44 M for the solar plant and a payback period of 12.06 years and a net present value of $40.75 M for the demand-side.
Pelvic Osteotomies: The Periacetabular Osteotomy Technique for Patients with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

First described by Ganz and Mast, the Bernese periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) was first developed for the treatment of hip dysplasia. The purpose of the surgical technique is to expose the innominate bone through a modified Smith-Petersen approach, thereby allowing osteotomies around the acetabulum to be performed while leaving the posterior column intact. Once the osteotomies have been completed, the acetabular fragment is freely mobile allowing reorientation based on the preoperative deformity. There are several anatomic structures at risk during the surgical procedure including the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, femoral neurovascular structures, obturator neurovascular structures, sciatic nerve, and medial femoral circumflex vessels. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the modified technique we use to minimize the risk of injuries to these anatomic structures.
Indications for Surgical Intervention in the Treatment of Ischemic Stroke

ABSTRACT Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The increasing prevalence of acute ischemic stroke treatment has stimulated many areas of active research and contributions to literature, particularly advancements in surgical management. The aim of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive review of the indications for surgical intervention in the treatment of ischemic stroke. Specifically, the evidence surrounding the indications for mechanical thrombectomy, ventriculostomy and decompressive craniectomy is discussed. Decompressive craniectomy is further divided into individual sections on hemicraniectomy and suboccipital craniectomy. Furthermore, mechanical thrombectomy is analyzed with consideration for the plethora of recent data on perfusion imaging.
Positive and Negative Peace as Predictors of Pandemic Preparedness: Evidence from a Micro‐ and Macro‐Level Investigation During the Onset of the COVID‐19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated unprecedented human loss and financial difficulties worldwide. In line with recent calls for social sciences to help collective efforts to address COVID-19, we investigated the link between peace and pandemic preparedness, advancing the literatures on negative (i.e., absence of direct violence) and positive peace (i.e., absence of structural violence and presence of equality) and governments' crisis preparedness as well as crisis relief efforts. Two studies tested whether both positive and negative peace predict pandemic preparedness, operationalized as COVID-19 tests, cases, and positivity rates, during the onset of the pandemic. Study 1 did so at the national level across 155 countries; Study 2 did so at a local level, across 3144 counties within the United States. Even after controlling for population size, population density, GDP, and amount of air travel, higher levels of both negative and positive peace predicted a greater number of COVID-19 tests per one million people, fewer overall COVID-19 cases, and a lower positivity rate. These findings point to the possibility that by promoting peace, governments and the international community could potentially become better prepared to handle future pandemics and other crises.
Social-Ecological Resilience and Sustainability, Chapter 1

Resilience and sustainability provide analytical frameworks to help understand and address new, changing, and complex economic, environmental, and social systems. These frameworks provide new and innovative ways to explain complex systems and in turn rethink traditional notions of law and policy. This book will help students learn about and utilize resilience and sustainability theories and principles by introducing resilience and sustainability as analytical frameworks and illustrating how these concepts apply in various contexts including: water, food, shelter/land use, energy, natural resources, pollution, disaster law, and climate change. While the authors do not intend this book to teach all of the law and policy of the various contexts, the book is sufficiently comprehensive to serve as a survey course for those schools who do not have the teaching resources, or the student demand, to offer separate courses for each area of the law and policy we address. Chapter 1 introduces and defines the terms “resilience” and “sustainability.” This chapter explores the interdisciplinary nature of R&S and the meanings of, complexities embedded in, and the overlap and differences between R&S.
The Fourth International Symposium on the Intraductal Approach to Breast Cancer, Santa Barbara, California, 10–13 March 2005

Intraductal approaches encompass procedures and technologies that are designed to access and interrogate the ductal–alveolar systems of the human breast, and include nipple aspiration, ductal lavage, random periareolar fine needle aspiration, and ductoscopy. These approaches are being used to collect and analyze fluids and cells to develop methods for breast cancer detection and risk assessment; to introduce imaging technologies to explore the mammary tree for abnormalities; to administer therapeutic and/or preventive agents directly to the breast tissue; and to explore the biology of the normal mammary gland. The latest research findings in these areas, presented at The 4th International Symposium on the Intraductal Approach to Breast Cancer in 2005, are summarized in this report.
Summary of science results from spaceborne imaging radar (SIR-C/X-SAR)

SIR-C/X-SAR (Spaceborne Imaging Radar-C/X-band Synthetic Aperture Radar) is the most advanced imaging radar system to fly in Earth orbit. Carried in the cargo bay of the Space Shuttle Endeavour in April and October, 1994, SIR-C/X-SAR simultaneously records SAR data at three wavelengths (L-, C-, and X-bands; 23.5, 5.8 and 3.1 cm, respectively). In addition, the full polarimetric scattering matrix may be obtained at L- and C-band. Scientific investigations are continuing using SIR-C/X-SAR data in topics in geology, hydrology, ecology, oceanography and radar remote sensing techniques. Vegetation classification, biomass measurement, forest-floor flood imaging, snow cover distribution and wetness, and soil moisture estimation are some of the quantitative measurements that can be conducted using SIR-C/X-SAR data. In addition, a number of longer-term processes bearing on global change are being studied, including conditions of alpine glaciers, forest ecosystem health, volcanic activity, and desert processes. The October flight included acquisition of experimental repeat-pass interferometry data that have been used to generate digital elevation models and for detection of surface motions in volcanic, tectonic and glacial terrains.
Applications of an Element Model for Gaussian Elimination

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the applications of an element model for Gaussian elimination. The system of linear equations is considered A x = b, where A is an N × N sparse symmetric positive definite matrix such as those that arise in finite difference and finite element approximations to elliptic boundary value problems in two and three dimensions. A classic method for solving such systems is Gaussian elimination. The chapter presents a method by which kth equation is used to eliminate the kth variable from the remaining N − k equations for k = 1, 2, …, N − 1 and then back-solve the resulting upper triangular system for the unknown vector x. The chapter reviews the graph-theoretic elimination model and highlights a new element model of the elimination process. The model is used to give simple proofs of inherent lower bounds for the work and storage associated with Gaussian elimination. It also explains the way by which element model, combined with the unusual idea of recomputing rather than saving the factorization, leads to a minimal storage sparse elimination algorithm that requires significantly less storage than regular sparse elimination for the five- or nine-point.
Convergence criteria for iterative nonlinear filters

The authors present a general theory for the convergence of iterative nonlinear filters. An introduction to lattice theory is provided, and the theory of mathematical morphology is presented in the context of lattice theory. An important form of a nonlinear filter is provided by the iteration of the original nonlinear filter. The result of repeated iteration of a convergent nonlinear filter is called a root of the filter. In many cases, the root of a nonlinear filter is a particularly desired outcome (e.g., median filter). Conditions for the convergence of the iteration of a nonlinear filter are proposed. >
Genomics, Genetic Engineering, and Domestication of Crops

Genomics enables recombinant DNA methods to be used for domestication of crops in ways that resemble conventional breeding. The author of this Policy Forum looks ahead to genomics-guided transgene modifications in agriculture. However, regulations for needed field trials are becoming increasingly onerous in many parts of the world, impeding delivery of public benefits from the genomics revolution in agriculture.
Crystallography of decahedral and icosahedral particles: I. Geometry of twinning

The crystal structure of the tetrahedral twins in multiply-twinned particles with decahedral and icosahedral point group symmetries has been examined and correlated with the face-centered cubic structure. Details on the crystal structure as well as the geometrical relationships among twins in each particle are presented. These crystallographic facts serve as a basis for the interpretation of small particle images obtained with advanced methods of transmission electron microscopy.
The Sunspot Phenomenon: A Commentary

The present state of detailed knowledge of the sunspot phenomenon presents a host of unanswered questions. This summary is an attempt to pose some of the more outstanding problems, with the basic question remaining as to why a star is obliged to form sunspots at all.
Bacterial metabolism in the host environment: Pathogen growth and nutrient assimilation in the mammalian upper respiratory tract

Pathogens evolve in specific host niches and microenvironments that provide the physical and nutritional requirements conducive to their growth. In addition to using the host as a source of food, bacterial pathogens must avoid the immune response to their presence. The mammalian upper respiratory tract is a site that is exposed to the external environment, and is readily colonized by bacteria that live as resident flora or as pathogens. These bacteria can remain localized, descend to the lower respiratory tract, or traverse the epithelium to disseminate throughout the body. By virtue of their successful colonization of the respiratory epithelium, these bacteria obtain the nutrients needed for growth, either directly from host resources or from other microbes. This chapter describes the upper respiratory tract environment, including its tissue and mucosal structure, prokaryotic biota, and biochemical composition that would support microbial life. Neisseria meningitidis and the Bordetella species are discussed as examples of bacteria that have no known external reservoirs but have evolved to obligately colonize the mammalian upper respiratory tract.
Power reduction in microprocessor chips by gated clock routing

This paper presents a zero-skew gated clock routing technique for VLSI circuits. The gated clock tree has masking gates at the internal nodes of the clock tree, which are selectively turned on and off by the gate control signals during the active and idle times of the circuit modules to reduce switched capacitance of the clock tree. The clock tree topology is constructed based on the locations and the activation frequencies of the modules and whereas the locations of the internal nodes of the clock tree (and hence the masking gates) are determined using a dynamic programming approach followed by a gate reduction heuristic.
Arginine metabolism in insects. Role of arginase in proline formation during silkmoth development.

Abstract 1. Ornithine δ-transaminase (l-ornithine–2-oxo acid aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.13) and Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase [l-proline-NAD(P) 5-oxidoreductase, EC 1.5.1.2] were demonstrated in fat-body and flight-muscle tissues of the silkmoth Hyalophora gloveri. Arginase (l-arginine ureohydrolase, EC 3.5.3.1) is also present in these tissues. 2. Arginase, ornithine transaminase and pyrroline-carboxylate reductase are generally considered to make up the catabolic pathway for the conversion of arginine into proline. The conversion of l-[U-14C]arginine into [14C]proline by intact fat-body tissue was used to show that the enzymes in insect fat body also function in this capacity. 3. Of the three enzymes of the catabolic pathway, only arginase increased during adult development and the increase coincided with the emergence of the winged adult moth. Since proline appears to be a major substrate utilized in insect flight metabolism, the increase in arginase activity at this stage suggests a major role for arginase in proline formation.
Patient Acuity Study Description and Model to Predict Staffing for Delivery of Medical Nutrition Therapy

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To describe that a predictive staffing model, based on the patient's need for Medical Nutrition Therapy, has been developed Demographic data from the Patient Acuity Study, conducted by the Clinical Nutrition Management Dietetic Practice Group of the American Dietetic Association, and funded by Ross Laboratories, are described. Of the 7,289 patients from 93 facilities, a sample of 3,321 acute care patients were analyzed based on acuity, or the need for Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). A stepwise multiple regression (P 2 =.31). By utilizing the regression coefficients of the significant variables (21 acuity descriptors and gender), a staffing formula to predict MNTT was created, providing a tool for the analysis of patient populations to estimate staffing levels based on acuity, or need for MNT. This tool is crucial for the clinical nutrition manager, especially in the environment of managed care organizations, where hospitals contract for patient days of specific patient populations.
Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizers for Improved Nutrient Management: Potato (Solanum tuberosum)

The improvement of fertilizer efficiency is driven by narrow profit margins, environmental concerns, and resource conservation. Fertile soil is the foundation for food production and successful civilizations; it is developed and maintained through the addition of nutrients lost through harvest. However, nutrient uptake by plants is inherently inefficient and the nutrients remaining in the soil after uptake can cause negative air and water resource impacts. In addition, poor fertilizer efficiency is a waste of natural resources and potentially reduces yields, crop quality, and grower profits. Enhancing fertilizer efficiency in potato is particularly important because relatively high rates of fertilizer and water are necessary to compensate for an inefficient rooting system and extreme sensitivity to deficiencies. Several new fertilizer materials have been designed to enhance fertilizer efficiency. The modes of action of these materials include: (i) slow or controlled release to meet plant need in a more timely fashion; (ii) addition of high charge-density materials that isolate nutrients from interfering elements and compounds; (iii) complexation or chelation of the nutrient to enhance solubility; and (iv) modification of the micro-site pH to enhance nutrient solubility.
DNA Damage Foci at Dysfunctional Telomeres

Abstract We report cytologic and genetic data indicating that telomere dysfunction induces a DNA damage response in mammalian cells. Dysfunctional, uncapped telomeres, created through inhibition of TRF2, became associated with DNA damage response factors, such as 53BP1, γ-H2AX, Rad17, ATM, and Mre11. We refer to the domain of telomere-associated DNA damage factors as a Telomere Dysfunction-Induced Focus (TIF). The accumulation of 53BP1 on uncapped telomeres was reduced in the presence of the PI3 kinase inhibitors caffeine and wortmannin, which affect ATM, ATR, and DNA-PK. By contrast, Mre11 TIFs were resistant to caffeine, consistent with previous findings on the Mre11 response to ionizing radiation. A-T cells had a diminished 53BP1 TIF response, indicating that the ATM kinase is a major transducer of this pathway. However, in the absence of ATM, TRF2 inhibition still induced TIFs and senescence, pointing to a second ATM-independent pathway. We conclude that the cellular response to telomere dysfunction is governed by proteins that also control the DNA damage response. TIFs represent a new tool for evaluating telomere status in normal and malignant cells suspected of harboring dysfunctional telomeres. Furthermore, induction of TIFs through TRF2 inhibition provides an opportunity to study the DNA damage response within the context of well-defined, physically marked lesions.
Somatic currents contribute to frequency-dependent spike-broadening in supraoptic neuroendocrine cells

Voltage-gated K and Ca currents were recorded in acutely dissociated neuroendocrine cells of the supraoptic nucleus. The effect of repeated activation of the currents by trains of (10) voltage pulses over a range of pulse-repetition frequencies were examined. There was a significant reduction of K-current amplitude and a significant increase of Ca-current amplitude during trains with high repetition frequencies. Frequency-dependent changes in K and Ca conductances may contribute to frequency-dependent spike-broadening which is exhibited during bursts of action potentials generated by these neurons.
Poly(N-methylpyrrole)-Modified Electrodes. Amperometric Response to Trace Chlorocarbons in Aqueous Solution

Poly(N-methylpyrrole) films grown electrochemically on glassy carbon electrodes have been studied for their amperometric, flow injection mode response to chlorocarbons in aqueous solution. This system has been shown to quickly and reversibly respond to the presence of dichloromethane in water solution over a range of 5 orders of magnitude in concentration, from 10 ng/mL to 1 mg/mL. Various parameters, including applied potential, flow rate, and amount of polymer deposited, were examined in order to optimize the charge response of the polymer film to injections of saturated dichloromethane (employed as a prototypical chlorocarbon example) in aqueous electrolyte solution. Other small, chlorinated compounds, such as chloroform and carbon tetrachloride, were found to cause similar amperometric responses from poly(N-methylpyrrole), whereas non-chlorinated compounds caused significantly smaller responses. This system offers several possible advantages over current halocarbon detection methods, including the abi...
Decision support in surgical management of ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Objectives The surgical approach to ischemic cardiomyopathy maximizing survival remains a dilemma, with decisions complicated by secondary mitral regurgitation, ventricular remodeling, and heart failure. As a component of decision support, we sought to develop prediction models for comparing survival after coronary artery bypass grafting alone, coronary artery bypass grafting plus mitral valve anuloplasty, coronary artery bypass grafting plus surgical ventricular restoration, and listing for cardiac transplantation. Methods From 1997 to 2007, 1468 patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ejection fraction Results One-, 5-, and 9-year survival were as follows, respectively: coronary artery bypass grafting, 92%, 72%, and 53%; coronary artery bypass grafting plus mitral valve anuloplasty, 88%, 57%, and 34%; coronary artery bypass grafting plus surgical ventricular restoration, 94%, 76%, and 55%; and listing for cardiac transplantation, 79%, 66%, and 54%. Risk factors included older age, higher New York Heart Association class, lower ejection fraction, longer interval from myocardial infarction to operation, and numerous comorbidities. Predicted and observed survivals in validation groups were similar ( P > .1). Patient-specific simultaneous solutions of applicable models revealed therapy potentially providing maximum survival benefit. Coronary artery bypass grafting alone and listing for cardiac transplantation often maximized 5-year survival; only 15% of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting plus mitral valve anuloplasty were predicted to fare best with this therapy. Conclusion Validated prediction models can aid surgeons in recommending personalized treatment plans that maximize short- and long-term survival for ischemic cardiomyopathy.
Attention-capturing properties of high frequency luminance flicker: Implications for brake light conspicuity

Abstract In two experiments, the authors studied the effect of high frequency luminance flicker on reaction time in a simulated driving task. In Experiment 1, 24 research participants performing a primary simulated driving task were required to apply the brake pedal as quickly as possible following the activation of a red light somewhere in their field of vision. The red lights were displayed in one of two ways, (a) with 20 Hz luminance flicker and (b) continuous (no flicker), and presented at three eccentricities, 10°, 45° and 80°. Results showed that the light with 20 Hz flicker was more attention-capturing than the continuous light, but that the effect of 20 Hz flicker on reaction time was not influenced by eccentricity of presentation. The second experiment was identical to the first except that the primary simulated driving task was considerably more attention demanding. Under this higher workload, the light with 20 Hz flicker again proved to be more attention-capturing than the continuous light, and to a greater extent than in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, there also appeared to be tendency for the light with 20 Hz flicker to be more effective at greater eccentricities. Implications for brake light conspicuity and rear-end collision avoidance are discussed.
Evaluation of Emergency Department Referrals by Telephone Triage

Objective. Telephone triage programs are becoming very common at children9s hospitals across the nation. One of the proposed benefits of these programs is the more efficient use of health care resources by triaging patients to the appropriate level of health care. The purpose of this study is to examine the appropriateness of referrals to a pediatric emergency department (ED) by the Pediatric Health Information Line (PHIL), a hospital-based telephone triage program, versus all other sources of referrals. Methods. A blinded Delphi rating system was used to review the physician9s sheets of 133 consecutive ED referrals by PHIL for medical appropriateness. A total of 260 randomly selected control patients seen in the ED during the same period were similarly reviewed. If 2 of 3 pediatric emergency medicine physicians agreed that an ED visit was appropriate, then it was considered appropriate. A comparison of the 2 groups9 ED appropriateness was made using a contingency table χ2 test. An odds ratio with confidence limits was also calculated. Demographic data were collected for both groups including age, race, gender, and insurance status. Results. The PHIL group had an appropriateness rate of 80.2%, compared with 60.5% for the control group (χ2 = 14.6369; odds ratio = 2.65; 95% confidence interval [1.5759,4.5008]). Conclusions. This demonstrated that for the period studied, PHIL referrals to the ED had a 33% higher rate of appropriateness than controls. This evidence supports telephone triage as an efficient gatekeeper for health care resources.
An Empirical Investigation: Health Care Employee Passwords and Their Crack Times in Relationship to HIPAA Security Standards

The purpose of this article is to examine the passwords selected by health care professionals and the security and privacy standards in relationship to those passwords as addressed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Examinations of these passwords have illustrated the connectivity between password length and strength and the need to educate employees as to the importance of their password choices. Through an empirical analysis, this article examines whether the passwords created by employees of a health care agency followed â€œstrongâ€ or â€œweakâ€ password practices. The results should indicate to health care agencies the importance of comprehensive password policies and employee training.
Short communication: The effect of substituting fish oil in dairy cow diets with docosahexaenoic acid-micro algae on milk composition and fatty acids profile

The effects of substituting fish oil (FO) with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-micro algae on milk chemical and fatty acid composition were examined in this study. Twenty-four Holstein cows in mid lactation grazing on an alfalfa-grass based pasture were divided into 4 treatment groups (6 cows/treatment) and supplemented with 7 kg/d grain mix plus 350 g of soybean oil and one of the following: 1) 150 g of FO, 2) 100 g of FO plus 50 g of algae, 3) 50 g of FO plus 100 g of algae, or 4) 150 g of algae. Cows were fed treatment diets for 3 wk, and milk samples were collected from each cow during the last 3 d of the study. Milk production (17.96, 17.56, 17.55, and 19.26 kg/d for treatment diets 1 to 4, respectively), milk fat percentages (3.17, 3.49, 3.74, and 3.43%), and milk protein percentages (3.35, 3.50, 3.71, and 3.42%) were similar between treatment diets. Concentrations (g/100 g of fatty acids) of milk cis-9 trans-11 (c9t11) conjugated linoleic acid (CLA; 3.41, 3.69, 4.47, and 4.21 for treatment diets 1 to 4, respectively) and vaccenic acid (11.80, 12.83, 13.87, and 13.53) were similar between treatment diets. Results of this study suggest that DHA-micro algae can partially or fully substitute FO in a cow's diet without any adverse effects on milk production, milk composition, or milk c9t11 CLA content. The DHA-micro algae may be used as a viable alternative for FO in cow's diet to modify rumen biohydrogenation to increase milk c9t11 CLA content.
Process uniformity and slip dislocation patterns in linearly ramped-temperature transient rapid thermal processing of silicon

Rapid thermal processing (RTP) of silicon using transient linearly ramped-temperature saw-toothed and triangular thermal cycles has been evaluated by characterization of the process uniformity and slip dislocation line patterns for a wide range of process parameters. Rapid thermal oxidation was chosen as the process vehicle for these studies. The process uniformity and slip dislocation line patterns are strongly affected by both the transient and steady-state segments of the thermal cycles. The strong dependencies of the process uniformity and slip dislocation lines on the thermal cycle parameters suggest that the overall performance of a RTP reactor must be specified not only under steady-state thermal conditions, but also for controlled transient thermal cycles. Transient ramped-temperature RTP cycles with medium-to-high peak process temperatures (i.e. T/sub max/=1100 degrees -1150 degrees C) were found to be the optimal process conditions for growing thin gate oxides in the range of 60-120 AA with superior process uniformity and minimum slip dislocation line generation. The results of this work provide insight and useful methodology for process optimization in order to improve process uniformity, minimize generation of slip dislocation lines, and obtain good device electrical characteristics. >
Quantitative nutritional studies with water-soluble, chemically defined diets. II. Nitrogen balance and metabolism

Abstract Male, Sprague-Dawley (N.I.H.) rats with an average starting weight of 120 g. were placed in individual metabolism cages and allowed to imbibe ad libitum one of three water-soluble, chemically defined diets containing pure amino acids, with groups of five rats per diet. The dietary intake and urinary output were carefully measured volumetrically, and the total nitrogen of these fluids and the distribution of the urinary nitrogen among urea, ammonia, and amino acids were determined. Fecal nitrogen was also determined, the total excreted nitrogen subtracted from the total intake nitrogen yielding the value of nitrogen retention or nitrogen balance. The ratio of this value to the average daily weight gain (i.e., milligrams of imbibed nitrogen retained per day per gram of weight gain per day) appeared to be remarkably constant at 34–35 mg./g. for animals of all three soluble diets, even though each diet produced different rates of growth, and even though, in another experiment, very much larger animals were employed with a relatively low growth rate. The proportion of urea N in combined urea N and ammonia N levels was 95% for the best diet with a wide variety of “non-essential” amino acids (No. 26), and lesser for the poorer diets (Nos. 3 and 40). α-Amino acid nitrogen excretion in the urine was minimal (about 2–3% of the total nitrogen) on diets Nos. 3 and 26 which contain only l -amino acids, and considerable (about 25% of the total nitrogen) on diet No. 40 which contains several racemic amino acids. Five male, Sprague-Dawley (N.I.H.) rats on diet No. 26, and with an average starting weight of about 250 g., were placed in individual metabolism cages and maintained several more days on this diet. A soluble, amino acid-free diet (No. 49) was then substituted for diet No. 26, 20 days being required on the depletion diet to produce a weight loss of about 20%. The animals were then returned for 8 days on diet No. 26 to make up this weight loss. During this repletion period the average weight gain per day was about 6.3 g. per animal, and the ratio of nitrogen retained to weight gained turned out to be 18.2 mg./g.; this low value suggested a higher level of fluids or fat or both in the newly and rapidly regenerated tissues. The ammonia N excretion depends on the amino acid composition of the diet, and is minimal on diet No. 26. This minimal figure remains strikingly constant throughout the predepletion, depletion, and repletion stages, and probably reflects some homeostatic mechanism. The fecal N excretion is very small and constant, regardless of the nature of the soluble diet, or whether the animals were in predepletion, depletion, or repletion stages, which indicates an essentially quantitative absorption of the nitrogenous components of the soluble diets. The relation between intake of nitrogen and its retention is discussed.
Growth Hormone, Prolactin, and Growth Responses in Hyperkinetic Males Treated with D-Amphetamine

Abstract Growth patterns in previously unmedicated hyperactive boys were assessed monthly for 1 year or more while they received treatment with d-amphetamine (N = 13) or phenothiazines (N = 8). The d-amphetamine group, who sustained their behavior improvement throughout the study, underwent sleep and endocrine studies before and after 6 months on drug therapy. By 1 year, the phenothiazine group had achieved a 7-point increase in weight percentile and a 4-percentile gain in height, but the d-amphetamine group had lost 16 percentile points in weight and 10 percentile points in height. Height and weight velocities had fallen significantly (p