cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficient communication-aware dynamic coverage using space-filling curves

In this paper, we consider a dynamic coverage problem where a team of mobile robots needs to cover a set of time-varying Points of Interest (POIs), while maintaining their connectivity to a remote station in a realistic communication environment. Our goal is to design the motion and communication strategies of the robots such that they periodically visit the POIs, communicate the gathered information to a remote station, minimize their total energy costs, including motion, sensing and communication energy, and satisfy other system constraints. In our previous work [1], we have shown how to pose this problem as a Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP), which is computationally expensive. In this paper, we focus on designing a considerably more computationally-efficient heuristic approach to tackle this problem. More specifically, we propose to utilize the space-filling curves to efficiently assign the POIs and plan the trajectories of the robots. Under certain conditions, we mathematically show that our heuristic approach is at most a constant factor away from the global optimum. Our simulation results then confirm that our approach is considerably faster than solving the MILP, especially when the dimension of the problem is high. They further show that the energy consumption of our approach is only around 26% more than the optimum.
Some applications of ab initio calculations in molecular spectroscopy

Abstract The utility of ab initio calculations for the determination of structural parameters for allyl halides and ethers is demonstrated. It is shown that calculations with the 6-31G* basis set can be utilized with off-sets for the CH distances of 0.011 A which will give CH distances that agree with the experimental values obtained from infrared frequencies within 0.003 A. When conformers are present, the differences between the structural parameters for the two conformers can be used as constraints for the electron diffraction determination of the structure or for the microwave determinations by utilizing rotational constants from both conformers. Examples are given which show the utility of ab initio calculations for structural determinations, force constants, and frequency predictions.
What is health equity: and how does a life-course approach take us further toward it?

Although the terms “health equity” and “health disparities” have become increasingly familiar to health professionals in the United States over the past two decades, they are rarely defined. Federal agencies have often defined “health disparities” in ways that encompass all health differences between any groups. Lack of clarity about the concepts of health disparities and health equity can have serious consequences for how resources are allocated, by removing social justice as an explicit consideration from policy agendas. This paper aims to make explicit what these concepts mean and to discuss what a life-course perspective can contribute to efforts to achieve health equity and eliminate health disparities. Equity means justice. Health equity is the principle or goal that motivates efforts to eliminate disparities in health between groups of people who are economically or socially worse-off and their better-off counterparts—such as different racial/ethnic or socioeconomic groups or groups defined by disability status, sexual orientation, or gender identity—by making special efforts to improve the health of those who are economically or socially disadvantaged. Health disparities are the metric by which we measure progress toward health equity. The basis for these definitions in ethical and human rights principles is discussed, along with the relevance of a life-course perspective for moving toward greater health equity
Carbon-13 NMR relaxation studies of gluconate and manganese—gluconate interactions

The effect of temperature on the spin–lattice (R1) and spin–spin (R2) 13C relaxation rates of gluconate and manganese (II)–gluconate interactions was determined in D2O. An R2 vs T−1 minimum was observed for gluconate similar to that observed in solid-liquid phase transitions. Nuclear Overhauser enhancement factors indicated predominately dipolar relaxation mechanisms for all atoms except the carbonyl carbon. Activation energies and chemical shifts indicated a molecular reorientation involving the carbonyl carbon which resulted in changes in solvation effects. Addition of manganese(II) to gluconate in D2O resulted in an observed minimum in the R1 vs T−1 plots for all carbon atoms except the carbonyl species. The activation energies further supported the concept of changes in solvent-manganese-gluconate interactions produced by variations in intramolecular structure.
Increased glial glutamate transporter EAAT2 expression reduces visceral nociceptive response in mice

Visceral hypersensitivity is the leading complaint of functional bowel disorders. Central sensitization mediated by glutamate receptor activation is implicated in pathophysiology of visceral pain. The glial glutamate transporter EAAT2 is the principal mediator of glutamate clearance to terminate glutamate-mediated responses. Transgenic mice overexpressing human EAAT2 (EAAT2 mice), which exhibited a twofold enhanced glutamate uptake, showed 39% less writhing response to intraperitoneal acetic acid than nontransgenic littermates. Moreover, EAAT2 transgenic mice showed a 53–64% reduction in visceromotor response (VMR) to colorectal distension (CRD) in assessments of the response to graded increase in pressures. Corroborating the involvement of enhanced glutamate uptake, wild-type mice treated for 1 wk with ceftriaxone, an EAAT2 expression activator, showed a 49–70% reduction in VMR to CRD. Moreover, systemic pretreatment with the selective EAAT2 transporter blocker dihydrokainate reversed the ceftriaxone-blunted nociceptive response to CRD. However, the enhanced VMR to CRD produced by intracolonic ethanol was not significantly attenuated by 1-wk ceftriaxone pretreatment. The data suggest that enhanced glutamate uptake provides protective effects against colonic distension-induced nociception and represents an exciting new mechanistic approach leading to better therapeutic options to visceral pain disorders.
Extracting the Residual Properties of Cracked Plies Utilizing a Unit Cell Model

The methodology utilized in estimating the residual properties of plies with matrix ply cracks is discussed. The technique involves the use of a laminate unit cell and a volume-averaging scheme to extract stress/strain data from a three-dimensional finite element model. The procedure for developing periodic boundary conditions and their implementation in the unit cell models is explained. The volume-averaging scheme capturing the contribution of the crack to the deformation of the laminate is presented. Residual thermo-mechanical properties of the cracked plies were then estimated and compared with experimental results of cross-ply laminates and were found to be in good agreement.
HIV-associated immune-mediated renal disease

HIV-associated immune-mediated renal disease. Although focal glomerulosclerosis is the most common renal disease, other proliferative glomerulonephritides are encountered in HIV-infected patients. We studied four HIV-infected patients with renal insufficiency, proteinuria, and proliferative glomerulonephritis, consistent with immune-mediated disease, to investigate the role of the virus and immune complexes in the pathogenesis of the nephropathy. Circulating immune complexes (CICs) and HIV-reactive antibodies were measured and characterized in each patient. Renal biopsy tissue was acid eluted, and the eluate analyzed. DNA extracted from biopsies was subjected to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect HIV genome. CICs were detected in each patient: an IgA-p24 HIV antigen complex and an IgG antibody-gp120 HIV antigen complex in two patients; two patients had an IgG-p24 HIV antigen complex. Identical complexes were eluted from renal tissue in the first three patients; p24 HIV antigen, and complement from the fourth. The eluted antibodies reacted with the HIV antigens from the isolated CICs. Direct immunofluorescence for viral antigen in the eluted glomerular tissue revealed HIV antigens; PCR confirmed the presence of gag genome in all four biopsies. We conclude both circulating and in-situ HIV antigen-specific immune complexes may be associated with glomerulonephritis in HIV infected patients. Viral incorporation into renal tissue may be important in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated renal disease.
STRESS DISTRIBUTION WITHIN CIRCULAR CYLINDERS IN COMPRESSION

Abstract The standard laboratory test involving the use of circular cylindrical specimens of concrete or rock is unsatisfactory. Friction existing between the end surfaces of the specimen and the platens of the loading machine causes development of nonuniform stresses throughout the specimen. These stresses have a major effect on the failure of the tested specimen and will result in incorrect measurement of mechanical property values (Poisson's ratio, modulus of elasticity, ultimate strength, etc.). In the standard test, with the cylinder under axial load, the specimen is in a state of triaxial stress. The greater the friction on the end surfaces, the greater the divergence from uniform axial stress in the cylinder. Only if the end friction is completely eliminated does the division of the load by the cross-sectional area describe the true state of stress. A theoretical solution has been derived for the stress and strain distribution within elastic cylindrical specimens, as a function of the friction at the interface of the specimen and the machine platens. The solution was checked experimentally using an epoxy cylindrical specimen with strain gages embedded within and bonded to its surface. The cylinder was tested under low, medium, and high friction end conditions. Reasonable agreement between the experimental and theoretical solutions was observed in all cases of end conditions.
Thromboelastogram fails to predict postoperative hemorrhage in cardiac patients

To determine the clinical usefulness of the thromboelastogram in the prediction of postoperative hemorrhage in cardiac patients, we related the results of routine coagulation tests (RCTs) and thromboelastography with the amount of chest tube drainage postoperatively in 101 patients requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. Our data indicated that there was no correlation between RCT results and thromboelastographic variables. No single variable of RCTs and thromboelastography correlated well with the amount of chest tube drainage postoperatively. Before the onset of cardiopulmonary bypass, the most frequent abnormalities detected by thromboelastograms were fibrinolysis and hypocoagulability resulting from factor deficiency. Hypercoagulability detected by thromboelastograms occurred in 13% of patients after cardiopulmonary bypass and usually was not detected by RCTs. The incidence of false-negative thromboelastograms and RCT results in patients who had excessive hemorrhage of unknown cause was 46% and 52%, respectively. The incidence of fibrinolysis as detected by thromboelastograms was similar before and after bypass, but only 2 of the 18 patients with fibrinolysis had excessive hemorrhage postoperatively. Our results indicate that neither RCTs nor thromboelastography predicts the likelihood of excessive hemorrhage in patients after cardiopulmonary bypass. The thromboelastographic results should be interpreted cautiously because of the high rate of unreliable results.
Quantification of trabecular bone structure using magnetic resonance imaging at 3 Tesla--calibration studies using microcomputed tomography as a standard of reference.

The purpose of this study is to use high-resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 3 Tesla (3T) to quantify trabecular bone structure in vitro using femoral head specimens, and to correlate the calculated structure measures with those that were determined using microcomputed tomography (μCT), the standard of reference. Fifteen cylindrical cores were obtained from fresh femoral heads after total hip arthroplasty. MR images were obtained at 3T using a transmit–receive wrist coil. High-resolution coronal images were acquired using a modified three-dimensional (3D) fast-gradient echo sequence. From these data sets two-dimensional (2D) structural parameters analogous to bone histomorphometry were derived by using both mean intercept length (MIL) methods based on the plate model and the more recent model-assumption free 3D distance-transformation (DT) methods. The parameters measured by the 2D plate model-based MIL method and the DT method included apparent (App). BV/TV (bone volume/total volume), App. Tb.Th (trabecular thickness), App. Tb.Sp (trabecular separation), and App. Tb.N (trabecular number). Identical regions of interest were analyzed in the MR images and the μCT data sets, and similar structure measures were derived. The means and standard deviations of the parameters over all slices were calculated and MR-derived measures were correlated with those derived from the μCT data sets using linear regression analyses. Structure measures were overestimated with MRI, for example, the mean App. BV/TV was 0.45 for MRI and 0.20 for μCT, and the slope of the graph was 1.45. App. Tb.Th was overestimated by a factor of 1.9, whereas App. Tb.Sp was underestimated; Tb.N showed the smallest effect. Correlations between the individual parameters were excellent (App. BV/TV, r2= 0.82; App. Tb.Sp, r2 = 0.84; App. Tb.N, r2 = 0.81), except for App.Tb.Th (r2 = 0.67). The results of this study show that trabecular bone structure measures may be obtained using 3T MR imaging. These measures, although higher than the standard of reference, show a highly significant correlation with true structure measures obtained by μCT.
MODIFICATION OF THE EFFECTIVE PARTICLE-HOLE INTERACTION BY CORE POLARIZATION.

Abstract The second order core-polarization corrections to the effective particle-hole force have been calculated using a central potential with Rosenfeld exchange mixture. These corrections do not seem to seriously alter the spectrum of the particle-hole states of 16 O.
Wild Frenchmen and Frenchified Indians: Material Culture and Race in Colonial Louisiana. By Sophie White. (Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2012. Pp. x, 329. $45.00.)

Early Louisiana had perhaps the most diverse population in North America. In the lower colony, it ranged from the homogeneous group of colonists in New Orleans, who came mainly from western France,...
Isolated inctracranial Whipple's disease—Report of a rare case and review of the literature

Abstract Introduction Whipple's disease (WD) is a rare multisystemic infectious disease that can involve a variety of organs namely the gastrointestinal tract, lymphatic system, heart and nervous system. Myorhythmia is a hallmark of WD. Isolated CNS involvement is very rare. Case We present a 50 year-old African-American woman with rapid cognitive decline, visual hallucinations, insomnia, dysarthria, and gait unsteadiness. She subsequently developed pendular nystagmus and gaze paresis. Serial brain MRI scans showed T2 hyperintense lesions in the left striatum and right parahippocampal gyrus. FDG-PET scan showed marked increase of glucose uptake in the left putamen. Serum and CSF PCR for Tropheryma whipplei was negative. Stereotactic biopsy of the lesion and tissue PCR was consistent with WD. Review of literature A systematic review identified 24 cases of isolated intracranial presentation of WD since 1975. Cases with systemic and extracranial manifestations were excluded. Discussion In patients with rapidly progressive cognitive decline with negative workup for common etiologies, there should be a high index of suspicion for WD. Diagnosis of WD remains a challenge as traditional methods commonly fail to culture T. whipplei. PET scans can help in identifying areas of inflammation that can be biopsied. Our case proves that a negative serum and CSF PCR should not exclude CNS WD and a brain biopsy of the lesion with PCR assay should be performed when possible.
Cardiovascular Risk Prevalence among Diverse School-Age Children: Implications for Schools

Cardiovascular risk reduction programs in school-aged populations must be based on accurate assessments of risk. This cross-sectional, descriptive study presents the prevalence of cardiovascular risk with respect to blood pressure, obesity, and fitness in 4th, 5th, and 6th grade children. School nursing research assistants conducted 358 interviews and clinical risk assessments with children and their parents. A total of 180 children (53%) were found to have one or more cardiovascular risk factors. Our findings of a high level of risk illustrate the need for school nurses to take a leadership role to reduce risk and foster "heart-healthy" school environments.
Characterization of the Ectodomain of the Envelope Protein of Dengue Virus Type 4: Expression, Membrane Association, Secretion and Particle Formation in the Absence of Precursor Membrane Protein

Background The envelope (E) of dengue virus (DENV) is the major target of neutralizing antibodies and vaccine development. After biosynthesis E protein forms a heterodimer with precursor membrane (prM) protein. Recent reports of infection enhancement by anti-prM monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) suggest anti-prM responses could be potentially harmful. Previously, we studied a series of C-terminal truncation constructs expressing DENV type 4 prM/E or E proteins and found the ectodomain of E protein alone could be recognized by all 12 mAbs tested, suggesting E protein ectodomain as a potential subunit immunogen without inducing anti-prM response. The characteristics of DENV E protein ectodomain in the absence of prM protein remains largely unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, we investigated the expression, membrane association, glycosylation pattern, secretion and particle formation of E protein ectodomain of DENV4 in the presence or absence of prM protein. E protein ectodomain associated with membrane in or beyond trans-Golgi and contained primarily complex glycans, whereas full-length E protein associated with ER membrane and contained high mannose glycans. In the absence of prM protein, E protein ectodomain can secrete as well as form particles of approximately 49 nm in diameter, as revealed by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation with or without detergent and electron microscopy. Mutational analysis revealed that the secretion of E protein ectodomain was affected by N-linked glycosylation and could be restored by treatment with ammonia chloride. Conclusions/Significance Considering the enhancement of DENV infectivity by anti-prM antibodies, our findings provide new insights into the expression and secretion of E protein ectodomain in the absence of prM protein and contribute to future subunit vaccine design.
Liaoning Wind Power Integration into Power System Problems Analysis and its Strategies

For the actual situation in Liaoning Power Grid, analyzed the problems the wind power interconnection brought. Involving power quality, power fluctuations, power peaking, power delivery and so on. Proposed related coping strategies. Strengthen wind power connection management, plan the power structure scientifically and rationally, carry out multi-channel consumer of wind power actively, improve the security and stability level of the power grid.
Superdiffusion in structurally disordered systems in any spatial dimension

We show that a model recently proposed by Dunlap, Kundu, and Phillips for the absence of localization in structurally disordered systems can be generalized. Specifically we show how the perfect matching condition on the diagonal and off‐diagonal matrix elements can be relaxed. It is demonstrated within a tight‐binding model that if the structural disorder is chosen from a bivalued distribution (that is, the nearest‐neighbor potential has two minima) superdiffusion obtains even in one dimension for the majority of the site‐diagonal and site‐off‐diagonal coupling constants characterizing real systems. In one dimension the mean‐square displacement of an initially localized particle is found to grow in time as t3/2 regardless of the magnitude of the disorder. The conditions for observing this behavior experimentally are discussed.
Zebrafish-based small molecule discovery

The earliest examples of small molecule discovery involved serendipitous phenotypic observations in whole organisms, but this organism-based process has given way in recent decades to systematic, high-throughput assays using purified proteins, cells, or cell extracts. In vitro screens have been successful at identifying modifiers of well-understood biological processes, but they are limited in their ability to discover modifiers of processes that are poorly understood or occur only in an integrated physiological context. Small model organisms, especially the zebrafish, make it possible to combine the advantages of organism-based small molecule discovery with the technologies and throughput of modern screening. The combination of model organisms with high-throughput screening is likely to extend small molecule discovery efforts to fields of study such as developmental biology and to broaden the range of diseases for which drug screening can be performed.
Occult hepatic sinusoid tumor of infancy simulating neuroblastoma

Two infants with hepatosplenomegaly and an occult tumor of hepatic sinusoids are reported. Although secretion of biogenic amines of neuroblastoma was not elevated, infrequent neurosecretory granules were observed by electron microscopy in the cytoplasmic processes of the tumor cells. The infants responded to vincristine and prednisone therapy and are tumor free 8 and 2 years later, respectively. The clinical, radiographic, biochemical, and microscopic findings of these cases are presented. The distinction from other infantile hepatic sinusoid small round cell tumors is based on the light and electron microscopic findings. This neuroepithelial tumor is either an unusual form of neuroblastoma or a neoplasm of APUD cell origin. If chemotherapy is utilized, it should be selective and limited.
Infections with Aspergillus Species

Invasive aspergillosis is a common infection in patients who are immunocompromised. The diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis is difficult in the absence of confirmation by tissue biopsy and histological studies. Therefore, recent advances that may be important for the development of highly sensitive and specific serodiagnostic tests for the early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis are reviewed. The inability of the detection of antibody to Aspergillus to lead to early diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis also is emphasized. However, sensitive methods that reliably detect significant amounts of aspergillus antigen in body fluids of high-risk patients are currently being evaluated and may provide a noninvasive early diagnostic test that is both sensitive and specific
Analysis of the role of adhesion in composites that contain particles

The role of adhesion in rubber modified polymers was determined using finite element stress analysis. Adhesion between the two phases was found to be unimportant in terms of the stress concentrations in the matrix phase, even near the polymer-rubber interface. By considering zero adhesion and perfect adhesion limits, bounds on the interfacial behavior have been established. The stress analysis predicts elastic properties such as modulus, Poisson's ratio and yield strength. A comparison is made to experimental results on a thermoplastic/elastomer blend.
Effects of beta-cell rest on beta-cell function: a review of clinical and preclinical data.

The concept of ‘β-cell rest’, or suppression of insulin release from β-cells, was originally developed in the context of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Clinicians noted that the initiation of insulin therapy in newly diagnosed patients often led to partial remission, the so-called ‘honeymoon period’, which is characterized by increased endogenous insulin secretion and reduced exogenous insulin requirements. This was first formally documented by Jackson et al. in 1940, who reported ‘a regimen of control designed to approximate normal conditions of metabolism’, which markedly decreased insulin requirements in children with type 1 diabetes (1). The first controlled clinical trial of β-cell rest was performed in the 1970’s, when Mirouze et al. reported increased ‘remission’ rates in patients treated with intensive vs. conventional insulin therapy (2). These and other observations generated the hypothesis that decreased demand on β-cells can improve insulin secretion and β-cell viability. This concept was subsequently expanded into the field of type 2 diabetes (3). In the context of this review, we use the term β-cell rest ‘inclusively’, meaning that the agents used to induce β-cell rest may have many additional beneficial effects on glucose metabolism beyond their direct action on β-cells. Most obvious is the case of exogenous insulin, which ameliorates glucotoxicity and simultaneously reduces endogenous insulin secretion – effects that are difficult to tease apart, especially in the clinical setting. Another important distinction is difficult or impossible to make in the clinical arena: whether improved β-cell function is observed because of more work performed by existing β-cells or by a greater number including new β-cells.
Memory integration: neural mechanisms and implications for behavior

Everyday behaviors require a high degree of flexibility, in which prior knowledge is applied to inform behavior in new situations. Such flexibility is thought to be supported in part by memory integration, a process whereby related memories become interconnected in the brain through recruitment of overlapping neuronal populations. Recent advances in cognitive and behavioral neuroscience highlight the importance of a hippocampal-medial prefrontal circuit in memory integration. Emerging evidence suggests that abstracted representations in medial prefrontal cortex guide reactivation of related memories during new encoding events, thus promoting hippocampal integration of related experiences. Moreover, recent work indicates that integrated memories are called upon during novel situations to facilitate a host of behaviors, from spatial navigation to imagination.
Multiscale strain measurements of plastically deforming polycrystalline titanium: Role of deformation heterogeneities

Abstract The purpose of this work was to characterize the spatial distribution of residual deformation at the mesoscale (a few grains) and at the macroscale (hundreds of grains) in titanium subjected to cyclic tensile loading. Using ex situ digital image correlation, we compared the axial residual strain fields obtained at optical magnifications ranging from 3.2× to 50×. To compare the results obtained at different optical magnifications, numerous images at higher magnification had to be assembled to encompass the same field-of-view observed at lower magnifications. The strain fields at the highest optical magnification revealed deformation patterns that were not detectable at lower magnifications. These deformation patterns appeared as inclined slip bands near grain boundaries and grain boundary triple points, with the bands sometimes crossing into neighboring grain interiors. Measurements made at optical magnifications greater than 10× captured an underlying deformation pattern, however, considerably more detail within grains was obtained at 50× magnification. The strain fields obtained at 10× and 50× magnifications were subsequently used to estimate the length scale of a representative volume element (RVE) based on the standard deviation of the average residual strain. The estimated RVE length scale was nearly three times the average grain diameter if extracted from the 50× results. The estimate of the RVE length scale was smaller at lower magnification which was due to a homogenizing effect caused by the low measurement resolution. Thus, care must be taken when experimentally obtaining RVE length scale estimates.
Trends in library and information science education

Educational programs for library and information science will be changing during the next decade in order to meet society's need for trained information professionals capable of working in libraries, in governmental and industrial information centers, and as information consultants and entrepreneurs. In seeking to discern educational trends, present practices are analyzed in terms of the influences of educational externalities over which the institution has relatively little control, and the educational internalities over which the school has jurisdiction. Based upon this analysis, possible future trends and developments in library and information science education are presented not as a blueprint for the future but as a stimulus for discussion and planning.
Carcinogenic activity of cigarette smoke gas phase and its modulation by beta-carotene and N-acetylcysteine

Male strain A/J mice were exposed for six hours a day, five days a week for six months to either full tobacco smoke or to tobacco smoke drawn through a HEPA filter that removed more than 99% of particulate matter. After another four months in air, the animals were sacrificed and lung tumors were counted for calculation of multiplicities and incidences. Analysis of the chamber atmospheres showed that in the filtered smoke the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and tobacco smoke specific nitrosamines were reduced to from below 18% to even nondetectable levels of the original values measured in the unfiltered smoke. Aldehydes and other volatile organic compounds such as 1,3-butadiene, benzene, or acrolein were reduced to about 50 to 90% of the concentrations found in unfiltered smoke. Some potentially carcinogenic metals reached levels in filtered smoke ranging from 77% to less than 1% found in full smoke. The mice exposed to the filtered smoke atmosphere had practically identical lung tumor multiplicities and incidence as had the animals exposed to full smoke, significantly higher than in air exposed controls. Diets containing 0.5% beta-carotene or 0.4% N-acetylcysteine afforded some chemoprevention. It was tentatively concluded that 1,3-butadiene might be an important contributor to lung tumorigenesis in this mouse model of tobacco smoke carcinogenesis.
Clinical quality in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes

We have entered a new era of medicine in which both the interest of scientific rigor and pressure from health care purchasers demand increased adoption of empirically based standards of care. Certain therapeutic areas have seen rapid transformation from a model in which care is based on a clinician's intuition to one based on therapies and standards backed by substantial clinical evidence. The condition of non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes, a leading cause of death in industrialized nations, provides an excellent example of this transformation and a potential model for other areas of disease treatment. This article discusses the cycle of quality (the conceptual basis for quality improvement in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes), the approach taken by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association in developing their clinical practice guidelines, the use of performance indicators in clinical practice, and the ever-increasing evidence that adherence to practice guidelines and attention to performance measures result in improved patient outcomes.
Normalization and the South African City

A common view among students of South Africa, policymakers, and academics alike is that since the ending of apartheid South Africa has been somehow “normalized.” This normalization is seen as a tendency towards the production of urban forms common in North America and Western Europe as well as a means of situating South Africa's major cities within the context of an increasingly global system. The first aim of this paper is, then, to address the extent to which the South African city has been normalized. In this regard, the Sandton phenomenon to the north of Johannesburg is emblematic of the Western notion of “edge city” and Johannesburg itself as a world city. The specificity of the South African case, however, suggests caution in this interpretation. Here, the second aim of the paper is to examine the value of the normalization framework's contribution to the analysis of urban and/or social forms. Focusing on the Johannesburg metropolitan area, and considering that Sandton is not just an edge city but a...
Application of an integrated modeling tool: United Parcel Service

A case study on the application of an integrated tool on a package shipping facility of the United Parcel Service (UPS) is presented. This tool uses an integrated set of five software packages: LOTUS, MANUPLAN, SIMSTARTER, SIMAN, and CINEMA. These packages work as an integrated tool which takes a design idea from a rough cut stochastic analysis to a highly accurate real-world simulation. The tool made it possible to quickly develop a computer model which represents the facility very accurately. The tool was particularly useful in finding optimal planning (manning and overtime) under fluctuating seasonal and economic demand. >
Monte Carlo transport model comparison with 1A GeV accelerated iron experiment: heavy-ion shielding evaluation of NASA space flight-crew foodstuff.

Deep-space manned flight as a reality depends on a viable solution to the radiation problem. Both acute and chronic radiation health threats are known to exist, with solar particle events as an example of the former and galactic cosmic rays (GCR) of the latter. In this experiment Iron ions of 1A GeV are used to simulate GCR and to determine the secondary radiation field created as the GCR-like particles interact with a thick target. A NASA prepared food pantry locker was subjected to the iron beam and the secondary fluence recorded. A modified version of the Monte Carlo heavy ion transport code developed by Zeitlin at LBNL is compared with experimental fluence. The foodstuff is modeled as mixed nuts as defined by the 71st edition of the Chemical Rubber Company (CRC) Handbook of Physics and Chemistry. The results indicate a good agreement between the experimental data and the model. The agreement between model and experiment is determined using a linear fit to ordered pairs of data. The intercept is forced to zero. The slope fit is 0.825 and the R2 value is 0.429 over the resolved fluence region. The removal of an outlier, Z=14, gives values of 0.888 and 0.705 for slope and R2 respectively.
Complete Genome of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. sepedonicusis Siphophage CN1A.

. Phage DNA wassequencedusing454pyrosequencingattheEmoryGRAGenomeCenter(EmoryUniversity,Atlanta,GA).TrimmedFLXTitaniumreadswereassembledtoasinglecontigat121-foldcoverageusingtheNewblerassembler,version2.5.3(454LifeSciences),atdefaultsettings.PCRconﬁrmedcompletedcontigs.Geneswerepredictedusing GeneMarkS (5), and gene predictions were corrected usingsoftware tools available on the Center for Phage Technology(CPT) Portal (https://cpt.tamu.edu/cpt-software/portal/). Elec-tron microscopy was performed at the Texas A&M Microscopyand Imaging Center.CN1A is a siphophage with a unique genome of 55,837 bp. IthasaG C content of 62.1%, which is noticeably lower than the72.6%G Ccontentofitshost(3).Theunitgenomehasa90.1%codingdensity,with78predictedcodingsequencesandonetRNAgene. Based on BLASTp and InterProScan results, 18 genes werepredictedtoencodeproteinswithaknownfunction(6,7).Oftherest, 15 genes were hypothetical conserved genes and 45 were hy-pothetical novel genes. An examination of the raw sequence datausing the PAUSE (https://cpt.tamu.edu/cpt-software/releases/pause/)methodrevealedthatCN1Ahasalongterminalrepeatof952 bp.Theannotatedgenescorrespondtocorefunctionssuchasrep-lication,nucleotidemetabolism,morphogenesis,andlysis.Genesencoding replication proteins include those for helicase, DNApolymerase exonuclease subunit epsilon, and a single-strandedDNA (ssDNA) binding protein. A T4 PseT-like polynucleotide5 =-kinase/3 -phosphatase gene and a T7 gp
Human Developmental Science for Social Justice

The author’s one wish for the study of human development is that the field will value and prioritize research that is useful for promoting social change in the service of social justice. The author describes the utility of human developmental science and its societal importance, followed with what it would mean for the field to value and prioritize research that is useful for promoting social change and social justice. The author identifies several strategies that could facilitate a values shift in human developmental science toward the goals. The author argues that such shifts in the culture of human developmental science will improve science and position the field to provide leadership for social change for social justice.
REBELLION, MARRONAGE AND JIHAD : STRATEGIES OF RESISTANCE TO SLAVERY ON THE SIERRA LEONE COAST, C . 1783–1796

The Yangekori Rebellion was among the earliest extensive uprisings within Africa to be reported in European documents. This rebellion, which lasted for more than a decade, included domestic and market-bound slaves as well as free persons, all of whom became involved in promoting significant changes in traditional socioeconomic and political patterns. What made this rebellion unique and more informative for the present and for research relating to external slave trading and to rebellion within the diaspora, however, were its complex and local-based context, its multiple centers and its substantial involvement in a timely religious movement intent on transforming coastal society. Also instructive is the synergetic response that occurred among autocratic and otherwise quarrelsome rulers who were responsible for ending this rebellion, for re-establishing landholding patterns, and for defending themselves effectively against socioeconomic and political change.
A new version of the Fast Multipole Method for the Laplace equation in three dimensions

We introduce a new version of the Fast Multipole Method for the evaluation of potential fields in three dimensions. It is based on a new diagonal form for translation operators and yields high accuracy at a reasonable cost.
Urologic findings on computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis in a pediatric population

Abstract Objectives (1) Determine the number of urologic conditions diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) in children in the emergency department setting. (2) Identify which diagnoses were incidental. (3) Determine how often there was urologic follow-up by a local pediatric urologist. Patients and methods We reviewed the charts and radiologist interpretations of all CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis performed within 2 days of admission via our emergency department from July 2007 to June 2009. Patients were included if the diagnosis was new. If a urologic finding was noted on final read, the CT was re-examined by one of our urologists to verify the finding. Results Among 2991 CT scans (one CT scan per patient), there were 213 (7%) new urologic findings: 124 were incidental; 144 patients (68% of patients with urologic findings) did not receive follow-up. Renal abnormalities were present in 127. The most common finding was renal cyst (69 patients). Ureteral abnormalities were present in 47. The most common ureteral finding was hydroureteronephrosis (40). Other anomalies identified included bladder (7) and scrotal (14) abnormalities, stones (13), and adrenal lesions (5). Conclusion Many urologic diagnoses are revealed during CT scans of the abdomen and pelvis. The majority are cysts, hydroureteronephrosis, and pyelonephritis. Many incidental findings have also been revealed in the emergency department setting.
Rous sarcoma growth in lines congenic for major histocompatibility (B) complex recombinants

Rous sarcoma virus (RSV)-induced tumor growth was examined in congenic lines of chickens with different major histocompatibility (B) complex recombinant haplotypes on the highly inbred line UCD 003 (B17B17) genetic background. Males bearing an individual B complex recombinant were mated to UCD 003 females followed by 10 backcross generations. Matings among heterozygotes for each recombinant produced homozygous chickens estimated to contain 99.9% of the line UCD 003 background genome. The 5 lines having distinct serologically identified MHC recombinant haplotypes, which arose from separate recombinational events, were as follows: 003.R1, 003.R2, 003.R4, 003. R5, and 003.R6. Chicks from each of the recombinant lines were challenged with 10 pfu subgroup A RSV at 6 wk of age. Tumors were scored for size 6 times over 10 wk postinoculation. Each bird was assigned a tumor profile index (TPI) based on the 6 tumor size scores. Hatch and B genotype were main effects in the statistical analysis. Least squares ANOVA was used to evaluate rank-transformed TPI values and mean tumor sizes through a repeated measures design. Tumor growth and TPI values were greater for 003.R1 and 003.R4 chickens than for the other 3 congenic lines. Among serologically similar recombinants 003.R2 and 003.R4, higher tumor growth and TPI in 003.R4 indicate unique genetic variation affecting RSV tumors compared with 003.R2. The similar tumor growth of 003.R5 and 003.R6 chickens, which have BF/BL21 but different BG regions, demonstrated no BG effect on RSV tumors.
Radiation Exposure and Uterine Artery Embolization: Current Risks and Risk Reduction

Uterine embolization has become accepted into the mainstream of fibroid therapies and now is among the most common interventions for the condition. Because the procedure is based on angiographic techniques, it requires fluoroscopic and angiographic imaging, both dependent on exposure to ionizing radiation. Given the increasing popularity of this procedure, it is important to understand the potential impacts of this exposure on both individual patients and also the population as a whole. This review is intended to summarize the our current knowledge of the potential risks associated with the radiation exposure from procedure and how those risks might be controlled and reduced by adjusting techniques used during the procedure.
Side effects of aromatase inhibitors versus tamoxifen: the patients' perspective.

Abstract Background Hormonal therapy is a mainstay in the management of estrogen receptor–positive (ER+) breast cancer. Tamoxifen (TAM) has been the drug widely used until the recent emergence of the aromatase inhibitors (AIs). Although AIs appear to be better tolerated than tamoxifen, they do have a different safety profile and these side effects have not been well characterized in community practice. We surveyed patients with ER+ breast cancers who received adjuvant hormonal therapy to determine how these medications impacted their quality of life and whether side effects or cost influenced decisions to continue therapy. Methods A mailed questionnaire and community cancer registry were used. Results Four hundred fifty-two of 902 surveys were returned for a 50% response rate. Eighty-two percent of respondents were placed on (adjuvant hormonal therapy) some form of estrogen-blocking therapy. Fifty-four percent of these were placed on tamoxifen and 46% on an AI. The most troublesome symptoms for tamoxifen and AI users, respectively, included hot flashes (35%/30%), weight gain (14%/15%), insomnia (17%/17%), and joint aches (12%/23%, P = .002). Thirty-nine percent of TAM users and 46% of AI users were taking medications to control their symptoms. Fifty percent of TAM users and 39% of AI users took vitamin E to help control hot flashes. Forty-two percent of TAM users versus 32% of AI users took Advil (Wyeth, Richmond, VA) for muscle/joint aches; 47.5% of AI users switched medication to improve symptoms as compared with only 37% of tamoxifen users ( P = .015). The average cost of medications to control side effects for both tamoxifen and AI users was $67.36 per month. Conclusions In our survey, both tamoxifen and AI users reported significant and different side effects. AI users suffered more frequently from musculoskeletal complaints, and more AI users switched therapy. Both AI and tamoxifen users used adjunctive medications for symptom control. In both groups, a large number used vitamin E to help hot flashes despite weak evidence to support its effectiveness in this setting. Cost of therapy and symptom control was not a major barrier to care.
The Tool — Mathematical Modeling

Air quality modeling is an essential tool for most air pollution studies. Models can be divided into physical models — small scale, laboratory representations of the phenomena (e.g., wind tunnel, water tank) mathematical models — a set of analytical/numerical algorithms that describe the physical and chemical aspects of the problem
Spiritual Histories and Native Americans: A Mixed Method Validation Study

ABSTRACT Although spirituality plays a central role in health and wellness for many Native Americans, surprisingly few spiritual assessment tools have been validated with this population. This mixed-method study modifies an existing spiritual assessment tool—spiritual histories—that may be particularly congruent with Native American culture. Using a sample of recognized experts in Native culture (N = 50), the study identifies: (a) the degree of cultural consistency, strengths, and limitations of the tool, conceptually, and (b) a culturally valid question protocol to operationalize the concept for use with Native clients. The findings are discussed in light of recent accrediting requirements mandating the administration of spiritual assessments in numerous settings and suggestions are provided to administer the assessment in a culturally competent manner.
Latin literacy redux: the classical investigation in the United States, 1921–1924

The Classical Investigation, conducted from 1921 to 1924 by the American Classical League, remains the largest study of the teaching and learning of Latin and Greek performed in US schools. The recommendations that emerged from the Classical Investigation placed less stress on the claims of mental discipline and more stress on the value of classical study for the improvement of study habits and of facility with other languages, especially English. Yet the Classical Investigation also called for a turn toward a disciplinary purity conducive to a cultural reality that demanded high rates of literacy in Latin, a reality that had passed two centuries earlier. The Classical Investigation can be understood as an attempt to co‐opt progressive commitments to educational ‘science’, as a manifestation of social efficiency–social control ideology, and an effort on the part of educational traditionalists to preserve Latin as a source of class status and identity.
K562 Cells Produce and Respond to Human Erythroid-Potentiating Activity

Human erythroid-potentiating activity (EPA) is a 28,000 mol wt glycoprotein that stimulates the growth of erythroid progenitors in vitro and enhances colony formation by the K562 human erythroleukemia cell line. EPA has potent protease inhibitory activity, and is also referred to as tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP). We observed that colony formation by K562 cells in semi-solid medium containing reduced fetal calf serum (FCS) is not directly proportional to the number of cells plated, suggesting production of autostimulatory factors by K562 cells. Using radioimmunoprecipitation and a bioassay for EPA, medium conditioned by K562 cells was found to contain high levels of biologically active EPA; Northern hybridization analysis confirmed the expression of EPA mRNA. Radiolabeled EPA was used to identify cell surface receptors on K562 cells. Together, these results suggest that EPA may act as an autocrine growth factor for K562 cells.