cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prescription opioid misuse and mental health among young injection drug users

AbstractBackground: Prescription opioid (PO) misuse is a significant concern in the United States. Objectives: This study describes the prevalence and timing of PO misuse, diagnoses of opiate abuse and dependence, and their associations with psychiatric disorders in a sample of young people who inject drugs (PWID). Methods: Participants were 570 young (18–25 years) PWID, primarily heroin users, recruited through outreach and respondent-driven sampling. Trained interviewers administered a semi-structured psychiatric interview. Diagnoses of substance use and mental disorders were based on DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Results: Estimated rates of lifetime PO abuse and dependence were 19% and 17%, respectively. Past year PO misuse was significantly associated with anti-social personality disorder (ASPD, OR = 2.15, 95% CI 1.43–3.24), past year substance-induced major depression (SIMD, OR = 1.81, 95% CI 1.16–2.83), and prior post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, OR = 2.45, 95% CI 1.31–4.60). Among male PO users, ...
Interleukin-4 Prevents Mortality from Acute but Not Chronic Murine Peritonitis and Induces an Accelerated Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Response

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) demonstrates properties in vitro that suggest an anti-inflammatory role in the immune response, one of which is the inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) release. We examine
Influence of Sustainable Recycled Asphalt Technologies on Pavement Construction Cooling Predictions

Adequate control of temperatures during compaction is a critical factor in the achievement of proper densification of asphalt concrete (AC) layers. As the mat cools down, the viscosity of the asphalt binder increases; this increased viscosity reduces the compaction capability of the asphalt mixture. To assist paving contractors in their estimation of the cooling rate of asphalt pavements, the MultiCool program uses a heat transfer model that predicts the time window for successful compaction. Although this program has been validated for a variety of hot- and warm-mix asphalt technologies, further validation is needed on additional sustainable asphalt mixture technology. Pavement sections built in 2012 at the National Center for Asphalt Technology Pavement Test Track were used to perform a validation study to assess the effect of sustainable technologies [e.g., reclaimed asphalt pavements, recycled asphalt shingles (RAS), ground tire rubber (GTR) modified binders, and foamed cold-mix (FCM) bases] on the co...
Influence of Histidine Residues on Transmembrane Helix Alignment

To investigate His residues in lipid bilayer membranes, we have employed GWALP23 (acetyl-GGALW5LALALALALALALW19LAGA-amide) as a favorable host peptide. Importantly, membrane-spanning GWALP23 is quite sensitive to single-residue replacements, in part because the transmembrane helix exhibits only limited dynamic averaging of solid-state NMR observables such as the 2H quadrupolar splitting (Biophys. J. 101, 2939). We inserted His residues into position 12 and/or 13 of GWALP23 (replacing either L12 or A13) and incorporated specific 2H-Ala labels within the helical core sequence. Solid-state 2H NMR spectra reveal a marked difference between the L12H mutant and the L12H-A13H double mutant. GWALP23-H12 exhibits a well-defined tilted transmembrane orientation in both DOPC and DLPC bilayer membranes, suggesting that the bilayer-incorporated histidine side chain is neutral (deprotonated) at an experimental pH of 5-6. By contrast, GWALP23-H12,13 is highly dynamic and exhibits multiple states which are in slow exchange on the NMR timescale. Indeed, the multi-state behavior of GWALP23-H12,13 between pH 4 and pH 9 resembles closely that of GWALP23-R12 (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 132, 5803). Further aspects of the pH dependence of transmembrane helices having one or two histidines are under investigation.
Irritable bowel syndrome aggregates strongly in families: a family-based case-control study.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) runs in families. Prior family studies surveyed patients inquiring about family history without surveying family members. The stigma associated with IBS may lead relatives to not share information with others, resulting in underestimates of familial aggregation of IBS. The aim of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of patient-report of family history of IBS in cases and controls, and to estimate familial aggregation of IBS using both a case–control and a family-study design. Fifty cases and 53 controls completed symptom questionnaires and provided contact information for first-degree relatives. Questionnaires were mailed to relatives. Relatives were considered to have IBS if they met Rome criteria and did not have an alternate GI diagnosis. Cases and controls identified 573 relatives in their families. A total of 202 (51%) of 396 living relatives participated. The kappa statistics between proband- and relative-reported IBS for case- and control-relatives were 0.27 and 0.04. Cases reported 21% of relatives had IBS; relative-reports showed 37% (P = 0.003). Controls reported 4% of relatives had IBS; relative-reports showed 16% (P = 0.013). Regardless of whether the proband or the relative themselves were the information source, case-relatives were threefold as likely to have IBS than control-relatives (P < 0.05). However, overall rates were higher when data collected from relatives were used. Regardless of approach, strong familial aggregation of IBS was observed. Cases and controls underestimated the frequency of IBS in their relatives and agreement between proband- and relative-report of IBS status was extremely poor, thus emphasizing the need for direct data collection from relatives in IBS family studies.
Negligible senescence in the longest living rodent, the naked mole-rat: insights from a successfully aging species

Aging refers to a gradual deterioration in function that, over time, leads to increased mortality risk, and declining fertility. This pervasive process occurs in almost all organisms, although some long-lived trees and cold water inhabitants reportedly show insignificant aging. Negligible senescence is characterized by attenuated age-related change in reproductive and physiological functions, as well as no observable age-related gradual increase in mortality rate. It was questioned whether the longest living rodent, the naked mole-rat, met these three strict criteria. Naked mole-rats live in captivity for more than 28.3 years, approximately 9 times longer than similar-sized mice. They maintain body composition from 2 to 24 years, and show only slight age-related changes in all physiological and morphological characteristics studied to date. Surprisingly breeding females show no decline in fertility even when well into their third decade of life. Moreover, these animals have never been observed to develop any spontaneous neoplasm. As such they do not show the typical age-associated acceleration in mortality risk that characterizes every other known mammalian species and may therefore be the first reported mammal showing negligible senescence over the majority of their long lifespan. Clearly physiological and biochemical processes in this species have evolved to dramatically extend healthy lifespan. The challenge that lies ahead is to understand what these mechanisms are.
Measurements and Simulations of Electrical Demand From Residential Buildings for Peak Load Reduction

Due to extreme summers in the Desert Southwest region of the U.S., there are substantial peaks in electricity demand. Through a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, a consortium has been formed between the University of Nevada Las Vegas, Pulte Homes, and NV Energy (formerly known as Nevada Power) to address this issue. The team has been developing a series of approximately 200 homes in Las Vegas to study substation level peak electric load reduction strategies. The targeted goal of the project is a peak reduction of more than 65%, between 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM, compared to code standard housing developments. Energy performances of the homes have been monitored and the results were stored for further analysis. A computer model has been developed for one of the homes in the new development using building energy simulation code, ENERGY 10. Influence of different peak reduction strategies on the electricity demand from the home has been analyzed using the developed model. The simulations predict that the annual electrical energy demand from the energy efficient home compared to a code standard home of the same size decreases by 38%. The simulations have also shown that the energy efficient measures reduce the electricity demand from the home during the peak periods. Simulations on the photovoltaic (PV) orientation show that a south oriented PV system is best suited for a home enrolled to flat electricity pricing schedule and a 220°(40° west of due south) orientation is economically optimal for homes enrolled in the time-of-use pricing. The energy efficiency methods in the building coupled with a 220° oriented PV and two degrees thermostat setback for three hours (from 3:00–6:00 PM) can reduce the peak demand by 62% compared to a code standard building of the same size.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Tolerance for quinine under cholinergic versus deprivation induced thirst.

Abstract The acceptance of quinine solutions following cholinergic stimulation and following water deprivation (animals matched for water intake in separate tests) was examined in a single bottle, 1 hr exposure situation and in a tolerance test in which animals were exposed to a progression of increasing quinine concentrations. The results indicated that animals exposed to quinine 10 min after cholinergic stimulation accept significantly lower concentrations of quinine than deprived animals. However, this difference was not significant when 25 min elapsed between cholinergic stimulation and exposure to quinine. Thirst (drive strength) induced by cholinergic stimulation apparently increases for a period of time after the initial stimulation and the behavior of the animal shows convergence with that of deprived animals as time progresses. The present experiments indicate that there is no basic or qualitative difference between the states of thirst produced by cholinergic brain stimulation and by water deprivation.
An algorithm for analyzing ellipsometric data taken with multiple angles of incidence

Abstract The equations of ellipsometry are intractable. They have not been inverted, and thus require numerical techniques for solution in all but the simplest of reflecting surface configurations. In prior work, the authors have presented algorithms for creating approximate solutions for these equations in the case of a sequence of measurements being taken at successive times. In this paper, we extend one of these algorithms to the case of readings taken at one time at multiple angles of incidence. The algorithm is described in some detail, and sample results are presented. In addition, statistical means are used to assess the reliability of the values computed.
Simultaneous imaging of temperature and mole fraction using acetone planar laser-induced fluorescence

Imaging of concentration with acetone PLIF has become popular in mixing investigations. More recently, studies of the temperature dependences of acetone fluorescence have enabled quantitative imaging of temperature using single- or dual-wavelength excitation strategies. We present here the first demonstration of simultaneous imaging of temperature and mole fraction with acetone PLIF. Laser excitation is at 248 and 308 nm; the resulting fluorescence images are captured by an interline transfer CCD camera capable of acquiring two frames with a separation in time of as little as 500 ns. In addition to adding temperature imaging capability, this dual-wavelength approach enables mole fraction to be accurately measured in non-isothermal flows. Tests in a heated turbulent jet demonstrate the ability to record instantaneous mole fraction and temperature structure. The expected correspondence of the temperature and concentration fields is observed, and mean values of these quantities derived from image averaging show the expected radial and centerline profiles as the jet becomes fully developed.
A theory of shells with small strain accompanied by moderate rotation

This paper is concerned with a constrained theory of shells in the presence of small strain accompanied by moderate rotation. The constrained theory accounts for the effect of transverse normal strain and includes, of course, the special case (corresponding to the Kirchhoff-Love theory of shells) in which the effect of transverse normal strain is absent. After precise estimates for (local) moderate rotation and relative displacement gradients in terms of infinitesimal strain have been effected, a complete theory is formulated with the use of linear constitutive equations. The nature of the complete theory is further examined when initially the shell-like body is a plate; and it is shown that our kinematical formulae (strain-displacement relations), as well as the relevant differential equations of the theory in the absence of the effect of transverse normal strain, systematically reduce to those used in the von Karman plate equations. Also, in the light of the present results, an assessment of kinematical aspects of previously developed theories of shells undergoing small strain and moderate rotation is indicated.
Sudden Destruction of Motor End Plates by Lactic Acid

SummaryLactic acid in concentrations of 0.05 to 0.3% injected into the exposed zone of innervation of the sternomastoid muscle in the white rat produced sudden destruction of most of the motor end plates within 30 seconds to 25 minutes dependent upon the concentration of the acid. This liquefaction of the hypolemmal axons of the end plates was preceded by a first phase of retraction and a second phase of expansion and fragmentation. Lactic acid caused a progressive depletion, in both the hypolemmal and the epilemma1 axons, of auriphilous substances. The blood vessels were enlarged, hyperemic, and contained clumps of agglutinated red blood cells in the rigorous muscle paralyzed by lactic acid. I t is suggested that the acid metabolites which accumulate during rigor mortis of muscle are responsible for the destruction of the end plates and that during life certain processes that result in the intramuscular accumulation of acid, such as vascular congestion and anoxia, likewise may result in the destruction o...
Rural/urban differences in barriers to and burden of care for children with special health care needs.

ABSTRACT: Purpose: To examine the barriers and difficulties experienced by rural families of children with special health care needs (CSHCN) in caring for their children. Methods: The National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs was used to examine rural-urban differences in types of providers used, reasons CSHCN had unmet health care needs, insurance and financial difficulties encountered, and the family burden of providing the child’s medical care. We present both unadjusted and adjusted results to allow consideration of the causes of rural-urban differences. Findings: Rural CSHCN are less likely to be seen by a pediatrician than urban children. They are more likely to have unmet health care needs due to transportation difficulties or because care was not available in the area; there were minimal other differences in barriers to care. Families of rural CSHCN are more likely to report financial difficulties associated with their children’s medical needs and more likely to provide care at home for their children. Conclusions: Examining results from both unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios shows that the burden of care for families of rural CSHCN stems both from socioeconomic differences and health system differences. Policies aimed at achieving equity for rural children will require focusing on both individual factors and the health care infrastructure, including increasing insurance coverage to lessen financial difficulties and addressing the availability of providers in rural areas.
An analysis of the job market for biomedical computer scientists

Biomedical Information and Computer Science is an academic area that has received much interest recently. A number of training programs have been developed around the country. This paper is an examination of the potential market for biomedical information and computer scientists.It is possible to identify a number of organizations that may potentially employ biomedical computer scientists. Included in such a list are medical schools, hospitals above a certain size, software houses, health maintenance organizations (HMO's), health-testing centers, biomedical instrument manufacturers, professional standards review organizations (PSRO's), insurance carriers, service bureaus, and academic institutions training biomedical computer scientists. An estimate of the current market is based on a summation of the various potential sub-markets. Growth statistics are determined or estimated for each market area to project future needs.A description of the nature of each potential market area is used to indicate the type of training that will best prepare a student for the various job markets. It is suggested that a combination of biology, electrical engineering and computer science will be essential for some positions while extensive training in the development of large data bases along with a biological science background will be required to meet other job descriptions.
A review of Lyme disease serologic diagnosis

Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne infection in the United States. Recent dramatic increases in the number of reported cases reflect increased disease awareness, as well as spread of infected vectors and reservoirs into most geographic regions in the US. Currently, the only practical laboratory means of diagnosing Lyme disease is based on serologic tests. The demand for these tests has soared as more physicians and the lay public confront the protean clinical manifestations of Borrelia burgdorferi infection. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent analysis (ELISA) is the most useful serologic method currently available; nonetheless, this and other methods are hampered by false–positive and false–negative results. This article reviews the human immune response to B. burgdorferi , the various available Lyme disease serodiagnostic tests, the causes of false serologic test results, and prospects for improvements in Lyme disease diagnosis.
Line assignments and intensities of the ν2 + ν3 − ν2 band of 12CH4

Abstract As part of a comprehensive effort to compile line parameters of methane from 2400 to 3200 cm−1, the P and R branches of the ν2 + ν3 − ν2 band of CH4 at 3010 cm−1 were assigned through upper state J = 9. The process utilized the analysis of ν2 + ν3 at 4544 cm−1 by J. C. Hilico, J. Degni, J. P. Champion, and G. Guelachvili (J. Mol. Spectrosc. 81, 277–302 (1980)) and the ν2 levels derived from the infrared spectrum by Margolis (in preparation) to predict the positions of the hot band. Experimentally determined lower-state energies were used to confirm assignments, and line intensities of the 300 transitions assigned are observed on the order of 10−3 cm−2 atm−1 or less.
An Integrative Theory of the Division of Domestic Labor: Threshold Level, Social Organizing and Sensemaking

The distribution, negotiation and management of unpaid domestic labor are issues that are inextricably linked to the well-being of families, relationships, and our very selves. For example, disputes and arguments about chores rate amongst the most common and destructive in terms of relational conflict. Several theories have been developed to explain the division of household labor, but scholars have yet to be successful in explaining persistent differences in husbands' and wives' domestic contributions. As a step toward doing so, here we provide an integrative theory that builds upon singular explanations such as gender display and evolutionary/biosocial differences. In this paper, we incorporate these theories, introduce the importance of threshold level, and integrate concepts derived from self-organizing systems theory, the economy of gratitude, and individual, dyadic and social sensemaking processes. Together, these provide an integrated theory well suited to explore how couples' communicative practic...
Genetic and molecular analysis of nonrandom dimer assembly of the creatine kinase isozymes of fishes.

Species within many families of actinopterygian bony fishes (class Osteichthyes) have a two-banded allelic isozyme phenotype in individuals heterozygous at the creatine kinase A locus. This two-banded pattern is formed by the presence of the two homodimeric isozymes and the absence of the expected heterodimer. Sharks and amphibians have retained the ability to form all three allelic isozymes in individuals which are heterozygous. Reversible denaturation procedures were able to assemble the different allelic CK-A subunits within a species to form CK-A2 heterodimers. Furthermore, heterodimers were formed from different CK-A subunits from highly divergent species after this in vitro molecular hybridization process. It is concluded from these studies that the polypeptidebinding sites of creatine kinase are structurally conservative in most fishes and that the absence of a heterodimer in heterozygous individuals is not due to a structural incompatibility between the different A subunit types or to an instability of the heterodimer during electrophoresis. A temporal and/or spatial isolation of allelic CK-A subunit synthesis and assembly, within differentiated skeletal muscle, appears to have evolved in the actinopterygian bony fishes.
Ricci curvature, circulants, and a matching condition

Abstract The Ricci curvature of graphs, as recently introduced by Lin, Lu, and Yau following a general concept due to Ollivier, provides a new and promising isomorphism invariant. This paper presents a simplified exposition of the concept, including the so-called logistic diagram as a computational or visualization aid. Two new infinite classes of graphs with positive Ricci curvature are identified. A local graph-theoretical condition, known as the matching condition , provides a general formula for Ricci curvatures. The paper initiates a longer-term program of classifying the Ricci curvatures of circulant graphs. Aspects of this program may prove useful in tackling the problem of showing when twisted tori are not isomorphic to circulants.
Suppression Pool Mixing and Condensation Tests in PUMA Facility

Condensation of steam with noncondensables in the form of jet flow or bubbly flow inside the suppression pool is an important phenomenon on determining the containment pressure of a passively safe boiling water reactor. 32 cases of pool mixing and condensation test have been performed in Purdue University Multi-Dimensional Integral Test Assembly (PUMA) facility under the sponsor of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to investigate thermal stratification and pool mixing inside the suppression pool during the reactor blowdown period. The test boundary conditions, such as the steam flow rate, the noncondensable gas flow rate, the initial water temperature, the pool initial pressure and the vent opening submergence depth, which covers a wide range of prototype (SBWR-600) conditions during Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA) were obtained from the RELAP5 calculation. The test results show that steam is quickly condensed at the exit of the vent opening. For pure steam injection or low noncondensable injection cases, only the portion above the vent opening in the suppression pool is heated up by buoyant plumes. The water below the vent opening can be heated up slowly through conduction. The test results also show that the degree of thermal stratification in suppression pool is affected by the vent opening submergence depth, the pool initial pressure and the steam injection rate. And it is slightly affected by the initial water temperature. From these tests it is concluded that the pool mixing is strongly affected by the noncondensable gas flow rate.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
2-methylaminopyridine N-oxide complexes from some lanthanide(III) perchlorates

Abstract 2-Methylaminopyridine N-oxide (HL) complexes of the formula [M(HL)7](ClO4)3 (M = Sm), [M(HL)6(H2O)n](ClO4)3 (MPr, Eu, Ho, Yb; n = 0, or 1) and [M(HL)5(H2O)n](ClO4)3 (MNd, Dy, Er; n = 0 or 2) have been prepared and characterized. Only the Pr(III) and Nd(III) solids contain water molecules which DSC and TGA studies suggest are present as aquo ligands. All solids were isolated as microcrystalline powders from 4:1 ligand-to-metal ion mole ratio mixture in isopropanol; methanol solutions yielded oils. The solids possess the color of the respective aquated metal ions and behave as 1:3 electrolytes in acetonitrile. The IR spectral study shows that the four lighter metal ions have some amine coordination while the four heavier metal ions are coordinated exclusively by N-oxide oxygens. Electronic spectra recorded in the solid state as well as in acetonitrile solution are also discussed.
An Ecological Perspective on U.S. Latinos’ Health Communication Behaviors, Access, and Outcomes

U.S. Latinos experience constrained access to formal health care resources, contributing to higher incidence of preventable diseases and chronic health conditions than the general population. The authors explore whether a rich set of informal health communication connections—to friends, family, radio, television, Internet, newspapers, magazines, churches, and community organizations—can compensate, even partially, for not having access to doctors. The authors find no evidence of any such compensatory mechanism among respondents to the Pew Hispanic Center/Robert Wood Johnson Latino Health Survey (N = 3,899). Analyses revealed that the informal health communication ecologies of respondents with favorable immigration/nativity status and greater income, education, and language proficiencies were more diversified than those of respondents reporting less favorable social status. Further analyses revealed that diversified informal health communication ecologies related to health care access (regular doctor visit...
Social movements and political practice in education

In this article I respond to the analyses of Educating the `Right'Way and The State and the Politics of Knowledge that were given by Stephen Ball, Russell Fox and Antonio Novoa. I situate the devel...
Focal points and bargaining

This is a contribution to the growing experimental literature on how trial-and-error adjustment processes can establish a convention for coordination on an equilibrium in a game. A simple bargaining game introduced by Nash is used for this purpose. Subjects are condi- tioned in different treatments to use four different bargaining solutions. The stability of the conditioning is then studied as the bargaining game is played over an extended period. The data obtained is unusually sharp. In the long run, the median subject behaves as though op- timizing often down to a fraction of a penny. The results are therefore not supportive of the view that strategic considerations in such situations can be neglected in favor of a study of fairness norms. Indeed, the equilibrium actually achieved in a session turns out to be a very good predictor of what the median subject says is "fair" in the game after play is over.
Is it time for an alternative training pathway to become a board certified colon and rectal surgeon

Abstract The paradigm for training colorectal surgeons may be changing in the near future. Collaborative efforts between the American Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery and the American Board of Surgery will be essential to overcoming the changes in the growing colorectal curriculum and the reduction in experience of general surgical trainees (precolorectal training). Several training models have been discussed over the past decade and each will be reviewed in this article.
Symmetry and specializability in the continued fraction expansions of some infinite products

Abstract Let f ( x ) ∈ Z [ x ] . Set f 0 ( x ) = x and, for n ⩾ 1 , define f n ( x ) = f ( f n − 1 ( x ) ) . We describe several infinite families of polynomials for which the infinite product ∏ n = 0 ∞ ( 1 + 1 f n ( x ) ) has a specializable continued fraction expansion of the form S ∞ = [ 1 ; a 1 ( x ) , a 2 ( x ) , a 3 ( x ) , … ] , where a i ( x ) ∈ Z [ x ] for i ⩾ 1 . When the infinite product and the continued fraction are specialized by letting x take integral values, we get infinite classes of real numbers whose regular continued fraction expansion is predictable. We also show that, under some simple conditions, all the real numbers produced by this specialization are transcendental. We also show, for any integer k ⩾ 2 , that there are classes of polynomials f ( x , k ) for which the regular continued fraction expansion of the product ∏ n = 0 k ( 1 + 1 f n ( x , k ) ) is specializable but the regular continued fraction expansion of ∏ n = 0 k + 1 ( 1 + 1 f n ( x , k ) ) is not specializable.
Is metformin a multifunctional medication for inducing ovulation and improving pregnancy outcomes in PCOS

Purpose: To review the pathophysiology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), discuss the use of metformin—an insulin-sensitizing agent—as an ovulation induction agent, and investigate whether use of metformin improves ovulation and pregnancy outcomes in females with PCOS. Data sources: Review of the published literature in on-line journals, CINAHL database, and MD Consult database using key search terms of metformin, ovulation-induction, anovulation, polycystic ovary syndrome, insulin resistance, and pregnancy. Conclusion: Evidence supports the use of metformin as an appropriate first-line therapy for ovulation induction of infertile PCOS females and also for the treatment of menstrual irregularity. Current data suggest that metformin taken during pregnancy may reduce miscarriage rate, gestational diabetes mellitus complications, and fetal growth problems. Implications for practice: Metformin, as a single agent, is useful for multiple purposes in the treatment of PCOS: decreasing intestinal glucose uptake and both basal and postprandial glucose levels; inducing ovulation; and improving pregnancy outcomes.
Supraglottic laryngeal mass.

A 60-year-old Hispanic male with a history of smoking presented to the emergency department with complaint of dysphagia for the past two months. Additional symptoms included progressive shortness of breath and stridor. CT results from an outside institution showed 80% airway obstruction. Despite the findings, the patient’s vitals were normal, with respirations of 20 and an initial room air oxygen saturation of 98%. Palpable neck masses or lymphadenopathy were not noted at the time of physical exam. A CT revealed the absence of a visible airway (Figure 1a; compare with Figure 1b taken below the level of the mass) and an expansive soft-tissue mass roughly spanning spinal cord levels C1 to C6 (Figure 2). An emergent ENT consult was called and the patient was given dexamethasone to control edema and prevent further obstruction. He was taken to the operating room where he could not be intubated and underwent an emergency tracheotomy. Direct laryngoscopy and biopsy revealed significant epiglottic destruction by squamous cell carcinoma, with lymphangitic metastasis to the cervical soft tissues. Patient was given dexamethasone to control edema and prevent further obstruction. Figure 1. Computed tomography results revealed A) the absence of a visible airway compared to B) an open airway taken below the level of the mass. Figure 2. Soft-tissue mass roughly spanning spinal cord levels C1 to C6 Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx occurs up to 30 times more frequently in men and is associated with a history of smoking and alcohol consumption, which together can increase the risk of laryngeal cancer by a factor greater than 100.1,2,3 Compared to glottic, supraglottic tumors have greater risk of lymphogenous metastasis due to greater vascularity and later presentation due to fewer symptoms.4 As a result, many patients presenting with advanced disease have palpable neck metastases. The extensive obstruction that this patient presented with warrants mention of the management options available in such a case. The emergency physician needs to be aware of alternatives for salvaging the airway in these rare instances. The standard landmark-based cricothyrotomy would have been ineffective as the tumor obstructed this region entirely. While jet ventilation below the level of the obstruction could have been used as a temporizing measure, the only practical approach to establishing a definitive airway would have been to move the “cric” down several rings to a level free of obstruction.
Orconectes (Trisellescens) taylori, a new species of crayfish from western Tennessee (Decapoda: Cambaridae)

ABSTRACT A new species of crayfish, Orconectes taylori, is described from tributaries of the North Fork Obion River in western Tennessee (common name: Crescent Crayfish). It occurs in small to medium size sandy bottom streams, and is found in leaf litter and woody debris along the banks. It belongs to the subgenus Trisellescens Bouchard & Bouchard, 1995 and can be distinguished from other species in the group by a combination of the length and curvature of the central projection of the form I gonopod, carina on the rostrum, appressed tubercles on the margin of the palm of the chela, and width of the areola. In the course of this study, a new drainage record was obtained for Orconectes pagei Taylor & Sabaj, 1997 formerly thought to occur only in tributaries of the Tennessee River in western Tennessee
Young convict cichlids use visual information to update olfactory homing cues

In this study, we tested the tendency of young cichlids to orient towards their parents using chemical cues. Convict cichlids have biparental defence of their free-swimming young. If young become separated from their family they must rejoin their family within minutes to have any chance of survival. Here, we used a dichotomous Y-maze to test if displaced convict cichlid young can use chemical cues to orient to their family. First, we showed that young preferentially orient toward water taken from their home tank versus blank water taken from a tank that contained no fish. Second, we showed that young prefer home tank water to water from a tank containing another family of convict cichlids. In a third experiment, we placed young convict cichlids in a small aquarium inserted within a larger aquarium. The large aquarium contained either their parents or no fish. The small insert aquarium contained blank water from a tank that had never contained fish. After 20 min in the insert tank, young convict cichlids were placed in the Y-maze and given a choice between either their home tank water or water from the insert tank. Convict cichlids that did not see their parents during the 20-min conditioning period oriented strongly toward chemical cues of their home tank water. Young that saw their parents during the 20-min conditioning period oriented strongly toward the chemical cues of the insert tank. These data indicate that young convict cichlids use visual cues to learn and reset the smell of “home” in less than 20 min.
State aggregation based linear programming approach to approximate dynamic programming

One often encounters the curse of dimensionality in the application of dynamic programming to determine optimal policies for controlled Markov chains. In this paper, we provide a method to construct sub-optimal policies along with a bound for the deviation of such a policy from the optimum through the use of restricted linear programming. The novelty of this approach lies in circumventing the need for a value iteration or a linear program defined on the entire state-space. Instead, the state-space is partitioned based on the reward structure and the optimal cost-to-go or value function is approximated by a constant over each partition. We associate a meta-state with each partition, where the transition probabilities between these meta-states can be derived from the original Markov chain specification. The state aggregation approach results in a significant reduction in the computational burden and lends itself to a restricted linear program defined on the aggregated state-space. Finally, the proposed method is bench marked on a perimeter surveillance stochastic control problem.
The Impact of Alcohol On Different Types of Violent Incidents

The research examined whether alcohol intoxication is a greater risk factor for some types of violence than others, using data from the National Violence Against Women and Men Survey (NVAW). Analyses indicated that offenders were much more likely to be intoxicated when they physically assaulted a stranger than when they assaulted someone they knew and least likely to be intoxicated when they assaulted an intimate partner. Offenders who committed sexual assaults were no more likely to be drinking than offenders who committed physical assault. It is argued that conflicts involving people who know each other are more intense and may lead to an assault without the facilitative effect of alcohol.
Kinetics of polymerization rate based on the dependence of termination rate on chain length

When the structure of a primary radical resembles that of the chain end of the polymer radical, the rate of the primary radical termination is approximately the same as the termination rate between the oligomer radical and the polymer radical. The rate constant of termination between polymer radicals of chain length n and s, which involve the primary radicals, is kt,ns = const.(ns)−a. In the polymerization of methacrylonitrile initiated by 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile in dimethylformamide at 60.0°C, the value of a is found to be 0.091. From data obtained previously in the bulk polymerization of styrene initiated by 1-azobis-2-phenylethane at 60.0°C, the value of a is found to be 0.167. Because such a values are so large that they are not estimated by the excluded volume, the termination rates are discussed by adding the dependence of the diffusion of the segments to that for chain length.
Pretarget sorting of retinocollicular axons in the mouse.

The map of the retina onto the optic tectum is a highly conserved feature of the vertebrate visual system and the mechanism by which this mapping is accomplished during development is a long-standing problem of neurobiology. The early suggestion by Roger Sperry that the map is formed through interactions between retinal ganglion cell axons and target cells within the tectum has gained significant experimental support and wide spread acceptance. Nonetheless, reports in a variety of species indicate that some aspects of retinotopic order exist within the optic tract, leading to the suggestion that this ‘pre-ordering’ of retinal axons may play a role in the formation of the mature tectal map. A satisfactory account of pre-target order must provide the mechanism by which such axon order develops. Insofar as this mechanism must ultimately be genetically determined, the mouse suggests itself as the natural species in which to pursue these studies. Quantitative and repeatable methods are required to asses the contribution of candidate genes in mouse models. For these reasons, we have undertaken a quantitative study of the degree of retinotopic order within the optic tract and nerve of wild type mice both before and after the development of the retinotectal map. Our methods are based on tract-tracing using lipophilic dyes and our results indicate that there is a reestablishment of dorsoventral but not nasotemporal retinal order when the axons pass through the chiasm, and that this order is maintained throughout the subsequent tract. Furthermore, this dorsoventral retinotopic order is well-established by the day after birth, long before the final target zone is discernible within the tectum. We conclude that pretarget sorting of axons according to origin along the dorsoventral axis of the retina is both spatially and chronologically appropriate to contribute to the formation of the retinotectal map, and suggest that these methods be used to search for the molecular basis of such order using available mouse genetic models.
A Comparison of Gradient Estimation Methods for Volume Rendering on Unstructured Meshes

This paper presents a study of gradient estimation methods for rendering unstructured-mesh volume data. Gradient estimation is necessary for rendering shaded isosurfaces and specular highlights, which provide important cues for shape and depth. Gradient estimation has been widely studied and deployed for regular-grid volume data to achieve local illumination effects, but has been, otherwise, for unstructured-mesh data. As a result, most of the unstructured-mesh volume visualizations made so far were unlit. In this paper, we present a comprehensive study of gradient estimation methods for unstructured meshes with respect to their cost and performance. Through a number of benchmarks, we discuss the effects of mesh quality and scalar function complexity in the accuracy of the reconstruction, and their impact in lighting-enabled volume rendering. Based on our study, we also propose two heuristic improvements to the gradient reconstruction process. The first heuristic improves the rendering quality with a hybrid algorithm that combines the results of the multiple reconstruction methods, based on the properties of a given mesh. The second heuristic improves the efficiency of its GPU implementation, by restricting the computation of the gradient on a fixed-size local neighborhood.
Performance demonstration of a fast-tunable transmitter and burst-mode packet receiver for HORNET

We demonstrate error-free packet-over-WDM transmission using a fast-tunable transmitter and novel packet receiver. The transmitter tunes fine (0.8 nm) and. wide (/spl sim/30 nm) within 15 ns, while the receiver receives unframed packets by bit-synchronizing in 40 ns.
Results of the American Academy of Neurology resident survey.

Background: To assess the effect of neurology residency education as trainees advance into independent practice, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) elected to survey all graduating neurology residents at time of graduation and in 3-year cycles thereafter. Methods: A 22-question survey was sent to all neurology residents completing residency training in the United States in 2007. Results: Of 523 eligible residents, 285 (54.5%) responded. Of these, 92% reported good to excellent quality teaching of basic neurology from their faculty; however, 47% noted less than ideal training in basic neuroscience. Two-thirds indicated that the Residency In-service Training Examination was used only as a self-assessment tool, but reports of misuse were made by some residents. After residency, 78% entered fellowships (with 61% choosing a fellowship based on interactions with a mentor at their institution), whereas 20% entered practice directly. After adjustment for the proportion of residents who worked before the duty hour rules were implemented and after their implementation, more than half reported improvement in quality of life (87%), education (60%), and patient care (62%). The majority of international medical graduates reported wanting to stay in the United States to practice rather than return to their country of residence. Conclusions: Neurology residents are generally satisfied with training, and most entered a fellowship. Duty hour implementation may have improved resident quality of life, but reciprocal concerns were raised about impact on patient care and education. Despite the majority of international trainees wishing to stay in the United States, stricter immigration laws may limit their entry into the future neurology workforce.
The Honest Politician's Guide to Juvenile Justice in the Twenty-First Century

Within the past three decades, judicial decisions and legal changes have transformed the juvenile court from a nominally rehabilitative social welfare agency into a scaled-down, second-class criminal court that provides young offenders with neither therapy nor justice. The migration of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North that began three-quarters of a century ago, the macrostructural transformation of American cities and the economy over the past quarter of a century, and the current linkages in the popular and political culture between race and serious youth crime provide the impetus for get-tough policies to crack down on juveniles. The procedural and substantive convergence between juvenile and criminal courts has occurred because juvenile courts attempt to combine social welfare and criminal social control in one agency. If states uncouple social welfare from social control, then they can try all of fenders in one integrated criminal justice system. But states must formally recog...
Harmony in linguistic cognition

In this article, I survey the integrated connectionist/symbolic (ICS) cognitive architecture in which higher cognition must be formally characterized on two levels of description. At the microlevel, parallel distributed processing (PDP) characterizes mental processing; this PDP system has special organization in virtue of which it can be characterized at the macrolevel as a kind of symbolic computational system. The symbolic system inherits certain properties from its PDP substrate; the symbolic functions computed constitute optimization of a well-formedness measure called Harmony. The most important outgrowth of the ICS research program is optimality theory (Prince & Smolensky, 1993/2004), an optimization-based grammatical theory that provides a formal theory of cross-linguistic typology. Linguistically, Harmony maximization corresponds to minimization of markedness or structural ill-formedness. Cognitive explanation in ICS requires the collaboration of symbolic and connectionist principles. ICS is developed in detail in Smolensky and Legendre (2006a); this article is a precis of and guide to those volumes.
Personnel Assignment from a Human Factors Perspective

This paper presents a review of the personnel assignment problem, including summaries of its key factors and objectives. Previous military research in this field, such as the MANPRINT initiative an...
On forced temperature changes, internal variability, and the AMO

We estimate the low-frequency internal variability of Northern Hemisphere (NH) mean temperature using observed temperature variations, which include both forced and internal variability components, and several alternative model simulations of the (natural + anthropogenic) forced component alone. We then generate an ensemble of alternative historical temperature histories based on the statistics of the estimated internal variability. Using this ensemble, we show, first, that recent NH mean temperatures fall within the range of expected multidecadal variability. Using the synthetic temperature histories, we also show that certain procedures used in past studies to estimate internal variability, and in particular, an internal multidecadal oscillation termed the “Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation” or “AMO”, fail to isolate the true internal variability when it is a priori known. Such procedures yield an AMO signal with an inflated amplitude and biased phase, attributing some of the recent NH mean temperature rise to the AMO. The true AMO signal, instead, appears likely to have been in a cooling phase in recent decades, offsetting some of the anthropogenic warming. Claims of multidecadal “stadium wave” patterns of variation across multiple climate indices are also shown to likely be an artifact of this flawed procedure for isolating putative climate oscillations.