cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TU-CD-BRD-04: UCLA Experience, with Focus On Developing Metrics and Using RO-ILS

It has long been standard practice in radiation oncology to report internally when a patient’s treatment has not gone as planned and to report events to regulatory agencies when legally required. Most potential errors are caught early and never affect the patient. Quality assurance steps routinely prevent errors from reaching the patient, and these “near misses” are much more frequent than treatment errors. A growing number of radiation oncology facilities have implemented incident learning systems to report and analyze both errors and near misses. Using the term “incident learning” instead of “event reporting” emphasizes the need to use these experiences to change the practice and make future errors less likely and promote an educational, non-punitive environment. There are challenges in making such a system practical and effective. Speakers from institutions of different sizes and practice environments will share their experiences on how to make such a system work and what benefits their clinics have accrued. Questions that will be addressed include: • How to create a system that is easy for front line staff to access • How to motivate staff to report • How to promote the system as positive and educational and not punitive or demeaning • How to organize the team for reviewing and responding to reports • How to prioritize which reports to discuss in depth • How not to dismiss the rest • How to identify underlying causes • How to design corrective actions and implement change • How to develop useful statistics and analysis tools • How to coordinate a departmental system with a larger risk management system • How to do this without a dedicated quality manager Some speakers’ experience is with in-house systems and some will share experience with the AAPM/ASTRO national Radiation Oncology Incident Learning System (RO-ILS). Reports intended to be of value nationally need to be comprehensible to outsiders; examples of useful reports will be shown. There will be ample time set aside for audience members to contribute to the discussion. Learning Objectives: 1. Learn how to promote the use of an incident learning system in a clinic. 2. Learn how to convert “event reporting” into “incident learning”. 3. See examples of practice changes that have come out of learning systems. 4. Learn how the RO-ILS system can be used as a primary internal learning system. 5. Learn how to create succinct, meaningful reports useful to outside readers. Gary Ezzell chairs the AAPM committee overseeing RO-ILS and has received an honorarium from ASTRO for working on the committee reviewing RO-ILS reports. Derek Brown is a director of TreatSafely.org . Brett Miller has previously received travel expenses and an honorarium from Varian. Phillip Beron has nothing to report.
Co-evolution of the premaxilla and jaw protrusion in cichlid fishes (Heroine: Cichlidae)

The ability of Perciform fishes to protrude their jaw has likely been critical to the trophic diversification of this group, which includes approximately 20% of all vertebrates. The length of the ascending process of the premaxilla is thought to influence the maximum extent that cichlids and other Perciforms protrude their oral jaw. Using a combination of morphometrics, kinematics, and new phylogenetic hypotheses for 20 Heroine cichlid species, we tested the evolutionary relationship between the length of the premaxillary ascending process and maximum jaw protrusion. In this clade, the length of the ascending process of the premaxilla ranged from 11.6–32.7% with respect to standard length whereas maximum jaw protrusion ranged from 3.5–23.4% with respect to standard length. The evolutionary relationships among the Heroine cichlids obtained from the genetic partitions cytochrome b, S7, and RAG1 showed limited concordance. However, correlations between the length of the ascending process and maximum jaw protrusion were highly significant when examined as independent contrasts using all three topologies. Evolutionary change in the length of the ascending process of the premaxilla is likely critical for determining the amount of jaw protrusion in Perciform groups such as cichlid fishes. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 100, 619–629.
What Might We Say about a Circular Economy? Some Temptations to Avoid if Possible

The goal is not so much to see that which no one has seen, but to see that which everyone sees in a totally different way. —Schopenauer A good number of people are talking about a “circular economy” these days. This is a step forward and a step change since recent reports point out its positive potential for business and communities mired in the Great Recession (http://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy/circular-economy/towards-the-circular-economy). However, a casual interpreter might conclude it is just about widget prices and engineering reverse supply chains or a revved up recycling scheme. This would be a grave misapprehension. This short article is an exploration of the essential differences and the central role of a systems perspective in constructive discussion in this context.
Field test of a perfluoromethylcyclohexane (PMCH) permeation plug release vessel (PPRV) in an underground longwall mine

Perfluoromethylcyclohexane (PMCH) was released in a Midwestern underground longwall mine in the United States using a PMCH permeation plug release vessel (PPRV). The operators of this mine graciously allowed full access to an active longwall panel at two points in time to perform the test. This paper presents a study designed to determine the feasibility of using a PPRV in an underground mine environment for tracer gas studies. The results of this study showed that the PPRV is a feasible tracer delivery system for releasing PMCH at mine scale. Some of the advantages afforded by the PPRV over traditional release techniques are also highlighted.
Racial differences in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in the U.S. population.

Objective To characterize the prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by race in a nationally representative sample of the U.S. population and to investigate potential explanatory factors for racial disparities. Design and Methods Cross-sectional study of 4,037 non-Hispanic white, 2,746 non-Hispanic black, and 2,892 Mexican-American adults in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. NAFLD was defined using ultrasound and with elevated aminotransferases. Results Age-adjusted prevalence of NAFLD was highest in Mexican-Americans (21.2%), followed by non-Hispanic whites (12.5%), and was lowest in non-Hispanic blacks (11.6%). Even after adjustment for demographic, lifestyle, adiposity, and metabolic factors, compared to non-Hispanic whites, Mexican-Americans were more likely to have NAFLD (OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.22). Non-Hispanic blacks were significantly less likely to have NAFLD with elevated aminotransferases (OR: 0.51, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.97). Racial differences were attenuated among those with normal BMI and among “never drinkers.” Conclusion In this representative sample of the U.S. population, we found significant racial differences in the prevalence of ultrasound-defined NAFLD (with and without elevated liver enzymes). The racial differences were not fully explained by lifestyle, adiposity, and metabolic factors. More works is needed to identify potential contributors.
Mechanical properties characterization of composite sandwich materials intended for space antenna applications

The composite materials proposed for use in the Advanced Communications Technology Satellite (ACTS) Program contains a new, high modulus graphite fiber as the reinforcement. A study was conducted to measure certain mechanical properties of the new fiber-reinforced material as well as of a composite-faced aluminum honeycomb sandwich structure. Properties were measured at -157, 22, and 121 C. Complete characterization of this material was not intended. Longitudinal tensile, picture-frame shear, short-beam shear, and flexural tests were performed on specimens of the composite face-sheet materials. Unidirectional, cross-plied, and quasi-isotropic fiber composite ply layup designs were fabricated and tested. These designs had been studied by using NASA's Integrated Composite Analyzer (ICAN) computer program. Flexural tests were conducted on (+/- 60/0 deg) sub s composite-faced sandwich structure material. Resistance strain gages were used to measure strains in the tensile, picture-frame, and sandwich flexural tests. The sandwich flexural strength was limited by the core strength at -157 and 22 C. The adhesive bond strength was the limiting factor at 121 C. Adhesive mechanical properties are reflected in sandwich structure flexural properties when the span-to-depth ratio is great enough to allow a significant shear effect on the load-deflection behavior of the sandwich beam. Most measured properties agreed satisfactorily with the properties predicted by ICAN.
Isomerization of γ-BHC to α-BHC in the Environment

BECAUSE of the wide use of the persistent insecticide benzene hexachloride (BHC), its residues have been found in soils, plants, animals and foods. From the viewpoint of environmental toxicology, the principal residue problem of BHC is that particular isomers, such as α and β, but not the active γ isomer, accumulate in food1,2.
Robust tracking of quadrotor UAV using RISE controller with input saturation

For the quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle, a position tracking controller is developed using saturated robust integral of sign of error (RISE). The quadrotor dynamics are nonlinear and underactuated. Also, the dynamics are affected by added disturbance and uncertainty caused by ground effect. High gain controllers (such as RISE) can compensate for these effects but they do not consider the fact that the commanded input might require more actuation than is physically possible by the system. Based on the RISE control methodology, saturated RISE controller is able to utilize the benefits of high gain control while guaranteeing that the saturation limits are not exceeded and yields asymptotic tracking results. Numerical Simulation is performed on the quadrotor UAV model to prove the effectiveness of the controller.
The effect of medicinal feed additive programs and dietary sulfur concentrations in steam-flaked corn diets containing wet distillers grains on performance and carcass merit in yearling feedlot steers123

ABSTRACT A total of 432 crossbred yearling steers (329 ± 10.5 kg) were used in an unbalanced randomized block design to examine the effects of a medicinal feed additive (MFA) program and dietary sulfur (S) concentrations on feedlot performance and carcass merit. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial, with main factors being ionophore and antibiotic combination consisting of feed additive program monensin/tylosin or laidlomycin propionate/chlortetracycline and dietary S concentration [constant (CST) or variable (VAR)]. High-S diets (0.60% S) were fed on randomly assigned days to the VAR treatment, with low-S diets (0.48% S) fed on remaining days and to the CST treatment throughout the experiment. No interactions between S and MFA treatment were apparent for feedlot performance. Steers receiving VAR had greater (P
Time-domain terahertz imaging and spectroscopy of x-ray blocking and scattering coatings

The terahertz (THz) band of the electromagnetic spectrum is the gap between the microwave/millimeter wave band and the far infrared band. This band has been historically defined to be around 0.1 to 10 THz, due to the long-standing difficulties in efficient generation and detection of these frequencies. Only recently have efficient and practical commercial THz systems become available. Imaging with THz waves offers several unique advantages. THz waves can penetrate several millimeters into non-conducting materials. This allows for imaging of features that are covered in an optically opaque coating. Since THz waves have a shorter wavelength than microwaves, they are able to resolve smaller features. Unlike the x-ray imaging that is often associated with imaging into materials, the low photon energy of THz waves cannot ionize materials. This negates the risk of irreversible material damage inherent with x-ray imaging.
Characterization of marker chromosomes by microdissection and fluorescence in situ hybridization

We characterized by microdissection and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) two marker chromosomes: (1) a de novo, acrocentric marker chromosome detected in 88 per cent of the amniotic fluid cells of one of two physically and developmentally normal twins; and (2) a metacentric marker chromosome present in a phenotypically normal female. Analysis of FISH probes developed from the marker chromosomes indicated that the marker chromosomes in cases 1 and 2 were del(14)(q11) and a derivative chromosome from a Robertsonian translocation, respectively. Microdissection in combination with FISH may prove to be a valuable technique in determining the chromosomal origin of de novo marker chromosomes and unbalanced structural rearrangements detected during prenatal diagnosis.
A report on the United States Committee for the study of the Paricutin volcano

By necessity this report in a number of respects is identical to one that had to be submitted to the National Research Council on April 15, 1945, but it is appropriate to be repeated here, for the initial conception of the Committee and its potential function were formulated at the last Annual Meeting of the Section of Volcanology, when a symposium was presented on the activity of Parfcutin. The retiring officers then recommended to WILLIAM W. RUBEY, the Chairman of the Division of Geology and Geography of the National Research Council, that a Committee should be formed to integrate, facilitate, and stimulate the study of the eruption and its effect in various fields of science before the record was lost. As the newly elected President of the Section, RICHARD E. FULLER accepted the responsibility of serving as Chairman.
A bit-mapped classifier for groundwater quality assessment

Abstract Increased public and scientific attention is being placed on groundwater quality issues. To assist in the process of evaluating groundwater trends, we have developed a knowledge-based approach to simplify trends, and to place them into categories based on local and global variation, and to fixed, legally defined maximum contaminant levels. The approach employs an inductive, message passing classifier based on matching observations to known patterns. The software is written in Turbo Prolog.
Cryptococcal myositis: A case report and review of the literature

SummaryOnly rare cases of cryptococcal myositis have been previously reported in the literature. All of these cases have occurred in the setting of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We report a case of cryptococcal myositis diagnosed premortem on a needle biopsy in a heart transplant patient undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.
Transcriptional control elements and complex initiation pattern of the TATA-less bidirectional human thymidylate synthase promoter.

The nucleotide sequences that are important for transcription of the human thymidylate synthase gene were analyzed by deletion and site-directed mutagenesis of the promoter region. Deletion analyses from the 5′ and 3′ ends indicated the presence of multiple positive and negative elements. The promoter had approximately the same strength in the normal or inverted orientation. The region between 161 and 141 nt upstream of the translational start codon was found to be both necessary and sufficient for high-level promoter activity in both directions and was designated the essential promoter region. This region, which is highly conserved in human, mouse and rat TS promoters, contains potential binding sites for Ets, Sp1, and LSF transcription factors. Site directed mutagenesis of each of these elements led to large decreases in promoter strength. However, inactivation of potential Sp1 and E2F elements adjacent to the essential promoter region led to increases in promoter strength. The transcriptional start site pattern was analyzed by S1 nuclease protection assays of mRNA isolated from cells transiently transfected with TS minigenes. Multiple start sites were detected, most of which were between 160 and 120 nt upstream of the AUG codon. J. Cell. Biochem. 77:50–64, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Influence of nonlinear dispersion of the refraction index on the Sagnac effect in semiconductor ring lasers

Mutually contradicting previously reported theoretical results on the effects of a dispersive active medium in a ring laser on its sensitivity to rotation are critically analyzed. A measure of the rotation rate in the active ring resonator is the beating frequency Dn between the counterpropagating waves whose frequencies are shifted in opposite directions due to the Sagnac effect. Dn is shown to be inversely proportional to the group index of the medium filling the cavity. A comparison of the results obtained considering the resting and rotating frames confirms the applicability of Fresnel's original expression for the optical drag effect to the analysis of the Sagnac effect in an active laser gyro. The frequency splitting Dn is sensitive to dispersion via the group refractive index.
Vancomycin-induced thrombocytopenia in a 60-year-old man: a case report.

Vancomycin, a glycopeptide antibiotic, is used to treat resistant gram-positive infections. There has been a 10- to 20-fold increase in its use over the past 25 years. Although ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity are well known side effects of vancomycin, it can also induce platelet reactive antibodies leading to life-threatening thrombocytopenia. Vancomycin is often clinically overlooked as a cause of thrombocytopenia, especially in a scenario of sepsis or when there is use of heparin. We report a proven case of vancomycin-induced thrombocytopenia and its reversal after discontinuation of vancomycin.
UPSTREAM OR DOWNSTREAM? POPULATION STRUCTURE OF THE LAND SNAIL VENTRIDENS LIGERA (SAY, 1821) IN THE POTOMAC RIVER DRAINAGE BASIN

Organisms that live in or near watercourses often disperse with the flow of the water and therefore experience asymmetric gene flow. The asymmetric model of gene flow does not hold for organisms capable of dispersing either upstream or by land, such as amphibians and insects. I analysed genetic diversity in populations of the land snail Ventridens ligera over 300 km of the Potomac River drainage system to determine if the river has an effect on gene flow. Samples were analysed by collection site and then by river. A moderate level of genetic differentiation is present between collection sites on the rivers flowing into the Potomac River, suggesting that the upstream sites are genetically isolated. However allelic richness does not increase significantly with downstream flow as would be expected if asymmetric gene flow is present. These contrasting results suggest that V. ligera disperses by two means: (1) overland to local habitats upstream, downstream or away from the river and (2) downstream to more distant habitats by rafting on plants or debris.
The myristoylated amino-terminus of an Arabidopsis calcium-dependent protein kinase mediates plasma membrane localization

Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPK) are a major group of calcium-stimulated kinases found in plants and some protists. Many CDPKs are membrane-associated, presumably because of lipid modifications at their amino termini. We investigated the subcellular location and myristoylation of AtCPK5, a member of the Arabidopsis CDPK family. Most AtCPK5 was associated with the plasma membrane as demonstrated by two-phase fractionation of plant microsomes and by in vivo detection of AtCPK5-GFP fusion proteins. AtCPK5 was a substrate for plant N-myristoyltransferase and myristoylation was prevented by converting the glycine at the proposed site of myristate attachment to alanine (G2A). In transgenic plants, a G2A mutation completely abolished AtCPK5 membrane association, indicating that myristoylation was essential for membrane binding. The first sixteen amino acids of AtCPK5 were sufficient to direct plasma membrane localization. In addition, differentially phosphorylated forms of AtCPK5 were detected both in planta and after expression of AtCPK5 in a cell-free plant extract. Our results demonstrate that AtCPK5 is myristoylated at its amino terminus and that myristoylation is required for membrane binding.
Quagmire: Nation-building and Nature in the Mekong Delta

David Biggs (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2010) Despite the Mekong delta's centrality to the international rice trade both in the colonial period and in recent decades, and its notoriet...
Comparison of iodine- and fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibodies for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis inclusions in cells grown in glass vials

Abstract A fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibody was compared with the iodine stain for the detection of chlamydial inclusions in McCoy cells grown on cover slips in glass vials. The remainder of the original specimen extracts in 2-sucrose phosphate transport medium from 100 specimens (50 male, urethra; 50 female, cervix), stored at −70°C and previously determined to be culture positive for Chlamydia trachomatis by the iodine stain, were inoculated into vials containing monolayers of McCoy cells. Cover slips were coded and examined microscopically after 40 hr at 35°C. The mean numbers of inclusions detected by iodine and by immunofluorescence were the same. One-half of the specimens had eight or fewer inclusions present. There was a trend indicating that less time was required for microscopic examination of cover slips for chlamydial inclusions with immunofluorescence than with the iodine-staining method. The tagged monoclonal antibody is a high-quality immunodiagnostic reagent for use in the immunofluorescence test; however, our data derived from stored specimen extracts indicate equivalence of detection of inclusions in the glass vial system compared to iodine.
Using Propensity Score Methods to Approximate Factorial Experimental Designs to Analyze the Relationship Between Two Variables and an Outcome

Researchers have become increasingly interested in programs’ main and interaction effects of two variables (A and B, e.g., two treatment variables or one treatment variable and one moderator) on ou...
Polyacetal Polyols for Polyurethanes

The synthesis of telechelic polyacetals with terminal hydroxyl groups (polyacetal polyols), by the reaction of triethylene glycol divinyl ether with dipropylene glycol in the presence of trimethylolpropane or other triols or diols as starters, in acidic catalysis, has been studied. The synthesized liquid polyacetal triols and polyacetal diols were characterized by hydroxyl number, viscosity, acidity, number average molecular weight (Mn), weight average molecular weight (Mw), molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn), FT-IR spectra. The obtained polyacetals were transformed in cast elastomers by the reaction with the isocyanate Mondur CD (modified diphenyl methane diisocyanate) with properties very close to the elastic polyurethanes obtained by using conventional polyether triols, copolymers propylene oxide–ethylene oxide. The polyacetal polyols are suitable for the synthesis of elastic polyurethanes (polyurethane elastomers, flexible polyurethane foams). Polyacetals are well known biodegradable polymers. Therefore, the polyurethanes based on polyacetal polyols are expected to be biodegradable.
Quantitative stress mapping in alumina composites by optical fluorescence imaging

Abstract Internal residual stresses exist in almost all polycrystalline materials and in many cases exert a profound influence on mechanical and physical behavior. In inherently brittle ceramics and ceramic composites, toughening mechanisms often depend sensitively on localized residual stresses. However, despite their prominence few studies are available which provide a detailed characterization of the local spatial variation of residual stress fields in ceramics and their composites. In this study, we report on the spatially resolved mapping of local residual and applied stresses in polycrystalline alumina and a variety of Al 2 O 3 SiC w composites. Stress mapping is based on the well established method of measuring shifts in the characteristic optical fluorescence lines produced by Cr 3+ impurities in the alumina matrix. Novel illumination and imaging optics are used to collect up to 15,000 stress measurements from an area approx. 1 mm 2 . Detailed stress maps are generated which produce a vivid and quantitative indication of the complex residual stress fields present in these materials. The additional effect of a non-uniform applied stress field ahead of a blunt notch is also measured. Results are discussed in the context of thermal expansion anisotropy within the alumina phase, thermal expansion differences between the SiC-reinforcement and Al 2 O 3 matrix, and the non-uniform distribution of whiskers. The mean value and fluctuation of the resultant residual stress fields are estimated by extension of recent stochastic mechanics models and compared to measured values.
Neuroprotection in diet-induced ketotic rat brain after focal ischemia.

Neuroprotective properties of ketosis may be related to the upregulation of hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α, a primary constituent associated with hypoxic angiogenesis and a regulator of neuroprotective responses. The rationale that the utilization of ketones by the brain results in elevation of intracellular succinate, a known inhibitor of prolyl hydroxylase (the enzyme responsible for the degradation of HIF-1α) was deemed as a potential mechanism of ketosis on the upregulation of HIF-1α. The neuroprotective effect of diet-induced ketosis (3 weeks of feeding a ketogenic diet), as pretreatment, on infarct volume, after reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and the upregulation of HIF-1α were investigated. The effect of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), as a pretreatment, via intraventricular infusion (4 days of infusion before stroke) was also investigated following MCAO. Levels of HIF-1α and Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic protein) proteins and succinate content were measured. A 55% or 70% reduction in infarct volume was observed with BHB infusion or diet-induced ketosis, respectively. The levels of HIF-1α and Bcl-2 proteins increased threefold with diet-induced ketosis; BHB infusions also resulted in increases in these proteins. As hypothesized, succinate content increased by 55% with diet-induced ketosis and fourfold with BHB infusion. In conclusion, the biochemical link between ketosis and the stabilization of HIF-1α is through the elevation of succinate, and both HIF-1α stabilization and Bcl-2 upregulation play a role in ketone-induced neuroprotection in the brain.
Bacterial contamination of anaerobic vitreous cultures: using techniques employed for endophthalmitis.

Purpose. To investigate the occurrence of contaminated cultures of vitreous specimens from non-infected eyes obtained using anaerobic techniques employed for endophthalmitis.Methods. Vitreous speci...
Social Science in the Context of the Long Term Ecological Research Program

This special issue of Society and Natural Resources brings the results of long-term ecological research with an explicit social dimension to the attention of the social scientific research community. Contributions are from the Baltimore Ecosystem Study LTER, the Central Arizona-Phoenix LTER, the Coweeta LTER and the Northern Temperate Lakes LTER. The range of practice represented at these four sites serves to identify commonalities and differences in the results as well as the experience of integrative research. The objective of this special issue is to extend a call to social scientists of all kinds to engage with the LTER program in long-term research and synthesis to help answer the urgent and intriguing questions of our day.
A high-bandwidth electrical waveform generator based on an aperture-coupled stripline

An electrical waveform generator based on an aperture-coupled stripline is described. The device is a four-port electrical directional coupler consisting of two striplines coupled through an aperture in their common ground plane. Replacing the aperture layer of the device can produce arbitrarily shaped electrical waveforms with 100 ps structure over a pulse envelope of several nanoseconds. A numerical solution of the telegraph equations using the method of characteristics is used to model and design devices. Excellent agreement is obtained between the model and device performance.
Cyclic organohydroborate complexes of metallocenes. VII. Synthesis, structure, and fluxional behavior of Cp2ZrX{(μ-H)2BC8H14} (X = H, D, Cl)

The reaction of K[H2BC8H14] with Cp2ZrCl2 in a 1:1 molar ratio afforded Cp2ZrCl{(μ-H)2BC8H14}, 1, which when reacted with KH yielded Cp2ZrH{(μ-H)2BC8H14}, 2. These complexes were structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray analysis. Partially deuterated 1 and 2, complexes Cp2ZrCl{(μ-D)( μ-H)BC8H14}, 3, and Cp2ZrD{(μ-H)2BC8H14}, 4, were prepared. 2H NMR spectra revealed that in complex 3, which contains a terminal chloride on zirconium, no exchange of bridge and Cp hydrogens occurred. However, in complex 4, which includes a terminal hydrogen on zirconium, there was facile mixing of terminal, bridge, and Cp-hydrogens. Furthermore, exchange of terminal zirconium−hydrogen with bridge hydrogen was more rapid than exchange with the Cp-hydrogen. Additionally, this fluxional behavior occurred even at room temperature and in the solid state. Variable-temperature 1H NMR studies are consistent with these results of dynamic hydrogen exchange in complexes 1 and 2. The complexes Cp2Nb{(μ-H)2BC8H14}, 7, and Cp2Nb...
Leadership and consensus: Decision‐making in an egalitarian community*

(1978). Leadership and consensus: Decision‐making in an egalitarian community. Ethnos: Vol. 43, No. 1-2, pp. 73-90.
Estimation of skin removal in aging Asian blepharoplasty.

Objectives/Hypothesis: To describe a novel method for estimating the amount of skin to resect in upper blepharoplasty in the aging Asian eyelid and to report our experience with this technique. Study Design: Retrospective review of patients in a single private practice. Methods: Resection of skin in upper blepharoplasty in an Asian eyelid can often be less forgiving than in other ethnicities due to the unique anatomy of the supratarsal fold. Excising a maximal amount of excess skin will result in an unfavorable appearance of the upper eyelid in an Asian patient. We applied a technique of pinching the skin while the patient is awake until the patient is satisfied with the appearance. The skin is then measured and the precise amount resected during blepharoplasty. The supratarsal crease is always recreated even in patients who have a preexisting crease. We conducted a retrospective review of 99 consecutive patients who underwent upper blepharoplasty using this technique. All patients were Asian and aged 40 years or older. Results: The study group included 99 patients with a mean age of 55.7 years (range, 42–78 years). The mean follow-up time was 24 months (range, 12–30 months). The amount of desired skin overhang superior to the supratarsal crease varied considerably among patients. Complications included asymmetry in nine patients (9.1%), scarring in three patients (3.0%), and unfavorable cosmetic result in two patients (2.0%). No patients experienced infection, bleeding, or visual changes. Conclusions: In upper blepharoplasty in the aging Asian eyelid, it is necessary to resect less skin than in the Caucasian patient to achieve the desired appearance of the upper eyelid complex. Using a patient-assisted approach to estimate the amount of skin to remove, a favorable cosmetic result with a low incidence of complications was achieved in a consecutive series of patients. Laryngoscope, 2012
Oxygen Saturations During Breast and Bottle Feedings in Infants With Congenital Heart Disease

Bottle feeding is commonly advised for infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) based on the belief that breast feeding is too difficult for them. However, studies of preterm infants have shown that greater cardiorespiratory effort occurs during bottle feeding than during breast feeding. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between feeding method (breast vs. bottle) and oxygen saturations (SaO 2 ) in infants with CHD. In a correlational design, pulse oximetry measured SaO 2 during one breast and one bottle feeding in each of 7 infants with CHD. SaO 2 during breast feeding is significantly different from SaO 2 during bottle feeding (F=59.72, p 2 during breast feedings is higher on average and less variable (M=96.3%, SD=2.2) than SaO 2 during bottle feedings (M=92,5%, SD=6.9), indicating that there is less cardiorespiratory stress with breast feeding. None of the infants desaturated (SaO 2
Energy savings opportunities of an integrated facility and production line

In modern manufacturing facilities there are many energy saving opportunities (ESO) that are wasted by the lack of integration between the facility and the production system. This paper deals with an integrated production line and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and explores the different energy saving opportunities of the two largest energy consumers in the manufacturing plant. The energy opportunity window of each machine is utilized to allow for energy savings for the production line without throughput loss on the floor. This opportunity window is synced with the peak periods of energy demand for the energy demand of the HVAC system. The integration of these two systems allows for the maximum energy cost savings. These systems are modeled and tested using simulation case studies.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Physiological and behavioral responses of larval spotted salamanders (Ambystomamaculatum) to various concentrations of oxygen

Abstract 1. 1. Rates of oxygen consumption were determined for developmental stages of Ambystoma maculatum larvae in water ranging from 1.06 to 8.60 ppm dissolved oxygen. 2. 2. Premetamorphic larvae were oxygen conformers at all concentrations, while postmetamorphic animals were oxygen regulators above a critical tension ( P c ) of about 5.5 ppm. 3. 3. Tolerance to low concentrations of oxygen decreased progressively during the later stages of larval development. 4. 4. Activity levels varied with developmental stage and oxygen concentration.
Information architecture in virtual worlds

Javier Velasco-Martin is a doctoral student in the School of Information and Library Science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He can be reached at jvelasco unc.edu and through his website at www.unc.edu/~jvelasco/ T his article explores how Second Life (SL) can be used to organize and display collections of information objects, with an emphasis on describing the differences to information architecture for the World Wide Web (WWW). During an NSF-funded project focused on digital preservation, we explored the display and conservation of ephemeral academic information within an immersive environment such as SL. This article describes some of the findings related to information organization, presentation, navigation and orienteering, as well as some challenges for the management of online communities.
The affinity alkylators, 11α-bromoacetoxyprogesterone and estrone 3-bromoacetate, modify a common histidyl residue in the active site of human placental 17β,20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

Abstract Purified human placental 17β,20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (native enzyme) was completely inactivated by the affinity alkylator, estrone 3-bromoacetate, in the presence ofcofactor (NADPH). The inactivated enzyme was reactivated to 100% activity by base-catalyzed hydrolysis of the steroidal ester-enzyme conjugate and then repurified by dialysis. Control enzyme in mixtures which contained estrone in place of alkylator was treated the same as the reactivated enzyme. 11α-Bromo[2'-14C]acetoxy-progesterone, an active site-directed affinity alkylator of the enzyme, produced 5.0-fold less radiolabeled 3-(carboxymethyl)histidine and S-(carboxymethyl)cysteine plus 1.4-fold more 1,3-s(carboxymethyl)-histidine in the reactivated enzyme than in the control enzyme. The lesser amount of S-(carboxymethyl)cysteine and greater amount of 1,3-bis(carboxymethyl)histidine resulted from nonspecific interactions between the reactivated enzyme and the progestin radioalkylator. The nonradiolabeled 3-(carboxymethyl)histidine originally produced by estrone 3-bromoacetate in the enzyme active site hindered radioalkylation of this amino acid by 11α-bromop[2'-14C]acetoxyprogesterone to yield 5-fold less radiolabeled 3-(carboxymethyl)histidine in the reactivated enzyme relative to control enzyme. Thus, the estrogen and progestin affinity alkylators modified a common histidyl residue in the active site. These studies are direct evidence that the estradiol 17β-dehydrogenase and 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activities reside at a common locus on a single protein.
sp3s * Tight-binding parameters for transport simulations in compound semiconductors

A genetic algorithm approach is used to fit orbital interaction energies of sp3s* tight-binding models for the nine binary compound semiconductors consistent of Ga, Al, In and As, P, Sb at room temperature.
In Vivo Recordings of Long-Term Potentiation and Long-Term Depression in the Dentate Gyrus of the Neonatal Rat

Previous in vitro studies demonstrated that long-term potentiation (LTP) could be elicited at medial perforant path (MPP) synapses onto hippocampal granule cells in slices from 7-day-old rats. In c...
Venous ulceration: active approaches to treatment

Abstract Traditional treatment of venous ulceration has been conservative: elevation, wound care, compression, and patient education based on prevention. Conservative treatment will heal most ulcers over time; however, the data reflect a 29% to 59% recurrence rate with optimal care and follow-up. Recurrent ulceration results in significant cost and disability. It is now accepted that limbs with all the signs of severe chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) may have a normal deep venous system. Patients in whom this is the case can be treated surgically with good long-term results. In this article, the specific underlying causes of CVI are noted and diagnostic tests are reviewed. The CEAP (clinical signs, etiology, anatomy, and physiology) classification system is discussed in terms of systematically assessing CVI. Common surgical techniques are related to the underlying pathophysiology, and the nursing care of the patient undergoing surgical intervention is also discussed. The cause of the condition should be investigated, and surgical treatment, when appropriate, should be offered as an alternative to the active symptomatic patient with CVI.
The short-term behavioral sequelae of neonatal jaundice treated with phototherapy

To observe the short-term behavioral sequelae of neonatal jaundice (hyperbilirubinemia) and phototherapy using a before and after design, the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale with Kansas supplements (NBAS-K) was administered to a group of jaundiced infants treated with phototherapy, and to an untreated comparison group immediately preceding phototherapy treatment, immediately following treatment, and at 2 weeks. The data were analyzed using a Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance computed on the individual test items (n = 36). The behavioral sequelae of treating moderate hyperbilirubinemia with phototherapy were not severe, although at 2 weeks of age the comparison infants scored higher than the treated infants on items dealing with state control and orientation. Many of the observed differences involved “modal” rather than “best” scores. The findings address the need to describe treated infants' typical behavior, and possible avenues of future research are discussed.
Ideal weight goals of African American women participating in a weight management program.

Abstract This descriptive study examined the ideal weight goals of low-income African American women enrolled in a weight loss intervention. Prior to treatment, 107 overweight African American women were weighed, heights were measured, and participants completed a self-report measure of various weight-related variables (e.g., ideal goal weight, amount lost with previous attempts). The average baseline body mass index (BMI) was 38.8 kg/m 2 . The average ideal BMI was 27.2 kg/m 2 , which would require a 29.2% reduction in weight. Ideal weight loss was approximately 25 kg greater than that achieved during past attempts. Results suggest this ethnic minority sample demonstrated satisfaction with achieving an ideal weight still classified as overweight. However, the percentage of weight loss required to reach such goals is much greater than that recommended by expert guidelines. Although future research is needed, weight loss interventionists may need to address African American women’s acceptance of heavier weight when treating their obesity.
Breech repositioning unresponsive to Webster technique: coexistence of oligohydramnios

Abstract Objective The purpose of this report is to describe the results of a pregnant woman demonstrating breech fetal presentation who was managed with Webster technique in the presence of oligohydramnios. Clinical Features A 23-year-old primigravida woman sought chiropractic care for the management of breech presentation and bilateral sacroiliac arthralgia at 34 weeks’ gestation. Intervention and Outcome Sacral manipulation and abdominal effleurage (Webster Technique) was used to address breech presentation and sacroiliac arthralgia for a total of 7 treatments over a 3 1/2-week duration. The patient’s sacroiliac pain reduced from 8/10 to 3/10. However, breech presentation was unchanged at each treatment. At a scheduled prenatal surveillance during the 37th week of gestation, the midwife detected vaginal bleeding and reduced fundal height, which resulted in hospitalization, diagnosis of oligohydramnios, and an emergency cesarean delivery. Conclusion For this particular patient, the breech presentation was not corrected using the Webster technique. Clinicians who use the Webster technique to manage breech fetal presentation should be aware of undiagnosed comorbidities as a complicating factor in clinical presentation. Screening for previously undiagnosed comorbidities, such as oligohydramnios, must be considered.
Purification and some properties of sorghum grain esterase and peroxidase

Abstract A carboxylesterase from sorghum grain was partially purified by (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 fractionation and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. A 72 fold purification was obtained with 28% yield. The enzyme was identified as carboxylic ester hydrolase, (E.C. 3.1.1.1) by studying the inhibition response to DFP, eserine, and PCMB. A mol. wt. of 60,000 was determined by gel filtration. The isoelectric point at pH 6·6 was revealed from a single peak in a focusing electrophoresis gradient; however, two isoenzymes were observed on agarose gel electrophoresis at pH 5·5. These isoenzymes reacted differently with DFP and paraoxon. A peroxidase was also detected in the sorghum grain extract. Isoelectric focusing showed two basic peroxidase isoenzymes immobile at pH 9·0 and 10·0. A single peroxidase peak on gel filtration gave mol. wt. 43,000.
Bayesian merging of multiple climate model forecasts for seasonal hydrological predictions

[1] This study uses a Bayesian approach to merge ensemble seasonal climate forecasts generated by multiple climate models for better probabilistic and deterministic forecasting. Within the Bayesian framework, the climatological distribution of the variable of interest serves as the prior, and the likelihood function is developed with a weighted linear regression between the climate model hindcasts and the corresponding observations. The resulting posterior distribution is the merged forecast, which represents our best estimate of the variable, including its mean and variance, given the current model forecast and knowledge about the model’s performance. The handling of multimodel climate forecasts and nonnormal distributed variables, such as precipitation, are two important extensions toward the application of the Bayesian merging approach for seasonal hydrological predictions. Two examples are presented as follows: seasonal forecast of sea surface temperature over equatorial Pacific and precipitation forecast over the Ohio River basin. Cross validation of these forecasts shows smaller root mean square error and smaller ranked probability score for the merged forecast as compared with raw forecasts from climate models and the climatological forecast, indicating an improvement in both deterministic and probabilistic forecast skills. Therefore there is great potential to apply this method to seasonal hydrological forecasting.
Beyond User-Specificity for EMG Decoding Using Multiresolution Muscle Synergy Analysis

Electromyographic (EMG) processing is a vital step towards converting noisy muscle activation signals into robust features that can be decoded and applied to applications such as prosthetics, exoskeletons, and human-machine interfaces. Current state of the art processing methods involve collecting a dense set of features which are sensitive to many of the intra- and inter-subject variability ubiquitous in EMG signals. As a result, state of the art decoding methods have been unable to obtain subject independence. This paper presents a novel multiresolution muscle synergy (MRMS) feature extraction technique which represents a set of EMG signals in a sparse domain robust to the inherent variability of EMG signals. The robust features, which can be extracted in real time, are used to train a neural network and demonstrate a highly accurate and user-independent classifier. Leave-one-out validation testing achieves mean accuracy of 81.9±3.9% and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), a measure of overall classifier performance over all possible thresholds, of 92.4±8.9%. The results show the ability of sparse MRMS features to achieve subject independence in decoders, providing opportunities for large-scale studies and more robust EMG-driven applications.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Reaction-time crossover in psychiatric outpatients

Abstract Simple reaction time (SRT) was measured in schizophrenic, bipolar affective disorder, and never-psychotic outpatients to determine the specificity of SRT crossover to schizophrenia. A crossover pattern like that reported in other studies was found among the schizophrenics, but the average curve was not different from that of the other groups. Schizophrenics tended to have higher rates of crossover at the 7-second preparatory interval (47% vs. 17%–28%) but not substantially so. These data question the specificity of this behavioral trait to schizophrenics.
On a Green's function for plate bending.

T deflection of a uniformly loaded rectangular plate with one pair of parallel edges ridigly connected to two identical beams was considered by Smith and Pan. This brief note gives a series solution for the more general case of the deflection of a rectangular plate subjected to a concentrated load at an arbitrary location. The plate is uniform in cross section, simply supported along one pair of parallel edges, and rigidly attached to identical elastic beams along the other pair of parallel edges. To facilitate the solution, this problem is divided into a sy metric and a skew-symetric problem. The superposition of the resulting solutions yields the desired solution that can be used as a Green's function to determine the deflection of a plate with the same boundary conditions and subjected to an arbitrary load distribution. The partial differential equation for the problem considered here can be written as follows :