cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Variability of respiration and sleep during polysomnography in individuals with TBI.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is commonly found in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and may exacerbate TBI-related symptoms. Nocturnal polysomnography (NPSG) is considered the gold standard for detecting the presence of sleep apnea. However, there is a limitation with its use known as the “first-night effect” (aberrant polysomnography findings on the first night in a sleep lab). OBJECTIVE: The primary objectives were to investigate the night-to-night consistency of diagnosing and classifying obstructive sleep apnea in individuals with TBI, and ascertain if individuals with TBI are prone to a first-night effect. METHODS: 47 community-dwelling adults with self-reported mild-to-severe TBI underwent two nights of in-laboratory NPSG to examine variability between the first and second night with regards to OSA diagnosis and severity as well as sleep architecture. RESULTS: OSA detection and severity were consistent from night-to-night in 89% of participants with TBI. Participants with TBI demonstrated longer REM latency on the first night compared to the second night of sleep study. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that two nights of in-laboratory NPSG are generally consistent in reliably diagnosing OSA in individuals with TBI and that first-night effects are minimal. One night of NPSG has diagnostic utility in the evaluation of sleep disorders in individuals with TBI.
Reading the Bible with Children: Review Essay, Bibles and Bible Story Books

Stories give us the sources of our identity, our origins, our nature, our destiny as persons and as a people. Stories give us models of character, examples to follow, and examples to avoid. Stories...
Interocular Transfer of Brightness Discrimination in "Split-Brain" Cats.

"Split-brain" cats with midsagittal section of the optic chiasm and the corpus callosum are able to transfer interocularly a simple brightness discrimination although they are unable to transfer a pattern discrimination. This strongly suggests that the interocular transfer of a simple brightness discrimination is mediated subcallosally.
Implementation of the Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative within comprehensive cancer centers

Purpose The progress made by cancer centers across the United States adopting the goals and measures of the Pharmacy Practice Model Initiative (PPMI) was studied. Methods In collaboration with ASHP, the official PPMI hospital self-assessment (HSA) questionnaire and a 10-item supplemental survey specific to oncology pharmacy services were disseminated via e-mail to all 41 National Cancer Institute designated comprehensive cancer centers in the United States. Results The HSA results of 26 (63%) of the 41 institutions surveyed were included in the analysis. Of the 26 participating institutions, 15 (58%) also completed the supplemental survey. Advanced pharmacist roles are highly prevalent among comprehensive cancer centers, with all institutions giving pharmacists discharge counseling responsibilities and deploying pharmacists to patient care units. Twenty-five institutions (96%) provide some level of pharmacist-driven drug therapy management services in at least some areas or situations and most often in the inpatient setting. Implementation of automation and technology in the areas of dispensing and order entry has occurred in over 80% of institutions. Advancement of pharmacy technician roles has received the least attention, with only 13 centers (50%) giving technicians sole responsibility for traditional dispensing functions, and 11 (42%) allowing technicians three or more advanced responsibilities. Only 12 institutions (46%) have established mechanisms to hold their pharmacists accountable for medication-related outcomes. Conclusion Based on the survey results, suggested areas of improvement include the provision of drug therapy management in the outpatient setting, advancement in technician roles, utilization of automation and technology particularly at the point of administration, and implementation of mechanisms to hold pharmacists accountable for medication-related outcomes of their patients.
Elections as ritual drama

given voter. Fewer and fewer people today vote Democratic because they have always voted Democratic. Fewer and fewer people today vote Republican because they were born Republicans, their fathers were Republicans, and their grandfathers were Republicans. "This part of me argues for this candidate, that part of me argues for his opponent. I am no longer bound by tradition or orthodoxy and so I 'm not really sure what I 'm gonna do next Tuesday." As I look back on our data for the 1980 election, I still see what I saw then. But I now realize, how much more power it had then than I thought at the time. Our data clearly showed the public disaffection with Jimmy Carter, largely because he was seen as being ineffectual, indecisive, lacking in leadership ability, and not forceful. At the time, I thought his clear wins over Reagan on being compassionate, for the working people, and for the little guy, would at least offset the negative appraisals concerning leadership. In retrospect, it is now clear that leadership overshadowed compassion. I cannot say why the polls are missing the mark, but I would say to my colleagues: do not assume that merely polling forty-eight hours later will solve all of the problems. []
Dendritic cells promote pancreatic viability in mice with acute pancreatitis.

Background & Aims The cellular mediators of acute pancreatitis are incompletely understood. Dendritic cells (DCs) can promote or suppress inflammation, depending on their subtype and context. We investigated the roles of DC in development of acute pancreatitis. Methods Acute pancreatitis was induced in CD11c.DTR mice using caerulein or L-arginine; DCs were depleted by administration of diphtheria toxin. Survival was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier method. Results Numbers of major histocompatibility complex II + CD11c + DCs increased 100-fold in pancreata of mice with acute pancreatitis to account for nearly 15% of intrapancreatic leukocytes. Intrapancreatic DCs acquired a distinct immune phenotype in mice with acute pancreatitis; they expressed higher levels of major histocompatibility complex II and CD86 and increased production of interleukin-6, membrane cofactor protein–1, and tumor necrosis factor–α. However, rather than inducing an organ-destructive inflammatory process, DCs were required for pancreatic viability; the exocrine pancreas died in mice that were depleted of DCs and challenged with caerulein or L-arginine. All mice with pancreatitis that were depleted of DCs died from acinar cell death within 4 days. Depletion of DCs from mice with pancreatitis resulted in neutrophil infiltration and increased levels of systemic markers of inflammation. However, the organ necrosis associated with depletion of DCs did not require infiltrating neutrophils, activation of nuclear factor–κB, or signaling by mitogen-activated protein kinase or tumor necrosis factor–α. Conclusions DCs are required for pancreatic viability in mice with acute pancreatitis and might protect organs against cell stress.
Cortical Atrophy and Cognitive Performance in Infantile Nephropathic Cystinosis

A group of children and adolescents with infantile nephropathic cystinosis underwent cognitive testing and were examined for cortical atrophy using magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography. Ten of 11 patients demonstrated cortical atrophy. A consistent pattern of lower cognitive performance was found in patients with greater atrophy; however, only the relationship between atrophy and short-term memory approached statistical significance. In addition, evidence for greater impairment of visual memory than of other cognitive functions was observed. This latter observation did not appear to be related to the degree of atrophy.
Toward a comprehensive collection development policy for partial U.S. depository libraries

Abstract Library literature has long ignored the problem of collection development for U.S. Government Publications. Regional depositories, of course, are not adversely affected by this oversight. However, the partial depository library suffers the consequences. Often in the past, the sole criterion for the building of a partial depository collection has been accretion without regard for other salient factors. At present and in the foreseeable future, fiscal exigency will cause increasing demands to be made on the library's budget and space. These hard facts, juxtaposed with the continuing prolificacy of the U.S. Government Printing Office, mandates the making of difficult decisions by librarians, especially documents librarians. In order to make judicious decisions which will permit the depository collection to grow in a manner responsive to its own needs, as well as to various curricular and community needs, a framework of policy must exist. It is in this context that the following policy statement is presented. Although this policy statement was developed in response to the idiosyncratic needs of one institution's curriculum, general collection, and table of staffing organization (plus the presence of another partial depository library in the same city), the generic concerns addressed ought to be of interest to all documents librarians and to all librarians concerned with collection development. In spite of the local limitations of this policy statement, it may serve as a template for those libraries desiring to integrate U.S. Government Publications into a comprehensive collection policy. The reader will note that the author has relied liberally on the documents, Guidelines for the Depository Library System and Instructions to Depository Librarians. Reliance on these documents is intended to insure responsiveness to the intent of the Depository Act, and to maintain a continuing degree of accountability in decisions relating to the U.S. Government Publications Collection. The acquisition policy of Iowa State University (as published in Library Acquisition Policies and Procedures, ed. Elizabeth Futas, Oryx Press, 1977, pp. 174–197) was also useful in the formulation of the policy statement. The statement of policy has been structured in such a way that it may serve as a modular component of an overall policy statement—not as an acquisition policy, but rather as a guide to the process of collection development.
Use and Outcomes of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy vs Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass: Analysis of the American College of Surgeons NSQIP

Background Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is gaining popularity in the United States. However, few studies have examined outcomes of sleeve gastrectomy compared with those of the "gold standard" bariatric operation: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. Study Design Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database, clinical data were obtained for all patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy or laparoscopic gastric bypass between 2010 and 2011. Main outcomes measures were risk-adjusted 30-day serious morbidity and mortality. Results We analyzed 24,117 patients who underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy or laparoscopic gastric bypass for the treatment of morbid obesity. Gastric bypass comprised 79.5% of cases and sleeve gastrectomy comprised 20.5%; the proportion of sleeve gastrectomy cases increased from 14.6% in 2010 to 25.8% in 2011. On univariate analysis, sleeve gastrectomy had a shorter mean operative time (101 vs 133 minutes, p Conclusions Use of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is increasing on a national level. Compared with laparoscopic gastric bypass, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy is associated with lower 30-day risk-adjusted serious morbidity and equivalent 30-day mortality.
Screening for Movement Dysfunction in Infancy

The issues of early diagnosis and cost containment interface when selecting instruments which screen for movement dysfunction in infants and children. Because sensorimotor functioning evolves and is completed early in the developmental continuum it is efficacious to use screening tools which are cost-efficient, sensitive, and specific. Seven screening instruments which have a motor component are reviewed for purpose, target population, and scoring procedures. The psychometric qualities of test-retest reliability, interrater reliability, sensitivity and specificity are evaluated, and costs expressed in time for examiner training and for test administration are discussed. Current issues related to screening for movement dysfunction are also presented.
Xenopus Sox3 activates sox2 and geminin and indirectly represses Xvent2 expression to induce neural progenitor formation at the expense of non-neural ectodermal derivatives.

The SRY-related, HMG box SoxB1 transcription factors are highly homologous, evolutionarily conserved proteins that are expressed in neuroepithelial cells throughout neural development. SoxB1 genes are down-regulated as cells exit the cell-cycle to differentiate and are considered functionally redundant in maintaining neural precursor populations. However, little is known about Sox3 function and its mode of action during primary neurogenesis. Using gain and loss-of-function studies, we analyzed Sox3 function in detail in Xenopus early neural development and compared it to that of Sox2. Through these studies we identified the first targets of a SoxB1 protein during primary neurogenesis. Sox3 functions as an activator to induce expression of the early neural genes, sox2 and geminin in the absence of protein synthesis and to indirectly inhibit the Bmp target Xvent2. As a result, Sox3 increases cell proliferation, delays neurogenesis and inhibits epidermal and neural crest formation to expand the neural plate. Our studies indicate that Sox3 and 2 have many similar functions in this process including the ability to activate expression of geminin in naive ectodermal explants. However, there are some differences; Sox3 activates the expression of sox2, while Sox2 does not activate expression of sox3 and sox3 is uniquely expressed throughout the ectoderm prior to neural induction suggesting a role in neural competence. With morpholino-mediated knockdown of Sox3, we demonstrate that it is required for induction of neural tissue by BMP inhibition. Together these data indicate that Sox3 has multiple roles in early neural development including as a factor required for nogginmediated neural induction.
UAV-based distributed ATR under realistic simulated environmental effects

Over the past several years, the military has grown increasingly reliant upon the use of unattended aerial vehicles (UAVs) for surveillance missions. There is an increasing trend towards fielding swarms of UAVs operating as large-scale sensor networks in the air. Such systems tend to be used primarily for the purpose of acquiring sensory data with the goal of automatic detection, identification, and tracking objects of interest. These trends have been paralleled by advances in both distributed detection, image/signal processing and data fusion techniques. Furthermore, swarmed UAV systems must operate under severe constraints on environmental conditions and sensor limitations. In this work, we investigate the effects of environmental conditions on target detection and recognition performance in a UAV network. We assume that each UAV is equipped with an optical camera, and use a realistic computer simulation to generate synthetic images. The detection algorithm relies on Haar-based features while the automatic target recognition (ATR) algorithm relies on Bessel K features. The performance of both algorithms is evaluated using simulated images that closely mimic data acquired in a UAV network under realistic environmental conditions. We design several fusion techniques and analyze both the case of a single observation and the case of multiple observations of the same target.
Percutaneous pinning for fracture repair in dogs and cats.

This article describes the technique of percutaneous pinning in dogs and cats. Only acute fractures evaluated within the first 48 hours after trauma are selected for percutaneous pinning. Reduction is performed with careful manipulation of the fracture to minimize the trauma to the growth plate. After ensuring the fracture is reduced anatomically, smooth pins of appropriate size are inserted through stab incisions. Depending on the anatomic location, the pins are cut flush with bone or bent. The main advantages of this technique are the minimal surgical trauma and lower perioperative morbidity.
A chronicle of chaos Tracking the news story of Hurricane Katrina from The Times-Picayune to its website

The extraordinary breaking news story of Hurricane Katrina offered an opportunity to document how multimedia and interactive features interfere with the carefully crafted news story of a newspaper....
5HTTLPR polymorphism and enlargement of the pulvinar: unlocking the backdoor to the limbic system.

Background The 5HTTLPR genetic variant of the serotonin transporter (SERT), which consists of a long (SERT-l) and short (SERT-s) allele, has emerged as a major factor influencing emotional behavior and brain anatomy. The pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus projects to important limbic nuclei including the amygdala and cingulate cortex, is involved in the processing of stimuli with emotional content, and contains an abundance of SERT. Methods Stereological methods were used to measure pulvinar neuron number in postmortem tissue from major depressive disorder ( n = 11), bipolar disorder ( n = 11), schizophrenia ( n = 12), and control ( n = 15) specimens from the Stanley Foundation Neuropathology Consortium. The effect of SERT genotype on pulvinar volume and neuron number was investigated by using analysis of covariance. Results Analysis of covariance with diagnosis, SERT genotype, age, hemisphere, postmortem interval, and time-in-formalin covariates identified a 20% increase in pulvinar neuron number and volume in SERT-ss subjects. Conclusions The elevated number of pulvinar neurons in subjects with a SERT-ss genotype may serve to enhance subcortical input of emotionally relevant stimuli to the limbic system, providing a mechanism for the 5HTTLPR genetic variant to affect predisposition to conditions such as major depression.
Order-reducing conjugate gradients versus block AOR for constrained least-squares problems

Abstract We compare the convergence properties of two iterative algorithms for solving equality-constrained least-squares problems. The first algorithm, due to Barlow, Nichols, and Plemmons, applies a variation of the conjugate-gradient algorithm to a symmetric positive definite system which is smaller than the original problem. The second, block accelerated overrelaxation, is a two-parameter generalization of block SOR. Barlow, Nichols, and Plemmons have proven that their order-reducing conjugate-gradient algorithm converges faster than block SOR. We extend their result to show that the algorithm is also superior to block AOR. Numerical experiments on some structural engineering problems support the analysis.
Monosymptomatic hysteria in childhood, family and professional systems involvement

A conceptual framework for understanding childhood hysteria is presented. A family orientation for evaluating the relative contributions of the child, family and professionals is used, incorporating five previously described psychological concepts (abnormal illness behaviour, identification and imitation, family myths, childhood predicament, locus of control). Three case histories are presented to illustrate the clinical method and to emphasize the need for careful assessment and the avoidance of hastily contrived strategies for treatment. The principles of liaison psychiatry within a paediatric setting previously described in the literature are important factors in the successful management of these families.
Evidence that imidazolium-based ionic ligands can be metal(0)/nanocluster catalyst poisons in at least the test case of iridium(0)-catalyzed acetone hydrogenation.

This study begins with the question of whether ionic liquids (ILs), such as 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [bmim][PF6], can be catalyst poisons for transition-metal catalysts rather than a preferred stabilizing media as typically assumed in the literature. The test case of acetone (propanone) hydrogenation is picked for two reasons: (i) acetone hydrogenation is important for its applications in heat pumps, H2 storage schemes, and fuel cells and for the commercial value of the resultant product, propan-2-ol, and (ii) two recent, independent studies have reported putative Ir(0)n nanocluster-catalyzed hydrogenations of acetone beginning in each case with the identical precursor, [{(COD)IrCl}2] (where COD = 1,5-cyclooctadiene) (1). A close comparison of the results of those two literature studies and their related, but different, experimental conditions (vide infra) suggests the hypothesis that the IL is actually a catalyst poison. Indeed, the investigations herein (i) find that 1.0 equiv o...
Following several days of continuous administration d-amphetamine acquires hallucinogenlike properties

Rats injected with LSD or mescaline show the behavioral syndrome which has been previously reported following injections of hallucinogens in higher mammals: limb flicks and whole body shakes. Although these behaviors are not elicited by acute injections of amphetamine, they are present in rats which have been pretreated for 108 h with a slow-release amphetamine pellet, given a 12h rest period, and then injected with d-amphetamine. Such pellet-pretreated animals also groom their body surface excessively. We propose that this novel syndrome which follows continuous amphetamine administration can serve as an animal model of the type of amphetamine psychosis that is produced by a similar drug regimen in humans.
Truncated Octahedral Pt3Ni Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalysts

This communication describes the preparation of carbon-supported truncated-octahedral Pt3Ni nanoparticle catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction. Besides the composition, size, and shape controls, this work develops a new butylamine-based surface treatment approach for removing the long-alkane-chain capping agents used in the solution-phase synthesis. These Pt3Ni catalysts can have an area-specific activity as high as 850 μA/cm2Pt at 0.9 V, which is ∼4 times better than the commercial Pt/C catalyst (∼0.2 mA/cm2Pt at 0.9 V). The mass activity reached 0.53 A/mgPt at 0.9 V, which is close to a factor of 4 increase in mass activity, the threshold value that allows fuel-cell power trains to become cost-competitive with their internal-combustion counterparts. Our results also show that the mass activities of these carbon-supported Pt3Ni nanoparticle catalysts strongly depend on the (111) surface fraction, which validates the results of studies based on Pt3Ni extended-single-crystal surfaces, suggesting that...
Differential cross section for Na fine-structure transfer induced by Na and K collisions.

The electronic energy-transfer process ${\mathrm{Na}}^{\mathrm{*}}$(3${\mathrm{P}}_{3/2}$)+M\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${\mathrm{Na}}^{\mathrm{*}}$ (3${P}_{1/2}$)+M, where M is an Na or K atom, has been measured differentially with respect to scattering angle. This has been done with crossed beams and by establishing the final (3${P}_{1/2}$) state velocity distribution from the Doppler spectrum of 3${P}_{1/2}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}4${D}_{3/2}$ absorption. The differential cross section for Na perturbers is highly forward peaked (within a few degrees) with a small but extended high-angle tail. Forward angles are also dominant for K perturbers, but these cover a larger angular range with a very substantial large-angle contribution.
Fingers reach for the genome.

Two new approaches promise to facilitate the identification of zinc fingers that function optimally in vivo.
DNA-Mediated Charge Transport Requires Conformational Motion of the DNA Bases: Elimination of Charge Transport in Rigid Glasses at 77 K

We have proposed that DNA-mediated charge transport (CT) is gated by base motions, with only certain base conformations being CT-active; a CT-active conformation can be described as a domain, a transiently extended π-orbital defined dynamically by DNA sequence. Here, to explore these CT-active conformations, we examine the yield of base-base CT between photoexcited 2-aminopurine (Ap*) and guanine in DNA in rigid LiCl glasses at 77 K, where conformational rearrangement is effectively eliminated. Duplex DNA assemblies (35-mers) were constructed containing adenine bridges Ap(A)_nG (n = 0−4). The yield of CT was monitored through fluorescence quenching of Ap* by G. We find, first, that the emission intensity of Ap* in all DNA duplexes increases dramatically upon cooling and becomes comparable to free Ap*. This indicates that all quenching of Ap* in duplex DNA is a dynamic process that requires conformational motion of the DNA bases. Second, DNA-mediated CT between Ap* and G is not observed at 77 K; rather than hindering the ability of DNA to transport charge, conformational motion is required. Moreover, the lack of DNA-mediated CT at 77 K, even through the shortest bridge, suggests that the static structures adopted upon cooling do not represent optimum CT-active conformations. These observations are consistent with our model of conformationally gated CT. Through conformational motion of the DNA bases, CT-active domains form and break-up transiently, both facilitating and limiting CT.
Evidence for a Highly Differentiated Sex Chromosome Heteromorphism in the Salamander Necturus maculosus (Rafinesque)

The mitotic chromosomes of the neotenic (sensu Gould, 1977, and Alberch et al., 1979) salamander Necturus maculosus (Rafinesque) have been examined using a C-band technique to demonstrate the distribution of heterochromatin. The C-banded mitotic chromosomes provide evidence of a highly differentiated XY male/XX female sex chromosome heteromorphism, in which the X and Y chromosomes differ greatly in size and morphology, and in the amount and distribution of C-band heterochromatin. The X chromosome represents one of the largest biarmed chromosomes in the karyotype and is indistinguishable from similar sized autosomes on the basis of C-band heterochromatin. The Y chromosome, on the other hand, is diminutive, morphologically distinct from all other chromosomes of the karyotype, and is composed almost entirely of C-band heterochromatin. The discovery of an X/Y chromosome heteromorphism in this species is consistent with the observation by King (1912) of a heteromorphic spermatogenic bivalent. Karyological and phylogenetic implications are discussed.
Nuclear receptor TLX prevents retinal dystrophy and recruits the corepressor atrophin1

During mammalian embryogenesis, precise coordination of progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation is essential for proper organ size and function. The involvement of TLX (NR2E1), an orphan nuclear receptor, has been implicated in ocular development, as Tlx-/- mice exhibit visual impairment. Using genetic and biochemical approaches, we show that TLX modulates retinal progenitor cell proliferation and cell cycle re-entry by directly regulating the expression of Pten and its target cyclin D1. Additionally, TLX finely tunes the progenitor differentiation program by modulating the phospholipase C and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways and the expression of an array of cell type-specific transcriptional regulators. Consequently, Tlx-/- mice have a dramatic reduction in retina thickness and enhanced generation of S-cones, and develop severe early onset retinal dystrophy. Furthermore, TLX interacts with atrophin1 (Atn1), a corepressor that is involved in human neurodegenerative dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA) and that is essential for development of multiple tissues. Together, these results reveal a molecular strategy by which an orphan nuclear receptor can precisely orchestrate tissue-specific proliferation and differentiation programs to prevent retinal malformation and degeneration.
A Burst-Mode Digital Receiver With Programmable Input Jitter Filtering for Energy Proportional Links

A full-rate burst-mode receiver that achieves fast on/off operation needed for energy-proportional links is presented. By injecting input data edges into the oscillator embedded in a classical Type-II digital clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit, the proposed receiver achieves instantaneous phase-locking and input jitter filtering simultaneously. In other words, the proposed CDR combines the advantages of conventional feed-forward and feedback architectures to achieve energy-proportional operation. By controlling the number of data edges injected into the oscillator, both the jitter transfer bandwidth and the jitter tolerance corner are accurately controlled. The feedback loop also corrects for any frequency error and helps improve CDR's immunity to oscillator frequency drift during the power-on and -off states. This also improves CDR's tolerance to consecutive identical digits present in the input data. Fabricated in a 90 nm CMOS process, the prototype receiver instantaneously locks onto the very first data edge and consumes 6.1 mW at 2.2 Gb/s. Owing to its short power-on time, the receiver's energy efficiency varies only from 2.77 pJ/bit to 3.87 pJ/bit when the effective data rate is varied from 0.44 Gb/s to 2.2 Gb/s. Input sensitivity of the receiver is 36 mV for a BER of 10 -12 .
On coalescence of frequencies and conical points in the dispersion spectra of elastic bodies

Abstract In this paper we discuss a general procedure for determining the critical points of the dispersion spectrum at which there is a coalescence of frequencies, i.e. critical points which are roots of double multiplicity. We further show how the general behavior of the dispersion surface in the neighborhood of the critical points can be determined analytically. For the purpose of illustration, we consider (a) plane waves propagating in an infinite, elastic, isotropic plate, which corresponds to the case of a differential equation with constant coefficients, and (b) Floquet waves of the SH-type propagating in a layered, elastic medium, which corresponds to the case of a differential equation with periodic coefficients.
The innominate artery as an inflow site in coronary reoperations without cardiopulmonary bypass

The innominate artery was used as an inflow site in 20 patients undergoing redo coronary operations without cardiopulmonary bypass. This technique was adopted when extensive adhesions and old patent grafts were present, to avoid dissection of the ascending aorta and eliminate the risk of graft injury or embolization. This strategy considerably facilitated construction of proximal anastomoses and was associated with favorable perioperative outcomes.
Heavy-light meson studies with O(a)-improved massive quarks

We study heavy mesons using the Fermilab prescription for heavy quarks. We discuss technical issues important to the study of semileptonic form factors: a) We apply the multistate fitting technique to the selection of smearing functions for mesons with momentum in order to improve the signal for matrix elements. b) Momentum dependent discretization errors are investigated. We study heavy and light-meson energy dispersion relations and light-meson decay constants. c) As a guide to the study of heavy-light currents, we determine the flavor-conserving vector current renormalization. A study f m with heavy quarks including charm and bottom is presented. Attention is paid to discretization errors important in determining the 1 / m dependence of f m .
Multivariate Methods for Clustered Binary Data with More than One Level of Nesting

Abstract Clustered data occur frequently in statistical practice. In some areas of application, such as ophthalmology, clustered data are the rule rather than the exception. In this setting, standard multivariate methods such as logistic regression are invalid, because of the lack of independence among outcomes for individual sample points within a cluster. In Rosner (1984), a polychotomous logistic regression model was presented to control for the effect of both cluster and individual-specific covariates while accounting for the correlation among units within a cluster. This model reduces to a beta-binomial model in the absence of covariates, and to an ordinary logistic model for clusters of size 1 and for larger clusters when no correlation is present. A 1 level of nesting correlation structure is assumed, as is typically found in ophthalmology, where the person is the cluster and the individual eyes are the units within a cluster. In this article, this model is generalized to a 2 level of nesting struc...
Use of atmospheric pressure plasma to confer durable water repellent functionality and antimicrobial functionality on cotton/polyester blend

Abstract A non-thermal, high density atmospheric plasma glow discharge treatment was used to impart functionality to cotton/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabric to furnish a surface that is water repellent and then antimicrobial only. In this work, cotton/PET (50/50%) blend fabric was treated with a water repellent treatment through activating the surface with plasma, depositing a vaporized fluorocarbon based monomers, 1,1,2,2-tetrahydroperfluorodecyl acrylate (THPFDA) and 1,1,2,2-tetrahydroperfluorododecyl acrylate (THPFDDA), then graft polymerizing the monomer with a second plasma exposure. Samples were then further treated with an antimicrobial agent, diallyldimethylammonium chloride (DADMAC), a quaternary ammonium salt. Plasma treatment was used to induce free radical chain polymerization of the DADMAC, conferring a graft polymerized network on the fabric with potentially durable antimicrobial properties. It was shown that the water repellent treatment via plasma induced-graft polymerization was successful in yielding a highly hydrophobic fabric with a finish durable to laundering. The results of the antimicrobial tests showed that the treated fabric reduced the activity of both gram positive and gram negative bacteria by more than 99.994%, demonstrating that the antimicrobial agent can function effectively on the water repellent treated fabric. However, despite the evidence of the presence of fluorine containing compounds on the fabric following the antimicrobial treatment, which was confirmed by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) analysis, the water repellency was lost, which was attributed to changes in the orientation of the fluorocarbon polymer chains.
A near-constant-phase variable attenuator

A circuit was developed which permits variable attenuation of an RF signal containing Doppler information while holding the phase shift of the signal to a minimum. A phase shift change of less than 2° was achieved for a 50-dB dynamic range. The design is centered around a p-i-n diode as the control element.
Costs and in-hospital outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation versus surgical aortic valve replacement in commercial cases using a propensity score matched model.

The aim of this study was to compare in-hospital cost and outcomes between transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). TAVI is an effective treatment option in patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis who are at high risk for traditional SAVR. Several studies using trial data or outside United States registry data have addressed TAVI cost issues, although there is a paucity of cost data involving commercial cases in the United States. Using Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Nationwide Inpatient Sample files, a propensity score–matched analysis of all commercial TAVI and SAVR cases performed in 2011 was conducted. Overall hospital cost and length of stay, as well as procedural complications, were compared between the 2 matched cohorts: 595 TAVI patients were matched to 1,785 SAVR patients in a 1:3 ratio. There was no difference in mean ($181,912 vs $196,298) or median ($152,993 vs $155,974) hospital cost between TAVI and SAVR (p = 0.60). The TAVI group had significantly shorter lengths of hospital stay than the SAVR group (mean 9.76 vs 12.01 days, p
Comparison of relative renal function by renal scintigraphy and lateralized creatinine clearance in children with bilateral vesicoureteral reflux

Objectives To evaluate the relative renal function on preoperative and postoperative renal scintigraphy with lateralized creatinine clearance. Multiple factors affect renal blood flow and glomerular filtration that alter the relative renal function calculated by renal scintigraphy. The relative renal function according to renal scintigraphy in children with bilateral vesicoureteral reflux has not been compared with lateralized creatinine clearance. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 45 children treated surgically for bilateral vesicoureteral reflux. The average age at time of reimplantation was 5.3 years. Bilateral ureteral catheters were placed intraoperatively. Lateralized creatinine clearance was measured with 24-hour urine collections postoperatively from each catheter. Bladder catheterization was not performed during the renal scans. Results Thirty-six of 45 children had preoperative 1 to 3-minute relative renal function assessed by scintigraphy, 28 had a postoperative assessment, and 24 had both. Preoperative relative renal function ranged between 51% and 94% (mean 61.3%) in the higher functioning kidney. Postoperative renal function ranged from 47% to 90% (mean 60.5%) in the higher functioning kidney. A strong correlation existed between preoperative relative renal function and lateralized creatinine clearance (P <0.0001). Similarly, a significant correlation existed between the postoperative assessment and lateralized creatinine clearance (P <0.0003). No significant difference occurred between the preoperative and postoperative 1 to 3-minute relative renal function (P = 0.3552). Conclusions The 1 to 3-minute relative renal function determined by renal scintigraphy accurately reflects the relative renal function determined by lateralized creatinine clearance. Bladder catheterization does not appear necessary for accurate determination of relative renal function by renal scan even in the presence of bilateral reflux.
Measurements of neuron soma size and density in rat dorsal striatum, nucleus accumbens core and nucleus accumbens shell: Differences between striatal region and brain hemisphere, but not sex

Both hemispheric bias and sex differences exist in striatal-mediated behaviors and pathologies. The extent to which these dimorphisms can be attributed to an underlying neuroanatomical difference is unclear. We therefore quantified neuron soma size and density in the dorsal striatum (CPu) as well as the core (AcbC) and shell (AcbS) subregions of the nucleus accumbens to determine whether these anatomical measurements differ by region, hemisphere, or sex in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Neuron soma size was larger in the CPu than the AcbC or AcbS. Neuron density was greatest in the AcbS, intermediate in the AcbC, and least dense in the CPu. CPu neuron density was greater in the left in comparison to the right hemisphere. No attribute was sexually dimorphic. These results provide the first evidence that hemispheric bias in the striatum and striatal-mediated behaviors can be attributed to a lateralization in neuronal density within the CPu. In contrast, sexual dimorphisms appear mediated by factors other than gross anatomical differences.
Application of the fiber‐optic perfusion fluorometer to absorption and exsorption studies in hairless mouse skin

This study was undertaken to test the fiber-optic perfusion fluorometer as a direct means of evaluating skin absorption and exsorption in hairless mice. Skin-barrier compromise was accomplished in the absorption experiments by application of dimethyl sulfoxide to the skin surface or by partial removal of the stratum corneum with sticky tape. Absorbed fluorescein was measured easily in unanesthetized control (skin-barrier intact) and experimental mice. Unabsorbed chemical did not fluoresce 15 minutes after application, although it was present on the surface of the skin as a dry powder. The time course of fluorescein elimination from the skin was related to a rapid phase (vascular removal) and a slow phase (reservoir entrapment). In the exsorption experiments the fluorescein was injected intraperitoneally. Back skin on the right side was swabbed with either dimethyl sulfoxide or 1% capsaicin in alcohol prior to the injections, and differences in skin fluorescence on the left (control) and right sides were recorded. One application of dimethyl sulfoxide or capsaicin increased the level of skin exsorption. Three applications of dimethyl sulfoxide almost doubled the amount of exsorbed dye, whereas three applications of the capsaicin inhibited the exsorption process. It was concluded that the fiber-optic perfusion fluorometer provides an excellent technique in support of other methods of investigating the skin.
Landmark Clinical Trials Influencing Surgical Management of Non‐invasive and Invasive Breast Cancer

The surgical management of breast cancer has changed considerably since the use of the Halstedian radical mastectomy early in the 20th century. Over the last 50 years, several landmark clinical trials from the USA and Europe have resulted in a paradigm shift in the management of breast cancer toward less radical forms of surgery with the combined use of multi-modality treatments including systemic chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and radiotherapy. Advances in such research have established a new worldwide standard of care for breast cancer surgical management and treatment, which has become more patient centric and which places a higher emphasis on cosmesis and improved patient quality of life. In this chapter, we review the landmark clinical trials that have influenced surgical management for non-invasive and invasive breast cancer and that serve to guide current clinical practices to date.
The consistency problem of knowledge bases

To check and analyze the effectiveness of knowledge base system is a very important issue for implementing the promises of AI technology. This issue has been largely ignored by researchers in this field. This paper will focus on and present the consistency problem, which is a important aspect of knowledge base effectiveness analysis, of knowledge base systems. The 'classical' definition for consistency of a formal system is inadequate for many cases under knowledge base system context. The earlier work by others have roughly defined the consistency problem of knowledge base systems, and given some simplified results. We will develop a qualitative model for the knowledge base systems, and investigate some properties of the rule set of the knowledge base. This model can be used for specification and analysis of the behaviors of the knowledge base systems. Based on this model, we will further identify and clarify the consistency problem of knowledge base system and propose a model-based methodology used for checking and analyzing the consistency of a given knowledge base system. This model-based checking methodology may help for the design and implementation of the knowledge base systems in many applications.
The number of queens: An important trait in ant evolution

The pervasive social and ecological differences between ant colonies that have a single queen and those that have multiple queens are defined. The evolutionary tendencies which lead to polygyny and the adaptive significance of multiple queens are examined. The discussion of the ecological consequences of polygyny and monogyny leads to a deeper understanding of territoriality, spacing and species packing in ants.
Abstract B112: Relationship of colorectal cancer awareness and knowledge with colorectal cancer screening: results of a population-based study

Purpose: Participation in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening lags behind screening for other types of cancer despite the ability to prevent the development of CRC and down-stage disease. The purpose was to describe the association of CRC awareness and knowledge with CRC screening. Methods: Trained interviewers from a professional survey firm conducted computer-assisted, random digit dialed telephone interviews, with landline and cell phone numbers, using a 144-item instrument developed via literature review, expert panel review, and pretesting. South Carolina residents aged 45-75 years were contacted. For this paper, analysis was restricted to respondents aged 50-75 (n=1,302) who fall in the recommended screening age range and answered knowledge, awareness, and screening items. Data were analyzed with SAS and STATA. Odds ratios were adjusted for race and gender. Results: Respondents (n=1,503) were mostly female (63%), EA (77%), had at least some college education (59%), had household income of less than $49,999 (48%), married or lived with a partner (62%), had health insurance (91%), and unemployed/not working (57.1%). Mean age was 60.3 years (SD=8.6). A majority of respondents had heard of CRC (91%). Of those who had heard of CRC, the majority had heard of CRC screening (96%). More than half of respondents (69%) could name any of the CRC screening tests. The most common CRC screening test named was colonoscopy (90%). Respondents who had heard of a CRC had greater odds of having had any CRC screening test (aOR=1.71; CI: 1.06-2.76; p Conclusion: Generally, there were high levels of awareness and knowledge scores, but modest participation in CRC screening. Higher levels of awareness and knowledge showed increased likelihood of CRC screening, yet CRC screening rates continue to be lower pointing to the need for interventions in addition to those focused on awareness and knowledge to improve adherence to recommended screening guidelines and reduced CRC cases. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):B112.
Emergence of visual-graphic symbol combinations by youth with moderate or severe mental retardation.

Research and practice on augmentative communication for persons with moderate or severe mental retardation have primarily targeted the acquisition and use of single symbols. Symbol combinations, however, provide insight into how augmented communicators use individual symbols to build more complex communications. In Study 1, untaught symbol combinations produced during natural communication interactions by 7 subjects with mental retardation were examined for their semantic, ordering, and generalization patterns. The symbol combinations largely resembled those produced by young speaking language learners, suggesting that the augmented communicators were following typical patterns of communication in generating their symbol combinations. In Study 2, we examined the symbol combinations modeled for subjects by their partners. The structure of the modeled combinations did not resemble the children’s productions, indicating that the children could not have relied on simple rote imitation for their combination pr...
Differential alteration of the effects of MDMA (ecstasy) on locomotor activity and cocaine conditioned place preference in male adolescent rats by social and environmental enrichment

Rationale Ecstasy (MDMA) is used predominately by adolescents and young adults. Young MDMA users are more likely than non-users to use other drugs, including cocaine. The response to stimulant drugs can be affected by environmental factors; however, little information exists about the role that housing plays in mediating effects of MDMA in adolescence.