cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Credit Crisis and Grand Rapids Housing Prices

t is common knowledge that the housing market in Michigan has been in turmoil for several years. The primary problem for Michigan has been the loss of 147,000 jobs in transportation manufacturing. The loss of these jobs has resulted in the loss of many others that were linked to the 147,000. Since the end of 2005 the loss of jobs has been impacting the Michigan housing market, as fewer people have jobs that allow them to buy houses. Several statistics show the weakness in the Michigan housing market. Michigan has continuously been in the top 10 states for foreclosures since 2005 (Realty Trac 2008). Figure 1 shows the number of houses sold in Michigan has dropped every year since 2005 (NAR 2008). Housing prices have dropped continuously. However, by the summer of 2008 there were signs that the market in Grand Rapids was nearing bottom. Every month from June through October, the number of foreclosures dropped in Michigan when compared to the same month the previous year. This indicated the ever-increasing number of housing sales that resulted from mortgage trouble might finally be peaking. In addition, the decline in home sales eased during 2007. There was hope during the summer of 2008 that the freefall in home prices since 2005 had finally ended.
Insulin Resistance Improves More in Women than In Men in Association with a Weight Loss Intervention

Background: Fasting glucose and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) are important measures of the risk for metabolic syndrome and diabetes. Weight loss interventions are considered part of the first line of therapy for those who develop disease states associated with insulin resistance, such as pre-diabetes, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome. Sex differences in insulin resistance have been extensively reported, but sex differences in the ability to improve insulin sensitivity are not well-established. This study sought to identify factors that predict change in HOMA-IR in response to weight loss. Methods: Non-diabetic subjects who were overweight/obese (n=100) were randomly assigned to a walnutenriched reduced-energy diet or a standard reduced-energy-density diet in a 6-month weight loss intervention. There were no significant differences in weight change, glucose, insulin, or HOMA-IR between the two diet groups. These subjects were combined into a single cohort and analyzed with multivariate analysis. Results: The combined groups lost an average of 8.7 kg (p<0.0001), decreased serum glucose by an average 0.2 mmol/L (p<0.001), and decreased HOMA-IR by an average of 1.4 (p<0.0001). Change in HOMA-IR (R2=0.69) was positively associated with weight change (p<0.0001) and male sex (p<0.01), and negatively associated with baseline HOMA-IR (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest that men may have a more difficult time improving insulin sensitivity as compared with women with an equivalent weight loss and baseline HOMA-IR. One hypothesis to explain the differences across sexes may be due to sex differences in visceral adipose fat (VAT). This may mean that insulin resistant men require more aggressive intervention than women to prevent progression to metabolic syndrome or diabetes.
Overlapping and Distinct Cognitive Impairments in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity and Autism Spectrum Disorder without Intellectual Disability

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are commonly comorbid, share genetic liability, and often exhibit overlapping cognitive impairments. Clarification of shared and distinct cognitive effects while considering comorbid symptoms across disorders has been lacking. In the current study, children ages 7–15 years assigned to three diagnostic groups:ADHD (n = 509), ASD (n = 97), and controls (n = 301) completed measures spanning the cognitive domains of attention/arousal, working memory, set-shifting, inhibition, and response variability. Specific processes contributing to response variability were examined using a drift diffusion model, which separately quantified drift rate (i.e., efficiency of information processing), boundary separation (i.e., speed-accuracy trade-offs), and non-decision time. Children with ADHD and ASD were impaired on attention/arousal, processing speed, working memory, and response inhibition, but did not differ from controls on measures of delayed reward discounting, set-shifting, or interference control. Overall, impairments in the ASD group were not attributable to ADHD symptoms using either continuous symptom measures or latent categorical grouping approaches. Similarly, impairments in the ADHD group were not attributable to ASD symptoms. When specific RT parameters were considered, children with ADHD and ASD shared impairments in drift rate. However, children with ASD were uniquely characterized by a wider boundary separation. Findings suggest a combination of overlapping and unique patterns of cognitive impairment for children with ASD as compared to those with ADHD, particularly when the processes underlying reaction time measures are considered separately.
The utility of PET-CT after preoperative chemoradiation in predicting treatment outcomes in locally advanced esophageal cancer.

182Background: In the treatment of gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer, trimodality treatment with preoperative chemoradiation followed by surgery is the standard of care. However, predicting pa...
CMP-PIM: an energy-efficient comparator-based processing-in-memory neural network accelerator

In this paper, an energy-efficient and high-speed comparator-based processing-in-memory accelerator (CMP-PIM) is proposed to efficiently execute a novel hardware-oriented comparator-based deep neural network called CMPNET. Inspired by local binary pattern feature extraction method combined with depthwise separable convolution, we first modify the existing Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) algorithm by replacing the computationally-intensive multiplications in convolution layers with more efficient and less complex comparison and addition. Then, we propose a CMP-PIM that employs parallel computational memory sub-array as a fundamental processing unit based on SOT-MRAM. We compare CMP-PIM accelerator performance on different data-sets with recent CNN accelerator designs. With the close inference accuracy on SVHN data-set, CMP-PIM can get ~ 94× and 3× better energy efficiency compared to CNN and Local Binary CNN (LBCNN), respectively. Besides, it achieves 4.3× speed-up compared to CNN-baseline with identical network configuration.
Racial Differences in the Influence of Risk Factors in Childhood on Left Ventricular Mass in Young Adulthood.

Objective(s) To examine racial differences in the relationship between cardiovascular (CV) risk factors measured since age 10 years and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in adulthood in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study. Study design Longitudinal investigation with CV risk factors measured throughout childhood and LVMI measured in adulthood. In total, 556 black and white girls were recruited from schools in the greater Cincinnati area. Analyses examined traditional CV risk factors at baseline, follow-up, and over time (ie, area under the curve [AUC]). LVMI was collected with 2-dimensional guided echocardiographic imaging at a mean age of 25.7 ± 1.7 years. Results Black girls had higher adiposity and insulin and lower heart rate across time (all P Conclusions The major determinants of LVMI in young female adults are race, adiposity, and systolic blood pressure.
An Economic Model for Fuel Cycle Cost

A simple economic analysis is proposed for light water reactor (LWR) in-core fuel management. Its final objective is the fuel cost. Using the discrete discounting technique with single payment costs, the fuel cost for one equilibrium cycle or a sequence of a number of nonequilibrium cycles may be determined. In this latter case, the costs are projected as groups of costs at the reference time. This technique is simplified by defining new economic factors, time scales, and burnup values. The fuel cost thus obtained is an average cost over the number of cycles considered. This analysis is written as a subroutine FULCOS suitable for absorption by short running computer codes that work the optimization problems for LWRs. 6 refs.
Stearoly-CoA desaturase 1 differentiates early and advanced dengue virus infections and determines virus particle infectivity

Positive strand RNA viruses, such as dengue virus type 2 (DENV2) expand and structurally alter ER membranes to optimize cellular communication pathways that promote viral replicative needs. These complex rearrangements require significant protein scaffolding as well as changes to the ER chemical composition to support these structures. We have previously shown that the lipid abundance and repertoire of host cells are significantly altered during infection with these viruses. Specifically, enzymes in the lipid biosynthesis pathway such as fatty acid synthase (FAS) are recruited to viral replication sites by interaction with viral proteins and displayed enhanced activities during infection. We have now identified that events downstream of FAS (fatty acid desaturation) are critical for virus replication. In this study we screened enzymes in the unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) biosynthetic pathway and found that the rate-limiting enzyme in monounsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), is indispensable for DENV2 replication. The enzymatic activity of SCD1, was required for viral genome replication and particle release, and it was regulated in a time-dependent manner with a stringent requirement early during viral infection. As infection progressed, SCD1 protein expression levels were inversely correlated with the concentration of viral dsRNA in the cell. This modulation of SCD1, coinciding with the stage of viral replication, highlighted its function as a trigger of early infection and an enzyme that controlled alternate lipid requirements during early versus advanced infections. Loss of function of this enzyme disrupted structural alterations of assembled viral particles rendering them non-infectious and immature and defective in viral entry. This study identifies the complex involvement of SCD1 in DENV2 infection and demonstrates that these viruses alter ER lipid composition to increase infectivity of the virus particles.
Heat Oscillations Driven by the Embryonic Cell Cycle Reveal the Energetic Costs of Signaling

All living systems function out of equilibrium and exchange energy in the form of heat with their environment. Thus, heat flow can inform on the energetic costs of cellular processes, which are largely unknown. Here, we have repurposed an isothermal calorimeter to measure heat flow between developing zebrafish embryos and the surrounding medium. Heat flow increased over time with cell number. Unexpectedly, a prominent oscillatory component of the heat flow, with periods matching the synchronous early reductive cleavage divisions, persisted even when DNA synthesis and mitosis were blocked by inhibitors. Instead, the heat flow oscillations were driven by the phosphorylation and dephosphorylation reactions catalyzed by the cell-cycle oscillator, the biochemical network controlling mitotic entry and exit. We propose that the high energetic cost of cell-cycle signaling reflects the significant thermodynamic burden of imposing accurate and robust timing on cell proliferation during development.
Reactive Collision Dynamics of the Collision System Mg + H2 Using Far Wing Laser Scattering

The far wing absorption of laser light to the collision complex MgH2 leads to nonreactive formation of excited state magnesium, Mg*, and reactive formation of MgH [1]. Far wing absorption of laser light is monitored by observation of the final product (Mg* or MgH) as a function of pump laser detuning from the magnesium resonance line. We monitor production of MgH (v″ = 0) rotational levels J″ = 6 and J″ = 23, close to low J and high J maxima of a bimodal rotational distribution, respectively. For this we use laser-induced fluorescence in a two laser pump and probe experiment. We also monitor the competing nonreactive channel Mg* by observation of resonance fluorescence Mg (31P 1 0 - 31S0). The onset of the reactive channel in the Mg + H2 system is highlighted through a comparison with far wing profiles from the nonreactive collision system Mg + H2 and the reactive system Mg + H2 [1]. We have developed a simple excited state dynamics model for the theoretical interpretation of our data. This model uses standard quasistatic theory to estimate the absorption probability as a function of detuning of the laser frequency from resonance. The potential energy curve data [2] is limited to fixed geometries, C2v and C∞v. Based on this, only rough comparisons are possible between the dynamics model and experiment.
Preparation and characterization of KOH-treated electrospun nanofiber mats as electrodes for iron-based redox-flow batteries

Abstract A series of electrospun nanofiber mats have been fabricated from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor, followed by treatments with pyrolytic heat and KOH solutions. The heat & KOH-treated electrospun nanofiber mats were investigated to serve as electrodes for iron-based redox-flow batteries (RFBs). The morphology, porosity, wettability, and cyclic voltammetry have been studied for the treated electrospun nanofiber mats. The KOH treatment effectively reduced the fiber diameter, increased the mat porosity, and enhanced the surface wettability. Specifically, the heat & 4 M KOH-treated electrospun nanofiber mat has ~300 nm of fiber diameter, 92% of porosity, and 20° of contact angle. Compared with the electrospun nanofiber mat treated with heat alone, the heat & 4 M KOH-treated electrospun mat increases the anodic peak current in cyclic voltammogram of Fe3+/Fe2+ redox by 60% at the same scan rate, implying considerably increased specific surface area. The KOH treatment does not seem to change the peak separation: around 120 mV is observed at 10 mV/s of scan rate on all electrospun nanofiber mats, regardless of treatment with heat alone or heat & KOH solutions. Such peak separation of those electrospun nanofiber mats is substantially narrower than that of a commercial carbon felt (977 mV at 3 mV/s), indicating much improved redox activity. The narrow peak separation and reasonably high current suggest that the treated electrospun nanofiber mats are promising candidates as electrodes for iron-based RFBs and other aqueous batteries.
Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors that differentiate soldiers who attempt suicide from those with recent suicide ideation.

Background Risk for suicide attempt (SA) versus suicide ideation (SI) is clinically important and difficult to differentiate. We examined whether a history of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITBs) differentiates soldiers with a recent SA from nonattempting soldiers with current/recent SI. Methods Using a unique case-control design, we administered the same questionnaire (assessing the history of SITBs and psychosocial variables) to representative U.S. Army soldiers recently hospitalized for SA (n = 132) and soldiers from the same Army installations who reported 30-day SI but did not make an attempt (n = 125). Logistic regression analyses examined whether SITBs differentiated attempters and ideators after controlling for previously identified covariates. Results In separate models that weighted for systematic nonresponse and controlled for gender, education, posttraumatic stress disorder, and intermittent explosive disorder, SA was positively and significantly associated with the history of suicide plan and/or intention to act (odds ratio [OR] = 12.1 [95% confidence interval {CI} = 3.6-40.4]), difficulty controlling suicidal thoughts during the worst week of ideation (OR = 3.5 [95% CI = 1.1-11.3]), and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) (OR = 4.9 [95% CI = 1.3-18.0]). Area under the curve was 0.87 in a full model that combined these SITBs and covariates. The top ventile based on predicted risk had a sensitivity of 24.7%, specificity of 99.8%, and positive predictive value of 97.5%. Conclusions History of suicide plan/intention, difficult to control ideation, and NSSI differentiate soldiers with recent SA from those with current/recent SI independent of sociodemographic characteristics and mental disorders. Longitudinal research is needed to determine whether these factors are prospectively associated with the short-term transition from SI to SA.
Efficient and Accurate Charge Assignments via a Multilayer Connectivity-Based Atom Contribution (m-CBAC) Approach

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have drawn considerable attention for their potential in a variety of energy applications such as gas separations and storage. With thousands of MOFs reported and mo...
Clinical Outcomes After Intramedullary Nailing of Intraarticular Distal Tibial Fractures: A Retrospective Review.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes of intra-articular distal tibial fractures after intramedullary nail (IMN) and independent fixation compared with extra-articular fracture controls. Methods A retrospective chart review of distal tibial fractures treated with IMN was performed. Clinical outcomes were compared between fractures with and without intra-articular involvement. Outcomes included nonunion, malunion, ankle arthrosis, and infection. Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement System (PROMIS) scores were used to assess subjective outcomes. Results Of the 135 distal tibial fractures, 87 extra-articular and 48 intra-articular, no significant difference was observed in the rate of ankle arthrosis between intra-articular and extra-articular fractures (2% versus 0%; P = 0.35). Similarly, no difference was observed in the postoperative rates of infection (8% versus 3%; P = 0.25), the rate of nonunion (17% versus 10%; P = 0.29), or the rate of malunion (10% versus 21%; P = 0.17). No notable difference was observed in PROMIS scores between groups. Conclusion This study suggests that IMN is an acceptable method of fixation in select intra-articular distal tibial fractures. In the intra-articular group, low rates of ankle arthrosis were noted at intermediate follow-up, with no increase in nonunion, malunion, or infection compared with extra-articular fractures. Furthermore, PROMIS scores indicate similar functional outcomes in patients, regardless of intra-articular involvement.
Pharmacology Update for the Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a common infectious disease affecting people worldwide. In the past 10 years, the incidence of HCV has steadily increased in the United States. With the advent of new direct-acting antiviral medications, the treatment of HCV has become important and can cure the infection.
Tensile behavior of non-crosslinked networks of athermal fibers in the presence of entanglements and friction

Many biological and soft artificial materials contain a random network of non-crosslinked fibers as their main structural component. The excluded volume interactions (contact forces) at fiber contacts control the mechanical behavior of these systems. This physics has been studied extensively in compression, but little is known about the relation between network structure and its mechanical response in tension. In particular, although occasionally used conjecturally, the notion of fiber entanglements in athermal networks is not well defined, nor is it clear what role entanglements play in athermal network mechanics. The primary contribution of this work is the introduction of a measure of the degree of entanglement of a system of random athermal fibers, and the definition of its relationship with the mechanical behavior of the network. Entanglements confine the fibers during tensile loading, reduce the auxetic effect in mat-like networks, and maintain the inter-fiber contact density. In the absence of this contribution, reduction of the contact density during tensile loading due to auxeticity results in stress reduction. Entanglements stabilize the network via a tensegrity mechanism similar to that operating in woven materials and lead to network stiffening. The relation between the proposed measure of entanglements and the fiber volume fraction is defined. The effect of inter-fiber friction on the mechanics of entangled mat-like non-crosslinked fiber networks is also evaluated.
Glimpses at Corona: La Boqueria and Notre Dame

The setting is the crowded Mercat de la Boqueria in Barcelona, Spain. It is by reputation one of the world’s best fresh food markets. The history of the market goes back to the 13th century when street vendors, peasants, and nearby farmers would come to sell their wares from makeshift, open-air stalls in the city’s center. The name is believed to derive from the language of the region. In Catalan, boc means “goat”, so that a boqueria would be a place where goat meat is sold.
Pharmacologic Stress Testing: Its Roots, Its Impact, and Its Future (perspective on “Myocardial Imaging with Thallium-201: Effect of Cardiac Drugs on Myocardial Images and Absolute Tissue Distribution” J Nucl Med. 1978;19:10–16)

The 1970s was the inaugural decade of stress myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). Initial imaging with 43K in 1973 was followed by the potassium analogs 82Rb in 1974 and 201Tl in 1976. Because of its ease of imaging with the γ-camera, 201Tl became the MPI agent of choice until the clinical
MeToo Effects on Juror Decision Making

The modern #MeToo movement started in late 2017 and immediately had an impact on many aspects of society, bringing down over 200 powerful men in the first year and sparking swift legal change regarding the use of nondisclosure agreements to silence victims. But no research has been conducted into how the #MeToo movement has affected juror decision making in sexual assault cases. This article reports the findings of a groundbreaking study re-administering a sexual assault case summary in 2019 that was originally conducted in 2010. The results show an unexpected reduction in willingness to convict in the post-#MeToo era despite no difference in predictions of guilt. Furthermore, the present survey allows for political affiliation and views of the #MeToo movement to be analyzed as potential factors contributing to the drastic change in willingness to convict. The results of this study, along with the discussion of potential explanations for the findings, provide essential information for advocates that will enhance the efficacy of the movement.
Racial Context and Voting over Taxes Evidence from a Referendum in Alabama

The authors investigate the impact of racial diversity and segregation on white voter support for a comprehensive, progressive tax reform, focusing on a 2003 referendum held in Alabama, which if ap...
Judicial Evasion, Judicial Vagueness, and Judicial Revisionism: A Study of the NCT of Delhi vs Union of India Judgment(s)

Through a study of two recent important judgments of the Indian Supreme Court – arising out of the same dispute – this paper will illustrate the Court’s role in strengthening the central executive, at the cost of other constitutional authorities in India’s bicameral Parliamentary system. The dispute turned upon the division of powers between the central government, and the government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT), governed by Article 239AA of the Indian Constitution. The case involved critical questions of representative democracy and the federal structure, and reached the Supreme Court at a time when two opposing parties were in government at the centre and in the NCT, and had a publicly acrimonious relationship with each other. The paper will discuss how (a) first, the Supreme Court delayed hearing the case for many months (despite the fact that the dispute involved consequences for both governments on a daily basis), allowing a status quo in which the central government called the shots (thanks to a favourable High Court judgment). This technique – where the Court favours one party to a litigation simply by not deciding a case – is called judicial evasion; (b) second, when a five-judge bench of the Court finally heard and decided the case, despite laying down the principles that governed the relationship between the centre and the NCT government, refused to demarcate their respective spheres of competence with any specificity. Instead, the Court left day-to-day disputes to be resolved through “political statesmanship.” This created a situation where the Court’s judgment could be interpreted by political actors in the way that they chose. This technique – where abstract judicial pronouncements leave wide interpretive scope for more powerful political actors to exploit – is called judicial vagueness; (c) third, when a smaller bench of the Court was called upon to deliver judgment on specific disputes, the judges handed down a split verdict that was at open odds with the judgment of the five-judge bench (despite the fact that two of the judges had sat on that very bench!). This technique – where the Court seemingly departs from its own binding precedent to favour the executive in a specific case, is called judicial revisionism. A combination of judicial evasion, judicial vagueness, and judicial revisionism – it will be shown – created a situation that, contrary to the constitutional scheme, effectively left the elected government of the NCT at the mercy of the central executive. In the final part of this paper, I will take other contemporary examples to show how the Supreme Court has regularly invoked a combination of judicial evasion, judicial vagueness, and judicial revisionism to empower the central government, without ever seeming to give an actual judgment in those terms.
Adenomatoid Tumors of the Gastrointestinal Tract - A Case Series and Review of the Literature

AIMS Adenomatoid tumours are mesothelial-derived benign neoplasms with a predilection for the genital tract. Extragenital sites are rare and can cause significant diagnostic challenges. Herein, we describe the clinicopathological features of a cohort of adenomatoid tumours involving the gastrointestinal tract and liver in order to more clearly characterise their histological findings and aid in diagnosis. METHODS AND RESULTS The pathology databases at four institutions were searched for adenomatoid tumours involving the gastrointestinal tract or liver, yielding eight cases. Available clinicoradiological and follow-up data were collected from the medical records. Six tumours were incidentally discovered during imaging studies or at the time of surgical exploration for unrelated conditions; presenting symptoms were unknown in two patients. Histologically, the tumours were well-circumscribed, although focal ill-defined borders were present in four cases. No infiltration of adjacent structures was identified. Architectural heterogeneity was noted in five (63%) tumours; an adenoid pattern often predominated. The neoplastic cells were flattened to cuboidal with eosinophilic cytoplasm. Cytoplasmic vacuoles mimicking signet ring-like cells were present in five (63%) cases. Three (38%) cases showed involvement of the mesothelium with reactive mesothelial hyperplasia. Cytological atypia or increased mitotic activity was not identified. The surrounding stroma ranged from oedematous/myxoid to densely hyalinised. Immunohistochemistry confirmed mesothelial origin in all cases evaluated. No patients developed recurrence of disease. CONCLUSIONS The current study evaluates the clinicopathological findings in a collective series of gastrointestinal and hepatic adenomatoid tumours, correlating with those described in individually reported cases. We highlight common histological features and emphasise variable findings that could mimic a malignant neoplasm.
Longitudinal Parcellation of the Infant Cortex Using Multi-modal Connectome Harmonics

Functional segregation and specialization of cortical regions is central to the significant changes that take place during early brain development. We present an automated scheme that harnesses local and long-range connectivity features of the cortex—derived from multiple imaging modalities—for longitudinal parcellation of the early developing human cortex. This is realized by using multi-modal connectome harmonics in a hierarchical agglomerative clustering (HAC) framework to produce group correspondent, individual-specific, and age-dependent parcellation maps for the first two years of development. We observed decreased regularity in cluster size and shape with increasing time, reflecting cortical specialization known to emerge during early development. Investigation of the modularity of structural connectivity defined by our parcellations suggests convergence toward adult resting-state networks as the brain develops.
The observed postglacial recovery of Québec and Nouveau-Québec Since 12,000 BP

Radiocarbon dated relative sea levels, the tilts of proglacial lake shorelines and raised marine shorelines, the directions of the tilt of these features, and postglacial delevelling are used to construct six isobase maps showing relative sea level movements over the last 12,000, 10,000, 8000, 4000, and 2000 years, No map has more than 30 control points and usually there are only 12 "good" points controlling the isobase patterns. Each map shows the relationship of the isobases to the current ice sheet extent. Along the southern margin of the Laurentide Ice Sheet, the maximum postglacial emergence has been quite uniform with the 240 to 200 m isobase always close to the ice margin. Along the northeastern margin of the ice sheet, the postglacial emergence at the retreating ice edge was closer to 100 m. Equidistant diagrams are drawn along planes southeast from southern Hudson Bay and eastward from Southampton Island. If these diagrams are compared on a Shoreline Relation Diagram, the two profiles appear similar and compare moderately well with a theoretical SR Diagram published in 1969. The isobases show a major uplift center located around the area of James Bay and southern Hudson Bay where a maximum emergence of nearly 300 m occured in the last 7500 years. High marine limits southwest of Ungava Bay need to be dated because if they date close to 8000 BP as we suggest, then more emergence is suggested for the region southwest of Ungava Bay than we currently allow for.
Multidisciplinary Proactive Psychiatric Consultation Service: Impact on Length of Stay for Medical Inpatients

Background: Mental illness correlates with an increased length of stay (LOS) for patients hospitalized for medical conditions. While psychiatric consultations help manage mental illness among those hospitalized for medical conditions, consultations initiated by nonpsychiatric mental disease may lack maximum effectiveness. Methods: In a before-and-after design, in 2 contiguous years LOS for internist-initiated, conventional consultation (CC) as usual treatment was compared to LOS of a proactive, mental health professional-initiated, multidisciplinary intervention delivered by the behavioral intervention team (BIT) on the same units. The patient populations included general medical patients with a variety of illnesses. Patients were treated in 3 different inpatient settings with a total capacity of 92 beds serving 15,858 patient visits over 3 comparison years. BIT comprised a psychiatrist, a nurse, and a social worker, each of whom performed the specific tasks of their professional discipline, while collaborating among themselves and their health-care colleagues. BIT provided timely, appropriate, and effective patient care alongside consultative advice and education to their corresponding professional peers. BIT was compared to CC on the outcome of LOS. Results: There was a statistically significant reduction of LOS favoring BIT over CC for patients with an LOS of Conclusion: BIT is a promising means of lowering LOS on general medical units while providing a high level of care and staff support.
Ablative surgery for the treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the ablative surgery for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). The significant effect of posteroventral GPi pallidotomy for advanced PD led to resurgence in ablative approaches for the treatment of PD. Radiologic and physiologic landmarks are usually used to localize accurately the target for ablative procedures. The radiologic estimate of location is refined physiologically by microelectrode recording before radiofrequency lesioning. The chapter considers the indications, efficacy, complications, and safety for pallidotomy, thalamotomy, and subthalamotomy. The analysis of efficacy and safety for these techniques is based on the comprehensive assessment of lesioning procedures for the treatment of PD. Many of the complications of ablative stereotactic surgery are also common to all procedures. Pallidotomy is considered an option for treatment of patients with advanced PD having motor drug-related complications, particularly dyskinesias and fluctuations. On the other hand, thalamotomy is regarded as an option for patients with PD who are disabled by tremor and have not responded to medication, including levodopa-carbidopa and anticholinergics.
Approach to patients with suspected fungal infections.

Fungal infections (mycoses) are increasing in incidence throughout the world as a result of modern medical practice and rise in the population of those at risk. Supporting this increase is the expanding use of immunosuppressive therapies, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and central venous access devices. Technology has led to the improved survival of persons with malignancies, transplanted organs, HIV infection, following trauma, and at the extremes of age. The medical community has met this challenge with the introduction of new antifungal agents, often with less toxicity and improved spectrums of activity. Additionally, newer, more sensitive and specific diagnostic strategies such as improved radiographic imaging and serological tests, have provided clinicians with better tools to detect fungal infections earlier, potentially influencing disease outcomes. Molecular techniques have been introduced in the last decade which can produce a more exact identification of recovered fungal pathogens and have the potential to improve diagnosis of fungal infection. Despite these advances, the approach to the diagnosis and management of fungal infections still relies on recognizing the interaction of the pathogen and the host. Although some fungal diseases have classic presentations, many of these occur so rarely that clinicians may not initially include them in their differential diagnoses. In the setting of immunosuppression, mycoses may produce nonspecific signs and symptoms, making their diagnosis a challenge. Early recognition and treatment is fundamental to modifying disease outcomes in many fungal infections, especially those in immunocompromised individuals. Increased awareness of key risk factors and clinical presentations of the human mycoses may enable clinicians to develop an inclusive approach to the diagnosis of these diseases.
Modulation of Opioid Receptor Ligand Affinity and Efficacy Using Active and Inactive State Receptor Models

Mu opioid receptor (MOR) agonists are widely used for the treatment of pain; however, chronic use results in the development of tolerance and dependence. It has been demonstrated that coadministration of a MOR agonist with a delta opioid receptor (DOR) antagonist maintains the analgesia associated with MOR agonists, but with reduced negative side-effects. Using our newly refined opioid receptor models for structure-based ligand design, we have synthesized several pentapeptides with tailored affinity and efficacy profiles. In particular, we have obtained pentapeptides 8, Tyr-c(S-S)[DCys-1Nal-Nle-Cys]NH(2), and 12, Tyr-c(S-S)[DCys-1Nal-Nle-Cys]OH, which demonstrates high affinity and full agonist behavior at MOR, high affinity but very low efficacy for DOR, and minimal affinity for the kappa opioid receptor (KOR). Functional properties of these peptides as MOR agonists/DOR antagonists lacking undesired KOR activity make them promising candidates for future in vivo studies of MOR/DOR interactions. Subtle structural variation of 12, by substituting D-Cys(5) for L-Cys(5), generated analog 13, which maintains low nanomolar MOR and DOR affinity, but which displays no efficacy at either receptor. These results demonstrate the power and utility of accurate receptor models for structure-based ligand design, as well as the profound sensitivity of ligand function on its structure.
Predisperser for High-Resolution Grating Spectrographs

A predispersing device designed for use with grating spectrographs used in high orders is described Some basic considerations are pointed out, and the uses of the predisperser with Fabry-Perot interferometers and as an order sorter are discussed.
Cutting Edge: cGAS Is Required for Lethal Autoimmune Disease in the Trex1-Deficient Mouse Model of Aicardi–Goutières Syndrome

Detection of intracellular DNA triggers activation of the stimulator of IFN genes-dependent IFN-stimulatory DNA (ISD) pathway, which is essential for antiviral immune responses. However, chronic activation of this pathway is implicated in autoimmunity. Mutations in TREX1, a 3' repair exonuclease that degrades cytosolic DNA, cause Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome and chilblain lupus. Trex1 (-/-) mice develop lethal, IFN-driven autoimmune disease that is dependent on activation of the ISD pathway, but the DNA sensors that detect the endogenous DNA that accumulates in Trex1 (-/-) mice have not been defined. Multiple DNA sensors have been proposed to activate the ISD pathway, including cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS). In this study, we show that Trex1 (-/-) mice lacking cGAS are completely protected from lethality, exhibit dramatically reduced tissue inflammation, and fail to develop autoantibodies. These findings implicate cGAS as a key driver of autoimmune disease and suggest that cGAS inhibitors may be useful therapeutics for Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome and related autoimmune diseases.
Systeme von Differentialgleichungen

In diesem Kapitel wollen wir Systeme von Differentialgleichungen erster Ordnung untersuchen. Ein solches System besteht aus simultanen Differentialgleichungen erster Ordnung in mehreren Variablen und hat die Form $$ \begin{gathered} \frac{{{\text{d}}{{\text{x}}_{\text{1}}}}}{{{\text{dt}}}}{\text{ = }}{{\text{f}}_{\text{1}}}\left( {{\text{t,}}{{\text{x}}_{\text{1}}}{\text{, \ldots ,}}{{\text{x}}_{\text{n}}}} \right){\text{,}} \hfill \\ \frac{{{\text{d}}{{\text{x}}_{\text{2}}}}}{{{\text{dt}}}}{\text{ = }}{{\text{f}}_{\text{2}}}\left( {{\text{t,}}{{\text{x}}_{\text{1}}}{\text{ \ldots ,}}{{\text{x}}_{\text{n}}}} \right){\text{, \ldots ,}}\frac{{{\text{d}}{{\text{x}}_{\text{n}}}}}{{{\text{dt}}}}{\text{ = }}{{\text{f}}_{\text{n}}}\left( {{\text{t,}}{{\text{x}}_{\text{1}}}{\text{, \ldots ,}}{{\text{x}}_{\text{n}}}} \right) \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ (2.1)
Advances in urogynaecological robotic surgery.

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Robotic-assisted laparoscopy is currently utilized in the treatment of urogynecological disorders. Multiple papers are available detailing the technique and outcomes of robotic-assisted laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy. Recently robotic-assisted laparoscopy has been used to treat pelvic fistulas. This paper is an overview of the currently published literature pertaining to robotic-assisted laparoscopy in the treatment of urogynecologic disorders. • Urogynaecology is a subspecialty practiced by both urologists and gynaecologists specialised in treating women with pelvic floor disorders and urinary incontinence. • While urogynaecology covers a vast range of disorders, two disorders frequently managed by urogynaecologists are pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and pelvic fistulae. • Surgical intervention is often the treatment option for both POP and pelvic fistulae after all conservative options have been attempted. The daVinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) has applications for the minimally invasive surgical management of POP and pelvic fistulas. • The following review will address the development and current state of robotic assistance in treating these disorders.
The Normal Range for Secondary Swain−Schaad Exponents without Tunneling or Kinetic Complexity

An analysis is presented of the range of secondary Swain−Schaad exponents to be expected at 25 °C in the absence of tunneling or kinetic complexity. From 15 996 sets of exact harmonic semiclassical equilibrium isotope effects for simple C−H/D/T exchange reactions and 954 sets of exact harmonic semiclassical secondary H/D/T kinetic isotope effects for C−H positions in simple organic reactions, the distribution of Swain−Schaad exponents versus magnitude of the isotope effect is determined. This distribution defines when a secondary Swain−Schaad exponent may be considered to implicate nonsemiclassical behavior, revises the expected Swain−Schaad exponent for extrapolation of secondary isotope effects, and serves as a guide to the uncertainty in such extrapolations.
Pulmonary compliance and mechanical ventilation.

Normal, spontaneous breathing begins with contraction of the muscles of inspiration, which effect expansion of the thoracic cage and create a pressure in the pleural space that is negative with respect to that of the atmosphere. Since the airway pressure in the lung at end-expiration is in equilibrium with the atmosphere, the transthoracic negative pressure gradient generated by inspiration is transmitted across the lung parenchyma, and the lung expands. Mechanical ventilation, in contrast, usually refers to a machine blowing gas into the airway during inspiration, with lung inflation resulting from the pressure generated, which is positive relative to the atmosphere. During either spontaneous breathing or mechanical ventilation, the relationship of inflating pressure (negative or positive) to volume is defined as "compliance" (Figure). Expansion is limited by the amount of pressure generated or applied, by the volume of the lungs, and also by the inherent property of elastic recoil in both
Evaluation of scuffing behavior of single-crystal zirconia ceramic materials

Abstract Scuffing, described as sudden catastrophic failure of lubricated sliding surfaces, is usually characterized by a sudden rapid increase in friction, temperature, and noise, and is an important failure mode on sliding surfaces. In metallic materials, scuffing results in severe plastic deformation of surfaces in contact. This study evaluated the scuffing behavior of two variants of zirconia (ZrO 2 ) ceramic. Using a block-on-ring contact configuration and unformulated polyalphaolefin (PAO) lubricant, step-load-increase scuffing tests were conducted with single crystals of cubic ZrO 2 –9.5% Y 2 O 3 and tetragonal ZrO 2 –3% Y 2 O 3 . Phenomenological “scuffing”, characterized by a sudden rise in friction coefficient and noise, was observed in the cubic material. For this material, “scuffing” occurred by sudden fracture at the end of test. The tetragonal material underwent no sudden failure (scuffing). This lack of scuffing is attributed to the sequential operation of three plastic deformation mechanisms: ferroelastic domain switching, tetragonal-to-monoclinic phase transformation, and dislocation slip as the frictional stress and energy dissipation pathway.
Syntax extension and the IMP72 programming language

The IMP72 language for the DEC PDP-10 computer is the most recent of the IMP family of extensible software implementation languages. Its facility for extending the syntax of the language, the syntax statement, is simple enough to be useful to relatively unsophisticated users, yet powerful enough that the IMP72 language is defined by an IMP72 source program consisting of syntax statements.
Personality and social-evaluative anxieties associated with rating discomfort in anticipated positive and negative feedback conditions

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between select personality dimensions, social-evaluative anxieties, and rating discomfort. Undergraduate students were told they would be giving test performance feedback to a confederate and were instructed on how to give this feedback, to some degree, based on condition. Correlation and regression analyses revealed some interesting patterns. Neuroticism was found to be significantly related to feelings of discomfort only under the positive feedback condition, while extraversion was found to be significantly related to feelings of discomfort only under the negative feedback condition. Asignificant inverse relationship was also found between both agreeableness and conscientiousness levels, and in reaction to giving positive feedback. Additional findings and implications are discussed.
Effect of gold thioglucose on subcellular selenium distribution in rat liver and kidney

Reported are the subcellular distributions of selenium (Se), gold, glutathione peroxidase, and enzyme markers for nuclei, mitochondria, lysosomes, and soluble fraction of rat liver and kidney in normal and gold-injected rats. Gold thioglucose increased the Se content of kidney and liver and decreased Se-dependent gluthathione peroxidase activity. The Se in control liver and kidney was found predominantly in the soluble fraction: 73% in liver and 62% in kidney. The Se redistribution in these tissues closely followed the subcellular distribution of gold and Se concentrated mainly in fractions with high lysosomal enzyme-specific activity. The nuclear fraction of kidneys from gold-injected rats contained 46% of the gold and 30% of the Se and had an eightfold increase in lysosomal enzyme-marker activity over activity in the nuclear fraction from kidneys of control rats.
Bactericidal Activity, Eggshell Conductance, and Hatchability Effects of Ozone Versus Formaldehyde Disinfection

Ozone and formaldehyde were evaluated as disinfectants in a prototype laboratory setter against microorganisms that are naturally present on fertile, freshly laid, broiler hatching eggs. Significantly lower microbial counts of over 2.5 log10 (P less than .05) were observed for water-misted and ozonated (2.83% by weight) eggs or formaldehyde-fumigated (triple strength) eggs than for control and water-misted eggs. Eggshell conductance studies as measured by egg moisture losses in a desiccator showed no significant differences (P greater than .05) among untreated, water misted, ozonated (3.06% by weight) with water mist, or formaldehyde (triple strength)-fumigated eggs. Hatchability was significantly reduced (26.5 to 37.5%) following ozonation (3.03% ozone by weight, 2 h) in comparison with effects of no treatment or water misting. Misting with ozonation was equally as effective as formaldehyde fumigation in reducing microbial counts. However, ozone treatment at the concentrations tested significantly reduced hatchability when compared with results of either no treatment, water misting, or an average hatchability figure for formaldehyde fumigation. These findings indicate that ozone is a good disinfectant yet may adversely affect embryo development when given in the gaseous form.
Studies on the displacement of methylthio groups by glutathione.

1. 14C-Methylthio-labelled 2-methylthio-4-ethylamino-6-tert-butylamino-sym-triazine (terbutryn), pentachlorothioanisole (PCTA), and 1,4-bis(methylthio)tetrachloro-benzene (bis-MTTCB) and their methylthio-oxidation congeners were reacted with glutathione (GSH) in the presence and absence of immobilized liver microsomal enzymes.2. 13C-Methylthio-labelled terbutryn sulphoxide and terbutryn sulphone were used to study displacement of the methylthio moiety by GSH using 13C-n.m.r.3. Methanesulphinic acid was identified as the group displaced by GSH from the methyl sulphones in vitro.4. Methanesulphenic acid is proposed to be the group displaced by GSH from methyl sulphoxides forming methyl mercaptan, methyl glutathionyl disulphide and methane-sulphinic acid in vitro.5. Rats given 14C-methylthio-labelled terbutryn, PCTA, bis-MTTCB, and their methylthio-oxidation congeners excreted 14CO2 and 14C-methanesulphinic acid in varying amounts. These results were compared to the in vitro data.