cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hypertension Produced by Reduced Uterine Perfusion in Pregnant Rats Is Associated With Increased Soluble Fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase-1 Expression

The balance between proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, placental growth factor, and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), is altered in preeclampsia, and this dysregulation of angiogenic factors may be important in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Although sFlt-1 is elevated in preeclampsia, the mechanisms responsible for increasing this antiangiogenic factor remain unclear. We hypothesized that the hypertension produced by reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) is associated with increased sFlt-1 expression and decreased plasma vascular endothelial growth factor and placental growth factor concentrations in the pregnant rat. Arterial pressure was increased (130+/-3 versus 100+/-2 mm Hg; P<0.01) in the RUPP rats compared with the normal pregnant control rats. Plasma sFlt-1 concentration (660+/-270 versus 82+/-26 pg/mL; P<0.05) was increased, whereas plasma free placental growth factor (0.28+/-0.05 versus 1.7+/-0.5 pg/mL; P<0.01) and vascular endothelial growth factor (594+/-34 versus 830+/-33 pg/mL; P<0.01) concentrations were decreased in the RUPP rats compared with normal pregnant rats. Plasma sFlt-1:placental growth factor (37.2+/-7.8 versus 8.9+/-1.6; P<0.02) and sFlt-1:vascular endothelial growth factor (0.86+/-0.22 versus 0.28+/-0.06; P<0.05) ratios were increased in the RUPP rats compared with normal pregnant rats. Immunoreactive placental sFlt-1 was increased (1.1+/-0.1 versus 0.3+/-0.1; P<0.01) in RUPP rats contrasted with the normal pregnant rats. These findings support our hypothesis that RUPP increases the expression of sFlt-1 and alters the balance of angiogenic factors in the maternal circulation. These data also indicate that the RUPP model of pregnancy-induced hypertension may provide an invaluable model for mechanistic studies into the role of sFlt-1 in the pathogenesis preeclampsia.
A comparative study of evolutionary programming, genetic algorithms and particle swarm optimization in antenna design

In this work, we present a statistical comparative study of the applications of EP, GA, micro-GA and PSO to two classical antenna problems, namely the gain optimization of Yagi-Uda array and the side-lobe-level reduction of a non-uniform spaced (aperiodic) linear array. The convergences of these algorithms for both best and average fitness trajectories are compared. In addition the performances of GAs, micro-GA with both single and uniform cross-over, and PSO with absorbing, invisible and reflective boundaries are discussed and included in the comparison.
Connected Cars on Wireless Roads: Making it a Reality

The rapid growth of wireless data capabilities in the home and office environment has naturally led to the extension of these capabilities to more mobile environments. Here, the potential exists to utilize this broadband connectivity to enhance the effectiveness of currently deployed vehicle and infrastructure based safety and convenience capabilities. This talk will explore some of the unique requirements imposed by the combination of mobility and safety requirements in this broadband environment which will differentiate the solutions in this space from those found in the commercial home and office wireless deployments.
Timing-accurate Storage Emulation

Timing-accurate storage emulation fills an important gap in the set of common performance evaluation techniques for proposed storage designs: it allows a researcher to experiment with not-yet-existing storage components in the context of real systems executing real applications. As its name suggests, a timing-accurate storage emulator appears to the system to be a real storage component with service times matching a simulation model of that component. This paper promotes timing-accurate storage emulation by describing its unique features, demonstrating its feasibility, and illustrating its value. A prototype, called the Memulator, is described and shown to produce service times within 2% of those computed by its component simulator for over 99% of requests. Two sets of measurements enabled by the Memulator illustrate its power: (1) application performance on a modern Linux system equipped with a MEMS-based storage device (no such device exists at this time), and (2) application performance on a modern Linux system equipped with a disk whose firmware has been modified (we have no access to firmware source code).
Saving and the Fear of Nuclear War

The hypothesis of this article is that the performance and, in particular, the rate of saving in the postwar U.S. economy has been influenced by the changes in the public perception of the threat o...
Multivariate Error Covariance Estimates by Monte-Carlo Simulation for Assimilation Studies in the Pacific Ocean

One of the most difficult aspects of ocean state estimation is the prescription of the model forecast error covariances. The paucity of ocean observations limits our ability to estimate the covariance structures from model-observation differences. In most practical applications, simple covariances are usually prescribed. Rarely are cross-covariances between different model variables used. Here a comparison is made between a univariate Optimal Interpolation (UOI) scheme and a multivariate OI algorithm (MvOI) in the assimilation of ocean temperature. In the UOI case only temperature is updated using a Gaussian covariance function and in the MvOI salinity, zonal and meridional velocities as well as temperature, are updated using an empirically estimated multivariate covariance matrix. Earlier studies have shown that a univariate OI has a detrimental effect on the salinity and velocity fields of the model. Apparently, in a sequential framework it is important to analyze temperature and salinity together. For the MvOI an estimation of the model error statistics is made by Monte-Carlo techniques from an ensemble of model integrations. An important advantage of using an ensemble of ocean states is that it provides a natural way to estimate cross-covariances between the fields of different physical variables constituting the model state vector, at the same time incorporating the model's dynamical and thermodynamical constraints as well as the effects of physical boundaries. Only temperature observations from the Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean array have been assimilated in this study. In order to investigate the efficacy of the multivariate scheme two data assimilation experiments are validated with a large independent set of recently published subsurface observations of salinity, zonal velocity and temperature. For reference, a third control run with no data assimilation is used to check how the data assimilation affects systematic model errors. While the performance of the UOI and MvOI is similar with respect to the temperature field, the salinity and velocity fields are greatly improved when multivariate correction is used, as evident from the analyses of the rms differences of these fields and independent observations. The MvOI assimilation is found to improve upon the control run in generating the water masses with properties close to the observed, while the UOI failed to maintain the temperature and salinity structure.
Electrochemistry and analytical application of the tin(IV) complex of N-benzoyl-N-phenylhydroxamic acid in 2-propanol solution

The tin(IV) complex of N-benzoyl-N-phenyl-hydroxamic acid (HX) and chloride ions [SnIVX2Cl2]0 is reduced in 2-propanol solution via two different pathways depending on the scan rate. At scan rates higher than 20 mV/s, the reduction proceeds via [SnIIX2Cl2]2− and [Sn0X(H2O)2]−, and at slower scan rates the reduction proceeds via [SnIIXCl3]2− and [Sn0Cl(H2O)2]−. This is the first time that experiments have indicated the existence of tin0 complexes. The studied tinIV complex can be used for the determination of tin traces in aqueous solutions. Therefore the tinIV complex is preliminarily extracted from aqueous solution and the differential pulse anodic stripping voltammograms are recorded in the organic solution after addition of 2-propanol. The 3σ limit of detection is 4 × 10−8 mol/L.
Factors associated with victimization of personnel in emergency departments

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence of ED personnel victimization in Central Florida and examine its relationship to victims' reports of 3 factors: characteristics of the patient/perpetrator, characteristics of the personnel victimized, and characteristics of the ED environment. Methods Data were collected anonymously in a mail survey using 37 items from Mahoney's Emergency Department Victimization Questionnaire (EDVQ) and a demographic questionnaire. Chi square, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, and Pearson's product moment correlation were used to describe frequencies, incidence, and their relationships to the variables studied. A sample of 226 of the 600 direct care personnel (37%) from 18 of the 19 hospital emergency departments in a tri-county area (95%) participated. Results The incidence of physical assault was reported to be 42% during the past year and 72% during the respondents' careers. Alcohol use was associated with incidence (1-tailed Pearson; P = .001). Verbal abuse was significantly higher on day shift ( P = .043). The most desired environmental variable was 24-hour security attendants, available to 51.8% of the respondents. More than a fourth of the subjects reported that they had completed no coursework or had no continuing education in violence prevention. Discussion Respondents reported avoiding identification on duty, underreporting, postvictimization staff turnover, dissatisfaction with security, and the desire for every security provision listed. The goals of reducing the fears and victimization of ED personnel should become a priority within the health care system. (J Emerg Nurs 1999;25:361-6)
Copper-Zinc Superoxide Dismutase Affects Akt Activation After Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Mice

Background and Purpose— The serine-threonine kinase Akt is activated by phosphorylation at serine-473. After phosphorylation, activated Akt inactivates BAD or caspase-9 or other apoptogenic components, thereby inhibiting cell death. In this study we examined the relationship between Akt phosphorylation and oxidative stress after transient focal cerebral ischemia (FCI) using copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) transgenic (Tg) mice. Methods— The mice were subjected to 60 minutes of middle cerebral artery occlusion by intraluminal suture blockade followed by 1, 4, and 24 hours of reperfusion. Phospho-Akt expression was examined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Production of superoxide anion was assessed by the hydroethidine method in both wild-type mice and SOD1 Tg mice. DNA fragmentation was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase–mediated uridine 5′-triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL). Results— Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that phospho-Akt was constitutively expressed and was decreased in the ischemic core as early as 1 hour after reperfusion, whereas it was temporally increased in the cortex at 4 hours. Phospho-Akt expression was enhanced in the SOD1 Tg mice. Western blot analysis showed that phospho-Akt was maximized 4 hours after reperfusion in the wild-type mice, whereas phospho-Akt was increased as early as 1 hour after ischemia in the SOD1 Tg mice. There was a significant decrease in TUNEL-positive cells in the SOD1 Tg mice compared with the wild-type mice. Conclusions— The present study suggests that SOD1 may contribute to the early activation of the Akt cell survival signaling pathway and may attenuate subsequent DNA damage after transient FCI.
A Double-Blind, Double-Dummy, Flexible-Design Randomized Multicenter Trial: Early Safety of Single- Versus Divided-Dose Rabbit Anti-Thymocyte Globulin Induction in Renal Transplantation

A previous nonblinded, randomized, single-center renal transplantation trial of single-dose rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin induction (SD-rATG) showed improved efficacy compared with conventional divided-dose (DD-rATG) administration. The present multicenter, double-blind/double-dummy STAT trial (Single dose vs. Traditional Administration of Thymoglobulin) evaluated SD-rATG versus DD-rATG induction for noninferiority in early (7-day) safety and tolerability. Ninety-five patients (randomized 1:1) received 6 mg/kg SD-rATG or 1.5 mg/kg/dose DD-rATG, with tacrolimus-mycophenolate maintenance immunosuppression. The primary end point was a composite of fever, hypoxia, hypotension, cardiac complications, and delayed graft function. Secondary end points included 12-month patient survival, graft survival, and rejection. Target enrollment was 165 patients with an interim analysis scheduled after 80 patients. Interim analysis showed primary end point noninferiority of SD-rATG induction (p = 0.6), and a conditional probability of <1.73% of continued enrollment producing a significant difference (futility analysis), leading to early trial termination. Final analysis (95 patients) showed no differences in occurrence of primary end point events (p = 0.58) or patients with no, one, or more than one event (p = 0.81), or rejection, graft, or patient survival (p = 0.78, 0.47, and 0.35, respectively). In this rigorously blinded trial in adult renal transplantation, we have shown SD-rATG induction to be noninferior to DD-rATG induction in early tolerability and equivalent in 12-month safety. (Clinical Trials.gov #NCT00906204.).
Diagnosis and Monitoring of Cystinosis Using Immunomagnetically Purified Granulocytes.

BACKGROUND: Cystine determination is a critical biochemical test for the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of the lysosomal storage disease cystinosis. The classical mixed-leukocyte cystine assay requires prompt specialized recovery/isolation following blood drawing, providing cystine concentrations normalized to total protein from assorted types of white blood cells, each with varying cystine content. METHODS: We present a new workflow for cystine determination using immunomagnetic granulocyte purification, and new reference ranges established from 47 patient and 27 obligate heterozygote samples assayed. Samples were collected in acid-citrate dextrose tubes and their stability was proven to allow for overnight shipping before analysis. Cystine was quantified by LC-MS/MS. RESULTS: The new method was reproducible (<15% root mean square error) and specific, assaying purified granulocytes from blood samples that no longer required immediate preparation and therefore allowing for up to 30 h before processing. There was a nearly a 2-fold increase in the therapeutic target (1.9 nmol half-cystine/mg protein) range, established using distributions of patient, obligate heterozygote, and control samples. The 2.5–97.5 percentile ranges (– 2 SD to + 2 SD around mean) for these cohorts were 0.67– 6.05 nmol/mg protein for patients, 0.33–1.35 nmol/mg protein for obligate heterozygotes, and 0.09–0.35 nmol/mg protein for controls. CONCLUSIONS: The intracellular cystine determination method using immunopurified granulocytes followed by LC-MS/MS analysis improves the inherent variability of mixed leukocyte analysis and eliminates the need for immediate sample preparation following blood draw.
Perturbation Methods in Diffraction

In a technical note by Isaacson it is asserted that the usual perturbation method for approximating solutions to water-wave problems in the presence of solid boundaries brakes down at the second order in the case of a vertical circular cylinder because of an alleged inconsistency. I should like to suggest that the calculations leading up to this conclusion, although formally correct, have been misinterpreted. Indeed, the same ”inconsistency” occurs in the first-order problem with an indeed, the same ”inconsistency” occurs in the first-order problem with an imposed pressure distribution and in certain two-dimensional problems as well.
Seen and felt length

Apparent length of rods was scaled by a method of magnitude estimation. Observers judged the rods on two occasions, once presented visually and again kines-thetically. Length seen and length felt are both related to physical length by a power function with an exponent of unity.
Synthesis of Azole-Enriched Cyclic Peptides by A Clean Solid-Phase-Based Cyclization-Cleavage Strategy

Naturally occurring azole-enriched cyclic peptides have broad biological and pharmacological activities. Previous synthetic efforts have mainly concentrated on the preparation of individual target molecules in solution phase. A solid-phase-based cyclitive cleavage strategy was deployed here for efficient library synthesis of azole cyclopeptide derivatives, which is part of our continuous efforts for the characterization of potent modulators of multidrug resistance efflux proteins. Procedures were optimized to afford the azole cyclopeptides at high yield and purity, eliminating the need for any chromatographic purification steps. This development is ideal for high throughput library synthesis and screening and will facilitate the ultimate discovery of novel azole cyclopeptides with potent biological activities.
Trophic plasticity among spring vs. cave populations of Gammarus minus: examining functional niches using stable isotopes and C/N ratios

In some environments, species may exhibit trophic plasticity, which allows them to extend beyond their assigned functional group. For Gammarus minus, a freshwater amphipod classified as a shredder or detritivore, cave populations have been observed consuming heterotrophs as well as shredding leaves, and therefore may be exhibiting trophic plasticity. To test this possibility, we examined the C and N stable isotope and C/N ratios for cave and spring populations of G. minus. A 15-day feeding experiment using leaves and G. minus from a spring population established that the diet-tissue discrimination factor was 3.2 ‰ for δ15N. Cave G. minus were 8 ‰ higher in δ15N relative to cave leaves, indicating they did not derive nitrogen from leaves, whereas field collected spring populations were 2–3 ‰ higher than spring leaves, indicating that they did. Cave G. minus were 2.6 ‰ higher in δ15N than the cave isopod, Caecidotea holsingeri. Relative to spring populations, Organ Cave G. minus were 15N enriched by 6 ‰, suggesting they occupied a different trophic level, or incorporated an isotopically distinct N source. While stable isotopes cannot tell what the cave G. minus are eating, the isotopes certainly show that G. minus are not eating leaves and are trophically distinct form the surface populations. Differences in C/N ratios were observed, but reflect the size of the G. minus examined and not feeding group or habitat. The isotope data strongly support the hypothesis that cave populations of G. minus have become generalist or omnivorous by including animal protein in their diet.
Human Motor Control and the Internal Model Principle

Abstract: In the motor behavior literature, the observation that humans can learn and adapt to altered limb dynamics is often explained with reference to internal models. Forward internal models enable robust performance even when feedback is intermittent or delayed while inverse models simplify the loop dynamics to manageable form. Internal models of coupled limb/object dynamics, however, do not address the skill with which humans track references or reject disturbances that can be recognized and anticipated. We propose that internal models of reference or disturbance signals create a useful framework for addressing open questions in human motor behavior. We appeal to the Internal Model Principle in control theory, which suggests that a model of the predictable signal (a signal generator) belongs in the controller. When the control loop is already stable, such an internal model will produce perfect tracking or disturbance rejection in steady state. In this paper we apply the Internal Model Principle to hypothesize controllers that elicit cyclic behaviors from systems that feature elastic and inertial energy storage. We also outfit this model with features that describe human neuromuscular dynamics and thereby enable the description of two roles for force feedback: carrying power that couples the human/machine dynamics and carrying information for neural control processing.
Role of the Thrombin-PAR-1 Pathway in Coxsackievirus Induced Hepatitis

Abstract Objective: Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) can infect different tissues including the heart and liver. Recently, we found that activation of the coagulation cascade and protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) enhances toll-like receptor-3 (TLR3) mediated interferon-β (IFN-β) expression and protects mice from CVB3-induced myocarditis. Here, we investigated the role of PAR-1 in early anti-viral responses in mice and isolated hepatocytes. Methods: Wild-type (WT) and PAR-1 deficient (PAR-1-/-) mice were infected with CVB3 intraperitoneally. The innate immune response, viral load, liver enzyme plasma levels, and inflammation levels were analyzed. Bone-marrow transplantation experiments with the combination of WT mice PAR-1-/- mice were performed to identify the cellular source of PAR-1 contributing to the innate immune response to CVB3. We also analyzed the effect of the direct thrombin inhibition with dabigatran etexilate on CVB3 hepatitis. In addition, we analyzed the effect of PAR-1 activation on TLR3-dependent interferon (IFN)-β expression in primary mouse hepatocytes and the human hepatocyte cell line PH5CH8 in vitro. Results: PAR-1-/- mice exhibited a reduced early innate immune response in the liver at day 4 after infection, which was associated at later times (day 8) to higher viral titers in the liver, increased alanine transaminase plasma levels and more remarkable inflammation compared to control WT mice. Bone marrow transplantation experiments demonstrated that PAR-1 on non-hematopoietic played the major role in the innate immune response of CVB3 hepatitis. Stimulation of PAR-1 with either thrombin or agonist peptide on primary mouse hepatocytes and human PH5CH8 cells in vitro enhanced the antiviral response to dsRNA by increasing IFN-β and C-X-C motif chemokine 10 (CXCL10) expressions, supporting the results of in vivo experiments. Conclusion: Our results suggest that activation of PAR-1 on hepatocytes enhances the innate immune response to CVB3 in the liver. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
A new species of the fangblenny Adelotremus from Indonesia, with supplemental description of A. leptus (Teleostei: Blenniidae: Nemophini)

A new fangblenny, Adelotremus deloachi , is described on the basis of three specimens, 29‒35 mm SL, from Bali and Lembeh Strait, Indonesia. All these specimens were collected in 10‒17 m depth on sandy slopes. The new species differs from Adelotremus leptus , its Red Sea and only congener, in having a pair of mid-dorsal supratemporal pores (vs. a single pore), dorsal-fin spines X (vs. IX) and precaudal and caudal vertebra 12 + 23 (vs. 13 + 19). The discovery of a second species requires slight modification of the diagnosis of the genus. Unlike the five other nemophine genera, Adelotremus differs most notably in having the third infraorbital bone and associated sensory pores absent, and the combination of ventral margin of gill opening opposite the dorsalmost 5th or 6th pectoral-fin ray, total dorsal-fin elements 28‒29 and interorbital pores 2. With a total of four specimens of Adelotremus , it is now apparent that several features of the cephalic pore arrangement of the genus are different from that found in Petroscirtes , its presumed sister genus. Recent color photographs indicate that both species of Adelotremus exhibit marked sexual dichromatism with males having a conspicuous ocellus anteriorly in the dorsal fin that is absent in females.
Central Leptin Infusion Attenuates the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Responses to Negative Energy Balance

65 Caloric restriction is commonly prescribed to obese individuals to reduce their risk for cardiovascular disease. Hypothalamic pathways regulated by leptin are important in activating homeostatic responses to reduced caloric intake. We tested the hypothesis that central infusion of leptin would prevent reductions in blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and oxygen consumption (VO 2 ) produced by acute caloric deprivation. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were instrumented with telemetry devices for measuring blood pressure and icv guide cannulae for chronic infusion of vehicle or murine leptin. After 10 d of recovery, rats were housed in metabolic chambers for continuous assessment of BP and HR by telemetry, and VO 2 and respiratory quotient (RQ) by indirect calorimetry. For group comparisons, data were averaged for the light (inactive) and dark (active) phases. After obtaining baseline data (3 days), rats (n=22) were briefly anesthetized with halothane to attach osmotic pumps containing either vehicle (PBS, 0.5 μl/h) or leptin (42 ng/h) for chronic icv infusion during either ad lib feeding or 48h of fasting. In ad lib feeding animals (n=5) receiving PBS infusions, transient (24 h) reductions in caloric intake and active phase VO 2, with no effect on body weight, HR and MAP were observed. We attribute these effects to anesthesia required for pump attachment. After 48 h, leptin infusion (in ad lib animals; n=5) significantly reduced caloric intake (50-60%), body weight (-15±5 g) and RQ (-0.07±0.02); indicating lipolysis), while increasing HR (+28±4 bpm) and having no effect on MAP. Fasting reduced active phase MAP (-9±3 mmHg), HR (-60±3 bpm), and VO 2 (-25 %) in rats receiving PBS infusions (n=6). ICV leptin infusion (n=6) had no effect on the reduction in active phase MAP, but significantly attenuated fasting-induced active phase decreases in HR (-25±4 bpm) and VO 2 (-17%). In addition, leptin completely prevented fasting-induced decreases in inactive phase HR and VO 2 . The results are consistent with the hypothesis that reductions in central leptin signaling mediate the homeostatic decreases in HR and metabolic rate in response to acute caloric deprivation.
Open-Source Software for Continuous Measurement and Media Annotation

Full understanding of behavior and experience requires anappreciation of time-dependent patterns. However, traditionalmethods of observational measurement and self-reportingare ill-suited to capturing such patterns. These methodstend to polarize into either macro-level (gist) analyses oflarge swaths of time or micro-level (atomic) analyses ofdiscrete segments. Unfortunately, both approaches miss thecontinuous, dynamic flow of many psychological processes.Specialized methods are needed that can capture such processesas they unfold over time and across dimensions.
One- and two-photon scattering by two atoms in a waveguide

We consider the interaction of one- and two-photon pulses in a waveguide with two two-level systems (TLSs) that are also able to interact directly either through an exchange- or a dipole-type interaction. We focus on the system's transport properties and show how the presence of a second TLS increases the control options, especially when direct interactions are also allowed. We also obtain, within a Markov (long-pulse) approximation, exact results for the nonlinear or entangled terms that arise in the two-photon case and discuss both their potential applications and ways to minimize their effects.
State rural development policy: the role of the community development block grant program

A partnership of the federal government and the states implement rural community development policy today, yet researchers rarely examine the nature and efficacy of this extensive intergovernmental collaboration. The authors collected data on Community Development Block Grant awards made by one state to small and rural communities for a variety of development projects over a period of more than ten years, and using a modified rural classification system detected patterns and trends in allocation. This study seeks to determine if a federally funded program assists states address the development needs of a diverse mix of rural communities. Do federal block grant programs help states meet rural community development policy objectives? This information should be helpful to local, state, and national government policy makers as they ponder proposals to reorganize dramatically the funding and implementation of community and economic development resources. But maybe most importantly, this study will also help policy makers understand the complexity of the federal-state-local partnership for rural community development.
Introduction to General Relativity

Gravity is not a force of foreign origin transmitted through space and time. Gravity is a manifestation of the curvature of space time. That is Einstein’s account of gravity in brief.
An overview of nursing homes and their current residents: data from the 1995 National Nursing Home Survey.

OBJECTIVE This report presents data on the characteristics of nursing homes, utilization by current residents and number of employees. Characteristics of the nursing homes include ownership, certification, bed size, location, and affiliation. Current residents are presented by age, sex and race. Selected trend data are presented from three previous National Nursing Home Surveys. METHODS Data presented in this report are from the 1995 National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS). The 1995 NNHS consisted of a two-stage design with a probability sample of 1,500 nursing facilities in the first stage and up to six current residents in the second stage. RESULTS About 1.5 million residents were receiving care in 16,700 nursing homes in 1995. Nearly 1.8 million beds were available for use and these facilities operated at about 87 percent of their capacity. The residents were elderly, predominantly female, and white. Since 1985, the number of nursing homes decreased by 13 percent while the number of beds increased by 9 percent.
Supporting Different Learning Styles in an Online Learning Environment: Does it Really Matter in the Long Run?

Due to demands for educational programs that are time and place independent, distance education availability, course offerings, and enrollment increased rapidly during the 1990s. To illustrate this trend, the National Center for Education Statistics (2000) reported 91% of public four-year institutions and approximately 50% of all private institutions, representing a total of 1.6 million students, were currently offering, or planned to offer, distance education programs. Many of these programs are, or will be, delivered via an online learning environment.
Role of contractile reserve as a predictor of mortality in low‐flow, low‐gradient severe aortic stenosis following transcatheter aortic valve replacement

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine the prognostic value of contractile reserve (CR) at baseline in patients with low-flow, low-gradient severe aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). BACKGROUND Patients with severe AS, left ventricular dysfunction, and low transaortic gradient are at high risk for mortality during surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). Furthermore, patients without CR have been shown to have perioperative mortality comparable to that of patients treated medically for severe AS. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent TAVR with a diagnosis of low-gradient severe AS (mean transvalvular aortic gradient < 40 mmHg, LVEF < 50%, and AVA ≤ 1.0 cm2 or AVAi ≤ 0.6 cm2 ) and who had a pre-TAVR dobutamine stress echocardiogram (DSE). Patients were stratified by the presence or absence of CR, defined as an increase in stroke volume ≥ 20% during DSE. RESULTS From 2008 to 2016, 61 patients with low-gradient severe AS underwent TAVR and had pre-TAVR DSE. CR was present in 31 patients (51%) and absent in 30 (49%). There was no significant difference between the two groups in baseline demographics, medical history, access site, or types of valves. All-cause mortality was similar in both groups at 30 days (13% with CR vs 10% without CR, P = 1.00) and 1 year (29% with CR vs 33% without CR, HR 1.20, 95% CI 0.49-2.96, P = 0.69). CONCLUSION In patients with low-flow, low-gradient severe AS undergoing TAVR, the presence or absence of CR does not predict all-cause mortality at 30 days or 1 year.
Fistuloplasty using a radiation-and-time-saving sheathless balloon catheter.

Introduction:Sheath placement in dialysis access interventions is traditionally necessary to obtain imaging, guide percutaneous angioplasty, and evaluate results. The aim of this study was to asses...
Microelectromechanical System (MEMS) Resonator: A New Element in Power Converter Circuits Featuring Reduced EMI

This paper presents a new passive device, which could be successfully used in switching power converters to replace inductors, and capacitors. Microelectromechanical System (MEMS) resonators are traditionally used in phase locked loop (PLL) based digital clock circuits, but could be effectively used for power conversion. The major advantage of MEMs resonators is the non-magnetic energy storage with inductor-like properties. Moreover, they could be fabricated in today’s conventional silicon process without requiring any major modifications. This integration makes it a very attractive choice for implantable circuits where inductor-free design is a major criterion. MEMs resonators can be used as inductors or capacitors by changing the switching frequency, and they are not impacted by strong magnetic or electric fields, therefore making them safe, and compact for MRI friendly implantable circuits. In addition, this resonator based circuits produce substantially less electro-magnetic interference (EMI) because inductors are not used in the circuit. This paper describes the various features of this new device, applications in resonant power converters, and future uses especially biomedical applications of MEMs resonators.
Detection of Individual Prostate Cancer Foci via Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract Background Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) undoubtedly affects the diagnosis and treatment of localized prostate cancer (CaP). However, clinicians need a better understanding of its accuracy and limitations in detecting individual CaP foci to optimize management. Objective To determine the per-lesion detection rate for CaP foci by mpMRI and identify predictors of tumor detection. Design, setting, and participants We carried out a retrospective analysis of a prospectively managed database correlating lesion-specific results from mpMRI co-registered with whole-mount pathology (WMP) prostatectomy specimens from June 2010 to February 2018. Participants include 588 consecutive patients with biopsy-proven CaP undergoing 3-T mpMRI before radical prostatectomy at a single tertiary institution. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis We measured mpMRI sensitivity in detecting individual CaP and clinically significant (any Gleason score ≥7) CaP foci and predictors of tumor detection using multivariate analysis. Results and limitations The final analysis included 1213 pathologically confirmed tumor foci in 588 patients with primarily intermediate- (75%) or high-risk (12%) CaP. mpMRI detected 45% of all lesions (95% confidence interval [CI] 42–47%), including 65% of clinically significant lesions (95% CI 61–69%) and nearly 80% of high-grade tumors. Some 74% and 31% of missed solitary and multifocal tumors, respectively, were clinically significant. The majority of missed lesions were small (61.1% ≤1 cm); 28.3% were between 1 and 2 cm, and 10.4% were >2 cm. mpMRI missed at least one clinically significant focus in 34% of patients overall, and in 45% of men with multifocal lesions. On multivariate analysis, smaller, low-grade, multifocal, nonindex tumors with lower prostate-specific antigen density were more likely to be missed. Limitations include selection bias in a prostatectomy cohort, lack of specificity data, an imperfect co-registration process, and uncertain clinical significance for undetected lesions. Conclusions mpMRI detects less than half of all and less than two-thirds of clinically significant CaP foci. The moderate per-lesion sensitivity and significant proportion of men with undetected tumor foci demonstrate the current limitations of mpMRI. Patient summary Magnetic resonance imaging of the prostate before surgical removal for prostate cancer finds less than half of all individual prostate cancer tumors. Large, solitary, aggressive tumors are more likely to be visualized on imaging.
Schools as market-based clusters: Geospatial and statistical analysis of charter schools in Ohio

This study contributes to the growing body of research concerning the strategic geographic positioning of traditional charter schools (TCS) in urban areas and their segregative effect by considering economist Michael Porter’s concept of business clusters, in which businesses ‘cluster’ to maximize their potential profit and to gain access to a customer base. Using a mixed-methods approach, we use geographic information systems (GIS) to perform an Average Nearest Neighbor Analyses (ANNA) to determine if charter and public schools (TPS) cluster in Ohio’s Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD). We analyze school enrollment data and the local census tracts using MANOVA to compare the characteristics of TCS and TPS and produce maps of the results. Consistent with other research, we find evidence of increased segregation. The ANNA and MANOVA results indicate that TCS are more clustered than TPS and they tend to locate outside of the poorest communities with higher concentrations of Black and poor individuals.
Acoustic studies of dysarthric speech: methods, progress, and potential.

Educational Objectives: (1) The reader will be able to describe the major types of acoustic analysis available for the study of speech, (2) specify the components needed for a modern speech analysis laboratory, including equipment for recording and analysis, and (3) list possible measurements for various aspects of phonation, articulation and resonance, as they might be manifest in neurologically disordered speech.
Ethics in the Anthropocene: Moral Responses to the Climate Crisis

This review essay looks at Andrew Brei’s edited volume, Ecology, ethics and hope (Rowman & Littlefield, London, 2016), Candis Callison’s How climate change comes to matter: The communal life of facts (Duke University Press, Durham, 2014), Randall Curren and Ellen Metzger’s Living well now and in the future: Why sustainability matters (MIT Press, Cambridge, 2017), Willis Jenkins’ The future of ethics: Sustainability, social justice, and religious creativity (Georgetown University Press, Washington, D.C., 2013), and Byron Williston’s The Anthropocene project: Virtue in the age of climate change (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2015). These recent works highlight various normative approaches for engaging with what is often referred to as the Anthropocene. Drawing on virtue ethics, pragmatism, and concepts such as intergenerational justice, they seek to address some of the defining moral challenges of our time: how we should respond to this unprecedented era of anthropogenic climate and environmental change, and what ethical resources we can draw on to guide our response. On a larger level, they reveal how the climate crisis is testing the limits of our current moral systems and helping to drive greater ethical innovation and adaptation in the process.
Structure and Physiological Function of the Human KCNQ1 Channel Voltage Sensor Intermediate State

Voltage-gated ion channels feature voltage sensor domains (VSDs) that exist in three distinct conformations during activation: resting, intermediate, and activated. Experimental determination of the structure of a potassium channel VSD in the intermediate state has previously proven elusive. Here, we report and validate the experimental three-dimensional structure of the human KCNQ1 voltage-gated potassium channel VSD in the intermediate state. We also used mutagenesis and electrophysiology in Xenopus laevisoocytes to functionally map the determinants of S4 helix motion during voltage-dependent transition from the intermediate to the activated state. Finally, the physiological relevance of the intermediate state KCNQ1 conductance is demonstrated using voltage-clamp fluorometry. This work illuminates the structure of the VSD intermediate state and demonstrates that intermediate state conductivity contributes to the unusual versatility of KCNQ1, which can function either as the slow delayed rectifier current (IKs) of the cardiac action potential or as a constitutively active epithelial leak current.
Sanctification and Cheating Among Emerging Adults

Cheating—a general term for extradyadic romantic or sexual behavior that violates expectations in a committed romantic relationship—is common and leads to a number of poor outcomes. Religion has historically influenced conceptions of romantic relationships, but societal attitudes about religion are in flux as many seek to retain spirituality even as affiliations with formal religion decrease. The present study evaluated a potential predictor of cheating that is more spiritual than formally religious, the “psychospiritual” concept of relationship sanctification (i.e., the idea that one’s relationship itself is sacred). In a sample of college students in committed relationships (N = 716), we found that higher levels of self-reported relationship sanctification were associated with a lower likelihood of both physical and emotional cheating even when accounting for plausible alternate explanations (general religiosity, problematic alcohol use, and trait self-control). This association was mediated via permissive sexual attitudes; specifically, higher levels of sanctification were associated with less permissive sexual attitudes which, in turn, predicted a lower likelihood of emotional and physical cheating.
The role of transfemoral carotid artery stenting with proximal balloon occlusion embolic protection in the contemporary endovascular management of carotid artery stenosis

Abstract Objective Recent data have shown that transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) with flow reversal provides a superior method of embolic protection compared with transfemoral carotid artery stenting (tfCAS) with distal embolic protection. Flow reversal or flow arrest systems with proximal endovascular balloon occlusion can also be used through the transfemoral approach; however, their outcomes compared with TCAR with flow reversal and tfCAS with distal embolic protection are poorly described. Methods We performed a retrospective review of all patients undergoing tfCAS with proximal balloon occlusion, tfCAS with distal embolic protection, and TCAR with flow reversal in the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative from March 2005 to May 2019. We assessed in-hospital outcomes in propensity score-matched cohorts of patients using tfCAS with proximal balloon occlusion as the comparison cohort. The primary outcome was stroke or death. Secondary end points included the individual outcomes of stroke, death, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and myocardial infarction. Results Of the 24,232 patients undergoing carotid artery stenting, 561 (2.3%) procedures were performed through tfCAS with proximal balloon occlusion, 18,126 (74%) through tfCAS with distal embolic protection, and 5545 (22.9%) through TCAR with flow reversal. After matching, 463 pairs of patients undergoing tfCAS with proximal balloon occlusion and tfCAS with distal embolic protection were identified. There were no differences in stroke or death (proximal balloon, 3.2%; distal embolic protection, 3.7%; relative risk [RR], 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45-1.73; P = .73), stroke (2.4% vs 2.6%; RR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.42-2.00; P = .83), death (1.1% vs 1.5%; RR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.41-3.15; P = .80), TIA (1.7% vs 1.5%; RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.41-3.15; P = .80), or myocardial infarction (0.4% vs 0.6%; RR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.11-3.99; P = .65). However, after matching 357 pairs of patients undergoing tfCAS with proximal balloon occlusion and TCAR with flow reversal, tfCAS with proximal balloon occlusion was associated with higher rates of stroke or death (3.1% vs 0.8%; RR, 3.67; 95% CI, 1.02-13.14; P = .03) and a trend toward higher rates of stroke (2.5% vs 0.8%; RR, 3.00; 95% CI, 0.81-11.08; P = .08) and death (0.8% vs 0.0%; P = .08), but no statistically significant differences in TIA (0.8% vs 0.8%; P > .99) or myocardial infarction (0.6% vs 0.3%; RR, 2.00; 95% CI, 0.18-22.06; P = .56). Conclusions Compared with tfCAS with distal embolic protection, tfCAS with proximal balloon occlusion has similar major outcomes. However, tfCAS with proximal balloon occlusion does not offer the same degree of embolic protection compared with TCAR with flow reversal, given the significantly higher risk of perioperative stroke or death.
My kind of city: Collected essays of Hank Dittmar, by Hank Dittmar

Hank Dittmar (1956–2018) was an urbanist, planner, and architect who worked in a variety of professional positions. He was founding principal of Hank Dittmar Associates, chief executive of The Prin...
Operation Varsity Blues: Disguising the Legal Capital Exchanges and White Property Interests in Athletic Admissions.

“Operation Varsity Blues” (OVB) indicted coaches and administrators from eight universities for accepting bribes in exchange for admitting fraudulent athletes. As part of the conspiracy parents paid university officials to admit students with little-to-no sport experience as college athletes. Court filings in the case contrasted OVB to the legal process of athletic recruitment and admission in which universities set different criteria to admit those with athletic talent (Smith, 2019a). This conceptual article cautions against such a contrast. Using Harris’ (1993) whiteness as property, Bourdieu’s (2011) capital exchange theory, and findings from my research into athletic recruitment and admission, I examine how OVB closely resembles current athletic admissions practices that provide a legal pathway to college that privileges white, elite communities.
Algorithm for Three-Dimensional Geodetic Positioning Based on Measurements of Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Signals

This paper develops a non-precision geolocation algorithm for airborne vehicles that can serve as a redundant navigation system for use during locally limited GNSS availability, can be used to validate on-board satellite navigation systems to detect local spoofing attempts, and can be used to validate Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast (ADS-B) position reports. The algorithm utilizes the proliferation of ADS-B equipped aircraft as airborne navigation aids in an RF angle of-arrival (AOA) and angle-of-elevation (AOE) based geodetic positioning algorithm. With multiple GNSS quality navigation aids available, mean horizontal position errors are observed to be less than 500 meters and the mean vertical position error is less than 10 meters. However, as expected, the quality of the navigation aids has an effect on the accuracy of the algorithm. As the quality and number of navigation aids decrease, so too does the accuracy of the algorithm. However, even under a worst-case scenario, the algorithm provides reasonable estimates that can provide a lateral position estimate within 3.7NM and an altitude estimate within 497 meters (95% containment). Perhaps more significantly, the improved algorithm is also capable of validating reported ADS-B altitude of equipped aircraft and is a perfect candidate for coupling with an INS or simply adding a barometric altimeter measurement to aid the vertical position estimate. This work presents a non-precision means of determining an airborne vehicle's geodetic position, even in the absence of GNSS. In addition, this algorithm can be used to validate GNSS position reports in a GNSS spoofed environment and can serve as a means to validate ADS-B position reports from suitably equipped aircraft operating in proximity to the host vehicle.