cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel tool (BIS) heralds the need for blood transfusion and/or failure of non-operative management in pediatric blunt liver and spleen injuries.

Abstract Background Non-operative management (NOM) is the standard of care for the majority of children with blunt liver and spleen injuries (BLSI). The shock index pediatric age-adjusted (SIPA) was previously shown to predict the need for blood transfusions in pediatric trauma patients with BLSI. We combined SIPA with base deficit (BD) and International Normalized Ratio (INR) to create the BIS score. We hypothesized that the BIS score would predict the need for blood transfusions and/or failure of NOM in pediatric trauma patients with BLSI. Methods Patients (≤ 18 years) who presented to our Level I pediatric trauma center with BLSI from 2009 to 2019 were identified. BIS scores were calculated by giving 1 point for each of the following: base deficit ≤ -8.8, INR ≥ 1.5, or elevated SIPA. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were generated for BIS scores ≥ 1, ≥ 2, and ≥ 3. Area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity of each score were calculated for ability to predict need for blood transfusions and/or failure of NOM. Results Of 477 children included, 19.9% required a blood transfusion and 6.7% failed NOM. A BIS score ≥ 1 was the best predictor of the need for blood transfusions with an AUC of 0.81 and a sensitivity of 96.0%. A BIS score ≥ 1 was also the best predictor of failure of NOM with an AUC of 0.72 and a sensitivity of 97.0%. Conclusion The BIS score is a highly sensitive tool that identifies pediatric patients with BLSI at risk for blood transfusions and/or failure of NOM. Level of evidence Level III. Type of study Retrospective comparative study.
Assignment Of Hexuronic Acid Stereochemistry In Synthetic Heparan Sulfate Tetrasaccharides With 2-O-Sulfo Uronic Acids Using Electron Detachment Dissociation.

The present work focuses on the assignment of uronic acid stereochemistry in heparan sulfate (HS) oligomers. The structural elucidation of HS glycosaminoglycans is the subject of considerable importance due to the biological and biomedical significance of this class of carbohydrates. They are highly heterogeneous due to their non-template biosynthesis. Advances in tandem mass spectrometry activation methods, particularly electron detachment dissociation (EDD), have led to the development of methods to assign sites of sulfo modification in glycosaminoglycan oligomers, but there are few reports of the assignment of uronic acid stereochemistry, necessary to distinguish glucuronic acid (GlcA) from iduronic acid (IdoA). While preceding studies focused on uronic acid epimers with no sulfo modification, the current work extends the assignment of the hexuronic acid stereochemistry to 2-O-sulfo uronic acid epimeric tetrasaccharides. The presence of a 2-O-sulfo group on the central uronic acid was found to greatly influence the formation of B3, C2, Z2, and Y1 ions in glucuronic acid and Y2 and 1,5X2 for iduronic acid. The intensity of these peaks can be combined to yield diagnostic ratios (DR), which can be used to confidently assign the uronic acid stereochemistry.
Generation of architectures for distributed intelligence systems

An approach to the modeling of discrete event distributed intelligence systems is presented that uses ordinary Petri Nets for fixed structure architectures. The model leads to the precise formulation of the problem of generating the complete set of architectures that satisfy a number of resource and design constraints. Two algorithms are presented: the first one (the DFS algorithm) starts with the specification of the desired functionality and generates data flow structures with prescribed redundancy and complexity; then the various functions are allocated to resources; the second one (the Lattice algorithm) starts with a given set of decision making units and obtains the partially ordered sets that contain all the feasible architectures. The resulting architectures can be analyzed to evaluate their performance characteristics.
Review of Information Resource Description: Creating and Managing Metadata

Philip Hider. Chicago, IL: ALA Editions, 2013, 240 pp., ISBN: 978-0-8389-1201-0, softcover, $99.95. As Philip Hider, Head of the School of Information Studies at Charles Sturt University in Austral...
Did CNBC Contribute to the Great Moderation or the Great Recession

We construct a multi-agent system (MAS) model of cyclical growth in which aggregate fluctuations result from variations in activity at firm level. The latter, in turn, result from changes in the state of long run expectations (SOLE) or “animal spirits” and their effect on firms’ investment behaviour. We focus on the impact of a common source of information – analogous to the mass media – on the amplitude of aggregate fluctuations. Our results suggest that the amplitude of growth cycles is reduced by extremes of attention or inattention to aggregate economic performance, but that this relationship is subject to complicated (and possibly complex) phase transitions.
Comparisons of three Kalman filter tracking algorithms in sensor network

This paper compares extended Kalman filters with the P, PV and PVA dynamics models for object tracking in wireless network. Experiments shows that PVA achieves the best and P performs the worst in most cases. In addition, increasing the number of pivots can slightly improve the tracking accuracy.
The Art of Doing Physics in Dirac’s Way

It is a great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to contribute to this volume in recognition of Professor Paul A.M. Dirac, at the occasion of his eightieth year. While I have not had the privilege to be among his students, I have been a student of his books and papers all my life as a physicist. I first encountered his Principles of Quantum Mechanics 1 as a graduate student at Harvard. (Before that time I had studied engineering and had not been exposed to a course in quantum mechanics.) This remarkable book made a deep impression on me. Its elegant style and its direct and straight reasoning will forever remain an example of exposition at its best.
Hysteroscopic management of intrauterine adhesions

Sixty-six patients who had the presumptive diagnosis of Asherman's syndrome underwent hysteroscopic evaluation and treatment. In 65 patients, hysteroscopy was performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. In all but five patients, complete lysis of adhesions was accomplished during the initial hysteroscopy. Uterine perforation occurred in two of the 66 patients. The extent of the intrauterine adhesions correlated with the patients' presenting menstrual patterns, but not with prior hysterosalpingography. Of the patients who have completed surgical and hormonal therapy, 98 per cent have normal spontaneous menses. Follow-up examination of the endometrial cavity was normal in 32 of 34 patients. Seven of ten patients who wished to conceive and who had no other infertility factors have done so. The pregnancies have been uncomplicated. Hysteroscopy is the method of choice to diagnose, classify, treat, and follow-up patients with Asherman's syndrome.
A new power supply for railway cars

THE usual d-c power supply for railway cars consists basically of a battery to which the car load is connected, a d-c generator, and a means of controlling the generator and connecting it to the load. During the last 15 years, a successful system has been established in the general range of 20 to 40 kw. The rotating equipment is a motor-generator set consisting of a d-c generator, a 3-phase 60-cycle 220-volt induction motor, and an armature reversing switch. While the car is in motion, this set is driven from a car axle through a drive unit and clutch. While the car is standing, the set is driven from wayside power through its induction motor.
Failure Analysis Issues in Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS)

Abstract Failure analysis and device characterization of MEMS components are critical steps in understanding the root causes of failure and improving device performance. At the wafer and die level these tasks can be performed with little or no sample preparation. Larger challenges occur after fabrication when the device is packaged, capped, sealed, or otherwise obstructed from view. The challenges and issues of MEMS failure analysis lie in identifying the root cause of failure for these packaged, capped, and sealed devices without perturbing the device or its immediate environment. Novel methods of ainin access to the device or preparing the device for analysis are crucial to accurately determining the root cause of failure. This paper will discuss issues identified in performing root cause failure analysis of packaged MEMS devices, as well as the methods employed to analyze them.
Effects of coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion on the idioventricular rate in anesthetized dogs.

Abstract Objectives. We evaluated the effects of alpha1- and beta-adrenergic receptor blockade on the changes in idioventricular rate induced by occlusion and reperfusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery in anesthetized dogs. Background. Because sinus rate usually exceeds idioventricular rate, the experimental induction of complete atrioventricular (AV) block may improve the definition of the effects of coronary occlusion and reperfusion on idioventricular pacemaker mechanisms. Methods. We injected formaldehyde into the AV node to induct complete AV Mock in 35 chloralose-anesthetized dogs. Animals were assigned to untreated (n = 22), prazosin-treated (n = 6) and propranolol-treated (n = 7) groups. We paced the hearts at 120 beats/min during a 20- to 60-min period of complete coronary occlusion, but we did not pace the heart during reperfusion. Results. In the untreated group, the idioventricular rate did not change significantly during coronary artery occlusions of 20 or 40 min, but it did increase significantly during the last 20 min of a 60-min occlusion. Prazosin and propranolol each attenuated but did not abolish this rate increase. The idioventricular rate increased markedly but transiently soon after reperfusion in all untreated animals. This tachycardia was virtually abolished by either prazosin or propranolol. Conclusions. The increase in idioventricular rate that develops during the last 20 min of a 60-min coronary occlusion is modulated but probably not mediated by adrenergic mechanisms. The pronounced ventricular tachycardia after reperfusion is virtually abolished by either alpha1- or beta-adrenergic antagonists. Hence, this tachycardia requires the simultaneous activation of alpha1-and beta-adrenergic mechanisms in dogs.
Slip and no-slip temperature boundary conditions at interface of porous, plain media'conduction

Near the interface of porous plain media, convective heat transfer may be noticeably affected by the nonuniformity of the phase distributions. The boundary effects are modeled by using interfacial slip or no-slip temperature boundary conditions. The latter uses a variable transverse total diffusivity giving a continuous variation of the temperature near and across the interface. The former uses a constant transverse total diffusivity which requires a temperature slip cross the interface (in order to obtain accurate heat flux calculations). In this study these boundary conditions are examined by the direct simulation of the momentum and energy equations for a model porous medium made of two-dimensional periodic arrange- ments of cylinders. The slip coefficient is found to depend on the bulk Peclet number Pe,. the ratio of solid to fluid conductivity k,/k,, and the gap size /I. For the no-slip boundary condition, the magnitude and the distribution of D, (~>)/a, also depend on Pe,, k,/k,, and h. For a solid bounding surface, and when k,/kr > I. the effective transverse conductivity k,,/k, dominates over the hydrodynamic dispersion, and therefore, the accurate description of the variation of k,, (r)/ki becomes critical. For a fluid bounding medium, the results show that D, (J) is nonuniform on both sides of the interface. The nonuniformity of DL(y) in the fluid medium is due to the local two dimensionality of the flow. The total diffusivity tensor D in the bulk of a two-dimensional periodic structure is also examined. The effects of the Reynolds number, Prandtl number, particle shape, particle arrangement. and flow direction, on the bulk value of D are examined. It is found that for oblique flows, the ensemble-averaged longitudinal total diffusivity D, /ccr, over the tilt angle, approaches a Pe, relation instead of a Pe: relation expected for periodic structures. THE SIMULTANEOUS presence of pore-level temperature and velocity gradients and the application of the local volume averaging technique results in the inclusion of the pore-level convection contribution as an enhanced diffusion (or dispersion). This enhanced diffusion is characterized by the total thermal diffusivity tensor given by
Moral Agency in Media: Toward a Model to Explore Key Components of Ethical Practice

Recent advances in moral psychology and applications of virtue science have created promising opportunities to refine theories of media practice and ethical principles. This article sets forth the theoretical foundation for a model of virtuous action among media exemplars that is multidimensional, inductive, and informed by these developments. The model draws on a range of psycho-social assessment tools to explore five key dimensions of virtuous behavior: story of the self, personality, integration of morality into the self, moral ecology, and moral skills and knowledge. The model's structure is designed to strengthen the empirical basis used to make normative and predictive claims about media practice.
Biomimetic Synthesis of trans,syn,trans-Fused Polyoxepanes: Remarkable Substituent Effects on the endo-Regioselective Oxacyclization of Polyepoxides

The biogenesis of trans,syn,trans-fused polycyclic ether substructures of neurotoxic natural products of the brevetoxin−ciguatoxin family may involve regio- and stereoselective oxacyclizations of polyepoxides. We report that a biomimetic Lewis acid-promoted cyclization of 1 to 2 proceeds with endo-regioselectivity and anti-stereospecificity at each position of nucleophilic addition (C3, C7, C11, and C15 in 1) when the tandem cyclization cascade is terminated by a carbonyl oxygen nucleophile. In contrast to expectations from earlier reports with simpler epoxide substrates, alkyl substituents are not required at internal epoxide positions corresponding to C7 and C11 in polyepoxide 1. Furthermore, we report that trimethylsilyl serves as a removable regioselectivity-directing substituent at positions corresponding to C3 of 1. These results greatly expand the potential applications of this biomimetic oxacyclization cascade to the synthesis of fused polycyclic ether natural products.
Myself When I Am Real: The Life and Music of Charles Mingus

Preface Introduction Prologue: Better Get It In Your Soul 1. Growing Up Absurd 2. Black Like Me 3. Making the Scene 4. Life During Wartime 5. Portrait of the Artist 6. The Big Apple, or On the Road 7. Pithecanthropus Erectus 8. Mingus Dynasty 9. Camelot 10. The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady 11. One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest 12. Beneath the Underdog 13. Let My Children Hear Music 14. Changes 15. Don't Be Afraid, the Clown's Afraid, Too Notes Bibliography Discography Acknowledgements Index
On the mechanism and subcellular site of action of gonadotropins with respect to steroidogenic enzyme activity in testes of lower vertebrates

Gonadotropins have a controlling effect on gonadal steroid hormone production. In vivo investigations on Xenopus laevis and Rana pipiens indicate that increased activity of the steroidogenic enzyme, Δ5-3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD), which results from gonadotropin administration may be oreceded by protein synthesis and may involve a second messenger (cyclic AMP). Incubations of testicular homogenates also respond to gonadotropin treatment with increased 3β-HSD activity. Incubations of testicular microsomal fractions in recombination with either nuclei or mitochondria show that in Rana the stimulation of 3β-HSD due to gonadotropic hormone will occur in the presence of the mitochondrial fraction; growth hormone (STH), thyrotropic hormone (TSH), and ATP do not result in increased activity in this system, and the nuclear fraction also appears to be without effect. Puromycin inhibits the increase in 3β-HSD activity. In the rat, increased 3β-HSD activity due to gonadotropin stimulation occurs if the microsomal fraction is incubated together with the nuclei. Gonadotropin regulation of steroid dehydrogenase activity via the mitochondrial genome is discussed.
Secur(e/ity) Management: A Continuing Uphill Climb

With ever growing and evolving threats and cyber attacks, the management of enterprise security and the security of enterprise management systems are key to business--if not a nation's--operations and survival. Secur(e/ity) management, the moniker for the intertwined topics of secure management and security management, has evolved trying to keep pace. The history of secur(e/ity) management is traced from its origins in the disjoint silos of telecommunications, internetworking and computer security to today's recognition as necessary, interdisciplinary, interworking technologies and operations. An overview of threats and attacks upon managed and management systems shows that occurrences of ever more sophisticated, complex and harder to detect cyber misconduct are increasing as are the severity and costs of their consequences. Introduction of new technologies, expansion of the perimeters of an enterprise and trends in collaborative business partnerships compound the number of managed system targets of cyber compromise. Technical and marketplace trends in secur(e/ity) management reveal needs that must be bridged. Research attention should focus on developing axiomatic understanding of the natural laws of security, tools to realize vulnerability-free software, metrics for assessing the efficacy of secur(e/ity) management, tools for default-deny strategies so that signature-based security management can be retired, secur(e/ity) management approaches for virtualized and service-oriented environments, and approaches for composite, holistic, secur(e/ity) management.
Estimating actual rainfall from satellite rainfall products

Abstract The lack of uncertainty measures in operational satellite rainfall (SR) products leads to a situation where users of the SR products know that there are significant errors in the products, but they have no quantitative information about the distribution of these errors. The authors propose a semiparametric model to characterize the conditional distribution of actual rainfall (AR) given measures from SR products. The model consists of two components: a conditional gamma density given each SR, and a smooth functional relationship between the gamma parameters and SR. The model is developed for monthly rainfall, estimated from a satellite with sampling frequency once a day, averaged over an area of 512 × 512 km 2 in the Mississippi River basin. The conditional distribution results are more informative than deterministic SR products since the whole conditional distribution enables users to take appropriate actions according to their own risk assessments and cost/benefit analyses.
Malignancy through cooperation: an evolutionary game theory approach

Objective Traditional cancer initiation theory propounds evolution of a monoclonal population of fully transformed tumour cells to form a malignant tumour. Cooperation between surrounding stroma and the tumour also often leads to malignancy. This cooperation may exist as a result of sharing of growth signals or growth factors secreted by stromal cells, which can cause those with proliferative phenotypes to switch to motile phenotypes. Mathematical models of sharing of growth factors between cancer stem cells and stromal cells can allow for deeper understanding of tumourigenesis through cooperation. The study presented here describes a novel evolutionary game theoretical approach to investigate emergence of malignancy through interactions among cells of three different phenotypes, one of which produces growth factors. Materials and methods Three different scenarios have been considered, and types of behaviour of the three phenotypes during interactions, have been modelled in terms of cost and benefit variables. Phenotypic compositions of such a tumour at equilibrium have been analysed, and evolution of the population, with respect to time, has been investigated. Results Results suggest the role of cooperation in forming a malignant tumour and show, in all three cases, that emergence of triple polymorphism, two-strategy polymorphism, and fixation of one phenotype, were possible at equilibrium. The models also suggest that under certain conditions, one phenotype may be completely eliminated from the population, thus leading to new possibilities for potential treatments. Conclusions This study explains some current experimental findings from a theoretical viewpoint, and may provide new approaches for future research in oncology.
Ethnic variation in health and the determinants of health among Latinos.

Abstract The purpose of this research is to document and explain ethnic variation in health among Latino adults in the United States. Results of analyses of data pooled from the 1997–2001 National Health Interview surveys reveal that health patterns are clearly different among Latino ethnic groups. Mexicans have health advantages, whereas Puerto Ricans experience health disparities. Cubans and Dominicans reveal a mix of health disparities and advantages, depending on the health outcome. The effects of social determinants of health are also contingent upon ethnicity. For example, worse health is associated with higher levels of socioeconomic status (SES) and acculturation among Mexicans, but with lower levels of SES and acculturation among Latinos whose origins are from Caribbean islands. We conclude that racial/ethnic comparative health research should avoid pan-ethnic groupings, and explicitly acknowledge ethnic group distinctiveness.
Electron microscopy study of the passivating layer on iron--nickel martensite

A passivating oxide layer is known to form rapidly on the surface of Fe or Fe alloys exposed to air at low temperature. The properties of this passivating layer largely control the low temperature oxidation and corrosion properties of iron. It is hence important that the nature of this passivating layer be well understood. The work reported here principally involved a transmission electron microscopy examination of the thin oxide film formed on the surface of Fe−12Ni alloys on exposure to air at room temperature. Using high resolution microscopy the oxide particles of the film could be directly resolved and their structure and morphology characterized. The following conclusions were drawn from these characterization studies: 1) a passivating oxide layer (principally Fe3O4) forms spontaneously on the surface of Fe−Ni alloys on exposure to air at room temperature; 2) the orientation relation between the oxide and the metal surface depends on surface orientation; the Bain relation is obeyed when the alloy surface is (100)α while the Nishiyama-Wasserman relation is obeyed on other low index surfaces. This phenomenon is attributable to the need to accommodate the misfit strain between the oxide and the substrate; 3) the oxide layer consists of dispersed, small (∼20A) oriented particles rather than a continuous thin film; and 4) the size of the oxide particles and the density of their distribution is related to the crystal surface orientation and condition.
Multiple Analogies in Archaeology

Analogies have always had an important place in the reconstruction of past cultures by archaeologists. However, archaeologists and philosophers have objected on various grounds to the importance granted to analogy. Heider proposed the use of multiple analogies--analogies incorporating several sources--as a way of overcoming these objections. However, the merits and even the meaning of this proposal have not been explored adequately. This article presents an examination of instances of multiple analogies in the archaeological literature in order to motivate an adequate account of them in terms of the Multiconstraint theory of analogy, and in order to examine their role in archaeological inference. This article does not end the debate over analogies once and for all, but it does bring some needed clarity to this issue of central importance to the philosophy of archaeology.
Computerized tomography in cerebral-palsied children.

SUMMARY Of a total of 160 patients with cerebral palsy, 80 were studied by computerized tomography. In the congenital group, abnormal studies were found in two of the 12 patients with diplegia, 16 of the 18 with hemiplegia, 14 of the 18 with quadriplegia and five of the seven with atonic diplegia. 18 of the 21 patients with acquired disease had abnormal CT scans. Computerized tomography is a useful tool for demonstrating the anatomical lesion responsible for cerebral-palsied patients' clinical findings. It is also useful in making a prognosis of functional outcome, and in defining lesions which are correctable by neurosurgery. RESUME Tomodensitometrie chez l'enfant IMC 160 enfants ont ete examines et parmi eux, 80 ont beneficie d'une tomodensitometrie. Dans le groupe d'origine congenitale, des anomalies ont ete trouvees dans deux cas sur 12 diplegies, 16 cas sur 18 hemiplegies, 14 sur 18 quadriplegies et cinq sur sept diplegies atoniques. Chez 21 sujets avec une affection acquise, 18 presentaient des images anormales au scanner. La tomodensitometrie est un moyen utile pour demontrer l'existence des lesions anatomiques responsables des donnees cliniques observees chez les patients. Elle est egalement interessante pour etablir le pronostic fonctionnel et depister les lesions accessibles a la neuro-chirurgie. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Komputertomographie bei Kindern mit Cerebralparese 160 Patienten mit Cerebralparese wurden untersucht, 80 davon erhielten ein Komputertomogramm. In der Gruppe der Kinder mit angeborener Cerebralparese wurden bei zwei von 12 Patienten mit einer Diplegie, bei 16 von 18 mit einer Hemiplegie, bei 14 von 18 mit einer Tetraplegie und bei fiinf von sieben mit einer atonischen Diplegie abnorme Befunde erhoben. Die Komputertomographie ist eine gute diagnostische Hilfe zur Darstellung der anatomischen Lasion, die fur den klinischen Befund beim Patienten verantwortlich ist. Sie ist daruberhinaus fur die Prognosestellung im Hinblick auf das funktionelle Ergebnis und zur Kennzeichnung von Lasionen, die durch einen neurochirurgischen Eingriff behoben werden konnen, von Bedeutung. RESUMEN Tomografia computarizada en el nino con paralisis cerebral Fue visto un total de 160 pacientes con paralisis cerebral, de los cuales 80 fueron estudiados por medio de la tomografia computarizada En el grupo congenita, se dieron estudios anormales en dos de los 12 pacientes con diplegia, 16 de los 18 con hemiplegia, 14 de los 18 cuadriplegia y cinco de los siete con biplegia atonica. 18 de los 21 pacientes con enfermedad adquirida tenian TAC anormal. La tomografia computarizada es un utensilio util para demonstrar la lesion anatomica responsable de los hallazgos clinicos de los pacientes. Es tambien util para consequir un pronostico del futuro funcional y definir las lesiones que son corregibles por medio de la neurocirugia.
Laparoscopic vs. open resection for colorectal adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE: To compare the outcome after laparoscopicversus open resection for colorectal adenocarcinoma. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis of all patients undergoing elective resection for colorectal adenocarcinoma between November 1992 and June 1999 at a university-affiliated hospital. These included 219 open (mean age, 68.3 years) and 98 laparoscopic (mean age, 70.3 years) resections. Data from converted cases (n=12) were included in the laparoscopic group using the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS: Operative time, lymph node yield, resection margins and postoperative morbidity and mortality were similar between laparoscopic and open technique. Parenteral analgesic use was less in the laparoscopic group (laparoscopic, 2.7; open, 3.2 days;P=0.021). Time to first flatus (laparoscopic, 1.8; open, 3 days;P<0.0001) and first bowel movement (laparoscopic, 3.5; open, 4.9 days;P<0.0001) was shorter in the laparoscopic group. Resumption of an oral liquid diet (laparoscopic, 2.1; open, 4 days;P<0.0001) and solid diet (laparoscopic, 5.2; open, 7.1 days;P<0.0001) was also quicker in the laparoscopic patients. Length of hospitalization was significantly shorter in the laparoscopic patients (laparoscopic, 6.9; open, 10.9 days;P<0.001). There were less minor complications in the laparoscopic group (laparoscopic, 11.2; open, 21.5 percent;P=0.029) but no difference in major complications or perioperative mortality. Recurrence, disease-free and overall survival were similar between the two groups. No port site recurrences ocurred in the laparoscopic group but there were three wound recurrences in the open group. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer can be performed safely and effectively in tertiary centers. Earlier discharge from hospital, quicker resumption of oral feeds and less postoperative pain are clear advantages. No adverse effect on recurrence or survival was noted, but results of prospective, randomized trials, currently underway, are needed before laparoscopic resection for colorectal cancer becomes the standard of practice.
Do Patients Understand Their Physician's Level of Training? A Survey of Emergency Department Patients

PurposeTo assess patients’ understanding of levels of training and responsibilities for residents, medical students, and attendings in the emergency department as well as their degree of comfort in being cared for by a physician-in-training.MethodIn 1999, a questionnaire was administered to a conven
Grouping the Gifted and Talented: Questions and Answers.

Five questions about the academic, psychological and socialization effects on gifted and talented learners of grouping for enrichment, cooperative grouping for regular instruction, and grouping for acceleration are addressed. The conclusions drawn from 13 research syntheses on these practices, conducted in the past nine years are described. In general, these conclusions support sustained periods of instruction in like‐ability groups for students who are gifted and talented.
Structure, strength, and polarization changes in radio source SS433

VLA observations of SS433 at 1,465, 4,885, and 15,035 MHz between 8 September 1979 and 20 June 1980 show structure with size scales between 0.1 and 5 arc s which changes significantly on time scales of 1–2 weeks. Jets with 8–20% linear polarization are ejected on both sides of the central radio source which is coincident with the optical image, along position angles between 80° and 120° with a mean position angle for ejected material of 100°. Features in linear polarized intensity maps can be identified in four successive epochs spanning 196 days, and the resulting proper motions for identifiable clouds are 0.0088 arc s per day. If the feature velocities are equal to that of the optical emission lines, the distance to SS433 is 5.1 kpc. The position angles of identifiable features correlate well with the known precessing optical jets if one extrapolates back to the time of ejection using the observed transverse speeds. The equipartition magnetic field strengths of 0.001–0.01 G indicate synchrotron lifetimes of 109–1011 s; therefore synchrotron losses are not a dominant factor in the evolution of the extended radio emission. The evolution of radio jets indicates that the relativistic electrons and magnetic fields seen as synchrotron emission may be generated by flows along the rotation axis of the accretion disk of the SS433 star system.
Direct Observation of ON and OFF Pathways in the Drosophila Visual System

Visual motion perception is critical to many animal behaviors, and flies have emerged as a powerful model system for exploring this fundamental neural computation. Although numerous studies have suggested that fly motion vision is governed by a simple neural circuit [1-3], the implementation of this circuit has remained mysterious for decades. Connectomics and neurogenetics have produced a surge in recent progress, and several studies have shown selectivity for light increments (ON) or decrements (OFF) in key elements associated with this circuit [4-7]. However, related studies have reached disparate conclusions about where this selectivity emerges and whether it plays a major role in motion vision [8-13]. To address these questions, we examined activity in the neuropil thought to be responsible for visual motion detection, the medulla, of Drosophila melanogaster in response to a range of visual stimuli using two-photon calcium imaging. We confirmed that the input neurons of the medulla, the LMCs, are not responsible for light-on and light-off selectivity. We then examined the pan-neural response of medulla neurons and found prominent selectivity for light-on and light-off in layers of the medulla associated with two anatomically derived pathways (L1/L2 associated) [14, 15]. We next examined the activity of prominent interneurons within each pathway (Mi1 and Tm1) and found that these neurons have corresponding selectivity for light-on or light-off. These results provide direct evidence that motion is computed in parallel light-on and light-off pathways, demonstrate that this selectivity emerges in neurons immediately downstream of the LMCs, and specify where crucial elements of motion computation occur.
A new mode I fracture test for composites with translaminar reinforcements

A new test method is presented for Mode I delamination fracture toughness testing of laminated composites containing a high density of stitches or translaminar reinforcements. The test set up, which is similar to the standard Double Cantilever Beam test, induces an axial tension in the specimen in addition to the transverse forces responsible for propagation of delamination. The tensile stresses reduce the compressive stresses in the vicinity of the crack tip caused by the large bending moments required for crack propagation. The nonlinear differential equations of equilibrium of the new specimen are solved using an iterative procedure to obtain the strain energy release rate as a function of load and crack length. Experiments were conducted using carbon/epoxy specimens containing 6.2 stitches per square centimeter (40 stitches per square inch). Results include Mode I fracture toughness, crack tip bending moment, transverse deflection and slope as a function of crack length. It is found that the apparent fracture toughness of the specimens tested remains constant as the stitches break and crack propagates, and is about sixty times that of unstitched specimens.
This is NOT a MOOC!: Reflections on on-line asynchronous education

In this paper, we describe an on-going experiment in asynchronous on-line learning. In 2010, a popular graduate statistics course was converted to this format. The course has now been offered four times in the new format. We review some highlights from the history of personalized instruction and how those ideas influenced the development of our course; as well as the results of its first four offerings in the asynchronous online environment. We also discuss the potential for the future of on-line learning and the audiences for which it is most appropriate. It is important to distinguish the careful planning and implementation required for successful on-line learning from the currently popular MOOCs. We must not let the fate of MOOCs detract from the many exceptional experiments in personalized learning that have been underway for half a century.
Operative and nonoperative hypertension Recent advances in treatment

In the past five years there have been significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of operative and nonoperative forms of hypertension. Several areas of specific interest to urologists will be discussed.
Toxic effects of zearalenone and its derivatives α-zearalenol on male reproductive system in mice

Abstract The current study evaluated effects of zearalenone (ZEA) and its derivative α-zearalenol (α-ZOL) on male mouse semen quality, fertility and serum testosterone concentrations. Adult male mice were exposed to intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of ZEA or α-ZOL at 0, 25, 50, and 75 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) daily for 7 days, and then mated with sexually mature untreated female mice. Semen quality, serum testosterone concentrations and fertility of treated mice were assessed. The results showed that the number of abnormal spermatozoa increased and the amount of live spermatozoa decreased significantly in males treated with ZEA at all doses. As well, a significant decrease in spermatozoa with integrated acrosome was observed in mice treated with 50 and 75 mg/kg b.w. α-ZOL. Significantly low pregnancy rate was observed when females were mated with ZEA or α-ZOL exposed males. Male mice exposed to ZEA had significant reductions in b.w. and relative epididymis weights. However, relative seminal vesicle weights were higher than those of controls. Conversely, significant increases in b.w. and relative preputial gland weight were observed in mice exposed to α-ZOL. Testicular and cauda epididymal sperm counts, efficiency of sperm production and serum testosterone concentrations were significantly reduced in mice treated with ZEA or α-ZOL at all doses in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, we demonstrate that ZEA or α-ZOL have adverse effects on reproductive system of adult male mice.
Limonin biosynthesis from obacunone via obacunoate in Citrus limon

Abstract Radioactive tracer work showed that [14C]obacunone was converted to at least four metabolites in Citrus limon. Two were identified as obacunoate and limonin. When [14C]methyl obacunoate was fed, limonin was found to be one of the metabolites. Based on these results and data accumulated thus far, biosynthetic pathways of limonoids in citrus are proposed.
Low-frequency noise and RTN on near-ballistic III–V GAA nanowire MOSFETs

In this work, we report the first observation of RTN in highly scaled InGaAs GAA MOSFETs fabricated by a top-down approach. RTN and low frequency noise were systematically studied for devices with various gate dielectrics, channel lengths and nanowire diameters. Mobility fluctuation is confirmed to be the source of low-frequency noise, showing 1/f characteristics. Low-frequency noise was found to decrease as the channel length scaled down from 80 nm to 20 nm, indicating the near-ballistic transport in highly scaled InGaAs GAA MOSFET.
Neural correlates of learning to attend.

Recent work has shown that training can improve attentional focus. Little is known, however, about how training in attention and multitasking affects the brain. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to measure changes in cortical responses to distracting stimuli during training on a visual categorization task. Training led to a reduction in behavioural distraction effects, and these improvements in performance generalized to untrained conditions. Although large regions of early visual and posterior parietal cortices responded to the presence of distractors, these regions did not exhibit significant changes in their response following training. In contrast, middle frontal gyrus did exhibit decreased distractor-related responses with practice, showing the same trend as behaviour for previously observed distractor locations. However, the neural response in this region diverged from behaviour for novel distractor locations, showing greater activity. We conclude that training did not change the robustness of the initial sensory response, but led to increased efficiency in late-stage filtering in the trained conditions.
Nasopharyngeal electrode placement

Abstract The best way of being certain of the exact position of nasopharyngeal electrodes is to obtain an X-ray basal view of the skull before proceeding to the EEG examination. Lateral deviation or external rotation may produce crossing and this should be corrected before, and checked for after recording as well.
Potential of biofilm-based biofuel production

Biofilm technology has been extensively applied to wastewater treatment, but its potential application in biofuel production has not been explored. Current technologies of converting lignocellulose materials to biofuel are hampered by costly processing steps in pretreatment, saccharification, and product recovery. Biofilms may have a potential to improve efficiency of these processes. Advantages of biofilms include concentration of cell-associated hydrolytic enzymes at the biofilm-substrate interface to increase reaction rates, a layered microbial structure in which multiple species may sequentially convert complex substrates and coferment hexose and pentose as hydrolysates diffuse outward, and the possibility of fungal-bacterial symbioses that allow simultaneous delignification and saccharification. More importantly, the confined microenvironment within a biofilm selectively rewards cells with better phenotypes conferred from intercellular gene or signal exchange, a process which is absent in suspended cultures. The immobilized property of biofilm, especially when affixed to a membrane, simplifies the separation of biofuel from its producer and promotes retention of biomass for continued reaction in the fermenter. Highly consolidated bioprocessing, including delignification, saccharification, fermentation, and separation in a single reactor, may be possible through the application of biofilm technology. To date, solid-state fermentation is the only biofuel process to which the advantages of biofilms have been applied, even though it has received limited attention and improvements. The transfer of biofilm technology from environmental engineering has the potential to spur great innovations in the optimization of biofuel production.
Concluding remarks: the regulation of hemoglobin and immunoglobulin synthesis.

An attempt is made to summarize and synthesize salient points from the conference. Considering the immunoglobulin-synthesizing and hemoglobin-synthesizing cell systems in parallel, first attention is given to aspects of cellular differentiation that deal with specialization in the formation of the predominant molecular products, the immunoglobulins and the hemoglobins. Primary structural considerations point to similar genetic mechanisms as the basis for phylogenetic diversity and similarities within each of the two classes of macromolecules, and to similar restrictions on the sorts of amino acid substitutions that can be tolerated while retaining the funcional integrity of the molecules. In the immunoglobulins, the appearance of “variable regions” in the component polypeptide chains, presumably associated with the diverse specificities required of these molecules in order that they may serve their functions, provides additional challenges for interpretation, and the significance of present knowledge in this context is evaluated. Other aspects of cellular differentiation are approached by way of the developmental shifts in molecular products found in both systems, and the explanations that have been suggested for these shifts. A striking difference in the two systems, the phenomenon of allele exclusion in immunoglobulin control, is discussed. The review concludes with discussions of more complicated aspects of differentiation in these cell series: the role of hormones and other humoral substances, particularly with regard to the immunoglobulin-synthesizing system, deriving from the thymus; parallels among cell-lineage patterns in the various hematopoietic series; and evidences of the causes of senescence in the immunoglobulin-synthesizing system.
Multiple paternity in a philopatric rodent: the interaction of competition and choice

Paternity confusion is often suggested as the benefit that female mammals accrue by mating with multiple males, but genetic advantages are also possible. Microsatellite-based parentage analyses demonstrate that female banner-tailed kangaroo rats (Dipodomys spectabilis) commonly mate with more than one male; we asked how male and female behaviors interact to influence the characteristics of males that sire offspring. Specifically, we compared attributes (age, weight, mobility, relatedness, proximity) of the fathers of 229 known-maternity offspring with those of the other males accessible to the mothers. Adult males living adjacent to each female attempt to monopolize access to her, and the nearest male sires a plurality of offspring, but most mothers’ young are fathered by more than one male and littermates are usually half-sibs. Male proximity and mobility, but not size, influence the probability of paternity, suggesting a role for competitive mate searching. Females significantly reduce the inbreeding coefficient of their offspring by mating with males other than (or in addition to) the nearest male. Fathers are less closely related to the mother in years of high density when unrelated males are more accessible to the female. Our results favor the genetic ‘‘bet-hedging’’ hypothesis, whereby females actively but unselectively seek matings with additional males when the male most likely to win in mate competition is costly to her (in this case, genetically less compatible). We anticipate that genetic bet hedging will be common in species whose females are defendable, especially if they are also philopatric. Key words: Dipodomys, genetic bet hedging, kangaroo rat, mate choice, multiple mating, parentage. [Behav Ecol]
Iron-based syngas chemical looping process and coal-direct chemical looping process development at Ohio State University

Abstract The increasing demands for energy and concern of global warming are intertwined issues of critical importance. With the pressing need for clean, efficient, and cost-effective energy conversion processes, the chemical looping strategy has evolved as a promising alternative to the traditional carbonaceous fuel conversion processes. Chemical looping processes utilize oxygen carrier particles to indirectly convert carbonaceous fuels while capturing CO 2 for sequestration and/or utilization. Throughout its development, multiple oxygen carrier compositions and reactor configurations have been studied and demonstrated. The Ohio State University (OSU) chemical looping technologies have received significant attention over the recent years. OSU’s unique moving-bed chemical looping technologies coupled with iron-based oxygen carrier particles capable of sustaining hundreds of redox cycles have the advantage of converting a variety of carbonaceous fuels, such as natural gas, coal and biomass, to electricity, H 2 , liquid fuels, or any combination thereof with zero to negative net CO 2 emissions. Specifically, two chemical looping processes are being developed and studied, the syngas chemical looping (SCL) and the coal direct chemical looping (CDCL) technologies. Over the past 14 years, these processes have developed from a novel concept to successful sub-pilot (25 kW th ) demonstrations. With the support of the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) of the US Department of Energy (USDOE), a 250 kW th high pressure SCL pilot scale demonstration project was initiated for processing syngas to cogenerate pure H 2 and sequestration-ready CO 2 from a Kellogg Brown & Root gasifier at the National Carbon Capture Center. A 25 kW th CDCL sub-pilot plant has been constructed and demonstrated at OSU with the support from National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) of the United States Department of Energy (USDOE). The combined SCL and CDCL operational time at reactive conditions well exceeds 850 h. Multiple aspects of the OSU chemical looping development including the oxygen carrier properties, reaction mechanism studies, reactor design and modeling studies, the bench and sub-pilot scale process testing results, energy integration optimization, and techno-economic analyzes are discussed.