cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of Stroke: Legacy of the Framingham Heart Study

In the present historical review, we highlight several papers outlining contributions of the Framingham Heart Study (FHS) over the span of nearly 7 decades to our understanding of the epidemiology of blood pressure (BP), atrial fibrillation, and genetic factors as they relate to cerebrovascular disease. In 1970, Framingham investigators led by William Kannel explored the epidemiological relations of BP and its various components to risk of ischemic stroke as well as hemorrhage, and they noted the greater impact of hypertension to risk of stroke compared with other cardiovascular outcomes. Framingham investigators changed the prevalent concepts in terms of the contribution of BP components to stroke risk; that is, they showed systolic pressure to be no less important a component for stroke risk than the diastolic or mean arterial pressures. In addition, they challenged the notion that hypertension was a normal consequence of increasing age, as connoted by the term essential hypertension. They also refuted the idea that BP elevation in the elderly population is innocuous by demonstrating that increased stroke risk persisted in advanced age in hypertensive persons. Thirty years later, the Framingham study attained long-term follow-up of an entire generation of participants with excellent retention to follow-up, thus providing an opportunity to study hypertension and risk of stroke in a general population sample. Framingham investigators examined the effect of various BP components over a 50-year follow-up in normotensive and untreated hypertensive individuals as regards stroke risk and showed the long-term importance of antecedent (midlife) hypertension in future stroke risk. Similarly, by calling attention to the importance of chronic nonvalvular atrial fibrillation as a contributor to stroke, particularly in the elderly population, FHS investigators confirmed the clinical observations of the founder of stroke neurology, C. Miller Fisher, MD, who had made the clinical and pathological association of atrial fibrillation to stroke. Lastly, in the dawn of the era of individualized preventive medicine, FHS is participating in the effort to further our understanding of the role of genetic factors to stroke incidence. The contributions of FHS have been many and have shaped our understanding of the relation of BP, atrial fibrillation, and other risk factors to stroke risk, thereby setting the stage for clinical trials that demonstrated how control of these risk contributors could prevent stroke and enable stroke prevention. FHS investigators are collaborating with other geneticists and epidemiologists internationally to elucidate the role of genetic factors and stroke susceptibility, which is likely to continue to shape the practice of preventive cardiovascular medicine.
Adenine and Cytosine: Basic Polarographic Behavior and Its Interpretation

Abstract The basic information concerning the behavior on electrochemical reduction in aqueous media at mercury electrodes of cytosine, adenine, model compounds, their nucleosides and nucleotides, and their simpler polymers, is summarized and interpreted with particular reference to the effects of the addition of sugar and sugar—phosphate substituents on the course of the faradaic redox process, intermediate chemical steps in that process, the kinetics and energetics of individual steps, association in solution, and adsorption at the solution|electrode interface and association in the adsorbed state. Since cytosine and adenine are the only two nucleic acid bases, which are normally electrochemically reducible in aqueous media, it is hoped that the discussion will provide the background necessary for the interpretation of the observed behavior on electrochemical reduction ( e.g. , at dropping and hanging drop mercury electrodes) of polymeric species as in the polarographic studies of DNA and RNA, and synthetic polynucleotides.
In situ NMR studies of hydrogen interaction with supported Ru-Group Ib bimetallic catalysts

Abstract An in situ NMR technique was employed to study hydrogen adsorption on silica supported Ru-Group Ib bimetallic catalysts at pressures up to one atmosphere. Two different hydrogen-on-metal resonances, α and β, were observed. Addition of silver to Ru was found to greatly diminish the relative amount of the weakly bound β hydrogen. Since silver preferentially populates edge, corner and other defect-like sites, the weakly bound β was correlated with low coordinated metal atoms. The total hydrogen population on the catalyst remains approximately the same with the addition of copper. The difference in catalytic behavior of Ru, Ru-Cu and Ru-Ag is postulated to be due to the surface segregation induced structure sensitivity of the weakly bound β hydrogen.
Hydrodynamic particle volume and fluidized bed expansion

Particulate fluidized bed expansion may be described by the Richardson-Zaki equation, The values of n for very fine and/or aggregated particles and for particles of irregular shape are often found to be larger than those for comparable spherical particles. Previous work on aggregated systems by one of the authors showed that a modified Richardson-Zaki equation, (where C = 1-e), provided a more consistent correlation of the data. The parameter K accounted for the effective hydrodynamic volume of the particles during fluidization and the application of this concept to non-spherical particles was the subject of the present study. While K for spherical particles was essentially equal to unity, values from 1.17 to 1.43 were found for equidimensional but irregular particles with considerably higher values for flat particles. An equation relating K to particle shape is offered which, when combined with the Richardson-Zaki relationships, provides a more accurate prediction of the expansion behaviour of non-spherical particles. On peut decrire l'expansion d'un lit fluidise et particulaire au moyen de l'equation de Richardson et Zaki. On constate souvent que les valeurs de n dans les cas de particules tres fines et/ou agglomerees et de particules de forme irreguliere sont plus elevees que lorsqu'il s'agit de particules spheriques comparables. Un travail precedent qu'a fait l'un des auteurs sur des systemes de particules agglomerees a demontre que l'equation de Richardson et Zaki modifiee, a savoir , ou C = 1 — E, fournissait une correlation des resultats qui etait plus consistante. Le parametre K representait le volume hydrodynamique effectif des partidules durant la fluidisation; l'application de ce concept aux particules non spheriques a ete le sujet du present travail. Tandis que K pour des particules spheriques etait essentiellement egal a l'unite, on a trouve des valeurs de K variant entre 1.17 et 1.43, dans le cas de particules de meme grosseur, mais irregulieres, et des valeurs de K bien plus elevees lorsqu'il s'agissait de particules plates. On presente une equation reliant K a la forme des particules, laquelle, lorsqu'elle est combinee avec les equations de Richardson et Zaki, fournit une prevision plus exacte du comportement relatif a l'expansion des particules non spheriques.
Cortical adaptation to restoration of smiling after free muscle transfer innervated by the nerve to the masseter.

Background: The child with Mobius syndrome presenting for facial reanimation presents a difficult challenge. When bilateral paralysis and paresis preclude use of the contralateral facial nerve, the authors' preferred donor nerve for reinnervation of free muscle transfer is a branch of the trigeminal nerve, the ipsilateral nerve to the masseter. Methods: The authors have used a branch of the trigeminal nerve as a donor for three children with Mobius syndrome. Results: Of three children with Mobius syndrome, two are now able to smile independently of jaw closure. One child is now 2.6 years past bilateral free gracilis transfers completed at age 13.2 years. The second child is 8.2 years past free gracilis transfer to the left side of the face performed at age 7.6 years. The third child is 5.6 years past bilateral facial reanimation with free latissimus and free gracilis flaps completed at age 13.4 years. This child is not able to smile independently of jaw closure. The two who are able to smile independently of jaw closure demonstrated maximum excursion of the lateral commissure on the affected sides when asked to smile without biting; however, they demonstrated minimal excursion of the lateral commissure on the affected sides when asked to bite without trying to smile. Conclusions: These findings indicate that smiling independently of jaw closure is attainable with reanimation to the masseteric branch, refuting previous speculations. Early age at operation and absence of complete bilateral paralysis in these two children may have contributed to cortical adaptation to smiling.
Fuel Flexibility Influences on Premixed Combustor Blowout, Flashback, Autoignition, and Stability

This paper addresses the impact of fuel composition on the operability of lean premixed gas turbine combustors. This is an issue of current importance due to variability in the composition of natural gas fuel supplies and interest in the use of syngas fuels. Of particular concern is the effect of fuel composition on combustor blowout, flashback, dynamic stability, and autoignition. This paper reviews available results and current understanding of the effects of fuel composition on the operability of lean premixed combustors. It summarizes the underlying processes that must be considered when evaluating how a given combustor’s operability will be affected as fuel composition is varied.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
EFFECTS OF ECDYSONES, JUVENILE HORMONE ANALOGS, AND 6-OXOOCTANOIC ACID ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE MOSQUITO, CULEX TARSALIS (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

Eggs, larvae, and pupae of Culex tarsalis Coquillett were treated with ecdysones, juvenile hormone analogs, and 6-oxooctanoic acid. Effects of these agents on mortality, induction of supernumerary stages, and adult emergence were determined. Topical treatment of eggs with CRD9499 (a juvenile hormone analog), β-ecdysone, and 22-isoecdysone caused a reduction in adult emergence. Treatment of fourth-instar larvae with these chemicals not only induced mortality but also caused the formation of supernumerary intermediate stages. Larvae of C . tarsalis were very susceptible to CRD9499, but pupae were resistant. The ecdysones caused some mortality but only at very high doses and would thus be of little use as larvicides. 6-Oxooctanoic acid caused high rates of mortality at 0.001 M concentrations.
Increasing Design Search Relevancy using Statistical Methods in Conjunction with Ontologies

In engineered products, one of the most critical business processes is managing and reusing product design information within a product and across a product family (PF). Reuse of existing component designs plays an important role in reducing product design lead-time while lowering cost and increasing quality. Towards this end we propose a ontology-based design search and reuse method that combines statistical methods with ontologies to increase the component design search relevancy when having existing product design repositories. This proposed ontology-based design search and reuse method is performed in three stages: (1) computation of statistical similarity between the desired design and existing designs, (2) efficiency assessment of the remaining component designs based on a predefined component ontology, and finally (3) configuration of the selected design(s) for reuse. This method searches and ranks existing component designs in a design repository using statistical similarity and/or uses ontologies to expand the design search. This method is illustrated with a case study involving single-use cameras.
Predicting Retirement Upon Eligibility: An Embeddedness Perspective

Concern over the impact of baby-boomers' retirement on needed skills and proprietary knowledge has stimulated an interest in identifying workplace factors associated with retirement upon eligibility. Drawing from embeddedness theory, the authors identify work-based antecedents potentially underlying a related, but distinct, form of withdrawal—retirement upon eligibility. The authors generate and test hypotheses regarding the impact of fit-, sacrifice-, and links-related antecedents using a prospective study design and a national probability sample of some 500 older individuals who, at the time of the initial interview, were within months of becoming—for the first time—eligible to receive such benefits. The findings indicate that, beyond the effects of person-based antecedents (e.g., age, health, assets, expected retirement income), a combination of fit- (i.e., job challenge), sacrifice- (i.e., perceived organizational support), and links-related factors (i.e., stability of close workplace peer relations) have a substantial influence on the decision to retire upon eligibility. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Totalitarianism: Racial Values vs. Religious Values:Clerical Opposition to Nazi Anti-Polish Racial Policy

Hitler's wars for living space sent millions of Germans abroad and aggravated a severe labor shortage at home. German authorities recruited or forcibly transported up to seven million foreign workers to the Reich from 1939 to 1945. A great many of these civilian workers, POWs, and slave laborers came from Poland, the Ukraine, and western areas of the Soviet Union, that is, homelands the Nazi regime stigmatized as particularly “inferior.” Nazi racial thinking and wartime security concerns produced an extensive set of discriminatory measures aimed at the subjugation and strict control of Slavs. Nazi edicts required Poles and so-called Eastern Workers (Ostarbeiter) to wear a purple “P” or “Ost” badge on their outer clothing. Restrictive measures limited allowable movement to their immediate area of residence and work. The regime also imposed a system akin to apartheid. Racial law thus prohibited unnecessary social contact between members of the so-called master race and their “racial inferiors.”
Nonresident Fathering and School Failure

Does involvement by nonresident fathers affect adolescents’ propensity to remain in school? If so, is some involvement necessarily better than none, and are changes in involvement with time associated with changes in the odds of school failure? What aspects of involvement matter the most? This study uses data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health to show that nonresident fathers’ involvement and increases in this involvement over time are associated with lower probabilities of school failure among adolescents. However, those who have no involvement with their non-resident fathers may experience lower odds of school failure than those who have low or moderate levels of involvement. Disaggregation of involvement measures into component parts suggests that increased variety of activities—especially the discussion of schoolwork, grades, or other things going on in school—is important (although not critical) to the observed effect.
Avian Influenza (H5N1) and the Evolutionary and Social Ecology of Infectious Disease Emergence

Center for Conservation and Research Training, Pacific Biosciences Research Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822 Department of Tropical Medicine and Medical Microbiology, Asia-Pacific Institute for Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96813 Research Program, East West Center, Honolulu, HI 96848 Globalization Research Center, Department of Urban and Regional Planning and Department of Political Science, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822
The Effect of the Quality of Sibling Relationships on the Life Satisfaction of Adults With Schizophrenia

1222 Objective: This study examined the importance of the quality of the sibling relationship to the life satisfaction of adults with schizophrenia. Methods: Data were drawn from a longitudinal survey of aging families of adults with schizophrenia. Ninety-three dyads of adults with schizophrenia and their siblings participated. Participants independently completed a self-administered mail questionnaire. Data on the quality of the sibling relationship were taken from the siblings’ scores on the Positive Affect Index, and data on life satisfaction of the adult with schizophrenia were measured by the self and present life subscale of the Satisfaction With Life Scale. Results: Adults with schizophrenia had higher levels of life satisfaction when their siblings reported having a closer and more supportive relationship with their sibling with schizophrenia. Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence of the saliency of the sibling relationship to quality of life of adults with schizophrenia in midlife. (Psychiatric Services 58:1222– 1224, 2007)
Serial follow-up and the prognostic significance of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction-staged sentinel lymph nodes from melanoma patients

Purpose Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) may provide an extremely sensitive method for detection of occult nodal disease. We evaluated the role of a single-marker RT-PCR assay for tyrosinase mRNA in the detection of melanoma sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases and correlated the results with long-term clinical outcome. Patients and Methods One hundred twelve patients who underwent SLN biopsy for melanoma were prospectively analyzed. SLNs were bivalved, with half of each specimen evaluated by histologic methods and the other half evaluated by nested RT-PCR for tyrosinase. Results Fifteen patients (13%) had histologically positive SLNs, all of whom were also positive by RT-PCR (HISTO+/PCR+). Thirty-nine patients (35%) had SLNs that were negative by both histology and RT-PCR (HISTO−/PCR−). Fifty-eight patients (52%) were histologically negative but upstaged with a positive RT-PCR result (HISTO−/PCR+). Initially, at a median follow-up of 42 months, recurrence rates among the three coh...
Optimum approximations to Dolph-Chebyshev data windows

The narrow main lobe widths of Dolph-Chebyshev (1946) spectral windows can be approximated to within about 4%, with sidelobe depression to at least -98 dB, by windows defined with four Fourier series coefficients. Two windows may be particularly attractive, the opt59 and opt71 windows, since the true value of the fourth coefficient is zero. >
Estimation of the coverage probabilities by 3-stage sampling

Development of fault-tolerant computing systems requires accurate reliability assessment techniques. Usually, the reliability measures are functions of component failure rates and fault coverage probabilities. Coverage provides information about the fault and error detection, isolation and system recovery capabilities. This parameter can be estimated by physical or simulated fault injection. One of the most difficult problems the analyst has to deal with, throughout the fault injection process, is the largeness of the fault space. This paper addresses the problem of inferring the coverage probabilities from the information gathered in physical or simulated fault injection experiments. A 3-stage sampling technique is developed for coping with the largeness of the fault space. Statistical experiments are carried out in a three-dimensional fault space which takes into account the inputs applied to the system, fault occurrence times and fault locations.
Complications in Surgical Treatment of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: What We Think We Know.

Cervical spondyloticmyelopathy(CSM)isthe primarycause of spinal cord dysfunction in adult patients, and is due to a heterogeneous spectrum of etiologies, from degenerative disk disease to ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Due to the prevalence of CSM, surgical procedures addressing this pathology comprise a significant proportion of all spinal operations performed worldwide. Recent debate has centered around the superiority of anterior versus posterior approaches in the effectiveness of treating CSM and the risk of complications each confers. Controversy still exists as to the best procedure; however, the diversity of etiologies likely excludes a solitary optimal approach. The technical considerations, as well as the differential anatomy involved with each approach, contribute to potential complications. There is a wide variance in the literature regardingtheincidenceanddistributionofcomplicationsassociated
Registration of 'Teamaker' Hop

eamaker’ hop (Humulus lupulus L.) (Reg. No. CV-28, PI 558864) was developed by the USDA-ARS as a unique, nonbittering, high beta-acids hop and was released on 26 June 2006. The defi ning characteristics of Teamaker are its near-zero percent alpha acids levels—a distinctive condition in the Humulus species (Haunold et al., 1977)—good cone production, and relatively high levels of beta acids. Due to its low level of alpha acids, the primary bittering fl avor agent of hop, and high levels of beta acids, which are the primary antimicrobial active compounds in hop, the potential uses of this variety lie principally as a natural-product antimicrobial additive, replacing antibiotics in poultry feed (Cornelison et al., 2006); a bacteriostatic agent in sugar processing, replacing formaldehyde (Pollach et al., 1996); as an herbal tea; and as a “late-hopping” aroma hop addition to the brew kettle where bittering potential is of no consequence. Teamaker descended from the cross USDA 19105/USDA 19046M and, based on analysis of pedigree, has an inbreeding level F = 0.09375. The female, USDA 19105, was derived from the cross ‘Late Grape’/OP/3/‘Fuggle’//Fuggle/OP. Both Fuggle and Late Grape are thought to have arisen during the nineteenth century from clonal selections in Great Britain (Neve, 1991), although little is known about the parentage or origin of Late Grape. The male parent, USDA 19046M, was derived from ‘Late Cluster’/OP// Fuggle/OP. Genetic composition of Teamaker, based on pedigree analysis of known ancestors, is as follows: 31.25% Fuggle, 12.5% Late Grape, 12.5% Late Cluster (Neve, 1991), and the balance (43.75%) of unknown origin. Teamaker is a fairly vigorous cultivar with a cylindrical growth type, and its hop cones are distributed fairly uniformly along the length of the bine. This variety exhibits small- to medium-sized cones that mature moderately late with harvest dates similar to the industry standard ‘Nugget’ (Haunold et al., 1984). Harvest dates in Oregon ranged from 30 August to 23 September, with an
Archaeological evidence of teosinte domestication from GuilÃ¡ Naquitz, Oaxaca

Abstract Analysis of the three most ancient Zea mays inflorescence fragments from Guila Naquitz, Oaxaca, Mexico shows they did not disarticulate naturally, indicating that agricultural selection of domesticated teosinte was underway by 5,400 14C years before the present (about 4,200 dendrocalibrated years B.C.). The cooccurrence of two-ranked specimens with two rows and four rows of grain and numerous additional morphological characteristics of these specimens support hypotheses based on molecular and quantitative genetic analyses that maize evolved from teosinte. Domestication of the wild ancestor of maize occurred before the end of the 5th millennium B.C.
Comparing Craft and Culinary Practice in Africa: Themes and Perspectives

The collection of papers presented in this special issue of the African ArchaeologicalReview emerged out of a session entitled “Making Meals, Producing Pots: ComparingCraft and Culinary Practice in Africa” held at the 2012 Society for AfricanistArchaeology (SAfA) biennial meetings in Toronto. While archaeologists work-ing in Africa and elsewhere have often focused on either crafts or foodways,participants in the session sought to explore vital points of intersection betweenthese strongly material and deeply embodied technologies of daily life. Buildingupon several excellent case studies (e.g.,Ashley2010; Gosselain 2010; Haaland2007, 2012; Lyons and D’Andrea 2003; Maclean and Insoll 1999, 2003), weconsidered the ways in which craft andculinary practices together entailcultural knowledge, skills, and techniques for transforming raw materials intofood, drink, pots, metals, cloth, and other sundries consumed and displayed ona day-to-day basis. We also explored the nuanced ways in which foods andcrafts shape diverse subjectivities and materialize social distinctions betweenwomen and men, chiefs and commoners, and foreigners and locals, even asshared practices and tastes act as the glue that binds disparate groups together.The contributions to this issue further highlight how knowledge of crafting andfarming practices, as well as their products, are enrolled in the exercise ofpolitical power. We take the opportunity in this editorial introduction to expandbriefly on these and related themes that weave through the followingethnoarchaeological and archaeological case studies comparing craft and culinarypractices in Africa.
ACE Inhibitors in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patient Selection and Timing

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors have earned their place along with aspirin, β-blockers, and thrombolytic agents as medical therapies proven to reduce mortality rates in acute myocardial infarction.1 The results of well-conducted, randomized, controlled clinical trials have been so consistent and so conclusive that the emphasis now shifts from research to implementation. Because the trials demonstrated that the oral use of an ACE inhibitor can save lives, the pragmatic questions of who and when to treat are left to the frontline physicians. Unlike the clinical trial experience with its protocol-directed inclusion and exclusion criteria, time window for initiation, and the informed consent process, the practicing physician must make decisions on the basis of his or her current assessment of the relative merits as well as the potential for harm by an ACE inhibitor for individual patients. Because any further major placebo-controlled trials of ACE inhibitors in acute myocardial infarction are not likely, physicians must use the sum of the currently available information to make the best choices for their patients.2 The leaders of major trials of antiplatelet3 and thrombolytic4 therapies in acute myocardial infarction have formed collaborative groups that pool their collective data in an attempt to better understand the safety and efficacy information of their combined experience. This collaborative approach goes a step beyond routine meta-analysis because the group not only attempts to develop more uniform definitions but, importantly, pools their individual data to derive more reliable life-table experiences and projections. An ACE Inhibitor Collaborative Group was convened with these same objectives in the hope of developing a consensus for recommending ACE inhibitors in patients with acute myocardial infarction. One of the group’s initial decisions was to categorize the ACE inhibitor trials of myocardial infarction into those that were early-onset, broad-inclusion and short-term trials or selective-inclusion, long-term …
The anatomy of chest pain

Abstract In summary, it may be stated that the pitfalls in the differential diagnosis of precordial pain are numerous. Meticulous attention to the anatomy and mechanism of various pains as well as proper history taking in clinical application will minimize the possibility of error in diagnosis.
Dual-band switched beam array fed by dual-band Butler matrix

A two layer dual-band switched beam system operating at two separate frequency bands is proposed. This system consists of a dual-band 4×4 Butler matrix at the bottom layer and a dual-band microstrip antenna array at the top layer. The antenna array is fed by a Butler matrix to produce four beams that can be tilted in different four directions. A modified Butler matrix consists of branch line couplers and −45° phase shifters without any crossovers. The system provides a tilted beam of ±14° and ±47° at 3.95 GHz and ±10° and ±28° at 7.3 GHz.
AT1 Antisense Distinguishes Receptors Mediating Angiotensin II Actions in Solitary Tract Nucleus

Angiotensin (Ang) II receptors in the solitary tract nucleus (nTS) are located on vagal sensory-afferent fiber terminals as well as on neuronal cell bodies. Results from in vitro slice preparations indicate that approximately 50% of the neuronal excitatory actions of Ang II result from actions at presynaptic receptors. The differential contribution of actions on fiber terminals versus neuronal cell soma to the cardiovascular effects of Ang II in the nTS is not known. We used antisense oligonucleotides to the angiotensin type 1 (AT(1)) receptor, which should reduce receptors on neurons within the injection site but not those on fiber terminals projecting to the nTS. Ang II injections (250 fmol/30 nL) into the nTS reduced blood pressure by 14+/-1 mm Hg and heart rate by 13+/-1 bpm (n=8) in male Sprague-Dawley rats anesthetized with chloralose/urethane. Although there was still a significant fall in pressure that was induced by Ang II at 90 and 150 minutes after AT(1) antisense (164 pmol/120 nL) was injected into the nTS, the response was blunted 50% (P<0.01). Heart rate responses were completely blocked at the 150-minute time point. Scrambled sequence oligonucleotides did not alter Ang II responses at any time. There was a 40% reduction in (125)I[Sar(1)Thr8]-Ang II binding when antisense-injected and noninjected sides of the nTS were compared with receptor autoradiography. This finding is consistent with the continued presence of AT(1) receptors on afferent fibers. This unique strategy illustrates that both presynaptic fiber terminals and nTS neurons are involved in the blood pressure lowering actions of Ang II, whereas heart rate responses are largely due to actions directly on nTS neurons and activation of vagal efferent pathways.
Predicting Methicillin Resistance and the Effect of Inadequate Empiric Therapy on Survival in Patients With Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia

Background: The restriction of vancomycin hydrochloride use is recommended as a measure to decrease the emergence of vancomycin resistance in gram-positive organisms; however, vancomycin also is the treatment of choice for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. If vancomycin use is restricted to patients with documented infections due to methicillin-resistant organisms, then patients with MRSA infections may not initially receive vancomycin. This study was performed to determine factors that predict MRSA bacteremia and if ineffective empiric antibiotic therapy increased the risk of death in patients with S aureus bacteremia. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all patients with clinically significant S aureus bacteremia (132 episodes in 128 patients) diagnosed between October 1, 1995, and January 1, 1998, at an urban acute care Veterans Affairs medical center (approximately 200 acute care beds) in Baltimore, Md. During the study period, vancomycin was a restricted antibiotic. Empiric use had to be approved by an attending physician specializing in infectious diseases. sensitive S aureus bacteremia, patients with MRSA bacteremia were significantly older (70 vs 58 years; P,.01), more likely to have a history of MRSA (47% vs 6%; P,.01) and a nosocomial infection (76% vs 50%; P,.01), and less likely to use injection drugs (8% vs 32%; P,.01). In addition, compared with patients who had methicillinsensitive S aureus bacteremia, patients with MRSA bacteremia were significantly less likely (45% vs 98%; P,.01) to receive effective antibiotic therapy during the first 48 hours of hospitalization. However, the risk of death due to ineffective empiric therapy was less than 1 (relative risk, 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.36-1.88) and did not change significantly when adjusted for age, occurrence of sepsis, or nosocomial infection. Conclusions: The results of this study support the safety of the restriction of vancomycin use in patients with clinically significant S aureus bacteremia. However, patients with a history of MRSA are more likely to have future MRSA infections and should receive empiric therapy using vancomycin for possible S aureus infections, particularly for nosocomial infections. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:1001-1004
Atom interferometer gyroscope with spin-dependent phase shifts induced by light near a tune-out wavelength.

Light-induced shifts in atom interference fringes are shown to be significantly affected by the Earth's rotation rate, opening the door to a new type of atom interferometer.
Adherence to the 1997 American Urological Association guidelines for the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVES To review the published literature in the Journal of Urology (JU) and Urology (UR) particular to the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), to assess whether the recommendations as set forth by the original American Urological Association (AUA) Female Stress Urinary Incontinence Clinical Guidelines Panel were substantially adhered to in the subsequent SUI surgical literature. METHODS An online search of JU and UR was conducted to collect all articles published between January 1998 and September 2006 reporting on the surgical treatment of female SUI using any technique. Articles were reviewed and abstracted for the various data points specified by the original Guidelines Panel that were recommended as a minimum baseline data set as well as standards of efficacy for future trials. RESULTS A total of 90 articles (JU = 57, UR = 33) meeting the above criteria were identified and included in this analysis. There were no articles meeting all criteria, but most complied with at least half of the recommendations. CONCLUSIONS Since the publication of the 1997 AUA SUI guidelines, adherence to the recommendations of efficacy for future trials in the articles published in the major U.S. urological journals has been suboptimal. The implications of this for the next AUA SUI Guidelines Panel, whose recommendations are based on the intervening literature since the last Guidelines Panel report, are unclear.
Effects of a responsiveness–focused intervention in family child care homes on children’s executive function.

Abstract Caregiver responsiveness has been theorized and found to support children’s early executive function (EF) development. This study examined the effects of an intervention that targeted family child care provider responsiveness on children’s EF. Family child care providers were randomly assigned to one of two intervention groups or a control group. An intervention group that received a responsiveness-focused online professional development course and another intervention group that received this online course plus weekly mentoring were collapsed into one group because they did not differ on any of the outcome variables. Children ( N = 141) ranged in age from 2.5 to 5 years (mean age = 3.58 years; 52% female). At pretest and posttest, children completed delay inhibition tasks (gift delay-wrap, gift delay-bow) and conflict EF tasks (bear/dragon, dimensional change card sort), and parents reported on the children’s level of attention problems. Although there were no main effects of the intervention on children’s EF, there were significant interactions between intervention status and child age for delay inhibition and attention problems. The youngest children improved in delay inhibition and attention problems if they were in the intervention rather than the control group, whereas older children did not. These results suggest that improving family child care provider responsive behaviors may facilitate the development of certain EF skills in young preschool-age children.
Economics, Security and Innovation

This paper takes into account an economic perspective of security and innovation. In particular, it discusses aspects of economics that may be relevant in order to assess and deploy security technologies. At the micro level of analysis, as an example, this paper highlights discussions on the economics of security in the cloud. Do we really understand the economics of security in the cloud? Are there economic models that capture operational security in the cloud? Early work at HP Labs on trust economics underpins a systematic approach to information security decision-making and risk management. The results on trust economics highlight how economics may drive operational security and the deployment of security technologies. At the macro level of analysis, drawn from ongoing work within the Security and Trust Coordination and Enhanced Collaboration, this paper links economics to innovation in cyber security and privacy. Despite the R&D investments in cyber security and privacy, the general perception is that security and privacy technologies are deployed ineffectively. This paper also presents an integrated framework taking into account market perspectives that may support identifying suitable R&D strategies and assessing their impact.
The Nuclear Question and the Global South: Between Representation and Agency

The nuclear knowledge-sharing called for by President Eisenhower in his "Atoms for Peace" proposal to the UN General Assembly in December 1953 proposed the spread of nuclear energy for explicitly peaceful purposes only. A security-driven nuclear rationale thus remained the exclusive preserve of the five recognized nuclear weapons states (NWS) under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) signed fifteen years later. Taking cue from Hugh Gusterson's notion of "nuclear orientalism", the purpose of this paper is to show that not only is the nuclear non-proliferation regime biased and discriminatory against the nuclear have-nots, but that it has always tended to thwart agency of these countries in a classic case of assymetrical North-South relations. In other words, the tug of war between disarmament and non-proliferation is more than mere rhetorics. The cases in point being the negotiations since the mid-1960s leading to the NPT, its indefinite extension in May 1995 and the negotiations leading to the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty in 1996.
Studies on Caecomyces communis : morphology and development

The development of Caecomyces communis was studied with light and fluorescence microscopy. Caecomyces communis is a monocentric fungus which develops to form either a thallus consisting of one or more sporangia attached to a vegetative cell or a mycelioid thallus. During the formation of a vegetative cell with attached sporangia, the posteriorly uniflagellate zoospore encysts and produces a broad germ tube which develops into an incipient vegetative cell. The vegetative cell enlarges faster than the zoospore cyst which develops into an incipient sporangium. A unisporangiate thallus consists of one sporangium attached to a large, vacuolate, vegetative cell. Thallus development may terminate at this unisporangiate stage or further development into a multisporangiate thallus may occur. During multisporangiate thallus formation, the vegetative cell forms one or more outgrowths that become sporangial stalks. Nuclei occur within the vegetative cell and, at maturity, sporangia are formed at the tips of the outgrowths. Often, instead of forming sporangia at the tips of outgrowths produced by the vegetative cell, the outgrowths enlarge into thick filaments. These filaments branch extensively and nuclei occur within the branches. Sporangia are formed at the tips of such filaments which results in a mycelioid thallus. The development and morphology of C. communis and C equi are compared.
Heating, Laser Irradiation and Passivation Study on the Light-Emitting Porous Silicon

For light-emitting porous Si there has been a severe problem with instability and degradation of the light emission. We report that a stabilization of the emission intensity and the peak energy can be achieved in air by a proper laser irradiation, In-situ photoluminescence measurements were performed to monitor the degradation and stabilization process under different conditions and parameters, such as laser power, laser wavelength and environment (ambient atmosphere of certain gas or ultra high vacuum). We found oxygen is the major cause for the emission degradation in this laser enhanced adsorption process, and the laser heating effect can be excluded. For a comparison we study the reversible thermal heating and quenching process. We also discuss microwave and ECR plasma passivation results.
Effect of femur position on the angular measurement of slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

SUMMARY A femur model was used to simulate a slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). Wedges were inserted into a cut in the femoral neck to create SCFEs of 25, 50, and 75 degrees. The effects of femur position on the angular measurement of SCFE were studied by taking radiographs of the SCFE at preselected positions of rotation and abduction, which were ensured by a holding device. The views selected were the cross table lateral (CTL), Billing lateral, and frog lateral (FL) projections. FL views were obtained at 22.5, 45, and 67.5 degrees of abduction. The rotational positions were 20 degrees internal, neutral, and 15, 30, 45, and 60 degrees external. Slip angles were measured from these radiographs. The CTL and FL projections accurately portrayed any severity of an SCFE at all positions except for 45 and 60 degrees of external rotation. The Billing view falsely portrayed a severe SCFE at all positions of rotation. The most accurate representation of an SCFE is seen on either the CTL or FL view when the external rotation of the femur does not exceed 30 degrees.
The Coming Age of RFID Revolution

Radio Frequency Identification, or RFID, has long been a staple of automatic identification technologies. Recently, the technology has been attracting considerable attention from large retailers and consumer goods manufacturers with the expectation of improved supply chain visibility. Many companies are embracing RFID as a competitive weapon that can improve their efficiencies, and provide significant business benefits. Despite many useful applications, the technology's potential has yet to be fully realized. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of contemporary RFID systems, highlight its promises as well as its pitfalls, identify the implementation challenges and key business drivers, survey its application in various industries, and speculate about where this technology is headed.
Use of portable-mini emission spectrometers in metal industry

The application of portable on-site emission spectrometers for the fast composition control of a wide range of metals has been investigated by CRM.A large number of various samples(low and ultra low carbon steels,stainless steels,aluminium,nickel and copper based samples)have been analyzed and the results have been evaluated by using chemical ref- erence methods such as ICP-OES,XRF,C and S combustion,etc.Concerning C,S and P in low carbon steels,the efficiency reached by new portable spectrometers is,with specific cali- bration,close to the one achieved by classic stationary optical spectrometers.The paper will also illustrate various experiences in the field of direct analysis without sampling.
Data Matrix Code Identify Method Research

Take Data Matrix as example,this paper proposed a comparatively common algorithm for 2-D codes' segmentation and recognition.For the sake of removing caustic effects,an adaptive bninarization threshold method based on Otsu is adopted here.After adjustive rotation,the coordinates in the image are not exactly the integral numbers and may bring about burr and blank points.Hence the bilinear interpolation processing is necessary.Experiments bear out that the proposed method works really well,significantly improving the recognition rate.
NONLINEAR DYNAMICS CHARACTERISTICS OF RUBBING ROTOR WITH BENDING-TORSIONAL-PENDULAR COUPLING VIBRATIONS

The characteristics of coupled bending-torsional-pendular coupling vibrations of rotary shaft systems are studied to improve the safety of rotary shaft systems. It is deduced that the general differential equation of bending-torsional-pendular coupling vibration about rotor with the gyroscopic moment. On the basis of this equation, the general differential equations of coupled bending, torsional and pendular nonlinear vibration about rotor with unbalance character and rubbing character are deduced. The bifurcation and chaos behavior especially the influence on bifurcation and chaos behavior of impact and rubbing fault rotor system caused by the parameters of rotor rotating speed are analyzed by using the numerical value analysis method. The analysis results caw provide the theoretical bases for safely operating and identifying the combination-resonance fault of the rotors.
HIV patient retention: the implementation of a North Carolina clinic-based protocol.

ABSTRACTDecreased visit attendance leads to poor health outcomes, decreased viral suppression, and higher mortality rates for persons living with HIV. Retention in care is an important factor in improving health status for people living with HIV but continues to be a challenge in clinical settings. This paper details the development and implementation of the NC-LINK Retention Protocol, a clinic-based protocol to locate and reengage out-of-care patients, as part of overall clinic retention efforts. The protocol was implemented as one of four interventions of the NC-LINK Systems and Linkages Project, a multi-site initiative funded by the HIV/AIDS Bureau and the Special Projects of National Significance. Lists of out-of-care patients who had not received HIV medical care in over nine months and did not have a future appointment were created each month. Patient navigators, case managers, and other staff then followed a standardized protocol to locate and reengage these patients in care. A total of 452 patient...
A cost‐effectiveness analysis of nasal surgery to increase continuous positive airway pressure adherence in sleep apnea patients with nasal obstruction

Objectives/Hypothesis Nasal surgery has been implicated to improve continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) compliance in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and nasal obstruction. However, the cost-effectiveness of nasal surgery to improve CPAP compliance is not known. We modeled the cost-effectiveness of two types of nasal surgery versus no surgery in patients with OSA and nasal obstruction undergoing CPAP therapy. Study Design Cost-effectiveness decision tree model. Methods We built a decision tree model to identify conditions under which nasal surgery would be cost-effective to improve CPAP adherence over the standard of care. We compared turbinate reduction and septoplasty to nonsurgical treatment over varied time horizons from a third-party payer perspective. We included variables for cost of untreated OSA, surgical cost and complications, improved compliance postoperatively, and quality of life. Results Our study identified nasal surgery as a cost-effective strategy to improve compliance of OSA patients using CPAP across a range of plausible model assumptions regarding the cost of untreated OSA, the probability of adherence improvement, and a chronic time horizon. The relatively lower surgical cost of turbinate reduction made it more cost-effective at earlier time horizons, whereas septoplasty became cost-effective after a longer timespan. Conclusions Across a range of plausible values in a clinically relevant decision model, nasal surgery is a cost-effective strategy to improve CPAP compliance in OSA patients with nasal obstruction. Our results suggest that OSA patients with nasal obstruction who struggle with CPAP therapy compliance should undergo evaluation for nasal surgery. Level of Evidence 2c Laryngoscope, 127:977–983, 2017