cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
QOLP-12. EVALUATION OF THE UCLA NEURO-ONCOLOGY PROGRAM PSYCHOSOCIAL PATIENT SCREENING FORM IN IDENTIFYING DEPRESSION, FATIGUE, AND PERCEIVED COGNITIVE FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH GLIOMAS

Given the high prevalence of neurobehavioral symptoms such as depression, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction in patients with gliomas, it is critical to regularly screen for these symptoms at each oncology visit. The current study evaluated the validity of the UCLA Neuro-Oncology Program Psychosocial Patient Screening Form (PPSF) to measure depression, fatigue, and cognitive complaints in a sample of 22 patients enrolled in a study observing neurocognitive and psychosocial change in long-term survivors. Patients were asked to complete the PPSF at regular clinical visits, and this data was retrospectively reviewed. The PPSF consisted of the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) and options to endorse experiencing more fatigue, as well as significant memory, speech, attention, or thinking difficulties. At the most recent visit, patients also completed a validated psychosocial assessment that included the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form (MFSI-SF), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog). Endorsement of recent depressive symptoms, increased fatigue, and elevated cognitive difficulties on the PPSF at the most recent visit were found to be significantly correlated with abnormal mean scores on the BDI-II (M= 22.5, SD= 11.24, t= -3.47, p= 0.003), MFSI-SF (M= 26.08, SD= 15.51, t= -2.34, p= 0.029), and perceived cognitive abilities subscale of the FACT-Cog (M= 5, SD= 2, t= 4.642, p= 0.00), respectively. Abnormal scores on the MFSI-SF and FACT-Cog were also significantly correlated with endorsement of fatigue and cognitive complaints at any previous visit. Although other measures of screening for depression, fatigue, and cognitive complaints exist, the PPSF is effective in providing immediate, clinically significant information to the clinician for comprehensive patient care. The PPSF should be utilized to capture and address psychosocial changes and facilitate a deeper understanding of the effects of treatment on glioma patients.
Value-Based Social Work Research

Social work practitioners are often ambivalent about the necessity of conducting research. Witkin (1995) suggests that the reason may have little to do with adequate training in research methods and more to do with a lack of an approach to research consistent with the mission of the profession. The purpose of this article is to begin a dialogue that focuses on delineating an approach to social work research that is consistent with the mission and values of the profession. A description of research approaches that share aspects of social work values is provided, followed by a discussion of core elements of each approach that may have implications for social work researchers. The core elements discussed include: (a) research that is shaped, guided, conducted, and even controlled by consumers; (b) research that focuses on communities or local contexts; (c) research that strives for mutual understanding; and (d) research that facilitates social change leading to empowerment, equality, and social justice. Finally, challenges to incorporating these core elements into research practice are discussed.
Stereochemie der übrigen Elemente

Das Interesse an Metallkomplexen (Koordinationsverbindungen) ris seit der Entdeckung des ersten Vertreters dieser Substanzklasse CoCl3 · 6NH3, im Jahre 1789, nie ab. In der Folge wurden viele Koordinationsverbindungen dargestellt und zahlreiche Versuche zur Erklarung der Natur dieser Substanzen unternommen. Der eigentliche Durchbruch, der zum Verstandnis dieser Verbindungen fuhrte, gelang A. Werner, 1893 [Z. anorg. Chem. 3, 267 (1893)]. Ein groser Teil der aktuellen anorganischen Chemie befast sich auch heute mit der Chemie von Metallkomplexen. Vertreter dieser Substanzklasse spielen eine wesentliche Rolle bei fundamentalen biochemischen Reaktionen und auch bei industriellen Prozessen (F. Basolo & R. G. Pearson, Mechanisms of Inorganic Reactions, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1967).
Methadone Distribution Trends from 2017-2019 in the United States

Abstract Objective Methadone is an evidence based treatment for opioid use disorder and is also employed for acute pain. The primary objective of this study was to explore methadone distribution patterns between the years 2017 and 2019 across the United States (US). This study builds upon previous literature that has analyzed prior years of US distribution patterns, and further outlines regional and state specific methadone trends. Methods The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Automated Reports and Consolidated Ordering System (ARCOS) was used to acquire the number of narcotic treatment programs (NTPs) per state and methadone distribution weight in grams. Methadone distribution by weight, corrected for state populations, and number of NTPs were compared from 2017 to 2019 between states, within regions, and nationally. Results Between 2017 and 2019, the national distribution of methadone increased 12.30% for NTPs but decreased 34.57% for pain, for a total increase of 2.66%. While all states saw a decrease in distribution for pain, when compared regionally, the Northeast showed a significantly smaller decrease than all other regions. Additionally, the majority of states experienced an increase in distribution for NTPs and most states demonstrated a relatively stable or increasing number of NTPs, with an 11.49% increase in NTPs nationally. The number of NTPs per 100K in 2019 ranged from 2.08 in Rhode Island to 0.00 in Wyoming. Conclusion Although methadone distribution for OUD was increasing in the US, there were pronounced regional disparities.
Geometries, the principle of duality, and algebraic groups

Abstract J. Tits gave a general recipe for producing an abstract geometry from a semisimple algebraic group. This expository paper describes a uniform method for giving a concrete realization of Tits's geometry and works through several examples. We also give a criterion for recognizing the automorphism of the geometry induced by an automorphism of the group. The E 6 geometry is studied in depth.
An introduction to volume 41 of the journal of organizational behavior management

Volume 41, issue 1 of the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management (JOBM) provides something for everyone. As part of our ongoing special series of manuscripts which will also be featured as c...
Gene-Targeted, CREB-Mediated Induction of ΔFosB Controls Distinct Downstream Transcriptional Patterns Within D1 and D2 Medium Spiny Neurons

Abstract Background The onset and persistence of addiction phenotypes are, in part, mediated by transcriptional mechanisms in the brain that affect gene expression and, subsequently, neural circuitry. ΔFosB is a transcription factor that accumulates in the nucleus accumbens (NAc)—a brain region responsible for coordinating reward and motivation—after exposure to virtually every known rewarding substance, including cocaine and opioids. ΔFosB has also been shown to directly control gene transcription and behavior downstream of both cocaine and opioid exposure, but with potentially different roles in D1 and D2 medium spiny neurons (MSNs) in NAc. Methods To clarify MSN subtype-specific roles for ΔFosB and investigate how these coordinate the actions of distinct classes of addictive drugs in NAc, we developed a CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)/Cas9-based epigenome editing tool to induce endogenous ΔFosB expression in vivo in the absence of drug exposure. After inducing ΔFosB in D1- or D2-MSNs or both, we performed RNA sequencing on bulk male and female NAc tissue (n = 6–8/group). Results We found that ΔFosB induction elicits distinct transcriptional profiles in NAc by MSN subtype and by sex, establishing for the first time that ΔFosB mediates different transcriptional effects in males versus females. We also demonstrated that changes in D1-MSNs, but not those in D2-MSNs or both, significantly recapitulate changes in gene expression induced by cocaine self-administration. Conclusions Together, these findings demonstrate the efficacy of a novel molecular tool for studying cell type–specific transcriptional mechanisms and shed new light on the activity of ΔFosB, a critical transcriptional regulator of drug addiction.
If You Only Knew: Mephistopheles, Master Mirror, and the Experience of Evil

In Doctor Faustus, Christopher Marlowe transforms a lurid chapbook tale into one of literature’s most enduring portraits of evil’s seduction and consequences, as well as a brutal imp into one of its great villains. Nevertheless, Marlowe’s vision of diabolic evil is so subtle that the play seems nearly void of any villainy until it is nearly over. In order to make Mephistopheles’s diabolical machinations legible in a modern context, the following article undertakes a comparative reading of Doctor Faustus alongside The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, the villain of which, Master Mirror, more explicitly articulates Mephistopheles’s genre of villainy.
Black race is independently associated with underutilization of transplantation for clinical T1 hepatocellular carcinoma

Abstract Introduction Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality. Operative management of early disease includes ablation, resection, and transplantation. We compared the operative management of early-stage HCC in patients stratified by race. Methods We identified patients with cT1 HCC and Charlson-Deyo score 0-1 in the National Cancer Database(2004-2016). We compared operative/non-operative management by race, adjusting for clinicodemographic variables. We performed marginal standardization of logistic regression to ascertain adjusted probabilities of resection or transplantation in patients under 70 years of age with insurance. Results A total of 25,029 patients were included(White=20,410;Black=4,619). After adjusting for clinicodemographic variables, Black race was associated with a lower likelihood of undergoing operative intervention (OR 0.89,p=0.009). Black patients were more likely to undergo resection(OR 1.23,p 50yrs, with private insurance/Medicare, and lower probability of transplantation regardless of age or insurance payor. Conclusions Black race is associated with lower rates of hepatic transplantation and higher rates of hepatic resection for early HCC regardless of age or insurance payor. The etiology of these disparities is multifactorial and correcting the root causes represents a critical area for improvement.
The Effect of the Cystic Fibrosis Care Center on Outcomes after Lung Transplantation for Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes in people with cystic fibrosis (CF) who underwent lung transplant (LT) at a transplant center with an accredited Cystic Fibrosis Care Center (CFCC) in the United States. Methods We reviewed the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients for all adult patients with CF who received a first-time LT from 2005 to 2018. The primary outcome was graft failure. Unadjusted Kaplan-Meier analysis and adjusted multilevel Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate outcomes in CF patients undergoing lung transplantation at a CFCC. Results 2,573 patients with CF underwent a first time LT during the study period. Of the 68 lung transplantation centers, 50 were CFCCs (73.5%). After adjustment for potential confounders, patients who underwent lung transplantation at a hospital with an accredited CFCC had a 33% reduction in risk of death or re-transplantation compared to those transplanted at a hospital without an accredited CFCC (HR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.56-0.82, p Conclusion People with CF who undergo LT at a transplant center with a CFCC have improved graft survival and decreased need for re-transplantation compared to those who undergo LT at a non-CFCC, independent of volume.
A Prototype Study of an Autonomous Robot Platform for SewerageSystem Maintenance

The paper describes KURT, an autonomous robot platform prototype that is able to navigate through a network of sewage pipes. KURT is a six-wheeled vehicle; it has modular, layered hardware and control architectures. Its sensor configuration consists mainly of stationary and one flexible ultrasound transducers and of two inclinometers. In experiments run in a test sewerage system consisting of concrete pipes of 600 mm diameter, it has proven its abilities to travel safely through straight pipes, to recognize different types of pipe crossings, to turn at crossings, and to navigate from a given start point to arbitrary specified goal points.
Loyal political cartels and committee assignments in Congress: Evidence from the Congressional Black Caucus

This study presents a political model whichsuggests that monopoly legislators form cartel-likeorganizations (referred to as ``memberships'') in aneffort to extract greater benefits in the politicalprocess. Based on a model by Coker and Crain (1994)that provides theoretical and statistical argumentsfor congressional committees as loyalty-generatinginstitutions, the instant research examines committeeplacement of ``members'' of the Congressional BlackCaucus (CBC) in the U.S. House by Democrat leaders.Voting records indicate that the CBC is uniform in itsvoting patterns, indicating cartel-like behavior.Because of this, the Democratic leadership in theHouse chooses to place CBC members on importantcommittees in order to support their policy agenda.The general finding of this study is that ``blackrepresentation'' may be greater than simply theproportion of seats held by black Representatives."Legislators differ substantially by virtue of their committeeassignments. Committees in Congress, and particularly in theHouse of Representatives, possess disproportionate power over thepolicy areas in their respective jurisdictions, have the rightto hold hearings, and recommend budget allocations for ...bureaus ..." (Grier and Munger, 1991: 25)
A nurse-led wellness program for migrant backstretch workers

Problem Migrant workers working at the back stretch of Philadelphia Park Racetrack are faced with healthcare challenges. This vulnerable population experiences health disparities as a result of lack of resources and increased exposure to risk. Method A needs assessment of backstretch workers was conducted to identify the healthcare needs of this unique population. Findings The analysis revealed several areas of need for this vulnerable population primarily, effective bilingual communication, increasing access to healthcare services, implementing measures to address women's health issues, and improving nutritional status of workers. Conclusion Through multi-agency collaboration, continued development, and revision of strategies, health enhancement and disease prevention are accessible to vulnerable migrant workers. Faculty, students, and staff work with clients to provide quality health education programs, screenings, and referrals to improve their health.
The Remaking of the Japanese Working Class

THE ASHIO RIOT OF 1907 and Office Ladies and Salaried Men are two works that appear to have little in common. Kazuo Nimura's historical study considers the world of tough Japanese copper miners, all of them men, who rioted nearly a century ago while Yuko Ogasawara's sociological exploration of contemporary Japanese clerical workers focuses on the corporate "office flowers," women usually described as defenceless and perennially exploited. But these differences in time, place, and subject should not divert us from appreciating the common themes and preoccupations evident in these engaging case studies. Indeed, together these works suggest much about where Japanese labour studies have been during the postwar period and where they are headed today. Of the.two works, Nimura's is the most self-consciously revisionist. His study of the three-day Ashio riots explicitly challenges the ideas of three influential shapers of Japanese labour history. Nimura claims that the first, Maruyama Masao, presented a distorted image of Japanese workers as so thoroughly atomized that they were "not human beings acting on their own volition... but mere bodies, acted upon from without." (43) Nimura assails his second target, the labour historian Okochi Kazuo, for espousing a similarly static "migrant labour theory." According to Nimura, Oko-
An Analysis of Faculty Perceptions of Leadership Qualities of Male and Female Physical Education Departments

Abstract The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between sex of physical education department faculty members and sex of department heads with perceived leadership qualities of department heads. The sample was composed of 28 physical education departments; 14 departments had female heads and 14 departments had male heads. A biographical information sheet and the Leader Behavior Description Questionnaire (LBDQ) were used to measure the sex and perception variables respectively. The results of the study indicated that the sex of the faculty member and the sex of the department head were important statistically interacting factors in the perception of the department head on the leadership qualities examined.
Book Review: Liva Baker, The Justice from Beacon Hill: The Life and Times of Oliver Wendell Holmes (1991)

This article reviews Liva Baker, The Justice from Beacon Hill: The Life and Times of Oliver Wendell Holmes (1991).
Anomalous Behavior of Liquid-Nitrogen Drops in Film Boiling

Film boiling of liquid drops, called Leidenfrost boiling, plays an important role in energy transfer in cryogenic systems. Leidenfrost boiling occurs when a liquid drop rests on a cushion of its own vapor resulting from heat transfer from a hot supporting surface. A comprehensive literature summary of Leidenfrost boiling is given elsewhere [1–3].
Regulatory Responses to Potential Pollutants from Animal Feeding Operations: Opting out of Costly Permitting Regulations

Because of excessive water impairment, federal and state agencies have enacted regulations to reduce water pollution from animal feeding operations. Many of the regulations are based on numbers of animals rather than the potential of an operator to impair water quality. To enhance efficiency, critical production indicators and location screening factors might be used to exempt operations that are not significantly impairing water quality. In this manner, regulations could avoid imposing unnecessary costs on the regulated public and more effectively target monitoring and enforcement resources of the regulatory agency.
Analyzing the influence of PEG molecular weight on the separation of PEGylated gold nanoparticles by asymmetric-flow field-flow fractionation.

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) is an important tool for increasing the biocompatibility of nanoparticle therapeutics. Understanding how these potential nanomedicines will react after they have been introduced into the bloodstream is a critical component of the preclinical evaluation process. Hence, it is paramount that better methods for separating, characterizing, and analyzing these complex and polydisperse formulations are developed. We present a method for separating nominal 30-nm gold nanoparticles coated with various molecular weight PEG moieties that uses only phosphate-buffered saline as the mobile phase, without the need for stabilizing surfactants. The optimized asymmetric-flow field-flow fractionation technique using in-line multiangle light scattering, dynamic light scattering, refractive index, and UV–vis detectors allowed successful separation and detection of a mixture of nanoparticles coated with 2-, 5-, 10-, and 20-kDa PEG. The particles coated with the larger PEG species (10 and 20 kDa) were eluted at times significantly earlier than predicted by field-flow fractionation theory. This was attributed to a lower-density PEG shell for the higher molecular weight PEGylated nanoparticles, which allows a more fluid PEG surface that can be greater influenced by external forces. Hence, the apparent particle hydrodynamic size may fluctuate significantly depending on the overall density of the stabilizing surface coating when an external force is applied. This has considerable implications for PEGylated nanoparticles intended for in vivo application, as nanoparticle size is important for determining circulation times, accumulation sites, and routes of excretion, and highlights the importance and value of the use of secondary size detectors when one is working with complex samples in asymmetric-flow field-flow fractionation.
Treatment Options Expanding for Advanced Melanoma

Immunotherapies and BRAF and MEK inhibitors have dramatically improved outcomes in advanced melanoma. The availability of these novel approaches has necessitated changes to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines). The NCCN Guidelines feature algorithms that aid clinicians in selecting initial therapy, which now includes anti-programmed death protein receptor-1 PD-1 inhibitors among the recommended systemic therapy options for patients with metastatic or unresectable disease.
Preoperative anemia is associated with increased use of hospital resources in patients undergoing elective hepatectomy

Background In patients undergoing elective hepatectomy, we aimed to evaluate the effect of preoperative anemia on postoperative mortality, morbidity, readmission, risk of blood transfusion, and duration of hospital stay. Methods A total of 4,170 patients who underwent elective hepatectomy from 2010 to 2012 were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed by examination of the association of preoperative anemia (defined as hematocrit Results A total of 948 patients had preoperative anemia (22.7%). Preoperative anemia was associated with increased risk of any perioperative blood transfusion, prolonged duration of stay, major postoperative complication, and 30-day mortality (P Conclusion Anemia is associated with an almost 3-fold increased risk of blood transfusion, 2-fold increased risk of prolonged duration of hospitalization, and hospital stays were 2.6 days greater in anemic patients. Anemia may significantly impact resource utilization for elective hepatectomy.
URINARY KETOSTEROID EXCRETION PATTERNS IN CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIAF

THE present concepts of the aberrant mechanisms in congenital adrenal hyperplasia have recently been summarized by Jailer et al. (1), Bongiovanni and Eberlein (2) and Dorfman (3). The basic defect is thought to be the inability of the adrenal cortices to produce adequate amounts of hydrocortisone. The low levels of blood hydrocortisone lead to a compensatory increase in secretion of corticotropin by the anterior pituitary gland, and consequent adrenal hyperplasia. The hyperplastic adrenal cortices, unable to effect the adequate synthesis of hydrocortisone, secrete, among other steroids, androgen(s) or androgen precursor(s) which bring about the clinical picture. The identity of the androgenic compounds which induce the signs of virilism is uncertain. Dorfman (4) believed that the androgenicity could be attributed to the C19 adrenal steroids such as 4-androstene-3,17-dione (androstenedione) and 11-hydroxyandrostene-3,17-dione (11-hydroxyandrostenedione), whereas Jailer et al. (1) held that the intermediate...
Role of phosphorylation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in the cardiac response to catecholamines

The ability of catecholamines to accelerate relaxation in the myocardium appears to be due in part to phosphorylation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum by a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Phospholamban, the substrate for this cyclic AMP-induced phosphorylation, is a 20–22 000 dalton protein that is deeply imbedded in the lipid bilayer of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. Phosphorylation of phospholamban is accompanied by acceleration of calcium transport into the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum. This stimulatory effect is due in part to an increase in the Ca2+ sensitivity of the calcium pump and reduction in an apparent positive cooperativity between the two Ca2+-binding sites of the calcium pump ATPase. These findings suggest that the dephospho-form of phospholamban inhibits calcium transport by the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum through an interaction with the calcium pump ATPase. The ability of cyclic AMP-induced phosphorylation to accelerate calcium transport may result from elimination of inhibitory effects of dephospho-phospholamban. This hypothesis is supported by similar Ca2+ dependences of calcium transport in phosphorylated cardiac and fast skeletal sarcoplasmic reticulum, the latter lacking phospholamban.
Temperature Distribution and Fluid Flow Modeling of Electron Beam Melting® (EBM)

A three-dimensional (3D) numerical model is developed by using control volume method to analyze the effects of the electron beam scanning speed on the temperature distribution and fluid flow of the liquid phase in the electron beam melting® (EBM) of Ti-6Al-4V powder. The numerical calculations are performed by Fluent codes, in which thermal analyses with and without considering fluid flow in the molten pool are compared. A series of experiments are performed with an Electron Beam Melting® machine to verify the numerical accuracy. Compared to thermal analysis without considering convection in the molten pool, a closer numerical prediction of geometrical size of molten pool to the experimental data can be achieved by using thermal and fluid flow modeling. The difference between the melt pool geometry in the two models is due to the consideration of the effects of the outward flow in the fluid flow model caused by surface tension.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The Influence of European Émigré Scholars on Comparative Politics, 1925–1965

Among European emigre intellectuals who came to the United States between 1925 and 1940, a small group of prolific, influential scholars who received appointments at major colleges and universities helped to restore the comparative approach to the study of political systems. That approach had been dominant in the early years of the discipline but had been lost during its Americanization in the first quarter of the twentieth century. The teaching and writing of these scholars contributed to the formulation of theoretical frameworks designed to facilitate cross-national comparison. When the purview of comparative politics expanded in the 1950s and 1960s to include the developing areas, the advantages of multination comparisons became even more evident.
THE EFFECT OF HYPOPHYSECTOMY, REMOVAL OF THE POSTERIOR PITUITARY, ADRENALECTOMY, AND DEHYDRATION ON THE ANTIDIURETIC ACTIVITY OF THE RAT HYPOTHALAMIC-NEUROHYPOPHYSEAL SYSTEM

THE many investigations on the hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal system which have been reported in recent years (see the reviews by Scharrer and Scharrer, 1954 and Stutinsky, 1953) have brought forth new concepts as well as contradictory statements. With the aid of Gomori’s chrome-hematoxylin phloxin stain the role of the neurosecretory material formed in the supraoptic nuclei and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus has been more clearly defined. Experimental evidence supports the view that the neurosecretory substance contains the active principles of the posterior pituitary. However, there are still a number of problems, particularly with respect to the role played by the different parts of the hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal system in the control of water metabolism. As a contribution toward the solution of some of these problems, a number of experiments were undertaken designed to assess the antidiuretic activity of different components of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal system under various conditions...
The self-organizing map in synoptic climatological research:

Self-organizing maps (SOMs) are a relative newcomer to synoptic climatology; the method itself has only been utilized in the field for around a decade. In this article, we review the major developments and climatological applications of SOMs in the literature. The SOM can be used in synoptic climatological analysis in a manner similar to most other clustering methods. However, as the results from a SOM are generally represented by a two-dimensional array of cluster types that ‘self-organize’, the synoptic categories in the array effectively represent a continuum of synoptic categorizations, compared with discrete realizations produced through most traditional methods. Thus, a larger number of patterns can be more readily understood, and patterns, as well as transitional nodes between patterns, can be discerned. Perhaps the most intriguing development with SOMs has been the new avenues of visualization; the resultant spatial patterns of any variable can be more readily understood when displayed in a SOM. T...
Perinatal acidosis and placental transfusion.

Summary Umbilical artery pH and residual placental blood volume (RPBV) were determined for 75 full-term newborn infants born by vaginal delivery. For 39 infants of multiparous mothers (IMM), there was a significant relationship between fetal acidosis and reduced RPBV. For 36 infants of primiparous mothers (IPM) a significant relationship was not present. Results of an earlier study suggested that perinatal acidosis was associated with reduced RPBV. The present study confirms this association for IMM's. The reason for the lack of a clearcut effect in IPMs is unknown.
Beat-by-Beat Aortic Valve Area Measurements Indicate Constant Orifice Area in Aortic Stenosis: Analysis of Doppler Data with Varying RR Intervals

Gorlin formula calculation of aortic valve area suggests that orifice area increases in patients with aortic stenosis with rising cardiac output. Evidence that aortic orifice area varies was sought in patients with aortic stenosis by analyzing Doppler data beat by beat versus RR interval in 22 patients with spontaneous RR variability. Stroke volume increased in all patients from muiimum to maximum RR interval by 129% ± 19%. Over the same range of RR intervals, assessment of aortic valve area by (A) simultaneous inner and outer continuous wave Doppler signals, or (B) nonsimultaneous RR-matched pulsed wave Doppler from the left ventricular outflow tract and continuous wave Doppler from the aortic valve failed to suggest an increase in aortic valve area. A positive relationship between aortic valve area and RR interval was not consistently observed with the exception of seven out of eight patients with mild to moderate (pulsed wave Doppler/continuous wave Doppler time velocity integral ratio of 0.3 to 0.7) aortic stenosis ( p
Triangulation-Based Camera Calibration For Machine Vision Systems

This paper describes a camera calibration procedure for stereo-based machine vision systems. The method is based on geometric triangulation using only a single image of three distinctive points. Both the intrinsic and extrinsic parameters of the system are determined. The procedure is performed only once at the initial set-up using a simple camera model. The effective focal length is extended in such a way that a linear transformation exists between the camera image plane and the output digital image. Only three world points are needed to find the extended focal length and the transformation matrix elements that relates the camera position and orientation to a real world coordinate system. The parameters of the system are computed by solving a set of linear equations. Experimental results show that the method, when used in a stereo system developed in this research, produces reasonably accurate 3-D measurements.
TU‐C‐211‐06: Practical Operational Considerations for Clinical Usage of the Micro‐ Angio Fluoroscope (MAF) in Neuro‐Vascular Interventions

Purpose: To demonstrate a C‐arm mounted, high‐resolution, microangiographic‐fluoroscope (MAF) during neuro‐vascular clinical interventions (NVCI) with increased x‐ray tube output while still using the small focal spot. Method and Materials: The MAF consisting of a 300 &#956;m CsI input phosphor coupled to a micro‐channel‐plate light image‐ intensifier, in turn coupled to a CCDsensor through a minifying fiber‐optic taper was mounted on a clinical C‐arm. To take advantage of the MAF's high resolution, the small focal spot must be used. In general NVCIs require x‐ray tubes to use near maximum available mAs during fluoroscopy and angiography even with a larger focal spot. To tackle the problem we implemented a variable temporal filter (TF) and modified imaging protocols to enable use of the small focal spot. For DSA we increased the frame rate to 15 fps with the maximum mAs available and implemented a 3‐frame TF. For short but critical fluoroscopy durations where high resolution was essential for guiding a NVCI such as stent deployment, we used the small focal spot with a low exposure angiography protocol at (2– 4)X fluoroscopy settings which we refer to as High Definition (HD) mode. Results: The variable temporal filtering was used successfully during fluoroscopy to compensate for mAs limitations. Depending on patient motion we used TF weights between 3 and 7. Temporally‐filtered, high‐speed angiograms allowed visualization of fine vasculature details better than the standard imager. HD mode was used during stent deployments allowing visualization of detailed stent structure which normally is not visible using standard x‐ray imagers. Conclusions: X‐ray output limitations during NVCI were overcome by a combination TF and x‐ray protocol modification to meet the MAF high‐resolution requirements. The imaging improvements were significant with patients benefiting from more accurate treatments or in one case the elimination of an additional costly procedure. NIH Grants R01‐EB008425, R01‐EB002873.
Optical beam shaping using hybrid acousto-optic devices with feedback

We demonstrate beam shaping in a hybrid acousto-optic device with adaptive electronic feedback. Cases of positive and negative feedback, and from the un-diffracted and diffracted orders are investigated. We also show the dependence of the final value of the induced grating strength in the acousto-optic cell on the feedback parameters.
Competitive Spectrum Access in Cognitive Radio Networks: Graphical Game and Learning

Competitive spectrum access is studied for cognitive radio networks. Based on the assumption of rational secondary users, the spectrum access is modeled as a graphical game, in which the payoff of a secondary user is dependent on only other secondary users that can cause significant interference. The Nash equilibrium in the graphical game is computed by minimizing the sum of regrets. To alleviate the local knowledge of payoffs (each secondary user knows only its own payoff for different channels), a subgradient based iterative algorithm is applied by exchanging information across different secondary users. When information exchange is not available, learning for spectrum access is carried out by employing stochastic approximation (more specifically, the Kiefer-Wolfowitz algorithm). The convergence of both situations is demonstrated by numerical simulations.
Is unenhanced CT sufficient for evaluation of acute abdominal pain

Abstract Background: To determine whether intravenous contrast improves the ability of radiologists to establish the cause of acute abdominal pain after nondiagnostic or normal unenhanced CT. Methods: Out of 164 consecutive emergency department patients presenting with less than 48 h of nontraumatic, acute abdominal pain, a confident diagnosis for cause of pain was made prospectively in 71/164 (43%) patients on these unenhanced scans by the monitoring radiologist. In the other 93 patients, our study sample, intravenous contrast-enhanced CT was obtained. At a later date, retrospectively, two experienced abdominal CT radiologists independently evaluated unenhanced CT scans alone for potential causes of pain and diagnostic confidence level on a 1–3 scale. At least 2 weeks later, intravenous enhanced and unenhanced scans were read side-by-side for the same assessment. Results: There was no significant difference in diagnostic confidence levels comparing unenhanced CT alone (2.59) vs. intravenous enhanced and unenhanced CT together (2.64). Chi-square analysis found no significant difference in finding a cause for pain when intravenous contrast was added compared to the initial unenhanced scan alone. Conclusions: Intravenous contrast did not significantly improve the ability of CT to establish a cause of abdominal pain after a negative or nondiagnostic unenhanced CT.
Beyond the living will: making advance directives more useful.

Various forms of Advance Directives (Living Wills; Durable Powers of Attorney) are available that allow individuals to leave instructions about the conditions under which they would and would not w...
The community and the mentally retarded.

Abstract The attitude of community management of the mentally retarded is changing. It is no longer the universal attitude that retarded individuals should necessarily be placed in institutions. There is a growing awareness that for many families the presence of a retarded child in the home is not an insurmountable catastrophe. Parents of these children have been pioneers in community projects which make it possible for the retarded to remain at home and to adjust socially to those around them. The gaps in community resources are being filled, and although school programs have been available for a long time it is only recently that there have been provisions for the preschool child. Most important, sheltered workshops and vocational training centers are being developed to provide opportunities for the retarded person who is no longer in school in order to develop skills and a vocation which might make him independent and a contributor to society. The development of a community program based on family unity and furnishing facilities to develop the maximum potential in the retarded individual not only provides economic advantages for some but also adds to the dignity of man.
Vascular malformations in the extremities: emphasis on MR imaging features that guide treatment options.

Vascular malformations can be classified into high-flow arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and low-flow venous or lymphatic malformations (VM/LM). VMs and LMs have the ability to cross multiple tissue boundaries. Not only is subcutaneous tissue often involved, but multiple muscle groups, tendons, bone cortex and bone marrow are also not uncommonly violated. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides valuable information for the assessment and treatment of malformations. Firstly, MRI can characterize the flow pattern of these malformations to guide treatment towards trans-arterial embolization for AVMs and percutaneous embolization for low flow malformations. MRI is essential to define the anatomic extent and in-volvement of various tissue layers (a distinct advantage over ultrasound), and to correlate treatable components of the malformation with patient symptoms. Treatment is decided by the need to alleviate clinical symptoms, and is dependent on the extent of the malformation as defined by MRI. We present MRI features of vascular malformations to demonstrate the potential spectrum of in-volvement of these lesions, illustrating the value of MRI in treatment planning.
A prospective study of proximal femur bone mass following cemented and uncemented hip arthroplasty

Cross-sectional studies have demonstrated significant decreases in bone mass in femoral cortical bone adjacent to prostheses. Thirty-six patients who had undergone 31 cemented and 9 uncemented primary total hip arthroplasties (THA) were prospectively studied to define further the natural history of this femoral cortical bone loss. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was employed to quantify bone mineral density (BMD) changes in four subregions around the femoral prostheses. Femoral BMD loss (average 12.3%) was observed in the three proximal subregions 2 months postoperatively. This loss increased to 21.2% by 6 months postoperatively, and by 2 years postoperatively it averaged 25.5% in the same three subregions. There were no significant BMD changes in the subregion distal to the prosthesis tip or in the contralateral hip. Subgroups were compared based on prosthesis size and cement use. Statistically significant differences in BMD loss were observed between the large cemented cobalt chrome prosthesis group (n = 8) and the large uncemented titanium prosthesis group (n = 8). These differences were only present in the most proximal medial subregion where the large cemented groups had twice the bone loss in this area as compared with the large uncemented group. The data indicate that bone loss occurs adjacent to femoral prosthesis within 2 months of surgery and that DXA is a useful technique to quantify prospectively femoral cortical bone loss following THA.
Temperature measurements of the low-attenuation radiographic ice ball during CT-guided renal cryoablation.

During renal cryoablation a low-attenuation area on CT develops around the cryoprobe. Knowledge of the temperature of the growing low-attenuation area can guide therapy and ensure lethal temperatures. Herein, we report thermocouple results and correlating CT images during the development of the low-attenuation “radiographic ice ball.” Five patients who underwent percutaneous CT-guided renal cryoablation were identified who had thermocouples inserted and serial intraprocedural CT images that included images with thermocouple measurements of 0° and sub-0°C. Thermocouples had been percutaneously placed just beyond the edge of the tumors either to ensure adequate cooling or to ensure safety to adjacent critical structures. Renal cryotherapy under CT guidance produced a growing low-attenuation area corresponding to the radiographic ice ball. When the thermocouple measured 0°C, CT images showed the thermocouple tip at the edge of the low-attenuation ice ball. At lower temperatures the tip was within the low-attenuation ice ball. We conclude that knowledge of the temperature at the ice ball edge during cryoablation can be used to predict the extent of tissue necrosis and thus provide an estimate of cryotherapy effectiveness during the procedure. Further work is necessary to establish a firm relationship between the thermal conditions and the zone of damage.
Stable reprogrammed heterokaryons form spontaneously in Purkinje neurons after bone marrow transplant

Heterokaryons are the product of cell fusion without subsequent nuclear or chromosome loss. Decades of research using Sendai-virus or polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated fusion in tissue culture showed that the terminally differentiated state of a cell could be altered. But whether stable non-dividing heterokaryons could occur in animals has remained unclear. Here, we show that green fluorescent protein (GFP)-positive bone-marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) contribute to adult mouse Purkinje neurons through cell fusion. The formation of heterokaryons increases in a linear manner over 1.5 years and seems to be stable. The dominant Purkinje neurons caused the BMDC nuclei within the resulting heterokaryons to enlarge, exhibit dispersed chromatin and activate a Purkinje neuron-specific transgene, L7-GFP. The observed reprogrammed heterokaryons that form in brain may provide insights into gene regulation associated with cell-fate plasticity.
Geomorphic effects of a 10‐year storm on a small drainage Basin in the Texas Panhandle

Bedded Permian salt in the Palo Duro Basin of the Texas Panhandle is being considered for isolation of nuclear waste. Studies underway to evaluate the geomorphic processes affecting any waste repository that may be sited in the region include studies of the geomorphic events associated with individual storms. On 26 May, 1978, thunderstorms occurred near Canyon, Texas, which received 130mm of rain, and on a small instrumented watershed at Buffalo Lake, 16 km to the southwest, which received 71 mm of rain. Rainfall at Buffalo Lake was concentrated in a period of 3 hours, representing a return period of approximately 10 years and a maximum 30-minute intensity of 64 mm/hour. Erosion-pin fields, topographic surveys, and stakes for headcut monitoring had been established 2 to 3 months before the storm in a 640-m long tributary canyon to Tierra Blanca Creek downstream of Buffalo Lake. Canyon slopes of moderately to slightly calichified sands and gravels of the Ogallala Formation are capped by well-indurated caliche on the canyon rim. Erosion-pin fields showed average net erosion of 2·4 cm (0° to 9° slope) to 2·7 cm (10° to 19° slope) and a single-pin maximum value of 6·2 cm in the 20° to 29° slope class. Headcuts 1 to 2 m deep in alluvial-colluvial material on the floor of the canyon migrated as much as 12 m upstream. Canyon floor deposition occurred as a series of elongate bars, 16m long and longer, located at the mouth of tributary gullies, downstream from scours, and at slope breaks. Grain sizes ranged from boulders up to 70cm in intermediate axis deposited in the upper canyon to fine to very fine sand deposited as a sheet up to 25cm thick beyond the mouth of the canyon at Tierra Blanca Creek. In an adjacent canyon a sequence of irregular beds of caliche gravel, mixed sand and gravel, and fine sand up to 3 m thick is exposed. Comparison of this sequence with deposits resulting from the 26 May, 1978, storm suggests that the coarse fraction of the alluvial sequence is deposited by repetitive major storm events. Cobble and boulder units 30 to 70cm thick can evidently be deposited in a few hours. Under the continental climate of the Texas Panhandle, erosion, deposition, and stream incision are taking place primarily in discrete steps related to episodes of intense rainfall.
Diagnostic Marker Cooperative Study for the Diagnosis of Myocardial Infarction

To the Editor: Zimmerman et al1 report a multicenter study of the predictive power of biochemical markers for a diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI) in 955 patients presenting with chest pain. MI diagnosis was based on creatine kinase (CK)-MB mass (7 ng/mL) and CK-MB index (2.5%) within 24 hours after emergency department arrival. Markers included CK-MB subforms, myoglobin, troponin T, troponin I, total CK-MB activity, and total CK-MB mass. Sensitivity and …
Effects of epoxide hydratase inhibitors in forward and reversion bacterial mutagenesis assay systems.

Cyclohexene oxide (CCHO) and 1,1,1-trichloropropene-2,3-oxide (TCPO) are inhibitors of epoxide hydratase and have been used in studies of the mechanisms of mutagenesis in bacterial mutagenesis assays. The present studies were designed to investigate the mutagenic activity of CCHO and TCPO in Salmonella typhimurium employing the Ames histidine-reversion assays (TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537, TA1538) and a forward mutation assay that uses 8-azaguanine resistance in TM677 as the genetic marker. In the reverse mutation assay, TCPO (10−3 M) produced a mutagenic response in strains TA100 and TA1535 in the absence or presence of a rat liver metabolizing system (S9), indicating that TCPO causes base-pair substitution mutations. CCHO (10−3 M) showed a slight but significant mutagenic effect in strain TA100, with or without S9 and, in strain TA1535, only in the absence of S9. In the forward assay, TCPO was a strong mutagen at concentrations above 5 × 10−5 M and was toxic to the bacteria. The mutagenic and toxic effects of TCPO were slightly reduced in the presence of the S9 preparation, suggesting that the epoxide may be metabolized by the microsomal enzymes. In the forward assay, CCHO showed no mutagenic activity but some toxicity at 3 × 10−3 M. When epoxide hydratase activity was measured under the conditions of the forward mutation assay, 85% inhibition of activity was observed at 10−3 M TCPO, a concentration that caused a 45-fold increase in the mutation frequency. CCHO (3 × 10−3 M) produced a 55% inhibition of epoxide hydratase activity without exhibiting mutagenic effects in TM677. These results indicate that CCHO should be employed in preference to TCPO when inhibition of epoxide hydratase activity is required in bacterial mutagenesis studies.