cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Normal matrices with a dominant eigenvalue and an eigenvector with no zero entries

We say that a square complex matrix is dominant if it has an algebraically simple eigenvalue whose modulus is strictly greater than the modulus of any other eigenvalue; such an eigenvalue and any associated eigenvector are also said to be dominant. We explore inequalities that are sufficient to ensure that a normal matrix is dominant and has a dominant eigenvector with no zero entries. For a real symmetric matrix, these inequalities force the entries of a dominant real eigenvector to have a prescribed sign pattern. In the cases of equality in our inequalities, we find that exceptional extremal matrices must have a very special form.
Aging-related decrease in hepatic cytochrome oxidase of the Fischer 344 rat

Abstract The effect of aging on the hepatic mitochondrial population has been determined using a rigorously defined group of Fischer 344 rats with known survivorship data. The age groups studied included mature adult controls (8.5 months; 100% survivorship), an intermediate aged group (17.5 months; 90% survivorship), and an aged group (29 months; 20% survivorship). Cytochrome oxidase activity and content were determined in homogenates and mitochondrial fractions. The mitochondrial fractions were characterized by determination of respiratory activity, and monoamine oxidase activity as well as evaluation of the polypeptide composition by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and two-dimensional electrophoresis. The yield of protein in the isolated mitochondrial fraction as well as the mitochondrial specific content decreased significantly as a function of aging. Mitochondrial specific content was determined from the specific activities of cytochrome oxidase in the homogenate (per gram liver) and in the isolated mitochondrial fraction (per mg protein). Specific activity of hepatic cytochrome oxidase decreased approximately 15% (P = 0.035) in homogenates from the 17.5-month animals with a further, highly significant (P = 0.0002) decrease (29%) in the 29-month animals. In contrast, there was no statistically significant difference among the age groups in the cytochrome oxidase specific activity in the isolated hepatic mitochondrial fractions. However, the percentage of the total homogenate cytochrome oxidase activity recovered in the isolated mitochondrial fraction decreased significantly in the 29-month animals (P = 0.0063 vs the 8.5-month controls; P = 0.022 vs the 17.5-month group). Cytochrome aa3 content of total liver homogenates from aged animals decreased (P = 0.00064) which is in agreement with the decline in cytochrome oxidase specific activity in this age group. In the mitochondrial fraction from the aged animals, cytochrome aa3 content was essentially unchanged which is consistent with the lack of aging-related change in mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase specific activity. In freshly isolated mitochondrial fractions, no aging-related alterations were observed in respiratory control and ADP O ratios. The addition of exogenous NADH and cytochrome c did not change significantly the respiratory rate of hepatic mitochondria from control or aged animals. These results demonstrate the integrity of freshly isolated mitochondrial preparations from both control and aged Fischer 344 rats. In addition, there was no aging-related alteration in either monoamine oxidase specific activity or polypeptide composition. The similarities observed in the specific activities of cytochrome oxidase and monoamine oxidase, as well as in the cytochrome aa3 content and polypeptide composition of the isolated mitochondrial fraction, suggest a generalized decrease in hepatic mitochondrial content as a function of aging rather than a selective loss of mitochondrial components.
Destruction of intrinsic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus disrupts the classical conditioning of autonomic but not behavioral emotional responses in the rat

The present study examined whether destruction of intrinsic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus of the rat would disrupt the acquisition of classically conditioned changes in arterial pressure. Ibotenic acid, a cellular toxin which spares axons of passage, was injected bilaterally in the hypothalamus either medial or lateral to the fornix. After 2 weeks the animals were subjected to classical fear conditioning trials involving the presentation of a tone in association with footshock. The next day changes in arterial pressure and emotional behavior elicited by the tone alone were measured. Destruction of intrinsic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus prevented the normal establishment of the arterial pressure conditioned response but did not affect the behavioral response. Unconditioned arterial pressure responses elicited by the tone and shock were not affected. Medial hypothalamic injections had no effect on any of the responses. The location of the lateral hypothalamic cell loss overlapped with the neurons projecting to the autonomic region of the spinal cord. Intrinsic neurons in the lateral hypothalamus therefore appear to be specifically involved in mediating learned cardiovascular adjustments.
Recent Logical Inquiries and their Psychological Bearings

can be developed without the use of any conceptions whatever of metrical relations in space. In other words, projective geometry is a science of spatial order, and not at all of spatial quantity. Cayley and Klein showed how, by the use of certain (once more, very abstract and ideal) assumptions, our ordinary metrical geometry can be made to appear as a highly specialized case of this purely ordinal science. In the light of this consideration, Klein's just cited remark about the contrast between visual space and tactual motor space suggests a very interesting, although a very complete psychological problem about the psychology of the concepts of order and of quantity in their application to space. I suppose that no psychologist would admit that visual space is primarily non-metrical; and, of course, Klein did not mean that it was purely so. For the rest, visual space is obviously related to our consciousness of the results of our movements, and cannot be isolated from them, except by a deliberate abstraction. But, on the other hand, visual space [p. 122] certainly does present to us the facts which projective geometry isolates; while our other space experiences do not directly involve these projective facts at all. But the projective facts, as logical analysis shows, are, when taken by themselves, non-metrical, while the laws of the metrical facts regarding space are capable of being conceptually defined as very specialized cases or results, under certain ideal conditions, of the laws of a non-metrical space-world. These considerations may not prove to have important results for the psychology of our concepts of order and of measure; but as they stand, they certainly suggest genuine problems for psychological scrutiny. I wonder, then, to find them so little regarded by the psychological students of the space problem. In a somewhat different direction various contributions to the questions about our consciousness of space have been made, within the last few years, by M. Poincare, who has here shown, not only all the knowledge of a great mathematical investigator, but also a decided effort to translate his analyses into psychological terms. These contributions of Poincare, following the results of Lie and others, have laid stress upon the relation between our general spatial conceptions and the mathematical theory of 'groups'; and they promise in still another way to bring to pass connections between psychological and mathematical investigations. In view of such developments, I feel that the time is approaching when no psychologist will have a right to try to contribute to a knowledge of our space-consciousness, so long as his own geometrical conceptions are still confined to those of the mathematical text-books of his early youth. Psychological space theories must be brought into explicit relation with mathematical theories.
INTELLIGENT TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS: AN ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ASSESSMENT

This paper discusses the congestion relief and environmental impacts expected of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) based on a qualitative assessment of the incentives generated. It uses theoretical and empirical results from the literature to evaluate the private and externality impacts of Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS), Automated Highway Systems (AHS) and Intelligent Transit Systems and discusses the appropriate role of the public sector in their development based on these impacts. It is argued that although ITS are intended to improve system efficiency, the technologies may, in fact, exacerbate the existing, economic inefficiencies in the surface transportation system and that policies to correct these inefficiencies become all the more crucial as we consider implementation of ITS. Several policies that target environmental externalities are discussed as possible complements to ITS.
Pravastatin lowered coronary disease risk in elderly persons with or at risk for vascular disease

Source Citation Shepherd J, Blauw GJ, Murphy MB, et al. Pravastatin in elderly individuals at risk of vascular disease (PROSPER): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2002;360:1623-30. 12457784 (...
The Effect of Cadmium on Nodulation and N2(C2H2)‐Fixation by Dry Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Experiments were conducted to determine the toxicity of Cd on the nodulation, N/sub 2/(C/sub 2/H/sub 2/)-fixation, and growth of dry beans. Plants were grown in the greenhouse with hydroponic solutions to which 0 to 500 ..mu..m Cd/liter had been added. The total N content of shoots, nodule weight, nodule number, and N/sub 2/(C/sub 2/H/sub 2/)-fixation were significantly decreased at 10 ..mu..m Cd/liter. Nodulation was completely inhibited at 500 ..mu..m Cd/liter. Nodulation and the N/sub 2/(C/sub 2/H/sub 2/)-fixation rate were negatively correlated with solution Cd concentration (r = -0.97). Cadmium uptake and translocation were slow; therefore, Cd levels were highest in the roots, much lower in the nodules, and lowest in the shoot tissue. For example, at 20 ..mu..m Cd/liter, respective tissue Cd levels averaged 431, 80, and 35 ..mu..g Cd/g, on a dry weight basis. Cadmium levels in roots or shoots from comparable Cd treatments were essentially the same whether the plants obtained their N by fixation or from nutrient solution NO/sub 3/. Root Cd concentrations were exponentially correlated with nodule number, nodule weight, and acetylene reduction, with correlation coefficients of -0.99, -0.99, and -0.97, respectively. Shoot Cd concentrations were logarithmically correlated with nodule number, nodule weight, and acetylene reduction,more » with correlation coefficients of -0.89, -0.91, and -0.84, respectively.« less
Oligonucleotide interactions. 3. Circular dichroism studies of the conformation of deoxyoligonucleotides.

The circular dichroism (CD) spectra of the four usual deoxymononucleosides, all sixteen deoxydinucleotides, and a number of trinucleotides have been measured. The dimer spectra are quite different from the sum of the spectra of their constituent monomers. This indicates the presence of base-stacked conformations analogous to those found for ribonucleoside diphosphates. The CD spectra of several deoxytrinucleotide diphosphates and single-strand f 1 DNA can be calculated fairly well by using a semi-empirical nearest-neighbor approach. There is little or no effect of terminal phosphate or of salt concentration on the optical properties of most deoxy oligomers. The possibility of simultaneous analysis of mixtures of deoxypurine or deoxypyrimidine sequence isomers has been examined. This seems to be a viable approach for the analysis of purine runs but cannot promise much success for pyrimidine runs.
Warfarin and ascorbic acid: lack of evidence for a drug interaction.

Abstract The effects of high-dose ascorbic acid on warfarin-induced hypoprothrombinemia and clotting factor activity kinetics were studied in healthy dogs. The biologic half-life and rates of synthesis of these factors were unaffected by ascorbic acid. No changes were noted in the prothrombin times of animals chronically treated with anticoagulants or in the concentration of factors II and factors VII X complex in these dogs. These investigations do not support a postulated significant drug interaction between warfarin and ascorbic acid.
Diversifying the composition and structure of managed late-successional forests with harvest gaps: What is the optimal gap size?

Managing forests for resilience is crucial in the face of uncertain future environmental conditions. Because harvest gap size alters the species diversity and vertical and horizontal structural heterogeneity, there may be an optimum range of gap sizes for conferring resilience to environmental uncertainty. We examined the impacts of different harvest gap sizes on structure and composition in northern hardwood forests of the upper Great Lakes region, USA using a robustly-designed experiment consisting of six harvest gap sizes replicated 12 times with over a decade of repeated measurements. We found that germinant (trees < 0.15 m tall) densities were greatest in year 2 (71.6 stems m
Array Microscope for High Throughput Stiffness Characterization of Cancer Biology

The reciprocity of mechanical information between cells and their microenvironment has increased appreciation for the role of physics in cancer progression. Although much interest is given to studying the signaling pathways that govern how normal cell function and structure become abnormal during cancer progression, these changes convolute already difficult and highly variable mechanical measurements of single cells. To address the need of minimizing single measurement variability as well as the desire to explore the large signaling-protein parameter spaces of cancer biology, we have developed an automated high throughput microscope system that utilizes passive microbead diffusion to characterize cell mechanics. Here, we describe the instrumentation advances of our system, including 12 independently controllable optical paths - each of which is capable of video rate image acquisition in brightfield and two-channel fluorescence, and is equipped with electronically tunable autofocus. In all, video data collection across a 96-well plate takes as little as 10 minutes. A data analysis pipeline then identifies and tracks microbeads, filters and applies statistical analysis to mechanical measurements, and occurs completely unsupervised. We show that the thermal diffusion of micron-sized beads connected to integrin surface receptors via fibronectin can distinguish ovarian, melanoma and bladder cancers with varying metastatic potentials. With sampling sizes in the thousands, we report stiffness differences between cancer cell types as well as the effect of loss and gain of function constructs aimed to alter actin cytoskeletal structures. Our results support previously published work describing the inverse relationship between mechanical stiffness and invasion behavior, and ultimately, demonstrate the value of our high throughput instrument and passive rheology assay as a screening tool for studying relevant signaling pathways involved in cancer cell mechanics.
The Soviet military's performance at Chernobyl

THE ACCIDENT at the Chernobyl nuclear power station (NPS) on 26 April 1986 was a disaster of global proportions that has changed the politics of nuclear power in the Soviet Union and abroad. It has also given rise to an enormous volume of governmental and corporate studies, scholarly and popular books and articles, and even poetry, films and plays. Except in Soviet newspaper and journal accounts, however, surprisingly little has been written about the performance of one of the major institutional actors at Chernobyl-the Soviet military.1 This article is an effort to correct, at least in part, this oversight. More specifically, it: (1) identifies the principal organisational actors in the Soviet armed forces that were active in the Chernobyl clean-up;2 (2) examines how and when the commanders of major units learned of the accident and arrived on the scene; (3) analyses the tasks performed by the Soviet military; (4) evaluates the performance of representative military units; and (5) seeks to discern lessons from the performance of the military that may be applicable to other crisis situations. In support of this last task, a comparison is also made of the Soviet military's performance at Chernobyl and after the 1988 Armenian earthquake.
Aneurysms of the Abdominal Aorta: Whether or Not, When, and Whom?

Recently, those who profess conservative views concerning management of aneurysms of the abdominal aorta argued against operative treatment, saying that the mere presence of an aneurysm is an indication that a patient often suffers from an advanced, terminal stage of diffuse arteriosclerosis and that operation in this patient is futile because it does not prolong life. The experience reported here represents a contrary view. Four hundred and eighty consecutive patients were followed from three to ten years postoperatively. Although the survival rate of these patients was lower than that of the general population of comparable age, it remained significantly higher than that of patients with known aneurysms who did not have the benefit of surgical treatment.
Parametric algorithms for global optimization of mixed-integer fractional programming problems in process engineering

In this work, we proposed novel parametric algorithms for solving large-scale mixed-integer linear and nonlinear fractional programming problems, and illustrate their application in process systems engineering. By developing an equivalent parametric formulation of the general mixed-integer fractional program (MIFP), we propose four exact parametric algorithms based on the root-finding methods, including bisection method, Newton's method, secant method and false position method, respectively, for the global optimization of MIFPs. We also propose an inexact parametric algorithm that can potentially outperform the exact parametric algorithms for some types of MIFPs. Extensive computational studies are performed to demonstrate the efficiency of these parametric algorithms and to compare them with the general-purpose mixed-integer nonlinear programming methods. The applications of the proposed algorithms are illustrated through a case study on process scheduling. Computational results show that the proposed exact and inexact parametric algorithms are more computationally efficient than several general-purpose solvers for solving MIFPs.
Restoration of long-term missing gaps in solar radiation

Abstract Solar radiation is an important climatic variable and widely used in building performance monitoring and analysis. However, due to sensor malfunction, data transmission problems, and quality assurance issues, there are often short-term or long-term missing data on solar radiation. These gaps are challenging for engineers involved in building performance monitoring and control. This paper examines and compares three different approaches, namely, singular spectrum analysis (SSA), statistically adjusted solar radiation (SASR), and the temperature-based approach (TBA), for restoring missing solar data. The TBA, SASR, and SSA are applied to fill artificial gaps which are generated continuously as representative of up to 25 days missing data in actual hourly solar radiation data of Oklahoma City North (OKCN) for 2012 and Albuquerque for 2005. Results show that SSA outperforms the other methods for filling solar radiation gaps of up to 5 days. For gaps up to 20 days, the SSA and TBA have similar performance. For gaps larger than 20 days, the TBA is more suitable. The SASR performs similarly to the TBA for dry and sunny Alburquerque climates, but worse in OKCN. Accuracy of the SSA decreases with increasing gap lengths. The study concludes by recommending appropriate methods for different gap lengths.
A rapid method for estimating total protein in milk.

IN 1944, Fraenkel-Conrat and Cooper1 determined the acid-binding capacities of several proteins by treating the protein with an excess of an anionic dye, orange G, at a pH of 2.2. The dye and protein react quantitatively to form an insoluble complex which can easily be separated either by centrifuging or filtering. (Ordinary filter paper binds a small amount of dye which must be accounted for to obtain accurate results.) From the concentration of unbound dye (measured colorimetrically), the binding capacity can be calculated. Using this method in principle in an investigation designed to determine the acid-binding capacities of several protein fractions derived from wheat flour, I2 noted an unexpected uniformity in the binding capacity of mixtures of the two major fractions as obtained from each of several varieties of wheat. These two individual protein fractions have binding capacities differing by a factor of nearly two.
Abstract 3409: Transcription factor signature of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) results in significant mortality and morbidity despite current therapeutic strategies. The molecular biology of HNSCC is related to abnormal transcriptional regulation. A direct comprehensive genome wide analysis of deregulation of key transcription factors (TF) in primary HNSCC has not been performed. In this study we sought to analyze the differences in transcription factor signatures in subtypes of cancer patients and the normal population. Methods: To evaluate the TF signatures of 44 HNSCC samples and 25 healthy oral mucosa samples we used the Affymetrix GeneChip Human Exon 1.0 ST Array data and estimated transcription levels of all genes. The TF activity signature of each of 2,600 human transcription factors was characterized by the expression of its target genes, as reflected in TRANSFAC, and corrected for methylation and CNV status. The significance of each TF based on the expression levels of its targets was compared for HPV positive (HPV+) and HPV negative (HPV-) samples. The expression of the subset of target genes of NFKB, STATs and AP1 pathways was confirmed my qRT-PCR and co-activation of NFKB and STAT3 was confirmed by Immunistochemical (IHC) analysis. Results: Of the top ranked TFs analyzed AP1, NFKB and STATs exhibited the greatest differences in TF activity in HPV+ and HPV- HNSCC tumor tissue. The changes of activity of these factors do not depend on DNA methylation or copy loss for their targets. We have confirmed coordinated activation of STAT3 and NFKB pathways in tumor samples, and showed that these pathways are the most activated in HPV- population of HNSCC patients. We have also discovered the top ten scoring genes, which expression was differentially affected by HPV infection. Expression analysis of these ten genes allows classification of HNSCC patients into three groups. Conclusions: We have discovered that HPV+ and HPV- HNSCC differ significantly based on the level of activity of the key TF, such as AP1, STATs and NFKB. These data have implications for therapeutic targeting of tumors, as well as potential insight into biologic variability of behavior and treatment response for HPV+ and HPV- HNSCC patients. Citation Format: Daria A. Gaykalova, Judi Manola, Hiroyuki Ozawa, Kathryn Morton, Justin Bishop, Michael Considine, Rajni Sharma, Chi Zhang, Elana Fertig, Marietta Tan, Patrick Hennessey, Julie Ahn, Wayne Koch, Zubair Khan, Christine H. Chung, Michael F. Ochs, Joseph A. Califano. Transcription factor signature of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3409. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3409
What Limits Social Spending

Abstract The forces that are most likely to set the ultimate limits on social spending as a share of GDP are not those usually imagined. The deadweight costs of such spending, and the taxes behind them, fail to show the predicted upward spiral. The experience of 1960–1981 shows a major role for shifts in relative age-group sizes, but with an approaching sunset to the effect of aging on social-spending patterns. In addition, the further are the middle pre-fisc income ranks from the poor, the lower the political tendency to spend on any major type of social program.
The Sticky Situation of Sportsmanship: Contexts and Contradictions in Sportsmanship among High School Boys Basketball Players

This article makes a substantive contribution to our understanding of youth and sport participation by exploring the interrelated ways in which situational contexts influence sportsmanship in competitive high school boys basketball. The author uses ethnographic data gathered while he was an assistant coach of boys varsity basketball, at a predominantly African American high school, and a social constructionist approach to demonstrate how players and coaches mediate notions of sportsmanship through the contexts of the game, coaches’ philosophy regarding player conduct, and the everyday social reality of the athletes. The players’ use of contexts to define appropriate sportsmanlike behavior creates a dilemma or “sticky situation” in which the young men must weigh the often-contradictory goals of winning against shifting definitions of sportsmanship. The author discusses the implications of the complex nature of sportsmanship and competitive youth sport.
A factor analysis of new and standardized instruments to measure the creative potential and high-energy action preference of performing arts students. A preliminary investigation

Abstract Two standardized creativity instruments and three original instruments to measure a preference for high-energy activity and to provide a creative product were given to 86 dance, music and drama students. A factor analysis of eight scales of the five instruments showed correlation between the new and standardized instruments, produced three groupings—visual, verbal and action—and an ANOVA demonstrated that some of these scales could differentiate among the specialist groups. The new instruments were devised to clarify if performing arts students, whose major activity is often interpretive, are creative and if their choice to be performers is related to a preference for high-energy physical activities.
Role of the Capacitance and Resistance Vessels in Vasovagal Syncope

Withdrawal of sympathetic tone to the veins resulting in peripheral pooling of blood has been suggested as an important factor contributing to the decrease in cardiac output and hence arterial pressure that occurs during vasovagal syncope. However, no measurements of venous tone during syncope have been reported. In the course of other studies on the circulatory effects of negative pressure below the iliac crests, and 80° head-up tilt, vasovagal reactions occurred in 10 subjects. Heart rate, central venous pressure, arterial pressure, forearm blood flow, forearm vascular resistance, and forearm or hand venous tone were measured. The typical vasovagal reaction could be divided into two phases. A gradual fall in arterial pressure signified the onset of phase I, during which forearm vascular resistance did not change significantly. The duration of phase I was highly variable. The onset of phase II was denoted by an abrupt fall in arterial pressure and heart rate and a decrease of 62% in forearm vascular resi...
Integration of Self-Contained Children With Severe Speech-Language Needs Into the Regular Education Classroom

A model for the full integration of children with severe speech-language problems into the regular classroom is presented. After the diagnostic characteristics and educational profiles of the sever...
Survival following lung resection in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary invasive fungal infection.

Objectives Pulmonary invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are associated with high mortality in patients being treated for haematological malignancy. There is limited understanding of the role for surgical lung resection and outcomes in this patient population. Methods This is a retrospective cohort of 50 immunocompromised patients who underwent lung resection for IFI. Patient charts were reviewed for details on primary malignancy and treatment course, presentation and work-up of IFI, reasons for surgery, type of resection and outcomes including postoperative complications, mortality, disease relapse and survival. Analysis was also performed on two subgroups based on year of surgery from 1990-2000 and 2001-2014. Results The median age was 39 years (range: 5-64 years). Forty-seven patients (94%) had haematological malignancies and 38 (76%) underwent haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Surgical indications included haemoptysis, antifungal therapy failure and need for eradication before HSCT. The most common pathogen was Aspergillus in 34 patients (74%). Wedge resections were performed in 32 patients (64%), lobectomy in 9 (18%), segmentectomy in 2 (4%) and some combination of the 3 in 7 (14%) for locally extensive, multifocal disease. There were 9 (18%) minor and 14 (28%) major postoperative complications. Postoperative mortality at 30 days was 12% (n = 6). Acute respiratory distress syndrome was the most common cause of postoperative death. Overall 5-year survival was 19%. Patients who had surgery in the early period had a median survival of 24 months compared with 5 months for those who had surgery before 2001 (P = 0.046). At the time of death, 15 patients (30%) had probable or proven recurrent IFI. Causes of death were predominantly related to refractory malignancy, fungal lung disease or complications of graft versus host disease (GVHD). Patients who had positive preoperative bronchoscopy cultures had a trend towards worse survival compared with those with negative cultures (hazard ratio: 1.80, P = 0.087). Conclusions Surgical resection of IFI in immunocompromised patients is associated with high perioperative mortality. Long-term survival is limited by recurrent malignancy, persistent fungal infection and GVHD but has improved in recent years. Selection for surgical resection is difficult in this patient population, but should be carefully considered in those who are symptomatic, or have failed antifungal treatment.
Ertapenem usage in cancer patients with and without neutropenia: a report on 97 cases from a comprehensive cancer center.

Ertapenem is being increasingly utilized in cancer patients, but published data regarding its usage are limited. Our objective was to describe the various indications for ertapenem therapy and its safety and efficacy in cancer patients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of cancer patients who received monotherapy with ertapenem for at least 72 h, between January 2007 and February 2013. Among 97 unique patients who received ertapenem monotherapy, the most common indications were: (1) To facilitate discharge from the hospital of stable patients still requiring antimicrobial therapy (46 %). (2) Primary therapy of various documented infections (bacteremia, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, skin and skin structure infection) with ertapenem (28 %). (3) De-escalation from a different broad-spectrum agent or regimen to ertapenem within the hospital setting in patients not ready for discharge (25 %). The median age of the 97 patients studied was 59 years (range 9–87 years) with 52 % being men. Most patients had underlying hematologic malignancies (54 %), and 7 % were recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Twenty-nine patients (30 %) were neutropenic, 26 % were diabetic, and 6 % had chronic lung disease. Primary ertapenem monotherapy was successful in all patients, de-escalation in 95.8 % of patients, and the strategy of discharge on outpatient therapy with ertapenem in 95.6 % of patients. Patients failing de-escalation or early discharge responded to alternative regimens. We documented no significant ertapenem associated toxicity or adverse events. Ertapenem appears to be safe and effective for several indications in cancer patients.
Evaluating Operator Performance in Aided Airborne Mine Detection

In this paper we evaluate mine level detection performance of the human operator using high resolution mid-wave infrared (MWIR) imagery and compare it with the performance of automatic target recognition (ATR) like RX detector. Previous studies have shown that the anomaly detectors like the RX detector and even more sophisticated ATR techniques fall short of the performance achieved by human analyst for mine and minefield detection. There are three main objectives of the paper. First, we seek to establish performance bounds for mine detection using a single MWIR sensor under different conditions. Second, we evaluate the conditions under which the human visual system contributes significantly over and above RX anomaly detector. Third, we seek to qualitatively study the visual processes and mental models employed by the human operators to detect mines. A graphical user interface (HILgui) was developed using MATLAB to evaluate mine level detection performance for the operator. This interface is used to conduct a series of experiments examining performance for twenty subjects. The mine images varied systematically based on the time of day the images were collected, the type of terrain and type of mines. All the experiments were video-recorded and post-experiment interviews were conducted for qualitative analysis. Both qualitative and quantitative research techniques were used to gather and analyze the data. Results from different quantitative analysis including the accuracy of mine detection, propensity of false alarms and the time taken by the operator to mark individual targets are discussed. The mental models developed by the subjects for detection of mine targets are also discussed. Limitations of the current experiments and plans for future work are discussed. It is hoped that this systematic evaluation of a human operator in airborne mine detection will help in developing new and better ATR techniques and help identify critical features required in the operator interface for the warfighter-in-the-loop (WIL) minefield detection.
A Comprehensive Approach for Accurate Measurement of Proton–Proton Coupling Constants in the Sugar Ring of DNA

Stereo-selectivedeuteration has been explored as an approach for improving the accuracy of NMR-derived, three-bond vicinal proton-proton coupling constants in the 12-base-pair DNA Dickerson sequence [d(CGCGAATTCGCG)(2)]. The coupling constants are useful for DNA structure determination in restrained molecular dynamics calculations. Specifically, the A5 and A6 residues were prepared with the H2" proton stereo-selectively replaced with a deuteron. Deuteration of the H2" leads to a 42-fold reduction in the transverse cross-relaxation rate of the H2' spin, effectively negating the contribution of transverse cross relaxation to the cross peak frequencies and phases. Calculated linewidth and polarization transfer functions indicated that the reduced dipolar interaction is also expected to result in a significant increase in intensity for all cross peaks involving the H1', H2', or H3' spin. The spectral complexity is also reduced by selective deuteration. Time-shared homonuclear decoupling of passive spins during acquisition was implemented, reducing the spin system, in some cases, to an effectively isolated two-spin system. This enables the use of a 90 degrees mixing pulse instead of the 35 degrees pulse commonly used in standard P.E.COSY experiments, leading to an additional 75% increase in signal intensity. Selective excitation pulses were used to reduce the number of increments required in the indirect dimension by as much as a factor of 4. The cumulative improvement in sensitivity is striking, approaching three orders of magnitude per unit time. Separate experiments, referred to as Stripe-COSY and Superstripe-COSY, were optimized for each coupling constant measured. Finally, J-doubling was used to obtain the most accurate peak separations. This comprehensive approach shows promise as an effective method for extracting highly accurate homonuclear vicinal coupling constants in DNA.
“A gold mine and a tool for democracy”: George Gallup, Elmo Roper, and the business of scientific polling, 1935–1955

"Scientific" public opinion polls arrived on the American scene in 1936. Examining the work of opinion surveyors George Gallup and Elmo Roper, this essay tracks the early career of a new social scientific technology, one that powerfully shaped conceptions of "the public." Pollsters described their craft as a democratic one that could accurately represent the U.S. populace. Yet, their assumptions about that same public-and the techniques they employed to measure it-undermined such claims, and even risked calling the polling profession into question. To understand why Gallup and Roper fell short of their stated ambitions, one must turn not only to the state of midcentury sampling methods but also to the corporate sponsors and commercial pressures underlying their enterprise.
The ability to modulate peripersonal and extrapersonal reach space via tool use among the elderly

Abstract Functional decrements associated with increasing aging may restrict daily activities and require use of tools (e.g., canes and walkers) for postural control and locomotion. Therefore, we examined older adults’ ability to plan reach movements with their arm and tools of 20 and 40 cm in length. Twenty-seven participants between the ages of 55 and 92 years were divided into two groups, 76 years. The task required participants to estimate reach via use of motor imagery in regard to seven targets randomly presented in peripersonal and extrapersonal space. Each condition consisted of a block of 21 trials for the ARM and TOOL and a “switch-block” of 7 trials with the opposite condition. The procedure was repeated for both tool lengths and presented in counterbalanced order. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) results revealed a significant difference in the switch-blocks, suggesting that participants were more accurate when they switched from ARM to TOOL (extension) in comparison to TOOL to ARM (retraction). In addition, a correlation analysis indicated a negative relationship for accuracy in the 40 cm tool condition and age. In view of the total sample, two findings warrant further consideration. For both tool lengths, retraction from TOOL to ARM was more difficult than extension from ARM to TOOL. And specifically to the 40 cm tool, accuracy decreased as age increased. In addition to gaining information about aging of the neuro-cognitive processes associated with spatial representation, these outcomes may have implications for physical safety and rehabilitation with older persons.
Cost Savings Associated with Testing of Antibodies, Antigens, and Nucleic Acids for Diagnosis of Acute HIV Infection

Efforts to identify all persons infected with HIV in the United States are driven by the hope that early diagnosis will lower risk behaviors and decrease HIV transmission. Identification of HIV-infected people earlier in the course of their infection with HIV antigen/antibody (Ag/Ab) combination assays (4th-generation HIV assays) should help achieve this goal. We compared HIV RNA nucleic acid test (NAT) results to the results of a 4th-generation Ag/Ab assay (Architect HIV Ag/Ab Combo [HIV Combo] assay; Abbott Diagnostics) in 2,744 HIV antibody-negative samples. Fourteen people with acute HIV infection (HIV antibody negative/NAT positive) were identified; the HIV Combo assay detected nine of these individuals and was falsely negative in the remaining five. All five persons missed by the HIV Combo assay were in the stage of exponential increase in plasma virus associated with acute HIV infection (3, 7, 20, 35, 48). In contrast, most acutely infected persons detected by the HIV Combo assay demonstrated either a plateauing or decreasing plasma viral load. The HIV Combo assay also classified as positive five other samples which were negative by NAT. Taken together, the HIV Combo assay had a sensitivity of 73.7% and a specificity of 99.8%. Using published data, we estimated secondary transmission events had HIV infection in these five individuals remained undiagnosed. Screening of our population with NAT cost more than screening with the HIV Combo assay but achieved new diagnoses that we predict resulted in health care savings that far exceed screening costs. These findings support the use of more sensitive assays, like NAT, in HIV screening of populations with a high prevalence of acute HIV infection.
Efficacy and tolerability of topiramate in childhood and adolescent epilepsy: a clinical experience

Abstract A 3-year retrospective review was undertaken of the use of topiramate in 51 children aged 3–16 years with partial and generalized epilepsies who attended a tertiary referral epilepsy centre in a large children's hospital. The mean follow-up period was 19 months (range 6–33 months). Twenty-six children (51%) were still receiving topiramate at the time of their last review. Fifteen children (29%) showed a greater than 50% reduction in their seizure frequency and four children (8%) became seizure free, three on topiramate monotherapy. The drug appeared to be most effective in children with moderate learning difficulties with 75% showing an improvement in seizure control compared with 25% of children with normal educational functioning. Topiramate was withdrawn in 25 patients. The reasons for withdrawal included adverse effects in 20, lack of effect in three and worsening of seizures in two patients. Adverse side effects were reported in 57% of the 51 patients. The majority of the side effects were related to behavioural and cognitive difficulties, with less-common side effects including anorexia, weight loss and headaches.
Questions Often Asked about Promoting Lifetime Literacy Efforts.

Supporting lifetime literacy efforts is a "big-picture" perspective that not only helps children become proficient readers, but also nurtures their love of literacy. This instructional direction requires a strong commitment from teachers and administrators. This article outlines how educators can understand the importance of lifetime literacy efforts, provide appropriate resources for encouraging the love of reading, support strategies that motivate children to read for pleasure, promote the joy of reading across the curriculum, provide a balanced curriculum representing both lifetime literacy and skills instruction, foster lifelong literacy in students who struggle with literacy, and demonstrate awareness of obstacles to lifetime literacy efforts. Responding positively to these and other factors increases the chances that future generations of literacy learners will be able to read effectively and, as important, will engage in literacy as a lifelong activity.
Equipment and techniques for the measurement of radar reflections from model targets

One of the most important factors in radar system design is the radar cross section, or echo-area, of the target. To eliminate some of the difficulties of measuring this quantity with actual aircraft and radars, scale model techniques have been developed which permit a high degree of flexibility and accuracy in the determination of radar reflection characteristics. The following paper describes some of the instrumentation and experimental procedures used in this work.
Zebrafish model systems for developmental neurobehavioral toxicology

Zebrafish offer many advantages that complement classic mammalian models for the study of normal development as well as for the teratogenic effects of exposure to hazardous compounds. The clear chorion and embryo of the zebrafish allow for continuous visualization of the anatomical changes associated with development, which, along with short maturation times and the capability of complex behavior, makes this model particularly useful for measuring changes to the developing nervous system. Moreover, the rich array of developmental, behavioral, and molecular benefits offered by the zebrafish have contributed to an increasing demand for the use of zebrafish in behavioral teratology. Essential for this endeavor has been the development of a battery of tests to evaluate a spectrum of behavior in zebrafish. Measures of sensorimotor plasticity, emotional function, cognition and social interaction have been used to characterize the persisting adverse effects of developmental exposure to a variety of chemicals including therapeutic drugs, drugs of abuse and environmental toxicants. In this review, we present and discuss such tests and data from a range of developmental neurobehavioral toxicology studies using zebrafish as a model. Zebrafish provide a key intermediate model between high throughput in vitro screens and the classic mammalian models as they have the accessibility of in vitro models and the complex functional capabilities of mammalian models.
Persistent organic pollutants and early menopause in U.S. women.

Objective Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) adversely affect human health. Our objective was to determine the association of EDC exposure with earlier age of menopause.
Programming of hypertonicity in neonatal lambs: resetting of the threshold for vasopressin secretion.

Lambs exposed in utero to maternal hypertonicity demonstrate plasma hypertonicity and arterial hypertension. To determine whether hypertonicity is due to an altered osmoregulatory set point, we examined arginine-vasopressin and cardiovascular responses to hypertonic saline infusion in these offspring. Study lambs [dehydrated (Dehy)] were exposed to maternal hypernatremia (8–10 mEq/liter increase; 110–150 d gestation) induced by water restriction. Control singleton and Control twins were born to ewes provided ad libitum water. We anticipated reduced birth weight due to maternal dehydration-induced anorexia and therefore included a Control group of twin gestations to approach a similar birth weight near term. After delivery, ewes from all three groups were provided ad libitum water, and their newborns were allowed ad libitum nursing. At 15 ± 2 d of age, lambs were prepared with bladder and vascular catheters. At 23 ± 2 d, after a 2-h basal period, neonatal lambs were iv infused with hypertonic 0.83 m NaCl (...
Gainsharing in the ICU: Is Now the Right Time?

Background. Gainsharing is a pay-for-performance (P4P) program that provides incentives to attending physicians to reduce hospital costs while maintaining quality care. Hypothesis. Overall hospital costs decreased because of the gainsharing program during the past 4 years, while ICU costs increased over the same period because the incentives were given only to the discharging physician of record. Methods. Retrospective analysis was performed on the most frequent hospital and ICU admissions by All Patient Refined–Diagnosis Related Group (APR-DRG). A best practice norm was calculated by taking the mean hospital cost of the top 25 percentile. Savings opportunity (SO) was defined by subtracting the BPN from the actual cost. Gainsharing payments to the discharging physicians required meeting specific quality standards. Results. A total of 9034 patients were admitted to the ICU during the study period under this program. Among all APR-DRGs, total hospital costs decreased by $2.7 million (10%) for these specific...
Some Neglected Variables in Research on Discrimination in Appraisals

Unfair discrimination in subjective appraisals is explained most frequently with the stereotype-fit model, according to which raters possess stereotypes of the ideal occupant of a job and their evaluations reflect their perceptions of the goodness of fit of the rate to the job. The thesis here is that the stereotype-fit model and passive observer research procedures have led researchers and theorists to overemphasize cognitive determinants and neglect behavioral, affective, and social determinants of biases in subjective appraisals.