cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outpatient Shoulder Arthroplasty Patient Selection, Patient Experience, and Cost Analyses: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The utilization of outpatient shoulder arthroplasty has been increasing. With increasing pressure to reduce costs, further underscored by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many health-care organizations will move toward outpatient interventions to conserve inpatient resources. Although abundant literature has shown the advantages of outpatient total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA), there is a relative paucity describing outpatient shoulder arthroplasty. Thus, the purpose of this study was to summarize the peer-reviewed literature of outpatient shoulder arthroplasty with particular attention to patient selection, patient outcomes, and cost benefits. METHODS: The PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Embase databases were queried according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. All articles on outpatient shoulder arthroplasty were included. Data on patient selection, patient outcomes, and cost analyses were recorded. Patient outcomes, including complications, reoperations, and readmissions, were analyzed by weighted average. RESULTS: Twenty-three articles were included for analysis. There were 3 review articles and 20 studies with Level-III or IV evidence as assessed per The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery Level of Evidence criteria. Patient selection was most often predicated on age <70 years, body mass index (BMI) <35 kg/m2, absence of active cardiopulmonary comorbidities, and presence of home support. Complications and readmissions were not common and either improved or were equivalent to those of inpatient shoulder arthroplasty. Patient satisfaction was high in studies of short-term and intermediate-term follow-up. The proposed cost benefit ranged from $747 to $53,202 with outpatient shoulder arthroplasty. CONCLUSIONS: The published literature to date supports outpatient shoulder arthroplasty as an effective, safe, and cost-reducing intervention with proper patient selection. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Aproximation with generalized lambda distribution using method of moments

This article deals with practical problems of fitting empirical data with generalized lambda distribution. Given method based on moment matching is illustrated on a practical example.
Asymmetric Epoxidation in Stereoselective Synthesis

Asymmetric epoxidation of olefins has been proven to be one of the most important methods to generate chiral epoxides, which are highly useful intermediates in the stereoselective synthesis of biologically interesting compounds. In this chapter, several powerful and practical asymmetric epoxidation methods and their utilities for the stereoselective synthesis of drug substances and natural products are described. The representative asymmetric epoxidation methods that are described in the chapter include directed epoxidations, metal oxo-catalyzed epoxidations, dioxirane-catalyzed epoxidations, nucleophilic epoxidations, and asymmetric phase-transfer–catalyzed epoxidations. Keywords: asymmetric epoxidation; stereoselective; C–O bond formation; synthesis; directed epoxidation; metal oxo-catalyzed epoxidation; manganese; chromium; Sharpless epoxidation; Jacobsen epoxidation; dioxirane-catalyzed epoxidation; nucleophilic epoxidation; phase-transfer; Mn-salen catalyst; Cr-salen catalyst; Jacobsen-Katsuki epoxidation; oxone
Proteomic approaches to antibiotic drug discovery.

The global analysis of changes in the protein composition of bacterial cells in response to treatment with antibiotic agents grants insight into the physiological response of cells to inhibition of vital cellular functions. This unit gives an overview of how these global proteomic studies can impact antibacterial drug discovery by identifying or validating compound mechanism of action and by increasing the confidence in the value of genes with unknown function as potential new targets. It describes the design and function of a reference compendium of proteomic responses to inhibition of vital cellular functions through antibacterial agents or genetic down-regulation of potential target genes. An overview of the workflow for two-dimensional gel electrophoresis-based experiments is also presented. Keywords: antibiotics; two-dimensional gel electrophoresis; two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel; peptide mass fingerprinting; PMF; proteomics; mechanism of action; conditional mutants; stress response
Packaging Life: The Origin of Ion-Selective Channels

Most articles dealing with early life focus on its chemical basis and the evolution of proteins, RNA, DNA, and other metabolic products. This essay, however, is concerned primarily with the energy required to produce and maintain the essential life chemicals, and the necessity to confine them in a cell where they can function cooperatively.
FS03.6 Efficacy of MAS063D (‘Atopiclair’) in irritant contact dermatitis

Objective: To determine the efficacy of a topical, MAS063D, in managing the clinical signs and symptoms of experimentally induced irritant contact dermatitis (ICD). Methods: Two patches of ICD were created using sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in 20 consenting volunteers. MAS063D was applied to one patch and a vehicle-only control to the other. Measurements were taken at baseline, 24, 48 and 72 hours as follows: blood flow volume (BFV); skin color (a*); transepidermal water loss (TEWL); patient’s view of itch and visual scoring. Results: The objective measurements of BFV, a* and TEWL all showed statistically significant benefits of MAS063D over the vehicle-only control. BFV and a* were significantly better at all time points (p = 0.046, p = 0.045 respectively at 72 hours) and TEWL at 48 and 72 hours (p = 0.02 at 72 hours). MAS063D demonstrated benefit in the visual scoring of irritant contact dermatitis that was not statistically significant. Patient-assessed itch was low at baseline; significant improvement was neither expected nor demonstrated although a small benefit of MAS063D over vehicle was seen in the mean values. Conclusions: BFV and a* are both good indicators of local erythema. TEWL is a good indicator of skin integrity. MAS063D therefore demonstrated statistically significant benefit over vehicle on three clinically meaningful outcomes of SLS-induced ICD, and therefore may benefit irritant contact dermatitis.
Half-integral spin from quantum gravity

For a certain class of three-manifolds, the angular momentum of an asymptotically flat quantum gravitational field can have half-integral values. In the absence of a full theory of quantum gravity, this result relies on a set of apparently natural assumptions governing the kinematics of such a theory. A key feature is that state vectors are in general invariant only under asymptotically trivial diffeomorphisms that can be continuously deformed to the identity. Angular momentum is associated with diffeomorphisms that look asymptotically like rotations; and the question of whether half-integral values occur depends on whether the diffeomorphism associated with a 2π rotation is itself deformable to the identity.
1146+111B, c: a Giant Gravitational Lens? /

The history and current observational status of the giant gravitational lens candidate 1146+111B, C are reviewed. In the absence of any new positive evidence and in the presence of reported differences in the UV and IR spectra of B and C, the lens hypothesis is clearly much weaker than previously. Nevertheless, given the substantial similarity of the spectra over a broad range of wavelengths, discrepancies among various spectroscopic observations of C, and the possibility of spectral variability plus large differential time delays, the data do not yet support any definite conclusion as to the nature of 1146+111B,C.
Fingerprinting Digital Circuits on Programmable Hardware

Advanced CAD tools and high-density VLSI technologies have combined to create a new market for reusable digital designs. The economic viability of the new core-based design paradigm is pending on the development of techniques for intellectual property protection. A design watermark is a permanent identification code that is difficult to detect and remove, is an integral part of the design, and has only nominal impact on performances and cost of design. Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) present a particularly interesting set of problems and opportunities, because of their flexibility. We propose the first technique that leverages the unique characteristics of FPGAs to protect commercial investment in intellectual property through fingerprinting. A hidden encrypted message is embedded into the physical layout of a digital circuit when it is mapped into the FPGA. This message uniquely identifies both the circuit origin and original circuit recipient, yet is difficult to detect and or remove. While this approach imposes additional constraints on the back-end CAD tools for circuit place and route, experiments involving a number of industrial-strength designs indicate that the performance impact is minimal.
Doherty amplifier with DSP control to improve performance in CDMA operation

A power amplifier for CDMA applications which consists of a Doherty amplifier and a digital signal processing (DSP) controller is presented. DSP is used to dynamically adjust the gate bias of the auxiliary (peaking) amplifier at the rate of the signal envelope to obtain gain flatness (i.e. AM-AM distortion correction). Furthermore, DSP is used as a digital predistortor to improve the overall linearity by adjusting the phase at baseband (i.e. AM-PM distortion correction). The 840 MHz Doherty amplifier is realized with two commercially available MESFETs in a hybrid circuit, and the DSP is implemented externally with a board controlled by a personal computer. It is shown that by utilizing these DSP techniques, the overall linearity and efficiency characteristics of the Doherty amplifier can be significantly improved.
OPTIMAL RESPONSES TO SHORELINE CHANGES: AN INTEGRATED ECONOMIC AND GEOLOGICAL MODEL WITH APPLICATION TO CURVED COASTS

The placement of sandy fill on an eroding beach, also known as “beach nourishment,” is a soft-structure response to property loss often undertaken by coastal property owners. Here, we examine optimal beach nourishment along a curved shoreline with a model that couples geomorphic shoreline evolution with human responses to that evolution. The model includes the exogenous effects of shoreline recession due to sea-level rise and the endogenous shoreline changes due to gradients in alongshore sediment transport. Human responses (nourishments) to shoreline changes that are not constant along the coast will change the shoreline curvature, thereby influencing local rates of shoreline change. We examine the net benefits of two alternative strategies to undertake soft structural responses to erosion: (i) the decisions of property owners to respond independently and (ii) the decisions of property owners to coordinate their individual responses. Under plausible parameterization, we find that a strategy to coordinate can dominate a strategy to act independently, and the benefits of coordination increase with greater shoreline curvature. This integration of economic and geological models demonstrates how feedbacks between human activities and natural processes can affect the evolution of the shoreline.
Invited: Magnetic bubbles - Status and future

Magnetic bubble storage modules with 92,000 bits per chip have been shipped in portable terminals, and chips with 1-million bits have been demonstrated. This paper will review the status of conventional and nonconventional bubble devices, analyze technical trends and limits, and project the future of magnetic bubbles in the market.
Imaging the body: embodied vision in minimally invasive surgery

Recent years have seen the possibilities of new imaging and interaction technologies for minimally invasive surgery such as touchless interaction and high definition renderings of three-dimensional anatomy. With this paper we take a step back to review the historical introduction and assimilation of imaging technologies in the surgical theatre in parallel with the productive and cross-referential nature of surgical practice and image use. We present findings from a field study of image use during neurosurgery where we see that the work to see medical images is highly constructed and embodied with the action of manipulating the body. This perspective lends itself to a discussion of the directions for new imaging interaction technologies.
8.3.1 Psychological Health in the United States Military: Making Sense of What We Know

Hundreds of thousands of members of the United States military service are suffering from post-traumatic stress and other psychological health conditions as a result of their wartime service. A myriad of possible system interventions and resource allocation schemas have been researched and proposed, but finite budgets and personnel levels dictate a careful allocation of resources to optimize outcomes. We describe a stock-and-flow model of psychological health treatment tailored to the unique context of the US military's healthcare system. Our model, implemented as a management flight simulator, reports the impact of system interventions on areas of stakeholder concern and is designed to communicate complex systemic behaviors to those without domain-specific knowledge.
FABRICATION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND MODIFICATION OF THE TEXTURE OF CALCIUM ALGINATE GELS

A simulated fruit gel suitable for freeze dehydration has been developed. The fabricated gel system consists primarily of alginate molecules crosslinked by calcium ions. Static compression tests or compression tests using the Instron Universal Testing Machine were used to characterize the mechanical properties of crosslinked gels having different compositions. It has been observed that incorporation of additional components such as pectin, gelatin, or sucrose to the calcium alginate system modified the textural characteristics of the crosslinked gels. Some hypotheses explaining the effect of added components on gel structure and texture are presented. Comparison of the results obtained from sensory and instrumental methods of texture measurement showed that if the instrumentally measured mechanical properties of two gel samples are different by 20% or more, sensory panelists could differentiate between the two samples at a high level of statistical significance.
Biological Activity of N-Methylcarbamate and Dimethyl Phosphorothionate Esters of Various Phenols and Monoterpenoids

Ten N -methylcarbamate and 10 dimethyl phosphorothionate esters of various phenols and monoterpenoids prepared in the laboratory and evaluated for biological activity. In general, the carbamates and phosphorothionates of the substituted phenols were quite active, those of the monoterpenoids were innocuous to the test animals. The toxicity of the aryl- N -methylcarbamates and dimethyl aryl phosphorothionates to the house fly, Musca domestica L., was increased with piperonyl butoxide. In animal systemic studies the phosphorothionate of 6-chlorothymol was active against bed bugs, Cimex lectularis L., and Gulf Coast ticks, Amby-lomma maculatum Koch, while the carbamate and phosphorothionate of carvacrol were effective against bed bugs only. All the compounds in this study were of relatively low toxicity to white rats.
Alpha-1-noradrenergic neurotransmission, corticosterone, and behavioral depression.

Abstract Background: Impaired brain alpha-1 noradrenergic neurotransmission has been implicated in some of the symptoms of depressive illness but has been difficult to investigate experimentally because of the insensitivity of current animal models of depression. The present experiment addressed this problem by examining the effects of pharmacologic blockade and corticosteroid-induced desensitization of alpha-1 receptors on two newer, more sensitive models in mice: the inhibition of nest-leaving and the tail suspension tests (TST). Methods: Male mice were administered either prazosin, betaxolol, atipamezole, corticosterone, or repeated restraint stress prior to measurement of either nest-leaving or TST. General behavioral function was assessed in horizontal wire, swim, and latency to escape footshock tests. Results: Prazosin increased depressive behavior in the nest-leaving and TSTs, whereas corticosterone and restraint stress did so only in the more sensitive nest-leaving test. Betaxolol also reduced nest-leaving, suggestive of an alpha-1 beta-1 receptor synergy. The effects of these agents could not be attributed to hypotension, sedation, or general behavioral impairment. Conclusions: The fact that a reduction in alpha-1 noradrenergic neurotransmission increases depressive behavior, coupled with the fact that this change can result from elevated corticosteroid secretion, provides further support for a role of this factor in depressive illness. As not all alpha-1 functions are reduced in depression, it is likely that only a subgroup or specific locality of alpha-1 receptors are affected.
Urban special education policy and the lived experience of stigma in a high school science classroom

In this paper, I provide a window into the lived experience of a group of urban high school science students confronted with the stigma associated with special education, disability, and academic failure and present tools to understanding the ideological forces and institutional structures that undermine the ability of schools to create a culture of care and inclusion of children with disabilities. With the purpose of understanding the context of these students’ tainted social status within the school community, I draw connections between the ideological bipolarity and ambiguity of federal and state special education law and the lack of moral commitment at the local level to including and protecting the rights of children with disabilities in New York City schools. An important element of this paper is an exploration of a decade of neoliberal reform in the New York City Department of Education and the meticulously documented failure of New York City’s special education system to provide mandated services, adequately include special education students, and generally protect the rights of children with disabilities. I conclude that the ableism embedded in special education law and a lack of meaningful enforcement renders special education regulations intangible to administrators whereas neoliberal performance benchmarks are extremely salient due to the dire consequences for schools of not meeting them.
Identity of molecules bearing murine Ia alloantigenic specificities Ia.7 and Ia.22: evidence for a single type of I-E molecule in homozygotes.

In homozygous mice bearingI regions derived from haplotypek, only a single type of Ia molecule bearing the alloantigenic specificities Ia.7 and Ia.22 was found using techniques of sequential immune precipitation and tryptic peptide analysis. As suggested at the fourth Ir Gene Workshop (Sachs 1978), Ia.7 is considered here to be an antigenic determinant associated with I-E-subregionencoded molecules, i. e., it is excluded from theI−C subregion. TheI−C subregion is currently defined mainly by functional traits. It is now known that the I-E molecules are composed of an α chain encoded in theI−E subregion, and aβ chain encoded in theI−A subregion. Since theI−C subregion is not involved with the determination of these Ia molecules, and since in homozygotes there is apparently only a single type of molecule bearing both specificities Ia.7 and Ia.22, the term “I-E/C” molecule should probably be dropped in favor of the simpler designation I-E.
Kinetics of unimolecular ionic reactions kinetic energy release in metastable ion fragmentations

Abstract The kinetic energy release for metastable ion fragmentations has been measured as a function of ion life-time by varying the ion accelerating voltage. These measurements have been used, assuming statistical partitioning of the non-fixed energy of the activated complex, to estimate the energy dependence of the unimolecular rate constant. By taking data at accelerating voltages as low as several hundred electron volts and by using two instruments of different geometries, ion life-times could be varied by a factor of 10. A decrease of less than 10% from an initial value of 75 meV (measured from the width of the peak at half maximum) was observed as the ion life-time was increased from 4 to 45 μs for H loss from the benzene molecular ion. No detectable variation in kinetic energy release from an initial value of 27 meV was observed between 4 and 37 μs for HCN loss from the benzonitrile molecular ion. Experiments in which the distribution of kinetic energies was determined confirmed these results. The energy dependence of the rate constant, estimated on the basis of statistical theory, was significantly greater than suggested by previous ion abundance studies for both the benzene and benzonitrile reactions. This discrepancy suggests that statistical theory may not apply to these reactions. This conclusion was supported by comparison of the experimental results with RRKM calculations which showed that for the theory to be applicable, the benzonitrile reaction cannot be occurring from the ground state. Reaction from a electronic state some 2 eV above the ground state explains the average value of the kinetic energy release but not its variation with ion life-time. It is concluded that this reaction cannot be described in conventional terms.
Magnetic resonance microwave absorption imaging: initial experimental results in phantoms

We have used phase contrast magnetic resonance gradients to image small displacements induced by a pulsed 434 MHz microwave field. Thermoelastic expansions, which are related to the tissues' local microwave absorption properties and the applied microwave field distribution are encoded into the phase of MR images. The imaging principles are applicable to other irradiation sources. Initial efforts to develop the signal generation and control necessary for synchronous pulsed microwave power deposition and MR image acquisition have been successful. Preliminary results suggest that MR phase accumulation associated with microwave power deposition in a localized absorber has been observed.
Stridulation by the cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea during courtship behaviour

Abstract Males of Nauphoeta cinerea stridulate when they court non-receptive females. The stridulating apparatus consists of parallel striae on the lateroposterior margins of the pronotum and on the proximal region of the costal veins of the tegmina. The sound is produced by posterior, anterior, and side-to-side displacement of the pronotum rubbing against the costal veins. Phrases usually consist of two to six complex pulse trains followed by a long series of disyllabic chirps, and they are linked to form sentences lasting as long as 3 min. The song consists of a broad band of frequencies up to about 15 kHz with intensities of 55 to 65 dB, re 0 dB = 0·0002 dyn/cm2, at 1 cm.
Improvement of output coupling efficiency of organic light-emitting diodes by backside substrate modification

The emission intensity of an organic light-emitting diode at normal viewing angle and the total external emission efficiency have been increased by factors of 9.6 and 3.0, respectively, by applying spherically shaped patterns to the back of the device substrate. The technique captures light previously lost to waveguiding in the substrate and, with proper choice of substrate, light previously lost to waveguiding in the organic/anode layers. A method of applying the technique using laminated films and an optical model for evaluating coupling efficiency are also presented.
Psychological depression and cancer.

Abstract Studies are reviewed which relate to five basic content areas of research concerning depression and cancer: significant loss experience, emotional inhibition, hopelessness, psychiatric assessment of depression, and test measurement of depression. Methodological issues within earch area are addressed as they relate to the potential validity and generalizability of findings. In general, there is no support for increased loss experience in cancer patients and mild support for increased emotional inhibition and hopelessness in these individuals. Traditional psychiatric assessment approaches are not seen as providing solid evidence for a depression/cancer relationship due to reliability and design issues, while psychometric assessment provides mild support for a prospective relationship between depression and later cancer. Issues relating to approaches to research, means of measurement of depression, design issues, and questions of conceptualization of depression are discussed.
DNA binding properties of key sandramycin analogues: systematic examination of the intercalation chromophore.

Abstract The examination of a key series of chromophore analogues of sandramycin ( 1 ) is detailed employing surface plasmon resonance to establish binding constants within a single high affinity bis-intercalation binding site 5′-d(GCATGC) 2 , and to establish the preference for sandramycin binding to 5′-d(GCXXGC) 2 where XX=AT, TA, GC, and CG. From the latter studies, sandramycin was found to exhibit a preference that follows the order: 5′-d(GCATGC) 2 >5′-d(GCGCGC) 2 , ΔΔG°=0.4 kcal/mol>5′-d(GCTAGC) 2 , ΔΔG°=0.9 kcal/mol≥5′-d(GCCGGC) 2 , ΔΔG°=1.0 kcal/mol although it binds with high affinity to all four deoxyoligonucleotides. The two highest affinity sequences constitute repeating 5′-PuPy motifs with each intercalation event occurring at a 5′-PyPu step. The most effective sequence constitutes the least stable duplex, contains the sterically most accessible minor groove central to the bis-intercalation site, and the ability to accept two gly-NH/T C2 carbonyl H-bonds identified in prior NMR studies. Similarly, the contribution of the individual structural features of the chromophore were assessed with the high affinity duplex sequence 5′-d(GCATGC) 2 . In addition to the modest affinity differences, one of the most distinguishing features of the high affinity versus lower affinity bis-intercalation or mono-intercalation directly observable by surface plasmon resonance was the temporal stability of the complexes characterized by the exceptionally slow off-rates. ©
Virtual Mirror Rendering With Stationary RGB-D Cameras and Stored 3-D Background

Mirrors are indispensable objects in our lives. The capability of simulating a mirror on a computer display, augmented with virtual scenes and objects, opens the door to many interesting and useful applications from fashion design to medical interventions. Realistic simulation of a mirror is challenging as it requires accurate viewpoint tracking and rendering, wide-angle viewing of the environment, as well as real-time performance to provide immediate visual feedback. In this paper, we propose a virtual mirror rendering system using a network of commodity structured-light RGB-D cameras. The depth information provided by the RGB-D cameras can be used to track the viewpoint and render the scene from different prospectives. Missing and erroneous depth measurements are common problems with structured-light cameras. A novel depth denoising and completion algorithm is proposed in which the noise removal and interpolation procedures are guided by the foreground/background label at each pixel. The foreground/background label is estimated using a probabilistic graphical model that considers color, depth, background modeling, depth noise modeling, and spatial constraints. The wide viewing angle of the mirror system is realized by combining the dynamic scene, captured by the static camera network with a 3-D background model created off-line, using a color-depth sequence captured by a movable RGB-D camera. To ensure a real-time response, a scalable client-and-server architecture is used with the 3-D point cloud processing, the viewpoint estimate, and the mirror image rendering are all done on the client side. The mirror image and the viewpoint estimate are then sent to the server for final mirror view synthesis and viewpoint refinement. Experimental results are presented to show the accuracy and effectiveness of each component and the entire system.
The effects of surfactant on the dynamics of bubble snap-off

The effects of an insoluble surfactant on the motion of a drop or bubble as it is driven by a pressure gradient through a capillary tube is investigated numerically. We find that a drop in a straight capillary tube can either approach a steady-state shape or develop a re-entrant cavity at its rear. For a gas bubble moving through a constricted capillary tube, we find that snap-off can occur and surfactants enhance the snap-off process. The effects of the parameters on the dynamics of bubble snap-off are illustrated and discussed.
Selecting a Model for Detecting the Presence of a Trend

Abstract The authors consider the problem of determining whether the upward trending behavior in the global temperature anomaly series should be forecast to continue. To address this question, the generic problem of determining whether an observed trend in a time series realization is a random (i.e., short-term) trend or a deterministic (i.e., permanent) trend is considered. The importance of making this determination is that forecasts based on these two scenarios are dramatically different. Forecasts based on a series with random trends will not predict the observed trend to continue, while forecasts based on a model with deterministic trend will forecast the trend to continue into the future. In this paper, the authors consider an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model and a “deterministic forcing function + autoregressive (AR) noise” model as possible random trend and deterministic trend models, respectively, for realizations displaying trending behavior. A bootstrap-based classificatio...
14A. Pelvic Pain and Headache in an Adolescent Female: A Case of Self-determination and Healthful Recovery

Focus Areas: Integrative Approaches to Care, Pediatrics, Alleviating Pain A 16-year-old previously healthy white female presented to our office with complaints of a 1-year history of chronic severe pelvic pain, leg pain, and severe daily headaches that were adversely affecting her school performance. Her leg and pelvic pain caused weakness and discomfort to the point that she used a walker or a wheelchair when she had to ambulate distances longer than 20 feet. She had been disenrolled from school where she had been an honor student. She had seen several specialists in areas including gynecology, neurology, pain management, and pelvic floor physical therapy. Extensive laboratory workup, including testing for Lyme disease, was negative. Exploratory laparoscopy did not elucidate any significant pelvic pathology. Medical management with appropriate doses of non-steroidal antiinflammatory medication, amitriptyline, lyrica, oral contraceptives, and Depo-Provera did not provide any significant relief. Through a series of visits to our office, it was determined that she was incredibly motivated to return to school but was having significant difficulty managing her advanced school work due to severe headaches and trouble with concentration. She denied any specific triggering factor for her symptoms and did not have a mood disorder. With behavior-modification recommendations, she worked independently on increasing her daily activities and has been able to rehabilitate to the point that she no longer uses a walker or a wheelchair to move around. This case demonstrates the potential that a therapeutic relationship can have for facilitating patient recovery. The importance of open communication with the patient and family, addressing their concerns, and seeking a source and treatment regimen outside of a paradigm of a psychosocial trauma were highlighted by this process.
Utility of impedance cardiography for dyspneic patients in the ED

Abstract Background Dyspnea is one of the most common emergency department (ED) symptoms, but early diagnosis and treatment are challenging because of multiple potential causes. Hemodynamic parameters may aid in the evaluation of dyspnea, but are difficult to assess. Impedance cardiography is a noninvasive hemodynamic measurement method that may assist in early ED decision making. Methods This study is intended to determine the accuracy in differentiating cardiac from noncardiac causes of dyspnea using impedance cardiography–derived hemodynamic parameters compared to ED physician opinion in light of initial history, and physical and laboratory tests. The final diagnosis, made after patient hospital record review, was compared with ED physician and impedance cardiography diagnoses. Results A total of 52 patients were included: 14 women and 38 men, aged 68.5 ± 14.2 years. There were significant differences in values of stroke index (25.7 vs 32.9, P P P P Conclusion Impedance cardiography data result in improvement in ED physician differentiation of cardiac from noncardiac causes of dyspnea.
FBG spectral sensor networks for damage identification in composites

This paper presents experimental measurements of the response of woven composite laminates to multiple low-velocity impacts. Damage initiation and progression occur at multiple physical and temporal scales in heterogeneous materials, including fiber breakage, matrix cracking, delamination and matrix relaxation. The sensor/interrogators were therefore chosen specifically to provide insight into the order and progression of different failure modes. Measurements of the contact force between the impactor and composite are measured throughout impact. Additionally, the dissipated energy per impact event is also calculated from the impactor velocity. Surface mounted and embedded fiber Bragg grating sensors are used for the measurement of the laminate response. Peak wavelength measurements are performed during impact at 1 kHz, while full-spectral scanning is performed at 5 Hz during relaxation period of the laminate immediately after impact and quasi-statically to measure post-impact residual strain states within the laminate. The results highlight the depth of information embedded within the FBG full-spectral data sensors, as well as the added insight to be gained from combined global-local measurements.
Interlayer coupling in ferromagnetic semiconductor superlattices

We develop a mean-field theory of carrier-induced ferromagnetism in diluted magnetic semiconductors. Our approach represents an improvement over standard Ruderman-Kittel-Kesuya-Yosida model allowing spatial inhomogeneity of the system, free-carrier spin polarization, finite temperature, and free-carrier exchange and correlation to be accounted for self-consistently. As an example, we calculate the electronic structure of a ${\mathrm{Mn}}_{x}{\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}$As/GaAs superlattice with alternating ferromagnetic and paramagnetic layers and demonstrate the possibility of semiconductor magnetoresistance systems with designed properties.
Religion, the churches, and the German ‘revolution’ of November 1989

Revolution means a change in the fundamental power relations in society, and at the ideological level a redefinition of social values and discourse. The social and political upheavals in eastern Germany in 1989 and 1990 have been seen in these terms as Germany's first ‘peaceful revolution’, and the driving force has been identified as the Protestant Church. More careful analysis, however, reveals that the collapse of the GDR was hardly a revolution, and that it certainly was not a Protestant revolution. The attitude of the Church towards the old regime was highly ambivalent. Its role in the democratic transformation was little more than marginal. Consequently, the role of the Church in shaping the political and moral environment of eastern Germany after unification is a very limited one.
Signal transduction in matrix contraction and the migration of vascular smooth muscle cells in three-dimensional matrix.

The interaction of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and extracellular matrix plays important roles in vascular remodeling. We investigated the signaling pathways involved in SMC-induced matrix contraction and SMC migration in three-dimensional (3D) collagen matrix. Matrix contraction is inhibited by the disruption of actin filaments but not microtubules. Therefore, we investigated the roles of signaling pathways related to actin filaments in matrix contraction. SMC-induced matrix contraction was markedly blocked (-80%) by inhibiting the Rho-p160ROCK pathway and myosin light chain kinase, and was decreased to a lesser extent (30-40%) by a negative mutant of Rac and inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), but it was not affected by the inhibition of Ras and Cdc42-Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) pathways. Inhibition of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) decreased SMC-induced matrix contraction by only 15%. The migration speed and persistence of SMCs in the 3D matrix were decreased by the inhibition of p160ROCK, PI 3-kinase, p38 MAPK or WASP to different extents, and p160ROCK inhibitor had the strongest inhibitory effect. Our results suggest that the SMC-induced matrix contraction and the migration of SMCs in 3D matrix share some signaling pathways leading to force generation at cell-matrix adhesions and that various signaling pathways have different relative importance in the regulations of these processes in SMCs.
Direct nanofabrication and transmission electron microscopy on a suite of easy-to-prepare ultrathin film substrates

A high-yield, easy to master method for preparing electron transparent metal, oxide, and carbon ultrathin film substrates suitable for direct nano/micro-fabrication and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is presented. To demonstrate the versatility of these substrates for fabrication processes, we use e-beam lithography, self-assembled colloidal and protein templates, and microcontact printing to create patterned masks for subsequent electrodeposition of two dimensional and three dimensional structures. The electrodeposited structures range in scale from a few nanometers to a few micrometers in characteristic dimensions. Because fabrication occurs directly on ultrathin films, TEM analysis of the resulting materials and buried interfaces is straightforward without any destructive sample preparation. We show that all the normal TEM analytical methods (imaging, diffraction, electron and X-ray spectroscopies) are compatible with the fabricated structures and the thin film substrates. These electron transparent substrates have largely rendered the need for TEM sample preparation on fabricated structures obsolete in our lab.
Deposition of optical thin films by pulsed laser assisted evaporation

Thin films of several refractory metal oxides and Ge were deposited by pulsed laser evaporation using a TEA CO2 laser. Films deposited on ambient temperature substrates had a polycrystalline microstructure. Ge films deposited on 300°C substrates were single crystalline. The refractive indices of these films were higher than indices of films deposited by conventional evaporation techniques and were bulk values for HfO2 and ZrO2. The crystalline microstructure and high packing density of the films were attributed to the effect of energetic ions in the laser-induced plasma.
Hormonal and developmental regulation of glycosylated α2u-globulin synthesis

Abstract We have investigated the regulation of glycosylated α 2 u -globulin synthesis by examining the appearance of these molecules in the medium of primary monolayer cultures of hepatocytes. Hepatocytes were isolated from male and female rats of various ages, as well as from castrated or ovariectomized animals. α 2 u -Globulin was immunoprecipitated from the culture medium with rabbit antibody specific for α 2 u -globulin, and the dissociated precipitates were electrophoresed on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. We found that prepubescent male and female rats synthesized only the high molecular weight glycosylated forms of α 2 u -globulin. Hepatocytes from 50-day-old intact and ovariectomized female rats, as well as from ovariectomized rats treated with 17β-estradiol, secreted only glycosylated α 2 u -globulin. Hepatocytes from castrated male rats treated with dihydrotestosterone in vivo synthesized the 20,000-dalton nonglycosylated form of α 2 u -globulin; the rate of glycosylated α 2 u -globulin synthesis was reduced in these cells. The rate of synthesis of glycosylated α 2 u -globulin by male rat hepatocytes declined concomitant with increases in the age of the rats, the level of serum testosterone, and the rate of synthesis of nonglycosylated α 2 u -globulin. Under our conditions, dexamethasone administration to castrated male rats or ovariectomized female rats in vivo did not alter the species of α 2 u -globulin that were synthesized subsequently by hepatocytes in vitro . Our results suggest that the synthesis of glycosylated α 2 u -globulin is regulated differently than the synthesis of the 20,000-dalton nonglycosylated form of α 2 u -globulin.
Bakerol: An unusual nor-acorane hemiketal from Cupressus bakeri foliage

Abstract Foliage of Cupressus bakeri was found to contain several acorane-related sesquiterpenoids. One of these was bakerol, a new nor-acorane hemiketal with a 3,5,5,8-tetramethyldicyclopenta[b,c]furan carbon skeleton; about 3% of the keto tautomer 2,6-dimethyl-9-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-spiro[4.4]nonan-1-one) was observed. Bakerol is also present in a related cypress, C. nevadensis.
Prevalence of Coronary Artery Disease Evaluated by Coronary CT Angiography in Women with Mammographically Detected Breast Arterial Calcifications

To assess the correlation between breast arterial calcifications (BAC) on digital mammography and the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) diagnosed with dual source coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) in a population of women both symptomatic and asymptomatic for coronary artery disease. 100 consecutive women (aged 34 – 86 years) who underwent both coronary CTA and digital mammography were included in the study. Health records were reviewed to determine the presence of cardiovascular risk factors such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, and smoking. Digital mammograms were reviewed for the presence and degree of BAC, graded in terms of severity and extent. Coronary CTAs were reviewed for CAD, graded based on the extent of calcified and non-calcified plaque, and the degree of major vessel stenosis. A four point grading scale was used for both coronary CTA and mammography. The overall prevalence of positive BAC and CAD in the studied population were 12% and 29%, respectively. Ten of the 12 patients with moderate or advanced BAC on mammography demonstrated moderate to severe CAD as determined by coronary CTA. For all women, the positive predictive value of BAC for CAD was 0.83 and the negative predictive value was 0.78. The presence of BAC on mammography appears to correlate with CAD as determined by coronary CTA (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient = 0.48, p<.000001). Using logistic regression, the inclusion of BAC as a feature in CAD predication significantly increased classification results (p=0.04).
Structural Modeling of Aircraft Tires

A theoretical and experimental investigation of the feasibility of determining the mechanical properties of aircraft tires from small-scale model tires was accomplished. The theoretical results indicate that the macroscopic static and dynamic mechanical properties of aircraft tires can be accurately determined from the scale model tires although the microscopic and thermal properties of aircraft tires can not. The experimental investigation was conducted on a scale model of a 40 x 12, 14 ply rated, type 7 aircraft tire with a scaling factor of 8.65. The experimental results indicate that the scale model tire exhibited the same static mechanical properties as the prototype tire when compared on a dimensionless basis. The structural modeling concept discussed in this report is believed to be exact for mechanical properties of aircraft tires under static, rolling, and transient conditions.
Composition and carboxyl-terminal amino acid sequences of some mammalian erythrocyte carbonic anhydrases.

Summary Carbonic anhydrases (carbonate hydrolyase, E. C. 4.2.1.1) were isolated from goat, sheep and deer erythrocytes and their amino acid compositions determined. Carboxyl-terminal sequences of these and other mammalian erythrocyte carbonic anhydrases were determined by digestion with carboxypeptidases A and B and hydrazinolysis. The data suggest that gene duplication produced the lower specific activity (“B form”) carbonic anhydrase from the higher specific activity (“C type”) enzyme after the ancestor of the goat, sheep, deer and cow diverged from the ancestor of the pig, horse, monkey and human. In addition, it is suggested that the B-type carbonic anhydrase is simply a partial replacement to the C-type enzyme and has no special physiological significance.
Fluorescence studies of the kinetics of binding and removal of metal ions in proteins

Abstract Fluorescence-quenching studies involving native protein fluorescence are used to monitor the rates of binding and removal of Hg(II), Cu(II), Ag(I), methylmercury(I), and p -chloro-mercuribenzoate in various protein systems (ovalbumin, bovine serum albumin, myoglobin, lysozyme, and insulin). In some cases, the fluorescence quenching as a function of time can be used to evaluate the rate constants for the binding of a particular metal ion to a protein. In many cases, multiple binding sites with different rate constants can be differentiated. The restoration of fluorescence vs. time on addition of various chelating agents (BAL, EDTA, cysteine and penicilamine) to the metal/protein system can be used to monitor metal ion removal. Multiple binding sites also can be differentiated kinetically in the removal experiments. In some cases, the appearance of multiple steps in the binding or removal or a metal or ion could be explained by small conformational changes. The rates of removal can help in estimating the effectiveness of various reagents as models for drugs in the treatment of heavy-metal poisoning.
The atlas of Africa: The persistence of European perspectives

Regine Van Chi‐Bonnardel. The Atlas of Africa. Prepared by Jeune Afrique. New York: The Free Press, 1974. 335 pp. Maps, bargraph diagrams, index‐gazetteer, and glossary. $80.00.
Committee on Infiltration, 1939–40

The membership of the Committee, including as it does representatives from most of the institutions, agencies, or organizations concerned with infiltration-problems, has been in a position to maintain contact with practically all of the current infiltration-work of the country. The United States Geological Survey, in connection with the continued measurements of stream-flow, has given attention to hydrograph analysis and associated rainfall. This is serving to develop our information on the infiltration of many large and important watersheds of the country.
Piston Rod Design Using Johnson’s Method of Optimum Design

Conception de la tige d'un piston de cylindre hydraulique a partir de la methode d'optimisation de Johnson