cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Economic analysis of triptan therapy for acute migraine: a Medicaid perspective.

Study Objective. To compare triptan therapies for migraine in terms of the cost to treat 100 migraine attacks and the cost per successfully treated patient (cost/success), by analyzing utilization and reimbursement data from state Medicaid programs. Design. Pharmacoeconomic analysis. Data Source. Clinical efficacy data were obtained from a previously published meta-analysis for 11 triptan-dose combinations: almotriptan 12.5 mg; eletriptan 20 and 40 mg; naratriptan 2.5 mg; rizatriptan 5 and 10 mg; sumatriptan 25, 50, and 100 mg; and zolmitriptan 2.5 and 5 mg. Triptan reimbursement data were obtained from the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program of seven geographically dispersed states (Florida, Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Ohio, Wisconsin, and West Virginia). Measurements and Main Results. Efficacy measures were derived based on data from the published meta-analysis that evaluated headache pain status at 2 and 24 hours after triptan dosing. Reimbursement data for the triptans were applied to a previously developed model of migraine treatment outcomes to calculate the cost to treat 100 migraine attacks and the cost/success. Sensitivity analysis around dosing assumptions was conducted to assess robustness of estimates. Across the seven states, the two treatments associated with the lowest cost to treat 100 migraine attacks were eletriptan 20 mg (range $1549-$1658) and eletriptan 40 mg ($1578-$1661). Naratriptan 2.5 mg (range $1734-$2018), sumatriptan 25 mg ($1853–1954), and zolmitriptan 5 mg ($1854-$1960) were associated with the highest cost to treat 100 migraine attacks. Eletriptan 40 mg was associated with the lowest cost/success (range $57.03-$60.05); naratriptan 2.5 mg ($99.39-$115.65), sumatriptan 25 mg ($107.11-$112.93), and rizatriptan 5 mg ($99.41-$111.25) were associated with the highest cost/success values. Changes in dosing assumptions did not significantly change the rank ordering of triptans across either economic end point. Conclusions. Eletriptan 20- and 40-mg doses were shown to be associated with the lowest cost to treat 100 migraine attacks and the lowest cost/success in both the baseline and sensitivity analyses. These findings are consistent with results of similar economic analyses that compared multiple triptan therapies.
Cultural Competence in the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer: The Case of Blueberries in North America

Berry and berry-type fruits have gained the title of “super fruits” in recent years due to their anti-disease promoting phytonutrients. While researchers have been hard at work isolating the mechanisms by which these bioactive chemicals influence the human body, scientists have largely ignored the influence of culture on the co-evolutionary relationship between berry fruits and humans. This paper explores the phytochemical makeup and cultural groundings of blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum). Cultural and spiritual connections of northeastern Native American groups such as the Ojibwe tribe with blueberries have influenced the survival of both species. Considering the poor consumption of fruits across the United States, this paper presents the thesis that effectively changing the dietary habits of a population requires a multi-faceted approach where scientific knowledge of the benefits of fruits in addition to the history and sociocultural meaning of various fruits are taken into account. Moreover, this paper discusses the importance of sociocultural backgrounds (specifically of fruits) as a platform for strengthening cultural competence in order to more effectively communicate knowledge concerning the use of fruits in the prevention and treatment of various cancers.
Radiation-induced liver disease as a mimic of liver metastases at serial PET/CT during neoadjuvant chemoradiation of distal esophageal cancer

Purpose To determine the frequency and appearance of radiation-induced liver disease on PET/CT in patients undergoing serial imaging during neoadjuvant chemoradiation of distal esophageal cancer.
A guided evolutionary simulated annealing approach to the quadratic assignment problem

The quadratic assignment problem, one of the classical NP-complete problems, is usually interpreted as a facility layout problem, of which the task is to assign facilities to locations in a manner so as to minimize a total cost function. The complexity of the problem has motivated the development of many approximation procedures. In this paper, the authors present a new approach to the quadratic assignment problem (QAP). The new technique, called guided evolutionary simulated annealing (GESA), is a parallel algorithm. It combines the ideas of simulated evolution and simulated annealing in a novel way. The authors demonstrate the technique using facility layout problems as examples. Simulation results for benchmark problems are reported. The results indicate that the GESA method outperforms other approximation methods. >
A bilateral advantage for storage in visual working memory

Various studies have demonstrated enhanced visual processing when information is presented across both visual hemifields rather than in a single hemifield (the bilateral advantage). For example, Alvarez and Cavanagh (2005) reported that observers were able to track twice as many moving visual stimuli when the tracked items were presented bilaterally rather than unilaterally, suggesting that independent resources enable tracking in the two visual fields. Motivated by similarities in the apparent capacity and neural substrates that mediate tracking and visual working memory (WM), the present work examined whether or not a bilateral advantage also arises during storage in visual WM. Using a recall procedure to assess working memory for orientation information, we found a reliable bilateral advantage; recall error was smaller with bilateral sample displays than with unilateral displays. To demonstrate that the bilateral advantage influenced storage per se rather than just encoding efficiency, we replicated the observed bilateral advantage using sequentially presented stimuli. Finally, to further characterize how bilateral presentations enhanced storage in working memory, we measured both the number and the resolution of the stored items and found that bilateral presentations lead to an increased probability of storage, rather than enhanced mnemonic resolution. Thus, the bilateral advantage extends beyond the initial selection and encoding of visual information to influence online maintenance in visual working memory.
Influence of depth and mixing regime on sedimentation in a small, fluctuating tropical soda lake

The historical sediment record of Lake Sonachi (Kenya) was used to study the influence of lake depth and mixing regime on patterns of sedimentation in a small, fluctuating tropical soda lake. Lake Sonachi last desiccated completely in the early nineteenth century and has fluctuated between 3- and 18-m lake depth over the past 115 yr. A freeze-core of offshore sediments describes recent lake history as a succession of meromictic episodes, represented by varved or subannually laminated muds, and holomictic episodes, represented by more coarsely layered muds. Two interbedded horizons of colloidal amorphous silica dated to a period of rising lake level after a prolonged lowstand were deposited by abiogenic, pH-driven precipitation from the water column and represent the instantaneous sequestering of an estimated 63 mg liter 21 or possibly .50% of the lake’s dissolved-silica reservoir. Changes in offshore sedimentation and inferred bottom dynamics over time indicate that sediment resuspension and focusing in Lake Sonachi occur mostly during infrequent events of deep circulation between the average mud deposition boundary depth at ;2 m and the chemocline depth at 4‐5 m; wind-driven sediment redistribution across the lake floor is important only at lake depths of #3 m. Dry sediment accumulation has varied between 86 and 620 g m 22 yr 21 over the past 175 yr, with no relationship to lake depth but, on average, lower rates during meromixis (199 6 90 g m 22 yr 21 ) than during holomixis (349 6 152 gm 22 yr 21 ). Net organic carbon accumulation offshore varied between 0 and 92 g m 22 yr 21 , with no significant relationship to either lake depth or mixing regime at the time of deposition. Sedimentary organic carbon content (5.7‐26.9%) is negatively correlated with bulk sediment accumulation; 73% of this variation is accounted for by the clastic dilution of sedimented planktonic algal production with low-organic littoral sediments redeposited offshore.
A polynomial-time algorithm for an equivalence problem which arises in hybrid systems theory

Piecewise linear (PL) systems provide one systematic approach to discrete-time hybrid systems. They blend switching mechanisms with classical linear components, and model arbitrary interconnections of finite automata and linear systems. Tools from automata theory, logic, and related areas of computer science and finite mathematics are used in the study of PL systems, in conjunction with linear algebra techniques, all in the context of a "PL algebra" formalism. PL systems are of interest as controllers as well as identification models. Basic questions for any class of systems are those of equivalence, and, in particular, if state spaces are equivalent under a change of variables. This paper studies this state-space equivalence problem for PL systems. The problem was known to be decidable, but its computational complexity was potentially exponential; here it is shown to be solvable in polynomial-time.
NOTES ON THE MARINE ALGAE OF THE BERMUDAS. 3. AVRAINVILLEA SYLVEARLEAE, DISCOSPORANGIUM MESARTHROCARPUM, AND PEYSSONNELIA VALENTINII

Three species of marine algae are reported from the Bermuda islands for the first time, Avrainvillea sylvearleae D. S. Littler et Littler, Discosporangium mesarthrocarpum (Menegh.) Hauck, and Peyssonnelia valentinii Yonesh. et Boudour. The presence of Avrainvillea sylvearleae in Bermuda prompted a taxonomic reinvestigation of North Carolina specimens attributed recently to that taxon, and we find them better placed in A. longicaulis f. laxa D. S. Littler et Littler. The report of the eastern Atlantic/Mediterranean Discosporangium mesarthrocarpum is the first from the western Atlantic Ocean and joins only 12 other amphi-Atlantic species with strictly warm-temperate zone distributions. Peyssonnelia valentinii is discovered for the first time outside of Brazil.
Ab initio calculations of force fields for H2CN and C1HCN and vibrational energies of H2CN

Abstract Ab initio calculations of electronic energies and fitted force fields are reported for H2CN and C1HCN. The force field for H2CN in internal coordinates is used in rigorous, full dimensional variational calculations of numerous vibrational states. The same force field is also used in vibrational self-consistent field (VSCF) calculations, using a new code which is currently restricted to at most four-mode coupling. The convergence of VSCF energies in internal coordinates is examined for one-mode, two-mode, three-mode, and four-mode approximations to the full internal coordinate force field. VSCF calculations using a conventional normal coordinate force field for H2CN are also reported.
Scaling similarities between fracture surfaces, energies, and a structure parameter

Several authors have recently discussed the use of fractals to describe fracture energies and their relationships to fracture surface geometries. A fractal is a self-similar geometric construction with non-integer dimensionality. Self-similarity means that the fractal appears the same under all magnifications. Dimensionalities are described below and more rigorously. Fracture energies (E) are quantified according to the scale of observation (L), e.g., J integrals on the macroscopic scale or interatomic potentials on the lattice scale. Surface geometries have been described by roughness parameters (R) or by the fracture surface dimensionality: D/sub s/ ..cap alpha..ln(R)ln(L). Another fractal dimensionality for fracture has been defined in terms of energy: D ..cap alpha..ln(E)ln(L). A frequently employed assumption is that D/sub s/ is the same for all scales, or that a plot of ln(R) versus ln(L) is linear. However, others have found that this is in general not true for fracture surfaces. It appears that the sigmoidal scaling behavior of fracture energies could be as common as others have observed for fracture surface roughnesses. In the present work, fracture energies are found to exhibit the same sigmoidal behavior when plotted versus an apparent material structure parameter. This parameter is herein called a ''characteristic structural unit formore » fracture'' (L/sub o/). Arguments leading to this conclusion are given.« less
“Visible Signs of a City Out of Control”: Community Policing in New York City

ABSTRACT Institutions of police—community dialogue in New York City assume that communities possess an intuitive and legally sound sense of order and disorder, on which the police can rely for information and support. However, staged dialogues between police and community groups can produce complicated situations of conflict and tension. While the police work to interpellate a friendly, coherent, and controlled community subject, city residents use the police's ideological language of order to offer a critique of the police themselves and of the sweeping neoliberal economic restructuring of the city around them.
Hospital electronic medical record-based public health surveillance system deployed during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

Background Several computer biosurveillance systems are in place to detect events of public health (PH) significance; however, most lack access to timely and detailed patient-level data and investigation of alerts places a strain on PH resources. Methods Hospital-based infection control professionals led a multi-disciplinary team to develop a computer rule–based system that relies on the patient's electronic medical record. The rules operated on HL7 messages transmitted by clinical computing systems and encompassed a variety of types of patient-level data, including laboratory test ordering and results, radiology ordering and reports, emergency room and outpatient clinic visits, and hospital admissions. Laboratory data were mapped to standard vocabularies, and radiology data were processed using natural language–processing algorithms before the rules were applied to filter for events of PH interest. For each rule, statistical process controls were applied to generate alerts when levels exceeded two standard deviations above the mean. The system was deployed at a large hospital in Salt Lake City during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, and it was accessed 3 times a day to perform surveillance. Daily reports were provided to local PH agencies after preliminary investigation of the alerts. Results Of the 24 rules monitored, 9 generated alerts on 11 different occasions. The only significant event of PH interest that was noted during the surveillance period was an increase in influenza during the Games. The positive predictive value of the rules varied with a high value (89%) noted for identification of pneumonia from chest radiograph reports by natural language–processing algorithms. Conclusions With the assistance of a novel computer-based surveillance system linked to the electronic medical record that uses objective, quantifiable events and access to patient data, infection control practitioners could play a front-line role in biosurveillance and facilitate bidirectional communication with PH agencies.
Stochastic optimal control for series hybrid electric vehicles

Increasing demand for improving fuel economy and reducing emissions has stimulated significant research and investment in hybrid propulsion systems. In this paper, we address the problem of optimizing online the supervisory control in a series hybrid configuration by modeling its operation as a controlled Markov chain using the average cost criterion. We treat the stochastic optimal control problem as a dual constrained optimization problem. We show that the control policy that yields higher probability distribution to the states with low cost and lower probability distribution to the states with high cost is an optimal control policy, defined as an equilibrium control policy. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the efficiency of the proposed controller in a series hybrid configuration and compare it with a thermostat-type controller.
Preoperative prognostic classification system for hemispheric low-grade gliomas in adults : Clinical article

Object Hemispheric low-grade gliomas (LGGs) have an unpredictable progression and overall survival (OS) profile. As a result, the objective in the present study was to design a preoperative scoring system to prognosticate long-term outcomes in patients with LGGs. Methods The authors conducted a retrospective review with long-term follow-up of 281 adults harboring hemispheric LGGs (World Health Organization Grade II lesions). Clinical and radiographic data were collected and analyzed to identify preoperative predictors of OS, progression-free survival (PFS), and extent of resection (EOR). These variables were used to devise a prognostic scoring system. Results The 5-year estimated survival probability was 0.86. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards modeling demonstrated that 4 factors were associated with lower OS: presumed eloquent location (hazard ratio [HR] 4.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.71–10.42), Karnofsky Performance Scale score ≤ 80 (HR 3.53, 95% CI 1.56–8.00), patient age > 50 years (HR 1.96,...
Usefulness of the internal jugular venous route for cardiac catheterization in children.

Abstract Cardiac catheterization is an important tool in the diagnosis and management of heart disease in children. The femoral artery and vein are the usual routes of access for this procedure. In the past, use of the internal jugular vein for cardiac catheterization has been reserved for those children in whom femoral venous access was limited by obstruction, such as ileofemoral venous thrombosis or congenital absence of the hepatic portion of the inferior vena cava. Latson et al 1 reported use of this vein in 14 pediatric patients, in each for reasons of either inferior vena caval obstruction or the desire to maintain a central venous line after catheterization. At the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, the internal jugular vein has been used as a primary site for cardiac catheterization in patients undergoing endomyocardial biopsy after cardiac transplantation. This report describes our experience and technique.
Estimating scanning characteristics from corners in bilevel images

Degradations that occur during scanning can cause errors in Optical Character Recognition (OCR). Scans made in bilevel mode (no gray scale) from high contrast source patterns are the input to the estimation processes. Two scanner system parameters are estimated from bilevel scans using models of the scanning process and bilevel source patterns. The scanner's point spread function (PSF) width and the binarization threshold are estimated by using corner features in the scanned images. These estimation algorithms were tested in simulation and with scanned test patterns. The resulting estimates are close in value to what is expected based on gray-level analysis. The results of estimation are used to produce synthetically scanned characters that in most cases bear a strong resemblance to the characters scanned on the scanner at the same settings as the test pattern used for estimation.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Glutathione and morbidity in a community-based sample of elderly

This study examined the association of blood glutathione level, a potential marker of physiological/functional aging, with a number of biomedical/psychological traits in a subgroup (N = 33) of a representative sample of community-based elderly. Higher glutathione levels were associated with fewer number of illnesses (p < 0.05), higher levels of self-rated health (p < 0.01), lower cholesterol (p < 0.05), lower body mass index, and lower blood pressures. Subjects with diagnoses of arthritis, diabetes, or heart disease (as assessed by physicians) had at least marginally significant lower glutathione levels than those who were disease free. Glutathione, together with age and a measure of suppressed anger, accounted for 39% of the variance of an index of morbidity. Glutathione, by itself, accounted for 24% of the variance. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of an association of higher glutathione levels with higher levels of physical health in a sample of community-based elderly. Further studies in large samples are needed to investigate glutathione as a potential overall health risk factor for morbidity among the elderly.
Classification of compressed breast shapes for the design of equalization filters in x-ray mammography.

We are developing an external filter method for equalizing the x-ray exposure in mammography. Each filter is specially designed to match the shape of the compressed breast border and to preferentially attenuate the x-ray beam in the peripheral region of the breast. To be practical, this method should require the use of only a limited number of custom built filters. It is hypothesized that this would be possible if compressed breasts can be classified into a finite number of shapes. A study was performed to determine the number of shapes. Based on the parabolic appearances of the outer borders of compressed breasts in mammograms, the borders were fit with the polynomial equations y=ax 2 +bx 3 and y=ax 2 +bx 3 +cx 4 . The goodness-of-fit of these equations was compared. The a,b and a,b,c coefficients were employed in a K-Means clustering procedure to classify 470 CC-view and 484 MLO-view borders into 2–10 clusters. The mean coefficients of the borders within a given cluster defined the “filter” shape, and the individual borders were translated and rotated to best match that filter shape. The average rms differences between the individual borders and the “filter” were computed as were the standard deviations of those differences. The optimally shifted and rotated borders were refit with the above polynomial equations, and plotted for visual evaluation of clustering success. Both polynomial fits were adequate with rms errors of about 2 mm for the 2-coefficient equation, and about 1 mm for the 3-coefficient equation. Although the fits to the original borders were superior for the 3-coefficient equation, the matches to the “filter” borders determined by clustering were not significantly improved. A variety of modified clustering methods were developed and utilized, but none produced major improvements in clustering. Results indicate that 3 or 4 filter shapes may be adequate for each mammographic projection (CC and MLO-view). To account for the wide variations in exposures observed at the peripheral regions of breasts classified to be of a particular shape, it may be necessary to employ different filters for thin, medium and thick breasts. Even with this added requirement, it should be possible to use a small number of filters as desired.
Networking for real-time control of integrated manufacturing processes

Results of experimentation at the network testbed which emulates the heterogeneous traffic in an integrated manufacturing system are reported. As the network traffic increases, the dynamic performance of the delayed control system which regulates the servomotor in the experimental facility degrades. The experimental device is representative of the drive mechanisms of machine tools which are affected by network-induced delays in a real-time manufacturing environment. The concept of transmitting real-time unacknowledged data and delayable acknowledged data packets is applicable to both manufacturing systems and to integrated voice and data communication networks. >
Observations of the Dynamics and Acoustics of Travelling Bubble Cavitation

Individual travelling cavitation bubbles generated on two axisymmetric headforms were detected using a surface electrode probe. The growth and collapse of the bubbles, almost all of which were quasi-spherical caps moving close to the headform surface, were studied photographically. Although the growth patterns for the two headforms were similar, the collapse mechanisms were quite different. These differences were related to the pressure fields and viscous flow patterns associated with each headform. Measurements of the acoustic impulse generated by the bubble collapse were analyzed and found to correlate with the maximum volume of the bubble for each headform. Numerical solutions of the Rayleigh-Plesset equation were generated for the same flows and compared with the experimental data. The experiments revealed that for smaller bubbles the impulse-volume relationship is determinate, but for larger bubbles the impulse becomes more uncertain. The theoretical impulse was at least a factor of two greater than the measured impulse, and the impulse-volume relationship was related to the details of the collapse mechanism. Acoustic emission of individual cavitation events was spectrally analyzed and the results were compared with relevant theoretical and emperical predictions. Finally, the cavitation nuclei flux was measured and compared to the cavitation event rate and the bubble maximum size distribution through the use of a simple model. The nuclei number distribution was found to vary substantially with tunnel operating conditions, and changes in the nuclei number distribution significantly influenced the cavitation event rate and bubble maximum size distribution. The model estimated the cavitation event rate but failed to predict the bubble maximum size distribution. With the above theoretical and experimental results, the cavitation rate and resulting noise production may be estimated from a knowledge of the non-cavitating flow and the free stream nuclei number distribution.
Modeling density dependence in heterogeneous landscapes: Dispersal as a case study

Population models often pose density-dependent rates as relations between current population size on a habitat patch, n, and some threshold size defined by limiting resources, r. In fourteen recent modeling studies incorporating density-dependent dispersal, formulations of the density-dependent rate (or probability) fall into two distinct groups, expressing the rate as a function of n-r or n/r. These two depictions of the same process differ fundamentally: they can cause strikingly different dynamics in otherwise identical systems and they have different scaling properties in heterogeneous landscapes. Here I consider the implications of the two formulations under two broad ecological scenarios: scramble competition for an equally divided resource (e.g. food) and contest competition for an unequally divided resource (e.g. nest sites). In both cases, simple arguments show that the n/r form is preferable when density dependence is driven by individual access to resources. Other circumstances may require different formulations, but modelers must ensure that these have appropriate scaling and non-equilibrium behavior.
Shadow zones, travel times, and energies of longitudinal seismic waves in the presence of an asthenosphere low-velocity layer

Theoretical computations, using the ray theory, are made of the extent of the shadow zone, travel times, and energies of longitudinal waves, assuming an asthenosphere low-velocity layer. A profile with velocity as an exponential function of the radius in each layer leads to relatively simple expressions both of distances and travel times. The shadow zone has a maximum width for a focus in the level of maximum velocity (h = 50 km in our model) and vanishes for foci about 20 km below the level of minimum velocity. Outside the shadow zone a caustic is formed with high energy concentration, beyond which the traveltime curve shows two branches, the later existing only up to a certain distance. There is much less energy arriving on the second of these branches than on the first. Other effects which may explain the arrival of energy also within the shadow zone are discussed qualitatively. Such effects include reflections from the Earth's surface and at internal discontinuities, scattering, diffraction.
Demographic variation in a desert shrub, Larrea tridentata, in response to a thinning treatment

We performed a perturbation experiment to determine the relative importance of intra-specific competition on the demographic performance of a population of creosotebush, Larrea tridentata. From 1992 to 1995, we followed 1000 individuals, half of which were in plots subjected to a thinning treatment, and the other half were in unmanipulated plots. We found no significant response to the thinning treatment for any of the traits studied. The strict interpretation of these results is that intra-specific competition is not important in this Larrea population.
Prediction of Glass Durability as a Function of Environmental Conditions

A thermodynamic model of glass durability has been applied to natural, ancient, and nuclear waste glasses. The durabilities of over 150 different natural and man-made glasses, including actual ancient Roman and Islamic glasses (Jalame ca. 350 A. D., Nishapur 10-11th century A. D., and Gorgon 9-11th century A.D.), have been compared. Glass durability has been shown to be a function of the thermodynamic hydration free energy, δGhvd, which can be calculated from glass composition and solution pH. Using this approach the durability of the most durable nuclear waste glasses examined was ˜106 years by comparison with the durability of the natural basalts of ˜106 years. The least durable waste glass formulations were comparable in durability to the most durable simulated medieval window glasses of ˜103 years. In this manner, the durability of nuclear waste glasses has been interpolated to be ˜106 years and no less than 103 years. Hydration thermodynamics have been shown to be applicable to the dissolution of glass in various natural environments. Groundwater-glass interactions relative to geologic disposal of nuclear waste, hydration rind dating of obsidians, and/or other archeological studies can be modeled, e.g. the relative durabilities of six simulated medieval window glasses have been correctly predicted for both laboratory (one month) and burial (5 year) experiments. The effects of solution pH on glass dissolution has been determined experimentally for the 150 different glasses and can be predicted theoretically by hydration thermodynamics. The effects of solution redox (oxidation potential expressed as Eh) on dissolution of glass matrix elements such as Si and B have been shown to be minimal. The combined effects of solution pH and Eh have been described and unified by construction of thermodynamically calculated Pourbaix (pH-Eh) diagrams for glass dissolution. The Pourbaix diagrams have been quantified to describe glass dissolution as a function of environmental conditions by use of the data derived from hydration thermodynamics.
Impact of the climate change on the West coast of Algeria: Gulf of Oran, Arzew and Mostaganem.

Different hydro climatic conditionsat and above a continental shelf have significant effects on the ecology of theenvironment (temperature, nutrient richness and pelagic production). Indeed,bioclimatic changes defined clearly reflects the prevailing conditions imposedabove the continental shelf. Based on contributions made to the sea (rainfall,temperature, wind ...) and those put together by the internal dynamics can bedistinguished marine years that correspond to low enrichment in terms of anychange in continental and marine conditions generally short and strongenrichment of years corresponding to eventful years and transformations ofcontinental and marine conditions, strong shifts in time. Thus, a hot or coldbut very fluctuating period influence the marine ecosystem and phytoplankton growth. Also, the impact of development on the coastal and marine environmentis localized mainly in the coastal metropolitan areas characterized by highurbanization and concentration of activities. Keywords:climate change; environmental variability; Ecosystem vulnerability; West coastof Algeria.
Effect of Ambient Atmosphere on YBa2Cu3O7-y

The reactivity of sintered samples of YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7-y with moisture at elevated temperatures has recently been reported [1]. The reaction sequence proposed was: Such instability of the 1–2–3 phase has serious implications regarding not only the use of the sintered material, but powder processing as well. While the need for fine particle 1–2–3 powder exhibiting good sinterability is recognized, it is also anticipated that the degradation of this material will accelerate with decreasing particle size because of the larger surface area. Thus, we have conducted a series of experiments to monitor the effect of ambient atmosphere on fine particle 1–2–3 powder. The powder was monitored as a function of time by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, sintering characteristics and magnetic flux exclusion.
Two-Way Immersion for the Next Generation: Models, Policies, and Principles

ABSTRACTThe potential of TWI to close the achievement gap for English language learners and to provide both native English speakers and native partner-language speakers with access to a high-quality education with positive academic, language, and sociocultural outcomes is clear. In this article, I argue that the realization of this potential for TWI programs today and in the future requires TWI educators to contextualize their practices beyond the dualities of the program. Specifically, the article discusses how the increased cultural and linguistic diversity of TWI students in the program questions the native speaker/nonnative speaker dichotomy. Further, it argues that the strict separation of the languages for instruction needs to be contextualized in light of the holistic nature of bilingualism.
The Role of Barium in the Heteroepitaxial Growth of Insulator and Semiconductors on Silicon

The epitaxial growth of an insulator, BaF 2 , and semiconductors of the II-VI and the IV-VI families on Si substrates were carried out. In-situ XPS analyses during the growth of the first monolayers were used to study the surface chemical reactions involved. The results point to a common ingredient in these growths: that the Ba atoms are involved in forming interfacial compounds that would facilitate the heteroepitaxies. In the case of BaF 2 /Si, a BaSi 2 compound has been identified previously. In the case of PbTe and CdTe, the heteroepitaxies on Si are made possible with the BaSi 2 buffer. As a result, the impinging semiconductor molecules are broken up, and the metallic elements are ejected from the BaSi 2 surface. A new surface chemical, BaTe, is thereby formed. These surface Ba compounds appear to be the dominant factors as the crystal orientations of the BaF 2 , CdTe, and PbTe layers are independent of those of the Si substrates.
Measurement of the Form Factors in the Decay K L 0 → π μ ν

A Dalitz plot of $1.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{6}{{K}_{L}}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{\nu}$ decays has been studied to measure the $t$ dependence of the vector and scalar form factors. The observed slopes, ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{+}=0.030\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.003$ and ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{0}=0.020\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.003$, are compatible with current-algebra and soft-pion predictions, $\ensuremath{\mu}\ensuremath{-}e$ university, and ${K}^{*}$ (890) dominance of the vector form factor.
Release of engineered nanomaterials from polymer nanocomposites: the effect of matrix degradation.

Polymer nanocomposites—polymer-based materials that incorporate filler elements possessing at least one dimension in the nanometer range—are increasingly being developed for commercial applications ranging from building infrastructure to food packaging to biomedical devices and implants. Despite a wide range of intended applications, it is also important to understand the potential for exposure to these nanofillers, which could be released during routine use or abuse of these materials so that it can be determined whether they pose a risk to human health or the environment. This article is the second of a pair that review what is known about the release of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) from polymer nanocomposites. Two roughly separate ENM release paradigms are considered in this series: the release of ENMs via passive diffusion, desorption, and dissolution into external liquid media and the release of ENMs assisted by matrix degradation. The present article is focused primarily on the second paradigm an...
Tecnologias digitais no ensino de história: pressupostos teórico e metodológico do formato Telecurso na metodologia Telessala.

Na sociedade de Rede o conhecimento esta associado a web sites e a motores de busca. As novas possibilidades de conexao e construcao social do conhecimento recebem a significativa denominacao de social software. Tal termo e suficientemente amplo para abarcar diferentes ferramentas e tecnologias, as quais possuem a caracteristica de facilitar a interacao em muitos contextos. A dinâmica do ciberespaco reconfigura os espacos de ensinar e aprender. E necessario compreender de que forma tais reconfiguracoes significam mudancas empiricas nas praticas cotidianas dos professores de Historia, a construcao de saberes historicos mediados por tecnologias digitais, as inter-relacoes que sao promovidas a partir do uso das tecnologias de comunicacao e informacao nos espacos de aprendizagem formal e nao formal, quando analisadas como estrategias inovadoras para a transformacao da proposta do ensino de Historia, na educacao basica, seja nas modalidades presencial e educacao a distância. Procura-se analisar o Metodo Telessala proposto pelo formato Telecurso relacionando com as teorias educacionais propostas pelo programa: Dom Helder Câmara, Paulo Freire, Celestin Freinet e Jean Piaget.
Study on food intake level of lead exposed workers by using Chinese diet balance index

Objective To investigate the diet structure and nutritional status of lead exposed workers and evaluate individual dietary pattern for the dietary nutritional intervention.Methods Lead exposed workers were investigated with semi quantitative food frequency and evaluated by using diet balance index(DBI)and"China dietary reference intakes".Results The dietary structure was imbalance for the workers exposed to lead,inadequate intake for fruits and vegetables,fish and dairy products,milk and eggs,excessive intake for wine,oil and salt.The average dietary intake tended to deficiency according to the DBI model.Individual evaluation found that food intake was better,mode A and B accounted for 61.9%.Conclusion Inadequate intake of nutrients is the main dietary problems for workers exposed to lead,a well-balanced diet guidance should be provided for lead exposed workers according to job characteristics and genders.
Detection of diarrhetic shellfish poisons and pectenotoxins in the mussels that caused an outbreak of diarrhea

Objective:During 25-27th May 2011,there was an outbreak of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning(DSP) after ingestion of intoxicated mussels in Cangnan county,located at the south coast of Zhejiang province in China,57 persons were affected.To investigate the contamination of shellfish poisoning in mussels based on 19 samples randomly collected from the local seafood markets.Methods:Ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry was used to detect the following lipophilic toxins:okadaic acid(OA),dinophysistoxin-1(DTX-1),pectenotoxin-2(PTX-2),pectenotoxin-2 seco acid(PTX-2sa) and 7-epi-pectenotoxin-2 seco acid(7-epi-PTX-2sa).The safety assessment of diarrhetic shellfish poisons and pectenotoxins in mussels was conducted according to the maximum permitted levels in EU.Results:OA,DTX-1 and 7-epi-PTX-2sa were detected in 15 samples,PTX-2sa was detected in 16 samples,and PTX-2 was detected in 7 samples,respectively.The concentrations of free OA and DTX-1 in 4 samples were about 3 times greater than the maximum permitted levels in EU,and their total OA surpassed 9 times the level.Others were below the EU regulatory level.This paper for first time reported the detection of PTX-2sa and 7-epi-PTX-2sa in China shellfish.Conclusion:Consequent measures should be taken by regulatory authorities to ensure safety of harvested shellfish product.
The Cutting Edge: Neurotransmitters and Brain Tissue Transplant

Neural tissue transplant represents one of the most exciting and controversial areas of current basic neuroscience research. It offers enormous therapeutic promise for patients with degenerative and traumatic neurologic disorders. This article reviews the functions of several common neurotransmitters and examines the clinical applications of tissue transplant into the human nervous system.
Does central sensitization help explain idiopathic overactive bladder

The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) can include dysfunction of sensory pathways of the peripheral and central nervous systems, resulting in bladder hypersensitivity. Central sensitization describes an induced state of spinal hypersensitivity that is associated with a variety of chronic pain disorders that share many attributes with OAB, albeit without the presence of pain. As such, the concept of central sensitization might be relevant to understanding the mechanisms and clinical manifestations of OAB syndrome. An understanding of the pathophysiology and clinical manifestations of central sensitization, and the evidence that supports a role of central sensitization in OAB, including the potential implications of mechanisms of central sensitization for the treatment of patients with OAB could provide a novel approach to the treatment of patients with this disease. Such an approach would be especially relevant to those patients with central sensitization-related comorbidities, and has the potential to improve the outcomes of these patients in particular.
5-ASA enema therapy.

5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) enema therapy has been a direct extension of our understanding of the pharmacology and metabolism of sulfasalazine. Clinical studies have documented the efficacy and safety of topical 5-ASA therapy in distal ulcerative colitis. Future clinical experience should clarify the role of topical 5-ASA in a variety of inflammatory bowel disease syndromes.
Safety of surgical therapy for neonate aortic coarctation combined with ventricular septal defect

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the safety of surgical repair for neonatal aortic coarctation combined with ventricular septal defect. METHODS Twenty-three aortic coarctation neonates received surgical treatment and their clinical data between April, 2013 and May, 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. All patients underwent coarctation repair + ventricular septal defect repair and mild hyperthermia cardiopulmonary bypass under the condition of general anesthesia. All patients were subjected to delayed sternal closure. RESULTS One patient died at early post-operation, and no one died during 2-27 months' follow-up. Operation time, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamp time, ICU stay time, mechanical ventilation time, delayed sternal closure time, and post-operative hospital stay time were (192.7±43.4) min, (132.4±26.4) min, (65.3±18.4) min, (185.3±56.4) h, (42.4±24.5) h, (36.3±18.6) h, and (15.3±4.6) d, respectively. Post-operative complications presented in 12 patients, including post-operative hemorrhage in 6 patients, acute renal insufficiency in 4 patients, wound infection in 1 patient, and post-operative coarctation of the aorta in 1 patient. CONCLUSION One-stage complete repair for severe aortic coarctation combined with ventricular septal defect in neonates is safe, and the outcomes are satisfied. Fully free of the aortic arch and individual aorta reconstruction are the keies to successful operation.
Carbamazepine and Serum Lipid Levels

The effects of carbamazepine on serum lipid levels in 36 previously untreated patients with recently diagnosed idiopathic epilepsy were evaluated in a 1 to 5-year follow-up study at the Departments of Neurology and Clinical Chemistry, University of Oulu, Finland.
Associations Between Academic Rank and Advanced Bibliometric Indices Among United States Academic Radiologists.

Rationale and Objectives This study aimed to evaluate associations between traditional and advanced bibliometric indices with academic rank for radiologists in the United States. Methods Faculty web pages were searched to classify 538 members of the Association of University Radiologists as assistant (n = 212), associate (n = 128), or full (n = 198) professors. Radiologists' publication and citation records were extracted from Scopus to compute the following indices: publication count, citation count, h-index, i-10 index, hc-index, m-quotient, e-index, and g-index. Analysis of variance, multivariable logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were performed. Results All indices were significantly different among the three groups (P ≤.001), progressively increasing with increasing rank (eg, mean publication count of 17, 41, and 128 among assistant, associate, and full professors, respectively; mean citation count of 205, 687, and 3622, respectively; mean h-index of 5, 11, and 27, respectively). At multivariable analysis, the h-index (reflecting publications and citations) was a strong significant independent positive predictor of associate (β=+0.32, P Conclusion When controlling for the h-index, more rapid publication, as indicated by the m-quotient, was negatively associated with radiologists' academic rank, indicating the additional influence of career duration in promotions decisions.
Coupling optogenetic stimulation with NanoLuc-based luminescence (BRET) Ca ++ sensing

Optogenetic techniques allow intracellular manipulation of Ca++ by illumination of light-absorbing probe molecules such as channelrhodopsins and melanopsins. The consequences of optogenetic stimulation would optimally be recorded by non-invasive optical methods. However, most current optical methods for monitoring Ca++ levels are based on fluorescence excitation that can cause unwanted stimulation of the optogenetic probe and other undesirable effects such as tissue autofluorescence. Luminescence is an alternate optical technology that avoids the problems associated with fluorescence. Using a new bright luciferase, we here develop a genetically encoded Ca++ sensor that is ratiometric by virtue of bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET). This sensor has a large dynamic range and partners optimally with optogenetic probes. Ca++ fluxes that are elicited by brief pulses of light to cultured cells expressing melanopsin and to neurons-expressing channelrhodopsin are quantified and imaged with the BRET Ca++ sensor in darkness, thereby avoiding undesirable consequences of fluorescence irradiation.