cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Low Yield of Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry after Cryptogenic Stroke in Patients with Extensive Cardiac Imaging.

Background Detection of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) after cryptogenic stroke (CS) or transient ischemic attack ranges from 5% to 24%, but previous studies have had varying definitions of both. We aimed to evaluate the yield of up to 30 days of mobile cardiac outpatient telemetry (MCOT) for this dysrhythmia in CS patients who had undergone extensive cardiac imaging before monitoring. Methods We reviewed data from our center on patients with CS who completed MCOT within 3 months of the cerebrovascular event from May 2009 to January 2014; 14-30 days of monitoring was performed using one of 3 approved devices after cardiac imaging did not demonstrate a clear embolic source. We estimated the prevalence and 95% confidence intervals of AF. Results Eighty-five patients met the study criteria; 89.4% underwent transthoracic echocardiogram, 68.2% underwent transesophageal echocardiography, and 38.8% completed cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. We found 4 (4.7%, 95% confidence interval 1.5% to 11.9%) patients with AF by MCOT. There were no univariate predictors of AF. Conclusions The diagnostic yield of cardiac rhythm monitoring for up to 30 days in CS patients may be lower than previously reported. This may be because of the routine use of cardiac imaging to identify a likely source of embolism, resulting in a lower incidence of occult AF in patients who are labeled as “cryptogenic.” Longer monitoring may be needed to detect this dysrhythmia in high-risk patients who have already undergone extensive cardiac imaging.
Too Dependent on Contractors? Minimum Standards for Responsible Governance

While acknowledging that there are many benefits, challenges, and risks involved in outsourcing, this article asserts that failed implementation, rather than outsourcing policy, explains the government's current (mis)management of its contractors. This article explores the minimum standards for responsible governance following more than 15 years of ill-conceived and inadequate investment in the federal government's acquisition workforce, followed by a governmentwide failure to respond to a dramatic increase in procurement activity. These trends have led to a buying and contract management regime animated by triage, with insufficient resources available for contract administration, management, and oversight. The old adage "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" rings true. Accordingly, a prospective investment in upgrading the number, skills, incentives, and morale of government purchasing officials would reap huge long-term dividends for the taxpayers.
[CuCln]2―n Ion-Pair Species in 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Chloride Ionic Liquid―Water Mixtures: Ultraviolet—Visible, X-ray Absorption Fine Structure, and Density Functional Theory Characterization

We studied the coordination environment about Cu(II) in a pure ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([EMIM]Cl), and in binary mixtures of this compound with water across the entire ra...
The Need for Interagency Collaboration for Children with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities and Their Families

Children and youth with emotional and behavioral disabilities often have multiple needs that can require the simultaneous involvement of several child-serving agencies (e.g., child welfare, special education, juvenile justice, and mental health). Unfortunately, disparate definitions and eligibility criteria that are used to identify these disabilities have prevented agencies from collaborating or even communicating about the children with whom they work, resulting in a pervasive lack of coordination among service providers. During the past 15 years, however, there has been an increase in the number of multiagency, community-based programs for children and youth with emotional and behavioral disabilities, sometimes referred to as “systems of care.” In this paper, information about commonly used federal definitions of emotional and behavioral disabilities and a description of how variance in definitions and eligibility criteria contributes to the inability of agencies to work together to meet the needs of c...
Morphologic lesions and acute toxicity in rainbow trout (Salmo Gairdneri) treated with 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin

To determine effects of 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin (TCDD) on growth, mortality, and morphologic lesions in rainbow trout, juvenile Shasta or Wytheville strain fish, obtained from 4 hatcheries, were administered graded single doses of TCDD, 0.1–125 μg/kg, ip. TCDD doses of 25 and 125 μg/kg caused 85% lethality 2–4 wk after treatment. At these high doses, death occurred before body weight loss could be detected. A lower dose of 5 μg/kg caused decreased growth and cumulative mortality of 20% after 11 wk. Stress associated with netting and weighing the fish at weekly intervals significantly shortened the delay period prior to TCDD‐induced lethality. Gross and microscopic lesions were evident in rainbow trout treated with 10 μg TCDD/kg, but not in fish treated with 1 or 0.1 μg/kg. Morphologic lesions occurred consistently in epithelial and lymphomyeloid tissues of TCDD‐treated fish. Lymphomyeloid lesions included thymic involution, splenic lymphoid depletion, and hypocellularity of hematopoietic tissu...
Insights into microtubule nucleation from the crystal structure of human γ-tubulin

Tubulin proteins have a central role in the life of eukaryotic cells. αβ-Tubulin polymerizes to form the microtubules required for chromosome segregation and organelle positioning. γ-Tubulin initiates microtubule assembly in vivo and is part of a multimeric complex at the centrosome. The crystal structure of human γ-tubulin bound to GTPγS is reported this week, the highest resolution (2.7 A) structure of any tubulin to date. The structure suggests new ways of thinking about the roles of conformational change and nucleotide binding in microtubule assembly. The antitumour drug vinblastine is known to target tubulin. Its actual binding site and mechanism of action are unknown but now the X-ray structure of vinblastine bound in a tubulin/protein complex has been determined. Vinblastine introduces a wedge at the junction of two tubulin molecules, thereby interfering with microtubule production and promoting self-association of tubulin molecules into spiral aggregates. A hydrophobic groove on the α-tubulin surface acts both as a binding site for vinblastine and as a point of intermolecular contact in microtubules, so may be an attractive candidate for new microtubule depolymerizing drugs. Microtubules are hollow polymers of αβ-tubulin that show GTP-dependent assembly dynamics and comprise a critical part of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton. Initiation of new microtubules in vivo requires γ-tubulin, organized as an oligomer within the 2.2-MDa γ-tubulin ring complex (γ-TuRC) of higher eukaryotes1,2,3. Structural insight is lacking regarding γ-tubulin, its oligomerization and how it promotes microtubule assembly. Here we report the 2.7-A crystal structure of human γ-tubulin bound to GTP-γS (a non-hydrolysable GTP analogue). We observe a ‘curved’ conformation for γ-tubulin–GTPγS, similar to that seen for GDP-bound, unpolymerized αβ-tubulin4. Tubulins are thought to represent a distinct class of GTP-binding proteins, and conformational switching in γ-tubulin might differ from the nucleotide-dependent switching of signalling GTPases. A crystal packing interaction replicates the lateral contacts between α- and β-tubulins in the microtubule5, and this association probably forms the basis for γ-tubulin oligomerization within the γ-TuRC. Laterally associated γ-tubulins in the γ-TuRC might promote microtubule nucleation by providing a template that enhances the intrinsically weak lateral interaction between αβ-tubulin heterodimers. Because they are dimeric, αβ-tubulins cannot form microtubule-like lateral associations in the curved conformation5. The lateral array of γ-tubulins we observe in the crystal reveals a unique functional property of a monomeric tubulin.
The genetic analysis of family structured inbreeding depression studies.

An important question emerging from theoretical studies of mating system evolution is whether the fitness of a randomly extracted, fully inbred genotype will exceed the mean of outbred individuals. We introduce two statistics (I1 and I2) related to the probability of extracting a high line. I1 and I2 can be estimated from the family structured experimental designs typically used to estimate inbreeding depression (ID). Maximum likelihood procedures are developed from an explicit genetic model. These yield parameter estimates and provide the likelihoods necessary to test hypotheses, for example, whether population-level ID is nonzero. Finally, we describe a new publicly available computer program titled ‘IDG’ (Inbreeding Depression Genetics) to execute these procedures.
Multi-Level Assessment Protocol (MAP) for Adoption in Multisite Clinical Trials

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network (CTN) is intended to test promising drug abuse treatment models in multi-site clinical trials, and to support adoption of new interventions into clinical practice. Using qualitative research methods we asked: How might the technology of multi-site clinical trials be modified to better support adoption of tested interventions? A total of 42 participants, representing 8 organizational levels ranging from clinic staff to clinical trial leaders, were interviewed about their role in the clinical trial, its interactions with clinics, and intervention adoption. Among eight clinics participating in the clinical trial, we found adoption of the tested intervention in one clinic only. In analysis of interview data we identified four conceptual themes which are likely to affect adoption and may be informative in future multi-site clinical trials. We offer the conclusion that planning for adoption in the early stages of protocol development will better serve the aim of integrating new interventions into practice.
On the support base of a functional equation arising from multiplication of quantum integers

Abstract This paper is the first of several papers in which we prove, for the case where the fields of coefficients are of characteristic zero, four open problems posed in the work of Melvyn Nathanson (2003) [1] concerning the solutions of a functional equation arising from multiplication of quantum integers [ n ] q = q n − 1 + q n − 2 + ⋯ + q + 1 . In this paper, we prove one of the problems. The next papers, namely [2] , [3] , [4] by Lan Nguyen, contain the solutions to the other 3 problems.
Prenatal Care and Subsequent Birth Intervals

Context Research on the effectiveness of prenatal care has focused primarily on birth outcomes, finding small effects at the population level. However, prenatal care generally includes postpartum contraceptive and health education that may enable women to better control their subsequent fertility. Associations between prenatal care and subsequent fertility have not been previously explored.
BrDU-Giemsa labeling studies of satellite associations in parents of children with trisomy 21 or 13.

Studies on satellite association (SA) in parents of trisomy 21 offspring have not provided meaningful comparisons of SA frequencies since the latter was not expressed as a function of cell division number. We have used BrDU-labeling to compare SA frequencies in first and second division metaphases from lymphocytes of parents with either a trisomy 21 or trisomy 13 child and a control group. Parental origin of nondisjunction was determined in three of six families using quinacrine heteromorphisms. In the two cases of trisomy 13 determined, the errors occurred in maternal meiosis. BrDU-labeled metaphases were analyzed for SA frequency in four groups: (A) parents contributing the extra chromosome; (B) spouses of the parents in A; (C) parents (nine) in whom the origin of a trisomy 13 or 21 was unknown; and (D) healthy controls (five). The mean numbers of SAs/cell and of chromosomes/SA were not significantly different among the four groups for both first and second division cells. Sex and age showed no effect on SA frequency. There were significant decreases in mean numbers of SA/cell and chromosomes/SA in second-division cells (chromatids differentially stained) compared with first-division cells (chromatids undifferentiated). In second-division cells, two-chromosome SAs of all types showed random concordant and discordant alignment in each subject. The results from this BrDU-labeling approach provide no evidence that either quantitative or qualitative parameters of SA are directly related to a tendency of nondisjunction. They also show that acrocentric nondisjunction occurs in the presence of random chromatid alignment in SAs.
Analysis of Energy Conservation Opportunities in Glass Manufacturing Facilities

ABSTRACT This article describes the nature of the energy conservation opportunities (ECOs) found in glass manufacturing facilities. The most significant ECOs are related to insulation of heat generating surfaces, preheating the combustion air in boilers, and heat recovery and distribution. The nature of the manufacturing activities found in the glass manufacturing facilities in the states of West Virginia and Pennsylvania range from glass decorating using purchased glass to manufacturing glass from basic raw materials using the hand blown or machine based processes. The Industrial Assessment Center at West Virginia University has conducted the energy assessments at the glass manufacturing facilities between 1996 and 1999 [22,23]. The nature of the glass manufacturing plants where these ECOs were determined are described based on plant groupings reported in [10]. It is interesting to note that energy savings of 280,000 MMBtu, and a cost savings of $ 1,080,000 were determined, resulting in a payback on inve...
Measurement of cellular proliferation in human prostate by AgNOR, PCNA, and SPF

Tumor differentiation and proliferative activity are important predictors of biological behavior. While routine histological evaluation is fairly adequate to assess differentiation, tumor proliferative activity is difficult to measure. Silver staining for nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) is reported to be helpful for assessing tumor proliferation. We investigated the AgNOR counts in 20 formalin fixed, paraffin embedded human prostate tissues in three microscopic fields of 330X, using an image analysis system. A total of 200–700 nuclei were evaluated on histologically controlled areas of nonneoplastic prostate tissue, prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), and invasive carcinoma. The values were compared to flow cytometrically obtained synthesis phase fractions (SPF) and immunohis-tochemically semi-quantitated, proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) patterns. AgNOR counts were also compared to tumor stage and Gleason's score. The pattern of PCNA staining in formalin fixed specimens was widely variable, probably due to differences in preservation of antigen. The positive counts varied from 0 to 55%, with a mean value of 8.55 ± 15.9. The SPF values ranged from 5 to 13% with a mean value of 8.50 ± 2.37. Two of 20 tumors were aneuploid and 18 were of diploid range. The mean AgNOR values in nonneoplastic nuclei (1.836 ± 0.299), PIN (3.129 ± 0.295), and invasive tumor cell nuclei (4.737 ± 0.369) were highly significant (P 0.24), possibly because of the small number of samples examined. The highest AgNOR counts were found in the two aneuploid tumors. We conclude that AgNOR count may be a potential indicator of cellular proliferation, and possibly a marker of tumor differentiation. © 1993 Wiiey-Liss, Inc.
Regional Variations in the Realignment of American Politics, 1944–2004*

Objective. Perennial questions in electoral studies are what constitutes realignment, and when and where do realignments occur? Using the concepts of critical and secular realignments as a framework, we model change in the end product of realignment, election outcomes. We test for secular and critical changes in partisan strength across six geographic regions of the United States, focusing on office-holding data at both the federal and state legislative level. Methods. Using an interrupted time-series model, we examine evidence for secular realignment and posit five critical interventions that have affected American politics since World War II. Results. Our findings suggest that there are elements of both critical and secular realignments at work with different patterns in each region, and that different regions have been affected by a variety of elections associated with critical events since 1944. Conclusions. The collapse of Republican hegemony in the Northeast and Pacific West has gone largely unnoticed, buried in the intense examination of the growth of the Republican Party in the American South. The 1994 election is the most prominent in terms of its impact on seat holding by the parties at both the state and national level, and constitutes a realigning election.
Adolescent obesity and bariatric surgery.

Obesity has become the most common nutritional disorder of children and adolescents in the United States. Along with this epidemic, there has been an increase in associated potentially life-threatening diseases. The World Health Organization classification in adults defines overweight as a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 30 kg/m 2 and obesity as a BMI of 30 kg/m 2 or more. The BMI, which takes into account the relationship of weight and height, correlates with the amount of body fat in children and adults [1]. In children, the ratio of weight to height changes with growth. For that reason BMI growth charts have been developed for children by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The definition of obesity for children is ninety-fifth percentile or more of BMI for age. Children with a BMI between the eighty-fifth and ninety-fifth percentile are considered overweight [2]. Using these criteria, the prevalence of being obese doubled among children aged 6 to 11 years and tripled among children aged 12 and 17 years in the United States between 1980 and 2000. Currently more than 1 million adolescents and young adults in the United States are considered severely obese (BMI R40 kg/m 2 ). Groups that are at particularly high risk for morbid obesity include African Americans, Hispanics, Pima Indians, and other Native Americans. The epidemic of obesity has multiple causes. Human beings are genetically predisposed to store fat, a survival mechanism that served well during lean times for our prehistoric ancestors. Currently our lifestyles, unlike those of our ancestors, are much more sedentary. Food in modern
Effect of Length of Day on the Activity and Hibernation of the American Dog Tick, Dermacentor Variabilis (Say) (Acarina: Ixodidae)

The American dog tick ( Dermacentor variabilis (Say)), vector of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the Eastern States, is a species of rapidly increasing economic importance. A point of more than ordinary interest in a consideration of its biology is the question of what factors induce hibernation. On the island of Martha's Vineyard, Mass., both larval and adult ticks hibernate in large numbers, whereas the number of nymphs that hibernate may be large or small, varying from year to year. From the end of March or the middle of April (depending on the temperature) until the end of September larvae and nymphs are active in seeking their hosts, as indicated by the large numbers on meadow mice and deer mice. From October to March they are in hibernation, no ticks occurring on mice in severe winters and only occasional specimens being found engorging in mild winters; but in the vicinity of Washington, D. C, hibernation of larvae and nymphs is less complete. The season of adult tick activity is from April to the end of August, and hibernation of the adults is complete, both at Martha's Vineyard and at Washington.
Histochemical localization of glycogen-synthesizing enzymes during parasitic infections

Abstract Polysaccharide synthesis by amylophosphorylase, glycogen synthetase, and branching enzyme was generally periportal in the liver of rats infected with Plasmodium berghei. In animals with low-grade infections synthesis was more uniform throughout the liver lobule resembling that of normal rats while in very highly infected animals (parasitemia over 70%) no significant activity was demonstrable. As in malaria, synthesis during hemobartonellosis was essentially periportal. In high trypanosome infections periportal synthesis was observed also but not as regularly as in malaria or hemobartonellosis; centrilobular activity was observed frequently. A periportal deposition of sugar corresponding to the areas of glycogen synthesis in the malaria-infected animals was not observed. In infected as in normal animals sugar appeared distributed more or less evenly throughout the liver lobule. The present findings parallel closely those obtained in previous in vivo studies on glycogenesis and indicate that a faulty enzyme mechanism is the factor responsible for the changes in glycogenesis during these infections.
Cross sections for neutron interactions in the CUORE neutrinoless double beta decay experiment

We describe experiments to determine the cross sections for neutron reactions on tellurium isotopes. These cross sections will be used to improve Monte Carlo simulations for CUORE, a next generation double beta decay experiment.
Growth factor control of growth and epithelial differentiation in embryonic lungs

embryonic lung cultures were exposed to either EGF (10 ng/ml) or TGF beta 1 (2 ng/ml) for 72 h, and branching morphogenesis, cell proliferation, and epithelial differentiation (the expression of DSPC synthesis and of surfactant protein C (SP-C) mRNA) were studied. EGF treatment stimulated branching morphogenesis (measured as the number of terminal left lung buds), epithelial differentiation, and cell proliferation. Branching morphogenesis was increased compared to controls after 48 h of culture by 47% and after 72 h by 34% (P < 0.0005). Choline incorporation into DSPC was stimulated by 343% (P = 0.05). SP-C expression was increased sixfold. Thymidine incorporation was stimulated by 49% (P < 0.05). The effects of EGF on thymidine labeling were distributed among epithelial cells of the airway walls and of the branching tips, and also the mesenchyme (P < 0.01 for each area compared to controls). In contrast, TGF beta 1 did not alter the number of terminal left lung buds, inhibited choline incorporation into DSPC by 35% (P < 0.05), and had no effect on thymidine incorporation (87% of control). There was increased thymidine labeling at the branching tips (P < 0.01), while other areas were not different from controls. We conclude that both EGF and TGF beta 1 affect the development of branching morphogenesis and of epithelial differentiation in the embryonic lung.
Mortality from eating disorders—a 5- to 10-year record linkage study

Purpose Previous research has found elevated mortality rates from anorexia nervosa (AN) and perhaps bulimia nervosa (BN). This study was performed using computerized record linkage to examine mortality rates in a cohort of patients with eating disorder (ED) diagnoses seen in an emergency room (ER) by a psychiatry service. Methods ER records were retrieved for 122 consecutive ED patients seen over a 5-year period from 1985 to 1990. Demographic data, identifiers including social security number and date of birth, and clinical information were recorded; record linkage to a computerized vital status database, MINNDEX, through 1995 was then performed. Death certificates were subsequently obtained and reviewed to identify cause of death. Results The average age at time of ER visit was 25.7 (SD 7.4); 91.8% were female, 8.2% male. The most common diagnosis was AN (44.3%); 34.4% were diagnosed with BN, and 21.3% with eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS). Five subjects died in the 5 to 10-year follow-up period (all female). One deceased subject carried a diagnosis of BN, the other 4 had AN. Three subjects with AN were listed on death certificates as having died of that illness; the fourth died of emphysema. The deceased subject with BN died of traumatic causes. The crude mortality rates were 7.4% for AN and 2.4% for BN. The standardized mortality ratio for AN was 8.35. Conclusions This study confirms and extends prior reports of high mortality rates in AN, using an epidemiologic database with high ascertainment rates. While the crude mortality rate for BN was also high, the small sample size makes it difficult to draw conclusions. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 26: 97–101, 1999.
The Management of Retinopathy of Prematurity

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a major problem in both highly developed countries and countries with emerging technology. The incidence of ROP has been stable over the last 2 decades despite improvements in neonatology. Threshold ROP occurs in about 5% of premature infants in the US with birthweights <1.25kg. Despite treatment, a sizable minority will become blind (up to 20 to 30%). The pathophysiology of ROP can be separated into 2 phases. Phase I is hyperoxia-vasocessation. Phase II is hypoxia-vasoproliferation. The former occurs immediately following premature birth. The provision of supplemental oxygen causes retinal hyperoxia, a down regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and a consequent cessation of normal retinal vascularisation. Systemic factors and increasing retinal metabolic demands cause a shift to phase II when a relative retinal hypoxia develops. This hypoxia stimulates VEGF production, leading to renewed vascularisation. This can be the resumption of normal vascularisation or abnormal neovascularisation, depending on local retinal responses. The management of ROP begins with a reliable evidence-based screening protocol. All interested parties must cooperate in developing and implementing foolproof screening protocols. Hospital officials, nursery personnel, neonatologists and ophthalmologists all have areas of responsibility in ensuring adequate screening. ROP management involves prevention, interdiction and correction. Prevention includes: adequate prenatal care which minimises premature birth, and appropriate systemic intensive care which lessens the tissue hyperoxia/hypoxia swings. Pharmacological vitamin E supplementation has largely been abandoned and ambient light reduction has been shown to be ineffective. The value of inositol supplementation and angiogenesis inhibitors in preventing ROP is presently under investigation. Interdiction concentrates on ablation of the peripheral avascular retina, thus dramatically decreasing VEGF production. Both cryotherapy and laser photocoagulation are effective; however, unfortunately, poor outcomes persist despite treatment. Supplemental oxygen administration has so far proven ineffective in limiting ROP progression. Finally, correction focuses on vitrectomy/retinal detachment repair. While anatomically successful, this procedure is often unsuccessful in terms of restoration of vision (<5% success rate). In conclusion, despite improvements in neonatology, ROP, potentially leading to blindness, continues to be a common problem associated with prematurity. Future management success must concentrate on discovering new modes of treatment, especially prevention.
Mortality and limb loss with infected infrainguinal bypass grafts

Abstract A recent experience with infrainguinal graft infections was reviewed in an effort to identify factors related to limb loss and mortality. The records of 32 patients who had operative treatment of 33 episodes of infrainguinal graft infection between 1978 and 1985 were reviewed to evaluate the effects of 20 factors possibly affecting outcome. The amputation rate was 79%. Of the 20 factors studied, only the presence of overt limb sepsis was associated with the need for amputation, with 100% of patients having limb sepsis requiring amputation vs. 72% of patients without limb sepsis (p = 0.03). The in-hospital mortality rate was 22%. Eighty-six percent of the deaths were due to ongoing sepsis. Again, a single factor was associated with death. Five of the 12 patients (42%) in whom preservation of axial flow was attempted died in contrast to only 2 of 20 patients (10%) who did not have attempted arterial reconstruction (p = 0.04). Limb salvage did not occur in any of the patients in whom preservation of axial flow was attempted and nine required above-knee amputation. Thirteen of the remaining 20 patients had occluded femoral vessels either because of operative ligation (nine) or previous thrombosis (four). Above-knee amputations healed in all but one of these 13 patients. Determined attempts at increasing limb preservation were associated with no improvement in amputation rate or level and were accompanied by an unacceptably high mortality rate. Aggressive control of sepsis through the early amputation of septic limbs after graft removal may improve survival without further detriment to limb preservation. (J VASC SURG 1987;5:566-71.)
PROGNOSTIC ROLE OF AL AMYLOID DEPOSITION IN VASCULATURE

Vasculature involvement of AL amyloid or amyloid fibrils has been commonly reported in tissue biopsy. However, the prognostic role of vasculature involvement has not been studied. Tissue biopsies of patients with biopsy-proven AL amyloidosis were reviewed between 2006 to 2011. Tissue and
Yap: A Case of Benevolent Tourism

Located a little over 870 kilometers southwest of Guam is a beautiful small-island state that many people believe to be one of the places least affected by modernization in the Pacific—the island of Yap. Sometimes referred to as "the island of stone money" because of the huge pieces of circular limestone currency that can be found there, Yap is part of the island nation of the Federated States of Micronesia.
NEMATIC HOMOGENEOUS PHOTO ALIGNMENT BY POLYIMIDE EXPOSURE TO LINEARLY POLARIZED UV

Exposure of positive-type polyimide (PI) to linearly polarized deep UV (DUV) light (257nm) induced homogeneous alignment of nematic liquid crystals. The alignment state changed markedly at a particular energy of the UV light. Measurement of the UV absorption spectrum and retardation change generated in PI films by UV irradiation showed that anisotropic alignment was caused by a new mechanism, photodepolymerization of polyimide main chains parallel to the electric field of the DUV light.We induced nematic monodomain homogeneous alignment by exposing positive-type PI to linearly polarized DUV light. The alignment direction was perpendicular to the electric field of the DUV, and its condition suddenly changed at 7J/cm2. We explained this phenomenon as resulting from a new mechanism, anisotropic photodepolymerization of PI.
Exact-exchange asymptotics in polymer Hartree-Fock calculations

The asymptotic behavior of direct lattice sums for exact, nonlocal exchange in polymer Hartree-Fock calculations is analyzed. That behavior is entirely determined by that of the density matrix. An exactly solvable two-band model, describing both filled- and half-filled-band situations, allows the study of the density-matrix asymptotics for various realistic parameter choices. For filled bands it is found that the density matrix falls off exponentially in the latticevector index $n$. This is due to the presence of first-order branch points in the complex Bloch vector plane, symmetrically placed about the real axis. With the use of contour integration, formulas for large-$n$ behavior are obtained, including one valid for all $n$ values when parameters are chosen that correspond to H\"uckel theory. A simple relationship is found between band gap, bandwidth, and the (exponential) large-$n$ behavior of filled-band density-matrix elements. The results are related to work by Kohn and Des Cloiseaux on Wannier functions but are more specific about the relation between exponential behavior and band properties. With inspiration from numerical experiments, a conjecture for multiband exchange asymptotics is formulated. Half-filled-band results verify earlier work by Ukrainskii, and it is shown how exchange-sum truncation errors increase dramatically when the nearly-half-filled-band situation is reached. This is borne out by recent work by Piela, Andr\'e, Fripiat, and Delhalle.
Oxygen and carotid body chemotransduction: the cholinergic hypothesis — a brief history and new evaluation

Abstract Oxygen can be said to be the most fundamentally necessary substrate for life. In those organisms having a cardiopulmonary system for delivering it in blood to the tissues the carotid body functions as the principal detector of decreases in arterial oxygen. Such a decrease stimulates an increase in neural output from the carotid body to the nucleus tractus solitarii, and this can precipitate a wide array of systemic reflex responses. The neural mechanisms involved in the genesis of increased signal from the carotid body remain unclear. But a current model of carotid body chemotransduction postulates that transmitter-laden glomus cells initiate the neural activity by being depolarized by hypoxemia and releasing an excitatory transmitter which binds to postsynaptic receptors of the adjacent sensory afferent fibers as well as to presynaptic glomus cell autoreceptors. This Frontiers Review evaluates anew the data supporting the hypothesis that acetylcholine (ACh) is an (the) essential excitatory transmitter in this process by examining ACh’s fulfillment of criteria required to establish a substance as a synaptic transmitter. All eight criteria are fulfilled in the case of ACh. Indeed, additional data further support the Cholinergic Hypothesis.
Genetics: inherit the wheeze.

A study of families containing asthma sufferers has led to the discovery of a gene that is associated with the disease. The finding brings the biological basis of asthma into sharper focus.
Alkane bromination revisited: "reproportionation" in gas-phase methane bromination leads to higher selectivity for CH3Br at moderate temperatures.

The reaction of methane and bromine is a mildly exothermic and exergonic example of free radical alkane activation. We show here that the reaction of methane and bromine (CH4:Br2 ≥ 1) may yield either a kinetically or a thermodynamically determined bromomethane product distribution and proceeds in two main phases between 450 and 550 °C under ambient pressure on the laboratory time scale. This is in contrast to the highly exothermic methane fluorination or chlorination reactions, which give kinetic product distributions, and to the endergonic iodination of methane, which yields an equilibrium distribution of iodomethanes. The first phase of reaction between methane and bromine is a relatively rapid consumption of bromine to yield a kinetic methane bromination product distribution characterized by low methane conversion, low methyl bromide selectivity, and higher polybromomethane selectivity. In the second slower phase CHxBr4-x reproportionation leads to significantly higher methane conversion and higher me...
Variation of T-type calcium channel protein expression affects cell division of cultured tumor cells

In this study we investigated the T-type calcium channel and its involvement in the cell division of U87MG cultured glioma cells and N1E-115 neuroblastoma cells. Using Western blot analysis, we found that expression of both alpha1G and alpha1H subunits of the T-type calcium channel decreased during conditions associated with a decrease in proliferation as evidenced by increased expression of cyclin D1, a marker for non-proliferating cells. Both serum starvation and application of mibefradil, a selective T-type calcium channel antagonist, resulted in a 50% decrease in the expression of alpha1G and alpha1H and a 700-900% increase in levels of cyclin D1 in U87MG and N1E-115 cells, respectively. Furthermore, overexpression of the alpha1H subunit resulted in a two-fold increase in cell proliferation compared to control cultures or cultures receiving an empty vector. In contrast, blocking expression of the alpha1G subunit using antisense oligonucleotides lead to a 70% decrease in proliferation of U87MG and N1E-115 cells compared to control cultures or cultures receiving a scrambled oligonucleotide. Our findings suggest that proliferation of U87MG glioma cells and N1E-115 is regulated by T-type calcium channel expression.
A 2D Sketch-Based User Interface for 3D CAD Model Retrieval

AbstractThis paper describes a sketch user interface enhanced by feedback for 3D CAD model retrieval. Users can express their intent by sketching 2D shape in the way as engineers draw three views of 3D models. It not only supports users’ free form sketches, but also accepts users’ further editing operations and feedbacks. The interaction paradigm proposed in this paper is supported by a 3D shape matching method, in which three problems are solved: determination of projecting planes and directions, 2D view generation, and similarity measuring between views. In addition, experiments are conducted to evaluate the performance of this sketch user interface by 3D model retrieval.
Inequity in health care utilization in Ecuador: an analysis of current issues and potential solutions

Background From an equity perspective, a health system needs to address social, political and economic inequalities that prevent people to achieve higher standards of living and exert their right to health [1,2]. The 2008 Ecuadorian Constitution guarantees the right to health, an important contributing factor to good living or Sumak Kawsay [3]. The purpose of this study was to analyze socioeconomic inequalities and its relationship to provision of health care services in Ecuador, and to discuss relevant policy alternatives.
The Pine Ridge-Mayo National Aeronautics and Space Administration Telemedicine Project: Program Activities and Participant Reactions

OBJECTIVE: To determine the response of participants to the Pine Ridge-Mayo National Aeronautics and Space Administration telemedicine project. DESIGN: We describe a 3-month demonstration project of medical education and clinical consultations conducted by means of satellite transmission. Postparticipation questionnaires and a postproject survey were used to assess the success of the activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients and employees at the Pine Ridge Indian Health Service Hospital in southwestern South Dakota and employees at Mayo Clinic Rochester participated in a telemedicine project, after which they completed exit surveys and a postproject questionnaire to ascertain the acceptability of this mode of health care. RESULTS: Almost all Pine Ridge and Mayo Clinic participants viewed the project as beneficial. The educational sessions received favorable evaluations, and almost two-thirds of the patients who completed evaluations thought the consultation had contributed to their medical care. More than 90% of the respondents from Pine Ridge and more than 85% of the respondents from Mayo Clinic Rochester said that they would recommend participation in this project to others. More than 90% of respondents from Pine Ridge and 80% of Mayo respondents agreed with the statement that the project should continue. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that a program of clinical consultation services, professional education, and patient education available by telemedicine might be viewed as beneficial.
Morphology of the mechanosensory lateral line system in the Atlantic Stingray, Dasyatissabina: The mechanotactile hypothesis.

The biological function of anatomical specializations in the mechanosensory lateral line of elasmobranch fishes is essentially unknown. The gross and histological features of the lateral line in the Atlantic stingray, Dasyatis sabina, were examined with special reference to its role in the localization and capture of natural invertebrate prey. Superficial neuromasts are arranged in bilateral rows near the dorsal midline from the spiracle to the posterior body disk and in a lateral position along the entire length of the tail. All dorsal lateral line canals are pored, contain sensory neuromasts, and have accessory lateral tubules that most likely function to increase their receptive field. The pored ventral canal system consists of the lateral hyomandibular canal along the disk margin and the short, separate mandibular canal on the lower jaw. The extensive nonpored and relatively compliant ventral infraorbital, supraorbital, and medial hyomandibular canals form a continuous complex on the snout, around the mouth, and along the abdomen. Vesicles of Savi are small mechanosensory subdermal pouches that occur in bilateral rows only along the ventral midline of the rostrum. Superficial neuromasts are best positioned to detect water movements along the transverse body axis such as those produced by tidal currents, conspecifics, or predators. The pored dorsal canal system is positioned to detect water movements created by conspecifics, predators, or possibly distortions in the flow field during swimming. Based upon the stingray lateral line morphology and feeding behavior, we propose the Mechanotactile Hypothesis, which states that the ventral nonpored canals and vesicles of Savi function as specialized tactile mechanoreceptors that facilitate the detection and capture of small benthic invertebrate prey. J. Morphol. 238:1-22, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Computerized physician order entry in the critical care and general inpatient setting: a narrative review

Computerized physician order entry (CPOE) is an increasingly used technologic tool for entering clinician orders, especially for medications and laboratory and diagnostic tests. Studies in hospitalized patients, including critically ill patients, have demonstrated that CPOE, especially with decision support, improves several outcomes. These improved outcomes include clinical measures such as reductions in serious medication errors and enhanced antimicrobial management of critically ill patients resulting in reduced length of stay. Additionally, several process outcomes have improved with CPOE such as increased compliance with evidence-based practices, reductions in unnecessary laboratory tests and cost savings in pharmacotherapeutics. Future studies are needed to demonstrate the benefits of more patient specific decision support interventions and the seamless integration of CPOE into a wireless, computerized medication administration system.
A Liquid Xenon Imaging Telescope For 1-30 MeV Gamma-Ray Astrophysics

A study of the primary scintillation light in liquid xenon excited by 241 Am alpha particles and 207 Bi internal conversion electrons are discussed. The time dependence and the intensity of the light at different field strengths have been measured with a specifically designed chamber, equipped with a CaF sub 2 light transmitting window coupled to a UV sensitive PMT. The time correlation between the fast light signal and the charge signal shows that the scintillation signals produced in liquid xenon by ionizing particles provides an ideal trigger in a Time Projection type LXe detector aiming at full imaging of complex gamma-ray events. Researchers also started Monte Carlo calculations to establish the performance of a LXe imaging telescope for high energy gamma-rays.
Single Forces and Double-Couples: A Theoretical Review of Their Relative Efficiency for the Excitation of Seismic and Tsunami Waves

We compare the theoretical excitation of surface waves and tsunamis by sources represented by single forces and double-couples. We first show that an average single force, whose orientation and exact depth are unknown, should excite any seismic wave proportionally to wavelength, relative to a similarly average double-couple, having the same source time function. Because of the condition of zero impulse on the whole planet, the spectrum of a single force source has an additional ω2 factor at low frequencies. As a result, a general deficiency in long period energy is expected. However, we show on a number of examples that it can be observed only at the extreme low-frequency end of the spectrum of mantle waves, and probably would escape routine seismological observation.We explore the possibility of identifying single force sources on the basis of single-station inversions of Love and Rayleigh waves, through the systematic inversion of synthetic spectra. Inversion of double-couple spectra for single forces (and vice versa) have variance reductions on the order of 70%, which may be too performant to allow discrimination under operational conditions, including noise and inaccurate epicentral distances. An important case is that of the pure dip-slip double-couple geometry on a purely vertical fault, which can be recognized from a single horizontal force, provided both Rayleigh and Love waves are used over a sufficiently broad range of frequencies. Previous controversy, notably in the case of the 1975 Kalapana, Hawaii earthquake, may reflect the use of band-pass filtered Love waves. In the case of tsunami excitation, and because of the ω2 term brought about by the condition of zero-impulse, single forces are significantly deficient tsunami generators, by as much as 1.5 orders of magnitudes, relative to a double-couple exciting comparable mantle waves. The enhanced tsunamis occasionally excited by events successfully modeled as single forces are due to the mechanical interaction of the source, whatever its nature, with softer layers in the vicinity of the surface.
Impact of Childhood Attachment with Parents on the Change of Relationship with God Following Life Events

Summary This article extends previous research on the impacts of life events on individuals’ religiosity and examines whether individuals’ reactions to life events are affected by childhood relationships with parents. Questionnaires were completed by undergraduate students at a state university in Utah. The results of a multivariate analysis, based on data from undergraduate students raised by two Mormon parents, show that those who had a secure relationship with their mothers were more likely to report the occurrence of positive life events that drew them closer to God. Those who had a secure relationship with their fathers were less likely, than their counterparts, to report the occurrence of either positive or negative life events that took them away from God. In contrast, those with an anxious mother or avoidant father during childhood were more likely to report the occurrence of life events, both positive and negative, that took them away from God.