cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contemporary bloodletting in cardiac surgical care.

Background Health care providers are seldom aware of the frequency and volume of phlebotomy for laboratory testing, bloodletting that often leads to hospital-acquired anemia. Our objectives were to examine the frequency of laboratory testing in patients undergoing cardiac surgery, calculate cumulative phlebotomy volume from time of initial surgical consultation to hospital discharge, and propose strategies to reduce phlebotomy volume. Methods From January 1, 2012 to June 30, 2012, 1,894 patients underwent cardiac surgery at Cleveland Clinic; 1,867 had 1 hospitalization and 27 had 2. Each laboratory test was associated with a test name and blood volume. Phlebotomy volume was estimated separately for the intensive care unit (ICU), hospital floors, and cumulatively. Results A total of 221,498 laboratory tests were performed, averaging 115 tests per patient. The most frequently performed tests were 88,068 blood gas analyses, 39,535 coagulation tests, 30,421 complete blood counts, and 29,374 metabolic panels. Phlebotomy volume differed between ICU and hospital floors, with median volumes of 332 mL and 118 mL, respectively. Cumulative median volume for the entire hospital stay was 454 mL. More complex procedures were associated with higher overall phlebotomy volume than isolated procedures; eg, combined coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and valve procedure median volume was 653 mL (25th/75th percentiles, 428 of 1,065 mL) versus 448 mL (284 of 658 mL) for isolated CABG and 338 mL (237 of 619) for isolated valve procedures. Conclusions We were astonished by the extent of bloodletting, with total phlebotomy volumes approaching amounts equivalent to 1 to 2 red blood cell units. Implementation of process improvement initiatives can potentially reduce phlebotomy volumes and resource utilization.
GABAergic circuitry in the dorsal division of the cat medial geniculate nucleus

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter of the thalamus. We used postembedding immunocytochemistry to examine the synaptic organization of GABA-positive profiles in the dorsal superficial subdivision of the cat medial geniculate nucleus (MGN). Three groups of GABA-positive profiles participate in synapses: axon terminals, dendrites, and presynaptic dendrites. The presynaptic GABA-positive terminals target mainly GABA-negative dendrites. The GABA-positive postsynaptic profiles receive input primarily from GABA-negative axons. The results indicate that the synaptic organization of GABA-positive profiles in the dorsal superficial subdivision of the MGN nucleus is very similar to that in other thalamic nuclei. J. Comp. Neurol. 453:45–56, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Topological characterization of microstructures from 3D digitized voxel data

Abstract Topological characterization of 3D voxel-based images is non-trivial. Since there are many scientific simulations that rely on digitized images consisting of voxel data, and usually need to be run in parallel, an accurate and efficient algorithm to characterize 3D microstructures in cubic lattice is crucial for research on topology. In this work, we present an algorithm that enables detailed topological characterization that is extendible to parallel computing while retaining its efficiency and robustness. With this algorithm, a 3D microstructure made up of voxels can be accurately described in terms of faces, edges and vertices and the network formed by them. This algorithm is applied to various data sets consisting of idealized, regular structures and to microstructures generated by grain growth simulations. Highly accurate characterization of topology has been achieved for all data sets.
Literacy, dialogue, and difference in the ‘electronic contact zone’

Abstract Not unlike pedagogies that have as their goal the need to redefine literacy as a type of critical citizenship necessary for social change, much work in computers and composition pedagogy argues for this democratizing potential. As writing teachers become more familiar with electronic networks, however, in place of our initial utopian labels, we are increasingly turning to labels of heterotopic conflict, particularly terms such as electronic contact zones . Through the discussion of a first-year writing class composed of both Hispanic American and Anglo students, this article argues that rather than regard online conflicts between students as mere flaming, such conflicts can be seen as a way of helping students develop as literate citizens more aware of difference.
Calcineurin inhibitors in HLA-identical living related donor kidney transplantation

Background Given the nephrotoxicity of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), we asked whether their addition improved living related donor (LRD) human leukocyte antigen (HLA) identical kidney transplant recipient outcomes.
Immersion cooling nucleate boiling of high power computer chips

Abstract This paper presents experimental results of saturation and subcooled boiling of FC-72 and HFE-7100 dielectric liquids on uniformly heated, 10 × 10 mm porous graphite (PG) surfaces for potential applications to immersion cooling of high power computer chips. The experiments investigated the effects of surface inclination, from upward-facing (0°) to downward-facing (180°), and liquid subcooling from 0 to 30 K on nucleate boiling heat transfer coefficient and critical heat flux. The presented experimental data and correlations for natural convection of dielectric liquids on PG and plane surfaces are important for cooling chips while in the standby mode when surface heat flux
A Foundational Perspective for Visual Information Retrieval

The author discusses a new book on visual information retrieval (VIR). The fundamental components include visual content description and representation, similarity and distance measures, classifiers, indexing schemes, user interaction, and system performance evaluation.
Clinical, endocrinological, and histopathological findings in allergic gingivostomatitis.

The 3 year clinical, endocrinological, and histopathological findings in 2 case reports (and 4 patients followed clinically) of cyclic allergic gingivostomatitis characterized by a fiery-red inflammation of the gingiva, angular cheilitis, and loss of the filiform papillae have been presented and discussed. Five of the 6 patients were females, and all 6 suffered from a hormonal imbalance. The histological appearance was characterized by both thinned and hyperplastic epithelium, dilated capillaries near the surface, and an intense, mature plasma cell infiltrate which obliterated the normal architecture of the lamina propria. Multiple myeloma was ruled out by physical, radiographic, hematologic, microscopic, protein electrophoresis, and urinalysis studies. It was verified, clinically and histologically following a 4 month abstention from the habit, that the gingivostomatitis was produced by an allergic response to chewing gum - most likely the essential oils used as flavoring agents. There is also a strong possibility that hormonal imbalance may play a role in the inducement of this unusual clinical phenomenon.
Justice in the Family: The Moderating Role of Social Self-Efficacy in the Relationship Between Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and Interactional Justice From Parents:

For this study, the researchers recruited a sample of college men and women (N = 874) and examined the relationships among nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in the past year, social self-efficacy, and two dimensions of interactional justice (IJ) from parents (specifically, interpersonal justice and informational justice). Results indicated that both dimensions of IJ were inversely associated with NSSI and, second, that social self-efficacy moderated both of these relationships. Clinical implications of these findings for family counselors are discussed.
Are Discipline Referrals Getting You Down

Under what circumstances should a student be referred to the prineipal for discipline? This author suggests a simple rule: RROAR.
Valve-only pumping in mechanical gas micropumps

This paper introduces a new class of compact, highly scalable and efficient membrane-based gas micropumps in which both stroke and flow-control actions are realized by checkerboard microvalves. Realized based on a novel scalable and modular microfabrication technology, the micropump reported here utilizes an unwanted secondary pumping effect, valve pumping, as the main pumping principle, eliminating the need for any pumping membrane. This reduces down the entire pumping structure to a collection of active microvalves, and hence, significantly simplifies the configuration and operation of mechanical gas micropumps and minimizes their dead volume (often the Achilles heel for gas micropumps). Valve-only pumping can produce a flow rate as high as 160 μL/min using only two valve membranes and pressure accumulations of 500 Pa, for a 4-stage device, while it also improves the total device size by 50%.
Catheter-directed therapy for DVT after pancreas transplantation

Abstract: Introduction: Iliac vein deep venous thrombosis (DVT) ipsilateral to the pancreas transplant can lead to severe leg edema and compromise graft function. Treatment modalities for iliac vein DVT in the pancreas transplant recipient are limited. Methods: Medical records of patients receiving pancreas transplants at a single center from November 1989 to July 2003 were reviewed retrospectively, identifying patients with iliac vein DVT. There were 287 pancreas transplants performed during this time. Pancreas transplantation in all recipients was performed in the right iliac fossa with the arterial supply consisting of a donor iliac artery Y interposition graft. Systemic venous drainage was to the iliac vein. Exocrine drainage was enteric or to the bladder. Results: Four (1.4%) cases of iliac DVT were identified. All patients manifested lower extremity edema ipsilateral to the pancreas transplant. DVT was detected by ultrasound on days 4, 5, 13, and 60 post-transplant. In all cases, the iliac vein caudad to the pancreatic venous anastomosis was noted to be stenotic. Management involved balloon dilatation and endovascular stent placement in one patient, thrombolysis with tissue plasma antigen (t-PA) followed by stent placement in one patient, and percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy in two patients. All patients had improvement in leg edema and two patients continue to have good pancreatic allograft function. Conclusions: Iliac DVT is a rare complication of pancreas transplantation that usually develops in an area of stenosis caudad to the pancreatic venous anastomosis. Catheter-based treatment modalities with use of endovascular stents for treatment of underlying stenoses can serve as an adjunct in treating these complications.
Hierarchical abstractions for robotic swarms

We develop a hierarchical framework for planning and control of arbitrarily large groups of fully actuated robots with polyhedral velocity bounds (swarm) moving in polygonal environments with polygonal obstacles. At the first level of hierarchy, we aggregate the high dimensional control system of the swarm into a small dimensional control system capturing its essential features. These features describe the position of the swarm in the world and its size. At the second level, we reduce the problem of controlling the essential features of the swarm to a model checking problem. In the obtained hierarchical framework, high level specifications given in natural language such as linear temporal logic formulas over linear predicates in the essential features are automatically mapped to probably correct robot control laws
A Simple Energy Pump for the Surface Quasi-geostrophic Equation

We consider the question of growth of high order Sobolev norms of solutions of the conservative surface quasi-geostrophic equation. We show that if s>0 is large then for every given A there exists initial data with a norm that is small in H s such that the H s norm of corresponding solution at some time exceeds A. The idea of the construction is quasilinear. We use a small perturbation of a stable shear flow. The shear flow can be shown to create small scales in the perturbation part of the flow. The control is lost once the nonlinear effects become too large.
Inferring functional cortical networks from spike train ensembles using Dynamic Bayesian Networks

A fundamental goal in systems neuroscience is to infer the functional connectivity among neuronal elements coordinating information processing in the brain. In this work, we investigate the applicability of Dynamic Bayesian Networks (DBN) in inferring the structure of cortical networks from the observed spike trains. DBNs have unique features that make them capable of detecting causal relationships between spike trains such as modeling time-dependent relationships, detecting non-linear interactions and inferring connectivity between neurons from the observed ensemble activity. A probabilistic point process model was used to assess the performance under systematic variations of the model parameters. Results demonstrate the utility of DBN in inferring functional connectivity in cortical network models.
Head nodding and head shaking gestures in children’s early communication:

Children’s spontaneous head nodding and head shaking gestures are examined in the context of mother-child play. Observations at 14, 20 and 32 months show that frequency of head gestures increases with age, with a pronounced increase in nodding between 20 and 32 months. Over time, children increasingly use head gestures in combination with speech, though isolated head nods continue to predominate at 32 months. Pragmatic analysis of children’s head gestures reveals that they serve a small set of communicative functions during early childhood. Children’s use of a head gesture for communication at 14 months was a significant predictor of pragmatic flexibility at 32 months, even when controlling for 14-month language production and maternal language input. The significance of head gestures in children’s emerging communication is discussed.
EGFR-induced cell migration is mediated predominantly by the JAK-STAT pathway in primary esophageal keratinocytes

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activates several signaling cascades in response to epidermal growth factor stimulation. One of these signaling events involves tyrosine phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), whereas another involves activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase pathway. Two possibilities for STAT activation exist: a janus kinase (JAK)-dependent and a JAK-independent mechanism. Herein, we demonstrate that EGFR overexpression in primary esophageal keratinocytes activates STAT in a JAK-dependent fashion with the functional consequence of enhanced cell migration, which can be abolished by use of a JAK-specific inhibitor, AG-490. We determined the mechanisms underlying the signal transduction pathway responsible for increased cell migration. Stimulation of EGFR induces Tyr701 phosphorylation of STAT1 and initiates complex formation of STAT1 and STAT3 with JAK1 and JAK2. Thereafter, the STATs translocate to the nucleus within 15 min. In addition, we found that activation of this signaling pathway results in matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) activity. By contrast, Akt activation does not impact the EGFR-STATs-JAKs complex formation and nuclear translocation of the STATs with subsequent MMP-1 activity, although Akt activation may contribute to cell migration through an independent mechanism. Taken together, we find that the recruitment of the STAT-JAK complex by EGFR is responsible for keratinocyte migration that, in turn, might be mediated by MMP-1 activation.
Projecting our presence in space and in time

To help meet NASA's computer science research needs, the number one priority at the NASA Ames Research Center is now computer science research. NASA's change in focus has arisen out of its realization that the major technological roadblocks impeding the nation's ability to perform earth and space science, and to achieve its exploration goals, center on computation and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Communication delays on long distance missions compel NASA to focus on Computer Science research. With roundtrip communication delays ranging from 6 to 45 minutes between Earth and Mars, human and robotic missions cannot be effectively controlled remotely from earth. Much of the intelligence provided by Mission Controllers will, in the future, necessarily accompany human and virtual explorers.
Neonatal thrombocytopenia: what we do and don't know.

The evaluation and management of thrombocytopenia is a frequent challenge for neonatologists, as it affects 22-35% of infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Multiple disease processes can cause neonatal thrombocytopenia, and these can be classified as those inducing early thrombocytopenia ( 72 h). Most cases of neonatal thrombocytopenia are mild to moderate, and do not warrant intervention. In approximately 25% of affected neonates, however, the platelets count is 50 x 10(9)/L does not decrease the risk of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and that 30 x 10(9)/L might be an adequate threshold for stable non-bleeding neonates. However, adequately powered multi-center studies are needed to conclusively establish the safety of any given set of neonatal transfusion guidelines.
Comparison of results of coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction in patients ≧ 75 years of age versus patients < 75 years of age

We reviewed 1,063 consecutive patients treated with direct coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction (AMI): 261 were > or =75 and 802 were <75 years of age. Compared with the younger group, the older group had a higher percentage of women (48% vs 22%, p <0.0001), multivessel coronary disease (50% vs 39%, p <0.01), overall in-hospital mortality (8.4% vs 3.7%, p <0.01), cardiac mortality rate (6.1% vs 3.1%, p <0.05), and noncardiac mortality rate (2.3% vs 0.6%, p <0.05). Successful reperfusion was achieved in both groups at a similarly high rate (93% and 95%, p = NS). Hospital mortality was similar whether reperfusion was successful or failed. Successful compared with unsuccessful angioplasty decreased mortality rates in the older (6.6% vs 33%, p <0.0001) and younger (3.0% vs 18%, p <0.0001) groups. When reperfusion was successful, the cardiac mortality rate in older patients was not significantly higher than in younger patients: 4.1% vs 2.4%, p = NS.
Run ‐ to ‐Run Control of ITO Deposition Process

This paper describes the design and development of run-to-run control solution for an Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) deposition process. ITO deposition is an inherently complex process making it hard to simultaneously optimize the many characteristics of the ITO film such as optical transmission, resistivity, stresses in the film etc. With the run-to-run control solution, post-process measurements made after every run are used along with e mpirical process models and drift compe nsation and noise rejection techniques to suggest new equipme nt settings for the next run. Theoretical models and simulation results show that this approach gives very stable ITO characteristics. Some of the methods that improve the control algorithm are discussed and future work is explored.
Nanoclay Paste as a Thermal Interface Material for Smooth Surfaces

A paste in the form of a polyol ester vehicle (liquid) containing 0.6 vol.% nanoclay is an effective thermal interface material. Nanoclay with a high conformability and hence a small bond line thickness is preferred, namely montmorillonite containing a quarternary ammonium salt organic modifier (dimethyl dehydrogenated tallow) at 125 meq/100 g clay, after exfoliation by using the vehicle. When it is used between smooth (0.009 μm) copper surfaces at a pressure of 0.69 MPa, the thermal contact conductance reaches 40 × 104 W/m2 K, in contrast to the corresponding values of 28 × 104 W/m2 K, 28 × 104 W/m2 K, 25 × 104 W/m2 K, and 24 × 104 W/m2 K previously reported for carbon black, fumed alumina, fumed zinc oxide, and graphite nanoplatelet pastes. Between rough copper surfaces (12 μm), the conductance provided by the nanoclay paste is slightly below those of the other pastes. The superiority of the nanoclay paste for smooth surfaces is attributed to the␣submicron bond line thickness; the inferiority for rough surfaces is due to the low thermal conductivity. The conductance provided by the nanoclay paste increases from 31 × 104 W/m2 K to 40 × 104 W/m2 K when the pressure is increased from 0.46 MPa to 0.92 MPa. This pressure dependence is stronger than that of any of the other pastes studied.
Crack propagation in a material with random toughness

An efficient Monte Carlo procedure is presented for characterizing the propagation of a crack in a material whose fracture toughness is a random field. The simulations rely on accurate approximate solutions of the integral equations that govern the dislocation densities, stress intensity factors, and energy release rates of curvilinear cracks. For a plate containing an edge crack that propagates towards a subsurface crack representing a traction-free boundary, results for the distributions of crack trajectories, critical applied far-field stresses, and nominal fracture toughness are presented for various parameters that quantify the randomness of the material's critical energy release rate. A demonstrative probabilistic model for crack trajectories is built and size effects are discussed.
Effect of milk protein genotypes on milk protein composition and its genetic parameter estimates.

Abstract The effects of κ -casein (CN) and β -lactoglobulin (LG) genotypes on milk protein concentration and composition were estimated for the US Holstein-Friesian population using a single-trait, mixed, linear animal model on 592 individual milk samples from 233 cows. Both milk protein genotypes had no statistically significant effect on the total milk protein concentration; however, substitution of the κ -CN A allele additively increased the proportion of κ -CN, and substitution of the β -LG B allele additively increased the proportion of β -LG in total milk protein. In response, proportions of the other milk proteins, mainly α S1 -CN, were decreased. For proportions of α S1 -CN, κ -CN, and β -LG in total milk protein, κ -CN and β -LG genotypes explain more than 50 and 25% of the heritability and repeatability estimates, respectively. We concluded that κ -CN and β -LG genotypes affect the phenotypic and genetic variation of milk protein composition but do not significantly affect milk protein concentration. A possible explanation for our conclusion is that altered gene sequences in the promoter region of κ -CN B and β -LG A, linked closely to the respective genotypes, favor the transcription or translation of their own protein at the expense of the synthesis of other milk proteins, in particular of α S1 -CN.
The Postpartum Papanicolaou Smear

This study was performed to evaluate the importance of obtaining postpartum Papanicolaou (Pap) smears routinely. Four hundred eighty-nine patients receiving pregnancy care had a normal prenatal Pap smear and a repeat Pap smear at their postpartum visit. Twenty-four (4.9 percent) had an abnormal postpartum Pap smear (95 percent confidence interval: 3.1-6.9 percent). Twenty-one (87.5 percent) of the abnormal smears showed squamous dysplasia; three (12.5 percent) showed squamous atypia. No specific risk factors were identified that predicted the occurrence of an abnormal postpartum Pap following a normal prenatal Pap except for age. Women more than 30 years of age were less likely to have an abnormal postpartum Pap smear (P = 0.008). The results of this study support the practice of performing Pap smears during prenatal care and again at postpartum examination, even when the prenatal Pap smear is normal.
Anesthesia for office-based oculoplastic surgery.

Background Many common oculoplastic surgical procedures can be performed in an office-based setting. Objective To describe a system of local anesthetic use that provides superb anesthesia administered in a nearly painless manner. Methods Combined conjunctival, topical, and injected local anesthesia is used in outpatient oculoplastic surgical procedures. The use of optional adjuvant oral sedation can decrease pain and anxiety in selected patients. Results We have successfully employed our described system of local anesthesia for office-based oculoplastic surgery. Conclusion In suitable patients, the shifting of operative location from the hospital or ambulatory surgery center to the office provides many benefits to both the patient and the surgeon.
Impact of sex on the heart's metabolic and functional responses to diabetic therapies

Increased myocardial lipid delivery is a determinant of myocardial substrate metabolism and function in animal models of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Sex also has major effects on myocardial metabolism ...
Evidence for a Causal Association Between Human Papillomavirus and a Subset of Head and Neck Cancers

Background: High-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are etiologic agents for anogenital tract cancers and have been detected in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs). We investigated, retrospectively, an etiologic role for HPVs in a large series of patients with HNSCC. Methods: Tumor tissues from 253 patients with newly diagnosed or recurrent HNSCC were tested for the presence of HPV genome by use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays, Southern blot hybridization, and in situ hybridization. The viral E6 coding region was sequenced to confirm the presence of tumor-specific viral isolates. Exons 5‐9 of the TP53 gene were sequenced from 166 specimens. The hazard of death from HNSCC in patients with and without HPVpositive tumors was determined by proportional hazards regression analysis. Results: HPV was detected in 62 (25%) of 253 cases (95% confidence interval [CI] = 19%‐30%). Highrisk, tumorigenic type HPV16 was identified in 90% of the HPV-positive tumors. HPV16 was localized specifically by in situ hybridization within the nuclei of cancer cells in preinvasive, invasive, and lymph node disease. Southern blot hybridization patterns were consistent with viral integration. Poor tumor grade (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4; 95% CI = 1.2‐ 4.9) and oropharyngeal site (OR = 6.2; 95% CI = 3.1‐12.1) independently increased the probability of HPV presence. As compared with HPV-negative oropharyngeal cancers, HPVpositive oropharyngeal cancers were less likely to occur among moderate to heavy drinkers (OR = 0.17; 95% CI = 0.05‐0.61) and smokers (OR = 0.16; 95% CI = 0.02‐1.4), had a characteristic basaloid morphology (OR = 18.7; 95% CI = 2.1‐167), were less likely to have TP53 mutations (OR = 0.06; 95% CI = 0.01‐0.36), and had improved disease-specific survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.26; 95% CI = 0.07‐0.98). After adjustment for the presence of lymph node disease (HR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.4‐ 3.8), heavy alcohol consumption (HR = 2.6; 95% CI = 1.4‐4.7), and age greater than 60 years old (HR = 1.4; 95% CI = 0.8‐2.3), all patients with HPV-positive tumors had a 59% reduction in risk of death from cancer when compared with HPV-negative HNSCC patients (HR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.20‐0.88). Conclusions: These data extend recent molecular and epidemiologic studies and strongly suggest that HPV-positive oropharyngeal cancers comprise a distinct molecular, clinical, and pathologic disease entity that is likely causally associated with HPV infection and that has a markedly improved prognosis. [J Natl Cancer Inst 2000; 92:709‐20]
Intravenous Valproate in Status Epilepticus

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the role of intravenous valproate sodium (IV VPA) in the treatment of status epilepticus (SE).DATA SOURCES:A literature search of the English language was performed (MEDLINE 1966–July 2000). Search terms included valproate, valproic acid, and status epilepticus. Bibliographies of articles chosen were reviewed to identify other possible sources.DATA SYNTHESIS:A review of the medical literature was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of IV VPA in the treatment of SE.CONCLUSIONS:Experience with IV VPA in the treatment of SE is too limited to recommend its use as a first-line agent. IV VPA may represent a third- or fourth-line option in cases of SE when other agents are ineffective or contraindicated.
A dipole receptive fields-based document enhancement system

Summary form only given, as follows. Since there may be defects and noises in some documents generated from fax machines or photocopiers, the authors have proposed a mechanism to improve the quality of prints for any set of fonts. A neural network model has been developed using the concept of dipole receptive fields to revise the defects of a given pattern. This algorithm consists of a preprocessing stage, sensitivity sensor, and connecting machine, and has been demonstrated to improve the quality of a printed document. >
Sialodochoplasty- does it work?

Isotope scanning of the salivary glands was carried out postoperatively on 8 patients who had sialodochoplasty carried out by the Wilkie technique. This showed reduced function to a varying degree in every parotid gland whose duct was repositioned, indicating some atrophy, but there was still sufficient function to justify the procedure.
Comparing two models for the selectivity in the asymmetric dihydroxylation reaction (AD)

Abstract Two models of the transition state arrangement for the asymmetric dihydroxylation reaction (AD) with bis-cinchona alkaloid ligands are discussed.
Prey selection by thaidid gastropods: some observational and experimental field tests of foraging models

Field observations and experiments revealed that predatory intertidal gastropods of the genus Thais (or Nucella) were able both to recognize the expected food value of encountered prey (expected energy or growth potential gained per unit handling time) and to monitor their average yield over time (average energy or growth potential gained per unit foraging time). They appeared to discriminate not only among prey species, but also among different sized individuals of the same prey species. The evidence supporting these interpretations included: 1) field observations of snails feeding preferentially on prey types of higher expected food value even though lower value prey types were available and abundant, 2) a very limited number of direct underwater observations of foraging snails rejecting encountered items that were either of lower expected value than the item finally eaten or not measurably different from it, and 3) field (='arena') experiments in which both average yield, and the distribution and abundance of potential prey were controlled: snails conditioned at a high average yield fed preferentially on high value items, while those animals conditioned at a low yield consumed prey in the proportions that they were encountered. These behaviors are all consistent with a prey-selection decision motivated by energetic considerations. Further, the field experiments indicated that these predatory gastropods could select items from a diverse array of prey so as to maximize growth in their natural environment. The behaviors were not consistent with three alternative foraging hypotheses: non-selective foraging, frequency-dependent foraging on prey types (here, sizes of particular prey species), and frequency-dependent foraging on prey species. Deviations from some of the quantitative predictions of optimal foraging theory appeared related to learning and risk.
Performance analysis of reconfigurable ultrasonic system-on-chip hardware platform

High-speed implementations of computationally-intensive algorithms are essential for real-time ultrasonic signal processing application development. Hardware-software co-design allows flexible system development to carry out such experiments. In this paper, we developed a reconfigurable ultrasonic system-on-chip hardware (RUSH) platform which offers a Linux based development environment by integrating FPGA firmware with specially designed software for high performance ultrasonic signal processing applications. Furthermore, the performance and resource utilization of the RUSH platform is analyzed for various ultrasonic signal processing algorithm implementations.
Safe design of personal rapid transit systems

Safety issues have been a primary concern in the development of personal rapid transit since it started several decades ago. Safe design involves careful attention to all features of the design, such as the use of a hierarchy of fault-tolerant redundant control systems, bi-stable fail-safe switching, alternative power supplies, vehicle and passenger protection, and attention to the interaction of people with the system. Safety, together with reliability and adequate capacity, must be achieved while still making the system economically attractive, hence techniques to achieve these goals at minimum life-cycle cost are primary in PRT design. Building on theory of safe, reliable, and cost-effective design of PRT systems developed during the 1970s, in 1981 the author and his colleagues initiated design of a new PRT system, now called Taxi 2000. The paper describes the new design and reviews the principles of safe design, incorporated into Taxi 2000, which he believes will make this new system safer, more dependable, and more economical than existing modes of urban transportation.
Minimal inductance configurations for radially dependent transmission lines

To maximize the current delivered by pulsed power generators, such as the Sandia Z machine, it is advantageous to employ transmission lines possessing the smallest inductance compatible with current insulation requirements. We extend previous work1 for constant gap axisymmetric transmission lines to include the case of radially dependent gaps. Following Ref. 1 we solve the Euler-Lagrange equation to obtain the mid-gap z(r) curve yielding minimal inductance for the prescribed radial dependence of the gap w(r), and given end-points as boundary conditions. For the linear case w(r)=w0+kr the mid-gap curve is given analytically, up to one parameter: the mid-gap radius of curvature at the inner endpoint, which is determined by solving numerically the resulting algebraic equation. We also present the numerical integration of the single ordinary equation obtained from the Euler-Lagrange equation for w(r) being a function other than linear. We provide examples of minimum inductance lines and their applications. We also examine the question of the connection of a given minimal inductance line with the load and feed line, given that the optimization procedure presented in this work does not allow for arbitrary line terminations: The anode and cathode surfaces, including their end-points are completely determined by the boundary conditions and the gap radial dependence.
Maximal Consistent Subsets

Default unification operations combine strict information with information from one or more defeasible feature structures. Many such operations require finding the maximal subsets of a set of atomic constraints that are consistent with each other and with the strict feature structure, where a subset is maximally consistent with respect to the subsumption ordering if no constraint can be added to it without creating an inconsistency. Although this problem is NP-complete, there are a number of heuristic optimizations that can be used to substantially reduce the size of the search space. In this article, we propose a novel optimization, leaf pruning, which in some cases yields an improvement in running time of several orders of magnitude over previously described algorithms. This makes default unification efficient enough to be practical for a wide range of problems and applications.
New Pathways From Short Sleep to Obesity? Associations Between Short Sleep and “Secondary” Eating and Drinking Behavior:

Abstract Purpose. The association between short sleep and obesity risk is well established. However, we explore a new pathway between short sleep and obesity: whether short sleep is linked to more time spent in secondary eating or drinking, that is, eating or drinking (beverages other than water, such as sugar-sweetened beverages) while primarily engaged in another activity, such as television watching. Design. This pooled cross-sectional study uses data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) from 2006 to 2008. Setting. The study takes place in the United States. Subjects. Subjects are 28,150 adults (55.8% female) aged 21 to 65 who were surveyed in the ATUS. Measures. Outcomes are time spent on (1) secondary eating and drinking and (2) primary eating and drinking. Our main predictor variable is sleep duration. Analysis. Controlling for demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents, we estimate multivariate regression-analysis models for the full sample, as well as by weekday/weekend s...
Comparing Methods to Determine Persistence of Childhood ADHD Into Adulthood: A Prospective, Population-Based Study.

Objective: To compare the rate of persistence of ADHD into adulthood as determined by a norm-referenced versus non-norm-referenced diagnostic interview, and by standardized questionnaires. Method: ...
Women's Self-Help and The Reconstruction of Gender: The Postpartum Support and Breast Cancer Movements

Recent research reveals that the mobilization, leadership patterns, and strategies of social movements are organized by gender in previously unrecognized ways. Scholars have had less to say about the consequences of social movements for the reconstruction of gender relations in American society. Using data from two women's self-help movements, we outline a framework for analyzing the impact of social movements on the transformation of gender. Drawing from Judith Lorber's concept of gender as a social institution, our analysis demonstrates that women's self-help movements disrupt gender practices, deconstruct gendered hierarchy, and dismantle gendered structures. Our comparative study illustrates that in order fully to understand the impact of social movements on the gender order, we must look for evidence of changes in the process, stratification system, and structure of gender. We conclude by arguing that the postpartum support group and breast cancer movements highlight the significance of social moveme...
Hotspot: Making computer vision more effective for human video surveillance:

Studies have shown that the human capability of monitoring multiple surveillance videos is limited. Computer vision techniques have been developed to detect abnormal events to support human video surveillance; however, their results are often unreliable, thus distracting surveillance operators and making them miss important events. This article presents Hotspot as a surveillance video visualization system that can effectively leverage noisy computer vision techniques to support human video surveillance. Hotspot consists of two views: a designated focus view to summarize videos with detected events and a video-bank view surrounding the focus view to display source surveillance videos. The focus view allows an operator to quickly dismiss false alarms and focus on true alarms. The video-bank view allows for extended human video analysis after an important event is detected. Hotspot further provides visual links to assist quick attention switch from the focus view to the video-bank view. Our experiments show ...
THE ROLE OF TYPE IX COLLAGEN IN OSTEOARTHRITIS AND RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Articular cartilage consists of a cellular and an extracellular compartment. The extracellular compartment is composed of collagen, proteoglycans, and noncollagenous matrix proteins. Collagen resists tensile forces and serves as an organizing skeleton that helps maintain the structural integrity of cartilage. Fourteen types of collagen have been identified. The cartilage-specific collagens are type II (the principal component), type IX, type X, and type XI. Type IX collagen is hypothesized to be the "glue" that holds together the type II collagen latticework of articular cartilage. Degradation of type IX collagen by proteolytic enzymes has been observed in the primary stages of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. This degradation is thought to represent an "ungluing" of the collagen scaffold and has been proposed as the mechanism for the degenerative changes seen in osteoarthritic and rheumatoid cartilage.
Digital mammography: wavelet transform and Kalman-filtering neural network in mass segmentation and detection.

Abstract Rationale and Objectives The authors developed a new adaptive module to improve their computer-assisted diagnostic (CAD) method for mass segmentation and classification. The goal was an adaptive module that used a novel four-channel wavelet transform with neural network rather than a two-channel wavelet transform with manual subimage selection. The four-channel wavelet transform is used for image decomposition and reconstruction, and a novel Kalman-filtering neural network is used for adaptive subimage selection. Materials and Methods The adaptive CAD module was compared with the nonadaptive module by comparing receiver operating characteristic curves for the whole CAD system. An image database containing 800 regions of interest enclosing all mass types and normal tissues was used for the relative comparison of system performance, with electronic ground truth established in advance. Results The receiver operating characteristic curves yield Az values of 0.93 and 0.86 with and without the adaptive module respectively, suggesting that overall CAD performance is improved with the adaptive module. Conclusion The results of this study confirm the importance of using a new class of adaptive CAD methods that allow a more generalized application for larger image databases or images generated from different sensors or by means of direct x-ray detection, as required for clinical trials.
Abstract 3199: Factors Associated with Favorable Response to Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy among Patients Presenting with Iatrogenic Cerebral Arterial Gas Embolism

Background: Iatrogenic cerebral arterial gas embolism (CAGE) is an uncommon but potentially fatal condition. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO 2 ) treatment is the only first line treatment for patients with CAGE presenting with acute neurological deficits. Methods: We reviewed medical records and neuroimaging of consecutive CAGE patients treated with HBO 2 at a state referral hyperbaric facility over a 22 year period. We analyzed the effect of demographics, source of intra-arterial gas, signs and symptoms, results of imaging studies, time between insult and HBO 2 treatment, and response to HBO 2 treatment in 36 consecutive patients. Favorable outcome was defined by complete resolution or improvement of CAGE signs and symptoms. Unfavorable outcome was defined by unchanged or worsened neurologic signs and symptoms or in hospital death. Results: A total of 26 (72%) of the 36 patients had favorable outcome. Patients with favorable outcome were younger compared to those with unfavorable outcome (mean age [years, SD] 44.7± 17.8 vs. 58.1 ± 24.1, p-value=0.08). Time-to-HBO 2 ≤ 6 hours was significantly associated with favorable outcome compared ≥ 6 hrs (p-value = 0.025). Cardiopulmonary symptoms associated with CAGE were significantly more common in venous source of gas compared to arterial (p-value = 0.024) but did not influence the rate of favorable outcomes. Two of 36 patients were treated with thrombolytics due to acute focal deficits and suspected ischemia - one with intravenous and the second one with intra-arterial thrombolysis. The later patient developed fatal intracerebral hemorrhage. Conclusions: A high proportion of CAGE patients treated with HBO2 had favorable outcomes. Young age and time-to-HBO 2 ≤ 6 hours were associated with higher rate of favorable outcome. Timely diagnosis and differentiation from thrombo-embolic ischemic events is an important determinant of successful HBO2 treatment.
Associations between beliefs about marriage and life satisfaction: the moderating role of relationship status and gender

ABSTRACTThe association between marital beliefs and life satisfaction is investigated on the foundation of the Marital Paradigm Theory. Using secondary data analysis with data from the Changing American Family study by the Pew Forum, beliefs in the advantageousness of marriage were assessed from a representative sample of the United States (weighted N = 24,268) which included both married and unmarried men and women. Results suggested that belief in the advantageousness of marriage was associated with higher reported general and domain-specific life satisfaction. However, a three-way interaction between gender, marital status, and belief in the advantageousness of marriage was also found. Married men who believe marriage is advantageous report significantly higher life satisfaction. Belief in the advantages of marriage was generally associated with less life satisfaction for those who were unmarried, regardless of gender. Results suggest the role marital beliefs may play in life satisfaction based on vary...
Transcriptomic evaluation of the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica, deployed during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: Evidence of an active hydrocarbon response pathway

Estuarine organisms were impacted by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill which released ∼5 million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico in the spring and summer of 2010. Crassostrea virginica, the American oyster, is a keystone species in these coastal estuaries and is routinely used for environmental monitoring purposes. However, very little is known about their cellular and molecular responses to hydrocarbon exposure. In response to the spill, a monitoring program was initiated by deploying hatchery-reared oysters at three sites along the Alabama and Mississippi coast (Grand Bay, MS, Fort Morgan, AL, and Orange Beach, AL). Oysters were deployed for 2-month periods at five different time points from May 2010 to May 2011. Gill and digestive gland tissues were harvested for gene expression analysis and determination of aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations. To facilitate identification of stress response genes that may be involved in the hydrocarbon response, a nearly complete transcriptome was assembled using Roche 454 and Illumina high-throughput sequencing from RNA samples obtained from the gill and digestive gland tissues of deployed oysters. This effort resulted in the assembly and annotation of 27,227 transcripts comprised of a large assortment of stress response genes, including members of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway, Phase I and II biotransformation enzymes, antioxidant enzymes and xenobiotic transporters. From this assembly several potential biomarkers of hydrocarbon exposure were chosen for expression profiling, including the AHR, two cytochrome P450 1A genes (CYP1A-like 1 and CYP1A-like 2), Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), glutathione S-transferase theta (GST theta) and multidrug resistance protein 3 (MRP3). Higher expression levels of GST theta and MRP3 were observed in gill tissues from all three sites during the summer to early fall 2010 deployments. Linear regression analysis indicated a statistically significant relationship between total PAH levels in digestive gland tissue samples with CYP1A-like 2, CuZnSOD, GST theta and MRP3 induction. These observations provide evidence of a potentially conserved AHR pathway in invertebrates and yield new insight into the development of novel biomarkers for use in environmental monitoring activities.