cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanotransduction of hair bundles arising from multicellular complexes in anemones

Sea anemones are among the simplest animals to use hair bundles to detect vibrations. Although we previously found anemone bundles to be morphologically similar to vertebrate hair bundles, only indirect evidence implicated anemone bundles in mechanotransduction. Here, we test mechanotransduction of these bundles using loose-patch current recording from apical membranes of cells at the base of deflected bundles. Step bundle deflection results in graded membrane currents that are inward in some cells (positive) and outward in other cells (negative). Positive responses range from 5 to 30 pA, abruptly saturate with stronger stimuli, and increase in duration with prolonged deflections. Negative responses range from 10 to 150 pA, show a logarithmic relation to stimulus strength, and attenuate with prolonged deflections. Additionally, responses are reversibly inhibited by streptomycin. We present a model for anemone bundle mechanotransduction modified from the gating spring model for vertebrate mechanotransduction. Because anemone bundles comprise stereocilia arising from a multicellular complex, we propose that supporting cells on opposite sides of a bundle function as oppositely polarized hair cells. Thus, deflection induces ion channels to open in cells on one side of the complex, while allowing channels to close in cells on the opposite side of the complex.
Graphene: Carbide‐Derived Carbons – From Porous Networks to Nanotubes and Graphene (Adv. Funct. Mater. 5/2011)

Carbide-derived carbons (CDCs) are a large family of carbon materials derived from carbide precursors that are transformed into pure carbon via physical (e.g., thermal decomposition) or chemical (e.g., halogenation) processes. Structurally, CDC ranges from amorphous carbon to graphite, carbon nanotubes or graphene. For halogenated carbides, a high level of control over the resulting amorphous porous carbon structure is possible by changing the synthesis conditions and carbide precursor. The large number of resulting carbon structures and their tunability enables a wide range of applications, from tribological coatings for ceramics, or selective sorbents, to gas and electrical energy storage. In particular, the application of CDC in supercapacitors has recently attracted much attention. This review paper summarizes key aspects of CDC synthesis, properties, and applications. It is shown that the CDC structure and properties are sensitive to changes of the synthesis parameters. Understanding of processing–structure–properties relationships facilitates tuning of the carbon material to the requirements of a certain application.
Effect of averaging time on the apparent threshold for aeolian transport

Abstract A fundamental feature of any wind-eroding surface is its threshold — the lowest wind speed (or friction velocity) at which soil movement is initiated. Many theoretical equations and numerical models of the saltation process include threshold as an important basic parameter. The question addressed here is whether or not the averaging time of a wind speed measurement affects the observed wind speed threshold. Using wind speed data taken at 1 Hz and simultaneously measuring saltation activity with a piezoelectric saltation sensor it was possible to calculate threshold. Threshold was then recalculated using the same data set averaged over periods of 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 60 s. The results reveal that, under typical field conditions with gusty turbulent winds, long averaging times produce an apparent threshold that is considerably lower than the true wind speed at which saltation is initiated. This result suggests that high-frequency sampling of wind speed and saltation activity is critical to the accurate determination of the true threshold of a wind-eroding surface.
Partially-supervised spatiotemporal clustering for burglary crime series identification

Statistical clustering of criminal events can be used by crime analysts to create of lists of potential suspects for an unsolved crime, identify groups of crimes that may have been committed by the same individuals or group of individuals, for offender profiling, and for predicting future events. In this paper, we propose a Bayesian model-based clustering approach for criminal events. Our approach is semi-supervised because the offender is known for a subset of the events, and utilizes spatiotemporal crime locations as well as crime features describing the offender’s modus operandi. The hierarchical model naturally handles complex features often seen in crime data, including missing data, interval censored event times, and a mix of discrete and continuous variables. In addition, our Bayesian model produces posterior clustering probabilities which allow analysts to act on model output only as warranted. We illustrate the approach using a large data set of burglaries in 2009-2010 in
Unbiased Identification of Protein-Bait Interactions Using Biochemical Enrichment and Quantitative Proteomics

The use of recombinant proteins, antibodies, small molecules, or nucleic acids as affinity reagents is a simple yet powerful strategy to study the protein-bait interactions that drive biological processes. However, such experiments are often analyzed by Western blotting, limiting the ability to detect novel protein interactors. Unbiased protein identification by mass spectrometry (MS) extends these experiments beyond the study of pairwise interactions, allowing analyses of whole networks of protein-bait interactions. With the latest advances in MS, it is not uncommon to identify thousands of proteins from complex mixtures. Paradoxically, the improved sensitivity of proteomic analyses can make it more difficult to distinguish bait-specific interactions from the large background of identified proteins. In quantitative proteomics, MS signals from protein populations labeled with stable isotopes such as (13)C and (15)N can be identified and quantified relative to unlabeled counterparts. Using quantitative proteomics to compare biochemical enrichments with the bait of interest against those obtained with control baits allows sensitive detection and discrimination of specific protein-bait interactions among the large number of nonspecific interactions with beads. Ad hoc optimization of enrichment conditions is minimized, and mild purification conditions preserve secondary or high-order protein-protein interactions. The combination of biochemical enrichment and quantitative proteomics allows rapid characterization of molecular baits with their interacting proteins, providing tremendous insight into their biological mechanisms of action.
The effect of physician triage on emergency department length of stay.

Background: Emergency Department (ED) overcrowding is a serious public health issue, but few solutions exist. Objectives: We sought to determine the impact of physician triage on ED length of stay for discharged and admitted patients, left-without-being-seen (LWBS) rates, and ambulance diversion. Methods: This was a pre-post study performed using retrospective data at an urban, academic tertiary care, Level I trauma center. On July 11, 2005, physician triage was initiated from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., 7 days a week. An additional physician was placed in triage so that the ED diagnostic evaluation and treatment could be started in waiting room patients. Using the hospital information system, we obtained individual patient data, ED and waiting room statistics, and diversion status data from a 9-week pre-physician triage (May 11, 2005 to July 10, 2005) and a 9-week physician triage (July 11, 2005 to September 9, 2005) period. Results: We observed that overall ED length of stay decreased by 11 min, but this decrease was entirely attributed to non-admitted patients. No difference in ED length of stay was observed in admitted patients. LWBS rates decreased from 4.5% to 2.5%. Total time spent on ambulance diversion decreased from 5.6 days per month to 3.2 days per month. Conclusion: Physician triage was associated with a decrease in LWBS rates, and time spent on ambulance diversion. However, its effect on ED LOS was modest in non-admitted ED patients and negligible in admitted patients.
Experimental and numerical verification of water ingress into a void of plastic packages by quick diffusion

Moisture that penetrates into the electronic package causes catastrophic crack propagation during reflow process, known as “pop-corning”. The void at interface between encapsulant and other non-polymeric components such as metal lead frame plays an important role in crack initiation and propagation. As packages experience high temperature over 240°C during reflow process, the pressure inside the void rises significantly. Kitano et al [1] found the pressure to be close to the saturated vapor pressure. This pressure on void walls make the initial crack to grow rapidly during reflow process [2]. It was conjectured that there is some amount of water inside voids and vaporizes during reflow process. The entrapment of water within the package interface void has been a persistent research theme. Several known possible mechanisms of moisture ingress into and outgassing from the void were investigated and summarized by Jang et al [3]. In his paper, he proposed that quick moisture diffusion at high reflow temperature can result in high vapor pressure inside voids and the vapor pressure could rise up to its maximum within tens of seconds, which is short enough to be within the reflow profile. In this paper, a special experiment fixture was designed and used to support his conclusions In addition to experiments, 3D finite element models were used to analyze the experimental results.
3d interaction homology: The structurally known rotamers of tyrosine derive from a surprisingly limited set of information-rich hydropathic interaction environments described by maps.

Sidechain rotamer libraries are obtained through exhaustive statistical analysis of existing crystallographic structures of proteins and have been applied in multiple aspects of structural biology, for example, crystallography of relatively low-resolution structures, in homology model building and in biomolecular NMR. Little is known, however, about the driving forces that lead to the preference or suitability of one rotamer over another. Construction of 3D hydropathic interaction maps for nearly 30,000 tyrosines reveals the environment around each, in terms of hydrophobic (π-π stacking, etc.) and polar (hydrogen bonding, etc.) interactions. After partitioning the tyrosines into backbone-dependent (ϕ, ψ) bins, a map similarity metric based on the correlation coefficient was applied to each map-map pair to build matrices suitable for clustering with k-means. The first bin (-200° ≤ ϕ 50%) by a single χ(1)/χ(2) rotamer. The last environment has weak or no interactions with the tyrosine ring and its χ(1)/χ(2) rotamer is indeterminate, which is consistent with it being composed of mostly surface residues. Each tyrosine residue attempts to fulfill its hydropathic valence and thus, structural water molecules are seen in a variety of roles throughout protein structure.
Autotuning Configurations in Distributed Systems for Performance Improvements Using Evolutionary Strategies

Distributed systems usually have many configurable parameters such as those included in common configuration files. Performance of distributed systems is partially dependent on these system configurations. While operators may choose default settings or manually tune parameters based on their experience and intuition, the resulted settings may not be the optimal one for specific services running on the distributed system. In this paper, we formulate the problem of autotuning configurations as a black-box optimization problem. This problem becomes quite challenging since the joint parameter search space is huge and also no explicit relationship between performance and configurations exists. We propose to use a well known evolutionary algorithm called covariance matrix adaptation (CMA) to automatically tune system parameters. We compare CMA algorithm to another existing techniques called smart hill climbing (SHC) and demonstrate that CMA algorithm outperforms SHC algorithm both on synthetic data and in a real system.
Active drug users as social change agents: some ethical dimensions.

Active drug users—whom I here roughly categorize as habituated, addicted, or dependent (HAD) users who are not currently inclined to abandon their use of such drugs1—may desire individually or collectively to assert themselves in the wider social world of work and social policy. Drug-dependent individuals may seek work in harm reduction centers or as custodians, accountants, or doctors. Activist drug user groups may work for legislative change in drug-related policies and social provisions for drug users, such as support groups, injecting rooms, and needle and syringe exchange programs. What ethical challenges does this pose?
Evaluation of androgenized mares as an estrus detection aid.

Ten pony mares that had developed stallion-like sexual behavior as the result of anabolic steroid treatment (boldenone undecylenate, 0.55 mg/kg intramuscularly (i.m.), once weekly for 12 injections) were evaluated for ability to aid in detecting estrus in cycling mares. In across-the-fence estrus detection trials, androgenized mares failed to elicit signs of estrus or diestrus. In 10-min pasture trials, in which each androgenized mare was placed in a group of 10 cycling mares (six of which were estrous), seven of the 10 androgenized mares elicited estrous behavior from one or two mares. Observations of the 10 androgenized mares among a pasture group of 21 cycling mares indicated that approximately one third of the mares in estrus could be identified on the basis of their response to androgenized mares.
Ultrasound-Assisted Percutaneous Trigger Finger Release: Is it Safe?

Trigger fingers can be treated by open or percutaneous division of the A1 pulley. The open approach allows for visualization of the pulley, the tendon, and the adjacent neurovascular bundles. The percutaneous trigger finger release (PTFR) lacks an incision and is thought to lead to a quicker recovery, but the safety and efficacy of this blind procedure are often questioned. Ultrasound imaging has recently been introduced as an adjunct for guiding the needle during percutaneous trigger finger release. This study was designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of needle trigger finger release with added ultrasound imaging. Eighteen fresh cadaver A1 pulleys were divided percutaneously and then evaluated by converting to an open technique and examining the pulleys, the tendons, and the neurovascular bundles. This study’s ultrasound images demonstrated repeated puncture of the tendon sheath and of the neurovascular bundle during PTFR. The subsequent dissection revealed three out of 18 tendons with visible lacerations and 15 out of 18 A1 pulleys with incomplete division. We concluded that ultrasound-guided PTFR can be complicated by flexor tendon lacerations, potential injury to neurovascular bundles, and incomplete division of the A1 pulleys. While the clinical significance of these findings is unclear to us, it does raise questions regarding the safety and efficacy of percutaneous trigger finger release, even when adding ultrasound guidance.
Laws Restricting Health Insurers' Use of Genetic Information: Impact on Genetic Discrimination

Since 1991, 28 states have enacted laws that prohibit insurers' use of genetic information in pricing, issuing, or structuring health insurance. This article evaluates whether these laws reduce the extent of genetic discrimination by health insurers. From the data collected at multiple sites, we find that there are almost no well-documented cases of health insurers either asking for or using presymptomatic genetic test results in their underwriting decisions, either (a) before or after these laws have been enacted or (b) in states with or without these laws. By using both in-person interviews with insurers and a direct market test, we found that a person with a serious genetic condition who is presymptomatic faces little or no difficulty in obtaining health insurance. Furthermore, there are few indications that the degree of difficulty varies according to whether a state regulates the use of genetic information. Nevertheless, these laws have made it less likely that insurers will use genetic information in the future. Although insurers and agents are only vaguely aware of these laws, the laws have shaped industry norms and attitudes about the legitimacy of using this information.
Iterative frequency-domain equalization for single-carrier systems in doubly-dispersive channels

Frequency-domain equalization (FDE) offers an attractive alternative to time-domain equalization in systems that communicate over large-delay-spread channels. Traditionally, FDE leverages the fact that time-domain convolution is equivalent to frequency-domain multiplication and the fact that time/frequency conversion is efficiently handled by the fast Fourier transform (FFT). In doubly dispersive channels, i.e., quickly varying large-delay-spread channels, the traditional FDE methods fail due to the time-varying property of the channel. Here we present a new FDE that is based on Doppler channel shortening, soft iterative interference cancellation and block decision feedback. Numerical simulations show that the proposed technique outperforms the well-known FIR-MMSE-DFE in both performance and complexity.
Thermal stability of the silica‐aminopropylsilane‐polyimide interface

Thermal degradation of the silica–aminopropylsilane–amic acid/imide interface was studied by modifying a high-surface-area, neutral silica gel with a number of substituted aminopropylsilanes (APS). These substrates were reacted further with phthalic anhydride or aromatic amic acid monomers and the thermal decomposition of the adsorbed/reacted materials was monitored by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane/poly[N,N′-(p,p′-oxydiphenylene)pyromellitimide] interface was also evaluated by this method. Comparison clearly distinguishes the thermal decomposition of surface-bound APS from surface-bound alkylphthalimides, the adhesion product of alkylamines and aromatic amic acids. Alkylamine imidization with the elimination of aromatic amine (analogous to polymer scission) and the decomposition of the surface-bound imide are shown in the amic acid TGA profiles. This imidization and the accompanying aniline elimination begin at about 130°C, under nitrogen, to form the surface alkyl imide which slowly decomposes at 400°C. TGA analysis indicates that the surface-bound imide undergoes minimal degradation under nitrogen at 370 ± 10°C; temperatures above this threshold range produce changes in the APS–imide interface.
Fast Similarity Search for High-Dimensional Dataset

This paper addresses the challenging problem of rapidly searching and matching high-dimensional features for the applications of multimedia database retrieval and pattern recognition. Most current methods suffer from the problem of dimensionality curse. A number of theoretical and experimental studies lead us to pursue a new approach, called Fast Filtering Vector Approximation (FFVA) to tackle the problem. FFVA is a nearest neighbor search technique that facilitates rapidly indexing and recovering the most similar matches to a high-dimensional database of features or spatial data. Extensive experiments have demonstrated effectiveness of the proposed approach.
A rare presentation of melanoma as a retroperitoneal mass: A case report and a brief review of the literature

Malignant melanoma presenting as a retroperitoneal mass is a rare manifestation of this disease. Melanoma, a malignant tumor of melanocytes, is a form of skin cancer with about 160,000 new cases of melanoma yearly worldwide. More than 53,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with melanoma every year. We present a rare case of malignant melanoma presenting as a retroperitoneal mass.
The media, the reconstruction of drumming, and the tradition of the dùndún and the bàtá ensemble of the Yorùbá in South Western Nigeria

This paper examines the impact of the technical media in the reconstruction of Yoruba traditional drum music, for example given by the unification of two important ensemble instruments in Yoruba society. It also calls to ‘revive’ the indigenous system of drumming beyond its traditional setting, making it an issue of global consumption. The preservation of the instrumental heritage of the Yoruba people of South Western Nigeria needs to be discussed in its association with technical media. The Prodigal Ones by Mount Zion Films Production (and other drum music performance in films) shows the media enhancement of the performance of the ensemble serving as accompaniment during a traditional festival. The short scene allocated to a traditional festival reveals the significance of drumming and the input of the drum makers, who are generally not educated but are rich in ideas, knowledge and skills. Interviews show that the dundun and bata ensemble today showcase a new image that is colourful. The wood for drum’s construction is now lighter than for the older ones. Keywords: diffusion, dundun and bata ensemble, media documentation, traditional drumming, Yoruba traditional music.
A Mother Cell-Specific Class B Penicillin-Binding Protein, PBP4b, in Bacillus subtilis

During bacterial endospore formation, two cells cooperate to produce a single dormant spore. Engulfment of the smaller cell, the forespore, by the larger mother cell results in the forespore being surrounded by two opposed membranes. A specialized peptidoglycan (PG) cell wall is synthesized in the intermembrane space (reviewed in reference 17), and this wall plays a key role in maintaining spore dormancy and heat resistance. Synthesis of the innermost PG layer, the germ cell wall, involves forespore-produced enzymes (12), while synthesis of the outer 80 to 90% of the spore PG, the cortex, is carried out by mother cell-expressed enzymes (5). The germ cell wall appears to serve as a template for synthesis of the cortex (12) and serves as the initial cell wall of a germinating spore (3), whereas the cortex is rapidly degraded during spore germination. The proteins involved in PG polymerization, the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs), can be divided into three classes based upon domain structures and enzymatic activities (8). Bacillus subtilis possesses six genes that encode class B PBPs (7), proteins that frequently play roles in determining specific PG morphology, such as the rod shape or septum production (reviewed in reference 8). A class B PBP encoded by spoVD is mother cell specific and is required for cortex PG synthesis (5). We present here evidence that the product of yrrR is another mother cell-specific class B PBP, but that this protein plays no clear role in spore PG synthesis.
A new layout optimization methodology for CMOS complex gates

Efficient algorithms for the layout generation of CMOS complex gates are presented. Heuristics which use the concept of delayed binding are introduced. An optimized net list is decided during the layout generation phase, rather than before. Examples are given showing that this approach can achieve a considerable improvement over previous ones. >
Uncovering the visual alphabet : Advances in our understanding of object perception

The ability to rapidly and accurately recognize visual stimuli represents a significant computational challenge. Yet, despite such complexity, the primate brain manages this task effortlessly. How it does so remains largely a mystery. The study of visual perception and object recognition was once limited to investigations of brain-damaged individuals or lesion experiments in animals. However, in the last 25 years, new methodologies, such as functional neuroimaging and advances in electrophysiological approaches, have provided scientists with the opportunity to examine this problem from new perspectives. This review highlights how some of these recent technological advances have contributed to the study of visual processing and where we now stand with respect to our understanding of neural mechanisms underlying object recognition.
International R&D Spillovers: Trade, FDI, and Information Technology as Spillover Channels*

With the rapid pace of economic integration, the productivity of a country depends not only on domestic R&D, but also on foreign R&D through technology diffusion across countries. The advancement of information technology (IT) has made the international transmission of knowledge faster and more efficient, providing an important channel for international R&D spillovers. This paper investigates three channels of international R&D spillovers: trade, FDI, and information technology. Applying panel cointegration and dynamic OLS analysis to the data for 21 OECD countries plus Israel during the period from 1981 to 1998, we find that bilateral trade remains an important conduit for international R&D spillovers. Although bilateral FDI is found to be positively related to international R&D spillovers, their impact on productivity growth is relatively small. We also find that the development of information technology has played a more important role in international R&D spillovers and productivity growth in recent years.
Prospective comparison of virtual fluoroscopy to fluoroscopy and plain radiographs for placement of lumbar pedicle screws.

Summary: Fluoroscopy-based frameless stereotactic systems provide feedback to the surgeon using virtual fluoroscopic images. The real-life accuracy of these virtual images has not been compared with traditional fluoroscopy in a clinical setting. We prospectively studied 23 consecutive cases. In two cases, registration errors precluded the use of virtual fluoroscopy. Pedicle probes placed with virtual fluoroscopic imaging were imaged with traditional fluoroscopy in the remaining 21 cases. Position of the probes was judged to be ideal, acceptable but not ideal, or not acceptable based on the traditional fluoroscopic images. Virtual fluoroscopy was used to place probes in for 97 pedicles from L1 to the sacrum. Eighty-eight probes were judged to be in ideal position, eight were judged to be acceptable but not ideal, and one probe was judged to be in an unacceptable position. This probe was angled toward an adjacent disc space. Therefore, 96 of 97 probes placed using virtual fluoroscopy were found to be in an acceptable position. The positive predictive value for acceptable screw placement with virtual fluoroscopy compared with traditional fluoroscopy was 99%. A probe placed with virtual fluoroscopic guidance will be judged to be in an acceptable position when imaged with traditional fluoroscopy 99% of the time.
Inaugural Issue of JRMO

Drs. Berish Strauch and Lee Landres founded the Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery (JRM) in 1984 to share ideas, innovations, and research from a growing community of microsurgeons. In 2007, its second Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Peter Neligan, launched the online platform in response to a steady increase in manuscript submissions. Today, JRM receives nearly 300 case studies, original articles, and review papers for consideration each year. JRM is committed to publishing groundbreaking techniques and relevant scientific findings for the practicingmicrosurgeon. Its accomplished and diverse cadre of reviewers ensures that JRM publishes content that is essential to the field of microsurgery, but also is novel, exciting, and clinically practical. Due to limited space, we findourselves rejecting a significant number of truly excellent papers. Now, in its 32nd year, JRM offers a companion publication, the Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery Open (JRMO). JRMO is an Open Access platform that provides an alternative opportunity for authors to share research and techniques with the growing, global community of microsurgeons. JRMO welcomes case studies and original articles focusing on reconstructive surgery of the breast, head and neck reconstruction, complex hand surgery, nerve regeneration and repair, surgical robotics, and new ideas and innovations in the field. Manuscripts are subject to the same rigorous peer review process as its parent journal, JRM. We are excited to present the inaugural issue of the JRMO, featuring 18 papers that describe management of lower extremity defects and head and neck cancers, intensive care unit nurse training for free-flap monitoring, and impressive and helpful innovations for solving complex reconstructive problems in the operating room. Our premier issue will be available in print, but all articles published in JRMO are easily accessible in full online. We are grateful for the excellent quality of JRM and JRMO submissions and encourage all members of the microsurgery community to continue to share your research, instructive cases, and innovations with us. Editorial
Weather-based pest forecasting for efficient crop protection

Weather information is critical for developing pest models and decision tools that are useful for managing pest problems. It is particularly important for efficient scheduling of pesticide applications, reducing unintended consequences of chemical residues on the ecosystem, and preventing the emergence of pest resistance that follows repeated use of chemical pesticides. Weather-based pest forecasting is therefore crucial for efficient use of pesticides, the overall protection of valuable crops, crop productivity, and economic returns for the farmer. It is also critical for successful implementation of long-term integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. Global access to mobile phones, electronic text messages, emails, and dynamic internet website information have become effective means of instantly communicating pest risk information to farmers, while advances in science and emerging technology are making the output from innovative models such as high-resolution Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) available for practical use on the farm. In this chapter, the complexity of weather is examined as a key factor in pest management, along with the uncertainty inherent in weather-based models for predicting potential pest risks.
So You Think You Want To Teach In College: Some Things To Consider Prior To Making Your Decision

While examining data from a previous qualitative study focusing on 11 senior health educators employed by research-intensive universities, we uncovered a variety of factors that made important contributions to their overall job satisfaction. Although salary (and benefits) are typically highly ranked when making a career decision, this article condensed a variety of responses from our senior faculty into six considerations which help to identify an ‘optimal fit’ work setting. Some, or all of these considerations are in addition to the universal ‘love of teaching’ expressed by all of our subjects. The result has been health education careers greatly influenced or pleasantly enhanced by the overall quality of personal as well as professional lives.
Evaluating an Alternative to the Emergency Department for Adults in Mental Health Crisis

ABSTRACTAdults with mental health issues lack clinically indicated options when in crisis. Historically, the emergency department (ED) has been the primary source of intervention largely due to funding cuts and decreased community resources in the USA. The literature highlights drastic mental health funding cuts alongside an increased prevalence of mental illness. A community-based alternative for adults in mental health crises was subsequently developed as a model of crisis care. The program has demonstrated impressive short-term outcomes, typically avoiding ED admissions in over 95% of the clients. This number benefits both the consumers who otherwise rely on the ED and the State of Illinois in terms of cost savings for avoidable ED visits. The current deflection rate only reflects ED admissions deflected on the day of the visit to the crisis respite program. To establish the long-term outcomes for this model, follow-up phone calls were conducted to determine whether or not the individual required an ED...
Beading the Sash

I'm beading a ceremonial sash. It's double-needle applique beadwork, with white beads on blue wool and trimmed with red silk ribbon. Our Cherokee, Southeastern-style of beadwork is currently under ...
An improved clocking methodology for energy efficient low area AES architectures using register renaming

Sub-round implementations of AES have been explored as an area and energy efficient solution to encrypt data in resource constrained applications such as the Internet of Things. Symmetry in AES operations across bytes and words allows the datapath to be scaled down to 8 bits resulting in very compact designs. However, such designs incur an area penalty to store intermediate results or energy penalty to shift data through registers without performing useful computation. We propose a smart clocking scheme and rename registers to minimize data movement and clock loading, and also avoid storing a duplicate copy of the system state. In comparison to the most efficient 8-bit implementation from literature, we save 45% energy per encryption and reduce clock energy by 70% at a reasonable area cost.
Germ cell tumors.

Germ cell tumors in children are different from those in adults and often differ from each other in the site of the tumor and the age of the child. The appropriate gross examination and processing of these tumors by pathologists are described, and differences according to site and/or age are highlighted. Useful special studies such as immunohistochemistry and cytogenetics are identified, and the appropriate methods for processing material for these studies are discussed. Handling of small biopsy specimens or fine-needle aspirates is also addressed. Staging of germ cell tumors by site according to Pediatric Oncology Group and Children's Cancer Study Group treatment protocols and the most recent adaptation of grading of immature teratomas are outlined.
Comparison of Enterprise Point-of-Care and Nova Biomedical Critical Care Xpress analyzers for determination of arterial pH, blood gas, and electrolyte values in canine and equine blood.

Background Point-of-care analyzers can provide a rapid turnaround time for critical blood test results. Agreement between the Enterprise Point-of-Care (EPOC) and bench-top laboratory analyzers is important to determine the clinical reliability of the EPOC. Objectives The aim of the study was (1) to evaluate the precision (repeatability) of blood gas values measured by the EPOC and (2) to determine the level of agreement between the EPOC and Nova Critical Care Express (Nova CCX) for the assessment of arterial pH, blood gases, and electrolyte variables in canine and equine blood. Methods Arterial blood samples from dogs were analyzed on the EPOC and Nova CCX analyzers to determine precision and agreement of pH, PaCO2 , PaO2 , and HCT. The same analytes plus Na+ , K- , and Cl- were analyzed for agreement using equine blood. Statistical analyses included assessment of precision using the coefficient of variation (CV%), and agreement using the Deming regression, Pearson correlation, and Bland-Altman plots. Results Both analyzers provided precise results of pH, PaCO2 , PaO2, and HCT, meeting CV% quality requirement values. In both species, Deming regression results were acceptable and correlation values were above 0.93 for arterial pH and blood gases, but lower for sodium and chloride. Bland-Altman plots demonstrated varying degrees of bias, but good agreement between the 2 analyzers was seen when arterial blood gases and electrolytes were measured, except for PaCO2 and Cl-. CONCLUSION: The EPOC analyzer provides consistent, reliable results for canine arterial blood gas values and for equine arterial blood gas and electrolyte values. Cl- results could be acceptable with the application of a correction factor, but the PaCO2 results were more variable.
Clinical Psychology: Manual-based Treatment

The distillation of complex psychological treatments into detailed manuals suitable for distribution to therapist and patient alike has been no less than a revolution in psychotherapy research. In this article we review reasons for the development of psychological treatment manuals. We trace the evolution of these manuals over the decade of the 1990s to a point where they have begun to impact the delivery of psychological interventions in behavioral healthcare settings. Attitudes of mental health professionals toward these manuals are then reviewed, and arguments mustered both pro and con on the utilization of these manuals are summarized. The article concludes with suggestions on the future of manualized psychotherapy in emerging behavioral healthcare delivery systems.
Receptors reconsidered: a 20-year perspective.

Publisher Summary The original discovery of steroid hormone receptors and essentially all information concerning their interaction and function in target cells have depended on experiments in which a radioactive steroid serves as a marker for the receptor protein to which it binds. The female reproductive tissues, such as uterus, vagina, and anterior pituitary, contain a characteristic estrogen-binding component which was first indicated by their striking ability to take up and retain tritiated hexestrol and estradiol after the administration of physiological doses of these substances to immature animals. This chapter discusses the biochemical mechanism by which the reaction of estradiol and other estrogenic hormones with receptor substances elicits hormonal response has been the subject of extensive investigation. The activated steroid-receptor complex is translocated to the nucleus where it binds to chromatin and in some way modulates RNA synthesis which appears to be characteristically restricted in hormone-dependent tissues.
Best Response Model Predictive Control for Agile Interactions Between Autonomous Ground Vehicles

We introduce an algorithm for autonomous control of multiple fast ground vehicles operating in close proximity to each other. The algorithm is based on a combination of the game theoretic notion of iterated best response, and an information theoretic model predictive control algorithm designed for non-linear stochastic systems. We test the algorithm on two one-fifth scale AutoRally platforms traveling at speeds upwards of 8 meters per second, while maintaining a following distance of under two meters from bumper-to-bumper.
Follow-up imaging of traumatic vertebral artery dissections is unnecessary in asymptomatic patients.

Abstract Objective Routine computed tomography (CT) imaging in trauma patients has led to increased recognition of blunt vertebral artery injuries (BVIs). We sought to determine the prevalence of strokes, injury progression, and need for intervention in patients with BVI. Methods Consecutive patients presenting with BVI during 2 years were identified from the institutional trauma registry. Inpatient records, imaging studies, and follow-up data were reviewed in detail from the electronic medical record. Results There were 76 BVIs identified in 70 patients (64% male; mean age, 47 ± 19 years); bilateral injuries occurred in 6 patients. Five patients who arrived at the hospital intubated had evidence of posterior circulation infarcts on admission CT, whereas one additional patient had evidence of a posterior circulation infarct attributed to complications of late spinal surgery. Four of the five patients with infarcts on admission CT survived to discharge, but only one had residual stroke symptoms. Minor (grade 1 or grade 2) injuries occurred in 25 (36%) patients; severe (grade 3 or grade 4) injuries occurred in 45 (64%). Twelve patients died of associated injuries (eight with severe BVI, four with minor BVI). Stepwise logistic regression analysis selected age (odds ratio, 1.14; confidence interval, 1.04-1.25; P Conclusions These data suggest that BVI-related strokes are present at the time of admission and do not have clinical sequelae. No late strokes occurred in this series, and no surgical or interventional treatments were required even in the presence of radiographic worsening. The relatively few cases of vertebral pseudoaneurysms in this series limit any conclusions about these specific lesions. However, these data indicate that follow-up imaging of nonaneurysmal BVI is not necessary in adults who are found to be asymptomatic on follow-up.
Infrared intensities and molar refraction of amorphous dimethyl carbonate – comparisons to four interstellar molecules

The first measurements of infrared (IR) band intensities of solid dimethyl carbonate are presented along with measurements of this compound's refractive index and density near 15 K, neither of which has been reported. Molar refractions are used to compare these results to other new data from ices made of methyl acetate, acetone, acetic acid, and acetaldehyde, four molecules known to exist in the interstellar medium. Comparisons are made to IR intensities taken from the literature on amorphous ices. The value and importance of comparisons based on molecular structures, to predict and test laboratory results, are highlighted.
A BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Age and Species Dependence of Pial Arteriolar Responses to Topical Carbon Monoxide In Vivo

In newborn pigs, carbon monoxide (CO) contributes to regulation of cerebrovascular circulation. Results from isolated adult cerebral arteries suggest CO may have less dilatory potential in mature animals. However, few data are available on the direct effects of CO on cerebrovascular circulation in vivo except for those from newborn pigs. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that i) rat cerebral arterioles dilate to CO in vivo and ii) CO-induced cerebrovascular dilatory responses are age dependent in pigs. Also, we examined whether the permissive role of nitric oxide in CO-induced dilation observed in piglets is present in older pigs and rats. Experiments used anesthetized newborn, 7-week-old, and juvenile (3- to 4-month-old) pigs and 3- to 4-month-old rats with closed cranial windows and topical applications of CO and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Dilations to SNP were not different at different ages in pigs or between pigs and rats. CO produced pial arteriolar dilations in all groups. Dilation to 10−5M CO w...
Arachnida Class: Ticks

This chapter examines distinguishing characteristics of medically relevant ticks with a focus on those found in the United States of America and the disease states they cause in humans. Preventative techniques to minimize tick exposures will also be discussed.
Safety of treatment options available for postoperative pain.

IntroductionPostoperative pain is one of the most common adverse events after surgery and has been shown to increase the risk of other complications. On the other hand, liberal opioid use in the pe...
Caring for patients who are incarcerated: important lessons for the medical trainee.

“How would your perception of a patient change if you discovered that he or she had been convicted of a serious crime?” Medical students are typically posed with this scenario at some point during ...
Nursing home admissions for persons with dementia: Role of home- and community-based services

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS) generosity and the likelihood of nursing home (NH) admission for dually enrolled older adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their level of physical and cognitive impairment at NH admission. DATA SOURCES National Medicare data, Medicaid Analytic eXtract, and MDS 3.0 for CY2010-2013 were linked. STUDY DESIGN Eligible Medicare-Medicaid dual beneficiaries with ADRD were identified and followed for up to a year. We constructed two measures of HCBS generosity, breadth and intensity, at the county level for older duals with ADRD. Three binary outcomes were defined as follows: any NH placement during the follow-up year for all individuals in the sample, high (vs. not high) physical impairment, and high (vs. not high) cognitive impairment at the time of NH admission for those who were admitted to an NH. Logistic regressions with state-fixed effects and county random effects were estimated for these outcomes, respectively, accounting for individual- and county-level covariates. DATA EXTRACTION METHODS The study sample included 365,310 community-dwelling older dual beneficiaries with ADRD who were enrolled in fee-for-service Medicare and Medicaid between October 1, 2010, and December 31, 2012. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Considerable variations of breadth and intensity in county-level HCBS were observed. We found that a 10-percentage-point increase in HCBS breadth was associated with a 1.4 (p < 0.01)-percentage-point reduction in the likelihood of NH admission. Among individuals with NH admission, greater HCBS breadth was associated with a higher level of physical impairment, and greater HCBS intensity was associated with a higher level of physical and cognitive impairment at NH admission. CONCLUSIONS Among community-dwelling duals with ADRD, Medicaid HCBS generosity was associated with a lower likelihood of NH admission and greater functional impairment at NH admission.
Correction to the article Surface bundles over surfaces with arbitrarily many fiberings

This short note corrects an error appearing in the published version of the titular paper and gives a brief discussion of an example illustrating the corrected construction.
Giant, calcified colloid cyst of the lateral ventricle

We report a patient with a giant, calcified colloid cyst in the left lateral ventricle. Colloid cysts are slow growing, benign lesions, commonly originating in the roof of the anterior third ventricle near the foramen of Monro. Many colloid cysts are small lesions which are either discovered incidentally or cause headache, visual changes, memory deficits, and/or syncope. Giant colloid cysts are rare. A 40-year-old man presented with a month long history of worsening headaches and was found to have a multiloculated 5 cm intraventricular mass with an anterior hyperdensity, suggestive of calcification, arising within the lateral ventricles. He underwent an interhemispheric transcallosal approach for resection of the mass. The pathology was consistent with a giant colloid cyst with calcification in the anterior cyst wall. Giant, calcified mass is a rare presentation of colloid cyst. Although rare, this diagnosis remains an important consideration in the differential diagnosis of any calcified, cystic intraventricular mass.
A Review Essay: "Lise Meitner and the Dawn of the Nuclear Age", by Patricia Rife

The recently published book, ``Lise Meitner and the Dawn of the Nuclear Age'', by Patricia Rife (Boston: Birkhauser, 1999) is reviewed in an essay for the lay audience. Meitner was a leading nuclear physicist at the time that the nucleus was the most exciting frontier of science. To establish her career, she had to overcome daunting prejudices against women in science and academia. Being of Jewish origin in Germany in the 1930's, she narrowly escaped certain disaster. Meitner was a crucial participant in the discovery of nuclear fission, yet did not share in the Nobel Prize that her collaborator, Otto Hahn, received in 1945. How these events came about, how they were intertwined with contemporary history and how they fit into the evolution of Meitner's social conscience and her abhorrence of war are some of the fascinating subjects discussed in the book and reviewed in this essay.
The national scalable cluster project: three lessons about high performance data mining and data intensive computing

We discuss three principles learned from experience with the National Scalable Cluster Project. Storing, managing and mining massive data requires systems that exploit parallelism. This can be achieved with shared-nothing clusters and careful attention to I/O paths. Also, exploiting data parallelism at the file and record level provides efficient mapping of data-intensive problems onto clusters and is particularly well suited to data mining. Finally, the repetitive nature of data mining demands special attention be given to data layout on the hardware and to software access patterns while maintaining a storage schema easily derived from the legacy form of the data.