cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of surgeon and hospital volume on outcomes of radical prostatectomy

Abstract An emerging body of literature has established a relationship between case volume and outcomes after radical prostatectomy (RP). Such findings come in the context of an already well-established association between both surgeon and hospital case volume in the field of cardiovascular surgery and for several high-risk cancer operations. The purpose of this review is to identify and summarize the seminal studies to date that investigate the impact of RP volume on patient outcomes. We performed a literature search of the English language studies available through PubMed that pertain to this topic. Thirteen original studies and a meta-analysis were found, which focus on the impact of hospital RP volume on surgical outcomes (including length of stay, perioperative complication rate, perioperative mortality, readmission rate, and several long term measures of treatment effect). Eight studies were identified that interrogated the relationship between individual surgeon case volume and outcomes. Across multiple outcome metrics, there is a pervasive association between higher hospital RP case volume and improved outcomes. Increasing individual surgeon volume may also portend better outcomes, not only perioperatively, but even with respect to long-term cancer control and urinary function. While most data arise from retrospective cohort studies, these studies, for the most part, are of sound design, show an impressive magnitude of effect, and demonstrate an impact on outcome that is proportional to surgical volume. Further research should focus on finding a means by which to translate these observations into improvements in the quality of prostate cancer care. To address differences in outcome between low volume and high volume surgeons, some have proposed and implemented subspecialization within practice groups, while others have looked toward subspecialty certification for urologic oncologists. With regard to differences in hospital volume, regionalization of care has been proposed as a solution, but is fraught with pitfalls. It may be more pragmatic and, ultimately more beneficial to patients, however, to identify processes of care that are already in place at high volume hospitals and implement them at lower volume centers. Similarly, we advocate careful studies to identify successful surgical techniques of high volume surgeons and efforts to disseminate these techniques.
GABA neurons in the mammalian central nervous system: model for a minimal basic neural unit

My current working models of nervous system function place particular emphasis on the roles of inhibitory GABAergic neurons in information processing in the central nervous system. It is proposed that in behavioral sequences, innate or learned, preprogrammed neural circuits are released to function at varying rates and in various combinations largely by disinhibition of pacemaker neurons whose activities are under the dual tonic inhibitory control of GABAergic local circuit neurons and projection command neurons. According to this view, disinhibition is permissive and excitatory input to pacemaker neurons has mainly a modulatory role. Disturbances in GABAergic function probably occur in a variety of neurologic and psychologic disorders.
Surgical treatment of systemic atheroembolism from the thoracic aorta

Background. Surgical procedures performed exclusively for atheroembolic events arising from the thoracic aorta rarely have been reported. Presented here are 2 patients who underwent successful operation for these problems. Methods. The clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and surgical approach to 2 patients with different embolic sources in the thoracic aorta are presented. One patient had experienced three strokes and was noted by multiplane transesophageal echocardiography to have protruding atheromas with ulcerations in the transverse arch and origin of the brachiocephalic vessels. The transverse arch was replaced using hypothermic circulatory arrest with individual reimplantation of the brachiocephalic vessels. The second patient presented with "blue toe" syndrome from mobile atheromas in the mid-descending thoracic aorta defined by transesophageal echocardiography. A localized debridement was performed using simple aortic cross-clamping. Results. Both patients had uneventful postoperative courses and had no further atheroembolic events. Conclusions. When standard diagnostic modalities do not delineate an embolic source for either stroke or peripheral embolization, transesophageal echocardiography is recommended as an excellent means of identifying atheromas in the thoracic aorta that could be the source for emboli. Once these lesions are identified, a surgical procedure should be performed to prevent further embolization.
Fostering Hope in the Patient With Cancer

When a patient is diagnosed with cancer, feelings such as fear, anxiety, and hopelessness can negatively affect a person's frame of mind. Hope can help a patient decrease anxiety and increase quality of life. Nurses should assess hope, provide interventions, be empathetic, listen, and treat patients with dignity to help improve hope and quality of life. This article features how hope can have a positive impact and provides specific information about how nurses can promote and foster hope in patients with cancer.
Effects of Sideslip on the Aerodynamics of Low-Aspect-Ratio Low-Reynolds-Number Wings

The growing interest in micro aerial vehicles has brought attention to the need for an improved understanding of the aerodynamics of low-aspect-ratio wings at lowReynolds numbers. In this study, flat plate wings with rectangular and tapered planforms were fabricated with aspect ratios of 0.75, 1, 1.5, and 3, and the aerodynamic loading was measured at Reynolds numbers between 5 10 and 1 10. Surface tuft visualization was used to observe the interactions between the tip vortices and the leading-edge vortex. The tests were initially conducted at a sideslip angle of 0 and were then repeated for 10, 20, and 35 with and without winglets. Measurements made with a sixcomponent force balance showed that a decrease in aspect ratio caused an increase in stall and CLmax due to the nonlinear lift induced by the interacting flow on the upper wing surface. In addition, the detachment of tip vortices after stall leads to a sudden decrease in drag coefficient as the magnitude of the induced drag drops significantly. At increasing sideslip angles, the effects of the crossflow still contribute to an increase in lift but significantly reduce the pitching moment about the quarter-chord, thus decreasing the wing’s ability to recover from angle-of-attack perturbations. These results show that, while the effects of tip vortices and the leading-edge vortex complicate the flowfield around a low-aspect-ratio wing, particularly at increased sideslip angles, their impact tends to improve the aerodynamic performance.
Exploratory experiments in the conversion of plasticized melt spun PAN-based precursors to carbon fibers

Abstract Current carbon fiber production from acrylic fibers employ wet or dry spun PAN-based precursors that require expensive solvents and costly solvent recovery methods. Recently, it has been discovered that melt spun PAN-based fibers can be prepared by using water as a plasticizer to lower the viscosity and the melting point of PAN. Results from an exploratory investigation into the production of carbon fibers from experimental plasticized melt spun, PAN-based precursors are reported here. Structural parameters based on X-ray measurements and mechanical properties of these precursors suggest that the morphology of these fibers is similar to that of wet and dry spun PAN-based precursors. However, the precursor fibers have broken filaments as well as surface defects and internal voids, all of which hinder the development of superior properties. This investigation shows, nevertheless, that carbon fibers of reasonable strength, up to an average of 15 cN/dtex (2.5 GN/m2), and modulus, 1080–1310 cN/dtex (173–214 GN/m2), can be produced from plasticized melt spun PAN-based precursors. Better properties may be achieved if impurities are removed from the plasticized precursor melt, surface flaws are reduced, fiber uniformity is enhanced, and the stabilization and carbonization processes are optimized for the precursors.
Low-complexity soft-input soft-output detection based on EVD for MIMO systems

In this paper, we propose a low-complexity soft-input soft-output (SISO) detection algorithm for MIMO-OFDM systems, based on Eigen-Value decomposition (EVD), which using the real diagonal matrix inversion instead of the complex matrix inversion to reduce the complexity of the iterative receiver. The main objective of this paper is focused on the reduction of overall implementation complexity of the SISO detector based on the Minimum Mean Square Error(MMSE) criterion through three components: the Soft Modulation, the MMSE Equalizer and the Soft-Symbol Demapper. Simulation and complexity analysis results show that the proposed low-complexity SISO-MMSE detector achieves basically the same performance comparing with the classical SISO-MMSE detector, while providing a tremendous complexity reduction.
Simulated annealing and the mapping problem: a computational study

Abstract Given an array of processors, the mapping problem requires assignment of program modules to processors such that the communication time between modules is minimized. Typically, this requires assignment of modules which intercommunicate to adjacent processors. Although polynomial solutions to certain instances of the mapping problem exist, an efficient, exact algorithm for the general-case problem has not been found. Consequently, researchers have concentrated on development of efficient heuristic solutions. This study explores the application of simulated annealing to the mapping problem. Performance of the annealing model will be compared with that of an existing heuristic procedure, and experimentation with various parameters of the annealing algorithm will be employed in determination of the most significant factors affecting the efficiency of the simulated annealing solution.
Comparing agroecosystems: effects of cropping and tillage patterns on soil, water, energy use and productivity.

We compared soil characteristics, runoff water quantity and nutrient fluxes, energy use and productivity of three farm types in an unusually dry farming season: conventional (continuous corn and deep tillage), rotation (5-year corn–soybean–oats/alfalfa–alfalfa–alfalfa rotation with tillage 2/5 years) and no-till (corn–soybean with no cultivation). Soil organic matter content was highest on the rotation farm, followed by the no-till farm, and lowest on the conventional farm. Nitrate content of the soil did not differ significantly among the three farms, although the conventional farm had a much higher input of fertilizer nitrogen. Soil penetrometer resistance was lower and percent soil moisture was higher in the no-till and rotation systems compared to the conventional farm. Soil macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity were highest on the no-till farm, followed by the rotation farm. No invertebrates were found in the soil of the conventional farm. The conventional farm had the highest runoff volume per cm rain and higher nitrogen (N) loss in runoff when compared to the rotation and no-till farms, as well as a higher phosphorus (P) flux in comparison to the no-till farm. These results indicate that perennial close-seeded crops (such as alfalfa) used in crop rotations, as well as plant residue left on the surface of no-till fields, can enhance soil organic content and decrease runoff. The lower soil penetrometer resistance and higher soil moisture on the rotation and no-till farms show that conservation tillage can increase soil aggregation and water infiltration, both of which prevent erosion. Furthermore, crop rotation, and particularly no-till, promote diverse invertebrate populations, which play an important role in maintaining nutrient cycling and soil structure. Crop rotation and no-till agriculture are less fossil-fuel intensive than conventional agriculture, due to decreased use of fertilizers, pesticides and fuel. In this unusually dry year they provided superior corn and soybean yields, most likely due to higher soil moisture as a result of greater water infiltration and retention associated with cover crops (rotation farm) and crop residue (no-till farm).
Resistance in Bermudagrass Affecting Control of the Fall Armyworm

A clone of bermudagrass, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. (P.I. 289931, Georgia accession no. 239), was found to have resistance to the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), and to the two-lined spittlebug, Prosapia bicincta (Say) (Leuck et al. 1968, Stimmann and Taliaferro 1969, Taliaferro et al. 1969). Both insects are important economic pests of some varieties of bermudagrass, especially C. dactylon cv. ‘Coastal’. Resistance to the fall armyworm was determined to be nonpreference when larvae were given a choice of food hosts. In other work (Leuck 1970, Leuck and Skinner 1971), the effect of such resistance on the fall annyworm confined to feed only on some nonpreferred hosts has been to reduce significantly the percentages of emerging adults. Since such an effect could be meaningful in population control of the fall armyworm, we examined the effect on the fall annyworm from confined feeding on foliage of bermudagrass clone no. 239.
Factors affecting the phosphorylation of a 41,000 dalton protein of hippocampal subcellular fractions.

Abstract The phosphorylation of the α-subunit of mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase may be involved in the development of long-term potentiation in the hippocampus. Study of this hypothesis is hampered by variability in the incorporation of32P into pyruvate dehydrogenase of hippocampal subcellular preparations, in vitro.32P from [γ-32P]ATP was incorporated into pyruvate dehydrogenase present in mitochondria and in a membrane-enriched synaptic particulate fraction from hippocampus. However, the presence of the synaptic fraction decreased isotopic labeling of the mitochondrial protein. This effect was not due to inhibition of the protein kinase or activation of a protein phosphatase, but the rate of ATP hydrolysis was found to be higher in the synaptic fraction than in the mitochondria (34 nmol/mg protein/min vs 14 nmol/mg protein/min). These data raise a variety of questions about the interpretation of the in vitro phosphorylation assay. It is concluded that variability in in vitro labeling can be minimized if the effect of ATP hydrolysis is diminished by use of a higher concentration of ATP. In addition, these data indicate that quantitative comparisons of the in vitro phosphorylation of diverse subcellular preparations must take into account differential rates of ATP hydrolysis.
Clinically constrained optimization of flexTPI acquisition parameters for the tissue sodium concentration bioscale.

The rapid transverse relaxation of the sodium magnetic resonance signal during spatial encoding causes a loss of image resolution, an effect known as T2-blurring. Conventional wisdom suggests that spatial resolution is maximized by keeping the readout duration as short as possible to minimize T2-blurring. Flexible twisted projection imaging performed with an ultrashort echo time, relative to T2, and a long repetition time, relative to T1, has been shown to be effective for quantitative sodium magnetic resonance imaging. A minimized readout duration requires a very large number of projections and, consequentially, results in an impractically long total acquisition time to meet these conditions. When the total acquisition time is limited to a clinically practical duration (e.g., 10 min), the optimal parameters for maximal spatial resolution of a flexible twisted projection imaging acquisition do not correspond to the shortest possible readout. Simulation and experimental results for resolution optimized acquisition parameters of quantitative sodium flexible twisted projection imaging of parenchyma and cerebrospinal fluid are presented for the human brain at 9.4 and 3.0T. The effect of signal loss during data collection on sodium quantification bias and image signal-to-noise ratio are discussed. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Derailing Desegregation: Legal Efforts to End Racial Segregation in Higher Education Before and After Brown

Preceded by recent affirmative action rulings, the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) came during a time of legal retreat away from addressing racial issues. Rather than resolve America's race problems, the history and modern structure of Brown and other higher education desegregation cases indicates that the courts are no more prepared to adequately confront social inequalities, which are propagated and manipulated by race than during the years of de jure segregation. Focusing on the years leading up to and after the Brown decision, this study looks at the impact this case had on attempts to adjudicate changes to segregation policies affecting higher education. Essentially, this article seeks to demonstrate that contemporary judicial opinions affecting collegiate desegregation both result from and have made little progress since the initial publication of Brown.
EFFECTS OF EXAMINEE CHOICE ON A TEST OF DIVERGENT THINKING

Under some circumstances, allowing examinees to choose which items to respond to may increase test validity. In this study, we explored how choice affected examinee performance and related characteristics for a test of the ability to generate hypotheses about a given situation. Four forms of this experimental test were randomly spiraled within a large sample of students taking the computer-based GRE General Test, with two of the forms allowing examinee choice. Results suggested that items were, in fact, differentially attractive to gender, ethnic, undergraduate major, and ability groups, indicating that, in some form, choice was operating. Further, performance was significantly higher when a given item was chosen than when it was required. Effects of choice on subgroup performance were generally inconclusive. Finally, there was some indication that internal consistency was improved by the choice option.
A SOCIAL WELFARE VIEW OF THE MEASUREMENT OF INCOME EQUALITY

Economists' use of the term “equality” in reference to a distribution of incomes has historically been in the sense of a consensus for some statistical characteristic(s) of the distribution rather than a firm concept of equality. Of course such a concept rests on appropriate welfare assumptions about income and its distribution, assumptions which, for the most part, have been left implicit (and unknown) in discussions of income equality in the literature. Our purpose in this paper is dual: first, we wish to discover an unambiguous, welfare-related equality measure. This we accomplish through suitable assumptions on a social welfare function. What is produced is an “index” of equality which describes the performance of a given distribution relative to the maximum welfare derivable from the total income it represents. The measure thus depends functionally on the welfare attributes of income, something which in reality we know little about. This impasse leads us to inquire into the sensitivity of the index over specifications of the welfare function, which is done by comparing equality ranks for the states of the United States for 1960 under various functional forms and among curves within a given form. As an interesting secondary issue, the performance of traditional equality measures is tested relative to the welfare-oriented index to discover implications about their welfare content. It is found that the equality index is, in certain ranges for the welfare function, insensitive to its specification. The findings lead directly to conclusions concerning traditional equality measures, their usefulness in correctly accounting for equality differences among alternative income distributions and, concomitantly, their implicit welfare inputs.
Isolation and characterization of a β-tubulin-encoding gene from Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene

Abstract Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene (C.g.a.) is a fungal pathogen of legumes and is used as a commercial mycoherbicide for rice and soybeans. As an initial study to potentially improve the utility of this fungus and develop a gene transfer system, a β-tubulin (βTub)-encoding gene ( TUB1 ) was isolated, cloned and sequenced. The coding sequence and deduced amino acid sequence of the C.g.a. TUB1 gene was highly homologous to the TUB1 gene of Colletotrichum graminicola . Southern hybridizations, using the C.g.a. TUB1 and C. graminicola TUB2 genes as probes, suggest that C.g.a. contains two TUB genes. Variation in both the restriction pattern and the number of TUB genes present in different formae specialis of C. gloeosporioides was evident. These observations are relevant for assessing relationships among formae specialis of C. gloeosporioides .
Microlens array recording of localized retinal responses

We designed a rapid functional imager for the parallel recording of localized intrinsic optical signals (IOSs). This imager used a microlens array (MLA)-based illuminator to deliver visible stimulus light and near-infrared (NIR) recording light simultaneously. The parfocal configuration of the stimulus and recording light illumination enabled confocal recording of the stimulus-evoked IOSs. Because the MLA stimulation/recording spots were widely separated on the retina, and only the photoreceptors within the MLA stimulation/recording spots were stimulated, the potential IOS cross talk effect among neighboring retinal areas was minimized. Our experiments revealed robust IOS activities tightly correlated with localized retinal responses.
Catalytic Reduction of cis-Dimethyldiazene by the [MoFe3S4]3+ Clusters. The Four-Electron Reduction of a NN Bond by a Nitrogenase-Relevant Cluster and Implications for the Function of Nitrogenase

The catalytic reduction of cis-dimethyldiazene by the (Et4N)2[(Cl4-cat)(CH3CN)MoFe3S4Cl3] cluster (Cl4-cat = tetrachlorocatecholate) is reported. Unlike the reduction of cis-dimethyldiazene by the Fe/Mo/S center of nitrogenase, which yields methylamine, ammonia, and methane (the latter from the reduction of the C−N bond), the reduction of cis-dimethyldiazene by the synthetic cluster yields exclusively methylamine. In separate experiments, it was shown that the C−N bond of methylamine is not reduced by the [MoFe3S4]3+ core, perhaps accounting for the differences observed between the biological and abiological systems. 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine, a possible partially reduced intermediate in the reduction of cis-dimethyldiazene, was also shown to be reduced to methylamine. Interaction of methylamine with the Mo atom of the cubane was confirmed through the synthesis and structural characterization of (Et4N)2[(Cl4-cat)(CH3NH2)MoFe3S4Cl3]. Phosphine inhibition studies strongly suggest that the Mo atom of the [MoFe3S...
Low Prandtl number convection between differentially heated end walls

Abstract Two-dimensional convection in a horizontal cavity of height D and length L, driven by differential heating of the two vertical end walls, is described. Of particular interest is the range of external parameters, at low Prandtl numbers, for which the circulation contains a parallel flow core. The simple core solution, asymptotically valid at small aspect ratio D/L, breaks down either as end effects extend into the center of the cavity, or as a secondary shear flow instability develops in the core itself.
Dedifferentiation in the metastatic progression of prostate carcinoma

BACKGROUND Dedifferentiation is a distinctive feature of cancer progression. Detailed histologic analysis of primary prostate carcinoma and synchronous lymph node metastases may improve our understanding of the complex process of cancer progression and metastasis. METHODS The authors studied 242 regional lymph node positive prostate carcinoma patients who underwent radical prostatectomy and bilateral lymphadenectomy between 1987 and 1992 at the Mayo Clinic. Patients ranged in age from 47–79 years (median, 66 years). The median follow-up was 6.1 years. Gleason scores of lymph node metastases and primary tumors were compared and correlated with systemic disease progression. Histologic dedifferentiation was defined as a higher Gleason grade in the lymph node metastases than in the primary tumor. Systemic disease progression was defined as the presence of distant metastases documented by biopsies, abdominal computed tomography, plain radiograph, or bone scan. RESULTS The 5-year systemic progression free survival (PFS) rate was 90%. The Gleason score in the lymph node metastases was higher than in the primary tumor in 45% of patients, lower in 12% of patients, and matched exactly in 43% of patients. The 5-year PFS was significantly different between patients with histologic dedifferentiation (88% ± 3) and those without dedifferentiation (94% ± 2) (P = 0.04). Adjusting for the Gleason grade of the primary tumor and total lymph node tumor volume, the relative risk for disease progression associated with dedifferentiation was 1.8 (95% confidence interval, 0.7–4.7; P = 0.25). CONCLUSIONS The findings of the current study demonstrate the morphologic heterogeneity of metastases from prostate carcinoma. There is a trend toward histologic dedifferentiation when prostate carcinoma metastasizes to regional lymph nodes. This dedifferentiation, although univariately significant, was not associated with disease progression when adjusted for lymph node tumor volume. Cancer 1999;86:657–63. © 1999 American Cancer Society.
A tyrosine kinase regulates α-adrenoceptor-stimulated contraction and phospholipase D activation in the rat aorta

Abstract Since previous studies had indicated a role for tyrosine kinases in α2-adrenoceptor-induced contractile responses in other blood vessels, as well as in the activation of phospholipase D, we examined the sensitivity of these responses in rat aorta to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. Contractions induced by both noradrenaline and the α2-adrenoceptor-selective agonist UK14304 (5-bromo-6-[2-imidazolin-2-yl-amino]-quinoxaline) were fully inhibited by genistein, with the latter responses being more sensitive. Contractions induced by high K+ buffer were also inhibited, but to a lesser extent. Both agonists caused a stimulation of phospholipase D activity, which could be blocked by pretreatment with pertussis toxin, indicating involvement of either Gi or Go. Genistein completely inhibited the agonist-induced phospholipase D activity and also substantially reduced the basal level of phospholipase D activity. Pretreatment with either the α1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin or the α2-adrenoceptor antagonist rauwolscine was also effective in eliminating the agonist-induced increase of phospholipase D. These results indicate that a tyrosine kinase-regulated phospholipase D plays a critical role in α-adrenoceptor-induced contractions of the rat aorta and that stimulation of both α1- and α2-adrenoceptors is essential to allow phospholipase activation.
Eye movements serialize memory for objects in scenes

A gaze-contingent short-term memory paradigm was used to obtain forgetting functions for realistic objects in scenes. Experiment 1 had observers freely view nine-item scenes. After observers’ gaze left a predetermined target, they could fixate from 1–7 intervening nontargets before the scene was replaced by a spatial probe at the target location. The task was then to select the target from four alternatives. A steep recency benefit was found over the 1–2 intervening object range that declined into an above-chance prerecency asymptote over the remainder of the forgetting function. In Experiment 2, we used sequential presentation and variable delays to explore the contributions of decay and extrafoveal processes to these behaviors. We conclude that memory for objects in scenes, when serialized by fixation sequence, shows recency and prerecency effects that are similar to isolated objects presented sequentially over time. We discuss these patterns in the context of the serial order memory literature and object file theory.
Effects of High Doses of Vitamin D3 and 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 in Lactating Rats on Milk Composition and Calcium Homeostasis of the Suckling Pups

Changes in serum Ca and phosphorus and in kidney Ca were determined in lactating rats and their suckling pups after the mothers received high doses of vitamin D3 or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3]. High dietary vitamin D3 intake (300 IU/g diet) or daily oral doses of vitamin D3 (1 microgram/g BW) to vitamin I)-replete (+D) lactating rats for 8 or 12 days caused significant increases in serum Ca in the mothers (1-2 mg/dl) and in their suckling pups (1.5 mg/dl). Daily oral doses of 1,25-(OH)2D3 (2 ng/g BW) to +D lactating rats caused a similar increase in serum Ca in the mothers, but did not affect the serum Ca of the pups. The administration of a high dose of 1,25-(OH)2D3 to vitamin D-deficient lactating rats or high doses of vitamin D3 to +D rats, caused no change in milk Ca, Mg, or phosphorus. Milk from +D rats given high doses of [3H]vitamin D3 (1 microgram/g BW) contained mostly [3H]vitamin D3 (85%) and a small amount of [3H]25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (6%). The results indicate that high doses of vitamin D3, but not 1,25-(OH)2D3, given to +D lactating rats can cause hypercalcemia in the suckling pups. The hypercalcemic effect on the pups observed after vitamin D3 treatment of the mother is probably a result of transport of toxic amounts of primarily vitamin D3 into the milk and is not due to altered mineral composition of the milk.
Surveillance of fatal motor vehicle accidents in michigan, involving young drivers, utilizing time-series analysis of police records

EPIDEMIOLOGIC SURVEILLANCE TECHNIQUES WERE APPLIED TO THE FATAL MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT RECORDS OF THE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE FOR THE YEARS 1961-68. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE WAS TO DEVELOP A BASELINE OF EXPECTED RATES FOR SEVERAL RECENT YEARS AGAINST WHICH INCOMING REPORTS CAN BE PLOTTED WEEKLY TO IMPROVE POLICE SURVEILLANCE AND TO PROVIDE CLUES FOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND OBJECTIVE EVALUATION. A TIME-SERIES GRAPH OF 3 YEAR, 3 WEEK MOVING MEANS WAS PLOTTED FROM THE NUMBERS (OR RATES) OF DRIVERS INVOLVED IN FATAL MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS WITH AN ESTIMATED 97.5 PERCENT UPPER CONFICENCE BAND. ACUTE EFFECTS (AS HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS) ARE SMOOTHED BUT SUSTAINED PEAKS ARE CLEARLY INDICATED. THUS, FOR DRIVERS OF ALL AGES, SIGNIFICANT SUMMER AND FALL INCREASES IN ACCIDENT SUGGEST INCREASES IN MILES DRIVEN AND PERHAPS MORE LONG DISTANCE TRIPS. RATES OF FATAL ACCIDENT INVOLVEMENT INDICATE A PIVOTAL ROLE OF DANGEROUS YOUNG DRIVERS, AGED 18-19 IN 1968 COMPARED TO 1967, AND A 3 YEAR PLOT (1964-65-66) INDICATES A SIGNIFICANT SPRING UPSWING IN TEENAGE FATAL CRASHES IN APRIL-MAY-JUNE, SUGGESTING A SPECIFIC SEASONAL TARGET FOR POLICE-AND-EDUCATIONAL COUNTERMEASURES IN MICHIGAN FOR 1970. /AA&P/
RATE OF PRESENTATION AND ORDER OF RECALL IN IMMEDIATE MEMORY

University students attempted immediate recall of 8-digit series presented aurally. When subjects were required to report the digits in their presented order, the fast presentation rate (96 digits per minute) was superior to the slow rate (30 per minute). When subjects were required to report the last four digits, before giving the first four digits, this improved performance at the slow rate but not at the fast rate. These data resolve previous conflicting results and tend to support a decay factor in immediate memory.
Longitudinal association between infant disorganized attachment and childhood posttraumatic stress symptoms

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether children with a history of disorganized attachment in infancy were more likely than children without a history of disorganized attachment to exhibit symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at school age following trauma exposure. The sample consisted of 78 8.5-year-old children from a larger, ongoing prospective study evaluating the effects of intrauterine cocaine exposure (IUCE) on children's growth and development from birth to adolescence. At the 12-month visit, children's attachment status was scored from videotapes of infant–caregiver dyads in Ainsworth's strange situation. At the 8.5-year visit, children were administered the Violence Exposure Scale—Revised, a child-report trauma exposure inventory, and the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents by an experienced clinical psychologist masked to children's attachment status and IUCE status. Sixteen of the 78 children (21%) were classified as insecure–disorganized/insecure–other at 12 months. Poisson regressions covarying IUCE, gender, and continuity of maternal care indicated that disorganized attachment status at 12 months, compared with nondisorganized attachment status, significantly predicted both higher avoidance cluster PTSD symptoms and higher reexperiencing cluster PTSD symptoms. These findings suggest that the quality of early dyadic relationships may be linked to differences in children's later development of posttraumatic stress symptoms following a traumatic event.
Neurobehavioral Disorders and Pharmacologic Intervention

The Epidemiological Catchment Area Study has determined that the lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder in the United States is 33% (Marzuk, 1993). More than half of the patients with mental disorders are treated by primary care physicians and fewer than 20% receive treatment in specialized mental health settings (Simon, 1992). This is particularly true for anxiety and depression, which are among the most common of the mental disorders (Simon, 1992). Family physicians treat approximately 90% of anxiety disorders (Narrow, Regier, Rae, Manderscheid, & Locke, 1993). Surveys of outpatients in primary care settings demonstrate 6%–8% are suffering from a major depressive disorder (Walley, Beebe, & Clark, 1994) that is frequently associated with high levels of medical utilization (Depression Guideline Panel of the Agency for Healthcare Policy and Research, 1994). This pattern of health care delivery is also true of African American patients (Lin & Poland, 1994). While these disorders are clearly treatable, they can be difficult to manage and may require attention to many patient variables, including interethnic pharmacogenetic, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic differences. When primary care physicians refer their patients to mental health specialists, as many as half do not complete the referral (Schulberg, Coulchan, Black, et al., 1993). Also, pharmacotherapy with elderly populations is a significant concern as this patient population typically presents with multiple compounds on board and is at high risk for renal and hepatic pathologies that have profound implications for safety.
A model for types and levels of human interaction with automation

We outline a model for types and levels of automation that provides a framework and an objective basis for deciding which system functions should be automated and to what extent. Appropriate selection is important because automation does not merely supplant but changes human activity and can impose new coordination demands on the human operator. We propose that automation can be applied to four broad classes of functions: 1) information acquisition; 2) information analysis; 3) decision and action selection; and 4) action implementation. Within each of these types, automation can be applied across a continuum of levels from low to high, i.e., from fully manual to fully automatic. A particular system can involve automation of all four types at different levels. The human performance consequences of particular types and levels of automation constitute primary evaluative criteria for automation design using our model. Secondary evaluative criteria include automation reliability and the costs of decision/action consequences, among others. Examples of recommended types and levels of automation are provided to illustrate the application of the model to automation design.
Influence of condensate evaporation on water vapor and its stable isotopes in a GCM

[1] The direct effect of condensate evaporation on atmospheric water vapor and its isotopic composition is assessed in a climate model. The model contains two parallel hydrologic cycles, an active one which influences the model physics and dynamics and a passive one which does not. Two model simulations are performed, one in which passive cloud and precipitation can evaporate and one in which they cannot. The active hydrologic cycles, and thus the simulated circulations and temperatures, are identical in both simulations. Eliminating passive condensate evaporation reduces the specific humidity in the passive cycle by around 5%; this reduction varies from a few percent to 25% of the control value, depending on location. Zonal mean water vapor in the lower and middle troposphere is enriched in HDO relative to the control case, and is depleted in the upper troposphere.
L-selectin and E-selectin expressed on monocytes mediating Ehrlichia chaffeensis attachment onto host cells

Ehrlichia chaffeensis, the agent of human monocytic ehrlichiosis, is an obligatory intracellular bacterium that exhibits monocytic host cell tropism. Ehrlichiae must enter the host cell, and then establish infection. The tropism of E. chaffeensis for monocytes suggests that the cell contains some specific surface components that mediate E. chaffeensis attachment and entry into host cells. In this study, host cell surface components that play a role in ehrlichial attachment were identified using a human monocyte/macrophage cell line, THP-1. E. chaffeensis attachment to THP-1 cells was partially blocked in the presence of antibodies to E-selectin and L-selectin, but not by antibodies to P-selectin, integrin αm, integrin αx, or normal mouse IgG as determined by real time polymerase chain reaction. Conversely, in HeLa cells that do not exhibit surface expression of E-selectin and L-selectin, antibodies to these cell surface proteins did not inhibit E. chaffeensis attachment. These findings indicate that E-selectin and L-selectin are cell surface proteins that might act as co-receptors and contribute to E. chaffeensis attachment and entry into THP-1.
Enhanced radiometric forces

Crookes' Radiometer exploits thermal forces arising from temperature gradients in rarefied gases. This instrument has remained confined to educational physics because of the very small size of the radiometric effect and because of the necessity of an evacuated environment for operation. In this article the physics of this instrument is reviewed, different theories are compared and some general principles are derived. A method for enhancing the radiometric effect and for generating radiometric forces at higher pressures is proposed.
High-resolution pollutant transport in the San Pedro Bay of California

The combined sea port of Los Angeles and Long Beach in California constitutes the second busiest port in the United States by shipping volume. Communities near the ports face environmental justice concerns from a variety of sources including roadway and port related activities. This study examines the transport and diffusion of PM2.5 and NOX in port communities using the high–resolution plume model AERMOD, incorporating surface and aloft observed meteorology and local topography. Pollution impacts of roadway related emissions, direct port activity of cargo handling equipment and commercial shipping vessels are modeled for representative cold and hot months in 2005. Predictions from roadway emissions are compared with the same episode modeled with CALINE4 line dispersion model. Results show high spatial variability as well as increased transport during cold months. In addition, research also shows that while the port activity significantly impacts in–port air pollution, the effects of port activity is limited to within 2–6 km of the ports. Port adjacent communities are most sensitive to roadway related emissions. AERMOD PM2.5 and NOX predictions show a peak correlation coefficient of 43% and 50% compared with observations, respectively.
Diversification and the adaptive radiation of the vangas of Madagascar

The vangas of Madagascar exhibit extreme diversity in morphology and ecology. Recent studies have shown that several other Malagasy species also are part of this endemic radiation, even as the monophyly of the clade remains in question. Using DNA sequences from 13 genes and representatives of all 15 vanga genera, we find strong support for the monophyly of the Malagasy vangids and their inclusion in a family along with six aberrant genera of shrike-like corvoids distributed in Asia and Africa. Biogeographic reconstructions of these lineages include both Asia and Africa as possible dispersal routes to Madagascar. To study patterns of speciation through time, we introduce a method that can accommodate phylogenetically non-random patterns of incomplete taxon sampling in diversification studies. We demonstrate that speciation rates in vangas decreased dramatically through time following the colonization of Madagascar. Foraging strategies of these birds show remarkable congruence with phylogenetic relationships, indicating that adaptations to feeding specializations played a role in the diversification of these birds. Vangas fit the model of an ‘adaptive radiation’ in that they show an explosive burst of speciation soon after colonization, increased diversification into novel niches and extraordinary ecomorphological diversity.
Prepubertal rat ovary: hormonal modulation of beta-adrenergic receptors and of progesterone response to adrenergic stimulation.

We have previously shown that, in the rat, ovarian beta-adrenergic receptor content varies during the time of puberty, with values first increasing and then decreasing abruptly on the afternoon of the first proestrus, i.e., at the time of the preovulatory surge of gonadotropins and prolactin (Prl). In the present study, experiments have been conducted to determine: 1) if hormones other than follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) that are known to be involved in regulating prepubertal ovarian function can mimic the facilitatory effect of FSH on progesterone (P) response of granulosa cells to beta-adrenergic stimulation; 2) if beta-adrenergic receptor content of granulosa cells is under hormonal regulation; and 3) whether the facilitatory effect of hormones on the P response to beta-adrenergic stimulation is due to an increased cyclic AMP response to receptor activation. A 48-h in vitro preexposure of granulosa cells from juvenile, 29-day-old ovaries to the pituitary hormones Prl, luteinizing hormone (LH), or FSH showed that only the latter was able to facilitate the subsequent P response to Zinterol, a beta2-adrenergic agonist. Follicle-stimulating hormone also increased basal P release. Of the two nonpituitary hormones examined, the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist D-(Ala6,Pro9)-LHRH-ethylamide (LHRH-A) failed to affect P responsiveness, whereas corticosterone enhanced both basal P release and P response to Zinterol. This effect was less pronounced than that of FSH. Luteinizing hormone, Prl and corticosterone decreased beta-adrenergic receptor content to different extents, with corticosterone being the most effective and LH the least (50% and 15% decrease, respectively); LHRH-A was ineffective.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A Tollgate for Typhoid

Humans are uniquely susceptible to typhoid fever caused by infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. Mathur et al. now report that mice lacking Toll-like receptor 11, which is absent in humans, can be lethally infected with S. Typhi, a breakthrough that promises to speed the development of better vaccines.
Adaptive signaling schemes for detection in wireless sensor networks

A binary decentralized detection problem in which sensor nodes provide partial information about their environment to a fusion center is studied. The nodes have access to conditionally independent observations and transmit a summary of their own data over wireless channels. Upon reception of the information, the fusion center attempts to accurately reconstruct the state of nature. The communication link between each node and the fusion center is modeled as a fading channel corrupted by additive noise. Channel state information is available at the fusion center and at the sensor nodes. Large deviation theory is used to show that having identical sensor nodes is asymptotically optimal. Algorithms in which each sensor node selects a signaling/coding schemes based on the quality of its channel are studied.
Toll-like receptor 4 gene Asp299Gly polymorphism is associated with reductions in vascular inflammation, angiographic coronary artery disease, and clinical diabetes.

Abstract Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) and, increasingly, diabetes are recognized as having an inflammatory basis. Membrane toll-like receptors (TLRs) activate signaling pathways that up-regulate inflammation. We evaluated whether the Asp299Gly polymorphism in the TLR4 gene, which impairs inflammatory responses, is associated with reduced vascular inflammation (assessed by C-reactive protein [CRP]) and a decreased risk for CAD and diabetes. Methods 1894 patients without acute myocardial infarction undergoing coronary angiography were studied. Genotyping was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. CAD was defined as ≥70% stenosis. Diabetes was diagnosed by patients' referring physicians. CRP was measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Regression analyses adjusted for traditional cardiac risk factors. Results Patients averaged 64 ± 11 years of age, and 69% were male. Asp299Gly genotype frequencies were: AA=0.911 (n = 1725), AG=0.086 (n = 164), and GG=0.003 (n = 5), in keeping with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. CRP was lower among G-allele carriers (median = 1.11 mg/dL) than wild-type (AA) subjects (1.23 mg/dL, adjusted P = .044). G-allele carriers also had a lower prevalence of CAD (65% vs. 73%, OR=0.67, CI=0.46–0.99, adjusted P = .048) and diabetes (11% vs. 18%, OR=0.63, CI=0.42–0.95, adjusted P = .029), which persisted in multivariate logistic regression analyses. 299Gly carriage did not affect clinical outcomes nor interact with statin therapy. Conclusions The TLR4 299Gly allele was associated with reduced CRP levels and, in parallel, a decreased risk of angiographic CAD and clinical diabetes. These findings suggest that down-regulation of innate immune responsiveness could beneficially modify CAD and diabetes risk and might provide a novel basis for genetic risk stratification and therapeutic targeting.
Comparing the Fukuda et al. Criteria and the Canadian Case Definition for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

AbstractBecause the pathogenesis of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) has yet to be determined, case definitions have relied on clinical observation in classifying signs and symptoms for diagnosis. The selection of diagnostic signs and symptoms has major implications for which individuals are diagnosed with CFS and how seriously the illness is viewed by health care providers, disability insurers and rehabilitation planners, and patients and their families and friends. Diagnostic criteria also have implications for whether research based on varying definitions can be synthesized. The current investigation examined differences between CFS as defined by Fukuda et al. (1994) and a set of criteria that has been proposed for a clinical Canadian Case definition. There were twenty-three participants who met the Canadian criteria, 12 in the CFS (Fukuda et al. (7) criteria) group and the 33 from the chronic fatigue (CF)-psychiatric group. Dependent measures included: work status, psychiatric comorbidity, symptoms, and...