cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MR evaluation of tetralogy of Fallot patients after surgical repair: relationship between aortic dilation and aortic regurgitation

Methods We retrospectively identified 97 consecutive patients with surgically corrected TOF and 26 controls without TOF or aortic or cardiac abnormalities who underwent cardiac MR evaluation. The ascending aortic diameter was measured at four levels and diameter ratios were calculated for morphologic characterization. Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and aortic regurgitation were calculated from velocity-encoded cine data. Aortic size was compared between the TOF and control groups, as well as to population based data. The relationship between regurgitation and aortic imaging parameters was assessed.
An Afg2/Spaf-Related Cdc48-like AAA ATPase Regulates the Stability and Activity of the C. elegans Aurora B Kinase AIR-2

The Aurora B kinase is the enzymatic core of the chromosomal passenger complex, which is a critical regulator of mitosis. To identify novel regulators of Aurora B, we performed a genome-wide screen for suppressors of a temperature-sensitive lethal allele of the C. elegans Aurora B kinase AIR-2. This screen uncovered a member of the Afg2/Spaf subfamily of Cdc48-like AAA ATPases as an essential inhibitor of AIR-2 stability and activity. Depletion of CDC-48.3 restores viability to air-2 mutant embryos and leads to abnormally high AIR-2 levels at the late telophase/G1 transition. Furthermore, CDC-48.3 binds directly to AIR-2 and inhibits its kinase activity from metaphase through telophase. While canonical p97/Cdc48 proteins have been assigned contradictory roles in the regulation of Aurora B, our results identify a member of the Afg2/Spaf AAA ATPases as a critical in vivo inhibitor of this kinase during embryonic development.
Acquisition of semantic role by language-disordered children: differences between production and comprehension.

Six 3-year-old language-disordered children were taught the relationship between semantic role and word order through either production or comprehension training. All 6 subjects successfully learne...
High intraguild predator density induces thinning effects on and increases temporal overlap with prey populations

Intraguild (IG) predator density can alter its effects on intraguild prey populations through several mechanisms, including density-dependent processes that affect IG predator traits such as size or growth that enhance or limit its predatory abilities. We examined whether intraspecific density-dependence altered IG predator traits, as well as the subsequent interspecific effects among its intraguild prey within a larval salamander guild. Four densities of ringed salamanders (Ambystoma annulatum), the IG predator, were combined with the presence/absence of spotted salamanders (A. maculatum), the IG prey, within experimental mesocosms. We modeled the effects of A. annulatum density on both conspecific and heterospecific responses that would be indicative of density-dependent competition and predation, respectively. We also modeled the reciprocal interspecific effects of A. maculatum on A. annulatum. We found that increasing intraspecific density negatively affected morphological traits but not survival of A. annulatum. No interspecific effects of A. maculatum on A. annulatum were observed. Alternatively, traits of A. maculatum showed nonlinear relationships with increasing A. annulatum density. Thinning effects of A. annulatum on A. maculatum were observed, as survival was positively and size negatively related for A. maculatum with IG predator density. The temporal overlap of the IG predator and prey also increased nonlinearly with IG predator density, intensifying the potential encounter rate of the two species. Overall, this study shows that density-dependent processes in IG predators can significantly affect traits of both themselves, as well as IG prey, which could ultimately change whether competition or predation occurs between the two groups.
The toxicological effects of pure dietary adenine base in the rat.

Abstract The subacute toxic effects (36 days) of pure adenine base (0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.40 0.80 and 1.6% of the diet) was investigated in young male rats. The oral LD50 of adenine in the rat is 227 mg/kg. Animals consumed normal amounts of food and water at low levels of adenine (0.05−0.10%). Higher levels of adenine (> 0.20%) significantly reduced food consumption and increased water intake. Evidence of gross pathology in soft tissues was absent at 0.05 to 0.10% adenine. Levels greater than 0.10% produced definite pathological changes in the kidney. The kidney was greatly enlarged and its absolute weight increased more than 2 × normal. The enlarged “adenine kidney” was granular, edematous, greyish, and soft. A significant change in the blood urea nitrogen occurred when the level of adenine approached 0.20%. No significant changes were found in blood uric acid at all dietary levels. Low levels of adenine did not change the hematological indices with the exception of the leukocyte count. A significant leukocytosis occurs at all levels (0.05−1.6%) of adenine. An increase in systolic blood pressure but no change in EKG was noted at levels > 0.20% adenine.
Analysis of a Large Structure‐Activity Data Set Using Recursive Partitioning

Conventional parametric methods such as linear regression have not been entirely successful in analyzing structure-activity data sets. This is because the underlying relationships may involve nonlinearities, thresholds and interactions, all of which considerably impede linear additive modelling approaches. Recursive partitioning, RP, is able to accommodate all these modelling difficulties seamlessly and therefore invites investigation as a general approach for study of structure activity relationships. In this paper we apply a recursive partitioning procedure, FIRM, to a large monoamine oxidase structure-activity data set. The methodology is successful in uncovering nonlinearities in the response. Coupling RP with the use of correspondence analysis provides further insights into the distinction between compounds that are inactive, moderately active and active.
Pediatric dentistry clinical education venues evaluation by pre and post-doctoral students.

Objective: To evaluate dental students’ perspectives about pre- and post-doctoral pediatric dentistry education venues. Study design: Surveys with visual analog scales (from 0 to100) measuring the educational contribution of pediatric dentistry venues were conducted. The pre-doctoral venues included a 3rd year university twilight clinic (UTC), a 3rd year urban community based clinic (CBC) and 4th year mobile clinics (MCs). The post-doctoral venues included treatment of children under general anesthesia, oral sedations, a regular clinic (no sedations), seminars, journal club, case conferences and studding for the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Results: Analyses of variance between the scores indicated that the 3rd year CBC score (68.2 ± 4.5) was statistically significant higher (p= .007) than the one for the 3rd year UTC score (44.9±6.1). The 4th year students’ MCs score (61.4±4.0) was statistically significant higher than their retrospective scores for the 3rd year CBC (56.4±4.4) or UTC (42.2±4.9)...
The effect of thermal conductivity on the singular behavior of the near-tip temperature gradient

The singular behavior of the temperature gradient in the vicinity of a macrocrack tip is studied in this work. The emphasis is placed on the effect of thermal conductivity on the power of singularity of the near-tip temperature gradient. Both the temperature dependency and the inhomogeneity of the thermal conductivity are investigated analytically. In the near-tip region, they are the sensitive factors influencing the singular behavior of the temperature gradient. The physical conditions under which their effect dominates over the geometric singularity at the crack tip are studied in detail. In some cases, their strong effects can even make the singularity of the temperature gradient diminished at the crack tip. Consequently, the thermal energy intensification disappears.
Two-descent, two-torsors and local equivalence

Abstract We extend to dimension 2 the well-known equivalence in dimension 1 between objects locally isomorphic to a given one, descent data, Cech one-cocycles and torsors.
Instructing Adolescents with Learning Disabilities: A Component and Composite Analysis

Instructional components that positively influence performance of adolescents are identified based on a comprehensive meta-analysis of intervention studies for students with learning disabilities. Explicit practice and advanced organization are basic instructional components in a number of successful intervention programs. The purpose of this article is to identify the components of various instructional models that best predicted effect sizes for adolescents with learning disabilities. Three important findings emerged. First, 8 instructional factors (Questioning, Sequencing and Segmentation, Explicit Skill Modeling, Organization and Explicit Practice, Small-Group Setting, Indirect-Teacher Activities (e.g., homework), Technology, and Scaffolding) captured the majority of intervention programs for adolescents with LD. Second, only the organization/explicit factor contributed significant variance (16%) to effect size. This factor included only 2 instructional components: advanced organization and explicit practice. Finally, the single most important instructional component related to high effect sizes was explicit practice (treatment activities related to distributed review and practice, repeated practice, sequenced reviews, daily feedback, and/or weekly reviews).
Dependence of neutral winds on convection E-field, solar EUV, and auroral particle precipitation at high latitudes

[1] We use the Global Ionosphere Thermosphere Model (GITM) to investigate the thermospheric neutral winds and their relationship to the high-latitude ionospheric convection, auroral precipitation, and solar activity. Each simulation is run for 24 hours, allowing an approximate steady state to be reached. Our results show that the duskside vortex and the antisunward polar cap neutral winds are prominent. The interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) southward Bz control of the polar cap winds is evident in both dusk cell and polar cap. When the IMF Bz changes from −1 to −10 nT, at the auroral region both the root of mean square (RMS) of Vn and Vi increase more than 50% at 300 km altitude, the ratio of R2 (RMS(Vn · (E × B))/RMS(E × B)2) increases, while R1 (RMS(Vn)/RMS(E × B)) changes little. In the polar cap region, since the ion flow is in the same direction as the neutral pressure gradient, above around 160 km altitude, ∣Vn∣ is larger than ∣Vi∣. When the F10.7 increases from 70 to 250, in the auroral region, the magnitude of ∣Vn∣ increases close to 20% at 300 km altitude. At lower latitudes, where ∣Vn∣ > ∣Vi∣ and the ions act as a load to the neutral winds, as a consequence of increases in F10.7, the drag on the neutrals becomes greater and therefore slows the neutrals down. The altitude dependent change of R2 is associated with the multiple effects of the F10.7 to the neutral winds, including the increased day-to-night pressure gradient and ion drag. The impact of hemispheric power (HP) to the low thermosphere is pronounced. At 150 km altitude, the neutral winds increase 30% in magnitude at auroral latitudes. When HP is raised from 10 to 100 GW, a dawn cell forms, concurrent with an enhancement in the dusk cell. The dawn and dusk cells show an obvious asymmetry both in the average neutral winds and the sensitivity of neutral winds to the HP. It is shown that at 250 km altitude, the magnitude of the southward IMF Bz has a positive correlation with the magnitude of the polar cap winds and the sensitivity increases with F10.7. A negative correlation between the magnitude of Vn and F10.7 with small southward IMF Bz becomes positive when the southward IMF Bz increases. This change is presumably due to the momentum balance between ion drag and advection. The dawn (dusk) convection cell is enhanced when By is negative (positive). In response to the effect of the Coriolis force, the By negative winds are not exactly mirror reflections of the By positive winds. For northward IMF Bz, the neutral winds flow sunward at the highest latitudes near noon. When the northward Bz increases from 10 nT to 20 nT, the distribution of the polar cap potential becomes more symmetric and the sunward neutral flow is enhanced and expanded.
Functional response ofEocanthecona furcellata (Wolff.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) in relation to prey density and defence with reference to its preyLatoia lepida (Cramer) (Lepidoptera: Lemacodidae)

The functional responses ofEocanthecona furcellata (Wolff.) that predates on its caterpillar prey,Latoia lepida (Cramer), a sporadic pest of many agricultural crop plants are presented using Holling’s ‘disc’ equation. The results indicate the importance of prey density and defence in influencing the attack response of the predator. Further, the phytophagous habits of this predatory bug and its ability to derive nourishment from plant sources during periods of prey absence are also discussed.
Acute disseminated lupus erythematosus with seven-year recovery—Case report

Summary A case of acute disseminated lupus erythematosus with severe skin and visceral involvement and a septic complication is reported. Spontaneous resolution of the disease occurred, and the patient is healthy and vigorous after seven years.
Effect of hypophysectomy and gonadotropin treatment on metabolism of 3h-progesterone by rat testicular tissue

Abstract This study was conducted to define the pattern of in vitro metabolism of 3H-progesterone in incubates of rat testicular tissue at various time intervals after hypophysectomy and to determine the effect of in vivo gonadotropin treatment on the metabolism of 3H-progesterone in posthypophysectomy regressed testes. Formation of tritium labeled testosterone, androstenedione, 5α-androstanediol and androsterone was markedly diminished within two weeks and only traces of these substances were formed between the 23rd and 54th day after hypophysectomy. The major metabolite throughout this time period was 3H-20α-dihydroprogesterone. These data demonstrate that in posthypophysectomy-regressed testes 3H-progesterone metabolism does not revert to that observed in fetal testes or testes from immature animals. Treatment with HCG, commencing on the 33rd day after hypophysectomy resulted first in formation of 5α-reduced androgens and marked decrease in 20α-dihydroprogesterone. Additional treatment produced increased formation of radiolabeled testosterone and androstenedione and diminution of 5α-reduced androgens. This metabolic pattern is reminiscent of that observed in normally developing testes. Treatment with PMS commencing on the 33rd day after hypophysectomy resulted in formation of large amounts of androstenedione and testosterone and decrease of 20α-dihydroprogesterone to trace amounts within 10 days of initiation of treatment. After additional 10 days of treatment the formation of androstenedione diminished, testosterone remained unchanged. The possibility is suggested that FSH activity in PMS may be responsible for the different pattern of progesterone metabolism. The data of an three experiments suggest that the 20α-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase activity may be influenced by gonadotropins.
Effects of prescribed burning on avian nest survival in the southern Great Plains

Shrubs, such as mesquite (Prosopis spp.) and cholla (Opuntia spp.), now dominate fire- suppressed grasslands in southwestern North America. Responses of birds to prescribed burning of the shortgrass prairie in this region are poorly understood. We examined daily survival rates of mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) and lark sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) nests in an experimental landscape (4,811 ha) of spatially replicated, inter-annual fire frequencies (burning every 2 yr, 4 yr, or 10 yr) near Amarillo, Texas. Herbaceous habitat structure was most developed in infrequently burned plots, but shrub densities were less variable among the burn treatments. We modeled daily nest survival (DSR) against burn frequency, shrub density at nest sites, and nest stage (incubation or nestling). Daily survival of mourning dove nests was not well-related to any measured covariate, but lark sparrow DSR was negatively related to the duration of inter- annual burn frequency. In semiarid grasslands heavily inundated with shrubs, prescribed burning may positively influence the nest success of some bird species. 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Ridge-flow determination in fingerprint images

The paper describes how, given a ridge-and-valley image of a fingerprint, a flow map can be extracted. The first step is a unique grayscale algorithm based on 3D mathematical morphology to extract the ridge lines under a wide range of conditions. The paper then compares the results of finding the ridge flow using micropatterns, extended templates (on binary and grayscale images), and several well-known, traditional techniques. The question of spatial resolution is also addressed.
Effect of carbon nanotubes on sintering behavior of alumina prepared by sol–gel method

Abstract Alumina (Al2O3)/carbon nanotube (CNT) (99/1 by weight) composite was prepared by mixing CNT dispersion with AlCl3-based gel, followed by high temperature sintering at a temperature up to 1150 °C in argon. Composite alumina precursor showed phase transition order from amorphous to γ-Al2O3 after sintered at 900 °C for 2 h, partially to θ-Al2O3 after sintered at 1000 °C for 2 h, and then partially to α-Al2O3 after sintered at 1150 °C for 2 h. By comparison, control alumina precursor directly transformed from amorphous to α-Al2O3 after sintered at a relatively low temperature of 600 °C for 2 h. Composite alumina showed porous structure with pore diameter ranging from 100 nm to 2 µm, whereas control alumina was relatively pore-free. The elevated alumina-crystal phase transition temperatures and the formation of porous structure were ascribed to the presence of CNTs in alumina precursor. The composite alumina sintered at 900 °C for 2 h containing only γ-Al2O3 had a BET surface area of 138 m2/g, which was significantly higher than that of control alumina sintered at 1150 °C for 2 h containing only α-Al2O3, ~15 m2/g.
Weapons of mass disruption and terrorism

New perceptions of weaponry have developed in some counter‐terrorism circles, based on the concept of Weapons of Mass Disruption which target bonds and relationships, rather than things, at the systemic level. These capabilities are derived, in many instances, from advanced (cyber) forms of weapons which could eventually be employed by terrorists against the United States.
Nocturnal rotation in normal rats: Correlation with amphetamine-induced rotation and effects of nigro-striatal lesions

Abstract Normal unoperated rats were observed to rotate (turn in circles) at night. For most (91.7%) rats, the preferred direction of rotation was consistent across hours and days and was the same as the direction of rotation elicited by d -amphetamine (1.0 mg/ kg) during the day. The magnitudes of nocturnal and d -amphetamine-induced rotation were also highly correlated. After rats showed stable diurnal patterns of rotation, unilateral lesions were made in either the substantia nigra, the nigrostriatal bundle or the caudate nucleus. All lesions produced transient contralateral rotation within the first 24–48 h after surgery. The time-course of this contralateral rotation was more prolonged after nigral lesions than after nigrostriatal bundle lesions and least after caudate lesions, suggesting that the duration of a degeneration release of dopamine is proportional to the length of the degenerating axon. Lesion size was correlated with the intensity of contralateral rotation but not with the time-course. At each rostralcaudal level, the magnitude of contralateral rotation was greater if the lesion was in the side of the brain opposite to the preoperative direction of rotation than if in the same side. By three days after surgery, all rats returned to a mostly normal diurnal cycle with the direction of rotation now being ipsilateral to the lesion. d -Amphetamine potentiated the ipsilateral rotation, though rats with lesions in the same side of the brain as the preoperative direction of rotation had larger drug responses than rats with similar lesions in the opposite side of the brain. By one month after surgery, the direction of spontaneous rotation of most rats had returned to the preoperative direction. As at all other times, the magnitude of rotation was, in part, dependent of the side of the lesion with respect to the preoperative bias. It is suggested that, following a unilateral lesion, compensatory processes occur to a greater extent if the lesions is in the normally more active side of the brain.
Thermodynamics of plagioclase-melt equilibria in the system albite-anorthite-diopside

Abstract An analysis of thermochemical and phase equilibrium data for high plagioclase solid solutions, glasses, and liquids in the system albite-anorthite-diopside produces an internally consistent model of mixing properties of crystals and melts. The mixing behavior of high temperature plagioclases is described adequately by positive heats of mixing and the aluminum-avoidance entropy model of Kerrick and Darken (1975). This description predicts plagioclase exsolution with compositions in the region of Bogglid and Huttenlocher intergrowths but provides no evidence for the peristerite gap. Liquids in the region of the plagioclase saturation surface of the system albite-anorthite-diopside are shown to have entropies of mixing significantly less positive than predicted by the “two-lattice” model of Weill et al. (1980a), which appeared adequate for the pyroxene saturation surface of that system. Along the albite-anorthite binary these deviations are not consistent with aluminum avoidance in the liquid, but can be described by an empirical “regular” excess entropy term which allows a satisfactory calculation of the albiteanorthite binary liquidus loop. The magnitude of this negative excess entropy term can be explained by the assumption of strong Ca-Al charge balance (without restriction of Al-O-Al contacts) which leads to a vanishingly small entropy arising from Na-Ca mixing.
Equine marker genes: Polymorphism for soluble erythrocyte malic enzyme

Summary Polymorphism for equine erythrocyte malic enzyme is detectable on starch gel electrophoresis. The frequency of MEIS was 0.06 in 667 Standardbred and 0.09 in 85 Thoroughbred horses. No genetically determined electrophoretic variation in soluble malate dehydrogenase was detected.
Effects of inhaled corticosteroids on mortality and hospitalisation in elderly asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: appraising the evidence

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are common conditions that have substantial effects on daily functioning and medical resource utilisation. In elderly populations, the use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) as a mainstay of treatment in asthma has long been accepted whereas the appropriateness and extent of use of ICS in COPD is not as clear. This paper reviews data associated with ICS treatment in the elderly, specifically characteristics of ICS users, rates of adherence, hospitalisation and mortality associated with ICS treatment. Studies examining the use of ICS in asthma and COPD have generally found that ICS may be underused compared with guideline recommendations or that there are substantial differences between patients who receive ICS and those who do not. Among elderly asthma or COPD patients who receive ICS, there are lower rates of hospitalisation among those who adhere to their treatment plan. Among elderly patients with asthma, the combination of ICS plus long-acting beta-adrenoceptor agonists has been shown to be superior in terms of mortality and hospitalisation compared with either treatment alone. There may be an interaction effect between oral corticosteroids and ICS among elderly COPD patients, although important differences may be present in the clinical characteristics of patients who receive one versus both forms of corticosteroids. A dose-response relationship between ICS and both all-cause and pulmonary-specific mortality has been shown among older COPD patients. Several existing studies are subject to selection bias, as they have identified patients who survived for a specified period, for example, long enough to have received a specified number of prescriptions for ICS. This bias must be further explored. Future research should also clearly delineate asthma and COPD populations in order to identify different benefits from ICS. The use of a claims database that also includes clinical metrics would be useful to identify additional possible outcomes of ICS use. Further, symptom diaries or other patient-reported outcomes, such as health-related quality of life and health status, should be included in studies of ICS among the elderly to identify other benefits that should be considered in treatment selection.
Adult-child discourse: The conversational relevance of pauses

Abstract The present investigation examined 2 to 3 year old children's responses to pauses compared to their responses to other classes of adult behavior within child initiated request sequences. The results indicated that the children responded differentially to neutral and negative adult responses. However, only some, children made a similar distinction between long pauses, inter-utterance pauses greater than one second, and short pauses, inter-utterance pauses of one second or less. The data contributes to our understanding of the young child's responses to pauses and highlights the need for empirical validation of discourse segmentation procedures.
Lateral diffusion of lectin receptors in fibroblast membranes as a function of cell shape

Anchorage-dependent fibroblasts respond to biochemical growth signals only when attached to and spread on a suitable substrate surface. Attachment of fibroblasts initiates a cytoskeletal assembly process that results in the organization of long actin stress fibers and microtubules which may be required for transmembrane signal transduction. Fibroblasts maintained in suspension, however, remain spherical with no apparent stress fibers or lengthy microtubules. Because of the significant differences in cytoskeletal organisation induced by shape modification, and the resulting possible changes in organization and dynamics of membrane receptors, the technique of fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching (FRAP) was employed to examine the lateral mobility of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and succinylated concanavalin A (sCon A) receptors in the plasma membrane of untransformed and Kirsten murine sarcoma virus-transformed Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts in the spread and spherical state. An examination of FITC-WGA and FITC-sCon A binding to the plasma membrane for both cell lines in a spread or spherical state demonstrated no significant differences in the number of WGA or Con A receptors as a function of shape or transformation. The primary observations from this study are (a) membrane WGA and sCon A receptors in spherical Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts display mobility 12 times faster than in the spread state, while phospholipid mobility is similar and apparently shape independent, (b) transformed cells in the spread state have WGA and sCon A receptor mobilities similar to those of untransformed cells in the spread state, (c) flat adherent, but not unattached spherical, Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts are subject to Con A-induced global modulation and (d) transformed cells in the spherical state contain a significant population of cells (approximately 30%) with WGA receptor mobilities faster than those observed in spherical untransformed cells. These observations are discussed in terms of a linked matrix model for membrane protein diffusion.
The r -Major Index

Abstract The r -major index is a new permutation statistic that is suggested by the work of Carlitz and Gansner on Foulkes' skew-hook rule for computing the r -Eulerian numbers. The new statistic (1) generalizes both the major index and the inversion number of a permutation and (2) leads to a q -analog of the r -Eulerian numbers.
Change in zeta potential of polar plastics by electrical polarization.

Tubing made of a polar plastic, polychlorotrifluoroethylene, was electrically polarized while heated. The zeta potential of tubes polarized negatively inside was consistently higher than that of unpolarized tubes. Tubes polarized positively had a much smaller and variable change in zeta potential. The change is apparently not related to the formation of electrets, but may be due to the orientation of pre-existing dipoles.
APPLICATION OF SYNTHETIC FIBER ROPES TO REDUCE BLAST RESPONSE OF A PORTAL FRAME

A steel portal frame subjected to an external blast is analyzed. The use of diagonal synthetic fiber ropes to brace the frame is studied. The force-elongation relationship of the ropes when in tension is modeled either as a bilinear function with initial slackness, or a power law based on tests. The effect of the ropes in reducing deflections and plastic strains is determined using the finite element software ABAQUS/Explicit. Inclusion of the influence of strain-rate on the material behavior of the frame is important. Several blast magnitudes and rope stiffness coefficients are considered. Snap loads occur in the ropes if the blast is sufficiently large. Deformations and strains may be reduced significantly by the ropes, and failure may be prevented.
Appalachian Picturebooks, Read-Alouds, and Teacher-Led Discussion: Combating Stereotypes Associated with the Appalachian Region

An often overlooked but most eff ective and appropriate way to develop cultural awareness and multiethnic understanding is through literature. —Livingston & Kurkjian, 2005, p. 696 The 2011 Internat...
Credibility in Context: How Uncivil Online Commentary Affects News Credibility

In the new media environment, hard news stories are no longer found solely in the “A” section of the paper or on the front page of a news Web site. They are now distributed widely, appearing in contexts as disparate as a partisan blog or your own e-mail inbox, forwarded by a friend. In this study, we investigate how the credibility of a news story is affected by the context in which it appears. Results of an experiment show a news story embedded in an uncivil partisan blog post appears more credible in contrast. Specifically, a blogger's incivility highlights the relative credibility of the newspaper article. We also find that incivility and partisan disagreement in an adjacent blog post produce stronger correlations between ratings of news and blog credibility. These findings suggest that news story credibility is affected by context and that these context effects can have surprising benefits for news organizations. Findings are consistent with predictions of social judgment theory.
Chemisorption and ordering of naphthalene and azulene on Pt(s)[7(111) × (100)]: The effect of periodic defects on long range order

Abstract Naphthalene and azulene are molecularly adsorbed on the stepped platinum surface Pt(s)[7(111)×(100)] at room temperature. The (111) terraces of this surface are wide enough to accommodate the unit cell of ordered naphthalene on Pt(111). The periodic defects of this surface disrupt the long range ordering seen for both naphthalene and azulene on Pt(111). There appears to be no correlation between ordered islands on neighboring terraces. In the case of naphthalene, a LEED intensity anomaly allows us to place restrictions on the relative orientations of neighboring naphthalenes and the orientation of the naphthalene islands on each terrace. The naphthalene molecules adjacent to the steps have the long axis of the molecule close to perpendicular to the step.
Potentiometric Sensors Based on the Inductive Effect on the pK_a of Poly(aniline): A Nonenzymatic Glucose Sensor

The use of conjugated polymers for sensor applications continues to be the subject of intense research. In addition to their use as electronic conductors, they have been exploited as active sensing elements by coupling ligands to the backbone. In this approach, binding of an analyte results in physical distortions or changes in electron density, thereby altering conductivity. Poly(aniline), in particular, has received a great deal of attention due to its proton coupled redox chemistry and its resulting pH-dependent properties. For example, poly(aniline) has been used as a pH electrode and has been coupled to reactions that generate or consume protons to create sensors. Herein, we report a new strategy that exploits the inductive effect of reactive substituents on the pK_a of poly(aniline) to produce active sensing elements.
Boundary and Medial Shape Analysis of the Hippocampus in Schizophrenia

Statistical shape analysis has become of increasing interest to the neuroimaging community due to its potential to precisely locate morphological changes and thus potentially discriminate between healthy and pathological structures. This paper describes a combined boundary and medial shape analysis based on two different shape descriptions applied to a study of the hippocampus shape abnormalities in schizophrenia. The first shape description is the sampled boundary implied by the spherical harmonic SPHARM description. The second one is the medial shape description called M-rep. Both descriptions are sampled descriptions with inherent point correspondence. Their shape analysis is based on computing differences from an average template structure analyzed using standard group mean difference tests. The results of the global and local shape analysis in the presented hippocampus study exhibit the same patterns for the boundary and the medial analysis. The results strongly suggest that the normalized hippocampal shape of the schizophrenic group is different from the control group, most significantly as a deformation difference in the tail region.
Arteriovenous fistulas of the cervicomedullary junction as a cause of myelopathy: radiographic findings in two cases.

Spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (SDAVFs) represent an abnormal connection between a dural artery and an intradural radicular vein. The radicular vein drains the medullary venous plexus , which dilates in response to arterial pressure, resulting in enlarged serpiginous vessels , usually posterior to the spinal cord. This finding is not specific for SDAVF, as it can be found in most spinal arteriovascular malformations (AVMs) as well as hemangioblastomas. SDAVFs can be differentiated from intramedullary arteriovenous malformations in that the arterio­ venous connection in SDAVF is extramedullary, lying outside the cord substance within the dura. Clinically, SDAVFs usually present as a slowly progressive myelopathy or radiculopathy in middle-aged to elderly patients, that can mimic other spinal pathology [1]. Since most SDAVFs are located in the lower thoracic and lumbar regions, with symptoms referable to the conus, angie­ graphic searches may be limited to the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral contribution to the dural arterial supply [1]. However, the site of the SDAVF may be far removed from the portion of the spinal cord affected cl inically . As illustrated in the two cases that follow , conus-related symptoms can result from an arteriovenous fistula located as high as the cervical canal. In these two cases , as well as six others from the literature, exhaustive angiographic evaluation of all possible vascular pedicles was required to identify and treat the SDAVF.
Subpopulations of Peripheral Lymphocytes in Juvenile Diabetes

Subpopulations of peripheral lymphocytes were studied in 26 children with insulin-treated juvenile diabetes and in 27 control children of comparable age. T-lymphocytes were quantitated by spontaneous rosette-formation with sheep erythrocytes and B-lymphocytes by indirect immunofluorescence with the use of monovalent, fluorescein-labeled rabbit antiserum specific to the heavy chains of human IgG IgM, or IgA. No significant quantitative difference in subpopulations of the peripheral lymphocytes, T-cells, and B-cells with IgG, IgA, or IgM markers found between children with juvenile diabetes and the control group, although the B-lymphocytes with IgG or IgA markers tended to be higher and those with IgM markers lower in the diabetic than in the control group.
Dual-Monoclonal, Sandwich Immunoassay Specific for Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic Peptide1-42, the Active Form of the Incretin Hormone

BACKGROUND: Glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) is an incretin peptide secreted by intestinal K cells that stimulates insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner. It is secreted as an active, intact 42–amino acid peptide GIP1-42, which is rapidly degraded by dipeptidyl peptidase 4 to GIP3-42, which is inactive. There is currently no described monoclonal antibody–based sandwich immunoassay to quantify concentrations of GIP1-42, the active form of the peptide. METHODS: To create a sandwich ELISA for GIP1-42, we generated a monoclonal antibody specific for the intact N-terminus of the peptide, which was further optimized to increase its affinity. We used this antibody as a conjugate antibody in a sandwich ELISA and paired it with an anti–total GIP capture monoclonal antibody to create a dual monoclonal sandwich ELISA for GIP1-42. RESULTS: The sandwich ELISA was highly specific for GIP1-42 and did not recognize GIP3-42. The ELISA demonstrated a broad dynamic range and a lower limit of quantification of 5 ng/L. Using the ELISA, we were able to show that GIP1-42 concentrations in healthy volunteers increased dramatically in the postprandial state compared to the fasting state. GIP1-42 values were correlated with total GIP values overall; however, there was substantial interindividual variation. CONCLUSIONS: The use of an N-terminal–specific monoclonal antibody in a sandwich ELISA format provides a robust and convenient method for measuring concentrations of GIP1-42, the active form of the incretin hormone. This ELISA should help to improve our understanding of the role of GIP1-42 in regulating glucose-dependent insulin secretion.
Exploring patient involvement in decision making for vascular procedures

Background Developing patient-centered approaches to health care requires increased engagement of patients in their own care, including treatment decisions. Current levels of patient involvement in treatment choices have not been quantified, however, and whether patients desire greater decision-making responsibility is unknown. We conducted a prospective study to explore patients' desired vs experienced roles in treatment decisions, characterize perceptions of treatment outcomes, and identify important sources of information. Methods Patients undergoing elective vascular procedures completed a survey consisting of multiple choice, Likert scale, and open-ended questions. Statistics are displayed as mean ± standard deviation or count (%). Differences among procedure categories were evaluated using χ 2 or the Fisher exact test at P Results Of 101 patients who were contacted, 81 participated. Procedure categories included abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair in 20, arteriovenous (AV) hemodialysis access in 21, carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in 20, and intervention for lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in 20. Participants preferred discussion of all treatments being considered vs only the provider's recommended treatment (90% vs 56%) and choosing together with the provider vs having the provider choose for them (93% vs 62%). Although participants indicated adequate information to ask questions without feeling overwhelmed, only 77% agreed that they had the opportunity to ask questions and only 54% indicated that they were offered a choice. Thirty-seven participants (46%) considered their first treatment was successful, 38% considered a subsequent treatment was successful, and 16% considered none of their treatments were successful. Participants undergoing PAD and AV access procedures most often felt confused or overwhelmed (25% and 24%, respectively, vs 0% for AAA and CEA; P P = .01), had the lowest satisfaction with understanding of their diagnosis (65% vs 95% for AAA, 100% for AV access, and 95% for CEA; P P = .02). Providers were identified as the most important information source. Conclusions Patients have variable levels of participation in decision making related to vascular procedures and often consider their treatments unsuccessful. Although providers are important sources of information, patients still prefer to discuss all options being considered and contribute to shared decision making.
A cause to consider for chronic unresolving diarrhea

A 36-year-old male who carried a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome presented with chronic watery diarrhea and was found to have hepatomegaly on physical exam. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the abdomen revealed hepatomegaly with lesions suspicious for metastatic disease. A colonoscopy revealed a polypoid lesion in the terminal ileum, which was biopsied, revealing a neuroendocrine tumor (NET). He was treated with palliative octreotide and chemoembolization of liver metastases until disease progression. The case highlights the importance of considering functional NETs, especially carcinoid syndrome, in patients with chronic unresolving diarrhea, since early diagnosis allows for further treatment options that can prolong survival.
The inherited thrombophilias: Genetics, epidemiology, and laboratory evaluation

It is now possible to identify a predisposing thrombophilic condition for venous thrombosis in well over half of the cases. Certain thrombophilia diagnoses have a major impact on anticoagulant therapy, and hence it is incumbent upon physicians to understand how to diagnose and manage these conditions. This chapter covers the genetics and epidemiology of the inherited thrombophilias and provides a useful, common-sense approach to the laboratory evaluation of a patient with venous thrombosis.
A cost-effective histogram test-based algorithm for digital calibration of high-precision pipelined ADCs

This work presents a self-calibration algorithm that corrects the linearity errors of pipelined ADC with a sub-radix architecture, based on the results of simple code density tests. The proposed algorithm identifies discontinuities in an ADC's output histogram data, calculates correction codes for transitions in pipeline stages, and digitally calibrates ADC output codes. Simulation results show that the calibration algorithm can dramatically improve the linearity performance of ADC. The INL can be reduced from about 1000 LSB to less than 1 LSB. Since this algorithm is based on conventional code density tests and uses only a few memory cells and simple logic circuits to carry out the calibration, this algorithm can be easily implemented on chip without introducing much area and cost overhead and serving as a self-calibration solution for high-speed high-precision pipelined ADC.
Incident Atrial Fibrillation and Risk of End-Stage Renal Disease in Adults With Chronic Kidney Disease

Background—Atrial fibrillation (AF) frequently occurs in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, the long-term impact of development of AF on the risk of adverse renal outcomes in patients with CKD is unknown. In this study, we determined the association between incident AF and risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) among adults with CKD. Methods and Results—We studied adults with CKD (defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate eGFR <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2 by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation) enrolled in Kaiser Permanente Northern California who were identified between 2002 and 2010 and who did not have previous ESRD or previously documented AF. Incident AF was identified by using primary hospital discharge diagnoses or 2 or more outpatient visits for AF. Incident ESRD was ascertained from a comprehensive health plan registry for dialysis and renal transplant. Among 206 229 adults with CKD, 16 463 developed incident AF. During a mean follow-up of 5.1±2.5 year...
FINDING VARIABLES THAT WORK

This paper outlines a strategy for using two large-scale computer programs, the Automatic Interaction Detection and Multiple Classification Analysis algorithms. They supplement each other in the inductive task of formulating a model of the simultaneous effects of a set of independent variables on a criterion. MCA handles correlated predictors well, but assumes away interactions. Terms representing this type of joint effect are located by preliminary AID runs. John Sonquist is Research Associate and Head of the Computer Services Facility, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan.
IR DUST BUBBLES. II. PROBING THE DETAILED STRUCTURE AND YOUNG MASSIVE STELLAR POPULATIONS OF GALACTIC H II REGIONS

We present an analysis of late-O/early-B-powered, parsec-sized bubbles and associated star formation using Two Micron All Sky Survey, GLIMPSE, MIPSGAL, and MAGPIS surveys. Three bubbles were selected from the Churchwell et al. catalog. We confirm that the structure identified in Watson et al. holds in less energetic bubbles, i.e., a photodissociated region, identified by 8 μm emission due to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons surrounding hot dust, identified by 24 μm emission and ionized gas, and identified by 20 cm continuum. We estimate the dynamical age of two bubbles by comparing bubble sizes to numerical models of Hosokawa and Inutsuka. We also identify and analyze candidate young stellar objects using spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting and identify sites of possible triggered star formation. Lastly, we identify likely ionizing sources for two sources based on SED fitting.
War, Power, and Bargaining

Existing research on power and war contends that the distribution of power exerts an independent effect on the chances of armed conflict. However, theories of bargaining indicate that power's influence on war depends on the ex ante distribution of benefits and has a specific functional form. We test that claim, showing that the effect of power on war rests heavily on the distribution of benefits. Our findings strongly suggest bargaining explanations may subsume other arguments about power and war both theoretically and empirically.
Visible-Spectrum Gaze Tracking for Sports

In sports, wearable gaze tracking devices can enrich the viewer experience and be a powerful training tool. Because devices can be used for long periods of time, often outside, it is desirable that they do not use active illumination (infra-red light sources) for safety reasons and to minimize the interference of the sun. Unlike traditional wearable devices, in sports, the gaze tracking method must be robust to (often dramatic) movements of the user in relation to the device (i.e., the common assumption that because the device is wearable, the eye does not move with regards to the camera no longer holds.) This paper extends a visible-spectrum gaze tracker in the literature to handle the requirements of a motor-sports application. Specifically, the method presented removes the assumption (in the original method) that the eye position is fixed, and proposes the use of template matching to allow for changes in the eye location from frame to frame. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can handle severe changes in the eye location and is very fast to compute (up to 60 frames per second in modern hardware.).
Polarization evolution and dispersion in fibers with spatially varying birefringence

A procedure is described that allows one to solve the evolution equations in birefringent optical fibers by using repeated diagonalization. With this approach several practical problems are solved in a unified way. Included are evolution in twisted fibers, sinusoidally rocked fibers, and fibers with randomly varying birefringence. In the last case it is shown that a phenomenological model described by Poole and others applies to fibers whose axes of birefringence can take on any orientation.