cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Climate change is increasing the likelihood of extreme autumn wildfire conditions across California

California has experienced devastating autumn wildfires in recent years. These autumn wildfires have coincided with extreme fire weather conditions during periods of strong offshore winds coincident with unusually dry vegetation enabled by anomalously warm conditions and late onset of autumn precipitation. In this study, we quantify observed changes in the occurrence and magnitude of meteorological factors that enable extreme autumn wildfires in California, and use climate model simulations to ascertain whether these changes are attributable to human-caused climate change. We show that state-wide increases in autumn temperature (~1 ˚C) and decreases in autumn precipitation (~30%) over the past four decades have contributed to increases in aggregate fire weather indices (+20%). As a result, the observed frequency of autumn days with extreme (95th percentile) fire weather – which we show are preferentially associated with extreme autumn wildfires – has more than doubled in California since the early 1980s. We further find an increase in the climate model-estimated probability of these extreme autumn conditions since ~1950, including a long-term trend toward increased same-season co-occurrence of extreme fire weather conditions in northern and southern California. Our climate model analyses suggest that continued climate change will further amplify the number of days with extreme fire weather by the end of this century, though a pathway consistent with the UN Paris commitments would substantially curb that increase. Given the acute societal impacts of extreme autumn wildfires in recent years, our findings have critical relevance for ongoing efforts to manage wildfire risks in California and other regions.
Chapter II – Magnetic Properties

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the magnetic properties of thin films. They are sensitive to structure on levels of scale from the atomic to macrostructure. It discusses the advantages of magnetic properties dependence on structure to create thin films with properties not observable in bulk solids. However, most magnetic properties do not exhibit the sensitivity to defect structure as found for electrical properties. Some properties, such as coercivity in soft magnetic materials and the flux line pinning force in high temperature superconductors, are affected by the defect structure. Many magnetic properties are sensitive to the morphology and dimensions of phases in a multiphase structure. The chapter reviews the properties desired from soft magnetic films that are used as inductive head core materials. The properties required of hard magnetic thin films vary according to the application. For in-plane magnetization in magnetic recording type films, the magnetic anisotropy energy must be less than the shape anisotropy energy or the anisotropy field must be less than the demagnetizing field. For magnetization perpendicular to the film plane, the reverse relations are required.
Isosorbide dinitrate in the treatment of silent myocardial ischaemia in patients after myocardial infarction: an open pilot study.

Etude pilote d'une chimiotherapie par administration orale d'Isosorbide dinitrate, contre l'ischemie du myocarde. L'Isoscorbide dinitrate administre trois fois par jour a 40 mg peut reduire significativement l'incidence de la douleur induite par l'ischemie du myocarde
Usability and safety of the new 5 French air-charged catheter for performing urodynamic studies on pediatric patients.

AIMS To assess the performance and safety of the T-DOC® 5 French air-charged urodynamic catheters in pediatric patients and obtain feedback from providers related to usability performance. METHODS Patients ages 12 years and younger undergoing urodynamics were prospectively recruited from two institutions. The T-DOC® 5 French air-charged catheters were used. Issues with catheter placement, adverse events (AEs), and pain scores were assessed. A follow-up telephone call was made to assess for post-urodynamic AEs. Providers completed a clinical user questionnaire. Likert scale was used (1 = most negative and 5 = most positive response) and reported in mean (range). RESULTS A total of 28 patients completed the study. The mean age was 55 months (5-130) (10 females, 18 males). One problem was noted with the insertion of an abdominal catheter, secondary to stool impaction. Catheters stayed in place on all subjects, except for one related to patient hyperactivity. There were no AEs during the studies. In total four reported post-urodynamics AEs (one hematochezia, three dysuria). Among nine patients, pain level on the bladder and abdominal insertion was 3.6/10 (0-10) and 3.1/10 (0-10). Five providers completed the questionnaire. The overall ease of use was rated 4.3/5 (3-5). The ease of insertion was 4.1/5 (2-5) and set-up/clean-up time was 4.4/5 (3-5). Tracing stability, subtraction accuracy, and artifact sensitivity were all perceived favorably (respectively 4.8/5 [4-5], 4.6/5 [4-5], and 4.4/5 [4-5]). CONCLUSIONS The T-DOC® 5 French air-charged catheter was considered safe and effective in pediatric patients. No AEs occurred during the studies. Providers, using the catheters, reported favorably on catheter usage.
Adherence to endocrine therapy including ovarian suppression: A large observational cohort study of US women with early breast cancer

Background Recent clinical trials support adding ovarian suppression (OS) to oral endocrine therapy (ET) for premenopausal women with early breast cancer. The adoption of OS among real-world populations and the impact of OS on ET adherence have not been evaluated. Methods This study examined a retrospective, observational cohort of women under the age of 50 years with incident early breast cancer from 2001 to 2016. The IBM MarketScan Commercial insurance claims database was used to identify new users of ET with or without OS and to track discontinuation of or adherence to ET. In all, 21,948 women filled at least 1 prescription for ET within 12 months of their diagnosis after a washout period of 12 months with no prior claims. Patients who received an aromatase inhibitor without a synchronous OS drug were excluded. Results Use of OS increased over time and reached 11.3% in 2016. In an unadjusted analysis, 40.2% of ET+OS users discontinued ET early, whereas 48.8% of tamoxifen-alone users did. In adjusted analyses, ET+OS users had a similar likelihood of discontinuing ET in comparison with tamoxifen-alone users (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.83-1.03). Approximately 30% of women had low adherence over the first year of use. The likelihood of high adherence was similar, regardless of OS exposure. Conclusions The use of OS among young, commercially insured patients with breast cancer increased over time in agreement with recent clinical trial results but remained relatively low. Nonadherence to ET was common, but the use of OS was not associated with lower adherence to ET in this observational, nonrandomized cohort. These findings may reassure oncologists that use of OS does not endanger ET adherence, although prospective studies are needed for confirmation.
Nonconventional Analog Comparators Based on Graphene and Ferroelectric Hafnium Zirconium Oxide

Unlike transitional semiconductors, graphene has zero bandgap and symmetric electron/hole transport, which leads to unique V-shaped transfer characteristics. Using this property, we design and demonstrate a new type of comparator, which can calculate the absolute distance between two signals, $\left \vert{ {{\mathrm {A-B}}} }\right \vert $ , directly. Dual-gate graphene transistors with ferroelectric hafnium zirconium oxide are fabricated to serve as the basic units of the comparators. We show that the remanent polarization of the ferroelectric hafnium oxide can reach $\sim 30~\mu \text{C}$ /cm2 and the output current of the comparator can serve as a scalar indicator of the similarity level between two signals. The embedded ferroelectric layer can store the reference signal in situ , which will reduce the energy consumption and latency related to the data transport. Furthermore, we demonstrate the feasibility of using ferroelectric graphene comparator in image classification and motion detection. Using the ${k}$ -nearest neighbors (KNNs) algorithm, we show that the graphene comparator arrays can recognize the handwritten digits in the modified national institute of standards and technology (MNIST) data set with over 80% accuracy. These ferroelectric graphene comparators will have broad applications in robotics, security system, self-driving vehicles, and sensor networks.
A centriole's subdistal appendages: contributions to cell division, ciliogenesis and differentiation.

The centrosome is a highly conserved structure composed of two centrioles surrounded by pericentriolar material. The mother, and inherently older, centriole has distal and subdistal appendages, whe...
Ultra-fast Voltage Modulator for High-efficiency Radio Frequency Power Amplifiers

This paper presents a compact and ultra-fast voltage modulator for high efficiency radio frequency power amplifiers. A single DC/DC converter with multiple fast switched output stage is introduced, a unique nonlinear control scheme is developed to adapt the dynamical state variables and regulate output levels. Fast transient response and high efficiency is archived as close to the constant output DC/DC converter. A 4-level fast voltage modulator is built with voltage transition speed in tens of nanoseconds and efficiency up to 95%.
Are mode-specific differences in performance fatigability attributable to muscle oxygenation?

The purpose of this study was to examine the composite, intra-individual, and inter-individual patterns of responses for deoxygenated hemoglobin and myoglobin (deoxy[heme]), oxygenated hemoglobin and myoglobin (oxy[heme]), total hemoglobin and myoglobin (total[heme]), and tissue saturation index (StO2%) during fatiguing, maximal, isokinetic, unilateral, and bilateral leg extensions. Nine men (Mean ± SD; age = 21.9 ± 2.4 years; height = 181.8 ± 11.9 cm; body mass = 85.8 ± 6.2 kg) performed 50 unilateral and bilateral maximal, concentric, isokinetic leg extensions at 180° s−1 on two separate visits. The muscle oxygenation parameters assessed with near-infrared spectroscopy from the dominant leg and isokinetic torque were averaged for 2 consecutive repetitions at 5 repetition intervals. Separate 2 (Condition [Unilateral and Bilateral]) × 10 (Repetition [5–50]) repeated measures ANOVAs were performed to examine mean differences for normalized isokinetic torque and each muscle oxygenation parameter. Intra- and inter-individual differences were examined with polynomial regression analyses. For normalized isokinetic torque, the unilateral condition (56.3 ± 10.5%) exhibited greater performance fatigability than the bilateral condition (45.0 ± 18.7%). Collapsed across Condition, deoxy[heme] exhibited an increase (p < 0.001), while StO2% exhibited a decrease (p < 0.001). The bilateral condition exhibited a more sustained decline in oxy[heme] than the unilateral condition (p = 0.005). Deoxy[heme], oxy[heme], and total[heme] exhibited substantial intra- and inter-individual differences for the fatigue-induced patterns of response. The present findings indicated that the greater performance fatigability for unilateral versus bilateral fatiguing, maximal, isokinetic leg extensions was not attributable to differences in muscle oxygenation. Future studies of muscle oxygenation should report individual and composite fatigue-induced patterns of responses due to the substantial intra- and inter-individual variabilities.
Boaz as Goel in Ruth 4: Liberation from Economical Exchange

The agency of goel (kinsman-redeemer) was instituted in the Hebrew Scripture to support the duty of redemption, whether it concerns one’s property (Lev. 25:23-28), an enslaved kin (Lev. 25:47-55), or even bloodshed (Num. 35; Deu. 19:1-13). The focus of this study will be limited on the first issue, as it is elaborated by Boaz’s act in Ruth 4. I will first summarize the story, and then read it in the light of Gutierrez’s liberation theology. The aim of the study is to examine how the underlying principle economical exchange used to work in the exercise of redemption, and how Boaz’s act of liberation takes manifold risks upon himself and surpasses the mechanism of economical exchange.
Non)Parallel developmental mechanisms in vertebrate appendage reduction and loss

Appendages have been reduced or lost hundreds of times during vertebrate evolution. This phenotypic convergence may be underlain by shared or different molecular mechanisms in distantly related vertebrate clades. To investigate, we reviewed the developmental and evolutionary literature of appendage reduction and loss in more than a dozen vertebrate genera from fish to mammals. We found that appendage reduction and loss was nearly always driven by modified gene expression as opposed to changes in coding sequences. Moreover, expression of the same genes was repeatedly modified across vertebrate taxa. However, the specific mechanisms by which expression was modified were rarely shared. The multiple routes to appendage reduction and loss suggest that adaptive loss of function phenotypes might arise routinely through changes in expression of key developmental genes.
The World Bank's and UNDP's Changing Conceptions of Development 1950-2016

This paper uses an keyword-in-context analysis of words and phrases used in the sections of World Bank and UNDP annual reports that discuss general approaches to development to show how the range of considerations deemed relevant to development have expanded over time to include a heavy emphasis on social dimensions and lesser emphases on political and environmental dimensions. It also reveals some differences in emphasis between the two organizations and over time.
Managing Information Security and Privacy in Healthcare Data Mining

This chapter explores issues in managing privacy and security of healthcare information used to mine data by reviewing their fundamentals, components and principles as well as relevant laws and regulations. It also presents a literature review on technical issues in privacy assurance and a case study illustrating some potential pitfalls in data mining of individually identifiable information. The chapter closes with recommendations for privacy and security good practices for medical data miners.
Metal Deformation Modeling—Stress Relaxation of Aluminum

Experiments designed to test the validity of a model for rate-dependent inelastic deformation in metals are presented and discussed. The stress dependence of the strain rate in 99.99 percent pure aluminum was determined at 308K from stress relaxation and creep experiments, and at 373K from stress relaxation experiments. Deformation history was examined by conducting experiments subsequent to either monotonic tensile or reversed strain cyclic loading. At both temperatures and for both deformation histories evidence of microstructural recovery was identified during the course of a relaxation experiment. The exponent characterizing recovery was found to be 20 at 300K for both stress relaxation and creep, indicating that plastic deformation during creep and relaxation may be governed by the same kinetic law. The model is also found to predict correctly transient behavior observed in some relaxation experiments. This model apparently provides a physical basis for predicting relaxation subsequent to a variety of deformation conditions, thereby functioning as an evolutionary material law.
Molecular Modeling of Analyte Adsorption on MEMS GC Stationary Phases

Future microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), nanoelectromechanical (NEMS) and micro-optical electromechanical systems (MOEMS) will require distinct understanding of interfacial effects in order to predict their performance and to reliably manufacture these devices. We show here that molecular modeling offers a unique tool for simulating and understanding critical working interfaces by specifically modeling the atomic mehanics during performance. This paper offers examples of how molecular modeling may be used for improving materials used in MEMS devices using as example the comparative MEMS devices using as example the comparative performance of materials for stationary phases in gas chromatographs. This comparison was based on derived interaction enthalpies between analytes and stationary phases and using simulations of surface separation by employing molecular dynamics. The separation performance was compared to experimental GC data., showing that qualitative comparison of separation was present from the molecular scale and confirming that molecular modeling may be a useful tool to pre-select stationary phases for specific activity.
Paint line color change reduction in automobile assembly through simulation

The painting process is an important part of the entire automobile manufacturing system. Changing color in the painting process is expensive because of the wasted paint and solvent during color change. By intelligently selecting cars toward downstream operations at the places where conveyors converge or diverge, we can reduce the number of such color changes without additional hardware investment. Discrete event simulation is a tool of choice in analyzing these issues in order to develop an effective and efficient selection algorithm to ensure the system throughput. The concepts and methods presented here are also applicable to other discrete event manufacturing processes where setup reduction is pursued.
Ontogeny of the Phytohemagglutinin Response of Fetal Piglet Thymic and Splenic Lymphocytes

Lymphocytes derived from 72- to 90-day-old fetal piglet thymuses respond in vitro to phytohemagglutinin quantitatively greater than do spleen cell lymphocytes.
Peri-implant tissue response of immediately loaded, threaded, HA-coated implants: 1-year results

Abstract Statement of Problem. Although high success rates have been reported with immediately loaded implants, the peri-implant tissue response has not been well documented. Purpose. This study evaluated implant success and peri-implant tissue response of immediately loaded, threaded, hydroxyapatite (HA)-coated root-form implants supporting mandibular bar overdentures with opposing conventional maxillary complete dentures in humans. Material and Methods. Five patients (3 men, 2 women; mean age 61 years) each received 4 HA-coated endosseous root-form implants in the interforaminal region in the mandible. The implants were rigidly splinted with a metal framework within 24 hours. The final EDS clip prosthesis was placed 1 to 2 weeks thereafter. The implants and peri-implant tissues were evaluated clinically and radiographically 0, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after prosthesis placement. Data were analyzed with a repeated measures 1-way analysis of variance ( P Results. All implants were stable at the end of the observation period (mean Periotest value=−5.9 ± 1.4). No peri-implant radiolucencies were noted, and no implants were lost. The mean marginal bone changes were −0.42 ± 0.34, −0.84 ± 0.55, −1.14 ± 0.80, and −1.16 ± 0.89 mm at the 1-, 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups, respectively ( P P P P P =.64). Conclusion. Within the limitations of this study, the peri-implant tissue response of immediately loaded, HA-coated implants was favorable and comparable to that of conventional, delayed-loaded implants after 1 year. (J Prosthet Dent 2002;87:173-81.)
The Study of Fluid Structure Interactions of an Electroactive Membrane Wing

Active materials, due to their intrinsic multi-functional material characteristics, have shown great promise for the improvement of agility and the mitigation of adverse turbulence effects for micro-air-vehicles (MAVs). One such subsection of active materials known as dielectric elastomers have demonstrated this multifunctional role by functioning as the wing surface and a boundary layer control device. In the past this material has shown that an increase in overall lift of 20% is possible and has the ability to delay stall by up to 5 degrees for an elliptical wing at a chord based Reynolds number of 63000. In order to better understand the effect of these fluid structure interactions, simultaneous time dependent structural deformation, aerodynamic loads, and flow velocities were measured and compared. These responses showed direct correlation between the applied electric field on the membrane wing and the aerodynamic loads and flow responses.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The effect of counterface on the tribological performance of a high temperature solid lubricant composite from 25 to 650°C

The effect of counterface selection on the tribological performance of a Ag/BaF{sub 2}-CaF{sub 2} containing composite coating is studied. Ceramic (Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}) and metal (Inconel X-750) pins are slid against PS300 (a metal bonded chrome oxide coating with Ag and BaF{sub 2}/CaF{sub 2} lubricant additives) in a pin-on-disk tribometer at 25, 500 and 650 C. Compared to the ceramic counterface, the metal counterface generally exhibited lower friction and wear at 25 C but higher friction and wear at 650 C. Friction coefficients, for example, for the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/PS300 combination at 25 C were 0.64 compared to 0.23 for the Inconel/PS300 sliding couple. At 650 C the ranking was reversed. The Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}/PS300 combination gave a friction coefficient of 0.19 while the friction for the metal counterface increased slightly to about 0.3. Based upon these tribological results and other information found in the literature, it appears that the performance of each counterface/PS300 combination is affected by the ability of the solid lubricant additives to form an adequate transfer film. The effects of surface wettability and tribological compatibility are discussed in relation to the observed tribological results.
Analysis of peripheral thermal damage after laser irradiation of dentin using polarized light microscopy and synchrotron radiation infrared spectromicroscopy

It is necessary to minimize peripheral thermal damage during laser irradiation, since thermal damage to collagen and mineral compromises the bond strength to restorative materials in dentin and inhibits healing and osteointegration in bone. The overall objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that lasers resonant to the specific absorption of water, collagen, and hydroxyapatite with pulse durations less than the thermal relaxation times at each respective laser wavelength will efficiently remove dentin with minimal peripheral thermal damage. Precise incisions were produced in 3 x 3 mm2 blocks of human dentin using CO2 (9.6 μm), Er:YSGG (2.79 μm), and Nd:YAG (355 nm) lasers with and without a computer controlled water spray. Polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography was used to obtain optical cross-sections of each incision to determine the rate and efficiency of ablation. The peripheral thermal damage zone around each incision was analyzed using polarized light microscopy (PLM) and Synchrotron-Radiation Fourier Transform Infrared Spectro-microscopy (SR-FTIR). Thermally induced chemical changes to both mineral and the collagen matrix was observed with SR-FTIR with a 10-μm spatial resolution and those changes were correlated with optical changes observed with PLM. Minimal (<10-μm) thermal damage was observed for pulse durations less than the thermal relaxation time (Tr ) of the deposited laser energy, with and without applied water at 9.6 um and only with applied water at 2.79 μm. For pulse durations greater than Tr, significantly greater peripheral thermal damage was observed for both IR laser wavelengths with and without the water spray. There was minimal thermal damage for 355-nm laser pulses, however extensive mechanical damage (cracks) was observed. High resolution SR-FTIR is well suited for characterization of the chemical changes that occur due to thermal damage peripheral to laser incisions in proteinaceous hard tissues. Sub-microsecond pulsed IR lasers resonant with water and mineral absorption bands ablate dentin efficiently with minimal thermal damage. Similar laser parameters are expected to apply to the ablation of alveolar bone.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The role of mere exposure effect on ethical tolerance: A two-study approach

This paper reports on the results from two studies that were conducted eight years apart with different respondents. The studies examined the role of the Mere Exposure Effect on ethical tolerance or acceptability of particular business decisions. The results from Study 1 show there is a significant difference in ethical judgment for 12 out of 16 vignettes between those who have been exposed to such situations compared to those who have not been exposed to them. In those 12 situations, those who have been exposed to such situations adopted a more tolerant stance toward the ethically questionable behavior. The results from Study 2 show there is a significant difference in ethical judgment for 9 out of 16 vignettes between those who have been exposed to such situations compared to those who have not been exposed to them. Again, in those nine situations, those who have been exposed to such situations adopted a more tolerant stance toward the ethically questionable behavior. Interestingly, the 9 situations in Study 2 were 9 of the 12 situations found to be significant in Study 1, and in the same direction, suggesting that we have found consistency in our findings and support for the Mere Exposure Effect. Implications are provided for both higher education and practitioners.
Effect of Eugenol and Eugenol-Containing Root Canal Sealers on the Microhardness of Human Dentin

The effects of eugenol and several root canal sealers that contained eugenol on human dentin were examined by microhardness measurements. Microhardness of human dentin increased significantly by prolonged contact with these materials. Furthermore, it seems that the increase in microhardness decreases as the eugenol content in the sealers is decreased.
Growth characteristics of Zostera marina seedlings under anaerobic conditions

Abstract Seeds of Zostera marina L. are capable of germinating in anaerobic (nitrogen-gassed) seawater (10%) and developing into seedlings with unusual morphology. The axial hypocotyl of seedlings grown in light and dark was characteristically elongated (mean in dark = 32 mm), but the pumule and adventitious roots remained rudimentary and embryonic in appearance. Aerobic seedlings by contrast exhibited little hypocotyl elongation (mean in dark = 5 mm), and plumule nad roots were well developed. The stalk-like blade of the cotyledon elongated in both aerobic and anaerobic cultures, but growth of the cotyledonary sheath surrounding the plumule was most marked in the presence of oxygen. When seedlings were grown anaerobically in the dark for 16 days and then transferred to aerobic-light conditions, elongation of the axial hypocotyl ceased instantly, but plumule and cotyledonary sheath growth was evident within 32 h, and by 96 h after transfer there was pronounced greening of the plumule leaves and swelling of the root primordia. Hypocotyl elongation of seedlings from seeds planted in sediment varied directly with planting depth. Elongation of the hypocotyl pushed the cotyledonary node with rudimentary plumule and root primordia up through the sediment to a position below the sediment surface where hypocotyl elongation stopped and plumule and root growth commenced. The cotyledonary blade which grew concomitantly with the axial hypocotyl continued to elongate after protruding from the sediment into the overlying water. Results from experiments in which the distal part of a seedling cotyledon was exposed to aerated water while the rest of the seedling was maintained in N 2 -gassed water suggested that the cotyledon may function as a conduit for oxygen diffusion to the plumular region of the seedling.
Spontaneous versus instructed use of multiple standards for evaluating comprehension: Effects of age, reading proficiency, and type of standard☆

Abstract Nine- and eleven-year-old children differing in reading proficiency read and commented on brief expository passages containing three different types of embedded problems (nonsense words, prior knowledge violations, and internal inconsistencies). Half of the children were specifically instructed as to the types of standards they should apply in order to detect the problems (lexical, external consistency, and internal consistency); the remaining children were simply instructed to look for problems. Both quantitative and qualitative differences in standard use were revealed by the children's comments about all parts of the passages. Older and better readers used more different standards and they used them more frequently than younger and poorer readers. The lexical standard was more likely to be adopted spontaneously than the other two standards and it was the only standard used by a substantial proportion of both younger and poorer readers. Finally, the consistent effects of instruction type indicate that children's evaluation activities were strongly influenced by the amount of guidance received.
Explaining and interpreting deficits in language development across clinical groups: where do we go from here?

The papers in this issue present a series of comparative studies of language processing and language development across clinical populations, including studies in the earliest stages of language development, as well as aspects of grammar, narrative, and verbal memory across the elementary school years. The populations covered include ‘‘late talkers,’’ children with congenital injuries to either the left or right hemisphere, children with Williams Syndrome, children with Down Syndrome, children with a diagnosis of specific language impairment (behaviorally defined), and a range of typically developing controls for each of these groups. As Holland points out in her commentary, two of the most surprising findings across these studies include the following. (1) Despite differences in rate of development, the sequences and error types observed are (with a few interesting exceptions) remarkably similar across these very different clinical groups. It appears that sequences and error types are determined primarily by the ‘‘problem space’’ posed by a particular language (in this case English), so that virtually all children who enter into this problem space end up behaving in much the same way, albeit at variable rates. Reilly et al. (this issue) suggest a metaphor for results like these: all of these children have undertaken a journey along the same highway, but some of them are in the slow lane, with occasional stops along the road. (2) Children with well-defined brain injuries of the kind that often lead to aphasia in adults perform within the normal range on most measures once they move into the elementary school years, with no trace of a selective disadvantage for children with left-hemisphere damage
Three-year outcomes of breast intensity-modulated radiation therapy with simultaneous integrated boost.

Purpose To report our clinical experience using breast intensity-modulated radiation therapy with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB-IMRT). Methods and Materials Retrospective review identified 354 Stage 0 to III breast cancer patients treated with SIB-IMRT after conservative surgery between 2003 and 2006. The most common fractionation (89%) simultaneously delivered 1.8 Gy to the ipsilateral breast tissue and 2.14 Gy to the resection cavity, yielding a breast dose of 45 Gy (25 fractions) and cavity dose 59.92 Gy (28 fractions), biologically equivalent for tumor control to 45 Gy to the breast with sequential 16-Gy boost (33 fractions). Results A total of 356 breasts in 354 patients were treated: 282 with invasive breast cancer, and 74 with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). For left breast radiation, median cardiac V 15 was 2.9% and left ventricular V 15 1.7%. Median follow-up was 33 months (range, 4–73 months). Acute toxicity was Grade 1 in 57% of cases, Grade 2 in 43%, and Grade 3 in in situ , 3-year overall survival was 98% and risk of locoregional recurrence 1.4%. In 142 cases at a minimum of 3 years follow-up, global breast cosmesis was judged by physicians as good or excellent in 96.5% and fair in 3.5%. Conclusions Breast SIB-IMRT reduced treatment duration by five fractions with a favorable acute toxicity profile and low cardiac dose for left breast treatment. At 3 years, locoregional control was excellent, and initial assessment suggested good or excellent cosmesis in a high percentage of evaluable patients.
Diabetes in Latin America and the Caribbean: Assessing differences in patterns among elderly people

Purpose This study examines the population-based prevalence of diabetes among elderly people in seven countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. It also analyzes the age and sex-specific differences in patterns of diabetes prevalence as well as the effect of other socioeconomic and anthropometric covariates. Methods The study included 9,544 individuals, aged 60 and over. Diabetes was evaluated using self-reported measures. The differences in patterns of diabetes prevalence were analyzed using the Brass logit system. We used logistic regressions to assess the role of covariates. Results Diabetes prevalence reached 16.7% of the survey sample. Prevalence rates were higher in Mexico (22.2%) and Barbados (21.7%) and lowest in Argentina (12.5%), Uruguay (13.1%) and Chile (13.4%). Brazil and Cuba have intermediate levels. Argentina and Cuba have prevalence rates that are higher at younger ages than in the average of the Latin America and the Caribbean. In Brazil, Cuba and Uruguay shorter individuals are more likely to have diabetes than those who are taller. Larger concentration of central fat, captured by waist-to-hip ratio, increases the odds of reporting being diabetic. Coefficients are significant in all countries, except Chile and Cuba. Effects of central fat obesity are stronger in Mexico and Uruguay. In Barbados, Brazil and Cuba, higher values of BMI are also associated with higher prevalence of diabetes. However, BMI is only weakly associated with prevalence in any of the other countries. Elderly women have higher prevalence rates than men in most countries in the region, except Argentina and Mexico. We find that central obesity, height and BMI are important predictors of diabetes prevalence among elderly in Latin America and the Caribbean. Conclusion This study explores the differences in age patterns in an innovative way, which makes it easier to contrast countries in terms of earlier versus later onset of the disease. Policy-makers in those countries, who usually lack adequate information, can use our findings to plan interventions that might result in reductions of disease incidence.
The comparative inotropic effects of six clinically used antiarrhythmic agents.

Abstract The comparative inotropic effect of propranolol, diphenylhydantoin, lidocaine, quinidine, procainamide, and bretylium on myocardial contractility was studied using the force-velocity relationship of isometrically contracting cat papillary muscles. Dose-response curves over a wide concentration range were obtained. Propranolol, diphenylhydantoin, lidocaine, and quinidine all produced significant myocardial depressant effects at concentrations comparable to human therapeutic blood levels. At these concentrations procainamide and bretylium tosylate had little effect on contractility, but both had a marked inotropic effect at very high concentrations. When compared at concentrations comparable to the maximal human therapeutic concentration, the following order of decreasing negative inotropic effect was observed: diphenylhydantin > lidocaine = propranolol = quinidine > procaineamide = bretylium. This study emphasizes the negative inotropic potential of lidocaine and diphenylhydantoin, two drugs not commonly considered to be myocardial depressant agents.
Interaction of Dirac and Majorana neutrinos with weak gravitational fields

In this paper the interaction of high energy neutrinos with weak gravitational fields is briefly explored. The form of the graviton-neutrino vertex is motivated from Lorentz and gauge invariance and the nonrelativistic interpretations of the neutrino-gravitational form factors are obtained. We comment on the renormalization conditions, the preservation of the weak equivalence principle and the definition of the neutrino mass radius. We associate the neutrino-gravitational form factors with specific angular momentum states. Based on Feynman diagrams, spin-statistics, CP invariance and symmetries of the angular momentum states in the graviton-neutrino vertex, we deduce differences between the Majorana and Dirac cases. It is then proved that in spite of the theoretical differences between the two cases, as far as experiments are considered, they would be virtually indistinguishable for any space-time geometry satisfying the weak-field condition. We then calculate the transition gravitational form factors for the neutrino by evaluating the relevant Feynman diagrams at 1-loop and estimate a neutrino transition mass radius. The form factor is seen to depend on the momentum transfer very weakly. It is also seen that the neutrino transition mass radius is smaller than the typical neutrino charge radius by a couple of orders of magnitude.
A case-crossover study of transient risk factors for occupational hand trauma by gender.

An estimated 8.2 million occupational injuries occur annually to women in the United States. This case-crossover study of 1166 subjects compares transient risk factors for occupational traumatic hand injury to women and men. Study subjects were recruited over a 3-year period (1997 to 2000) from 23 occupational health clinics in five New England states. The case-crossover design was used to estimate the short-term risk of an acute hand injury while controlling between-person potential confounders. Subjects reported on the occurrence of seven transient exposures within a 90-min period and provided control exposure information during the month before an acute hand injury. A total of 275 women and 891 men were interviewed a median of 1.3 days after injury. Lacerations were the most common injury type in both women (58%) and men (64%). Relative risks for women were higher for being distracted, doing unusual tasks, and working with malfunctioning equipment or materials, and were lower than men for being rushed....
Maternal‐Fetal Histocompatibility in Intrauterine Growth Retarded and Normal Weight Babies

PROBLEM: To determine whether risk for intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is increased in HLA-DQA1 compatible pregnancies. METHOD: Paired maternal and cord blood samples were obtained from 30 IUGR and 31 non-IUGR pregnancies delivered at a university hospital. Samples were typed for eight HLA-DQA1 alleles using 10 sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes. Associations between IUGR and HLA-DQ compatibility status, and other risk factors were examined using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: HLA-DQ compatibility and history of spontaneous abortion were not individually significant risk factors for IUGR; however, there was an interactive effect between these two factors and IUGR (P = 0.085) that improved the overall fit of the logistic model (P < 0.001). No individual allele was more common in IUGR pregnancies. CONCLUSION: HLA compatibility per se is not associated with sufficient inhibition of fetal growth to result in IUGR as defined. However, in women with a history of spontaneous abortion, HLA compatibility may have an effect.
A product liability cost and risk funding model: the case of the automotive air cushion restraint system

U. S. Government Regulations requiring 1982 car models to be equipped with Air Cushion Restraint Systems (ACRS) as standard equipment necessitated an estimate of product liability cost (PLC) for both the manufacturers of autos and ACRS's.
Vaccine‐Associated Immune‐Mediated Hemolytic Anemia in the Dog

Vaccination has been incriminated as a trigger of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia (IMHA) in dogs and in people, but evidence to support this association is lacking. In a controlled retrospective study, idiopathic IMHA was identified in 58 dogs over a 27-month period. When compared with a randomly selected control group of 70 dogs (presented for reasons other than IMHA) over the same period, the distribution of cases versus time since vaccination was different (P 75%) occurring in the first 3 weeks after presentation. Persistent autoagglutination was a negative prognostic indicator for survival in both groups (P < .05). Presence of icterus and hyperbilirubinemia were negative prognostic indicators for survival in the nonvaccine IMHA group (P < .0001 and P < .01, respectively) but not in the vaccine IMHA group. In the recently vaccinated dogs, combination vaccines from various manufacturers against canine distemper, adenovirus type 2, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus (DHLPP) were involved in each case. Vaccines against rabies virus, Bordetella spp, coronavirus, and Lyme Borrelia were administrated concomitantly to some dogs. This study provides the first clinical evidence for a temporal relationship of vaccine-associated IMHA in the dog.
Optimization of matrix inverse tomosynthesis

Digital tomosynthesis is a method for reconstructing arbitrary planes in an object from a series of projection radiographs, acquired with limited angle tube movement. Conventional 'shift and add' tomosynthesis suffers from the presence of blurring artifacts, created by objects located outside of each reconstructed plane. Matrix inversion tomosynthesis (MITS) uses known geometry, and a set of coupled linear algebra equations to solve for the blurring function in each reconstructed plane, enabling removal of the unwanted out-of-plane blur artifacts. For this paper, both MITS and conventional tomosynthesis reconstructions were generated for a simulated impulse located at varying distance from the detector, and also an anthropomorphic chest phantom. Exploration of the effects of total angular tube movement, number of projection radiographs acquired, and number of planes reconstructed via matrix inversion tomosynthesis, on residual out-of-plane blur ensued. We conclude that optimization of image acquisition and plane reconstruction parameters can improve slice image quality. In all examined scenarios, the MITS algorithm outperforms conventional tomosynthesis in removing out-of-plane blur.
The Making of a “Star”: An Ethnodramatic Representation of Jasmine’s Story

As part of a larger study examining transformative learning in an educational program for incarcerated women, this article is an ethnodramatic representation of one participant’s life history. Analyzed through a critical lens, using a holistic-content narrative analysis method, Jasmine’s story illuminates the cultural, social, personal, and legal systems of oppression that she survived and that contributed to her path to incarceration. Re-presenting her story in her words through performative text allows Jasmine to invite the audience into her world—forcing us to critically examine our definitions of criminal behavior, our perceptions of culpability, and our use of a penal system to “rehabilitate” women whose life experiences and struggles mirror hers.
Metabolism of dimethyl sulphoxide to dimethyl sulphone in the rat and man.

DIMETHYL sulphoxide (DMSO) was first prepared in 1867 (ref. 1), and has been known for some time to be an excellent solvent. However, the first report concerning its metabolic fate in animals appeared only recently, following several papers in which biological and even therapeutic uses for DMSO were suggested2,3. Distefano and Borgstedt4 identified dimethyl sulphide in the expired air of cats given DMSO intravenously.
Progressive relaxation training: Muscle contraction before relaxation? *

Only minimal research has been conducted to determine if muscle contraction before relaxation is more effective than Edmund Jacobson's technique of using no muscle contraction relaxation. It is this question that the present investigation addressed with an analogue population consisting of three subject groups: muscle contraction relaxation (MC); relaxation without muscle contraction (WMC); and self-induced relaxation control (C). Subjects participated in a single session of progressive relaxation. Subjects had no previous relaxation training and had moderate trait anxiety scores. A significant main effect for group resulted for the electromyographic (EMG) measures. The mean EMG measures identified the WMC group as most relaxed (i.e. experiencing the least amount of muscle tension), followed by the C group, then the MC group.
News-seekers and Avoiders: Exploring Patterns of Total News Consumption Across Media and the Relationship to Civic Participation

This study examines patterns of news consumption across multiple media platforms and relates them to civic participation. Analyzing a national sample of close to 25,000 respondents, nearly half the adult population in America is classified as news “Avoiders,” and the other half as “News-seekers.” Testing the relationship between civic participation and news consumption for each of 6 media platforms individually, and to an overall index combining those sources into 1 measure, the results show a positive relationship with civic participation, but the influence of Total News Consumption on civic participation is greater for Avoiders than for News-seekers.
Minimally invasive endoscopic pericranial flap: A new method for endonasal skull base reconstruction

Objectives: One of the major challenges of cranial base surgery is reconstruction of the dural defect. Following a craniofacial resection, the standard reconstructive technique is direct suture repair of the dural defect with a fascial graft and rotation of an anteriorly based pericranial scalp flap to cover the dura. The introduction of endoscopic techniques and an endonasal approach to the ventral skull base has created new challenges for reconstruction. The nasoseptal flap has become the workhorse for vascularized endoscopic skull base reconstruction; however at times, the septal mucosal flap may be unavailable for reconstruction. This can be due to prior surgical resection or involvement of the nasal septum by sinonasal cancer. We have developed a minimally invasive endoscopic pericranial flap for endoscopic skull base reconstruction. The use of a pericranial scalp flap for reconstruction during endonasal skull base surgery using minimally invasive techniques has not been previously reported. Methods: We performed cadaveric studies to illustrate feasibility of an endoscopic pericranial flap for endonasal skull base reconstruction, then applied this novel technique to an elderly patient after endonasal skull base and dural resection of an esthesioneuroblastoma. Results: The technical report of the minimally invasive pericranial flap is outlined and the advantages and limitations during endonasal skull base reconstruction are discussed. The patient had excellent healing of her skull base and had no evidence of any postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak. Conclusions: The minimally invasive endoscopic pericranial flap provides another option for endonasal reconstruction of cranial base defects. There is minimal donor site morbidity, and it provides a large flap that can cover the entire ventral skull base. The issues of intranasal tissue tumor involvement and the need for radiotherapy make the endoscopic pericranial flap an ideal reconstruction for anterior cranial base defects resulting from endonasal sinonasal and skull base cancer resections. Laryngoscope, 119:13–18, 2009
Is there an association between optic disc drusen and angioid streaks

We reviewed the color photographs and fluorescein angiograms of 110 subjects with angioid streaks. Evidence is presented for an association between drusen of the optic disc and angioid streaks.