cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring Administrators’ and Direct Care Workers’ Perceptions of the Safety Culture in Assisted Living Facilities

Article-at-a-Glance Background Further understanding of patient safety in health care is still needed. This is particularly evident in long term care settings, where relatively little information exists. Safety culture has emerged as a critical component of efforts to improve patient safety; it is strongly associated with initiatives that influence patient safety and quality of care. The safety culture of a large sample of assisted living (AL) facilities was examined. Methods The Nursing Home Survey on Patient Safety Culture (NHPSC) was modified and used to examine safety culture. A random sample of AL settings from all 50 states was selected to participate. Respondents were AL administrators and direct care workers (DCWs) who completed the modified safety culture survey. The applied properties of the instrument are examined. A summary score for administrators and DCWs for each NHPSC item is also presented. These summary scores have a range from 0 to 100, with low scores representing a poor safety culture (and vice versa). Results Information was received from 572 administrators (response rate=57%) and 3,620 DCWs (response rate=51%). The scores, using the 0–100 scale, fell into the 48–72 range for administrators and the 40–68 range for DCWs. Many of the scores were similar to those previously found in nursing homes. Conclusions AL is recognized as one of the fastest-growing institutional components of the long term care industry. The modified NHPSC performed well. Some areas of safety culture were perceived less favorably than in nursing homes. As such, some further attention to safety culture in AL is warranted. This study provides a first step toward assessing safety culture in this underexamined setting.
Large-Scale Patterns in Dissolved Organic Carbon Concentration, Flux, and Sources

Publisher Summary The concentration and flux of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) are important characteristics of aquatic ecosystems, with important effects on light and ultraviolet (UV)-B attenuation, ecosystem respiration, nutrient availability, metal toxicity, and the global carbon balance. This chapter presents a summary of data and analyses of DOC concentrations in rivers, lakes, and the ocean, DOC fluxes in rivers, and DOC sources in rivers and lakes. Landscape disturbances, which alter the amount or characteristics of soil organic carbon, can have a small but significant impact on the DOC concentrations of boreal lakes, at least for several years after the disturbance. Climate changes may also have significant effects on lake DOC concentrations. The range of DOC concentrations in the ocean are very small compared with the range in rivers and lakes. This is primarily because of the isolation of much of the ocean from terrestrial organic carbon sources and long water residence times that enhance DOC loss. The concentration and flux of DOC in aquatic ecosystems appears to be related more to climate and landscape topography than to internal properties and processes of aquatic ecosystems. Because DOC has such an important role in the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems, it is important that we gain a better understanding of the way current and future human activities might affect large-scale dynamics of DOC.
Learning by chunking summary of a task and a model

The power law of practice states that performance on a task improves as a power-law function of the number of times the task has been performed. In this article we describe recent work on a model of this effect. The model, called the chunking theory of learning, is based on the notion of chunking. A limited version of this model has been implemented within the Xaps2 production system architecture. When it is applied to a 1023-choice reaction-time task (encoded as a set of productions), task performance is improved (measured in terms of the number of production system cycles). Moreover, the practice curves are power law in form.
Peripelvic Extravasation, Urinoma Formation and Tumor Obstruction of the Ureter

We report 4 cases of peripelvic extravasation caused by tumor obstruction of the ureter. A urinoma developed in 3 of the 4 cases. Review of the literature reveals only 5 previously reported cases of peripelvic extravasation secondary to tumor obstruction of the urinary tract. We discuss the mechanics of peripelvic extravasation and urinoma formation, and conclude that tumor obstruction of the ureter must be considered in all cases of peripelvic extravasation.
Transmission Electron Microscopy

An electron microscope is an optical device for producing exceptionally high resolution of detail in the object by a beam of electrons.* There are three principal kinds of electron microscopes, classified according to how detail in the specimen is revealed by electrons: transmission, scanning, and emission. In the first two types free electrons are discharged from an electron gun to act upon the atomic nuclei of the specimen, whereas in the field-emission type the specimen itself is the source of radiation.(1) The field-emission microscope, employing no lenses, will be discussed in Chapter 14. The transmission electron microscope and the scanning electron microscope (see Chapter 13) employ focusable lenses.
Estimating the Memory Order of Electrocorticography Recordings

Objective: This paper presents a data-driven method for estimating the memory order (the average length of the statistical dependence of a given sample on previous samples) of a recorded electrocorticography (ECoG) sequence. Methods: The proposed inference method is based on the relationship between the loss in predicting the next sample in a time-series and the dependence of this sample on the previous samples. Specifically, the memory order is estimated to be the number of past samples that minimize the least squares error (LSE) in predicting the next sample. To deal with the lack of an analytical model for ECoG recordings, the proposed method combines a collection of different predictors, thereby achieving LSE at least as low as the LSE achieved by each of the different predictors. Results: ECoG recordings from six patients with epilepsy were analyzed, and the empirical cumulative density functions (ECDFs) of the memory orders estimated from these recordings were generated, for rest as well as pre-ictal time intervals. For pre-ictal time intervals, the electrodes corresponding to the seizure-onset-zone were separately analyzed. The estimated ECDFs were different between patients and between different types of blocks. For all the analyzed patients, the estimated memory orders were on the order of tens of milliseconds (up to 100 ms). Significance: The proposed method facilitates the estimation of the causal associations between ECoG recordings, as these associations strongly depend on the recordings’ memory. An improved estimation of causal associations can improve the performance of algorithms that use ECoG recordings to localize the epileptogenic zone. Such algorithms can aid doctors in their pre-surgical planning for the surgery of patients with epilepsy.
CNS effects of sepsis.

Encephalopathy occurs frequently in septic patients, and septic patients with encephalopathy have a significantly greater mortality than those patients without encephalopathy. Though the mechanisms responsible for CNS dysfunction in sepsis have not been elucidated, possibilities include disordered amino acid metabolism, alterations in brain neurotransmitters, and reduced cerebral blood flow. Specific therapy is not available and treatment remains supportive.
2D molecular crystal lattices: advances in their synthesis, characterization, and application

This review identifies how recent advances in controlling the structure and properties of MOF and COF thin films can be used to establish 2D molecular crystals as a new material platform with key applications in catalysis, sensing, separations, and electronics. In addition to summarizing research efforts surrounding the synthesis, characterization and utilization of 2D and thin film MOFs and COFs, this review identifies exigent challenges in their development, and motivates the search for new synthetic methods, advanced analytical techniques, and creative applications. Ultimately, 2D molecular lattices, be they 2D MOFs or COFs, are a compelling platform through which to discover new and emergent properties and to expand the library of 2D materials.
Secondary Teachers' Beliefs about Teaching Writing to Typically Achieving and Struggling Adolescent Writers.

Writing is a critical component of many secondary classrooms, but little is known about teachers’ beliefs and assumptions surrounding their teaching of writing at the secondary level (particularly ...
From Presenter to Producer: Librarian as Leader of a Departmental Seminar Series

ABSTRACTThis case study describes the University of Michigan (U-M) Bioinformationist’s coordination and leadership of the Department of Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics (DCMB) Tools and Tech...
More Evidence That the Phenomenon of “Plasticity” of Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSC) and Potential Involvement of BM-Derived Cells in Organ Regeneration Could Be Explained by the Presence of a Heterogenous Population of Tissue Committed Stem Cells (TCSC) Residing/Hiding out in Bone Marrow.

Abstract Recently we identified a mobile, SDF-1 responsive population of CXCR4+ bone marrow mononuclear cells that express mRNA for various markers of early tissue committed stem cells (TCSC) in bone marrow (BM) by employing chemotactic isolation to an SDF-1 gradient combined with real time RT-PCR and immunohistochemical analysis (Leukemia 2004: 18;29-40). In the current work we report new data showing that murine and human TCSC (i) are highly mobile and respond robust to HGF and LIF gradients, in addition to an SDF-1 gradient, (ii) are released (mobilized) from BM into peripheral blood during organ injury (e.g., stroke, heart infarct, partial body irradiation), (iii) are highly enriched in mRNA for pluripotent stem cell transcription factors such as Oct-4, Rex-1 and Nanog, iv) reside in a population of BM-derived Sca-1+ (mice) and CD34+AC133+ (human) non-hematopoietic CD45 negative cells, v) are small (~7 mm in diameter), vi) contain supercoiled DNA, vii) rapidly adhere to/undergo emperipolesis in fibroblasts and thus are enriched in a fraction of BM-derived adherent cells, viii) their number is highest in BM from young (1–2 month-old) mice and decreases in 1-year-old animals, and similarly ix) these cells are significantly diminished in short living DBA/2J mice as compared to long living B6 mice. Thus, these findings further support our theory of the BM as a “hideout” of TCSC and we suggest that their presence in BM tissue should be considered before experimental evidence is interpreted simply as trans-dedifferentiation/plasticity of HSC. Since we noticed that not only SDF-1 but also HGF and LIF are upregulated in damaged tissues (e.g., brain, heart or liver), we postulate that TCSC that express CXCR4, c-Met, and LIF-R after being mobilized from the BM into PB, may be subsequently chemoattracted to damaged organs where they play a role in tissue repair/regeneration. Moreover, our observation that the number of TCSC is the highest in BM of young animals and decreases with age and is significantly lower in short-living murine strains provides a novel insight into aging and may explain why the regeneration process becomes less effective in older individuals. Based on our observation, we conclude that BM-derived HSC are not plastic but BM in addition to HSC also contains heterogenous populations of TCSC.
HAML-SSD: A Hardware Accelerated Hotness-Aware Machine Learning based SSD Management

Solid state drive (SSD) as a fast storage device has been playing an important role across many applications from mobile computing to large distributed systems in recent years. However, the performance of the SSD can be degraded tremendously due to the intrinsic properties of NAND-based flash memory including limited erase cycles and asymmetric write and erase operations. Previous works separated hot/cold data into different blocks in order to improve SSD performance. “Hotness” is typically defined as the cumulative update frequencies of pages. However, we believe that an additional new parameter, average update time interval, should also be considered into the “hotness” definition associated with the update frequency. Moreover, to adaptively classify hot/cold data, a machine learning algorithm is applied to better accommodate the dynamically changed I/O access patterns of traces. In this paper, a machine learning (ML) based SSD management called HAML-SSD is proposed. The purpose of applying the ML algorithm is to dynamically cluster the data with similar “hotness” based on a new definition of “hotness”. Thus, a two-dimension clustering algorithm is used for storing the pages categorized into the same cluster within the same block. Moreover, to obtain reasonable training time, a specific hardware component called HAML-unit is designed in the SSD. Finally, the experimental results indicate that the HAML-SSD decreases the response time around 26.3% – 57.7% compared to previous works with the evaluation of real traces.
Vascularized Biomaterials to Study Cancer Metastasis

Cancer metastasis, the spread of cancer cells to distant organs, is responsible for 90% of cancer-related deaths. Cancer cells need to enter and exit circulation in order to form metastases, and the vasculature and endothelial cells are key regulators of this process. While vascularized 3D in vitro systems have been developed, few have been used to study cancer, and many lack key features of vessels that are necessary to study metastasis. This review focuses on current methods of vascularizing biomaterials for the study of cancer, and three main factors that regulate intravasation and extravasation: endothelial cell heterogeneity, hemodynamics, and the extracellular matrix of the perivascular niche.
Obtaining district-level health estimates using geographically masked location from Demographic and Health Survey data

Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data are an important source of maternal, newborn, and child health as well as nutrition information for low- and middle-income countries. However, DHSs are often unavailable at the administrative unit that is most interesting or useful for program planning. In addition, the location of DHS survey clusters are geomasked within 10 km, and prior to 2009, may have crossed district boundaries. We aim to use DHS surveyed information with these geomasked coordinates to estimate district assignments for use in health program planning and evaluation. We developed three methods to assign a district to a geomasked survey cluster in two DHS surveys from Malawi: 2000 and 2004. Method A assigns districts of origin in proportion to the likelihood that results from repeated simulated geomasking, allowing more than one possible district of origin. Method B assigns a single district of origin which contains the greatest proportion of simulated geomasked survey clusters. Method C maps the geomasked survey cluster’s location to a district polygon. We used these method assignments to estimate a selection of commonly used coverage indicators for each district. We compared the district coverage estimates, confidence intervals, and concordance correlation coefficients, by each of the methods, to those which used validated district assignments in 2004, and we looked at coverage change from 2000 to 2004. The methods we tested each approximated the validated estimates in 2004 by confidence interval comparison and concordance correlation coefficient. Estimated agreement for method A was between .14 and .98, for method B the estimated agreement was between .97 and .99, and for method C the agreement ranged from .93 to .99 when compared with the validated district assignments. Therefore, we recommend the protocol which is the simplest to implement—method C—overlaying geomasked survey cluster within district polygon. Using geomasked survey clusters from DHSs to assign districts provided district level coverage rates similar to those using the validated surveyed locations. This method may be applied to data sources where survey cluster centroids are available and where district level estimates are needed for program implementation and evaluation in low- and middle-income settings. This method is of special interest to those using DHSs to study spatiotemporal trends as it allows for the utilization of historic DHS data where geomasking hinders the generation of reliable subnational estimates of health in areas smaller than the first-order administrative unit (ADM1).
2 – Programming Microcomputers

Publisher Summary This chapter surveys some software background that is needed for microcomputer interfacing. I/O interfacing has long been done in assembly language. However, the average programmer can write something like 10 lines of code per day, whether the language is assembler or higher level. A line of high-level language code produces about 6 to 20 useful lines of assembly-language code; therefore, if the program is written in a high-level language, one might become 6 to 20 times more efficient by writing the program in a high-level language like C or C++. C constructs were introduced in order to make the implementation of storage structures concrete. The programming style, procedure-calling, and argument-passing techniques are covered. The chapter discusses top-down and bottom-up programming, which leads to an introduction to object-oriented programming. It also briefly discusses the handling of data structures that are at least as important as programming techniques, for if the program is one-half of the software, the data and their structures are the other half.
Social Choice with Changing Preferences: Representation Theorems and Long-Run Policies.

We study group decision making with changing preferences as a Markov Decision Process. We are motivated by the increasing prevalence of automated decision-making systems when making choices for groups of people over time. Our main contribution is to show how classic representation theorems from social choice theory can be adapted to characterize optimal policies in this dynamic setting. We provide an axiomatic characterization of MDP reward functions that agree with the Utilitarianism social welfare functionals of social choice theory. We also provide discussion of cases when the implementation of social choice-theoretic axioms may fail to lead to long-run optimal outcomes.
Effusive–constrictive pericarditis in the spectrum of pericardial compressive syndromes

When pericardial fluid accumulates and exceed the reserve volume of the pericardium or when the pericardium becomes scarred and inelastic, one of three pericardial compressive syndromes may ensue, namely, cardiac tamponade (CT), characterised by the accumulation of pericardial fluid under pressure; constrictive pericarditis (CP), the result of scarring and loss of the normal elasticity of the pericardial sac; and effusive–constrictive pericarditis (ECP), characterised by the concurrence of a tense pericardial effusion and constriction of the heart by the visceral pericardium. Although relatively uncommon, prevalence estimates vary widely and depend on the nature of the cohorts studied, the methods used to diagnose ECP and the manner in which ECP is defined. Most cases of ECP are idiopathic, reflecting the frequency of idiopathic pericardial disease in general, and other causes include radiation, malignancy, chemotherapy, infection and postsurgical/iatrogenic pericardial disease. The diagnosis of ECP often becomes apparent when pericardiocentesis fails to decrease the right atrial pressure by 50% or to a level below 10 mm Hg. Important non-invasive diagnostic modalities include echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance and, to a lesser extent, cardiac CT. In cases with clear evidence of pericardial inflammation, a trial of an anti-inflammatory regimen is warranted. A complete pericardiectomy should be reserved for refractory symptoms or clinical evidence of chronic CP.
Frozen in the Past: When it Comes to Analogy Fears, It's Time For Us to "Let it Go"

Within computer science education research, analogy work has been relatively unexplored and in some cases, even discouraged. For a learning and reasoning tool that is so widely used in our discipline - from instructors and peer groups to the interfaces we encourage students to program on - it is beyond time to address the perception of analogy in our field. In this position paper we briefly overview relevant cognition and learning literature, summarize applications of analogy across several other STEM disciplines, and compare research and perception of analogy within computing education. Further, we explore some of analogy's potential as a tool which can allow for highly personal, relevant learning that may even assist in development of a sense of belonging or computing identity. These arguments highlight a fundamental difference in the attitude within our field toward analogy versus that of other STEM disciplines. We aim to understand the differences by exploring the themes behind the concern surrounding the use of analogy in our discipline. In addition, we provide suggestions for how we may address these concerns in order to advance research into the use of analogy in computing education to determine if indeed analogy can enhance student learning.
Trend, signal and noise in the ecology of Ostracoda: information from rare species in low-diversity assemblages

Samples of Ostracoda from nearshore marine environments, where the water is more likely to be brackish or hypersaline, typically have low species diversity and are dominated by such species as Cyprideis torosa. In high-diversity samples from normal-marine environments, rare species are likely to contribute to environmental noise. Evaluation of low-diversity samples from Lake Manzala, Egypt, however, shows that the environmental signal provided by rare species can be masked by the overwhelmingly dominant species, C. torosa. In such instances, the dominant species should be removed from the data set and studies based on a large sample of the rare species.
Computer Science: A Structured Programming Approach Using C

From the Publisher This book, in the words of the authors, "teaches students first how to write good functions, and then how to implement them in classes." Designed for students with no prior programming experience, the book explains each basic principle of programming first in general, language-independent terms, and then discusses how the programming construct in question is implemented in C++. Given this approach, classes are presented in the second half of the text. The book incorporates coverage of software engineering principles and procedures throughout (starting with flowcharts), with each chapter concluding with a discussion of underlying software engineering concepts. Unlike competing books that are too difficult for first-year students, Forouzan and Gilberg take special pains to make their programming examples consistent and easy to read. This careful writing makes this book a solid choice for professors looking for a book that is easy to read and follow, without compromising the material's rigor.
Identification of Pol IV and RDR2-dependent precursors of 24 nt siRNAs guiding de novo DNA methylation in Arabidopsis

In Arabidopsis thaliana, abundant 24 nucleotide small interfering RNAs (24 nt siRNA) guide the cytosine methylation and silencing of transposons and a subset of genes. 24 nt siRNA biogenesis requires nuclear RNA polymerase IV (Pol IV), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 2 (RDR2) and DICER-like 3 (DCL3). However, siRNA precursors are mostly undefined. We identified Pol IV and RDR2-dependent RNAs (P4R2 RNAs) that accumulate in dcl3 mutants and are diced into 24 nt RNAs by DCL3 in vitro. P4R2 RNAs are mostly 26-45 nt and initiate with a purine adjacent to a pyrimidine, characteristics shared by Pol IV transcripts generated in vitro. RDR2 terminal transferase activity, also demonstrated in vitro, may account for occasional non-templated nucleotides at P4R2 RNA 3' termini. The 24 nt siRNAs primarily correspond to the 5' or 3' ends of P4R2 RNAs, suggesting a model whereby siRNAs are generated from either end of P4R2 duplexes by single dicing events.
Reduction in brain embolization using the Aegis aortic cannula during bypass in swine.

Abstract Background . Cerebral embolization during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is an important cause of neurologic injury. This study determined whether a new aortic cannula (Cardeon Aegis) could substantially reduce brain embolization in a swine CPB model. Methods . Fourteen 70-kg pigs underwent normothermic CPB, 7 animals with the Aegis device and 7 with a control cannula. Cerebral blood flow was determined using 15-μm fluorescent microspheres before bypass and twice during CPB. After the second bypass CBF measurement, animals were embolized with 120,000 78-μm fluorescent microspheres at normothermia. At the end of the experiment the brain, eyes, kidneys, myocardium, and small bowel were removed and the microspheres isolated. Results . Cerebral blood flow was equivalent between groups before bypass and during both bypass periods. While the two groups were equivalent with regard to pump flow, temperature, hemoglobin, and PaCO 2 , use of the Aegis cannula markedly reduced embolization to three of four brain regions. Deployment of the baffle reduced total brain embolization by 91% from a mean of 22 ± 21 emboli per gram in the control animals to 2 ± 6 emboli per gram in animals receiving the Aegis device. Conclusions . Cerebral blood flow with the Aegis device is equal to or greater than that observed under nonbypass conditions and that seen with conventional aortic cannulas. However, cerebral embolization is profoundly reduced by use of the Aegis device. The application of this cannula may reduce postcardiac surgical neurologic injury.
Long non-coding RNA and chromatin remodeling.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are pivotal regulators of genome structure and gene expression. LncRNAs can directly interact with chromatin-modifying enzymes and nucleosome-remodeling factors to control chromatin structure and accessibility of genetic information. Moreover, lncRNA expression can be controlled by chromatin-remodeling factors, suggesting a feedback circuit of regulation. Here, we discuss the recent advances of lncRNA studies, focusing on the function and mechanism of lncRNA–chromatin interactions.
Alterations in surface proteins during myogenesis of a rat myoblast cell line.

Abstract Lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination and SDS-polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis were used to examine the surface proteins of cultures of an embryonic rat myoblast cell line during myogenesis. We observed several consistent alterations in the proteins iodinated during the periods of alignment and fusion. In addition, we examined the surface proteins of cultures where fusion was inhibited by phospholipase C (PLC), and of cultures of several nonfusing variants of our original line. Many of the proteins which appeared during “normal” myogenesis were not seen in PLC-treated cultures, while the appearance and loss of three low molecular weight proteins were accelerated. The nonfusing variants often accumulated large amounts of many of the proteins which appeared during alignment in normal cultures. This accumulation was demonstrated by Coomassie blue stain intensities as well as by the extent of surface iodination. The three low molecular weight proteins were heavily iodinated in one class of variant, but did not disappear as in normal cultures. One protein of apparent molecular weight 66,000 (66K) was iodinated during alignment but was inaccessible during fusion. Coomassie blue staining of the gels showed that the actual appearance and disappearance of the 66K protein band from the membrane were coincident with alignment and fusion. While this band was not seen in fluorograms from gels of PLC-treated cultures and some of the nonfusing variants, a 66K band was invariably stained by Coomassie blue, and in PLC-treated cultures appeared to accumulate with time. In the variants there appeared to be a correlation between the availability of the 66K protein for iodination and the appearance of the low molecular weight proteins.
Diffractive dissociation n-->pπ - π 0 induced by 12-GeV/c K - mesons

A sample of 198 events, corresponding to a cross section of 110 +- 15 ..mu..b, has been isolated of the baryon-diffractive-dissociation process n ..-->.. p..pi../sup -/..pi../sup 0/ for three-body masses less than 2.5 GeV/c/sup 2/. These dissociations are induced by 12-GeV/c K/sup -/ mesons. To isolate this process from background, it is necessary to observe the final-state proton explicitly by its ionization in the bubble chamber. The three-body mass spectrum seems different from that of the n..pi../sup +/..pi../sup -/ neutron diffractive breakup. A ..delta../sup 0/ signal is seen as well as possible N/sup asterisk//sub 1470/, but no clear ..delta../sup +/ is observed. The angular distribution of the proton in the p..pi../sup +/..pi../sup -/ rest frame indicates that a multiperipheral mechanism is present.
Efficacy of transoral intraluminal Wallstents for tracheal stenosis or tracheomalacia.

Objectives The efficacy and safety of intraluminal Wallstent Endoprosthesis (Boston Scientific/Medi-Tech, Quincy, MA) placement to restore airway patency in patients with tracheal stenosis or tracheomalacia are unknown. Study Design Retrospective review in setting of tertiary, referral, and academic center. Methods A retrospective review of 13 consecutive patients over a 2-year period who underwent transoral resection of tracheal stenosis and immediate transoral Wallstent placement. One patient had tracheomalacia. All of the patients were considered at high risk for transcervical surgery or had failed prior traditional open procedures. Results The average patient age was 54.2 years, with nine male and four female patients. All had Cotton/Myer stenoses (grades II to IV) with moderate to severe degrees of inspiratory stridor. Four patients were tracheotomy dependent. The length of stenosis varied from 1 to 4 cm. One patient had a 10-cm segment of tracheomalacia. At the time of writing, none of the patients has had a problem with significant migration or extrusion and most of the patients have incorporated the stent well without any short-term obstructive granulation tissue. After a mean follow-up of 15 months (range, 4–24 mo). 10 of the 12 patients with stenosis (83%) have remained free of any inspiratory noise during breathing. The one patient with tracheomalacia also has remained free of symptoms. Conclusions Transoral Wallstents appear to be safe and may be a reasonable alternative in the restoration of airway patency in select patients with tracheal stenosis or tracheomalacia.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HISTORY OF PSYCHOLOGY: XXXII. ON LIVING WITH A SPECTER: THE STORY OF ANOMALISTIC PSYCHOLOGY

The subject matter of anomalistic psychology is human behavior and experiences for which paranormal or occult causation is claimed and which appear to violate some of the basic principles on which ...
Cardiac complications in preterm infants with percutaneous long lines: The importance of early diagnosis

Percutaneous long lines, routinely used in preterm infants, can be associated with several cardiac complications such as pericardial effusion and consequent cardiac tamponade. We report three patients with pericardial effusion highlighting the importance of cardiac ultrasound monitoring to both early diagnosis and treatment.
Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry study of hydrogen–deuterium exchange reactions of volatile hydrides of As, Sb, Bi, Ge and Sn in aqueous media

Abstract The H–D exchange processes in MH n or MD n hydrides (M = As, Sb, Bi, n = 3; M = Ge, Sn, n = 4) taking place when they are in contact with H 2 O or D 2 O solution at different pH or pD values (interval of pH = [0,13]) have been investigated using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). MH n or MD n compounds were injected into the headspace of reaction vials (4–12 ml) containing 1–2 ml of buffered solution maintained under stirring or shaking conditions. The isotopic composition of the gaseous phase hydrides/deuterides was determined at regular intervals in the range of time 0–15 min. The MH n or MD n compounds were synthesized in separate vials and their purity was checked separately before injection into the reaction vials. The mass spectra were deconvoluted in order to estimate the relative abundance of each species formed following the H–D exchange process (AsH n D 3− n , SbH n D 3− n , BiH n D 3− n , n = 0–3; GeH n D 4− n , SnH n D 4− n , n = 0–4) and the relative abundance of H and D. In the investigated pH (or pD) interval arsanes and stibanes undergo H–D exchange in alkaline media for pH > 7. No H–D exchange was detected for the other hydrides, where the prevailing process is their decomposition in the aqueous phase. A reaction model, based on the formation of protonated or deprotonated intermediates is proposed for H–D exchange of MH n or MD n compounds placed in contact with H 2 O or D 2 O at different pH or pD values. The H–D exchange in the already formed hydrides can be source of the interference in mechanistic studies on hydride formation performed using labeled reagents; no H–D exchange was detected within the following pH intervals that can be considered free from interference: arsanes pH = [0,7), stibanes pH = [0,7), bismuthanes, germanes and stannanes pH = [0,13].
Aging and spatial cognition

The study of age-related changes in spatial behaviors has much in common with the study of age-related changes in classical conditioning. A comparison is made of research in these two areas, with the suggestion that future work in spatial behaviors pursue the same lines of investigation that have been effective in classical conditioning.
Integrating Contextual Issues in Ethical Decision Making

Many issues in ethics arise in relation to the contexts in which psychologists work. However, most ethical decision-making models reproduce the way in which psychologists tend to approach ethics by focusing on ethical dilemmas and proposing a step-by-step response to deal with them. Although these models might be useful, their emphasis on reactive approaches and their lack of contextualization constitute significant limitations on their applicability. In this article, an approach to ethical decision making that highlights the importance of the context in developing proactive strategies to solve ethical issues is proposed. This approach is further explained through its application to medical and rural settings. The implications of these suggestions to the training in ethics are finally discussed.
CALCIUM ALTERATIONS IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY, MODELS AND THERAPEUTIC OPPORTUNITIES

Abstract Calcium plays a pivotal role in mediating many important biological functions. The intracellular calcium concentration is tightly regulated by a variety of systems and mechanisms. Calcium is sequestered by various organelles such as mitochondria and/or endoplasmic reticulum and extruded across the plasma membrane by energy-dependent transport systems. Different Ca 2+ -binding proteins are also involved in these processes. Alterations in calcium homeostasis might be critically implicated in brain aging and in the neuropathology of Alzheimeras disease (AD). In fact, one of the postulated mechanisms of β-amyloid toxicity seems to involve a Ca 2+ dysregulation accompanied with enhanced vulnerability to excitotoxic stimuli. Although brain characteristic lesions—plaques and tangles—constitute the hallmarks of AD, accumulated evidence suggests the systemic feature of this disease. Therefore peripheral cell lines may represent a useful approach to explore the cellular pathophysiology of AD, including calcium alterations and associated phenomena.
Josephson-junction arrays with long-range interactions

We calculate the current-voltage (IV ) characteristics of a Josephson junction array with long-range interactions. The array consists of two sets of equally-spaced parallel superconducting wires placed at right angles. A Josephson junction is formed at every point wherever the wires cross. We treat each such junction as an overdamped resistively-shunted junction, and each wire segment between two junctions as a similar resistively-shunted junction with a much higher critical current. The IV characteristics are obtained by solving the coupled Josephson equations numerically. We find that, for a sufficiently large number of wires, the critical current saturates at a finite value because of the wire inductance, in excellent agreement with experiment. The calculated IV characteristics also show a striking hysteresis, even though each of the individual junctions is non-hysteretic. The hysteresis results from a global redistribution of current flow on the upper and lower voltage branches, and is also in excellent agreement with experiment. PACS Nos.: 74.50.+r, 74.40.+k Typeset using REVTEX
Studies of Fads: I. the “Hit Parade”

On the basis of certain theoretical formulations dealing with the effects of repetition in behavior and outlined in greater detail elsewhere, a number of predictions are made involving the behavior pattern of songs on the Hit Parade. According to this view, loss in popularity of songs would be mediated by semantic satiation developed as a result of massed and continued exposure. It was predicted that rate of loss in popularity would be directly proportional to the relative amount of massed exposure that accompanied a particular song during its rise in popularity. Using weekly listings of Hit Parade songs, various indices of saturation value and rate of decline were developed. Three separate analyses showed the following: (1) the predicted correlations were significant and substantial in all cases; (2) they were stable and replicable with two different samples of songs; (3) the predictions held only under the defined conditions of massed and continued repetition.
The Barcode of Life Data Portal: Bridging the Biodiversity Informatics Divide for DNA Barcoding

With the volume of molecular sequence data that is systematically being generated globally, there is a need for centralized resources for data exploration and analytics. DNA Barcode initiatives are on track to generate a compendium of molecular sequence–based signatures for identifying animals and plants. To date, the range of available data exploration and analytic tools to explore these data have only been available in a boutique form—often representing a frustrating hurdle for many researchers that may not necessarily have resources to install or implement algorithms described by the analytic community. The Barcode of Life Data Portal (BDP) is a first step towards integrating the latest biodiversity informatics innovations with molecular sequence data from DNA barcoding. Through establishment of community driven standards, based on discussion with the Data Analysis Working Group (DAWG) of the Consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL), the BDP provides an infrastructure for incorporation of existing and next-generation DNA barcode analytic applications in an open forum.
Complete right bundle branch block with left axis deviation: Significance of vectorcardiographic morphology

Abstract Sixty-five patients with a VCG pattern of complete right bundle branch block and left axis deviation (> −30 degrees) were studied. There were 46 patients with counterclockwise rotation (Group A) and 19 patients with clockwise rotation (Group B) in the horizontal plane. His bundle electrograms were recorded in 24 Group A patients and in four Group B patients. The Group A patients were slightly younger (average age 69 years) than the Group B patients (average age 75 years). The incidence of previous myocardial infarction (Group A 12 46 , Group B 4 19 ) and hypertension (Group A 13 46 , Group B 4 19 ) were similar. Diabetes mellitus was slightly more common in Group B (Group A 7 46 , Group B 5 19 ). Cardiomegaly (Group A 16 46 , Group B 12 19 ) and congestive heart failure (Group A 13 46 , Group B 9 19 ) were more common in Group B. Episodes of syncope (Group A 19 46 , Group B 4 19 ) and prolonged H-Q interval (55 msec. or greater) (Group A 19 24 , Group B 2 4 ) were more frequent in Group A patients. However, in individual cases there was no definite relationship between prolonged H-Q interval and syncope. It is concluded that this pattern represents a wide spectrum of disease and anatomical defects. The relationship of VCG morphology to clinical course does not appear to be close enough to predict the course of an individual patient or aid in clinical management.
Copper phthalocyanine based Schottky diode solar cells

Copper phthalocyanine (CuPc)/Aluminum (Al) Schottky diode solar cells were studied. The thickness of the CuPc layer was varied from 15 nm to 140 nm. Short circuit current densities (Jsc) increased with thickness from 0.042 mA/cm2 at 15 nm to 0.124 mA/cm2 at 120 nm reaching saturation at that level. Open circuit voltages (Voc) increased from 220 mV at 15 nm to 907 mV at 140 nm. Analysis of the current-voltage characteristics indicated that tunneling and interface recombination current mechanisms are important components of the current transport at the CuPc/Al junction.
Functional visual loss in idiopathic intracranial hypertension.

Objective To identify and describe patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) with concurrent functional visual loss (FVL). Design Observational, retrospective case series. Participants Seventeen patients with IIH and FVL. Methods Clinical features were collected retrospectively. Data from 281 cases of IIH were analyzed for concurrence of FVL. Main Outcome Measures Occurrence of FVL diagnosed at presentation or on subsequent follow-up. Results Seventeen patients had FVL and IIH. Of the 17 patients with FVL and IIH, 11 (65%) had FVL on presentation, with the remaining 6 patients developing FVL after initial presentation. Two patients in this cohort had documented recurrence of their IIH. There were several common patterns of FVL. All 17 patients had functional visual fields, with 82% having tubular fields and 71% exhibiting nonphysiologic constriction on perimetry testing. Seventy-six percent of patients had nerve/field mismatch showing no atrophic disc changes. Eighty-eight percent of patients had significant psychiatric, psychosocial, or other medical comorbidities. The majority of patients were managed surgically at some point in their clinical history, with 53% having nerve decompression, shunt, or both. Three patients had optic nerve sheath fenestrations after the diagnosis of FVL. Conclusions Results suggest a high prevalence of FVL in IIH with a potential association with psychiatric illness and psychosocial stressors requiring careful consideration before surgical intervention. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Effect of zinc ammonia acetate on germination and early seedling growth of three maize genotypes

Abstract Zinc ammonia acetate (ZAA) is marketed as an agricultural additive (ACA) and has been shown to increase the yield of corn (Zea mays L.). However, the response is sometime variable and the effective components and the mode of action are not known. To address these issues, the effect of four concentrations (0, 0.85, 8.5, and 85 ppm) of ZAA on laboratory germination and early seedling growth of three maize genotypes were evaluated. The ZAA at 0.85 and 8.5 ppm tended to increase the total seminal root length, and shoot and root dry weight of seedling in all genotypes. Hydroponic studies revealed that plant height and whole plant dry weight of 2‐week‐old seedlings tended to be increased with 0.85 and 8.5 ppm of ZAA in all genotypes compared to the control. The number of seminal and lateral root for all genotypes, and seminal root total length for two genotypes were significantly increased by ZAA at both 0.85 or 8.5 ppm. However, the high root:shoot ratio observed for ZAA‐treated seedlings was not due ...
The Paschen-Back Effect in N H 3 and N 2 O Microwave Spectra

The Paschen-Back effect in the microwave spectra of N${\mathrm{H}}_{3}$ and ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$O has been investigated in this experiment with a resonant cavity spectroscope. These molecules are known to possess relatively small values of nuclear electric quadrupole coupling and thus favor the realization of the Paschen-Back effect without prohibitively high magnetic fields.The results for ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$${\mathrm{H}}_{3}$, representing a case of one-nuclear (${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$) coupling, show the effects of gradual decoupling of the nuclear spin from molecular rotation. The existence of the "forbidden" lines, whose intensities diminish with increasing field, indicates that the decoupling is not quite complete even in a field of 10,000 oersteds.The results for ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$${\mathrm{O}}^{16}$, representing a case of two-nuclear (${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$, ${\mathrm{N}}^{14}$) coupling, show that the decoupling is almost complete at a field of 10,000 oersteds. An asymmetry of the Paschen-Back pattern for a $\ensuremath{\Delta}J\ensuremath{\ne}0$ transition is ascribed to the non-linear dependence of the nuclear quadrupole coupling energy upon ${M}_{J}$ and ${M}_{I}$.The measured results are found to be in good agreement with quantum mechanical calculations. Also, consistent with the theory of the structure of the Paschen-Back pattern, it is shown that the molecular $g$-factors and the nuclear quadrupole coupling factors can be determined directly from experimental data.
A data analysis system for processing landsat multispectral data

Land sat satellites and multispectral scanning (MSS) have revolutionized the field of remote sensing. However, to take advantage of these remarkable tools, an effective computer based data processing system is needed.This paper describes one such system which was designed and implemented at Mississippi State University. Projects which may use the system include timber resource inventory, wildlife habitat studies, monitoring of strip mining and industrial site selection.The system includes three basic components. Using a supervised classification technique, training samples are first digitized on an X, Y coordinate system and registration is adjusted. Statistical analysis are performed on the training samples producing class signatures for various types of ground cover.Next the MSS data is separated into discrete classes based on the class signatures from training samples. Using various methods of analysis, a high degree of accuracy may be obtained in the classifications.Finally, a graphic output of the scanned ground area is generated. The output delineates various types of ground cover and may be manipulated to visually emphasize any particular class of ground cover desired.
The relationship between external calcium co concentration and the recovery rate of aortic strips from nicotine tachyphylaxis

Abstract In rabbit aortic strips, a repeated exposure to the same concentration of nicotine produced tachyphylaxis. Complete recovery occurred 50–60 min following the washout of the first application of nicotine. Incubation in medium containing norepinephrine (10 −9 M) or dopamine (10 −7 M) did not modify the time course of recovery. High Ca 2+ - medium halved the recovery time and low Ga 2+ - medium inhibited this process. Thus nicotine tachyphylaxis does not appear to be due to catecholamine depletion but rather to be a blockade of the adrenergic nerve effector site by depolarization which prevents norepinephrine release.