cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ocean acidification: effects of pH on 45 Ca uptake by lobster branchiostegites

Gill chambers of the Atlantic lobster, Homarus americanus, possess three structures that are involved with respiration and ion regulation: gill filaments, epipodites, and branchiostegites. This paper describes ion transport mechanisms present in the plasma membranes of branchiostegite epithelial cells and the effects of pH on the uptake of 45Ca by these processes. Partially purified membrane vesicles (PPMV) of branchiostegite cells were produced by a homogenization/centrifugation method that has previously been used to define ion transport processes in both crab and lobster gill tissues. In the present study, lobster branchiostegite PPMV 45Ca uptake was highest at pH 8.5 and lowest at pH values between 6.0 and 7.0 (p 0.05) affect 45Ca uptake observed in the absence of a PD, but was threefold greater than uptake at pH 7.0 in the absence of a PD (p 0.05). These results suggest that 45Ca uptake by lobster branchiostegites may have occurred by the combination of diffusion through a verapamil-inhibited calcium channel and carrier-mediated transport by amiloride-insensitive, electroneutral, 1Ca2+/2H+ antiporters. Decreased pH, as might occur during ocean acidification, did not appear to modify calcium diffusion through the channels, but protons acted as competitive inhibitors of calcium transport by carrier-mediated antiport. Decreased calcium uptake with continued ocean acidification may significantly affect calcification processes during periodic molting, potentially influencing mortality.
Vector Coherent State Constructions of U(3) Canonical Shift Tensors of Biedenharn-Louck Type

The explicit algebraic construction of irreducible tensor operators with definite shift properties is central to the solution of all problems involving symmetries in physics, the compact Lie groups being of particular interest. The pioneering work of Larry Biedenharn in the construction of a canonical tensor calculus for the unitary groups1−6 is well known. By giving a canonical (author-independent) prescription for the SU(3) tensors, in particular, the Biedenharn-Louck construction gives an elegant resolution to the “multiplicity problem” which plagues all higher rank Lie algebras. Although the problem was resolved for SU(3), m principle, as early as the 1960’s, the algebraic labor of giving a viable explicit construction of such tensors presented a formidable task at that time, as illustrated by the construction of all 27-plet SU(3) tensor operators by Castilho Alcaras et al.7
MicroRNAs in COPD: small molecules with big potential.

MicroRNA research in COPD can help explain the observed heterogeneity, not only in clinical presentation, but also in treatment response, particularly as it relates to inhaled corticosteroidshttp://ow.ly/HbYo30o7lIt
Subunit Interactions in Mammalian Liver Aldehyde Dehydrogenases

Aldehyde dehydrogenases are multisubunit enzymes. The first ones purified were 500 amino acid homotetramers, cytosolic and mitochondrial in origin, and later called class 1 and 2, respectively. These two forms of the enzyme share 70% sequence identity with each other. A third class of enzyme characterized had 452 amino acids and was dimeric. The class 3 enzymes were microsomal, tumor specific or inducible in origin and shared less than 40% homology with the class 1 and 2 enzymes (Hempel et al., 1993). More is known about the enzymology of the class 1 and 2 enzymes, though the 3-dimensional structure of the class 3 enzyme has recently been determined (Liu, et al., 1997). Other classes of ALDHs are known but those enzymes have not been characterized.
New Heteroepitaxially Grown Materials for Frequency Conversion in the Mid and Longwave Infrared

Novel binary and ternary nonlinear optical materials such as ZnSe, GaSe and GaAsP have been grown heteroepitaxially on foreign substrates and on orientation-patterned templates by hydride vapor phase epitaxy for frequency conversion devices.
A Study on Light Coupling Effects in Hexagonal Boron Nitride Crystals for Quantum Photonic Designs

We explore the light interaction effects in two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) crystals and device structures at the wavelengths compatible with the defect-related quantum emission. The study paves the way to constructing integrated photonic circuitry based on this emerging quantum material.
Hydrothermal Synthesis and Structure of a Dinuclear Molybdenum(III) Hydroxy Squarate with a Mo-Mo Bond.

The reaction of molybdenum(II) and chromium(II) acetates with squaric acid in degassed and deionized water under hydrothermal conditions at 150 °C is described. The products have been formulated as M2(μ-OH)2(μ-C4O4)2(H2O)4·2H2O, where M = Cr (1) and Mo (2), based on combustion elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, magic angle spinning (MAS) solid-state carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The edge-shared bioctahedral structures involve doubly bridging hydroxide ligands and μ-squarate ligands. The chromium compound lacks a direct metal–metal-bonding interaction, while in contrast the molybdenum compound contains a Mo–Mo bond [2.491(2) A]. The nature of the Mo–Mo-bonding interaction is compared with that of other similar d3–d3 dimers.
SMART Health Technologies for Direct Patient Care

Clinical and research efforts to provide quality healthcare in the twenty-first century while addressing the challenges of an ageing population have led to multiple innovations through SMART technologies..
Cannabis use and posttraumatic stress disorder: prospective evidence from a longitudinal study of veterans.

Background Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the most highly co-occurring psychiatric disorder among veterans with cannabis use disorder (CUD). Despite some evidence that cannabis use prospectively exacerbates the course of PTSD, which in turn increases the risk for CUD, the causal nature of the relationship between cannabis and psychiatric comorbidity is debated. The longitudinal relationship between PTSD diagnosis and traumatic intrusion symptoms with cannabis use and CUD was examined using cross-lagged panel model (CLPM) analysis. Methods Prospective data from a longitudinal observational study of 361 veterans deployed post-9/11/2001 included PTSD and CUD diagnoses, cannabis use, and PTSD-related traumatic intrusion symptoms from the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms. Results A random intercept CLPM analysis that leveraged three waves (baseline, 6 months and 12 months) of cannabis use and PTSD-related intrusion symptoms to account for between-person differences found that baseline cannabis use was significantly positively associated with 6-month intrusion symptoms; the converse association was significant but reduced in magnitude (baseline use to 6-month intrusions: β = 0.46, 95% CI 0.155-0.765; baseline intrusions to 6-month use: β = 0.22, 95% CI -0.003 to 0.444). Results from the two-wave CLPM reveal a significant effect from baseline PTSD to 12-month CUD (β = 0.15, 95% CI 0.028-0.272) but not from baseline CUD to 12-month PTSD (β = 0.12, 95% CI -0.022 to 0.262). Conclusions Strong prospective associations capturing within-person changes suggest that cannabis use is linked with greater severity of trauma-related intrusion symptoms over time. A strong person-level directional association between PTSD and CUD was evident. Findings have significant clinical implications for the long-term effects of cannabis use among individuals with PTSD.
Implementing a micromechanical model into a finite element code to simulate the mechanical and microstructural response of arteries

A computational strategy based on the finite element method for simulating the mechanical response of arterial tissues is herein proposed. The adopted constitutive formulation accounts for rotations of the adventitial collagen fibers and introduces parameters which are directly measurable or well established. Moreover, the refined constitutive model is readily utilized in finite element analyses, enabling the simulation of mechanical tests to reveal the influence of microstructural and histological features on macroscopic material behavior. Employing constitutive parameters supported by histological examinations, the results herein validate the model's ability to predict the micro- and macroscopic mechanical behavior, closely matching previously observed experimental findings. Finally, the capabilities of the adopted constitutive description are shown investigating the influence of some collagen disorders on the macroscopic mechanical response of the arterial tissues.
School-entry requirements for HPV vaccination: part of the patchwork for HPV-related cancer prevention.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination can prevent six types of HPV-related cancers, and approximately, 54.2% of adolescents are up-to-date with the HPV vaccine in the United States. While moderate success has been achieved with provider- and parent-focused interventions, HPV vaccination in the U.S. lags well behind desired goals. In order to maximize HPV vaccination and prevention of HPV-related cancers, it may be prudent to consider state policy approaches, such as school-entry requirements as part of the patchwork of provider, parent, and structural interventions. In this paper, we reviewed the history of efforts to implement school-entry requirements for HPV vaccine, the challenges and benefits associated with implementing these requirements, and the evidence for the effectiveness of school-entry requirements. In addition, we presented new data from Rhode Island's Immunization Information System (IIS) showing how their school-entry requirement, implemented in 2015, has impacted HPV vaccination rates. These registry data indicate that HPV vaccination rates improved significantly after the 2014-2015 school year and policy implementation, and add to the ongoing evidence supporting the value of school-entry requirements for HPV vaccination. School-entry requirements should be considered alongside other initiatives and policies for promoting HPV vaccine uptake. Taking a comprehensive systems approach to HPV vaccination is needed.
Age-related neurodegeneration and cognitive impairments of NRMT1 knockout mice are preceded by misregulation of RB and expansion of the neural stem cell population

Abstract N-terminal methylation is an important post-translational modification that regulates protein/DNA interactions and plays a role in many cellular processes, including DNA damage repair, mitosis, and transcriptional regulation. Our generation of a constitutive knockout mouse for the N-terminal methyltransferase NRMT1, demonstrated its loss results in severe developmental abnormalities and premature aging. As premature aging is often accompanied by neurodegeneration, we more specifically examined how NRMT1 loss affects neural pathology and cognitive behaviors. Here we find that Nrmt1-/- mice exhibit postnatal enlargement of the lateral ventricles, age-dependent striatal and hippocampal neurodegeneration, memory impairments, and hyperactivity. These morphological and behavior abnormalities are preceded by alterations in neural stem cell (NSC) development. Depletion of quiescent NSC pools in Nrmt1-/- mice is concurrent with expansion of intermediate progenitor and neuroblast pools. These phenotypes are similar to those seen with loss of the NRMT1 target retinoblastoma protein (RB), and we see that NRMT1 loss leads to derepression of RB target genes and abnormal RB phosphorylation and degradation. As also seen with RB loss, neurons in Nrmt1-/- mice fail to exit cell cycle and ultimately undergo NOXA-mediated apoptosis, indicating that early misregulation of RB in Nrmt1-/- mice promotes premature NSC proliferation and contributes to subsequent neurodegenerative phenotypes.
An Assessment of Gender and Racial/Ethnic Diversity amongst Neurology Residents and Physicians (4918)

Objective: To assess trends in gender and racial/ethnic diversity amongst neurology residents and physicians. Background: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) now requires residency and fellowship training programs to address diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as part of the common program requirements. Research on DEI in neurology is scant, particularly regarding physicians from backgrounds considered underrepresented in medicine (URM). We aimed to analyze the trends in racial/ethnic and gender diversity among neurology residents and physicians. Design/Methods: Data from the ACGME Data Resource Book on neurology residents from 2011–2019 were analyzed for racial, ethnic, and gender trends over time. Characteristics of current neurology workforce per gender and race/ethnicity from the AAMC Data & Reports were analyzed. Descriptive statistics and linear regression models were performed. Results: From 2011 to 2019 women (n=858, 41.3% vs. n=1247, 43.1%; p=0.04), African-Americans (AA) (n=53, 2.5% vs. n=107, 3.7%; p=0.02), and Asian/Pacific Islanders (A/PI) (n=396, 19.0% vs. n=588, 20.3%; p=0.02) in neurology residency increased. The percentage of Hispanic/Latino (HL) (n=110, 5.3% vs. n=148, 5.1%; p=0.55) and American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) (n=5, 0.24% vs. n=6, 0.21%; p=0.40) neurology residents remained unchanged. Based on gender and race/ethnicity the following were underrepresented relative to U.S. medical students: Women (n=11160, 50% vs. n= 1247, 43.1%), AA (n=1540, 7.1% vs. n=107, 3.7%), HL (n=1349, 6.2% vs. n=148, 5.1%), A/PI (n=4809, 22.2% vs. n=210, 20.3%). In 2018, women made up 43.5% (n=4218) of neurology physicians, AA 2.5% (n=349), HL 5.5% (n=769), AI/AN 0.09% (n=12), A/PI 17.0% (n=2371), and White 57.1% (n=7942). Conclusions: Gains in gender diversity and AA representation were made amongst neurology residents. The diversity in race/ethnicity amongst neurology residents and physician workforce lags significantly relative to US medical students and population. Targeted initiatives aimed at recruitment and retention are necessary to further promote DEI in neurology. Disclosure: Miss Valenzuela has nothing to disclose. Minerva Romero Arenas has nothing to disclose.
Large-Scale Cross-Category Analysis of Consumer Review Content and Sales Conversion Leveraging Deep Learning

Online Word-of-Mouth has great impact on product sales. Although aggregate data suggests that customers read review text rather than relying only on summary statistics, little is known about consumers’ review reading behavior and its impact on conversion at the granular level. To fill this research gap, we analyze a comprehensive dataset that tracks individual-level search, review reading, as well as purchase behaviors and achieve two objectives. First, we describe consumers’ review reading behaviors. In contrast to what has been found with aggregate data, individual level consumer journey data shows that around 70% of the time, consumers do not read reviews in their online journeys; they are less likely to read reviews for products that are inexpensive and have many reviews. Second, we quantify the causal impact of quantity and content information of reviews read on sales. The identification relies on the variation in the reviews seen by consumers due to newly added reviews. To extract content information, we apply Deep Learning natural language processing models and identify six dimensions of content in the reviews. We find that aesthetics and price content in the reviews significantly affect conversion. Counterfactual simulation suggests that re-ordering review content can have the same effect as a 1.6% price cut for boosting conversion.
The Long-Term Impact of Early-Life Cigarette Taxes on Adult Pre-Pregnancy and Prenatal Smoking

This study examines the long-term link between early-life cigarette taxes and adult smoking behavior. Using U.S. birth certificate records over 2009-2019, we explore the intergenerational behavioral effects of higher in-utero cigarette taxes. We find that the mother's exposure to higher in-utero cigarette taxes (over 1965-2000) reduces contemporary adult smoking behavior, both pre-pregnancy and prenatally. Exposure to higher in-utero cigarette taxes also impacts adult human capital, adult health and has multi-generational consequences for infant health. Furthermore, the long-term effect is present even when controlling for various contemporary tobacco control policies and confounding early-life policies. Our findings suggest that early-life exposure to state-level policies discouraging smoking can shape health behaviors over the long run.
The Concept of Natural Ligand Nonbonded Repulsion. The Ethane Paradigm

Nonbonded repulsion, commonly referred to as “steric effect”, is one of the priceless weapons of the conceptual arsenal of the chemist, especially the organic chemist. It is repeatedly invoked to rationalize why the most “crowded” arrangement of atomic nuclei is often the least stable one.1 The simplicity of the concept, an intuitively obvious one, has much to do with the popularity it enjoys. While excellent for a posteriori rationalization, the concept of nonbonded repulsion has no predictive value. For example, ethane is staggered but water is non-linear. If we did not know the actual physical facts, we would predict ethane to be staggered and water linear on the basis of “steric effects”. Furthermore, the concept of nonbonded repulsion is really an empirical one for it was originally developed by experimentalists in order to codify a subset (not a complete set) of experimental observations which indicated that “crowding” of nonbonded atoms is energetically unfavorable. Thus, the concept of nonbonded repulsion is both nonpredictive and nontheoretical (heuristic).
Are AHA/ASA Stroke Guidelines Evident Enough? (P4.286)

Background Professional society statements and practice guidelines are commonly used in clinical decision-making and to establish benchmarks for quality of care. A systematic review of guidelines issued by existing medical professional societies revealed that a small percentage of recommendations were based on high levels of evidence. We sought to determine temporal trends in the strength of guideline recommendations by comparing the current Level of Evidence and Class of Recommendation assigned to recommendations in current vs. previous American Stroke Association (ASA) Flagship Guidelines. Methods We assessed 3 current (2011-2013) ASA practice guidelines for acute stroke, primary prevention and secondary prevention and the prior version (2006-7) of each guideline. Class (I, IIa, IIb, III) and Level of Evidence (A, B, C) for all recommendations (total of 503) were abstracted. The percentages of recommendations in each of the categories for each guideline were compared between the recent and prior guidelines using a chi-square test. Results The Class and Level of evidence categories for each of the guidelines are shown in the table. For the acute stroke guidelines, the number of Class IIb (mostly level B and C) recommendations increased from 2007 to 2013, with a decrease in III recommendations. There were no significant changes in the Class or Level for the primary prevention guidelines from 2007 to 2011. For the secondary prevention guidelines, there was a trend toward an increase in the number of Class I recommendations from 2006 to 2011 and an increase in the number of level B recommendations. Conclusion Many of the recommendations in the current stroke guidelines are based on Level B and C Evidence. However, there has been some improvement in the Level of Evidence for secondary prevention guidelines compared to prior versions. Continued assessment of areas of low evidence may help focus future research strategies Disclosure: Dr. Pawar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Boan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Athar has nothing to disclose. Dr. Turan has received personal compensation for activities with Gore Laboratories Inc., and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc. Dr. Turan has received research support from Stryker Co., the National Institutes of Health, and AstraZeneca.
Privacy, control and internet mobility

This position paper explores privacy issues created by mobile and wireless Internet access. We consider the information about the user’s identity, location, and the serviced accessed that is necessarily or unnecessarily revealed observers, including the access network, intermediaries within the Internet, and the peer endpoints. In particular, we are interested in data that can be collected from packet headers and signaling messages and exploited to control the user’s access to communications resources and online services. We also suggest some solutions to reduce the amount of information that is leaked.
Formulating Cyber-Security as Convex Optimization Problems

Mission-centric cyber-security analysts require a complete overview and understanding of the state of a mission and any potential threats to their completion. To facilitate this, we propose optimization based algorithms that can be used to predict in real-time how an attacker may try to compromise a cyber-mission with a limited amount of resources, based on a model that takes into account potential damage to the mission and probabilistic uncertainty. Two different optimization schemes are considered: one where all the mission data is known a priori to the attacker and another where system identification and a moving horizon optimization is used to produce the estimates based on historical data. Our schemes are compared with real attacks carried our by human players in the 2011 international Capture The Flag (iCTF) hacking competition.
Probability table compression for handwritten character recognition

This paper presents a new probability table memory compression method based on mixture models and its application to N-tuple recognizers and N-gram character language models. Joint probability tables are decomposed into lower dimensional probability components and their mixtures. The maximum likelihood parameters of the mixture models are trained by the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm and quantized to one byte integers. Probability elements that mixture models do not estimate reliably are kept separately. Experimental results with on-line handwritten UNIPEN uppercase and lowercase characters show that the total memory size of an on-line scanning N-tuple recognizer is reduced from 12.3 MB to 0.66 MB bytes, while the recognition rate drops from 91.64% to 91.13% for uppercase characters and from 88.44% to 87.31% for lowercase characters. The N-gram character language model was compressed from 73.6 MB to 0.58 MB with minimal reduction in performance.
Suspension of bed material over sand bars in the Lower Mississippi River and its implications for Mississippi delta environmental restoration

[1] Understanding specific pathways for sand transport in the lower reaches of large rivers, including the Mississippi, is a key for addressing multiple significant geologic problems, such as delta building and discharge to the oceans, and for environmental restoration efforts in deltaic environments threatened by rising sea levels. Field studies were performed in the Mississippi River 75–100 km upstream of the Gulf of Mexico outlet in 2010–2011 to examine sand transport phenomena in the tidally affected river channel over a range of discharges. Methods included mapping bottom morphology (multibeam sonar), cross-sectional and longitudinal measurements of water column velocity and acoustic backscatter, suspended sediment sampling, and channel-bed sampling. Substantial interaction was observed between the flow conditions in the river (boundary shear stress), channel-bed morphology (size and extent of sandy bedforms), and bed material sand transport (quantity, transport mode, and spatial distribution). A lateral shift was observed in the region of maximum bed material transport from deep to shallow areas of subaqueous sand bars with increasing water discharge. Bed material was transported both in traction and in suspension at these water discharges, and we posit that the downriver flux of sand grains is composed of both locally- and drainage basin-sourced material, with distinct transport pathways and relations to flow conditions. We provide suggestions for the optimal design and operation of planned river diversion projects.
Climate and Vegetation in Central North America: Natural Patterns and Human Alterations

The characteristic patterns of climate and natural vegetation in central North America are strongly interrelated and result from an atmospheric circulation system that responds to both global and continental scale mechanisms. Climatic patterns arise in the region between the Rocky Mountains and the Great Lakes or Mississippi River from the interactions between two major components of the global atmospheric circulation system: the tropical Hadley Cell, and the extratropical, upper-level Westerlies. The Westerlies, particularly, are influenced and steered by thermal inequalities over the earth’s surface as well as the terrain barriers such as the Rocky Mountain Cordillera. In addition, both the Hadley Cell and the Westerlies shift north and south on an annual cycle.
Hybridization dynamics of invasive cattail (Typhaceae) stands in the Western Great Lakes Region of North America: a molecular analysis

Summary 1. By increasing vigour and broadening ecological tolerances, hybridization between native and introduced species may serve as a primary driver of invasiveness. 2. Cattails (Typha, Typhaceae) are clonal wetland graminoids that are known to hybridize where anthropogenic influences have resulted in distributional overlap. 3. In order to gauge the relative performance of hybrid vs. pure Typha, we characterized hybridization and clonal growth where native Typha latifolia and introduced Typha angustifolia occur together in the Western Great Lakes Region of North America. 4. Based on microsatellite markers, we documented F1 hybrids as the most common class at five intensively sampled sites, constituting up to 90% of the genets and 99% of the ramets. Backcrosses to one or the other parent constituted 5–38% of the genets. Pure T. latifolia was rare and never constituted more than 12% of the genets. 5. F1 hybrid genets achieved the highest mean ramet numbers at three sites, and were second in size only to T. angustifolia at two sites; however, these differences were not significant based on site-specific one-way anovas. 6. F1 hybrids exhibited little height advantage over other Typha classes, although there was a general tendency for hybrids in relatively mixed stands to be among the tallest genets in shallow water, but among the shortest genets in deeper water. 7. Native T. latifolia was found growing at the shallowest water depths at the only site where it was sufficiently abundant to be included in statistical comparisons. 8. Synthesis. The role of hybridization in plant invasions can be difficult to confirm in the absence of molecular data, particularly for clonal species where the boundaries separating individuals are otherwise difficult to discern. Here, we used molecular markers to document the prevalence and performance of hybrid genets in five invasive Typha stands covering a broad area of the Western Great Lakes Region. We found an extremely high prevalence of F1 hybrids within mixed Typha stands. This, coupled with the typically larger sizes of hybrid genets, suggests that hybrids are capable of outperforming other Typha spp. and that hybridization has played an influential role in the North American cattail invasion.
Male infant with a single-system ectopic ureter that required the removal of the ureteral stump after nephrectomy

The necessity of removing ureteral stumps after upper tract surgery for ectopic ureters has been debated, because the procedure can be difficult to carry out and might cause injury to bladder continence mechanisms. Fortunately, ureteral stumps rarely cause problems. We herein report the case of a single-system ectopic ureter that required the removal of the ureteral stump after nephrectomy. In our case, reflux into the ectopic ureter adversely affected the dilation of the ureteral stump. Although urine might flow through an ectopic opening during the voiding phase as a result of high pressure, residual urine might be unable to flow during the storage phase because of low pressure in the ureteral stump. The removal of ureteral stumps might be required in patients with reflux into ectopic ureters. When surgical intervention is necessary for patients with megaureters, cystourethroscopy should be carried out to more accurately clarify the anatomy of the lower urinary tract.
A prospective, single-center clinical trial of a modified Cox maze procedure with bipolar radiofrequency ablation

Abstract Objective The Cox maze III procedure has excellent long-term efficacy in curing atrial fibrillation. It has not been widely practiced because it is technically challenging and requires prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass. The aim of this study was to examine a simplified Cox maze III procedure that uses bipolar radiofrequency energy as an ablative source. Methods Beginning January 2002, a total of 40 consecutive patients underwent a modified Cox maze III procedure with bipolar radiofrequency energy. Nineteen had a lone maze procedure and 21 had a maze procedure plus a concomitant operation. One month after the operation, the first 8 patients were investigated with high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging. Patients were followed up monthly with clinical examination and electrocardiography. Results There was no operative deaths. The crossclamp times were 47 ± 26 minutes for the modified lone Cox maze III procedure and 92 ± 37 minutes for the Cox maze III procedure plus concomitant procedures. These were significantly shorter than our previous times for the traditional Cox maze III procedure (93 ± 34 minutes and 122 ± 37 minutes, respectively, P Conclusions Bipolar radiofrequency ablation can be used to replace the surgical incisions of the Cox maze procedure. This energy source did not result in pulmonary vein stenosis. The modification of the Cox maze III procedure to use bipolar radiofrequency ablation simplified and shortened this procedure without sacrificing short-term efficacy.
Measured oxygen fugacities of the Angra dos Reis achondrite as a function of temperature

Measurements of the oxygen fugacity, f(O2), as a function of temperature, T, were made on an interior bulk sample of the cumulate achondrite, Angra dos Reis. Data clustered between the f(O2)-T relationship of the iron-wustite assemblage and 1.2 log atm units above iron-wustite. Interpretation of the data indicates that, throughout most of the cooling history of the meteorite, f(O2) values were defined by equilibria involving iron-bearing species at values close to the f(O2) of the assemblage iron-wustite. Measured f(O2) data are compatible with crystallization and cooling at pressures greater than 50 bars.
Definition and manipulation of tumor oxygenation

Using a computer-controlled polarographic oxygen electrode system, the oxygen tension profiles of two rat tumors, the 13762 mammary carcinoma and the 9L gliosarcoma, and one murine tumor, the FSall fibrosarcoma, were determined under eight different conditions. The oxygen profiles were characterized by four parameters related to tumor oxygenation and by three parameters related to tumor hypoxia. In the rat 13762 mammary carcinoma tumor median pO2 and the percent of pO2 were correlated with tumor volume under three different conditions. With these tumors the decrease in percent of pO2 readings in the tumor <5 mmHg appeared to correlate with the enhancement in therapeutic response of the rat tumors to single dose radiation therapy and of the mouse tumor to single doses of melphalan or cyclophosphamide. Both the perfluorochemical emulsion (Oxygent(tm) CA) with carbogen breathing and the polymerized bovine hemoglobin with air or carbogen breathing were effective in increasing the oxygenation of these three tumors. Pentoxifylline administration especially along with carbogen breathing increased the oxygenation of the tumors. These studies indicate that the decrease in the percent of the tumor which is most severely hypoxic may be predictive of improved therapeutic response in tumors treated with oxygen-dependent or oxygen-responsive therapies and oxygen delivery agents. © Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Uniform convergence with rates for smooth Poisson-Cauchy-type singular integral operators

In this article we continue the study of smooth Poisson-Cauchy-type singular integral operators on the line of very general kind. We establish their uniform convergence to the unit operator, with rates. The estimates are mostly sharp and they are pointwise or uniform. The inequalities established involve the higher order modulus of smoothness. To prove optimality we use mainly the geometric moment theory method.
Nat King Cole and the politics of race and broadcasting in the 1 950s

(1996). Nat King Cole and the politics of race and broadcasting in the 1 950s. The Communication Review: Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 349-371.
Molar and latent models of cognitive slowing: Implications for aging, dementia, depression, development, and intelligence.

The time that it takes a group of participants to respond in simple cognitive tasks varies systematically with the identity of the group. For example, on most tasks, older adults take longer to respond than younger adults. Similarly, on most tasks, younger children take longer to respond than mature children. More generally, response time has been found to vary reliably with a number of other factors that differentiate groups of participants, including the levels of dementia, depression, and intelligence. For each factor, investigators have sought to determine whether the various mental processes are slowed identically as the level of impairment increases. They have based this determination largely on the relation between the overall response times of the relevant groups. Here it is shown how one can base this determination on the relation between the speeds of the individual latent or mental processes governing the performance of the target groups. Such a shift in emphasis has three important advantages: it reduces the possibility of falsely accepting or rejecting the hypothesis that all processes are slowed identically; it pinpoints the actual processes that are lengthened disproportionately when processes are not slowed identically; and it makes possible the rigorous testing of the effects of changes in speed on other dependent variables (e.g., accuracy).
SU‐E‐T‐334: A Rapid Method for Testing the Accuracy of Heterogeneity Correction Algorithms Using a 2‐D Detector‐Array QA Tool

Purpose: To demonstrate an efficient quality assurance (QA) method using a 2‐D diode array to verify the absolute dose distribution generated by heterogeneity corrected treatment plans. Methods: The AAA, ETAR, and modified Batho heterogeneity corrected Eclipse treatment plans were compared against the measured data obtained with 6 and 18MV (Varian 2100CD) photon irradiation with the following two geometric setups: (1) Reference setup: An inhomogeneous phantom was sandwiched by a solid water slab (Gammex) and the 22×22cm2 MapCHECK detector (Sun Nuclear) under the incident photon beam that was perpendicular to the slabs. The sandwiched slab material consisted of low‐density foam occupying half of the detector area (11×22cm2), and another solid‐water slab on the other half. (2) Tested setup: two blocks of solid‐water separated by another slab of low‐density foam were erected vertically on the surface of the 2‐D array. A slightly oblique beam angle (<30o) allows primary photon field to pass through each slab of solid water and foam to project the field onto the array. Results: The measured 2‐D dose profiles from the first configuration (Reference setup) were reasonably predicted by all three algorithms, but only AAA among the three taking into account the electron transport shows the best results for the second setup. Conclusions: The geometric design of the second setup with oblique beam angle can enhance the characteristics of the complicated dose profile projected onto a 2‐D array as the transversal and longitudinal electron transports carry out non‐local dose deposit throughout inhomogeneous slabs by oblique primary photons. The combination of build‐up and build‐down profiles is usually illustrated by film dosimetry with much a more time‐consuming procedure.
Rapid Detection and Determination of the Aerodynamic Size Range of Airborne Mycobacteria Associated with Whirlpools

Novel environmental air and water mycobacteria sampling and analytical methods are needed to circumvent difficulties associated with the use of culture-based methodologies. To implement this objective, a commercial, clinical, genus DNA amplification method utilizing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was interfaced with novel air sampling strategies in the laboratory. Two types of air samplers, a three-piece plastic, disposable filter cassette and an eight-stage micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor (MOUDI), were used in these studies. In both samplers, 37-mm polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filters were used. Use of the MOUDI sampler permitted the capture of airborne mycobacteria in discrete size ranges, an important parameter for relating the airborne mycobacteria cells to potential respirable particles (aerodynamic diameter <10 w m) capable of causing health effects. Analysis of the samples was rapid, requiring only 1-1.5 days, as no microbial culturing or DNA purification was required. This approach w...
Using porous inserts to enhance heat transfer in laminar fully-developed flows

Abstract The objective of this work is to investigate if it is possible to use porous inserts to enhance heat transfer in rectangular channels. A mathematical model that includes inertia and viscous effects is used to determined the velocity profile in the porous region. For the fluid region, momentum transfer is modeled using the Navier-Stokes equation. These equations and the energy equations are solved numerically via a finite-difference method. Heat transfer between the channel walls and the fluid is determined as a function of Darcy number, inertia parameter, ratio of the fluid and porous medium thermal conductivities, and the porous insert thickness. It is shown that heat transfer could be enhanced by placing a porous insert in the channel. Moreover, for some conditions heat transfer is maximized by using a porous insert thinner than the channel height while a porous insert that completely fills the channel is needed for other conditions.
PAS(150): A digital analog simulator for biological research☆

Abstract Analysis of several models currently being studied indicates that the simulation of biological systems will place severe demands on current analog computing machinery. Digital simulation of these systems was investigated as an alternate to analog simulation and, as a result, a digital analog simulator for biological modeling, PAS(150), was designed. The simulator is written as a library of linked programs that allow the experimenter to use a small digital computer to run “on-line” simulation of biological systems much as one would use a conventional analog computer. In addition, ease of operation by inexperienced persons and provision for simple future modification are incorporated in the simulator design. The results of a study of a functional model of the circulatory system using PAS(150) are included to illustrate some of the features of operation.
Effect of balloon-expandable and self-expanding stent fixation on endoluminal polytetrafluoroethylene graft healing

Purpose To investigate the effect of stent design and deployment mechanism on endoluminal graft healing. Method Twenty dogs underwent infrarenal abdominal aorta polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) interposition (6) or intraluminal stented grafting using either a balloon expandable (BE, n=8) or self-expanding (SE, n=6) stent design. Grafts were removed at 8 weeks. Length of endothelial ingrowth and intima to media height ratios (IMHR) were calculated. Perianastomotic smooth muscle (Actin+), macrophage (CD44+), proliferating (PCNA+), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF+) cell content were determined. Results Mean endothelial ingrowth was 1.10 ± 0.15 cm (control), 1.88 ± 0.13 cm (BESG), and 2.16 ± 0.18 cm (SESG) proximally; and 0.94 ± 0.12, 2.11 ± 0.11 cm, and 2.16 ± 0.15 cm, respectively, at the distal anastomosis. Endothelial ingrowth was greater in all stented grafts ( P P P Conclusion Intraluminal location enhances endothelialization and attenuates intimal thickening in PTFE grafts. The enhanced healing of intraluminal stented grafts is irrespective of the type of stent or deployment mechanism used.
Detailed Characterization of Two-Phase Annular Flow in a Horizontal Tube

In this study, non-intrusive pressure drop, liquid film thickness distribution and wave behavior measurements have been obtained for 140 and 220 two-phase flow conditions in horizontal 8.8 mm I.D and 15.1 mm I.D. tubes, respectively. Horizontal flow regimes ranging from stratified-wavy to annular were studied in long clear test sections. Pressure drop data appeared to show different trends for the wavy, wavy-annular and annular flow regimes, suggesting that a unique model may be required for each. In addition, wave frequency showed clearly different behavior for these regimes, with only minor liquid flow dependence in the wavy and wavy-annular flows and strong liquid flow dependence in annular flow. Interestingly, disturbance wave velocity could be correlated to within 10% by the gas friction velocity in the annular regime and within 20% in the wavy-annular regime, leading to a simple correlation between pressure drop and wave velocity. Base film thickness data (between waves) show that the film is relatively insensitive to gas flow at the side and top of the tube and that the film thickness around the tube becomes nearly independent of liquid flow rate at high gas flows. Empirical correlations of the various data sets are presented with the goal of aiding general horizontal two-phase flow modeling efforts.© 2004 ASME
Comparison of bipolar and integrated sensing for redetection of ventricular fibrillation

Abstract Background Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator function is critically dependent on reliable sensing of intracardiac signals. Lead systems that use integrated sensing, in which the distal shocking coil is part of both the sensing and shocking pathways, may be prone to undersensing of ventricular fibrillation, especially during redetection after a failed first shock. To assess the effect of endocardial lead system on redetection, we compared a dedicated rate-sensing lead and 2 generations of integrated sensing defibrillator leads with a uniform testing algorithm and pulse generator. Methods The study group consisted of 72 patients after implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation. Three transvenous rate-sensing leads were evaluated: a standard pacing lead, incorporating true bipolar sensing without ventricular coils, or an integrated shocking and sensing lead (Endotak C) with either 6-mm (60 series) or 12-mm (70 series) spacing between the sensing tip and shocking coil. Redetection was assessed from a failed first shock just below defibrillation threshold. Results Compared with the dedicated bipolar lead, redetection was prolonged with the 60 series lead (8.3 ± 3.6 vs 6.6 ± 2.3 seconds, P = .04). Moreover, prolonged redetection (>8 seconds) was observed in 41% of patients with 60 series leads compared with only 11% with dedicated bipolar leads ( P Conclusions Delayed redetection is frequently noted with an integrated lead with close spacing between the tip and coil. Detailed evaluation of detection and redetection of these leads should be performed at the time of pulse generator replacement. (Am Heart J 1999;138:133-6.)
Prescription for Pleasure: Exploring Sex-Positive Approaches in Women with Spinal Cord Injury

Women with a spinal cord injury (SCI) have had their sexual health and sexual desires dismissed by medical and mental health professionals. Not much data are available that address the complexity of the sexual lives of women with SCI, and clinicians have struggled to identify appropriate treatment paradigms. We review the literature on sexual self-constructs and sexual behavior of women with SCI emphasizing sexual pleasure, sexual health, and sex-positive therapies. Third-wave cognitive-behavioral approaches are explored, and a clinical example is illustrated to provide mental health professionals with new perspectives about interventions for promoting sexual pleasure among women with SCI.
A Review of “A Clinical Guide to Opioid Analgesia”

The summary printed on the back cover states: “This handbook is intended as a guide to the responsible use of opioid analgesics for the treatment of pain.” It does exactly that. Within the 134 page...
Smart element method I. The Zienkiewicz–Zhu feedback

A new error control finite element formulation is developed and implemented based on the variational multiscale method, the inclusion theory in homogenization, and the Zienkiewicz-Zhu error estimator. By synthesizing variational multiscale method in computational mechanics, the equivalent eigenstrain principle in micromechanics, and the Zienkiewicz-Zhu error estimator in the finite element method (FEM), the new finite element formulation can automatically detect and subsequently homogenize its own discretization errors in a self-adaptive and a self-adjusting manner. It is the first finite element formulation that combines an optimal feedback mechanism and a precisely defined homogenization procedure to reduce its own discretization errors and hence to control numerical pollutions. The paper focuses on the following two issues: (1) how to combine a multiscale method with the existing finite element error estimate criterion through a feedback mechanism, and (2) convergence study. It has been shown that by combining the proposed variational multiscale homogenization method with the Zienkiewicz-Zhu error estimator a clear improvement can be made on the coarse scale computation. It is also shown that when the finite element mesh is refined, the solution obtained by the variational eigenstrain multiscale method will converge to the exact solution.
Acyclovir: Discovery, mechanism of action, and selectivity

The reasons for acyclovir's activity and selectivity in cells infected with HSV or VZV may be summarized as follows: 1. Activation by a HSV- or VZV-specified TK. 2. Greater sensitivity of viral DNA polymerase than of the cellular polymerases to ACV-TP. 3. Inactivation of the viral DNA polymerase, but not the cellular polymerases, by ACV-TP. 4. Chain termination of viral DNA by incorporation of ACV-MP. For the Epstein-Barr virus, which is also sensitive to acyclovir, there is no selective activation in infected cells [Colby et al., 1981], but the viral polymerase can be inhibited by very low levels of ACV-TP [Datta et al., 1980]. For HCMV, the activation of acyclovir is very poor but the viral polymerase is also more sensitive to ACV-TP than the cellular polymerases. One of the important contributions of acyclovir was the demonstration for the first time that a compound could prevent the DNA replication of a DNA virus at concentrations far below those that affect cellular DNA synthesis. As we all know, in the past 15 years there has been a complete rejuvenation of antiviral chemotherapy. I think it is very fortunate that we changed our outlook on the possibility of making potent and selective antiviral agents in time so that, when the AIDS epidemic came along, we did not feel completely at a loss on ways to attack viral disease.
Standard and computed tomography in the evaluation of chest neoplasms.

Excerpt To the editor: Inouye and Sox (1) conclude that "This study confirms a role for standard (conventional) tomography in the evaluation of chest neoplasms. On the basis of its lower cost, stan...