cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elevation of Acetylcholine Receptor Antibodies in association with Prolonged Clinical Deterioration in Post-thymomectomy Myasthenia Gravis (P6.442)

Objective: NA Background: Approximately 15% of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) have thymomas and thymomectomy is a mainstay of treatment. We describe two cases of post-thymomectomy MG presenting with prolonged clinical worsening with significant elevation of AChR binding antibodies. Design/Methods: NA Results: Case 1: 39-year-old female was diagnosed with generalized MG after experiencing bulbar and limb weakness with AChR binding antibody of 39.5 nmol/L and a 5 × 4 × 2.7cm thymoma on CT. Preoperatively, she received prednisone 40 mg daily with improvement. After ten-months, she had a complete thymomectomy. Pathology revealed a WHO Grade B1 thymoma. Forty days post-thymomectomy, she developed a severe MG exacerbation with AChR binding antibody of 143.4 nmol/L. The patient required prednisone, plasmapheresis, and IVIG for two-months. AChR binding antibody decreased to preoperative level in six-months. She improved on maintenance IVIG and Imuran with no evidence of thymoma recurrence. Case 2: 65-year-old male was diagnosed with generalized MG after experiencing extraocular and bulbar weakness with AChR binding antibody of 10.3 nmol/L and a 2.7 × 3.7 × 5.2cm thymoma on CT. His preoperative medication was pyridostigmine. After fourteen-months, he had a complete thymomectomy. Pathology revealed a WHO Grade B2 thymoma. Thirty-one days postoperative, he developed a myasthenic crisis with AChR binding antibody of 133.1 nmol/L. He required a two-month hospital course with plasmapheresis and prednisone followed by maintenance plasmapheresis. AChR binding antibody decreased to preoperative level in four-months with no evidence of thymoma recurrence. Conclusions: These two cases illustrate that MG patients may develop significant exacerbation following thymomectomy in association with dramatic elevation of AChr antibodies. Such exacerbation is delayed and is unrelated to the thymomectomy. The significant elevation of AChR antibodies post-thymomectomy may support that their source of origin is extra-thymus. Further study into their source may provide better prevention and treatment of this group of patients Study Supported by: NA Disclosure: Dr. Cherian has nothing to disclose. Dr. Li MD has nothing to disclose.
Electrical Conductivity, Diffusion, and Minority Defects in some Transition-Metal Oxides

Electrical conductivity and diffusion data for some transition-metal oxides are discussed in terms of the majority and minority defects existing in the oxides. The rate of transport and the transport mechanism for sulfur and chlorine are discussed with particular reference to NiO.
What to Observe in the Upper Atmosphere

In this chapter, we shall discuss some aspects of solar phenomena that can be described as “what to observe in upper atmosphere.” As in the previous chapter, examples of the observational results will follow the content of the book. And, again, when possible, quantitative analysis based on theoretical aspects presented in the book will be discussed.
Budget Impact Analysis of Darbepoetin Alfa Every 3 Weeks versus Epoetin Alfa Every Week for Cancer Patients with Anemia due to the Effect of Concomitant Myelosuppressive Chemotherapy

**Background:** Anemia is a common complication among patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy and can cause significant costs to health plans. **Objective:** The objective of this study is to estimate the annual budget impact of drug treatment associated with treating cancer patients with anemia due to the effect of concomitant myelosuppressive chemotherapy (i.e., chemotherapy-induced anemia [CIA]) with erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs), either darbepoetin alfa (DA) once every 3 weeks (Q3W) or epoetin alfa (EA) once every week (QW), for a large US health plan in 2014. **Methods:** Using a patient database from a large US health plan in 2010 (n = 14 811 119), the potential CIA patient population was determined (1842 patients each per DA and EA). A budget impact of ESA treatment on this patient population in 2014 was calculated. The analysis assumed a minimum of 2 additional months of chemotherapy from initiation of the analysis. The 2014 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reimbursement rates used were: average sales price +12% of $3.68/mcg (DA) and $11.38/1000 IU (EA), and office-based injection cost of $25.08. **Results:** The estimated 2014 annual average drug costs per patient with CIA were $5520 (DA) and $5833 (EA). Annual average drug costs for administrations were estimated at $100 (DA) and $301 (EA) for 2014. Per member per year (PMPY) costs for patients with CIA were estimated at $5620 (DA) and $6134 (EA) for 2014. The annual total costs per CIA population (n=1842) were estimated at $10 352 629 (DA) and $11 298 798 (EA) for 2014. **Conclusion:** DA Q3W has the potential to provide cost savings over EA QW in terms of annual average drug cost per patient with CIA ($313 savings), PMPY costs for patients with CIA ($514 savings), and total cost per CIA population ($946 169 savings).
Stakeholder Dynamics in Development Projects

This paper analyzes stakeholder interactions during localized land disputes using an emerging theory of property governance that links development disputes to the spatial dimension of land and resources. In 2001, Nestle, the largest food and beverage manufacturer in the world, attempted to construct a water-bottling plant in the rural town of McCloud, California. Although the local government and most of the residents supported this development, Nestle withdrew from its development plans after six years of fierce opposition fueled by members of the neighboring communities, competing businesses, and national environmental groups. Analyzing the stakeholder dynamics in this case study demonstrates why the emergent theory of overlapping property rights is displacing previous conceptions of property rights as bilateral negotiations between landowners and local government.
Broadband spectrometer for ultrasensitive detection using plasmonic hyperbolic metamaterials

There are many applications which require high sensitivity spectral detection. In some cases, you need the wavelength range to be extended to cover all necessary spectral fingerprints. We are proposing a broadband spectrometer for ultrasensitive detection based on plasmonic hyperbolic metamaterials and diffraction gratings. Using variety of materials in fabrication of the hyperbolic metamaterials, we can cover the wide spectral range from near UV (~250 nm) to IR (~2 μm). In our spectrometer, the diffraction gratings have two functions. One is coupling the incident light source with the plasmonic guiding modes, which have a very high effective refractive index (≥8.1), much higher than the refractive index of germanium (4.05), the natural material with the highest refractive index. While a prism can also be used for coupling guiding modes with incident light, a diffraction grating is the only way to excite the guiding modes because of the plasmonics modes with very high effective refractive index. The second function of the diffraction gratings is their natural role in spectrometers. We demonstrated based on numerical simulations that we could reach high detection spectral sensitivity using compact diffraction gratings combined with hyperbolic metamaterials; the huge “n-meter” spectrometer is not necessary.
Beta Feeding of the d 3 2 Hole State in Sc 47

The intensity of gamma rays which lead to and de-excite the 767-keV ${\frac{3}{2}}^{+}$ state of $^{47}\mathrm{Sc}$ has been measured in the decay of $^{47}\mathrm{Ca}$, with Ge(Li) detectors, in order to determine the intensity of a beta branch to this level and hence, after the method of Cohen and Lawson, to find the probability of core excitation in $^{47}\mathrm{Ca}$. The intensity of the 530-keV gamma transition which feeds the ${\frac{3}{2}}^{+}$ state is found to be (1.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ per $^{47}\mathrm{Ca}$ decay, while the 767-keV gamma ray de-excites this state with an intensity of (2.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ per $^{47}\mathrm{Ca}$ decay. If the difference between these intensities is entirely due to beta transitions to the ${\frac{3}{2}}^{+}$ state, then this first-forbidden unique branch of the beta spectrum is characterized by $log{f}_{1}t={{9.6}_{\ensuremath{-}0.3}}^{+0.8}$ and the probability of the ${({d}_{\frac{3}{2}})}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ configuration in the ground state of $^{47}\mathrm{Ca}$ is (4\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3)% if positive nuclear deformation is assumed, and (6\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}4)% for negative deformation.
Non-Coding RNAs and Nucleosome Remodeling Complexes: An Intricate Regulatory Relationship

Eukaryotic genomes are pervasively transcribed, producing both coding and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). ncRNAs are diverse and a critical family of biological molecules, yet much remains unknown regarding their functions and mechanisms of regulation. ATP-dependent nucleosome remodeling complexes, in modifying chromatin structure, play an important role in transcriptional regulation. Recent findings show that ncRNAs regulate nucleosome remodeler activities at many levels and that ncRNAs are regulatory targets of nucleosome remodelers. Further, a series of recent screens indicate this network of regulatory interactions is more expansive than previously appreciated. Here, we discuss currently described regulatory interactions between ncRNAs and nucleosome remodelers and contextualize their biological functions.
Electrochemical drag effect on grain boundary motion in ionic ceramics

The effects of drag imposed by extrinsic ionic species and point defects on the grain boundary motion of ionic polycrystalline ceramics were quantified for the generality of electrical, chemical, or structural driving forces. In the absence of, or for small driving forces, the extended electrochemical grain boundary remains pinned and symmetrically distributed about the structural interface. As the grain boundary begins to move, charged defects accumulate unsymmetrically about the structural grain boundary core. Above the critical driving force for motion, grain boundaries progressively shed individual ionic species, from heavier to lighter, until they display no interfacial electrostatic charge and zero Schottky potential. Ionic p–n junction moving grain boundaries that induce a finite electrostatic potential difference across entire grains are identified for high velocity grains. The developed theory is demonstrated for Fe-doped SrTiO3. The increase in average Fe concentration and grain boundary crystallographic misorientation enhances grain boundary core segregation and results in thick space charge layers, which leads to a stronger drag force that reduces the velocity of the interface. The developed theory sets the stage to assess the effects of externally applied fields such as temperature, electromagnetic fields, and chemical stimuli to control the grain growth for developing textured, oriented microstructures desirable for a wide range of applications.
Validation of Self-Reported Rheumatoid Arthritis Using Medicare Claims: A Nationally Representative Longitudinal Study of Older Adults.

Objective To determine the validity of self-reported physician diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using multiple gold-standard measures based on Medicare claims in a nationally representative sample of older adults and to verify whether additional questions about taking medication and having seen a physician in the past two years for arthritis can improve the positive predictive value (PPV) and other measures of the validity of self-reported RA. Methods A total of 3768 Medicare-eligible respondents with and without incident self-reported RA were identified from the 2004, 2008, and 2012 waves of the United States Health and Retirement Study. Self-reported RA was validated using the following three claims-based algorithms: 1) a single International Classification of Diseases, ninth edition, Clinical Modification claim for RA, 2) two or more claims no greater than 2 years apart, and 3) two or more claims with at least one diagnosis by a rheumatologist. Additional self-report questions of medication use and having seen a doctor for arthritis in the past two years were validated against the same criteria. Results A total of 345 respondents self-reported a physician diagnosis of RA. Across all three RA algorithms, the PPV of self-report ranged from 0.05 to 0.16., the sensitivity ranged from 0.23 to 0.55., and the κ statistic ranged from 0.07 to 0.15. Additional self-report data regarding arthritis care improved the PPV and other validity measures of self-report; however, the values remained low. Conclusion Most older adults who self-report RA do not have a Medicare claims history consistent with that diagnosis. Revisions to current self-reported RA questions may yield more valid identification of RA in national health surveys.
Visualizing Course Structure: Using Course Composition Diagrams to Reflect on Design

We explore an innovative approach to learning design representations called course composition diagrams, which consist of interactive digital icons representing course elements, such as videos and quizzes. Course composition diagrams present a visual overview of course structure, including the placement and sequence of individual elements within a course. We hypothesize that providing design teams with such representations creates opportunities for reflection that may not exist otherwise, thereby potentially leading to improved design outcomes. We present a case study where design teams of Massive Open Online Courses used course composition diagrams to reflect on courses they had recently developed. Six themes emerged from our qualitative analysis: 1) affordances of representation, 2) limitations of representation, 3) opportunities for comparison, 4) congruence, 5) reflection on design choices, and 6) utility of representation. We argue that this approach holds promise for providing designers with meaningful opportunities to reflect on learning design.
Design of Reliable NoC Architectures

Communication network in the computing realm has always played a vital role towards providing an efficient processing environment. In the past decades, rapid miniaturization has introduced newer challenges and has further stressed on the importance of on-chip communication, as efficient communication between the components on the chip proves to be crucial factor in meeting the overall performance goals. A Network-on-Chip (NoC) has proven to be a trustworthy solution to meet the communication requirements of a System-on-Chip (SoC). This chapter investigates the factors affecting the reliability of an NoC architecture and presents efficient design paradigms to meet the reliability challenges.
Fostering Inter-Professional Education through Service Learning: The Belize Experience

Service-learning and interprofessional education are forms of experiential learning that instill confidence in students. This pilot study used a post-service learning survey to explore the benefits...
App Development in an Urban After-School Computing Programme: A Case Study with Design Implications

This mixed methods case study presents the experience of a group of middle school students in a year-long, after-school computing programme in a large, inner-city school district in the southeaster...
Under the Brutal Watch: A Historical Examination of Slave Patrols in the United States and Brazil During the 18th and 19th Centuries:

Though less discussed in the literature, slave patrols played a significant role in continuing and sustaining the system of slavery. While few scholars have dedicated attention to exploring the his...
PLAINS APACHE ARCHAEOLOGY: A REVIEW

A review of the literature on the Dis mal River Aspect in the light of recent additional work at Plains Apache sites has led to more specific suggestions as to probable sources of various Dismal River traits. Most of the traits that ap pear to have been borrowed from seden tary neighbors seem to have an eastern Plains origin. Many trade items from the Southwest may have been secured from or through the Jicarilla Apaches. Frequency of some traits at Dismal Riv er sites form a gradient from north to south. Many problems remain unsolved.
Angels of Fire

Out west, fire swallows an ever-widening circle of forest tonight, like a wish kissed on a coin and cast in a fountain will repeat itself, grow larger over water's silver surface. On TV, a reporter stands in the fluttery glow. It spills into our room, stains your pale skin infernal, lovely as any good sin, or the monarch butterflies one June which set the sky alight, the hushed applause of their delicate wings dusting our breath with gold.
Biophysics of the developing heart.

Abstract Changes in heart rate, left ventricular dimensions, and inotropic state of chronically instrumented lambs from in utero to neonatal life are described and analyzed. Six lambs were instrumented from 5 to 23 days prior to parturition and studied prior to and after birth. Heart rate, aortic systolic and diastolic pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic and peak systolic pressure, and left ventricular minor axis end-diastolic (EDD) and end-systolic dimension (ESD) were monitored. The maximum rate of rise of left ventricular pressure (P max ), percentage fractional shortening [(EDD − ESD ÷ EDD) × 100%; %FS], and the P max -interval ratio (this ratio of P max of the postextrasystolic potentiated systole to P max of the previous regular systole is independent of volume) described contractility. Subsequent to birth: heart rate, aortic systolic and diastolic pressure and left ventricular dimensions increased; during spontaneous rhythm and at equal fetal and neonatal heart rates and ventricular dimensions, %FS and P max increased significantly; and P max -interval ratio changed significantly. An increase in myocardial inotropic state occurs with birth. This enhancement is in addition to the effects of the increase in heart rate and and-diastolic volume that occur with the adaptation to birth.
Jittered sampling: a nonseparable three dimensional model

The author show that three-dimensional spatiotemporal jittered sampling is not a direct extension of jittered sampling in one dimension. A model is developed in which the periodicity of the single-frame sampling function as well as the time to scan each picture element is taken into account. As a result, the power-spectral density of the sampled image consists of replications of the original image spectrum weighted by coefficients whose magnitude is governed by the jitter probability density function and the pattern used to obtain the image samples. This weighting can be utilized to reduce aliasing due to undersampled frequency components. >
Neuroepidemiology of HIV/AIDS.

Publisher Summary The acute manifestations of HIV infection seldom involve the nervous system; nervous system infection and manifestations occur later in the course of the illness. HIV can injure the nervous system directly (as with HIV dementia) or indirectly by making it susceptible to other infections—such as toxoplasmosis, tuberculosis, and cytomegalovirus (CMV)—or to neoplasms, such as CNS lymphoma. These manifestations of HIV usually occur after profound immunosuppression is present. Peripheral neuropathy is the most frequent of the neurological complications associated with adult HIV infection, though it is seldom seen in children. Neuropathy seldom appears until there is moderate to severe immunosuppression from the HIV infection. Most of the data about neurological complications come from therapeutic trials and specialized clinics. A variety of factors, including varying treatment protocols, patient attrition, poor adherence to regimen, and co-morbid conditions, tend to render therapies less effective in general practice than in these specialized settings. This is especially important because the prevalence and manifestations of neurological complications, especially dementia, vary depending upon the overall efficacy of therapy.
Closed‐form solution to finite‐horizon suboptimal control of nonlinear systems

Summary Finite-horizon optimal control of input-affine nonlinear systems with fixed final time is considered in this study. It is first shown that the associated Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman partial differential equation to the problem is reducible to a state-dependent differential Riccati equation after some approximations. With a truncation in the control equation, a near optimal solution to the problem is obtained, and the global onvergence properties of the closed-loop system are analyzed. Afterwards, an approximate method, called Finite-horizon State-Dependent Riccati Equation (Finite-SDRE), is suggested for solving the differential Riccati equation, which renders the origin a locally exponentially stable point. The proposed method provides online feedback solution for controlling different initial conditions. Finally, through some examples, the performance of the resulting controller in finite-horizon control is analyzed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Preterm Birth in the Context of Increasing Income Inequality.

Preterm birth is a leading cause of infant morbidity and mortality. Little is known about the contextual effect of US income inequality on preterm birth, an issue of increasing concern given that the current economic divide is the largest since 1928. We examined changes in inequality over time in relation to preterm birth among singleton deliveries from an electronic medical record-based cohort (n = 223,512) conducted in 11 US states and the District of Columbia from 2002 to 2008. Increasing income inequality was defined as a positive change in state-level Gini coefficient from the year prior to birth. Multi-level models estimated the independent effect of increasing inequality on preterm birth (>22 and <37 weeks) controlling for maternal demographics, health behaviors, insurance status, chronic medical conditions, and state-level poverty and unemployment during the year of birth. The preterm birth rate was 12.3 % where inequality increased and 10.9 % where it did not. After adjustment, increasing inequality remained significantly associated with preterm birth (adjusted odds ratio 1.07, 95 % confidence interval 1.04, 1.11). We observed no significant interaction by insurance status or race, suggesting that increasing inequality had a broad effect across the population. The contextual effect of increasing income inequality on preterm birth risk merits further study.
Change in diagnosis and treatment following specialty voice evaluation: A national database analysis

Objective We evaluated the association between specialty voice evaluation and changes in laryngeal diagnosis and treatment in patients with laryngeal/voice disorders. Study Design Retrospective analysis of a large, national administrative U.S. claims database. Methods Patients included were identified with a laryngeal disorder based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes, from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2008, and had been seen by an otolaryngologist as an outpatient and had a specialty voice evaluation designated by videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS) within 90 days of the last laryngoscopy. Patient diagnosis at the last laryngoscopy visit and the subsequent initial VLS visit were collected. Specific treatment modalities were tabulated for the 30-day period after the last laryngoscopy and for 30 days after the VLS. Results A total of 168,444 unique patients saw an otolaryngologist for 273,616 outpatient visits. Of those, 6.1% had a VLS performed, of which 4,000 (23.8%) occurred within 90 days of the last laryngoscopy, with a median interval of 30 days (interquartile range 15–50 days). Half of the patient visits had a change in laryngeal diagnosis. Changes in use of antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors, voice therapy, and surgical intervention were seen after specialty voice evaluation. Conclusions Specialty voice evaluation was associated with changes in laryngeal diagnosis and treatment. Further study is needed to assess the impact on health care costs and patient outcomes. Level of Evidence 2b. Laryngoscope, 125:1660–1666, 2015
Supporting sustained willingness to share knowledge with visual feedback

The goal of this study is to investigate the impact of simple, system-generated visual feedback on motivations to contribute knowledge to community-based crowdsourcing. Various kinds of visual feedback (status, rank contrast, average assimilation, and top assimilation) were created based on social comparison theory and cognitive evaluation theory. In addition, motivation to contribute knowledge over time was investigated. A total of 280 individuals participated in the experiment. The study found that 1) the rank contrast group completed less tasks than the control group, 2) the rank contrast and status group exhibited lower willingness to contribute than the control group, 3) participants who completed all tasks showed increased willingness to contribute over time, and 4) among participants who completed all tasks, social comparisons focused on achievable target goals resulted in greater willingness to further contribute knowledge over time. These findings provide theory-based, empirical support for the potential of external interventions such as visual feedback to influence willingness to contribute and sustain knowledge sharing. The more knowledge shared the higher motivation among heavy contributors.Social comparison visuals with an achievable goal resulted in greater motivation.Visuals with a distant upward goal resulted in significantly less contribution.Non-comparative visuals yielded a negative impact on motivation.
Integrating illness concerns into cognitive behavioral therapy for children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease and co-occurring anxiety.

PURPOSE To examine the feasibility and preliminary benefits of an integrative cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease and anxiety. DESIGN AND METHODS Nine adolescents participated in a CBT program at their gastroenterologist's office. Structured diagnostic interviews, self-report measures of anxiety and pain, and physician-rated disease severity were collected pretreatment and post-treatment. RESULTS Postintervention, 88% of adolescents were treatment responders, and 50% no longer met criteria for their principal anxiety disorder. Decreases were demonstrated in anxiety, pain, and disease severity. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Anxiety screening and a mental health referral to professionals familiar with medical management issues is important.
Trajectory Segmentation Using Oblique Envelopes

Trajectory segmentation, i.e., breaking the trajectory into sub-trajectories, is a fundamental task needed for many applications dealing with moving objects. Several methods for trajectory segmentation, e.g., based on minimum description length (MDL), have been proposed. In this paper, we develop a novel technique for trajectory segmentation which created a series of oblique envelopes to partition the trajectory into sub-trajectories. Experiments with the new algorithm on hurricane trajectory data, taxi GPS data and simulated data of tracks show that oblique envelopes out-perform MDL-based trajectory segmentation.
THE PACIFIC RIM: REGION OR REGIONS?*

Given the dynamic nature of the Pacific Rim, the Pacific Regional Science Conference Organization (PRSCO) has a unique opportunity to both grow with the region and contribute solutions to the problems which come with growth. This paper first examines some of the economic attributes of the Pacific Region and then explores some of the challenges and opportunities faced by PRSCO.
Micromagnetics of laminated Permalloy films

The edge curling wall (ECW) is observed in an optical Kerr microscope. Conditions are derived energetically favoring single transverse domains with ECWs over other multiple closure domains or single longitudinal domains that are undesirable because of their low permeability. Computed figures illustrate how the maximum permissible spacer thickness depends on Permalloy sublayer thickness, uniaxial anisotropy, width of the magnetic strip, mismatch of Permalloy thickness, and perpendicular anisotropy. The case with strip width W=100 mu m and vanishing magnetostriction or stress should require only a few sublayers. However, if W is very small, or if stress-induced or some other form of perpendicular anisotropy is excessive, then attainment of single transversely magnetized domains requires many sublayers. Some of these conclusions are supported by microscopic observations. >
Evaluation of three types of reference image data for external beam radiotherapy target localization using digital tomosynthesis (DTS).

Digital tomosynthesis (DTS) is a fast, low-dose three-dimensional (3D) imaging approach which yields slice images with excellent in-plane resolution, though low plane-to-plane resolution. A stack of DTS slices can be reconstructed from a single limited-angle scan, with typical scan angles ranging from 10 deg. to 40 deg. and acquisition times of less than 10 s. The resulting DTS slices show soft tissue contrast approaching that of full cone-beam CT. External beam radiotherapy target localization using DTS requires the registration of on-board DTS images with corresponding reference image data. This study evaluates three types of reference volume: original reference CT, exact reference DTS (RDTS), and a more computationally efficient approximate reference DTS (RDTS{sub approx}), as well as three different DTS scan angles (22 deg., 44 deg., and 65 deg.) for the DTS target localization task. Three-dimensional mutual information (MI) shared between reference and on-board DTS volumes was computed in a region surrounding the spine of a chest phantom, as translations spanning {+-}5 mm and rotations spanning {+-}5 deg. were simulated along each dimension in the reference volumes. The locations of the MI maxima were used as surrogates for registration accuracy, and the width of the MI peaks were used to characterizemore » the registration robustness. The results show that conventional treatment planning CT volumes are inadequate reference volumes for direct registration with on-board DTS data. The efficient RDTS{sub approx} method also appears insufficient for MI-based registration without further refinement of the technique, though it may be suitable for manual registration performed by a human observer. The exact RDTS volumes, on the other hand, delivered a 3D DTS localization accuracy of 0.5 mm and 0.5 deg. along each axis, using only a single 44 deg. coronal on-board DTS scan of the chest phantom.« less
Characterization of pHEMA-based hydrogels that exhibit light-induced bactericidal effect via release of NO

A light-activated NO donor, [Mn(PaPy3)(NO)]ClO4 (1a), has been incorporated into HEMA-based polymer hydrogel and the nitrosyl-polymer conjugate materials 1ax · HG and 1ax · HGMB have been characterized. The NO releasing properties and antibacterial capabilities of these materials in conjunction with growth attenuators such as hydrogen peroxide and methylene blue (MB) are reported. Since the nitrosyl releases NO only upon exposure to light, materials like 1ax · HGMB could be used as wound dressings that deliver NO under controlled conditions.
TCT-635 Cost Effectiveness Of Everolimus-Eluting Stents Compared To First Generation Drug-Eluting Stents In Contemporary Clinical Practice

Everolimus-eluting stents (EES) reduce adverse clinical outcomes compared to first generation drug-eluting stents (DES) and cost less. Whether EES demonstrate cost-effectiveness compared to DES within high risk patient subgroups is uncertain. Percutaneous coronary intervention with EES (n=1,003)
Serve and Certify: Paradoxes of Service Work in Organic-Coffee Certification

In this paper I argue that certified-organic inspection agents play a key role in reworking transnational organic-product certification standards to the unique conditions found within Mexican (Oaxacan) organic-coffee producer villages. First, I document the steps through which transnational product-certification norms, under the International Organization for Standardization guide 65 rubric, are codified as practical standards by organic-product certifying agencies. These standards are found to embed contradictions between inclusiveness and transparency that lead to difficulties in field-level implementation: in essence, practices required to make organic production legible to transnational certifiers often have the opposite effect of making certification unintelligible at the village level. Second, I show how field-level certification inspectors, working under contract to certifying agencies, cooperate with village organic extension agents to make certification legible both to villagers and to transnatio...
A re-entrant groove hydrogen heat pipe

This paper extends the development of reentrant groove technology to hydrogen heat pipes. Parametric analyses are presented which optimize the theoretical design while considering the limitations of state-of-the-art extrusion technology. Acceptable production-type runs of extruded lengths (over 300 m) could only be achieved at the expense of a wider nominal groove opening than specified (0.33 mm vs. 0.20 mm). However, dimensional variations of other critical dimensions were within 0.05 mm, which exceeded expectations. The 6063-T6 aluminum extrusion is 14.6 mm OD with a wall thickness of 1.66 mm and contains 20 axial grooves which surround a central 9.3-mm-diam vapor core. Each axial groove is 0.775-mm-diam with a 0.33 mm opening. An excess vapor reservoir is provided at the evaporator to minimize the pressure containment hazard during ambient storage. Details of the instrumentation and helium-cooled test installation are also presented.
Low genetic diversity and minimal population substructure in the endangered Florida manatee: implications for conservation

Abstract Species of management concern that have been affected by human activities typically are characterized by low genetic diversity, which can adversely affect their ability to adapt to environmental changes. We used 18 microsatellite markers to genotype 362 Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris), and investigated genetic diversity, population structure, and estimated genetically effective population size (Ne). The observed and expected heterozygosity and average number of alleles were 0.455 ± 0.04, 0.479 ± 0.04, and 4.77 ± 0.51, respectively. All measures of Florida manatee genetic diversity were less than averages reported for placental mammals, including fragmented or nonideal populations. Overall estimates of differentiation were low, though significantly greater than zero, and analysis of molecular variance revealed that over 95% of the total variance was among individuals within predefined management units or among individuals along the coastal subpopulations, with only minor portions...
Bacterial Populations in an Anthropogenically Disturbed Stream: Comparison of Different Seasons.

To determine the effects of environmental changes on stream bacterial populations, assemblage- and population-level measurements were compared between an anthropogenically disturbed stream and an undisturbed reference stream during different seasons. Physical and chemical variables monitored at two disturbed sites from a stream affected by multiple environmental perturbations confirmed discernibly different water quality from three reference sites: two from an adjacent, undisturbed watershed and one from the headwaters of the polluted stream. Assemblage-level variables, including total number of bacteria, colony forming units, and number of Bacteria from in situ hybridization revealed only one statistically significant difference between disturbed and undisturbed sites. Population-level changes of three bacterial species, Burkholderia cepacia, Pseudomonas putida, and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, were determined by colony hybridization with rDNA probes. Abundance of culturable A. calcoaceticus was higher at disturbed sites in November and February; B. cepacia and P. putida did not exhibit pollution-associated responses. In contrast, in situ hybridization indicated that there was more A. calcoaceticus at the reference sites in November and April, suggesting that culturability of the species increased at disturbed sites. To determine if differences among sites were attributable to changes in water quality among the streams, three bacterial strains isolated from the disturbed stream were grown for 64 h in flasks in water from disturbed and reference sites. As observed in the stream, A. calcoaceticus numbers increased in polluted stream water after an initial lag period of approximately 24 h. Our results indicate that although assemblage-level measurements of bacterial communities did not reflect environmental differences among sites, A. calcoaceticus population sizes differed between disturbed and reference sites, suggesting that anthropogenic disturbance can alter some bacterial populations and not others.
Quantitative Evaluation of Silicone Contamination Effect on Composite Bonding

Quantitative assessment of adhesive bond strength on composite surfaces with respect to silicone contamination is presented and discussed. By using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the precise sur...
The Intention of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to Remain in Positions at Family Planning Clinics Serving Low-Income Women

Federally funded Title X Family Planning Clinics are critical safety nets for reproductive health services in which advanced practice nurses (APRNs) provide the majority of care. The goal of this study was to identify factors affecting APRN's intention to remain in positions at these clinics. An Internet-administered survey was completed by 406 APRNs working in Title X clinics. The survey, based on a causal model of retention adapted for APRN practice, included 10 factors. Factor significance and model selection criteria were used to determine model fit. Intention to remain in current positions was associated with greater family responsibilities and lower levels of involvement in professional associations. Less routinization, more integration, and a greater sense of distributive justice were significant causal paths to job satisfaction (a significant mediator for intention to remain). Results provide Title X administrators information that can guide them in policy development to maximize APRN retention.
Nutritive value and ensiling characteristics of maize herbage as influenced by agronomic factors

Abstract An experiment was conducted to investigate effects of genotype, hybrid generation (F 1 vs. F 2 ), plant density and harvest date on the composition and ensiling characteristics of maize ( Zea mays L.) herbage. In Year 1, three maize hybrids (A632 × LH38, early maturing, B73 × Mo17, medium-maturing and B73 × Pa91, late-maturing) were evaluated in three replications at plant densities of 4.9, 6.9 and 8.9 plants m −2 and harvested 0, 14 and 28 days after physiological maturity. In Year 2, F 1 - and F 2 -generations of the hybrids used in Year 1 were grown as in Year 1 and harvested at physiological maturity. At harvest, samples were taken for determination of herbage and grain yields, grain-tostover ratio and for analysis as either freshly harvested herbage or silage prepared in polyethylene bags. Herbage yields at physiological maturity were lower ( P 2 - than F 1 -regeneration of the hybrids, and from maize grown at 4.9 plants m −2 than at higher plant densities. Maize herbage yields were also lower ( P Both grain-to-stover ratios and in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM) concentrations of the forages were greater ( P P 2 -generation maize than F 1 -generation maize. Later harvest increased ( P P r 2 = 0.71) and ADF and neutral detergent fiber for silage ( r 2 = 0.49). Silage lactic acid concentrations were lower ( P r 2 = 0.36). Results imply that agronomic factors that change grain-to-stover ratio do not greatly influence maize digestibility or ensiling characteristics. Therefore, factors optimizing yields and economic returns should be emphasized when growing maize for silage.
Decomposition of Large Scale Systems - A Numerical Approach

In the study of Large Scale Systems (LSS), one of the major concerns is the development of decomposition techniques. Decomposition of a large scale system into interconnection of lower-dimensional subsystems is instrumental to the analysis, estimation and control of LSS. While various decomposition methods have been developed in the past research, the computational aspects of the associated numerical algorithms are not yet fully explored. In this paper efficient and numerically reliable algorithms are proposed to decompose large scale systems with special emphasis upon the derivation of reduced order models. Decomposition and order reduction of the nearly singular and the time-scale separable systems are investigated by means of balancing transformations which can be computed via numerically reliable algorithms.
Making Molecular Graphics Accessible in the High School Classroom with VMD Lite

Visual Molecular Dynamics (VMD) is an indispensable tool for visualization of biomolecular structures as well as data analysis of molecular dynamics simulations. Although VMD is useful for the trained scientist, its extensive toolset naturally takes time to understand and use effectively, limiting its utility in the high school classroom. To attenuate VMD's otherwise steep learning curve, we have developed VMD lite, a graphical user interface (GUI) that provides many of VMD's powerful capabilities in a simplified format. Alongside the GUI we have written self-guided lesson plans that integrate with the typical high school curriculum. These lesson modules are designed in accordance with the next generation science standards, leading the student to critically evaluate relationships between important concepts in molecular biology, physics, and chemistry. This software is supplied free through VMD, and its database of self contained lesson plans will be continually modified and extended to reflect current curricula.
Eigenvalue perturbation and generalized Krylov subspace method

In this paper, we study the computational aspect of eigenvalue perturbation theory. In previous research, high order perturbation terms were often derived from Taylor series expansion. Computations based on such an approach can be both unstable and highly complicated. We present here an approach based on the differential formulation of perturbation theory where the high order perturbation can be naturally obtained. The high order perturbation can be interpreted as a generalized Krylov subspace approximation and its convergence rate can be analyzed accordingly. This approach provides a simple and stable method to compute a few eigenvalues of a slightly modified system.
Ethical writing should be taught.

Iain Chalmers describes a case of scientific misconduct in which an author plagiarised both text and data on two separate instances.1 Although he took the proper steps after detecting the plagiarism, Chalmers seems to have been unsuccessful in resolving the matter. This and other similar failures of our scientific system of justice leads me to support his recommendations for dealing with plagiarism, particularly his call to publicly expose those who have been found guilty of misconduct. Public exposure of plagiarists, and the consequent embarrassment and ostracism that these offenders should experience, not only satisfies our intrinsic need for social justice but can also serve as a deterrent. Unfortunately, many scientific journals, professional organisations, and academic institutions lack the necessary resources and, apparently in some cases, even the will to investigate misconduct allegations. To make matters worse, plagiarism can be an ill defined and complex concept. For example, some evidence suggests that many health …
Resuscitating Critical Psychology for “Revolting” Times

Playing with the doubled use of the term “revolting”—as an adjective to describe the repulsive inequality gaps that litter the globe and as a delightful gerund to capture the thrilling days of global collective protest—this Lewin address muses about social psychology's debt in politically difficult times of massive inequality and sustained oppression. I venture back to the 1930s for inspiration, reviewing the writings of Lewin, Jahoda, and Dollard, as well as the research of W.E.B. Du Bois in the early 1900s and Ignacio Martin-Baro toward the latter part of the 1900s, to understand how social psychologists have intervened theoretically and empirically to contest injustice, inspire solidarity, and advance more just social arrangements. Calling for research that both documents the collateral damage of neoliberalism and generates alternative visions of democracy and justice, the second half of the article sketches a critical participatory action research project conducted with urban youth, which was designed to challenge both the strategic disinvestment in the public sphere and the concomitant conservatizing pressures on our methods of social inquiry, raising questions about “evidence-based practice” and the current marketing of Randomized Clinical Trials as the “gold standard.”
State space evaluation of the Bhattacharyya distance between two Gaussian processes.

One measure of the distance between two Gaussian processes is the Bhattacharyya distance. State space techniques are used to express this measure in terms of a matrix Riccati differential equation. This formulation is well suited to numerical evaluation for nonstationary processes and also enables the design of optimal modulations (signals) using control theoretic concepts. Such applications are discussed in general terms.
MazG, a Nucleoside Triphosphate Pyrophosphohydrolase, Interacts with Era, an Essential GTPase in Escherichia coli

Era is an essential GTPase in Escherichia coli, and Era has been implicated in a number of cellular functions. Homologues of Era have been identified in various bacteria and some eukaryotes. Using the era gene as bait in the yeast two-hybrid system to screen E. coli genomic libraries, we discovered that Era interacts with MazG, a protein of unknown function which is highly conserved among bacteria. The direct interaction between Era and MazG was also confirmed in vitro, being stronger in the presence of GDP than in the presence of GTPgammaS. MazG was characterized as a nucleoside triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase which can hydrolyze all eight of the canonical ribo- and deoxynucleoside triphosphates to their respective monophosphates and PP(i), with a preference for deoxynucleotides. A mazG deletion strain of E. coli was constructed by replacing the mazG gene with a kanamycin resistance gene. Unlike mutT, a gene for another conserved nucleotide triphosphate pyrophosphohydrolase that functions as a mutator gene, the mazG deletion did not result in a mutator phenotype in E. coli.
Properties of Josephson junctions involving the cos ( k x ) ⋅ cos ( k y ) pairing state in iron pnictides

We propose a trilayer $\ensuremath{\pi}$-junction that takes advantage of the unconventional ${s}_{{x}^{2}{y}^{2}}=\text{cos}\text{ }{k}_{x}\text{ }\text{cos}\text{ }{k}_{y}$ pairing symmetry which changes sign between electron and hole Fermi pockets in the iron pnictides. In addition, we also present theoretical results for Andreev bound states in thin superconductor-normal metal (or insulator) iron-pnictide junctions. The presence of nontrivial in-gap states, which uniquely appear in this unconventional pairing state, is a distinct feature in comparison to other singlet pairing states.