cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning Statistically Accurate Resource Allocations in Non-Stationary Wireless Systems

This paper considers the resource allocation problem in wireless systems over an unknown time-varying non-stationary channel. The goal is to maximize a utility function, such as a capacity function, over a set of wireless nodes while satisfying a set of resource constraints. To bypass the need for a model for channel distribution as it varies over time, samples of the channel are taken at every time epoch to estimate the channel. The resulting stochastic optimization problem is converted in its Lagrange dual problem, where the resulting stochastic optimization problem can viewed equivalently as minimizing a certain empirical risk measure, a well-studied problem in machine learning. The second order Newton's method is used to quickly learn statistically approximated optimal resource allocation policies over the sampled dual function as the channel evolves over time epochs. The quadratic convergence rate of Newton is used to establish, under certain conditions on the sampling size and rate of channel variation, an instantaneous learning and tracking of these policies. Numerical simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the learning algorithm on a low-dimensional wireless capacity maximization problem.
In the wake of conflict: the long-term effect on child nutrition in Uganda

ABSTRACTThe Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) insurgency from 1986 to 2006 is one of the longest conflicts in Uganda. This paper examines the effect of the LRA insurgency on child nutrition using the 20...
Relationships between gray matter volume and reading ability in typically developing children, adolescents, and young adults

Abstract Reading is explicitly taught and foreshadows academic and vocational success. Studies comparing typical readers to those with developmental dyslexia have identified anatomical brain differences in bilateral temporo-parietal cortex, left temporo-occipital cortex, and bilateral cerebellum. Yet, it is unclear whether linear relationships exist between these brain structures and single real word reading ability in the general population. If dyslexia represents the lower end of the normal continuum, then relationships between gray matter volume (GMV) and reading ability would exist for all reading levels. Our study examined this question using voxel-based morphometry in a large sample (n = 404) of typically developing participants aged 6–22 derived from the NIH normative database. We tested correlations between individual GMV and single word reading and found none. After dividing this sample into groups based on age and on sex, we only found results in the group aged 15–22: positive correlations between GMV in left fusiform gyrus and reading, driven by females; and in right superior temporal gyrus in males. Multiple regressions also yielded no results, demonstrating that there is no general linear relationship between GMV and single real word reading ability. This provides an important context by which to interpret findings of GMV differences in dyslexia.
Comparison of multiple methods for induction of necrotic enteritis in broilers: II. Impact on the growth curve

Necrotic enteritis (NE) is a disease that has gained relevance in the poultry industry with both immediate and sustained effects on BW of broilers. The objective of the 3 experiments was to evaluate the impact of NE, induced by methods that reflect common broiler production systems, on the growth curve throughout the growth period. In addition, the impact of Eimeria maxima (EM) on NE, as well as the long-term impact of Clostridium perfringens (CP) on BW, were analyzed. In experiment 1, a dual infection model of EM and CP was compared to a non-challenged control, while experiment 2 evaluated 2 different strains of EM dual infection, as well as 6 CP-only groups. Similarly, experiment 3 tested dual infection and both high and low dose CP-only groups. Both NetB and non-NetB strains of CP were used to evaluate whether NetB toxin may potentially play a role in NE induction. In all 3 experiments, BW was measured immediately before infection on day 16, then weekly through the end of the test period. In all 3 experiments, a decrease (p < 0.05) in BW was observed immediately following the acute NE disease period of day 21 to day 23, with a negative impact also observed of BW gain during NE disease period (p < 0.05). A long-term effect on BW was most clearly detected in the EM + CP dual infection models, as well as when high levels of CP-only were administered. In these cases, BW was impacted long-term, with a requisite week or more to return to a BW similar to the non-challenged control. The separation in BW, though not significant, was nearly parallel with the non-challenged control throughout the growth period, indicating a shift in the growth curve. In addition to showing the long-term impact of various forms of NE on broiler growth, these shifts in the growth curve can be used to measure the effects of treatments on prevention and recovery of broilers impacted by NE.
An Exploration of Conferences Between a Preservice and Inservice Teacher About Mathematical Discourse

AbstractTeacher preparation programs in the US have addressed complex teaching practices, like mathematical discourse, by engaging preservice teachers in the practice of teaching. This qualitative ...
Exile, Statelessness, and Migration: Response to my critics:

My new book, Exile, Statelessness, and Migration. Playing Chess With History From Hannah Arendt to Isaiah Berlin, considers the intertwined lives and work of Jewish intellectuals as they make their...
Clonidine as a strategy for discontinuing dexmedetomidine sedation in critically ill patients: A narrative review

Purpose To review the efficacy and safety of transitioning from dexmedetomidine to clonidine to facilitate weaning of patients from sedation with dexmedetomidine. There is a paucity of data describing dexmedetomidine withdrawal syndrome (DWS) as well as clonidine's place in therapy for DWS. This review will describe and analyze current literature to provide clinical recommendations. Summary A MEDLINE literature search was performed to identify original research articles describing DWS and/or transitioning from dexmedetomidine to clonidine for the purpose of weaning patients from sedation with dexmedetomidine. Four case reports describing DWS, 3 case reports describing the use of clonidine to treat DWS, and 3 observational studies describing the use of clonidine to facilitate dexmedetomidine weaning were identified. The incidence of and risk factors for DWS are unknown; factors including patient age and dexmedetomidine infusion rate, loading dose, and discontinuation strategy have inconsistent associations with DWS. All cases of DWS have been associated with infusion durations greater than 72 hours. While there are limited data describing clonidine use for the treatment of dexmedetomidine withdrawal, clonidine appears to be beneficial for dexmedetomidine weaning and its use for that purpose has been well described. Clonidine dosages that have been assessed for discontinuing dexmedetomidine vary from 0.1 to 0.3 mg orally or enterally every 6 to 8 hours; one study assessed use of transdermal clonidine (100 µg/24 h patch). Patients with extensive cardiac comorbidities may be more susceptible to adverse effects of clonidine, which may limit the drug's use for DWS intervention. Conclusion Despite limited supportive data, clonidine provides a promising option for sedation management in adult ICU patients, with successful transitions from dexmedetomidine reported within 24 hours after clonidine initiation.
COVID-19: A Home Dialysis Nurse Perspective

As the nurse supervisor of a home dialysis program, I admit that this has been one of the most challenging times of my dialysis career. The home program training facility is one of seven satellite dialysis facilities in the state of Vermont, and one of five satellite facilities that are under the umbrella of the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC). Due to its physical layout and central location in the state, our training site was the ideal location for the UVMMC coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) dialysis treatment facility. The resultant change in the use of our clinic space, however, has affected both our routine workflow and usual procedure practices, prompting us to reexamine unit operations. Setting up our COVID-19 treatment corridor took careful planning, more planning, and replanning. We designated three of our six private exam rooms as COVID-19 treatment rooms and the hallway became known as the “COVID corridor.” Additional travel staff were hired and a designated COVID-19 staff roster was developed. Our home program uses NxStage machines but, based on the number of estimated cases positive for COVID-19 and the limited number of staff familiar with NxStage technology, we decided to bring in Fresenius machines and portable reverse osmosis machines to dialyze the patients positive for COVID-19 in these rooms. There is a plan in place to employ NxStage machines if the number of patients exceeds the Fresenius fitted room capacity, but we have not needed to do so. Having the right equipment available in the corridor has been essential to provide safe care and eliminate the need to send out for additional items necessary during treatment. Affording easy access to supplies and setting up makeshift storage areas was a struggle due to the limited corridor space, but with a lot of creativity and old-fashioned ingenuity, we …
Recyclable, sustainable, and stronger than portland cement: a composite from unseparated biomass and fossil fuel waste

A composite was prepared from biomass and waste sulfur from fossil fuel refining. The composite has higher compressive and flexural strength than portland cement. Avoiding expensive biomass separation and achieving metrics exceeding those of commercial products is a notable step towards a green economy.
Reconfigurable Framework for Environmentally Adaptive Resilience in Hybrid Space Systems

Due to ongoing innovations in both sensor technology and spacecraft autonomy, onboard space processing continues to be outpaced by the escalating computational demands required for next-generation missions. Commercial-off-the-shelf, hybrid system-on-chips, combining fixed-logic CPUs with reconfigurable-logic FPGAs, present numerous architectural advantages that address onboard computing challenges. However, commercial devices are highly susceptible to space radiation and require dependable computing strategies to mitigate radiation-induced single-event effects. Depending upon the mission, the dynamics of the near-Earth space-radiation environment expose spacecraft to radiation fluxes that can vary by several orders of magnitude. By adopting an adaptive approach to dependable computing, spacecraft computers can reconfigure system resources to efficiently accommodate changing environmental conditions to maximize system performance while satisfying availability constraints throughout the mission. In this article, we propose Hybrid, Adaptive, Reconfigurable Fault Tolerance (HARFT), a reconfigurable framework for environmentally adaptive resilience in hybrid space systems. Furthermore, we describe a methodology to model adaptive systems, represented as phased-mission systems using Markov chains, subject to the near-Earth space-radiation environment, using a combination of orbital perturbation, geomagnetic field, and single-event effect rate prediction tools. We apply this methodology to evaluate the HARFT architecture using various static and adaptive strategies for several orbital case studies and demonstrate the achievable performability gains.
State of Forest and Rangeland Soils Research in the United States

Flying across the eastern United States at an altitude of 10,000 m, we see a landscape below that is a mosaic of forests, rivers, farm fields, towns, and cities. Almost all of the lands covered by forests today have undergone intensive harvest, and even regrowth and reharvests, following decades or centuries of cultivation-based agriculture and other land uses. The visible change in the boundaries of forests and fields is matched by similar, though less visible, patterns in the soils. Indeed, the soils that form the living surface of the Earth below may be as different on each side of the airplane as they are from one corner of the United States to another. Local differences in hillslopes and valley bottoms, in the types of bedrocks and sediments that sit below the living soil, and in the history of human land uses, may be greater than the differences driven by the climate of, for example, Virginia versus Oregon. The inhabitants of the land that became the United States survived on food and resources which were fundamentally derived from soils. The economic output of the colonies and the youthful United States flowed more from agriculture than from industry until at least the Civil War era (Gallman and Weiss 1969). Wood from the forests built the towns and cities, while energy from wood was the primary fuel of the American economy until the 1880s (U.S. Energy Information Administration 2011).
The COVID-19 Mortality Puzzle: A Single Explanation for Why Men, Elders, People of Color, and Hypertensives are Dying from Coronavirus (preprint)

Oxidative stress, particularly through excess endogenous NADPH-oxidase production of oxygen free-radicals, is proposed here as the single unifying framework for explaining the seemingly puzzling range of risk factors for severe coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection including aging, male gender, African-American race, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes. Evidence is presented that death rate as a function of age better resembles the near-exponential rise seen in cancer, where oxidative stress is high, rather than the historical W or U-shaped functions of pandemic or seasonal flu. In addition, consideration of more than 10,000 CDC and Montgomery County, PA publicly available cases suggested a deviation from an exponential rise in the oldest-old, consistent with lower oxidative stress levels reported in that group. Gender analyses unexpectedly found male-to-female risk of mortality to be an inverted U-shaped function peaking at nearly 2.5 times from age 30 to 50 and may reverse to half the female risk at the oldest ages, providing a good fit to known oxidative stress gender differences across the lifespan. Race data were consistent with higher mortality from COVID-19 and higher oxidative stress levels in African Americans. It is argued pre-existing conditions that increase risk all share high oxidative stress levels while, intriguingly, the possibly protective Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Lupus have low levels of NADPH oxidase-derived oxygen free radicals. It is further argued that oxidative stress is not simply a useful construct but its ability to explain differences in coronavirus severity stems from the known unique adaptations in bats, where the virus co-evolved, to accommodate flight which generates large amounts of oxygen free radicals. Finally, strategies for prevention and treatment that follow from the theory are briefly covered including N-acetyl cysteine in older men to restore glutathione levels to more youthful values and especially exciting, pursuing the inhibition of NADPH oxidases not only with well-known melatonin but also with less known compounds such as the naturally occurring apocynin, which is also inexpensive and readily available.
“I’m F---ing Moving to Iowa:” Gender and Candidate Image in the 2020 Iowa Caucus:

The 2020 presidential race started in Iowa, like it has since 1972. The slate of candidates was the most diverse ever and included six women. This study examines the relationship between candidates...
Mechanisms for Regulating and Organizing Receptor Signaling by Endocytosis.

Intricate relationships between endocytosis and cellular signaling, first recognized nearly 40 years ago through the study of tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors, are now known to exist for mul...
High SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load in Urine Sediment Correlates with Acute Kidney Injury and Poor COVID-19 Outcome.

Background Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complication of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that is associated with high mortality. Despite documented kidney tropism of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), there are no consistent reports of viral detection in urine or correlation with AKI or COVID-19 severity. Here we hypothesize that quantification of SARS-CoV-2 viral load in urine sediment from COVID-19 patients correlates with occurrence of AKI and mortality. Methods SARS-CoV-2 viral load in urine sediments (U-viral load) was quantified by qRT-PCR in 52 patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, hospitalized between March 15th and June 8th, 2020. Immunolabeling of SARS-CoV-2 proteins Spike and Nucleocapsid was performed in two COVID-19 kidney biopsies and urine sediments. Viral infectivity assays were performed from 32 urine sediments. Results Twenty COVID-19 patients (39%) had detectable SARS-CoV-2 U-viral load, of which 17 (85%) developed AKI with an average U-viral load 4-times higher than non-AKI COVID-19 patients. U-viral load was highest (7.7-fold) within two weeks after AKI diagnosis. A higher U-viral load correlated with mortality but not with albuminuria or AKI stage. SARS-CoV-2 proteins partially colocalized with the viral receptor ACE2 in kidney biopsies in tubules and parietal cells, and in urine sediment cells. Infective SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in urine sediments. Conclusion Our results further support SARS-CoV-2 kidney tropism. A higher SARS-CoV-2 viral load in urine sediments from COVID-19 patients correlated with increased incidence of AKI and mortality. Urinary viral detection could inform medical care of COVID-19 patients with kidney injury to improve prognosis.
Higher time-resolution LASEM with upgraded diagnostics for lab-scale characterization of energy release rates

A newly upgraded laser-induced air shock from energetic materials (LASEM) system with improved time-resolution and diagnostic capabilities has been used to investigate the influence of aluminum morphology on the energy release rates (microsecond and millisecond timescales) and high-temperature chemistry of military explosives.
Planetary Rings: A Post-Equinox View

Preface: a personal view of planetary rings 1. Introduction: the allure of the ringed planets 2. Studies of planetary rings 1610-2013 3. Diversity of planetary rings 4. Individual ring particles and their collisions 5. Large-scale ring evolution 6. Moons confine and sculpt rings 7. Explaining ring phenomena 8. N-body simulations 9. Stochastic models 10. Age and evolution of rings 11. Saturn's mysterious F ring 12. Uranus' rings and moons 13. Neptune's partial rings 14. Jupiter's ring-moon system after Galileo and New Horizons 15. Ring photometry 16. Dusty rings 17. Concluding remarks Afterword Glossary References Index.
Differences in Metabolic Alterations With Sprint Versus Endurance Interval Training Programs

The study of the effects of physical training on metabolism has been limited mainly in two ways. First, the training programs used have consisted primarily of continuous, rather than interval or intermittent, exercise [5, 9, 21, 31–33]. Second, the metabolic effects of these programs have been confined primarily to the aerobic system. Consequently, little research is available concerning sprint-type training programs and changes in anaerobic as well as aerobic metabolism. Furthermore, there is even a greater scarcity of information relating to a comparison of sprint and endurance interval training programs on aerobic, alactic, and lactic metabolic responses. This, therefore, was the purpose of this study.
SU-E-T-671: Range-Modulation Effects of Carbon Ion Beams in Lung Tissue

Purpose: When particles traversing inhomogeneous materials like lung they show a characteristic range modulation which cannot be observed in homogeneous materials. It is possible to describe the range modulation by a convolution of an unperturbed Bragg-Curve and a normal distribution. The sigma of the normal distribution is a parameter for the strength of the modulation effect. A new material parameter (modulation power, P_mod) is introduced which is independent of the material thickness. It is defined as the square of sigma divided by the mean water equivalent thickness of the target (µ). Methods: The modulation power of lung tissue was determined by actual Bragg-peak measurements after traversing an ex-vivo porcine lung and by Monte-Carlo simulations with micro-CT data of human lung tissue. The determined modulation powers were used to show the effect of range modulation effects in a simplified treatment situation. A four centimeter spread-out Bragg-peak after traversing eight centimeter of lung tissue was simulated in FLUKA. The SOBP with and without consideration of range modulation effects were compared. Results: As well in the measurements as in the MC simulations range modulation effects of lung tissue were observed. The determined modulation powers showed a great range from 0.05 mm, in the micro-CT data, to 0.7 mm in the lung measurements. The SOBP comparison showed that range modulation effects Result in over- and underdosages at the distal and proximal edge of the SOBP. In the investigated case, the last 0.5 cm of the SOBP showed an underdosage of up to 50% at the distal edge, while 0.5 cm distal to the SOBP an overdosage of up to 50% was observed. Conclusion: Range modulation effects occur in inhomogeneous materials like lung. These modulation effects may Result in clinically relevant over- and underdosages but are currently not considered in commercially available treatment planning systems.
A scalable HB-LED driver for multi-color Adaptive lighting systems

In this paper a HB- LED driver that can drive multi - color HB-LED strings using Single Inductor Multiple Current Output (SIMCO) buck converter topology is presented. Constant current sources are required to drive LED strings due to their non-linear I-V characteristics. In the proposed topology the average current in multi-color LED strings are controlled independently by using a combination of non-linear charge control and traditional Average Current Mode Control (ACMC) from a single DC voltage source. The SIMCO buck converter is operated in Continuous Conduction Mode (CCM) with ACMC to realize a constant source feeding multi-color LED strings. Simulation and experimental results of a high color rendering index (CRI) multi-color LED lighting system with 48V DC input and 500lm output are presented.
Easy English: Addressing Structural Ambiguity

EasyEnglish is an authoring tool which is part of IBM's internal SGML editing environment, Information Development Workbench. EasyEnglish is used as a preprocessing step for machine-translating IBM manuals. Although EasyEnglish does some traditional grammar checking, its focus is on problems of structural ambiguity. Such problems include ambiguous attachment of participles, ambiguous scope in coordination, and ambiguous attachment of the agent phrase for double passives. Since we deal with truly ambiguous constructions, the system has no way of deciding on the desired interpretation; the system provides the user with a choice of rewriting suggestions, each forcing an unambiguous attachment. This paper describes the techniques for identifying structural ambiguities and generating unambiguous rewriting suggestions.
Impact of relevance measures on the robustness and accuracy of collaborative filtering

The open nature of collaborative recommender systems present a security problem. Attackers that cannot be readily distinguished from ordinary users may inject biased profiles, degrading the objectivity and accuracy of the system over time. The standard user-based collaborative filtering algorithm has been shown quite vulnerable to such attacks. In this paper, we examine relevance measures that complement neighbor similarity and their influence on algorithm robustness. In particular, we consider two techniques, significance weighting and trust weighting, that attempt to calculate the utility of a neighbor with respect to rating prediction. Such techniques have been used to improve prediction accuracy in collaborative filtering. We show that significance weighting, in particular, also results in improved robustness under profile injection attacks.
Strange particle spectra from ?s = 200 GeV p + p collisions in STAR at RHIC

Production of strange hadrons in high energy p+p collisions provides baseline information to which results from A+A collisions may be compared in the search for possible signatures of a deconfined state. However, p+p collisions also demonstrate some surprising effects of their own and should be investigated for the insight they may provide. We present mid-rapidity transverse mass spectra and pT for K0S, Λ and Ξ produced in p+p collisions measured by the STAR collaboration at RHIC. Comparisons will be made with available model calculations as well as lower energy results and Au+Au results from the same detector.
Characterizing the regional structural difference of the brain between tau transgenic (rtg4510) and wild-type mice using MRI

rTg4510 transgenic mouse model demonstrates features resembling Alzheimer's disease including neurofibrillary degeneration and progressive neuronal loss. We investigated the volumetric differences of brain structures between transgenic and wild-type mice using MR images of fourteen 5.5 month old female mice. Tensor-based morphometry and atlas-based segmentation were applied to MRI images. Severe atrophy of hippocampus and neocortex as well as ventricular dilatation were observed in the transgenic mice. These findings were confirmed by histopathologic evaluation of the same mice. The results suggest that MRI should be useful for evaluating disease-modifying therapies for Alzheimer's disease in the rTg4510 model and comparing treatment responses in mice and humans.
Representation of the Ipsilateral Visual Field by Neurons in the Macaque Lateral Intraparietal Cortex Depends on the Forebrain Commissures

Our eyes are constantly moving, allowing us to attend to different visual objects in the environment. With each eye movement, a given object activates an entirely new set of visual neurons, yet we perceive a stable scene. One neural mechanism that may contribute to visual stability is remapping. Neurons in several brain regions respond to visual stimuli presented outside the receptive field when an eye movement brings the stimulated location into the receptive field. The stored representation of a visual stimulus is remapped, or updated, in conjunction with the saccade. Remapping depends on neurons being able to receive visual information from outside the classic receptive field. In previous studies, we asked whether remapping across hemifields depends on the forebrain commissures. We found that, when the forebrain commissures are transected, behavior dependent on accurate spatial updating is initially impaired but recovers over time. Moreover, neurons in lateral intraparietal cortex (LIP) continue to remap information across hemifields in the absence of the forebrain commissures. One possible explanation for the preserved across-hemifield remapping in split-brain animals is that neurons in a single hemisphere could represent visual information from both visual fields. In the present study, we measured receptive fields of LIP neurons in split-brain monkeys and compared them with receptive fields in intact monkeys. We found a small number of neurons with bilateral receptive fields in the intact monkeys. In contrast, we found no such neurons in the split-brain animals. We conclude that bilateral representations in area LIP following forebrain commissures transection cannot account for remapping across hemifields.
Adult IT programs: a discourse on pedagogy strategy and the Internet

Discusses strategies for implementing modern knowledge management curricula in academic programs for adult professionals. References the perspectives of multidisciplinary curricula covering information and society; multimedia and hypermedia; electronic information design and presentation; and infrastructure development and implementation. The analysis assumes the increasing involvement of highly trained professionals in adult education programs; the continuing growth of corporate universities in scope and breadth; the integration of corporate programs with traditional colleges and universities; and the increasing use of the Internet as a mechanism to coordinate, supplement, support, and integrate learning experiences. Advances historical and pedagogical methodologies as a means to provide perspective and structure for program development and future research. References an information technology (IT) program for mid‐career information managers in Northern California and serving the high‐technology area known as Silicon Valley.
Geodesics on Calabi-Yau manifolds and winding states in nonlinear sigma models

We conjecture that a non-flat D-real-dimensional compact Calabi-Yau manifold, such as a quintic hypersurface with D=6, or a K3 manifold with D=4, has locally length minimizing closed geodesics, and that the number of these with length less than L grows asymptotically as L^{D}. We also outline the physical arguments behind this conjecture, which involve the claim that all states in a nonlinear sigma model can be identified as 'momentum' and 'winding' states in the large volume limit.
Chronic nicotine reverses age-associated increases in tail-flick latency and anxiety in rats

The chronic consumption of low doses of nicotine in drinking water for two years consistently increased the sensitivity of rats to a nociceptive thermal stimulus (tail-flick test), but reduced aversiveness in the elevated plus-maze test, relative to the responses of age-matched controls in these tests. The responses of aged nicotine-consuming rats were indistinguishable from those of young adult rats that did not receive nicotine. To determine whether these effects were due to a nicotine-induced retardation of age-related changes, young adult rats were similarly treated with nicotine for three months and similar changes in the tail-flick latency and performance in the plus-maze test were observed during nicotine consumption. These changes were reversed following withdrawal from nicotine. It is concluded that the maintenance of circulating low levels of nicotine (and/or its metabolites) increased the nociceptive sensitivity of the rats and reduced their aversions in the plus-maze test regardless of their age.
Contemporary Doctrine Classics: The Combined Reports by the Doctrine Commission of the General Synod of the Church of England – Church House

Book reviewed: Contemporary Doctrine Classics: The Combined Reports by the Doctrine Commission of the General Synod of the Church of England, Church House Publishing 2005 (0-7151-4045-0), xxxiv + 475 pp., pb £20.00
Uric acid level and allopurinol use as risk markers of mortality and morbidity in systolic heart failure.

Background Previous studies have not extensively examined the association of hyperuricemia and adverse outcomes in systolic heart failure (HF) in relation to xanthine oxidase inhibitor therapy. Methods The Prospective Randomized Amlodipine Survival Evaluation study included New York Heart Association class IIIB or IV patients with left ventricular ejection fraction 7.1-8.6, >8.6-10.4, >10.4 mg/dL) and those using allopurinol. Multivariate Cox regression modeling was performed to identify predictors of mortality. Uric acid quartile and allopurinol groups were referenced to the lowest uric acid quartile. Results A total of 1,152 patients were included. In general, patients in the allopurinol group and in the highest uric acid quartile had indicators of more severe HF, including worse renal function and greater proportion of New York Heart Association class IV patients, and greater diuretic use. The allopurinol group and highest uric acid quartile had the highest total mortality (41.7 and 42.4 per 100 person-years, respectively) and combined morbidity/mortality (45.6 and 51.0 per 100 person-years, respectively). Allopurinol use and highest uric acid quartile were independently associated with mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.65, 95% CI 1.22-2.23, P = .001 and HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.07-1.72, P = .01, respectively) and combined morbidity/mortality (uric acid quartile 4 vs 1: HR 1.32, 95% CI 1.06-1.66, P = .02; allopurinol use: HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.11-1.99, P = .008). Conclusion Elevated uric acid level was independently associated with mortality in patients with severe systolic HF, even when accounting for allopurinol use.
Needle biopsy of incidentally discovered adrenal masses is rarely informative and potentially hazardous

Introduction The role of fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy in patients with incidentally discovered adrenal masses is limited. However, image-guided biopsy continues to be performed in this setting, in some cases before biochemical workup. The purpose of this study was to review the value of FNA biopsy of adrenal masses in patients referred to a large university endocrine surgical practice. Methods Patients referred to the endocrine surgery service at our institutions from 1997 through 2006 for evaluation of an adrenal mass were identified and those who underwent needle biopsy were selected for analysis. Results Of the 347 patients evaluated for adrenal masses, 22 (6.3%) had undergone needle biopsy before referral. Clinical presentations were incidentaloma ( n = 15), suspected metastasis ( n = 4), and symptomatic large mass ( n = 3). In 10 cases, a radiology report had either suggested a biopsy or stated that the mass was “amenable” to biopsy. In the 15 patients with incidentaloma, 12 (80%) had nondiagnostic biopsy results and 2 showed pheochromocytoma. Biopsies were diagnostic in 2 of 4 patients with suspected metastasis and in 1 of 3 patients with a large symptomatic mass. There were 3 biopsy-related complications: 1 liver hematoma, 1 hemothorax, and 1 duodenal hematoma. No biochemical testing for pheochromocytoma was performed before biopsy in 10 patients, 5 of whom were ultimately diagnosed with pheochromocytoma. Biopsy results did not alter clinical management in any of the 22 patients in this study. Conclusions FNA biopsy is not useful in the diagnostic workup of patients with incidentally discovered adrenal masses and rarely alters management in patients with resectable adrenal metastases and primary adrenal malignancies. Furthermore, biopsy in this setting can also be potentially hazardous. Language that suggests biopsy of adrenal masses should be avoided in radiology reports.
Premature conclusions on postnatal steroid effects.

To the Editor .— We read with interest the recent joint statement of the AAP, Committee on the Fetus and Newborn and the Canadian Paediatric Society, Fetus and Newborn Committee,1 the recent letter to the editor by Taylor et al,2 and the response by Dr Barrington3 on the topic of postnatal glucocorticoids for chronic lung disease in the neonate. The use of steroids, dexamethasone in particular, to treat or prevent chronic lung disease (CLD) is controversial. Although we applaud the efforts of the Academy to bring some sense to this quagmire, we have serious reservations about some of the conclusions and recommendations. Our major concern is that conclusions in the AAP report relating to neurodevelopmental outcome after glucocorticoid treatment were based largely on 2 published meta-analyses performed on 54 and 8 studies5 that appear to be seriously flawed. In a comment on the latter paper, Taylor et al2 discussed the impropriety of combining 8 heterogeneous studies that differed in age at initiation of glucocorticoid therapy, dose and duration of therapy, and tests (and timing of these tests) used to determine neurodevelopmental outcome. Their succinct and valid arguments apply equally well to the meta-analysis of 5 studies,4 and need not be repeated. It was disappointing to note that the AAP report accepted the findings of these 2 analyses without any stated reservations and then went on to recommend restrictive conditions for using postnatal glucocorticoids. Review of the 11 studies listed in the AAP report reveals that in 5, glucocorticoid therapy was initiated in the first 4 days after birth and in the remaining 6, therapy was begun at 7 days’ postnatal age or later. Another way to look at the published data is to …
Personnel Selection in Organizations

The article presents a review of the book “Personnel Selection in Organizations,” edited by Neal Schmitt and Walter C. Borman.
Characteristic X-Ray Production in Magnesium, Aluminum, and Copper by Low-Energy Hydrogen and Helium Ions

Comparative characteristic $K$ x-ray yields in Mg and Al and, $L$ x-ray yields in Cu, produced by bombardment with singly charged ions of H, ${\mathrm{He}}^{3}$, and ${\mathrm{He}}^{4}$, are reported for particle energies ranging from 25 to 50 keV per amu. Characteristic x-ray production cross sections for the $K$-shell processes are extracted from these data, and from previous proton work. The ratios of helium to proton cross sections at equal particle velocities are significantly smaller than expected from current theories. It is shown that the discrepancy can be fully accounted for by the effect on the cross section of the binding of the $K$-shell electrons to the projectile, which is in close proximity to the nucleus at the time of excitation.
Effects of Interply Damping Layers on the Dynamic Characteristics of Composite Plates

Integrated damping mechanics for composite plates with constrained interlaminar layers of polymer damping materials are developed. Discrete layer damping mechanics are presented for composite laminates with damping layers, in connection with a semianalytical method for predicting the modal damping in simply supported specialty composite plates. Correlations between predicted and measured response in graphite/epox y plates illustrate the accuracy of the method. Additional application cases for graphite/epoxy plates of various laminations demonstrate the potential for higher damping than geometrically equivalent aluminum plates. The effects of aspect ratio, damping layer thickness, and fiber volume ratio on static and dynamic characteristics of the composite plate are also investigated. AMPING is a significant dynamic parameter for vibration and sound control, dynamic stability, positioning accu- racy, fatigue endurance, and impact resistance. Many current structural applications (e.g., large space structures, engine blades, and high-speed machinery) require light weight and high dynamic performance. Therefore, candidate sources of passive damping should add minimal parasitic weight and be compatible with the structural configuration. Two potential damping sources satisfying the previous re- quirements are the constrained damping layer approach and the damping capacity of composites. Constrained damping layers in isotropic metallic structures have been widely applied and investigated.1 They provide high damping, but tend to increase the structural weight and offer limited means for damping tailoring. The inherent damping capacity of compos- ite materials also seems promising. Although the damping of composite structures is not very high, it is significantly higher than that for most common metallic structures. Moreover, composites are the materials of preference in many cases, since they readily provide high specific stiffness and strength. More importantly, research on the damping mechanics of composite laminates2'4 and structures5'6 has shown that composite damp- ing is anisotropic, highly tailorable, and depends on an array of micromechanic al, laminate, and structural parameters. It has been further demonstrated that optimal tailoring may significantly improve the damped dynamic performance of composite structures.7 It seems likely that the combination of both approaches (i.e., composite structures with interlaminar damping layers) will offer the advantages of high damping, damping tailoring, good mechanical properties, and low weight addition. In addi- tion, the interlaminar damping concept is highly compatible with the laminated configuration of composite structures and their fabrication techniques. In contrast to isotropic materials, the variations in anisotropy and elastic properties of each
Toward a rational, value-based drug benefit for Medicare

A major challenge facing Congress is what changes, if any, to make to Medicare Part D. With the apparent failure of the Democrats’ attempt to remove the prohibition on government intervention in dr...
"Airborne organism" identified.

IF the authors of the recent report1 had chanced to include an insect physiologist among those consulted about the unusual objects detected by electron microscopy in an atmospheric aerosol, their quest would have been at an end ! These structures are brochosomes, bizarre excretory products of the Malpighian tubules of leaf hoppers (Homoptera; Jassidae). They were discovered on wing membranes and elsewhere on the surface of these insects by Tulloch, Shapiro and Cochrane2 and Wilde and Cochrane3, who named these structures to accord with their net-like form. Subsequently it was found4, by examination of thin sections in the electron microscope, that brochosomes are produced intracellularly in the urine-secreting tubules; their eventual distribution over the surface cuticle seems to be achieved by the insect manipulating the excreted pellets with its posterior pair of legs5.
Religion, religiosity and spirituality in the biopsychosocial model of health and ageing

Religiosity/spirituality and the tendency to use these in coping are common in older adults. We review evidence that these are positively associated with mental and physical health in older adults, as well as evidence that members of different religious groups differ in levels of health. Studies on mental health include those that examine well-being and depression. Physical health outcomes include mortality, cancer, stroke, and physical functioning. We discuss the issue of causality and possible mediators of effects of religiosity/spirituality on health outcomes, paying special attention to possible psychological mediators. Last, we discuss possible differences in these associations between members of various cultural and religious groups, and caution that there may be theological problems with the use of religion to promoting health.
Remote sensing of watershed characteristics in Costa Rica

Abstract An integration of digital elevation modelling and satellite remote sensing of land cover and land use in the Upper Reventazon Basin in Costa Rica has been used to identify possible sources of enhanced sediment erosion. The techniques described quantify the occurrence and spatial distribution of specific land use categories as a function of slope for the entire basin. The results provide a framework for the designing of focused field measurement and policy programmes related to soil conservation. In the Reventazon Basin these techniques could help resolve conflicts between agriculture, hydropower production and water quality protection.
The amino-terminal region of a proteochondroitin core protein, secreted by aortic smooth muscle cells, shares sequence homology with the pre-propeptide region of the biglycan core protein from human bone

Abstract Smooth muscle cells, isolated from rat and bovine aortae and grown in vitro , synthesize chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans which are secreted into the growth media. Analysis of metabolically [ 35 S]-labeled macromolecules, employing ionexchange chromatography, revealed a single peak of radioactivity, upon elution with a linear salt gradient. Treatment of the material with enzymes that specifically degrade chondroitin sulfate demonstrated that chondroitin-4-sulfate was the predominant species isolated from rat smooth muscle cells and that chondroitin-4-sulfate and dermatan sulfate were the predominant species isolated from bovine aortic smooth muscle cells. Treatment of the native proteoglycans with chondroitinase ABC and subsequent SDS-PAGE analysis of the digestion products resulted in the appearance of a band with an apparent molecular weight of 45,000. Electrotransfer of the core protein to Immobilon-P membrane and gas phase sequencing of the amino-terminal region revealed striking homology between the core proteins of the rat and bovine proteochondroitin with the pre-propeptide region of human bone biglycan.
Global recursive dynamics of articulated tree structures

A rigorous global recursive formulation is developed for the dynamics of a classical articulated tree. The system in question is composed of rigid parts interconnected by spring loaded single hinges to form a tree. The global formulation addresses the dynamics of complete branches (subtrees). The external moments applied to the branch are brought to bear on the instantaneous moment of inertia of the branch. Corrections for deviations from rigidity are accumulated recursively from sub-branches. The translational motion is likewise treated by addressing the structure as a whole and accumulating effects of internal motion recursively. Global recursive dynamics is a rigorous reexpression of the equations of motion of the system in terms that are, at the same time, intuitive and directly computable. Applied sequentially, global recursive dynamics gives rise to a family of approximations, progressing from the rigid to the fully articulated, which converge to the solution as the time step tends to zero.
Velocity of Light from the Molecular Constants of Carbon Monoxide

By infrared spectroscopy precise measurements of the wavelengths of forty-three rotational lines in the CO absorption band at 4.67 μ were made. Fifteen lines from J=32 to J=52 in the P branch were measured from the emission spectrum of CO. These data were reduced by the method of least squares, and values of the rotational constants, B0 and D0, of CO were calculated. A second, slightly less precise set of measurements over approximately the same range of J values was similarly reduced, and combined estimates of the constants were obtained. Using the resulting value of B0 with the value obtained from microwave frequency measurements, the velocity of light was estimated to be 299 792 km/sec. The estimated standard deviation of this value is 6 km/sec.
Strain rate continuity in 304 stainless steel during stress rate change tests

Abstract Stress rate change experiments have been used to assess the contribution of mechanical activation of dislocation glide to the inelastic deformation of 304 stainless steel. These experiments were conducted in a servohydraulic testing machine by loading at stress rates from 5 to 40 MPa/s to a constant stress between 250 and 450 MPa. An extrapolation method was developed to determine the inelastic strain rates just prior to and just after the transition in stress rate. The results of these experiments demonstrate that the inelastic strain rate is continuous in this material through a transition in stress rate. These findings, in contrast to previously published results, indicate that mechanical activation does not occur under these testing conditions.
Tissue Effects of Q-Switched, High Power, Visible Laser Irradiation: In Vitro Experiments and Simulation

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common disorders and the most common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in elderly men [1]. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is considered the gold standard treatment; however, laser prostatectomy has several advantages with regard to reduced catheterization and morbidity particularly in high-risk patients [2]. Of the many lasers that can be used in the laser prostatectomy, the GreenLight potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser is one of the most commonly used [3]. The optimum outcome of this laser procedure is ablation with minimal or no coagulation. Our objective was to experimentally and theoretically characterize the KTP laser-tissue interactions in order to understand the laser and tissue parameters that lead to an optimal outcome.© 2009 ASME