cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The LACE+ Index as a Predictor of 90-Day Supratentorial Tumor Surgery Outcomes

Background The LACE+ (Length of stay, Acuity of admission, Charlson Comorbidity Index [CCI] score, and Emergency department [ED] visits in the past 6 mo) index risk-prediction tool has never been successfully tested in a neurosurgery population. Objective To assess the ability of LACE+ to predict adverse outcomes after supratentorial brain tumor surgery. Methods LACE+ scores were retrospectively calculated for all patients (n = 624) who underwent surgery for supratentorial tumors at the University of Pennsylvania Health System (2017-2019). Confounding variables were controlled with coarsened exact matching. The frequency of unplanned hospital readmission, ED visits, and death was compared for patients with different LACE+ score quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4). Results A total of 134 patients were matched between Q1 and Q4; 152 patients were matched between Q2 and Q4; and 192 patients were matched between Q3 and Q4. Patients with higher LACE+ scores were significantly more likely to be readmitted within 90 d (90D) of discharge for Q1 vs Q4 (21.88% vs 46.88%, P = .005) and Q2 vs Q4 (27.03% vs 55.41%, P = .001). Patients with larger LACE+ scores also had significantly increased risk of 90D ED visits for Q1 vs Q4 (13.33% vs 30.00%, P = .027) and Q2 vs Q4 (22.54% vs 39.44%, P = .039). LACE+ score also correlated with death within 90D of surgery for Q2 vs Q4 (2.63% vs 15.79%, P = .003) and with death at any point after surgery/during follow-up for Q1 vs Q4 (7.46% vs 28.36%, P = .002), Q2 vs Q4 (15.79% vs 31.58%, P = .011), and Q3 vs Q4 (18.75% vs 31.25%, P = .047). Conclusion LACE+ may be suitable for characterizing risk of certain perioperative events in a patient population undergoing supratentorial brain tumor resection.
The Moral Weight of Preferences: Death, Sex, and Dementia.

Ana is a 73-year-old woman experiencing the early phases of mid-stage dementia. Before dementia symptoms onset, Ana lived alone for twenty years, following a divorce in her late forties. Three year...
Refusing Testing During a Pandemic

According to news reports, some passengers feared that undergoing testing or receiving positive results could lengthen their quarantine and delay their ability to return home, among other reasons for declining testing 2 The reliability oftesting might influence people's willingness to participate A review of seven studies examining reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction testing for SARS-CoV-2 found that median false-negative rates exceeded 20%, even days to weeks after the onset of patients' symptoms 3 Reports about false-negative test results have raised concerns that testing for SARS-CoV-2 may not be accurate According to the US Census Bureau, 27 5 million people lacked health insurance throughout 2018, and these numbers are likely to rise, as more than 40 million Americans have filed for unemployment over the past several months
Effects of Nasogastric Tube Placement, Head Position, and Nostril Choice on Clinically Significant Events in Preterm Neonates

Background: Preterm neonates commonly require nasogastric tubes (NGT), which cause a significant increase in airway resistance likely increasing the number of clinically significant events (CSE). Head position also effects nasal airflow. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of NGT placement and head position on CSE in preterm neonates. Methods: Prospective observational study of preterm infants off all respiratory support requiring an NGT and having CSE. Caregivers recorded dependent variables NGT position (upper or lower nostril or midline), and body position (prone, supine, side lying) and the independent variable, number of CSE. Statistics were 2-sample z-test for percentages. IRB approval was obtained. Results: 27 neonates were enrolled in the study. Birth weight was 1463.6+419. 7 grams. Gestational age was 30.4+2.7 weeks. Weight when entering the study was 1651.7+324.7 grams and age was 21.1+17.7 d. There were 39.5+31.5 CSE recorded per neonate. 38% of the total number of CSE occurred when the NG tube was in the upper nostril, 34% in the lower nostril, and 28% when head midline (P=0.006 upper nostril versus head midline). 12.7% of total CSE occurred when the neonates were prone, 35.9% when supine, and 51.4% when side lying. There were more CSE when positioned side lying compared to both prone (P Conclusions: Least CSE occurred with the neonate prone or the NGT midline. Most CSE occurred when side lying or with the NGT in the upper nostril.
High Black infant mortality in Wisconsin: factors associated with the ongoing racial inequity.

Background Wisconsin has the highest Black infant mortality rate (IMR) in the nation. Objective Evaluate factors associated with racial inequity in IMR in Wisconsin. Study design Births/deaths/IMR for Black and White infants from 2011 to 2016 were obtained from the Wisconsin Interactive Statistics on Health system, stratified by gestational age (GA), and compared using direct adjustment method. IMR were compared based on cause of death, maternal age, and education. Results Crude and adjusted IMR was 13.7 and 9.1 for black infants. Respective IMR for white infants was 4.8 and 5.3. Crude IMR was 180% higher in Black infants. After controlling for GA, IMR among Black infants was 70% higher. In term Black infants, deaths due to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), accidents, and assaults were markedly high. Conclusions Higher IMR in Black infants was due to increased premature births and increased mortality among term infants. Potentially modifiable causes of death were SIDS, accidents, and assaults.
Exploring Various Applicable Techniques to Detect Smoke on the Satellite Images

Every year, the wildfires ravage broad areas of natural forest and nearby regions, causing substantial financial and life losses and deteriorating the air quality. More air hazards are emitted to the atmosphere reaching as high as the stratosphere propagating through the air currents. With the aggravation of climate change, wildfires of either human or natural cause could become more ferocious and devastating. A feasible solution is to detect the wildfire and respond early before the fire spread becomes irreversible. Satellite imagery serves as a cost-effective means to update near-real-time holistic landscape views of land and sea over extended periods. Such an advantage makes early fire detection and warning even in remote areas possible. The rendered images provided by the satellites’ various instruments incorporate various channels to provide real and artificial colors to reveal landscape details imperceptible to the naked eyes. This imagery dataset discussed in this paper derives from NASA’s Aqua and Terra satellites and make available at the NASA-IMPACT data share repository [1]. The dataset totals 704 images of cropped frames and their labeled images taken during both satellites’ extensive flyby observations. The images also contain spatial-temporal information serving as relevant metadata for analysis. This paper provides a survey of the recent advances in neural network-based object detection techniques followed by machine learning and deep learning-based methods to detect and localize smoke. A comprehensive elaboration of the datasets follows the method overview.
Strengthening the public health system

Although the American public health system has made major contributions to life expectancy for residents of this country over the past century, the system now faces more complex health problems that require comprehensive approaches and increased capacity, particularly in local and State public health agencies. To strengthen the public health system, concerted action is needed to meet these five critical needs: First, the knowledge base of public health workers needs to be supplemented through on-the-job training and continuing education programs. To this end, self-study courses will be expanded, and a network of regional training centers will be established throughout the country. Second, communities need dynamic leadership from public health officials and their agencies. To enhance leadership skills and expand the leadership role of public health agencies, focused personal leadership development activities, including a Public Health Leadership Institute, and national conferences will provide a vision of the future role of public health agencies. Third, local and State public health agencies need access to data on the current health status of the people in their communities and guidance from the nation's public health experts. To improve access to information resources, state-of-the-art technologies will be deployed to create integrated information and communication systems linking all components of the public health system. Fourth, local and State agencies need disease prevention and health promotion plans that target problems and develop strategies and the capacity to address them. To provide communities with structured approaches to this process, planning tools have been developed and distributed, and technical assistance will be provided to local and State health agencies to involve each community in planning,priority setting, and constituency building.Finally, public health agencies need adequate resources to fund prevention programs. To improve the use of existing Federal support and enhance the availability of new community resources, grant programs will be modified, and innovative approaches to local resource enhancement will be developed and shared.Activities in these five key areas are designed to improve the infrastructure of the public health system and its capacity to carry out effectively the core functions of public health assessment, policy development, and assurance of the availability of the benefits of public health. If the nation is to achieve the health objectives for the year 2000, the public health system-the individuals and institutions that, when working effectively together, promote and protect the health of the people-must be strengthened.
Hard/soft-acid/base principle and the reaction AhBs+AsBh→AhBh+AsBs

A demonstration of the hard/soft-acid/base principle involves showing that the energy change for AhBs+AsBh→AhBh+AsBs is always negative. We point out problems with assumptions made about hardness and strength of the components, but emphasize that problems with the way in which energies are calculated are even more important.
Interaction of T7 RNA polymerase with DNA in an elongation complex arrested at a specific psoralen adduct site.

Abstract We have probed the interaction of T7 RNA polymerase with DNA in an elongation complex arrested by a site specifically placed psoralen diadduct or furanside monoadduct using DNase I footprinting techniques. The psoralen derivative, HMT (4'-hydroxy-methyl-4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen), was first placed at a specific site in the middle of a chemically synthesized double-stranded DNA fragment containing a T7 RNA polymerase promoter at one end. The psoralen molecule was photochemically attached either to 2 adjacent thymidine residues on opposite strands as a diadduct or to only 1 thymidine residue on the coding strand as a furan-side monoadduct. Using these psoralen-modified DNAs as templates for transcription, we found that T7 RNA polymerase was blocked at the psoralen adduct site and that the arrested elongation complex protected about 15 nucleotides upstream from the adduct on the coding strand and 20 nucleotides around the adduct on the noncoding strand from DNase I digestion. The two psoralen-modified DNA templates yielded identical RNA transcripts and DNase I footprints. In contrast, T7 polymerase protected only the coding strand from -20 to +8 in the initiation complex. These results suggest that the RNA polymerase undergoes a marked conformational change upon converting from an initiation complex to an elongation complex.
Boron Stimulates Embryonic Trout Growth

Boron is present in our soil, water and air. Cyanobacteria require it for nitrogen fixation, and vascular plants require it for the formation of cell walls and membranes. I report here how boron affects the growth of embryonic rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Fertilized ovum from the Mt. Whitney rainbow trout strain were incubated at (12.5 degreesC) in Type 1 ASTM ultrapure grade water supplemented with boric acid (99.5% purity) during the 1995 and 1997 spawning seasons. Boron concentrations of the incubation solutions were determined by direct measurement using the curcumin procedure or inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. In the 1995 study boron ranged from 1 to 936 micromol/L. Ca, Na and Mg salts were included in the incubation solutions to approximate concentrations in natural water. In the 1997 study fertilized eggs were incubated in ultrapure water supplemented with boric acid alone over a range from 2.2 to 90.6 micromol/L. The 1995 study used 144 embryos per B concentration and the 1997 study used 96 embryos per B concentration. Growth and teratogenicity were evaluated at the eye, hatch and 2-wk posthatch developmental stages. Boron stimulated growth in a dose-dependent manner in both studies (P < 0.001), and exposure was associated with an increase in B body concentration (P < 0.05). No teratogenic or microbicidal effects were apparent. These results are consistent with those expected of an element essential for vertebrate development. J. Nutr. 2488-2493, 128: 1998
Enhanced T cell function in a mouse model of human glycosylation.

Clinical evidence for a more active immune response in humans compared with our closest hominid relative, the chimpanzee, includes the progression of HIV infection to AIDS, hepatitis B– and C–related inflammation, autoimmunity, and unwanted harmful immune responses to viral gene transfer vectors. Humans have a unique mutation of the enzyme CMP- N -acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH), causing loss of expression of the sialic acid Neu5Gc. This mutation, occurring 2 million years ago, likely altered the expression and function of ITIM-bearing inhibitory receptors (Siglecs) that bind sialic acids. Previous work showed that human T cells proliferate faster than chimpanzee T cells upon equivalent stimulation. In this article, we report that Cmah −/− mouse T cells proliferate faster and have greater expression of activation markers than wild-type mouse T cells. Metabolically reintroducing Neu5Gc diminishes the proliferation and activation of both human and murine Cmah −/− T cells. Importantly, Cmah −/− mice mount greater T cell responses to an adenovirus encoding an adeno-associated virus capsid transgene. Upon lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection, Cmah −/− mice make more lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus–specific T cells than WT mice, and these T cells are more polyfunctional. Therefore, a uniquely human glycosylation mutation, modeled in mice, leads to a more proliferative and active T cell population. These findings in a human-like mouse model have implications for understanding the hyperimmune responses that characterize some human diseases.
Usage Patterns of Educational Pamphlets and Options to Improve Effectiveness.

A telephone survey of all requestors of free and inexpensive educational materials in a one year period revealed that 30 percent of the requestors had distributed all the materials, 33 percent distributed approximately half or more, 25 percent less than half, and 12 percent of the requestors had lost their materials. A detailed analysis of utilization records showed that of 62,450 educational pieces requested, 19,641 had been wasted. This analysis led to a review of agency policy concerning the distribution of educational materials. Policy revisions were based on a review of learning theory, the role of specific objectives in program development, the diffusion and adoption of innovation, social change, and the mechanics of material distribution. This policy reformulation is described in detail.
Theoretical and Clinical Considerations for Autologous Blood Preparations: Platelet-Rich Plasma, Fibrin Sealants, and Plasma-Rich Growth Factors

Introduction: Growth factors may play a prominent role in wound healing. Concentrating these mediators and applying them to healing osseous or soft tissue may accelerate the process and improve the quality of the healing tissues. Methods of collecting and concentrating autologous platelets have been developed. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a technique that concentrates platelets and releases their growth factors when applied to healing tissues. There are some positive data about the effects of PRP on hard- and soft-tissue healing, but there is also some literature that shows minimal or no effect. Fibrin sealants undergo a different preparation procedure than PRP and tend to concentrate fibrinogen rather than platelets. They can be applied to either hard or soft tissue. Studies of these agents are also conflicting and some show positive results, whereas others show minimal effect. A third technique is plasma-rich growth factors (PRGFs). Like PRP, this preparation concentrates platelets but differs from PRP...
A method for experimental, penetrating gastric and duodenal ulcers in rats. Observations on normal healing.

A new and simple method of producing gastric (antral and fundic) and duodenal ulcers in rats by the topical application of acetic acid to the serosal surface is described. Three to 5 days after treatment, clearly defined, deep, round or oval ulcers, penetrating into the adjacent organs (mainly liver), appeared in the mucosal area corresponding to the treated area. The fundic and duodenal ulcers gradually diminished in size within 10–60 days, and, in all cases, were completely healed after 80 days, although the regenerated epithelium was superimposed on connective rather than on glandular tissue. In contrast, relatively large antral ulcers persisted for up to 80–100 days in more than 50% of the animals. A unique and characteristic histologic feature of the antral ulcer was the appearance of glandular cysts in the margin or base of the ulcerated area in the antrum. This experimental method appears suitable for screening therapeutic agents.
Face recognition using optimal linear components of range images

This paper investigates the use of range images of faces for recognizing people. 3D scans of faces lead to range images that are linearly projected to low-dimensional subspaces for use in a classifier, say a nearest neighbor classifier or a support vector machine, to label people. Learning of subspaces is performed using an optimal component analysis, i.e. a stochastic optimization algorithm (on a Grassmann manifold) to find a subspace that maximizes classifier performance on the training image set. Results are presented for face recognition using FSU face database, and are compared with standard component anlyses such as PCA and ICA. This provides an efficient tool for analyzing certain aspects of facial shapes while avoiding a difficult task of geometric surface modeling.
Mechanism of Phosphorylation-induced Activation of Phospholipase C-γ Isozymes *♦

The lipase activity of most phospholipases C (PLCs) is basally repressed by a highly degenerate and mostly disordered X/Y linker inserted within the catalytic domain. Release of this auto-inhibition is driven by electrostatic repulsion between the plasma membrane and the electronegative X/Y linker. In contrast, PLC-γ isozymes (PLC-γ1 and -γ2) are structurally distinct from other PLCs because multiple domains are present in their X/Y linker. Moreover, although many tyrosine kinases directly phosphorylate PLC-γ isozymes to enhance their lipase activity, the underlying molecular mechanism of this activation remains unclear. Here we define the mechanism for the unique regulation of PLC-γ isozymes by their X/Y linker. Specifically, we identify the C-terminal SH2 domain within the X/Y linker as the critical determinant for auto-inhibition. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the X/Y linker mediates high affinity intramolecular interaction with the C-terminal SH2 domain that is coupled to a large conformational rearrangement and release of auto-inhibition. Consequently, PLC-γ isozymes link phosphorylation to phospholipase activation by elaborating upon primordial regulatory mechanisms found in other PLCs.
Gene polymorphisms predict toxicity to neoadjuvant therapy in patients with rectal cancer

BACKGROUND Toxicity from neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (NT) increases morbidity and limits therapeutic efficacy in patients with rectal cancer. The objective of this study was to determine whether specific polymorphisms in genes associated with rectal cancer response to NT were correlated with NT-related toxicity. METHODS One hundred thirty-two patients with locally advanced rectal cancer received NT followed by surgery. All patients received 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and radiation (RT), and 80 patients also received modified infusional 5-FU, folinic acid, and oxaliplatin chemotherapy (mFOLFOX-6). Grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) that occurred during 5-FU/RT and during combined 5-FU/RT + mFOLFOX-6 were recorded. Pretreatment biopsy specimens and normal rectal tissues were collected from all patients. DNA was extracted and screened for 22 polymorphisms in 17 genes that have been associated with response to NT. Polymorphisms were correlated with treatment-related grade ≥3 AEs. RESULTS Overall, 27 of 132 patients (20%) had grade ≥3 AEs; 18 patients had a complication associated only with 5-FU/RT, 3 patients experienced toxicity only during mFOLFOX-6, and 6 patients had grade ≥3 AEs associated with both treatments before surgery. Polymorphisms in the genes x-ray repair complementing defective repair in Chinese hamster cells 1 (XRCC1), xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD), and tumor protein 53 (TP53) were associated with grade ≥3 AEs during NT (P < .05). Specifically, 2 polymorphisms—an arginine-to-glutamine substitution at codon 399 (Q399R) in XRCC1 and a lysine-to-glutamine substitution at codon 751 (K751Q) in XPD—were associated with increased toxicity to 5-FU/RT (P < .05), and an arginine-to-proline substitution at codon 72 (R72P) in TP53 was associated with increased toxicity to mFOLFOX-6 (P = .008). CONCLUSIONS Specific polymorphisms in XRCC1, XPD, and TP53 were associated with increased toxicity to NT in patients with rectal cancer. The current results indicated that polymorphism screening may help tailor treatment for patients by selecting therapies with the lowest risk of toxicity, thus increasing patient compliance. Cancer 2013. © 2012 American Cancer Society.
Effect of extractant and selected soil properties on predicting the optimum phosphorus fertilizer rate for growing soybeans under field conditions

Abstract Precise P fertilizer recommendations depend on the concentration of P removed by a given soil test extractant and the effect of other soil properties. Soybeans were grown several years on five Oxisols with a number of established soil P levels. A model was developed to maximize net return as a function of the P extracted by three methods and the optimum P fertilizer rate at each site. To account for site effects, other soil properties were then evaluated in individual combinations with extractable P by multiple regression. Mehlich‐3, Bray‐1, and resin extractable P accounted for 67, 57, and 62% of the variation in optimum P fertilizer rate, respectively. When clay content or surface area was included, the percentages increased to 84, 84, and 95%.In general, other soil properties reflecting P sorption, such as P adsorption maximum, P buffering coefficient, and measurements of clay type, were less effective than percentage clay or surface area. Two additional studies were conducted for one season t...
Modulus and the Poincaré inequality on metric measure spaces

The purpose of this paper is to develop the understanding of modulus and the Poincare inequality, as defined on metric measure spaces. Various definitions for modulus and capacity are shown to coincide for general collections of metric measure spaces. Consequently, modulus is shown to be upper semi-continuous with respect to the limit of a sequence of curve families contained in a converging sequence of metric measure spaces. Moreover, several competing definitions for the Poincare inequality are shown to coincide, if the underlying measure is doubling. One such characterization considers only continuous functions and their continuous upper gradients, and extends work of Heinonen and Koskela. Applications include showing that the p-Poincare inequality (with a doubling measure), for p≥1, persists through to the limit of a sequence of converging pointed metric measure spaces — this extends results of Cheeger. A further application is the construction of new doubling measures in Euclidean space which admit a 1-Poincare inequality.
Completeness of S4 with respect to the real line: revisited

Abstract We prove that S4 is complete with respect to Boolean combinations of countable unions of convex subsets of the real line, thus strengthening a 1944 result of McKinsey and Tarski (Ann. of Math. (2) 45 (1944) 141). We also prove that the same result holds for the bimodal system S4+S5+C, which is a strengthening of a 1999 result of Shehtman (J. Appl. Non-Classical Logics 9 (1999) 369).
Monomer Emission from Excimer Forming Crystals: Pyrene and Perylene

Abstract The phenomenon of monomer emission from excimer forming crystals has been investigated for pyrene and perylene. A variety of spectroscopic techniques have been used to demonstrate that genuine monomer emission can be observed from pyrene crystals. The emitting monomers appear to be located in disordered regions of the crystal situated within 5 × 102 nm of the surface. Both delayed monomer and excimer emission have been observed at 4.2°K and information on the range of the monomer exciton migration has been obtained. The low temperature emission observed from the dimeric α-form of perylene crystals appears to be either from highly perturbed perylene monomers located in disordered regions of the crystal or from impurities. The unusual temperature dependence previously observed for the emission spectrum of the monomeric β-form of perylene crystals is shown to be due largely to reabsorption effects.
Transition in the Floquet rates of a driven stochastic system

Floquet theory is used to solve the Smoluchowski equation for a time-periodic system whose underlying dynamics exhibits a transition to deterministic chaos. For the stochastic version of this system, an abrupt transition occurs in the Floquet decay rates as parameters of the system are varied, leading to a much more rapid decay to the stationary state.
Insulin-induzierte Ödeme bei Adoleszenten mit Diabetes mellitus Typ I

Two girls (aged 14 and 16 years) with type I diabetes were hospitalized with blood sugar levels of 394 and 319 mg/dl as well as HbA1 levels of 14.2 and 14.1%, respectively. In the first case it was the first sign of diabetes, in the other it was the result of a metabolic dysfunction with an injection abscess after ten years of the disease. After an initial substitution with regular insulin (subcutaneously in Case 1 [1.5-1.7 IU/kg daily for 3 days; in Case 2, continuous i.v. infusion [1.3 IU/kg daily] for 58 hours, followed by injections of appropriate mixtures of short and long-acting insulin) serum glucose levels were nearly always within normal range from the third day onward. Within 6 days of normal glucose levels being established hard pitting oedema, especially of the legs, developed in both girls, associated with a weight gain of 6.1 and 7.0 kg, respectively. Renal, hepatic and cardiovascular disease having been excluded the diagnosis of insulin-induced oedema was made. Within a further two weeks the oedema had disappeared without any specific treatment.
Proposed role of the paraventricular nucleus in cardiovascular deconditioning.

Aim: Cardiovascular deconditioning occurs in individuals exposed to prolonged spaceflight or bedrest and is associated with the development of orthostatic intolerance. Although the precise mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated, astronauts returning from space or bedrest patients returning to normal upright posture present with decreases in plasma volume and alterations in autonomic function. The hindlimb unloaded (HU) rat has been a useful model to study the effects of cardiovascular deconditioning as it mimics many of the changes that occur after spaceflight and bedrest. Results: Experiments performed in HU rats suggest that cardiovascular deconditioning attenuates baroreflex mediated sympathoexcitation and enhances cardiopulmonary receptor mediated sympathoinhibition. These alterations appear to be due to changes in the central nervous system and may contribute to the pre disposition towards orthostatic intolerance associated with cardiovascular deconditioning. The paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus is important in basal and reflex control of sympathetic outflow. Recent evidence suggests that nitric oxide (NO) is an important inhibitory neurotransmitter in the PVN and that alterations in nitroxidergic transmission in the PVN may be involved in elevated sympathetic tone in certain disease states. Conclusion: Based on evidence from other laboratories and published and preliminary data from our own laboratories, this review proposes a role for the PVN in cardiovascular deconditioning. In particular, we discuss the hypothesis that increased NO in the PVN contributes to the altered cardiovascular reflexes observed following deconditioning and how these reflexes may be related to the orthostatic intolerance observed after prolonged spaceflight or bedrest.
Reliability for multiple frequency bioelectric impedance.

Multifrequency impedance may help to quantify body fluid compartments and levels of hydration among individuals. Most studies of bioelectric impedance use impedance machines operating at a frequency of 50 kHz, and observer error is low. The present study evaluates multifrequency impedance measurements at 15 frequencies from 5 to 1,300 kHz to determine observer reliability in 20 White subjects of each sex, 18-65 years of age. Data were collected during two time periods so that a participant was measured by each of two observers during each period. There was an effect of frequency and sex on reliability. The intra- and inter-observer reliability for resistance and reactance were high with coefficients of reliability of greater than 95% at frequencies under about 500 kHz for resistance and under 100 kHz for reactance. Technical errors of measurement were generally stable across frequencies for resistance but became increasingly large above 100 kHz for reactance. Resistance measures of men were more reliable than those of women. Reliability was reduced at high frequencies which are potentially useful in determining body fluid volumes. There was no effect of age on reliability. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
CABG in calcified aorta under circulatory arrest

Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with calcified aorta presents a formidable problem in terms of cannulation and proximal anastomosis with its attending risks of cerebral and peripheral embolism. Coronary artery bypass grafting without cross-clamping and proximal anastomosis to the aorta at a soft spot under circulatory arrest may be a simple and safe alternative to a difficult clinical problem.
Exact algorithms for the stochastic shortest path problem with a decreasing deadline utility function

In this paper, the stochastic shortest path problem of determining a path that maximizes the expected utility is considered. The nature of the utility function used to evaluate paths is of a decreasing deadline type. The principal contribution of this paper is the development of exact algorithms that use two types of pruning techniques that are incorporated in labeling procedures. One type of pruning makes use of the concept of local preference relations while the other type makes use of relaxations. Specifically two algorithms are developed, each containing the same preference relation, but two different relaxations. Our extensive computational testing indicate that both these algorithms are able to solve even large size problems quickly. More importantly, even for large problems, both the algorithms solved them by enumerating a very small percentage of all paths.
High-Energy Gamma Rays and Low-Energy Protons and Deuterons from C 12 + p for E p = 14 − 20 MeV

The 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} yield of gamma rays from proton bombardment of ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ was studied for proton energies between 14 and 20 MeV. Gamma rays are observed corresponding to the ground-state decay of the ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ 4.43-, 12.7-, and 15.1-MeV levels and from the ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}(p, {\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{0}){\mathrm{N}}^{13}$ reaction. Three resonances are observed in the yield of the 15.1-MeV gamma ray. These resonances correspond to ${\mathrm{N}}^{13}$ levels at 18.1, 18.65, and 19.8 MeV. The ${\mathrm{N}}^{13}$ 18.1-MeV level has a width of 330\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}100 keV in the center-of-mass system. The other two levels have widths less than 200 keV. The yields of the 4.43- and 12.7-MeV gamma rays reveal little or no structure. The excitation function of the ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}(p, {\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{0}){\mathrm{N}}^{13}$ reaction also shows little structure. Angular distributions and absolute integrated cross sections for the ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}(p, {p}^{\ensuremath{'}}){\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ reaction are given for the ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ 12.7-MeV level with ${E}_{p}=17.5, 19.5, \mathrm{and} 20$ MeV and for the ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ 15.1-MeV level with ${E}_{p}=19.5$ MeV. The latter is approximately symmetrical about 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} which suggests possible contribution from the compound nucleus reaction mechanism. Comparison of the cross sections for ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}(p, {p}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{\gamma}){\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ and ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}(p, {p}^{\ensuremath{'}}){\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ gives $\frac{{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}=0.027\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.007$ for the ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ 12.7-MeV state and 1.15\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.3 for the ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ 15.1-MeV state. The yield of the ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}(p, d){\mathrm{C}}^{11}$ reaction was measured by the stacked foil technique from threshold (${E}_{p}=17.85$ MeV) to 19.8 MeV. There is no evidence for structure. Angular distributions are given for the ${\mathrm{C}}^{12}(p, d){\mathrm{C}}^{11}$ reaction for ${E}_{p}=19.3, 19.5, \mathrm{and} 20.0$ MeV. The results are compared to previous work on the ${\mathrm{B}}^{11}(d, n){\mathrm{C}}^{12}$ reaction and it is concluded that the contribution of the compound nucleus reaction mechanism to either reaction is most likely small for the bombarding energies in question.
Intrastriatal iron perfusion releases dopamine: an in-vivo microdialysis study

We perfused iron as FeCl(3) directly into the striatum of normal rats and used the in vivo microdialysis technique to monitor striatal levels of dopamine (DA). KCl was perfused to assess the functional integrity of the DA receptors at the end of each dialysis experiment. Cu(+2) (as CuSO(4)) and Cl(-) (as NaCl) were perfused to compare the effects of Fe(+3) to that of other heavy metal and donors of Cl(-) anion. Perfusion of FeCl(3) (1 mM for 15 min) produced a 250% increase in striatal levels of DA. Perfusion of CuSO(4) (1 mM for 15 min) or NaCl (10 mM for 15 min) did not affect striatal DA levels. There was a significant increase in DA levels with KCl stimulation (56 mM for 15 min) after perfusion with FeCl(3). We conclude that iron releases DA from striatal nerve endings without the immediate destruction of the DA terminals. The implications of chronic release of dopamine as a cause of dopaminergic cell death are discussed.
CP-46,665-1: A novel lipoidal amine with antimetastatic and immunomodulatory properties

CP-46-665-1 [4-aminomethyl-1(2,3-(di-n-decyloxy)-n-propyl)-4-phenylpiperidine dihydrochloride] is a novel, low-molecular-weight, synthetic compound with antimetastatic activity in rodent models. In the B-16 melanoma/C57Bl/6 mouse system, in which the hind limb bearing a primary foot tumor is amputated 21 days after tumor implantation, intravenous infusion of CP-46,665-1 after surgery at doses ranging from 0.15–2.5 mg/kg increases the fraction of metastasis-free animals at 50 days to as high as 56% (significantly different from the 19% seen in surgery-only controls, P<0.001). In more preliminary experiments with a mammary adenocarcinoma (13762)/Fischer 344 rat system, there are suggestions that the combination of CP-46,665-1 administration and surgical removal of the primary tumor results in increased numbers of long-term survivors that are free of metastatic disease.
Crimeware-as-a-service—A survey of commoditized crimeware in the underground market

Crimeware-as-a-service (CaaS) has become a prominent component of the underground economy. CaaS provides a new dimension to cyber crime by making it more organized, automated, and accessible to criminals with limited technical skills. This paper dissects CaaS and explains the essence of the underground economy that has grown around it. The paper also describes the various crimeware services that are provided in the underground market.
Miliary Tuberculosis Presenting as Hepatic and Renal Failure

A 67-year-old man developed hepatic and renal failure over a six-day period. Despite full supportive measures, he died on his 11th day of hospitalization with fulminant DIC and hepatic, renal, and respiratory failure. Postmortem examination revealed acid-fast bacilli in virtually all organ systems. Miliary tuberculosis should be considered as a potentially treatable cause of hepatic failure.
Fracture Mechanics of Low Molecular Weight Polymers

A novel analysis is presented to explain mechanistic aspects of the fracture of low molecular weight polymers. The fracture energy is calculated as a function of the mean interpenetration distance of a polymer chain which has been derived from the solution of the Fokker-Planck equation. Experimental results with monodisperse polystyrene have been used to validate the theory.
Use of Critical Incident Reports in Medical Education: A Perspective

Critical incident reports are now being widely used in medical education. They are short narrative accounts focusing on the most important professional experiences of medical students, residents, and other learners. As such, critical incident reports are ideally suited for addressing values and attitudes, and teaching professional development. This manuscript describes critical incident reports and gives examples of their use, provides a theoretical underpinning that explains their effectiveness, and describes the educational impacts of critical incident reports and similar methods that use reflective learning. The author recommends critical incident reports as an especially effective means to address learners' most deeply held values and attitudes in the context of their professional experiences.
Racing against the clock: Recognizing, differentiating, diagnosing, and referring the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patient

Recognition of the early symptoms and signs in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, exclusion of alternative diagnoses, and referral to a tertiary center can have a significant positive impact on the lives of patients and their caregivers. This article provides the most current amyotrophic lateral sclerosis criteria, as well as helpful clinical clues to the diagnosis. An approach to laboratory testing, electrodiagnostic testing, and imaging to exclude diseases that mimic ALS also are discussed, as are atypical presentations that can confound timely diagnosis.
A STATement on Vemurafenib-Resistant Melanoma

Despite recent advancements in the treatment of late-stage mutant BRAF V600E/K melanomas, a major hurdle continues to be acquired resistance to BRAF inhibitors such as vemurafenib. The mechanisms for resistance have proven to be heterogeneous, emphasizing the need to use broad therapeutic approaches. In this issue, the study “Stat3-targeted therapies overcome the acquired resistance to vemurafenib in melanomas” by Liu et al. proposes that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)–paired box 3 (PAX3) signaling may be a mechanism that is used by melanomas to resist RAF inhibitors.
Parallel adaptive on-line error-path modelling algorithm for active noise control systems

A parallel on-line error-path modelling algorithm for active noise control systems is mathematically derived and analysed. The novel feature is the use of a pure delay unit to achieve precise modelling of the error path. A switch scheme is also proposed to improve performance of the overall system.
Modelling the persistence of conditional variances

This paper will discuss the current research in building models of conditional variances using the Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedastic (ARCH) and Generalized ARCH (GARCH) formulations. The discussion will be motivated by a simple asset pricing theory which is particularly appropriate for examining futures contracts with risk averse agents. A new class of models defined to be integrated in variance is then introduced. This new class of models includes the variance analogue of a unit root in the mean as a special case. The models are argued to be both theoretically important for the asset pricing models and empirically relevant. The conditional density is then generalized from a normal to a Student-t with unknown degrees of freedom. By estimating the degrees of freedom, implications about the conditional kurtosis of these models and time aggregated models can be drawn. A further generalization allows the conditional variance to be a non-linear function of the squared innovations. Throughout empirical...
Evolution of Urania into the AVO

The AVO has the potential to significantly change and improve the way astronomers can utilize data and conduct their research. In order to make this happen, the most important challenge of the AVO will be to enable astronomers to find what they need for their research. This will be more and more difficult the more data are included in the AVO. We believe that there already exists a search system that can be used as the basis for this search capability of the AVO. Properly utilized this basis will allow the AVO to much more quickly reach its goals.
Matrix Infrared Spectra of Dihydrido Cyclic and Trihydrido Ethynyl Products from Reactions of Th and U Atoms with Ethylene Molecules

Reactions of laser-ablated thorium and uranium atoms with ethylene isotopomers have been carried out and the primary products identified in the matrix IR spectra. The dihydrido cyclic and trihydrido ethynyl products (MH2−C2H2 and MH3CCH) are identified from the matrix spectra of both Th and U, whereas the insertion product absorption is observed only in the U spectra. The present results indicate that C−H insertion and following H migration from C to M also occur in reaction of the actinides with ethylene. Formation of the trihydrido ethynyl products is parallel to the previous results of group 4 metals. Metal hydride (MHx) absorptions are not observed in the infrared spectra, suggesting that the H2 elimination from the dihydrido cyclic intermediate is relatively slow. Density functional theory calculations reproduce the vibrational characteristics of the identified products and the relative stabilities. The cyclic triangular ThH2−C2H2 system with two π electrons is aromatic, which contributes to the uniq...
The village base station

Cellular communications, including handsets and base stations, have become ubiquitous technologies throughout the developing and developed world. Roughly three billion users spend large portions of their income on these basic communications [1]. However, the remaining half of the world currently has limited access, in large part due to lack of network coverage. Some areas do not have a high enough population density to support a traditional cellular deployment. Other areas are too far from established infrastructure to make a deployment economically feasible. This leads to many rural areas where there is no network coverage at all.
Luteinizing hormone and testosterone during nocturnal sleep: relation to penile tumescent cycles.

Variations of plasma LH and testosterone in relation to sleep-related penile tumescence were assessed. Plasma LH and testosterone were measured at 10–20 min intervals in five normal adult men during 2 nights of sleep. Blood samples were obtained by means of an indwelling venous catheter while sleep was monitored polygraphically and penile tumescence recorded with a penile mercury strain gauge. Tumescent episodes were recorded in all subjects during 9 of the 10 nights of the study, and the percentage of time during sleep, which was associated with tumescence, ranged from 13% to 34%. Simultaneous REM and tumescence comprised 57.7% of total tumescent time. Abrupt elevations of plasma LH and testosterone were observed during the night without a significant relationship to stages of sleep. The mean of all hormonal determinations for the five subjects did not show significant differences in plasma LH and testosterone between fully and partially tumescent episodes and nontumescent periods. Mean testosterone during REM sleep with tumescence, a state of autonomic activation involving sexual function, was consistently higher for the five subjects than during periods free from REM and tumescence.
Joint High Speed Sealift (JHSS) Segmented Model Test Results

The Joint High Speed Sealift segmented model (Model 5663) tests performed in 2007, in the Maneuvering and Seakeeping Basin at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, were designed to provide a large data set for validation of numerical simulations. Model 5663 is a segmented structural ship model that has scaled longitudinal bending and torsional stiffness. The scaled stiffness is obtained by building a backspline into the model that accounts for the bending stiffness and cutting the shell in several places, segmenting it to isolate the stiffness to the backspline. The alternative way to obtain structural loads would be to build a model with scaled plates and stiffeners; however, this would be very difficult and expensive. The backspline allows the stiffness to be scaled properly while using reasonable materials and simple construction. The hull segments of the model are connected with silicone to maintain a watertight connection. The model is self propelled and steered during data collection. The test matrix spans a wide set of wave conditions, including regular and irregular seas, with heading angles spanning the possible range. A wide range of speeds are also included, with Froude numbers ranging from 0 to 0.43. This test matrix, which includes about 2000 runs, allows for validation of codes from still water test, through operational conditions, to extreme design load determination. Different aspects of the data have been studied, but much is still left to be considered. An aspect of the model tests that has not previously been considered in detail is the hydroelastic response of the vessel. Hydroelastic phenomena are a subset of fluid-structure interaction problems where the elasticity of the structure is important. The vibrational characteristics of the model are determined. The main phenomena of interest are springing and whipping, and an analysis of the springing response and the whipping response in head seas is also discussed.Copyright © 2012 by ASME