cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of trauma patients that leave against medical advice: An eight-year survey analysis using the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, 2009-2016.

Abstract Background Leaving against medical advice (AMA) is associated with increased readmission rates, fragmented patient care, and healthcare litigation. Understanding the factors associated with trauma patients leaving AMA from acute care settings will help guide better communication with trauma patients and improve patient satisfaction. This study aims to assess the sociodemographic and in-hospital care characteristics of trauma patients that leave AMA from acute care centers across the U.S. Methods We pooled and analyzed eight years of data (2009–2016) from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. The outcome variable was whether the patient left AMA or not. The main predictors were the triage class, weekend presentation, health insurance status, the presence of chronic diseases, and the receipt of therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. The sociodemographic characteristics -age, sex, and race/ethnicity, were measured as potential confounders in the developed model. We performed logistic regression and reported the unadjusted and adjusted odds of leaving AMA as well as the 95% confidence intervals. Results The weighted percent of the trauma patient population that left AMA was 1.8%. The odds of leaving AMA decreased with advancing age, and increased among non-Hispanic Blacks, compared with non-Hispanic Whites. After adjusting for age, race, and gender, the odds of leaving AMA increased among patients that lacked health insurance (AOR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.51–2.31), and had diagnostic procedures (AOR: 2.79; 95% CI: 2.32–3.36). The odds of leaving AMA reduced among trauma patients who were classified as emergent (AOR: 0.70; 95% CI: 0.50–0.98) and had therapeutic procedures (AOR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.32–0.47). Conclusion Predicting trauma patients with increased odds of leaving AMA will inform intentional communication that may reduce leaving AMA rates and improve care.
Fitness costs of individual and combined pyrethroid resistance mechanisms, kdr and CYP-mediated detoxification, in Aedes aegypti.

Background Aedes aegypti is an important vector of many human diseases and a serious threat to human health due to its wide geographic distribution and preference for human hosts. A. aegypti also has evolved widespread resistance to pyrethroids due to the extensive use of this insecticide class over the past decades. Mutations that cause insecticide resistance result in fitness costs in the absence of insecticides. The fitness costs of pyrethroid resistance mutations in A. aegypti are still poorly understood despite their implications for arbovirus transmission. Methodology/Principle findings We evaluated fitness based both on allele-competition and by measuring specific fitness components (i.e. life table and mating competition) to determine the costs of the different resistance mechanisms individually and in combination. We used four congenic A. aegypti strains: Rockefeller (ROCK) is susceptible to insecticides; KDR:ROCK (KR) contains only voltage-sensitive sodium channel (Vssc) mutations S989P+V1016G (kdr); CYP:ROCK (CR) contains only CYP-mediated resistance; and CYP+KDR:ROCK (CKR) contains both CYP-mediated resistance and kdr. The kdr allele frequency decreased over nine generations in the allele-competition study regardless of the presence of CYP-mediated resistance. Specific fitness costs were variable by strain and component measured. CR and CKR had a lower net reproductive rate (R0) than ROCK or KR, and KR was not different than ROCK. There was no correlation between the level of permethrin resistance conferred by the different mechanisms and their fitness cost ratio. We also found that CKR males had a reduced mating success relative to ROCK males when attempting to mate with ROCK females. Conclusions/Significance Both kdr and CYP-mediated resistance have a fitness cost affecting different physiological aspects of the mosquito. CYP-mediated resistance negatively affected adult longevity and mating competition, whereas the specific fitness costs of kdr remains elusive. Understanding fitness costs helps us determine whether and how quickly resistance will be lost after pesticide application has ceased.
Implementing radar reflector-guided localization of nonpalpable breast lesions: Feasibility, challenges, outcomes, and lessons learned

Reflector-guided localization uses a nonradioactive radar implant for wire-free presurgical breast lesion localization. A single-institution retrospective evaluation found lower rates of positive margins and of close margins for reflector-guided localizations compared with wire localizations, resulting in a statistically significant decrease in the re-excision rates (p = 0.015). The two approaches did not show statistically significant difference in localization time and OR time. Technical challenges included particulars inherent in reflector placement, while patient factors included special considerations for reflector placement in the postsurgical breast. Despite novel challenges, we found reflector-guided localization to be accurate and efficient.
On the Driver of Blood Circulation Beyond the Heart

Abstract The heart is widely acknowledged as the unique driver of blood circulation. Recently, we discovered a flow-driving mechanism that can operate without imposed pressure, using infrared (IR) energy to propel flow. We considered the possibility that, by exploiting this mechanism, blood vessels, themselves, could propel flow. We verified the existence of this driving mechanism by using a three-day-old chick-embryo model. When the heart was stopped, blood continued to flow, albeit at a lower velocity. When IR was introduced, flow increased, by ∼300%. When IR energy was diminished under otherwise physiological conditions, blood failed to flow. Hence, this IR-dependent, vessel-based flow-driving mechanism may indeed operate in the circulatory system, complementing the action of the heart.
Academic Entrepreneurship

Enacted by the U.S. Congress to more readily advance inventions to practical benefit, the 1980 Bayh?Dole Act allows U.S. institutions to take the title of federally funded inventions. Thus, it effectively removed the U.S. federal government as the gatekeeper for technology transfer.
Ultrasensitive tau biosensor cells detect no seeding in Alzheimer's disease CSF

Tau protein forms self-replicating assemblies (seeds) that may underlie progression of pathology in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and related tauopathies. Seeding in recombinant protein preparations and brain homogenates has been quantified with “biosensor” cell lines that express tau with a disease-associated mutation (P301S) fused to complementary fluorescent proteins. Quantification of induced aggregation in cells that score positive by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is accomplished by cell imaging or flow cytometry. Several groups have reported seeding activity in antemortem cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using various methods, but these findings are not yet widely replicated. To address this question, we created two improved FRET-based biosensor cell lines based on tau expression, termed version 2 low (v2L) and version 2 high (v2H). We determined that v2H cells are ~ 100-fold more sensitive to AD-derived tau seeds than our original lines, and coupled with immunoprecipitation reliably detect seeding from samples containing as little as 100 attomoles of recombinant tau fibrils or ~ 32 pg of total protein from AD brain homogenate. We tested antemortem CSF from 11 subjects with a clinical diagnosis of AD, 9 confirmed by validated CSF biomarkers. We used immunoprecipitation coupled with seed detection in v2H cells and detected no tau seeding in any sample. Thus we cannot confirm prior reports of tau seeding activity in the CSF of AD patients. This next generation of ultra-sensitive tau biosensors may nonetheless be useful to the research community to quantify tau pathology as sensitively and specifically as possible.
All-optical sampling of few-cycle infrared waveforms using tunneling in a solid

We demonstrate that tunneling and multiphoton excitation in a dielectric solid can provide an ultrafast temporal "gate" for characterizing high-energy, few-cycle waveforms. Using this technique, near- and mid-infrared pulses are measured.
Examining the Relationship between Toxoplasma gondii and Seropositivity and Serointensity and Depression in Adults from the United Kingdom and the United States: A Cross-Sectional Study

Infecting approximately one-third of the world's population, the neurotropic protozoan Toxoplasma gondii has been associated with cognition and several neuropsychiatric diseases including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Findings have been mixed, however, about the relationship between Toxoplasma gondii and depression, with some studies reporting positive associations and others finding no associations. To further investigate the association between Toxoplasma gondii and depression, we used data from the UK Biobank and the National Health and Examination Survey (NHANES). Results from adjusted multiple-regression modeling showed no significant associations between Toxoplasma gondii and depression in either the UK Biobank or NHANES datasets. Further, we found no significant interactions between Toxoplasma gondii and age, sex, educational attainment, and income in either dataset that affected the association between Toxoplasma gondii and depression. These results from two community-based datasets suggest that in these samples, Toxoplasma gondii is not associated with depression. Differences between our findings and other findings showing an association between Toxoplasma gondii and depression could be due to several factors including differences in socioeconomic variables, differences in Toxoplasma gondii strain, and use of different covariates in statistical modeling.
Fast estimation of ion-pairing for screening electrolytes: A cluster can approximate a bulk liquid

The propensity for ion-pairing can often dictate the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of electrolyte solutions. Fast and accurate estimates of ion-pairing can thus be extremely valuable for supplementing design and screening efforts for novel electrolytes. Here, we introduce an efficient cluster model to estimate the local ion-pair potential-of-mean-force (PMF) between ionic solutes in electrolytes. The model incorporates an ion-pair and a few layers of explicit solvent in a gas-phase cluster and leverages an enhanced sampling approach to achieve high efficiency and accuracy. We employ harmonic restraints to prevent solvent escape from the cluster and restrict sampling of large inter ion distances. We develop a Cluster Ion-Pair Sampling (CLIPS) tool that implements our cluster model and demonstrate its potential utility for screening simple and poly-electrolyte systems.
Medical Issues in Osteoporotic Hip Fractures

Osteoporosis affects approximately 10 million Americans and contributes to over 1.5 million fractures annually. Annual costs related to osteoporosis care reach 17–20 billion dollars, most of which is related to acute and postacute care of fracture patients, especially hip fractures as reported by Becker et al. (Curr Rheumatol Rep 12:186-91, 2010). It is expected that the Medicare population will double by 2030; this population undoubtedly will come with an increasing incidence of osteoporosis and consequent fractures. In the USA, approximately 250,000 people suffer hip fractures annually, with projections of this number doubling by the year 2040 as reported by Zuckerman (N Engl J Med 334:1519-25, 1996).
Vitamin E deficiency and impaired cellular immunity related to intestinal fat malabsorption

This report describes a patient in whom a severe vitamin E deficiency developed secondary to an intestinal malabsorptive disorder. In vivo and in vitro impairment of T-cell function, as well as a polyneuropathy, were observed in conjunction with this vitamin deficiency. Repletion of the vitamin deficiency was associated with marked improvement in the T-cell functions and modest improvement in the neuropathy. Observations in this patient suggest that severe vitamin E deficiency in humans may impair T-cell activity and that correction of the deficient state may reverse these T-cell abnormalities. Further studies will need to be performed to confirm these findings.
On a regularized family of models for the full Ericksen-Leslie system

Abstract We consider a general family of regularized systems for the full Ericksen–Leslie model for the hydrodynamics of liquid crystals in n -dimensional compact Riemannian manifolds. The system we consider consists of a regularized family of Navier–Stokes equations (including the Navier–Stokes- α -like equation, the Leray- α equation, the Modified Leray- α equation, the Simplified Bardina model, the Navier–Stokes–Voigt model and the Navier–Stokes equation) for the fluid velocity u suitably coupled with a parabolic equation for the director field d . We establish existence, stability and regularity results for this family. We also show the existence of a finite dimensional global attractor for our general model, and then establish sufficiently general conditions under which each trajectory converges to a single equilibrium by means of a Lojasiewicz–Simon inequality.
Purification and Properties of a Ribonucleic Acid Primer-independent Polyriboadenylate Polymerase from Escherichia coli

Abstract An enzyme isolated from Escherichia coli catalyzes the synthesis of polyriboadenylate from ATP in the absence of a RNA primer. The reaction is dependent on the presence of either Mg2+ or Mn2+, 0.8 or 0.2 mm being optimal, respectively. Addition of Mg2+ to reaction mixtures containing optimal concentration of Mn2+ or vice versa results in marked inhibition of the polymerization reaction. Inclusion of KCl in the reaction stimulates the rate of polymerization, the optimum concentration being 0.16 m. The polymerization reaction is not inhibited by RNase or by polyriboadenylate and shows a lag period of 4 to 6 min and then proceeds linearly with time. The lag period can be removed by the addition of fresh enzyme to a reaction mixture inactivated by heat at 4 min. The lag in the polymerization reaction cannot be abolished by the addition of tRNA, DNAs, and oligoadenylates even though these polynucleotides enhanced the reaction rate by 50 to 70%. The increase in activity is not due to the formation of a covalent linkage between the product polyriboadenylate and either tRNA or DNA. The Km for ATP is 1.4 x 10-3 m. Other ribonucleoside triphosphates (UTP, CTP, and GTP) do not serve as substrates. The guanine nucleotides, GTP, dGTP, and GDP, markedly decrease the rate of poly(A) synthesis from ATP while GMP failed to inhibit the reaction.
The use of MRS in the evaluation of pediatric epilepsy

This chapter is a practical "why, how to, and when" chapter, written in three parts to address three questions that arise when the epileptologist or neuroimager evaluates a patient with epilepsy. Why do magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)? How to do MRS in the patient with epilepsy? When, that is, in what clinical-imaging setting, can MRS help to diagnose or manage the patient with epilepsy?
The intelligent manufacturing systems initiative at Louisiana State University

In the 1992 IEMT15S Proceedings Louisiana State University (LSU) presented the outlines for an initiative in mechatronics engineering. Progress, developments, and changes of the past year are discussed. The emphasis of the program has grown from mechatronic products to integrated manufacturing systems. The broader focus includes the multi-disciplinary concepts of mechatronics, but adds larger scale interaction and intelligence. The LSU facility is composed of a network of manufacturing systems or cells which interact to form a multi-cell facility. Demonstrations, student instructional laboratories, and graduate research use and contribute to continued growth. >
High-frequency dynamics of regularly discharging canal afferents provide a linear signal for angular vestibuloocular reflexes.

Regularly discharging vestibular-nerve afferents innervating the semicircular canals were recorded extracellularly in anesthetized chinchillas undergoing high-frequency, high-velocity sinusoidal ro...
Influence of lifestyle, health behavior, and health indices on the health status of underserved adults

Purpose To examine how lifestyle, health behavior, and health indices best predict health status in underserved adults. Data sources Eighty-four underserved adults from a nurse-managed center completed an investigator-developed instrument to measure lifestyle, health behavior, and health indices. The SF-12 Health Survey measured general (SF-1), physical (PCS), and mental (MCS) health status. Conclusions The majority of the sample was female (64%). Sixty-three percent were at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. For nonsmokers, five independent variables accounted for 47.1% of the variance in SF1 (p < .000), 33.5% in PCS-12 scores (p < .001), and 23.2% in MCS-12 scores (p = .017). For smokers, six variables accounted for 48.7% of the variance in SF1 (p = .024), 41.7% in PCS-12 scores (p = .067), and 25.4% in MCS-12 scores (p = .378). Implications for practice Findings provide partial support for the impact of lifestyle and health behaviors on health status outcomes. Focusing concurrent interventions on improving multiple behaviors may have the greatest impact on health status outcomes.
Steady state performance and electrical stability analysis of matrix converter fed induction motor drive under Volt/Hertz control

A new generalized model for stability analysis based on a small signal modeling is proposed, for matrix converter fed induction motor drive system. This approach considers the analysis when the drive system operates at unity as well as non-unity input power factor at the source side. With the help of this model, different factors which affect the matrix converter stability are analyzed including stator and rotor resistance variation due to motor heating and the impact of non-zero reactive power at the source side. The paper also presents a complete and a general steady state analysis in the q-d synchronous reference frame when the whole drive system operates under a constant Volt/Hertz operation. Computer simulations are carried out to verify theoretical analysis on stability as well as on the steady state performance characteristics.
Alcohol affects otolith-induced ocular counterrolling: dosage effects

Conclusion. Otolith function is significantly affected by alcohol ingestion and the higher the dosage, the greater the effect. Objective. To determine how the effect of a 5 oz (150 ml) dose of alcohol differs from an earlier study examining the effect of 3 oz (90 ml) on ocular counterrolling (OCR). Subjects and methods. Twenty subjects underwent OCR testing before and after drinking 5 oz of 80 proof vodka. Results. Blood alcohol levels (BAL) of the subjects ranged from 0.09 to 0.18%. Three measures of OCR were considered. Amplitude was significantly reduced post-alcohol; disconjugacy was significantly increased post-alcohol; smoothness was not significantly different pre- and post-alcohol. In contrast, the lower 3 oz study produced BAL of 0.04–0.09% and resulted in significantly reduced OCR amplitude, no significant change in disconjugacy, but a significant improvement in smoothness. The increase in BAL produced further impairment of amplitude and conjugacy but eliminated the benefit of smoothness.
Secondary organic aerosol from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Southeast Texas

Abstract Recent chamber studies show that low-volatility gas phase precursors such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be a significant source of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). In this work, formation of SOA from the photo-oxidation products of PAHs is added to the SOA modeling framework of the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model to determine the regional distribution of SOA products from PAHs (PAH-SOA) and the contributions from sources in Southeast Texas during the Texas Air Quality Study 2006 (TexAQS 2006). Results show that PAHs released from anthropogenic sources can produce SOA mass as much as 10% of that from the traditional light aromatics or approximately 4% of total anthropogenic SOA. In areas under the influence of wildfire emissions, the amount of PAH-SOA can be as much as 50% of the SOA from light aromatics. A source-oriented modeling framework is adopted to determine the major sources of PAH-SOA by tracking the emitted PAHs and their oxidation products in the gas and aerosol phases from different sources separately. Among the eight sources (vehicles, solvent utilization, residential wood, industries, natural gas combustion, coal combustion, wildfire and other sources) that are tracked in the model, wildfire, vehicles, solvent and industries are the major sources of PAH-SOA. Coal and natural gas combustion appear to be less important in terms of their contributions to PAH-SOA.
Autologous and allogeneic red cell survival studies in the presence of autoanti-AnWj

Chromium survival studies were performed with AnWj-positive allogeneic blood in a patient with autoanti-AnWj. 99mTc-labeled autologous RBCs that had depressed AnWj expression had normal survival (77% [94.7% 51Cr equivalent]) at 24 hours, whereas 51Cr-labeled allogeneic AnWj-positive cells had 76 percent survival at 24 hours and 55 percent survival at 7 days. These studies suggest that the specificity of the autoantibody may have implications for transfusion therapy when the development of such autoantibodies is associated with decreased antigen expression on the patient's cells.
Some properties of, and relationships among, several uncorrelated and homoscedastic residual vectors

In this paper we examine the properties of four types of residual vectors, arising from fitting a linear regression model to a set of data by least squares. The four types of residuals are (i) the Stepwise residuals (Hedayat and Robson, 1970), (ii) the Recursive residuals (Brown, Durbin, and Evans, 1975), (iii) the Sequentially Adjusted residuals (to be defined herein), and (iv) the BLUS residuals (Theil, 1965, 1971). We also study the relationships among the four residual vectors. It is found that, for any given sequence of observations, (i) the first three sets of residuals are identical, (ii) each of the first three sets, being identical, is a member of Thei’rs (1965, 1971) family of residuals; specifically, they are Linear Unbiased with a Scalar covariance matrix (LUS) but not Best Linear Unbiased with a Scalar covariance matrix (BLUS). We find the explicit form of the transformation matrix and show that the first three sets of residual vectors can be written as an orthogonal transformation of the BLU...
Geriatric nail disorders: Diagnosis and treatment

Age-associated nail changes and disorders are common in elderly patients. Characteristic changes in color, contour, growth, surface, thickness, and histology occur in the nail unit as persons become older. Several onychodystrophies are frequently observed in these elderly patients: brittle nails, those induced by faulty biomechanics and trauma, infections, onychauxis, onychoclavus, onychogryphosis, onychophosis, splinter hemorrhages and subungual hematomas, and subungual exostosis. Awareness of the signs and symptoms of the aging nail will enable better assessment and management of the onychologic concerns of this group of older patients.
Instability of a Vortex Array in He II

We propose an instability of a vortex array in the presence of axial normal-fluid flow in He II. This instability may be responsible for the influence of thermal counterflow on ion-trapping cross sections reported by Cheng, Cromar, and Donnelly.
Neuroimaging and treatment implications of patients with multiple epidural spinal metastases.

BACKGROUND Although multiple spinal epidural metastases (MEMs) commonly occur in cancer patients, their clinical significance remains uncertain. The authors attempted to ascertain the incidence of MEMs and their association with the completeness of spinal imaging by magnetic resonance (MR) scanning versus myelography to determine how often they are missed because of incomplete spinal imaging and to assess their prognostic and treatment implications. METHODS A review of 337 epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) cases seen at the Mayo Clinic between 1985 and 1993 was conducted. RESULTS ESCC patients undergoing myelography only were significantly more likely to undergo complete spinal imaging (CSI)than patients undergoing either MR scan only or both imaging modalities (P < 0.0001). MEMs were detected in 32% of patients undergoing CSI and 18% of patients with incomplete spinal imaging (P = 0.02). Failure to image the cervical spine in patients with symptomatic thoracic or lumbar epidural lesions would have missed secondary epidural lesions in only 1% of patients; however, this figure increased to 21% for failure to image either the thoracic or lumbosacral spine when symptomatic disease was located elsewhere. Radiation oncologists included secondary epidural deposits in treatment ports in 93% of MEM cases. In a multivariate model, the presence of MEMs was an independent prognostic factor for poorer survival. CONCLUSION The incidence of MEMs in patients with ESCC is approximately 30%, and their presence frequently alters treatment plans. It appears safe to forgo cervical spine MR scanning in patients with radiographically verified thoracic or lumbar ESCC; however, careful imaging of the thoracic and lumbar spine should be considered in all ESCC patients to detect MEMs. Cancer 1998;83:1593-1601. © 1998 American Cancer Society.
Effect of endogenous and infused parathyroid hormone on plasma concentrations of recently administered 45Ca.

The net rate of loss of45Ca from plasma was monitored in normal, thyroparathyroidectomized (TPTX), and nephrectomized rats. Also studied was the effect of a 24 h intravenous infusion of PTH in TPTX rats. The45Ca was injected after an overnight fast and 1 to 4 h prior to the time the first blood sample was obtained.
Flux trapping and superconductive glass state in La 2 CuO 4-y :Ba

The mixed copper-oxide superconductors recently discovered are not classical superconductors but have been shown to exhibit some properties of a superconducting glass. The grains in these ceramics are not uniform bulk materials but rather a composition of coupled superconducting clusters. Evidence for the superconducting glass state was first seen in the susceptibility, chi, and magnetic-moment measurements of powder samples of La/sub 2/CuO/sub 4-y/:Ba from 1.9 to 35 K in magnetic fields up to 1.5 T. The diamagnetism observed in the zero-field-cooled state was considerably larger than when field cooled. Figure 1(b) shows typical sequences of temperature dependences expected of a glass state. After zero-field cooling the sample and switching on a 0.03-T field, chi is measured at point A. On heating sample, point B on curve 1 is reached. On recooling, a nearly temperature-independent susceptibility is measured. With further heating, point B is passed until point C is reached on curve 1, where on recooling, a temperature-dependent slope smaller than that of curve is followed. On further heating, curve 1 becomes reversible past point D. This same value D is reached by field cooling from 35 K. In field cooling past D, curve 2 is followed reversibly on a timemore » scale of two hours.« less
Do Students Really Learn from Experience

For more than a century, experiential learning—most notably cooperative education—has been embedded in the curriculum at Northeastern University. The original program placed eight students in four ...
A theory for the viscous sublayer of a turbulent flow

The laminar sublayer and ‘transition zone’ are shown to be the region where the turbulent velocity fluctuations are directly dissipated by viscosity. A simplified linearized from of the equations of motion for the turbulent fluctuations is used to describe the turbulent field between the wall and the fully turbulent part of the flow. The mean flow in the viscous sublayer and the turbulent field outside the sublayer are assumed to be known from experiment. The thickness of the sublayer arises naturally in the theory and is directly analogous to the inner viscous region for the fluctuations in a laminar flow. It is shown that the large-scale fluctuations containing most of the turbulent energy are convected downstream with a velocity characteristic of the middle of the boundary layer. Thus Taylor's hypothesis does not apply to these large-scale fluctuations near the wall. The convective velocity found in the measurements of pressure fluctuations at the boundaries of turbulent flows is in accord with the theory. Calculations are given for the energy spectra and u′ fluctuation level in the sublayer and other aspects of the fluctuation field are discussed. The linear pressure fluctuation field at the edge of the sublayer is calculated and found to be much larger than the nonlinear field. Examining the effect of strong free-stream turbulence on laminar boundary-layer transition, it appears that the physical model underlying Taylor's parameter is incorrect.
On opportunistic techniques for solving decentralized Markov decision processes with temporal constraints

Decentralized Markov Decision Processes (DEC-MDPs) are a popular model of agent-coordination problems in domains with uncertainty and time constraints but very difficult to solve. In this paper, we improve a state-of-the-art heuristic solution method for DEC-MDPs, called OC-DEC-MDP, that has recently been shown to scale up to larger DEC-MDPs. Our heuristic solution method, called Value Function Propagation (VFP), combines two orthogonal improvements of OC-DEC-MDP. First, it speeds up OC-DEC-MDP by an order of magnitude by maintaining and manipulating a value function for each state (as a function of time) rather than a separate value for each pair of sate and time interval. Furthermore, it achieves better solution qualities than OC-DEC-MDP because, as our analytical results show, it does not overestimate the expected total reward like OC-DEC- MDP. We test both improvements independently in a crisis-management domain as well as for other types of domains. Our experimental results demonstrate a significant speedup of VFP over OC-DEC-MDP as well as higher solution qualities in a variety of situations.
Very Long-Term Memory for Prose and Verse.

Recalls from five passages learned by undergraduates in the course of growing up in America were obtained. Unlike passages learned in the laboratory, the recalls, while partial, were exact with no evidence of constructive memory. Although there was no control over learning, practice or retention interval, the data are among the most regular in cognitive psychology. Function word, first letter, and music prompts increased recalls while they decreased a mared primacy effect evident in the free recall data. Free recalls obtained from fifth and sixth graders resembled the adult data. Recalls tended to begin and end at breath pause locations. The results fit a simple model of associative chaining retrieval of passively stored surface structure units.
The dissipation of magneto-acoustic waves

Abstract In this paper, we will study the propagation of magneto-acoustic waves in a thermally conducting isothermal atmosphere. We will consider the case of a dominant magnetic field. It is shown that the atmosphere may be divided into two distinct regions. For the small Newtonian cooling coefficient compared to the adiabatic cutoff frequency, the motion in the lower region, is approximately adiabatic. When the Newtonian cooling coefficient goes to infinity it will act directly to eliminate the temperature perturbation associated with the wave in a time small compared to the adiabatic cutoff frequency. In the upper region, the solution will decay with the altitude to a constant value. These two regions are connected by a transition region, in which the reflection and the wave modification take place. Reflection coefficients and two equations for resonances are derived.
Abstract 5718: Convergence of vitamin D and PPARγ signaling in human breast cancer cell lines

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Previous studies have demonstrated a positive interaction between vitamin D and peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor γ (PPARγ) mediated signaling while other studies have shown an inverse relationship between these two pathways. Therefore, we sought to determine the functional interaction between the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and PPARγ in human breast cancer cells. We report the physical interaction and nuclear colocalization of VDR and PPARγ in the T47D human breast cancer cell line as determined by co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence respectively. Furthermore, 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25D3) treatment of MCF-7 and T47D cells significantly upregulated PPARγ protein expression in a dose and time dependent manner. Conversely, knockdown of unliganded VDR also upregulated PPARγ protein expression, suggesting that it is a potential VDR target gene. Thus, VDR itself in the absence of ligand, can suppress PPARγ basal expression. This paradoxical effect may be due to the differential binding of VDR to its coactivators or corepressors during the liganded and unliganded state. Consistent with this, the basal expression of PPARγ mRNA was inversely correlated with VDR mRNA expression in several human breast cancer cell lines. Reciprocally, a PPARγ agonist attenuated vitamin D mediated upregulation of vitamin D target genes CYP24 and p21. Similarly, the activity of VDRE, a vitamin D responsive reporter was decreased by 2 fold in the presence of the PPARγ agonist. Together, these observations infer that VDR and PPARγ protein interactions negatively influence their respective pathways. (This work was supported by NCI predoctoral fellowship 1F31CA132619 (F.A.) and NCI R03 CA121365 (X.P). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5718.
Membranes with Oriented Polyelectrolyte Nanodomains

Polymer−polymer nanocomposite membranes with polyelectrolyte nanodomains oriented normal to the plane of the membrane were prepared using track-etched membranes as a host matrix. The oriented nanodomains of polyelectrolyte were synthesized in tubular and fibril forms by a plasma-induced surface graft polymerization, where nanodomains with aspect ratios as high as 240 were obtained. The morphology of nanodomains was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The specific conductivity of the polyelectrolyte nanodomains increased with decreasing domain size with the highest value 6 times higher than that of the isotropic bulk polyelectrolyte gel membrane. Mechanical strength of the nanocomposite was similar to the matrix in both the dry and the hydrated state, unlike the bulk polyelectrolyte gel membrane. The membranes synthesized in this study with oriented polyelectrolyte nanodomains demonstrate the abi...
Campus-wide spyware and virus removal as a method of teaching information security

As Armstrong Atlantic State University prepares to enter the wireless world during the 2006-07 academic year, it is important that those connecting to the university's network use notebook computers that are free from viruses and malware. In order to help secure the network, Information Technology students were given practical experience by organizing and performing virus and malware scans on student notebook computers. As an incentive to participate, students were provided flash memory jump drives containing various security programs to be installed and executed on their computers. These were purchased as part of an AASU Teaching and Learning Grant approved by the university in November, 2005 This paper describes this important project, its outcomes, and future pedagogical implications.
Avalanche photodiodes as large dynamic range detectors for synchrotron radiation

Abstract We investigated silicon-based avalanche photodiodes (APDs) as X-ray detectors in terms of their linearity, maximum counting rates, and dynamic range with 8.4 keV synchrotron radiation. Measurements resulted in counting rates that extend from the APD's noise level of 10−2 Hz to saturation counting rates in excess of 108 Hz. In addition, by monitoring the APD's noise level and photon counting efficiency between synchrotron bursts, we demonstrate nine orders of magnitude dynamic range.
Characterization of defective interfering viral particles present in a population of pseudorabies virions

Abstract Repeated passage of undiluted pseudorabies virus in rabbit kidney cells resulted in a decrease in the yield of infectious virus; by passage 49 (Pr-49) the titer was reduced by approximately 99%. The lower yields of infectious virus produced by the cells are due to interference by defective viral particles which possess sedimentation and antigenic properties similar to those of standard pseudorabies virions. The viral DNA synthesized by cells infected with Pr-49 virus and the DNA encapsidated into particles produced by these cells have a lower buoyant density in CsCl than does the DNA of standard Pr virus. This DNA contains viral DNA sequences with varying degrees of reiteration frequencies. Cellular DNA sequences could not be detected in Pr-49 viral DNA.
The sillimanite-potash feldspar isograd in Western Maine, U.S.A.

The techniques of electron probe microanalysis and x-ray diffractometry have been utilized in a study of the sillimanite-potassium feldspar isograd in western Maine. The isograd reaction is theoretically a discontinuous one, calling for the nearly instantaneous loss of muscovite and crystallization of sillimanite and orthoclase, with a small contribution of albite from the pre-existing plagioclase. In fact, muscovite coexists with orthoclase, sillimanite, and plagioclase for a distance of at least seven miles from the isograd (marked by the initial coexistence of orthoclase and sillimanite). In this assemblage, muscovite has an extremely narrow range of composition, about an average of Ms93.5Pg6.5. A possible explanation for the divariant character of the isograd reaction is that, during dehydration, PH2O slowly increased from initial values less than Ptotal + rock strength, under conditions of low permeability, the actual value of PH2O being controlled by a buffer assemblage and local conditions of P and T. An alternative explanation postulates the flattening of thermal gradients following the onset of fractional melting.
The link between facets of neuroticism and dimensions of relationship commitment : Evidence from gay, lesbian, and heterosexual couples

The link between six facets of both one's own and one's partner's neuroticism (anxiety, hostility, depression, self-consciousness, impulsiveness, and vulnerability) and two dimensions of one's own relationship commitment (attractions to the relationship and constraints against leaving the relationship) was examined for both partners from 33 gay, 40 lesbian, and 70 heterosexual couples. With controls for other facets of one's own and one's partner's neuroticism, only one's own depression was negatively related to one's own attraction commitment. Findings from mediational analyses were consistent with the view that one's own depression exerts its effect on one's own attraction commitment through two dimensions of one's own attachment style (positivity of the self and positivity of the other).
Frustrated dimers at the CoSi2/Si(001) interface.

The interface between epitaxial ${\mathrm{CoSi}}_{2}$ and Si(001) has been investigated with medium-energy ion scattering. Ions are sharply dechanneled at the interface, due to an interfacial layer of reconstructed silicon. Both the intensity and angular distribution of the interface peak closely match simulations for a dimer reconstruction. The results are incompatible with models of the interface that do not include substantial displacement of silicon atoms, such as a pure composition modulation. The bond length of 2.6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1 \AA{} is significantly longer than found at the Si(001) surface, due to the repulsive interactions with coplanar, nondimerized Si atoms.
Pathophysiology of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyp.

BackgroundChronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a common inflammatory condition of the paranasal sinuses and nasal passages. CRS with nasal polyp (CRSwNP) is a subtype of CRS, and the pathogenesis of CRS...
Condensation and its growth down the test-section of the Langley 0.3-m transonic cryogenic tunnel

Four total pressure probes were used to measure the growth of condensation down the test section of the Langley 0.3-m tunnel, and the condensation data were employed to verify a mathematical model which assumes condensation results from heterogeneous nucleation on preexisting seed particles. The onset of effects occurs throughout the test section at the same total temperature but the magnitude of the effects increases with increasing length down the test section. Condensation is important because it determines the minimum operating temperature of transonic cryogenic wind tunnels.
Analysis of damping in finite shearing and torsional deformations

We use two constitutive relations to analyze finite simple shearing, simple extensional and torsional deformations of a viscoelastic body. One of these constitutive relations is a linear relationship between the second Piola-Kirchhoff stress tensor and the history of the rate of change of the Green-St. Venant strain tensor. The other is a linear relationship between the Cauchy stress tensor and the rate of change of the relative Green-St. Venant strain tensor. It is found that only predictions from the latter constitutive relation agree with the test findings. This constitutive relation is used to analyze damping in steady state torsional oscillations of a cylinder, and slow finite shearing deformations of a constrained viscoelastic layer.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Toddlers' Acquisition of Self/Other Knowledge: Ecological and Interpersonal Aspects of Self and Other

The complexity of toddlers' self-development was examined in the context of knowing others. Two studies were designed to test whether toddlers' self-knowledge was different from their knowledge of others (e.g., mother and inanimate object) or whether toddlers' knowledge of persons (e.g., self and mother) was different from their knowledge of objects. Knowledge of self, mother, and inanimate object was observed in developmentally sequenced tasks assessing agency and featural knowledge. When the inanimate object was perceptually different from humans, 12-month-old toddlers responded differently to all 3 versions. When the inanimate object was perceptually similar to humans, 24-month-olds distinguished self from other and did not distinguish between the 2 versions of "other:" mother and inanimate object. We concluded that 12-month-old infants were more sensitive to perceptual features of objects than were older toddlers. Data were interpreted according to Neisser's distinction between the ecological self and the interpersonal self.
Automated nondestructive inspector of aging aircraft

Under the FAA Aging Aircraft Research program (grant # G03 19014) we are developing robots to deploy conventional and later new-concept NDI sensors for commercial aircraft skin inspection. Our prototype robot the Automated NonDestructive Inspector (ANDI) holds to the aircraft skin with vacuum assisted suction cups scans an eddy current sensor and translates across the aircraft skin via linear actuators. Color CCD video cameras will be used to align the robot with a series of rivets we wish to inspect in a linear scan using NDI inspection sensors. In this paper we provide a background scenario and describe two different solutions to the alignment problem: a model-based system built around edge detection and a trainable neural network system.
Seven Species of Eurytemora (Copepoda) From Northwestern North America1)

[Eurytemora herdmani Thompson & A. Scott und E. pacifica Sato, bekannt aus dem Ozean und dem Brackwasser, werden aus Nordwest-Alaska aus offener See, Haffen und Strandseen gemeldet. Die Brackwasserarten E. raboti Richard (neu fur Nordamerika), E. americana Williams, E. composita Keiser, E. gracilicauda Akatova und E. foveola Johnson sind in Strandseen Alaskas gefunden worden. E. herdmani, E. raboti und E. americana werden nachbeschrieben. E. americana ist neu fur die San Juan Insel, Washington., Eurytemora herdmani Thompson & A. Scott und E. pacifica Sato, bekannt aus dem Ozean und dem Brackwasser, werden aus Nordwest-Alaska aus offener See, Haffen und Strandseen gemeldet. Die Brackwasserarten E. raboti Richard (neu fur Nordamerika), E. americana Williams, E. composita Keiser, E. gracilicauda Akatova und E. foveola Johnson sind in Strandseen Alaskas gefunden worden. E. herdmani, E. raboti und E. americana werden nachbeschrieben. E. americana ist neu fur die San Juan Insel, Washington.]
Strategic plan/planning strategically.

IN EARLY 2000, ASPAN undertook a critical strategic planning process to update its strategic long-range direction. The Strategic Plan will be available in printed format for the members of the Representative Assembly during the April 2001 National Conference in Boston, MA. The plan will be a working document, which indicates that as some goals/strategies are reached, they will be removed from the printed Plan. The Plan will project for 3 to 5 years, if well written and valuable to the membership. This article will offer an overview of the steps ASPAN followed to develop a meaningful plan and to guide ASPAN members at the Component level to articulate goals and strategies for Component strength, viability, and future success. The process of strategic planning for ASPAN has undergone some significant changes in the past 2 years. This does not mean that the format, process, or committees of the past were on the wrong track! Instead, it supports the notion that a Strategic Plan is about change. There is no need to develop a strategic plan that tells ASPAN to continue to do what it is already doing. A strategic plan begs the question, “What is it that we are not doing today and must be doing in the future to be successful?” The strategic document then serves as a constant written reminder of what must be changed annually to steer successfully into the future and leave a better organization than the one that was inherited. The current Strategic Plan Committee structure has evolved from a separate select committee, to a blend of 3 members at large, and representatives of the ASPAN Board of Directors. The ASPAN Directors representing the triad of our mission, Practice, Education, and Research, are integral to the process and are acutely aware of the most current, salient issues affecting their related committee work and the work of perianesthesia nurses. The ASPAN president elect and the immediate past president provide valuable threads and connections to the inner workings of ASPAN and those issues on the national level that affect the Society and how ASPAN is perceived by others. They have first-hand information on our current influence in the health care arena. The ASPAN chief executive officer (CEO) (formerly Executive Director) offers expertise and a broad-based knowledge of the financial and overall status of ASPAN. An expert in Strategic Planning has facilitated the process of developing the Strategic Plan for the past 2 years, and this past July, a plan was created that will be presented to the ASPAN Representative Assembly in April 2001, during the National Conference.