cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies on Starling's Law of the Heart

The relationship between left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and circumference was studied in 27 open-chest dogs, utilizing a mercury-resistance gage to measure left ventricular end-diastolic circumference. In 6 experiments aortic pressure, cardiac output and heart rate were varied independently. Tachycardia above a rate critical for each heart elevated left ventricular eud-diastolic pressure for any given end-diastolic circumference. Hypothermia at a constant heart rate had a similar effect. The altered left ventricular end-diastolic pressure-end-diastolic circumference relationships resulting from tachycardia and hypothermia are believed to be related to the incomplete ventricular relaxation which occurs as the duration of diastole is encroached upon. Acute, spontaneous heart failure was accompanied by an augmented left ventricular end-diastolic circumference for any given end-diastolic pressure, an effect which may be considered to reflect an increase in myocardial extensibility. The relationship between left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and end-diastolic circumference was not modified either by changes of aortic pressure or of cardiac output. There was no constant relationship between the left ventricular end-diastolic circumference and the tension-time index. Indeed, it was possible to manipulate aortic pressure and cardiac output so that these 2 parameters moved in opposite directions. These observations are not consonant with the view that myocardial oxygen consumption is primarily dependent on end-diastolic fiber length.
Local control of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in children by radiation therapy when combined with chemotherapy.

Abstract Between August 1970 and March 1978, 58 patients with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) were treated at the Radiation Therapy and Pediatric Departments of MSKCC. Chemotherapy was given according to T2 protocol (sequential administration of dactinomycin, vincristine, adriamycin and cyclophosphamide) or the T6 protocol (simultaneous administration of the previous drugs plus bleomycin, methotrexate and BCNU), which was introduced in 1975. The primary tumor or regional metastases were completely or partially removed in 43 patients, while biopsy was the only surgical procedure in 15. There were 41 boys and 17 girls, between 4 months and 19 years old. Eight had stage I-B disease, (microscopic residual), 16 stage II, (gross residual), 24 stage III, (node metastases), and 10 patients stage IV (disseminated tumors). Thirty-five patients were treated with T2 protocol, twenty-three with T6 protocol. Sixteen patients received more than 5000 rad, 21 had between 4000 and 5000 rad and 21 had less than 4000 rad. Forty-four patients are alive, 38 of them disease free. Local tumor control was not achieved in 14 patients, 10 of them were treated with T2 and 4 with T6. There were no local failures in patients treated for microscopic disease with doses between 3000 and 4000 rad. In patients treated for bulky tumors with 4000–5000 rad there were 3 failures out of 11 tumors and 3 out of 17 in those treated with higher doses. Radiation doses 3000–4000 rad were sufficient for local control of microscopic disease and 4000–5000 rad were as effective for control of bulky tumors as higher doses.
An unusual and rare cause of acute airway obstruction in the elderly: Forestier's disease.

Abstract Background Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), also known as Forestier's disease, is an ossifying disease of unknown etiology affecting mainly elderly men. It is characterized by hypertrophic anterior vertebral osteophytes with ossification of the spinal anterior longitudinal ligament. Hypertrophic osteophytes can encroach on the aerodigestive tract, leading to significant swallowing and respiratory symptoms. Objective Acute stridor and respiratory compromise requiring a surgical airway have rarely been reported in patients with DISH. This entity, although rare, should be in the differential diagnosis of acute airway obstruction, particularly in the elderly. Case Report We describe a case of a 91-year-old patient who was transferred to the Emergency Department at Tufts Medical Center with acute stridor. A computed tomography scan of the neck prior to transfer revealed a large anterior cervical osteophyte causing significant airway narrowing. Fiberoptic evaluation confirmed the radiologic finding of near-complete airway obstruction. The patient's respiratory status rapidly deteriorated and he subsequently underwent an emergent awake tracheostomy to secure his airway. Conclusion Given the rarity of DISH and the increase in life expectancy, clinicians should be aware of this disease entity and its potential for acute life-threatening respiratory presentation.
10 Gb/s, 850 nm VCSEL based large core POF links

We demonstrate 10 Gb/s VCSEL based transmission over 100 m of larger core (120 mum) graded-index perfluorinated plastic optical fiber, thus establishing that multi-transverse-mode VCSELs are compatible with highly alignment tolerant plastic optical fiber.
Commentary on “Use of Demographic and Quantitative Admissions Data …”

Student recruitment and selection into professional physical therapist education programs is an issue of contemporary importance to the profession and especially to the physical therapy academic community. On an annual basis, academic programs are charged with evaluating the credentials of applicants to programs and to make predictive judgments about applicant appropriateness and likelihood for success as a physical therapist. The outcomes of these decisions have enormous effects on the applicant, on the program, on the institution where the program resides, and, ultimately, on the physical therapy profession and the community. It is to this process that Utzman and colleagues make timely and important contributions. The authors address 2 important questions facing admissions committees: (1) Will this student complete the program without academic difficulty? and (2) Once graduated, will this student pass the National Physical Therapist Examination (NPTE)? The answers to these questions are determined by the ability and motivation of the applicant and the strength and expectations of the faculty and curriculum. It is examining these questions using a national representative sample of physical therapist education programs and a systematic method to study demographic, program, and academic variables affecting student outcomes where the authors shine a light on these issues. The focus of these studies is to identify predictive characteristics of applicants that can assist with admissions decision making. In doing so, they affirm some basic tenets of admissions decision making related to applicant qualifications and also uncover some issues that need the attention of the profession. The authors affirm some basic dogma ascribed to by physical therapy admissions committees. Students need to be well prepared academically to learn in a physical therapist education program. This is the message that needs to be understood by people who are considering physical therapy as a career choice. In the first study,1 …
Spot distribution measurement using a scanning nanoslit

A scanning and rotating nanoslit is used to measure submicrometer features in focused spot distributions. Using a filtered backprojection technique, a highly accurate reconstruction is demonstrated. Experimental results are confirmed by simulating the scanning slit technique using a physical optics simulation program. Analysis of various error mechanisms is reported, and the reconstruction algorithm is determined to be very resilient. The slit is 125 nm wide and 50 μm long and is fabricated on a 120 nm thick layer of aluminum. The size of the image field is 15 μm, and simulations indicate that 200 nm Rayleigh resolution is possible with an infinitely narrow slit.
Venus thermospheric response to short-term solar variations

The mechanism responsible for cooling the dayside thermosphere of Venus from about 700 K to 300 K (Noll and McElroy, 1972) is examined by analyzing in situ measurements made by the Pioneer Venus Orbiter of the weak response of the thermosphere to short-term solar variations related to 27-day solar rotation. It is shown that, in order to cool the Venus dayside thermosphere to observed levels and to simultaneously explain the weak 27-day variations in the atmosphere, it is necessary to invoke strong CO2 cooling which is controlled principally by collisions of CO2 with atomic oxygen.
EM plane wave diffraction by a a planar junction of two thin material half-planes-oblique incidence

A uniform geometrical theory of diffraction (UTD) solution is developed for analyzing the high-frequency diffraction of an obliquely incident plane wave by a two-part, thin, planar, transparent material slab. The solution is obtained by appropriately combining two solutions for the two related configurations involving perfectly conducting electric and magnetic ground plane bisections of the original slab. The analysis is based on the Wiener-Hopf technique, and each of the grounded material half-planes is assumed to be electrically thin so that it can be modeled by a generalized impedance boundary condition of 0(t), where t is the corresponding slab thickness. To solve the boundary value problem completely, an additional condition related to the field behavior at the junction of the two material half-planes is imposed. This junction condition is determined by matching an approximate quasi-static solution, which is developed in the proximity of the discontinuity, with the corresponding external Wiener-Hopf solution in the common region of overlap. The solution thus obtained automatically satisfies reciprocity. >
Analysis and Repair of Name Tagger Errors

Name tagging is a critical early stage in many natural language processing pipelines. In this paper we analyze the types of errors produced by a tagger, distinguishing name classification and various types of name identification errors. We present a joint inference model to improve Chinese name tagging by incorporating feedback from subsequent stages in an information extraction pipeline: name structure parsing, cross-document coreference, semantic relation extraction and event extraction. We show through examples and performance measurement how different stages can correct different types of errors. The resulting accuracy approaches that of individual human annotators.
On recognizing and positioning curved 3-D objects from image contours

An approach for explicitly relating the shape of image contours to models of curved three-dimensional objects is presented. This relationship is used for object recognition and positioning. Object models consist of collections of parametric surface patches and their intersection curves; this includes nearly all representations used in computer-aided geometric design and computer vision. The image contours considered are the projections of surface discontinuities and occluding contours. Elimination theory provides a method for constructing the implicit equation of these contours for an object observed under orthographic or perspective projection. This equation is parameterized by the object's position and orientation with respect to the observer. Determining these parameters is reduced to a fitting problem between the theoretical contour and the observed data points. The proposed approach readily extends to parameterized models. It has been implemented for a simple world composed of various surfaces of revolution and tested on several real images. >
Activation of Local Chorionic Villi Angiotensin II Levels But Not Angiotensin (1-7) in Preeclampsia

The chorionic villi in the placenta are responsible for the regulation of fetal oxygen and nutrient transport. Although the peripheral renin-angiotensin system is activated during normal pregnancy, the regulation of the local chorionic villi renin-angiotensin system remains unknown. Therefore, placental chorionic villous tissue was collected from nulliparous third-trimester normotensive or preeclamptic subjects and was analyzed for angiotensin peptide content, angiotensinogen, renin, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), ACE2, neprilysin, angiotensin II type 1 (AT 1 ), angiotensin II type 2, Mas receptor mRNAs, and angiotensin receptor density and subtype. Angiotensin II in chorionic villi was significantly higher in preeclamptic subjects, whereas angiotensin (1-7) was not different. Angiotensinogen and AT 1 receptor gene expression was significantly higher in preeclamptic subjects. No differences were observed in renin, ACE, ACE2, or neprilysin gene expression. Mas receptor mRNA in preeclamptic subjects was decreased. The AT 1 receptor was the predominant receptor subtype in normal and preeclamptic chorionic villi. There was no difference in the density of the AT 1, angiotensin II type 2, and angiotensin (1-7) receptors. These results indicate that enhanced chorionic villous expression of angiotensin II may result from increased angiotensinogen. Elevated angiotensin II, acting through the AT 1 receptor, may favor vasoconstriction in placental chorionic villi and contribute to impaired fetal blood flow and decreased fetal nutrition observed during preeclampsia.
Antiulcer activity of the calcium antagonist propyl-methylenedioxyindene. IV. Effects on gastric lesions in rats induced by cold-restraint stress and thyrotropin-releasing hormone.

Propyl-methylenedioxyindene (pr-MDI; 30 mg/kg, i.p.), an intracellular calcium antagonist, significantly reduced the number and size of erosions per stomach induced by cold-restraint stress by 69% and 86%, respectively. Our previous findings indicate that the antiulcer activity of pr-MDI is highly correlated with its inhibitory effect on gastric motor activity. Since central TRH is suggested as the brain mediator responsible for cold-restraint stress gastric ulcers in rats, the inhibitory action of pr-MDI was evaluated in the TRH-induced gastric lesion model. Pr-MDI (30 mg/kg) did not reduce the gastric erosions induced by intracisternal administration of 100ng RX77368, a stable thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) analogue, even though it abolished the RX77368-induced stimulation of gastric emptying, gastric acidity, and acid output. Since pr-MDI (30 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly inhibited the stimulation of gastric motility by both cold-restraint stress and TRH, but only cold-restraint stress-induced gastric erosions were effectively reduced by the drug, the present findings suggest a possible dissociation between the ulcerogenic mechanisms of cold-restraint stress and intracisternal administration of TRH.
Demand assigned capacity management (DACM) in IP over optical (IPO) networks

The demand assigned capacity management (DACM) problem in IP over optical (IPO) network aims at devising efficient bandwidth replenishment schedules from the optical domain conditioned upon traffic evolution processes in the IP domain. A replenishment schedule specifies the location, sizing, and sequencing of link capacity expansions to support the growth of Internet traffic demand in the IP network subject to economic considerations. A major distinction in the approach presented in this paper is the focus of attention on the economics of "excess bandwidth" in the IP domain, which can be viewed as an inventory system that is endowed with fixed and variable costs and depletes with increase in IP traffic demand requiring replenishment from the optical domain. We develop mathematical models to address the DACM problem in IPO networks based on a class of inventory management replenishment methods. We apply the technique to IPO networks that implement capacity adaptive routing in the IP domain and networks without capacity adaptive routing. We analyze the performance characteristics under both scenarios, in terms of minimizing cumulative replenishment cost over an interval of time. For the non-capacity adaptive routing scenario, we consider a shortest path approach in the IP domain, specifically OSPF. For the capacity adaptive scenario, we use an online constraint-based routing scheme. This study represents an application of integrated traffic engineering which concerns collaborative decision making targeted towards network performance improvement that takes into consideration traffic demands, control capabilities, and network assets at different levels in the network hierarchy.
Dynamic light trail routing and protection issues in WDM optical networks

In this paper, we study dynamic light trail routing in a WDM optical network. We present an efficient algorithm for establishing a light trail routing for a new connection request, while using minimum network resources. We also study survivable routing using light trail technology. We present an efficient heuristic for computing a pair of working and protection light trails for a given connection request. Simulation results are presented which demonstrate the advantages of our routing schemes
Antibody-Independent Protection against Rotavirus Infection of Mice Stimulated by Intranasal Immunization with Chimeric VP4 or VP6 Protein

This study was to determine whether individual rotavirus capsid proteins could stimulate protection against rotavirus shedding in an adult mouse model. BALB/c mice were intranasally or intramuscularly administered purified Escherichia coli-expressed murine rotavirus strain EDIM VP4, VP6, or truncated VP7 (TrVP7) protein fused to the 42.7-kDa maltose-binding protein (MBP). One month after the last immunization, mice were challenged with EDIM and shedding of rotavirus antigen was measured. When three 9-microg doses of one of the three rotavirus proteins fused to MBP were administered intramuscularly with the saponin adjuvant QS-21, serum rotavirus immunoglobulin G (IgG) was induced by each protein. Following EDIM challenge, shedding was significantly (P = 0.02) reduced (i.e., 38%) in MBP::VP6-immunized mice only. Three 9-micrograms doses of chimeric MBP::VP6 or MBP::TrVP7 administered intranasally with attenuated E. coli heat-labile toxin LT(R192G) also induced serum rotavirus IgG, but MBP::VP4 immunization stimulated no detectable rotavirus antibody. No protection against EDIM shedding was observed in the MBP::TrVP7-immunized mice. However, shedding was reduced 93 to 100% following MBP::VP6 inoculation and 56% following MBP::VP4 immunization relative to that of controls (P = <0.001). Substitution of cholera toxin for LT(R192G) as the adjuvant, reduction of the number of doses to 1, and challenge of the mice 3 months after the last immunization did not reduce the level of protection stimulated by intranasal administration of MBP::VP6. When MBP::VP6 was administered intranasally to B-cell-deficient microMt mice that made no rotavirus antibody, shedding was still reduced to <1% of that of controls. These results show that mice can be protected against rotavirus shedding by intranasal administration of individual rotavirus proteins and that this protection can occur independently of rotavirus antibody.
A Combined Experimental and Theoretical Study of the Reaction of Dicarbon (C2) with D1-Acetylene (HCCD): Possible Mechanisms for Deuterium Enrichment in the Interstellar D1-Butadiynyl Radical, CCCCD(X2Σ+)

The reaction of the dicarbon molecule (C2) with D1-acetylene (HCCD) was carried out under single-collision conditions in a crossed molecular beams machine to investigate deuterium enrichment processes in cold molecular clouds and in circumstellar envelopes of carbon stars. The experiments were merged with electronic structure calculations. Our combined experimental and theoretical studies suggest that this barrierless neutral-neutral reaction can induce a deuterium enrichment in the D1-1,3-butadiynyl radical (CCCCD) over a broad range of collision energies formally corresponding to temperatures from 10 to a few thousand kelvin as present in cold molecular clouds and circumstellar envelopes close to the photosphere, respectively. Generalized, each rapid, neutral-neutral reaction, which proceeds through indirect scattering dynamics via a reaction intermediate residing in a deep potential energy well, can induce a deuterium enrichment in cold molecular clouds (10 K) and evenat elevatedtemperatures of a few thousand K as present, for instance, in the envelope of the dying carbon star IRC +10216. These findings should trigger an astronomical survey of the D1-1,3-butadiynyl molecule in the circumstellar shells of IRC +10216. Subject headingg ISM: molecules — molecular processes
A comparison of midazolam, diazepam, and placebo as oral anesthetic premedicants in younger children

Abstract Study Objectives: To validate the superiority of higher-dose oral midazolam as an anesthetic premedicant in children 6 years of age and younger, to determine whether less expensive diazepam is a viable alternative oral premedicant in this age-group, and to assess the preoperative oxygenation effects of both benzodiazepines. Design: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study. Setting: Outpatient surgery department and operating room (OR) of a freestanding children's hospital. Patients: Seventy-five ASA physical status I and II outpatients 1 to 6 years of age. Interventions: Patients were randomized to receive either midazolam 0.6 mg/kg, diazepam 0.3 mglkg, or a placebo orally in a timely manner prior to surgery. Measurements and Main Results: Each child's subsequent reaction to separation from his or her parents in the presurgical holding area was scored on a three-point behavioral scale. Once in the OR, an initial room air oxygen saturation by pulse oximeter (SpO 2 ) was obtained. Each child's initial acceptance of the anesthetic induction mask was then scored on a four-point scale. No significant differences in parental separation scores, initial room air SpO 2 or postanesthesia care unit admission time were observed among the three study groups. However, both midazolam and diazepam were observed to be superior to the placebo in facilitating the initial acceptance of the anesthetic induction mask. Conclusions: Even without premeditation, a majority of children did not react negatively to an impending anesthetic. Therefore, neither midazolam nor diazepam appears to be necessary in most children younger than 6 years of age. Rather than implementing the routine use of an oral preoperative sedative, the challenge appears to be the selective identification of those children at risk for preanesthetic difficulties and psychological trauma.
Comparative Analysis of Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis L.) Population Re-growth Following Human Harvest: Implications for Conservation

Abstract Goldenseal is an uncommon woodland herb whose rhizomes are widely harvested for their medicinal properties. Goldenseal populations regenerate from vegetative propagules that are broken-off from the primary rhizome during harvesting activities. While previous studies reported significant variability in re-growth among harvested populations, it is not entirely clear what drives differences in population re-growth. One hypothesis is that goldenseal populations re-grow at greater rates when harvested during the fall compared to mid-summer. Over a 4 y period, we biennially censused the re-growth of a goldenseal population that was wild-harvested during the fall 2001 from the Wayne National Forest in southern Ohio. Data were compared to previous studies that quantified the re-growth of a goldenseal population wild-harvested during the fall in West Virginia and to goldenseal populations (n = 3) experimentally harvested during mid-summer. Among the two fall-harvested populations, ramet densities increase...
Incorporating Patient Generated Health Data into Chronic Disease Management: A Human Factors Approach

Understanding the relationships between technology design and Human Factors can help overcome barriers to incorporating patient generated health data (PGHD) into the day-to-day management of chronic disease. User Centered Design (UCD), a Human Factors approach that frames technology design in terms of users, tasks and contexts, can help developers to understand barriers to incorporating PGHD into patient and provider workflows and into electronic health record systems (EHR-S). An example of the application of UCD is presented within the context of primary care delivery for a hypothetical patient with Hypertension/Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM2), with a focus on barriers and design issues inherent in incorporating PGHD into the EHR and into practice workflow. The results of a field trial are presented as an application of the UCD methodology in the evolution of a mobile application for collecting and using PGHD for patient disease monitoring.
Environmental Magnetism of Late Pleistocene / Holocene Sequences from Lake Victoria, East Africa

The East African region has undergone significant landscape modification since the last glacial maximum, and this history is archived in sediments from Lake Victoria. Comparison of systematic variations in sediment magnetic properties with changes in lithic grain size, water content and other proxies provides a sensitive proxy record for evaluation of transport energy and weathering in the drainage basin. Seven cores were recovered from Lake Victoria in 1995 as part of an International Decade for East African Lakes (IDEAL) multidisciplinary study of the lake. Whole core magnetic susceptibility of these seven cores which extend to more than 14,000 years B.P. show a general intra-basin correlation of stratigraphy overlying a firm soil. One core was selected as a representative type core. Volume magnetic susceptibility identified soil horizons below the Holocene muds, and mass normalized susceptibility determined that this soil zone derives from the precursor lake muds with some evidence of diagenesis of the magnetic carrier. Prior to 12,700 yr B.P. the proxies reflect very low water levels with some periods of complete desiccation adequate to form thick crumbly soils, oxidize organic matter and form hematite. During the filling stage to ca. 7,500 yr B.P., magnetic mineral sources remain stable, although lake level fluctuated. There is a general increase in magnetic susceptibility of sediments through the Holocene once the lake overflows. This suggests that although the pre-Holocene magnetic mineral components are soils derived from precursor lake sediments, the Holocene magnetic mineral components are derived from the drainage basin. An anomalous magnetic spike at 180 to 160 cm depth has been identified as increased amounts of the same source material, possibly a major wash-in event. Increase in magnetic properties and lithic grain size in the uppermost 30 cm is probably due to increased soil erosion, a reflection of human forest clearance activity. Although the Holocene magnetic record has diamagnetic and possibly diagenetic overprint, a 2,000-year oscillation of concentration and composition shows that the record is sensitive to major changes in water balance history.
Successes, failures, challenges and ground-breaking research: messages from the 6th World Congress of Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery.

A remarkable cardiac event, the largest and most prestigious yet on African soil, took place in February this year. The 6th World Congress of Paediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery was held in Cape Town, with over 3 000 registered delegates and over 2 500 scientific attendees. It was hosted by the South African Heart Association and organised by the Paediatric Cardiac Society of South Africa, a special-interest group of the South African Heart Association, whose major objective is to improve the quality of care of children with congenital and acquired heart disease.
Comparing European Publics

Beliefs in Government, Volume One: Citizens and the State. Edited by Hans-Dieter Klingemann and Dieter Fuchs. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. 360p. $65.00. Beliefs in Government, Volume Two: Public Opinion and Internationalized Governance. Edited by Oskar Niedermayer and Richard Sinnott. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. 512p. $65.00 Beliefs in Government, Volume Three: The Scope of Government. Edited by Ole Borre and Elinor Scarbrough. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. 464p. $65.00. Beliefs in Government, Volume Four: The Impact of Values. Edited by Jan W. van Deth and Elinor Scarbrough. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. 608p. $65.00 Beliefs in Government, Volume Five: Beliefs in Government. By Max Kaase and Kenneth Newton. New York: Oxford University Press, 1995. 200p. $45.00.
RNA-binding Protein, GADD45-alpha, p27(Kip1), p53 and Genotoxic Stress Response in Relation to Chemoresistance in Cancer.

Genotoxic chemotherapeutics particularly cisplatin remain effective for clinical management of various malignancies including lung cancer. However, the development of chemoresistance leads to treatment failure. The mechanisms by which tumor cells acquire resistance to chemotherapy are multifaceted in nature and some remain to be fully elucidated. Recently, a potential role of RNA-binding protein hnRNPA0 in chemoresistance of p53-defective lung cancer cells was reported. Genotoxic (DNA damaging) chemotherapy was reported to activate hnRNPA0 which in turn post-transcriptionally regulated p27Kip1 and Gadd45-alpha by stabilizing their mRNAs. Regulation of p27Kip1 and Gadd45-alpha led to enforcement of G1/S and G2/M checkpoints thereby providing time for DNA repair and thus, resistance to chemotherapy. The identification of a signaling network involving the kinase MK2, hnRNPA0, p27Kip1 and Gadd45-alpha that may predict response to chemotherapy is an interesting finding. Further studies are now needed to gain additional insights as to whether this network is restricted only to a subset of tumors or more broadly relevant across multiple tumor types.
When To Hospitalize the Epileptic Child

With the growing number of patients seeking care for their disease, it is necessary as well as therapeutically rational to manage most cases on an ambulatory basis most of the time. But there are occasions when the hospital is essential: for diagnostic observation, to institute changes in the drug regimen or initiate the ketogenic diet, or to grasp quick, lifesaving control over prolonged seizures.
Discussions of Life Expectancy and Changes in Illness Understanding in Patients With Advanced Cancer

PurposeAccurate illness understanding enables patients to make informed decisions. Evidence of the influence of prognostic discussions on the accuracy of illness understanding by patients would demonstrate the value of discussions.MethodsRecent and past oncology provider-patient discussions about prognosis/life expectancy were examined for their association with changes in illness understanding by patients. Patients (N = 178) with advanced cancers refractory to prior chemotherapy whom oncologists expected to die within 6 months were interviewed before and after a visit in which cancer restaging scan results were discussed. Illness understanding scores were the sum of four indicator variables: patient terminal illness acknowledgment, recognition of incurable disease status, knowledge of the advanced stage of the disease, and expectation to live months as opposed to years.ResultsBefore the restaging scan visit, nine (5%) of 178 patients had completely accurate illness understanding (ie, correctly answered e...
Reliability of the University of Miami chronic rhinosinusitis staging system.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to determine the interrater reliability and correlation between computed tomography (CT) and endoscopic components of the University of Miami (UM) Chronic Rhinosinusitis Staging System (UMCRSS), a comprehensive staging system for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). METHODS A prospective analysis of 55 patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgeryfor CRS was performed. The population consisted of 28 men and 27 women, with a mean age of 45.9 years. All patients underwent staging, via the CT and endoscopic components of the UMCRSS in the operating room, by three examiners. The reliability of the system and all of its components was determined by kappa-coefficient analysis, comparing the data from all three examiners. Correlation between the CT and endoscopic arms was analyzed by Pearson's product moment coefficient. RESULTS Interrater reliability for the CT arm (kappa = 0.83) and endoscopic arm (kappa = 0.74 for the revision population, and kappa = 0.72 for the primary surgery population) were found to be significant. Endoscopic staging established significant correlation with CT staging (Pearson's r2 = 0.40; p < 0.0001 overall, 0.57, p < 0.0001 for revision, and 0.42, p < 0.0001 for primary cases). CONCLUSION The UMCRSS is a comprehensive and reliable staging system with very strong and positive correlation between the CT and endoscopic components.
Development of Fiscal Economics during the Decade 1975–85

The largest share of fiscal economics (public finance) literature will continue to be occupied with taxation. Empirical studies of factors determining governmental expenditures will increase, but studies of levels of government services await an awakening of interest in inequalities of distribution among sub-groups. Transfer payment analyses, excepting subsidies, may increase. Part of public goods theory is moving into microeconomics (equilibrium conditions for goods non-excludable but joint over users), and most of externalities theory, into direct regulation. Inter-disciplinary efforts, which call for centralizing library facilities, will especially characterize public choice and fiscal stabilization literature. Journals, staff papers, services, and official reports will multiply more rapidly than will textbooks.
Effect of tamoxifen on cell lines displaying the multidrug-resistant phenotype.

We examined the effect of tamoxifen (Tmx), verapamil, and daunorubicin (DNR) in two cell lines that displayed the multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype and used laser flow cytometry to quantitate intracellular DNR content. In the vinblastine-resistant human lymphoblastic lymphoma cell line CEM-VBL, simultaneous incubation of DNR with Tmx 10 mumol/L or Tmx 50 mumol/L increased intracellular DNR fluorescence in a dose-dependent manner and demonstrated an uptake pattern similar to that seen with DNR and verapamil. Similar results were obtained in the vincristine- resistant human myeloid leukemia cell line HL-60/RV+. Cellular retention of DNR was also measured in both cell lines and results suggested that continuous exposure of the cells to Tmx resulted in higher intracellular DNR content compared with cells resuspended in fresh medium. No effect of Tmx or verapamil was observed in the drug- sensitive parent cell lines CEM or HL-60. Clonogenic experiments were then performed to determine whether Tmx was itself inhibitory to cell growth or whether Tmx potentiated DNR cytotoxicity. Tmx 10 mumol/L did not significantly inhibit either CEM-VBL or HL-60/RV+ cells after a 3- hour exposure followed by culture in methylcellulose. Tmx 50 mumol/L was significantly more inhibitory in both cell lines. However, cells that had been incubated with DNR and Tmx 10 mumol/L demonstrated a marked increment in growth inhibition compared with cells that had been incubated with DNR alone or Tmx 10 mumol/L alone. Based on the data presented here, we suggest that clinical testing of Tmx and DNR be pursued in the setting where MDR may play a role.
Steer of Merit: Twenty-One Years of Progress

Summary The Montana Steer of Merit (SOM) program, initiated in 1967, is a joint effort between the Montana Stockgrowers Association and Montana State University (MSU) to improve beef carcass traits. The program is governed by a committee which sets the minimum standards for carcasses receiving awards. Certificates are issued to both feeder and breeder of animals meeting standards. Over 17,800 carcasses have been recorded. Data from all carcasses are evaluated at MSU with computer software developed to summarize the data on an individual, county and state basis. In 1967, 5.9% of carcasses met the SOM standards and in 1987, 16.0% met standards. Those meeting the standards for rib eye area in 1967 and 1987 were 46.8% and 51.0%, respectively. Percent meeting minimum standards for yield grade was 63.4 in 1967 and 85.0 in 1983. Yield grade requirement was changed from 3.0 to 2.3 in 1983. This lowered the percentage meeting yield grade requirements. Percent of steers meeting the quality grade minimum of low choice began at 55.1 (1967) and increased to 60.0 (1987) which may reflect a quality grading change by USDA (6, 7, 8) requiring less marbling to grade choice. During this 21 year period carcass weights, total rib eye area and percent cutability increased. There was an increase in percentage of steers grading low choice. With to-day's consumer demands for leaner beef, this program has been instrumental in helping youth and producers develop better methods of breeding and feeding higher quality beef.
Limit Theorems: A Foundation for Redundancy Theory

“Our present treatment of error is unsatisfactory and ad hoc. It is the author's conviction, voiced over many years, that error should be treated by thermodynamical methods, and be the subject of a thermodynamical theory, as information has been, by the work of L. Szilard and C. E. Shannon.”
Advancements in Aptamer Discovery Technologies.

ConspectusAffinity reagents that specifically bind to their target molecules are invaluable tools in nearly every field of modern biomedicine. Nucleic acid-based aptamers offer many advantages in this domain, because they are chemically synthesized, stable, and economical. Despite these compelling features, aptamers are currently not widely used in comparison to antibodies. This is primarily because conventional aptamer-discovery techniques such as SELEX are time-consuming and labor-intensive and often fail to produce aptamers with comparable binding performance to antibodies. This Account describes a body of work from our laboratory in developing advanced methods for consistently producing high-performance aptamers with higher efficiency, fewer resources, and, most importantly, a greater probability of success.We describe our efforts in systematically transforming each major step of the aptamer discovery process: selection, analysis, and characterization. To improve selection, we have developed microflui...
Late results of the Cox-maze IV procedure in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting

Abstract Objective Most patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing cardiac surgery do not receive concomitant ablation. This study reviewed outcomes of patients with AF undergoing Cox-maze IV (CMIV) procedure with radiofrequency and cryoablation and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) at our institution. Methods Between the introduction of radiofrequency ablation in 2002 and 2015, 135 patients underwent left- or biatrial CMIV with CABG. Patients undergoing other cardiac procedures, except mitral valve repair, or who had emergent, reoperative, or off-pump procedures were excluded. Eighty-three patients remained in the study group after exclusion criteria were applied. Freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATAs) was ascertained using electrocardiogram, Holter monitor, or pacemaker interrogation at 1 to 5 years postoperatively. Results Operative mortality was 3%. Freedom from ATAs at 1 year in the CMIV group was 98%, with 88% off antiarrhythmia drugs. Freedom from ATAs and antiarrhythmia drugs was 70% at 5 years. Conclusions The addition of CMIV to CABG resulted in excellent freedom from ATAs at 1 to 5 years. These patients are at increased risk for nonfatal complications compared with others undergoing concomitant surgical ablation.
Glulam timber bridges for local roads

Abstract Glued-laminated (glulam) and cross-laminated timbers are gaining interests in bridge engineering community due to their improved strength and enhanced durability compared to sawn lumber. The main bridge type on South Dakota local roads is a precast prestressed double-tee girder bridge, which has only one supplier in the state. In an attempt to provide more bridge type selection options for local governments, the system performance of two types of glulam timber bridges was investigated through full-scale experiments. One glulam girder bridge and one glulam slab bridge were tested under fatigue and strength loading. Both bridge types showed minimal damage during the fatigue testing and the bridge stiffness remained constant. Strength testing of the two bridge systems confirmed that the AASHTO method of design for timber bridges is adequate. Girders of glulam girder bridges should be designed as fully non-composite members. A cost analysis showed that the superstructure cost of glulam timber bridges can be 30–50% lower than the precast prestressed double-tee bridge superstructure cost. Based on the construction, testing, and cost analysis, it is concluded that both types of glulam timber bridges are viable alternatives to precast prestressed double-tee bridges to be used on local roads.
Exciton-polaritons: In full flow

Flow without friction is a strange phenomenon usually seen in quantum fluids that are cooled to temperatures near absolute zero, but features of superfluidity have now been seen with polaritons at ambient conditions.
No-Fault Tort Law as a 'Strategic Assumption': Throwing Out the Baby with the Bathwater

When the State Bar of Michigan made the strategic assumption that no-fault law would soon replace tort law, it ignored the central place that tort law has had and will always have in the effective administration of law and justice in an ordered society. Policymakers should plan for the continued place of tort law within the private civil-justice system. The compromise and resolution of private rights including rights over the integrity of one's person and property are critical to American productivity and welfare.
Primary constrained TIPS for treating refractory ascites or variceal bleeding secondary to hepatic cirrhosis.

Objective:To report an initial experience using a primary constrained transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) technique for treating cirrhotic patients with refractory ascites or varic...
The roles of surgery and technology in understanding focal epilepsy and its comorbidities

Summary Intracranial electrophysiological recording in patients with refractory focal epilepsy is the gold standard for defining epileptogenic tissue. Although the concordance of intracranial electrophysiology, structural MRI, and pathology can identify brain regions for resection, complete seizure control after surgery is not achieved in all patients with focal epilepsy. Repetitive identical behavioural seizures suggest one onset area, but epileptogenesis might be distributed and connected by functional and structural brain networks outside the seizure onset area, which could explain poor postsurgical outcomes in some patients. Similar networks are postulated in neuropsychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, and seem to overlap with posited epilepsy networks, perhaps explaining the high prevalence of comorbid neuropsychiatric disorders in patients with epilepsy. These networks are difficult to verify with available electrophysiological recording approaches. Advances in intracranial technology are needed to confirm the epilepsy network hypothesis and improve surgical outcomes by providing individualised therapies based on specific network contributions.
Low-dose Lung Cancer Screening at an Academic Medical Center: Initial Experience and Dose Reduction Strategies

Rationale and Objectives Implementation of low dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer screening programs has followed the demonstration of reduced lung cancer mortality in the National Lung Screening Trial and subsequent consensus screening recommendations. Here we aim to assess the initial results of a screening program at an academic medical center, to discuss the challenges of implementing such a program, and suggest strategies for reducing patient dose. Materials and Methods Retrospective review of all patients who underwent LDCT lung cancer screening at our institution between March 2015 and July 2016 was performed to assess the lung cancer detection rate, the spectrum of imaging findings (nodule or mass characteristics, degree of emphysema, etc.), and patient radiation dose indices. Results A total of 272 patients were screened during the study period. Approximately 50% (n = 135) were women. The lung cancer detection rate was 2.2% (n = 6). One patient underwent chemoradiation therapy, whereas the remainder underwent uneventful thoracoscopic resection. Approximately, 80% of screened patients met United States Preventative Services Task Force criteria for LDCT screening. The median pack-years of smoking was 42 pack-years. The mean volume CT dose index for the screening CTs was 3.12 mGy. Utilizing tube current modulation and iterative reconstruction, where available, resulted in lower patient doses. Conclusion Initial LDCT lung cancer screening at our institution yielded results similar to those of the National Lung Screening Trial. Thorough prescreening evaluation, joint decision-making, centralized coordination of screening-related care, and patient size conscious scanning protocols are critical elements of a safe and successful lung cancer screening program.
Performance of the Trioplex real-time RT-PCR assay for detection of Zika, dengue, and chikungunya viruses

The emergence and spread of Zika virus (ZIKV) presented a challenge to the diagnosis of ZIKV infections in areas with transmission of dengue (DENV) and chikungunya (CHIKV) viruses. To facilitate detection of ZIKV infections, and differentiate these infections from DENV and CHIKV, we developed the Trioplex real-time RT-PCR assay (Trioplex assay). Here, we describe the optimization of multiplex and singleplex formats of the assay for a variety of chemistries and instruments to facilitate global standardization and implementation. We evaluated the analytical performance of all Trioplex modalities for detection of these three pathogens in serum and whole blood, and for ZIKV in urine. The limit of detection for the three viruses and in different RNA-extraction modalities is near 103 genome copy equivalents per milliliter (GCE/mL). Simultaneous testing of more than one specimen type from each patient provides a 6.4% additional diagnostic sensitivity. Overall, the high sensitivity of the Trioplex assay demonstrates the utility of this assay ascertaining Zika cases. The Trioplex real-time RT-PCR assay was developed for detection of Zika virus infections in areas with dengue and chikungunya transmission. Here, Santiago et al. describe the optimization and clinical performance of the assay, showing high sensitivity for detection and differentiation of the three viruses.
Joint Sparsity Pattern Recovery With 1-b Compressive Sensing in Distributed Sensor Networks

In this paper, we study the problem of joint sparse support recovery with 1-b quantized compressive measurements in a distributed sensor network. Multiple nodes in the network are assumed to observe sparse signals having the same but unknown sparse support. Each node quantizes its measurement vector element-wise to 1 b. First, we consider that all the quantized measurements are available at a central fusion center. We derive performance bounds for sparsity pattern recovery using 1-bit quantized measurements from multiple sensors when the maximum likelihood decoder is employed. We further develop two computationally tractable algorithms for joint sparse support recovery in the centralized setting. One algorithm minimizes a cost function defined as the sum of the likelihood function and the $l_{1,\infty }$ quasi-norm, while the other algorithm extends the binary iterative hard thresholding algorithm to the multiple measurement vector case. Second, we consider a decentralized setting where each node transmits 1-b measurements to its one-hop neighbors. The basic idea behind the algorithms developed in the decentralized setting is to embed collaboration among nodes and fusion strategies. We show that even with noisy 1-b compressed measurements, joint support recovery can be carried out accurately in both centralized and decentralized settings. We further show that the performance of the proposed 1-bit compressive sensing-based algorithms is very close to that of their real-valued counterparts except when the signal-to-noise ratio is very small.