cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Educational Reform and African American Male Students after Brown v. Board of Education

African American (Black) males in K–12 public schools lag behind all groups by race and gender. Black male students experience greater barriers in achieving academic success in school. This places ...
Perineal reconstruction following radical vulvectomy

Abstract A method of reconstruction of the perineum necessitated by extensive scar formation following a radical vulvectomy is presented. Scarring had produced a complete bowel obstruction at the anal orifice. Emphysis is made on preoperative planning as a prerequisite to postoperative success.
Chemical synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles for permanent magnet applications

Permanent magnets are a class of critical materials for information storage, energy storage, and other magneto-electronic applications. Compared with conventional bulk magnets, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) show unique size-dependent magnetic properties, which make it possible to control and optimize their magnetic performance for specific applications. The synthesis of MNPs has been intensively explored in recent years. Among different methods developed thus far, chemical synthesis based on solution-phase reactions has attracted much attention owing to its potential to achieve the desired size, morphology, structure, and magnetic controls. This Minireview focuses on the recent chemical syntheses of strongly ferromagnetic MNPs (Hc >10 kOe) of rare-earth metals and FePt intermetallic alloys. It further discusses the potential of enhancing the magnetic performance of MNP composites by assembly of hard and soft MNPs into exchange-coupled nanocomposites. High-performance nanocomposites are key to fabricating super-strong permanent magnets for magnetic, electronic, and energy applications.
Role of gut microbiota in liver disease.

The gut microbiome is the natural intestinal inhabitant that has been recognized recently as a major player in the maintenance of human health and the pathophysiology of many diseases. Those commen...
Mid-latitude ionospheric features: Natural complexity in action

Abstract We review examples of ionospheric dynamic complexity at mid-latitudes, where magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling is a dominant feature. Storm-enhanced density, subauroral polarization streams, and irregularities all influence the ionosphere in this region and cause significant variability in both space and time. Complexity and system scale approaches are required to further understand this dynamic region where plasmas of different energy and composition overlap and exchange energy.
Context, Types, and Consequences of Violence Across the Life Course: A Qualitative Study of the Lived Experiences of Transgender Women Living With HIV

Violence is a known driver of HIV vulnerability among transgender (trans) women, who are disproportionately impacted by HIV globally. Violence is also a barrier to accessing HIV prevention, treatment, and support. Yet, little is known about the everyday experiences of violence faced by trans women living with HIV, who live at the intersection of a marginalized gender identity and physical health condition. To address this gap, this study draws on semi-structured, individual interviews conducted 2017-2018 with a purposive sample (selected based on diverse identities) of trans women living with HIV (n = 11) participating in a large, community-based cohort study in three Canadian provinces. Framework analysis was used to identify key themes, patterns within themes between participants, and patterns across themes among participants. Findings showed that trans women living with HIV experience specific contexts of violence shaped at the intersection of stigma based on gender identity, gender expression, and HIV status, among other identities/experiences. Violence experienced in childhood (e.g., familial rejection, bullying) increased trans women's likelihood of being exposed to a violent social context in young adulthood (e.g., state violence perpetuated by the police, interpersonal violence perpetuated by sexual partners, and community violence perpetuated by society-at-large/the general public), which increased trans women's HIV vulnerability; once living with HIV trans women were subjected to discursive violence from healthcare providers. These multiple forms of violence have serious consequences for trans women living with HIV's ongoing social, mental, and physical well-being. The findings suggest that interventions are urgently needed to reduce violence against trans women in childhood and young adulthood, in addition to reducing violence against trans women living with HIV perpetuated by healthcare providers in adulthood, to both proactively and responsively promote their safety, health, and well-being.
Comparison of Self and Resident Assessment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Attendings

Study Objective There have been studies assessing OBGYN personality types. However, there is a gap of study assessing attending personality assessment and its effects on residents. The objective of this study is to examine attending self-perception of personality traits, clinical/surgical teaching and provision of feedback and how this compares to resident assessment. Design Online Survey. Setting Anonymous survey. Patients or Participants Current residents and attendings. Interventions There were separate attending and resident surveys. The surveys collected demographic information, personality/clinical/surgical teaching assessment as well as a set of slider questions pertaining to resident/attending perceptions. This set was developed with a clinical psychologist. Each survey linked to a validated personality test. Measurements and Main Results Resident response rate was 65.8%. Attending response rate was 78.6%. A repeated measure model was used to assess the mean difference in scores between residents and attendings. Attendings viewed themselves as more reliable/trustworthy (p=0.01), professional (p=0.04), ethical (p McNemar's test was used to assess the association between subjective and objective measures of attending personality type. 40% of attendings classified themselves as an extrovert but scored as an introvert (p=0.05). There was no difference between classification of type A/B personality types and measurement with the validated personality test. Conclusion Attending perception of personality traits, teaching ability, and provision of feedback correlates positively with resident perception for many of the factors studied. For example, residents perceived attendings as better at surgical teaching than they self-perceived. Assessing these correlations may assist in improving resident/attending communication and feedback.
Gut Health = Mental Health? The Impact of Diet and Dietary Supplements on Mood Disorders.

Depression and mood disorders impact a significant number of our population. The purpose of this review was to investigate the current literature on dietary strategies or supplements that may impact mood and cognition. Several recent studies and reviews have found that promoting a “healthy” diet may help improve depressive symptoms, and that such interventions are cost-effective. Other reviews have found that there may be some benefit to multiple dietary interventions/supplementations on a variety of mood disorders. While these studies offer a safe, cost-effective option, the quality of evidence is poor. Regardless, promoting a healthy diet including healthy fats, whole grains, and a variety of fruits and vegetables promotes not only mental health, but also a variety of other chronic conditions. Thus, while not ready as standalone therapy, dietary counseling/intervention should be included as we address mental health concerns of our patients.
A cluster-randomized control trial targeting parents of pediatric cancer survivors with obesity: Rationale and study protocol of NOURISH-T.

Abstract Approximately 40–50% of pediatric cancer survivors (PCS) are overweight or obese; increasing their risk for metabolic syndrome and other negative long-term physical health complications. Using our successful pilot trial testing the preliminary feasibility and efficacy of NOURISH for Healthy Transitions (NOURISH-T), we refined our intervention, now NOURISH-T+, and will implement these refinements in this larger, multi-site randomized control trial. Parents of PCS with overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 85th%ile), age 5–12, ≥6 months off treatment are randomly assigned to the NOURISH-T+ intervention or Enhanced Usual Care (EUC) comparison. Parents in NOURISH-T+ will participate in a 6-session, manualized intervention, with an additional dietician session and 2 PCS sessions, as well as post-intervention booster sessions. EUC consists of a one-time informational session, nationally available brochures and follow-up check-ins. Both study conditions will be conducted remotely via a videoconferencing platform. Parents and PCS will be assessed on anthropometric measures, physical activity (PA) and dietary behaviors at baseline, 3-, 6-, and 12-months post-intervention. We will enroll a diverse group of 260 parents/PCS dyads from four pediatric oncology clinics with the aim of evaluating the efficacy of our intervention across diverse pediatric oncology clinics. Our main aim is to compare the impact of NOURISH-T+ with EUC on PCS BMI z-score. Secondary aims are to compare intervention impact on PCS PA and eating behaviors and parent BMI and behaviors as well as to explore potential moderators of the intervention. Our longer-term goal is to establish a framework for future translation and dissemination of NOURISH-T+.
Litigation Science after the Knowledge Crisis

The knowledge crisis that has been causing turmoil in the social sciences for the past few years represents a fundamental shift in scientists’ understanding of what it takes to create reliable science. This crisis, now known as the Replication Crisis, has thrown the spotlight on research practices that undermine the reliability of research results in ways that are typically invisible and cannot be remedied or made visible after the fact. There is ample reason to believe that the defects of method uncovered in the course of the Replication Crisis are at least as pervasive in litigation science as they are in academic science. Yet the legal profession has failed to recognize and address them. This Article is the first to address the broad implications of the Replication Crisis for the production of scientific knowledge in a civil-litigation context. Drawing on insights from the Crisis, it argues that current procedural practice is simply incapable of providing a court with the information it needs to make an accurate assessment of the reliability of scientific evidence. The Article identifies a number of core principles, drawn from the response of academic science to the Replication Crisis, that can guide reforms to the treatment of scientific evidence in civil litigation. It argues that shoring up the courts’ capacity to evaluate scientific evidence requires a rethinking of the entire chain of creation of scientific knowledge and a reframing of the role of the court in that chain.
Graphite tattoo : report of a case and differential diagnosis

A case report underlining the necessity of the biopsy procedure for a pigmented lesion of unknown origin. A female patient was referred for evaluation of a pigmented lesion on the facial keratinized gingiva coronal to the free gingival margin above tooth No. 7. An excisional biopsy revealed a graphite tattoo. A discussion and differential diagnosis of pigmented lesions follows.
Finite Element Method

The objective of this article is to give an overview of finite element methods that currently are used extensively in academia and industry. The method is described in general terms, the basic formulation is presented, and some issues regarding effective finite element procedures are summarized. Various applications are given briefly to illustrate the current use of the method. Finally, the article concludes with key challenges for the additional development of the method. Keywords: finite elements; reliability and effectiveness; solids; structures; statics and dynamics; CFD; CAE; computer programs
Use of Flow Cytometry to Quantify Mouse Gastric Epithelial Cell Populations

Flow cytometry provides the opportunity to quantify cell populations within a total cell suspension. The quality of flow cytometry is strongly dependent on the isolation of intact viable cells. However, techniques to isolate mouse gastric cells for flow cytometry have not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to develop an effective method for isolating intact viable cells from mouse gastric tissue for flow cytometry. Cells were isolated from mouse stomach and spleen by either enzymatic separation or mechanical dissociation. A Percoll density gradient was used to separate viable cells from cellular debris. Cells were labeled with fluorescently tagged ligand or antibody and analyzed by flow cytometry. According to propidium iodide staining, there was a higher percentage of viable cells after mechanical dissociation (10-20%) compared to enzymatic separation (1%). After Percoll centrifugation there was a further increase in the percent of viable cells (50-80%). Gastrin (G), somatostatin (D), and parietal cells represented 0.6%, 3%, and 8% of the total epithelial cell population, respectively. T and B lymphocytes made up 4% and 2% in the gastric mucosa. Dissociated splenocytes were comprised of 20% T cells and 14% B cells. The ability to reliably resolve a cellular fraction that comprises only 0.6% of the input marks a substantial improvement over morphometric methods. Therefore, mechanical dissociation of the stomach followed by use of a Percoll gradient is the preferred method for isolating viable intact gastric epithelial cells for flow cytometry.
Short Single Axioms for Boolean Algebra

We present short single equational axioms for Boolean algebra in terms of disjunction and negation and in terms of the Sheffer stroke. Previously known single axioms for these theories are much longer than the ones we present. We show that there is no shorter axiom in terms of the Sheffer stroke. Automated deduction techniques were used in several parts of the work.
Aryl sulfatase in ascospores of Neurospora crassa.

Neurospora crassa ascospores normally do not contain aryl sulfatase even when formed under conditions of sulfur limitation. However, when one of the parental strains is the nonrepressible mutant scon c , the resulting (mixed) ascospores contain significant levels of aryl sulfatase even when formed under conditions of sulfur abundance.
Automatic segmentation of intra-treatment CT images for adaptive radiation therapy of the prostate

We have been developing an approach for automatically quantifying organ motion for adaptive radiation therapy of the prostate. Our approach is based on deformable image registration, which makes it possible to establish a correspondence between points in images taken on different days. This correspondence can be used to study organ motion and to accumulate inter-fraction dose. In prostate images, however, the presence of bowel gas can cause significant correspondence errors. To account for this problem, we have developed a novel method that combines large deformation image registration with a bowel gas segmentation and deflation algorithm. In this paper, we describe our approach and present a study of its accuracy for adaptive radiation therapy of the prostate. All experiments are carried out on 3-dimensional CT images.
Lessons about terminal differentiation from the specification of color‐detecting photoreceptors in the Drosophila retina

Metazoans require highly diverse collections of cell types to sense, interpret, and react to the environment. Developmental programs incorporate deterministic and stochastic strategies in different contexts or different combinations to establish this multitude of cell fates. Precise genetic dissection of the processes controlling terminal photoreceptor differentiation in the Drosophila retina has revealed complex regulatory mechanisms required to generate differences in gene expression and cell fate. In this review, I discuss how a gene regulatory network interprets stochastic and regional inputs to determine the specification of color-detecting photoreceptor subtypes in the Drosophila retina. These combinatorial gene regulatory mechanisms will likely be broadly applicable to nervous system development and cell fate specification in general.
The Gender Gap and its Effect on Presidential Campaigns and Political Ads

In America women not only vote differently than men but they also vote in larger numbers (Poggione). In 2000, 56 % of women turned out while only 53% of men voted. This translated to 8 million more women in the electorate (Schaffner, 804). Women tend to vote for the candidate who talks about issues that they consider to be most important including, healthcare, education, welfare, elderly, and war and peace issues. Research has shown that this is true regardless of party and ideology (Poggione). The gender gap is the idea that women are more liberal than men and tend to care about different issues. The issues like healthcare, education, welfare, elderly and war and peace are referred to as "women's issues." Women place more of an emphasis on issues when they vote than on party and ideology. Some scholars have found that gender is the largest contributing factor that determines how one will vote. Others say that there are stronger factors such as socioeconomic status, party affiliation, the region in which one resides, and a person’s religious affiliation that determine how a woman will vote. The questions driving this paper are: do candidates develop strategies that appeal specifically to women in order to garner votes? Will the candidate who includes more of these issues in his or her campaign message win the female vote? To carry out my research I coded political ads from the 2008 general election campaigns of Barack Obama and John McCain to determine which candidate had more ads focused on issues that have been determined to attract women. I anticipated that the presidential candidate who spoke to women’s issues most during the campaign would maximize his or her chances of securing the female vote at election time. Ultimately this study will assess candidate behavior through political ads to determine whether or not targeting women’s issues in a campaign message helps a candidate win the female vote.
Early Detection of Myocardial Bioenergetic Deficits: A 9.4 Tesla Complete Non Invasive 31P MR Spectroscopy Study in Mice with Muscular Dystrophy.

Background Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common fatal form of muscular dystrophy characterized by striated muscle wasting and dysfunction. Patients with DMD have a very high incidence of heart failure, which is increasingly the cause of death in DMD patients. We hypothesize that in the in vivo system, the dystrophic cardiac muscle displays bioenergetic deficits prior to any functional or structural deficits. To address this we developed a complete non invasive 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P MRS) approach to measure myocardial bioenergetics in the heart in vivo. Methods and Results Six control and nine mdx mice at 5 months of age were used for the study. A standard 3D -Image Selected In vivo Spectroscopy (3D-ISIS) sequence was used to provide complete gradient controlled three-dimensional localization for heart 31P MRS. These studies demonstrated dystrophic hearts have a significant reduction in PCr/ATP ratio compare to normal (1.59±0.13 vs 2.37±0.25, p<0.05). Conclusion Our present study provides the direct evidence of significant cardiac bioenergetic deficits in the in vivo dystrophic mouse. These data suggest that energetic defects precede the development of significant hemodynamic or structural changes. The methods provide a clinically relevant approach to use myocardial energetics as an early marker of disease in the dystrophic heart. The new method in detecting the in vivo bioenergetics abnormality as an early non-invasive marker of emerging dystrophic cardiomyopathy is critical in management of patients with DMD, and optimized therapies aimed at slowing or reversing the cardiomyopathy.
Monte Carlo Calculations of the Polarization of Radiation in the Earth's Atmosphere-Ocean System

Abstract The degree and direction of polarization, the ellipticity, and the radiance of the radiation at various levels in the atmosphere and ocean are calculated by a Monte Carlo method which includes all orders of multiple scattering. Both Rayleigh scattering by the molecules and Mie scattering by the aerosols, as well as molecular and aerosol absorption, are included in the model of the atmosphere. Similarly, in the ocean, both Rayleigh scattering by the water molecules and Mie scattering by the hydrosols, as well as absorption by the water molecules and hydrosols, are considered. Separate single-scattering phase matrices are calculated from Mie theory for the aerosols and hydrosols. Both the reflected and refracted rays, as well as the rays that undergo total internal reflection, are followed from the ocean surface which is assumed to be flat. The degree and direction of polarization, the ellipticity, the radiance and the flux are given as functions of the turbidity of the ocean, the solar zenith angl...
Re‐parameterization of five‐parameter logistic function

Recently, the five-parameter logistic (5PL) function has seen increased use as a model for bioassay dose-response curves. The 5PL function takes curve asymmetry into consideration to overcome some drawbacks of the four-parameter logistic (4PL) function. These drawbacks include biased estimates of important model parameters, poor characterization of pharmacological pathways and the mechanisms, and inaccurate inference of drug-receptor interactions. However, currently used 5PL functional form does not have the same practical useful parameter interpretation as the 4PL function. In this paper, we re-parameterize the 5PL function to preserve the practical useful parameter interpretation of the 4PL. Comparing to the currently used 5PL, the re-parameterized 5PL function preserves practical useful parameter interpretation of 4PL and has better statistical properties in terms of bias and mean squared error (MSE). Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Averaged evoked responses and loudness: analysis of response estimates.

Averaged evoked responses to noise burst signals at six sensation levels were obtained in three experimental contexts and compared on the basis of response magnitude. No significant effects were fo...
Anode power deposition in a MPD thruster with a magnetically annulled Hall parameter anode

Results from previous studies indicate that the anode fall increases monotonically with the electron Hall parameter. In an attempt to reduce the anode fall by decreasing the local electron Hall parameter, a proof-of-concept test was performed in which an array of 36 permanent magnets were imbedded within the anode of a high power quasi-steady MPD thruster to decrease the local azimuthal component of the induced magnetic field. The modified thruster was operated at power levels between 150 kW and 4 MW with Ar and He propellants. Terminal voltage, triple probe, floating probe, and magnetic probe measurements were made to characterize the performance of the thruster with new anode. Incorporation of the modified anode resulted in a reduction of the anode fall by up to 15 V with Ar and 20 V with He, which corresponded to decreased anode power fractions of 40 and 45 percent with Ar and He, respectively.
Inductive theories and their forcing companions

A decomposition theorem for ideals of a distributive lattice is related to a classification of the generic models of an arbitrary inductive theory, generalizing, for example, the classification of algebraically closed fields according to their characteristics.
Health benefits of hormonal contraception.

We are grateful to Dr. Nicolas Mendoza and Dr. Rafael Sanchezorrego for bringing attention to the subject of non-contraceptive enefits of hormonal contraceptives (HCs), which is not included n our recent review of contraceptive use during perimenopause 1]. Just as there is data lacking on contraceptive effectiveess of HCs for women over age 40, there is also a paucity of ata for non-contraceptive benefits in this age group, such as ecreased menstrual bleeding. We do present data particular to erimenopausal and postmenopausal women for the benefits of he levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), which include eduction in total menstrual blood loss, endometrial protection, nd avoidance of hysterectomy [2,3]. We agree that research ocused on the benefits of combined HCs in this population would e helpful.
Optimal Performance of Variable Component Suspensions

SUMMARY Most vehicle suspension systems use fixed passive components that offer a compromise in performance between sprung mass isolation, suspension travel, and tireroad contact force. Recently, systems with discretely adjustable dampers and air springs been added to production vehicles. Active and semi-active damping concepts for vehicle suspensions have also been studied theoretically and with physical prototypes. This paper examines the optimal performance comparisons of variable component suspensions, including active damping and full-state feedback, for “quartercar” heave models. Two and three dimensional optimizations are computed using performance indicators to find the component parameters (control gains) that provide “optimal” performance for statistically described roadway inputs. The effects of performance weighting and feedback configuration are examined. Active damping is shown to be mainly important for vehicle isolation. A passive vehicle suspension can control suspension travel and tire c...
Alzheimer β/A4‐Amyloid Precursor Protein: Evidence for Putative Amyloidogenic Fragment

: Recombinant baculovirus was used to overexpress human Alzheimer β/A4-amyloid precursor protein (APP) in Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells. Lysates of these cells were then analyzed for the presence of carboxyl-terminal fragments of APP by an immuno-blotting assay using either an antibody against the APP cytoplasmic domain (rabbit anti-human 695APP645–694 or an antibody against the amino terminus of β/A4-amyloid (rabbit anti-human 695APP586–606). Anti-human 695APP645–694 identified APP holoprotein, a 25-kDa species, and a prominent group of carboxyl-terminal fragments of 17, 16, and 14 kDa, whereas anti-human 695APP586–606 identified APP holoprotein and a single prominent low-molecular-mass protein species comigrating with the 17-kDa carboxyl-terminal fragment identified by anti-human 695APP645–694. No immunoreactive species was detected at these molecular mass positions when either antibody was used for analysis of lysates of either uninfected Sf 9 cells or Sf 9 cells infected with wild-type Autographa californica baculovirus. For each antibody, specific immunoreactivity was abolished by preabsorption with the corresponding peptide immunogen. The incorporation of a β/A4-amyloid amino-terminal epitope into a 17-kDa fragment of APP suggests that, in the baculoviral overexpression system, the electrophoretic microheterogeneity of APP carboxyl-terminal fragments is due, at least in part, to alternative proteolysis of APP. If such carboxyl-terminal fragments of APP containing an intact β/A4-amyloid domain are produced in human brain, then they may represent intermediates in the conversion of APP to deposited β/A4-amyloid. The identification of potentially amyloidogenic fragments in recom-binantly engineered Sf 9 cells may provide a useful experimental system for determination of alternative sites of APP proteolysis and investigation of the processing mechanisms involved.
Thermally activated crack propagation — theory

Steady state crack propagation in solids is analyzed as a thermally activated process. The fracture mechanics concept of a crack driving force is formally introduced to molecular rate theory. This representation of crack propagation appears to be, in many aspects, similar to that of the motion of a dislocation under a shear stress across thermal obstacles. The basic thermodynamic relations are derived for steady state crack propagation using assumptions similar to those well accepted in theories of deformation based on thermally activated dislocation motion.
Normal dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy makes voiding cystourethrography unnecessary after urinary tract infection.

Objective To test the hypothesis that infants with dilating vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) have abnormal acute dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy results, as was suggested by an earlier retrospective study. Study design We conducted a prospective study of infants Results VUR was found in 52 children, of which 27 had dilating VUR (grade III-V). DMSA scintigraphy results were abnormal in 149 infants (51%), 105 of 238 (44%) without VUR, 18 of 25 (72%) with VUR grade I to II, and 26 of 27 (96%) with VUR grade III to V (P Conclusion DMSA scintigraphy results were abnormal in all 27 infants with dilating VUR except 1. This single false-negative finding should be compared with 140 unnecessary VCU investigations. This supports our hypothesis that DMSA scintigraphy results are abnormal when there is dilating VUR. Thus, a normal DMSA scan makes VCU unnecessary in the primary examination of infants with UTI.
Cooperative MIMO in wireless networks: recent developments and challenges

Cooperative multiple-input multiple-output (CMIMO) is a form of cooperative communications. CMIMO emulates the functionality of multi-antenna systems by grouping wireless devices to operate as virtual multi-antenna nodes. Its main objectives are to boost network throughput, conserve energy, and improve network coverage. In this article, we discuss recent applications of CMIMO in contemporary wireless networks, including wireless sensor, mobile ad hoc, wireless LAN, cognitive, and cellular networks. We first review CMIMO techniques at the physical layer. We then focus on state-of-the-art approaches for realizing CMIMO at the network layer, and classify these approaches based on their objectives and application scenarios, and how they exploit CMIMO gains. We highlight several open issues that present challenges to practical deployment of CMIMO.
Correlates of Sensing the Presence of a Deceased Spouse

Although sensing the presence of a deceased spouse has been a reported phenomenon accompanying bereavement, the question remains as to what factors discriminate those widows who experience the phenomenon from those who do not. The purpose of this study was to explore the social, psychological, and behavioral characteristics correlated with the sensing phenomenon, and to provide a means for predicting the likelihood of such an occurrence. The sample consisted of 294 Arizona widows. Participants responded to a questionnaire concerning health, financial matters, social support networks, depression, drinking behavior, psychosocial problems, and social activities. Respondents were grouped according to whether or not they reported having had a sensing experience. A discriminant analysis was utilized to differentiate between the groups. Findings indicated that fourteen variables formed a function capable of 67.31 percent accurate prediction. An additional analysis, utilizing the five most powerful variables, res...
Unruptured Congenital Aneurysm of the Left Sinus of Valsalva Presenting as Acute Right Ventricular Failure

A patient with unruptured congenital aneurysm of the left coronary sinus of Valsalva presented with acute right-sided heart failure due to right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The mechanism for such an acute presentation may have been a sudden increase in the size of the aneurysm. The surgical importance of this lesion is the combined aortocameral approach which is seldom required for correction of such aneurysms.
A Model for Allosteric Control of Pore Opening by Substrate Binding in the Eutl Microcompartment Shell Protein

The ethanolamine utilization microcompartment (eut MCP) is a giant protein assembly that acts as a metabolic organelle in enteropathogenic bacteria, allowing them to proliferate in the human gut. The eut MCP consists of a polyhedral shell, reminiscent of a viral capsid, which encapsulates several sequentially acting metabolic enzymes that convert ethanolamine to ethanol and acetyl phosphate. The tightly-packed molecular shell surrounding the eut MCP is believed to act as a semi-permeable barrier, allowing the passage of substrates, products, and larger cofactor molecules, while minimizing the efflux of a toxic acetaldehyde intermediate. Previous structural studies of the eut MCP demonstrated that a conformational change of the EutL shell protein opens a 10-15A pore through the shell. That observation led to a model for how the protein shell might interconvert between high and low permeability conformations, but the mechanism controlling the pore opening has remained unclear. Here we present structural and biophysical studies directed toward understanding how the conformational switch is regulated in EutL. The X-ray crystal structure of EutL bound to ethanolamine provides evidence that binding of this small metabolite stabilizes the "closed-pore" conformation by sterically blocking rearrangement to the open conformation. Specific binding of ethanolamine to EutL was verified by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Thermodynamic parameters derived from ITC experiments were rationalized through analysis of molecular contacts revealed by X-ray crystallography and molecular dynamics simulations. We show that ethanolamine binding is specific; i.e. EutL does not bind to other small molecules associated with the metabolic reactions carried out in the eut MCP. Our results suggest a model for EutL function in which the presence of ethanolamine decreases the porosity of the MCP shell by modulating the interconversion between open and closed pore conformations.
Elastic Constants Determination and Deformation Observation Using Brazilian Disk Geometry

Brazilian disk compression has been proposed as an alternative for measuring elastic constants of brittle solids with very low tensile strength (Hondros, Aust J Appl Sci 10:243–268, 1959). Subsequently however, the Brazilian disk geometry was mainly used for measuring fracture toughness and tensile strength of brittle materials, like rocks and concretes. In this study, we revisit the Brazilian disk specimen as a tool for determining elastic constants and for observing the deformation process up to failure. We used the optical digital image correlation (DIC) technique to obtain the displacement field on the specimen surface and proposed a scheme for determining the elastic constants from the measured displacement field and the applied load. Details of the elastic constant determination of a homogeneous material, epoxy resin, were presented. Comparison of the elastic constant measured using Brazilian disk with those obtained through more conventional means was carried out. We also present observations of the deformation evolution of the epoxy resin disk subjected to large nonlinear deformation up to failure and subjected to compressive loading and unloading.
Solubilities of solids in supercritical fluids—I. New quasistatic experimental method for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) + pure fluids

Abstract A new quasistatic technique is presented to measure the solubilities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other solids in supercritical fluids (SCFs). This technique eliminates potential clogging during expansion of the SCF solutions, a problem inherent with most dynamic SFE units. The pressure inside the equilibrium cell is dropped very slowly in a quasistatic mode by sampling the saturated SCF solutions at low flow rates (1–5 standard ml min −1 ). The technique is shown to be accurate and extensive data can be obtained in a relatively quick manner. In addition, this technique may be readily used in conjunction with basically any analytical method. After proving the accuracy of the new method, solubility measurements of anthracene, phenanthrene, pyrene, and perylene in supercritical carbon dioxide and ethane have been made at 313, 323 and 333K and pressure range of 100–350 bar. The simulateneous solubilities of anthracene, phenanthrene and pyrene in mixtures were also measured at the above three temperatures and over the same pressure range.
Identifying brand performance by shift-share analysis

Brand managers within marketing organizations are frequently concerned with the relative performances of their products. Brands which are out-performing firm and industry sales need to be identified; the same is true for slow growth or no-growth brands. A similar problem exists with respect to regional economies. What are the leading industries? Have they out-performed the nation's growth rate? What are the lagging sectors? Regional economists have developed a technique for describing the sources of growth by industry. Shift-share analysis identifies components of growth for individual units within the setting of a larger market. This article describes the traditional shift-share technique and illustrates its possible usefulness to brand managers use by applying the techniques to sales data for U.S. cigarette producers.
Postoperative pain and return to activity after five different types of inguinal herniorrhaphy

The purpose of this study was to determine postoperative pain following inguinal herniorrhaphy dependent of technical factors such as: minimal access surgery, open transinguinal and preperitoneal tension-free repair, reduced suture line tension, type of anesthesia. 240 consecutive unilateral groin hernia repairs were prospectively allocated to one of five groups: Lichtenstein patch under local anesthesia, and the following under general anesthesia, Lichtenstein patch, laparoscopic TAPP repair, a modified Shouldice technique with omission of the third and fourth row of sutures and open preperitoneal prosthethic repair [Wantz 1989]. Using a visual pain analogue score, no significant differences were found for pain intensity between the groups on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 21. There was also no significant difference for return to work. Analgesic requirements were lower than in previous studies and this is attributed to immediate resumption of physical activity on a home-trainer bicycle. The percentage of patients who did not require any pain medication after the first postoperative day was 85% for Wantz, 81% for Shouldice, 86% for TAPP, 77% for Lichtenstein under general anesthesia and 89% for Lichtenstein under local anesthesia. Local anesthesia was the only technical factor for significantly reducing analgesic requirements during the three perioperative days. With local anesthesia and immediate resumption of physical activity early postoperative pain becomes a limited outcome measure for comparing open versus laparoscopic groin hernia repair techniques.
Restricted Hartree Fock using complex-valued orbitals: A long-known but neglected tool in electronic structure theory

Restricted Hartree Fock using complex-valued orbitals (cRHF) is studied. We introduce an orbital pairing theorem, with which we obtain a concise connection between cRHF and real-valued RHF, and use it to uncover the close relationship between cRHF, unrestricted Hartree Fock, and generalized valence bond perfect pairing. This enables an intuition for cRHF, contrasting with the generally unintuitive nature of complex orbitals. We also describe an efficient computer implementation of cRHF and its corresponding stability analysis. By applying cRHF to the Be + H2 insertion reaction, a Woodward-Hoffmann violating reaction, and a symmetry-driven conical intersection, we demonstrate in genuine molecular systems that cRHF is capable of removing certain potential energy surface singularities that plague real-valued RHF and related methods. This complements earlier work that showed this capability in a model system. We also describe how cRHF is the preferred RHF method for certain radicaloid systems like singlet oxygen and antiaromatic molecules. For singlet O2, we show that standard methods fail even at the equilibrium geometry. An implication of this work is that, regardless of their individual efficacies, cRHF solutions to the HF equations are fairly commonplace.
Optimization of the spray parameters for ZnO based hybrid solar cells

Solar cells currently used are silicon based because they have higher efficiency than cells from other materials, but the manufacturing cost is high. Though, cheaper cells can be fabricated using organic materials because it solution processable, the efficiency is very low. Hybrid solar cells have improved the efficiency of organic solar cells. Hybrid solar cells with ZnO nanorods as the inorganic and P3HT (poly 3-hexylthiophene) and PCBM ((6, 6)-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester) as the active layer reported in literature is usually prepared by spin coating. The major drawback of using spin coating technique is that large area fabrication is not possible and material wastage makes this technique uneconomical. Large scale production is feasible if these cells can be prepared by spray coating. Here we will discuss the fabrication and characterization of hybrid solar cells by spray coating technique.
Blake's contraries: A poetics of visionary perception

(1991). Blake's contraries: A poetics of visionary perception. European Romantic Review: Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 81-98.
Photochemotherapy of hypervascular dermal lesions: A possible alternative to photothermal therapy?

Continued improvement in the results of laser treatment of port wine stain, with reduction in scarring, will depend on the ability to use lasers to induce selective injury of only the abnormal blood vessels in the dermis while sparing the normal overlying epidermis. Photodynamic therapy, using an exogenous photosensitizing drug specifically activated by certain wavelengths of light, may be used to destroy selectively certain targets in biological systems. The current study demonstrates, in the chicken comb model, that photochemotherapy can be used to treat hypervascular dermal lesions while leaving the normal overlying epidermis completely intact.
Integrating Live Projects Into Computing Curriculum

It is well understood and has been well documented that there is much to gain by using live projects in the computer science classroom [1-13]. Live projects include those that serve a real client with a real problem as well as those those that integrate live datasets. However, the use of live projects has always come with a variety of challenges including supporting the project once it is complete, providing secure and safe access to large data sets, adjusting live client expectations, and limiting the scope of a project to the context of a single term and within the learning outcomes. The purpose of this special session is to provide attendees an introduction to and examples of the way that live projects have been integrated throughout the computing curriculum at Radford University.
Dimethyl Sulfoxide Enhances Effectiveness of Skin Antiseptics and Reduces Contamination Rates of Blood Cultures

Effective skin antisepsis is of central importance in the prevention of wound infections, colonization of medical devices, and nosocomial transmission of microorganisms. Current antiseptics have a suboptimal efficacy resulting in substantial infectious morbidity, mortality, and increased health care costs. Here, we introduce an in vitro method for antiseptic testing and a novel alcohol-based antiseptic containing 4 to 5% of the polar aprotic solvent dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The DMSO-containing antiseptic resulted in a 1- to 2-log enhanced killing of Staphylococcus epidermidis and other microbes in vitro compared to the same antiseptic without DMSO. In a prospective clinical validation, blood culture contamination rates were reduced from 3.04% for 70% isopropanol-1% iodine (control antiseptic) to 1.04% for 70% isopropanol-1% iodine-5% DMSO (P < 0.01). Our results predict that improved skin antisepsis is possible using new formulations of antiseptics containing strongly polarized but nonionizing (polar aprotic) solvents.
Decision directed estimation/detection of repetitive signals

A heuristic technique is presented for detecting the presence of an unknown signal in noise and estimating its waveshape. The heuristic utilizes the most recent estimate of the waveshape as a template against which new observations are matched. If the match is "good," the observation is used to update the estimate and the procedure is repeated. If the match is "poor" the observation is discarded. It is the decisions of the detector which direct the evolution of the estimate while simultaneously the current estimate directs the detector's performance. The mutual interactions of the estimator/detector are conducted without external supervision and without the benefit of training samples and so the system falls into the category of a self-learning decision directed adaptive system.
The efficacy of topical antibiotic prophylaxis for contaminated head and neck surgery

This study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of using perioperative topical antibiotics in contaminated head and neck surgery and to standardize the culture methodology (both qualitative and quantitative) which could serve as bacteriologic endpoints for evaluation. Following preliminary studies to establish oral cavity indicator organisms and the impact of a single antibiotic mouthwash dose on oral microflora, 10 consecutive patients undergoing contaminated head and neck surgery were recruited into a clinical trial where clindamycin mouthwash and intraoperative irrigation containing clindamycin were used instead of traditional parenteral antibiotics. The bacteriologic efficacy of topical clindamycin was assessed by comparing the presence of four indicator microorganisms (two aerobic and two anaerobic) cultured from two oral cavity culture sites before and after antibiotic prophylaxis. The patients included in the study underwent total laryngectomy plus neck dissection(s) for laryngeal or hypopharyngeal carcinoma from 1991 to 1992 at a large university hospital specializing in head and neck cancer surgery. The main outcome measures used were the development of a postoperative wound infection and quantitative and qualitative bacteriology of the intraoperative neck wound and postoperative oral cavity. Two aerobic and two anaerobic organisms proved useful as a practical indicator for bacteriologic efficacy. Preoperative mouthwash resulted in a 99% reduction of both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria in intraoperatively cultured neck sites. Irrigation during surgery with the clindamycin solution further reduced the bacterial neck counts by an additional 90%. There was a consistent overgrowth of Hemophilus species on postoperative oral cavity cultures. No patient developed a postoperative wound infection. A topical prophylactic antibiotic alone was efficacious and safe for patients undergoing major contaminated head and neck surgery. Culture methods for assessment of bacteriologic efficacy were reproducible and cost-effective. This pilot study furnishes the ethical and scientific basis for large-scale prospective trials comparing topical versus parenteral antimicrobial agents.