cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lung Cancer Screening Knowledge, Perceptions, and Decision Making Among African Americans in Detroit, Michigan

Introduction Previously, a web-based, patient-facing decision aid for lung cancer screening, shouldiscreen.com, was developed and evaluated. An initial evaluation was completed before the Medicare coverage decision and recruited a nondiverse sample of mostly former smokers, limiting the understanding of the potential effectiveness of the tool among diverse populations. This study evaluates shouldiscreen.com among African Americans in Metro Detroit. Methods Using insights obtained from participatory workshops in this population, content changes to shouldiscreen.com were implemented, and this modified version was evaluated with a before–after study. Measures included knowledge of lung cancer screening, decisional conflict, and concordance between individual preference and screening eligibility. Surveys occurred between April and July 2018. Participants were contacted 6 months after the survey to assess subsequent screening behaviors. Analysis took place in 2019. Results Data were collected from 74 participants aged 45–77 years, who were current/former smokers with no history of lung cancer. The average knowledge score increased by 25% from 5.7 (SD=1.94) before to 7.1 (SD=2.30) after (out of 13 points). Decisional conflict was halved between before and after. Concordance between individual preference and eligibility for screening increased from 22% (SD=41) to 35% (SD=47). Half of the participants felt uncomfortable answering surveys electronically and requested paper versions. Conclusions The use of the tool led to small improvements in lung cancer screening knowledge and increased concordance with current recommendations. Additional design modifications and modes of information delivery of these decision aids should be considered to increase their efficacy in helping populations with lower educational attainment and computer literacy.
Dendritic Cell Amiloride Sensitive Channels Mediate Sodium-induced Inflammation and Hypertension

Sodium can accumulate in the interstitium and promote inflammation through poorly defined mechanisms. Here we describe a novel pathway by which dendritic cells (DCs) are activated by increased extracellular sodium (190 mM). We show that sodium entry through the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and the sodium hydrogen exchanger (NHE) leads to calcium influx via the sodium calcium exchanger, activation of protein kinase C (PKC), phosphorylation of p47phox and association of p47phox with gp91phox. The assembled NADPH oxidase produces superoxide with subsequent formation of immunogenic isolevuglandin (IsoLG)-protein adducts. DCs activated by excess sodium produce increased interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and promote T cell production of cytokines IL-17A and interferon gamma (IFN-γ). When adoptively transferred into naive mice, these DCs prime hypertension in response to a sub-pressor dose of angiotensin II. These findings provide a mechanistic link between salt, inflammation and hypertension involving increased oxidative stress and IsoLG production in DCs.
Radiologic Evaluation of Elderly Surgical Patients Undergoing Major Emergency Surgeries

Medical imaging plays a crucial role in the evaluation of patients in the acute setting. Radiology, primarily CT, provides safe, rapid, and accurate information that is helpful in diagnosis management and triage of patients. This chapter will focus on the indications and type of medical imaging available in the elderly populations, risks and contraindications, and hallmark imaging features to be aware of. It will highlight the imaging role in the setting of mesenteric ischemia, vascular compromise, trauma, and acute bowel.
Design for Testability of Low Dropout Regulators

Integrated LDOs are closed loop systems; characterization of their gain and bandwidth is critical. Generally, gain and bandwidth parameters are extracted from LDO design simulations. However, LDO loop parameter testing requires breaking the loop and injecting a test signal into the IC. This paper presents test bed simulations and new test techniques for direct on-chip vectorless measurement of LDO DC loop gain and bandwidth. The LDO can be easily configured into two different test modes to measure these parameters. In test mode I, an additional op-amp is used as an integrator and is connected to the LDO control loop in a feedback servo loop. This forces a null at the LDO error amplifier input and simplifies DC gain measurements. The second amplifier stabilizes the DC operating point of the LDO pass transistor and error amplifier when the control loop is broken. Maintaining and controlling normal DC operating conditions is essential when measuring control loop parameters. Initial simulation results show that this approach maintains LDO component DC operating points and the LDO DC loop gain is measured with high accuracy. In test mode II, the LDO core is configured as an oscillator. The oscillation frequency can be used to estimate the bandwidth of the LDO and can be evaluated to monitor component faults. The Design for testability (DFT) technique to configure the LDO into these test modes is presented and the related practical problems and limitations are discussed.This new test technique has been applied to measure a working LDO test IC developed in a 65nm CMOS UMC technology. The simulation and practical implementation results show close agreement and the proposed test techniques can be practically integrated in a BIST structure.
NusG links transcription and translation in Escherichia coli extracts

In bacteria, transcription is coupled to, and can be regulated by, translation. Although recent structural studies suggest that the N-utilization substance G (NusG) transcription factor can serve as a direct, physical link between the transcribing RNA polymerase (RNAP) and the lead ribosome, mechanistic studies investigating the potential role of NusG in mediating transcription-translation coupling are lacking. Here, we report development of a cellular extract- and reporter gene-based, in vitro biochemical system that supports transcription-translation coupling as well as the use of this system to study the role of NusG in coupling. Our findings show that NusG is required for coupling and that the enhanced gene expression that results from coupling is dependent on the ability of NusG to directly interact with the lead ribosome. Moreover, we provide strong evidence that NusG-dependent coupling enhances gene expression through a mechanism in which the lead ribosome that is tethered to the RNAP by NusG suppresses spontaneous backtracking of the RNAP on its DNA template that would otherwise inhibit transcription.
Spatiotemporal Quantification of Vocal Fold Vibration After Exposure to Superficial Laryngeal Dehydration: A Preliminary Study.

Summary Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of a superficial laryngeal dehydration challenge on vocal fold vibration in young healthy adults using high-speed video imaging. Subjects and Methods In this prospective study, the effects of a 60-minute superficial laryngeal dehydration challenge on spatial (speed quotient, amplitude quotient) and temporal measures (jitter percentage, vibratory onset time) of vocal fold vibration and phonation threshold pressure (PTP) were evaluated in 10 (male = 4, female = 6) vocally normal adults (21–29 years). All measures except the vibratory onset time were measured at the 10 (low) and 80 (high) percent level of their pitch range. The vibratory onset time was obtained at habitual pitch and loudness level. Superficial laryngeal dehydration was induced by oral breathing in low ambient humidity. Prechallenge and postchallenge differences were statistically investigated using t tests with Bonferroni correction. Results The speed quotient at low-pitch phonation significantly decreased after oral breathing of low ambient humidity. Other spatiotemporal measures and PTP at low and high pitch were not significant after challenge. Conclusions Results from this initial study have implications for the use of high-speed video imaging to detect and quantify the subtle changes in vocal fold vibrations after superficial dehydration in healthy individuals. Preliminary findings indicate that superficial dehydration in healthy individuals results in spatial deviations at low pitch. However, further studies are warranted to identify additional spatiotemporal changes in vocal fold vibration after superficial dehydration in normal and disordered populations.
Seventy Two Hours Fast for Insulinoma

Indication This test is done to confirm and determine the cause of suspected spontaneous hypoglycemia.
The Proteolytic Enzymes of the K-1 Strain of Streptomyces griseus Obtained from a Commercial Preparation (Pronase) IV. STRUCTURE-FUNCTION STUDIES OF THE TWO SMALLEST SERINE ENDOPEPTIDASES; STABILIZATION BY GLYCEROL DURING REACTION WITH ACETIC ANHYDRIDE

Abstract A study was carried out on some of the properties of the two smallest serine endopeptidases from Pronase which had previously been purified to homogeneity. Each enzyme is homologous with bovine chymotrypsin and has isoleucine as the NH2-terminal residue. The smaller enzyme is free of lysine, whereas the larger enzyme contains only 1 lysine residue. Reaction of the larger enzyme with acetic anhydride yielded a homogeneous, active, and stable derivative as indicated by ion exchange chromatography and acrylamide gel electrophoresis. Reaction of the smaller enzyme with acetic anhydride yielded two chromatographic components, of which only the larger demonstrated activity against Nα-acetyl-l-tyrosine ethyl ester. This active component autolyzes during acrylamide gel electrophoresis but appears as a single band by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. The excellent yields of these protein derivatives were only achieved by modifying the past standard techniques of acetylation. In each reaction mixture glycerol was included at a concentration of 20% by volume. As a result only small amounts of native proteins were required to prepare the derivatives. Analysis of each enzyme revealed complete acetylation of the NH2-terminal isoleucine residue. Acetylation resulted in only modest changes in the Michaelis constant and maximal velocity of each enzyme with Nα-acetyl-l-tyrosine ethyl ester as substrate. Despite the earlier observation that only the larger enzyme demonstrated marked stability in 6 m guanidinium chloride there was no difference in the heat stabilities of the two enzymes. Neither showed an effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) on activity at 37° even after several hours; however, at temperatures above 45° each enzyme underwent marked loss of activity in the presence of EDTA, whereas activity was conserved up to 60° in the absence of chelating agent. Metal-free enzyme was prepared in each case by gel filtration at a low pH in the absence of metals. These metal-free proteins demonstrated the same temperature stabilities as the EDTA-treated native enzymes. Of the many cations tested, Ca2+ was specific in each case in restoring the stability at higher temperatures to the metal-free enzymes.
Cycle life of communications batteries and the impact on waste reduction

Portable electronic products have become essential to the business world. Based on current trends, several analysts expect that 50% of all portable electronics will be battery powered by the year 2000. Here, the author examines the cycle life of secondary batteries for such applications and discusses the impact that the improvement of the cycle life of rechargeable batteries will have on environmental waste reduction. >
Acetylhexosamine compounds enzymically released from Micrococcus lysodeikticus cell walls. I. Isolation and composition of acetylhexosamine and acetylhexosamine-peptide complexes.

Abstract Some of the dialyzable products of the digestion of Micrococcus lysodeikticus cell walls by lysozyme and by a similar enzyme secreted by a Streptomyces have been isolated and their compositions determined. The two simplest substances released by both enzymes are (a) a di-saccharide of N-acetylmuramic acid-N-acetylglucosamine and (b) an N-acetylmuramic acid-N-acetylglucosamine complex. Seven peptide-acetyl-amino sugar complexes have been isolated. All seven compounds contain lysine, glutamic acid, glycine, alanine in the same molecular proportions as found in the original cell wall and a di-saccharide moiety of N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetylglucosamine. One of the peptide-amino sugar complexes contains in addition a polysaccharide moiety [N-acetylmuramic acid-N-acetylglucosamine] 10 .
Appendix Q: Quantization PPSD

This appendix contains sections titled: Development of Eq. (Q.1) Superposition New Synthesized Frequency Loop Response Verification of the Effect of Sampling on the Loop
The Constitution, The Roberts Court & Business: The Significant Business Impact of the Supreme Court's 2011-2012 Term

The 2011-2012 Supreme Court term created quite the media buzz. The Affordable Care Act cases and the controversial Arizona immigration law dominated the headlines. But the term also included other fascinating yet less sensationalized cases. The Court heard its fair share of criminal law controversies involving derelict defense attorneys and prosecutors as well as civil procedure disputes involving qualified immunity for witness in grand jury proceedings and private parties assisting the government in litigation. The justices also entertained arguments on a federal law allowing United States citizens born in Jerusalem to have “Israel” stamped as their birthplace on a passport. The Secretary of State refused arguing that the practice would inflame tensions in an already volatile Middle East. Another case pitted the First Amendment right to lie about receiving military honors against the Stolen Valor Act prohibiting that type of dishonest speech. A case from Montana hearkened back to 1889 and implicated the Equal Footing Doctrine – a Constitutional provision granting territory to states upon entering the Union. Texas crafted new electoral maps based on the 2010 census and soon found them scrutinized under the Voting Rights Act. In all, the term was extraordinary because most of its cases revolved around topics ripped from the headlines and touched on areas of public policy relevant to Americans in 2012 and beyond. The term was also compelling because of its impact on the business arena. The justices granted certiorari in fourteen business cases, eight of which were cherry picked for this article. Each case chosen covered a classic business law topic, generated strong interest within the business community, contained predominately business-focused facts, and had a connection to a business-related constitutional provision/amendment or statute. These eight cases provide the best glimpse into the Roberts Court’s most recent stance on topics important to the business community. This article evaluates these cases in depth and proposes the following business impact theory of the term: (1) the Court’s opinion in each case had as strong pro-business slant with business interests receiving fifty out of fifty-two potential votes. This slant is significantly different from the previous term where the Court unanimously voted against business interests several times; (2) these pro-business decisions did not occur in ordinary, run of the mill cases. Instead the impact of these decisions is magnified because they involved subjects critical to America’s economic recovery; (3) perhaps surprisingly, the Court’s liberal-leaning justices voted with the Court’s conservatives in twenty out of a possible
Psychopathy in Youth: Pursuing Diagnostic Clarity

Psychopathy in youth has received increased recognition as a critical clinical construct for the evaluation and management of troubled adolescents (e.g., Frick, P. J. (1998). In Cooke, D. J., Forth, A. E., and Hare, R. D. (eds.), Psychopathy: Theory, Research and Implications for Society. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, MA, pp. 161–187; Lynam, D. R. (1998). J. Abnorm. Psychol., 107: 566–575). To date, clinical research has examined psychopathy simply as a global construct rather than focusing on its specific criteria. In addition, researchers have tended to utilize downward extensions of adult conceptualizations of psychopathy to understand this syndrome in youth. This study was designed to assist in clarifying the construct of psychopathy in youth from a fresh perspective via prototypical analysis. Psychologists from the Clinical Child Psychology Section of the American Psychological Association (i.e., Division 53; N = 511) rated the prototypicality of the psychopathy construct for both male and female youth. Factor analyses for both genders resulted in 2 dimensions that reflected both personality and behavioral components of the disorder. Prototypicality ratings revealed important adult-to-child and male-to-female differences. In addition, child psychologists' views of their effectiveness at treating psychopathy in youth was surveyed. Contrary to the prevailing pessimism, clinical child psychologists reported that children and adolescents made moderate gains in psychotherapy. These results provide a framework for clinical child psychologists in their evaluations and treatment of psychopathic youth.
Analyzing and Visualizing Criminal Network Dynamics: A Case Study

Dynamic criminal network analysis is important for national security but also very challenging. However, little research has been done in this area. In this paper we propose to use several descriptive measures from social network analysis research to help detect and describe changes in criminal organizations. These measures include centrality for individuals, and density, cohesion, and stability for groups. We also employ visualization and animation methods to present the evolution process of criminal networks. We conducted a field study with several domain experts to validate our findings from the analysis of the dynamics of a narcotics network. The feedback from our domain experts showed that our approaches and the prototype system could be very helpful for capturing the dynamics of criminal organizations and assisting crime investigation and criminal prosecution.
Topical Delivery of 13-cis-Retinoic Acid by Inhalation Up-Regulates Expression of Rodent Lung but not Liver Retinoic Acid Receptors

Chemopreventive retinoids may be more effective if delivered to the lung epithelium by inhalation. 13- cis -Retinoic acid (13- cis -RA) was comparable to all- trans -retinoic acid (RA) in inducing transglutaminase II (TGase II) in cultured human cells. Inhaled 13- cis -RA had a significant stimulatory activity on TGase II in rat lung ( P < 0.001) but not in liver tissue ( P < 0.544). Furthermore, inhaled 13- cis -RA at daily deposited doses of 1.9 mg/kg/day up-regulated the expression of lung retinoic acid receptors (RARs) α,β , and γ at day 1 (RARα by 3.4-fold, RARβ by 7.2-fold, and RARγ by 9.7-fold) and at day 17 (RARα by 4.2-fold, RARβ by 10.0-fold, and RARγ by 12.9-fold). At a lower aerosol concentration, daily deposited doses of 0.6 mg/kg/day were also effective at 28 days. Lung RARα was induced by 4.7-fold, RARβ by 8.0-fold, and RARγ by 8.1-fold. Adjustment of dose by exposure duration was also effective; thus, inhalation of an aerosol concentration of 62.2 μg/liter, for durations from 5 to 240 min daily for 14 days, induced all RARs from 30.6- to 74-fold at the shortest exposure time. None of the animals exposed to 13- cis -RA aerosols showed RAR induction in livers. By contrast, a diet containing pharmacological RA (30 μg/g of diet) failed to induce RARs in SENCAR mouse lung, although it induced liver RARs (RARα, 21.8-fold; RARβ, 13.5-fold; RARγ, 12.5-fold); it also failed to induce lung TGase II. A striking increase of RARα expression was evident in the nuclei of hepatocytes. Pharmacological dietary RA stimulated RARα, RARβ, and RARγ as early as day 1 by 2-, 4-, and 2.1-fold, respectively, without effect on lung RARs. Therefore, 13- cis -RA delivered to lung tissue of rats is a potent stimulant of lung but not liver RARs. Conversely, dietary RA stimulates liver but not lung RARs. These data support the concept that epithelial delivery of chemopreventive retinoids to lung tissue is a more efficacious way to attain up-regulation of TGase II and the retinoid receptors and possibly to achieve chemoprevention.
Transferrin-targeted polymeric micelles co-loaded with curcumin and paclitaxel: efficient killing of paclitaxel-resistant cancer cells.

Purpose The ability to successfully treat advanced forms of cancer remains a challenge due to chemotherapy resistance. Numerous studies indicate that NF-κB, a protein complex that controls the expression of numerous genes, as being a key factor in producing chemo-resistant tumors. In this study, the therapeutic potential of transferrin (TF)-targeted mixed micelles, made of PEG-PE and vitamin E co-loaded with curcumin (CUR), a potent NF-κB inhibitor, and paclitaxel (PCL), was examined.
Observables in kaon photoproduction.

We briefly review the status of recent analyses of kaon photoproduction data. The utility of future measurements of other kaon photoproduction observables is discussed. We note that a set of target polarization data has been neglected in all recent analyses. The constraint imposed by this data set is illustrated.
Determination of Thermal Inactivation Kinetics of Hepatitis A Virus in Blue Mussel (Mytilus edulis) Homogenate

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a food-borne enteric virus responsible for outbreaks of hepatitis associated with shellfish consumption. The objectives of this study were to determine the thermal inactivation behavior of HAV in blue mussels, to compare the first-order and Weibull models to describe the data, to calculate Arrhenius activation energy for each model, and to evaluate model efficiency by using selected statistical criteria. The times required to reduce the population by 1 log cycle (D-values) calculated from the first-order model (50 to 72°C) ranged from 1.07 to 54.17 min for HAV. Using the Weibull model, the times required to destroy 1 log unit (tD = 1) of HAV at the same temperatures were 1.57 to 37.91 min. At 72°C, the treatment times required to achieve a 6-log reduction were 7.49 min for the first-order model and 8.47 min for the Weibull model. The z-values (changes in temperature required for a 90% change in the log D-values) calculated for HAV were 15.88 ± 3.97°C (R(2), 0.94) with the Weibull model and 12.97 ± 0.59°C (R(2), 0.93) with the first-order model. The calculated activation energies for the first-order model and the Weibull model were 165 and 153 kJ/mol, respectively. The results revealed that the Weibull model was more appropriate for representing the thermal inactivation behavior of HAV in blue mussels. Correct understanding of the thermal inactivation behavior of HAV could allow precise determination of the thermal process conditions to prevent food-borne viral outbreaks associated with the consumption of contaminated mussels.
Dana-Farber repository for machine learning in immunology

The immune system is characterized by high combinatorial complexity that necessitates the use of specialized computational tools for analysis of immunological data. Machine learning (ML) algorithms are used in combination with classical experimentation for the selection of vaccine targets and in computational simulations that reduce the number of necessary experiments. The development of ML algorithms requires standardized data sets, consistent measurement methods, and uniform scales. To bridge the gap between the immunology community and the ML community, we designed a repository for machine learning in immunology named Dana-Farber Repository for Machine Learning in Immunology (DFRMLI). This repository provides standardized data sets of HLA-binding peptides with all binding affinities mapped onto a common scale. It also provides a list of experimentally validated naturally processed T cell epitopes derived from tumor or virus antigens. The DFRMLI data were preprocessed and ensure consistency, comparability, detailed descriptions, and statistically meaningful sample sizes for peptides that bind to various HLA molecules. The repository is accessible at http://bio.dfci.harvard.edu/DFRMLI/.
Dispersion resulting from flow through spatically periodic porous media II. Surface and intraparticle transport

A rigorous theory of Brownian particle flow and dispersion phenomena in spatially periodic structures is presented within the context of generalized Taylor dispersion theory. The analysis expands upon a prior work, which was limited to transport within the continuous phase, to include convective and diffusive transport of the tracer particle within the interior of the discontinuous phase, as well as surface adsorption and transport along the phase boundary separating the discontinuous and continuous phases. Incorporated within the generalization are considerations of tracer particles of non-zero size, and situations wherein external forces act upon the tracer, the novel effect of each being to cause the tracer to move with a different velocity from that of the fluid in which it is suspended. Applications to various chromatographic separation phenomena are cited. Extensions of the analysis to heat-transfer problems and to situations involving homogeneous, first-order chemical reactions are also made. Both Eulerian and Lagrangian interpretations of the tracer transport phenomena are given.
Structure of Pt Overlayers on ZnO(0001) and ZnO(0001̄) Surfaces

The growth of Pt films on the Zn- and O-terminated polar surfaces of ZnO has been studied. Clean surfaces, prepared by sputtering and annealing, were dosed with Pt by vapor deposition. Properties o...
RAID0.5: design and implementation of a low cost disk array data protection method

RAID has long been established as an effective way to provide highly reliable as well as high-performance disk subsystems. However, reliability in RAID systems comes at the cost of extra disks. In this paper, we describe a mechanism that we have termed RAID0.5 that enables striped disks with very high data reliability but low disk cost. We take advantage of the fact that most disk systems use offline backup systems for disaster recovery. With the use of these offline backup systems, the disk system needs to only replicate data since the last backup, thus drastically reducing the storage space requirement. Though RAID0.5 has the same data loss characteristics of traditional mirroring, the lower storage space comes at the cost of lower availability. Thus, RAID0.5 is a tradeoff between lower disk cost and lower availability while still preserving very high data reliability. We present analytical reliability models and experimental results that demonstrate the enhanced reliability and performance of the proposed RAID0.5 system.
RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE GELS

The rheological properties of heat whey protein concentrate gels were studied by dynamic oscillation rheometry. A whey protein concentrate of 75% protein was used to make solutions of 10.3, 12.5 and 14.5% protein (w/w), which were heated to 90C for gel formation. Specific attention was focused on the temperature dependence of the mechanical properties of the gels during cooling and reheating. In all cases the magnitude of the complex modulus |G*| was found to increase with decreasing temperatures from 90 to 30C. The tan δ, which is related to the relative viscoelasticity of the gels, increased with decreasing temperatures from 90 to 60C. At temperatures between 60 and 30° C, tan δ remained constant. The dependence of |G*| and tan δ on temperature was found to remain constant during heating and cooling between 30 and 70C, indicating that rheological changes were reversible within this temperature range.
Auditory brainstem-evoked response in childhood brainstem glioma

Auditory brainstem-evoked responses were recorded from 14 children with clinical and radiological evidence of brainstem glioma. Responses were abnormal in all cases. The findings were consistent with intrinsic brainstem lesions in all except one case with a glioma, which was shown to be located predominantly in the medulla oblongata. Seven of the children had more than one test and changes in the responses paralleled clinical changes in all except the case with glioma of the medulla. The usefulness of auditory brainstem-evoked responses as an aid in diagnosing and monitoring changes in brainstem gliomas is discussed.
The development of visual and auditory selective attention using the central--incidental paradigm.

Abstract Analogous auditory and visual central-incidental learning tasks were administered to 24 second-, fourth-, and sixth-grade and college-age subjects to study the effects of modality of presentation on memory for central and incidental stimulus materials. There was no strong evidence to indicate that modality of presentation was an important factor in the development of selective attention. Central task learning increased with age for both auditory and visual presentations; incidental learning declined at the oldest age level for both auditory and visual tasks. The serial position analysis revealed that the observed developmental increase in recall performance was due primarily to differences in the initial serial positions. The use of active strategies for focusing attention on the relevant stimulus materials seemed to be the crucial determinant of level of performance.
A real-time polymerase chain reaction method for monitoring anaerobic, hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria based on a catabolic gene.

We have developed a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method that can quantify hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in sediment samples based on a catabolic gene associated with the first step of...
On the root separation of polynomials and inertia theorem for matrices

Inertia theorems for matrices are briefly reviewed and proofs of several root-separation methods for polynomials are unified and simplified using various inertia theorems. Interconnections between root-separation problem for polynomials and inertia theorems for matrices are stressed in the whole discussion.
Reducing liver transplant length of stay: a Lean Six Sigma approach

Context—Organ transplant centers are under increasing scrutiny to maintain outcomes while controlling cost in a challenging population of patients. Throughout health care and transplant specifically, length of stay is used as a benchmark for both quality and resource utilization.Objective—To decrease our length of stay for liver transplant by using Lean Six Sigma methods.Design—The Six Sigma DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) method was used to systematically analyze our process from transplant listing to hospital discharge after transplant, identifying many factors affecting length of stay.Patients or Other Participants—Adult, single-organ, primary liver transplant recipients between July 2008 and June 2012 were included in the study. Recipients with living donors or fulminant liver failure were excluded.Intervention(s)—Multiple interventions, including a clinical pathway and enhanced communication, were implemented.Main Outcome Measure(s)—Length of stay after liver transplant and readmis...
Let's Build Tomorrow's Talent Today

My association with AGU since graduate student days has benefited my scientific research and career in numerous ways. Through AGU I have met intelligent colleagues, forged important partnerships that led to significant research projects, published most of my research results, received recognition from my peers, and been enriched by my roles as Geophysical Research Letters editor in chief, Space Physics and Aeronomy section president, and chair of the Committee on Public Affairs and the Meetings Committee. Like many of you, I am an AGU junkie. Yet I worry that the abundant opportunities we have enjoyed in Earth and space science research may not be as available to the generation that follows us. That is why I have agreed to chair the AGU 2009 Voluntary Contribution Campaign.
The Phyletically Irregular Social Behavior of Diogenes Pugilator (Anomura, Paguridea) 1)

Le comportement social du pagure Diogenes pugilator ressemble davantage a celui des Paguridae qu'a celui des autres membres de la famille des Diogenidae. Son allure generale et ses mouvements, l'usage du jeu des chelipedes, le comportement de secouement-delogement, et le comportement sexuel sont tres semblables a ceux des Paguridae.
Analyzing the time and value of housestaff inpatient work

OBJECTIVE: To determine time allocation and the perceived value to education and patient care of the weekday activities of internal medicine housestaff on inpatient rotations and to compare the work activities of interns and residents.
The Alpha-Particle Model of the Nucleus

This paper reviews the theory of nuclei composed of alpha-particles alone, and extends it to cases where in addition to the alpha-particles, a single neutron or proton is present, and also to those light nuclei in which a single neutron or proton is missing from the complete alphaparticle structure. In the latter cases the missing particle is considered as a neutron or proton "hole." In the first section of the paper, the configuration of the alphaparticles is considered together with the motion of the neutron, proton, neutron hole, or proton hole, in the field of the fixed alpha-particles for nuclei lighter than fluorine. Rough values for the binding energies are obtained and compared with the results of the Hartree model. In the second section of the paper, rotations of the same nuclei are discussed, and the symmetry properties of the fundamental states, as well as the symmetry properties and the approximate spacing of some of the excited states are obtained. The symmetry properties of the fundamental states are in agreement with those obtained from the independent-particle model. Furthermore the excited states as obtained from the two models show a marked parallelism, although a greater number of levels is predicted by the alpha-particle model than by the independent-particle model.
On estimating the mean of the selected uniform population

Let be k independent uniform populations with unknown parameter θ1.Let Y1 denote the largest observation based on a random sample of size n from the i-th population.The population with the largest Y1 is selected. Estimating the mean of the selected population was considered by Vellaisamy, Kumar, and Sharma (1988). They obtained an UMVU estimator and a generalized Bayes estimator for the selected mean. In the case k=2, they showed that the natural estimator is inadmissible w. r. t.(with respect to) the squared error loss L1 , the generalized Bayes estimator is minimax w. r. t. the scale invariant loss L2 and the unbiased estimator can be improved under both loss L1 and L2. In this paper, we consider the same problem and extend most of their results: When k=2, we found an improved estimator of UMVUE among a class of equivariant estimators w.r.t. the L1 loss. For any k≥2, the generalized Bayes estimator is minimax w.r.t. L2, and the UMVUE can be improved under both loss L1 and L2.
Aortic valve myxoma at the extreme age: a review of literature

Primary cardiac tumours are a rare finding, with cardiac myxoma and fibroelastoma representing the majority of these tumours. Cardiac myxomas are most commonly found in the left atrium but are rarely found with attachment to the cardiac valves. The authors describe a case of aortic myxoma found in an 81-year-old man presented with peripheral arterial disease. CT angiogram of the thorax was performed to find the source of emboli and it showed a mass attached to the aortic valve and protruding into the aorta. Details of the location and texture were studied on transoesophageal echocardiography. Preoperative coronary angiography showed coronary artery disease and the patient underwent successful coronary artery bypass grafting and simultaneous resection of the mass. Histopathology revealed the mass as a myxoma.
Analysis of C60 oxides and C120On (n = 1,2,3) using matrix assisted laser desorption-ionization Fourier transform mass spectrometry

Abstract MALDI FTMS is shown to be a quick and simple method for analyzing fullerene oxides and their dimers that result from the oxidation of fullerenes. Since only very small quantities of material are needed, HPLC fractions are ideally suited for analysis. We demonstrate the use of PPh 3 deoxygenation reactions in providing information into the functionality of the oxygen, with a two order of magnitude increase in sensitivity over previously reported HPLC methods. The ability of FTMS to carry out SORI provides further structural information, and MS 4 has been successfully carried out on C 60 O 3 . A novel fullerene dimer, C 120 O 3 , is proposed and initial data from deoxygenation reactions and SORI suggest the structure involves three tetrahydrofuran-like bridges.
The nature of abstract orthographic codes: evidence from masked priming and magnetoencephalography.

What kind of mental objects are letters? Research on letter perception has mainly focussed on the visual properties of letters, showing that orthographic representations are abstract and size/shape invariant. But given that letters are, by definition, mappings between symbols and sounds, what is the role of sound in orthographic representation? We present two experiments suggesting that letters are fundamentally sound-based representations. To examine the role of sound in orthographic representation, we took advantage of the multiple scripts of Japanese. We show two types of evidence that if a Japanese word is presented in a script it never appears in, this presentation immediately activates the (“actual”) visual word form of that lexical item. First, equal amounts of masked repetition priming are observed for full repetition and when the prime appears in an atypical script. Second, visual word form frequency affects neuromagnetic measures already at 100–130 ms whether the word is presented in its conventional script or in a script it never otherwise appears in. This suggests that Japanese orthographic codes are not only shape-invariant, but also script invariant. The finding that two characters belonging to different writing systems can activate the same form representation suggests that sound identity is what determines orthographic identity: as long as two symbols express the same sound, our minds represent them as part of the same character/letter.
Asthma : a syndrome composed of heterogeneous diseases

Objective To review the concept that asthma comprises distinct heterogeneous inflammatory disorders characterized by patients showing different phenotypes with distinct genetic components, environmental causes, and immunopathologic signatures. Data Sources Ovid MEDLINE and PubMed databases from 1950 to the present time were searched for relevant articles and references regarding the heterogeneity of asthma. Study Selection Articles that described the various phenotypes of asthma were used for this review. Results Asthma is unlikely to be a single disease but rather a series of complex, overlapping individual diseases or phenotypes, each defined by its unique interaction between genetic and environmental factors. These conditions include syndromes characterized by allergen-exacerbated, nonallergic, and aspirin-exacerbated factors along with syndromes best distinguished by their pathologic findings (eosinophilic, neutrophilic, pauci-granulocytic), response to therapy (corticosteroid resistant), and natural history (remodeling prone). Additional phenotypes will almost certainly be identified as advances in genetics and other profiling methods are made and will be accompanied by the availability of clear biomarkers for distinguishing among them. Conclusions Responses to asthma medications vary considerably among patients, likely reflecting, at least in part, the differing sensitivities of the various asthma phenotypes. Selecting the best possible treatment course in individual patients will be aided by clearly identifying the different phenotypes. Physicians need to recognize this when making decisions to adjust treatment to improve asthma control.
Probing the Origins of Linear Free Energy Relationships with Molecular Theory and Simulation

Linear free energy relationships (also known as entropy-energy compensation) are seen in a range of physical processes, including adsorption and diffusion. The most interesting compensation effects presumably arise from geometric and energetic effects at the molecular level, but their origins are not well understood. We utilize molecular modeling of simple adsorbate-adsorbent systems to discover these origins in a semi-quantitative way. Sets of calculations were constructed to represent certain experimental processes, e.g. adsorption of a homologous series of molecules, for which linear free energy relationships might be expected. We find that the general correlation between energy and entropy is often much more complex than a simple linear relationship, although a linear approximation might be sufficient across limited ranges.
Contact reaction between Si and Pd‐W alloy films

Contact reactions in the temperature range 250–650 °C between (100) Si and Pd‐W binary alloy films of composition Pd80W20 and Pd30W70 have been studied by a combination of ion backscattering, x‐ray diffraction, and current‐voltage measurement of Schottky barrier height. For the Pd‐rich alloy, the reaction around 400 °C produced the silicide Pd2Si by depleting Pd from the alloy and resulted in the formation of a two‐layer structure, W/Pd2Si/Si. We have found that the W layer has served effectively as a diffusion barrier for the subsequently deposited Al, indicating that a rectifying contact and its diffusion barrier can be fabricated simultaneously. At higher reaction temperatures, the W layer transforms to WSi2 with some mixture of Pd2Si. The alloying of Pd with W has been found to increase the formation temperature of Pd2Si but decrease that of WSi2. In the Pd80W20 reaction, Pd2Si forms around 400 °C and WSi2 around 500 °C. In the Pd30W70 reaction, Pd2Si forms around 500 °C and WSi2 around 650 °C.
Indoor wireless source localization based on area constraints

This paper deals with indoor source localization using multiple receivers. Unlike outdoor environment, indoor sources have restricted motion and move in partially or fully known indoor settings, including rooms and hallways. The source could be a robot or unmanned ground vehicle. The source could emit a wireless transmission of thermal, chemical or biological hazard event. In this paper, inequality geometric constraints are developed and applied to help improve localization estimates based on Trilateration for indoor environments. The constraints, which can be applied to outdoor environments as well, restrict the source position estimate from existing in certain regions that are labeled invalid and consistent with the building layout and blue prints. Simulations are conducted to demonstrate the advantage of subjecting the optimization problem to the developed constraints, which is particularly notable as the range error variance increases.
"Recruitment signals" from apoptotic cells: invitation to a quiet meal.

An evolutionarily conserved machinery exists for engulfment of apoptotic cells from worm to mammals. New observations suggest that corpse clearance is tightly linked to apoptosis and that dying cells use both recruitment and eat-me signals for phagocyte attraction and recognition.
Broad-spectrum caspase inhibition paradoxically augments cell death in TNF-α–stimulated neutrophils

It is increasingly clear that there are caspase-dependent and -independent mechanisms for the execution of cell death and that the utilization of these mechanisms is stimulus- and cell type–dependent. Intriguingly, broad-spectrum caspase inhibition enhances death receptor agonist-induced cell death in a few transformed cell lines. Endogenously produced oxidants are causally linked to necroticlike cell death in these instances. We report here that broad-spectrum caspase inhibitors effectively attenuated apoptosis induced in human neutrophils by incubation with agonistic anti-Fas antibody or by coincubation with tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and cycloheximide ex vivo. In contrast, the same caspase inhibitors could augment cell death upon stimulation by TNF-α alone during the 6-hour time course examined. Caspase inhibitor–sensitized, TNF-α–stimulated, dying neutrophils exhibit apoptoticlike and necroticlike features. This occurred without apparent alteration in nuclear factor–κB (NF-κB) activation. Nevertheless, intracellular oxidant production was enhanced and sustained in caspase inhibitor-sensitized, TNF-α–stimulated neutrophils obtained from healthy subjects. However, despite reduced or absent intracellular oxidant production following TNF-α stimulation, cell death was also augmented in neutrophils isolated from patients with chronic granulomatous disease incubated with a caspase inhibitor and TNF-α. These results demonstrate that, in human neutrophils, TNF-α induces a caspase-independent but protein synthesis–dependent cell death signal. Furthermore, they suggest that TNF-α activates a caspase-dependent pathway that negatively regulates reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity.
Donor cell chimerism permitted by immunosuppressive drugs: a new view of organ transplantation

One line of thought in organ transplantation feels that immunosuppressive drugs can lead to tolerance induction by allowing a previously unrecognized common mechanism of cell migration and microchimerism to occur, persist, and in some cases, become drug independent. It has been recognized that there is a spectrum of susceptibility of different organs to cellular rejection and that the variable ability of these organs to induce donor-specific nonreactivity reflects their comparative content of migratory leukocytes. Here, Thomas Starzl and colleagues discuss how many of the enigmas of transplantation immunology can be explained by this chimerism.
Destruction of coccidial oocysts of chickens by means of chemicals

1. 1. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of various chemicals on Eimeria tenella oocysts outside the host. 2. 2. In experiment No. 1 oocysts treated with allyl acetone, dichlorobutene (pure and 50/50) showed no signs of sporulation. 3. 3. In experiment No. 2 there were no oocysts recovered from birds fed sporulated oocysts treated with allyl acetone and dibromobutene (pure and 50/50) .
Fabrication and properties of composites utilizing reclaimed woven carbon fiber by sub-critical and supercritical water recycling

Abstract Supercritical fluid recycling has emerged as an appealing method for recycling carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP). Under supercritical conditions, the high reactivity, low viscosity and high diffusivity of water greatly facilitate the efficient degradation of the polymer matrix to allow the harvesting of clean and mostly undamaged fibers. We previously reported the successful use of supercritical water recycling to recover carbon fibers from high-performance single-layer composites and possibly multi-layered composites. The fibers are reclaimed in the original woven architecture, which is beneficial for direct use for reclaimed-fiber composites. In this study, the fabrication of reclaimed-fiber composites (RFC) was investigated using fibers recycled from aerospace-grade IM7/8552 (Hexcel) 12-layer composites. Two fabrication methods – hand lay-up and vacuum infusion – were attempted. The recycled matrix materials were also combined with fresh resin and cured. The reclaimed-fiber composites exhibited 80–95% of flexural strength of virgin carbon fiber composites. This paper also discusses the manufacturing issues associated with the reuse of reclaimed materials.