cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How to select and implement an electronic health record in a neurology practice.

Summary The purchase, implementation, and maintenance of an electronic health record (EHR) are among the most significant financial investments a practice will make. A practice9s choice of EHR will have long-term and wide-ranging implications for how that practice operates. A successful EHR implementation may potentially result in increased efficiency, improved quality of patient care, and a possibly more successful practice. Extensive research and thoughtful planning, done with the involvement of all stakeholders, the commitment of adequate time, staff, and financial resources to the process, and sufficient training will increase the chances for a successful EHR implementation.
Photomechanical responses of carbon nanotube/polymer actuators

Recent studies have investigated the photomechanical properties of carbon nanotubes which can be utilized to construct optical actuators. In this paper we compare the photomechanical response from single-wall and multi-wall carbon nanotube/polymer systems in multilayer and nanocomposite actuator constructions. Incorporating polymers in the actuators, single-wall and multi-wall nanotubes show similar photomechanical responses, which are directly related to prestrain and nanotube alignments. Nanotube/polymer multilayered actuators exhibit comparable actuation strokes to the nanocomposite counterparts, while enabling easier sample construction, intact polymer and nanotube properties, and compatibility to CMOS/MEMS processes. The photomechanical responses can be well understood based on affine modelling of photomechanical responses.
Quantum confinement effects on the photoluminescence spectra of CdTe nanocrystallites

Quantum size and semiconductor volume fraction effects on the intensity, line width and position of photoluminescence (PL) peaks from CdTe nanocrystallites have been measured. CdTe-glass composite thin films were grown by using a sequential rf-magnetron sputtering process. Postdeposition heat treatments were used to produce average crystallite sizes between 1.2 and 16 nm. The PL spectra consist of single, broad peaks that undergo larger blue shifts with decreasing crystallite sizes. The PL signal degrades with increasing nanocrystallite size and is quenched at the higher semiconductor volume fractions. The spectral characteristics of the clusters are discussed in terms of the electron-hole pair and the effect of surface states.
Synthesis of nickel aluminides under high-pressure shock loading

We report the first shock synthesis of nickel aluminides by explosive loading of the blended mixture of elemental nickel and aluminum powders. Insofar as we are aware, this is the first synthesis of these compounds from fully dense powder compacts. The major end product was ordered Ni3Al which was identified by X-ray diffraction and electron-probe microanalysis. Transitional reaction zones or heat-affected zones contained NiAl, Ni2Al3, and NiAl3. Microhardness (DPH) of Ni3Al was 438 ± 8. This is the same hardness obtained for cold-rolled or rapidly solidified Ni3Al containing boron additions.
Simulation of random envelope processes.

Efficient and practical methods of simulating stationary and nonstationary random envelope processes are presented. The stationary envelope processes are simulated by using the fast Fourier transform while the nonstationary envelope processes are simulated as the square root of the sum of a series of cosine functions and a series of sine functions with random phase angles. Typical applications of the envelope simulation are the simulations of peaks and troughs which play an important role in the analyses of the first excursion probability, fatigue and crack propagation. In particular, applications to the crack propagation under random loadings are demonstrated in detail.
Momentum-weighted conjugate gradient descent algorithm for gradient coil optimization

MRI gradient coil design is a type of nonlinear constrained optimization. A practical problem in transverse gradient coil design using the conjugate gradient descent (CGD) method is that wire elements move at different rates along orthogonal directions (r, ,z ), and tend to cross, breaking the constraints. A momentum-weighted conjugate gradient descent (MW-CGD) method is presented to overcome this problem. This method takes advantage of the efficiency of the CGD method combined with momentum weighting, which is also an intrinsic property of the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm, to adjust step sizes along the three orthogonal directions. A water-cooled, 12.8 cm inner diameter, three axis torque-balanced gradient coil for rat imaging was developed based on this method, with an efficiency of 2.13, 2.08, and 4.12 mT m -1 A -1 along X, Y, and Z, respectively. Experimental data demonstrate that this method can improve efficiency by 40% and field uniformity by 27%. This method has also been applied to the design of a gradient coil for the human brain, employing remote current return paths. The benefits of this design include improved gradient field uniformity and efficiency, with a shorter length than gradient coil designs using coaxial return paths. Magn Reson Med 51:158 –164, 2004.
Therapeutic margin of budesonide in patients with mild to severe asthma.

Abstract Background: The therapeutic margin of a drug is the difference between the optimal effective dose and the dose at which unacceptable adverse effects occur. This margin is particularly important in the case of therapies that are used long term for the control of chronic illnesses, such as inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) in the treatment of asthma. Because data from controlled clinical studies indicate that the available ICSs have similar clinical efficacy, the safety profile is central to differentiating between them on the basis of their therapeutic margins. The main safety concern with long-term use and high doses of ICSs is systemic exposure that could result in such unwanted effects as cortisol suppression, a reduction in the final adult height of pediatric patients, and decreased bone mineral density. Objective: This article reviews data from clinical trials, including long-term prospective studies, to compare the therapeutic margin of budesonide with those of other second-generation ICSs and to determine whether there are variations in the therapeutic margin with different delivery devices, severities of disease, or patient age. Results: Based on the tolerability data for budesonide from short-term (6–12 wk) and long-term (1–9 y) studies in patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma, the dose-response and dose-tolerability curves for budesonide delivered by dry-powder inhaler can be plotted in parallel. The margin between these curves—the therapeutic margin—is favorable and consistent in pediatric and adult patients and at all degrees of asthma severity. Fewer tolerability data are available for other ICSS. Conclusion: Whereas budesonide has clinical efficacy similar to that of other currently available ICSs, it has a good safety profile—and hence a favorable therapeutic margin—that is supported by long-term clinical data. Budesonides favorable therapeutic margin is probably a result of its pharmacokinetic and physical properties.
Spastic dysphonia: A fluency disorder?

Abstract A case is presented for classifying spastic dysphonia, which usually is classified as a disorder of phonation, as a disorder of fluency—one that has a symptomatology and phenomenology, and possibly etiology, which is similar to stuttering. This case is based in part on a study that is reported in which listeners described speech associated with this condition as lacking in fluency. Theoretical, clinical, and research implications are discussed.
Antidiuretic Action of Prolactin in the Rat with Diabetes Insipidus

Rats with hereditary hypothalamic diabetes insipidus, devoid of endogenous ADH, exhibited a prompt antidiuresis when injected subcutaneously or intraarterially with ovine prolactin. The antidiuresis was accompanied by a decrease in free water clearance and an increase in urine osmolality without a change in osmolal clearance or creatinine excretion. Measurement of PAH and inulin clearances indicated that prolactin had no effect on renal plasma flow or glomerular filtration rate. Prolactin injection caused a transient decrease in urinary sodium excretion, but proximal tubular sodium reabsorption, estimated by lissamine green transit time, was unaffected. The antidiuretic effect of prolactin could not be attributed to ADH contamination of the ovine prolactin preparation. Kidney cyclic AMP content was increased significantly 5 min after injection of prolactin. Thus, prolactin has an antidiuretic effect similar to that which occurs as a result of ADH action on the kidney and does not require either the release or the presence of ADH in order to cause the antidiuresis. Further, the impaired water excretion cannot be attributed to an increase in proximal tubular sodium reabsorption or to alteration of renal hemodynamics. It is suggested that prolactin has a direct ADH-like action on the kidney resulting in antidiuresis.
Q: how should we manage insulin therapy before surgery?

Continuing at least part of the basal insulin is reasonable, but prandial insulin should be stopped the morning of surgery.
Oxovanadium(IV) complexes with N-salicylideneamino acids

Abstract The preparation of a series of new oxovanadium(IV) complexes of N-Salicylideneamino acids are described. These complexes are characterized as five coordinate compounds and have the general formula of VO(Sal:AA)(H 2 O). The ligand stands for bivalent tridentate Schiff bases derived from salicylaldehyde and various ∞-amino acids. Electronic spectra are interpreted using recently proposed ordering of vanadium d orbitals by Vanquickenborne and McGlynn: xy xz , yz x 2 − y 2 z 2 .
Synchronous navigation for CT colonography

ABSTRACT We present a synchronous navigation module for CT colonography (CTC) reading. The need for such a system arises because most CTC protocols require a patie nt to be scanned in both supine and prone positions to increase sensitivity in detecting colonic polyps. However, existing clinical practices are limited to reading one scan at a time. Such limitation is due to the fact that building a reference system between scans for the highly flexible colon is a nontrivial task. The conventional centerline approach, generating only the longitudinal distance along the colon, falls short in providing the necessary orientation information to synchronize the virtual na vigation cameras in both scanned positions. In this paper we describe a synchronous navigation system by using the teniae coli as anatomical references. Teniae coli are three parallel bands of longitudinal smooth muscle on the surface of the colon. They are morphologically distinguishable and form a piecewise triple helix structure fr om the appendix to the sigmoid colon. Because of these characteristics, they are ideal references to synchronize virtual cameras in both scanned positions. Our new navigation system consists of two side-by-side virtual colonoscopic view panels (for the supine and prone data sets respectively) and one single camera control unit (which controls both the supine and prone virtual cameras). The capability to examine the same colonic region simultaneously in both scanned images can raise an observers confidence in polyp identification and potentially improve the performance of CT colonography. Keywords: Virtual colonoscopy, virtual navigation, CT colonography, colon flattening, computer-aided diagnosis, polyp detection
Does prior exercise affect oral glucose tolerance test results

Meeting abstracts - A single PDF containing all abstracts in this Sup plement is available here .
A Combination of Spatial and Recursive Temporal Filtering for Noise Reduction when Using Region of Interest (ROI) Fluoroscopy for Patient Dose Reduction in Image Guided Vascular Interventions with Significant Anatomical Motion

Because x-ray based image-guided vascular interventions are minimally invasive they are currently the most preferred method of treating disorders such as stroke, arterial stenosis, and aneurysms; however, the x-ray exposure to the patient during long image-guided interventional procedures could cause harmful effects such as cancer in the long run and even tissue damage in the short term. ROI fluoroscopy reduces patient dose by differentially attenuating the incident x-rays outside the region-of-interest. To reduce the noise in the dose-reduced regions previously recursive temporal filtering was successfully demonstrated for neurovascular interventions. However, in cardiac interventions, anatomical motion is significant and excessive recursive filtering could cause blur. In this work the effects of three noise-reduction schemes, including recursive temporal filtering, spatial mean filtering, and a combination of spatial and recursive temporal filtering, were investigated in a simulated ROI dose-reduced cardiac intervention. First a model to simulate the aortic arch and its movement was built. A coronary stent was used to simulate a bio-prosthetic valve used in TAVR procedures and was deployed under dose-reduced ROI fluoroscopy during the simulated heart motion. The images were then retrospectively processed for noise reduction in the periphery, using recursive temporal filtering, spatial filtering and a combination of both. Quantitative metrics for all three noise reduction schemes are calculated and are presented as results. From these it can be concluded that with significant anatomical motion, a combination of spatial and recursive temporal filtering scheme is best suited for reducing the excess quantum noise in the periphery. This new noise-reduction technique in combination with ROI fluoroscopy has the potential for substantial patient-dose savings in cardiac interventions.
Rethinking new wines: implications of local and environmentally friendly labels

Abstract New wine production areas around the world are encountering challenges in creating a reputation for high-quality products. In order to help these new wine growing areas numerous labeling programs claiming local origin and environmentally friendly practices are being implemented. In this study, consumer response toward wine grown in a new production area such as Colorado is researched. Using an interval probit model, the mean willingness to pay (WTP) for Colorado environmentally friendly and Colorado regular wines are calculated. In summary, the results in this paper highlight the need to improve quality perceptions to garner a premium in differentiated wine markets. As a consequence, environmentally friendly labeling in wine is an inefficient marketing tool for wines perceived as low quality.
Endemic families of Madagascar. XII. Resurrection and taxonomic revision of the genera Mediusella (Cavaco) Hutchinson and Xerochlamys Baker (Sarcolaenaceae).

Hong-Wa C. 2009. — Endemic families of Madagascar. XII. Resurrection and taxonomic revision of the genera Mediusella (Cavaco) Hutchinson and Xerochlamys Baker (Sarcolaenaceae). Adansonia, ser. 3, 31 (2): 311-339.
Compressive failure of composite plates during one-sided heating

Abstract Intermediate-scale, one-sided heating tests were performed on compressively loaded E-glass vinyl ester composite laminates. The tests were designed to investigate the effect of varying the applied stress, applied heat flux, and laminate dimensions on structural response. Three failure modes were observed in testing: large-scale buckling, localized kinking, and forced-response deflection. The failure modes were dependent on applied stress and independent of applied heating. The times-to-failure of the laminates exhibited an inverse relationship with the applied stress and heating levels. The use of a single temperature was incapable of quantifying laminate failure due to variations in temperature at failure for a given stress level. A dimensionless relationship was developed as a function of temperature for the applied stress and slenderness ratio. This relationship compares the applied stress, slenderness ratio, and laminate temperature at failure and may be used in design of composite laminate structures to determine failure.
On the path of the Gulf Stream and the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation

Abstract The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) simulated in various ocean-only and coupled atmosphere–ocean numerical models often varies in time because of either forced or internal variability. The path of the Gulf Stream (GS) is one diagnostic variable that seems to be sensitive to the amplitude of the AMOC, yet previous modeling studies show a diametrically opposed relationship between the two variables. In this note this issue is revisited, bringing together ocean observations and comparisons with the GFDL Climate Model version 2.1 (CM2.1), both of which suggest a more southerly (northerly) GS path when the AMOC is relatively strong (weak). Also shown are some examples of possible diagnostics to compare various models and observations on the relationship between shifts in GS path and changes in AMOC strength in future studies.
Absence of subviral particles and assembly activity in HeLa cells infected with defective-interfering (DI) particles of poliovirus

Abstract HeLa cells infected with defective-interfering (DI) particles of poliovirus were examined for their capacity to synthesize viral proteins, viral-related particles, and the viral factor(s) that promotes the assembly of 14 S particles into empty capsidsin vitro. As reported by C. N. Cole and D. Baltimore (1973,J. Mol. Biol.76, 325–343) cells infected with purified DI particles failed to synthesize the capsid precursor NCVP 1a or any of the capsid polypeptides VP 0, VP 1, VP 2, or VP 3. Consequently, no 14 S particles, empty capsids, or virions were formed at low to moderate multiplicities. Cytoplasmic extracts prepared from cells infected with purified DI particles do not promote the assembly of viral 14 S particles into empty capsids. We conclude that the presence of assembly activity is dependent on the formation of the capsid precursor protein (NCVP-1a) or its cleavage products.
Electron-microscope studies of drosophila salivary-gland chromosomes

The submicroscopic structure of the chromosomes of the larval salivary gland cells inDrosophila melanogaster has been studied by means of electron microscopy of thin sections. The three fixatives used were buffered 1% osmium tetroxide, unbuffered Zenker's solution, and buffered formaldehyde in concentrations of 0·1% and 1·0%. It was found that formalin preserves the fine structure of the chromosomes better than the other fixatives. Nucleoprotein is present in the chromosome in the form of granules 200 A to 300 A in diameter. The granules are connected together by strands of protein approximately 100 A in diameter. The length of the strands between successive granules in the banded areas is 100 A to 300 A and in the interband regions it is 700 A to 900 A. Heterochromatin differs from euchromatin in the absence or reduction in the amount of strand material. The nucleolus is composed of an aggregate of granules 300 A to 600 A in diameter contained in an amorphous matrix. Within the nucleolus are a series of canals containing material similar in appearance to that of the euchromatic band material. Submicroscopic granules are also present in the karyoplasm and in the cytoplasm surrounding the nuclear membrane. The cytoplasmic granules are more densely distributed near the nuclear membrane. A model for chromosome structure is proposed.
Illuminative Evaluation for Formative Decision-Making A Case Study of Teaching/ Learning Styles and Mathematics

This article has two main purposes: to report a case study of an evaluation of a junior high math innovation that matched teachingstyleswithstudents'learningstyles, and to discuss illuminative eval...
The opposition effect in Saturn’s main rings as seen by Cassini ISS: 2. Constraints on the ring particles and their regolith with analytical radiative transfer models

Abstract The opposition effect in Saturn’s main rings is characterized by a surge in ring brightness, when the phase angle approaches zero degree. This effect can be used to derive: physical properties of the ring particles and the ring layer, via the shadow hiding mechanism; and physical properties of the regolith grains that cover the ring particles, via the coherent backscattering mechanism. Since the exact origin of this effect is still a matter of debate, we try different combinations of the physical mechanisms cited above to derive constraints on the nature, the texture, and the disposition of the ring particles. In particular, we derive regolith grain sizes, particle sizes, differential power law indices, filling factors, and vertical thicknesses; and we compare them with independent works to validate or invalidate the assumptions of the opposition effect models used. Our coherent backscattering model provides grain sizes similar to the sizes estimated from water ice band depth modeling in the near infrared. Our shadow hiding model assuming a power law size distribution provides vertical thickness consistent with previous estimates from density waves measurements and N-body simulations. We show that the assumption of an homogeneous medium is a key parameter in the shadow hiding modeling. In the case of the B ring, we demonstrate that all previous photometric models assuming an homogeneous ring layer (i.e. uniform particle size distribution, random spacing of the particles and small filling factor) have led to a set of unconfirmed solutions. This result reinforces the idea that the Saturn’s main rings should be modeled as an heterogeneous medium.
Nouse 'use your nose as a mouse' perceptual vision technology for hands-free games and interfaces

Due to recent increase of computer power and decrease of camera cost, it became very common to see a camera on top of a computer monitor. This paper presents the vision-based technology which allows one in such a setup to significantly enhance the perceptual power of the computer. The described techniques for tracking a face using a convex-shape nose feature as well as for face-tracking with two off-theshelf cameras allow one to track faces robustly and precisely in both 2D and 3D with low resolution cameras. Supplemented by the mechanism for detecting multiple eye blinks, this technology provides a complete solution for building intelligent hands-free input devices. The theory behind the technology is presented. The results from running several perceptual user interfaces built with this technology are shown.
Parthenolide, an Inhibitor of the Nuclear Factor-κB Pathway, Ameliorates Cardiovascular Derangement and Outcome in Endotoxic Shock in Rodents

Parthenolide is a sesquiterpene lactone used in folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory activity. Recent in vitro studies have shown that this compound inhibits the nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB pathway. This study examines the effect of parthenolide in endotoxic shock in rodents. Endotoxic shock was induced by administration of Escherichia coli endotoxin in rats. Three groups of rats received parthenolide (0.25, 0.5, or 1 mg/kg) 15 min before endotoxin; another group received parthenolide (1 mg/kg) 3 h after endotoxin. In vehicle-treated rats, administration of endotoxin caused severe hypotension, which was associated with a marked hyporeactivity to norepinephrine in ex vivo thoracic aortas. Immunohistochemistry showed positive staining for nitrotyrosine, poly(ADP-ribose) synthetase (PARS) and apoptosis, whereas Northern blot analysis showed increased mRNA expression of inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) in thoracic aortas. Elevated levels of plasma nitrate/nitrite were also found. Elevated lung levels of myeloperoxidase activity were indicative of infiltration of neutrophils. These inflammatory events were preceded by cytosolic degradation of inhibitor kappaBalpha (IkappaBalpha) and activation of nuclear NF-kappaB in the lung. In vivo pretreatment and post-treatment with parthenolide improved the hemodynamic profile and reduced plasma nitrate/nitrite and lung neutrophil infiltration in a dose-dependent fashion. Vascular hyporeactivity of ex vivo aortas was ameliorated. Treatment with parthenolide also abolished nitrotyrosine formation, PARS expression, and apoptosis and reduced iNOS mRNA content in thoracic aortas. DNA binding of NF-kappaB was inhibited by parthenolide in the lung, whereas degradation of IkappaBalpha was unchanged. In a separate set of experiments, pretreatment or post-treatment with parthenolide significantly improved survival in mice challenged with endotoxin. We conclude that parthenolide exerts beneficial effects during endotoxic shock through inhibition of NF-kappaB.
Deformation during interdiffusion

Abstract A general theory of stress and deformation during interdiffusion is presented which spans the gap between the Darken analysis of the Kirkendall effect and the recent treatment by Larche and Cahn of the interaction between stress and diffusion. Special consideration is given to the generation of internal stress and vacancy chemical potential, to the contribution of these potentials to the diffusion potentials, to the relaxation of these potentials via plastic deformation and vacancy creation/annihilation, and to convective transport due to deformation induced by diffusion. When the mobilities or the partial molal volumes of the components differ, the coupling of the relaxation equations for plastic strain and vacancy creation to the diffusion equations for the component densities can lead to a change in the rate-limiting step for interdiffusion as a function of the distance scale of the composition and stress profiles. The characteristic lengths at which these changes occur are determined by relations between the mobilities, the viscosity, and the rate constant for vacancy creation. When a relaxation process is rate-limiting, composition penetration profiles have an exponential (rather than error-function) form, and the integrated amount of material transported increases linearly with time (rather than as t 1 2 ).
Sexual dimorphism in the birds from southern Veracruz, Mexico, and other localities. III. Wilson's Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla)

Abstract Using museum specimens from Mexico, Canada, and the western United States, we examined sexual dimorphism in the Wilson's Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla), a Nearctic-Neotropic migrant (Passeriformes: Parulidae). On average, males had longer tails, wing chords, and eighth and ninth primaries than females. Three methods for quantifying cap plumage showed that differences in cap size and pattern alone could not definitively separate the sexes. Discriminant functions are presented for sexing individuals using cap category, cap length, wing chord, tail length, and ninth primary length. More specific functions are provided for samples from Alaska and eastern Mexico. For each group, equations are included for assigning individual probabilities of belonging to either sex.
Formation of Adeno-Associated Virus Circular Genomes Is Differentially Regulated by Adenovirus E4 ORF6 and E2a Gene Expression

A central feature of the adeno-associated virus (AAV) latent life cycle is persistence in the form of both integrated and episomal genomes. However, the molecular processes associated with episomal long-term persistence of AAV genomes are only poorly understood. To investigate these mechanisms, we have utilized a recombinant AAV (rAAV) shuttle vector to identify circular AAV intermediates from transduced HeLa cells and primary fibroblasts. The unique structural features exhibited by these transduction intermediates included circularized monomer and dimer virus genomes in a head-to-tail array, with associated specific base pair alterations in the 5' viral D sequence. In HeLa cells, the abundance and stability of AAV circular intermediates were augmented by adenovirus expressing the E2a gene product. In the absence of E2a, adenovirus expressing the E4 open reading frame 6 gene product decreased the abundance of AAV circular intermediates, favoring instead the linear replication form monomer (Rfm) and dimer (Rfd) structures. In summary, the formation of AAV circular intermediates appears to represent a new pathway for AAV genome conversion, which is consistent with the head-to-tail concatemerization associated with latent-phase persistence of rAAV. A better understanding of this pathway may increase the utility of rAAV vectors for gene therapy.
Health Monitoring of a Thermal Protection System using Lamb Waves

The applicability of guided waves as a structural health monitoring (SHM) tool to predict the point of impact and detect delamination in a thermal protection system (TPS) is studied. A model TPS wa...
On the application of motivation theory to human factors/ergonomics: Motivational design principles for human–technology interaction.

Objective: Motivation is a driving force in human‐ technology interaction. This paper represents an effort to (a) describe a theoretical model of motivation in human technology interaction, (b) provide design principles and guidelines based on this theory, and (c) describe a sequence of steps for the evaluation of motivational factors in human‐technology interaction. Background: Motivation theory has been relatively neglected in human factors/ergonomics (HF/E). In both research and practice, the (implicit) assumption has been that the operator is already motivated or that motivation is an organizational concern and beyond the purview of HF/E. However, technology can induce task-related boredom (e.g., automation) that can be stressful and also increase system vulnerability to performance failures. Method: A theoretical model of motivation in human‐technology interaction is proposed, based on extension of the self-determination theory of motivation to HF/E. This model provides the basis for both future research and for development of practical recommendations for design. Results: General principles and guidelines for motivational design are described as well as a sequence of steps for the design process. Conclusion: Human motivation is an important concern for HF/E research and practice. Procedures in the design of both simple and complex technologies can, and should, include the evaluation of motivational characteristics of the task, interface, or system. In addition, researchers should investigate these factors in specific human‐technology domains. Application: The theory, principles, and guidelines described here can be incorporated into existing techniques for task analysis and for interface and system design.
Residence times and source ages of deep crustal fluids: interpretation of 129I and 36Cl results from the KTB‐VB drill site, Germany

We present here 129I/I and 36Cl/Cl ratios, together with halogen concentrations in crustal fluids from the continental deep drill site (KTB-VB) in Germany, where fluids were collected from 4000 m depth during a pump test carried out in 2002 and 2003. Compared with seawater, the fluids are enriched by factors of 2, 8 and 40 for Cl−, Br and I, respectively, and show little variation over the test period. The 129I/I ratios are between 1700 and 4100 × 10−15; the 36Cl/Cl ratios are below 10 × 10−15. Co-variation between 129I and 36Cl concentrations in the fluids indicates that anthropogenic components are absent and that the ratios reflect an addition from crustal sources. The results suggest residence times of 10 Ma or more for the fluids in formations with uranium concentrations of 1 ppm. A minimum age of 30 Ma for the iodine source was derived from the correlation between 129I and 36Cl concentrations in the fluids. The results demonstrate that the halogen characteristics of the KTB fluids are very similar to those of other deep crustal fluids and that the combination of 129I and 36Cl systematics allows determination of residence times and source ages of such fluids.
Use of a Catheter-Based System to Measure Blood Flow in Hemodialysis Grafts during Angioplasty Procedures

PURPOSE The goals of this investigation were to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of the Angioflow meter system with use of in vitro and in vivo methods and to compare it to the standard Transonics HD01 system in a clinical setting. MATERIALS AND METHODS The Angioflow meter system consists of a 6-F endovascular catheter and a laptop computer containing proprietary software for this application. Bench-top testing with use of a flow model was performed to determine the accuracy of the Angioflow meter system. Initial in vivo studies were performed with use of an animal model to assess the endovascular performance of the Angioflow meter system. Subsequently, a human clinical trial was performed to compare the Angioflow meter to the standard Transonics HD01 system. Twenty-five patients with dysfunctional ( RESULTS Bench-top testing and animal studies demonstrated an excellent ( r = .98) correlation between the measurements of the Angioflow meter and volumetric flow measurements. In the clinical trial, there was reasonable correlation ( r = .72) between the blood flow measurements obtained with use of the Angioflow meter and Transonics HD01 system. The reproducibility of consecutive measurements with the Angioflow meter was excellent ( r = .98). The mean increase in intragraft blood flow after angioplasty was 320 mL/min. CONCLUSION The Angioflow meter is an accurate and reliable endovascular device for measuring intragraft blood flow during interventional procedures. Use of this catheter-based system should prove beneficial for quantifying the success of endovascular interventions, the assessment of arterial inflow, and identification of inconspicuous lesions.
Hormonal mechanisms of weight loss and diabetes resolution after bariatric surgery.

The answer to the first question—our greatest emerging ublic health crisis—is the ever-accelerating pandemic of besity. At present, approximately 1/3 of Americans are bese [defined as body mass index (BMI) 30 kg/m] and nother 1/3 are overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9 kg/m) [1]. The enters for Disease Control’s annual maps of the United tates, color-coded according to the proportion of each tate’s population that is obese, continue to transform at a izzying pace from relatively safe pastels to the dangerous carlet and yellow hues denoting the highest brackets of besity [2]. Some of the most frightening statistics are in hildren, foreshadowing an even graver future. For examle, the proportion of obese and overweight children and dolescents in the United States nearly doubled in the 1980s lone, and the numbers continue to rise inexorably [3].
Additive-Bilingual (Immersion) Education: Cognitive and Language Development.

The superior control of cognitive processing demonstrated by children in the early stages of additive bilingualism may enhance symbolic reasoning abilities. The developmental interdependence of LI and L2 may allow additive-bilingual children to maintain normal native-language development. This study examined the development of a Grade 2 additive-bilingual (Spanish-immersion) program class as compared to a monolingual classroom on measures of nonverbal problem-solving and native-language development. Theprogramwas the independent variable in two comparisons. In the first comparison, nonverbal problem-solving was the dependent variable, as measured by Raven's (1977) Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM). As hypoth-esized, a repeated measures ANCOVA of the results of fall and spring administrations of the CPM indicated significant differences in favor of the Spanish-immersion group, F(1, 35)=5.85, p=.O2. In the second comparison, native-language development was the dependent variable as measured by the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-R (PPVT-R). A parametric independent
Optical Transmission and Reflection by Blood

The results of calculations which use diffusion equations for photons to calculate optical transmission and backscattering by whole blood will be compared with a variety of published data. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the usefulness of the diffusion theory approach to the optics of blood and to present information concerning the dependence of the scattering and absorption parameters for blood on the pertinent variables such as hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and optical wavelength.
Intraoperative Mean Arterial Pressure Variability and 30-day Mortality in Patients Having Noncardiac Surgery.

Background:Little is known about the relationship between intraoperative blood pressure variability and mortality after noncardiac surgery. Therefore, the authors tested the hypothesis that blood pressure variability, independent from absolute blood pressure, is associated with increased 30-day mort
Diagnosis of appendicitis in pregnancy

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of appendicitis in pregnant patients is challenging. METHODS: The records of pregnant patients with suspected appendicitis were reviewed. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients with suspected appendicitis were identified. Twenty-four patients did not undergo surgery. Twenty-three patients had ultrasound (US), none of which visualized the appendix. Seventeen patients were followed up clinically and improved. Six patients had a negative computed tomography (CT) and none required surgery. Twenty-three patients underwent surgery for presumed appendicitis. Three patients had no imaging. Twelve patients had US only; US was positive in 5 patients and all had appendicitis. Seven patients who underwent surgery had a nondiagnostic US. One patient had appendicitis. Seven patients had a positive CT and appendicitis at surgery. One patient had a positive US and magnetic resonance imaging, and had appendicitis. A total of 43 patients had US, of which 86% were nondiagnostic. Six US were read as positive and all patients had appendicitis. Thirteen patients had CT with no false-positive or false-negative results. CONCLUSIONS: US, when read as positive, requires no further confirmatory test other than surgery. If US is nondiagnostic, further imaging may avoid a negative appendectomy.
LATTICE POINTS CLOSE TO A SMOOTH CURVE AND SQUAREFULL NUMBERS IN SHORT INTERVALS

An approach of Swinnerton-Dyer is extended to obtain new upper bounds for the number of lattice points close to a smooth curve. One consequence of these bounds is a new asymptotic result for the distribution of squarefull numbers in short intervals.
Symmetry breaking and naturalness of parity conservation in weak neutral currents in left- right—symmetric gauge theories

We discuss the symmetry-breaking patterns and the naturalness of parity conservation in weak neutral-current interactions in the left-right--symmetric SU(2)/sub L/ x SU(2)/sub R/ x U(1) gauge theories. Two Higgs systems are discussed which enable us to achieve the desired breaking of the gauge symmetry. We show by a detailed analysis of the Higgs potential that the more economical of the two Higgs systems, that involving left and right Higgs scalar doublets, fails to meet the criteria of naturalness of parity conservation in neutral-current interactions. We find that with the second Higgs system neutral currents conserve parity naturally regardless of the structure of the physical charged-current weak interactions. Implications of this for the computability of induced parity violation in higher orders and the search for parity nonconservation in atoms are also discussed.
Practical, visible wavelength nuclear-pumped laser

A practical, visible nuclear-pumped laser (NPL) has been sought at the University of Illinois and other laboratories for a number of years. Yet, the results from successful visible NPLs to date have not been fully satisfactory, e.g., the threshold pumping power is too high for conventional applications. Progress in recent studies of 3He-Ne-H2 as a candidate NPL operating in the visible region at 585.3 nm on the 2P1,-1S2 Ne transition is described. We obtained lasing on the above transition for 3He-Ne-H2 concentrations of 1,140, 588, and 412 torr, respectively, with the laser cavity placed in the beamport of the University of Illinois TRIGA reactor. The threshold thermal neutron flux is 1014 n/cm2-s, corresponding to a threshold pumping power of 5 W/cm3.
The Spatial Patterns of Functional Groups and Successional Direction in a Coastal Dune Community

Various methods have been devised to classify plants into functional groups, yet little work has investigated how these groups differentially impact succession with spatially explicit mechanisms. In a sand dune plant community on Galveston Island, Texas, we categorized plants by their functional traits, mapped the topographical contours of the sand dunes as a first-order effect to describe the spatial distribution of environmental stress, and quantified the second-order within- and between-group associations of the plants within specific bands of these contours using Ripley's K analysis. We then quantified the influence of spatially explicit functional traits on the direction of succession over time. We found evidence that the spatial pattern of the plants at one time exerted an influence on the pattern of the plants at a later time, based on their functional traits, thereby influencing the direction of sand dune succession. This study describes the spatiotemporal mechanics that lie behind sand dune plant succession: a process that has been a classical example of facilitation for ecologists, a plant community that is at risk from global sea-level rise and hurricanes, and an important rangeland resource that is being restored around the world for its ecological, range production, and coastal protection value.
Olfactory-specific quality of life outcomes after endoscopic sinus surgery.

Background Olfactory loss is a cardinal symptom of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and affects 40% to 80% of patients. However, common sinus-specific quality-of-life (QOL) instruments include only single questions related to olfaction. Few studies have explored olfactory outcomes after surgery utilizing validated, olfaction-specific QOL questionnaires. Methods Patients with CRS were enrolled from 3 centers across North America into a prospective cohort study. Patients completed the short modified version of the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (QOD-NS) and the 40-item Smell Identification Test (SIT-40) before and at least 6 months after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Multivariate linear regression was used to determine whether specific demographic, comorbidity, or disease severity measures were independently associated with QOD scores at baseline or predicted change after surgery. Results A total of 121 patients, equally split between genders, were enrolled with an average age of 47.9 years (range, 18–80 years). Baseline total QOD-NS scores were significantly associated with SIT-40 scores, with a moderate strength of correlation (Rs = 0.400; p < 0.001). The average QOD-NS score improved after ESS (35.7 ± 13.0 vs 39.7 ± 12.2; p = 0.006). Allergy, polyps, and steroid-dependent conditions were found to be independently associated with worse preoperative QOD-NS scores, whereas septal deviation was associated with better QOD-NS scores. Baseline computed tomography (CT) scores were the only variable that significantly predicted change in QOD-NS after surgery. Conclusion Olfaction-specific QOL is worse in patients with polyps and comorbid allergy. Significant improvements in olfaction-specific QOL are seen after ESS, with the greatest gains seen in those with worse CT scores at baseline.
Handling Big Data of Online Social Networks on a Small Machine

Dealing with big data in computational social networks may require powerful machines, big storage, and high bandwidth, which may seem beyond the capacity of small labs. We demonstrate that researchers with limited resources may still be able to conduct big-data research by focusing on a specific type of data. In particular, we present a system called MPT (Microblog Processing Toolkit) for handling big volume of microblog posts with commodity computers, which can handle tens of millions of micro posts a day. MPT supports fast search on multiple keywords and returns statistical results. We describe in this paper the architecture of MPT for data collection and stat search for returning search results with statistical analysis. We then present different indexing mechanisms and compare them on the micro posts we collected from popular social network sites in China.
Treatment decision-making preferences in older patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

8519 Background: Shared decision-making is a tenet of contemporary oncology practice. However, it is uncertain how involved elderly patients want to be in making treatment decisions and how physicians perceive patient preferences for involvement in decision-making. Methods: In structured interviews about multiple facets of chemotherapy treatment decision-making, we asked patients age 70 and older seen at our specialty cancer center with a recent diagnosis of metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) about their preferences for making treatment decisions. We used Degner’s control preference scale to measure patient preference for decision control. Treating oncologists described their perception of each patient’s preference for decision control using the same scale. Control preference was assessed in relation to socio-demographic characteristics and functional status. Results: Of 52 patients interviewed, the mean age was 76 years (range 70–89), 52% were male, 60% were educated beyond high school and 25% required s...
In vivo Staining of Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Galleriidae) Fed Calco Oil Red

A nontoxic, long-lasting dye that is readily incorporated into the cells of specific tissues is of potential value for the determination of the origin of cells from primary tissue cultures. As Calco Oil Red N-17002 (American Cyanamid Co., Bound Brook, N. J.) is non-toxic and persists in the adult after incorporation in the larval diet of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman (Gast and Landin 1966), a study was undertaken to determine the effect of this dye on the vitality of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L.), and to determine if it might provide a means for the differentiation of specific tissues.
1. The Wittenberg Concord 1536

Original German text from BDS 6/1: 121–32.1We have heard how Master Martin Bucer has explained his view and that of the other preachers who came with him from the cities concerning the holy sacrame...
Pharmacologic management of pain: the surgeon's responsibility.

Historically, surgeons have had to witness their patients’ pain probably longer than any specialty within medicine. Pain relief in palliative care forms the cornerstone of a comprehensive pattern of care that encompasses the physical, psychologic, social, and spiritual aspects of suffering. In a society that lives by mottoes, such as “no pain, no gain,” and “just say no to drugs,” pervasive subconscious barriers to effective pain relief exist. In being responsible for effective pain management to the patient, the surgeon must first set aside his or her own beliefs and attitudes regarding pain and its control and be open to change.
Regulation of pH in a Microfluidic Stream

Using stacked micromolding methods and liquid phase polymerization techniques, we have constructed an organic self-regulating microfluidic system. We demonstrate the system’s ability to autonomously regulate an input stream (pH 2) to pH 7 under a range of flow conditions. Volume expansion and contraction of a pH sensitive hydrogel govern the flux of compensating buffer (pH=12) delivered to the output channel at a point upstream of the hydrogel. System performance is enhanced by utilizing micro scale phenomena — vertical laminar fluid stacking.