cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Overcoming barriers to discussing out-of-pocket costs with patients.

Increased cost sharing, in the forms of higher co-payments, deductibles, and yearly maximums, has been advocated to encourage patients to become smarter consumers and thus to reduce the overall cost of medical care. High out-of-pocket costs, however, can cause care to be delayed or foregone and can lead to financial distress and even bankruptcy. Some argue that physicians should be more cognizant of their patients’ out-of-pocket costs, not for the sake of society but for the sake of the patient.1 In our view, physicians have an ethical duty, at a minimum, to discuss out-of-pocket costs with patients in the same way that they would discuss the adverse effects of a treatment.2 But when physicians actually begin to consider out-of-pocket costs as part of clinical decision making, the challenges can seem overwhelming. We examine potential barriers to discussing out-of-pocket costs with patients and provide guidance on how physicians can overcome these barriers.
EFFECT OF CATECHOLAMINES ON SERUM CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS LEVELS IN INTACT AND PARATHYROIDECTOMIZED RATS.

The effects of the catecholamines, epinephrine, norepinephrine and isoproterenol, on serum calcium and phosphorus levels have been studied in intact, and 1-day-parathyroidectomized, fed rats at 1 to 2 hours after subcutaneous injection of the drugs. In intact rats a hypophosphatemic response was seen 1 hour after administration of from 0.01 to 5.0 mg/kg of either isoproterenol or epinephrine, the former being the more potent agent. Norepinephrine had no effect on the serum phosphorus level, even at doses as high as 5.0 mg/kg. None of the three drugs had an effect on the serum calcium levels except that at doses of 1.0 and 5.0 mg/kg epinephrine exhibited a very slight hypercalcemia. In rats which had been parathyroidectomized 24 hours earlier all three agents gave a hypophosphatemic response 2 hours after injection. The high dose, 5.0 mg/kg, of epinephrine and norepinephrine resulted in a hyperphosphatemia. In contrast to the finding in intact animals the parathyroidectomized rats responded to all three catecholamines with a definite hypercalcemia, the order of potency being isoproterenol > epinephrine > norepinephrine. The hypophosphatemic response was antagonized by nethalide, an agent which blocks β receptors. Phenoxybenzamine was ineffective as a blocking agent. Both responses may be classified as β responses within the concept of Ahlquist.
News frames as social narratives : TWA flight 800

Successfully framing a new story is sometimes impossible. In this textual analysis of the New York Times' coverage of the investigation of the crash of the TWA flight 800, the author compared the failed efforts of reporters to produce a news frame to those of their official sources, federal forensic investigators. By interpreting the reporters' and sources' conflicting uses of empirical logic, the author identified an ideological conflict within the bounds of modernity that makes journalism's connection to postmodernity more understandable. He considered the importance of temporality and the control of time to the definition of modernist ideology. By contrast, F. Jameson's (1991) postmodern theory makes it possible to understand the postmodern implications of the potential frames that do not become part of the official story.
The presence of glucagon in ascitic fluid in cirrhotic patients

Glucose, insulin, glucagon, and liver profiles were determined simultaneously in plasma and ascitic fluid after an overnight fast in ten cirrhotic patients to assess the role of ascites in hyperglucagonemia and hyperinsulinemia of hepatic cirrhosis and to investigate if glucagon and insulin diffuse freely across the peritoneum. Plasma in ten normal subjects was studied as well. Glucose levels in plasma were normal in all patients; in ascitic fluid they were higher than in plasma in 7 cases and lower in 3 cases. Plasma glucagon was raised in seven patients with advanced liver dysfunction as documented by the presence of jaundice and reversed albumin/ globulin ratio. Plasma insulin was elevated in patients with hepatic dysfunction and/or esophageal varices. In the absence of jaundice and varices, glucagon and insulin concentrations were normal. Ascitic fluid glucagon was always lower than the plasma with a significant correlation. Ascitic fluid insulin was undetectable in three patients. In the remaining patients, the realtionship between plasma and ascitic fluid insulin levels was not significant. No relationship were observed between liver dysfunction and hormonal concentrations in ascitic fluid. These studies suggest that, (1) both glucagon.and insulin may diffuse freely across the peritoneum into the peritoneal cavity, with a consistent glucagon gradient between plasma and ascitic fluid. The apparent lack of such a relationship for insulin is unexplained and may need further evaluation, and (2) in hepatic cirrhosis the presence of ascites may not influence plasma glucagon or insulin concentrations unless accompanied by jaundice and a reversal of albumin/globulin ratio, both indices of advanced liver dysfunction and the presence of esophageal varices, a sign of moderately severe portosystemic shunting.
Vision guided precision cultivation.

A color machine vision based automatic guidance system was developed for precision guidance of an agricultural cultivator. The guidance system was designed to operate in weedy row crop fields at the time of first cultivation. The performance of the system varied from an RMS guidance error of 7 mm under low weed loads to 12 mm under high weed loads and was capable of operating at travel speeds up to 16 km/h.
The extraction of U(VI) and selected M(III) cations by bis neo-octyl phosphoric acid in two different hydrocarbon diluents

Abstract The extraction of Ce3+, Pm3+, Eu3+, Tm3+, Y3+, Am3+, Cm3+ and UO22+ from an aqueous chloride phase into a solution of [C4H9C(CH3)2CH2O]2PO(OH), HDNOP, in benzene or in n-heptane has been studied as a function of the concentration of extractant in the organic phase and of hydrogen ion in the aqueous phase. From these data the stoichiometries of extraction have been deduced as: U(VI), benzene or n-heptane: UO 2A 2+ +2( HY ) 2O ⇌ UO 2 ( HY 2 ) 2O +2 H A + M(III), benzene M A 3+ +3( HY ) 2O ⇌ M ( HY 2 ) 3O +3 H A + M(III), n-heptane M A 3+ +2·5( HY ) 2O ⇌ MY ( HY 2 ) 2O +3 H A + where the subscripts A and O refer, respectively, to mutually equilibrated aqueous and organic phases. (The formulation of extracted entities is based solely upon established ratios and is in no sense to be interpreted in terms of established structure). Corresponding to the stoichiometries, values of K, F and [H+] obtained from the hydrogen ion dependency plots were inserted in the equation: K= K s F a [ H + ] b to obtain values of Ks. (K is the observed distribution ratio, F the concentration of HDNOP in the organic phase and [H+] the concentration of hydrogen ion in the aqueous phase following equilibration, and a and b the respective extractant and hydrogen ion dependencies. The equation is applied specifically to a system embodying 1·0 F (NaCl + HCl) at 22 ± 2°C.) The Ks (n-heptane) value is higher than the K (benzene) value for each of the cations studied. However, although the ratio of the Ks values is large for each of the seven M(III) cations (in the 50–250 range), it is only 6 for U(VI). Comparison with extraction systems employing two other di octyl phosphoric acids, (n-C8H17O)2PO(OH) and [C4H9CH(C2H5)CH2O]2PO(OH), respectively symbolized as HDOP and HDEHP, as extractants are made in terms of: (1) acidity of the extractant, (2) steric effects within the extractant molecule, and (3) effect of diluent (aromatic or saturated hydrocarbon.) In a recently reported study [1] of the extraction of U(VI) and selected M(III) elements from an aqueous chloride phase by bis n-octyl phosphoric acid, (n-C8H17O)2PO(OH), in a diluent it was shown that under comparable conditions the distribution coefficient, K, for an M(III) element is much higher in the system employing n-heptane as diluent than in that employing benzene. The stoichiometry of M(III)-extraction also differed in the two diluents. The stoichiometry of extraction of U(VI) was shown to be the same in the two diluents, and under comparable conditions the K for U(VI) was found to be only slightly higher in n-heptane than in benzene. The extractant was considered to have no significant steric hindrance. The present study is similar in scope but employs a bis octyl phosphoric acid which is moderately sterically hindered, bis neo-octyl phosphoric acid, [C4H9C(CH3)2CH2O]2PO(OH), symbolized as HDNOP. The neo-octyl group, 2,2-dimethyl hexyl, is an isomer of both the n-octyl group referred to above and the 2-ethyl hexyl group of the widely studied extractant [C4H9CH(C2H5)CH2O]2PO(OH), HDEHP.
16(R)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, a novel cytochrome P450 product of arachidonic acid, suppresses activation of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and reduces intracranial pressure in a rabbit model of thromboembolic stroke

OBJECTIVE: Activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) have been suggested to contribute to the development of increased intracranial pressure (ICP). We recently demonstrated that human PMNs produce a novel cytochrome P450-derived arachidonic acid metabolite, 1 6(R)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid [16(R)-HETE], that modulates their function. It was thus of interest to examine this novel mediator in an acute stroke model. METHODS: 16-HETE was assessed initially in a variety of human PMN and platelet in vitro assays and subsequently in an established rabbit model of thromboembolic stroke. A total of 50 rabbits completed a randomized, blinded, four-arm study, receiving 16(R)-HETE, tissue plasminogen activator, both, or neither. Experiments were completed 7 hours after autologous clot embolization. The primary end point for efficacy was the suppression of increased ICP. RESULTS: In in vitro assays, 16(R)-HETE selectively inhibited human PMN adhesion and aggregation and leukotriene B4 synthesis. In the thromboembolic stroke model, animals that received 16(R)-HETE demonstrated significant suppression of increased ICP (7.7 +/- 1.2 to 13.1 +/- 2.7 mm Hg, baseline versus final 7-h time point, mean +/- standard error), compared with either the vehicle-treated group (7.7 +/- 0.9 to 15.8 +/- 2.6 mm Hg) or the tissue plasminogen activator-treated group (7.6 +/- 0.6 to 13.7 +/- 2.1 mm Hg). The group that received the combination of 16(R)-HETE plus tissue plasminogen activator demonstrated no significant change in ICP for the duration of the protocol (8.6 +/- 0.6 to 11.1 +/- 1.2 mm Hg). CONCLUSION: 16(R)-HETE suppresses the development of increased ICP in a rabbit model of thromboembolic stroke and may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy in ischemic and inflammatory pathophysiological states.
Pan paniscus and human evolution

Detailed comparisons of the postcranium, cranium, and dentition of Pan paniscus, Pan troglodytes, and Homo reveal that except for slight differences in fore- and hindlimb proportions and the morphology of the shoulder, the postcranium of the two species of Pan are allometrically scaled variants of the same animal and one does not resemble Homo more than the other. Nor does the postcranium of one species of Pan resemble Australopithecus more closely than the other when the effects of body size are controlled. The over all morphological pattern of the skull and teeth of the two chimpanzees is clearly different, however, but both are about equally distinct from the earliest known members of the family Hominidae.
Interactive Keys, Inventory, and Conservation

Management of resources within any conservation area relies on inventory data, indicating which species are present and their distribution. Bird and mammal inventory is easy compared to that of more diverse groups such as plants and insects, especially in tropical regions. There are unlikely to be many more large mammals or birds still to be discovered, and the names of these animals are subject to relatively little change. There are field guides that nonspecialists can use reliably to identify species, after which it is possible to access the sometimes copious information on them. Users of botanical information (we discuss plants here) are not in this relatively happy situation. There are no field guides to species, and almost every plant-collecting trip to the tropics leads to the discovery of new species. Thus, as the literature continues to grow, current documents become obsolete. Three major issues restrict the application of botanical knowledge to conservation needs. The first pertains to botanists themselves. Those with taxonomic training able to participate in or support conservation projects is dwindling. Systematists are an aging group, and many are approaching retirement (Roos 1996). Training of replacements is often weighted toward molecular rather than field and morphological approaches to botany, and few develop expertise in areas such as conservation and agriculture (Schram & Los 1996). Although there is a need to link closely taxonomy and applied fields, there are neither enough resources nor people to meet this demand (Condon 1995). The second issue concerns the current state of botanical information. Whereas the amount of available literature is vast, it is incomplete. Many species descriptions are based on relatively few specimens and collection sites. Distribution maps indicating range and point local-
New Congressional science chair to focus on education, energy policy, and environment

With the re-shuffling of the leadership of Congressional committees following the recent U.S. general elections, Sherwood L. Boehlert, a 10-term congressman from upstate New York, has been selected by the Republican leadership to be the chair of the Science Committee in the House of Representatives. During his January 31 “maiden” speech as the new committee leader, Boehlert told members of the Universities Research Group, “I want to build the Science Committee into a significant force within the Congress. With that momentum, I want to ensure that we have a healthy, sustainable, and productive [research and development] establishment; one that educates students, increases human knowledge, strengthens U.S. competitiveness, and contributes to the well-being of the nation and the world.”
Stable isotope and Rare Earth Element evidence for recent ironstone pods within the Archean Barberton greenstone belt, South Africa

There is considerable debate about the mode and age of formation of large (up to � 200 m long) hematite and goethite ironstone bodies within the 3.2 to 3.5 Ga Barberton greenstone belt. We examined oxygen and hydrogen isotopes and Rare Earth Element (REE) concentrations of goethite and hematite components of the ironstones to determine whether these deposits reflect formation from sea-floor vents in the Archean ocean or from recent surface and shallow subsurface spring systems. Goethite d 18 O values range from � 0.7 to +1.0& and dD from � 125 to � 146&, which is consistent with formation from modern meteoric waters at 20 to 25 C. Hematite d 18 O values range from � 0.7 to � 2.0&, which is consistent with formation at low to moderate temperatures (40–55 C) from modern meteoric water. REE in the goethite and hematite are derived from the weathering of local sideritic ironstones, silicified ultramafic rocks, sideritic black cherts, and local felsic volcanic rocks, falling along a mixing line between the Eu/Eu* and shale-normalized HREEAvg/LREEAvg values for the associated silicified ultramafic rocks and felsic volcanic rocks. Contrasting positive Ce/Ce* of 1.3 to 3.5 in hematite and negative Ce/Ce* of 0.2 to 0.9 in goethite provides evidence of oxidative scavenging of Ce on hematite surfaces during mineral precipitation. These isotopic and REE data, taken together, suggest that hematite and goethite ironstone pods formed from relatively recent meteoric waters in shallow springs and/or subsurface warm springs.
Playing Moderately Hard to Get

In two studies, we examined the effect of different degrees of attraction reciprocation on ratings of attraction toward a potential romantic partner. Undergraduate college student participants imagined a potential romantic partner who reciprocated a low (reciprocating attraction one day a week), moderate (reciprocating attraction three days a week), high (reciprocating attraction five days a week), or unspecified degree of attraction (no mention of reciprocation). Participants then rated their degree of attraction toward the potential partner. The results of Study 1 provided only partial support for Brehm’s emotion intensity theory. However, after revising the high reciprocation condition vignette in Study 2, supporting Brehm’s emotion intensity theory, results show that a potential partners’ display of reciprocation of attraction acted as a deterrent to participants’ intensity of experienced attraction to the potential partner. The results support the notion that playing moderately hard to get elicits more intense feelings of attraction from potential suitors than playing too easy or too hard to get. Discussion of previous research examining playing hard to get is also re-examined through an emotion intensity theory theoretical lens.
Achievement of Cardiometabolic Goals in Aware Hypertensive Patients in Spain Implications for Population Health

See related article, pp 898–905 The article by Banegas et al1 published in the present issue of Hypertension provides important population-based data for improving cardiovascular health. The data from a population-based sample of adults in Spain during 2008-2010 include the clinical epidemiology of hypertension and concomitant cardiovascular risk factors, evidence-based pharmacotherapy for cardiovascular risk factor reduction and target organ protection, medical advice, and lifestyle factors. This commentary addresses 3 aspects of their comprehensive report, including a comparison of data in Spain and the United States with regard to the following: (1) clinical epidemiology of hypertension; (2) prevalence of concomitant risk factors, risk factor values, and/or control levels among hypertensive patients; and (3) lifestyle factors. The commentary concludes with a discussion of strategies for improving cardiovascular health in the population. The authors note the higher stroke incidence in Spain than in the United States probably reflects differences between the 2 countries in the clinical epidemiology of hypertension (Table 1).1-3 More specifically, the prevalence of hypertension is marginally higher in Spain than in the United States, whereas awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension are much lower in Spain than in the United States. Hypertension prevalence, awareness, and control were defined similarly in both countries (Table 1), although blood pressure was measured in triplicate in 2 sets of measurements separated by 90 minutes in the Spain cohort and in triplicate in only 1 set of readings in the US cohort. Blood …
Soil and plant relationships associated with iron deficiency with emphasis on nutrient interactions.

Abstract The major cause of iron deficiency in plants is the insolubility of Fe (III) oxides in soils. Minimum solubility occurs in the pH range of 7.4 to 8.5 where the dominant solution species Fe(OH)3° is present at approximately 10‐10.4 M. The critical level of soluble iron for plants is approximately 10‐8 M, so the ferric oxides are too insoluble to supply adequate iron to plants unless modifying factors intervene. Major factors that modify iron solubility relationships in soils include oxidation‐reduction processes and the presence of chelating agents. Reduction processes near respiring plant roots enable ferric chelates to dissociate and Fe3+ to reduce to Fe2+. It is necessary for Fe2+ to increase above the critical level to supply adequate iron to plants. Competition of metal ions for chelating agents gives rise to many nutrient interactions. Redox relationships also affects metal solubility relationships in soils. When combined these factors greatly affect iron availability to plants. Important nu...
A logic synthesis system for VHDL design descriptions

The VHSIC hardware description language (VHDL) is emerging as an industry standard for the modeling of electronic systems. A description is given of a logic synthesis system developed to realize ASIC CMOS chip designs from VHDL descriptions, designs optimized for cell count and performance. The utilization of VHDL attributes and the interpretation of attribute data by synthesis transformations are highlighted. Timing optimization algorithms based upon calculated timing slack values are described in detail. The unique means by which clock repowering trees are incorporated is also discussed. >
Stereomotion is processed by the third-order motion system: reply to comment on “Three-systems theory of human visual motion perception: review and update”

Two theories are considered to account for the perception of motion of depth-defined objects in random-dot stereograms (stereomotion). In the Lu–Sperling three-motion-systems theory [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A18, 2331 (2001)], stereomotion is perceived by the third-order motion system, which detects the motion of areas defined as figure (versus ground) in a salience map. Alternatively, in his comment [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A19, 2142 (2002)], Patterson proposes a low-level motion-energy system dedicated to stereo depth. The critical difference between these theories is the preprocessing (figure–ground based on depth and other cues versus simply stereo depth) rather than the motion-detection algorithm itself (because the motion-extraction algorithm for third-order motion is undetermined). Furthermore, the ability of observers to perceive motion in alternating feature displays in which stereo depth alternates with other features such as texture orientation indicates that the third-order motion system can perceive stereomotion. This reduces the stereomotion question to “Is it third-order alone or third-order plus dedicated depth-motion processing?” Two new experiments intended to support the dedicated depth-motion processing theory are shown here to be perfectly accounted for by third-order motion, as are many older experiments that have previously been shown to be consistent with third-order motion. Cyclopean and rivalry images are shown to be a likely confound in stereomotion studies, rivalry motion being as strong as stereomotion. The phase dependence of superimposed same-direction stereomotion stimuli, rivalry stimuli, and isoluminant color stimuli indicates that these stimuli are processed in the same (third-order) motion system. The phase-dependence paradigm [ Lu Sperling , Vision Res.35, 2697 (1995)] ultimately can resolve the question of which types of signals share a single motion detector. All the evidence accumulated so far is consistent with the three-motion-systems theory.
Complications After Treatment of Tibial Pilon Fractures: Prevention and Management Strategies

Complications after treatment of tibial pilon fractures can occur intraoperatively or in the early or late postoperative period. Perioperative complications include malreduction, inadequate fixation, and intra-articular penetration of hardware, all of which may be minimized by preoperative planning and meticulous operative technique. Wound complications can lead to deep infection, with potentially catastrophic consequences. The incidence of wound complications may be lessened by delaying surgery 5 to 14 days, until the posttraumatic swelling has subsided. Temporary fixation with a medial spanning external fixator is recommended if definitive internal fixation is delayed. Fracture blisters should be left undisturbed until the time of surgery. Incisions through blood-filled blisters should be avoided whenever possible. Limited incisions to achieve reduction and fixation should be made directly over fracture sites, to minimize soft-tissue stripping. An indirect reduction technique involving the use of ligamentotaxis and low-profile small-fragment implants that minimize tension on the incision should be used. Late complications, such as stiffness and posttraumatic arthritis, correlate with the severity of the initial injury and the accuracy of reduction. Loss of ankle motion can be minimized by early range-of-motion exercise after stable fixation has been achieved. Posttraumatic ankle arthrosis should be initially treated with anti-inflammatory medication, activity modification, and walking aids. Symptomatic patients often require an ankle arthrodesis.
Role of intraglomerular circuits in shaping temporally structured responses to naturalistic inhalation-driven sensory input to the olfactory bulb

Olfaction in mammals is a dynamic process driven by the inhalation of air through the nasal cavity. Inhalation determines the temporal structure of sensory neuron responses and shapes the neural dynamics underlying central olfactory processing. Inhalation-linked bursts of activity among olfactory bulb (OB) output neurons [mitral/tufted cells (MCs)] are temporally transformed relative to those of sensory neurons. We investigated how OB circuits shape inhalation-driven dynamics in MCs using a modeling approach that was highly constrained by experimental results. First, we constructed models of canonical OB circuits that included mono- and disynaptic feedforward excitation, recurrent inhibition and feedforward inhibition of the MC. We then used experimental data to drive inputs to the models and to tune parameters; inputs were derived from sensory neuron responses during natural odorant sampling (sniffing) in awake rats, and model output was compared with recordings of MC responses to odorants sampled with the same sniff waveforms. This approach allowed us to identify OB circuit features underlying the temporal transformation of sensory inputs into inhalation-linked patterns of MC spike output. We found that realistic input-output transformations can be achieved independently by multiple circuits, including feedforward inhibition with slow onset and decay kinetics and parallel feedforward MC excitation mediated by external tufted cells. We also found that recurrent and feedforward inhibition had differential impacts on MC firing rates and on inhalation-linked response dynamics. These results highlight the importance of investigating neural circuits in a naturalistic context and provide a framework for further explorations of signal processing by OB networks.
Low timing-jitter high repetition-rate femtosecond pulse trains via locking to external Fabry-Perot cavities

Generation of low timing-jitter 150-fs pulse trains at 1560 nm with 2 GHz repetition rate is demonstrated by locking a fundamentally mode-locked 200 MHz fiber laser to a high finesse (F=2000) external Fabry-Perot cavity.
Performance of penalized maximum likelihood in estimation of genetic covariances matrices

Background Estimation of genetic covariance matrices for multivariate problems comprising more than a few traits is inherently problematic, since sampling variation increases dramatically with the number of traits. This paper investigates the efficacy of regularized estimation of covariance components in a maximum likelihood framework, imposing a penalty on the likelihood designed to reduce sampling variation. In particular, penalties that "borrow strength" from the phenotypic covariance matrix are considered.
The effect of mnemonic training on perceived recall confidence in the elderly

Abstract This study examined the effects of memory training on the relationship between perceived recall confidence and recall performance. The sample consisted of 76 elderly, community dwelling volunteers. Fifty-nine individuals received eight hours of memory training; the remaining 17 were wait-list controls. Participants were tested at pre- and post-intervention, and rated their confidence for recall of name-face pairs prior to each testing. The results showed a significant improvement in name-face recall at post test, favoring the group receiving mnemonic training. There was a significant association found between confidence ratings and recall performance at post-test. A closer examination of standardized regression residuals (confidence ratings and number of name-face pairs recalled) revealed that with mnemonic training, there was an improvement in the relationship between perceived confidence and recall performance following mnemonic training. The results suggest that the ability to assess changes i...
Experimental Demonstration of Laser Acceleration of Electrons via Relativistic Plasma Waves

A two-frequency CO2 laser beam was used to beat-excite a large amplitude electron plasma wave in a resonant density plasma. The accelerating fields of the relativistic plasma wave were probed with collinear injected 2.1 MeV electrons from an electron linac. Some electrons gained at least 7 MeV in traversing the approximately 1 cm length of the beat wave accelerator, with the measurement limited by the 9.1 MeV high energy cut-off of the detection system. The corresponding average acceleration gradient is > 0.7 GeV/m and the average wave amplitude n1/n0 is > 8%. Estimates based on collective Thomson scattering indicate that peak wave amplitudes of 15 - 30% may have been achieved.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Combining transmit beamforming, space-time block coding and delay spread reduction

Multipath fading and inter-symbol interference (ISI) are two fundamental impairments limiting the transmission quality of broadband wireless communications. In this paper we consider multiple-input single-output ISI channels and propose an ISI minimizing method implemented at the base station (BS) side using space time block coding (STBC) and statistical pre-filtering (SPF), which combines transmit beamforming (TB) with signal pre-alignment (PAL) based on the statistical knowledge of downlink channel state information (CSI). The proposed method transforms a time-dispersive channel into multiple flat fading channels, thus not only the ISI is minimized through SPF, but also the path diversity is maintained through STBC. With the delay spread reduction capability, the SPF method is further applied to multicarrier systems to reduce the cyclic prefix length, thus to increase the system throughput. Computer simulations have evaluated the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Rosai-Dorfman Disease Presenting in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Abstract Rosai-Dorfman disease (RDD) rarely presents a diagnostic challenge. However, unusual sites of presentation can cause confusion. We present a case of RDD of the colon in a symptomatic 51-ye...
Simulations for thermal warpage and pressure nonlinearity of monolithic CMOS pressure sensors

The operation function of a piezoresistive pressure sensor utilizes a voltage output to detect the magnitude of pressure. The basic design concept for monolithic pressure sensors is to fabricate a standard submicron CMOS process with appropriate modifications to integrate on-chip signal conditioning circuits with anisotropic-etched piezoresistive sensing elements. In this study, thermal stress simulations with applied pressure loadings are used to estimate the electromechanical behavior of a new monolithic sensing element concept design. The major tasks are to predict the ripple deformation of a silicon diaphragm due to the thermal residual stresses from multiple passivation layers and estimate the pressure nonlinearities on the transducer. More detailed approaches with design and performance concerns are also discussed.
The System-Level Simplex Architecture for Improved Real-Time Embedded System Safety

Embedded systems in safety-critical environments demand safety guarantees while providing many useful services that are too complex to formally verify or fully test. Existing application-level fault-tolerance methods, even if formally verified, leave the system vulnerable to errors in the real-time operating system (RTOS), middleware, and microprocessor. We introduce the System-Level Simplex Architecture, which uses hardware/software co-design to provide fail-operational guarantees for both logical application-level faults, as well as faults in previously dependent layers including the RTOS and microprocessor. We also provide an end-to-end design process for the System-Level Simplex Architecture where the AADL architecture description is automatically constructed and checked and the VHDL hardware code is generated.To show the efficacy of System-Level Simplex design, we apply the approach to both a classic inverted pendulum and a cardiac pacemaker. We perform fault-injection tests on the inverted pendulum design which demonstrate robustness in spite of software controller and operating system faults. For the pacemaker, we contrast the provided safety guarantees with those of a previous-generation pacemaker.
Some variables affecting dentists’ desire to use expanded duty dental auxiliaries

Attitudes and characteristics associated with the willingness of Rhode Island dentists to use expanded duty dental auxiliaries were determined in a survey of active practitioners in the state. Recent changes in the Rhode Island Dental Practice Act have made possible the expansion of duties for assistants. This study was undertaken to determine which characteristics or attitudes might be associated with the willingness of the dentists practicing in Rhode Island to use expanded duty dental auxiliaries. A survey of all active practitioners had a response rate of 74.6%.
Optical properties of transparent nanocrystalline yttria stabilized zirconia

The optical properties of transparent nanocrystalline zirconia produced using a current activated method were characterized over the entire visible spectrum. The resolutions of the samples were characterized using standard resolution targets. All of the samples produced were found to have as high a resolution as detectable from the test, i.e., they are transparent not translucent. Transmission, reflectance, and absorption coefficients are reported for various wavelengths. The absorption coefficients were found to be highly dependent on processing time. Annealing experiments helped determine that oxygen vacancies (with free electrons) are the primary absorption centers in the visible wavelengths. In addition it was found that grain boundary cores or their associated defects do not contribute significantly to light absorption in the visible range. The lack of an influence of the grain boundary regions is discussed in terms of low oxygen vacancy concentration in the grain boundary space charge layer.
Population Dynamics of Eleutherodactylus coqui in Cordillera Forest Reserves of Puerto Rico

Abstract Various aspects of population structure and dynamics of Eleutherodactylus coqui in two forest reserves (Maricao and Guilarte) of the central mountain range of Puerto Rico were determined between July 1997 and June 1998. Adult density ranged from 8–25 animals/100 m2 for the wet season and 3–19 animals/100 m2 for the dry season. Abundance of froglets and juveniles was also greater in the wet season compared to the dry season. By contrast, egg mass counts were greater in the dry season compared to the wet season. Adult body size increased from wet to dry season as population density declined and was found to differ significantly between forests. Adult E. coqui trapped at similar elevations were larger in Guilarte compared to those in Maricao. Average body size for Maricao and Guilarte populations were smaller than those reported for populations in eastern Puerto Rico. Comparing average snout–vent length among frogs from the Luquillo Mountains, Guilarte Forest, and Maricao Forest, a gradient of decre...
Single center experience with percutaneous CT-guided cryoablation of renal neoplasms

No. 406 Single center experience with percutaneous CTguided cryoablation of renal neoplasms M.M. Ali, C.R. Fedele, A. Graif, O.M. Tahir, A. Froush, C.J. Grilli, D.J. Agriantonis, K.M. Lie, G. Kimbiris, M.J. Garcia, D. Leung; Department of Radiology, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, DE Purpose: To evaluate safety and efficacy of CT-guided cryoablation of renal neoplasms and identify factors predictive of clinical success. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was undertaken of patients treated with CT-guided cryoablation between December 2008 and August 2013 at a single center. Chart and image review was performed to evaluate technical success and adverse events for the procedure as well as survival and freedom from recurrence on follow up. In addition, multivariable analysis was performed to identify predictors of clinical success, including CT volumetric analysis of the lesion and ice-ball using Tera-Recon 3D reconstruction software. Results: Ninety-six renal neoplasms in 89 consecutive patients (55 male, mean age 67 years) were enrolled in the study. The mean lesion diameter was 2.73 cm (range 1-6.5 cm), with a mean lesion volume of 14.6 cm. The mean number of probes required for treatment was 2.74. 52 lesions demonstrated medullary involvement (54.1%). Hydrodissection was required in 13 lesions (14%) due to proximity of bowel loops.Technical success was achieved in 95 of the 96 lesions (99%). Major bleeding occurred in 3 patients requiring transfusions. There was a single 30-day mortality not directly related to complications from the procedure.Mean follow-up was 13 months (range 1-48 months). Local recurrence was noted in 3 of 89 patients (3.4%) while secondary lesions in the contralateral kidney were seen in two patients (2.2%).The mean ratio of iceball volume to lesion volume at the index procedure was 1.22 in patients with recurrent lesions and 2.07 in patients without recurrences (p 1⁄4 0.028). None of the other analyzed variables yielded significant findings Conclusion: Percutaneous CT-guided cryoablation is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of renal neoplasms. An ice-ball to lesion volumetric ratio of o 1.5 may be indicative of potential future recurrence.
Pathway activation profiling reveals new insights into Age-related Macular Degeneration and provides avenues for therapeutic interventions

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of blindness in older people and is caused by loss of the central region of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Conventional methods of gene expression analysis have yielded important insights into AMD pathogenesis, but the precise molecular pathway alterations are still poorly understood. Therefore we developed a new software program, “AMD Medicine”, and discovered differential pathway activation profiles in samples of human RPE/choroid from AMD patients and controls. We identified 29 pathways in RPE-choroid AMD phenotypes: 27 pathways were activated in AMD compared to controls, and 2 pathways were activated in controls compared to AMD. In AMD, we identified a graded activation of pathways related to wound response, complement cascade, and cell survival. Also, there was downregulation of two pathways responsible for apoptosis. Furthermore, significant activation of pro-mitotic pathways is consistent with dedifferentiation and cell proliferation events, which occur early in the pathogenesis of AMD. Significantly, we discovered new global pathway activation signatures of AMD involved in the cell-based inflammatory response: IL-2, STAT3, and ERK. The ultimate aim of our research is to achieve a better understanding of signaling pathways involved in AMD pathology, which will eventually lead to better treatments.
An Approach To Determining The Market For Academic Positions: Application To The Discipline Of Agricultural Economics

This paper presents relevant issues in choice of an academic career in the chosen discipline of each student. The analytical model, applied to agricultural economics, is a supply/demand construct.
Automatic Facial Expression Recognition Using Modified Wavelet-Based Salient Points and Gabor-Wavelet Filters

In this paper, we present an automated approach for recognizing seven facial expressions including the neutral expression. The approach is based upon efficient feature extraction, feature compression, and an artificial neural network (ANN) classification. In the proposed method, the basic components of face, eyes, eyebrow, and mouth, are first segmented from the whole face using modified Wavelet based salient points. Then, the features of the eye and the mouth are extracted using Gabor-wavelet filters. Afterwards, the dimension of the features is reduced using principal component analysis (PCA). Finally a multi layer perceptron neural network is used to classify the facial expressions. The simulated results show high recognition rate as well as the low computational complexity that makes the proposed algorithm remarkable for accurate and fast facial expression recognition.
Assessing the linkages among climate variability, land-use change and the sedimentary regime of the Upper Chesapeake Bay

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of climate variability and landuse change in the Susquehanna river basin on the sedimentary regime of the Upper Chesapeake Bay, USA, Historical precipitation, stream discharge, land use, suspended sediment and dam reservoir capacity data were used to interpret regional patterns of erosion and sediment transport on annual, decadal and centennial timescales, Sediment accumulation patterns in the Upper Chesapeake Bay were inferred from the analysis of four piston cores including 14Cdating, magnetic susceptibility and laser particle analysis techniques. Core magnetic susceptibility profiles were found to be a usefid tool for stratigraphic correlation on the order of centimeters, On annual to decadal time-scales, a strong relationship was found between sediment yield and regional rainfall-runoff patterns and land surface erodibility. However, on centennial time-scales, our research suggests that anthropogenic land -use change (e.g., clear-cutting of native forests) has caused up to an order of magnitude increase in sediment accumulation rates in the Upper Chesapeake Bay. As a result, the signature of extreme hydrologic events such as large floods and droughts, and thus Anatural@climate variability, was “aliased” fkom the estuarine sedimentation patterns over the last 150 years. The construction of major dams around 1930 on the Lower Susquehanna River has resulted in a significant decrease in coarse ii-action of sediment inputs into the estuary, fimther reducing our ability to separate flood episodes from average conditions.
The Medical Malpractice Myth

In this review essay, I describe the recent book by Tom Baker, The Medical Malpractice Myth and explicate its deconstruction of five such myths: that there are numerous malpractice suits that are frivolous and yet the plaintiffs obtain large judgments; and that these have led to significant social costs through defensive medicine, skyrocketing malpractice insurance rates and the exit of good physicians from the practice of medicine. I then, however, suggest that the belief of physicians in these myths are deeply embedded and unlikely to be changed by the presentation of these facts and that real reform cannot succeed if opposed by the medical profession. Finally, I suggest that a reconceptualization of the malpractice tort to focus on systemic error rather than individual blameworthy conduct offers the best chance to align the interest of patients, physicians and health insurers.
Within-plant Distribution of Heliothis zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Eggs on Soybeans

Within-plant distribution of Heliothis zea (Boddie) F3 generation eggs was determined from soybean samples, Glycine max (L.) Merrill, taken from fields in eastern North Carolina. Numbers of eggs on 22 and 29 plant parts during 1980 and 1981, respectively, were recorded. X 2 tests of homogeneity for the proportion of eggs on each part tested across fields of different phenologies within each date indicated that these proportions changed from field to field. Based on the proportion of eggs per plant part or the frequency of occurrence of each plant part, the preferred oviposition sites were both the upper and lower trifoliates; however, terminals were the most preferred on the basis of the proportional area represented by each plant part.
Copper/H2O2-Mediated Oxidation of 2′-Deoxyguanosine in the Presence of 2-Naphthol Leads to the Formation of Two Distinct Isomeric Adducts

Exposure of cells to phenolic compounds through exogenous and endogenous sources can lead to deleterious effects via nucleobase modifications of DNA occurring under oxidative conditions. 2′-Deoxygu...
Instructional Values of Microcomputers for Handicapped Children

The use of microcomputers in education is growing at a phenomenal rate. Major “micro” manufacturers have sold thousands of units to school systems. Because of the rapid growth of this medium, it is extremely important that educational technologists and teachers of exceptional children be keenly aware of the effective use of this new technology. In this article selection criteria as well as specific classroom applications with handicapped students are examined. Advantages and limitations of microcomputer use with various handicapping conditions are discussed. To give the reader further insight concerning the general topic of microcomputers, specific sources are listed in the resources section of this article.
Anomalous electron-pair production in π−p collisions

Abstract Anomalous e + e − pairs with invariant mass 0.2 ⩽ M ⩽ 0.7 GeV / c 2 have been observed in the collision of pions with protons at a momentum p π ⋍16 GeV /c . Conventional hadronic mechanisms have been unable to reproduce the qualitative features of the observed spectra. The two-photon mechanism for pair production is evaluated in a semi-classical limit. The resulting differential cross sections as a function of the invariant mass, Feynman x , and transverse momentum of the pair are in reasonable quantitative agreement with the data. The dominant contribution to the pair amplitude arises from the magnetic spin-flip term of the proton current. These anomalous lepton pairs are thus consistent with an ab initio calculation of the two-photon mechanism.
Attitudes on Mind Over Matter: Physician Views on the Role of Placebo in Psychogenic Disorders

Psychogenic movement disorders (PMD) mimic known movement disorders, yet cannot be attributed to an underlying neurological substrate. PMD has been reported to affect up to 15–25% of patients who v...
Engineering Cardiac Tissue Using Stem Cell Therapy to Mend the Broken Heart

Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the most severe forms of coronary artery disease and is the leading cause of death in the United States [1]. Current treatments for an MI are either highly invasive, such as coronary artery bypass grafting and stent angioplasty, or might have undesirable long-term effects as is the case with pharmacological interventions. However, newly emerging methodologies, such as a less invasive stem cell therapy, aim to cure the disease rather than just alleviate its symptoms. This new tissue engineering technology has shown promise in restoring the homeostasis of the heart muscle after MI in preclinical and clinical studies [2]. However, controversies regarding inconsistent methodologies and a lack of mechanistic understanding of its actions have hampered progress in this field [3].© 2009 ASME