cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Care delays in patients with signs and symptoms of acute myocardial infarction.

Aim More than six million patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of a heart attack present to emergency departments (EDs) in the US each year. Of those diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), one third die in the acute phase. Rapid ED triage can reduce the mortality rate, yet there are still delays in patient care. The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between patient and nurse characteristics, patient presentations, delays in triage, and delays in obtaining electrocardiograms (ECGs) of patients with signs and symptoms of AMI. Methods A retrospective correlational study drawing on data from the records of 286 patients with signs and symptoms of AMI. Results Delays in triage are related significantly to patients' gender and race. Most patients were triaged by nurses with associate degrees in nursing, a mean age of 45 and a mean of 18 years' experience. An increase in nurse years of experience predicted greater delay in triage. Delays in obtaining ECGs were also significantly greater with more experienced nurses and when patients reported no chest pain. Conclusion The study adds to the literature on delays in triage and ECGs in care of patients with possible AMI, and further research of the effects of ED crowding and availability of resources in emergency cardiac care is warranted. Studies should identify the processes that cause delays in the emergency care of patients with signs and symptoms of AMI to ensure timely treatment and care.
Optical Imaging of Cancer: Enhancing Detection and Resection

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a brief review of selected principles of microscopy and an overview of contemporary imaging methods, with an emphasis on fluorescence techniques used in biomedical research in general and cancer research in particular. For additional information, the reader is referred to the end of the chapter for a short list of excellent references and web sites that provide useful information.
Hypothesis Testing of CNA Perceptions of Organizational Culture in Long Term Care.

This commentary for the special issue on research that went wrong describes a study that explored factors that contribute to variability within Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) on organizational...
Predicting failures of Molteno and Baerveldt glaucoma drainage devices using machine learning models

Abstract The purpose of this retrospective study is to measure machine learning models’ ability to predict glaucoma drainage device failure based on demographic information and preoperative measurements. The medical records of sixty-two patients were used. Potential predictors included the patient’s race, age, sex, preoperative intraocular pressure, preoperative visual acuity, number of intraocular pressure-lowering medications, and number and type of previous ophthalmic surgeries. Failure was defined as final intraocular pressure greater than 18 mm Hg, reduction in intraocular pressure less than 20% from baseline, or need for reoperation unrelated to normal implant maintenance. Five classifiers were compared: logistic regression, artificial neural network, random forest, decision tree, and support vector machine. Recursive feature elimination was used to shrink the number of predictors and grid search was used to choose hyperparameters. To prevent leakage, nested cross-validation was used throughout. Overall, the best classifier was logistic regression.
Accelerating sequential consistency for Java with speculative compilation

A memory consistency model (or simply a memory model) specifies the granularity and the order in which memory accesses by one thread become visible to other threads in the program. We previously proposed the volatile-by-default (VBD) memory model as a natural form of sequential consistency (SC) for Java. VBD is significantly stronger than the Java memory model (JMM) and incurs relatively modest overheads in a modified HotSpot JVM running on Intel x86 hardware. However, the x86 memory model is already quite close to SC. It is expected that the cost of VBD will be much higher on the other widely used hardware platform today, namely ARM, whose memory model is very weak. In this paper, we quantify this expectation by building and evaluating a baseline volatile-by-default JVM for ARM called VBDA-HotSpot, using the same technique previously used for x86. Through this baseline we report, to the best of our knowledge, the first comprehensive study of the cost of providing language-level SC for a production compiler on ARM. VBDA-HotSpot indeed incurs a considerable performance penalty on ARM, with average overheads on the DaCapo benchmarks on two ARM servers of 57% and 73% respectively. Motivated by these experimental results, we then present a novel speculative technique to optimize language-level SC. While several prior works have shown how to optimize SC in the context of an offline, whole-program compiler, to our knowledge this is the first optimization approach that is compatible with modern implementation technology, including dynamic class loading and just-in-time (JIT) compilation. The basic idea is to modify the JIT compiler to treat each object as thread-local initially, so accesses to its fields can be compiled without fences. If an object is ever accessed by a second thread, any speculatively compiled code for the object is removed, and future JITed code for the object will include the necessary fences in order to ensure SC. We demonstrate that this technique is effective, reducing the overhead of enforcing VBD by one-third on average, and additional experiments validate the thread-locality hypothesis that underlies the approach.
Physical Activity in the Classroom across the Curriculum

This work describes activities involving movement suitable for both advanced and introductory computer science courses. Ongoing work seeks to quantify the impact of such activities on student learning outcomes and student engagement.
Microtubule cytoskeletal proteins as targets for covalent interconverting enzymes.

Publisher Summary Microtubules are highly organized, supramolecular arrays of tubulin protomers that play central structure- and motility-linked roles in eukaryotes. Many studies have demonstrated that interphase cells display a characteristic lacelike network of microtubules that originate at centriolar regions, span the cytoplasm, and terminate at the cell's margin or outer membrane. In addition to providing the molecular framework for cell shape and chromosomal movement, microtubules are intimately involved in ciliary and flagellar processes, neuronal axoplasmic transport, and even sensory transduction events. The formation of microtubules and cytoskeletal networks is a complex process involving the interaction of many components. The in vitro self-assembly process is conceptualized by the Oosawa condensation equilibrium model that involves sequential, but not necessarily time-resolved, reactions known as nucleation, elongation, protomer–polymer equilibration, and polymer length redistribution. The ATP-dependent insertion of tyrosine into tubulin as a posttranscriptional event was first observed in brain extracts, but the identification of the protein as tubulin came several years later. Another type of interconverting enzyme involving microtubule proteins is the calcium-activated neutral protease found in synaptosomal extracts and whole brain extracts.
Design of a Novel Surgical Robot with Rigidity-Adjustable Joints based on Time-Division Multiplexing Actuation

Tendon-driven robots are commonly used in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) due to its small size, high dexterity and great controllability. However, there is a general tradeoff between miniaturization and dexterity of a tendon-driven robot, due to the large number of tendons required to actuate a multi-degree-of-freedom (multi-DoF) robotic motion. This work presents a novel design of robot that employs only one pair of tendons to actuate multiple rigidity-adjustable joints via a time-division multiplexing actuation method. The joints can be locked and unlocked by a fast-response and power-saving mini-solenoid clutch mechanism, and the accumulated actuation of the unlocked joints at each time yields a multi-DoF robotic motion. Experiments on a two-DoF robot prototype show that joint motions under the tendon actuation are well decoupled and have high repeatability in a wide range of angles. The results indicate that this method can be used to develop miniature and dexterous surgical robots with high control speed and accuracy.
Hernández v. Mesa on Rights and Restitution for Victims of Excessive Force at the Border

In 2010 a Border Patrol agent on the US side of the border shot and killed a Mexican teenager on the Mexican side. In an era of deep political conflict over immigration, this long-standing case raises questions about whether rights of due process under the Fourth and Fifth Amendments apply to non-citizens and the degree of liability of federal agents for constitutional violations. This chapter addresses the implications of the Court’s ruling in favor of the Border Patrol agent for the constitutional rights of non-citizens as well as the partisan conflict over immigration.
Animals and Nonsense: Edward Lear’s Menagerie

Commentary on Edward Lear’s work has historically concentrated upon his nonsense by discussing the history of the limerick, Lear’s influence on later writers, his play with words, and the nature of nonsense. Recognizing autobiographical moments in the nonsense, many critics have also indulged in psychoanalytical commentary. It is only within the last two decades that critics have recognized the fact that Lear’s early experience as a natural history illustrator (in the 1820s and 1830s) significantly shaped the subject, the affect, and the matter of his nonsense. Those studying Lear need better to recognize that when Lear was first composing his limericks and nonsense stories, he was in daily contact with zoologist, botanists, taxidermists, and anatomists. As a result of being in the midst of this scientific world, Lear was steeped not only in the imperialist business of collecting from the reach of empire but also in the debates that surfaced concerning the nomenclature of species, the arguments over taxonomy, the notion of hybridity, and even in the loosening of borders and rankings of animals and people. All these pre-Darwinian issues became the foundation for Lear’s nonsense. Through his nonsense drawings and verses, he often mocked imperialist efforts to collect and classify species; he poked fun at the rage to classify; he ridiculed imperialistic practices of making an object out of an animal, and displaced people’s sense of their superiority over animals. He was someone who thought deeply about the relationship between animals and people. This approach underlines the importance of Animal Studies.
Functional divergence of the bag of marbles gene in the Drosophila melanogaster species group

Abstract The combination of recent advances in both genomic and gene editing technologies have opened up new possibilities for assessing the functional consequences and drivers of positive selection. In Drosophila melanogaster, a key germline stem cell differentiation factor, bag of marbles (bam) shows rapid bursts of amino acid fixations between its D. melanogaster and its sibling species D. simulans, but not in the outgroup species D. ananassae. We previously hypothesized that a genetic conflict with the maternally inherited, intracellular bacteria W. pipientis could be driving the adaptive evolution of bam as W. pipientis increases the fertility of a bam partial loss of function mutant. However, we have not been able to further test this hypothesis by assessing bam variation in other Drosophila lineages and their interactions with W. pipientis because bam function has not been examined in non-melanogaster Drosophila species. Since bam is rapidly evolving at the protein level, its function may not be conserved between species, and therefore different evolutionary pressures may be shaping bam in individual lineages. Here, we ask if bam is necessary for GSC daughter differentiation in five Drosophila species in the melanogaster species group that span approximately 15 million years of divergence and show different patterns of nucleotide sequence evolution at bam. We find that bam function is not fully conserved across these species, and that bam function may change on a relatively short time scale. Ultimately, we conclude that a simple gain in function as the germline stem cell differentiation factor alone does not explain our population genetic and functional genetic results we have observed. Our findings provide a foundation on which to explore the evolution of bam as a GSC differentiation factor and its interactions with W. pipientis in specific lineages.
Single Port Robotic Assisted Sacrocolpopexy: Technique and Tips

Study Objective Sacrocolpopexy is the most durable surgical procedure for the treatment of symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse. The single port robotic platform has recently been approved in the US for use in Urologic surgery. Innovation in robotic surgery continues to evolve, minimizing abdominal wall trauma while improving on instrumentation and technical feasibility. Identifying the appropriate procedures to utilize novel technology is important to understand the role of new surgical tools. Sacrocolpopexy procedure, when performed with supracervical hysterectomy requires extension of an incision for specimen retrieval, making it ideal for single port surgery. The technique and adaptation to new instrumentation is demonstrated in this video. Design Intraoperative video of single port robotic sacrocolpopexy. Setting Mayo Clinic Arizona Department of Gynecologic Surgery. Patients or Participants Prior to surgery, this patient was consented for inclusion. Interventions Robotic sacrocolpopexy. Measurements and Main Results Surgical demonstration of single port robotic sacrocolpopexy. Conclusion Single port robotic sacrocolpopexy is safe, effective, and feasible.
Computer Applications in Self-Paced Medical Education in the Basic Sciences: The University of Washington Experience

The starting point for the present medical curriculum at the University of Washington School of Medicine is generally regarded as beginning with the 1965 report of an ad hoc committee which contained the following paragraphs: A basic curriculum for medical students should provide: 1. Sufficient flexibility to meet the diverse demands for varied training of medical specialists (including practitioners and academicians), [and] medical scientists... 2. Sufficient breadth and depth of subject material to prepare the end-product to meet the many demands of our changing society.
A New Basis for the Solution of the One-Dimensional Convection-Diffusion EquationConvection-Diffusion Equation

We present a family of functions that satisfy the one-dimensional convection-diffusion equation. This partial differential equation is widely used in the sciences and engineering, including to model the transport of contaminant dissolved in groundwater. Combinations of these functions are formed to satisfy boundary and initial conditions. The result is an inexpensive and highly accurate solution methodology.
A Regressive Problem Solver That Uses Knowledgelet

This paper presents a new idea of how to reduce search space by a general problem solver. The general problem solver, Regressive Total Order Planner with Knowledgelet (RTOPKLT), can be used in intelligent systems or in software agent architectures. Problem solving involves finding a sequence of available actions (operators) that can transfer an initial state to a goal state. Here, a problem is defined in terms of a set of logical assertions that define an initial state and a goal state. With too little information, reasoning and learning systems cannot perform in most cases. On the other hand, too much information can cause the performance of a problem solver to degrade, in both accuracy and efficiency. Therefore, it is important to determine what information is relevant and to organize this information in an easy to retrieve manner.
Real-time on-line unconstrained handwriting recognition using statistical methods

We address the problem of automatic recognition of unconstrained handwritten text. Statistical methods, such as hidden Markov models (HMMs) have been used successfully for speech recognition and they have been applied to the problem of handwriting recognition as well. We discuss a general recognition system for large vocabulary, writer independent, unconstrained handwritten text. "Unconstrained" implies that the user may write in any style e.g. printed, cursive or in any combination of styles. This is more representative of typical handwritten text where one seldom encounters purely printed or purely cursive forms. Furthermore, a key characteristic of the system is that it performs recognition in real-time on 486 class PC platforms without the large amounts of memory required for traditional HMM based systems. We focus mainly on the writer independent task. Some initial writer dependent results are also reported. An error rate of 18.9% is achieved for a writer-independent 21,000 word vocabulary task in the absence of any language models.
Reflections on Currency Crises

Se analizan en tres diferentes niveles las crisis monetarias, las cuales llegan a ser cada vez mas un acontecimiento comun alrededor del mundo en los anos noventa. Se observan estas crisis hacia un nivel nacional, y pueden significar el escollo del juego de la liberalizacion financiera para atraer capital externo en una escala masiva, donde los desequilibrios financieros causados por deudas excesivas, en esta u otra forma, son producto de una implosion. Se observan desde el nivel del sistema monetario internacional, muchas de estas crisis son causadas por una nueva clase de atraccion especulativa que recientemente hemos sitiado en los mercados financieros globales donde las expectativas tienden a llegar a ser profecias cumplidas en si mismas.
Saccadic eye movement speed and motor response execution.

Abstract This study investigated the hypothesis that systematic changes in efficiency (speed) of saccadic eye movement speed (SEMS) are accompanied by parallel improvements in associated motor responses or vice versa. Seventy-two individuals were classified according to SEMS and randomly assigned to batting practice, SEMS training, or control groups. Each of the two experimental groups practiced a total of ten hours under their respective training conditions. All individuals were pre- and posttested on batting performance. Results indicated that prior to training, individuals with faster SEMS were significantly better batters than those with slower SEMS. Training through actual batting produced significant increases in both SEMS and batting performance. Training through a SEMS program resulted primarily in significant improvements in SEMS. However, some evidence was found to indicate that observable (although less dramatic) changes also occurred in batting performance for this group.
A 1 GHz PA-RISC processor

The processor is a leveraged design based of a previous generation of PA-RISC processor. Key improvements over the previous design are: a 0.18 /spl mu/m silicon on insulator (SOI) process with 7-layer copper interconnects, 2.25 MB of Cache with row and column redundancies, 240-entry translation lookaside buffer (TLB), 60% frequency boost, and 45% lower power with the same foot print.
Landmarks during the first forty-two days of gestation demonstrated by the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin and ultrasound

Abstract Prospective pregnancy evaluation through the combined use of a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for the β-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) and ultrasound during the first 42 days of gestation after ovulation was performed on a population asymptomatic for first-trimester spontaneous abortion. One hundred forty-six ultrasonic observations in 98 pregnancies were made with simultaneous β-hCG RIA performed in 80 patients. The following landmarks of normal gestational growth were identified: (1) Before 26 days, β-HCG RIA permits definitive diagnosis of growing trophoblastic tissue, and serial samples allow doubling time computation for prognosis while ultrasound shows a nonspecific increasing decidual response within the uterus; (2) between 26 and 36 days after ovulation, serial β-hCG samples continue to give doubling time results while ultrasonic demonstration of a gestational sac is normally seen by 28 days after ovulation; (3) the lack of fetal heart motion by 42 days after ovulation or within a gestational sac with a mean diameter of >30 mm was prognostic of abortion; (4) the absence of a gestational sac by 28 days after ovulation or with a β-hCG RIA >1,000 ng/ml is suggestive of an ectopic pregnancy ultil proved otherwise.
A review of generalization methods used in empirical social work literature

This article reviews methods currently used for generalization of findings, based on a review of a representative sample of empirical research studies drawn from three major social work research journals: Social Work Research, Journal of Social Service Research, and Research on Social Work Practice, over a 10-year period (1996–2005). Findings revealed a greater discussion of generalizability limitations in comparison with the past, and other types of generalization methods such as conceptual generalizations and qualitative comparisons of study results with those of other studies. Relatively low usage of quantitative comparisons of sample to population and replication procedures was detected. Implications of these trends are discussed and approaches for improvements are explored.
Consistent clinical research standards benefit patients around the world

Although the globalization of clinical trials has provided benefits to host countries, critics have focused on the rare but egregious examples of unethical practices. But large, coordinated trials by the contract research industry can encourage best practice, particularly if local countries adopt more consistent standards and oversight.
Epstein–Barr virus latent antigen 3C can mediate the degradation of the retinoblastoma protein through an SCF cellular ubiquitin ligase

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) stimulates the proliferation of latently infected B cells and promotes lymphoid malignancies in humans. To address the role of EBV latency protein Epstein–Barr nuclear antigen 3C (EBNA3C) in regulation of the retinoblastoma protein (Rb), we transfected EBNA3C into 293, BJAB, and SAOS-2 cells. In this context, a dominant effect of EBNA3C is to decrease Rb protein levels. EBNA3C also rescues an Rb-induced flat cell phenotype and targets Rb for proteasome- and ubiquitin-dependent degradation. Further, EBNA3C forms a stable complex with Rb in cells when the proteasome machinery is inhibited and interacts with Rb in vitro, mapping to a conserved domain at the terminus of EBNA3C. Deletion analysis of EBNA3C identified a motif within amino acids 140–149 important for both the binding and regulation of Rb. This motif is of particular interest, because it has also been linked to regulation of the Skp1/Cul1/F-box complex, SCFSkp2. Indeed, inhibition of Skp2 function with a dominant-negative molecule reduces the ability of EBNA3C to degrade Rb. Skp2 has no detectable effect on Rb levels in the absence of EBNA3C, suggesting that SCFSkp2 is specifically usurped by EBNA3C for the enhancement of Rb degradation. That EBNA3C has exploited this association suggests that other human malignancies might use a similar strategy to regulate the Rb protein.
Development and Application of a Dichotomous Vapor/Aerosol Sampler for HDI-Derived Total Reactive Isocyanate Group

A dichotomous vapor/aerosol sampler was developed for measurement of HDI (1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate)-derived total reactive isocyanate group (TRIG). The sampler consisted of an impactor or cyclone inlet, followed by an annular diffusional denuder, and a glass-fiber filter backup. The denuder walls and backup filter were each coated with 20 mg tributylphosphate and 1 mg MAMA reagent (9-N-methylamino-methylanthracene). After collection, MAMA-derivatized isocyanates were desorbed from the sampler and determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with dual-wavelength ultraviolet absorbance and fluorescence detection. Test atmospheres of HDI vapor and of HDI/HDI-biuret aerosols were generated in the laboratory and sampled with the optimized dichotomous sampler. Vapor phase HDI was completely collected by the diffusional denuder. When a mixture of HDI-biuret and HDI (∼30 ppb) was nebulized and collected with the dichotomous sampler, approximately 78% of the HDI was in the vapor phase, whereas about ...
The use of collagen cross‐linking agents to enhance dentin bond strength

Type I collagen is a major component of the hybrid layer, and improvement of its mechanical properties may be advantageous during bonding procedures. Objective: To investigate the effect of three different cross-linking agents (Glutaraldehyde [GD], Grape seed extract [GSE], and Genipin [GE]) on the tensile bond strength (TBS) of resin-dentin bonds. Materials and Methods: Sixty-four sound human molars were collected and their occlusal surfaces were ground flat to expose dentin. Dentin surfaces were etched using a phosphoric acid and then teeth were randomly divided according to the dentin treatment: Control group (no treatment), 5% GD, 6.5% GSE, or 0.5% GE. Teeth were restored either with One Step Plus or Adper Single Bond Plus adhesive systems and resin composite. After 24 h, teeth were sectioned to produce a cross-sectional surface area of 1.0 mm2 and tested for tensile bond strength. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Fisher's PLSD tests (p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant interaction between factors (treatment and adhesive p < 0.001). Treatment affected TBS (p < 0.0001), while no differences were observed between the adhesive systems (p = 0.6961). Conclusion: Chemical modification to the dentin matrix promoted by GD and GSE, but not GE, resulted in increased bond strength. The application of selective collagen cross-linkers during adhesive restorative procedures may be a new approach to improve dentin bond strength properties. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 2009
Nonoperative Treatment in Lumbar Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis A Systematic Review

Context:Both spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis can be diagnosed across the life span of sports-participating individuals. Determining which treatments are effective for these conditions is imperative to the rehabilitation professional.Data Sources:A computer-assisted literature search was completed in MEDLINE, CINAHL, and EMBASE databases (1966-April 2012) utilizing keywords related to nonoperative treatment of spondylolysis and/or spondylolisthesis. Reference lists were also searched to find all relevant articles that fit our inclusion criteria: English language, human, lumbar pain with diagnosed spondylolysis and/or spondylolisthesis, inclusion of at least 1 nonoperative treatment method, and use of a comparative study design.Data Extraction:Data were independently extracted from the selected studies by 2 authors and cross-referenced. Any disagreement on relevant data was discussed and resolved by a third author.Results:Ten studies meeting the criteria were rated for quality using the GRADE scale. Fou...
Ranking possible carcinogenic hazards

This review discusses reasons why animal cancer tests cannot be used to predict absolute human risks. Such tests, however, may be used to indicate that some chemicals might be of greater concern than others. Possible hazards to humans from a variety of rodent carcinogens are ranked by an index that relates the potency of each carcinogen in rodents to the exposure in humans. This ranking suggests that carcinogenic hazards from current levels of pesticide residues or water pollution are likely to be of minimal concern relative to the background levels of natural substances, though one cannot say whether these natural exposures are likely to be of major or minor importance.
Homogeneous and heterogeneous 4-(N,N-dialkylamino)pyridines as effective single component catalysts in the synthesis of propylene carbonate

Abstract 4-(N,N-Dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) is shown to catalyze the reaction of propylene oxide with carbon dioxide in high yields without added co-catalyst. Moreover, propylene carbonate is the only product obtained when the reaction is conducted under rigorously dry conditions. This result contrasts previous findings indicating minimal or no conversion of the epoxide using DMAP alone. Additionally, a new immobilized DMAP analog has been synthesized that shows productivity comparable to the homogeneous catalyst. The supported catalyst is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), N2 physisorption, solid state 13C and 29Si CP-MAS NMR, and FT-Raman spectroscopy. This supported catalyst can be readily recovered without utilization of high temperature distillation.
Combining data across methodologies and continents to test a mechanistic hypothesis: setting up the future.

The role of glutamatergic neurotransmission in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia has been intensively examined and supported by converging lines of basic and clinical research, spanning from animal models to neuroimaging and postmortem investigations (1–4). However, the mechanistic path from genetic vulnerability to clinical manifestation is still uncharted. Such a path can be established by identifying reliable endophenotypes that can serve as biomarkers. These continuous quantitative parameters can provide stepping-stones, in which, for example, N-methyl-D-aspartate perturbations known to produce psychotic symptoms (1) are demonstrated to exist in populations at risk or patients in early stages of the disorder. Advances in complementary neuropharmacology and neuroimaging methodologies offer novel tools for establishing such biomarkers and using them to test increasingly refined hypotheses regarding the presence of glutamatergic dysfunction and its effects on regional brain parameters measured in systems that regulate neurocognitive domains implicated in schizophrenia (5). The potential significance of this work is apparent, and the once “exotic” neuroimaging tools are now ubiquitous and affordable and can yield unprecedented complementary information on brain structure and function. Neuroimaging data can be obtained in large samples, which are essential for integration of clinical neuroscience with genomics. The paucity of relevant data on patients, individuals at risk, and healthy people is potentially a major obstacle to progress in the agenda of clinical neuroscience toward the technologically attainable goal of implementing precision medicine in neuropsychiatry. Neuroimaging studies require large samples to contain type I error, but regional smoothing is available to reduce penalty for multiple comparisons. Genomic studies require even larger samples for containment of type I error and for multiple other reasons. The conjoint effort will require sample sizes that are currently unprecedented and unattainable in single laboratories and perhaps single countries. To complicate matters further, large multisite samples likely produce site effects and, in the case of neuroimaging, scanner effects that can confound efforts to combine data and interpret results. Within this context, the study by Anticevic et al. (6) represents a valiant and perhaps pioneering effort in several respects. It compares effects from a small U.S. sample studied at Yale University with a rigorous neuroimaging pharmacology paradigm using a ketamine challenge with a larger Chinese sample. The latter sample was clinically characterized along relevant categories related to illness but scanned with a less demanding protocol that is feasible on a larger scale. While
GIS study on Chemical Properties of Salt Affected Soils of Coastal Kachchh, Gujarat, India

The aim of this study is to understand the soil profile of coastal and near coastal region of Kachchh and their surrounding vegetationgiving thegreen coverage as well as useful for many purposes. In Gujarat and Kachchh, distribution of salt tolerant vegetation (halophytes) is considerable. Nevertheless. There is a total lack of study on Kachchh halophytes. The study was conducted at 40sites and 185 locations; spread over a six talukas,each sampled at 10 cm depth along a 300 km long stretch of coastal and near coastal region of Kachchh district, Gujarat. The study determines salt characterization of coastal soils of Kachchh and highlight sthe halophytes growing in the region to sustainable use of these saline soils. The study period was between July 2011 and september 2012. The laboratory test of composite soil samples was done for each parameter in triplicate. The ph, ec, major mineralssuch asna + , k + , ca
Intraventricular Thrombolysis in Intracerebral Hemorrhage Requiring Ventriculostomy A Decade-Long Real-World Experience

Background and Purpose—Intraventricular thrombolysis (IVT) is a promising treatment in facilitating intraventricular clot resolution after intraventricular hemorrhage. We examined in-hospital outcomes and resource utilization after thrombolysis in patients with intraventricular hemorrhage requiring ventriculostomy in a real-world setting. Methods—We identified adult patients with primary diagnosis of nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage requiring ventriculostomy from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2011. We compared demographic and hospital characteristics, comorbidities, inpatient outcomes, and resource utilization measures between patients treated with IVT and those managed with ventriculostomy, but without IVT. Population estimates were extrapolated using standard Nationwide Inpatient Sample weighting algorithms. Results—We included 34 044 patients in the analysis, of whom 1133 (3.3%) received IVT. The thrombolysis group had significantly lower inpatient mortality (32.4% versus 41.6%; P=0...
Routine radiography following ankle fracture fixation: a case for limiting its use

The use of fluoroscopic screening in the orthopaedic theatre is a necessary operative aid in many procedures. Modern systems give good image resolution and allow the production of per-operative hard-copy prints. This study was performed to compare these prints with postoperative radiographs in 41 patients who underwent internal fixation for an ankle fracture in a 6-month period. The hard-copy prints and the postoperative X-ray films were independently assessed for several features, which included status of the tibiofibular syndesmosis, fibular length, talo-crural angle, talar tilt, presence and size of a posterior malleolar fracture, and abnormality of the medial clear space. Information was also recorded as to whether there had been a change in postoperative management plan after review of the check X-ray. Of the 41 cases, 30 were suitable for full assessment. In 25 of these cases there was no difference in the information provided by the hard-copy prints from fluoroscopic images and the postoperative check X-rays. In the other five cases, the differences were not significant. In none of the cases did the check X-ray effect a change in postoperative management. We therefore suggest that if per-operative hard-copy prints are obtained from the fluoroscopic images, postoperative radiographs of the ankle are only necessary in exceptional circumstances.
Sex-specific determinants of increased left ventricular mass in the Tecumseh Blood Pressure Study.

BACKGROUND Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) defined by either ECG or echocardiographic criteria is a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A number of determinants of LVH have been described in previous studies, principally male sex, hypertension, obesity, and aortic valvular stenosis. We examined the distribution of LV mass (LVM) in a population of 18- to 42-year-old normotensive men and women who were free of valvular heart disease to establish sex-specific normal values for LVM index (LVMI) and to determine the correlates of LVMI. METHODS AND RESULTS LVM was derived from measurements obtained by M-mode echocardiography. Average LVMI is significantly greater in men (102.9 +/- 0.7 g/m2) than women (88.2 +/- 0.7 g/m2). By defining LVH as an LVMI greater than the 90th percentile, we developed sex-specific criteria for LVH: men, > 125.4 g/m2; women, > 110 g/m2. We found that LVH in men is associated with indices of enhanced sympathetic nervous system reactivity and with elevated fasting insulin and triglyceride levels, which may be caused by insulin resistance. In women, LVH was associated with higher body weight and obesity. CONCLUSIONS Before the onset of hypertension, increased LVMI appears to have different determinants in men and women. We suggest that early LVH in young men is a manifestation of hyperkinetic borderline hypertension, a state previously shown to be associated with increased sympathetic nervous system activity and insulin resistance. The hyperkinetic state is less prevalent in young women, in whom increased adiposity seems to be the predominant factor associated with LVH.
Low-energy electron collisions with biomolecules

We report recent progress in applying the Schwinger multichannel computational method to the interactions of slow electrons with biomolecules. Calculations on constituents of DNA, including nucleobases, phosphate esters, and models of the backbone sugar, have provided insight into the nature of the low-energy shape resonances, and thereby into possible sites and mechanisms for electron attachment that may lead to strand-breaking. At the same time, more approximate calculations on larger assemblies such as nucleosides and deoxyadenosine monophosphate indicate how the resonance properties of the subunits will or will not persist in DNA itself. We are pursuing a similar strategy for another major class of biomolecules, the proteins, by beginning with fixed-nuclei studies of the constituent amino acids; here we present preliminary results for the simplest amino acid, glycine. We also describe efforts directed at an improved understanding electron collisions with alcohols, which, in addition to basic scientific interest, may prove useful in the modeling of ignition and combustion within biofuel-powered engines.
Distinguishing fluid injection induced ground deformation caused by fracture pressurization from porous medium pressurization

Abstract Ground deformation (both deformation patterns and deformation magnitudes) due to porous medium pressurization and fracture pressurization exhibits different characteristics. However, whether these differences can be detected during fluid storage is a complicated issue. Two analytical solutions have been previously developed to correlate ground deformation with underground fluid injection/extraction. One is Geertsma׳s (1973) solution on ground deformation associated with a disc-shaped reservoir (porous medium), and another is Sun׳s (1969) solution on ground deformation associated with a circular fracture. In this technique note, we compare these two solutions through a finite element modeling approach based on comparable boundary conditions, i.e., the similar areal extent, burial depth and fluid injection volume. We found that the deformation patterns are similar for these two cases on the ground surface, but very different underneath, especially in the horizontal direction. The radial extent of horizontal deformation is more restricted for the fracture pressurization case and more importantly, much higher magnitudes of ground deformation occur for the fracture pressurization case, which can provide new understanding of how to distinguish a fracture pressurization effect from porous medium pressurization.
Growth in patients with gonadal dysgenesis receiving fluoxymesterone.

Patients with gonadal dysgenesis have been treated for 7 to 30 months with an anabolic agent, fluoxymesterone. Growth rates during the first year of treatment were significantly increased over growth rates prior to treatment. Heights of patients over 15 years of age and treated for more than 18 months were greater than heights achieved by an estrogen-treated group. Side effects were frequent, but not severe.
Screening for hepatitis B, C and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a survey of community-based physicians.

Summary Background Screening guidelines for hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C viruses (HCV) as well as a position statement for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have been put forth by different sources, but awareness of these guidelines and their impact on the physician practices have not been assessed. Aim To assess the attitudes of primary care physicians (PCPs), gastroenterologists (GEs) and hepatologists (HEPs) regarding screening for HBV, HCV and NAFLD. Design A survey questionnaire was sent to community-based PCPs and GEs to assess issues related to HBV, HCV and NAFLD. The same questionnaire was sent to hepatologists (HEPs). The questionnaire contained 10 items related to demographic and practice patterns of these physicians, 35 items related to HBV, 35 items related to HCV and 29 items related to NAFLD. Results A total of 214 physicians (103 PCPs, 59 GEs and 52 HEPs) completed the survey. A majority of PCPs, GEs and HEPs agreed on most screening issues for these causes of liver disease. Nevertheless, within group comparison of physicians (guideline aware versus guideline unaware) showed significant differences in accurate response between those who were aware of guidelines and those who were not aware. Conclusions A large percentage of PCPs and GEs were unaware of official guidelines for viral hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Those aware of guidelines were more likely to screen appropriately and avoid unnecessary testing. More needs to be done to assess awareness and the impact implementation of guidelines in hepatology.
Semi‐supervised Eigenbasis novelty detection

Recent discoveries in high-time-resolution radio astronomy data have focused attention on a new class of events. Fast transients are rare pulses of radio frequency energy lasting from microseconds to seconds that might be produced by a variety of exotic astrophysical phenomena. For example, X-ray bursts, neutron stars, and active galactic nuclei are all possible sources of short-duration, transient radio signals. It is difficult to anticipate where such signals might appear, and they are most commonly discovered through analysis of high-time- resolution data that had been collected for other purposes. Transients are often faint and difficult to detect, so improved detection algorithms can directly benefit the science yield of all such commensal monitoring. A new detection algorithm learns a low-dimensional linear manifold for describing the normal data. High reconstruction error indicates a novel signal that does not match the patterns of normal data. One unsupervised portion of the manifold model adapts its representation in response to recent data. A second supervised portion of the model is made of a basis trained in advance using labeled examples of RFI; this prevents false positives due to these events. For a linear model, an orthonormalization operation is used to combine these bases prior to the anomaly detection decision. Another novel aspect of the approach lies in combining basis vectors learned in an unsupervised, online fashion from the data stream with supervised basis vectors learned in advance from known examples of false alarms. Adaptive, data-driven detection is achieved that is also informed by existing domain knowledge about signals that may be statistically anomalous, but are not interesting and should therefore be ignored. The method was evaluated using data from the Parkes Multibeam Survey. This data set was originally collected to search for pulsars, which are astronomical sources that emit radio pulses at regular periods. However, several non-pulsar anomalies have recently been discovered in this dataset, making it a compelling test case. By explicitly filtering known false alarm patterns, the approach yields significantly better performance than current transient detection methods.
Water adsorption and desorption kinetics on silica insulation

Abstract Silica is an important component of thermal insulation used in aerospace transport vehicles. Although normally hydrophilic and requiring rewaterproofing after flight, silica insulation has been reported to become hydrophobic on heating and cooling in a vacuum and, therefore, potentially hydrophobic after reentry. To understand and model these processes, the rates of desorption and adsorption of water on silica were studied by thermogravimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Silica powders with a high surface area were heated in vacuo in the temperature range 200–1000°C, infrared absorbance spectra were obtained at various temperatures, and surface structure was examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A kinetic sorption model was developed based on a Langmuir rate expression. Activation energies for adsorption and desorption were determined by fitting the experimental results numerically. The study found adsorption of water on the heat-treated silica occurs within seconds, implying hydrophobicity is lost rapidly after the heat-treated silica is exposed to water.
Why Does My Patient Have Thrombocytosis

Thrombocytosis is a common clinical problem frequently encountered during routine evaluation. The diagnostic workup entails a step-by-step approach, which allows for an accurate assessment of the underlying cause. A thorough clinical history and physical examination may help differentiate thrombocytosis secondary to a reactive process versus an underlying clonal proliferation process. Once essential thrombocytosis is evident, relevant laboratory evaluation for an ongoing myeloproliferative disorder is paramount. Various treatment modalities have been proven to be beneficial. With further scientific investigation underway, molecular therapies may soon be cornerstones of therapy in essential thrombocytosis.
Exsolution of metallic copper from Lake County labradorite

Some gem-quality labradorite phenocrysts in Miocene basaltic lava from Lake County, Oregon, have a pink schiller due to metallic copper; some have a transparent red or green color. The copper content of the crystals varies systematically with color: pale-yellow labradorite sections have 0–40 ppm CuO; greens have about 100 ppm CuO; reds have 150 to 200 ppm CuO; schiller-bearing laths have 80 to 300 ppm CuO. The variation of Cu content among different crystals is primary and reflects a variation in magma chemistry during plagioclase fractionation. Similarity of absorption spectra of the red zones to that of copper-ruby color in glass shows that the red arises from the intrinsic absorption of colloidal Cu^0 particles that are too small to scatter light (<22 nm). Particle size depends on Cu content because the temperature at which copper begins to exsolve from the feldspar increases with Cu content and the higher temperatures promote diffusion. At 900 to 1100 °C the reduction of Cu is controlled by reactions in the basalt that keep f_(O_2) near the QFM buffer. The green color may be caused by either Cu^(1+)/Cu^0 IVCT or Cu^0 pairs.