cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bleeding Gastric Varices Obliteration with Balloon-occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration Using Sodium Tetradecyl Sulfate Foam

Abstract Purpose Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) of bleeding gastric varices (GV) is well described in the literature. Using Ethanolamine oleate as the sclerosing agent in BRTO, but it is not readily available in the United States in the desired concentrations. The authors' aim is to describe their initial experience with BRTO using sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS) foam as an alternative sclerosing agent. Materials and Methods The authors performed a retrospective review of their initial series in which STS foam was used to treat bleeding GV using BRTO. All study subjects had endoscopic evidence of gastric variceal bleeding. STS foam was made using a combination of agents with a 3:2:1 ratio of gas: 3% STS: Lipiodol (Ethiodol; Savage Laboratories, Melville, New York). Mean values and ranges were calculated for each variable, and clinical and imaging outcomes were assessed. Results The authors performed BRTO in 22 cirrhotic patients (11 men and 11 women) with a mean age of 52 years (range, 23–83 years). Technical success was achieved in 20 of 22 (91%) patients. Complications occurred in three of 22 (14%) patients. The overall mean dose of STS used was 300 mg (range, 30–600 mg) with mean total volume of sclerosant mixture of 34.1 mL (range, 10–65 mL). Follow-up imaging was available for 18 of 20 (90%) technically successful procedures with a mean period of 89 days (range, 1–359 days). Complete obliteration of GV was achieved in 16 of 18 (89%) patients. There were no cases of recurrent variceal bleeding with a mean clinical follow-up period of 130 days (range, 1–510). Conclusions BRTO utilizing STS foam appears effective in obliterating bleeding GVs with good short-term outcomes.
Hans-Georg Gadamer “The Incapacity for Conversation” (1972)

In his 1972 essay “The Incapacity for Conversation” (“Die Unfahigkeit zum Gesprach”) Gadamer takes up the question of whether changes in society have made it such that we are losing our ability to participate in dialogue. By the end of the essay he argues that this is not the case and that the claim that someone is incapable of dialogue is merely an excuse for not listening to the other person. Over the course of the essay Gadamer provides a clarification of what exactly counts as a conversation and of how conversation is connected to friendship.
ABUNDANCE OF WESTERN RED-BACKED SALAMANDERS (PLETHODON VEHICULUM) IN THE WASHINGTON COAST RANGE AFTER HEADWATER STREAM-BUFFER MANIPULATION

Abstract We evaluated the effect of forest riparian alternative tree buffer designs on Western Red-backed Salamanders (Plethodon vehiculum) along headwater stream banks in managed forests of the Washington Coast Range. We used pit trap live removals in early autumn to estimate relative abundances of surface-active salamanders before and after 3 levels of riparian buffer retention (strip, patch, and no-buffer clear-cut) with upland regeneration harvest. The study spanned a pre-treatment year, the harvest year after logging, and 2 post-treatment years (post1, post2). We observed reduced average tree canopies and increased average down-wood cover along streams that received the buffer treatments, especially in the cut portion of patch buffer and no-buffer clear-cut treatments. Compared to pre-treatment, mean salamander relative abundance was lower in no-buffer treatments in the harvest year and in the post2 year, but not the post1 year. Weather differences between years likely partially influenced these resu...
Probing Properties of Water under Confinement: Infrared Spectra

We have computed infrared (IR) spectra of water confined between nonpolar surfaces by using ab initio calculations. We show that electronic charge fluctuations at the interface, occurring even in the case of highly hydrophobic substrates, are responsible for specific features present in IR signals and for important differences between IR spectra and vibrational density of states. We also find that most of the frequency shifts observed under confinement originate from the modified hydrogen bonded network in close proximity to the interface.
Implications of MicroRNAs in Normal Hematopoiesis and Human Leukemia

Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs with important regulatory functions, including hematopoietic differentiation. The advent of high-throughput methods to detect miRNA expression has allowed the study of miRNA levels during normal hematopoiesis and have revealed a widespread aberrant miRNA expression in leukemic cells with respect to the normal hematopoietic cells, suggesting a role for miRNAs in human leukemogenesis. Studies have demonstrated that miRNAs are indeed involved in the initiation and progression of human leukemias. Mutations in miRNA genes and in their target sites could predispose to cancer by altering miRNA expression or by affecting its regulatory function on the target messenger RNA. Furthermore, miRNA expression profiling could also distinguish patients with leukemia with poor outcome independent from other biomarkers. Herein, we review the main studies investigating the role of miRNAs in normal human hematopoiesis as well as in acute and chronic leukemias. In addition, we will discuss the emerging role of other noncoding RNAs (namely the ultraconserved regions) in leukemia.
Retinal Pigment Epithelial Tear After Intravitreal Bevacizumab Injection

Purpose To report two cases of a retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tear after intravitreal bevacizumab injection for exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Design Observational case series. Methods Two patients presented with occult choroidal neovascularization secondary to AMD. Both patients received intravitreal bevacizumab injections. Results The first patient developed a RPE tear shortly after a third intravitreal bevacizumab injection. The second patient developed a RPE tear 10 days after a second intravitreal bevacizumab injection. Conclusions Although RPE tears may occur spontaneously as part of the natural history of exudative AMD, patients may develop visually devastating RPE tears after repeat intravitreal bevacizumab injection. Further studies are needed to determine the incidence of RPE tears after intravitreal bevacizumab injections.
Quantitation of avian spermatozoan motility: Neurochemical regulation

The hypothesis that motility of avian sperm is regulated by acetylcholine was examined by treating rooster (Gallus domesticus) sperm with choline analogs and paraoxon, an inhibitor of colonesterases. Acetylcholine chloride (AChCl) was most effective, acetylthiocholine iodide and butyrylthiocholine iodide were less effective, and choline chloride was ineffective in stimulating sperm motility. Histochemical localization of cholinesterase activity with the electron microscope showed enzyme activity to be associated with membranes of the head and within fibrillar components of the tail. Increasing concentrations of paraoxon decreased cholinesterase activity and increased sperm motility. The data provide evidence that the motility of avian sperm, like that of mammal and sea urchins, may be regulated in part by a system with similarities to the cholinergic neurotransmitter system.
An analysis of slug flow heat transfer in an eccentric annulus

A solution is presented for the temperature distribution in a fluid flowing in an eccentric annulus formed with circular cyclinders under the assumption of slug flow. The flow is assumed to be fully developed thermally with constant thermophysical properties. The outer surface is assumed to be adiabatic and the inner surface temperature is assumed to be independent of circumferential position. General expressions and numerical results for a typical set of conditions are presented for the quantities, local heat flux, local heat transfer coefficient, adiabatic surface temperature distribution, and average Nusselt number. The application of the present results to the prediction of turbulent heat transfer to liquid metals is indicated, and a comparison with other liquid metal heat transfer analyses is presented.
WIDENING GAPS: THE BEHAVIOR OF SUBMARKET HOUSING PRICE INDEXES IN THE DALLAS AREA, 1979-1993

During the course of the most recent business cycle, there were significant submarket differences in the rise and fall of nominal housing prices in Dallas County, Texas. On the upswing, there was a fairly uniform wave of appreciation, although the most affluent sectors appreciated most. The major differences came in the downswing, when prices in the poorest and most segregated neighborhoods declined more rapidly and for a more extended period than average, while prices in the wealthiest sectors declined less and experienced a speedier turnaround, widening the gaps between rich and poor.
Information processing in a binary classification task.

Three choice-reaction time studies were conducted to investigate whether information processing is exhaustive or self-terminating, serial or parallel, and N-dependent or N-independent. A total of 54 subjects were requited to make key-pressing responses to one, two, or three digits presented in a circular display; one key was pressed if the display contained one or more target digits and another key was pressed if the display contained only nontarget digits. The first two studies utilized within-subjects designs in which the displays were consttucted from only one target and one nontarget item (Study 1) or from three target and seven nontarget items (Study 2). The third study used a between-subjects design in which different groups of subjects responded to one-, two-, or three-element displays. In general, the results indicate that CRTs increased as the total number of display elements increased and decreased as the number of target elements (or the ratio of target to nontarget items) increased for a given...
Mutagenicity of urine of various species fed N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide or 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)thiazole☆

Rats, mice and hamsters, which are susceptible to the bladder carcinogenesis by N-[4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)-2-thiazolyl]formamide (FANFT), and guinea pigs, which are not, were fed a diet containing 0.188% FANFT or 0.188% 2-amino-4-(5-nitro-2-furyl)thiazole (ANFT) for 1 week and their urine was then examined for mutagenicity for S. typhimurium TA100. The mutagenicities of the urine of these species fed FANFT were approximately equal. Similarly, that of the urine of these species fed ANFT were also approximately equal. However, the urine from FANFT-fed animals was approximately 10 times as mutagenic as that from ANFT-fed animals. ANFT was detected only in the urine of rats, mice or hamsters fed FANFT. A positive correlation between the susceptibility toward bladder carcinogenesis by FANFT and urinary ANFT excretion was demonstrated, although the correlation between this susceptibility and urine mutagenicity was lacking.
Utility of Ozone Treatment in the Maintenance of Water Quality in a Closed Marine System

The use of ozone as an oxidative supplement to biological filtration and to control epizootic microbial outbreaks coincident with maintaining a biological filter was investigated in a 2,271-1 (600 gallon) closed marine-water system. Under conditions of a relatively large biomass load (1.82 kg/3801), filter-bed effluent levels of total ammonia (0.135±0.01 ppm), un-ionized ammonia (0.0074±0.0006 ppm) and nitrite (0.17±0.01 ppm) were maintained within acceptable limits. Reservoir ozonation (100 mg/h/380 l) further significantly reduced (P<0.005) these levels. Nitrates were significantly elevated (P<0.005) with ozonation. Cessation of ozonation elevated total ammonia, un-ionized ammonia and nitrite levels above acceptable limits within 24 h. Resuming ozonation rapidly reversed this trend. Ozone reduced the microbial content of the culture water. Ozonation is suggested as a means of maintaining oxidative flexibility when used as a supplement to biological filtration. Further, prevention of epizootic microbial outbreaks may be accomplished without danger to the biological filter provided a proper system design is utilized.
Barriers to Entry in the Airline Industry: A Multi-Dimensional Regression-Discontinuity Analysis of AIR-21

We investigate the success of legislation aimed at increasing competition at highly concentrated major US airports, mainly by forcing these airports to increase the availability of scarce airport facilities to new entrants. We use a multi-dimensional regression-discontinuity approach to exploit a sharp discontinuity in the law's implementation and identify its effects. We find a statistically and economically significant decrease in fares resulting from an airport's coverage, 13.4% (20.2%) in markets with one (both) endpoint(s) covered. Approximately half of the decline in fares is driven by the entry of low-cost carriers. With the exception of a small effect on on-time performance, we find little evidence that the fare declines were accompanied by a diminished quality of service. The magnitude of price declines relative to delay increases, along with the accompanying increases in passenger volumes, suggest the legislation was welfare improving. The results also suggest operating barriers to entry have been an important impediment to new low-cost competition.
Marijuana Smoking and Head and Neck Cancer

A recent epidemiological study showed that marijuana smoking was associated with an increased risk of head and neck cancer. Among high school students and young adults, the prevalence of marijuana use was on the rise in the 1990s, with a simultaneous decline in the perception that marijuana use is harmful. It will be a major public health challenge to make people aware of the harmful effects of marijuana smoking, when some people view it as the illicit drug with the least risk. The carcinogenicity of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is not clear, but according to laboratory studies, it appears to have antitumor properties such as apoptosis as well as tumor-promoting properties such as limiting immune function and increasing reactive oxygen species. Marijuana tar contains similar carcinogens to tar from tobacco cigarettes, but each marijuana cigarette maybe more harmful than a tobacco cigarette since more tar is inhaled and retained when smoking marijuana. More molecular alterations have been observed in bronchial mucosa specimens of marijuana smokers compared to nonsmokers. Field cancerization may be occurring on the bronchial epithelium due to marijuana smoking exposure. Several case studies were suggestive of an association of marijuana smoking with head and neck cancers and oral lesions. However, in a cohort study with 8 years of follow-up, marijuana use was not associated with increased risks of all cancers or smoking-related cancers. Further epidemiological studies are necessary to confirm the association of marijuana smoking with head and neck cancers and to examine marijuana smoking as a risk factor for lung cancer. It will also be of interest to examine potential field cancerization of the upper aerodigestive tract by marijuana and to explore marijuana as a risk factor for oral premalignant lesions.
Antiextensor effects of 3,3-diphenyl-n-propylamine in the mouse

Diphenylpropylamine has antiextensor activity in the MES test and worsens clonic seizures produced by pentylenetetrazol. The drug also prevents tonic hindlimb extension produced by large doses of pentylenetetrazol. Diphenylpropylamine appears, therefore, to be a phenytoin-like compound. However, unlike most antiextensor agents, diphenylpropylamine has neuroexcitatory effects and antagonizes barbital-induced loss of the righting reflex.
EVALUATION OF GROUND PORK AND PORK SAUSAGE CONTAINING DIFFERENT FORMS OF APPLE PRODUCTS

Fat contents of ground pork were altered by reducing the amounts of fat trim incorporated and by the inclusion of different apple products (fresh, rehydrated, and sauce). Panelists could discriminate between ground pork containing 15% or 30% fat (without apples) and between ground pork with 0% or 15% apple (25% fat) but not between formulations with 15% or 25% fat and 10% apple (p<0. 05). Incorporation of apple products (15% of total formulation weight) into reduced-fat pork sausage containing 15% fat yielded formulations with comparable flavor and preference scores to sausage with 30% fat, depending on the apple product. Total fat of cooked pork sausage can be reduced by approximately 35% by incorporation of apple products (15%) into reduced fat pork sausage. Inclusion of fresh or rehydrated apples did not significantly influence psychrotrophic bacteria populations or the color of pork sausage stored at 1-2C up to eight days.
The Colbert Bump® and The Facebook® Follow-Through for Generation Snark: A Test and Extension of The Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior for 2012

A previous study (Peterson, 1993) of the theory of planned behavior (TPB, Ajzen, 1985, Ajzen and Fishbein, 2005) was re-visited through examining student questionnaires in a Mountain States liberal artscollege. The objective was to develop understanding into how the current generation of undergraduates develops voting intentions and behaviorsfor the 2012 general election.The results of the study generally confirmed the support for TPB found in the 1992 version, however, for this study additional moderating variables exploring the influence of satirical, social, and cable news media on voting opinions, intention, and behavior. In this regard, opinions related to the influence of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart®, The Colbert Report®, social media like Facebook® and Twitter®, and the influence of cable news networks like FOX®, MSNBC®, and Current TV® were explored.While cable television networks showed no influence on this generation’s knowledge, attitude, or behavioral intent, the role of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart® and The Colbert Report® showed significant predictive value.
Geometric topological completions with universal final lifts

Abstract In this paper necessary and sufficient conditions are given on a concrete category over a category B so that it can be densely embedded (over B ) into a geometric topological category E that admits certain universal final lifts. These conditions, as well as the class of universal final lifts, depend upon an a priori given full subcategory Δ of B . For example, E may have, depending upon Δ and B , universal coproducts or quotients or colimits. For appropriate Δ's, if B is cartesian closed then so is E .
ICS-II USA research design and methodology.

The purpose of the WHO-sponsored International Collaborative Study of Oral Health Outcomes (ICS-II) was to provide policy-makers and researchers with detailed, reliable, and valid data on the oral health situation in their countries or regions, together with comparative data from other dental care delivery systems. ICS-II used a cross-sectional design with no explicit control groups or experimental interventions. A standardized methodology was developed and tested for collecting and analyzing epidemiological, sociocultural, economic, and delivery system data. Respondent information was obtained by household interviews, and clinical examinations were conducted by calibrated oral epidemiologists. Discussed are the sampling design characteristics for the USA research locations, response rates, sample size for interview and oral examination data, weighting procedures, and statistical methods. SUDAAN was used to adjust variance calculations, since complex sampling designs were used.
Observations of anomalous “quantum jumps” in a single ion trap

Cooled positive barium ions, proposed for new frequency standards, cease scattering cooling radiation for anomalously long periods in the presence of carbon dioxide or water. The probable mechanism is the attraction of a gas molecule to the ion as a result of the dipole induced in the molecule by the ion, followed by the formation of a weak chemical bond between the two. The mechanism seems applicable to any ion.
938 LACK OF SUPPRESSOR CELL ACTIVITY IN CHILDREN WITH HISTIOCYTOSIS-X (H-X)

H-X consists of a spectrum of diseases of unknown etiology with variable clinical expression. The histology of lesions suggests this disease is immunoreactive and not neoplastic. In order to determine whether patients with active disease lack suppressor cells and/or activity, we examined children with active and inactive disease. The percentage and absolute number of T lymphocytes and their subsets (T11, T4, T8, T10, T6), B lymphocytes and natural killer cells (Leulla) were examined in addition to suppressor activities of mononuclear cells. No significant differences were noted on any parameter between patients with inactive disease (n=14) and age-matched controls (n=22). However, the following was noted between patients with active disease (n= 7) and age-matched controls (n=7). *P<0.05, x±SD These results show a lack of lymphocyte and monocyte suppressor function in patients with active disease.
Profile of free and conjugated ecdysteroids and ecdysteroid acids during embryonic development of Manduca sexta (L.) following maternal incorporation of [14C] cholesterol

The levels of both free and conjugated ecdysteroids, maternally labeled from [14C]cholesterol, of six different age groups of Manduca sexta eggs were quantitatively determined. Eggs 0–1-h old contain about 2.5 and 35 μ/g of the 2- and 26-phosphates of 26-hydroxyecdysone, respectively, and 1 μg/g of 26-hydroxyecdysone. During embryogenesis of 26-hydroxyedcdysone 26-phosphate is hydrolyzed to 26-hydroxyecdysone, which reaches a peak titer in 1–18-h-old eggs; the level of 26-hydroxyecdysone 2-phosphate remains rather constant. Additionally, other metabolic modifications such as hydroxylation, conjugation, epimerization, and oxidation are occurring; and as the level of the 26-hydroxyecdysone 26-phosphate decreases there is a progression of other ecdysteroids. C-20 hydroxylation first appears in 24–40-h-old eggs and reaches peak activity in 48–64-h-old eggs, where 20-hydroxyecdysone and 20, 26-dihydroxyecdysone are both present at peak titer but the latter is the major free ecdysteroid. Ecdysone is observed at measurable levels only in the three age groups of eggs between 1 and 64 h-old. C-3 epimerase activity also appears at 24–40 h and continually increases throughout embryogenesis to the point that 3-epi-26-hydroxyecdysone and 3-epi-20, 26-dihydroxyecdysone are the major free ecdysteroids in 96-h-old eggs. A new ecdysteroid conjugate, 26-hydroxyecdysone 22-glucoside, first appears at 24–40h and becomes the major conjugate in 72–80-h-old eggs; it represents an apparent end-product as its peak titer is reached and maintained throughout the final embryonic stages. 20-Hydroxyecdysonoic acid occurs in 48–64-h-old eggs, and along with 3-epi-20-hydroxyecdysonoic and ecdysonoic acids in 72–88-h-old eggs. 20-Hydroxyecdysonoic acid peaks during the latter time interval, and as its titer subsequently falls, there is a concurrent increase in the level of 3-epi-20-hydroxyecdysonoic which was identified as the second major component of the ecdysteroid conjugate fraction of 0–1-h-old larvae. Our results indicate that there is little or no biosynthesis of ecdysteroids during embryogenesis; that the materal ecdysteroid conjugate 26-hydroxyecdysone 26-phosphate serves as source for 26-hydroxyecdysone and the numerous metabolites; that 26-hydroxyecdysone and 20,26-dihydroxyecdysone may be the active hormones during embryonic development; and that glucosylation, epimerization, and formation of acids cosntitute inactivation processes. A scheme of the proposed pathways involved in the metabolism of 26–hydroxyecdysone 26-phosphate in the developing eggs of m. sexta is presented.
A Systematic Approach of Understanding and Retaining Pmos Compatible Work Function of Metal Electrodes On HfO2 Gate Dielectrics

In this work we have performed Ultraviolet Photoelectron Spectroscopy (UPS) and X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) on: (i) 40A of Ru deposited on 20A of ALD-HfO2 (Ru-HfO2), (ii) 40A of Re deposited on 20A of ALD-HfO 2 (Re-HfO 2 ), and (iii) 40A of W deposited on 20A of ALD-HfO2 (W-HfO 2 ) in as deposited as well as after 600˚C in-situ anneal exposure. The samples with Ru and Re indicated significant reduction in the oxygen content and shift in the Hf peaks towards higher binding energy after anneal as compared to the as deposited state. The loss of oxygen after anneal was associated with the reduction in the surface work function of Ru and Re measured by UPS. However, the sample with W showed a redistribution of oxygen after anneal leading to the formation of multiple oxides of W having a net higher surface work function. The spectroscopic measurements were correlated with the electrical measurements made on MOS capacitors with Ru metal gates on HfO 2 gate dielectric. The results indicated that the oxygen content at metal/high-k interface plays an important role in governing the effective work function of Ru on HfO 2 gate dielectric.
Usefulness of echocardiographic right ventricular measurements in estimating right ventricular hypertrophy and right ventricular systolic pressure

Right ventricular wall thickness (T) measurements were made in 111 patients by echocardiography to evaluate their usefulness in diagnosing right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) and in predicting right ventricular peak systolic pressure (P). Anatomic and echocardiographic findings of RVH were compared in 36 of 111 subjects: diastolic T (dT) and systolic T (sT) had a sensitivity of 90 and 34% and a specificity of 94 and 100%, respectively, in the diagnosis of RVH. Echocardiographic and hemodynamic findings were compared in the remaining 75 of 111 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization: dT was 6.5 ± 2.7 mm in 46 patients with elevated P (58.2 ± 30.2 mm Hg) versus 3.8 ± 0.9 in 29 patients with normal P (26.3 ± 2.7 mm Hg) (p 2 . Estimates of P in 22 patients with atrial septal defect and right ventricular end-diastolic dimension >13 mm/m 2 were fairly good (r = 0.83). It is concluded that echocardiographic measurements of T are useful in diagnosing RVH and in estimating P.
A Study of Pepsitensin and Hypertensin

SummaryA comparative study of pepsitensin and hypertensin agree in repect to all their known chemical and pharmacological characteristics. We wish to thank Professor B. Houssay for his kindness in providing us with part of the hypertensin used in these experiments, and to thank Professor E. Cruz Coke for his gift of Northrop pepsin.
Roles and relationships for unified activity management

This paper reports on three ethnographic studies of how people coordinate their activities in various work settings. The findings reported here are a derived set of relationships reflecting the nature of involvement of people in their activities. These findings were then tested by six analysts, who were conducting field studies of patterns of complex business activities. They used the derived relationships in the analysis of their data and in the representation of activity patterns. These usage cases revealed confusion between involvement relationships and job roles. Finally, several implications of these studies for designing an activity management prototype are presented.
Geometric calibration of detectors with discrete irregularities for computed tomography

For accurate CT reconstruction, it is important to know the geometric position of every detector channel relative to the X-ray source and the rotation axis. Often, such as for truly equally spaced detectors, it may suffice just to accurately know the gross geometry. However, for some detector designs, a detailed description of the fine-scale channel locations may also be necessary. While there are numerous methods to perform fine-scale calibration, such methods generally assume a continuous distortion (typically for image intensifiers) and are thus unsuitable for detectors with discrete distortions such as irregularly placed discrete sensors, tiled flat panels, or multiple flat segments arranged to form a polygonal approximation to an arc. In this paper, a method is proposed to measure both gross and fine geometry from a single simple calibration scan in a way that properly characterizes discrete irregularities. Experimental results show the proposed method to be rather effective on polygonal arrays. While the method is derived and demonstrated for fan beam, a discussion is given on extending it to cone beam CT.
Pharmaceutical Care Services for Patients with Hypertension

Blood pressure (BP) is controlled only in 34% of Americans with hypertension. 1 Barriers to control include patient nonadherence or inadequate access to care. New data suggest, however, that these are not the most important causes of poor BP control. Two studies found that most cases of uncontrolled hypertension occur in patients who had frequent contact with physicians. 2,3 These results suggest investigation of the premise that BP is not aggressively treated even when physicians frequently see patients with hypertension. Another study assessed reasons for poor BP control and found patient factors (adherence, patient acceptance, regimen complexity) were uncommon (9%) barriers cited by physicians or patients. 4 The primary barrier (91% of patient visits) was related to physicians who were satisfied with poorly controlled BP. As clinicians, many of us have seen patients who have difficulty with medication adherence or accessing the healthcare system. However, these recent findings suggest that physicians’ decisions and behavior may be more important factors contributing to poor BP control. New models for delivering care, such as the one described by Chabot et al. 5 in this is
High-resolution microbial community reconstruction by integrating short reads from multiple 16S rRNA regions

The emergence of massively parallel sequencing technology has revolutionized microbial profiling, allowing the unprecedented comparison of microbial diversity across time and space in a wide range of host-associated and environmental ecosystems. Although the high-throughput nature of such methods enables the detection of lowfrequency bacteria, these advances come at the cost of sequencing read length, limiting the phylogenetic resolution possible by current methods. Here, we present a generic approach for integrating short reads from large genomic regions, thus enabling phylogenetic resolution far exceeding current methods. The approach is based on a mapping to a statistical model that is later solved as a constrained optimization problem. We demonstrate the utility of this method by analyzing human saliva and Drosophila samples, using Illumina single-end sequencing of a 750bp amplicon of the 16S rRNA gene. Phylogenetic resolution is significantly extended while reducing the number of falsely detected bacteria, as compared with standard single-region Roche 454 Pyrosequencing. Our approach can be seamlessly applied to simultaneous sequencing of multiple genes providing a higher resolution view of the composition and activity of complex microbial communities.
Affect and machine design: Lessons for the development of autonomous machines

Human beings have evolved a rich and sophisticated set of processes for engaging with the world in which cognition and affect play two different but equally crucial roles. Cognition interprets and makes sense of the world. Affect evaluates and judges, modulating the operating parameters of cognition and giving a warning about possible dangers. The study of how these two systems work together provides guidance for the design of complex autonomous systems that must deal with a variety of tasks in a dynamic, often unpredictable, and sometimes hazardous environment.
Electronic Medical Records and Depression Screening in Primary Care.

Sir: The article by Gill and Dansky1 in a recent issue of the Companion is an excellent empirical demonstration of the efficiencies that can be gained by employing the electronic medical record as a communication tool in screening for depression. The authors candidly discuss the reasons why similar screening programs in primary care have not always been successful as well as the limitations of screening instruments, such as the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale,2 which they employed in their study. However, their results suggest that such screening can be accomplished with minimal disruption and that the patients' physicians frequently use these results to conduct further evaluation and, where appropriate, initiate or alter treatment. The authors rightly point out the lack of a comparison “ordinary care group” from which to draw firm conclusions about how much the screening actually improved recognition and treatment. However, it seems likely that an underrecognized, significant disorder was identified and treated more promptly and effectively. Considering that patients with depression often overutilize health care, such a program could be expected to reduce health expenditures as well. As the electronic medical record improves, it may be possible for a patient to complete such a screening questionnaire electronically and for the results to be integrated into the record and posted automatically at the time of the physician interview, thus saving additional staff time. What is clear is that we must invent more effective and efficient ways of delivering health care, and the electronic record holds great promise in accomplishing this.
End-to-End Delay Bound for Prioritized Data Flows in Disruption-Tolerant Networks

This paper computes end-to-end delay bounds for prioritized data flows in disruption-tolerant networks (DTNs). DTNs suffer intermittent connectivity among nodes due to node mobility. When deployed in mission-critical applications, such as disaster response, an interesting question becomes to quantify end-to-end packet delays under assumptions on node mobility. In this paper, we answer this question for the special case of DTNs with recurrent mobility patterns. A recurrent pattern refers to one where nodes revisit the same locations repeatedly. We devise a suitable model for recurrent DTNs that captures their timing and mobility properties. We then apply the recently proposed delay composition algebra to the resulting network model in order to determine an upper bound on end-to-end communication delays of network flows. Evaluation results show that the upper bound is moderate in its pessimism and can be used for deployment planning purposes.
Staff development: An international perspective

H EALTH CARE reform has influenced hospitals in many ways. Some hospitals are increasing their international presence, and increasingly, American nurses are finding themselves in foreign lands. Staff development is often part of a mission to increase the level of health care available to children around the world. When that leads one to lands very different from western civilization, training paradigms must change. All educators have strategies and processes that are favored, as well as tenets we each hold sacred. These must be carefully examined for use in other cultures. Principles of training today are based on a modern society that does not exist throughout the world. Knowles (1987) suggests that the andragogical model he developed as the concepts of adult learning is not realistic in every situation. A recent staff development experience in Kazakhstan (a former Soviet republic in central Asia) challenged this educator's foundations. Throughout the former Soviet Union, many projects sponsored by the American and local governments exist to improve health care available to citizens. A Clinical Nurse Specialist and a Manager of Support Services of The Methodist Hospital travelled with a Staff Development Specialist from Texas Children's Hospital as part of a partnership shared with Baylor College of Medicine and five hospitals in the Semipalatinsk region of Kazakhstan. The goals of this trip were to (1) assess nursing practice; (2) identify managerial, clinical, and educational needs; (3) establish model units in each Kazakhstani partnership hospital; (4) present a nursing conference including nursing management, clinical practice, and educational issues; and (5) initiate plans for a professional nursing association in Semipalatinsk. Additional staff development goals are being addressed as nurses, physicians, and others travel from both sides of the world and communicate during the 3-year project.
A case study in integrative medicine: alternative theories and the language of biomedicine.

In this case study, a diverse panel of 6 practitioners of mainstream and/or alternative medicine plus a moderator convened as an experiment in practicing integrative medicine to examine, diagnose, and prescribe for a patient suffering from chronic, severe, treatment-resistant back pain. Although panel members represented a wide range of theories of health and healing, they were able to communicate easily with one another by limiting themselves to the scientific language of biomedicine. From the perspective of medical anthropology, this can be interpreted as an unplanned and unconscious process of cultural imitation in a medical marketplace in which cultural differentiation formerly prevailed. Although the shift from differentiation to imitation was limited in this experiment to the sharing of a single language of discourse and to recommendations of mutually compatible treatment options, it raises an important question. With the institutionalization of integrated medical practice, will alternative medical ...
Toxicity of palmitoyl glycerol to mice: hypothermia and reversal of the toxicity.

Adult and weanling mice kept at low am bient temperatures show an increased sensitivity to the toxicity of dietary rac-1 (3)-palmitoyl grycerol. When fed the palmitoyl grycerol, mice less than 6 wk old show a pro nounced hypothermia that is prevented by adding safflower oil to the diet. A more moderate degree of hypothermia is seen with older animals. Once body temperature fell below 28Â°C,replacing the toxic monoacylglycerol with safflower oil and/or raising the environmental temperature to 34Â°C did not reverse the ultimate fatality caused by palmitoyl grycerol ingestion. If hypothermia was between 28 and 32Â°C, high mortality was not reversed by feeding the unsaturated fat or raising the environmental temperature to 34Â°C.How ever, a combination of both treatments reduced the mor tality. Irrespective of body temperature, the hypothermia was eliminated by the warm ambient temperature, but mor tality was high. Thus, although hypothermia is a sign of the toxicity of rac-1 (3)-palmitoyl grycerol, it is not the im mediate cause of death. J. Nutr. 117:1671 -1675,1987.
Efficient lifting for online probabilistic inference

Lifting can greatly reduce the cost of inference on first-order probabilistic graphical models, but constructing the lifted network can itself be quite costly. In online applications (e.g., video segmentation) repeatedly constructing the lifted network for each new inference can be extremely wasteful, because the evidence typically changes little from one inference to the next. The same is true in many other problems that require repeated inference, like utility maximization, MAP inference, interactive inference, parameter and structure learning, etc. In this paper, we propose an efficient algorithm for updating the structure of an existing lifted network with incremental changes to the evidence. This allows us to construct the lifted network once for the initial inference problem, and amortize the cost over the subsequent problems. Experiments on video segmentation and viral marketing problems show that the algorithm greatly reduces the cost of inference without affecting the quality of the solutions.
Insights from the Structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Topoisomerase I with a Novel Protein Fold

The DNA topoisomerase I enzyme of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MtTOP1) is essential for the viability of the organism and survival in a murine model. This topoisomerase is being pursued as a novel target for the discovery of new therapeutic agents for the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis. In this study, we succeeded in obtaining a structure of MtTOP1 by first predicting that the C-terminal region of MtTOP1 contains four repeated domains that do not involve the Zn-binding tetracysteine motifs seen in the C-terminal domains of Escherichia coli topoisomerase I. A construct (amino acids A2-T704), MtTOP1-704t, that includes the N-terminal domains (D1-D4) and the first predicted C-terminal domain (D5) of MtTOP1 was expressed and found to retain DNA cleavage-religation activity and catalyze single-stranded DNA catenation. MtTOP1-704t was crystallized, and a structure of 2.52A resolution limit was obtained. The structure of the MtTOP1 N-terminal domains has features that have not been observed in other previously available bacterial topoisomerase I crystal structures. The first C-terminal domain D5 forms a novel protein fold of a four-stranded antiparallel β-sheet stabilized by a crossing-over α-helix. Since there is only one type IA topoisomerase present in Mycobacteriaceae and related Actinobacteria, this subfamily of type IA topoisomerase may be required for multiple functions in DNA replication, transcription, recombination, and repair. The unique structural features observed for MtTOP1 may allow these topoisomerase I enzymes to carry out physiological functions associated with topoisomerase III enzyme in other bacteria.
An unusual finding of plasma cell iron

56-year-old woman presented with cryptogenic liver cirrhosis, diabetes, hypertension, hypothyroidism, and myelodysplasia. She reported a history of splenectomy for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura 12 years earlier and 2 recent episodes of hepatic encephalopathy. She said she does not drink alcohol. The patient said she was on a number of medications, most notably erythropoietin. She was being evaluated for liver transplantation. As part of the transplant evaluation, a bone marrow study was performed to assess her myelodysplastic changes. The peripheral smear showed macrocytosis of the red blood cells with a mean corpuscular volume of 134 fL (reference range, 83‐99 fL). Occasional target cells and a few Howell-Jolly bodies were noted. The white blood cells and platelets showed normal morphology and differential. The bone marrow aspirate stained with Wright-Giemsa showed dyserythropoietic changes, including binucleated red cells. Erythropoiesis was left-shifted with megaloblastic changes. Slightly increased numbers of plasma cells and mast cells were seen (Figure 1, oil immersion, original magnification 3750). The bone marrow biopsy demonstrated a hypercellular marrow (60%‐70%) with an increase in erythroid precursors adjacent to the trabeculae (topographic alteration). Iron stain of the aspirate with Prussian blue revealed many ringed sideroblasts (20%‐30%) and a large number of plasma cells containing hemosiderin granules (Figures 2 and 3, oil immersion, original magnification 3750). The patient’s iron studies at the time of biopsy included iron, 96 mg/dL (reference range, 30‐ 160 mg/dL) with iron saturation, 79% (reference range, 15%‐55%); ferritin, 884 ng/mL (reference range, 32‐284 ng/mL); and total iron binding capacity, 122 mg/dL (reference range, 250‐450 mg/dL). Of note, 5 months prior to the bone marrow study the patient’s iron level was 173 mg/dL with iron saturation, 88%; ferritin, 608 ng/mL; and total iron binding capacity, 197 mg/dL. The presence of iron (hemosiderin) in plasma cells is an unusual and often incidental finding. Little is known to explain this finding. Plasma cell iron has been noted in patients with iron overload, dysgammaglobulinemia, acute myeloid leukemia, and acute lymphoid leukemia, and in alcoholics with liver disease. 1‐3 In a recent survey,
Chi-Square Limitations and Alternatives

To the Editor: Given the simplicity of chi square and the frequency with which it is reported in the literature,1,2 I was pleased to see its inclusion as one of the statistical procedures covered in the “Reading Tips” series (Physical Therapy, February 1986). Because less than half of the American Physical Therapy Association membership surveyed in 1983 reported “sufficient working knowledge of research design and statistical analysis to permit critical reading and evaluation of research reports published in Physical Therapy and other pertinent professional and scientific journals,”3 such tips may prove useful to the readership. An explanation of a major limitation of chi square and the presentation of some other alternatives for contingency table analysis also may be useful. A major limitation of chi square is that it only partially completes analysis of data in a contingency table.… [ ARTICLE][1] [1]: /lookup/volpage/66/264?iss=2
Image-Based Computational Modeling of Complex Organisms and Biological Structures

One outstanding challenge to understanding the behaviors of organisms and organ systems found in nature using CFD simulations lies in modeling the complex geometries and motions they generally exhibit. A route to overcoming this difficulty lies in employing imagery as a basis from which to begin creating such models. To this end we seek to develop a framework based on image segmentation techniques, followed by a level set based immersed boundary method that operates on a fixed Cartesian mesh. With this approach, still images or movie files obtained from various imaging modalities can be automatically segmented so that flow solutions can be directly connected to image-derived geometries and boundary evolutions. Preliminary examples of this methodology in two dimensions as applied to video files of an in vitro duodenal segment experiment and an eel swimming in a water tunnel apparatus are demonstrated presently.
AWARENESS OF TIME IN DEMENTIA OF THE ALZHEIMER TYPE

A prospective study of 35 patients with moderate or mild dementia of the Alzheimer type was performed to assess and compare their awareness of time. A Mini-Mental Status Examination score was used to separate those 16 patients with mild dementia (range, 15 to 24) from those 19 with moderate dementia (range, 7 to 15). Each patient was scored on awareness of time. Those classified as moderate but not those with mild dementia showed significant loss of awareness of time.
Studies on the Physico-Chemical Inactivation of Rabbit Interferons

SummaryThe kinetics of inactivation at 56° and at pH 2 were different for the high-and low-molecular weight components of virus-induced and endotoxin-induced rabbit interferons. The two types of virus-induced interferons were not affected by benzoylchloride or potassium cyanate, suggesting that amino or sulfhydryl groups are not essential for their interferon activity. The integrity of disulfide bonds also seems unnecessary as indicated by the lack of effect of 2-mercaptoethanol and 100 mM thioglycolate, although 1000 mM of the latter compound partially inactivated the interferons. The effect of cyanogen bromide indicated a requirement for the γ-sulfmethyl group of methionine. Sodium metaperiodate in low concentrations rapidly inactivated purified rabbit interferons as well as crude and purified chick interferon. Although the action of periodate may suggest an essential carbohydrate moiety in the interferon molecule, this action may be equally due to an effect on protein.
Filmische Stereotype im interkulturellen Landeskundeunterricht: Theorie und Praxis

Stereotype als generalisierende Zuordnung von Individuen zu bestimmten Gruppen werden in Filmen verwendet, um dem Publikum eine schnelle Identifizierung der Rollen zu ermoglichen. Wahrend oft der negative Charakter von Stereotypen betont wird, argumentiere ich im vorliegenden Beitrag, dass sich Stereotype produktiv fur die Ausbildung interkultureller Kompetenz nutzen lassen. Die drei untersuchten Filme, Eurotrip, Kebab Connection sowie Almanya, kodieren Stereotype in unterschiedlicher Weise und lassen sich in den Landeskundeunterricht einbinden. Filme bieten sich in einem interkulturell orientierten Landeskundeunterricht vor allem deshalb an, weil sie neben den erwunschten historischen, politischen und kulturellen Fakten auch die menschliche und alltagliche Seite prasentieren und eine Identifikation ermoglichen. Die im letzten Teil dieses Beitrags entwickelte Unterrichtseinheit wird in diesem Sinne Stereotype hinterfragen und dekonstruieren, Reflexivitat fordern und konkrete landeskundliche Informationen vermitteln.