cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of orthodontic mini-implant anchorage in premolar extraction therapy in adolescents.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the success rate, positional stability, and patient evaluation of orthodontic mini-implants (OMIs). Methods: Thirteen patients (8 girls, 5 boys; average age, 14 years 10 months) were treated with 82 OMIs measuring 1.6 mm in diameter and 6 mm in length placed in the buccal alveoli (1 unloaded OMI and 1 loaded OMI per quadrant). The right or left side of each arch was randomly selected for immediate loading with up to 250 g of direct force; the contralateral side was loaded 3 to 5 weeks later. Serial impressions, clinical observations, and orthodontic maintenance were performed until adequate space closure was achieved. Results: The overall OMI success rate was 70.73%. As calculated with a mixed-model analysis, there was no statistically significant difference between the success rates of immediately loaded OMIs (80.0%) and delayed loaded OMIs (80.95%). The combined success rate for loaded OMIs (80.49%) was significantly higher than that of unloaded OMIs (60.98%). Patients' motivation for OMI treatment was primarily the desire to avoid headgear. Using a 100-mm visual analog scale, the patients indicated average scores of 54.77 for the amount of pain during OMI placement and 27.10 for the amount of pain during OMI removal. Conclusions: OMIs are a predictable, effective, and well-tolerated anchorage source for adolescents. Neither the timing of force application nor the force itself precipitated failure of the OMIs. Orthodontic forces can be applied immediately to OMIs. Various anatomic and behavioral conditions unique to adolescents and a clinical learning curve can affect the success rate of OMIs.
The forward–backward method with a novel spectral acceleration algorithm (FB/NSA) for the computation of scattering from two‐dimensional large‐scale impedance random rough surfaces

The forward–backward method with a novel spectral acceleration algorithm (FB/NSA) has been shown to be a very efficient (Ntot) iterative method of moments, where Ntot is the total number of unknowns to be solved, for the computation of electromagnetic wave scattering from two-dimensional (2-D) perfectly conducting rough surfaces. In this paper, the method is extended to treat impedance rough surfaces. It is found that the 2-D NSA algorithm for the impedance case is similar to the one for the perfectly conducting case. Comparisons of numerical results between the standard 2-D FB and 2-D FB/NSA methods show that the latter yields very accurate results with an appreciable reduction of CPU time. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 29: 232–236, 2001.
Multivalued stimulus-response relation in isolated elasmobranch utricles

The relation between a maintained spatial orientation and the corresponding fully adapted discharge rate was multivalued in all the afferents tonically sensitive to maintained spatial orientation observed in isolated utricles of Rhinobates productus. The spread of rate values was of the order of changes produced by natural tilts. The occurrence of multivaluedness in isolated receptors indicated that peripheral issues are sufficient. Two factors contributed: firstly, the side from which the orientation had been reached (i.e. "hysteresis"): higher adapted rates occurred when the preceding orientation was characterized by lower rates and when the corresponding transition caused acceleration; secondly, "spontaneous" rate variations, some of which resembled markedly, and interacted with, the effects of tilts. It was not possible to identify the basic mechanisms underlying these factors. The multivaluedness in the coding of maintained position, because of its constancy and magnitude, cannot be ignored. It, as well as the sensitivity to fast transients, must be taken into account in utricular models, in evaluations of information transmission, and in psychophysical explorations.
Global health perspective on gynecologic oncology

Abstract Objective To describe challenges faced by low-middle income countries (LMICs) across the cancer spectrum, with specific focus on gynecologic cancers. Methods MEDLINE was searched for research articles published in English between January 1, 2000 and February 1, 2015 which reported on global health efforts in LMICs. Results An estimated 80% of global cancer burden and only 5% of global cancer spending affect LMICs. The overwhelming majority of cervical cancer cases and related deaths occur in LMICs. The charge to close this cancer divide is at the center of global health efforts. Conclusions Prevention is central to global health efforts to close the cancer divide. The gynecologic oncology community is well positioned to lead efforts in global health by partnering with institutions, professional societies and advocacy groups.
Sign language recognition using competitive learning in the HAVNET neural network

An optical modeless Sign Language Recognition (SLR) system is presented. The system uses the HAusdorf-Voronoi NETwork (HAVNET), an artificial neural network designed for 2D binary pattern recognition. It uses adaptation of the Hausdorff distance to determine the similarity between an input pattern and a learned representation. A detailed review of the architecture, the learning equations, and the recognition equations for the HAVNET network are presented. Competitive learning has been implemented in training the network using a nearest-neighbor technique. The SLR system is applied to the optical recognition of 24 static symbols from the American Sign Language convention. The SLR system represents the target images in a 80 X 80 pixel format. The implemented HAVNET network classifies the inputs into categories representing each of the symbols, using an output layer of 24 nodes. The network is trained with 5 different formats for each symbol and is tested with all 24 symbols in 15 new formats. Results from the SLR system without competitive training show shape identification problems, when distinguishing symbols with similar shapes. Implementation of competitive learning in the HAVNET neural network improved recognition accuracy on this task to 89%. The hand gestures are identified through a window search algorithm. Feature recognition is obtained from edge enhancement by applying a Laplacian filter and thresholding, which provides robustness to pose, color and background variations.
Mapping theorems for local expansions in metric and Banach spaces

Abstract Let X and Y be complete metric spaces with Y metrically convex, and let T be a closed mapping of X into Y. It is shown that if D is an open subset of X such that T is locally expansive on D and T maps open subsets of D onto open subsets of Y, then an element y of Y belongs to T(D) if and only if there exists x0ϵ D such that dist(T(x0), y) ⩽ dist(T(x), y) for all x ϵ X − D. Several implications of this result are considered, specifically for equations in Banach spaces involving locally condensing, locally strongly accretive, and locally strongly monotone mappings.
Topical formulation development of a novel thymidylate synthase inhibitor for the treatment of psoriasis

Abstract A topical anhydrous semisolid was developed for a novel chemical entity to maximize delivery of drug in the target organ, the skin. Excipients were selected based on increasing concentration of drug into the skin and the ability to form semisolids. Using in vitro skin studies, the semisolid product delivered approx. 3-times more drug into the skin than a previous clinical solution formulation without significantly increasing receptor values. In vivo rat studies indicate the semisolid product delivered approx. 8-times more drug than the previously tested clinical solution formulation.
Trends and requirements of future high-performance CMOS

The outlook of performance scaling in high-performance CMOS is explored by using an analytical expression for the intrinsic MOSFET delay. The historical trend of carrier virtual source velocity, as the main driver for continuous performance increase in the past, is presented and prospects of further velocity increase in future technology nodes are discussed. An optimistic scaling scenario with realistic assumptions about device geometry and electrostatics is presented and it is shown that from the 32-nm node onward the intrinsic transistor performance will not improve with device scaling unless parasitic capacitances are significantly reduced.
Experimental Studies of Rod Impact on Bare/Uncovered PBX 9501 Explosive

Abstract We present an experimental investigation of the dynamics of rod impact on bare or uncovered PBX 9501 explosive. By weight, PBX 9501 contains 95% octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine, commonly known as HMX. The plastic binder is Estane combined with a nitro-plasticizer made of bis(2,2-dinitropropyl)acetal and bis(2,2-dinitropropyl)formal. Experiments were conducted using our single stage gas-gun, allowing us to get very repeatable impact velocities. A stainless steel rod attached to the front of the projectile impacted the explosive target. Impact occurred while the projectile was still in the barrel, allowing for accurate centering of the rod on the target. Seven channels of Photonic Doppler Velocimetry (PDV) were used to measure shock waveprofiles after transmission through the explosive. Velocimetry measurement points were located at different radii from the center of the rod, allowing us to capture the 2-D characteristics of the flow. Also, multiple sets or sequences of experiments were performed. Each set of experiments used a constant rod diameter, impact velocity and PDV probe locations: the thing that was varied from experiment to experiment was the thickness of the PBX 9501 explosive sample. In this way, we built up a detailed experimental record of the impact and reaction dynamics. All experiments discussed used a rod impact velocity near 0.744 km/s resulting in an impact stress of ~ 4.5 GPa. One series of experiments with 17 mm diameter rods resulted in initiation with onset of detonation between 6 and 8 mm into the explosive. Another series of experiments with 8.5 mm diameter rods resulted in failure to detonate, reactions being quenched by rarefaction waves emanating from the edge of the rod.
Percolation on a self-assembled network: Decoration of polyethylene gels with conducting polymer.

Conducting gels of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene and the soluble conjugated polymer poly(3-octylthiophene), P3OT, were prepared by thermoreversible gelation from semidilute solutions in decalin, and subsequent doping with iodine. We report the results of frequency-dependent complex conductivity measurements (from 1 kHz to 1 GHz) on these gels. Although the volume fraction of P3OT in the gel range from less than 5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}4}$ to about 3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}2}$, we found evidence of connected conducting paths with no indication of a percolation threshold. The results are discussed in terms of adsorption of the P3OT onto the preformed polyethylene gel network which organizes the P3OT into connected paths at concentrations well below the nominal percolation threshold.
Immune responses to coiled coil supramolecular biomaterials

Self-assembly has been increasingly utilized in recent years to create peptide-based biomaterials for 3D cell culture, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine, but the molecular determinants of these materials' immunogenicity have remained largely unexplored. In this study, a set of molecules that self-assembled through coiled coil oligomerization was designed and synthesized, and immune responses against them were investigated in mice. Experimental groups spanned a range of oligomerization behaviors and included a peptide from the coiled coil region of mouse fibrin that did not form supramolecular structures, an engineered version of this peptide that formed coiled coil bundles, and a peptide-PEG-peptide triblock bioconjugate that formed coiled coil multimers and supramolecular aggregates. In mice, the native peptide and engineered peptide did not produce any detectable antibody response, and none of the materials elicited detectable peptide-specific T cell responses, as evidenced by the absence of IL-2 and interferon-gamma in cultures of peptide-challenged splenocytes or draining lymph node cells. However, specific antibody responses were elevated in mice injected with the multimerizing peptide-PEG-peptide. Minimal changes in secondary structure were observed between the engineered peptide and the triblock peptide-PEG-peptide, making it possible that the triblock's multimerization was responsible for this antibody response.
Electrochemically controlled release based on nanoporous conducting polymers

An electrochemically controlled drug release system based on nanoporous polypyrrole (PPy) films was developed. Pyrrole and a model drug, fluorescein, were electrochemically copolymerized on glassy carbon (GC) electrodes modified with self-assembled multilayer polystyrene (PS) nanobeads, and PPy films incorporated with fluorescein as dopants were formed among the interstitial spaces of the tightly packed PS nanobead template. After the removal of the PS hard template, nanoporous PPy films incorporated with the drug fluorescein were obtained. Due to the porous morphology and huge surface area, the efficiency of the prepared PPy films in electrochemically releasing incorporated fluorescein was about nine times higher than that of conventional PPy films.
Spin-wave expansion of the staggered magnetization of a square-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet at T=0.

Spin-wave expansion is used to compute the staggered magnetization of the square-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet at T=0 to order O(1/S${)}^{2}$. It is found that the staggered magnetization, ${\mathit{M}}^{\mathrm{\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}}}$, is given by ${\mathit{M}}^{\mathrm{\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}}}$=S-0.19660\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${\mathit{S}}^{0}$+0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${\mathit{S}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$-0.00068\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${\mathit{S}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}2}$ +O(${\mathit{S}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$). The result strengthens the belief that spin-wave expansion, at T=0, is a useful asymptotic expansion that agrees exceptionally well with recent Monte Carlo and series-expansion estimates of the staggered magnetization.
Urban High School Students’ Critical Science Agency: Conceptual Understandings and Environmental Actions Around Climate Change

This study investigates how the enactment of a climate change curriculum supports students’ development of critical science agency, which includes students developing deep understandings of science concepts and the ability to take action at the individual and community levels. We examined the impact of a four to six week urban ecology curriculum on students from three different urban high schools in the USA. Data collection included pre and posttest written assessments from all students (n = 75) and pre and post interviews from focal students (n = 22) to examine how students’ conceptual understandings, beliefs and environmental actions changed. Our analyses showed that at the beginning of the curriculum, the majority of students believed that climate change was occurring; yet, they had limited conceptual understandings about climate change and were engaged in limited environmental actions. By the end of the curriculum, students had a significant increase in their understanding of climate change and the majority of students reported they were now engaged in actions to limit their personal impact on climate change. These findings suggest that believing a scientific theory (e.g. climate change) is not sufficient for critical science agency; rather, conceptual understandings and understandings of personal actions impact students’ choices. We recommend that future climate change curriculum focus on supporting students’ development of critical science agency by addressing common student misconceptions and by focusing on how students’ actions can have significant impacts on the environment.
Dart Throwing as a Method of Reducing Extra-Punitive Aggression:

Ten aggressive boys were encouraged to throw darts at photographs of individuals toward whom they had expressed verbal hostility. The dart throwing significantly reduced overt aggression toward non-family members but not toward family members.
Durability of Porcine Bioroots in Younger Patients With Aortic Root Pathology: A Propensity-Matched Comparison With Composite Mechanical Roots

Background We present a comparison of porcine bioroot and composite mechanical root replacement in a large series of patients younger than 60 years who required full root replacement for true root pathology. Methods Between 1997 and 2007, we performed 986 aortic root replacement procedures, including 391 porcine bioroots and 515 composite mechanical roots for true root indications. Of these, 504 patients were younger than 60 years old at time of the operation. Porcine bioroots were placed in 138 patients, including 38 St. Jude Toronto Root (St. Jude Inc, St. Paul, MN), 98 Medtronic Freestyle (Medtronic Inc, Minneapolis, MN), and 2 Edwards Prima (Edwards Lifesciences Inc, Irvine, CA). Standard univariate, logistic regression, Cox regression, and propensity matching techniques were used. Results To adjust for baseline differences in risk factor profiles, propensity matching yielded a final matched data set of 128 matched pairs, with no differences in preoperative risk factor profile or indication for operation. Overall 30-day operative mortality was 2.3% for porcine bioroot patients vs 1.6% for mechanical root patients ( p = 0.6). Root type did not influence early (odds ratio, 0.8; 96% confidence interval, 0.2 to 3.2) or late mortality (hazard risk, 1.4; 95% confidence interval, 0 0.5 to 3.8). Multivariate predictors of late mortality included (hazard ratio, 95% confidence interval) age in years (1.01; 1.01 to 1.03), chronic renal failure (3.6; 1.1 to 12.6), and preoperative bacterial endocarditis (3.6; 1.1 to 11.8). Freedom from reoperation was similar between groups; however, bleeding events were more common among mechanical root patients. Conclusions Porcine bioroots provide durable midterm to late-term outcomes after aortic root replacement for true root indications and are an appealing alternative in younger patients because they limit morbidity associated with anticoagulant-related bleeding.
Investigation of smoothing techniques for positron emission tomography imaging

Recently, many techniques have been introduced to improve on the reconstruction and enhancement of biomedical images, in particular, positron emission tomography. Often these techniques either perform poorly in the presence of noise or are computationally expensive. Nonintensive computational techniques are presented that aim to reduce noise while preserving edges working in conjunction with the filtered convolution back-projection method of reconstruction. First we present an adaptive windowing technique that bases window size on the count value. Then a maximum likelihood technique is developed. Finally, a method of image enhancement based on directional operators and template matching attempts to diminish noise while preserving edges. These techniques are applied both in the image domain and in the sinogram domain and then evaluated using a similarity measure against the original Shepp-Logan phantom.
A simple and reliable index for scoring rival stereotactic radiosurgery plans

Abstract Purpose A simple and robust index for ranking rival stereotactic radiosurgery plans is presented. Methods The radiosurgery plan score index, CGI (Conformity/Gradient Index), is an average of a conformity score and a gradient score. Computation of the CGI score is simple, requiring only three pieces of data: (1) the total volume irradiated to the prescription isodose level, (2) the volume of the target, and (3) the total volume irradiated at half of the prescription isodose level. The overall CGI Index is a simple function of these three pieces of data. Results When multiple sets of rival stereotactic radiosurgery plans were ranked with respect to this single score index, the resulting plan rankings closely matched the plan rankings according to biologic indices (calculated nontarget brain normal tissue complication probabilities). Conclusions The CGI is a simple and fast plan evaluation tool that can assist the radiosurgery planner in evaluating and optimizing multiple candidate radiosurgery plans.
5-fluorouracil with oral leucovorin and hydroxyurea and concomitant radiotherapy for stage III non-small cell lung cancer

Twenty-three patients with regionally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Stage III) were treated with continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) augmented by high-dose oral leucovorin and hydroxyurea and concomitant radiotherapy. This chemoradiotherapy regimen was administered during 5 days of every other week for six cycles (total radiation dose, 6000 cGy). Three patients (13%) had stable disease, 13 patients (57%) had a partial response (PR), and 1 patient (4%) had a complete response (CR). The overall response rate was 61% (95% confidence interval, 41% to 81%). At a median follow-up time of 19 months, the median survival time for all 23 patients was 12 months. The median time to disease progression was 6 months. Twelve patients have had disease progression outside of the chest, and only 3 patients have had intrathoracic disease progression as the site of first failure. The toxicities of this regimen consisted of mild to moderate myelosuppression and moderate degree dermatitis and mucositis. It was concluded that concomitant chemoradiotherapy with this regimen results in high local activity at acceptable toxicity. However, the systemic activity of this regimen was low, resulting in a high distant recurrence rate and a median survival time that was not different from that achieved with standard therapy. Therefore, its use, as defined in this study, cannot be recommended.
Population Dynamics of a Lightly Exploited Channel Catfish Stock in the Powder River System, Wyoming–Montana

Abstract The population dynamics of a lightly exploited stock of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus were assessed in the Powder River system, Wyoming–Montana, with special emphasis on evaluation of changes that may occur if the harvest is increased. The samples contained a substantial proportion of large fish, but growth rate was similar to that in other areas at lower elevations and latitudes. Fish up to 21 years old were collected. Annual exploitation was estimated to be only 1.9–2.0%. Maximum yield was predicted to occur at 18–22% annual fishing mortality, but this level of exploitation would be expected to cause a shift toward smaller sizes of fish and virtually eliminate fish in the large size-classes (>50 cm total length), which are the principal attraction for the current anglers.
Plasmodium sp.: the relationship between erythrocyte morphology and parasitization in chickens, rats, and mice

Abstract Studies by various microscopic techniques, i.e., electron microscopy of carbon replicas, scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy of shadowed, Giemsa-stained erythrocytes, and phase and Nomarski microscopy of fresh blood, revealed that penetration by a merozoite produces little effect on erythrocytes of chickens, mice, or rats. The erythrocytes, however, become progressively more distorted, and their membranes become rougher and more irregular as the parasites increase in size. When parasitemias are still low and before anemia becomes severe, nonparasitized erythrocytes present in the infected animals circulation may show little change from normal. When parasitemias are high and anemia is severe, and particularly when many basophilic erythrocytes are present in the circulation, many nonparasitized erythrocytes are irregularly shaped and have rough distorted membranes. Some of the membrane characteristics and shape irregularities seen in animals in these later stages of the patent parasitemia, and also still later during recovery, are similar to those seen in animals compensating for blood-loss following bleeding. There appear to be species differences in the degree to which nonparasitized erythrocytes are affected by residence in the circulations of animals with malaria. Nonparasitized mouse and chicken erythrocytes show more abnormality than nonparasitized rat erythrocytes in animals with about the same degree of parasitemia and anemia.
Citizen participation in health planning in the u.s. And the u.k.: implications for health education strategies.

The role of citizen involvement in the health planning process in Great Britain and the United States makes for interesting comparisons. Within both systems, the record of citizen participation in health planning has been mixed. Both the philosophical goals and political and economic realities of the two countries have contributed to the development of markedly different systems of health care delivery and for the perceived role of the citizens within this delivery system. While previous comparisons have primarily centered on the nature of the delivery systems and potential effectiveness and cost, this study focuses upon the citizen's role in effecting meaningful health planning in both societies. Furthermore, the study relates findings to implications for developing effective health education strategies based upon these understandings.
A comparison of the effects of symmetry and magnetoanisotropy on paramagnetic relaxation in related dysprosium single ion magnets

Dysprosium complexes of the tmtaa2− ligand were synthesized and characterized by X-band EPR and magnetism studies. Both complexes demonstrate magnetoanisotropy and slow paramagnetic relaxation. Comparison of these compounds with the seminal phthalocyanine complex [Dy(Pc)2]− shows the azaannulide complexes are more susceptible to relaxation through non-thermal pathways.
Stabilization of Flow Boiling in Microchannels Using Pressure Drop Elements and Fabricated Nucleation Sites

The flow boiling process suffers from severe instabilities induced due to nucleation of vapor bubbles in a superheated liquid environment in a minichannel or a microchannel. In an effort to improve the flow boiling stability, several modifications are introduced and experiments are performed on 1054197 m parallel rectangular microchannels (hydraulic diameter of 332 m) with water as the working fluid. The cavity sizes and local liquid and wall conditions required at the onset of nucleation are analyzed. The effects of an inlet pressure restrictor and fabricated nucleation sites are evaluated as a means of stabilizing the flow boiling process and avoiding the backflow phenomenon. The results are compared with the unrestricted flow configurations in smooth channels. DOI: 10.1115/1.2165208
Novel signal processing architectures for knowledge-based STAP algorithms [radar SIGPRO]

New algorithms are being developed in the radar community that blend a priori knowledge source processing with traditional digital signal processing concepts. This operational blend necessitates a system-level architecture capable of delivering both high processing throughput and memory bandwidth. This paper derives these system parameters from the knowledge aided pre-whitening algorithm and evaluates the performance of two high performance embedded computing architectures, the Imagine and Raw processors, on these kernels. The implementation results are compared with the measured performance of a conventional system based on the PowerPC with Altivec. The results show these processors exhibit significant improvements over conventional systems and that each architecture has its own strengths and weaknesses.
Effects of Thiazolidinediones on Bone Loss and Fracture

Objective:To examine the evidence regarding the effects of thiazolidinediones on bone loss and fracture.Data Sources:Published studies assessing the effects of thiazolidinediones on bone and/or fracture risk in humans were selected for review. A MEDLINE (1950–April 2007) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1970–April 2007) search was performed. Search terms included thiazolidinediones, rosiglitazone, pioglltazone, troglitazone, bone, bone mineral density, fracture, and osteoporosis.Study Selection and Data Extraction:The literature search retrieved 5 English-language studies evaluating the effects of thiazolidinediones on bone in humans. These consisted of 2 small, uncontrolled studies using troglitazone; 1 prospective, randomized controlled study and 1 retrospective cohort study using rosiglitazone; and a post hoc analysis of an observational cohort study in subjects taking various thiazolidinediones. All of the studies assessed markers of bone metabolism and/or bone mineral density (BMD). No stu...
Epidermal and follicular calciphylaxis

A patient with secondary hyperparathyroidism due to chronic renal failure developed epidermal and follicular calcification without concomitant dermal calcification in the lesions of toxic epidermal necrolysis. We propose that the combination of keratinocyte necrosis and an elevated serum calcium-phosphorus product resulted in epidermal calciphylaxis.
Life among the Subecon: The Pon Farr and Koon Ut Kal If Ee Rituals

Since the publication of Axel Leijonhufvud's classic “Life among the Econ,” anthropological interest in the species Econ has waned. Unfortunately, one of the omissions from his analysis was a study of life among the tribes to which the unsuccessful grads were exiled. This article looks at the ritual of expulsion from the perspective of the outcast tribes (subecon) into which the new outcasts seek asylum. The ritual of accepting these new subecon into a new tribe spurs a long and mysterious process in which the basic tenet of the Econ rationality is replaced with what can only be likened to the pon farr and koon ut kal if ee of the Vulcan mating ritual. JEL Classification: A11, A13
Transcranial Doppler Emboli Count Predicts Rise in Creatinine After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

To examine the correlation between transcranial Doppler ultrasonography-detected emboli during coronary artery bypass graft surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and renal dysfunction as determined by the postoperative change in creatinine. Retrospective review of data from the anesthesia and cardiothoracic surgery databases. Tertiary care university hospital. Two hundred eighty-six patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography of the right middle cerebral artery was performed after induction of general anesthesia through completion of the operation. Doppler signals were recorded and emboli counts determined using an automated counting system. Renal dysfunction was assessed as the change in creatinine from the preoperative value to the maximum postoperative value (Δ-Cr). There was a significant (p = 0.0003) univariate correlation between postoperative change in creatinine and total number of Doppler-detected emboli. The effect of total number of emboli remained significant (p = 0.0038) in the multivariable analysis after adjustment for covariables (age, sex, number of grafts, left ventricular ejection fraction, hypertension, history of congestive heart failure, diabetes, cardiopulmonary bypass time, preoperative creatinine, and maximum postoperative creatinine). Increased numbers of Doppler-detected emboli during coronary artery bypass graft surgery are associated with postoperative renal dysfunction.
Experimental hemarthrosis: The removal of chromium-51- and iron-59-labeled erythrocytes injected into the knee joint of rabbit and man

The clearance of Cr51- and Fe59-labeled erythrocytes from the knee joint is delayed by immobilization of the limb, but is not significantly affected by repeated antecedent hemarthrosis, or the injection of hyaluronidase or hydrocortisone. Le elimination de erythrocytos (marcate con Cr51 o Fe59) ab le articulation del genu es retardate per immobilisation del gamba. Illo non es afficite significativemente per repetite hemarthroses o per le injection de hyaluronidase o de hydrocortisona.
Studies on the mechanisms of neurulation in the chick: interrelationship of contractile proteins, microfilaments, and the shape of neuroepithelial cells.

Electron microscopy and indirect immunofluorescence were employed to correlate the distribution patterns of major contractile proteins (actin and myosin) with 1) the organizational state of microfilaments, 2) the apical cell surface topography, 3) the shape of the neuroepithelial cells, and 4) the degree of bending of the neuroepithelium during neurulation in chick embryos at Hamburger and Hamilton stages 5-10 of development. Both actin and myosin are present at these developmental stages and colocalize in the neural plate as well as in later phases of neurulation. During elevation of neural folds, actin- and myosin-specific fluorescence is always most intense in regions where the greatest degree of bending of the neuroepithelium takes place [e.g., the midline of the V-shaped neuroepithelium (early neural fold stage) and the midlateral walls of the "C"-shaped neuroepithelium (mid-neural-fold stage)]. This intense fluorescence coincides with 1) a particularly dense packing of microfilaments and 2) highly constricted cell apices. After neural folds make contact, there is an overall reduction in both the intensity of apical fluorescence and the thickness of apical microfilament bundles, especially in the roof and floor of the neural tube. The remaining fluorescence in the contact area is apparently related to cellular movements during fusion of neural folds.
Big data fueled process management of supply risks: sensing, prediction, evaluation and mitigation

Supplier risks jeopardize on-time or complete delivery of supply in a supply chain. Traditionally, a company can merely do an ex-post evaluation of a supplier's performance, and handles emergencies in a reactive rather than a proactive way. We propose an agile process management framework to monitor and manage supply risks. The innovation is two fold - Firstly, a business process is established to make sure that the right data, the right insights, and the right decision-makers are in place at the right time. Secondly, we install a big data analytics component, a simulation component and an optimization component into the business process. The big data analytics component senses and predicts supply disruptions with internally (operational) and external (environmental) data. The simulation component supports risk evaluation to convert predicted risk severity to key performance indices (KPIs) such as cost and stockout percentage. The optimization component assists the risk-hedging decision-making.
Personality Variables Associated with Reactions to Frustration

Abstract The 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16 P. F.) and the Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Study (Rosenzweig P-F) were administered to a group of 164 high school and college students in an effort to determine the relationship between measured personality variables and the direction of one's reactions to frustration. A number of personality variables were found to correlate with either extrapunitive, intrapunitive, or impunitive reactions to frustration. The results were interpreted as support for the combined use of projective tests and personality questionnaires in predicting reactions to frustration.
The allocative efficiency and conservation potential of water laws encouraging investments in on-farm irrigation technology

Agricultural water conservation statutes are emerging in the West encouraging private irrigators to improve on-farm irrigation efficiency as a basinwide conservation measure. We investigate whether private improvements promote the economic efficiency and conservation of water use basinwide under a wide variety of hydroeconomic circumstances. The standard of efficiency is how an irrigation district manager should optimally invest in improving the irrigation efficiencies of individual farms located along a stream while internalizing intrabasin allocative externalities of these investments. The results indicate that the popular Oregon legislative model may be the least effective in conserving water and promoting economically efficient water allocation.
Bi-directional effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) on fear-related behavior and c-Fos expression after fear conditioning in rats

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is implicated in stress regulation and learning and memory. PACAP has neuromodulatory actions on brain structures within the limbic system that could contribute to its acute and persistent effects in animal models of stress and anxiety-like behavior. Here, male Sprague-Dawley rats were implanted with intracerebroventricular (ICV) cannula for infusion of PACAP-38 (0.5, 1, or 1.5 μg) or vehicle followed 30 min later by fear conditioning. Freezing was measured early (1, 4, and 7 days) or following a delay (7, 10, and 13 days) after conditioning. PACAP (1.5 μg) produced a bi-phasic response in freezing behavior across test days: relative to controls, PACAP-treated rats showed a reduction in freezing when tested 1 or 7 days after fear conditioning that evolved into a significant elevation in freezing by the third test session in the early, but not delayed, group. Corticosterone (CORT) levels were significantly elevated in PACAP-treated rats following fear conditioning, but not at the time of testing (Day 1). Brain c-Fos expression revealed PACAP-dependent alterations within, as well as outside of, areas typically implicated in fear conditioning. Our findings raise the possibility that PACAP disrupts fear memory consolidation by altering synaptic plasticity within neurocircuits normally responsible for encoding fear-related cues, producing a type of dissociation or peritraumatic amnesia often seen in people early after exposure to a traumatic event. However, fear memories are retained such that repeated testing and memory reactivation (e.g., re-experiencing) causes the freezing response to emerge and persist at elevated levels. PACAP systems may represent an axis on which stress and exposure to trauma converge to promote maladaptive behavioral responses characteristic of psychiatric illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Experimental Observation of an Extremely Dark Material Made By a Low-Density Nanotube Array

An ideal black material absorbs light perfectly at all angles and over all wavelengths. Here, we show that low-density vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays can be engineered to have an extremely low index of refraction, as predicted recently by theory [Garcia-Vidal, F. J.; Pitarke, J. M.; Pendry, J. B. Phys. Rev. Lett. 1997, 78, 4289-4292] and, combined with the nanoscale surface roughness of the arrays, can produce a near-perfect optical absorption material. An ultralow diffused reflectance of 1 x 10(-7) measured from such arrays is an order-of-magnitude lower compared to commercial low-reflectance standard carbon. The corresponding integrated total reflectance of 0.045% from the nanotube arrays is three times lower than the lowest-ever reported values of optical reflectance from any material, making it the darkest man-made material ever.
Locally optimal test of normality against skew-normality

Efficient Score testing procedures for testing for the skewness parameter of the one-parameter and three-parameter skew-normal distributions are investigated. Approximate percentage points for the test statistics are obtained via the Monte Carlo method. Salvan's locally optimal test is extended and simulation is used to show that the power of the extended test is higher than that of the skewness test.
Blocking probability of bicast connections in a rearrangeable Clos network

Clos networks, which are ubiquitous in large capacity switches, have been widely studied for unicast connection requests. But most of these results do not hold when the switch has to support multicast connections. Our interest is specifically in bicast connections which are required for setting up backup protected circuits in optical backbone networks. In this work we have studied the nonblocking properties of rearrangeable Clos switches. Furthermore, we have developed expressions to estimate the blocking probability when the nonblocking conditions are not met. We have also run simulations to determine the blocking probability which correspond well with the estimates. We have considered two ways of realizing a bicast connection - by splitting the circuit at the outer stage or at the middle stage.
The Anthropology of Reform and the Reform of Anthropology: Anthropological Narratives of Recovery and Progress in China

▪ Abstract Since the beginning of China's Reform and Opening policy in 1978, the anthropological study of China has revived, and anthropology as a discipline has revived in China. Chinese anthropologists have become part of the world community of anthropologists. Anthropology in and about China has described a society occupied both with recovery from the cultural devastation of High Socialism and with progress toward an uncertain modernity. These narratives of recovery and progress can be followed through the anthropological study of communities—rural, urban, and in between—of individuals' lives, including gender and sexuality, family and marriage, childhood and education, consumption and leisure, and of the nation and its constituent ethnic and regional parts.
A low-profile three-dimensional neural stimulating array with on-chip current generation

This work describes a low-profile silicon microelectrode array for selectively stimulating in the central nervous system. The array consists of a number of 64-site 8-channel planar CMOS probes, a platform to support the probes on the cortical surface, spacers to hold the probes orthogonal to the platform, and a hybrid chip for platform address decoding. It features integrated circuitry with on-chip current generation to deliver biphasic currents from -127/spl mu/A to +127/spl mu/A to selected sites with 1/spl mu/A resolution and fold-down structures to reduce the vertical rise above the cortex for chronic implants. The output stimulating current has a differential nonlinearity of less than 0.8LSBs and a biphasic mismatch of less than 0.23LSBs. The average power dissipation to generate full-range biphasic pulses with pulse widths of 100/spl mu/s at a repetition rate of 500 Hz is about 97/spl mu/W per channel. The probes and the hybrid chip are fabricated in a 3/spl mu/m, p-sub/n-epi/p-well 2P/1M micromachined CMOS technology; the other structures use a simplified passive process.
Engineering Tools for Understanding the Hydrodynamics of Dissolution Tests

In this article, three well-established engineering tools are used to examine hydrodynamics in dissolution testing apparatuses. The application of these tools would provide detailed information about the flow, shear, and homogeneity in dissolution tests. Particle image velocimetry successfully measures two-dimensional cross-sections of the velocity field in an experimental device under both laminar and turbulent conditions. The velocity field is also calculated with computational fluid dynamics (CFD), which can rapidly provide data that is difficult or impossible to obtain experimentally. The occurrence of segregated regions within a USP Apparatus II under mild agitation conditions is revealed by CFD simulations and confirmed by laser-induced fluorescence experiments. The results clearly demonstrate that under current operation settings, the USP Apparatus II operates in a regime where the flow is in incipient turbulence, which is a highly time-dependent condition that might explain possible inconsistencies in dissolution results. It is further demonstrated that proposed changes advocating lower speeds or smaller vessels displace the system toward laminar flow conditions characterized by segregation, compromising the robustness of the test and making it vulnerable to variability with respect to sample location.
Detection of low concentration oxygen containing functional groups on activated carbon fiber surfaces through fluorescent labeling

Abstract Covalent fluorescent labeling of surface species (FLOSS) was used to detect relatively low concentrations of surface functional groups (OH, COOH and CHO) on activated carbon fiber surfaces. The chromophores were attached to the surface through a reaction specific to each type of surface functional group. FLOSS indicated the presence of 8.7 × 1011 COOH groups/cm2 and 1.3 × 1012 CHO groups/cm2 on the ACF 25 fiber surface. Neither the infrared spectrum nor the X-ray photoelectron spectrum showed evidence of the existence of those low concentration groups. The concentration of OH groups on the fiber surface was lower than the detection limit (∼1010/cm2) of FLOSS under the present conditions. The FLOSS results for CHO and COOH groups were compared with the concentrations determined by Boehm titration (3.11 × 1013/cm2 for CHO and 1.05 × 1013/cm2 for COOH). The limited accessibility of the ACF surface to relatively large chromophores is one of the main reasons for the discrepancy between these two methods. FLOSS detects only exposed functional groups as opposed to functional groups hidden in small pores. This apparent limitation, however, highlights the surface sensitivity and specificity of FLOSS technique.
Physiological Constants of the Entomopathogenic Bacterium Xenorhabdus nematophila Determined by Microbial Growth Kinetics

Xenorhabdus nematophila, an entomopathogenic bacterium that symbiotically associates with the entomoparasitic nematode Steinernema carpocapsae, was studied to determine its physiological parameters of glucose utilization. X. nematophila was cultured in chemically defined media containing various concentrations of glucose under optimal conditions utilizing a two-liter fermentation system. Specific growth rates were obtained from each glucose batch. Specific growth rates and their associated glucose concentrations were used to determine physiological parameters. These parameters include the bacterium’s substrate utilization constant () and its maximum specific growth rate (). The bacteria exhibited a value of 2.02 mg/L suggesting that X. nematophila has a high affinity for glucose. The of Xenorhabdus was determined to be 1.03 . Further research is needed to determine if microbial affinities to different substrates have any influence on biological relationships (symbiosis, pathogenicity, parasitism, etc.) between prokaryotes and higher organisms.
The Psychology and Neuroscience of Forgetting

Traditional theories of forgetting are wedded to the notion that cue-overload interference procedures (often involving the A-B, A-C list-learning paradigm) capture the most important elements of forgetting in everyday life. However, findings from a century of work in psychology, psychopharmacology, and neuroscience converge on the notion that such procedures may pertain mainly to forgetting in the laboratory and that everyday forgetting is attributable to an altogether different form of interference. According to this idea, recently formed memories that have not yet had a chance to consolidate are vulnerable to the interfering force of mental activity and memory formation (even if the interfering activity is not similar to the previously learned material). This account helps to explain why sleep, alcohol, and benzodiazepines all improve memory for a recently learned list, and it is consistent with recent work on the variables that affect the induction and maintenance of long-term potentiation in the hippocampus.