cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A survey of indoor visible light communication power distribution and color shift keying transmission

The solid-state lighting is modernizing the indoor illumination. As LEDs replaced current incandescent and fluorescent lamps rapidly. Moreover, the LEDs have numerous advantages such as extremely high energy efficient, longer lifespan, lower heat generation, and enhance color rendering without using noxious chemicals. Since LEDs are able to switch to different light intensity at a very fast rate, this performance has given rise to a unique communication technology (visible light communication — VLC) as LED luminaires can be used for high speed data transmission. This survey explains a technology overview and review of existing research of visible light communication and modulation. Providing a detailed survey of 1) visible light communication system and characteristics of its various challenges and motivation; 2) optical power distribution uniformity and 3) RGB technology and CSK-CDMA VLC scheme.
Failed Ritual? Medieval Papal Funerals and the Death of Clement VI (1352)

It is the purpose of this chapter to investigate if and how the arrival of the Black Death in 1348 influenced the burial practice and funerary ritual of the late medieval papacy using the case of Clement VI’s 1352 burial as a test. After reviewing summarily the recent historiography on the Black Death and burial practices, this essay will concentrate on papal death ritual, relying on Pierre Ameil’s ordo (ceremonial book). The chapter will detail the orchestration of funerary practice during the pope’s agony, embalming, exposition of the corpse, and transport to the funerary chapel. The 1352 funeral of Clement demonstrates that protocol was not followed raising the question of the plague’s influence on this ritual.
Surgical outcomes in Alagille syndrome and PFIC: A single institution's 20-year experience.

Abstract Background Alagille Syndrome (AGS) and Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis (PFIC) are rare pediatric biliary disorders that lead to progressive liver disease. This study reviews our experience with the surgical management of these disorders over the last 20 years. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of children diagnosed with AGS or PFIC from January 1996 to December 2016. Data collected included demographics, surgical intervention (liver transplant or biliary diversion), and complications. Results Of 37 patients identified with these disorders, 17 patients (8 AGS,9 PFIC) underwent surgical intervention. Mean postsurgical follow-up was 6.9 ± 4.7 years. Liver transplantation was the most common procedure (n = 14). Two patients who were initially thought to have biliary atresia underwent hepatoportoenterostomy, but were subsequently shown to have Alagille syndrome. Biliary diversion procedures were performed in 3 patients (external n = 1, internal n = 2). PFIC patients tended to be older at the time of liver transplant compared to AGS (4.3 ± 3.9 years vs. 2.4 ± 1.1 years, p = 0.25). The AGS patient with external diversion had resolution of symptoms and no complications (follow-up: 12.5 years). Both PFIC patients with internal diversion (conduit between gallbladder and transverse colon) had resolution of pruritus and no progression of liver disease (follow-up: 3.8 and 4.5 years). Conclusions AGS and PFIC are rare biliary disorders in children which result in pruritus and progressive liver failure. Three patients in this series (8%) benefited from biliary diversion for control of pruritus and have not to date required transplantation for progressive liver disease. 38% underwent transplantation owing to pruritus and severe liver dysfunction. Level of Evidence 2b
An Historical Perspective: Cell Surface GRP78, a New Paradigm in Signal Transduction Biology

Abstract This chapter will present a historical perspective with respect to the presence of Glucose Regulated Protein 78,000 (GRP78) on the cell surface. Its presence there was completely unexpected since this protein normally functions as a molecular chaperone within the endoplasmic reticulum. When it appears on the cell surface, most particularly of cancer cells, it functions as a cell surface receptor coupled to signaling cascades which are pro-proliferative, antiapoptotic, and promigratory. Studies have identified antibodies in the plasma of cancer patients which bind to the amino-terminal domain of GRP78 where natural ligands also bind, functioning as agonistics. These antibodies are markers suggesting a poor prognosis. By contrast, antibodies which bind to the carboxyl-terminal domain block cancer cell proliferation and migration while promoting apoptosis. Thus, cell surface-associated GRP78 offers a new target for cancer therapy, particularly employing monoclonal antibodies.
Problems with Accommodation

There are many entities that cause patients to experience near vision or reading problems including accommodative dysfunctions. The clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of accommodati...
Differential Diagnosis of Borderline Personality Disorder from Bipolar Disorder

Many psychiatrists have reconceptualized borderline personality disorder (BPD) as a variant of bipolar disorder and, consistent with the treatment of bipolar disorder, emphasize the use of mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotics in treatment. This change in diagnostic practice is unfortunate. BPD is a distinct diagnostic construct, and clients who fit this pattern require a fundamentally different treatment approach than what is typically recommended for bipolar disorder. The purpose of this article is to update counselors on the expansion of bipolar disorder in the psychiatric literature, present evidence for the validity of BPD, discuss strategies for the differential diagnosis of it from bipolar disorder, review proposed changes in DSM-V, and integrate the literature into a mental health counseling framework.
Applications of Ordered Si Nanowire Array to Solar Energy Harvesting and NEMS

Nanostructured silicon thin-film solar cells are promising, due to the strongly enhanced light trapping, high carrier collection efficiency, and potential low cost. Ordered nanostructure arrays, with large-area controllable spacing, orientation, and size, are critical for reliable light-trapping and high-efficiency solar cells. Available top–down lithography approaches to fabricate large-area ordered nanostructure arrays are challenging due to the requirement of both high lithography resolution and high throughput. Here, a novel ordered silicon nano-conical-frustum array structure, exhibiting an impressive absorbance of \({\sim }{99}\,\%\) (upper bound) over wavelengths 400–1100 nm by a thickness of only \(5\,\upmu \mathrm{{m}}\), is realized by our recently reported technique self-powered parallel electron lithography that has high throughput and high resolution. High-efficiency (up to 10.8 %) solar cells are demonstrated, using these ordered ultrathin silicon nano-conical-frustum arrays. Moreover, these ordered nano-structures have been successfully integrated into nano-electro-mechanical system (NEMS), enabling high-efficiency and broad-band optical actuation for NEMS devices. The first-ever nanopillar membrane acoustic speaker, using nano-scale photonic crystal optical absorbers for thermo-mechanical excitation of speaker membrane, is demonstrated.
Hydrolysis Kinetics and Lifetime Prediction for Polycarbonate and Polyesters in Solar Energy Applications

The hydrolysis kinetics of polyesters and BPA polycarbonate appear to be second order in water, that is, second order in relative humidity (RH). This finding, combined with activation energies for hydrolysis, was used in a service life prediction model for a photovoltaic (PV) module front sheet application. The modeling process involves: (1) finding finely time-parsed climatic data for a benchmark location, (2) calculating module temperature and RH from the climatic data, and (3) applying the kinetics to determine the amount of degradation that occurs in 1 year relative to accelerated laboratory conditions, 85 °C and 85 % RH in this case. Acceleration factors under laboratory conditions are very high, especially for poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), leading to predicted lifetimes of several centuries if hydrolysis is the only degradation mode. The model was tested for sensitivity to assumptions and experimental uncertainties, and hydrolysis can be considered unimportant in this solar energy application. Concerns about PET suitability on the basis of its relatively short embrittlement times in the 85 °C/85 % RH damp heat test are unfounded.
Effect of composition and processing on Al2O3TiO2ZrO2 composites

Abstract The effect of variations in zirconia content, titania content, and processing technique on the mechanical behavior of aluminatitania-zirconia composites was investigated. As the zirconia content increased, both the strength and the Weibull modulus increased; zirconia was also an effective grain-refining agent for alumina. As the titania content increased, the strength decreased and the Weibull modulus increased initially. With careful processing to eliminate powder agglomerates, the strength of aluminatitania-zirconia composites was generally increased, at the cost of a decrease in fracture stress reliability.
Self-consistent atom probe tomography reconstructions utilizing electron microscopy.

Abstract Atom probe tomography reconstructions provide valuable information on nanometer-scale compositional variations within materials. As such, the spatial accuracy of the reconstructions is of primary importance for the resulting conclusions to be valid. Here, the use of transmission electron microscopy images before and after atom probe analysis to provide additional information and constraints is examined for a number of different materials. In particular, the consistency between the input reconstruction parameters and the output reconstruction is explored. It is demonstrated that it is possible to generate reconstructions in which the input and known values are completely consistent with the output reconstructions. Yet, it is also found that for all of the datasets examined, a particular power law relationship exists such that, if the image compression factor or detection efficiency is not constrained, a series of similarly spatially accurate reconstructions results. However, if one of these values can be independently assessed, then the other is known as well. Means of incorporating these findings and this general methodology into reconstruction protocols are also discussed.
Echoes of Exile: Genocide and Displacement Studies in the Undergraduate Music Curriculum

This chapter provides an overview of several assignments and activities used to align academic- and performance-based music curricula with the “Echoes of Exile” concert offered as part of the 2016–2017 National Endowment for the Humanities/Kupferberg Holocaust Center (NEH/KHC) Colloquium Series, “Fleeing Genocide: Displacement, Exile and the Refugee.” The concert featured exile-inspired works (including a new commission), traced genocide and refugee experiences through multiple generations, and highlighted the human dimension of displacement. Through various creative assignments that resulted in performances and written artifacts, students were invited to listen and think critically and in context; engage with a wide range of musical testimonies; mediate between the self and “the other”; more fully experience historical events; and examine the tradition and the inherent fluidity of all music, which parallels the refugee experience.
Use of Eigenvector Centrality to Rank the Vertices in a Disease-Disease Network

We investigate the use of the eigenvector centrality (EVC) metric to rank the vertices in a disease-disease network built from the results of the disease-gene association studies reported in the NIH GWAS catalog and OMIM database. The vertices in the disease-disease network are the diseases and there exists an edge between two vertices if the corresponding diseases share at least one gene in the disease-gene association network. The weight of an edge in the disease-disease network is the number of shared genes between the end vertices (diseases) of the edge. The EVC value (ranging from 0 to 1) of a vertex/disease in such an undirected weighted graph comprehensively captures the impact of the number of edges incident on the vertex and the weights of these edges as well as the number of edges incident on the neighbors of the vertex and the weights of these edges. The distribution of the EVC values of the vertices exhibit a Pareto pattern (80-20 rule) such that only about 18% of the diseases have higher and appreciably different EVC values and the remaining 82% of the diseases have lower and comparable EVC values.
Race and Insurance Status as Predictors of Bicycle Trauma Outcome in Adults.

Abstract Background Race and insurance status have been shown to predict outcomes in pediatric bicycle traumas. It is unknown how these factors influence outcomes in adult bicycle traumas. This study aims to evaluate the association, if any, between race and insurance status with mortality in adults. Methods This retrospective cohort study used the National Trauma Data Bank Research Data Set for the years 2013-2015. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to determine the independent association between patient race and insurance status on helmet use and on outcomes after hospitalization for bicycle-related injury. These models adjusted for demographic factors and comorbid variables. When examining the association between race and insurance status with outcomes after hospitalization, injury characteristics were also included. Results A study population of 45,063 met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Multivariate regression demonstrated that black adults and Hispanic adults were significantly less likely to be helmeted at the time of injury than white adults [adjusted odds ratio of helmet use for blacks 0.25 (95% CI 0.22-0.28) and for Hispanics 0.33 (95% CI 0.30-0.36) versus whites]. Helmet usage was also independently associated with insurance status, with Medicare-insured patients [AOR 0.51 (95% CI 0.47-0.56) versus private-insured patients], Medicaid-insured patients [AOR 0.18 (95% CI 0.17-0.20)], and uninsured patients [AOR 0.29 (95% CI 0.27-0.32)] being significantly less likely to be wearing a helmet at the time of injury compared with private-insured patients. Although patient race was not independently associated with hospital mortality among adult bicyclists, we found that uninsured patients had significantly higher odds of mortality [AOR 2.02 (AOR 1.31-3.12)] compared with private-insured patients. Conclusions Minorities and underinsured patients are significantly less likely to be helmeted at the time of bicycle-related trauma when compared with white patients and those with private insurance. Public health efforts to improve the utilization of helmets during bicycling should target these subpopulations.
Análisis de las competencias laborales, reclutamiento y carrera funcionaria en los servicios públicos de la quinta región

According to Levy-Leboyer (1997;54) the competences are “behavioral repertoires which some people control better than others and which makes them efficient in a particular situation”. These behaviors can be observed in people’s everyday working life as well as in evaluating situations. In all public organizations, the functionaries have the possibility of developing a functionary career which is related to a series of stages that a worker can go through during his/her working life. Due to this, the investigation aims to analyze the labor competences, recruitment and functionary career that exist within public services of the V region. And concluding that an urgent change must be done in the Administrative Ordinance; this means, modifying it in such a way that promotions are quicker, evaluations are carried out according to the work done, professional training is given to all the functionaries and based on topics which are useful for a future application, and finally, that state universities can have a greater autonomy than the one they have in their administrative and economic processes
Unnormalized Variational Bayes.

We unify empirical Bayes and variational Bayes for approximating unnormalized densities. This framework, named unnormalized variational Bayes (UVB), is based on formulating a latent variable model for the random variable $Y=X+N(0,\sigma^2 I_d)$ and using the evidence lower bound (ELBO), computed by a variational autoencoder, as a parametrization of the energy function of $Y$ which is then used to estimate $X$ with the empirical Bayes least-squares estimator. In this intriguing setup, the $\textit{gradient}$ of the ELBO with respect to noisy inputs plays the central role in learning the energy function. Empirically, we demonstrate that UVB has a higher capacity to approximate energy functions than the parametrization with MLPs as done in neural empirical Bayes (DEEN). We especially showcase $\sigma=1$, where the differences between UVB and DEEN become visible and qualitative in the denoising experiments. For this high level of noise, the distribution of $Y$ is very smoothed and we demonstrate that one can traverse in a single run $-$ without a restart $-$ all MNIST classes in a variety of styles via walk-jump sampling with a fast-mixing Langevin MCMC sampler. We finish by probing the encoder/decoder of the trained models and confirm UVB $\neq$ VAE.
The Cyber-Nuclear Nexus in East Asia: Cyberwarfare's Escalatory Potential in the US-China Relationship

The evolution of cyberwarfare will drastically complicate broader militarized conflicts between great powers. Yet, despite both their technical and psychological effects on future theaters of battle, cyber weapons have not merited sufficient attention from scholars of conflict. In particular, a crucial area for consideration in future crisis management studies is the influence of cyberwarfare on nuclear crises, or the so-called cyber-nuclear nexus. While scholars have considered this nexus in the abstract and, in some cases, with regard to future nuclear crises between the United States and Russia, they have thus far devoted insufficient attention to the influence of the cyber-nuclear nexus on potential crises between the United States and People's Republic of China. This paper addresses this gap in the literature by assessing the theoretical literature on the cyber-nuclear nexus, cyberwarfare doctrines in the US and China, and publicly available information. It finds that, though substantial ambiguity remains around cyber warfighting capabilities and doctrines, potential cyber attacks on nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) could generate both substantial fog of war effects and create secret advantages for the cyber attacker that could embolden dangerous risk taking during a brinksmanship crisis between the US and PRC. These effects support for the perspective of escalation-pessimists (as termed by Caitlin Talmadge) who study the potential for nuclear escalation in a US-China conflict.
Copper-Mediated Radical-Polar Crossover Enables Photocatalytic Oxidative Functionalization of Sterically Bulky Alkenes.

Oxidative heterofunctionalization reactions are among the most attractive methods for the conversion of alkenes and heteroatomic nucleophiles into complex saturated heterocycles. However, the state...
Entrepreneurial mindset: An integrated definition, a review of current insights, and directions for future research

Despite an increasing interest in understanding the mindset of entrepreneurs, little consensus exists on what an entrepreneurial mindset (EM) is, how it is developed, or its precise outcomes. Given...
Behavioral Ethics: Ethical Practice Is More Than Memorizing Compliance Codes

Disciplines establish and enforce professional codes of ethics in order to guide ethical and safe practice. Unfortunately, ethical breaches still occur. Interestingly, it is found that breaches are often perpetrated by professionals who are aware of their codes of ethics and believe that they engage in ethical practice. The constructs of behavioral ethics, which are most often discussed in business settings, attempt to explain why ethical professionals sometimes engage in unethical behavior. Although traditionally based on theories of social psychology, the principles underlying behavioral ethics are consistent with behavior analysis. When conceptualized as operant behavior, ethical and unethical decisions are seen as being evoked and maintained by environmental variables. As with all forms of operant behavior, antecedents in the environment can trigger unethical responses, and consequences in the environment can shape future unethical responses. In order to increase ethical practice among professionals, an assessment of the environmental variables that affect behavior needs to be conducted on a situation-by-situation basis. Knowledge of discipline-specific professional codes of ethics is not enough to prevent unethical practice. In the current article, constructs used in behavioral ethics are translated into underlying behavior-analytic principles that are known to shape behavior. How these principles establish and maintain both ethical and unethical behavior is discussed.
Role of partial cystectomy for muscle invasive bladder cancer: Impact on morbidity and overall survival, a population-based study, 2006-2017.

e16530Background: National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines state partial cystectomy (PC) may be offered in select patients with clinical T2 (cT2) muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC...
Intraperitoneal pharmacokinetics of vancomycin in patients on automated peritoneal dialysis.

It is unclear if the pharmacokinetics of vancomycin are the same during automated peritoneal dialysis (APD), where cycler exchanges may affect the systemic, peritoneal, and urinary disposition of drug. We conducted a prospective pharmacokinetic study evaluating the pharmacokinetics of vancomycin in plasma, dialysis fluid, and urine in peritonitis-negative patients on APD. Patients underwent four drug-free exchanges with 1.5% or 2.5% dextrose following the initial dwell period. Plasma, dialysis fluid, and urine was collected over the course of 7 days for pharmacokinetic analysis. Four patients completed the study with no adverse events. Following a median (range) dwell of 14.6 (14.2-17.6 h), the mean (±SD) observed maximum plasma concentration was 28.7 ± 4.9 mg/L with a mean bioavailability of 98.5 ± 1.4% prior to starting the cycler. The overall mean total plasma clearance estimated from study start to completion was 7.6 ± 1.2 ml/min. Mean total clearance during the dialytic exchange was 13.6 ± 4.9 ml/min. In patients with residual renal function, the mean vancomycin renal clearance was 3.1 ± 1.5 ml/min, representing 21.4%-58.9% of the overall total plasma clearance during the study period. Despite the small sample size, this pilot study suggests that the dwell time has important implications for systemic vancomycin exposure, time to therapeutic plasma concentration, and dosing. Dose is driven by dwell time, whereas the cycler determines the dosing interval. Rapid exchanges from APD will determine the frequency of dosing rather than the adequacy of absorption when vancomycin is given in the peritoneum.
OP1 – 2527: Phenotypic variation between siblings with metachromatic leukodystrophy

Objective Metachromatic Leukodystrophy (MLD) is a rare autosomal-recessive disorder caused by mutations in the Arylsulfatase A gene. Although over 160 mutations have been characterized, the genotype-phenotype correlation is only partly understood, and the variability in siblings is unclear with some evidence for a discrepant clinical course in juvenile patients. The aim of this study was to systematically investigate the phenotypic variation in MLD siblings in comparison to a large MLD cohort. Methods Patients with MLD of late-infantile and juvenile onset were recruited within the national research network LEUKONET. In order to increase the number of siblings, clinical data from the Netherlands were included. Data about disease onset and dynamic were obtained using a questionnaire; gross motor deterioration, cognitive decline and MRI changes were described. Results Detailed clinical information was available from 11 sibling-pairs (2 late-infantile) and 61 single patients (44 late-infantile). Variability of age at onset was similar between the siblings and randomly chosen pairs of the remaining cohort (euclidean distances). This was even more marked in late-infantile than in juvenile patients. First symptoms and disease dynamic, also, were as variable in late-infantile patients as in the whole cohort. In juvenile patients, however, both the type of first symptoms and the dynamic of the disease course were more homogeneous within siblings compared to the variability in the whole cohort. Conclusions For the first time, a systematic analysis of phenotypic variation in siblings with MLD is reported. Late-infantile patients showed a similar variability between siblings as in the whole cohort, whereas siblings with juvenile MLD showed a more homogeneous course regarding type of first symptoms and dynamic of the disease (not regarding age at onset). These results seem of high relevance especially with respect to the evaluation of therapeutic effects, where non-treated siblings are often used as controls.
Ultra low complexity adaptive beamforming via non-eigen decomposition

This paper presents a non-eigendecomposition based beamforming algorithm under the assumption that the power of the desired signal is large compared to the interfering signals. The algorithm provides a noise free suboptimal weight vector when the noise is spatially uncorrelated. and the weight vector is approximately equal to the desired signal's spatial signature. The significance here is the substantial reduction in computational complexity. Total computational load for the weight vector is O(3M-2) per snapshot for a system with M receiving antennas by approximating the cross correlation vector of the received signals in the reference and other antennas. The weight vector is a function of only the cross correlation vector and initial guess and does not require a step size. This technique requires neither a training sequence nor an assumption of incoherency among impinging signals. The algorithm is derived analytically and simulations evaluate the CDMA capacity improvement and the tracking ability when the incident angle of the desired signal varies at each snapshot.
Hemoglobin Affinity for Oxygen in Chronic Renal Disease: The Effect of Hemodialysis

The affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen may increase significantly in subjects who are hypophosphatemic and alkalotic. We studied the organic phosphate content and oxygen binding by hemoglobin of red cells in subjects undergoing hemodialysis, during which time a decrease in plasma inorganic phosphate and an increase in blood pH may occur. Red cell 2,3-DPG was not correlated with plasma inorganic phosphorus, whereas red cell ATP was highly correlated with plasma inorganic phosphorus when analyses were made on predialysis samples. Predialysis red cell inorganic phosphorus was highly correlated with plasma inorganic phosphorus, supporting the concept that intraerythrocytic inorganic phosphorus is maintained by a gradient from plasma to cell. Plasma inorganic phosphorus decreased by 45% during the period of hemodialysis, whereas red cell inorganic phosphorus did not change. Red cell 2,3-DPG, ATP, and oxygen binding by hemoglobin at standard conditions of temperature, pH, and pCO2 were not altered after 6 hr of hemodialysis. Plasma pH and base excess increased during dialysis. The increase in base excess, an estimate of the non-pH-dependent effect of CO2 on oxygen binding by hemoglobin, counterbalanced a portion of the effect of elevated pH on hemoglobin— oxygen affinity under in vivo conditions. Hence, only a slight increase in oxygen binding by hemoglobin occurred. Moreover, late dialysis symptoms were not associated with the degree of alkalosis or with the extent of change in hemoglobin’s affinity for oxygen. Red cell 2,3-DPG content was lower and hemoglobin’s affinity for oxygen was higher in subjects with chronic renal disease than in nonazotemic subjects with similar hemoglobin deficits. Moreover, increased red cell ATP in chronic renal disease patients did not influence oxygen binding by hemoglobin.
Mixed Versioning of Information Goods Under Incomplete Information

Note: Nominated for the Best Completed Research Paper Award Reference EPFL-CONF-187529 Record created on 2013-07-16, modified on 2017-05-12
Hi Hitler!: How the Nazi Past Is Being Normalized in Contemporary Culture

The Third Reich's legacy is in flux. For much of the post-war period, the Nazi era has been viewed moralistically as an exceptional period of history intrinsically different from all others. Since the turn of the millennium, however, this view has been challenged by a powerful wave of normalization. Gavriel D. Rosenfeld charts this important international trend by examining the shifting representation of the Nazi past in contemporary western intellectual and cultural life. Focusing on works of historical scholarship, popular novels, counterfactual histories, feature films, and Internet websites, he identifies notable changes in the depiction of the Second World War, the Holocaust, and the figure of Adolf Hitler himself. By exploring the origins of these works and assessing the controversies they have sparked in the United States and Europe, Hi Hitler! offers a fascinating and timely analysis of the shifting status of the Nazi past in western memory.
Abstract T P284: Use of Lean Six Sigma in a Primary Stroke Center: Improving the Time to Care

Background: Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and the leading cause of severe long term disability for adults in the US. Each minute of brain ischemia can lead to varying degrees of neurological compromise. The purpose of this study was to identify time wasting work flow processes during the evaluation phase for the suspected stroke patient (SSP) and to minimize or eliminate them. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) time targets were used as the benchmark for this research. Methods: An audit of 98 emergency department patient records revealed variation and inconsistency in meeting expected time targets that included door to: physician evaluation, stroke alert call, CT completion, CT interpretation, all lab and diagnostic completion. Lean Six Sigma methodologies were used and a two day Kaizen Event was held with an interprofessional process improvement team empowered to identify and reduce wastes, synchronize work flow processes, manage variability, devise communication and sustainability plans. A quasi-experimental pretest posttest design was used with a non-probability, structured method of sampling to select all pre- and post-intervention SSPs presenting to the emergency department for symptom evaluation ( N = 222). Results: Results indicated that time was saved and variation decreased in all areas during the last 3 weeks of the study. The post-intervention work flow redesign group was faster than the baseline group at evaluating the SSP across all time targets, F (5, 642) = 2.98, p = .01 and two were significantly faster: lab completion ( M pre = 48.10, SD = 20.70; M post = 35.54, SD = 14.80) and all diagnostics completion ( M pre = 49.74, SD = 20.26; M post = 37.77, SD = 13.76); SE decreased (3.38 to 2.84) indicating decreased work flow variability. Conclusion: Work flow process redesign conceived and implemented by front line care providers resulted in substantial time savings for both patients and staff. Whether patients chose to receive a thrombolytic agent as a treatment modality, each must be assured that time delays do not deny them this therapy option. Time efficient, value added activities for this patient translates into a greater chance to preserve brain tissue, function and quality of life.
Separation of Neurons and Glial Cells by Affinity Methods

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the separation of neurons and glial cells by affinity methods. The nervous system is a biological machinery whose apparent stability is the expression of a dynamic equilibrium between the inherent properties of its component cells, and the humoral and cellular environments in which they operate. The properties of neural cells and the regulatory mechanisms by which they adjust to the environment are the subjects of a new and rapidly expanding discipline, cellular neurobiology. Its main impetus derives from the addition of the study of neural systems in vitro to the traditional in vivo approaches. An ideal way to separate cells from a mixed cell suspension is to take advantage of cell-specific surface constituents. Potential techniques directed to this approach require three critical components. The first is the availability of ligands that can selectively recognize surface constituents of the cells to be isolated. Ligands can be known molecules binding with high affinity to cell receptors or antibody molecules directed against known or unknown cell surface antigens. The second component is a test system for cell recognition to determine whether a given ligand will in fact recognize the desired cells in the mixed cell suspension and at the same time ignore accompanying cells of a different category. The last component is a separation system that will achieve sequestration and subsequent release of the desired cells from corresponding ligands previously immobilized on a solid surface of semisolid matrix.
How carbon monoxide bonds to alumina-supported rhodium particles: Tunneling spectroscopy measurements with isotopes☆

Carbon monoxide chemisorbs in at least three different ways on alumina-supported rhodium particles: There are two different linear-bonded species and at least one bridge-bonded species. These conclusions from tunneling measurements on a model catalyst surface are based on isotope shifts with 13CO and C18O. They are in agreement with the conclusions from infrared measurements on dispersed metal catalysts.
Measurements of Lorentz air-broadening coefficients and relative intensities in the H2O-16 pure rotational and nu2 bands from long horizontal path atmospheric spectra

Lorentz air-broadening coefficients and relative intensities have been measured for forty-three lines in the pure rotational band and twenty lines in the nu2 band of H2O-16 between 800 and 1150/cm. The results were derived from analysis of nine 0.017/cm-resolution atmospheric absorption spectra recorded over horizontal paths of 0.5-1.5 km with the McMath Fourier transform spectrometer and main solar telescope operated on Kitt Peak by the National Solar Observatory. A nonlinear least-squares spectral fitting technique was used in the spectral analysis. The results are compared with previous measurements and calculations. In most cases, the measured pressure-broadening coefficients and intensities are significantly different from the values in the 1986 HITRAN line parameters compilation.
The Effect of Pulse Chirp on Two-Dimensional Fourier Transform Spectra

We investigate the effect of pulse chirp on the shape of absorptive 2-D electronic spectra. We present calculations on a model system as well as experimental results on an organic dye molecule.
Nitric oxide production by human macrophages: there's NO doubt about it.

the discovery of nitric oxide (NO) production from l-arginine by NO synthases has revolutionized our understanding of many aspects of human physiology. Since the seminal studies of Furchgott and Zawadzki ([7][1]), tremendous progress has been made in understanding the regulation of vascular tone by
Effect of lectins on the interactions between human peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocytes

Abstract Interactions between normal human peripheral blood T lymphocytes and monocytes were investigated by measuring the in vitro cellular adherence of these cells in the presence and in the absence of mitogens. Concanavalin A (Con A), lentil lectin (Lc), and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in mitogenic doses increased 15 to 20 times the binding of T lymphocytes to monocytes. The lectin-induced binding was similar to that produced by neuraminidase-gal-actose-oxidase treatment. A good correlation was found between the early cellular adherence induced by these lectins and by neuraminidase-galactose-oxidase and the blastogenesis of the T lymphocytes measured after 3 days of culture by [ 3 H]thymidine uptake. However, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), a nonmitogenic lectin, also increased the binding of T lymphocytes to monocytes. Addition of specific carbohydrates completely inhibited the cellular interactions induced by lectins. Peanut agglutinin (PNA) induced adherence of lymphocytes only after treatment of these cells with neuraminidase. Striking differences were not found between the lectin-induced adherence observed with autologous and heterologous cells. Killing of monocytes abolished entirely the lectin-induced adherence of lymphocytes, however killed T lymphocytes were still able to interact weakly with live monocytes. Dexamethasone was found to be a potent inhibitor of mitogen-induced cellular interactions.
Esophageal cancer: epidemiology, pathogenesis and prevention

The incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer have increased over the past two decades. Research into risk factors plus the ability to identify precursor lesions has permitted studies of chemoprevention for esophageal cancer to be performed; however, esophageal cancer continues to have a poor prognosis. In this Review, the authors focus on the epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis and prevention of both esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Esophageal cancer is highly aggressive and is a common cancer both worldwide and in the US. In the past two decades, the incidence and mortality of esophageal cancer in the US have both increased, whereas the incidence and mortality of other cancers have decreased. Although esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma differ in their histology and epidemiologic distribution, some of their risk factors (e.g. dietary deficiencies and tobacco) and underlying mechanisms of carcinogenesis are the same. Intensive research into risk factors combined with the ability to identify precursor lesions (e.g. squamous dysplasia in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and Barrett's esophagus in esophageal adenocarcinoma) has paved the way for studies of chemoprevention for esophageal cancer, some of which have shown promising results.
A comparative study of central nervous system irradiation and intensive chemotherapy early in remission of childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia

A study was designed to determine whether a one-week course of intensive chemotherapy and 2400 rads craniospinal irradiation prolonged complete remission of acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in children. Of 110 patients entered into the study, 104 (94%) attained complete remission, 94 of whom were available for the 2 randomizations. They were randomly assigned to receive or not receive one week of high-dosage intravenous chemotherapy and, 4 weeks later, were again randomized to receive or not receive 2400 rads cobalt-60 craniospinal irradiation. Patients randomized for no irradiation were to receive identical radiotherapy only if and when central nervous system (CNS) leukemia developed. The one week of intensive chemotherapy had no effect on the duration of remission or on the frequency or site of relapse, but irradiation had a marked effect. Complete remission was terminated by CNS leukemia in only 2 of 45 children who received “prophylactic” craniospinal irradiation compared to 27 of 49 not irradiated. Five of the 25 children who were given “therapeutic” irradiation for demonstrated CNS leukemia have already had recurrences despite continuous hematologic remission. Under the conditions of this study, we conclude that one week of intensive chemotherapy does not prolong remission, that 2400 rads craniospinal irradiation early in remission prevents or delays CNS leukemia and prolongs complete remission, and that once CNS leukemia develops, 2400 rads craniospinal irradiation is not sufficient to eradicate it.
Effects of the atmosphere on the detection of surface changes from Landsat multispectral scanner data

Abstract The atmospheric effects on radiometric data recorded in the Landsat multispectral scanner system (MSS) bands are compiled for cases of representative and ideal atmospheric conditions. The effects are expressed as a difference between the Earth's surface spectral reflectivity, a0, and the surface-atmosphere system spectral reflectivity, as, derived from the satellite data, as−a0 = −a0[l+(l/μ0)](B+W) + 2a2 0B + g(μ0)B/2μ0 where μ0 is the cosine of the solar zenith angle, B and W are the backscattering and absorption optical thickness respectively, and the function g( μ0) is the anisotropy of backscattering to the zenith from the direct beam. This formula is accurate only for an atmosphere of low optical thickness. Also, the equation applies only to large areas having a uniform reflectivity, because adjacency effects due to reflection from the terrain surrounding the object pixel and subsequent scattering by the atmosphere are not considered. It is concluded that in the quantitative monitoring of su...
Genetic Development of the Congruence Axioms

The development of axiomatic group theory by Huntington, Dickson and Moore in the last decade of the previous century has opened our minds to a deeper understanding of Euclid’s Common Notions 4: “Things which coincide one with another are equal to one another.”
Message cues and narrative comprehension: A developmental study

Two processes are advanced describing the relationship between message behaviors and narrative comprehension. The processes differ in terms of the likelihood that specific interpretations will be drawn given the presence of message cues. To investigate these processes, children listened to story segments varying in the number of cues inviting specific interpretations. Narrative comprehension was assessed by obtaining children's perceptions of story ending and ratings of the plausibility of different story outcomes. In general, the cues biased the children toward drawing a particular representation. However, fifth graders delayed choosing a representation when task requirements did not mandate a selection. It was speculated that a sophisticated comprehension strategy might be to consider message cues as sources of information for reducing the number of plausible interpretations.
Role of exercise in the pathogenesis of the amenorrhea associated with anorexia nervosa.

Anorexia nervosa has been of great interest to the endocrinologist since it is a model for the investigation of the effects of weight loss on menstrual function and gonadotropin secretion. The mechanism of amenorrhea in anorexia nervosa, whether primary or secondary, is hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The proximate cause of the hypogonadotropism appears to be a deficiency of gonadotropin releasing hormone (GNRH). Evidence for this is found in numerous studies. Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) can be stimulated from their basally low levels by the exogenous administration of GNRH (1). The pulsatile administration of GNRH can restore ovulation (2): In addition, this Observation proves the integrity of the ovary if given the appropriate LH and FSH stimulus. Hyp0thalamic GNRH deficiency is also suggested by the delay in the peak of LH and FSH after GNRH administration (3), the abnormal response of LH to clomiphene citrate (4), and the failure to demonstrate positive feedback after estrogen administration (5).
Micromechanical model for self-organized secondary phase oxide nanorod arrays in epitaxial YBa2Cu3O7−δfilms

A micromechanical model based on the theory of elasticity has been developed to study the configuration of self-assembled secondary phase oxide nanostructures in high-temperature superconducting YBa2Cu3O7−δ films. With the calculated equilibrium strain and elastic energy of the impurity doped film, a phase diagram of lattice mismatches vs. elastic constants of the dopant was obtained that predicts the energetically preferred orientation of secondary phase nanorods. The calculation of the nanorod orientation and the film lattice deformation has yielded excellent agreement with experimental measurements.
Surface electronic states in GaAs1−xPx>

Abstract The intrinsic electronic surface states of (110) GaAs 1− x P x are predicted as functions of alloy composition x . For x > x c ≈ 0.05, intrinsic states are found within the fundamental gap. The minimum energy of the surface band is primarily determined by the bulk electronic structure, not by the atomic relaxation at the surface.
A SIMULATION MODEL FOR ULTRASONIC TEMPERATURE IMAGING USING CHANGE IN BACKSCATTERED ENERGY

Ultrasound backscattered from tissue has previously been shown theoretically and experimentally to change predictably with temperature in the hyperthermia range, i.e., 37 degrees C to 45 degrees C, motivating use of the change in backscattered ultrasonic energy (CBE) for ultrasonic thermometry. Our earlier theoretical model predicts that CBE from an individual scatterer will be monotonic with temperature, with, e.g., positive change for lipid-based scatterers and negative for aqueous-based scatterers. Experimental results have previously confirmed the presence of these positive and negative changes in one-dimensional ultrasonic signals and in two-dimensional images acquired from in vitro bovine, porcine and turkey tissues. In order to investigate CBE for populations of scatterers, we have developed an ultrasonic image simulation model, including temperature dependence for individual scatterers based on predictions from our theoretical model. CBE computed from images simulated for populations of randomly distributed scatterers behaves similarly to experimental results, with monotonic variation for individual pixel measurements and for image regions. Effects on CBE of scatterer type and distribution, size of the image region and signal-to-noise ratio have been examined. This model also provides the basis for future work regarding significant issues relevant to temperature imaging based on ultrasonic CBE such as effects of motion on CBE, limitations of motion-compensation techniques and accuracy of temperature estimation, including tradeoffs between temperature accuracy and available spatial resolution.
Survival, horizontal distribution, and economics of releasing predatory mites (Acari: Phytoseiidae) using mechanical blowers

Abstract The predatory mites Phytoseiulus persimilis and Amblyseius cucumeris are commonly used in commercial greenhouses for augmentative biological control of spider mites and thrips, respectively. One disincentive for growers to use biological control is the cost of manually distributing predators. Therefore, we tested the efficiency of two types of mechanical blowers for dispensing predatory mites. One blower had a metering device to control the flow of material (MBWMD); the other had no metering device (MBWOMD). Predator survival was measured at various distances after dispensing them with blowers. Survival also was compared with a manual-sprinkling method. When blowers were held horizontally, the distribution of predators was uneven for both blowers. For P. persimilis , 77% were found at 1.52 and 2.44 m with the MBWOMD, whereas 75% were located at 2.44, 3.35, and 4.27 m with the MBWMD. For A. cucumeris , 97% were found at 1.52, 2.44, and 3.35 m with the MBWOMD, while 81% landed at 2.44 and 3.35 m with the MBWMD. Percentages of live P. persimilis found using the MBWMD, MBWOMD, and manual-sprinkling were 31 ± 4, 49 ± 3, and 68 ± 8%, respectively. For A. cucumeris , percentages of survival were 61 ± 4, 79 ± 4, and 83 ± 7%, respectively. The MBWOMD dispensed P. persimilis 22 and 44 times faster than the MBWMD and manual-sprinkling, respectively. Mechanical blowers have the advantage of better coverage, substantially less labor, and estimated total costs to growers that are approximately half that of the manual release method.