cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of informed consent format on patient anxiety, knowledge, and satisfaction

Background Multiple formats have been used to deliver information needed for informed consent before a medical procedure, but data comparing formats are conflicting. Methods Sixty-three patients (45 men, age 61 ± 16 years) undergoing an initial diagnostic cardiac electrophysiology study were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups: oral, written, or video informed consent using a standardized text for all 3 formats. Anxiety levels were assessed with the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and questionnaires were used to assess patient comprehension and satisfaction with the informed consent process. Physician time needed to obtain informed consent was also measured. The effect of informed consent format on anxiety state was evaluated by comparing STAI before and after consent. Multivariable analysis was performed to assess the effects of baseline characteristics on the state anxiety scores. Results For the oral, written, and video formats, the mean anxiety trait scores were 39 ± 9, 34 ± 8, and 31 ± 7, respectively ( P = .005), and baseline anxiety state scores were 49 ± 12, 37 ± 12, and 36 ± 11, respectively ( P = .0006). None of the formats had a significant effect on patient anxiety state after consent was obtained. After the procedure, anxiety state declined ( P P = .06). Conclusion For electrophysiologic testing, all 3 formats have similar effects on anxiety and produce equivalent patient comprehension. The oral format requires more physician time. Given the standardization achievable with a written or video format, physicians may consider these options to facilitate obtaining informed consent.
Kinetics of loss of a recombinant plasmid in Bacillus subtilis.

Recombinant plasmid pCEDS is structurally unstable in Bacillus subtilis cultures. We have previously shown that stability can be independently increased by changing from a complex medium supporting high growth rates to a chemically-defined medium supporting a lower growth rate and removal of a 4.77-kb EcoRI fragment from pCED3 to give plasmid YS1. Further stabilization was achieved by combining the two approaches. In the present work, we show that the stabilization of the plasmid-encoded LacZ+ phenotype can be explained solely by the effect on the growth rate ratio between cells containing modified and parental plasmids. By using modified stability experiments (where a single cell rather than a suspended colony was used to initiate growth), independent growth rate measurements, and a simple mathematical model, we can describe the kinetics of the loss of the LacZ+ phenotype in terms of two variables, α and p (where α is the ratio of growth rates between modified and parental cells, and p is the probability of obtaining modified cells from parental cells). Under the conditions tested, the average values of α were 1.52 for cultures growing in complex medium, 1.28 for cultures growing in defined medium, and 1.18 for cultures containing the modified plasmid pYS1 growing in complex medium. The calculated p values ranged between 10−8 and 10−10 under all conditions. Plasmid (pYS137) was used to directly estimate plasmid deletion rates in B. subtilis and it showed a rate between 5 × 10−8 and 1.1 × 10−9 deletions/cell/generation. In contrast to B. subtilis, there were no detectable differences in growth rates between Escherichia coli strains harboring plasmid pCEDS and plasmid-free cells. These results explain the observed stability of pCEDS in E. coli cultures and indicate that readily detected instability in B. subtilis cultures can be the result of rare deletion events.
Impact of maternal and paternal preconception health on birth outcomes using prospective couples’ data in Add Health

Purpose Retrospective studies of preconception health have demonstrated that parents’ health conditions and behaviors can impact a newborn’s birth outcomes and, subsequently, future health status. This study sought to examine the impact of preconception health, measured prospectively, among both mothers and fathers, on two important birth outcomes: birthweight and gestational age.
The Removal of Coherent Noise from Short Digitized Records

A technique is described for the removal of coherent noise from digitized signals by using cross correlation to identify the noise parameters. The approach is particularly useful for removing power system noise from short digitized physiological signals (ECG, EEG).
Surveillance chest X-rays for melanoma: prescription or proscription?

The presence of metastases in the regional nodal basin is the most powerful prognostic indicator for patients with melanoma. Long-term postoperative surveillance is important for these high-risk patients, but there remain questions about the appropriate frequency and intensity of follow-up. Routine clinical follow-up allows for detection of recurrences or offers assurance to patients that they are cancerfree. In theory, earlier detection of disease has the laudable goal of allowing for earlier (and more effective) treatments. No controversy would exist if clinical examination or imaging tests were sensitive and specific for the detection of conditions that, if early enough in their course, could be treated successfully. However, there are data to suggest that most patients with recurrent melanoma were symptomatic at the time of diagnosis even with regularly scheduled followup visits, and often, treatment options are limited. 1
Quantitative analysis of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone retained in coal extracts by thermal extraction g.c.-m.s.

N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) is widely used for coal extractions. It is well known that extraction solvents are retained in the coal extracts even after extensive drying procedures. The amount of NMP retained will affect the accuracy of the extraction yield and the character of the extracts. Thermal extraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (g.c.-m.s.) has been applied to quantify the amount of NMP retained in coal extracts. Several NMP related compounds are found in the coal extracts, but not in the whole coals. NMP was added to activated carbon and this material used as a standard to produce a linear calibration curve. The detection limit (S/N = 5) is estimated to be 0.015 μg NMP, and the relative standard deviation was 5.73% for a 0.093 mg standard sample containing 0.016 μg NMP. Nine NMP soluble coal extracts and two blended coal extracts were analysed by this method, and the weight percentages of the retained NMP varied from 0.71 to 4.61%, with deviations (n = 3) ranging from 0.01 to 0.11%.
Fabrication of true 3D microstructures in glass/ceramic materials by pulsed UV laser volumetric exposure techniques

A pulsed UV laser based technique has been developed which permits the transfer, by direct-write exposure, of 3D image into a photosensitive glass/ceramic material. The exposed latent image volume is developed via temperature programmed bake process and then etched away using HF in solution. The height of the 3D microstructures is controlled by the initial laser wavelength used during the exposure and the time duration of the etching cycle. Using this technique we have fabricated large arrays of microstructures which have applications to microfluidics, microelectromechanical systems and optoelectronics. The resulting master copy can be used either as is or by use standard injection modeling techniques converted into a metallic or plastic copies. We present these results and others which have specific applications to miniature 1Kg class satellites - nanosatellites.
Anorectal Trauma: The Use of Computed Tomography Scan in Diagnosis

Anorectal injuries represent a relatively uncommon but clinically critical diagnosis in trauma. Anorectal injuries may be the result of penetrating injuries to the pelvis and perineal area as well as severe blunt traumatic injuries, often with pelvic fractures. The purpose of this review is to discuss injuries to the anorectal region sustained in trauma, specifically, in the application of multidetector computed tomography technology to these imaging diagnoses. An understanding of the pertinent anatomy is critical in characterization of these injuries using computed tomography (CT). Additionally, the subsequent clinical management decisions and how they are impacted by severity and location of injury in anorectal trauma is useful to the radiologist. This should serve to highlight the specific areas and injury distinctions that deserve our particular attention given possible changes in the ensuing management approaches. CT protocol issues including the use of oral, rectal, and intravenous contrast, as necessary, are relevant in maximizing the diagnostic accuracies of CT in anorectal trauma. This review serves to discuss and illustrate these pertinent issues, approaching penetrating and blunt trauma separately, with the emphasis on multidetector computed tomography in diagnosis.
A self-tuning controller with accommodation of time delay variations

This paper describes a new adaptive controller that is capable of accommodating changes in the time delay of linear systems with unknown or time-varying time delay. The derivation of the controller is based on a discrete formulation of the modified Smith delay compensator and a self-tuning control strategy. In addition to accommodating the time delay changes, the controller rejects load disturbances without requiring an estimate of the disturbance or producing an offset in the output.
Di-μ2-chlorido-bis­[chlorido(η5-2,3,4,5-tetra­methyl-1-propyl­cyclo­penta­dien­yl)iridium(III)]

The asymmetric unit of the title complex, [Ir2Cl4(C12H19)2], a versatile starting material for the preparation of uniquely substituted penta­alkyl­cyclo­penta­dien­yl–iridium complexes, consists of an iridium(III) atom, a substituted cyclo­penta­dienyl ligand and two chlorine ligands. The full dimer is generated by an inversion center. In the dimer, the two IrIII atoms and two bridging Cl atoms form a perfectly planar ring. The two IrIII atoms and the two terminal Cl atoms also form a rigorous plane that is orthogonal [89.48 (3)°] to the Ir2Cl2 ring. The plane of the cyclo­penta­dienyl ligand forms a dihedral angle of 54.06 (7)° with respect to the Ir2Cl2 ring.
Pneumocystis Carinii Infections

Pneumocystis carinii is a common pathogen among immunocompromised patients. The organism was originally classified as a protozoan until recent studies revealed more characteristics of a fungus. P. carinii is difficult to study because of the absence of an in vitro culture system. Trimethoprim-sulfamethaxozole is considered the drug of choice for P. carinii in adults and adolescents, including pregnant patients. P. carinii pneumonia (PCP) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Even with the use of prophylaxis against P. carinii, PCP causes more deaths among patients with AIDS than does any other infectious disease process in the United States.
Effects of Solution Chemistry on the Partitioning of Phenanthrene to Sorbed Surfactants

Solution chemistry effects on surfactant micelle formation, surfactant sorption on kaolinite, and phenanthrene partitioning to surfactant micelles and sorbed surfactants were studied. For the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), critical micelle concentration (cmc) values decreased with increasing ionic strength but were unaffected by pH changes. For the nonionic surfactant Tween 80, the cmc was unaffected by pH and ionic strength changes. SDS sorption on kaolinite showed strong pH and ionic strength dependency: sorption increased as pH decreased and ionic strength increased, respectively. For Tween 80, only pH changes affected its sorption on kaolinite. Micellar phenanthrene partition coefficients (Kmic) increased with increasing ionic strength for SDS but were not affected by changes in pH. For Tween 80 Kmic values, no pH or ionic strength effect was observed. Phenanthrene distribution coefficients (KD) between the solid and aqueous phases varied as a function of solution chemistry and were...
Organizational and Professional Identification: A Case of Newspaper Journalists

This study examined organizational and professional identification among a group of professional employees-the journalists at one daily metropolitan newspaper. It used two kinds of data to compare identification with these two targets and, further, to examine the relationships between identifications, autonomy, and job satisfaction. Survey results revealed significantly higher identification with the profession of journalism than with the journalists' employing newspaper. Journalists' accounts in individual interviews and the researcher's observation of on-the-job talk provided the context for interpreting the quantitative results. Accounts and observations contributed explanations for the blurred boundaries between the targets found in the survey results. In addition, the qualitative data demonstrated the role of anticipatory and vocational socialization and work group demographics in the identifications of this group.
Evidence for endoreduplication: germ cell DNA levels prior to chromatin diminution in Mesocyclops edax.

SUMMARY We studied the functional significance of marked differences in the DNA content of somatic cells and germ line nuclei by static Feulgen–DNA cytophotometry for several species of microcrustaceans that exhibit chromatin diminution during very early stages of embryogenesis. Mature females and males showed many gonadal nuclei with elevated amounts of DNA that persist until dispersal of this “extra” DNA throughout the cytoplasm as fragments and coalescing droplets of chromatin during anaphase of the diminution
Axiomatics for the mean using Bemporad's condition

Joining previous authors, we propose axiomatic properties that yield the mean as the unique measure of center of a data set. In addition to familiar properties such as symmetry, homogeneity, and translativity, we make use of a condensation principle, first considered by Bemporad, that ties together means for different sample sizes and identifies an important physical characteristic of the center of mass of a body.
Spatial and Seasonal Variation in a Reservoir Sedimentary Microbial Community as Determined by Phospholipid Analysis.

Sediment samples were collected monthly from Acton Lake, a eutrophic reservoir located in an agricultural region of southwestern Ohio, from three stations (River, Middle, and Dam) during the period May 1995 through January 1997. Sedimentary microbial biomass and community structures from these stations were studied using phospholipid analysis. At the River and Middle stations, the water column remained aerobic throughout the year, whereas the water overlying the Dam station sediments became anaerobic during summer stratification. Sedimentary microbial biomass at the River and Middle stations, as measured by the phospholipid phosphate (PLP) method, ranged from 225 to 450 nmol PLP g?1 d.w. (dry weight). Sedimentary microbial biomass at the Dam station was typically greater and ranged from 500 to 1,500 nmol PLP g?1 d.w. Principal component analysis of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) profiles indicated that the sedimentary microbial communities at all three stations displayed seasonal patterns of change. Among these patterns of change was a shift from aerobic microorganisms during times of cold water to anaerobic microorganisms during times of warm water. The Dam station differed from the River and Middle stations in that sediments from this station had disproportionately more polyenoic fatty acids, whereas sediments from the River and Middle stations had disproportionately more bacterial fatty acids. These data suggest that the Dam station may be a depositional zone for microeukaryotic phytoplankton produced in the overlying water column. These findings have implications for the understanding of carbon flux in reservoirs and preservation of organic matter in aquatic systems.
Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome with bilateral abdominal testis: surgical approach and review of the literature.

Abstract Objective We present two cases of persistent Mullerian duct syndrome (PMDS) with bilateral intra-abdominal testes and review the world's literature with special attention to diagnosis and surgical management. Patients and methods Two consecutive cases of PMDS with bilateral intra-abdominal testes from our institution are presented with detailed descriptions of the presentation, physical examination, laboratory profiles, surgical findings, and treatment undertaken. Follow-up at 1 year postoperatively is included. Results Bilateral orchiopexy was accomplished in both the cases. In one case this was possible after division of the persistent Mullerian structures in the midline to achieve testicular mobility. In a subsequent case, splitting of the Mullerian complex did not provide adequate mobilization and microvascular autotransplantation was performed with an excellent surgical outcome. Conclusions Bilateral intra-abdominal testes in the setting of persistent Mullerian duct syndrome are a rare entity and controversy remains as to the ideal surgical treatment. Our two cases represent the first reported examples of open single-stage bilateral orchiopexy with division of the Mullerian complex and preservation of the vas deferens (1-year-old boy) and microvascular autotransplantation (5-year-old boy).
Heraclitus and the Future of Process Philosophy

Heraclitus is the most obvious choice for designation as the “father of process philosophy.”1 Although the analogy between his thought and that of modern philosophers of process is sufficiently forceful to warrant that designation, the dissimilarity between the modes of thought of any ancient Greek and any modern is such that important differences in method, evidence and final aim are inevitable. Assuming that both ancient and modern philosophers are alike engaged in testing the fruitfulness of applying some basic metaphor, image, or concept, such as flow or change, to contexts beyond the bounds of its ordinary use, an elicitation of their characteristic emphases may disclose facets of the basic notion which are inapparent or undeveloped in the thought of one or the other. These may prove suggestive for the future development of the key idea, whether by provoking revision of previous claims, suggesting new areas for investigation, or both. Because I think that a comparison of Heraclitean philosophy with contemporary process philosophy may yield some such beneficial consequences, the remainder of this paper will be devoted to an exploration of some significant differences between the two. Most attention will be given to explicating Heraclitus’ position, after which some contrasts with contemporary thought will be drawn. The final portion of the paper will consist in some rather speculative musings in the spirit of a revitalized Heracliteanism.
The Ascent of Niall: A Review of Ferguson's Ascent of Money

One can imagine the conversation between Niall Ferguson and his editor concerning Ferguson's proposal for his Ascent of Money. Editor: So, Niall, what have you got for me? Ferguson: Well, I’m worki...
Pseudomonas cepacia colonization in patients with cystic fibrosis: risk factors and clinical outcome.

During the period of 1979 to 1983, 38 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) at the CF center of St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Pennsylvania developed respiratory tract colonization with Pseudomonas cepacia . Seventeen (45%) of the patients with colonization died. Yearly incidence rates of P. cepacia colonization fluctuated between 1.3% and 6.1%, suggesting an endemic phenomenon. Case-control studies showed that severe underlying CF, use of aminoglycosides, and having a sibling with CF and P. cepacia colonization were significant risk factors for P. cepacia colonization. Once colonized with P. cepacia , patients with CF were likely to be hospitalized longer (P=0.008) and to die sooner (P=0.0001) than control patients with CF. Environmental and microbiologic studies did not identify a common source or mode of transmission of P. cepacia among patients. The results of this investigation suggest that P. cepacia colonization of patients with CF was endemic in the hospital, occurred more frequently in those with severe disease, and was associated with adverse clinical outcome.
The effects of in vivo cocaine on norepinephrine-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat brain

Abstract We examined the effects of a cocaine challenge on behavioral stimulation and NE-stimulated [ 3 H]inostol-1-phosphate (IP 1 ) formation in rat cerebral cortex after single (high dose) or repeated (low dose) cocaine administration. As previously reported, single high dose (40 mg/kg, IP) and repeated low dose (10 mg/kg, 8 IP injections) administrations of cocaine resulted in behavioral sensitization to a challenge injection of cocaine (10 mg/kg). In saline-pretreated animals, the acute cocaine challenge significantly potentiated the NE-stimulated [ 3 H]IP 1 formation as compared with the saline challenge, while in cocaine-pretreated animals, NE-stimulated phosphoinositide (PI) turnover was not significantly altered. These results suggest that although some of the acute effects of cocaine may be mediated by enhanced α 1 -adrenergic receptor-linked PI hydrolysis, behavioral sensitization does not involve the α 1 -adrenergic receptor-linked PI signal transduction system.
Acute and chronic effects of heavy metals and cyanide on Mysidopsis bahia (crustacea:mysidacea)

Abstract Acute and whole life-cycle toxicity tests were conducted with the estuarine mysid shrimp, Mysidopsis bahia , exposed to cyanide and selected heavy metals. Acute toxicity values (96 h LC 50 ) ranged from 3.5 μg/l for mercury to 3130 μg/l for lead, and were ranked in order of toxicity: Hg>Cd>Cu>Cn>Ag>Zn>Ni>As>Cr>Pb. The chronic toxicity values ranged from 1.2 μg/l for mercury to 893 μg/l for arsenic. Chronic values were calculated from either survival, time to first reproduction, or number of young produced. When acute toxicity data for the same chemical are compared, M. bahia is consistently among the more sensitive marine species. Lack of comparable data precludes a similar observation with chronic tests. Examination of the relative sensitivity of the chronic responses indicates that only for cadmium was survival more sensitive than reproduction. Reproduction and survival were equally sensitive for mercury, zinc, nickel and arsenic, while reproduction was the most sensitive chronic response for the remaining four metals. The acute-chronic ratios calculated for M. bahia in this study ranged from 1.6 for cyanide to 125 for lead. Sixty percent of the acute chronic ratios were ≤5.5 and 90% ≤15.4.
Analysis of Cadmium Adsorption on Novel Organo-Ceramic Adsorbents with a Thiol Functionality

The adsorption characteristics of cadmium ions from aqueous solutions onto two organo-ceramic adsorbents synthesized in our laboratories were studied. The main species participating in the adsorption process, determined from the chemical equilibrium, is Cd2+. Formation of a bidentate cadmium−thiol complex is proposed to explain the experimental isotherms. The kinetics of adsorption onto the sol−gel-synthesized adsorbent was studied in a differential batch reactor with recycle. Two kinetic models were tested with experimental data: chemical reaction and film/pore mass-transfer resistances. The results indicate that either model can be used to explain the adsorption process as observed from the AARD values and from the F-test. The values of fitted parameters are k1 = 0.0021 L·g/mmol2·min, Dp = 1.4 × 10-7 cm2/s, and τ = 5.0. The last two parameters can be used to satisfactorily predict the breakthrough curve in a fixed bed by the film/pore diffusion model. A sensitivity analysis shows that pore diffusion re...
Biogeography of New World taiga-dwelling Microtus Mammalia Arvicolidae a hypothesis test that accounts for phylogenetic uncertainty

If we adopt a statistical approach to systematics and recognize that phylogenies are estimated with error, then we can begin to explore statistically justified methods for testing a variety of comparative hypotheses, including those concerning the evolution of life-history characters and biogeography. In this paper I examine two biogeographic hypotheses concerning the rodent genus Microtus. Like many comparative hypotheses, these can be phrased so that each predicts the existence of a particular monophyletic group. Neither of the predicted groups appear on the single best phylogeny as determined by both Dollo parsimony and maximum likelihood analysis of restriction site maps of mitochondrial DNA. Simulation studies, however, suggest that often the best phylogeny from a single data set has only a low probability of being exactly correct. We must also examine those trees that, while not the single best-supported tree, are not rejected by the data. If we find the best phylogeny for which a hypothesis is satisfied, then likelihood methods can be used to test whether that phylogeny is significantly worse then the best tree overall. If that tree can be rejected, then so can the hypothesis. Computational constraints limit the use of likelihood methods for searching among topologies, so parsimony is used as a data exploratory tool. One of the predicted groups cannot be rejected, even though the most parsimonious tree which includes that group requires 11 more steps than does the most parsimonious tree.
Inelastic Resonance Emission of X Rays: Anomalous Scattering Associated with Anomalous Dispersion

An inelastic resonance scattering of monochromatic Cu $K\ensuremath{\alpha}$ x rays incident on various targets is observed when an absorption edge of the target is just above the energy of the incident x rays. This frequency-dependent and angular-independent inelastic scattering is interpreted with the x-ray scattering theory of anomalous dispersion. Conservation-of-intensity arguments allow a comparison of the observed inelastic intensity with the real part of the anomalous dispersion corrections to the coherent atomic scattering factors for x rays.
The role of coelomic hemerythrin in the sipunculid worm Phascolopis gouldi.

Abstract 1. 1. Under normoxic conditions in the water column the sipunculid worm Phascolopsis gouldi maintains a burrow pO2 of 77–81 mm Hg and a coelomic fluid pO2 of 5–8 mm Hg. 2. 2. At 23°C the oxygen affinity of hemerythrin in intact coelomic cells is 5–6 mm Hg and the operating range is 0–25 mm Hg. These quantities are significantly reduced at 10°C. 3. 3. The oxygen affinity of hemerythrin in cells is significantly lower than that of extracts, and oxygen release at higher partial pressures is significantly enhanced.
Managing Deep Postanal Space Sepsis via an Intersphincteric Approach: Our Early Experience

Purpose Managing deep postanal (DPA) sepsis often involves multiple procedures over a long time. An intersphincteric approach allows adequate drainage to be performed while tackling the primary pathology at the same sitting. The aim of our study was to evaluate this novel technique in managing DPA sepsis. Methods A retrospective review of all patients who underwent this intersphincteric technique in managing DPA sepsis from February 2008 to October 2010 was performed. All surgeries were performed by the same surgeon. Results Seventeen patients with a median age of 43 years (range, 32 to 71 years) and comprised of 94.1% (n = 16) males formed the study group. In all patients, an internal opening in the posterior midline with a tract leading to the deep postanal space was identified. This intersphincteric approach operation was adopted as the primary procedure in 12 patients (70.6%) and was successful in 11 (91.7%). In the only failure, the sepsis recurred, and a successful advancement flap procedure was eventually performed. Five other patients (29.4%) underwent this same procedure as a secondary procedure after an initial drainage operation. Only one was successful. In the remaining four patients, one had a recurrent abscess that required drainage while the other three patients had a tract between the internal opening and the intersphincteric incision. They subsequently underwent a drainage procedure with seton insertion and advancement flap procedures. Conclusion Managing DPA space sepsis via an intersphincteric approach is successful in 70.6% of patients. This single-staged technique allows for effective drainage of the sepsis and removal of the primary pathology in the intersphincteric space.
The effects of a low-dose monophasic preparation of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol on coagulation and other hemostatic factors.

Abstract Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects on hemostatic factors of a low-dose preparation of levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol in a 12-cycle study. Study Design: Thirty healthy women began taking 100 μg levonorgestrel and 20 μg ethinyl estradiol on the first day of the menstrual cycle, continued to take the preparation for the next 21 days, and then took placebo for 7 days. Mean changes in prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, and levels of factors VII and X, antithrombin, plasminogen, fibrinogen, protein S, thrombin-antithrombin complexes, and D-dimer were analyzed at baseline and at cycles 3, 6, and 12 with paired Student t tests. Results: Factor X, plasminogen antigen and activity, and D-dimer levels were significantly increased ( P ≤ .01) during all 3 cycle periods. Antithrombin antigen and protein S total antigen levels were significantly ( P ≤ .001 ) decreased at cycles 3, 6, and 12, whereas factor VII and protein S activity levels were significantly ( P ≤ .05) decreased at cycle 3 and at cycles 3 and 6, respectively. Conclusion: The effects on hemostatic factors in healthy women of a monophasic preparation of 100 μg levonorgestrel and 20 μg ethinyl estradiol were similar to those of other low-dose oral contraceptives. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;181:S63-6.)
Cell segmentation for division rate estimation in computerized video time-lapse microscopy

The automated estimation of cell division rate plays an important role in the evaluation of a gene function in high throughput biomedical research. Using Computerized Video Time-Lapse (CVTL) microcopy , it is possible to follow a large number of cells in their physiological conditions for several generations. However analysis of this large volume data is complicated due to cell to cell contacts in a high density population. We approach this problem by segmenting out cells or cell clusters through a learning method. The feature of a pixel is represented by the intensity and gradient information in a small surrounding sub-window. Curve evolution techniques are used to accurately find the cell or cell cluster boundary. With the assumption that the average cell size is the same in each frame, we can use the cell area to estimate the cell division rate. Our segmentation results are compared to manually-defined ground truth. Both recall and precision measures for segmentation accuracy are above 95%.
Extraordinary light focusing and Fourier transform properties of gradient-index metalenses

We propose and demonstrate a new type of metalenses that are phase compensated by gradient index (GRIN) or inhomogeneous permittivity metamaterials. Both elliptically and hyperbolically dispersive GRIN metalenses for both internal and external focusing are studied. The requirements for the GRIN metalenses and the light focusing characteristics are analyzed and numerically verified. The GRIN metalenses can achieve super resolution and have ordinary or extraordinary Fourier transform functions, thus enabling exotic applications.
Effects of ethanol on phosphorylation site mutants of recombinant N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

Abstract N -methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are ligand-gated ion channels activated by the neurotransmitter glutamate. These channels are highly expressed by brain neurons and are critically involved in excitatory synaptic transmission. Results from previous studies show that both native and recombinant NMDA receptors are inhibited by ethanol at concentrations associated with signs of behavioral impairment and intoxication. Given the important role that NMDA receptors play in synaptic transmission and brain function, it is important to understand the factors that regulate the ethanol inhibition of these receptors. One dynamic mechanism for regulating ethanol action may be via phosphorylation of NMDA subunits by serine–threonine and tyrosine kinases. Both NR1 and NR2 subunits contain multiple sites of phosphorylation; and in the NR1 subunit, most of these are contained within the C1 domain, a carboxy-terminal cassette that is subject to alternative splicing. Although results from our previous studies suggest that single phosphorylation sites do not greatly affect ethanol sensitivity of NMDA receptors, it is likely that in vivo, these subunits are phosphorylated at multiple sites by different kinases. In the present study, we constructed a series of NMDA receptor mutants at serine (S) or threonine (T) residues proposed to be sites of phosphorylation by protein kinase A and various isoforms of protein kinase C. Ethanol (100mM) inhibited currents from wild-type NR1/2A and NR1/2B receptors expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells by approximately 25 and 30%, respectively. This inhibition was not different in single-site mutants expressing alanine (A) or aspartate/glutamate (D/E) at positions T879, S896, or T900. The mutant NR1(S890D) showed greater ethanol inhibition than NR1(890A) containing receptors, although this was only observed when it was combined with the NR2A subunit. Ethanol inhibition was not altered by aspartate substitution at four serines (positions 889, 890, 896, and 897) or when T879D was added to the four serine-substituted mutant. Ethanol inhibition was increased when T900E was added to the five serine-/threonine-substituted mutants, but again this was selective for NR2A containing receptors. Together with previously published data, these findings suggest that modification of putative phosphorylation sites could contribute to the overall acute ethanol sensitivity of recombinant NMDA receptors. Supported by R37AA009986.
Incisional hernia after suprapubic catheterization

Background: Suprapubic catheterization is a popular method of bladder drainage after gynecologic surgery. We report two cases of incisional hernia that developed after suprapubic catheterization. Cases: The first case involved a 64-year-old woman who underwent Burch urethropexy. Her suprapubic catheter was not removed until postoperative day 55 because of prolonged retention. She presented 1 month later with abdominal pain. In the second case, a 65-year-old woman had vesicovaginal fistula repair with suprapubic catheterization for 2 weeks after surgery. Five months later, she presented with abdominal pain. In both cases, examination revealed a hernia at the catheter exit site. Conclusion: Incisional hernia is a rare complication of suprapubic catheterization that should be considered in patients who present with abdominal discomfort some time after catheterization.
Disaster Events and the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death: A Washington State Investigation

Background: Psychological distress following disaster events may increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. In 2001, the Nisqually earthquake and the 11 September terrorist attacks profoundly affected Washington state residents. Hypothesis: This research investigated the theory that the incidence of sudden cardiac death would increase following these disaster events. Methods: Death certificates were abstracted using a uniform case definition to determine the number of sudden cardiac deaths for the 48-hour and oneweek periods following the two disaster events. Sudden cardiac deaths from the corresponding 48-hour and one-week periods in the three weeks before the events, and the analogous periods in 1999 and 2000 were designated as control times. Using t-tests, the number of sudden cardiac deaths for the periods following the disaster events was compared to those of the control periods. Results: In total, 32 sudden cardiac deaths occurred in the four counties affected by the Nisqually earthquake during the 48 hours after the event, compared to an average of 22 ±3.5 (standard deviation) in the same counties during the control periods (p = 0.02). No difference was observed for the oneweek period (94 compared to 79.2 ±12.4, p = 0.28). No difference was observed in the number of sudden cardiac deaths in the 48-hours or one-week following the terrorist attacks compared to control periods. Conclusions: A local disaster caused by a naturally occurring hazard, but not a geographically remote human disaster, was associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms may have implications for prevention of sudden cardiac death.
Hydrogen storage in water-stable metal–organic frameworks incorporating 1,3- and 1,4-benzenedipyrazolate

Pyrazolate-bridged metal–organic frameworks incorporating tetrahedral Zn2+ ions are shown to exhibit a high chemical stability in boiling water, organic solvents, and acidic media, and are assessed for their hydrogen storage properties.
Temperature gradients, dopants, and dislocation formation during low-pressure LEC growth of GaAs

It was widely accepted that in the presence of high thermal gradients thermoelastic stress is responsible for the dislocation structure observed in GaAs crystals grown from the melt. Recent studies suggest that another mechanism must be operative when growth takes place in the presence of sufficiently low thermal gradients. In this work we will review the current status of low pressure, low thermal gradient GaAs crystal growth. Our previous studies have shown that undoped GaAs crystals grown under low pressure by the liquid encapsulated Czochralski technique from melts with axial temperature gradients of 6°C/cm at the solid/liquid interface have dislocation densities of ∼ 3x103 cm-2 throughout the boule. Our recent work shows that growth at an order of magnitude slower pull rate has no effect on this dislocation density, but does result in more extensive polyganization. Increased pull rates, however, increase the dislocation density. Growth of crystals on the 〈111〉 axis results in dislocation densities 2.5 times greater than observed in crystals grown on the 〈100〉 axis. For GaAs, LEC growth using Dash-type necking is ineffectual for reducing dislocation densities. Doping with indium, silicon or tellurium at concentrations above “critical” values significantly reduces the dislocation density. Doping with tin, phosphorus, zinc or germanium has no observable effect. Also, there is no effect of dopant segregation on dislocation density. These observations together with others reported in the literature strongly support a mechanism wherein dislocations are formed as a result of microscopic stress fields (exceeding the critical resolved shear stress) that arise from inhomogeneous vacancy incorporation at the solid/liquid interface. The dislocation density is determined, then, by the Ga and As vacancy concentrations, and therefore can be affected by either stoichiometry or dopant additions.
Influences on spelling: evidence from homophones

Three experiments used homophones as a test case to examine the roles of phonology and morphology in the spelling process. We introduced university students to novel meanings of spoken forms, for example, presenting /fid/ as a rare word for a type of furniture. We asked whether participants avoided spelling the new word as ‹feed›, instead using alternatives such as ‹fead›. Although participants produced some alternative spellings, they used spellings that resulted in homophones, i.e. spelled /i/ as ‹ee›, more often in items like /fid/ than in control items like /fip/. Participants were more likely to use novel spellings for homophones when given a choice between a novel spelling and an alternative than when asked to produce their own spellings. A major influence on spelling production thus appears to be the lesser effort that is required to use a familiar whole-word orthographic form compared to that needed for assembling a novel spelling.
Continuous electroencephalogram patterns are suggestive of eventual neurologic outcomes in post-cardiac arrest patients treated with therapeutic hypothermia.

Abstract Introduction Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) after cardiac arrest (CA) resuscitation is the first therapy proven to increase survival to discharge and neurologic recovery. Methods for neurologic and mortality prognostication after CA resuscitation have been called into question because they were developed based on evidence that was developed prior to the advent of TH. This study examines the relationship between electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns and mortality and neurologic outcomes in post-CA patients undergoing TH. Methods Eighty-three of 732 patients who had continuous EEG (cEEG) monitoring during TH were included. Continuous EEG tracings were classified as isoelectric, low voltage, burst suppression, epileptic form, and diffuse slowing. Primary outcomes are survival to discharge and Cerebral Performance Categories (CPCs) at hospital discharge. Results Among patients with favorable neurologic outcomes (CPC1 and CPC2), the duration cardiopulmonary resuscitation and time until return of spontaneous circulation were shorter than observed in patients with poorer neurologic outcomes (CPC3, CPC4, and CPC5). The time to target temperature was equivalent among neurologic outcome groups (499.5 minutes vs 431.0 minutes, P = .09). Favorable neurologic outcome was associated with initial presentation with ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation and had cEEG patterns suggestive of diffuse slowing and epileptiform waves. Discussion The use of cEEG can provide prognostication information otherwise not obtainable by clinical examination. Specific cEEG patterns predicted probability of mortality for patients according to their initial rhythm of CA as a function of cardiopulmonary resuscitation time.
BISMUTH QUANTUM-WIRE ARRAYS FABRICATED BY A VACUUM MELTING AND PRESSURE INJECTION PROCESS

Ultrafine bismuth nanowire arrays were synthesized by injecting its liquid melt into nanochannels of a porous anodic alumina template. A large area (1 cm × 1.5 cm) of parallel wires with diameters as small as 13 nm, lengths of 30–50 μm, and packing density as high as 7.1 × 1010 cm−2 has been fabricated. X-ray diffraction patterns revealed these nanowires, embedded in the insulating matrix, to be essentially single crystalline and highly oriented. The optical absorption spectra of the nanowire arrays indicate that these bismuth nanowires undergo a semimetal-to-semiconductor transition due to two-dimensional quantum confinement effects.
The development of an instrument to Assess Advocacy intentions for school Health Education

Abstract Background: An overlooked group for school health education advocacy training is college students enrolled in personal health courses. They will be investors and stakeholders in the quality of public education, and the health and academic success of students. Purpose: In this article we present the process used to develop a theory-based instrument that can help to assess changes in intentions to advocate for school health education after exposure to an advocacy training intervention conducted with college students enrolled in personal health courses. The instrument constructs were developed based on Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). Methods: Researchers used a comprehensive instrument design framework, involving the Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing and four stages of pretesting to develop and test the instrument items. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the relationship among ordinal items in the Likert-type instrument and the constructs in TPB, which the ite...
Becoming Japanese: The World of the Pre-School Child

The children are more than mere pictures. They tell us the truths about Japan. So wrote a visitor to Japan at the turn of the century and this view underlies the title of this book. The first few years of a child's life are vitally imporant for preparing it to be a member of the society to which it belongs. Japanese methods of childcare are consequently directed towards taking advantage of the receptivity of the early years. They are also different in many ways from Western methods and much of the colorful detail in this book will be of great interest to mothers everywhere--from family beds and toilet training to the elaborate religious ceremonies of childhood. Joyn Hendry looks at customs and traditions, at rewards and punishments, and at the day-to-day life of children at home, at school, and in the wider world. Joy Hendry's research involved working with Japanese mothers and other care takers, and with kindergartens and day nurseries. She has drawn on the work of sociologists, psychologists and educationalists in English and Japanese, but the theoretical framework for the study is drawn from social anthropology.
A new bonded porous polymer PLOT U column with increased polarity

The separation features of a new type of PLOT U column are presented through many applications. This type of PLOT U column is coated with a divinylbenzene-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate copolymer. It has an increased polarity when compared with a conventional PLOT Q type column. The stationary phase of the PLOT U column is truly bonded, thus providing column rinsability and low column bleed.
7-21 GHz wideband phased array radiator

Raytheon has developed a novel wideband, dual-polarized, element with excellent cross-polarization isolation to populate the AMRFC high band transmit array. The electrically short crossed notch (ESCN) element consists of an orthogonal pair of tapered crossed-notch radiators with a balanced feed to increase polarization purity. The ECSN provides excellent polarization performance versus scan (better than current notch capabilities). The 2X (3-9 GHz) measured co-polarisation and x-polarisation performance of the embedded element in the E-, H-, and diagonal planes and the swept gain performance were discussed at the 2003 Phased Array Conference. This paper discusses the measured performance of the 1X (7-21 GHz) version with the fully integrated balun. The measured embedded element performance for the E-, H-, and diagonal planes is discussed as well as the novel balun design which enables the outstanding performance.
The expert team of experts approach to command-and-control (C 2 ) organizations

This paper presents a concept which helps in understanding the Command and Control (C2) process associated with a well-trained team of military commanders each being an expert in problem-solving in his particular tactical warfare area, and has been delegated C2responsibility and authority over his resources by his superior commander. It is argued that due to his individual training a commander develops a principal expert model (PEM) of the warfare area in which he has specialized, which allows him to make superior tactical C2decisions based upon the tactical information available to him. In addition, as a consequence of centralized mission planning and team-training of the entire C2organization, each commander develops aggregated mutual expert models (MEM) of the PEM's of the commanders that he strongly interacts with and competes for common team resources. This concept is referred to as the expert team of experts (ETOE) methodology.