cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Challenge and Promise of Geriatric Mental Health Training

These statements succinctly convey both the problem and the promise for geriatric psychiatry. Despite a growing need for specialists in geriatric mental health—both practitioners and academics—it is not clear where these people will come from, whether they will be sufficient in number, and how their careers will develop. The mental health needs of our rapidly growing older population demand more geriatric psychiatrists and psychologists, clinicians dedicated and trained to ameliorate the burdens of mental illness in late life. We also need researchers committed to understanding these complex disorders and to developing new diagnostic techniques and effective interventions. There are far more topics in need of study than there are investigators in the “pipeline” to do this research. Last, but certainly not least, a cadre of teachers and mentors is needed to train the next generation of geriatric psychiatrists and psychologists and to educate other medical specialties about geriatric mental health. This issue of the Journal strives to provide some practical information, as well as opinion and even inspiration, about training in geriatric mental health. The history of subspecialty certification in geriatric psychiatry provided by Juul and Scheiber 3 helps us understand the progress the field has made in terms of numbers of board-certified geriatric psychiatrists. As of the 2002 examination, nearly 2,600 (of the approximately 3,700 who have taken the examination) have been certified. Although some feel that too few geriatric psychiatrists have chosen to recertify after their certificates have lapsed, the authors point out that the proportion of geriatric psychiatrists recertifying (approximately 65%) is higher than the comparable proportion of geriatric medicine-certified internists (42%) and family practitioners (50%) who have recertified. Thus, depending on one’s perspective, the glass is either half full or half empty. We are fortunate in this issue to have perspectives on fellowship training in both geriatric psychiatry 4 and geriatric medicine; 5 these two articles complement each other in describing the evolution and current state of geriatric specialty training. Lieff and colleagues discuss the results of a cross-sectional survey of U.S. geriatric psychiatry fellowship programs. Several findings stand out. First, over 40% of program directors were relative newcomers to their positions (4 years or less). Also, only 22% of the programs offered training beyond the required 1 year. Finally, program fill rates have declined; this is related to an increase in the number of available positions at the same time that the absolute number of fellows has remained stable. Bragg and Warshaw, in their report
AN ANALYSIS OF STIMULI THAT INFLUENCE COMPLIANCE DURING THE HIGH‐PROBABILITY INSTRUCTION SEQUENCE

When we evaluated variables that influence the effectiveness of the high-probability (high-p) instruction sequence, the sequence was associated with a precipitous decrease in compliance with high-p instructions for 1 participant, thereby precluding continued use of the sequence. We investigated the reasons for this decrease. Stimuli associated with the low-p instruction were systematically added and removed in the context of the high-p instructions, and results suggest that the stimuli associated with the low-p instruction influenced compliance with the high-p instructions.
426 GASTROINTESTINAL IRON ABSORBTION IS SULFRYDRYL DEPENDANT: A PROPOSED MECHANISM FOR INTERFERENCE BY HEAVY METALS

426 GASTROINTESTINAL IRON ABSORBTION IS SULFRYDRYL DEPENDANT: A PROPOSED MECHANISM FOR INTERFERENCE BY HEAVY METALS
Role of component configuration in evaluation of accelerated rolling contact fatigue of ball bearings

Abstract Four-ball testers are widely used for determining the rolling contact fatigue life of bearing components. The tester simulates the rolling conditions in the bearing where the upper ball and the cup simulate the inner and outer rings, respectively, and the planetary balls represent the rolling elements in the bearing. However, in many studies the upper ball is utilized as the ball whose rolling contact fatigue (RCF) life is investigated, mainly to speed up the fatigue process. In this paper, a four-ball tester is used to study the effect of ball configuration, i.e. upper ball versus the planetary ball, on the RCF life. It was observed that the 52100-steel upper ball's L 10 life is 7.4 times shorter than that of 52100-steel lower planetary balls. For M50 tool steel, the L 10 life of the upper ball was 5.9 times shorter than that of the lower planetary ball. The lesser number of stress cycles per revolution of tester's spindle and the skid of lower balls resulting in rolling on multiple rolling tracks are the contributing factors to the longer RCF life of planetary balls.
Computer simulation of the optical Kerr effect in liquid water

Abstract A field applied molecular dynamics (FMD) computer simulation of the optical Kerr effect in liquid water has produced femtosecond rise transients which reproduce accurately the available analytical theory, based on generalised Langevin-Kielich functions. The transients and associated field applied correlation functions prove to be sensitive to the anisotropy of polarisability in water, showing that femtosecond transient spectroscopy is potentially a much more accurate method of measurement than hitherto available.
Transforming Chemistry Education through Computational Science

An ongoing US National Science Foundation-funded project, the Institute for Chemistry Literacy through Computational Science (ICLCS), involves instructing rural Illinois high school chemistry teachers in the educational uses of computation. The project's training helps participants become educational leaders and change agents. In this article, we report on the participants and their students' classroom experiences and discuss how petascale computing will impact educational uses of computational science and further promote scientific literacy..
Total Synthesis of Brevenal

This Article describes the total synthesis of the marine ladder toxin brevenal utilizing a convergent synthetic strategy. Critical to the success of this work was the use of olefinic−ester cyclizat...
Localized hypothermia influences assessment of recovery from vecuronium neuromuscular blockade.

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which localized hypothermia of a monitored extremity alters the assessment of recovery from vecuronium- induced neuromuscular blockade. Bilateral integrated evoked electromyographic (IEMG) responses were measured in the ulnar distribution of 14 anaesthetized patients who had differing upper extremity temperatures as measured at the adductor pollicis to determine whether localized hypothermia alters the clinical assessment of spontaneous recovery from vecuronium- induced neuromuscular blockade. All patients received general anaesthesia with thiopentone, N2O/ O2 and opioid; 11/14 patients received isoflurane for blood pressure control. Bilateral adductor pollicis, oesophageal and ambient temperatures, and IEMG evoked response (t1) expressed as percent unparalyzed control were recorded during the anaesthetic. The difference in evoked response between the warmer and the colder upper extremity was calculated at 25%, 50% and 75% spontaneous recovery from neuromuscular blockade in the warm extremity. Differences in temperature between extremities ranged from 0.2–11° C. The difference in IEMG- evoked response between extremities was proportional to the difference in temperature, and there was a direct correlation (r = 0.78) between IEMG response and extremity temperature; IEMG response was absent when extremity temperature was less than 25° C. We concluded that localized hypothermia in the monitored extremity decreases the IEMG- evoked response to vecuronium neuromuscular blockade; the greater the temperature decrease, the less the evoked response. Thus, the administration of nondepolarizing relaxants may be inappropriately influenced by monitoring neuromuscular blockade in a cold extremity, especially if its temperature is <25° C.
Local cerebral glucose utilization rates in alcohol-naïve high-alcohol-drinking (HAD) and low-alcohol-drinking (LAD) rats.

Background: The present study compared baseline local cerebral glucose utilization (LCGU) values within reward-relevant brain regions in alcohol-naive, adult male high–alcohol-drinking (HAD) and low–alcohol-drinking (LAD) rats from replicate lines 1 and 2. Methods: 2-[14C]Deoxyglucose ([14C]2-DG) was injected (125 μCi/kg) intravenously during the rats’ dark cycle. Timed arterial blood samples were collected over 45 min and assayed for glucose as well as [14C]2-DG content. Rats were then decapitated; their brains quickly removed and frozen in isopentane at −50°C. Coronal sections from each brain were apposed to film and exposed for 2 days. Image densities were analyzed using quantitative autoradiography. Results: Data were collected from several key limbic (nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area, olfactory tubercle, amygdala, hippocampus, ventral pallidum, and septum), basal ganglia, cortical (medial prefrontal, frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, entorhinal, pyriform, and cingulate), and subcortical (thalamus, habenula, and superior colliculus) structures. Because there were no significant differences between the replicates within each drinking line, data from the two replicates were combined to determine drinking line differences. When both replicate lines were combined, there were trends toward higher (approximately 15%) LCGU rates in HAD (n= 15) versus LAD (n= 16) rats within the parietal and occipital cortices, but neither of these line differences reached statistical significance (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The findings suggested that, within the HAD and LAD replicate rat lines, the selection for alcohol preference did not lead to differences in functional brain activity, as measured with the 2-DG method.
Comparison of Contributory Causes of Fatal Truck and Non-Truck Crashes Using Bayesian Statistical Analysis

Of the 41,059 motor vehicle fatalities in 2007, 12 % or 4,808 died in crashes that involved a large truck, but, only 17% of those fatalities were occupants of large trucks. Although large trucks contributed to only 3% of registered vehicles and 7% of vehicle miles travelled in the last 5 years, their impact in terms of severity proves to be a major concern especially for non-truck vehicle occupants. Fatal crash data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) was used to study this issue and to identify factors contributing to truck-involved crashes. Driver, vehicle, and crash-related contributory factors were identified, and the likelihood of occurrence of these factors in truck-involved crashes with respect to non-truck crashes was evaluated using the Bayesian Statistical approach. The most critical factors showed that likelihood ratios for factors like stopped or unattended vehicles, improper following, defective brake system, and vehicle being set in motion by a non-driver have greater probability of occurrence in truck crashes than in non-truck crashes Several other factors such as cellular usage, inattentiveness, and failure to obey traffic rules have been identified as more likely contributory factors for fatal truck crashes. By addressing these factors through the implementation of appropriate remedial measures, the overall truck crash rate can be reduced, which can help in improving overall safety of the transportation system.
Intelligent virtual interfaces for telerobotics

One promise of telerobotics is the ability to interact in environments that are distant (e.g., deep sea or deep space), dangerous (e.g., nuclear, chemical, or biological environments), or inaccessible by humans for political or legal reasons. A key component to such interactions are sophisticated human-computer interfaces that can replicate sufficient information about a local environment to permit remote navigation and manipulation. This environment replication can, in part, be provided by technologies such as virtual reality. In addition, however, telerobotic interfaces may need to enhance human-machine interaction to assist users in task performance, for example, governing motion or manipulation controls to avoid obstacles or to restrict interaction with certain objects (e.g., avoiding contact with a live mine or a deep sea treasure). Thus, effective interactions within remote environments require intelligent virtual interfaces to telerobotic devices. In part to address this problem, MITRE is investigating virtual reality architectures that will enable enhanced interaction within virtual environments. Key components to intelligent virtual interfaces include spoken language processing, gesture recognition algorithms, and more generally, task recognition. In addition, these interfaces will eventually have to take into account properties of the user, the task, and discourse context to be more adaptive to the current situation at hand. While our work has not yet investigated the connection of virtual interfaces to external robotic devices, we have begun developing the key components for intelligent virtual interfaces for information and training systems.
Biological and Analytical Variation of Clinical Biomarker Testing: Implications for Biomarker-guided Therapy

Testing for serum-based biomarkers are essential for diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of patients with cardiovascular disease. All biomarker assays have inherent analytical variability (coefficient of variance CVA), ranging from 5–20 %. There are also variances within a subject over time (CVI) and between subjects (CVG). Variances are determined by experimentation under controlled conditions on healthy subjects. Once measured, the index of individuality (II), reference change value (RCV), and number of samples to establish a homeostatic set point can be calculated. These attributes affect how results of biomarker tests are interpreted in routine clinical practice such as cardiac troponin for acute coronary syndromes, the natriuretic peptides, galectin-3 and sST2 for heart failure, lipids and lipoproteins for primary cardiovascular disease risk, and liver function tests and skeletal muscle biomarkers for detecting complications from statin use.
After-School Spaces: Looking for Learning in All the Right Places

After-school settings provide youth with homework support, social outlets and fun activities, and help build self-confidence. They are safe places for forming relationships with caring adults. More after-school settings are starting to integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) topics. What science skills and concepts might youth learn in engineering design-based after-school settings? Traditional assessments often fail to capture the ways youth learn in informal settings, and deep science understandings are notoriously difficult to measure. In this study, we examined three after-school settings where 65 youth were learning science through engineering design challenges. In this informal setting, we examined storyboards, social networking forum (SNF) chat logs, videos of whole-class interactions, interviews with groups and single participants, and traditional multiple-choice pre- and posttest results. As we looked for evidence of learning, we found that the social networking forum was rich with data. Interviews were even more informative, much more so than traditional pencil and paper multiple-choice tests. We found that different kinds of elicitation strategies adopted by site leaders and facilitators played an important role in the ways youth constructed knowledge. These elicitation strategies also helped us find evidence of learning. Based on findings, future iterations of the curricula will involve tighter integration of social networking forums, continued use of videotaped interviews for data collection, an increased focus on training site leaders and facilitators in elicitation strategies, and more open-ended pencil and paper assessments in order to facilitate the process of looking for learning.
Scaling Input Stimulus Generation through Hybrid Static and Dynamic Analysis of RTL

We enhance STAR, an automatic technique for functional input vector generation for design validation. STAR statically analyzes the source code of the Register-Transfer Level (RTL) design. The STAR approach is a hybrid between RTL symbolic execution and concrete simulation that offsets the disadvantages of both. The symbolic execution, which follows the concrete simulation path, extracts constraints for that path. The guard in the path constraints is then mutated and passed to an SMT solver. A satisfiable assignment generates a valid input vector. However, STAR suffers the problem of path explosion during symbolic execution. In this article, we present an explored symbolic state caching method to attack path explosion. Explored symbolic states are states starting from which all subpaths have been explored. Each explored symbolic state is stored in the form of bitmap encoding of branches to ease comparison. When the explored symbolic state is reached again in the following symbolic execution, all subpaths can be pruned. In addition, we use two types of optimizations: (a) dynamic UD chain slicing; and (b) local conflict resolution to improve the running efficiency of STAR. We demonstrate that the results of the enhanced STAR are promising in showing high coverage on benchmark RTL designs, and the runtime of the test generation process is reduced from several hours to less than 20 minutes.
A selective force favoring increased G+C content in bacterial genes

Bacteria display considerable variation in their overall base compositions, which range from 13% to over 75% G+C. This variation in genomic base compositions has long been considered to be a strictly neutral character, due solely to differences in the mutational process; however, recent sequence comparisons indicate that mutational input alone cannot produce the observed base compositions, implying a role for natural selection. Because bacterial genomes have high gene content, forces that operate on the base composition of individual genes could help shape the overall genomic base composition. To explore this possibility, we tested whether genes that encode the same protein but vary only in their base compositions at synonymous sites have effects on bacterial fitness. Escherichia coli strains harboring G+C-rich versions of genes display higher growth rates, indicating that despite a pervasive mutational bias toward A+T, a selective force, independent of adaptive codon use, is driving genes toward higher G+C contents.
Solubility of Symplesite (Ferrous Arsenate): Implications for Reduced Groundwaters and Other Geochemical Environments

Arsenic in drinking water represents a major public health concern globally, with tens of millions of people thought to be consuming unsafe amounts of As daily. Groundwater is particularly vulnerable to As contamination, and one geochemical environment conducive to natural mobilization of As is found in shallow alluvial Holocene aquifers. Bacterial consumption of organic matter in these aquifers creates anoxic conditions, leading to dissimulatory reduction of Fe oxides. In these environments, dissolved As and Fe often co-occur. While As(III) is thermodynamically favored under these conditions, As(V) often is found as well. Concentrations of dissolved As(V) and Fe(II) can be constrained by the precipitation of ferrous arsenate solid phases such as symplesite [Fe(II) 3 (As(V)O 4 ) 2 ·8H 2 O]. We present a new solubility product for symplesite (pK so = 33.25) based on controlled laboratory precipitation experiments. Using this solubility product, we conducted equilibrium geochemical modeling using one of the most extensive groundwater data sets from Bangladesh to show that a number of water samples are oversaturated with a variety of solid phases, including siderite, calcite, rhodochrosite, vivianite, and symplesite. Symplesite or other ferrous arsenate solid phases could be a significant sink for As(V) and Fe(II) in Bangladesh and other countries with similar geochemical environments. Symplesite could also control As(V) solubility in extreme environments such as alkaline lakes or in brines used for regeneration of anion exchange resins.
A cofinal coloring theorem for partially ordered algebras

If P is a directed partially ordered algebra of an appropriate sort-e.g. an upper semilattice-and has no maximal element, then P has two disjoint subalgebras each cofinal in P. In fact, if P has cofinality α then there exists a family of α such disjoint subalgebras. A version of this result is also proved without the directedness assumption, in which the cofinality of P is replaced by an invariant which we call its global cofinality.
Efficient orchestration of sub-word parallelism in media processors

Communication and multimedia applications with increased data rates and enhanced functionality continuously raise the bar for the computational requirements of future microprocessors. In order to meet these computational demands it is necessary to exploit sub-word parallelism efficiently. We propose to make sub-word data movement a first-class operation in microprocessor architectures by introducing a Sub-word Permutation Unit (SPU)in the execution pipeline. The SPU is evaluated in the context of the MMX media co-processor for the Intel Pentium architectures, but our results can be extended to any processor that supports sub-word parallelism. We find that the SPU all ws us to orchestrate sub-word data placement prior to computation, thus all wing the MMX functional units to concentrate on performing calculations. Furthermore, we introduce a decoupled SPU control mechanism at the basic block level which allows static optimization to eliminate data-movement verhead in tight loops, where most media and signal processing occurs. We demonstrated that anywhere from 4% to 20% improvement can be obtained on key media and signal processing kernels with as little as 1% increase in hardware resources.
TCR Affinity Associated with Functional Differences between Dominant and Subdominant SIV Epitope-Specific CD8+ T Cells in Mamu-A*01+ Rhesus Monkeys

Many of the factors that contribute to CD8+ T cell immunodominance hierarchies during viral infection are known. However, the functional differences that exist between dominant and subdominant epitope-specific CD8+ T cells remain poorly understood. In this study, we characterized the phenotypic and functional differences between dominant and subdominant simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) epitope-specific CD8+ T cells restricted by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I allele Mamu-A*01 during acute and chronic SIV infection. Whole genome expression analyses during acute infection revealed that dominant SIV epitope-specific CD8+ T cells had a gene expression profile consistent with greater maturity and higher cytotoxic potential than subdominant epitope-specific CD8+ T cells. Flow-cytometric measurements of protein expression and anti-viral functionality during chronic infection confirmed these phenotypic and functional differences. Expression analyses of exhaustion-associated genes indicated that LAG-3 and CTLA-4 were more highly expressed in the dominant epitope-specific cells during acute SIV infection. Interestingly, only LAG-3 expression remained high during chronic infection in dominant epitope-specific cells. We also explored the binding interaction between peptide:MHC (pMHC) complexes and their cognate TCRs to determine their role in the establishment of immunodominance hierarchies. We found that epitope dominance was associated with higher TCR:pMHC affinity. These studies demonstrate that significant functional differences exist between dominant and subdominant epitope-specific CD8+ T cells within MHC-restricted immunodominance hierarchies and suggest that TCR:pMHC affinity may play an important role in determining the frequency and functionality of these cell populations. These findings advance our understanding of the regulation of T cell immunodominance and will aid HIV vaccine design.
Substance Abuse Treatment, Anticipated Maternal Roles, and Reentry Success of Drug-Involved Women Prisoners:

This article reports analyses of recidivism and relapse experiences of substance-abusing women inmates as they reenter the community. Outcomes are compared for women who completed a work-release therapeutic community program, women who entered but did not complete the program, and those who did not receive work-release therapeutic community treatment. Additionally, this article compares women who anticipated living with their children following release to those who did not have children with whom they expected to live. Women who completed the treatment program were more likely to remain arrest-free during the first 18 months following prison, and they used drugs less frequently. Women who expected to live with their minor children were significantly more likely to enter the treatment program, but maternal role expectations had no direct effect on reentry outcomes once treatment experience and background factors were controlled.
Application of Water Mist to Extinguish Large Oil Pool Fires for Industrial Oil Cooker Protection

Large oil fires occurring in industrial oil cookers are very challenging to extinguish due to their size and the large amount of hot oil involved. This paper reports a study to use water mist for large industrial oil cooker protection. The extinguishing mechanisms of water mist and corresponding criteria required for extinguishing large pool cooking oil fires were investigated both theoretically and experimentally. Based on the extinguishing mechanisms and required criteria, two water mist systems were developed in the present work. A series of full-scale fire tests were conducted in a large industrial oil cooker mock-up. The study showed that the two water mist systems presently developed worked effectively to extinguish large cooking oil fires and prevented them from re-igniting. Their extinguishing performance was determined by the type of water mist system, discharge pressure and hood position in the oil cooker.
Effects of structure and label ambiguity on information navigation

We present experimental results showing that search for target items in a three-tiered categorization structure (approximately 8 links per page) is faster than a comparable two-tiered structure provided that the category labels are clear and unambiguous. For items in ambiguous categories, search is faster in the two-tiered structure.
Process integration and optimization of GaAs MESFET and MSM based opto-electronics integrated circuit (OEIC) using statistical experimental design techniques

Focuses on developing a manufacturable, robust, ion implanted 0.6 /spl mu/m GaAs metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MESFET) and metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) based optoelectronic integrated circuit process. Our approach is to represent the OEIC process as the integration of key process modules. Each process module has well defined design parameters and statistically significant transfer characteristics. The statistically significant transfer characteristics of each process module were obtained through design of experiment (DOE) and response surface modeling (RSM), through the use of both experimental data and calibrated process simulators. These transfer characteristics are used to determine the process optimum, considering design for manufacturability (DFM). The mapping of random process variations onto device variations, are realized by these transfer characteristics and used for statistical circuit design for manufacturability. Therefore, the process yield can be enhanced at both the circuit design and the process design levels. The process capability (Cp) is assessed by these modules' transfer characteristics, as well; thus manufacturability can be incorporated into the early stage of process development. As a result, high yield OEIC transmitter and receiver chips with data transmission rates above 1 Gbit/sec have been achieved.
Modeling Urban Growth in Data-Sparse Environments: A New Approach

Although there exist numerous urban growth models, most have significant data input requirements, limiting their utility in a developing-world context. Yet, it is precisely in the developing world where there is an urgent need for urban growth models and scenarios since most expected urban growth in the next two decades will occur in such countries. This paper describes a physical urban growth model that requires few, but widely available, spatially explicit data. Utilizing binary urban/nonurban maps generated by satellite imaging, our model can inform urban planners and policy makers about the most probable locations and periods of future urban land-use change. Using a discrete choice framework, the model employs a spatially explicit logistic regression analysis to evaluate probabilities of urban growth for a baseline period. It calibrates parameters, validates results, predicts urban land-use change and examines future growth scenarios. Future growth scenarios can be generated through the inclusion of l...
Volvo air flow analysis

The purpose of this project was to determine the current climate conditions of the Volvo plant located in Dublin, Virginia. Since no air conditioning was installed in the plant the employees become uncomfortable while they work. Fans were located sporadically around the plant to alleviate this problem. Critical areas within the plant needed to be identified to begin to address this problem. A critical area was defined as any area with temperatures between 68 and 77 degrees, 77 and 85 degrees, and above 85 degrees. These classifications were chosen based on established guidelines. To determine the critical areas, a subjective analysis, employee surveys, and objective analysis, temperature data and fan location, was conducted. The results showed that most plant was classified as a critical area. However, the limitations of this project did not allow for a full analysis of the plant, specifically the summer months, which were the most problematic.
Endoscopic cauterization of congenital pyriform fossa sinus tracts: an 18-year experience.

Importance Congenital pyriform fossa sinus tracts predispose to neck masses and neck abscesses in pediatric and occasionally adult patients. Traditional management involves open excision with substantial potential morbidity. Endoscopic management allows an alternative, less morbid treatment approach. Objective To evaluate the long-term effectiveness of endoscopic cauterization as definitive treatment for pyriform fossa sinus tracts. Design, Setting, and Patients Retrospective review of the medical records of 23 children (aged 7 months to 14 years) with pyriform fossa sinus tracts treated with endoscopic cauterization between 1995 and 2013 at a tertiary care children’s hospital. Intervention Endoscopic electrocauterization of pyriform fossa sinus tract opening. Main Outcomes and Measures Recurrence of symptoms after endoscopic treatment. Results Twenty-one of 23 patients experienced no recurrence after their first endoscopic electrocauterization of the sinus tract. The 2 patients with recurrence experienced symptoms within 1 month of cauterization and were treated with either open excision or recauterization. Endoscopic cauterization was able to definitively treat 9 patients whose treatments with incision and drainage or open excision had failed. Mean (range) follow-up for the 15 patients with follow-up was 7.4 (0.10-14.2) years. No procedure-related morbidity was reported. Conclusions and Relevance Endoscopic cauterization seems to be an effective and potentially permanent treatment for congenital pyriform fossa sinus tracts.
Nutritional status of Efe pygmies and Lese horticulturists.

We assessed the nutritional status of 90 pygmies (Efe) and 211 members of a neighboring horticultural Lese in the Ituri forest in northeast Zaire. Clinical signs of iron and iodine deficiency were highly prevalent, but the frequency of these and other clinical signs of nutritional deficiency did not differ between the two groups. Infectious diseases such as yaws, cellulitis, and filiariasis were common. Absolute heights and weights of both Efe males and females aged 2-18 years were less than the 5th percentile of the National Center for Health Statistics standards. Weights for height of both groups were within the normal range. Weights and heights, expressed as percentages of the 50th percentile for age and sex, were significantly lower (P less than .001) in Efe males and females than among Lese males and females, but weights for height did not differ significantly. Z-Scores of height and weight were also significantly lower in Efe males and females than among their Lese counterparts. The differences in weight and height, expressed either as a percentage of the 50th percentile or as Z-scores, were most apparent in older adolescents and persisted among adults. The normal weight for height among both populations indicated that acute undernutrition did not exist at the time of the survey. Despite comparable levels of adult fatness, measured by triceps skinfold thickness, heights of Efe males and females were lower than those of the Lese. These observations support the hypothesis that genetic differences account for the short stature of the Ituri pygmy. However, because the environments shared by the two groups are not identical and because other practices differ, nutritional effects cannot be excluded.
Transplantation is the best treatment for hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Thank you for asking me to make the case for cardiac transplantation in this debate. Marshall, that was a truly comprehensive and spectacular defense of the value of reconstructive surgery in babies born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. It is clear that the potential for babies born with this complex and lethal malformation has improved dramatically over the past 2 decades. The improvement in outcome is a direct result of complementary surgical strategies. Marshall Jacobs has constructed a stellar review outlining the important issues relating to the ever-evolving staged palliative reconstruction for hypoplastic left heart syndrome. And, he appealed to those present at the Symposium with some images of extraordinary children who represent the most favorable outcomes seen today after staged reconstructive surgery. It would be inappropriate for me to criticize or condemn any feature of these favorable outcomes.
Low-power VLSI decoder architectures for LDPC codes

Iterative decoding of low-density parity check codes (LDPC) using the message-passing algorithm have proved to be extraordinarily effective compared to conventional maximum-likelihood decoding. However, the lack of any structural regularity in these essentially random codes is a major challenge for building a practical low-power LDPC decoder. In this paper, we jointly design the code and the decoder to induce the structural regularity needed for a reduced complexity parallel decoder architecture. This interconnect-driven code design approach eliminates the need for a complex interconnection network while still retaining the algorithmic performance promised by random codes. Moreover, we propose a new approach for computing reliability metrics based on the BCJR algorithm that reduces the message switching activity in the decoder compared to existing approaches. Simulations show that the proposed approach results in power savings of up to 85.64% over conventional implementations.
Revealing Triple-Shape Memory Effect by Polymer Bilayers

Bilayer polymers that consist of two epoxy dual-shape memory polymers of well-separated glass transition temperatures have been synthesized. These bilayer epoxy samples exhibit a triple-shape memory effect (TSME) with shape fixities tailorable by changing the ratio between the two layers. The triple-shape fixities of the bilayer epoxy polymers can be explained by the balance of stress between the two layers. Based on this work, it is believed that the following three molecular design criterions should be considered in designing triple-shape memory polymers with optimum TSME: 1) well-separated thermal transitions, 2) a strong interface, and 3) an appropriate balance of moduli and relative ratios between the layers (or microphases).
Hyperbaric Oxygen as an Intervention for Managing Wound Hypoxia: Its Role and Usefulness in Diabetic Foot Wounds

Few topics in diabetic wound management generate as much "heated" discussion as hyperbaric oxygen (HBO). Hyperbaric oxygen is an intermittent inhalation therapy in which the patient breathes oxygen at greater than 1 atm of pressure. This requires placement of the patient into a sealed vessel (chamber) which is capable of withstanding pressurization. This article discusses the role of HBO as an adjunct to the management of diabetic problem foot wounds from evidenced-based, approved (by Medicare) indications and cost-effectiveness perspectives.
Primary Aortofemoral Bypass by Way of the Obturator Foramen: An Alternative Procedure for Femoral Sepsis Associated with an Irradiated Pelvis A Case Report

An aortofemoral bypass by way of the obturator foramen was successfully completed with use of a 6-mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft. A twenty-four-year-old woman with a radiated groin for reticular cell lymphoma arrived at a community hospital with spontaneous hemorrhage. Following resuscitation, stabilization, and transfer, the patient was operated on.
Open probability of homomeric murine 5-HT3A serotonin receptors depends on subunit occupancy

1. The time course of macroscopic current responses of homomeric murine serotonin 5-HT3A receptors was studied in whole cells and excised membrane patches under voltage clamp in response to rapid application of serotonin. 2. Serotonin activated whole cell currents with an EC 50 value for the peak response of 2 µM and a Hill slope of 3.0 (n = 12), suggesting that the binding of at least three agonist molecules is required to open the channel. 3. Homomeric 5-HT 3A receptors in excised membrane patches had a slow activation time course (mean ± S.E.M. 10–90 % rise time 12.5 ± 1.6 ms; n= 9 patches) for 100 µM serotonin. The apparent activation rate was estimated by fitting an exponential function to the rising phase of responses to supramaximal serotonin to be 136 s _1 . 4. The 5-HT 3A receptor response to 100 µM serotonin in outside-out patches (n = 19) and whole cells (n = 41) desensitized with a variable rate that accelerated throughout the experiment. The time course for desensitization was described by two exponential components (for patches r slow 1006 ± 139 ms, amplitude 31 %; rfast 176 ± 25 ms, amplitude 69 %). 5. Deactivation of the response following serotonin removal from excised membrane patches (n = 8) and whole cells (n = 29) was described by a dual exponential time course with time constants similar to those for desensitization (for patches r slow 838 ± 217 ms, 55 % amplitude; rfast 213 ± 44 ms, 45 % amplitude). 6. In most patches (6 of 8), the deactivation time course in response to a brief 1–5 ms pulse of serotonin was similar to or slower than desensitization. This suggests that the continued presence of agonist can induce desensitization with a similar or more rapid time course than agonist unbinding. The difference between the time course for deactivation and desensitization was voltage independent over the range _100 to _40 mV in patches (n = 4) and _100 to +50 mV in whole cells (n = 4), suggesting desensitization of these receptors in the presence of serotonin does not reflect a voltage-dependent block of the channel by agonist. 7. Simultaneously fitting the macroscopic 5-HT 3A receptor responses in patches to submaximal (2 µM) and maximal (100 µM) concentrations of serotonin to a variety of state models suggests that homomeric 5-HT3A receptors require the binding of three agonists to open and possess a peak open probability greater than 0.8. Our modelling also suggests that channel open probability varies with the number of serotonin molecules bound to the receptor, with a reduced open probability for fully liganded receptors. Increasing the desensitization rate constants in this model can generate desensitization that is more rapid than deactivation, as observed in a subpopulation of our patches.
Periostin‐like‐factor in osteogenesis

Periostin-like-factor (PLF), an isoform related to Periostin, is expressed in bone, heart, and vascular smooth muscle cells. PLF was detected by immunostaining in mesenchymal cells in the periosteum and in osteoblasts lining trabecular bone, suggesting that PLF has a role in osteogenesis. PLF has a signal peptide and is also secreted from osteoblasts in vitro. To study the function of PLF in osteogenesis, we assessed the effect of PLF on osteoblast proliferation and differentiation in vitro and bone formation in vivo. First, to examine whether PLF regulates osteoblast proliferation in vitro, the CyQUANT cell proliferation assay was performed. PLF over-expression by adenovirus resulted in a significantly higher rate of cell proliferation compared to controls. This finding suggests that PLF promotes osteoblast proliferation in vitro. Second, to test whether PLF mediates osteoblast differentiation in vitro, differentiation markers of osteoblasts, were assessed, including alkaline phosphatase staining and activity, von Kossa staining and calcium deposition. Over-expression of PLF resulted in higher expression and activity of alkaline phosphatase and higher amounts of mineralization and calcium deposition compared to controls. These data suggest that PLF promotes osteoblast differentiation in vitro. Third, to investigate the role of PLF in bone formation in vivo, PLF adenovirus was injected into 6-week-old rat femur bone marrow. Over-expression of PLF resulted in increased bone formation within the marrow cavity. Lastly, in a model of fracture healing, PLF expression is robustly upregulated in callus osteoblasts at post-fracture days 7 and 14. Taken together, these findings suggests that PLF induces bone formation in vivo. We conclude that PLF stimulates bone formation in vivo possibly by promoting osteoblast proliferation and differentiation.
China's Labor Market in the 'New Normal'

As China implements reforms under the “new normal,” maintaining stability in the labor market is a priority. The country’s demography and labor dynamics are changing, after benefitting in past decades from ample cheap labor. So far, the labor market appears to be resilient, even as growth slows, driven in part by expansion of the services sector. Migrant flows and possible labor hoarding in overcapacity sectors may also help explain this. Yet, while the latter two factors help serve as shock absorbers - contributing to labor market stability in the short term - if they persist, they may delay the needed adjustment process, contributing to an inefficient allocation of resources and curtailing productivity gains. This paper quantifies to what extent structural trends and the reform pace affect employment growth under the new normal. Delays in reform implementation would weaken growth prospects in the medium term, running the risk that job creation will fall below policy targets, leading to labor market pressures in the future. In contrast, successful transition might require faster reforms, including in the overcapacity and state-owned enterprise sectors, supported by well targeted social safety nets.
Community-Based Health Advocacy and Health Policy: A Look at Hiv/Aids Prevention Programs

Over the past few decades there has been an increase in health and social welfare programs in the United States of America (US). However, there is a greater need to work on the federal level to create and implement health policy that will enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the healthcare system. Health policy should provide for initiatives such as increased strategic planning and funding, collaboration between the scientific community and the service community, a standard uniform level of training for community-based health organizations, and a standard monitoring system. Enhancing the community-based approach to health promotion and disease prevention can lower and eventually eliminate health disparities, particularly within the African American community. Moreover, because community-based health promotion and disease prevention efforts have become common it is important to have a definition of ‘community’ that is largely understood and accepted. The American Journal of Public Health defines community as “a group of people with diverse characteristics who are linked by social ties, share common perspectives, and engage in joint action in geographical locations or settings.” Common perspectives, in regards to community health, can include increasing health education, access to resources, and prevention and management of health conditions and diseases. Many preventable health conditions and diseases include diabetes, teen pregnancy, cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS, alcohol and drug abuse, and obesity. Most of these health conditions and diseases are negatively impacting African American communities in a disproportionate manner in regards to other racial groups; of note, HIV/AIDS. Therefore, community health advocacy can be utilized to target these common perspectives and shape health policy to meet community health needs in the US.
Opportunities and Obstacles to Local Economic Development

This article examines the opportunities for and obstacles to economic development in cities. States and cities invest precious resources each year to foster economic development, yet in many cases without much or predictable benefit. This study seeks to determine what local economic development officers identify as their municipality’s opportunities for and obstacles to economic development. A body of economic development literature focuses on the effectiveness of local economic development policies. This research seeks to identify the factors external to those policies themselves that assist or obstruct local economic development. Municipal officials responsible for economic development from forty-seven municipalities in Massachusetts responded to a confidential online survey. Commonly identified obstacles to economic development included a lack of sufficient funding, infrastructure, and regulatory process or agency difficulties. Commonly identified opportunities to economic development included leadership focused on economic development, location-specific features, and access to highways.