cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Nasobiliary Tubes and Biliary Stents in Management of Patients with Bile Leak after Liver Transplantation: A Systematic Review

Background/aims Bile leak is one of the most common complications of liver transplantation. The treatment options for bile leaks include conservative management, surgical re-intervention, percutaneous drainage and endoscopic drainage. We aimed to perform a systematic review to identify the efficacy of endoscopic treatment in the resolution of post-transplant bile leaks. Methods Two independent reviewers performed systematic literature search in PubMed, ISI Web of Science, grey literature and relevant references in May 2017. Human studies in English with documented post-liver transplant bile leaks were included. Results Thirty-four studies were included in the final analysis. The pooled efficacy of biliary stents for the resolution of post-transplant bile leaks was 82.43% compared with 87.15% efficacy of nasobiliary tubes. The efficacy of biliary stents was lower for anastomotic leaks (69.23%) compared to T-tube (90.9%) or cut-surface/ cystic duct stump related leaks (92.8%). Similarly, the efficacy of nasobiliary tube was also lower for anastomotic leaks (58.33%) compared to T-tube or cut-surface related leaks (100%). Conclusion In this systematic review, the overall efficacy was 82.43% in biliary stent group, and 87.15% in nasobiliary tube group. Both biliary stent and nasobiliary tube were more effective in managing non-anastomotic leaks compared to anastomotic leaks.
Xplorer: A system for visual analysis of sensor-based motor activity predictions

Due to the large diffusion of wearable devices, the task of detecting motor activities from sensor data is becoming increasingly common in a wide range of applications. During the development of predictive models for activity recognition, data scientists generally rely on performance metrics (such as accuracy score) for evaluating and comparing the performance of classification algorithms. While these numerical estimates represent a straightforward way to summarize the effectiveness of a model, they convey little insights on the causes of misclassified events, not offering enough clues for data scientists to improve their algorithms. In this paper we present BlueSky Xplorer, an interactive visualization system to analyze, debug and compare the output of multiple predictive models at different levels of granularity. We combine classification results on multi-sensor data with the context of usage of each sensor and with ground truth information (such as textual labels and videos), representing them as temporally-aligned linear tracks. We then define an algebraic language over these tracks that enables users to quickly identify classification errors and to visually reason on the performance of classifiers. We demonstrate the usefulness of our tool by applying it to a real-world example, involving the development of models for assessing the symptoms of Parkinsons disease. In particular, we show how Xplorer was used to improve the performance of classification models and to discover problems in data temporal alignment.
Emotional Reactions and Coping Mechanisms of Pediatric Residents to Patient Deaths

Background: No study to date has explored the emotional impact on Pediatric residents of caring for dying pediatric patients. The coping mechanisms that residents utilize are also unexamined. Objective: This study aims to characterize the emotional impact that caring for dying children has on Pediatric residents, and to describe the coping methods that residents utilize. Methods: A survey was distributed to all residents at a Pediatrics and Medicine/Pediatrics residency program. Using a five-point Likert scale, residents characterized the degree to which they are affected by their patients’ …
A Cryogenic 12-bit 2MS/s SAR ADC for Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE)

The DUNE (Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment) requires a high-resolution analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to operate at cryogenic temperature. The design of a 12-bit ADC under 65nm CMOS technology is presented. A successive approximation register (SAR) ADC is implemented with calibration: capacitor mismatch compensation is achieved by adding digital background calibration circuits without interfering the charge signal digitization. Post-layout simulations demonstrate the performance on linearity and dynamic range though the proposed calibration. At 1.2 V supply, signal-to-noise-plus-distortion (SNDR) and a spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) are improved by 18.24 dB and 24.31 dB respectively with the proposed calibration technique when operating at 2MS/s and total power dissipation is 520µW with effective number of bits (ENOB) about 11.2 bits at 77 K.
Two-phase flow morphology and local wall temperatures in high-aspect-ratio manifold microchannels

Abstract Manifold microchannel heat sinks can dissipate high heat fluxes at moderate pressure drops, especially during two-phase operation. High-aspect-ratio microchannels afford a large enhancement in heat transfer area; however, the flow morphology in manifold microchannels during two-phase operation, as well as the resulting thermal performance, are not well understood. In this work, a single manifold microchannel representing a repeating unit in a heat sink is fabricated in silicon with a bonded glass viewing window. Samples of different channel lengths (750 μm and 1500 μm) and depths (125 μm, 250 μm, and 1000 μm) are considered; channel and fin widths are both maintained at 60 μm. Subcooled fluid (HFE-7100) is delivered to the channel at a constant flow rate such that the fluid velocity at the inlet is ~1.05 m/s in all cases. A high-speed camera is used to visualize the two-phase flow in the channel through the glass sidewall; an infrared camera measures the temperature distribution on the opposite channel sidewall. The flow visualizations reveal that vapor nucleation occurs at stagnation regions below the manifold near the inlet plenum and at both corners adjacent to the channel base. For deep channels (1000 μm), at sufficiently high heat fluxes, vapor completely covers the base of the channels and liquid does not re-wet the surface in this region. This newly identified vapor blanketing phenomenon causes a significant decrease in performance and an increase in the measured channel wall temperatures. This study reveals the critical role of the two-phase flow morphology in manifold microchannel heat sink design.
A REDCap-based model for electronic consent (eConsent): Moving toward a more personalized consent.

Introduction:The updated common rule, for human subjects research, requires that consents “begin with a ‘concise and focused’ presentation of the key information that will most likely help someone make a decision about whether to participate in a study” (Menikoff, Kaneshiro, Pritchard. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2017; 376(7): 613–615.). We utilized a community-engaged technology development approach to inform feature options within the REDCap software platform centered around collection and storage of electronic consent (eConsent) to address issues of transparency, clinical trial efficiency, and regulatory compliance for informed consent (Harris, et al. Journal of Biomedical Informatics 2009; 42(2): 377–381.). eConsent may also improve recruitment and retention in clinical research studies by addressing: (1) barriers for accessing rural populations by facilitating remote consent and (2) cultural and literacy barriers by including optional explanatory material (e.g., defining terms by hovering over them with the cursor) or the choice of displaying different videos/images based on participant’s race, ethnicity, or educational level (Phillippi, et al. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing. 2018; 47(4): 529–534.).Methods:We developed and pilot tested our eConsent framework to provide a personalized consent experience whereby users are guided through a consent document that utilizes avatars, contextual glossary information supplements, and videos, to facilitate communication of information.Results:The eConsent framework includes a portfolio of eight features, reviewed by community stakeholders, and tested at two academic medical centers.Conclusions:Early adoption and utilization of this eConsent framework have demonstrated acceptability. Next steps will emphasize testing efficacy of features to improve participant engagement with the consent process.
The Pedagogy of Dr. William R. Maples

The purpose of this paper is to convey an appreciation of the teaching and training style of Dr. William R. Maples, and recognize his contributions in educating his graduate students in forensic anthropology. In a time when university learning is often characterized by large introductory, undergraduate lecture courses, with the occasional senior seminar course, the opportunity to study one-on-one with Dr. Maples as a graduate student was stimulating. It was also a rare event, since Dr. Maples was not one to accumulate numerous students. This paper discusses Dr. Maples' unique teaching style. His methods were akin to the days of the apprentice's acquisition of the technical skills and theoretical knowledge of a master. Examples of Dr. Maples' rigorous yet highly effective teaching approach will be shared through a presentation of some of his daily oral teachings, and anecdotes of past human identification cases. While Dr. Maples made many significant contributions to the field of forensic anthropology through his research and phenomenal service, it is his teachings that will be most remembered, as the knowledge he passed on is his true legacy.
Structural complexity shapes the behavior and abundance of a common herbivorous fish, increasing herbivory on a turf-dominated, fringing reef

Abstract Coral-dominated reefs typically have abundant refuges and limited resources for herbivores; conversely, algal-dominated reefs have abundant resources but often have limited refuges. This difference results in a trade-off between risk and reward for herbivorous fishes. However, disturbances that kill coral but retain topographic complexity can decouple this tradeoff, challenging this paradigm. Many fringing reefs in Moorea, French Polynesia are algal-dominated with heterogeneous structural complexity likely driven by disturbances associated with crown-of-thorns predation and typhoons, which occurred between 2006 and 2010. Short turfs are a good recruitment surface for coral larvae, and thus has a greater potential to recover to coral dominance than long turfs. To explore how variation in complexity impacts the behavior of herbivorous fishes, we compared abundance, residence time, and time budgets of Acanthurus nigrofuscus, a common herbivore species, in paired high versus low complexity areas. We chose areas in close proximity to maximize the likelihood fish could choose between complexity types. We also measured turf height in high versus low complexity plots. Fish were ~3× more abundant, spent roughly double the time in, and budgeted more than 4× as much time to hiding in high complexity reef areas. Although, on average, individual herbivores spent the same proportion of time foraging in both areas, their greater abundance and longer residence time suggests their local herbivory rates could be 7.5 times higher in high complexity areas. We also found turfs in high complexity plots were roughly 75% the height of turfs in low complexity plots. This provides some evidence for stronger overall herbivory pressure in high complexity areas, albeit differences in absolute turf height were modest (~0.5 mm). Combined, these results suggest reefs that retain structural complexity following disturbance may be more likely to recover due to the higher localized herbivory rates resulting from uncoupling of the tradeoff between structural complexity and resource limitation.
A 10-year retrospective cohort study of ruxolitinib and association with non-melanoma skin cancer in polycythemia vera and myelofibrosis patients.

Abstract Background Clinical trials report occurrence of non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC) with ruxolitinib in polycythemia (PV) or myelofibrosis (MF) patients, however the level of risk and effect of covariates are not known in the real-world setting. Objective To systematically assess the risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) after ruxolitinib exposure in PV or MF patients. Methods A 10-year retrospective cohort of PV or MF patients at Stanford Medical Center was identified and matched on age, gender, race, Charlson comorbidity index, disease diagnosis, and follow-up time. The main outcome measure was Hazard Ratio (HR) for NMSC (comprised of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)) after ruxolitinib exposure, adjusted for covariates. Results The study cohort consisted of 564 patients (188 exposed to ruxolitinib for at least 4 weeks, 376 unexposed). Ruxolitinib-exposed PV or MF patients had an adjusted NMSC HR of 2.69 (95% Confidence Interval (CI), 1.03-7.02). In particular, ruxolitinib exposure was associated with SCC, HR=3.24 (95% CI, 1.45-7.22), with non-JAK2 mutated patients showing even higher SCC risk, HR=7.40 (2.54-21.63). Limitations Retrospective design. Conclusions and Relevance Our real-world results indicate that SCC risk is increased in PV or MF patients taking ruxolitinib and supports consideration of skin cancer monitoring.
Rodrigo’s Abstraction: Capitalism Inequality & Reform Over Time and Space

American capitalism can rightly be criticized for failing to reform itself in any meaningful way following the Great Financial Crisis of 2008. Yet, this is not an inherent flaw of capitalism as some, such as Richard Delgado, suggest. Historically, such as during the Great Depression, American capitalism did achieve egalitarian reforms. In other nations, such as Denmark and Japan, more egalitarian forms of capitalism have taken root. These more egalitarian forms of capitalism occurred within systems featuring much lower economic inequality than that which prevails in the US in recent years. This suggests that capitalism can devolve into lawless capitalism under conditions of high economic inequality, whereby economic elites can dominate law and regulation to entrench themselves in ways that retard general macroeconomic growth. This is consistent with theoretical and empirical work from economics. The article concludes that high economic inequality (not capitalism per se) presents a unique danger to core values of capitalism, such as meritocratic competition, sustainable economic growth, and a broad distribution of economic opportunity. This is all consistent with the thesis of Lawless Capitalism which posits that high economic inequality led to legal and regulatory subversion for great profit for small bands of financial elites and great cost to the entire global economy during the Great Financial Crisis of 2008. Further, the US now faces the prospect of an entrenched elite with massive economic power and the incentive to sabotage economic growth for profit.
The role of caldesmon in the regulation of receptor capping in mouse T-lymphoma cell.

Abstract Several complementary techniques, including immunocytochemical and immunobiochemical analyses, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and peptide mapping, were used in this study to examine the involvement of caldesmon in lymphocyte receptor capping. We have found a lymphoma 140-kDa polypeptide that is structurally similar to muscle caldesmon, suggesting that this polypeptide may be a lymphoma caldesmon. When lymphoma 140-kDa polypeptide is extracted from permeabilized cells using 25 mM MgCl2, capping is inhibited. Adding the 140-kDa protein or gizzard caldesmon back to the extracted cells restores their ability to cap. These findings suggest that actin-linked regulatory proteins such as caldesmon may be critically important to actomyosin-mediated contraction which, in turn, is responsible for collecting receptors into cap structures.
Cloning of a receptor subunit required for signaling by thymic stromal lymphopoietin

Signaling by type I cytokines involves the formation of receptor homodimers, heterodimers or higher order receptor oligomers. Here we report the cloning of a type I cytokine receptor subunit that is most closely related to the common cytokine receptor gamma chain (gamma c). Binding and crosslinking experiments demonstrate that this protein is the receptor for a recently described interleukin 7 (IL-7)-like factor, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). Binding of TSLP to the thymic stromal lymphopoietin receptor (TSLPR) is increased markedly in the presence of the IL-7 receptor alpha chain (IL-7R alpha). IL-7R alpha-expressing but not parental 32D cells proliferate in the presence of exogenous TSLP. Moreover, a combination of IL-7R alpha and TSLPR is required for TSLP-dependent activation of a STAT5-dependent reporter construct. Thus it is shown that IL-7R alpha is a component of both the IL-7 and TSLP receptors, which helps to explain why deletion of the gene that encodes IL-7R alpha affects the lymphoid system more severely than deletion of the gene encoding IL-7 does. Cloning of TSLPR should facilitate an understanding of TSLP function and its signaling mechanism.
Control Yourself: Alcohol and Impulsivity

Impulsivity represents a complex, multifaceted construct with relevance to alcohol use, abuse, and dependence. Researchers are refining the definitions and assessment of different subtypes of impulsive behavior and relating these to the causes and consequences of alcohol-related behaviors and disorders. A satellite symposium on alcohol and impulsivity was held at the 2009 convention of the Research Society on Alcoholism. This article provides an overview of the rationale for the symposium, a synopsis of review and original research articles emanating from the symposium, and a description of the implications of the work and possible future research directions.
Where rights begin and end in Puerto Rico's gated communities

In 1992, Puerto Rico's governor and police superintendent incorporated the National Guard with local police in a militarized battle against crime. Mano dura contra el crimen (strong arm/iron fist against crime) policies led to the gating of 82 public housing communities in the island. Simultaneously, privileged private communities organized and petitioned municipalities to retrofit their neighbourhoods with gates in the name of safety. These enclosures followed the privatized management of all public housing communities in the island only a few years before. Based on ethnographic research, I examine the sociospatial outcomes of these policies, how they reframe community participation and deploy a discourse of self-responsibility that distributes power unequally across private and public housing communities. While in the privileged communities these policies have cultivated community leaders and invigorated social life as residents take control over public space, the gates in the communities of the poor reflect a skeletal structure of democracy. Private management companies impose increasingly restrictive regulations in attempts to organize the community and the only recourse to participation is to engage in small acts of everyday resistance, from apathy to subversion. As part of larger neoliberal tendencies to retrench the ‘public’ in favour of the ‘private’, the mano dura policies curtail democracy as the voices of the poor are silenced and the scope of efficacy of the rich expands.
The Occitan War: A Military and Political History of the Albigensian Crusade, 1209-1218

In 1209 Simon of Montfort led a war against the Cathars of Languedoc after Pope Innocent III preached a crusade condemning them as heretics. The suppression of heresy became a pretext for a vicious war that remains largely unstudied as a military conflict. Laurence Marvin here examines the Albigensian Crusade as military and political history rather than religious history and traces these dimensions of the conflict through to Montfort's death in 1218. He shows how Montfort experienced military success in spite of a hostile populace, impossible military targets, armies that dissolved every forty days, and a pope who often failed to support the crusade morally or financially. He also discusses the supposed brutality of the war, why the inhabitants were for so long unsuccessful at defending themselves against it, and its impact on Occitania. This original account will appeal to scholars of medieval France, the Crusades and medieval military history.
Local Needs Assessment and Planning Efforts for Family Caregivers: Findings and Recommendations

Abstract This study examines the adequacy of the current Area Agency on Aging (AAA) needs assessment techniques for identifying and meeting the unique needs of family caregivers, as required under the reauthorized Older Americans Act (OAA, 2000). Our analysis is based on a review of California AAAs' Title III-E Area Plans and their responses to a follow-up survey. The findings underscore the challenges experienced by AAAs as they attempt to identify local caregiver needs and develop and implement plans for meeting those needs. While most AAAs used a variety of methods to identify the needs of caregivers in their communities, these methods typically were not sufficient to provide a representative picture, especially minority groups and other special subpopulations. In addition, AAAs varied considerably in their ability to utilize information about caregiver needs to develop service plans. In addition, AAAs reported a number of barriers as they attempted to expand their efforts to address the needs of famil...
Superoxide Dismutase and Oxygen Metabolism in Streptococcus faecalis and Comparisons with Other Organisms

Streptococcus faecalis contains a single superoxide dismutase that has been purified to homogeneity with a 55% yield. This enzyme has a molecular weight of 45,000 and is composed of two subunits of equal size. It contains 1.3 atoms of manganese per molecule. Its amino acid composition was determined and is compared with that for the superoxide dismutases from Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutans, and Mycobacterium lepraemurium. When used as an antigen in rabbits, the S. faecalis enzyme elicited the formation of a precipitating and inhibiting antibody. This antibody cross-reacted with the superoxide dismutase present in another strain of S. faecalis, but neither inhibited nor precipitated the superoxide dismutases in a wide range of other bacteria, including several other streptococci, such as S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, and S. lactis. The inhibiting antibody was used to suppress the superoxide dismutase activity present in cell extracts of S. faecalis and thus allow the demonstration that 17% of the total oxygen consumption by such extracts, in the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, was associated with the production of O(2) (-). A variety of bacterial species were surveyed for their content of superoxide dismutases. The iron-containing enzyme was distinguished from the manganese-containing enzyme through the use of H(2)O(2), which inactivates the former more readily than the latter. Some of the bacteria appeared to contain only the iron enzyme, others only the manganese enzyme, and still others both. Indeed, some had multiple, electrophoretically distinct superoxide dismutases in both categories. There was no discernible absolute relationship between the types of superoxide dismutases in a particular organism and their Gram-stain reaction.
An FFT implementation of the generalized maximum likelihood algorithm for image smoothing

Practical implementation of the generalized maximum-likelihood algorithm on noise-corrupted images becomes prohibitive when the covariance of the noise-free image is unavailable. By partitioning the image into locally Markovian sub-blocks with separable correlation coefficients, a covariance model is found that enables fast Fourier transform (FFT) processing. Simulations using real images are presented to characterize the algorithm's applicability and noise-reduction performance. >
A promising start, but fundamental reform is needed

This is the first of seven articles The NHS has just received its largest sustained increase in resources since the service was started in 1948. To ensure that the money is spent wisely, Britain's prime minister has set about producing a national plan for health, with the help of six action teams—on prevention and inequalities, partnership, performance and productivity, the professions and the wider NHS workforce, patient care (empowerment), and patient care (speed of access). The BMJ has asked six commentators to state what their priorities would be in each of these areas, and we will be publishing these articles over the next few weeks. This week, however, we start with a commentary from Alain Enthoven, professor of public and private management at the graduate business school, Stanford University. Enthoven's ideas were a driving force behind the creation of the internal market in the NHS in the 1990s; he recently revisited the subject in last year's Rock Carling lecture, and we invited him to give his impressions on the prime minister's current plans for the NHS. The prime minister was right to promise more money for the NHS. I recently wrote: “The NHS is obviously very short of resources needed to achieve its objectives. One sees it in the buildings, the pay, the staff and equipment shortages, the very short times doctors spend with patients, and the headlines about crises.” 1 The prime minister was also right to say “that the NHS needs fundamental reform if it is to provide the standard of care that people deserve in the 21st century.” 2 Money alone will not get us there. And the prime minister was right to call attention to the wide variations in performance in the NHS. Among his many examples: “Why is there a twofold difference in the cost …
17β-Estradiol reduces tumor necrosis factor-α-mediated LDL accumulation in the artery wall

Estrogens have direct effects on the vascular wall that may prevent the development of atherosclerosis. In particular, estrogens, such as 17 b -estradiol (estradiol), are known to have potent antioxidant activity. Tumor necrosis factor- a (TNF) is found in human atheroma and produces oxygen-derived free radicals. These oxygen-derived free radicals may modify low density lipoproteins (LDL) and in- crease LDL binding in the artery wall. We asked: 1) does TNF increase LDL accumulation in the artery wall and 2) can the TNF-mediated increase in LDL accumulation be prevented by the antioxidant activity of estradiol? Carotid arteries from ovariectomized 3-month-old rats were re- moved and perfused with fluorescently labeled LDL and ar- terial LDL flux was measured using quantitative fluores- cence microscopy. In six arteries, addition of TNF (10 ng/ ml) to the perfusate resulted in a 2.3-fold increase in the rate of LDL accumulation (1.50 6 0.37 ng/min per cm 2 vs. 3.38 6 0.48 ng/min per cm 2 ; P , 0.01). Estradiol (65 pg/ ml) and a -tocopherol (6 mg/L) both attenuated TNF-medi- ated LDL accumulation ( P , 0.05), indicating that TNF may exert its effects on LDL accumulation through cellular pro- duction of oxygen-derived free radicals. These results support an antioxidant role for estradiol in the protection against LDL accumulation in the artery wall and subsequent progression of atherosclerosis.— Walsh, B.A., A. E. Mullick, R. L. Walzem, and J. C. Rutledge. 17 b -Estradiol reduces tu- mor necrosis factor- a -mediated LDL accumulation in the artery wall. J. Lipid Res. 1999. 40: 387-396.
On the decomposition and normalization of interindustry linkages

Abstract A new decomposition of total interindustry linkages into backward and forward linkage components is presented, along with a discussion of the proper way to normalize linkage measures.
Summary of results from the spectral and angular sky radiation measurement program

Abstract Extensive measurements of the thermal IR radiance of the sky were obtained at 6 U.S. locations: Tucson, AZ; San Antonio, TX; Gaithersburg, MD; St. Louis, MO; West Palm Beach, FL; and Boulder City, NV. Fifty thousand observations were obtained at half hour intervals during 1979 and 1980. Each observation consists of measurements in 7 spectral bands, wavelengths (in microns) of 8.1–13.7, 8.3–9.1, 9.4–9.9, 10.0–11.4, 14.0–15.8, 16.6–21.6 and 6–17 at zenith angles of 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80°. The data have been expressed and presented as apparent sky emissivities. It is shown that the measured spectral and angular sky emissivities can be reliably estimated from a knowledge of the total (global) sky emissivity, using an empirical “sky emissivity” equation. The results are of particular relevance to the performance of radiative cooling systems designed to make use of spectral and/or angular selectivity.
ITER ECH transmission system test stand and prototype component development

Initial results for high power testing at ORNL of prototype ECH components for ITER will be presented. The US ITER Project Office is responsible for providing the ITER ECH transmission line system. Evacuated 63.5 mm diameter corrugated waveguide will be used and a total of 24 lines are required. Each line is designed to handle 170 GHz power at 2 MW operating in the HE11 mode. The ITER Organization completed a conceptual design of the system and the USIPO has assumed the responsibility for completing the design. A number of prototype components have been procured from industrial suppliers and some testing of vacuum integrity and mechanical alignment have been performed. Techniques for measuring waveguide straightness, ovality, wall thickness, corrugation depth and other parameters for long sections have been developed. Prototype components including a 140° miter bend, 90° miter bends, waveguide switches, arc detectors, polarization rotators, waveguide pumpouts, DC breaks and others have been procured. A prototype waveguide support and cooling system has been designed and is being installed. Work on commissioning a power supply and interim 400 kW 140 GHz gyrotron system is nearly complete and initial testing is underway. Development of a 170 GHz 0.5–1 MW gyrotron is progressing at CPI. Low power testing of some corrugated waveguide components is being performed in collaboration with the ITER low field side reflectometer team. A resonant ring for very high power testing of components at the 2 MW level or higher is planned using a high power grating-type directional coupler and long loop of waveguide. Low power testing and analysis of waveguide components is also being performed at MIT1.
Renin Reactivity, Renin Activity and Renin Concentration in Patients with Normal and Low Renin Essential Hypertension

Renin activity, concentration, substrate and reactivity were determined in normal subjects as well as in hypertensive subjects with suppressed and normal plasma renin activity. Renin substrate measurements were similar in all groups. Renin reactivity, a measure of circulating modifiers of the renin reaction, was significantly increased in both hypertensive groups. Reactivity was significantly greater in the normal renin hypertensive group than the low renin hypertensive group. Renin concentration was significantly suppressed in both hypertensive groups, but to a greater degree in the low renin hypertensives. These findings suggest that plasma renin concentration may be suppressed in most hypertensive subjects. Furthermore, plasma renin activity may be "normalized" in most hypertensive subjects by the effect of circulating modifiers of the renin reaction. While renin reactivity in the plasma of low-renin hypertensive subjects is accelerated to a lesser degree than that of the normal-renin hypertensives, this finding alone does not explain the low plasma renin activity.
One-Month Forecasts of Wet and Dry Spells of the Monsoon

Abstract This study follows a recent paper on the predictability of low-frequency modes on the time scale of 30–50 days. By filtering out the high-frequency modes, we are able to delay the contamination of low-frequency modes for periods of the order of 1 month in global forecasts. A multilevel global model forecast is carried out to predict a wet spell over central China. It is shown that an initial state consisting of time-mean state, a low-frequency mode, and a specification of the sea surface temperature anomaly provides useful forecasts for the occurrence of dry or wet spells. All of these tests are carried out with a global model; however, only the monsoon region is examined in some detail. This study includes the results of a number of experiments where the sensitivity to the definitions of the mean state, the sea surface temperatures, and initial datasets are explored. The main finding of this paper is that the prediction of monsoonal low-frequency modes and the related dry and wet spells can be e...
Synthesis of some benzimidazoles containing 2-perfluoro substituents

Abstract A new method is described for the preparation of 2-perfluoroalkylether- benzimidazoles through the N-monoacyl derivatives of o-phenylenediamine. 2-pentafluorophenylbenzimidazole has been obtained by the reaction of o-phenylenediamine and pentafluorobenzoic acid in the presence of polyphosphoric acid. 2-Perfluoroalkylbenzimidazoles have been prepared in excellent yields by direct condensation of o-phenylenediamine with perfluoroalkane- carboxylic acids in the absence of any solvent or added reagent. Some derivatives of these compounds are also described.
Direct measurement of steroid sulfate and glucuronide conjugates with high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Direct detection of several steroid glucuronide and sulfate conjugates was achieved with electrospray reversed-phase HPLC-mass spectrometry. Separation of steroid 17-OH or 5-H epimers conjugated with glucuronide or sulfate could be achieved using gradient elution. Testosterone glucuronide, testosterone sulfate, epitestosterone sulfate and epitestosterone glucuronide were chromatographically resolved, although significant variation in solvent strength was observed between methanol and acetonitrile. Positive ionization mode MS and MS-MS spectra were employed to obtain both quantitative and structural information. Some differences were noted with respect to steroid structure and adduct formation, including significant differences in the stability of epimers in the declustering region of the interface. Negative ionization mode, although having lower limits of detection, did not provide useful structural information in either the MS or MS-MS mode. Using a packed capillary column (300 μm I.D.), a detection limit of 25 pg was achieved for epitestosterone glucuronide.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Self-Stigma Around Sexual Orientation: A Multiple Baseline Evaluation

Abstract This study evaluated the effectiveness of 6 to 10 sessions of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) for self-stigma around sexual orientation linked to same-sex attraction (what has generally been referred to as internalized homophobia; IH) in a concurrent multiple-baseline across-participants design. Three men and 2 women showed sizeable reductions from baseline to posttreatment and to 4- and 12-week follow-ups in daily reports of the degree to which thoughts about sexual orientation interfered in their lives; distress associated with these thoughts also decreased. Positive changes were observed in self-report measures of IH, depression, anxiety, stress, quality of life, and perceived social support. Consistent with the theory underlying ACT, reductions in daily ratings of the believability of thoughts about same-sex attraction (a process variable) were greater than those observed for frequency of such thoughts. Improvements were also observed in questionnaires measuring ACT processes. Mixed regression analyses confirmed outcome and process effects that were apparent through visual inspection. Implications and the distinctiveness of ACT as an approach are discussed.
The role of Internet-based cancer survivorship care plans in care of the elderly

Abstract Objective Internet-based tools for communication about cancer survivorship may serve an unmet need; however, older age has been associated with decreased Internet use, and the role of Internet-based communication with the elderly remains unclear. Materials and Methods We created a publically available, Internet-based tool for creation of survivorship care plans, available at www.livestrongcareplan.org, and via OncoLink , a cancer information Web site based at the University of Pennsylvania. It allows users to enter information regarding demographics, diagnosis, and treatment and produces customized care plans. Results Between May 2007 and February 2010, 10,128 care plans were created; 828 (8%) for persons ≥70years (range 70–101, median 74). Diagnosis age for elderly users ranged from 32 to 100years (median 72). When compared to the younger users, elderly users were less likely to be Caucasian/college-educated ( p p p =0.001). A small proportion surveyed reported high levels of satisfaction with this tool. Conclusions Use of this Internet tool by elderly survivors is less frequent than by younger ones; however, a subset appears willing to use it and satisfied with the information provided. Elderly users are more likely to be followed by a PCP than younger ones, and care plans for the elderly are more frequently created by health care providers.
Hallucinogen Use among Juvenile Probationers: Prevalence and Characteristics

The authors assessed the prevalence of hallucinogen use, identified differences between lifetime hallucinogen users and nonusers, and evaluated variables predicting age of onset and lifetime frequency of hallucinogen use among 415 juvenile probationers in a Western state. Forty-four percent of subjects reported lifetime hallucinogen use; 37% of probationers used hallucinogens in the past year. Number of substance-using peers, involvement in drug distribution, perceived risks associated with substance use, suicide ideation, participation and attendance in school, and parent involvement in youth activities significantly discriminated hallucinogen users from non-users. Lifetime marijuana and inhalant use, number of substance-using peers, criminal behavior to support drug use, intention to use drugs, and participation in school were significantly related to lifetime frequency of hallucinogen use. Number of substance-using siblings significantly predicted age at onset of hallucinogen use. Findings indicate tha...
A Solution to the Decreased Resident Exposure to Open Operations in the Era of Minimally Invasive Surgery and Restricted Duty Hours May Be with Organ Procurement and Transplantation Surgery

Introduction The surgical resident experience regarding open surgical procedures and techniques is being significantly limited by the maturation of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and duty-hour restrictions. MIS has replaced many open procedures as the current standard of care. As MIS progresses, the surgical residents' access to open surgical techniques will become significantly limited by the lack of exposure to common open operations. Methods The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) database was retrospectively reviewed to quantify and categorize resident experience in self-reported surgical procedures. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database was retrospectively reviewed to determine the amount of organ transplants and procurements performed during the study period. Data from 1999-2000 and 2008-2009 were collected and compared. Results There were dramatic changes between the time periods regarding the transition from the open to the laparoscopic approach for multiple operations. In 2008, there were 23,276 transplanted organs and 29,077 organs procured (7990 multi-organ procurements). However, the graduating general surgery chief residents reported doing an average of 2 organ procurements and 7 organ transplantations over a 5-year period. This provides the opportunity for each graduating chief resident to perform 38 more procurements during their residency. Conclusion It is imperative for surgical educators to find solutions to safely train the future general surgery residents to perform more surgical techniques in less time. One solution to this problem may lie within the field of organ transplantation and procurement. The field of organ transplantation and procurement may be an untapped resource for valuable exposure to the basic principles of open surgical techniques that are declining due to the advancement of MIS and mandated duty-hour restrictions.
The structure of dilute clusters of methane and water by ab initio quantum mechanical calculations

Ab initio quantum mechanical methods have been used to examine clusters formed of molecules of methane and water. The clusters contained one molecule of one component (methane or water) and several (10, 8, 6, 4, and 1) molecules of the other component. The Moller−Plesset perturbation theory (MP2 method) was used in the calculations. The cluster geometries were obtained via optimization and the interaction energies between the nearest neighbors were calculated for the geometries obtained in the first step. It is shown that the interaction energies and intermolecular distances between the molecules of methane and water are quite different in the clusters CH4···(H2O)10 and H2O···(CH4)10. They are also different from those in the water/methane dimer. The structure of the cluster CH4···(H2O)10 is highly affected by the hydrogen bonding among the water molecules, and the methane molecule is located inside a cage formed of water molecules. In contrast, the molecules of methane and water are randomly distributed ...
Secure and privacy-preserving information aggregation for smart grids

In this paper, we present a distributed incremental data aggregation approach, in which data aggregation is performed at all smart meters involved in routing the data from the source meter to the collector unit. With a carefully constructed aggregation tree, the aggregation route covers the entire local neighbourhood or any arbitrary set of designated nodes with minimum overhead. To protect user privacy, homomorphic encryption is used to secure the data enroute. Therefore, all the meters participate in the aggregation, without seeing any intermediate or final result. In this way, our approach supports efficient data aggregation in smart grids, while fully protecting user privacy. This approach is especially suitable for smart grids with repetitive routine data aggregation tasks.
Convolution and matrix systems as content addressible distributed brain processes in perception and memory

The curious theory of Bain and others that each idea is lodged in a separate ganglion cell [is] an hypothesis impossible both psychologically and physiologically ( Ebbinghaus 1964 : 63, footnote). The proper way in which to think of this causation [the indirect strengthening of associations] would become clear only by the introduction of physiological conceptions which must first be constructed or at least remodeled ( Ebbinghaus, 1964 , p. 122).
Anchor points in language learning: The role of marker frequency ☆

Abstract We examine the role of markers as anchor points in adult learning of a miniature artificial language, with and without an accompanying reference field. Two dialects of the same language were created, differing only in number of grammatical markers and “content” words. In the high-frequency dialect a given marker occurred six times as often as a given content word, while in the low-frequency dialect a given marker occurred one and a half times as often as a given content word. In Experiment 1, without a reference field, subjects in the high-frequency dialect learned the structure of the language easily, but subjects in the low-frequency dialect learned only superficial properties of the language. In Experiment 2, with a reference field, subjects in both conditions learned, but those in the high-frequency condition learned more quickly. We propose that, with or without a reference field, learners use very high-frequency markers as anchor points for distributional analysis. We discuss the implications of our results for first language learning.
Role of the N-terminal epidermal growth factor-like domain of factor X/Xa.

The functional importance of the N-terminal epidermal growth factor-like domain (EGF-N) of factor X/Xa (FX/Xa) was investigated by constructing an FX mutant in which the exon coding for EGF-N was deleted from FX cDNA. Following expression and purification to homogeneity, the mutant was characterized with respect to its ability to function as a zymogen for either the factor VIIa-tissue factor complex or the factor IXa-factor VIIIa complex and then to function as an enzyme in the prothrombinase complex to catalyze the conversion of prothrombin to thrombin. It was discovered that EGF-N is essential for the recognition and efficient activation of FX by both activators in the presence of the cofactors. On the other hand, the FXa mutant interacted with factor Va with a normal apparent dissociation constant and activated prothrombin with ∼3-fold lower catalytic efficiency in the prothrombinase complex. Surprisingly, the mutant activated prothrombin with ∼12-fold better catalytic efficiency than wild-type FXa in the absence of factor Va. The mutant was inactive in both prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time assays; however, it exhibited a similar specific activity in a one-stage FXa clotting assay. These results suggest that EGF-N of FX is required for the cofactor-dependent zymogen activation by both physiological activators, but it plays no apparent role in FXa recognition of the cofactor in the prothrombinase complex.
Quantitative assay of deoxyribonuclease activity after isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide gels: pH control and effects of enzyme diffusion

A method for the quantitative assay of nuclease activity in crude cell lysates after isoelectric focusing (IEF) in polyacrylamide slab gels is described. After IEF, an agarose overlay gel containing DNA is placed on the IEF gel and the nuclease activity quantified by the loss of ethidium bromide fluorescence of the DNA. With this method a linear response was obtained for 1 to 10 ng of DNase I. Various methods of pH equilibration after IEF were also evaluated. The use of a high buffer concentration in the overlay gel is recommended to control the pH during the enzyme reaction. An analytical solution for the diffusion of enzymes from the IEF gel to the overlay gel is also presented and an equation that may be used to choose optimum times for transfer of the enzyme from the IEF gel to the overlay gel is given.
Rescue of Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus from cDNA

Newcastle disease virus (NDV), the prototype member of the Avulavirus genus of the family Paramyxoviridae(1), is a non-segmented, negative-sense, single-stranded, enveloped RNA virus (Figure 1) with potential applications as a vector for vaccination and treatment of human diseases. In-depth exploration of these applications has only become possible after the establishment of reverse genetics techniques to rescue recombinant viruses from plasmids encoding their complete genomes as cDNA(2-5). Viral cDNA can be conveniently modified in vitro by using standard cloning procedures to alter the genotype of the virus and/or to include new transcriptional units. Rescue of such genetically modified viruses provides a valuable tool to understand factors affecting multiple stages of infection, as well as allows for the development and improvement of vectors for the expression and delivery of antigens for vaccination and therapy. Here we describe a protocol for the rescue of recombinant NDVs.