cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prospective Evaluation of Two Intracorporeally Sutured Prophylactic Laparoscopic Gastropexy Techniques Compared with Laparoscopic-Assisted Gastropexy in Dogs

Objective— To report technique, surgical time, complication rate, and postoperative activity in dogs undergoing 2 intracorporeally-sutured total laparoscopic gastropexy (TLG) techniques compared with a laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy (LAG) technique. Study Design— Randomized clinical trial. Animals— Dogs (n=30) weighing >25 kg. Methods— Dogs were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. Two TLG techniques were performed using a median 3 portal technique. One of 2 suturing techniques was used to approximate corresponding incisions made in the stomach and body wall; using intracorporeal hand-suturing or a suture-assist device (Endostitch™). In a 3rd group, a previously reported LAG technique was used. All dogs had an activity monitor placed for 7 days pre- and postoperatively. Linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association of surgical procedure on gastropexy time and the percentage change in activity counts. Results— Median gastropexy time was 28 minutes (range, 20–41 minutes) for LAG, 48 minutes (range, 39–61 minutes) for the hand suture TLG technique, and 56 minutes (range, 30–90 minutes) for the Endostitch™ TLG technique. LAG was performed faster than TLG (P<.05). LAG dogs had a greater decrease in postoperative activity than TLG dogs (P=.005); however there was no difference in surgical time or postoperative activity between TLG techniques. Conclusions— TLG can be performed safely and effectively in dogs and although it takes longer, it has less impact on postoperative activity compared with LAG. Clinical Relevance— TLG techniques may have advantages over LAG as measured by a greater willingness of dogs to move around postoperatively.
CYCLIC ASSEMBLY TRAJECTORIES AND SCALE-DEPENDENT PRODUCTIVITY–DIVERSITY RELATIONSHIPS

Empirical studies show that the relationship between species diversity and productivity can be strongly scale dependent. At the local scale of population dynamics the relationship is commonly unimodal or humped, but it is frequently monotonically increasing at larger spatial scales. Such contrasting patterns can occur if beta diversity (compositional dissimilarity among sites) also increases with productivity, but mechanistic reasons for this remain unresolved. Here we use theoretical models to explore the influence of ecological assembly on the diversity of multitrophic communities along gradients of productivity. We show that assembly dynamics can generate scale-dependent patterns con- sistent with those observed in nature; while unimodal productivity-diversity patterns are produced at the scale of local communities, positive monotonic patterns emerge when diversity is measured at larger spatial scales (among communities). This occurs due to increases in beta diversity with productivity. Our results suggest that increases in beta diversity, and resultant scale dependency, can depend on three vital and interactive elements: the presence of more than one consumer trophic level, a greater propensity for cyclic compositional change at high productivities, and the stochastic nature of species dispersal and invasion history.
Molecular cloning of the terminal hairpin of vaccinia virus DNA as an imperfect palindrome in an Escherichia coli plasmid

Abstract The genome of vaccinia virus is a linear duplex molecule of approximately 185 kb with hairpins at each end that link the complementary strands. The hairpins, which exist in two forms that are inverted and complementary in sequence, were isolated as Xba I restriction fragments and converted to a linear intermolecular duplex structure by denaturation and reannealing. The latter was then stably cloned as a 142-bp imperfect palindrome in an Escherichia coli plasmid. The insert was excised from the plasmid and the palindrome was extended on both sides by ligating it to the adjacent vaccinia virus DNA segment. The resulting fragment was cloned as a 278-bp imperfect palindrome. Restriction endonuclease analysis and DNA sequencing indicated the absence of any deletions or rearrangements. After excision from the plasmid, the palindrome was converted by heating and rapid cooling to the original two hairpin forms. In this manner, large quantities of vaccinia virus telomeres may be obtained for physical and biochemical studies.
GEOSAT Altimeter Observations of Kelvin Waves and the 1986-87 El Niño

Two years of GEOSAT altimeter observations are used to investigate the response of sea level to anomalous westerly wind bursts in the tropical Pacific Ocean before and during the 1986-87 El Nino. Sea level time series along the equator show examples of both positive and negative anomalies of 10-centimeter amplitude and 2- to 4-week time scale propagating across the Pacific with phase speeds of 2.4 to 2.8 meters per second, suggesting downwelling and upwelling Kelvin waves, respectively. A comparison of island wind observations with sea level indicates one instance (May 1986) in which a positive sea level anomaly can be related to westerly winds caused by a cross-equatorial cyclone pair in the western Pacific. This episode was followed by additional wind bursts later in the year, and finally by sustained westerlies in the western Pacific during November-December 1986, at the height of El Nino. The GEOSAT observations reveal the sea level response to these meteorological events and provide a synoptic description of the El Nino oceanographic phenomenon.
Neuropathies associated with connective tissue disease.

Neuropathies are a common neurologic manifestation of diffuse connective tissue disease. Vasculitic neuropathy requires prompt diagnosis and treatment to improve its outcome. It is commonly multifocal but may be confluent and symmetrical. Vasculitic neuropathy needs to be distinguished from the more common syndromes of compression neuropathy, which may also be multifocal, and nonvasculitic distal axonal polyneuropathy. Sensory neuronopathy is a distinctive syndrome unique to Sjogren's syndrome among the connective tissue diseases. Trigeminal sensory neuropathy may be the presenting feature of systemic sclerosis or may develop during the course of other connective tissue diseases. This article reviews the clinical and diagnostic features of neuropathies associated with the common diffuse connective tissue diseases.
Monophyly of Wolbachia pipientis genomes within Drosophila melanogaster: geographic structuring, titre variation and host effects across five populations.

Wolbachia pipientis is one of the most widely studied endosymbionts today, yet we know little about its short-term adaptation and evolution. Here, using a set of 91 inbred Drosophila melanogaster lines from five populations, we explore patterns of diversity and recent evolution in the Wolbachia strain wMel. Within the D. melanogaster lines, we identify six major mitochondrial clades and four wMel clades. Concordant with past studies, the Wolbachia haplotypes contain an overall low level of nucleotide diversity, yet they still display geographic structuring. Using Bayesian analysis informed with demographic estimates of colonization times, we estimate that all extant D. melanogaster mitochondrial haplotypes coalesce to a Wolbachia-infected ancestor approximately 2200 years ago. Finally, we measure wMel titre within the infected flies and find that titre varies across populations, an effect attributable to host genetic factors. This demonstration of local phenotypic divergence suggests that intraspecific host genetic variation plays a key role in shaping this model symbiotic system.
Evolution of the lymphocyte

Invertebrates probably lack the cellular and molecular apparatus that characterizes vertebrate immunity but do have their own distinctive defense mechanisms (perhaps best termed 'quasi-immunity') worth investigation in their own right. Investigations of lymphocytes-like cells and immunity in animals near the transition point betweem invertebrates and vertebrates (e.g. the protochordates) may yet yield information on the early development of true vertebrate immunity. In this article Gregoru Warr discusses what light phylogenetic studies throw on the development of immunologically competent cells.
Recognition vs. classification of ill-defined category exemplars

In Experiment 1, subjects were trained on three ill-defined categories represented by 4, 8, and 12 exemplars. Learning was followed by either a classification test on old, new, and random exemplars or a recognition test in which each learning exemplar was presented with two foils, both equidistant to the learning exemplar, but one more similar to the category prototype than the other. In Experiment 2, category size was manipulated between subjects, followed by the recognition test. Recognition data indicated that increasing the number of learning exemplars did not increase the total amount of exemplar information retained for each category. In addition, the more prototypical foil was incorrectly recognized more often than the less prototypical foil. Classification data replicated previous findings that increasing category size in learning enhances classification of new exemplars. The results were interpreted in terms of the relative amounts of categorical and idiosyncratic information that were retained from the original learning stimuli. It was proposed that categorical information can become a more dominant determinant of performance as category size increases.
Ultrastructure of the accessory glands of the Mediterranean flour moth.

Five regions are recognized in the accessory glands of the Mediterranean flour moth, Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller), on the basis of cellular morphology and aggregates of secretory material in the lumen. Some variation is found in each of the posterior four regions, especially the third one. In the most anterior region (region 1) the epithelium is composed of a single type of cell, while in each of the other regions there are two classes of cells. The cells of region 1 and one class in each of the other four regions are fairly typical exocrine cells with extensive rough endoplasmic reticula. Secretion is primarily via Golgi-derived vesicles. Apocrine secretion in the form of sloughing off of the apical cytoplasm probably also occurs in all regions but is most prominent in the posterior two regions. One class of cells is very similar in morphology in each of the posterior four regions though their secretory products form characteristic aggregates in the lumen. The second class of cells (foliate cells) occurring in the posterior four segments is most notably characterized by elongate apical projections that extend out into the lumen. The apical projections contain large quantities of glycogen, some microtubules, and, in some cases, many minute mitochondria. The membrane content of the projections is also very high. In the anterior regions, the membranes are mostly fused in pairs and typically form multilayered whorls. Fusion and whorl formation decrease in the posterior regions. The cytoplasm of the foliate cells has a high organelle content including many lysosomes and mitochondria. The latter exhibit considerable polymorphism, with particular forms occurring in the different regions of the glands. The apical projections of the foliate cells are detached during copulation, presumably as the result of nervous stimulation, and become a part of the ejaculate. Replenishment of all secretory material, including the apical projections, occurs after copulation.
Use of labeled compounds in herbicide research

LABELED compounds provide new tools for plant physiological research and they are particularly useful for investigating the absorption, translocation and mode of action of herbicides. To be useful, herbicides must penetrate the foliage or the roots of plants and contact the living protoplasm where they bring about their characteristic toxic action. To be effective in the control of perennial weeds they should be systemic in action; that is, they should move from the region of absorption to other parts of the plant and kill all reproductive structures. Screening of a great variety of chemicals by industry and research organizations has brought forth a wide variety of compounds that exhibit diverse modes of action. Labeled forms of these compounds have proved particularly useful in studying penetration, translocation and the comparative phytopharmacology of herbicidal action. By counting, autoradiography, chromatography and comparative biochemical procedures it has been possible to study the uptake, distribution and mode of phytocidal action of such compounds starting with whole normal plants and carrying through to the most detailed biochemical analyses. Such studies have furthered an understanding of herbicidal action at an astounding rate and at the same time have shed much light on such basic physiological processes as penetration, absorption, translocation, hormone action, injury and death. FArO et al. (1) found that CX4-1abeled 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) was rapidly absorbed and translocated in bean plants. Young plants absorbed and translocated the tracer more rapidly than old ones; absorption and translocation were not correlated with dosage applied; small amounts of 2,4-D were metabolized with a constant loss of Cx402. Studying absorption and translocation of 2,4-dichloro-5-iodophenoxyacetic acid containing 1131, GALT,trP and GUSTAFS0N (2) found wheat, oats and corn to absorb the indicator more slowly than beans, sunflowers, dandelion and plantain. Translocation was also less rapid in the monocotyledonous plants and the writers postulated a block in the intercalary region of the latter. CRA~S and YAMAGUCHI (s) find this not to be an anatomical block but rather a physiological barrier resulting from the great avidity with which active meristcmatic cells absorb and bind phenoxy compounds. FAiXG and BUTTS (4) investigating the fate of labeled 2,4-D in corn and wheat plants found absorption and translocation by the monocotyledonous corn slower than in bean. Like GALv,UP and GUSTAFSON they postulated a block in the region of the intercalary meristem. They found two unknown compounds containing C 14 resulting from the breakdown of 2,4-D; this they took for evidence of detoxification. The tendency of many test plant species to recover from 2,4-D injury (i.e. bean) would seem to indicate that 2,4-D is quite labile in many
Integration of a Cultural Lens With Emotionally Focused Therapy

The purpose of this paper is to explore the assumptions, the goals, and the process of emotionally focused therapy (EFT) for couples and families through a cultural lens. The theoretical tenets of EFT are based on the integration of attachment theory, affect theory, experiential therapies, and system theory. In this article, the assumptions of the EFT model are examined through a cultural lens with the help of postmodern and feminist ideas. This synthesis provides a conceptual expansion of EFT within different cultural contexts. This conceptualization of EFT is also supported with case examples in which cultural intervention strategies are used.
Laboratory-based monitoring of an insect-transmitted plant pathogen system.

winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca coagulata (Say), is challenging to study, not only because the bacterium is fastidious, but also because the insect does not survive well in captivity, and it will not feed from an artificial diet (i.e., parafilm sachet). We developed a simple and efficient transmission cycle for the study of X. fastidiosa transmission by H. coagulata, allowing collection of sufficient transmission data in 1 week. Specific numbers of cells can be detected both in the plant tissue and within the insect vector by realtime PCR (7). Real-time PCR is more sensitive than traditional PCR and is a single step process, thus reducing the possibility of error and speeding up detection time. A real-time PCR protocol for detecting the citrus variegated chlorosis strain of X. fastidiosa has already been established as a superior technique compared to traditional PCR (8). Real-time PCR was performed in a Rotor-Gene™ 3000 (Corbett Research, Mortlake, NSW, Australia) using iQ™ Supermix (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA, USA) in 20-µL reactions with 525 nM of each X.
HISTORICAL RETE NETWORKS TO SUPPORT THE DEBUGGING OF FORWARD-CHAINING RULE-BASED PROGRAMS

Forward-chaining rule-based programs, being data-driven, can function in changing environments in which backward-chaining rule-based programs would have problems. But, degugging forward-chaining programs can be tedious; to debug a forward-chaining rule-based program, certain ‘historical’ information about the program run is needed. Programmers should be able to directly request such information, instead of having to rerun the program one step at a time or search a trace of run details. As a first step in designing an explanation system for answering such questions, this paper discusses how a forward-chaining program run’s ‘historical’ details can be stored in its Rete inference network, used to match rule conditions to working memory. This can be done without seriously affecting the network’s run-time performance. We call this generalization of the Rete network a historical Rete network. Various algorithms for maintaining this network are discussed, along with how it can be used during debugging, and a debugging tool, MIRO, that incorporates these techniques is also discussed.
Pharmacy staff characteristics associated with support for pharmacy-based HIV testing

Objective To determine support of in-pharmacy human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing among pharmacy staff and the individual-level characteristics associated with in-pharmacy HIV testing support. Design Descriptive, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study. Setting New York City (NYC) from January 2008 to March 2009. Participants 480 pharmacy staff, including pharmacists, owners/managers, and technicians/clerks. Intervention 131 pharmacies registered in the Expanded Syringe Access Program (ESAP) completed a survey. Main outcome measure Support of in-pharmacy HIV testing. Results Support of in-pharmacy HIV testing is high among pharmacy staff (79.4%). Pharmacy staff who supported in-pharmacy vaccinations were significantly more likely to support in-pharmacy HIV testing. Pharmacy staff who thought that selling syringes to injection drug users (IDUs) caused the community to be littered with dirty syringes were significantly less likely to support in-pharmacy HIV testing. Conclusion Support for in-pharmacy HIV testing was high among our sample of ESAP pharmacy staff actively involved in nonprescription syringe sales. These findings suggest that active ESAP pharmacy staff may be amenable to providing HIV counseling and testing to IDUs and warrants further investigation.
Pretransplant Exposure to Donor HLA-DR Antigen in Random Transfusion Units and the Development of Donor Antigen-Specific Hyporeactivity

Our previous studies have shown that the in vitro assay of donor antigen-specific hyporeactivity is a useful marker for identifying solid organ transplant recipients (kidney, lung and heart) at low risk for immunologic complications (i.e., late acute rejection episodes and chronic rejection). Donor antigen-specific hyporeactivity is defined as a significantly decreased post- vs. pretransplant proliferative response to donor antigens while response to third-party controls remains unchanged. We analyzed whether exposure to the same HLA-DR antigen pretransplant via random blood transfusion and posttransplant via the transplanted organ influenced the development of hyporeactivity. Thirty previously nontransfused recipients, each receiving two 150 ml pretransplant random blood transfusions, were assessed for hyporeactivity at 1 year posttransplant. Of the 12 recipients with pretransplant exposure to kidney HLA-DR via transfusions, 6 (50%) developed hyporesponsiveness; in contrast, of the 18 recipients who were not preexposed, only 3 (15%) exhibited this form of immunomodulation. Of interest, 2 of the 3 hyporesponsive recipients who were not preexposed, received units containing HLA-DR antigens previously shown to share crossreactive epitopes with the kidney HLA-DR. In conclusion, these results suggest a increased incidence in the development of hyporeactivity in patients receiving pretransplant transfusions which share an HLA-DR antigen with the transplanted kidney.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder with and without tics in a clinical sample of children and adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to discriminate subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in a clinical sample of children and adolescents. Sixty OCD patients were assessed in two outpatient psychiatric clinics; 15 patients had a lifetime history of tics and 45 patients had no tic history. Interviews were conducted with the patients and their parents by a child psychiatrist using the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS). The symptom checklist of the CY-BOCS was used to categorize obsessions and compulsions. Discriminant function analysis was used to compare the two groups in their symptomatology. There was no difference between the two groups in seven obsession categories. However, there was a significant difference between the two groups in seven compulsion categories. Ordering, hoarding, and washing compulsions were more common in those with no tic history. The results indicate that tic-related OCD may be differentiated from non-tic-related OCD early in life by the presence or absence of certain compulsive symptoms.
Easy Registration and Voter Turnout

Registration requirements are often identified as factors that depress turnout in the United States In addition, it is alleged that they contribute to the "socioeconomic skew" of the voting population because the costs of registration have greater impact on the less educated In order to gain greater insight into the effects of registration, I analyze individual turnout in states which impose minimal or no registration costs on their residents, where turnout differences may not be reasonably attributed to registration requirements Comparing turnout in these states with turnout in the rest of the country, I find that while registration does contribute to the upscale character of voters, there are substantial differences for which registration laws are not responsible.
A COMPARISON OF MINI-OPEN AND OPEN APPROACHES FOR RESECTION OF THORACOLUMBAR INTRADURAL SPINAL TUMORS

Object Standard approaches to thoracic intradural tumors often involve a large incision and significant tissue destruction. Minimally invasive techniques have been applied successfully for a variety of surgical decompression procedures but have been rarely used for the removal of intradural thoracolumbar tumors. In this paper, the authors compare the clinical outcome of mini-open resection of intradural thoracolumbar tumors with a standard open technique. Methods The authors retrospectively reviewed their series of 18 consecutive mini-open thoracolumbar, intradural, tumor resection cases and compared the outcomes with a profile-matched cohort of 9 cases of open intradural tumor resection. Operative statistics, functional outcome, and complications were compared. Results Tumors were removed successfully using both approaches, except for 1 case in the mini-open cohort in which only biopsy was performed for a diffusely infiltrating tumor (glioblastoma). There was no statistically significant difference in op...
Evaluating Notifiable Disease Reporting by Providers: Analysis of Data Element Completeness

Provider reporting of notifiable disease is a critical component of public health assessment and surveillance. To efficiently and effectively assess and respond to disease, health departments require complete data from providers. To better understand the level of completeness in provider reporting, we examined key data elements across 7 notifiable diseases reported to a local health department. We found that some fields are incomplete more than half the time and provider demographics are frequently missing. We discuss the implications on public health workflow and opportunities for improvement.
RF and microwave semiconductor device handbook

Varactors, Jan Stake Schottky Diode Frequency Multipliers, Jack East Transit Time Microwave Devices, Robert J. Trew Bipolar Junction Transistors, John C. Cowles Heterostructure Bipolar Transistors, William Liu Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors, Leonard MacEachern, Tajinder Manku Metal Semiconductor Field Effect Transistors, Michael S. Shur High Electron Mobility Transistors, Prashant Chavarkar, Umesh Mishra RF Power Transistors from Wide Bandgap Materials, Karen E. Moore Monolithic Microwave IC Technology, Lawrence P. Dunleavy Semiconductors, Mike Harris Metals, Mike Golio RF Package Design and Development, Jeanne S. Pavio Thermal Analysis and Design of Electronic Systems, Avram Bar-Cohen, Karl J. Geisler, Allan D. Krauss Low Voltage/Low Power Microwave Electronics, Mike Golio Technology Computer Aided Design, Peter A. Blakey Nonlinear Transistor Modeling for Circuit Simulation, Walter R. Curtice
Development of Perspective Taking in Relation to Age, Education, and the Presence of Community Features Associated With Industrialization: A Four-Culture Study

This study examined responses to questions oriented toward revealing the development of perspective taking. The sample comprised 180 three- to nine-year-old children in four traditional communities (in Belize, Kenya, Nepal, and American Samoa). Ten scenarios that asked the children about knowledge of handedness and also what was visible from their own and from another person's perspective were used. In all groups, the proportion of correct answers improved with age. Degree of industrialization-which had predicted better cognitive performance in other testing with these same children-was also a predictor of perspective taking on some of the items. Discussion includes possible interpretation of the results. © 2013 SAGE Publications.
A Comparison of Antibiotic Serum Concentrations Drawn Simultaneously from Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters and Peripheral Veins in Children with Respiratory Infection

The purpose of the study was to evaluate serum concentration of antibiotics drawn from a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) compared with a peripheral venipuncture. This prospective comparative study included patients with ages 1month to 21years admitted with a respiratory infection requiring IV vancomycin or IV tobramycin via a newly placed PICC. The difference between the antibiotic levels from the venipuncture and PICC samples was statistically significant for both the peak and trough levels. However, the difference in values was not enough to impact antibiotic dosing and therefore was not clinically significant.
Extracting clues from human interpreter speech for spoken language translation

In previous work, we reported dramatic improvements in automatic speech recognition (ASR) and spoken language translation (SLT) gained by applying information extracted from spoken human interpretations. These interpretations were artificially created by collecting read sentences from a clean parallel text corpus. Real human interpretations are significantly different. They suffer from frequent synopses, omissions and self-corrections. Expressing these differences in BLEU score by evaluating human interpretations with carefully created human translations, we found that human interpretations perform two to three times worse than state-of-the art SLT. Facing these stark differences, we address the question if and how ASR and SLT can profit from human interpretations. In the following we describe initial experiments that apply knowledge derived from real human interpretations for improving English and Spanish ASR and SLT. Our experiments are conducted on a small European Parliamentary Plenary Sessions development set.
Light-Bulb Saver Performance

Information is provided on the characteristics of the incandescent lamp connected in series with a diode. The reduction in lm/W, a drastic decrease in color temperature, and the injection of dc in the power network disadvantages that outweight the only true benefit derived from this connection: a much longer lamp life. Theoretical calculations supported by experimental measurements prove that to keep the illumination constant the lamp wattage must be more than doubled. A simple economical analysis indicates that the cost of typical incandescent lamps, lasting 750 h or more, is exceeded by the cost of additional losses. The most serious drawback of this method is the injection of dc and current harmonics into the ac supply network.
Familial plasma cell disorders and associated cancers.

Familial multiple myeloma appears to harbor an increased risk for prostate cancer and possibly other cancers, such as malignant melanoma. This paper provides a review of families with multiple myeloma, with attention to extra-myeloma cancer sites, particularly prostate cancer. Why is this tumor association important? The answer relates to the importance of the diagnostic pattern of diverse cancers in familial myeloma and therein families could become ideal candidates for molecular genetic studies using knowledge of the carcinogenic pathways in myeloma and its associated cancers, inclusive of environmental factors, and could provide knowledge about the potential importance of genetic-environmental interaction effects in myeloma’s etiology. Familial examples of Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia are given but, to date, we could not identify any systematic population-based case-control studies with intent to identify extra-Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia tumor associations.
Organizational Obstacles: Links with Financial Performance, Customer Satisfaction, and Job Satisfaction in a Service Environment

A model was developed to describe the roles of organizational obstacles (social and technical) in relation to three types of performance outcomes (customer satisfaction, financial performance, and employee job satisfaction), as well as to various moderators associated with different job types (e.g., customer contact, organizational commitment). In a test of this model, employee perceptions of organizational obstacles were measured in a retail banking environment. For employees in highest contact with customers (i.e., tellers), reports of co-worker obstacles, work environment obstacles, and workbreak scheduling obstacles were associated with lower levels of customer satisfaction. However, there was very little relationship between tellers' perceptions of obstacles and tellers' job satisfaction. For employees in positions associated with more experience and commitment (i.e., account representatives), information timeliness obstacles were linked with higher customer satisfaction, while materials, workspace s...
Telehealth Remote Monitoring Systematic Review: Structured Self-monitoring of Blood Glucose and Impact on A1C

The aim was to summarize research on telehealth remote patient monitoring interventions that incorporate key elements of structured self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) identified as essential for improving A1C. A systematic review was conducted using the Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, EMBASE, and OVID Medline databases with search terms “Telemedicine” AND “Monitoring, Physiologic” AND “Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2.” Study selection criteria included original randomized clinical trials evaluating the impact of telehealth remote patient monitoring on A1C among adults with type 2 diabetes and incorporated 1 or more essential elements of SMBG identified by the International Diabetes Federation (patient education, provider education, structured SMBG profile, SMBG goals, feedback, data used to modify treatment, interactive communication or shared decision making). Fifteen studies were included, with interventions ranging from 3 to 12 months (mean 8 months) with sample sizes from 30 to 1665. Key SMBG elements were grouped into 3 categories: education, SMBG protocols, and feedback. Research incorporating 5 of the 7 elements consistently achieved significant A1C improvements between study groups. Interventions using more SMBG elements are associated with an improvement in A1C. Studies with the largest A1C decrease incorporated 6 of the 7 elements and computer decision support. Two studies with 5 of the 7 elements and active medication management achieved significant A1C decreases. Telehealth remote patient monitoring interventions in type 2 diabetes have not included all structured monitoring elements recommended by the IDF. Incorporating more elements of structured SMBG is associated with improved A1C.
Differential properties of tetrodotoxin-sensitive and tetrodotoxin- resistant sodium channels in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons

TTX-sensitive (TTX-S) and TTX-resistant (TTX-R) sodium channel currents were analyzed in acutely dissociated dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons isolated from 3–12-d-old and adult rats. Currents were recorded using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. TTX-R current was more likely to be present in younger animals (3–7 d), whereas TTX-S current was more common in older animals (7–10 d), although TTX-R current was recorded from adult rat DRG neurons. The TTX-R and TTX-S currents differed in their steady-state inactivation, with 50% inactivation voltage at -40 +/- 5 mV (n = 10) for TTX-R currents and -70 +/- 4 mV (n = 10) for TTX- S currents. These current types also differed in their activation kinetics, with 50% activation values of -15 +/- 5 mV (n = 5) for TTX-R currents and -26 +/- 6 mV (n = 5) for TTX-S currents. The interactions of TTX-R and TTX-S channels with various pharmacological agents and divalent cations were studied. The Kd values for TTX-S and TTX-R currents were estimated to be 0.3 nM and 100 microM for TTX, 0.5 nM and 10 microM for saxitoxin, and 50 microM and 200 microM for lidocaine, respectively. TTX-S channels did not exhibit a marked use-dependent block by lidocaine, whereas lidocaine significantly decreased TTX-R current in a use-dependent manner at frequencies ranging from 1 to 33.3 Hz. Several external divalent cations exerted different effects on these current types.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Numerical model of contaminant transport through conduit-porous matrix system

A mathematical model for determining solute concentrations at a point within a cylindrically symmetrical conduit-porous matrix system is described. Both convection and diffusion are considered within the conduit subsystem, whereas only diffusion is considered within the porous matrix subsystem. The two subsystems are coupled through continuity conditions imposed at their interface boundary. The transport equations are solved utilizing an alternating-direction implicit-method technique. The solute concentration profiles resulting from this model are then sketched and discussed.
Performance of a fourth-power envelope detector for symbol-rate tone generation

The use of a fourth-law envelope detector followed by a bandpass filter for detection of the symbol rate of a digitally modulated signal is investigated. The detector output spectrum is found and the output SNR is then used as a measure of performance. The effect of signal pulse shape, i.e. bandlimiting, on performance is studied. The performance of the fourth-law circuit, compared to that of a square-law device, is better for small excess bandwidth and high input SNR. However, it has a null in performance which depends on the pulse shape and the input SNR. >
Crowdsourcing credibility: the impact of audience feedback on web page credibility

Social feedback in the form of audience ratings, community tags, recommendations, and text comments is becoming increasingly commonplace on the Web. Prior research has uncovered a number of Web site features that can impact its perceived credibility. However, to date research has not investigated whether social feedback on a Web page can influence the perceived credibility of the information on the page or increase or decrease the likelihood that an individual will subsequently use the information contained within it. This paper describes a study investigating whether one type of social feedback, audience ratings, can influence perceptions of credibility. The results of the study suggest that the type of audience feedback, positive, mixed, or negative, can influence perceptions of credibility while the size of the audience giving feedback does not. Also, audience feedback does not appear to increase the likelihood of use of the information on a web page.
Welcoming Quality in Non-Significance and Replication Work, but Moving beyond the p-Value: Announcing New Editorial Policies for Quantitative Research in "JOAA".

The self-correcting nature of psychological and educational science has been seriously questioned. Recent special issues of Perspectives on Psychological Science and Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts have roundly condemned current organizational models of research and dissemination and have criticized the perverse incentive structure that tempts researchers into generating and publishing false positive findings. At the same time, replications are rarely attempted, allowing untruths to persist in the literature unchallenged. In this article, the editors of the Journal of Advanced Academics consider this situation and announce new policies for quantitative submissions. They are (a) an explicit call for replication studies; (b) new instructions directing reviewers to base their evaluation of a study’s merit on the quality of the research design, execution, and written description, rather than on the statistical significance of its results; and (c) an invitation to omit statistical hypothesis...
A cultural research approach to instrument development: the case of breast and cervical cancer screening among Latino and Anglo women

To illustrate the implementation of a bottom-up approach to the study of culture in health disparities, this article describes the development of a cultural cancer screening scale (CCSS) using mixed methodologies. The aim was to identify cultural factors relevant to breast and cervical cancer screening, develop an instrument to assess them and examine its preliminary psychometric properties among Latin American (Latino) and non-Latino White (Anglo) women in Southern California. Seventy-eight Latino and Anglo women participated in semi-structured interviews, which were content coded based on Triandis' methods for the analysis of subjective culture. Based on the emerging cultural elements, items relevant to cancer screening were developed and pilot tested with 161 participants. After the instrument was refined, 314 Latino and Anglo women from various socioeconomic backgrounds completed the CCSS and data were factor analyzed resulting in five cultural factors: cancer screening fatalism, negative beliefs about health professionals, catastrophic disease expectations, symptomatic deterrents and sociocultural deterrents. The instrument demonstrated measurement equivalence, adequate reliability and predictive validity. The research and the CCSS are discussed in terms of implications for the study of culture in relation to health disparities and the development of evidence-based interventions with culturally diverse populations and their health professionals.
Predictive model for carbon nanotube–reinforced nanocomposite modulus driven by micromechanical modeling and physical experiments

This article proposes an improved surrogate model for the prediction of the elastic modulus of carbon nanotube–reinforced-nanocomposites. By statistically combining micromechanical modeling results with limited amounts of experimental data, a better predictive surrogate model is constructed using a two-stage sequential modeling approach. A set of data for multi-walled carbon nanotube–bismaleimide nanocomposites is used in a case study to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed surrogate modeling procedure. In the case study, the theoretical composite modulus is computed with micromechanical models, and the experimental modulus is measured through tensile tests. Both theoretical and experimental composite moduli are integrated by using a statistical adjustment method to construct the surrogate model. The results demonstrate an improved predictive ability compared to the original micromechanical model.
11.1.3 Medical Device Development Process

Medical devices of increasing complexity are central to mankind's continuously expanding ability to save lives and improve the quality of life. Within our business, we often reflect on how fortunate we are to have the opportunity to work on a variety of these remarkable devices. We believe that such rewarding experiences are made possible through the application of a rigorous system engineering process, ensuring that the resulting devices are safe, effective, and successful. This paper describes a deployed System Engineering process tailored for Medical Device Development. This process (based on ISO 15288:2002, the INCOSE System Engineering Handbook and a Legacy Process), integrates compliance to international regulations, embeds a Safety Risk Management process as defined in ISO 14971:2007, and assures adherence to ISO 13485:2003 Quality management systems. Based on the classification and complexity of the device the process is scalable, may be tailored, and supports iterative design and development activities.
Compatibility of Several HVR-Type Probes with Pvu II Restriction Endonuclease and Advantages of Pvu II Over Other Commonly Used Enzymes

One characteristic of chromosomal DNA loci exhibiting VNTR polymorphisms is the ability to study such polymorphisms using RFLP mapping with multiple restriction endonucleases. Three restriction enzymes, Pst 1, Hae III, and Hinf I, have been widely used in RFLP mapping for identity testing with a number of commonly used DNA probes.
Plasma Clearance and Organ Distribution of Native andDesialylated Rat and Human Transcortin: Species Specificity

Plasma clearance of intact and desialylated rat and human transcortin after iv injection into rats and hamsters has been investigated. Intact rat transcortin was shown to have an approximately 5-fold longer half-life in the rat circulation than human transcortin. Removal of sialic acid residues resulted in a reduction of the half-life of rat transcortin from 4 h to 90 sec. This rapid clearance could be blocked by simultaneous injection of asialofetuin, but the clearance of intact rat transcortin was unaffected by asialofetuin. Five rat organs (pancreas, uterus, kidney, liver, and psoas muscle) were sampled at 30 and 60 min after injection of iodinated rat or human transcortin and examined for their intact transcortin levels relative to those of plasma and [14C]sucrose distribution volumes. With the exception of the liver, the organs had lower tissue:plasma ratios of [125I]iodo-transcortin than did [14C]sucrose. Liver was found to accumulate 3–8 times more human [125I]iodo-transcortin than rat [125I]iodo-t...
18F-FDG PET/CT Findings in Portal Vein Thrombosis and Liver Metastases

(18)F-FDG PET/CT is a valuable noninvasive tool in oncologic imaging, and its application in the diagnosis of liver metastases has been very convincing. Both the sensitivity and the specificity of (18)F-FDG PET/CT are high for detecting liver metastases from various tumors including colorectal, breast, and lung. Such liver metastases are typically (18)F-FDG-avid. We present atypical (18)F-FDG PET findings in a lung cancer patient with known liver metastases and PVT.
Building it together: synchronous development in OSS

In distributed software development synchronized actions are important for completion of complex, interleaved tasks that require the abilities of multiple people. Synchronous development is manifested when file commits by two developers are close together in time and modify the same files. Here we propose quantitative methods for identifying synchronized activities in OSS projects, and use them to relate developer synchronization with effective productivity and communication. In particular, we define co-commit bursts and communication bursts, as intervals of time rich in co-commit and correspondence activities, respectively, and construct from them smoothed time series which can be, subsequently, correlated to discover synchrony. We find that synchronized co-commits between developers are associated with their effective productivity and coordination: during co-commit bursts, vs. at other times, the project size grows faster even though the overall coding effort slows down. We also find strong correlation between synchronized co-commits and communication, that is, for pairs of developers, more co-commit bursts are accompanied with more communication bursts, and their relationship follows closely a linear model. In addition, synchronized co-commits and communication activities occur very close together in time, thus, they can also be thought of as synchronizing each other. This study can help with better understanding collaborative mechanisms in OSS and the role communication plays in distributed software engineering.
Worker mobility and training in advanced manufacturing

Worker training is a priority for manufacturing organizations, and State and Federal policymakers in the United States. There is a need among US manufacturing industries for a training process plan, including information on what to train the worker in given the changes in product, process, and system-level technologies, and how best to deliver such training at minimal cost. Also, from the viewpoint of the manufacturing worker, possession of transferable skills is commonly expected to provide the worker flexibility and mobility. The objectives of this paper are to examine the issues involved in generating such a training plan, and suggest a framework for generating such a plan. A case study illustrating application of elements of the training framework is also presented. Relevance to industry Manufacturing industry can use the framework presented in this paper for development of effective training plans (both in terms of cost and technical effectiveness) so that workers are ahead of constant technological changes in manufacturing.
Quality of life: Obstacles, advice, and employer assistance:

This exploratory study examines obstacles working professionals face in their efforts to enhance quality of life including a discussion of the advice and employer assistance they desire. Based on a discursive formations’ framework, research findings emerged with implications for organizations including the importance of: a) clarifying expectations for employees, b) addressing employees’ desire for various types of advice, c) acknowledging obstacles that are internallybased, and d) understanding employees’ perceptions of work environments. A category of general-life issues (which bridge work and non-work domains) also emerged from the data.