cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Testing expectancy theory predictions using behaviorally based measures of motivational effort for engineers

Abstract Expectancy theory predictions were tested using a sample of engineers who had been rated on dimensions of work motivation or effort (in contrast to performance) using the behaviorally based rating scales designed by Landy and Guion (1970) . It was found that the expectancy model was only weakly upheld for an older (41 or older) age subgroup, while few relationships were observed for a younger (below 41) age group. Also, the motivational behavior scales did not show any enhanced predictability when compared to a more global rating of job performance.
Index of suspicion, case 1: hemoptysis, dyspnea, and hematuria, case 2: rash and headache in a wrestler, case 3: abdominal distention in a teenage girl.

A previously healthy 12-year-old girl presents to the ED with a 2-week history of cough that is productive of blood-tinged sputum and dyspnea. She was admitted to the hospital 2 weeks ago, soon after her symptoms developed, and was treated with 10 days of antibiotics. After completing the course, she reported mild improvement and was discharged. However, over the past 3 days, she has felt significantly worse, with increased cough, appearance of blood in her sputum, malaise, subjective fever, chills, posttussive emesis, and intermittent brown-colored urine. Physical examination reveals an ill-appearing girl whose axillary temperature is 37.6°C, heart rate is 120 beats/min, respiratory rate is 30 breaths/min, and oxygen saturation is 89% on 3 L oxygen per nasal cannula. She has tachypnea with coarse breath sounds bilaterally and inspiratory crackles in all lung fields. Musculoskeletal examination shows no findings of note. She does not have any oral ulcers, rash, or edema. Laboratory results include WBC count of 17.4×103/mcL (17.4×109/L) with 93% neutrophils, Hgb of 7.8 g/dL (78 g/L), platelet count of 616×103/mcL (616×109/L), BUN of 27 mg/dL (9.6 mmol/L), and creatinine of 1.8 mg/dL (159.1 mcmol/L). Urinalysis shows trace leukocyte esterase, 2+ protein, and 3+ blood, with 5 to 10 WBCs/high power field (hpf), 10 to 20 RBCs/hpf, and granular casts. The serum concentrations of complement components 3 and 4 are normal. Chest radiograph reveals extensive, diffuse, bilateral interstitial and alveolar infiltrates (Fig. 1). Blood, urine, and sputum cultures are obtained and empiric antibiotics initiated. Additional investigations reveal the diagnosis. Figure 1. Chest radiograph showing extensive, diffuse, bilateral interstitial and alveolar infiltrates. A 17-year-old boy presents with severe headache and progressive rash. He complains of chills, sore throat, anorexia, eye pain, and blurry vision. Before the onset of these symptoms, he was healthy and …
Thoroughly Modern Risk Prediction

Researchers use a data-driven technique called statistical learning to fashion risk prediction algorithms for clinical situations with low event rates.
Abstract SY04-04: Vitamin D receptor stromal reprogramming suppresses pancreatitis and enhances pancreatic cancer therapy

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA The poor clinical outcome in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is attributed to intrinsic chemoresistance and a growth-permissive tumor microenvironment. Conversion of quiescent to activated pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) is thought to drive the severe stromal reaction that characterizes PDA. Here we reveal that the vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed in activated human pancreatic tumor stroma as well as in in vivo models of pancreatitis, a known risk factor for PDA. Notably, treatment with the VDR ligand calcipotriol markedly reduced inflammation and fibrosis during pancreatitis and a more pronounced form of the disease developed in VDR knockout mice. We show that VDR acts as a master transcriptional regulator of PSCs to reprise the quiescent state such that ligand-induced stromal remodeling increased intratumoral gemcitabine levels 5-fold and reduced tumor volume. This work describes a molecular strategy through which epigenomic reprogramming of pancreatic tumor stroma rescues/fosters a robust chemotherapeutic response and advocates a reevaluation of vitamin D therapy for PDA. Citation Format: Ronald M. Evans. Vitamin D receptor stromal reprogramming suppresses pancreatitis and enhances pancreatic cancer therapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr SY04-04. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-SY04-04
Myeloid stem cell kinetics during erythropoietic stress.

Summary. The committed myeloid stem cell compartment, monitored by the agar colony technique, has been assayed in the bone marrow, spleen and blood of mice during erythropoietic stress. When red cell production appeared maximal, the size of the committed myeloid stem cell comparment was reduced in the bone marrow and there was usually a reciprocal rise in the spleen with varying numbers of these cells in the circulation. The role of stem cell competition and migration in the development of these changes is discussed.
17O-decoupled 1H detection using a double-tuned coil

Abstract 17 O-decoupled proton MR spectroscopy and imaging with a double-tuned radiofrequency (RF) coil at 2 T was used to detect and quantify H 2 17 O in tissue phantoms containing various concentrations of 17 O-enriched water in 5% gelatin. The pulse sequence used in these experiments consisted of a conventional proton spinecho sequence with RF irradiation at the 17 O resonance frequency applied between the proton 90° pulse and the signal acquisition window. The double-tuned coil provided several advantages over systems using separate RF coils for 17 O decoupling and proton excitation/detection, including ensuring that the same (or similar) sample volumes are excited and decoupled and permitting accurate calibration of the 17 O decoupling pulse amplitude. The efficiency of 17 O decoupling as a function of decoupling RF amplitude, decoupling duration, and decoupling resonance offset was investigated. Finally, the specific absorption rate of the 17 O decoupled pulse sequence was investigated and found to lie within federal guidelines at 1.5 T.
A CSR classification of tree life history strategies and implications for ice storm damage

Differences in life history strategy influence the ecological roles of plant species, including their susceptibility to disturbance events. According to Grime’s CSR model, plants exhibit three primary strategies, which reflect tradeoffs between stress and disturbance. Here we classify eastern North American tree species into life history strategies on the basis of the CSR model. Then, using data on ice storm damage to trees, we investigate how the level of damage varied among the different CSR categories. We used tree damage data for almost 2000 individual trees representing 30 species collected during two ice storms in the Appalachian Mountains. We augmented the study with ice damage data gleaned from nine published ice-storm studies containing over 30 000 individuals representing 22 species. The trees we identified as stress-tolerators (S) consistently sustained less damage than the other species. This finding matches the stress-tolerant strategy: damageresistance is imperative for the persistence of trees that exhibit slow growth, low reproductive capacity and long lifespan. Our analyses also suggest that competitors (C) suffer widespread damage, particularly branch breakage, but experience low mortality. This pattern likely reflects features of the competitive strategy, such as wood strength and canopy form, which preclude resistance to damage but facilitate rapid recovery. The ice damage datasets did not contain trees that we classified as ruderals (R). Competitive ruderals (C-R) and stress-tolerant ruderals (S-R), however, sustained heavy damage and high mortality, consistent with low investment in tree defense and a prioritization of reproduction. Our analyses suggest the usefulness of the CSR model for interpreting forest dynamics and understanding the implications of tree life-history strategies for forest disturbance responses.
Bremmer series that correct parabolic approximations

Abstract A Bremmer type series solution of the three dimensional reduced wave equation is obtained. The series is obtained by iterating generalizations of the Bellman-Kalaba integral equations. The lowest order term is the solution of the parabolic approximation to the reduced wave equation. The series thus provides systematic corrections to the parabolic approximation. New derivations of the parabolic approximation are also provided. These are based on the idea of splitting a solution to the reduced wave equation into “upward” and “downward” components.
Adult tissue sources for new β cells.

The diabetes pandemic incurs extraordinary public health and financial costs that are projected to expand for the foreseeable future. Consequently, the development of definitive therapies for diabetes is a priority. Currently, a wide spectrum of therapeutic strategies—from implantable insulin delivery devices to transplantation-based cell replacement therapy, to β-cell regeneration—focus on replacing the lost insulin-producing capacity of individuals with diabetes. Among these, β-cell regeneration remains promising but heretofore unproved. Indeed, recent experimental work has uncovered surprising biology that underscores the potential therapeutic benefit of β-cell regeneration. These studies have elucidated a variety of sources for the endogenous production of new β cells from existing cells. First, β cells, long thought to be postmitotic, have demonstrated the potential for regenerative capacity. Second, the presence of pancreatic facultative endocrine progenitor cells has been established. Third, the malleability of cellular identity has availed the possibility of generating β cells from other differentiated cell types. Here, we review the exciting developments surrounding endogenous sources of β-cell production and consider the potential of realizing a regenerative therapy for diabetes from adult tissues.
UN Voting Data

A researcher analyzing UN voting data faces two central questions: (1) agreement or disagreement levels between countries-overall or on certain issues-and reasons for such agreement or disagreement; and (2) changes in these levels in different years and reasons for such changes. A related question is how issues change in importance over time. In order to answer these questions, scores of studies have been published in the last three decades. Most of these studies are on voting in the General Assembly; however, voting in other UN bodies such as the Security Council, UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and the International Court of Justice also has been investigated. Researchers interested in analyzing voting in the General Assembly concentrate on roll-call votes, since only these votes lend themselves to any meaningful analysis of the countries' positions and their interactions on different issues.1 Data sources commonly used in studying General Assembly roll-call votes are the General Assembly Official Records (GAOR) and the computer tapes prepared by the Inter-University Consortium for Political Research (Ann Arbor, Michigan) which contain the coded voting records from the GAOR. For some years another source of the General Assembly Votes, based on GAOR, has also been available. This source is the publications of the Canadian Peace Research Institute (CPRI). The object of this note is to familiarize the reader with the CPRI publications, which are particularly useful during the current time of dwindling research funds.
Density of states in unconventional superconductors: Impurity-scattering effects.

The density of states in unconventional superconductors, ${\mathit{N}}_{\mathit{s}}$(E), is very sensitive to impurity scattering, especially at low energies. We investigate the behavior of ${\mathit{N}}_{\mathit{s}}$(E), using both numerical calculations and analytic approximations; we discuss the Born limit, the unitarity limit, and the crossover between these two cases. We consider a two-dimensional electron gas with a d-wave order parameter of the form \ensuremath{\Delta}(k^)=\ensuremath{\Delta}(k${\mathrm{^}}_{\mathit{x}}^{2}$-k${\mathrm{^}}_{\mathit{y}}^{2}$). The low-energy structure in ${\mathit{N}}_{\mathit{s}}$(E) should be quite general, applying to all gaps with the same general behavior.
Actin, myosin, and laminin localization in retinal vessels of the rat

Actin, myosin, and laminin have been localized in retinal vessels of normal rats by fluorescence microscopy. Actin was localized with the fluorescent F-actin binding toxin nitrobenzoxadiazole phallacidin (NBD-Ph). Indirect immunofluorescence was used to localize myosin and laminin. In addition, laminin localization was also performed with the Protein A-horseradish peroxidase (PA-HRP) method. NBD-Ph staining gave strong fluorescence in both retinal capillaries and larger vessels. Anti-myosin fluorescence could also be observed in trypsin digests of the retinal vasculature. Strong fluorescence of PA-HRP reaction product could be detected in the walls of vessels exposed to antilaminin antibody. Actin distribution in vessels of the RCS rat with inherited retinal degeneration (retinal dystrophic RCS rat) was also studied. After exposure to NBD-Ph, all capillaries showed fluorescence. However, it was more intense in many of the capillaries in the outer retina, which also appeared morphologically abnormal. Electron microscopy of retinal capillaries fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde containing 8% tannic acid revealed numerous micro filaments in the pericyte cytoplasm amd some in the basal portion of endothelial cells. In pericytes, these microfilaments are in close association with the endothelial side of the cell. Tangential sections through this region indicate that these filaments may be anchored to the membrane at this site.
Tolerating latency in multiprocessors through compiler-inserted prefetching

The large latency of memory accesses in large-scale shared-memory multiprocessors is a key obstacle to achieving high processor utilization. Software-controlled prefetching is a technique for tolerating memory latency by explicitly executing instructions to move data close to the processor before the data are actually needed. To minimize the burden on the programmer, compiler support is needed to automatically insert prefetch instructions into the code. A key challenge when inserting prefetches is ensuring that the overheads of prefetching do not outweigh the benefits. While previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of hand-inserted prefetching in multiprocessor applications, the benefit of compiler-inserted prefetching in practice has remained an open question. This article proposes and evaluates a new compiler algorithm for inserting prefetches into multiprocessor code. The proposed algorithm attempts to minimize overheads by only issuing prefetches for references that are predicted to suffer cache misses. The algorithm can prefetch both dense-matrix and sparse-matrix codes, thus covering a large fraction of scientific applications. We have implemented our algorithm in the SUIF(Stanford University Intermediate Format) optimizing compiler. The results of our detailed architectural simulations demonstrate that compiler-inserted prefetching can improve the speed of some parallel applications by as much as a factor of two.
The isoinhibitors of chymotrypsin/elastase from Ascaris lumbricoides: the primary structure.

The complete primary structure of five chymotrypsin/elastase isoinhibitors isolated from Ascaris lumbricoides was determined by conventional methods. These structures represent the first sequence set for the Ascaris inhibitor family. All five isoinhibitors are single-chain polypeptides crosslinked by five disulfide bridges. Isoinhibitor 1 consists of 63 amino acid residues and has glycine at the N-terminal and histidine at the C-terminal. Isoinhibitors 2–5 all have arginine at the N-terminal, differ at positions 25 and 40, and have different C-terminal regions. Isoinhibitors 2 and 4 have asparagine at positions 25 and serine at position 40, whereas isoinhibitors 3 and 5 have lysine and threonine at these positions, respectively. The different C-terminal regions of isoinhibitors 2–5 account for their varying lengths. Isoinhibitor 1 has no sequence heterogeneity. Frequent repetitions of various dipeptides and one tripeptide are evident along the peptide chain of isoinhibitors 2–5. None of the isoinhibitors contains the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine or tyrosine. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of isoinhibitor 1 with the sequence of isoinhibitors 2–5 shows that they differ at a minimum of 16 positions. The primary structures of isoinhibitors 1–5 from Ascaris do not demonstrate a great degree of homology when compared with the sequence of presently known proteinase inhibitors. However, these isoinhibitors share with a very large number of inhibitor families the presence of half-cystine in the P3 position.
Treatment of symptomatic convergence insufficiency in children with a home-based computer orthoptic exercise program.

I t is gratifying to know that there is continued interest in investigating the treatment of convergence insufficiency, one of the most common vision problems encountered in school-age children. Affected individuals often complain of symptoms such as frequent loss of place, poor concentration, reading slowly, blurred vision, diplopia, headaches, or eyestrain during reading or other activities performed in close proximity to the eye. Until recently, there was a paucity of quality studies in which authors evaluated the effectiveness of treatment modalities for this disorder. However, recent randomized clinical trials funded by the National Eye Institute and completed by the Convergence Insufficiency Treatment Trial (CITT) Study Group have shown that 12 weeks of office-based vergence/accommodative therapy with home reinforcement results in a significantly greater improvement in symptoms and clinical signs as compared with placebo therapy and with home-based treatments that use pencil push-up therapy alone or in conjunction with computer vergence/accommodative therapy. Despite these findings and the conclusion from the recent Cochrane systematic review for convergence insufficiency that “current research suggests that office-based vision therapy/orthoptics is more effective than home-based pencil push-ups or home-based computer vision therapy/orthoptics,” some eye-care providers still prescribed home-based treatments as the primary treatment option, presumably because they do not offer office-based vision therapy/orthoptics in their offices or on account of the low cost and ease of use of home-based therapy. This study by Serna and colleagues in this issue of the Journal of AAPOS demonstrates continued interest in investigating the effectiveness of home-based treatment options for children with symptomatic convergence insufficiency. Unfortunately, these study results do not advance our understanding of the treatment of this disorder. On the basis of their retrospective review of 42 patient charts, the authors conclude that “home-based computer orthoptic exercises reduced symptoms and improved NPC (near point of convergence) and fusional
Pyrolytic-carbon coatings deposited from methane fluid beds☆

Abstract Pyrolytic-carbon deposits were produced from 100% methane fluid beds at 1400–2200°C. The microstructures of the carbons deposited were anisotropic-columnar, isotropic, or grainy-isotropic. Formation of the anisotropic-columnar structures occurred at high methane flows, large bed areas, and low-to-intermediate temperatures. As the deposition temperatures increased, the apparent crystallite sizes increased with accompanying decreases in layer spacings.The metallographic features of the resulting structures are those of isotropic pyrolytic carbons. Decreasing the methane flow rate and the surface area of the fluid bed at intermediate-to-high temperatures (1800–2200°C) resulted in structures which show typical isotropic features when viewed with polarized light but show ordered grainy textures when observed with bright-field optical micrographs. The relations between deposition conditions and structure are discussed.
The urinary bladder of spontaneously hypertensive rat demonstrates bladder hypertrophy, inflammation, and fibrosis but not hyperplasia.

Abstract Aims The present study aims to systemically characterize the factors that are associated with urinary bladder organ enlargement in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Main methods We compared the SHR to age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) control rats in the levels of bladder pro-inflammatory factors, collagen expression (type I), and detrusor smooth muscle growth. Key findings Our results showed that enhanced inflammatory responses and fibrosis were key factors that were closely associated with bladder wall thickening in SHR. Specifically the mRNA levels of inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-6 and TNFα were significantly higher in SHR than those in WKY rats. The SHR also had a higher number of mast cells in the suburothelium space. Type I collagen production was also significantly higher in SHR when compared to that in control rats. However, the smooth muscle content stayed the same in SHR and WKY rats. This was shown by the results that the ratio of α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) to the nuclear protein histone H3 had no difference between these two rat strains. The mRNA and protein levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) also showed no change in the urinary bladder of SHR and WKY rats. Further study showed that the phosphorylation level of Akt in the urinary bladder was not changed in SHR when compared to WKY rats. In contrast, the phosphorylation level of ERK1/2 was significantly higher in SHR bladder when compared to that of WKY rats. Significance These results suggest that inflammation and fibrosis are primary factors that may lead to urinary bladder hypertrophy in SHR.
Magnetic cloud‐bow shock interaction: WIND and IMP‐8 observations

An interplanetary magnetic cloud of typical magnetic field flux rope structure and of diameter 0.23 AU was observed in WIND magnetic field and plasma data of February 8, 1995. Starting at about 1 hour later it was also observed at IMP 8, where the bow shock reached at least 39 RE from Earth, on the dusk side, for brief periods within the cloud. This expanded bow shock changed from a perpendicular to pulsation type at IMP-8 as a result of the magnetic field smoothly changing direction within the passing cloud, and its surface normal was nearly, and unexpectedly, invariant during the expansion. It is inferred that, within measurement error, the bow shock's shape expanded almost ‘isotropicly’ and that the magnetosheath became unusually wide.
The last shall not be first: the ordered generation of progeny from stem cells.

We are accustomed to thinking in terms of stem cell potential: a cell either has the potential to make neurons or it does not. Qian, Shen, Temple, and colleagues illustrate the complexity of stem cell biology by showing that stem cells can gradually make quantitatively fewer neurons over time without losing the qualitative ability to generate neurons. One of the next steps will be to determine if there are quantitative or qualitative changes in the types of neurons that a stem cell lineage can make over time. One suggestion that this might be the case comes from the work by McConnell and colleagues who showed that there are intrinsic restrictions in the ability of cortical progenitors to give rise to neurons in different levels of the cortex with increasing developmental age (Desai and McConnell 2000xDesai, A.R. and McConnell, S.K. Development. 2000; 127: 2863–2872PubMedSee all ReferencesDesai and McConnell 2000).In addition, while Qian, Temple, and colleagues have demonstrated that a single stem cell derived lineage contains all of the information necessary to account for the gradual shift from neurogenesis to gliogenesis over time, it remains to be seen whether the same mechanism that operates in culture also accounts for this shift in vivo. A simple but interesting experiment would be to isolate stem cells from the postnatal subventricular zone at a time when gliogenesis predominates and assay whether they still generate neurons and then glia in culture, or whether they tend to generate only glia under conditions where stem cells from the fetal ventricular zone generate neurons first. Particularly at later times in development, when the cortex is more complicated, stem cells may rely upon environmental cues that cannot easily be recapitulated by a single clone in culture; however, even if this were the case, the paper by Qian et al. 2000xQian, X., Shen, Q., Goderie, S.K., He, W., Capela, A., Davis, A.A., and Temple, S. Neuron. 2000; 28: 69–80Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMedSee all ReferencesQian et al. 2000 suggests that stem cells may be the architects as well as the builders of the early cortex.
On Photospheric Fluorescence and the Nature of the 17.62 Å Feature in Solar X-Ray Spectra

The identification of the emission line feature at 17.62 Angstroms in solar x-ray spectra is re-examined. Using a Monte Carlo technique, we compute a realistic theoretical upper limit to the observed Fe L-alpha photospheric fluorescent line strength caused by irradiation from an overlying corona. These calculations demonstrate that the photospheric Fe L-alpha characteristic line is much too weak to account for the observed 17.62 Angstrom line flux. Instead, we identify this line with the configuration interaction 2s2p3p2P-2s2p6 2S transition in Fe XVIII seen in Electron Beam Ion Trap spectra and predicted in earlier theoretical work on the Fe XVIII x-ray spectrum.
Simplified method of left ventricular thrombectomy

Postinfarction left ventricular thrombi are at risk for embolization with resultant injury. Surgical removal is recommended especially if they are pedunculated or mobile. We describe an easily applied transatrial method that can allow avoidance of a ventriculotomy.
Use of EELS to study the absorption edge of fused silica

Abstract Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) was used to study the absorption edge of various types of fused silica. The relationships between transmission (%T), fictive temperature (Tf), band gap energy (E0), and slope of the Urbach tail (K) were investigated. The trends are in agreement with other published studies and provide initial validation of the new technique. The measured band gap energies, E0, varied very little among the different silicas, and there was no obvious relationship between E0 and either %T or Tf. The slopes of the Urbach tail, K, varied significantly and were related to both %T and structural disorder (influenced by both Tf and F concentration). The observed trends were an increase in transmission with an increase in K, and an increase in K with a decrease in structural disorder. The results of this work support the idea that structural disorder affects transmission near the absorption edge.
A randomized trial of treatments for high-utilizing somatizing patients

BACKGROUND Somatization and hypochondriacal health anxiety are common sources of distress, impairment, and costly medical utilization in primary care practice. A range of interventions is needed to improve the care of these patients.
Deposition of aerosol particles on flat surfaces

Abstract Results were erratic in experiments on deposition of aerosol particles on flat plastic and metal surfaces at 125, 390, and 730 cm sec −1 airspeeds. Uneven deposition and particle size separation was noticed over the collecting surfaces. Tests with sticky, antistatic, and untreated surfaces indicated that electrostatic effects play an important role in controlling deposition on both upper and lower surfaces of test plates, even in high air speed conditions. The average collection efficiency, therefore, does not represent the physical phenomenon and is misleading.
Bane of counterintelligence: Our penchant for self‐deception

(1993). Bane of counterintelligence: Our penchant for self‐deception. International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 1-20.
Analysis of low angle light scattering results from T7 DNA

Abstract Selected light scattering data, obtained in earlier studies on T7 DNA in 0.195 M Na + , are analyzed by comparison with calculations from the theory of wormlike coils, both with and without excluded volume effects. The results confirm the conclusion from an earlier criticism, that linear extrapolations of data from the 10° to 20° angular range give incorrect values for the limiting molecular weight, M T , and for the limiting root-mean-square radius, R T . Further, it is shown that the excluded volume parameter, ϵ, must be used to provide a proper fit of calculated curves to experimental data. The revised analysis gives the following parameters for T7 DNA: M T = 25.5 × 10 6 ; R T = 587 nm; ϵ = 0.08; and the statistical segment length, 1/λ = 120 nm. These parameters agree well with other values in the literature. The method of analysis, therefore, provides reliable results from light scattering data on high-molecular-weight, native DNA.
A submicron aerosol standard and the primary, absolute calibration of the condensation nuclei counter

Abstract A submicron aerosol generator has been described. The generator combines pneumatic atomization with electrostatic classification to produce uniform particles from 0.01 to 0.5 μm at concentrations up to 10 6 particles/cc. The particle diameter accuracy of the aerosols is about 2%, and the concentration accuracy about 5%. This submicron aerosol generator has been used to produce NaCl aerosols as absolute calibration standards for condensation nuclei counters. Calibration results are presented showing that the Environment/One (Model Rich 100) counter has a linear response at concentration levels up to 130,000 particles/cc, but the indicated concentration based on the accepted Nolan-Pollak standard is lower than the acutal concentration by a factor of 2.5. Above an aerosol concentration of 130,000 particles/cc, the instrument response becomes nonlinear, but the response is independent of particle size (0.011–0.15 μm in diameter) in both the linear and nonlinear ranges. Similar studies of the General Electric counter showed that the instrument response is linear to the highest concentration level (65,000) used in the studies. Results of these experimental findings are discussed, and their implications in coagulation-coefficient and particle-diffusion measurements are considered.
Influence functions for the unsteady surface element method

The unsteady surface element methods provide analytical and numerical procedures for the efficient solution of certain transient heat conduction problems. The methods are based on Duhamel's theorem which requires influence functions. Because the influence functions implicitly include the effects of boundary conditions and geometries, many different ones are needed. Sometimes the most difficult influence functions to evaluate are those at the heated surface and at the smallest dimensionless times. This paper provides some early time influence functions for some basic one-dimensional geometries as well as for some twoand three-dimensional cases for various heated regions on the surface of a semi-infinite body. A given early time solution has the advantage of being valid for a variety of boundary conditions distant from the surface. Some large-time influence functions are also given. An example is given that illustrates that a combination of a short-time solution and a large-time solution can sometimes adequately cover the complete time domain.
Toward enhanced data consistency in distributed virtual environments

Distributed virtual environments are rapidly gaining in popularity for the implementation of intuitive and collaborative workspaces. In distributed virtual environments, geographically dispersed user sites possess considerable capabilities for computing and cooperation with other user sites. Primary challenges that have to be addressed by these systems are compensating network latency jitters, keeping system-wide data consistent, enabling fair resource sharing and interaction between the users. This paper reviews a global time-stamp based approach, which is developed by authors to enhance the fairness and consistency across the distributed virtual environments. The approach is described in combination with three different implementation philosophies, a centralized approach similar to client-server model, a decentralized approach similar to peer-to-peer model, and a combined approach consisting of hierarchical layers of centralized and decentralized approaches. Based on a new object-oriented real-time programming methodology called the time-triggered message-triggered object (TMO) programming scheme, two different implementations were tested and compared.
Post–endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis: Overview and pathophysiology

Abstract Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a widely used therapeutic endoscopic procedure with small risk of complications. The most common and dreadful complication is post–endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP). Concerning the definition of PEP itself and classification of its severity, there is still some ambiguity. The most commonly used definition is the one proposed in the 1991 consensus, although there are indications that the current clinical definition and the 2 new severity classifications, namely the revised Atlanta classification and the determinant-based classification are more accurate in diagnosing and classifying PEP, respectively. Pathogenesiswise, although the inflammatory cascade after trypsin activation is the same regardless of the etiology and has been studied intensively over the last few years, the data on the initial pancreatic insult in PEP are scarce. Several factors have been proposed as the first trigger to include mechanical trauma or thermal injury or both to the papilla, high hydrostatic pressure in the pancreatic duct, contrast-induced injury, and contamination of the pancreatic duct by intestinal flora. The authors׳ impression is that the onset of PEP is likely multifactorial, a combination of the aforementioned mechanisms in an already susceptible subject carrying, yet to be identified, environmental or genetic risks or both. Trypsin is not only the main digestive, but also the regulatory enzyme that activates the rest of the zymogens. Intrapancreatic activation of trypsinogen results in pancreatic autodigestion and a subsequent burst of cytokine release that may progress to either a local or a systemic inflammatory response.
Multiple signal extraction by polynomial filtering

Let {U 1 ,⋯,Un} denote stochastic processes with imbedded signals {u 1 ,⋯,un} respectively. A mapT is said to extract {u 1,⋯,un} without distortion provided $$\xi _i = Tu_i , i = 1,...,n$$ whereξ i , i = 1,⋯,n are chosen apriori. The mapT is said to be optimal whenever it minimizes $$J(T) = E\sum\limits_i {||\Xi _\iota - TU_i ||^2 } $$ whereΞ i , i = i,⋯,n are suitable stochastic processes. The mapT is called an optimal distortion free signal extractor if it also is causal. This paper analyses polynomic optimal distortion free signal extractors.
Pocket Semiquinonate Complexes of Cobalt(II), Copper(II), and Zinc(II) Prepared with the Hydrotris(cumenylmethylpyrazolyl)borate Ligand.

3,5-Di-tert-butyl-1,2-semiquinonate (3,5-DBSQ) complexes of Co(II), Cu(II), and Zn(II) have been prepared that contain the hydrotris(cumenylmethyl-pyrazolyl)borate (TpCum,Me) coligand. TpCum,MeZn(3,5-DBSQ) and TpCum,MeCu(3,5-DBSQ) were prepared by treating the parent hydroxide, TpCum,MeM(OH), M = Cu and Zn, with 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol. TpCum,MeCo(3,5-DBSQ) was prepared by a reaction between (TpCum,Me)2Co and 3,5-DBCat. The identity of (TpCum,Me)2Co in this reaction was confirmed by a structure determination [(TpCum,Me)2Co: orthorhombic, Pbcn, a = 17.7189(4) A, b = 17.4806(3) A, c = 25.7123(6) A, V = 7964.1(3) A3, Z = 4, R(F) = 0.054]. Intersecting cumenyl substituents of the pyrazolylborate ligand encapsulate the Co(II) ion. Structural characterization on all three members of the TpCum,MeM(3,5-DBSQ) series has been carried out. The complexes of Co(II) and Zn(II) are isomorphous and isostructural [TpCum,MeCo(3,5-DBSQ): triclinic, P1, a = 14.4631(2) A, b = 18.5438(3) A, c = 21.6142(2) A, α = 79.8430(1...
Anesthesia apps: overview of current technology and intelligent search techniques.

HERE HAS BEEN a dramatic increase in the use of handheld computing devices in medicine over the past decade. In 2003, Fisher et al 1 noticed the increasing utility of handheld computers. At the time, personal digital assistants, such as the Palm (Palm, Inc, Sunnyvale, CA) and Pocket PC (Microsoft Corp, Redmond, WA), were being used to access medical literature, research drugs, track patients, assist with medical coding and billing, and aid in medical education. The introduction of Apple's (Cupertino, CA) iPhone in June 2007 revolutionized the industry with a multitouch interface and a superior Web browser. In the same year, the Open Handset Alliance unveiled the Android mobile device platform, 2 which was purchased by Google (Mountain View, CA) in 2005. In 2009, Motorola (Schaumburg, IL) released the Droid, running Google's Android operating system. RIM (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) introduced the Blackberry Storm in 2008. A smartphone is a cellular phone with built-in applications and Internet access. 3 The iPhone, for example, is a handheld multitasking telecommunications device with memory, a mi- croprocessor, a high-resolution screen, and a camera. Its current internal hardware makes it capable of data storage, Internet access, global positioning system tracking, gyroscopic motion sensing, audio and image acquisition, audio and video play- back, and execution of programmed applications called "apps." The term has been used as shorthand for "application" in the information technology community for decades. However, it recently has become popular for mobile applications for smart- phones and tablets. 4 The utility and diversity of these apps are limited only by the imagination of the author and the expanding intrinsic capability of the device that runs them.
The Use and Transfer of Information About Predation Risk in Flocks of Wintering Finches

Several studies in behavior have focused in some way on how groups of prey gather and use information about predation risk. Although asymmetries in information about risk exist among members of real groups, we know little about how such uneven information might affect individual or group antipredator decisions. Hence, we studied the use and transfer of information about the risk of predation in small flocks of wintering birds. House finches (Carpodacus mexicanus; 28 groups of three) were held in large enclosures divided into safe and risky patches. We controlled the information about risk available to each individual by conducting attacks with a model hawk that was visible to only a single (informed) bird. Repeated attacks on a single individual did not reduce the amount of feeding by other birds in that patch, although the time to resume feeding after observing a response to an attack event was somewhat longer than after a no attack event. These results suggest that
Salvage of severe recurrent Dupuytren's contracture of the ring and small fingers

Severe recurrent digital Dupuytren's contracture, with pseudomotor changes and inadequate palmar tissue, is often treated with amputation. In this study, 11 patients had 14 proximal interphalangeal joint fusions with shortening done for salvage of recurrent Dupuytren's rather than amputation. Indications for operation were pseudomotor changes, severe palmar fibrosis, previous operations, and a flexion contracture of greater than 70°.
The Hadronic Properties of the Photon in High-Energy Interactions

High-energy photon interactions are discussed in terms of the hadronic structure of the photon, which is expressed by means of a formulation which is akin to, but somewhat more general than, vector-meson-dominance or specific generalized vector-dominance models. Experiments which demonstrate and yield information about this hadronic structure are discussed critically, and the resulting information is carefully evaluated. Special attention is paid to diffractive processes such as the photoproduction of vector mesons and to photon shadowing effects on nuclei. Relationships to other views of photon interactions, such as the parton model and the space-time description, are also discussed; these views are seen to complement the hadronic structure picture rather than to be in conflict. The general overview is that there is ample evidence which shows that the photon's hadronic structure plays a significant role in its interactions. What further work would most significantly enhance the understanding of the hadronic structure of the photon is also pointed out.
Equine viral arteritis in newborn foals: clinical, pathological, serological, microbiological and immunohistochemical observations.

Summary Clinical, pathological, immunohistochemical, serological and microbiological findings are described for 2 geographically and temporally distinct equine arteritis virus (EAV) epidemics in newborn foals. Outbreak A occurred at a commercial Standardbred breeding facility; Outbreak B began in a group of research animals. Clinical signs were severe and primarily referrable to the respiratory tract. Fever and leucopenia and/or thrombocytopenia were observed in foals surviving for more than 24 h. The most common gross pathological findings were limited to the respiratory tract. Common histopathological findings included interstitial pneumonia, lymphocytic arteritis and periarteritis with fibrinoid necrosis of the tunica media. Renal tubular necrosis was noted in 2 foals. Immunoperoxidase histochemistry combined with virus isolation was diagnostic in all cases.
Candida albicans-produced farnesol stimulates Pseudomonas quinolone signal production in LasR-defective Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains

Candida albicans has been previously shown to stimulate the production of Pseudomonas aeruginosa phenazine toxins in dual-species colony biofilms. Here, we report that P. aeruginosa lasR mutants, which lack the master quorum sensing system regulator, regain the ability to produce quorum-sensing-regulated phenazines when cultured with C. albicans. Farnesol, a signalling molecule produced by C. albicans, was sufficient to stimulate phenazine production in LasR− laboratory strains and clinical isolates. P. aeruginosa ΔlasR mutants are defective in production of the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) due to their inability to properly induce pqsH, which encodes the enzyme necessary for the last step in PQS biosynthesis. We show that expression of pqsH in a ΔlasR strain was sufficient to restore PQS production, and that farnesol restored pqsH expression in ΔlasR mutants. The farnesol-mediated increase in pqsH required RhlR, a transcriptional regulator downstream of LasR, and farnesol led to higher levels of N-butyryl-homoserine lactone, the small molecule activator of RhlR. Farnesol promotes the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a variety of species. Because the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine suppressed farnesol-induced RhlR activity in LasR− strains, and hydrogen peroxide was sufficient to restore PQS production in las mutants, we propose that ROS are responsible for the activation of downstream portions of this quorum sensing pathway. LasR mutants frequently arise in the lungs of patients chronically infected with P. aeruginosa. The finding that C. albicans, farnesol or ROS stimulate virulence factor production in lasR strains provides new insight into the virulence potential of these strains.
Psychosocial aspects of Mexican-American, white, and black teenage pregnancy

Abstract This study assesses whether pregnant Mexican-American adolescents have psychosocial characteristics different from their pregnant white or black peers. The study population consisted of 199 consecutive Mexican-American, white, and black pregnant adolescents, ages 11–19 years, followed prospectiveely at the University of California San Diego Medical Center Teen Obstetric Clinic from 1978 to 1981 (79 whites, 76 Mexican-Americans, and 44 blacks). Although all three groups had the same chronologic age (X = 16.4 ± 1.4 years), and the same number of years of schooling, pregnant black adolescents were more likely to be in school at the time of registration for prenatal care ( p p p p p p p p p
Processing of Invisible Stimuli: Advantage of Upright Faces and Recognizable Words in Overcoming Interocular Suppression

Familiar and recognizable stimuli enjoy an advantage of predominance during binocular rivalry, and this advantage is usually attributed to their enhanced processing during the dominant phase. However, do familiar and recognizable stimuli have an advantage in breaking suppression? Test images were gradually introduced to one eye to compete against a standard high-contrast dynamic noise pattern presented to the other eye. Results showed that an upright face took less time than an upside-down face to gain dominance against the identical suppression noise. Results also showed that for Chinese readers, Chinese characters were faster to gain dominance than Hebrew words, whereas for Hebrew readers, the reverse was true. These results suggest that familiar and recognizable information, even when suppressed and invisible, is processed differently from unfamiliar information. Apparently, high-level information about visual form does contribute to the strength of a stimulus during its suppressed phase.
The Effect of the Vermont Diabetes Information System on Inpatient and Emergency Department Use: Results from a Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVE: To describe the effect of the Vermont Diabetes Information System (VDIS) on hospital and emergency room use DATA SOURCE: Statewide discharge database STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial of a decision support system for 7,412 adults with diabetes and their 64 primary care providers. DATA COLLECTION/ DATA EXTRACTION: Charges and dates for hospital admissions and emergency room care in Vermont during an average of 32 months of observation. Data from New York hospitals were not available. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Patients randomized to VDIS were admitted to the hospital less often than control subjects (0.17 admissions vs. 0.20; P=0.01) and generated lower hospital charges ($3,113 vs. $3,480; P=0.019). VDIS patients also had lower emergency room utilization (0.27 visits vs. 0.36; P<0.0001) and charges ($304 vs. $414; P<0.0001). The intervention was particularly effective in men and in older subjects. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of data limitations that tended to reduce the apparent effect of the system; this randomized, controlled trial showed that VDIS reduces hospitalization and emergency room utilization and expenses.
Extensive subarachnoid and epidural hematoma after lumbar puncture.

• We review the case of a woman presenting to the Emergency department with back pain and neurologic symptoms following lumbar puncture.