cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of cost-effectiveness analysis and health insurance in diabetes care.

Abstract The theme of World Diabetes Day for 1999 is ‘The Costs of Diabetes’. This theme was chosen quite purposely to reflect the broad nature in which diabetes affects individuals, families, and society. For the theme can highlight the importance of diabetes from a medical, social, or economic perspective. This presentation addresses two issues, cost–effectiveness analysis and financial barriers to care, that pertain to the economic viewpoint. Economically, the costs of diabetes are varied. They include items that one can easily recognize, such as the expenditures related to medical treatment for diabetes (direct costs) or the earnings lost to individuals prematurely disabled or dying young (indirect costs). Other less well known costs exists as well. These include the opportunity costs to individuals with diabetes who forego other ‘opportunities in life’ because they made a decision to devote their financial or time resources to diabetes care. They also include costs to society, such as the impact of using existing resources in diabetes care unwisely, or having inappropriate priorities. Cost–effectiveness analyses in diabetes care address this last point. Health insurance issues highlight one aspect of opportunity costs in diabetes care.
Smarter Lunchrooms Can Address New School Lunchroom Guidelines and Childhood Obesity

New US Department of Agriculture regulations have altered what foods schools offer for lunch, but schools cannot require students to eat specific foods. An intervention using the behavioral science principle known as "libertarian paternalism" led junior-senior high school students to eat more fruits and vegetables by making these foods more convenient, attractive, and normative.
Decentralized education spending and regional disparities: Evidence from Chinese counties 1997–2001

Chinese fiscal reforms in the past decade have recentralized government revenues, making lower governments more dependent on central and provincial funds. At the same time, decentralization in spending has obliged the county governments to take primary responsibility for financing compulsory education. That vertical imbalance can lead to widening regional gap in education if the central government does not carry out effective redistributive fiscal transfers. This paper examines a data set that includes all the counties of mainland China from 1997 through 2001 and finds that regional economic and budgetary disparities did carry over to education spending.
Instantaneous lead entrapment : An unusual complication of nonthoracotomy implantation of an endocardial defibrillation lead

Nonthoracotomy implantation of implantable cardioverter defibrillators is performed with transvenous leads that are similar to pacemaker leads and are subject to the same potential problems. We report an unusual complication of lead placement in which an electrode immediately became entrapped in the superior rim of the tricuspid valve, resisting all efforts at removal.
Atypical thymoma: A report of seven patients

Abstract Background Most thymic neoplasms fall under the designation of thymoma, consisting of well-differentiated epithelial cells, resembling normal thymus. At the opposite spectrum are thymic carcinomas; the cell of origin while similar is malignant. Recently a third category of thymic neoplasms, atypical thymomas, has been recognized representing thymic neoplasms manifesting atypia although without overt cytomorphologic criteria of malignancy. Methods Seven patients with a diagnosis of atypical thymoma were encountered over a 6-year period from the patient files of the cardiothoracic division of The Ohio State Medical Center. Results In all patients there was gross or light microscopic invasive disease with involvement of the capsule, phrenic nerve, diaphragm, chest wall, and lung. Surgical extirpation/de-bulking along with radiation therapy in six and chemotherapy in one led to complete disease regression. Intrathoracic recurrences developed in 4 involving lung, pleura, chest wall and diaphragm. All patients are well. Conclusions Atypical thymomas are locally aggressive tumors with a high incidence of intrathoracic recurrence; extrathoracic spread is not seen. Our study corroborates other reports that death attributable to atypical thymoma is uncommon.
A Mechanistic Analysis of Variability Between Ventricular Cardiomyocytes

Variability between individuals and samples is an important yet poorly studied phenomenon. One recently developed theoretical approach to the study of variability is the use of "population-based" models, where a large number of related models are studied instead of a single model. In particular, parameter sensitivity analysis can be performed by generating a large population of related models with varied parameters (such as different levels of ion channels), running simulations of those models to calculate physiological outputs (such as action potential duration, APD, and Ca2+ transient amplitude, Δ[Ca2+]i), then performing regression to relate the outputs to the parameters. This produces a matrix of sensitivity coefficients, each of which represents a quantitative and testable prediction of how changes in each parameter will affect each output. We have applied this method to a model of the rat ventricular myocyte that contains separate formulations for epicardial and endocardial cells. The analysis implicated the L-type Ca2+ current density (GCa) as an important determinant of Δ[Ca2+]i and APD in both cell types, with a reduction in GCa causing decreased APD and Δ[Ca2+]i. A reduction in transient outward K+ current density (Gto) causes an increase in APD in both cell types. Surprisingly, reduction of Gto was predicted to increase Δ[Ca2+]i in epicardial but not in endocardial cells. Experimental studies in progress confirm the surprising prediction that changes in Gto can indeed influence Ca2+ transients in rat ventricular myocytes. This work demonstrates how population-based modeling can generate counterintuitive and testable predictions, and also illustrates a quantitative framework to mechanistically relate measured differences in the levels of currents to behavioral variability between isolated cells.
Differences in Phenotype and Cell Replicative Behavior of Hepatic Tumors Induced by Dichloroacetate (DCA) and Trichloroacetate (TCA)

Abstract Dichloroacetate (DCA) and trichloroacetate (TCA) are two hepatocarcinogenic by-products of water chlorination. To compare the effects of DCA and TCA on cell replication in the nodules and tumors they induce, male B6C3F1 mice were administered 2.0 g/L DCA or TCA in their drinking water for 38 or 50 weeks, respectively. The pretreated mice were then given water containing 0, 0.02, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 g/L DCA or TCA for two additional weeks to determine whether cell proliferation in the normal liver or tumors that had been induced by DCA or TCA was dependent on continued treatment. Prior to sacrifice the mice were subcutaneously implanted with mini-osmotic pumps to label DNA in dividing cells with 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU). Serial sections of nodules/tumors and normal liver were stained immunohistochemically for BrdU, the oncoproteins c-Junand c-Fos,and hematoxylin and eosin (H & E); or with Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain, BrdU, and H & E, respectively. DCA and TCA transiently stimulated the division of normal hepatocytes relative to rates observed in the livers of control mice. However, at 40 and 52 weeks of treatment, replication of normal hepatocytes was substantially inhibited by DCA and TCA, respectively. Cell division within DCA-induced lesions that were identified macroscopically was significantly higher with increasing dose of DCA administered in the last 2 weeks of the experiment. DCA-induced lesions were found to display immunoreactivity to anti-c-Junand anti-c-Fosantibodies, were predominantly basophilic, and contained very little glycogen relative to surrounding hepatocytes. In contrast, rates of cell division within TCA-induced altered hepatic foci and tumors were very high and appeared to be independent of continued treatment. TCA-induced lesions did not display immunoreactivity to either c-Junor c-Fosantibodies. Results from this study suggest that the mechanisms by which DCA and TCA induce hepatocarcinogenesis in the male B6C3F1 mouse differ.
Microinjections of glycine into the pre-Bötzinger complex inhibit phrenic nerve activity in the rat.

Microinjections of L-glutamate were used to identify the pre-Botzinger complex in urethane-anesthetized, immobilized, bilaterally vagotomized, artificially ventilated, adult male Wistar rats. Unilateral microinjections (20-30 nl) of L-glutamate into the pre-Botzinger complex on either side elicited a bilateral continuous phrenic nerve discharge superimposed on which was an increase in burst-frequency. Neurokinin-1 receptor immunoreactivity in the semi-compact region of the nucleus ambiguus and the area immediately ventral to it indicated that the site of microinjections was in the general region of pre-Botzinger complex. Unilateral microinjections of glycine into the pre-Botzinger complex caused an inhibition of phrenic nerve activity bilaterally in a concentration-dependent manner. At lower concentrations (1 and 3 mM) phrenic nerve burst-frequency as well as burst-amplitude were decreased. At higher concentrations (6 mM), complete bilateral cessation of phrenic nerve activity was observed. The effects of glycine were prevented by a prior microinjection of strychnine (0.5 mM) into the pre-Botzinger complex. The specificity of strychnine as an antagonist for glycine receptors was established by its lack effect on GABA(A) receptors; muscimol was used as a GABA(A) receptor agonist. Unilateral microinjections of muscimol (0.01 and 0.1 mM) into previously identified pre-Botzinger complex also caused a bilateral decrease in phrenic nerve burst-frequency and burst-amplitude. At higher concentrations (0.3 and 1 mM) muscimol microinjections into the pre-Botzinger elicited a complete bilateral cessation of phrenic nerve activity. The effects of muscimol were not altered by prior microinjections of strychnine (0.5 mM) at the same site. These results demonstrate pharmacologically the presence of glycine receptors in the pre-Botzinger complex. The role of these receptors in the regulation of respiration remains to be elucidated.
Effectiveness of a food safety teaching strategy promoting critical thinking

Summary and Conclusions In this program, critical analysis of a simulated situation and subsequent problem solving were used to encourage critical thinking. 5,7,13,14 The food safety education program presented involved the analysis of scenarios, role playing, and socratic questioning. Previous studies have found that identification with a particular role was the critical factor responsible for attitudinal changes in simulations. 10 Socratic questions require the learner to retrieve stored information and use it in the current framework. The leaders involved with the lesson prepared according to the critical theory had animated discussions concerning the scenarios, particularly when the scenario they chose dealt with a problem the participants had recently encountered in their community. The role playing experience evolved into enthusiastic questioning of alternative actions to take and the knowledge needed to make the best decision. The case presentation method was effective because it engaged the learner, provided opportunities for reflective thinking and practice, and personalized the information so that it was relevant to the leader's life situation. In addition, it was demonstrated that food safety subject matter can be successfully adapted to a critical thinking instructional format.
Bioenergetics of alkalophilic bacteria.

The central problem for organisms which grow optimally, and in some cases obligately, at pH values of 10 to 11, is the maintenance of a relatively acidified cytoplasm. A key component of the pH homeostatic mechanism is an electrogenic Na+/H+ antiporter which—by virtue of kinetic properties and/or its concentration in the membrane—catalyzes net proton uptake while the organisms extrude protons during respiration. The antiporter is also capable of maintaining a constant pHin during profound elevations in pHout as long as Na+ entry is facilitated by the presence of solutes which are taken up with Na+. Secondary to the problem of acidifying the interior is the adverse effect of the large pH gradient, acid in, on the total pmf of alkalophile cells. For the purposes of solute uptake and motility, the organisms appear to largely bypass the problem of a low pmf by utilizing a sodium motive force for energization. However, ATP synthesis appears not to resolve the energetics problem by using Na+ or by incorporating the proton-translocating ATPase into intracellular organelles. The current data suggest that effective proton pumping carried out by the alkalophile respiratory chain at high pH may deliver at least some portion of the protons to the proton-utilizing catalysts, i. e., theF1F0-ATPase and the Na+/H+ antiporter, by some localized pathway.
Monte Carlo study of the scanning problem with a visibility distribution

Abstract We summarize the results of a Monte Carlo study of the random scanning problem. In this study, we allow for the possibility that some events may be more difficult to detect than others. Several estimators are compared under a variety of conditions. This work may be used as guide to the optimum strategy for scanning an experiment.
Uptake mechanisms of meta-[123I]iodobenzylguanidine in isolated rat heart

In order to clarify the uptake and retention mechanisms of radioiodinated meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) in heart, the kinetics of no-carrier-added [123I]MIBG were studied in the isolated working rat heart in interaction with pharmacologic agents. The tracer was administered in the perfusate as a 10-min pulse, followed by a 90-min washout period. Kinetic analysis of the externally monitored time-activity curves of control hearts showed avid uptake (Ki = 4.4 +/- 0.7 mL/min/g), and monoexponential clearance (ko = 0.0056 +/- 0.0017 l/min), indicating a distribution volume (Vd = Ki/ko) of 834 +/- 214 mL/g. Blocking experiments (n = 41) were performed with neuronal uptake (uptake-1) inhibitor desipramine (DMI; 50-100 nM) and the extraneuronal uptake (uptake-2) inhibitor N-(9-fluorenyl)-N-methyl-beta-chloroethylamine (SKF550; 0.4-0.8 microM). Uptake rate was 27% reduced (P < 0.05) by 50 nM DMI but not significantly affected by 0.4 microM SKF550. Distribution volume was 88% reduced (P < 0.0005) by 50 nM DMI and 28% reduced (P < 0.05) by 0.4 microM SKF550. In DMI-blocked hearts, uptake rate was dramatically decreased (-80%, P < 0.0005) by SKF550 (0.4 microM), indicating uptake-2 transport contributed predominantly to the extraneuronal uptake of the tracer. The slow uptake rate seen with concomitant inhibition of uptake-1 and uptake-2 was further decreased by addition of unlabeled MIBG (1-10 microM) in a concentration-dependent manner, yet unaffected by addition of the vesicular uptake inhibitor Ro 4-1284 (1 microM). Thus, the uptake rate of [123I]MIBG is primarily dependent on uptake-1 and uptake-2 activity. Other possible mechanisms of uptake such as passive diffusion in association with intracellular binding are significant only in conditions where uptake-1 and uptake-2 mechanisms are largely inhibited.
The Inner Rings of β Pictoris

We present Keck images of the dust disk around β Pictoris at λ = 17.9 μm that reveal new structure in its morphology. Within 1'' (19 AU) of the star, the long axis of the dust emission is rotated by more than 10° with respect to that of the overall disk. This angular offset is more pronounced than the warp detected at 35 by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and is in the opposite direction. By contrast, the long axis of the emission contours ~15 from the star is aligned with the HST warp. Emission peaks between 15 and 4'' from the star hint at the presence of rings similar to those observed in the outer disk at ~25'' with the HST Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph. A deconvolved image strongly suggests that the newly detected features arise from a system of four noncoplanar rings. Bayesian estimates based on the primary image lead to ring radii of 14 ± 1, 28 ± 3, 52 ± 2, and 82 ± 2 AU, with orbital inclinations that alternate in orientation relative to the overall disk and decrease in magnitude with increasing radius. We believe these new results make a strong case for the existence of a nascent planetary system around β Pic.
Optical condensers formed in wet-mounting setup

We reveal that a practical and simple sample arrangement for optical microscopy that is commonly used in biomedical imaging laboratories is a microscope condenser. This unnoticed but high quality microscope condenser is formed when the object under observation immersed in a liquid is sandwiched between two glass coverslips, and is observed using an oil-immersion objective lens. We demonstrate that the advantages in image resolution and contrast provided by this imaging arrangement come from the resulting microscope condenser. We also demonstrate that this overlooked condenser can be reconfigured as a variable numerical aperture microscope condenser by depositing a drop of low boiling point liquid on top of it. We present and discuss several experiments suggesting that the condenser-like rings observed in the Fourier plane images are formed when the incoming light bounces off, or gets scattered by the inner edge of the top aperture of the metal cage of the oil-immersion objective lens toward the top surface of the sample arrangement, and is either reflected, or totally-internally reflected back at a highly inclined angle toward the object under observation.
Explanation in historical sociology: Narrative, general theory, and historically specific theory

L'A. examine le role du recit et de la theorie generale dans l'elaboration de l'explication en sociologie historique. Il analyse, de facon critique, la theorie d'Edgar Kiser et de Michael Hechter en ce domaine. Il denonce le role des theories generales mis en exergue par Kiser et Hechter. Il qualifie d'inductivisme la perspective defendue par ces derniers. Il etudie la fonction du recit dans l'epistemologie historique. Il etudie ce que recouvre la notion de causalite au sein des sciences historiques.
Laparoscopic and open incisional hernia repair: A comparison study

Abstract Background: Techniques for performing laparoscopic incisional hernia repair have been described and some advantages over conventional open repair reported. However, most reported series of laparoscopic incisional hernia procedures are small, and only one has included a comparison with open repairs. Methods: From December 1993 to January 1998, we prospectively collected operative and outcome data on 56 consecutive laparoscopic prosthetic repairs of large incisional hernias. The data were compared with those from a retrospective review of 49 open incisional hernia repairs done in January 1991 to December 1993. Results: The open and laparoscopic repair groups were comparable in patient age, sex, preoperative American Society of Anesthesiologists score, hernia size, and history of previous repair. Operative time was significantly longer in the laparoscopic group; duration of hospitalization and number of perioperative complications were significantly greater in the open group. Conclusions: In this series, laparoscopic repair of incisional hernias took longer to perform than open repair but was associated with fewer perioperative complications and a shorter hospital stay. (Surgery 1998;124:816-22.)
Editors’ Note and Prologue

* Abbreviations: AIR-P — : Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health ATN — : Autism Treatment Network CAAI — : Combating Autism Act Initiative MCHB — : Maternal Child Health Bureau After the Combating Autism Act of 2006, the Health Resources and Services Administration/Maternal Child Health Bureau (MCHB) in 2008 developed a program covering several research, guideline development, and training activities (the Combating Autism Act Initiative [CAAI]). Two autism intervention research networks received funding through this initiative, as did both Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities and developmental/behavioral pediatrics training programs. MCHB also initiated several research projects in autism intervention through a request for proposals. One of the research networks, the Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P), expanded on an already existing network, the Autism Treatment Network (ATN), which had initial (and continuing) infrastructure support from Autism Speaks. Overall activities of the AIR-P are described later in this supplement. This network also took on leadership in developing the current supplement, to describe a number of … Address correspondence to James M. Perrin, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, 100 Cambridge St #1542, Boston, MA 02114. E-mail: jperrin{at}partners.org
The syntax of postpositional phrases in wan, an "SOVX" language

In the study of word order typology, the SOVX word order pattern of Mande is often viewed as exceptional and explained diachronically as a “type in transition”. This paper argues against that view based on analysis of the sentence structure of Wan (Southeastern Mande). I show that the SOVX word order of Wan is a consequence of an unusual syntactic behavior of postpositional arguments, which do not form a syntactic constituent with their verb but instead appear in a fixed position outside of the VP. The analysis has typological implications, suggesting that the SOVX pattern of this kind should be treated separately from types where PP arguments are syntactically dependent on their verb.
Molecular weight and biochemical profile of a chemically modified heparin derivative, Suleparoide®

Abstract Recently, a new chemically modified derivative of heparin (Suleparoide®, Syntex Laboratories Buenos Aires, Argentina) was introduced for the prophylaxis of thrombosis and treatment of vascular disorders. This agent is claimed to contain a depolymerized, chemically modified, heparin derivative with similar biologic actions as heparan sulfate. To study the pharmacologic profile of this agent, we have defined its molecular weight distribution profile, utilizing a computerized gel permeation chromatographic system equipped with ultraviolet and refractive index detectors. Suleparoide® exhibited a normal molecular distribution profile with no contaminants. It exhibited a weight average of 9.3 K DA and an apparent peak MW of 8.0 K DA. Approximately 50% of the molecular components were 5.0 K DA. The results from these studies on the mechanisms show that Suleparoide® has anticoagulant activity primarily mediated through Heparin Cofactor-II (HC-II) and because of its novel mechanism of action, further investigations on the biochemical profile of Suleparoide® are carried out. Global clotting tests such as Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT), Heptest and Thrombin Time (TT) revealed a concentration dependent effect in all assays. Plasma samples supplemented with Suleparoide® exhibited no significant anti-Xa and anti-IIa activities. However, in the HC-II mediated inhibitory assay for IIa, Suleparoide® exhibited significant activity. In contrast, the Antithrombin-III (AT-III) mediated inhibition of IIa was much weaker.
Analogues of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone containing cytotoxic groups.

Abstract In an attempt to produce better cytotoxic analogues, chemotherapeutic antineoplastic radicals including an alkylating nitrogen mustard derivative of D-phenylalanine (D-melphalan), reactive cyclopropane, anthraquinone derivatives [2-(hydroxymethyl)anthraquinone and the anticancer antibiotic doxorubicin], and an antimetabolite (methotrexate) were coupled to suitably modified agonists and antagonists of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH). Analogues with D-lysine6 and D-ornithine6 or N epsilon-(2,3-diaminopropionyl)-D-lysine and N delta-(2,3-diaminopropionyl)-D-ornithine were used as carriers for one or two cytotoxic moieties. The enhanced biological activities produced by the incorporation of D amino acids into position 6 of the agonistic analogues were further increased by the attachment of hydrophobic cytotoxic groups, resulting in compounds with 10-50 times higher activity than LH-RH. Most of the monosubstituted agonistic analogues showed high affinities for the membrane receptors of human breast cancer cells, while the receptor binding affinities of peptides containing two cytotoxic side chains were lower. Antagonistic carriers [Ac-D-Nal(2)1,D-Phe(4Cl)2,D-Trp3,Arg5,D-Lys6,D-Ala10] LH-RH [where Nal(2) is 3-(2-naphthyl)alanine], [Ac-D-Nal(2)1,D-Phe(4Cl)2,D-Trp3,Arg5,N epsilon-(2,3-diaminopropionyl)-D-Lys6,D-Ala10]LH-RH, and their D-Pal(3)3 homologs [Pal(3) is 3-(3-pyridyl)alanine] as well as [Ac-D-Nal(2)1,D-Phe(4Cl)2,D-Pal(3)3,Tyr5,N epsilon-(2,3-diamino-propionyl)-D-Lys6,D-Ala10]LH-RH were linked to cytotoxic compounds. The hybrid molecules inhibited ovulation in rats at doses of 10 micrograms and suppressed LH release in vitro. The receptor binding of cytotoxic analogues was decreased compared to the precursor peptides, although analogues with 2-(hydroxymethyl)anthraquinone hemiglutarate had high affinities. All of the cytotoxic analogues tested inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA in cultures of human breast and prostate cancer cell lines. Some cytotoxic analogues also significantly suppressed the growth of mammary and prostate cancers in vivo in animal models.
Modeling training effects using a human performance taxonomy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize skill acquisition during training and skill retention as a function of training strategy, retention period, and task type in the form of a numerical model and then apply that model to make predictions of performance on an unknown task.Background: Complex systems require efficient and effective training programs for the humans who operate them in discontinuous fashion. Although there are several constructs for learning theory, models that enable analysts to predict training outcomes are needed during the design of training programs. Method: This study involved 60 participants who were trained on five tasks relevant to RQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft system sensor operators by one of three strategies that represented a continuum of instructor interactivity. After training, performance data for all five tasks were collected. Participants completed the same tasks 30 or 60 days later to determine skill retention and the rate at which task proficiency was reacquired. Results: Models built from tasks that isolate human performance channels adequately predicted performance on a task that combined those channels. Conclusion: Models that predict performance on tasks that isolate human performance channels can be used to make predictions on tasks that draw on multiple channels. This model provided a distribution of performance data that was statistically similar to actual performance data. Application: System designers trained with human performance data on a set of tasks can apply those tasks' characteristics to future tasks to make reasonably accurate performance predictions, thereby allowing the designers to make early decisions regarding training strategy to teach those tasks.
The epidemiology and natural history of chronic lower-extremity ischemia

Abstract As the mean age of the population in the United States and other developed countries continues to rise, the frequency of lower extremity arterial occlusive disease and its ischemic sequelae can be expected to increase. The best estimate of CLEI prevalence in the general adult population is only 1% to 2%. However, it may be as high as 30% in patients greater than 70 years of age. The risk factors of male sex, cigarette smoking, homocysteinemia, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes mellitus all accelerate the development of lower extremity atherosclerosis. While the overall prognosis of lower extremity occlusive syndromes is favorable, patients with severe claudication (
Further structural optimization of cis-(6-benzhydryl-piperidin-3-yl)-benzylamine and 1,4-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivatives by introducing an exocyclic hydroxyl group: Interaction with dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine transporters

Our earlier effort to develop constrained analogues of flexible piperidine derivatives for monoamine transporters led to the development of a series of 3,6-disubstituted piperidine derivatives, and a series of 4,8-disubstituted 1,4-diazabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivatives. In further structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies on these constrained derivatives, several novel analogues were developed where an exocyclic hydroxyl group was introduced on the N-alkyl-aryl side chain. All synthesized derivatives were tested for their affinities for the dopamine transporter (DAT), serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT), and norepinephrine transporter (NET) in the brain by measuring their potency in inhibiting the uptake of [(3)H]DA, [(3)H]5-HT, and [(3)H]NE, respectively. Compounds were also tested for their binding potency at the DAT by their ability to inhibit binding of [(3)H]WIN 35,428. The results indicated that position of the hydroxyl group on the N-alkyl side chain is important along with the length of the side chain. In general, hydroxyl derivatives derived from more constrained bicyclic diamines exhibited greater selectivity for interaction with DAT compared to the corresponding 3,6-disubstituted diamines. In the current series of molecules, compound 11b with N-propyl side chain with the hydroxyl group attached in the benzylic position was the most potent and selective for DAT (K(i)=8.63nM; SERT/DAT=172 and NET/DAT=48.4).
Modeling Of Optical Alignment Images For Semiconductor Structures

The "wave-guide" model which can be used to study the light scattering problem in optical alignment, has been extended to include illumination with arbitrary polarization and large numerical aperture (NA) lens. An existing simulator has been enhanced to calculate the images of different structures observed under different alignment schemes. It is shown that variations in the polarization conditions and topography may drastically alter the alignment results.
Analytical solutions to fragmentation equations with flow

Etude theorique du phenomene de rupture dans les dispersions de modele developpe est base sur les equations de bilan de population pour les systemes continus et discrets
Should We Take High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels at Face Value?

The inverse correlation between high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and cardiovascular disease has driven several investigators to target the increase in this lipoprotein to prevent atherosclerosis and its complications. However, many reports have demonstrated that the use of HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels as a means to prevent and treat atherosclerosis has mainly resulted in negative outcomes. These findings may help to increase our knowledge of HDL metabolism and its protective effect. There is evidence that the mechanism by which HDL-C levels are raised has a great impact on cardiovascular outcomes. When the increase in HDL-C levels is secondary to greater synthesis, a strong beneficial effect in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases is observed. Even small increases in HDL-C levels induce a marked reduction in cardiovascular events; this has been observed during treatment with fibrates. In contrast, when the increase in HDL-C levels is secondary to a reduction in HDL catabolism, unexpectedly, the opposite effects are usually noted. Even dramatic increases in HDL-C levels are not associated with better cardiovascular outcomes. In fact, these increases have been related to a greater number of cardiovascular-related deaths. This became clear from the results of trials that tested inhibitors of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP). We suggest that increases in reverse cholesterol transport are more important than HDL-C levels. Strong evidence is provided by individuals that express apolipoprotein (apo)A-I Milano. These individuals have extremely low HDL-C levels due to greater catabolism of the lipoprotein. However, reverse cholesterol transport is increased in these individuals and, as a consequence, they have a low incidence of cardiovascular diseases. We reinforce that, in clinical practice, the currently recommended levels of HDL-C should still be a major target to be aimed for. However, in the research field, we emphasize the need to look for other methods to improve reverse cholesterol transport, irrespective of HDL-C levels.
EVIADA: ethnomusicological video for instruction and analysis digital archive

Summary form only given. The field of ethnomusicology depends heavily on ethnographic research or "fieldwork" by researchers that often involves the capture and subsequent analysis of audio and video information, to help document and understand the musical practices of people all over the world. Ethnomusicologists have used a variety of recording technologies over the years to capture film and video, and much of this footage lies in researchers' offices and home basements. No systematic mechanism exists for preserving and providing access to this video for other students and scholars. The Ethnomusicological Video for Instruction and Analysis Digital Archive (EVIADA) is a multi-year collaborative project between Indiana University and the University of Michigan to create a digital archive for field video recordings captured by ethnomusicology researchers. This digital archive will serve both to preserve this content for future generations of scholars and also to provide a resource to support teaching and learning in ethnomusicology, anthropology, and related disciplines. The creation of EVIADA has involved a unique collaboration between ethnomusicologists, librarians, archivists, and technologists in carrying out all stages of the project, including video digitization, metadata creation, and system and user interface design. As part of the project, we are developing several software tools: The Segmentation/Annotation Tool is a Java Swing application written using Apple's QuickTime for Java API. It allows an ethnomusicologist who is contributing a video collection to the archive to divide that video into a hierarchy of segments, attach free-text descriptions and controlled vocabulary terms to each segment, and output this information in the form of a METS XML document incorporating MODS descriptive metadata records. This METS document can then be ingested into downstream archival and delivery systems. We hope to evolve this software into a more general-purpose tool for the creation of METS documents for video objects. We are also building a Web-based user interface on top of the Fedora digital repository system to allow users to search and browse video content in the collection via the descriptive metadata and annotations, making appropriate use of controlled vocabulary thesauri to increase search recall
WEINBREN, Daniel, The Oddfellows 1810–2010: Two Hundred Years of Making Friends and Helping People (Lancaster: Carnegie Publishing, 2010), pp. x + 371, £25 Hbk; ISBN: 978­1­85936­207

Reviewed by: Simon Cordery, Associate Professor of History, Department Chair, Monmouth College, Illinois, USA, 700 E. Broadway, Monmouth, Il 61462, USA. Email: simon@monm.edu
Measuring Teacher Effectiveness in Physical Education

This article summarizes the research base on teacher effectiveness in physical education from a historical perspective and explores the implications of the recent emphasis on student performance and teacher observation systems to evaluate teachers for physical education. The problems and the potential positive effects of using student performance scores as well as establishing a comprehensive evaluation program are explored with supportive evidence that some level of accountability is necessary in our field to make significant change.
A Novel Implantable Glaucoma Valve Using Ferrofluid

Purpose To present a novel design of an implantable glaucoma valve based on ferrofluidic nanoparticles and to compare it with a well-established FDA approved valve.
Compassionate Family Care Framework: A New Collaborative Compassionate Care Model for NICU Families and Caregivers

Abstract Compassion lies at the intersection of empathy (understanding families' concerns) and sympathy (feeling families' emotions), combined to elicit a response to the distress of others and a desire to alleviate that distress. 1 A new Compassionate Family Care Framework (CFDC), incorporates these elements of compassion with affiliative relationships, bidirectional communications, and compassionate partnerships to achieve optimal quality of care for the vulnerable neonates and families we serve. Affiliative relationships address both the families' innate need for connection and relationships with health caregivers and the need for attachment and bonding between parents and their infant. Effective bidirectional communication empowers parents, making sense of control, decision making, taking responsibility, and achieving a realistic view towards their neonate's appearance and health condition. Creating compassionate partnerships with families strengthens a parent's sense of control and enhances their developing parent identity in the overwhelming and frightening neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The Compassionate Family Care Framework not only promotes family empowerment in the NICU, but also is a way of compassionately caring for infants and their families so that care is planned around the whole family, not just the infant.
Optical measurement of high electric and magnetic fields

Electric fields are determined by interferometrically measuring the phase difference introduced between light polarized parallel and perpendicular to the electric field. The phase difference is introduced by nitrobenzene in the electric-field volume. Magnetic fields are determined by interferometrically measuring the phase difference introduced between left and right circularly polarized light by Faraday rotational glass placed in the magnetic field. The result of either measurement is a finite fringe interference pattern. The position displacement of the fringes is observed in time using a continuous laser and a streak camera to yield the time behavior of the field or in space using a pulsed laser and photographic film to yield the spatial behavior of the field.
Optimal distributed generation placement in distribution systems via semidefinite relaxation

An optimal distributed generation (DG) placement and sizing problem is formulated in this paper, for existing three-phase feeders and future microgrids. Similar to various optimal DG placement and sizing formulations, nonlinear AC power flow relations and binary selection variables representing presence (or absence) of DG units render the proposed optimization problem NP-hard. Nevertheless, a relaxed convex re-formulation is obtained by leveraging semideflnite relaxation techniques, and sparsity-promoting regularization approaches. It is shown that by adjusting a sparsity-tuning parameter, one can trade off attainable system operation efficiency for DG deployment cost. The proposed scheme is tested on the IEEE 37-node test feeder.
Which Control Gene Should be Used in Genetic Regulatory Networks

Probabilistic Boolean Networks (PBNs) are rule-based models for gene regulatory networks. Previously, we proposed a method for finding the control policies with the highest effect on steady-state distributions of PBNs. To this end, the theory of infinite-horizon optimal stochastic control was employed. The control variable was chosen to be one of the genes in the model. A natural question that arises is which gene in the network would have the greatest impact on the desired behavior. In principle, solving the optimal control problem for all the candidate genes does answer the question. However, this would be computationally prohibitive. We introduce an algorithm which predicts the best candidate gene. The algorithm suggests a stationary policy for each gene. The best control gene is the one with the highest effect on the stationary distribution once its stationary control policy is applied. The algorithm employs the concept of mean-first-passage-time and has very low complexity.
Synthesis of β-hematin by dehydrohalogenation of hemin

beta-Hematin, the metalloporphyrin coordination polymer present in malaria pigment, is prepared in high yield by the abstraction of HCl from hemin with a non-coordinating base in strictly anhydrous conditions. The product of this preparation is characterized by elemental analysis, infrared and diffuse reflectance spectroscopies and demonstrated to be identical to prior preparations.
Master/Slave Speculative Parallelization

Master/Slave Speculative Parallelization (MSSP) is an execution paradigm for improving the execution rate of sequential programs by parallelizing them speculatively for execution on a multiprocessor. In MSSP one processor - the master - executes an approximate version of the program to compute selected values that the full program's execution is expected to compute. The master's results are checked by slave processors that execute the original program. This validation is parallelized by cutting the program's execution into tasks. Each slave uses its predicted inputs (as computed by the master) to validate the input predictions of the next task, inductively validating the entire execution. The performance of MSSP is largely determined by the execution rate of the approximate program. Since approximate code has no correctness requirements (in essence it is a software value predictor), it can be optimized more effectively than traditionally generated code. It is free to sacrifice correctness in the uncommon case to maximize performance in the common case. A simulation-based evaluation of an initial MSSP implementation achieves speedups of up to 1.7 (harmonic mean 1.25) on the SPEC2000 integer benchmarks. Performance is currently limited by the effectiveness with which our current automated infrastructure approximates programs, which can likely be improved significantly.
Using Video Self- and Peer Modeling to Facilitate Reading Fluency in Children With Learning Disabilities

The authors compared the effects of video self-modeling and video peer modeling on oral reading fluency of elementary students with learning disabilities. A control group was also included to gauge general improvement due to reading instruction and familiarity with researchers. The results indicated that both interventions resulted in improved fluency. Students in both experimental groups improved their reading fluency. Two students in the self-modeling group made substantial and immediate gains beyond any of the other students. Discussion is included that focuses on the importance that positive imagery can have on student performance and the possible applications of both forms of video modeling with students who have had negative experiences in reading.
Colorimetric Method for Hippuric Acid

Hippuric acid dissolved in pyridine producesa red-orange color upon the addition of benzenesulfonyl chloride. The color has a stable absorbance at 380 mµ. It is sensitive in microgram quantities of hippuric acid and follows the Beer-Lambert Law over a wide range of concentrations. The mechanism of the color reaction is described.
Atherosclerotic blood vessel tracking and lumen segmentation in topology changes situations of MR image sequences

Carotid artery vessel tracking and lumen segmentation is an important task for atherosclerotic plaque study, where the active contour model Snake has become one of the most powerful techniques for this purpose. However, its intrinsic weakness in initialization and topology changes handling limits its application in complicated situations. In this research, we focus our work on atherosclerotic blood vessel tracking and lumen contour segmentation of magnetic resource (MR) image sequences, along which the blood vessel bifurcates at indefinite position. To automatically capture this topology change in the processing, a practical solution is proposed by extending our previous research work. The procedure first presegments each MR slice into regions, and then uses a decision tree to track the blood vessel's topology change. Finally, the minimal path Snake (MPS) algorithm is applied to further search optimal lumen contours. Some experimental results in the preliminary study are provided to demonstrate its encouraging performance.
Factors influencing runoff during the flood of December, 1937, in northern California

Engineers and hydrologists engaged on flood-problems throughout much of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains must deal to a considerable extent with wide-spread storms covering thousands of square miles. The gradations of meteorologic conditions as regard both area and time are relatively homogeneous during such storm-events and are affected but moderately by orographical influences. Under such conditions similar storm-characteristics prevail over vast areas. True, precipitation decreases toward the boundaries of such major storm-areas, and locally precipitation-rates may greatly exceed the average. Often, however, drainage-basin after drainage-basin will yield comparable depths of flood-runoff. The storms of March, 1936, which resulted in the simultaneous occurrence of floods throughout all of the northeastern part of the United States from Ohio and Virginia to Maine and the storm of January, 1937, which embraced all of the 200,000 square miles comprising the Ohio River drainage are typical of major Eastern disturbances. The storm of December, 1937, in the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys is used herein to illustrate what may be called a typical major California disturbance, and it is this storm and resulting flood that I wish to consider in some detail and also to make such comparisons and contrasts with Eastern floods as seem to be of general interest.
Factors influencing women's satisfaction with surgical abortion.

Abstract Objective Investigate which specific factors of abortion-related healthcare influence the overall satisfaction of women undergoing surgical abortion. Study Design Between May and December 2014, we invited women undergoing first-trimester surgical abortion without sedation at six Northern California reproductive health clinics from two clinic systems (four clinics in System A and two clinics in System B) to complete an anonymous survey in the recovery room. The survey obtained demographic information and inquired about the women's level of satisfaction with different aspects of care (very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, not satisfied or dissatisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied). The survey asked women to rank the three most important factors that contributed to their level of satisfaction. We analyzed the results using univariate and descriptive analyses to assess trends in responses related to level of satisfaction based on demographic and other variables. Results A high percentage of women were very satisfied with their overall experience in both systems (A=79%, B=84%, p=0.34). Only 2% of women in System A and 1% in System B responded that they were neutral or not satisfied. The top three aspects of care ranked as most important were the same from both systems: ability to get an appointment in a timely manner, courtesy of staff and being informed as much as they wanted to know. Women were very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with these features of their care within both systems. Conclusion Women are generally very satisfied by the first-trimester surgical abortion care they receive in different clinics. Although each clinic and system provides unique care, the factors contributing to women's level of satisfaction are consistent. Implications Statement The most important factors that contribute to women's satisfaction with their first-trimester surgical abortion experience include the ability to get an appointment quickly, courtesy of the staff and being provided with information and responses to their questions.