cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variability of CT Attenuation Measurements in Virtual Unenhanced Images Generated Using Multimaterial Decomposition from Fast Kilovoltage-switching Dual-energy CT

Rationale and Objectives To compare Hounsfield unit (HU) data obtained from true-unenhanced (TUE) and virtual-unenhanced (VUE) imaging obtained with a fast kv-switching dual-energy computed tomography (CT) scanner using multimaterial decomposition algorithm. Materials and Methods In this Institutional Review Board-approved, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant, retrospective cohort study, CT scans of 19 patients undergoing multiphasic renal protocol abdominal CT on a fast kv-switching dual-energy CT scanner were reviewed. CT numbers were measured on the matched TUE and VUE generated using a multimaterial decomposition algorithm with selective iodine suppression, and postcontrast images at predefined locations in seven organs. Six hundred sixty regions of interest were placed at 132 locations. Agreement was assessed with paired t test, Pearson's correlation, and Bland-Altman analysis. Results Mean TUE and VUE measurements were not significantly different in the corticomedullary (P = 0.25) or nephrographic (P = 0.10) phases. There was a strong correlation between TUE and VUE CT numbers (corticomedullary: r = 0.90, nephrographic: r = 0.90, each P Conclusion CT numbers on VUE images generated from fast kv-switching dual-energy CT scans strongly correlate with TUE CT numbers on a population basis, but commonly vary 5–9 HU on a per-patient basis.
A comparison of cardiovascular disease risk factors in farm and non-farm residents: the Wisconsin Rural Women's Health Study.

Objectives The purpose of this paper is to describe the baseline difference in cardiovascular disease risk factors between farm and non-farm women in the Rural Women's Health Study. Methods Women aged 25 to 75 years were recruited from the Central Marshfield Epidemiologic Study Area, a geographically defined area surrounding Marshfield, Wis. (population 19,000), where more than 95% of residents seek their health care from the Marshfield Clinic. The baseline examination included measurements of blood pressure, skin folds, height, weight, fasting blood lipids, and blood glucose. Health behavior information collected included smoking, dietary intake, reproductive health, physical activity, medical history, social support, occupational strain and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Results Between 1995 and 2001, 825 non-farm residents and 675 farm residents were examined (58% of eligible women). The farm residents were similar in age to the non-farm residents (mean 47.6 years and 47.0 years, t-test = -0.91, P value = 0.36). The total number of modifiable risk factors for atherosclerosis ranged theoretically from 0 to 6, and actually from 0 to 5, with a small percentage of women having either none or 5 risk factors. The percentage of women with 3 or more modifiable risk factors was 26.1% (95% CL = 23.9, 28.4). The median number of total risk factors was 2 and the frequency distribution was not significantly different between farm and non-farm residents (chi 2 5 df = 4.6, P = 0.47). The prevalence of current cigarette smoking was significantly higher in the non-farm residents, while the prevalence of hypertension and obesity was significantly higher in the farm residents. Overall, obesity prevalence is significantly higher in the study cohort than US women in general (35% versus 23%). Only 5 (0.7%) of the farm residents and 10 (1.2%) of the non-farm residents reported a previous myocardial infarction. Conclusions These data suggest that the prevalence of risk factors for atherosclerosis, and hence future coronary heart disease, is very high in rural women. Obesity prevention through increased physical activity would be appropriate for both farm and non-farm residents, while quit smoking campaigns should be specifically targeted towards non-farm resident women.
Square QAM transmitter using QPSK modulators driven by binary electrical signals

Optical QAM transmitter is a critical component in coherent optical communication systems to accommodate the increasing demand on the data rates over wide bandwidth optical networks. The QAM methods in [1] employ higher-level optical integration or multi-level electrical driving signals. The proposed schemes in [2] are not easily scalable and the symbol constellations are not Gray coded. In recent work [3], we proposed an optical square QAM transmitter that is Gray coded and scalable using QPSK modulators. The Gray coded symbol constellation was achieved by precoding the binary data in the electrical domain. In this paper, we eliminate the precoding and instead employ optical binary phase modulators in order to produce the Gray coded constellation using QPSK modulators driven by binary electrical signals. The proposed scheme is verified in OptiSystem for 16-QAM and the symbol constellation is compared to the schemes in [4, 5].
Abstract 168: Racial and Ethnic Differences in Contemporary Use of Left Ventricular Assist Device

Background: Rates of receipt of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are less than expected for racial/ethnic minorities. A major etiology of this disparity changed over the past few years with ...
Efficiency arguments for gender equality: an introduction

In the last decade, the case for promoting gender equality has increasingly taken on broad efficiency arguments to bolster the intrinsic or social justice argument for gender equality. Through anal...
An Underground History of Early Victorian Fiction: Chartism, Radical Print Culture, and the Social Problem Novel

How does the literature and culture of early Victorian Britain look different if viewed from below? Exploring the interplay between canonical social problem novels and the journalism and fiction appearing in the periodical press associated with working-class protest movements, Gregory Vargo challenges long-held assumptions about the cultural separation between the 'two nations' of rich and poor in the Victorian era. The flourishing radical press was home to daring literary experiments that embraced themes including empire and economic inequality, helping to shape mainstream literature. Reconstructing social and institutional networks that connected middle-class writers to the world of working-class politics, this book reveals for the first time acknowledged and unacknowledged debts to the radical canon in the work of such authors as Charles Dickens, Thomas Carlyle, Harriet Martineau and Elizabeth Gaskell. What emerges is a new vision of Victorian social life, in which fierce debates and surprising exchanges spanned the class divide.
Interhospital vascular surgery transfers to a tertiary care hospital.

Abstract Objective Interhospital transfers (IHTs) to tertiary care centers are linked to lower operative mortality in vascular surgery patients. However, IHT incurs great health care costs, and some transfers may be unnecessary or futile. In this study, we characterize the patterns of IHT at a tertiary care center to examine appropriateness of transfer for vascular surgery care. Methods A retrospective review was performed of all IHT requests made to our institution from July 2014 to October 2015. Interhospital physician communication and reasons for not accepting transfers were reviewed. Diagnosis, intervention, referring hospital size, and mortality were examined. Follow-up for all patients was reviewed. Results We reviewed 235 IHT requests for vascular surgical care involving 210 patients during 15 months; 33% of requested transfers did not occur, most commonly after communication with the physician resulting in reassurance (35%), clinic referral (30%), or further local workup obviating need for transfer (11%); 67% of requests were accepted. Accepted transfers generally carried life- or limb-threatening diagnoses (70%). Next most common transfer reasons were infection or nonhealing wounds (7%) and nonurgent postoperative complications (7%). Of accepted transfers, 72% resulted in operative or endovascular intervention; 20% were performed 300 beds) to transfer patients not requiring intervention (47% vs 18%; P = .005) and for infection or nonhealing wounds (30% vs 10%; P = .013). Based on referring hospital size, there was no difference in IHTs requiring emergent, urgent, or nonurgent operations. There was also no difference in transport time, time from consultation to arrival, or death of patients according to hospital size. Overall patient mortality was 12%. Conclusions Expectedly, most vascular surgery IHTs are for life- or limb-threatening diagnoses, and most of these patients receive an operation. Transfer efficiency and surgical case urgency are similar across hospital sizes. Nonoperative IHTs are sent more often by small hospitals and may represent a resource disparity that would benefit from regionalizing nonurgent vascular care.
Assessment of Social Support

Social support is a concept that, because of its pervasive role in human affairs, needs operationalization and assessment. One of the primary confusions about social support is that the term is linked both to objective events (actual availability of others) and to subjective estimates (perceptions of others’ willingness to help). The clarification of the social support concept and its measurement are important because there is growing evidence that personal adjustment and social behavior, as well as health maintenance and recovery from illness, can be influenced significantly by a person’s access to supportive others. If social support deficits (however they might be defined) are related to negative outcomes, and if it is important to identify people who vary along the social support continuum, a method is needed for accurately measuring the relevant social resources.
Paper folding and trigonometric ratios

The purpose of this note is to discuss how paper folding can be used to find the exact trigonometric ratios of the following four angles: 22.5°, 67.5°, 27°, and 63°.
Association of Pregnancy History and Cervical Cancer Screening in a Community Sample of Sexual Minority Women.

Abstract Background: Sexual minority women (SMW) face barriers to healthcare that may result in lower utilization of cervical cancer screening. Previous experiences with the healthcare system—speci...
Ixazomib: a novel drug for multiple myeloma

Introduction: Proteasome inhibitors (PIs) have been an integral part of treatment for multiple myeloma (MM) over the past decade. Many newer PIs are being evaluated in pre-clinical and clinical set...
Primary cervico-uterine anastomosis in a patient with agenesis of the uterine isthmus: A case report and review.

Arrested caudal extension of the fused Mullerian ducts, either complete or segmental, causes obstruction of the outflow tract. We describe a case of agenesis of the uterine isthmus and the procedure to establish the continuity of the outflow tract. A 15-year-old girl with cyclic pelvic pain and amenorrhea was found to have a 3-cm gap between the uterine body and the cervix. After cervico-uterine anastomosis via laparotomy she menstruated normally and was pain-free. Selected cases of arrested Mullerian duct extension can be corrected by primary anastomosis, which establishes anatomical continuity and restores menstruation and, possibly, future fertility.
Potent Antitumor T-Cell Memory Is Generated by Curative Viral Oncolytic Immunotherapy But Not Curative Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND Late developing breast cancer metastases are common and lethal despite treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy at the time of primary tumor excision. Stimulation of an antitumor immune response is an alternative strategy for preventing this devastating development. MATERIALS AND METHODS A mouse model of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/neu)-positive mammary cancer was used to compare the antitumor memory T-cell response following tumor cure by viral oncolytic immunotherapy, chemotherapy, surgical excision, or surgical excision plus virus infection. Memory T-cell response was assessed by functional in vivo assays. RESULTS Antitumor T-cell memory was generated most powerfully by curative viral oncolytic immunotherapy and poorly by curative chemotherapy. Cure by surgical excision generated an immune antitumor response which was increased by neo-adjuvant virus infection. CD4 memory T-cells were most potent. CONCLUSION Virus infection of tumor generates an antitumor memory immune response and chemotherapy suppresses this response. Clinical trials testing adjuvant immune stimulation instead of chemotherapy may be worth exploring because memory antitumor T-cells have the unique potential to find and eliminate small nests of metastatic cancer cells in sanctuary sites and prevent emergence of tumors from dormant cancer cells.
Fault Classification and Location Identification in a Smart Distribution Network Using ANN

This paper presents a novel approach to classify and locate different types of faults in a smart distribution network (DN). The proposed method is able to classify all types of faults that can occur in a DN and then based on fault type, it can identify the approximate fault location (FL) with a high accuracy. The method is based on artificial neural networks pattern recognition which uses data from µPMUs/smart meters placed at different locations in a DN. The proposed technique needs fault-on voltages of all the nodes connected to the end of line/branches in order to classify and locate different types of faults. The method is tested on a modified IEEE-37 bus system with distributed generation along with dynamic loading conditions and varying fault resistances. Both balanced and unbalanced fault types are applied to the system. An accurate classification of 100% is achieved when classifying all fault types and above 99% accuracy is achieved when identifying the approximate fault location.
On Crimes and Heroes. Rafael Menjívar Ochoa and Crime Fiction

The following article addresses Salvadoran Rafael Menjivar Ochoa’s crime fiction saga, which includes Los anos marchitos (1990), Los heroes tienen sueno (1998), De vez en cuando la muerte (2002), a...
Variational formulation of particle algorithms for kinetic E&M plasma simulations

Recent developments of a novel variational technique [1-4] for rigorously deriving discrete, self-consistent equations for electromagnetic particle codes will be discussed. The primary advantage of the Lagrangian formulation is the connection between symmetries of the system and conservation laws, which in the present case resolves the grid-heating issue. However, the approach also simplifies coordinate transformations and enables the particle method to be formulated in moving window coordinates and a cylindrical geometry with a truncated Fourier decomposition in angle. For some laser-plasma interaction scenarios, these lead to significant computational savings as compared to the lab frame. New time advance integrators were developed in both the lab frame coordinate system and the moving window. A comparison of symplectic methods to more straightforward explicit and implicit methods allow us to make conclusions about the limits of phase-space fidelity in macro-particle methods.
Mapping Recent Development in Scholarship on Fake News and Misinformation, 2008 to 2017: Disciplinary Contribution, Topics, and Impact:

This review article examines 142 journal articles on fake news and misinformation published between 2008 and 2017 and the knowledge generated on the topic. Although communication scholars and psych...
Network study of nasal transcriptome profiles reveals master regulator genes of asthma.

Background Nasal transcriptomics can provide an accessible window into asthma pathobiology. Objective Our goal was to move beyond gene signatures of asthma to identify master regulator genes that causally regulate genes associated with asthma phenotypes. Methods We recruited 156 children with severe persistent asthma and controls for nasal transcriptome profiling and applied network-based and probabilistic causal methods to identify severe asthma genes and their master regulators. We then took the same approach in an independent cohort of 190 adults with mild/moderate asthma and controls to identify mild/moderate asthma genes and their master regulators. Comparative analysis of the master regulator genes followed by validation testing in independent children with severe asthma (n = 21) and mild/moderate asthma (n = 154) was then performed. Results Nasal gene signatures for severe persistent asthma and for mild/moderate persistent asthma were identified; both were found to be enriched in coexpression network modules for ciliary function and inflammatory response. By applying probabilistic causal methods to these gene signatures and validation testing in independent cohorts, we identified (1) a master regulator gene common to asthma across severity and ages (FOXJ1); (2) master regulator genes of severe persistent asthma in children (LRRC23, TMEM231, CAPS, PTPRC, and FYB); and (3) master regulator genes of mild/moderate persistent asthma in children and adults (C1orf38 and FMNL1). The identified master regulators were statistically inferred to causally regulate the expression of downstream genes that modulate ciliary function and inflammatory response to influence asthma. Conclusion The identified master regulator genes of asthma provide a novel path forward to further uncovering asthma mechanisms and therapy.
Religion, Civil Society, and the State: Dynamics in Eastern Europe

In this chapter, Viktor Poletko considers the theoretical themes and approaches to the understanding of the interrelations among civil society, religion, and democratic institutions in Eastern Europe. He finds that much of the contemporary scholarship is unable to capture the highly nuanced sociopolitical-religious picture of the region. This chapter further aims to shed light on the debate about the prospects of safeguarding individual liberties, improving democratic practices, and strengthening civic virtues, on the one hand, and deepening the vitality of religious organizations on the other.
Early beta cell dysfunction vs insulin hypersecretion as the primary event in the pathogenesis of dysglycaemia

Obesity and insulin resistance are associated with the development of type 2 diabetes. It is well accepted that beta cell dysfunction is required for hyperglycaemia to occur. The prevailing view is that, in the presence of insulin resistance, beta cell dysfunction that occurs early in the course of the disease process is the critical abnormality. An alternative model has been proposed in which primary beta cell overstimulation results in insulin hypersecretion that then leads to the development of obesity and insulin resistance, and ultimately to beta cell exhaustion. In this review, data from preclinical and clinical studies, including intervention studies, are discussed in the context of these models. The preponderance of the data supports the view that an early beta cell functional defect is the more likely mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of hyperglycaemia in the majority of individuals who develop type 2 diabetes. Graphical abstract.
Data-driven sensitivity indices for models with dependent inputs using polynomial chaos expansions

Abstract Uncertainties exist in both physics-based and data-driven models. Variance-based sensitivity analysis characterizes how the variance of a model output is propagated from the model inputs. The Sobol index is one of the most widely used sensitivity indices for models with independent inputs. For models with dependent inputs, different approaches have been explored to obtain sensitivity indices in the literature. Typical approaches are based on procedures of transforming the dependent inputs into independent inputs. However, such transformation requires additional information about the inputs, such as the dependency structure or the conditional probability density functions. In this paper, data-driven sensitivity indices are proposed for models with dependent inputs. We first construct ordered partitions of linearly independent polynomials of the inputs. The modified Gram-Schmidt algorithm is then applied to the ordered partitions to generate orthogonal polynomials with respect to the empirical measure based on observed data of model inputs and outputs. Using the polynomial chaos expansion with the orthogonal polynomials, we obtain the proposed data-driven sensitivity indices. The sensitivity indices provide intuitive interpretations of how the dependent inputs affect the variance of the output without a priori knowledge on the dependence structure of the inputs. Four numerical examples are used to validate the proposed approach.
Coronary artery disease in the young in the US population-based cohort.

BACKGROUND Although most prevalent in the elderly, coronary artery disease (CAD) also affects younger adults. However, CAD in young adults is not as well characterized. OBJECTIVE To explore factors associated with CAD in young patients. METHODS We investigated the prevalence and baseline characteristics of young patients with CAD using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) survey between 1999 and 2016. The primary outcome was a reported history of CAD at age <55 years old, defined based on the subject's response to survey questions 'Have you ever been told by a physician that you had coronary artery disease?' and 'How old were you when were told you had coronary heart disease?'. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess factors associated with CAD in young patients. RESULTS Of 42,038 NHANES participants, 707 (1.7%) reported CAD at young age. Young patients with CAD were more likely to be male, non-whites, cigarette smokers, recreational drug users, had a family history of CAD, compared to young patients without CAD (all p-values <0.05). In multivariable logistic regression models, diabetes (OR: 3.94; 95% CI: 1.32-11.8; P=0.01), cigarette smoking (OR: 2.86; 95% CI: 1.52-5.53; P=0.001), alcohol consumption (OR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.04-1.35; P=0.01) and cocaine use (OR: 4.48; 95% CI: 1.33-15.1; P=0.01) were independently associated with CAD in young patients. CONCLUSION CAD in young patients may be influenced by lifestyle factors such as alcohol consumption or cocaine use, as well as conventional risk factors such as smoking or diabetes.
Prevalence and risk factors associated with obesity among students of a private university in Sana’a, Yemen

Introduction: There is no published study on obesity among private university students in Yemen. Therefore, this study determined the prevalence and factors associated with obesity among medical students of the University of Science and Technology (UST) in Sana’a, Yemen. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 448 students aged 18-29 years and randomly selected from medical faculties of the UST between January and April 2017. Data about sex, age, smoking, participation in physical activities and family history of obesity were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, while anthropometric measurements were performed according to standard criteria, and body mass index (BMI) was then calculated. Results: The majority of students were males (62.1%), aged 22 years or older (63.4%), having normal weight (54.0%) and reporting no family history of obesity (65.0%). Male gender (OR=3.51; 95% CI = 2.22–5.53, P < 0.001), age of 22 years or older (OR = 2.73; 95% CI = 1.53 –3.67, P < 0.001), smoking (OR = 2.66; 95% CI=1.69–4.18, P <0.001) and physical inactivity (OR = 3.49; 95% CI = 2.24–5.42, P < 0.001) were the factors significantly associated with overweight and obesity among medical students. In contrast, family history of obesity was not significantly associated with overweight and obesity (P = 0.936). Conclusion: About a third of students were either overweight or obese, where overweight/obesity are associated with male gender, older age, smoking and physical inactivity. Therefore, there is a need for health education to raise the awareness of medical students regarding healthy diet and lifestyle to manage body weight.
On performance gauge of average multi-cue multi-choice decision making: A converse Lyapunov approach

Motivated by the converse Lyapunov technique for investigating converse results of semistable switched systems in control theory, this paper utilizes a constructive induction method to identify a cost function for performance gauge of an average, multi-cue multi-choice &#x0028 MCMC &#x0029 , cognitive decision making model over a switching time interval. It shows that such a constructive cost function can be evaluated through an abstract energy called Lyapunov function at initial conditions. Hence, the performance gauge problem for the average MCMC model becomes the issue of finding such a Lyapunov function, leading to a possible way for designing corresponding computational algorithms via iterative methods such as adaptive dynamic programming. In order to reach this goal, a series of technical results are presented for the construction of such a Lyapunov function and its mathematical properties are discussed in details. Finally, a major result of guaranteeing the existence of such a Lyapunov function is rigorously proved.
Genome announcement of Steinernema khuongi and its associated symbiont from Florida

Citrus root weevil (Diaprepes abbreviates) causes significant yield loss in citrus, especially in Florida. A promising source of control for this pest is biological control agents, namely, native entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) within the genus Steinernema. Two species of endemic EPN in Florida are S. diaparepesi, abundant within the central ridge, and S. khuongi, dominating the flatwood regions of the state. These citrus-growing regions differ significantly in their soil habitats, which impacts the potential success of biological control measures. Although the genome sequence of S. diaprepesi is currently available, the genome sequence of S. khuongi and identity of the symbiotic bacteria is still unknown. Understanding the genomic differences between these two nematodes and their favored habitats can inform successful biological control practices. Here, MiSeq libraries were used to simultaneously sequence and assemble the draft genome of S. khuongi and its associated symbionts. The final draft genome for S. khuongi has 8,794 contigs with a total length of ∼82 Mb, a largest contig of 428,226 bp, and N50 of 46 kb; its BUSCO scores indicate that it is > 86% complete. An associated bacterial genome was assembled with a total length of ∼3.5 Mb, a largest contig at 116,532 bp, and N50 of 17,487 bp. The bacterial genome encoded 3,721 genes, similar to other Xenorhabdus genomes. Comparative genomics identified the symbiotic bacteria of S. khuongi as Xenorhabdus poinarii. These new draft genomes of a host and symbiont can be used as a valuable tool for comparative genomics with other EPNs and its symbionts to understand host range and habitat suitability.
Why Party Leaders Tend to Be Extremists

This paper proposes that strategic concerns about negotiations strongly influence whom parties select to be legislative leaders. Leaders tilt more extreme than the typical party member. Hence, they can credibly threaten to let negotiations break down if they find proposed legislation personally unacceptable. Such threats move negotiations towards the ideal point of the median party member. We present a simple framework for analyzing the roles of extreme leaders in legislative negotiations. We then confirm the tendency towards extreme leaders empirically in congressional data ranging from 1900 to the present. We also evaluate and reject several alternative explanations for extremeness. Extreme leadership cannot be explained by a tendency for more senior members of Congress to come from safer, more extreme congressional districts. Nor is it merely a product of recent polarization. Instead, as our theory predicts and our empirical results confirm, rank-and-file members balance their own ideologies with knowledge of the opposing party’s ideological orientation. In response, they select leaders extreme enough to aid in negotiations but not so extreme as to lead to total breakdowns in negotiation. Hence, as the evidence reveals, the degree of extremeness for a leader is greater for majority than minority parties, and for the majority party when its majority is greater. The filibuster threat inhibits the Senate Majority Leader from being as extreme as the Speaker of the House.
Office-Based Chemical Procedures for Tendons

Prolotherapy is an injection-based treatment that seeks to induce tissue healing and repair through the introduction of irritating solutions into soft tissue structures. Modern practice of prolotherapy is conventionally aimed at addressing various musculoskeletal complaints including pain, instability, and laxity attributable to either overt or microtrauma within supporting connective tissue structures. Prolotherapy is distinct from other regenerative techniques in that its injectate lacks a biologic agent. Mild-to-moderate evidence exists for the use of hyperosmolar dextrose solutions to address ligamentous injuries, osteoarthritis, and tendinopathy; however, injection protocols are heterogenous, and a unifying consensus on best practice for various conditions has not yet been established.
Environment and Culture, A Cross-Sectional Survey on Drivers of Burnout in Pediatric Intensive Care

A very little data are available to understand the drivers of burnout amongst health care workers in the pediatric intensive care unit. It is a survey-based, cross-sectional, point-prevalence analysis within a single children's health system with two free-standing hospitals (one academic and one private) to characterize the relationship of demographics, organizational support, organizational culture, relationship quality, conflict and work schedules with self-reported burnout. Burnout was identified in 152 (39.7%) of the 383 (38.7%) respondents. No significant relationship was identified between burnout and demographic factors or work schedule. A more constructive culture (odds ratio [OR], 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77–0.90; p < 0.001), more organizational support (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.92–0.96; p <0 0.001), and better staff relationships (OR, 0.54, 95% CI, 0.43–0.69; p < 0.001) reduced odds of burnout. More conflict increased odds (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.12–1.39; p < 0.001). Less organizational support (Z β = 0.425) was the most important factor associated with burnout overall. A work environment where staff experience defensive cultures, poor relationships, more frequent conflict, and feel unsupported by the organization is associated with significantly higher odds of burnout in pediatric critical care. The effect of targeted interventions to promote constructive cultures, collegiality, and organizational support on burnout in pediatric intensive care should be studied.
Adaptive control of a large-scale system

The authors present two direct model reference adaptive control (MRAC) algorithms for a class of large-scale interconnected systems that have multi-input, multi-output subsystems and are subjected to a known disturbance. The parameters of each subsystem are assumed to be unknown constants or unknown time-varying in a known bounded range. These algorithms do not require identification of system parameters or satisfaction of the perfect model-following conditions. The output error and the controller parameters are guaranteed to be bounded using a Lyapunov stability theorem. The first algorithm ensures asymptotic stability to a bounded residual set provided that the decoupled subsystem transfer matrix is strict positive real (SPR). The second algorithm relaxes the requirement of the SPR condition at the expense of increasing the size of the residual set. Illustrative examples are presented. >
A full resolution elevation representation requiring three bits per pixel

A quadtree-like representation for storing gridded elevation data is described. The data structure is a pyramid with each node containing two bits of data. The root of the pyramid has associated with it the minimum elevation for the corresponding grid and the maximum variance (the difference between the minimum and maximum values). The elevation value at any pixel is calculated by traversing a path from the root to the pixel, refining the local elevation value during the decent by interpreting the two bit codes stored with each node along the path. Since the total number of nodes in the pyramid is 4/3 the number of pixels required for the bottom level of the pyramid, the amortized storage cost is less than 3 bits per pixel, regardless of vertical resolution.This scheme is most appropriate for efficient secondary storage archival, such as on a CD-ROM. It allows efficient retrieval of complete elevation data from any sub-region, at multiple scales, within the entire elevation database. This is a lossless encoding when the difference between sibling pixels is not “too great”.
Effects of Visual Information on Adults’ and Infants’ Auditory Statistical Learning

Infant and adult learners are able to identify word boundaries in fluent speech using statistical information. Similarly, learners are able to use statistical information to identify word-object associations. Successful language learning requires both feats. In this series of experiments, we presented adults and infants with audio-visual input from which it was possible to identify both word boundaries and word-object relations. Adult learners were able to identify both kinds of statistical relations from the same input. Moreover, their learning was actually facilitated by the presence of two simultaneously present relations. Eight-month-old infants, however, do not appear to benefit from the presence of regular relations between words and objects. Adults, like 8-month-olds, did not benefit from regular audio-visual correspondences when they were tested with tones, rather than linguistic input. These differences in learning outcomes across age and input suggest that both developmental and stimulus-based constraints affect statistical learning.
STUDY OF /anti p/-p ANNIHILATIONS INTO K AND $pi$ MESONS AT 3.7 Bev/c

At 3.66 $\frac{\mathrm{BeV}}{c}$, the total cross section for $\overline{p}+p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}K+\overline{K}+m\ensuremath{\pi}$ where $m=1,2,\ensuremath{\cdots}$, is 2.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4 mb. No two-body reactions of the form $\overline{p}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}K\overline{K}$, $K{K}^{*}$, or ${K}^{*}{\overline{K}}^{*}$ have been observed. The angular distribution of kaons for three-body final states shows striking anisotropy but this effect diminishes with increasing multiplicity. An enhancement at low $K\overline{K}$ effective mass, with possible assignment of $I=1$, has been observed, and this is compared with the ${{K}_{1}}^{0}{{K}_{1}}^{0}$ effect noted previously by several groups. The ${K}^{*}(888)$, $\ensuremath{\rho}$, and $\ensuremath{\omega}$ are prominent in several channels, but the data are consistent with no production of the $\ensuremath{\varphi}$. Upper limits on the $\frac{\ensuremath{\varphi}}{\ensuremath{\omega}}$ production ratio are presented. A search for resonances in the $K\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi}$ system at 1175, 1215, and 1270 MeV, as well as the $K\overline{K}\ensuremath{\pi}$ at 1280 and 1410 MeV, has yielded negative results.
On the Analysis of DLA Kinematics

We discuss two mistreatments of damped Lya (DLA) kinematic analysis that were first performed by Haehnelt, Steinmetz, & Rauch (1998; hereafter HSR98) and have recently been repeated by Hong et al. (2010; arXiv:1008.4242v1, arXiv:1008.4242v2; hereafter H10). Each mistreatment led to the improper excising of simulated absorption profiles. Specifically, their analyses are strictly biased against DLA sightlines that have low HI column density log NHI < 20.5, very high NHI values, and (for all NHI) sightlines with low velocity width Dv (<30 km/s for HSR98; <[20-30] km/s for H10). None of these biases exist in the observational analysis. We suspect these mistreatments compromise the results that followed. Hopefully this posting will prevent their repetition in the future.
Direct visualization of dynamic membrane events in cilia

Cilia of the sea urchin embryo exhibit rapid translocation of marker objects along their surface membrane.
The Energetics of African Wave Disturbances as observed During Phase III of GATE

Abstract Fields of the meteorological variables in composite wave disturbance constructed for the region from IOOE to 31°W and 1°S to 26°N and for land and ocean subregions are used to diagnose energy transformations in African waves. The composites are based on data contained in the GATE Quick Look Data Set for the period 23 August to 19 September, 1974. The measurements indicate that for the region as a whole the kinetic energy of the waves is maintained almost equally by conversions from zonal kinetic energy and eddy available potential energy. Eddy available potential energy is supplied by the zonal available potential energy at a comparable rate. From the measured conversion rates it is estimated that in the absence of friction the kinetic energy of the waves would double in about 3 days. Measurements for the subregions show that the conversion from zonal to eddy kinetic energy is stronger over the limited oceanic region considered than over the land, while conversely, the conversion of eddy availabl...
Absence of association between use of ertapenem and change in antipseudomonal carbapenem susceptibility rates in 25 hospitals.

Objective.Ertapenem exposure has been reported to select for cross-resistance to other carbapenems in Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro. Single-center investigations report conflicting results. We evaluated ertapenem use and antipseudomonal carbapenem susceptibility for 6 years spanning the time of ertapenem adoption at each of 25 US hospitals.Design.Retrospective primary and secondary data analysis.Methods.Use density ratios for imipenem and meropenem (collectively, “other carbapenems”) and ertapenem were derived from data in a commercial database on the total number of grams used in the 3 years before and the 3 years after adoption of ertapenem at each hospital. A general linear model using repeated measures analysis of variance was used to explore associations between the 6-year change in antipseudomonal carbapenem susceptibility rates (determined from hospital antibiograms) and ertapenem use in each year, while controlling for other carbapenem use.Results.Ertapenem use increased once adopted. With regard to the postadoption period, the median use density ratio for year 4 was 4.1 (interquartile range [IQR], 1.7-5.2), for year 5 was 6.0 (IQR, 2.7-8.5), and for year 6 was 6.5 (IQR, 4.0-11.6). The median use density ratio for other carbapenem use for year 1 was 8.7 (IQR, 5.7-13.5), and by year 6 it had increased to 19.3 (IQR, 9.6-26.2). Change in mean antipseudomonal carbapenem susceptibility across time (85% in year 1 to 82% in year 6) was not significant (P = .22). Change in 6-year antipseudomonal carbapenem susceptibility was not associated with ertapenem use in any year while controlling for other carbapenem use (P > .20 for all years of ertapenem use).Conclusion.Although significant change in P. aeruginosa susceptibility to antipseudomonal carbapenems was not detected during this multicenter study, which to our knowledge is the most extensive assessment to date of this important drug use-susceptibility relationship, continued evaluation of the relationship is prudent.
On the origins of components separation.

SUMMARY The method of abdominal hernia repair known as components separation, described by Ramirez et al. in 1990, has enjoyed widespread popularity because of the sound anatomical principles it uses and most importantly the clinical success of the procedure. Although the authors who described this technique made no proprietary claims and did not discuss the history of abdominal hernia repair, they have certainly been credited with the development of this procedure. With this article, the author hopes to place components separation in historical perspective, and give credit to Donald Herron Young, who published the concept of external oblique relaxing incisions for repair of epigastric hernias in 1961. Born in Canada, Young studied and worked as a surgeon in England for most of his life. A biographical sketch is included.
Histone gene expression in interspecies hybrid echinoid embryos

Abstract The histones synthesized by three different interspecies hybrid echinoid embryos have been examined. In all three crosses, the species-specific F1 histone of the paternal parent is found in the chromatin of the hybrid. These findings provide direct evidence for the involvement of newly transcribed mRNA in the synthesis of this protein. F1 histone is a unique protein in that it is the only paternal protein detected in these hybrids. The possibility that the synthesis of histones is controlled differently from that of other proteins is discussed.
Nanoparticle Redistribution During Magnetic Nanoparticle Hyperthermia: Multi-Physics Porous Medium Model Analyses

A coupled theoretical framework comprising a suspension of nanoparticles transport in porous media model and a heat transfer model is developed to address nanoparticle redistribution during heating. Nanoparticle redistribution in biological tissues during magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia is described by a multi-physics model that consists of five major components: (a) a fully saturated porous media model for fluid flow through tissue; (b) nanoparticle convection and diffusion; (c) heat transfer model based on heat generation by local nanoparticle concentration; (d) a model to predict tissue thermal damage and corresponding change to the porous structure; and (e) a nanoparticle redistribution model based on the dynamic porosity and diffusion diffusivity. The integrated model has been used to predict the structural damage in porous tumors and its effect on nanoparticle-induced heating in tumors. Thermal damage in the vicinity of the tumor center that is predicted by the Arrhenius equation increases from 14% with 10 minutes of heating to almost 99% after 20 minutes. It then induces an increased tumor porosity that increases nanoparticle diffusivity by seven-fold. The model predicts thermal damage induced by nanoparticle redistribution increases by 20% in the radius of the spherical tissue region containing nanoparticles. The developed model has demonstrated the feasibility of enhancing nanoparticle dispersion from injection sites using targeted thermal damage.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Measuring stem cell dimensionality in tissue scaffolds.

Abstract Many scaffold systems have evolved for tissue engineering and in vitro tissue models to provide a 3D (three-dimensional) microenvironment that enables cells to behave more physiologically. We hypothesized that cells would adopt morphologies with more 3D character during culture in scaffolds as compared to planar substrates. Cell shape and function are tightly linked and effects of scaffold niche properties on cell shape and dimensionality are important for directing cell function. Herein, primary human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs) were cultured in 6 different scaffolds and on a planar control substrate. hBMSCs were imaged using 3D confocal microscopy, and 3D image analyses were used to assess hBMSC shape and dimensionality. A characteristic gyration tensor ellipsoid was calculated for hBMSCs in the different scaffolds which enabled hBMSC dimensionality to be classified based on shape. A “Dimensionality Matrix” was developed that showed that hBMSC shape and dimensionality were influenced by scaffold properties, and that scaffolds could drive hBMSCs into 1D, 2D or 3D shapes. In addition, the hBMSC Z-Depth was measured to determine if hBMSCs became less flat during culture in scaffolds. Z-Depth results showed that all 6 scaffolds caused an increase in cell Z-Depth compared to the 2D planar substrate. These results demonstrate that hBMSCs take on morphologies with greater 3D character in scaffolds than on a planar substrate and that scaffold properties can be adjusted to modify cell dimensionality. In addition, biomaterialists can use this measurement approach to assess and compare scaffold design modifications as they strive to create optimal cell niches that provide a 3D microenvironment.
Postnatal development of electrogenic sodium pump activity in rat hippocampal pyramidal neurons

Abstract We assessed the development of electrogenic sodium pump (Na + pump) activity in CA1 pyramidal neurons of rat hippocampal slices by studying the prolonged hyperpolarization which follows glutamate-induced depolarization (postglutamate hyperpolarization or PGH) at different postnatal ages. We also examined the development of membrane-bound enzyme in the hippocampal CA1 subfield with light microscopic immunocytochemistry and an antiserum against Na + ,K + -ATPase. The PGH, which has previously been shown to be due to activation of an electrogenic Na + pump in adult hippocampal CA1 neurons, was eliminated by strophanthidin, a Na + ,K + -ATPase inhibitor, at all ages. It was unaffected by several potassium channel blockers, an intracellular calcium chelator, intracellular Cl − injection or tetrodotoxin (TTX) perfusion. The PGH thus appeared to be independent of K + and C1 − conductances and produced by an electrogenic Na + pump in adult and immature animals activated in large part by entry of Na + through the glutamate receptor-channel complex. The size (integrated area) of the PGH was directly proportional to the area of preceding glutamate-induced depolarization (GD) and relatively voltage independent. Similar GDs could be elicited from postnatal day (P) 7 to P ⩾ 35, however, only very small PGHs were produced in neurons from P7–11 animals. A ratio of PGH area to GD area (PGH ratio) was calculated for each neuron and used to compare Na + pump activity at different ages. There was a significant increase in the mean PGH ratio with age when P7–11, P21–25 and P35–39 groups were compared. Na + pump activity estimated from the PGH ratio is very low in the first postnatal week but develops gradually over the first 5 weeks of life. Immunostaining for Na + ,K + -ATPase in adult rat hippocampi revealed a punctate reaction product surrounding pyramidal cell bodies, whereas the staining was uniform along plasmalemma of dendrites in striatum radiatum and stratum oriens. By contrast, only minimum staining was present surrounding cell bodies and dendrites of P7 hippocampi and staining in striatum pyramidale was not punctate at this age. Na + ,K + -ATPase activity estimated grossly from immunocytochemical staining is very low in the first from natal week, increases during the first 5 weeks and develops a characteristic focal localization. These results suggest that Na + ,K + -ATPase levels in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons are low and insufficient to allow substantial activity of the Na + pump in the first postnatal week, with gradual attainment of adult functional levels over subsequent weeks. The period of development of the PGH is comparable with that found using immunocytochemical staining for Na + ,K + -ATPase. Lower levels of electrogenic Na + pump activity at early stages of development could be one factor contributing to the increased susceptibility of immature hippocampus to ictal discharges associated with prolonged membrane depolarization.