cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The association between event learning and continuous quality improvement programs and culture of patient safety

Abstract Purpose To present our approach and results from our quality and safety program and to report their possible impact on our culture of patient safety. Methods and materials We created an event learning system (termed a "good catch" program) and encouraged staff to report any quality or safety concerns in real time. Events were analyzed to assess the utility of safety barriers. A formal continuous quality improvement program was created to address these reported events and make improvements. Data on perceptions of the culture of patient safety were collected using the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality survey administered before, during, and after the initiatives. Results Of 560 good catches reported, 367 could be ascribed to a specific step on our process map. The calculated utility of safety barriers was highest for those embedded into the pretreatment quality assurance checks performed by physicists and dosimetrists (utility score 0.53; 93 of 174) and routine checks done by therapists on the initial day of therapy. Therapists and physicists reported the highest number of good catches (24% each). Sixty-four percent of events were caused by performance issues (eg, not following standardized processes, including suboptimal communications). Of 31 initiated formal improvement events, 26 were successfully implemented and sustained, 4 were discontinued, and 1 was not implemented. Most of the continuous quality improvement program was conducted by nurses (14) and therapists (7). Percentages of positive responses in the patient safety culture survey appear to have increased on all dimensions ( p Conclusions Results suggest that event learning and continuous quality improvement programs can be successfully implemented and that there are contemporaneous improvements in the culture of safety.
The transmission of fragmented chromosomes in Drosophila melanogaster

We investigated the fate of dicentric chromosomes in the mitotic divisions of Drosophila melanogaster. We constructed chromosomes that were not required for viability and that carried P elements with inverted repeats of the target sites (FRTs) for the FLP site-specific recombinase. FLP-mediated unequal sister-chromatid exchange between inverted FRTs produced dicentric chromosomes at a high rate. The fate of the dicentric chromosome was evaluated in the mitotic cells of the male germline. We found that dicentric chromosomes break in mitosis, and the broken fragments can be transmitted. Some of these chromosome fragments exhibit dominant semilethality. Nonlethal fragments were broken at many sites along the chromosome, but the semilethal fragments were all broken near the original site of sister-chromatid fusion, and retained P element sequences near their termini. We discuss the implications of the recovery and behavior of broken chromosomes for checkpoints that detect double-strand break damage and the functions of telomeres in Drosophila.
Quantitation of Sputum Protein by Use of the Biuret Reaction

A simple, accurate method is described for quantitatively determining the protein content of sputum by use of the biuret reaction. Fifteen mechanically homogenized specimens were examined with the biuret reagent described by Rosenthal and Cundiff, and the results compared with those obtained by the microKjeldahl technique. Over a range of 542 to 1917 mg of protein per 100 ml, the techniques correlated significantly. Difficulties with deproteinization of the sputum before nonprotein nitrogen was determined were overcome by the use of zinc sulfate and pH adjustment. The proposed method is fast and reproducible.
Tangled up in blue: Conflicting paths to police legitimacy

Police departments struggle to legitimate themselves to the publics they serve. This challenge is fundamentally related to different possible articulations of the relation between society and state...
Comparison of teratogenic and carcinogenic risks

Risk assessment for teratogens has received much less attention than carcinogens. This may be due in part to the lack of biologically based dose-response models for teratogens. Also, there appears to be a perception that cancer risks far exceed teratogenic risks for most chemicals. This perception may be due in large part to the stringent practice of using conservative procedures to restrict cancer risk estimates to one in 100,000 or lower whereas procedures used to restrict teratogens may result in much higher risks. The purpose of this paper is to compare estimates of teratogenic and carcinogenic risks for chemicals when both effects occur in the same animal species. Similar procedures are employed here to obtain teratogenic and carcinogenic risk estimates for nine chemicals. When a similar standard of risk is applied to both effects, the relative potency of teratogens to carcinogens varied from an order of magnitude lower to an order of magnitude higher for these nine chemicals.
Diagnosis and treatment of growth hormone deficiency in adults

The availability of synthetic recombinant human growth hormone (GH) in potentially unlimited quantities since the 1980s has improved understanding of the many nonstatural effects of GH on metabolism, body composition, physical and psychological function, as well as the consequences of GH deficiency in adult life. Adult GH deficiency is now recognized as a distinct if nonspecific syndrome with considerable adverse health consequences. GH replacement therapy in lower doses than those used in children can reverse many of these abnormalities and restore functional capacities toward or even to normal; if dosed appropriately, GH therapy has few adverse effects. Although some doubts remain about possible long-term risks of childhood GH therapy, most registries of adult GH replacement therapy, albeit limited in study size and duration, have not shown an increased incidence of cancers or of cardiovascular morbidity or mortality.
Identification of a cross‐reacting, monoclonal anti‐human CD233 antibody for identification and sorting of rhesus macaque erythrocytes

Erythroid biology research involving rhesus macaques has been applied to several topics including malaria, hemoglobinopathy and gene therapy research. However, analyses of the rhesus red blood cells are limited by the inability to identify and sort those cells in research blood samples using flow cytometry. Here it is reported that the BRIC 6 hybridoma clone raised to the human erythroid surface molecule (referred to as CD233, Band 3, AE1, or SLC4A1) produces cross-reactive and erythroid-specific antibodies for flow cytometric detection and sorting of rhesus macaque erythrocytes.
Inpatient Admissions for Drug-induced Liver Injury: Results from a Single Center

Objective To review all cases of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) requiring hospitalization at a single tertiary care center. Methods Patient records were identified by ICD-9 codes for inpatient visits from November 1998 through March 2006. Results Of a total 83,265 hospital admissions during the study period, 40 were for DILI (0.048%). Thirteen patients had non-acetaminophen DILI (NA-DILI); 27 had acetaminophen-related DILI (A-DILI). In the NA-DILI group, mean age was 59 ± 17.9 years and liver injury was classified as hepatocellular (7), cholestatic (5), or mixed (1). A variety of medications were implicated with antimicrobials being the most common class. Resolution occurred in seven, two died of complications related to hepatotoxicity, one underwent liver transplantation, and the outcome was undetermined in three who were lost to follow-up. In the A-DILI group, mean age was 35 ± 11.0 years. Eighteen involved intentional overdose of acetaminophen; nine were associated with chronic use. The pattern of injury was hepatocellular in all. Resolution occurred in 4 patients, death in 8, and improvement in 15. Conclusions DILI is a rare cause of inpatient admission but is associated with significant mortality. Spontaneous resolution occurs in most patients but return to normal liver function may take months. Antimicrobial agents account for the largest proportion of NA-DILI.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: A Critical Appraisal

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) formerly known as dementia pugilistica is a long-term neurodegenerative disorder associated with repeated subconcussive head injuries in high-contact sports. We reviewed the existing literature on CTE and examined epidemiological trends, risk factors, and its temporal progression, and proposed the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms that may provide unique insights to clinicians with an in-depth understanding of the disease to aid in the diagnosis and prevention, and provide future perspectives for research via search of Medline and Cochrane databases as well as manual review of bibliographies from selected articles and monographs. The prevalence of CTE in recent years is on the rise and almost exclusively affects men, with pathologic signs characterized by progressive memory loss, behavioral changes, and violent tendencies with some patients demonstrating Parkinsonian-like symptoms and signs. Many patients with CTE die following suicide, accident, or complications of drug or alcohol use. Postmortem pathologic analysis is characterized by neurofibrillary tangles and Aβ plaques in 50 % of cases. Currently, there are no ante-mortem diagnostic criteria, but modern imaging techniques such as functional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, MR spectroscopy, and diffusion tension imaging hold promise for delineating the future diagnostic criteria. Further long-term longitudinal studies are warranted to investigate risk factors that will enhance understanding of the disease progression and its pathogenesis.
Dissolution kinetics of certain crystalline forms of prednisolone

The activity, dissolution rate, and crystal behavior of three crystalline forms of prednisolone, each exhibiting distinctly different properties, have been investigated. By determining the relative dissolution rates of the crystal forms under different agitation conditions, it was found that dissolution could be described by consecutive processes involving a reaction at the interface and transport away from the interface. The data suggested that these processes pose a double barrier to dissolution under the experimental conditions.
Remaking Muslim Politics: Pluralism, Contestation, Democratization

Remaking Muslim Politics: Pluralism, Contestation, Democratization. Edited by Robert W. Hefner. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2004. 408p. $19.95. The line between popular culture and scholarship has been obscured by the large volume of books and articles dealing with Islam that came out in the United States after September 11. One can see the features of an Islam Industry dominating production (popular, commercial, media, and sometimes academic) on—or against—Islam. The matter is quite important as this has become an issue that transcends mere intellectual pursuits and deals with policy matters and, most importantly, with wars. Pundits now casually speak with glee about a war “within Islam” as if to portray U.S. official roles as marginal or secondary. Amid the plethora of books on Islam, one welcomes with great enthusiasm a serious and sober look at Islam in the political and social realms worldwide. Remaking Muslim Politics was based on an academic conference, and the papers were later collected in a book form.
A two-sample distribution-free scale test of the smirnov type

The two-sample, distribution-free statistics of Smirnov (1939) are used to define a new statistic. While the Smirnov statistics are used as a general goodness-of-fit test, a distribution-free scale test based on this new statistic is developed. It is shown that this new test has higher power than the two-sided Smirnov statistic in detecting differences in scale for some symmetric distributions with equal means/medians. The critical values of the proposed test statistic and its limiting distribution are given
Inhibition of NMU-induced mammary tumorigenesis by dietary soy☆

We previously demonstrated that female Sprague-Dawley rats fed AIN-93G diets containing soy protein isolate (SPI+) had lower DMBA-induced mammary tumor incidence than those fed diets containing casein (CAS), due partly to altered Phase I metabolism with soy. Here, we evaluated the tumor protective effects of these same diets to the direct-acting carcinogen N-methyl-nitrosourea (NMU). Tumor incidence was reduced and tumor latency was enhanced, in NMU-administered female rats lifetime exposed to SPI+, relative to the CAS group. Tumor multiplicity did not differ with diet, while tumor grade tended to be more advanced with SPI+. Normal mammary glands of CAS and SPI+ tumor-bearing rats had comparable proliferative and apoptotic status. However, mammary expression of HER-2/neu and progesterone receptor (PR) genes was higher for SPI+ rats. Moreover, tumored SPI+ rats had lower serum progesterone levels than those fed CAS, while serum estrogen did not differ. Serum from tumored SPI+ rats had higher apoptotic activity towards mammary epithelial MCF-7 cells, than CAS serum. Thus, dietary soy protects against mammary tumorigenesis induced by a direct-acting carcinogen and alters signaling pathways involving PR and HER-2/neu.
Oriented bioactive glass (13-93) scaffolds with controllable pore size by unidirectional freezing of camphene-based suspensions: Microstructure and mechanical response

Scaffolds of 13-93 bioactive glass (composition 6.0 Na₂O, 7.9 K₂O, 7.7 MgO, 22.1 CaO, 1.7 P₂O₅, 54.6 SiO₂ (mol.%)) containing oriented pores of controllable diameter were prepared by unidirectional freezing of camphene-based suspensions (10 vol.% particles) on a cold substrate (-196 °C or 3 °C). By varying the annealing time (0-72 h) to coarsen the camphene phase, constructs with the same porosity (86 ± 1%) but with controllable pore diameters (15-160 μm) were obtained after sublimation of the camphene. The pore diameters had a self-similar distribution that could be fitted by a diffusion-controlled coalescence model. Sintering (1 h at 690 °C) was accompanied by a decrease in porosity and pore diameter, the magnitude of which depended on the pore size of the green constructs, giving scaffolds with a porosity of 20-60% and average pore diameter of 6-120 μm. The compressive stress vs. deformation response of the sintered scaffolds in the orientation direction was linear, followed by failure. The compressive strength and elastic modulus in the orientation direction varied from 180 MPa and 25 GPa (porosity=20%) to 16 MPa and 4 GPa (porosity=60%), respectively, which were 2-3 times larger than the values in the direction perpendicular to the orientation. The potential use of these 13-93 bioactive glass scaffolds for the repair of large defects in load-bearing bones, such as segmental defects in long bones, is discussed.
Preparation and Characterization of π-Stacking Quinodimethane Oligothiophenes. Predicting Semiconductor Behavior and Bandwidths from Crystal Structures and Molecular Orbital Calculations

A series of new quinodimethane-substituted terthiophene and quaterthiophene oligomers has been investigated for comparison with a previously studied quinoid oligothiophene that has demonstrated high mobilities and ambipolar transport behavior in thin-film transistor devices. Each new quinoidal thiophene derivative shows a reversible one-electron oxidation between 0.85 and 1.32 V, a quasi-reversible one-electron second oxidation between 1.37 and 1.96 V, and a reversible two-electron reduction between −0.05 and −0.23 V. The solution UV−vis−NIR spectrum of each compound is dominated by an intense (e ≅ 100 000 M-1 cm-1) low energy π−π* transition that has a λmax ranging between 648 and 790 nm. All X-ray crystal structures exhibit very planar quinoidal backbones and short intermolecular π-stacking distances (3.335−3.492 A). Structures exhibit a single π-stacking distance with parallel cofacial stacking (sulfur atoms of equivalent rings pointed in the same direction) or with alternating distances and antiparall...
Predictors of Attendance in a Practical Clinical Trial of Two Pediatric Weight Management Interventions

The objective of this study was to evaluate demographic and psychosocial predictors of attendance in a family-based behavioral weight management clinical trial. Ninety-three children and adolescents aged 7-17 (Mean age = 11.59, s.d. = 2.6) who were either overweight or obese (Mean BMI percentile = 98.2) and their parents received either a 10-session behavioral treatment or a three-session brief family intervention in the context of a randomized clinical trial (10). Psychosocial and anthropometric measures were obtained before enrollment and at the end of 10 weeks for both treatment groups. Univariate linear regression and hierarchical multiple regression analyses were used to identify predictors of attendance to treatment from an a priori set of hypothesized predictors. Three variables demonstrated significant associations with the dependent variable, percent of treatment sessions attended. Specifically, distance from participant's home to treatment site, lower gross family income, and youth self-report of depressive symptoms were each associated with lower percent attendance (all Ps < 0.05). These results corroborate (i.e., income, depressive symptoms) and expand (i.e., distance from treatment site) previous reports in the literature of potential barriers to effective treatment for pediatric obesity, and suggest the need for research on treatment delivery methods that could increase participation among low-income families (e.g., eHealth, mHealth options). Depressive symptoms could represent an additional barrier to treatment attendance, suggesting that assessment and treatment for these symptoms may be appropriate before commencing weight management treatment.
Coulomb Energies and Nuclear Shapes

One of the first estimates of nuclear radii was obtained from experimental Coulomb energies. Bethe (1), over 30 years ago, showed that the energy difference between the ground states of mirror nuclei is essentially due to a difference in electrostatic energy. Assuming spherical charge distributions of uniform density, charge radii were extracted. Many experimental and theoretical papers on Coulomb energies have appeared since, but muonic X-ray and electron scattering experiments (2,3) have contributed considerably more to the understanding of the size and shape of nuclear charge distributions. Only very recently Nolen and Schiffer (4) have reestablished the importance of Coulomb energy data for obtaining information about nuclear sizes. They showed that the Coulomb displacement energy between any nuclear state, a ground state for example, and its analogue state in the neighboring proton-rich isobar depends strongly on the radial distribution of the neutron excess in the ground state. Thus, experimental Coulomb displacement energies, now known even in heavy nuclei (5), present a powerful tool for determining distributions of neutrons.
Effect of ovariectomy on pregnancy maintenance and parturition in dairy cows.

Abstract Forty-one cows of three dairy breeds were ovariectomized by laparotomy at 48–268 days of pregnancy to determine the effects on gestation length and parturition. No differences existed between bilateral ovariectomy and removing only the ovary containing the corpus luteum (unilateral), nor did breed differences exist. Twelve cows ovariectomized at 48–117 days of pregnancy aborted an average of four days after removal of the luteal tissue. Ovariectomy of eight cows at 139–174 days resulted in abortion an average of 23 days later. Twenty-one cows ovariectomized at 200–268 days of pregnancy terminated in 2–74 days \( X ¯ = 33 \) at an average gestation length of 262 days. Based on previous history of these cows, the expected gestation length was 278 days. Of the 41 cows, 36 had retained fetal membranes and 26 fetuses or calves died prepartum. Calving difficulties due to partial cervical dilation and uterine inertia, and postpartum metritis were common. The corpus luteum of pregnancy appeared essential for maintaining pregnancy in the bovine prior to Days 165–180; thereafter, a viable fetus was sometimes maintained in the absence of the gland. However, the corpus luteum was essential during late pregnancy to prevent shortened gestations and abnormal parturitions, including retention of the fetal membranes.
Undergraduate computational science and engineering education: Undergraduate internships section of a SIAM working group report

The SIAM Working Group on Undergraduate Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) Education, chaired by Peter Turner (Clarkson University), wrote a report on the topic, which states that a “common feature among CSE programs is the requirement for an internship in the form of an undergraduate research experience” [1][2]. The report and this article elaborate on the value of such experiences and how students, often with the help of faculty members, can obtain internships. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Performance of ceramic enhanced phenolic matrix brake lining materials for automotive brake linings

Despite the number of research studies completed on the mechanism of friction in automotive brake lining materials, the phenomenon is still not fully understood. Complex mechano-chemical processes occurring on the friction interface of a composite friction material make it difficult to understand the correlation between the formulation of brake lining and the frictional performance. This paper concentrates on (i) the friction and wear characteristics of a newly formulated brake lining material, and (ii) the impact of potassium titanate on its performance. Two different material samples were formulated, tested and analyzed. The friction and wear characteristics of the first (without potassium titanate) and second (with potassium titanate) sample types were determined using the Friction Assessment and Screening Test (FAST) and a full-scale single-ended inertial type disc brake automotive dynamometer test. Friction coefficient, wear rate, and friction surfaces were examined to interpret the performance of the two friction materials. The friction surfaces of the samples were investigated by light microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Analysis of the experimental results shows that the brake lining material containing potassium titanate significantly improved the stability of the friction coefficient, fade and wear resistance. This improved performance was attributed to the formation of a Ti and K-oxide containing friction layer, which developed in the initial stage of the frictional testing.
Relation of Childhood Sexual Abuse and Other Forms of Maltreatment to 12-Month Postoperative Outcomes in Extremely Obese Gastric Bypass Patients

Background: The prognostic significance of sexual abuse for extremely obese patients who undergo bariatric surgery is uncertain. This study examined self-reported childhood sexual abuse and other forms of childhood maltreatment in relation to preoperative presentation and to 12-month postoperative outcomes in gastric bypass patients. Methods: 137 extremely obese patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery completed a questionnaire battery before surgery and again 12 months after surgery. Weight loss was determined with measured weight and height, childhood maltreatment was assessed with the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and associated eating disorder and psychological functioning were assessed with established measures. Results: 32% of patients self-reported childhood sexual abuse, 37% reported some form of non-sexual childhood abuse or neglect, and 31% reported no form of childhood maltreatment. Significant and clinically robust improvements in weight and in all measures of eating and psychological functioning were observed at 12 months after surgery. Patients who reported histories of childhood sexual abuse and other forms of childhood maltreatment differed little from patients who reported no childhood maltreatment in body mass index, eating disorder features, and psychological functioning both pre- and postoperatively at 12-month follow-up. Patients who reported childhood sexual abuse had statistically significantly higher levels of depression at 12 months after surgery, although the depression levels represented significant reductions from pre-surgery and fell within the non-depressed range. Conclusion: Extremely obese patients who seek gastric bypass surgery report higher rates of childhood maltreatment than normative community samples. A history of childhood maltreatment, including reports of sexual abuse, does not appear to be a negative prognostic indicator for gastric bypass surgery.
Glycolytic Intermediates and Co‐Factors in “Fast‐” and “Slow‐Glycolyzing” Muscles of the Pig

SUMMARY— The Longissimus dorsi muscles from Chester White, Hampshire and Poland China animals were used to establish certain differences in metabolic intermediate patterns between muscles with “fast” and “slow” rates of post-mortem glycolysis. Metabolic intermediate patterns were consistent with the concept that phosphorylase is the primary control site of postmortem glycolysis. Adenine nucleotide levels appeared to be the primary regulatory factors for phosphorylase. The phosphofructokinase and pyruvate kinase enzymes were also involved in post-mortem glycolytic control. Levels of high-energy intermediates (adenosine triphosphate, phosphocreatine and pyridine nucleotides) were much higher in the “O” hr samples of “slow-glycolyzing” muscles than in similar samples from muscles having “fast” rates of post-mortem glycolysis. No significant differences in levels of lactate or glucose were observed among these three groups in blood samples taken either at or 24 hr prior to the time of exsanguination.
In Situ Measurement of Young’s Modulus and Residual Stress of Thin Electroless Nickel Films for Mems Applications

This paper reports in situ measurement of Young’s modulus and residual stress of electroless nickel films through the use of microfabricated nickel test structures, including electrostatic microactuators and passive devices. The test structures are fabricated in a new surface micromachining process, termed “nickel surface micromachining”, using electroless plated nickel as the structural layer and polysilicon as the sacrificial layer. Subsequent to fabrication, lateral resonant-type electrostatic microactuators of different geometries are resonated by electrical excitation. Using the measured resonant frequencies and knowledge of the device geometry, the Young’s modulus of the film is determined. The passive electroless nickel microstructures deform upon completion of the fabrication process due to residual stress in the film. Measurement of this deformation in conjunction with an appropriate mechanical model is used to determine the residual stress in the films.
Opposite-strand RNAs from the 5' flanking region of the mouse dihydrofolate reductase gene

We have characterized a transcription unit in the 5' flanking region of the mouse gene encoding dihydrofolate reductase (EC 1.5.1.3) that is oriented in the opposite direction to that of dihydrofolate reductase transcription. These opposite-strand RNAs are 180-240 nucleotides long, differing in length at their 5' ends. They are abundant in nuclear RNA and are not polyadenylylated. We suggest that the promoter region of the dihydrofolate reductase gene functions in a bidirectional manner to produce both these RNAs and dihydrofolate reductase mRNAs.
Scan-Induced Patterning and the Glass Transition in Polymer Films: Temperature and Rate Dependence of Plastic Deformation at the Nanometer Length Scale

Environmental scanning force microscopy was used to investigate the temperature and rate dependence of the scan-induced formation of bundles in a thin polystyrene film. The spacing of the bundles increased monotonically with temperature, and this increase exhibited a cusp near the bulk glass transition temperature of polystyrene. The roughness of the patterns (which is proportional to the wave amplitude) and the rate of roughening with repeated raster scans both exhibited a maximum value at slightly higher temperatures. Thus, the temperature dependencies of the wavelength and the surface roughness are qualitatively and quantitatively different. An Arrhenius model was used to describe the temperature and rate dependencies of the relaxations. The activation energies derived from these two independent analyses were found to be very similar to the value for the α relaxation in bulk samples.
Crystal structure of the agrin-responsive immunoglobulin-like domains 1 and 2 of the receptor tyrosine kinase MuSK.

Muscle-specific kinase (MuSK) is a receptor tyrosine kinase expressed exclusively in skeletal muscle, where it is required for formation of the neuromuscular junction. MuSK is activated by agrin, a neuron-derived heparan sulfate proteoglycan. Here, we report the crystal structure of the agrin-responsive first and second immunoglobulin-like domains (Ig1 and Ig2) of the MuSK ectodomain at 2.2 {angstrom} resolution. The structure reveals that MuSK Ig1 and Ig2 are Ig-like domains of the I-set subfamily, which are configured in a linear, semi-rigid arrangement. In addition to the canonical internal disulfide bridge, Ig1 contains a second, solvent-exposed disulfide bridge, which our biochemical data indicate is critical for proper folding of Ig1 and processing of MuSK. Two Ig1-2 molecules form a non-crystallographic dimer that is mediated by a unique hydrophobic patch on the surface of Ig1. Biochemical analyses of MuSK mutants introduced into MuSK{sup -/-} myotubes demonstrate that residues in this hydrophobic patch are critical for agrin-induced MuSK activation.
Likely Users of Advanced Traveler Information Systems: Evidence from the Seattle Region

Findings about the claimed use of and interest in traveler information systems among segments of the general population in the Seattle metropolitan region are reported. The research is based on data collected from a 1997 intelligent transportation system supplement to the Puget Sound Regional Council's transportation panel travel diary study. In general, interest in traffic information was found to be a function of complex travel behavior, demographics, and factors related to attitudinal and technology interest. It was also found that the potential market for advanced traveler information systems (ATIS) includes several market segments with different needs; each is drawn to ATIS for distinct and varying reasons. First, the so-called control seeker segment includes people who desire greater than average control over their environment. In a traffic information context, that translates to better knowledge of their travel times, especially in congested travel environments. The second segment of interest, dubbed webheads, includes individuals who are very comfortable with high technology, and it is possible that they would be drawn to ATIS at least partially through specific high-technology dissemination media. A third segment is made up of individuals who are less comfortable with (or less interested in) technology and are primarily interested in pretrip information, which they use to make departure time and route choice decisions.
Data rate management and real time operation: recursive adaptive frame integration of limited data

Recursive Limited Frame Integration was proposed as a way to improve frame integration performance and mitigate issues related to high data rate needed to support conventional frame integration. The technique uses two thresholds -one tuned for optimum probability of detection, the other to manage required false alarm rate, and places integration process between those thresholds. This configuration allows a non-linear integration process that, along with Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) gain, provides system designers more capability where cost, weight, or power considerations limit system data rate, processing, or memory capability. However, Recursive Frame Integration Limited may have performance issues when single-frame SNR is really low. Recursive Adaptive Limited Frame Integration was proposed as a means to improve limited integration performance with really low single-frame SNR. It combines the benefits of nonlinear recursive limited frame integration and adaptive thresholds with a kind of conventional frame integration. Adding the third threshold may help in managing real time operations. In the paper the Recursive Frame Integration is presented in form of multiple parallel recursive integration. Such an approach can help not only in data rate management but in mitigation of low single frame SNR issue for Recursive Integration as well as in real time operations with frame integration.
Spatial analysis of MODIS aerosol optical depth, PM2.5, and chronic coronary heart disease.

Numerous studies have found adverse health effects of acute and chronic exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5). Air pollution epidemiological studies relying on ground measurements provided by monitoring networks are often limited by sparse and unbalanced spatial distribution of the monitors. Studies have found correlations between satellite aerosol optical depth (AOD) and PM2.5 in some land regions. Satellite aerosol data may be used to extend the spatial coverage of PM2.5 exposure assessment. This study was to investigate correlation between PM2.5 and AOD in the conterminous USA, to derive a spatially complete PM2.5 surface by merging satellite AOD data and ground measurements based on the potential correlation, and to examine if there is an association of coronary heart disease with PM2.5. Years 2003 and 2004 daily MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer) Level 2 AOD images were collated with US EPA PM2.5 data covering the conterminous USA. Pearson's correlation analysis and geographically weighted regression (GWR) found that the relationship between PM2.5 and AOD is not spatially consistent across the conterminous states. The average correlation is 0.67 in the east and 0.22 in the west. GWR predicts well in the east and poorly in the west. The GWR model was used to derive a PM2.5 grid surface using the mean AOD raster calculated using the daily AOD data (RMSE = 1.67 μg/m3). Fitting of a Bayesian hierarchical model linking PM2.5 with age-race standardized mortality rates (SMRs) of chronic coronary heart disease found that areas with higher values of PM2.5 also show high rates of CCHD mortality: = 0.802, posterior 95% Bayesian credible interval (CI) = (0.386, 1.225). There is a spatial variation of the relationship between PM2.5 and AOD in the conterminous USA. In the eastern USA where AOD correlates well with PM2.5, AOD can be merged with ground PM2.5 data to derive a PM2.5 surface for epidemiological study. The study found that chronic coronary heart disease mortality rate increases with exposure to PM2.5.
Groundnut nitrogen fixation by three serologically and morphologically distinct rhizobia

Abstract Three cowpea miscellany rhizobia, a commercial strain (TAL 309) and two field isolates from Sudan (Wad Medani and Kadugli strains), were chosen for detailed studies because they could be separated by serological or morphological characteristics. The strains were screened in the greenhouse on three groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars, “Ashford” and “MH383” (both Virginia types), and “Barberton” (a Spanish type). Whenever the TAL 309 strain was included in inoculum mixtures, it consistently occupied the majority of nodules with all three groundnut cultivars. Although significant differences were found in top dry-matter weights, color ratings, nitrogenase activities, and total nodule number among the three cultivars tested, there were no host-genotype-by-strain interactions either in growth measurements or in nodule occupancy. Correlation matrices indicated that several of the measures made could serve as reliable indicators of rhizobial efficiency. Both top dry-matter weight and plant color, and top dry-matter weight and C2H2 reduction were related at the 0.001 level of probability.
Eastern North Pacific Hurricane Season of 1998

Abstract The 1998 eastern North Pacific hurricane season is reviewed. There were 15 tropical cyclones, consisting of nine hurricanes, four tropical storms, and two tropical depressions. During 1998, two tropical cyclones made landfall; Hurricane Isis made two landfalls in Mexico while Tropical Depression Javier dissipated near Cabo Corrientes, Mexico.
Effects of acute smoking on brain activity vary with abstinence in smokers performing the N-Back task: a preliminary study.

Abstract We previously reported that compared with a non-deprivation state, overnight abstinence from cigarette smoking was associated with higher brain activity in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (L-DLPFC) during a low demanding working memory challenge, and little increase beyond this activity level during more taxing working memory conditions. In the present study, we aimed to assess how recent smoking (overnight abstinence vs. smoking ad libitum ) influenced the effect of smoking a cigarette on brain activity related to a working memory challenge. Six smokers performed the N-Back working memory task during functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) both before and after smoking a cigarette in each of two test sessions: one following overnight abstinence from smoking (∼13 h) and the other following ad libitum smoking. Task-related activity in L-DLPFC showed a significant interaction between the effects of acute smoking, test session, and task load. After overnight abstinence, post-smoking brain activity in L-DLPFC was lower than before smoking at low task load and higher at high task load; corresponding activity on a day of ad libitum smoking was higher at low load and lower at high task load after smoking during the session. These data suggest that the effect of acute smoking on working memory processing depends on recent prior smoking and task load. In particular, they provide preliminary evidence that functional efficiency of working memory is improved by smoking a cigarette during abstinence, while the effect of a cigarette in a non-deprived state varies with the nature and difficulty of the working memory challenge. This interaction merits further examination in larger studies specifically designed to consider this issue.
Predicting the Development of Late-Life Late-Onset Drinking Problems: A 7-Year Prospective Study

There has been little empirical study of risk factors for the development of late-life late-onset drinking problems. In the current prospective study, we compare two groups of older adults who, at a baseline assessment, were nonproblem drinkers: individuals who developed drinking problems over the course of the next 7 years (n = 77) and those who did not (n = 197). Late-onset problem drinkers reported mild to moderate drinking problems and spontaneous remission rates were high. Compared with stable nonproblem drinkers, late-onset problem drinkers at baseline were more likely to report incipient problems, heavier alcohol consumption, greater friend approval of drinking, more reliance on avoidance coping strategies, were more likely to smoke, and were less likely to have acute medical conditions that could potentially be complicated by alcohol consumption. Contrary to expectation, life stressors did not predict drinking problem onset. However, compared with stable nonproblem drinkers, late-onset problem drinkers were more likely to have a history of responding to stressors and negative affect with increased alcohol consumption.
Perceptual separability and spatial models

Highly analyzable two-dimensional color stimuli were generated using stimulus cards such that one part of each card varied only on the first dimension and the other part varied only on the second. Subjects were required to make judgments of similarity between pairs of these analyzable stimuli, between pairs of relatively unanalyzable color stimuli, and between pairs of geometric stimuli. The results support previous findings that the Euclidean combining rule is appropriate for judgments of single color patches but indicate that the city block combining rule may be appropriate for simple stimuli that vary on perceptually distinct dimensions.
DIGITAL ARTERIAL OCCLUSION IN SCLERODERMA: IS THERE A ROLE FOR DIGITAL ARTERIAL RECONSTRUCTION?

A 47-year-old patient with Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to scleroderma developed long finger ischaemic pain. This was successfully treated with a palmar sympathectomy and a long finger digital artery reconstruction using a reversed small calibre vein graft between a perforator from the deep palmar arch and the radial digital artery at the level of the distal interphalangeal joint.
Microprogrammable arithmetic element and its applications to digital signal processing

This paper describes a microprogrammable arithmetic element (m.a.e.) which has been designed as an integrated circuit on a high-speed bipolar process using emitter coupled logic (e.c.l.). Although the m.a.e., which contains a multiplier and adder, is a general-purpose computing device, it is ideally suited to a variety of digital signal processing (d.s.p.) applications such as discrete Fourier transforms, correlators, digital filters, etc. After a brief introduction to d.s.p. systems, some applications of the m.a.e. are discussed in detail. The m.a.e. forms part of a d.s.p. chip set which also includes a pair of integrated circuits. These have been produced by using e.c.l. programmable logic arrays (p.l.a.s); they decode a conventional binary sequence into the various addressing sequences required by a radix-2 decimation-in-time f.f.t. algorithm. In the past, the sheer cost and complexity of d.s.p. systems has restricted the system designers to make use of minimum hardware configurations in order to produce a system of reasonable size. However, such design philosophy has to be reviewed in the light of l.s.i. technology which has provided cheaper and bigger memory systems, apart from other l.s.i. building blocks. This point has been stressed by considering the design of an f.f.t. system.
Antiretroviral Drug Interactions: Overview of Interactions Involving New and Investigational Agents and the Role of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring for Management

Antiretrovirals are prone to drug-drug and drug-food interactions that can result in subtherapeutic or supratherapeutic concentrations. Interactions between antiretrovirals and medications for other diseases are common due to shared metabolism through cytochrome P450 (CYP450) and uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes and transport by membrane proteins (e.g., p-glycoprotein, organic anion-transporting polypeptide). The clinical significance of antiretroviral drug interactions is reviewed, with a focus on new and investigational agents. An overview of the mechanistic basis for drug interactions and the effect of individual antiretrovirals on CYP450 and UGT isoforms are provided. Interactions between antiretrovirals and medications for other co-morbidities are summarized. The role of therapeutic drug monitoring in the detection and management of antiretroviral drug interactions is also briefly discussed.
Multimedia in Geography: Good, Bad, Ugly, or Cool?

Technology has changed drastically in the last few decades and is profoundly affecting the way in which geography is recorded, studied, and communicated. One of the developments affecting the discipline is multimedia, the use of more than one medium—text, still graphics, sound, animation, video—to represent and convey information. Interactive multimedia gives the user control over the order in which to see or hear that information. In its current use, multimedia implies the use of a computer and almost always implies interactivity as well. While multimedia opens doors for geographers to discover and communicate, it also raises issues of cost, control, effectiveness, accessibility, and potential negative intellectual outcomes. Like other technological developments, it will have an impact. We can pay attention to it, guiding its use and lessening its negative effects, but we cannot and should not stop its development.
Zirconate pyrochlores under high pressure

Ab initio total-energy calculations and X-ray diffraction measurements have been combined to study the phase stability of zirconate pyrochlores (A2Zr2O7; A = La, Nd and Sm) under pressures up to 50 GPa. Phase transformations to the defect-cotunnite structure are theoretically predicted at pressures of 22, 20 and 18 GPa, in excellent agreement with the experimentally determined values of 21, 22 and 18 GPa for La2Zr2O7, Nd2Zr2O7 and Sm2Zr2O7, respectively. Analysis of the elastic properties indicates that elastic anisotropy may be one of the driving forces for the pressure-induced cubic-to-noncubic phase transformation.
Neuroblastoma as a prominent component of a mixed germ cell tumor of testis.

Background Primitive neuroectodermal tissue in teratomas of testis has been reported in the literature. A mixed germ cell tumor of testis with a prominent neuroblastoma component dictating the clinical behavior was found to be unique. Methods Tissue sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, cytogenetic, and flow cytometric analyses were performed on the primitive neuroectodermal component of the testicular mass. Follow-up results at 2.5 years are included. Results The microscopic findings on hematoxylin and eosin slides showed cells composing the majority of the neoplasm to have features of neuroblastoma. The immunohistochemical stains showed positivity for neuron-specific enolase in the cells comprising the neuroblastoma, and transmission electron microscopic study corroborated these findings by demonstrating microtubules and rare membrane-limited, dense-core granules in the cytoplasm. Flow cytometry showed a hypertetraploid population with a large aneuploid DNA content. Cytogenetics revealed a hypertriploid modal number of 74 chromosomes. The clinical features were dictated by the neuroblastoma component in a fashion similar to that of adult neuroblastomas and responded to the chemotherapeutic regimen designed for treating neuroblastoma. Conclusions The neuroblastoma component proved to be more aggressive than the other elements of this neoplasm. This finding suggests that mixed germ cell tumors showing a large neuroblastoma component should be treated promptly and aggressively with chemotherapy.
A Convex Hull Inclusion Test

A new characterization of the interior of the convex hull of a finite point set is given. An inclusion test based on this characterization is, on average, almost linear in the number of points times the dimensionality.
The Shear Response of Low Molecular Weight Poly(n-hexyl isocyanate) Wormlike Three-Arm Stars in Semidilute Solution

The rheo-optical response to shearing of semidilute solutions of highly monodisperse, wormlike poly(n-hexyl isocyanate) three-arm stars was investigated using simultaneous birefringence and dichroism measurements. There were two modes to the birefringence response: a fast mode, corresponding to molecular orientation and a slow mode which, through scattering dichroism measurements, is confirmed to be associated with the dynamics of anisotropic multichain associations in solution. In addition, the dichroism measurements showed that these structures oriented perpendicular to the mean chain orientation within the structures. The optical equivalent of the shear stress, nxy, scales as (γc3.2)0.74 for these stiff, low molecular weight samples in the semidilute concentration regime.