cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Medical Pearl: Confirming the diagnosis of molluscum contagiosum using 10% potassium hydroxide

technique using the sharp edge of the disposable ring curette is suggested. The curette is ideally held as in the ‘‘fountain-pen technique,’’ and the margins of the lesion to be curetted are delineated using the sharp edge of the ring curette. The margins of small lesions (6-7 mm) are gently scored by advancement of the sharp edge of a 7-mm curette at one end to another to include the entire specimen en bloc (Fig 1, A-C ). Standard curettage and cautery technique is employed thereafter. The ring of the curette can be compressed to achieve a shape suited to the thickness and size of the lesion to be curetted. For bigger lesions ($1 cm), the curette can be easily advanced from the margin to the center of the lesion with a slicing movement to attain the specimen at a desired depth. Advantages of this technique include attainment of the en bloc specimen. This allows laboratory technicians to cut serial sections of the tissue and prevents failure of the fragmented tissue from being processed, as may rarely be the case with the standard curettage technique. Histopathologic analysis is consequently easier and interpretation convenient for the pathologists.
Junction-side up operation of (Al)GaInP lasers with very low threshold currents

Strained (Al)GaInP quantum-well ridge lasers with AlGaAs cladding layers have been fabricated on a 5 degrees -off oriented GaAs substrate. Owing to a heat spreading layer, the devices can be operated junction-side up with a CW threshold current of 13 mA. Singlemode operation is achieved up to power levels of 15 mW for devices with uncoated facets.
Pattern of retained contrast on immediate postprocedure computed tomography (CT) after particle embolization of liver tumors predicts subsequent treatment response.

Purpose To determine if the pattern of retained contrast on immediate postprocedure computed tomography (CT) after particle embolization of hepatic tumors predicts modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST) response.
Group Embedding for the Harmonic Oscillator

The embedding of the algebra of the invariance group $\mathrm{SU}(n)$ for the $n$-dimensional harmonic oscillator in larger algebras is considered. Among the four classical algebras of rank $n$, only $\overline{s}\overline{u}(n+1)$ and $\overline{s}\overline{p}(2n)$ are found possible for this purpose. Specific generators and their commutation relations are examined, and the general Casimir operators are constructed. It is found that the whole spectrum of the harmonic oscillator can be embedded in one representation of $\overline{s}\overline{u}(n+1)$. Depending upon the value of a partition constant $c$, a finite portion of the spectrum can be embedded in the compact algebra $\mathrm{su}(n+1)$; the remainder is in the noncompact $su(n, 1)$. In the case of $\overline{s}\overline{p}(2n)$, only the noncompact $sp(n, R)$ can include the $\mathrm{su}(n)$ of the harmonic oscillator; moreover, the two useful representations of $sp(n, R)$, which are true representations of the universal covering group of $Sp(n, R)$, contain either all the even or all the odd levels of the spectrum.
Measuring the support networks of transition-age foster youth: Preliminary validation of a social network assessment for research and practice

Abstract Multi-dimensional social support is an important factor in any positive transition into young adulthood, and youth who are exiting foster care ideally receive comprehensive social support from a range of informal and formal sources. Yet the social networks of transition-age foster youth are likely influenced over time by child welfare involvement, which can weaken or disrupt natural support relationships, while introducing service-oriented relationships that are not intended to last into adulthood. To better understand the social support context of youth aging out of care, we can apply social network theory and methods to systematically identify their networks of supportive relationships and explore support provision as a network-based indicator. This paper presents a methodological approach to measure foster youth support networks, and describes these networks in terms of their capacity to provide support as a function of size, composition, and density, and in terms of actual support provision through identified relationships. Such a measurement approach should be systematic and reliable over time, and capture social support constructs relevant to practice with this population; preliminary inter-item and test–retest consistency findings are promising, and the method demonstrates construct and predictive validity in comparison with a measure of perceived availability of social support.
Effects of bottom currents and fish on sedimentation in a deep-water, lacustrine environment

Sands and muds accumulating under the influence of apparently strong bottom currents in a deep-water environment of Lake Superior were studied in detail using 3.5-kHz echo sounding; side-scan SONAR; piston, gravity, and box coring; and lake-floor photography. The study area includes a well-defined slope and basin environment. Bottom currents maintain a scoured trough, 20 m deep and 2 km wide, at the base of the slope and modify the shapes of large ringlike depressions that are common in many regions of Lake Superior. Side-scan SONAR records reveal lineations subparallel to the direction of bottom-current flow that are interpreted in different areas to be sand ribbons, slight depressions, or depositional furrows. The sediments range from silty sand in the scoured trough to sandy clays farther offshore. Radiocarbon dating and 210 Pb dating show the sediments to be postglacial rather than relic glacial-lacustrine sediments. Grain size distributions are affected by bottom currents and a nearby source of sand. Some sedimentary structures, including plane laminations and interbedded sands and muds, are due to bottom currents. Fish create dish laminations, however, that often obscure the effects of the bottom currents. Fish and fish-scour depressions are common in lake-floor photographs, whereas evidence for bottom currents is not. Biological activity therefore appears to erase traces of intermittent currents.
99 DIFFERENTIAL GENE REGULATION OF STEROIDOGENIC TRANSCRIPTS AND ESTRADIOL PRODUCTION FOLLOWING IN VITRO PIG EMBRYO ELONGATION IN ALGINATE HYDROGEL THREE-DIMENSIONAL MATRIX

Between Day 10 and 12 of gestation, the pig embryo elongates from a sphere to a long thin, filament. During this time, the embryo increases the production of oestrogen via an increase in steroidogenic transcripts, which is critical for maternal recognition of pregnancy. To date, attempts to elongate porcine embryos in vitro have been unsuccessful. Therefore, the objective of this study was to utilise alginate hydrogels to establish a culture system that promotes in vitro embryo elongation with a corresponding increase in steroidogenic transcripts and oestradiol production. In 3 replicate collections, White crossbred gilts (n = 15) were bred at Day 0 of the oestrous cycle. At Day 9 of gestation, reproductive tracts were collected and flushed with RPMI-1640 containing antibiotics. Embryos were recovered, grouped according to size and washed with RPMI-1640 containing antibiotics and 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Embryos were randomly assigned to be encapsulated using a double encapsulation technique (0.7% sodium alginate and 1.5% calcium chloride solution) or used as controls. Encapsulated and control embryos were cultured for 96 h in CO2 -pretreated RPMI-1640 containing antibiotics and 10% FBS at 38°C, 5% CO2 in air and 100% humidity. Every 24 h, the embryos were imaged and half of the media was replaced. The removed media was stored at –20°C and used to assess oestradiol levels by radioimmunoassay. At the end of culture, a subset of encapsulated and control embryos were snap frozen and used to assess the expression level of steroidogenic transcripts (STAR, CYP11 and CYP19) using quantitative PCR. All data were analysed using general linear model (GLM) procedures for ANOVA. Cell survival, assessed by blastocyst fragmentation and confirmed by live/dead staining in representative embryos, was greater (P = 0.01) for encapsulated embryos (60.1 ± 4.8%) compared with controls (33.3 ± 4.8%). Of encapsulated embryos, 27% had some morphological change (minor flattening and tubal formation) and 14% had significant morphological changes (considerable flattening and tubal formation elongating through the gel), consistent with in vivo embryo elongation. In contrast, the control embryos had no morphological changes observed and remained spherical during culture. The expression levels of STAR, CYP11 and CYP19 were significantly (P < 0.05) greater in encapsulated embryos compared with control embryos. Furthermore, a significant (P < 0.01) time-dependent increase in oestradiol levels in the culture media of encapsulated embryos was identified compared with controls and culture media alone. These results illustrate that cultured pig embryos encapsulated in alginate hydrogels undergo limited morphological changes with increased expression of steroidogenic transcripts and oestrogen production. †USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
FINAL PARTICLE CORRELATIONS IN DEEP INELASTIC LEPTON PROCESSES

A study is made of the additional information learned from measurements of the correlation of two (or more) detected particles in the final states of deep inelastic lepton processes. Generalized Bjorken limits are derived in which the new structure functions depend only on the ratios of the kinematical variables available, just as do the more familiar structure functions ${W}_{1}$ and $\ensuremath{\nu}{W}_{2}$ for electron-proton scattering in the deep inelastic region. Experimental implications are discussed.
Sex differences in nuclear androgen receptors in guinea pig brain and the effects of anα2 noradrenergic blocker on androgen receptors

The binding of the synthetic androgen, [3H]methyltrienolone (R1881) to nuclear androgen receptors (NAR) was studied in various brain areas of gonadectomized male and female guinea pigs treated for 3 days with 2 mg testosterone propionate. The Scatchard analysis of salt-extracted NAR showed a single, high-affinity receptor with a Kd of 0.152 nM and maximum binding sites (Bmax) of 161.9 fmol/mg DNA. The concentration of NAR was highest in the hypothalamus (HYPO) and preoptic area (POA) in both males and females. Lower receptor levels were detected in the amygdala and cortex. NAR levels were significantly lower in the POA of females than in males. Systemic injection of prazosin, an alpha 1-adrenergic antagonist had no effect on NAR concentrations, but an alpha 2-antagonist, idazoxan, significantly reduced the binding of [3H]R1881 to NAR in both HYPO and POA. The reduction in binding of the ligand to receptor was not due to alterations in affinity of NAR, but rather to the decline in the number of receptors.
Increased O2 Consumption and Energy Loss in Premature Infants following Medical Care Procedures

Oxygen consumption (VO2) and CO2 production (VCO2) were measured continuously for 24 h in 10 premature infants during their ongoing nursing care. Using a flow-through
C25 and C30 biogenic alkenes in a sediment core from the upper anoxic basin of the Pettaquamscutt River (Rhode Island, U.S.A.)

Abstract Concentration profiles of five C 25 and C 30 biogenic alkenes in a sediment core collected from the upper anoxic basin of the Pettaquamscutt River have been determined. The five alkenes were identified usin gas chromatography/mass spectrometry as three isomeric C 25 dienes, a C 25 triene and a bicyclic C 30 diene. All five compounds exhibit subsurface concentration maxima, thought to result from either preservation of a past increase in alkene production or a current bacterial in situ production at depth. Similarities exist in the concentrations of two alkenes common to this core and a core from upper Narragansett Bay, despite significant differences in the origin and content of sedimentary organic matter (as inferred from organic carbon and δ 13 C measurements) at each location. These observations support the proposed bacterial in situ synthesis of alkenes. Other alkenes, whose concentration in sediments had been previously correlated with the incidence of marine organic matter, were not detected in the upper basin sediments. Their absence is consistent with the range of organic carbon δ 13 C values measured, which indicate that the component originating from marine sources is small. A comparison of organic carbon and δ 13 C values in this core with those previously reported from a core collected in an adjoining basin indicate that the sedimentary regimes at the two sites differ despite their close proximity and similar hydrography.
Differences and Similarities Between the Rastafari Movement and the Nation of Islam

The two Black social movements under consideration in this article are now well established among Black communities in America and, although widely thought to be distinct from each other, have much in common. As such, this article seeks to explore the similarities and differences between the movements. One overarching similarity is that both movements empower their largely Black adherents by providing them with a positive Black identity. This may be viewed as an outcome of both movements being inspired by Marcus Garvey. In addition, because these movements emphasize change within the individual rather than change in the surrounding social structure, they are considered to be expressive social movements. A key difference between the movements is the specific type of positive Black identity that is inculcated. For the Rastafari movement, it is an African-centered, Afrocentric identity, whereas for the Nation of Islam it is a Blackcentric identity (that is not geographically anchored).
The Surface Tension of Nanobubbles and the Effect of the Potential Cutoff Radius

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations are carried out to calculate the surface tension of bubbles formed in a metastable Lennard-Jones (LJ) fluid. The calculated normal and transverse pressure components are used to compute a surface tension which is compared to the surface tension computed from the Young-Laplace equation. Curvature effects on surface tension are investigated by performing various sized simulations ranging from 6,912 to 256,000 LJ particles. Density profiles, pressures, and calculated surface tension are shown to have a strong dependence on the choice of the interaction cutoff radius. A cutoff radius of 8σ, significantly larger than that commonly used in the literature, is recommended for accurate calculations in liquid-vapor systems.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Alterations in ninhydrin-positive substances and cytoplasmic protein synthesis in the brains of ascorbic acid-deficient guinea pigs.

Newly-weaned male guinea pigs were fed an ascorbic acid-deficient diet ad libitum and compared with control animals pair-fed an adequate diet for a similar duration. The ascorbic acid-deficient animals demonstrated prominent elevations in serum concentrations of tyrosine (+427%), phenylalanine (+36%) and arginine (+21 %) with concomitant depressions in levels of glycine (–57 %), histidine (–39 %), ethanolamine (–38%) and glutamic acid (–22 %). With few exceptions, the alterations in the liver amino acid profiles were in the same directions as those observed in the serum. The scorbutic brains showed 28–36 per cent of the retention of total ascorbic acid found in control animals and were characterized by marked elevation (+83%) in tyrosine content, hardly any alteration in phenylalanine (–9%), and depressed levels of histidine (–33 %), arginine (–25%), phosphoserine (–50%) and GABA (–12%). The implications of such abnormal changes in free amino acid patterns were evaluated in the light of the role of some of these amino acids as precursors for the synthesis of neuroregulatory substances. No difference was observed in the brain polysomal profiles as isolated from the two groups of animals. Incubation of polysomes from ascorbic acid-deficient brains with autologous pH 5 enzyme derived from cell sap not passed through Sephadex G-25 revealed low uptake of [14C]phenylalanine in comparison to that for a similar system from control animals. Use of pH 5 enzymes prepared from Sephadex-treated and dialysed cell saps eliminated the difference in specific activities of the two groups of ribosomes, an observation suggesting that ascorbic acid deficiency either intensified the activity of the inhibitory components or reduced the low molecular weight stimulatory substances present under normal conditions in the brain postmicrosomal fraction.
Post-Insemination Signalling Systems and Reinforcement

Theory indicates that the conditions necessary for the operation of reinforcement are very restrictive, yet two recent surveys of the literature report the widespread occurrence of patterns predicted by the reinforcement hypothesis. We begin a reconciliation of theory and data by focusing on one of the most troublesome restrictions placed on reinforcement: the need for strong selection against hybridization. Laboratory hybridization studies often do not find evidence of the required selection. We point out that the design of most laboratory hybridization studies precludes the detection of barriers to fertilization. Recent work on the ground crickets Allonemobius fasciatus and A. socius, which we summarize here, suggests that barriers to fertilization evolve quickly. If mating is a risky business, such barriers can promote the evolution of premating isolation. Post-insemination signalling systems are little understood by evolutionists and worthy of much greater attention.
North American inland port development: international vs domestic shipper preferences

Changes in US transportation policy and changing freight flows influenced by NAFTA have refocused the attention of interior states on their transportation infrastructure. Shippers in the landlocked Midwest of the USA have inquired into the feasibility of inland ports that better facilitate domestic and global commerce by providing shared facilities and services. As such, these inland ports represent one‐stop shopping for various transportation and logistics‐related services. The present study asked central Iowa shippers about their perceptions of and preferences for a proposed inland port. The respondents were categorized as either “international” (i.e. companies that export and/or import, and those planning to) or “domestic‐only” (firms with no international operations nor plans to export or import). The results will assist policy makers and investors to develop an implementation strategy for an inland port, and to identify potential customers for specific port features and services.
Palsies of the Trochlear Nerve: Diagnosis and Localization—Recent Concepts

In this review, the anatomy of the trochlear nerve, the diagnosis of palsies of the trochlear nerve, and the localization of lesions of the trochlear nerve are discussed. Paresis of the superior oblique muscle is often not evident on duction testing; therefore, subjective diplopia testing with use of a Maddox rod is often necessary. The torsional component of the deviation may be evaluated by double Maddox rod testing. Palsies of the trochlear nerve must be distinguished from other causes of vertical diplopia, such as oculomotor palsy, skew deviation, myasthenia gravis, and Graves' ophthalmopathy. Trauma is the most common cause of isolated, unilateral or bilateral, acquired palsies of the trochlear nerve when a cause can be determined. The localization of lesions of the trochlear nerve to the nucleus or fascicles (or both), subarachnoid space, cavernous sinus and superior orbital fissure, or orbit depends on the associated damage to neighboring neurologic structures. Myokymia of the superior oblique muscle is usually idiopathic and benign but may rarely be an isolated manifestation of tectal disease.
Interaction of highly charged clusters with surface

The purpose of this paper is to draw attention to phenomena occurring on solid surfaces under impact of new kinds of projectiles—slow, very large and highly charged clusters produced in modern electrospray ionization sources. It is known that slow highly charged atomic ions, for instance Xe^(+44), approaching a non-metal surface cause sputtering, erosion and create craters and blisters via the mechanism of Coulomb explosion following a cascade Auger neutralization, emitting vast amounts of secondary electrons. The same mechanism should create analogous nano-features on a non-metal surface under impacts of clusters containing up to 10^8–10^9 molecules with a mass of up to 10^9–10^(10) amu and a diameter as large as 10^3 nm, their charge reaching several 10^3 e, albeit the charge-to-mass ratio would not exceed 10^(−7)–10^(−6) e amu^(−1). When accelerated using a voltage of up to 10^4 V, the clusters can acquire a kinetic energy of 10^4 keV, but a very slow velocity, less than 5×10^4 cm s^(−1), which corresponds to about 10^(−2) eV atom^(−1), well below the threshold of kinetic electron emission. The conditions are favorable for Auger neutralization-induced potential electron emission. The estimates, inevitably approximate in the absence of any experimental data, predict that the diameter of the craters could be around 10 nm, the number of sputtered atoms could be as large as 10^5 atoms per cluster and the yield of ejected electrons could reach up to several thousand electrons per cluster. These numbers show that both experimental studies of the phenomena and a search for their possible applications are worth performing.
A rare coexistence of adrenal cavernous hemangioma with extramedullar hemopoietic tissue: a case report and brief review of the literature

Background Cavernous hemangiomas of the adrenal gland are rare, benign, non-functioning neoplastic tumors. To our knowledge, 55 cases have been reported in the literature to date.
A simple graph-based intermediate representation

We present a graph-based intermediate representation (IR) with simple semantics and a low-memory-cost C++ implementation. The IR uses a directed graph with labeled vertices and ordered inputs but unordered outputs. Vertices are labeled with opcodes, edges are unlabeled. We represent the CFG and basic blocks with the same vertex and edge structures. Each opcode is defined by a C++ class that encapsulates opcode-specific data and behavior. We use inheritance to abstract common opcode behavior, allowing new opcodes to be easily defined from old ones. The resulting IR is simple, fast and easy to use.
On minimizing end-to-end delay with optimal traffic partitioning

Multipath transport provides higher usable bandwidth for a session. It has also been shown to provide load balancing and error resilience for end-to-end multimedia sessions. Two key issues in the use of multiple paths are 1) how to minimize the end-to-end delay, which now includes the delay along the paths and the resequencing delay at the receiver, and 2) how to select paths. This paper presents an analytical framework for the optimal partitioning of real-time multimedia traffic that minimizes the total end-to-end delay. Specifically, it formulates optimal traffic partitioning as a constrained optimization problem using deterministic network calculus and derives its closed-form solution. Compared with previous work, the proposed scheme is simpler to implement and enforce. This analysis also greatly simplifies the solution to the path selection problem as compared to previous efforts. Analytical results show that for a given flow and a set of paths, a minimal subset can be chosen to achieve the minimum end-to-end delay with O(N) time, where N is the number of available paths. The selected path set is optimal in the sense that adding any rejected path to the set will only increase the end-to-end delay.
Complex independent component analysis of frequency-domain electroencephalographic data

Independent component analysis (ICA) has proven useful for modeling brain and electroencephalographic (EEG) data. Here, we present a new, generalized method to better capture the dynamics of brain signals than previous ICA algorithms. We regard EEG sources as eliciting spatio-temporal activity patterns, corresponding to, e.g. trajectories of activation propagating across cortex. This leads to a model of convolutive signal superposition, in contrast with the commonly used instantaneous mixing model. In the frequency-domain, convolutive mixing is equivalent to multiplicative mixing of complex signal sources within distinct spectral bands. We decompose the recorded spectral-domain signals into independent components by a complex infomax ICA algorithm. First results from a visual attention EEG experiment exhibit: (1) sources of spatio-temporal dynamics in the data, (2) links to subject behavior, (3) sources with a limited spectral extent, and (4) a higher degree of independence compared to sources derived by standard ICA.
Remobilization of toxic heavy metals adsorbed to bacterial wall-clay composites.

Abstract Significant quantities of Ag(I), Cu(II), and Cr(III) were bound to isolated Bacillus subtilis 168 walls, Escherichia coli K-12 envelopes, kaolinite and smectite clays, and the corresponding organic material-clay aggregates (1:1, wt/wt). These sorbed metals were leached with HNO3, Ca(NO3)2, EDTA, fulvic acid, and lysozyme at several concentrations over 48 h at room temperature. The remobilization of the sorbed metals depended on the physical properties of the organic and clay surfaces and on the character and concentration of the leaching agents. In general, the order of remobilization of metals was Cr much less than Ag less than Cu. Cr was very stable in the wall, clay, and composite systems; pH 3.0, 500 microM EDTA, 120-ppm [mg liter-1] fulvic acid, and 160-ppm Ca remobilized less than 32% (wt/wt) of sorbed Cr. Ag (45 to 87%) and Cu (up to 100%) were readily removed by these agents. Although each leaching agent was effective at mobilizing certain metals, elevated Ca or acidic pH produced the greatest overall mobility. The organic chelators were less effective. Lysozyme digestion of Bacillus walls remobilized Cu from walls and Cu-wall-kaolinite composites, but Ag, Cr, and smectite partially inhibited enzyme activity, and the metals remained insoluble. The extent of metal remobilization was not always dependent on increasing concentrations of leaching agents; for example, Ag mobility decreased with some clays and some composites treated with high fulvic acid, EDTA, and lysozyme concentrations. Sometimes the organic material-clay composites reacted in a manner distinctly different from that of their individual counterparts; e.g., 25% less Cu was remobilized from wall- and envelope-smectite composites than from walls, envelopes, or smectite individually in 500 microM EDTA. Alternatively, treatment with 160-ppm Ca removed 1.5 to 10 times more Ag from envelope-kaolinite composites than from the individual components. The particle size of the deposited metal may account for some of the stability changes; those metals that formed large, compact aggregates (Cr and Ag) as seen by transmission electron microscopy were less likely to be remobilized. In summary, it is apparent that remobilization of toxic heavy metals in sediments, soils, and the vadose zone is a complicated issue. Predictions based on single inorganic or organic component systems are too simplistic.
On the penetration of the 660 km phase change by mantle downflows

We present a simple analytic model of the interaction of cold convective downwelling currents with an endothermic phase change. The model describes the ponding and lateral spreading of downflows along the phase transition interface. A simple comparison of the vertical forces on the ponding material provides a necessary condition for a downflow to penetrate the phase boundary. This condition is fundamentally dependent on the geometry of the downflow. For planar downwellings, the model predicts a minimum ponding time before the structure can penetrate the phase boundary. For columnar (axisymmetric) downflows, there is no minimum time of spreading required before penetration can proceed. The model thus provides an explanation for the observation that in numerical models of three-dimensional convection with an endothermic phase change, cylindrical downflows penetrate the phase interface while planar ones do not. Since descending slabs in the Earth's mantle display a wide spectrum of geometries between planar and cylindrical (given various trench curvatures, as well as intersections of two or more subduction zones), this phenomenon may explain, in part, why some slabs appear to extend into the lower mantle while others are deflected at the 660 km discontinuity.
Extended Protocol for Demonstration of Dual AV Nodal Physiology

The incidence of dual atrioventricular (AV) nodal physiology was evaluated in 22 patients (14 males, 8 females, age 52 +/- 18 years) undergoing electrophysiology studies for evaluation of ventricular tachycardia/nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (n = 11), supraventricular tachycardia (n = 5), and syncope (n = 6). Patients with AV node reentrant tachycardia were excluded. Thirteen patients had normal left ventricular function and nine patients (seven with coronary artery disease, two with dilated cardiomyopathy) had depressed left ventricular function. Single atrial extrastimuli (A2) were introduced after eight-beat drives at paced cycle lengths of 550 msec and 400 or 450 msec beginning at coupling intervals of 650 and 500 or 550 msec, respectively. The coupling interval was decreased at 10-msec intervals until AV node or atrial refractoriness. A second atrial extrastimulus (A3) was then added. A2 was fixed at 50 msec greater than the atrial or AV nodal refractory period. A3 was coupled to A2 at 650 and 500 or 550 msec and decremented as with single extrastimulation. Dual AV nodal physiology was defined by a 50-msec increase in A2H2 or A3H3 with a 10-msec decrement in the coupling interval or a discontinuous H1H2 versus A1A2 or H2H3 versus A2A3 curve. Using a single extrastimulus, 1 of 22 patients demonstrated dual AV nodal physiology. Using double extrastimuli, an additional four patients with dual AV nodal physiology were identified. The occurrence of dual AV nodal physiology determined using double extrastimuli is increased compared to using only a single extrastimulus (P = 0.03).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Balloon Pulmonary Angioplasty for Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension A Need for Further Dialogue, Development, and Collaborative Study

> “The historian of science may be tempted to claim that when paradigms change, the world itself changes with them. Led by a new paradigm, scientists adopt new instruments and look in new places … see new and different things when looking with familiar instruments in places they have looked before.”1 Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH), increasingly recognized as occurring in some 2% to 4% of people experiencing pulmonary embolism, rivals idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in its poor untreated outcome, with rapid progression to increasing fatigue, breathlessness, right-ventricular dysfunction and failure, and untimely death.2 Intraluminal thrombus organization is accompanied by fibrous and inflammatory narrowing of directly affected vessels and is accompanied by inflammatory remodeling effects in overcirculated and pressurized pulmonary arterial segments that were not mechanically obstructed. Effects on pulmonary blood flow distribution, ventilation and gas exchange, and right-ventricular afterload and function are profound.3 To date, therapy for CTEPH has largely focused on surgically based pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PEA) followed by adjunctive chronic anticoagulation.4 (Targeted medical therapies designed for PAH seem to have real, but limited, benefit for individuals with CTEPH.5) When PEA is performed in centers with combined medical, surgical, and perioperative experience and expertise, results may be highly favorable, particularly in individuals with fewer medical comorbidities, with more proximally located obstruction, with greater preoperative efficiency of ventilation or vascular responsiveness to pulmonary vasodilator testing, and with lower preoperative pulmonary vascular resistance.2 However, heterogeneity of pathological and clinical presentation, combined with lack of uniform access to high-volume expert surgical centers, continues to contribute to 10% to 50% of patients with CTEPH …
Designing flexible EMR systems for recording and summarizing doctor-patient interactions

Electronic Medical Records (EMR) are increasingly transitioning from desktop systems to mobile devices. This innovation presents challenges to medical practitioners in terms of doctor-patient interaction, patient record integrity and continuing reliance on paper-based annotation schemas. We describe findings from a pilot study of EMR use by physicians in a family medical clinic and propose guidelines for the design of mobile EMR systems. These guidelines seek to fuse the dynamic capabilities of digital systems with the immediacy and personal nature of paper-based records.
Learning probabilistic models of connectivity from multiple spike train data

Neuronal circuits or cell assemblies carry out brain function through complex coordinated firing patterns [1]. Inferring topology of neuronal circuits from simultaneously recorded spike train data is a challenging problem in neuroscience. In this work we present a new class of dynamic Bayesian networks to infer polysynaptic excitatory connectivity between spiking cortical neurons [2]. The emphasis on excitatory networks allows us to learn connectivity models by exploiting fast data mining algorithms. Specifically, we show that frequent episodes help identify nodes with high mutual information relationships and can be summarized into a dynamic Bayesian network (DBN). We model the spike train data as binary random variables and learn high mutual information parent sets of neurons that excite the spiking of down-stream neurons at variable delays. Thus we can express the probability of spiking of each neuron conditioned on the activity of a subset of relevant neurons in recent past (or history window). We formally establish a connection between efficient frequent episode mining algorithms (used to indentify frequently repeating patterns of spiking activity [3]) and learning probabilistic models for excitatory connections. This framework is depicted in Figure ​Figure11. Figure 1 A multi-electrode array (MEA; left) produces a stream of action potentials (middle). Mining frequent episodes of firing in simultaneously recorded multiple-spike train data uncovers excitatory circuits (right). We demonstrate the effectiveness of our method in discovering connectivity information on synthetic and real datasets. Our synthetic data generation models each neuron as an inhomogeneous Poisson process whose firing rate is modulated by the input received by the neuron in recent past. The network inter-connect allows us to model complex higher-order interactions. We also demonstrate the application of our method on multi-electrode arrays recordings from dissociated cortical cultures gathered by Steve Potter's laboratory at Georgia Tech [4].
Thrombus-in-transit: two cases and a review of diagnosis and management.

-inA paradoxical embolism is an infrequent event in which a venous thrombus breaks free and migrates across a communication between the right and left heart to cause an embolic arterial event. 1 Given the transient nature of this phenomenon, paradoxical embolism is almost always a presumptive diagnosis. Transthoracic and/or transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) are standard in the workup of systemic ischemic events to exclude a cardioembolic source. Although cardioembolic events arise most commonly from left heart or aortic sources, rare cases of a thrombus-in-transit crossing an intra-atrial communication have been reported. 1-5 The appropriate treatment of patients in this setting is unclear and the use of newer diagnostic imaging modalities has not been reported. In this report, we describe two cases of thrombus-in-transit diagnosed with TEE, one in which multislice computed tomographic (CT) angiography additionally revealed the diagnosis and impacted management. In addition, we review the available literature on the management of this rare entity.
Cortactin is a component of clathrin-coated pits and participates in receptor-mediated endocytosis

The actin cytoskeleton is believed to contribute to the formation of clathrin-coated pits, although the specific components that connect actin filaments with the endocytic machinery are unclear. Cortactin is an F-actin-associated protein, localizes within membrane ruffles in cultured cells, and is a direct binding partner of the large GTPase dynamin. This direct interaction with a component of the endocytic machinery suggests that cortactin may participate in one or several endocytic processes. Therefore, the goal of this study was to test whether cortactin associates with clathrin-coated pits and participates in receptor-mediated endocytosis. Morphological experiments with either anti-cortactin antibodies or expressed red fluorescence protein-tagged cortactin revealed a striking colocalization of cortactin and clathrin puncta at the ventral plasma membrane. Consistent with these observations, cells microinjected with these antibodies exhibited a marked decrease in the uptake of labeled transferrin and low-density lipoprotein while internalization of the fluid marker dextran was unchanged. Cells expressing the cortactin Src homology three domain also exhibited markedly reduced endocytosis. These findings suggest that cortactin is an important component of the receptor-mediated endocytic machinery, where, together with actin and dynamin, it regulates the scission of clathrin pits from the plasma membrane. Thus, cortactin provides a direct link between the dynamic actin cytoskeleton and the membrane pinchase dynamin that supports vesicle formation during receptor-mediated endocytosis.
Modeling distributed hybrid systems in Ptolemy II

We present Ptolemy II as a modeling and simulation environment for distributed hybrid systems. In Ptolemy II, a distributed hybrid system is specified as a hierarchy of models: an event-based top level and distributed islands of hybrid systems. Each hybrid system is in turn a hierarchy of continuous-time models and finite state machines. A variety of models of computation was implemented in Ptolemy II. We only present the models that are needed for modeling distributed hybrid systems.
Liquid crystal polymers: 21. Thermotropic properties and crystallization-induced reactions of aromatic copolyesters

Abstract A series of copolyesters containing both mesogenic and non-mesogenic aromatic ester units connected by a flexible spacer were prepared and characterized for their liquid crystalline properties. Samples containing 75 mole percent mesogenic units were heated at temperatures either below or above their melting points to determine if the initially random copolyester could be reorganized to a blocky structure by the process referred to in earlier studies as a ‘crystallization-induced reaction’. This type of reorganization was observed to occur in both the solid state and liquid crystalline state for these copolyesters.
Directed abstraction: Encouraging broad, personal generalizations following a success experience.

People with negative self-views may fail to generalize appropriately from success experiences (e.g., Wood, Heimpel, Newby-Clark, & Ross, 2005). We drew on theories regarding self-views (Swann, Griffin, Predmore, & Gaines, 1987) and abstraction (Semin & Fiedler, 1991), as well as past linguistic framing work (e.g., Marigold, Holmes, & Ross, 2007, 2010; Salancik, 1974), to create a new technique to encourage people with negative self-views to generalize broadly from a success experience to the self-concept. We call this technique directed abstraction. In Experiment 1, participants with negative self-views who completed a directed abstraction writing task following success feedback regarding a novel laboratory task generalized more from that success, reporting higher ability levels and greater expectations of future success in the relevant domain. In Experiment 2, directed abstraction produced similar results (including more positive self-related affect, e.g., pride) after participants recalled a past public speaking success. In Experiment 3, participants high in fear of public speaking gave two speeches in a context designed to be challenging yet also to elicit successful performances. Directed abstraction helped these participants generalize from their success to beliefs about their abilities, expectations about the future, and confidence as a speaker. In Experiment 4, directed abstraction following success on a verbal task increased persistence in the face of failure on a subsequent verbal task. We discuss implications for understanding how and when people generalize from a success, compare directed abstraction to existing interventions, and suggest practical applications for this influence technique. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)
A systematic review of weighted vests with individuals with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract The purpose of the study was to evaluate the current literature on the use of weighted vests (WV) with individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A literature review using the standards recommended by the What Works Clearinghouse was conducted. The studies included in the review met the following criteria: (a) use of a single case research design; (b) inclusion of at least one individual with ASD; (c) examination of the effects of WV on a particular dependent variable; and (d) publication in English in a peer-refereed journal in the past 25 years. The results of the review show that the use of WV with individuals with ASD is not an evidence-based practice.
Left Atrial Appendage Patency at Cardioversion After Surgical Left Atrial Appendage Intervention.

Background Surgical left atrial appendage (LAA) closure is often incomplete, with patients frequently requiring direct current cardioversion (DCCV) for atrial arrhythmias. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is often performed before DCCV to exclude LAA thrombus. The impact of incomplete surgical LAA closure on patients referred for postoperative DCCV is unknown. Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing TEE-guided DCCV within 30 days of cardiac surgery and surgical LAA closure. All pre-DCCV TEEs were reviewed to assess LAA patency and the presence of thrombus. Results Ninety-three patients (mean age 68 years; 61 men [66%]) had a median time from surgery to DCCV of 6 days. Duration of atrial fibrillation was 48 hours or more in 85% (n = 79). On pre-DCCV TEE, a residual communication from the LAA was noted in 37% (n = 34). The rate of LAA patency was higher after suture closure than after surgical excision or staple closure. Thrombus was present in 26 of the 93 patients (28%), including 16 of 34 patients (47%) with incomplete closure of LAA. The strongest risk factor for thrombus was a patent, partially closed LAA (odds ratio 4.36, p = 0.003). Systemically accessible thrombus was present in 19 of the 93 patients (20%), and cardioversion was cancelled owing to thrombus in 15 (16%). Conclusions Surgical closure of the LAA is often incomplete. Interrogation of the residual LAA after surgical LAA intervention with TEE before DCCV frequently detects thrombus and alters clinical management. Patients undergoing DCCV after surgical LAA intervention require evaluation with TEE for LAA patency and thrombus.
Electronic Archives: Integrity and Access in the Network Environment

Computer networking presents opportunities to enhance access to archival records and to preserve rich, detailed documentation of human interaction and communication. This article discusses conceptual, technical, and economic challenges to access and preservation of electronic archives in the evolving network environment. The author argues that respect for the evidentiary nature of archival records cannot be sacrificed for the sake of enhanced access to the contents of archival materials. She encourages archivists to reconsider why, when, and for whom archival records are kept and to find a balance between the utilitarian and the cultural value of archives.This article was prepared originally for the Second International Conference on Scholarship and Technology in the Humanities: Networking and the European Cultural Heritage. The original version appears in Networking in the Humanities: Proceedings of the Second Conference on Scholarship and Technology in the Humanities held at Elvetham Hall, Hampshire, UK...
Beyond Economics: Behavioral Dynamics in Pay for Performance

This article argues that while much of the intellectual energy has focused on the economics of executive pay, the challenge of executive compensation is as much a challenge of human behavior as it is one of economics. The raison d’etre of pay for performance (PFP) is to motivate executives to make decisions that are in the best interest of their firm and its shareholders. Attention to the relevant individual, situational, cultural, and institutional dynamics (what I term “behavioral dynamics”) that affect how executives are motivated and how they value future rewards is critical for the sustainability of PFP as a model of compensation design.Drawing on salient research in the cognitive science and decision-making literature, the article invites consideration on how relevant behavioral dynamics could affect our assessment of PFP as a motivational tool. The article concludes by suggesting five potential ways to incorporate behavioral dynamics into compensation policy and design.
QL-01ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND ANGER IN CHILDREN WITH EPENDYMOMA: A REPORT FROM THE COLLABORATIVE EPENDYMOMA RESEARCH NETWORK (CERN) PEDIATRIC OUTCOMES PROJECT (PEO)

BACKGROUND: Ependymomas are relatively uncommon primary brain tumors in children. CERN is a multi-institutional group with the mission to develop new treatments, improve outcomes and care of patients. METHODS: The PEO study has an online survey completed by child/parent dyads which includes validated questionnaires, including PROMIS anxiety, depression and anger short-forms. Descriptive statistics were used to report the characteristics and degree of depression, anxiety and anger reported by the children versus their parents. Pearson's correlations, paired samples and independent samples t-tests were used to determine relationships and differences among variables of interest. RESULTS: Nineteen dyads (parent-child) participated including both boys (n = 10) and girls (n = 9). Ages ranged from 5-20 years (median =10). Tumors were primarily supratentorial (n = 11), with nearly all had received radiation, and nearly half having had recurrence (n = 9). There was no rating difference between boys and girls in terms of anxiety (p < 0.10) or depression (p < 0.83). There was a strong, positive correlation between the child's rating and parent's rating of anxiety (r = 0.71; p < 0.02), depression (r = 0.71; p < 0.02) and anger (r =.66; p <.02). However, there was a significant difference between the severity of depression between child and the parent report; parents rating their child's depression as more severe (mean = 10) than the child (mean = 7) (t = -2.4, df = 14, p < 0.03). Differences in anger ratings between parent and child approached significance (t = -2.0, df = 14, p = 0.07), with children reporting more anger. CONCLUSION: While parents rated anxiety similar to the child's, parents rated depression worse and anger less severe than the children themselves. This underscores the importance of assessing and managing psychological symptoms that arise including the input of both the child and parent to assure all needs are met.