cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preparation of a discotic 2,4,7,9‐tetraaryl‐6H‐dibenzo[c,e][1,2]thiazine and generation of a persistent Radical 1

6H‐Dibenzo[d,e][1,2]thiazine substituted with four 3,4‐dioctyloxyphenyl groups forms a room temperature discotic phase with a clearing temperature of 104°C. Oxidation of the thiazine 2b with either metal oxides (PbO2 or AgO) or SO2Cl2 gave a moderately stable radical 1b (a N = 0.95 mT, g = 2.0045). Full conversion of 2b to 1b was observed with AgO in a toluene/MeCN mixture or with SO2Cl2. The radical 1b was isolated in the neat form with the latter oxidant. It shows sensitivity to molecular oxygen, which hampered its purification and subsequent thermal and magnetic studies.
Mutual diffusivity, thermal conductivity, and heat of transport in binary liquid mixtures of alkanes in carbon tetrachloride

Abstract Thermal conductivities, mutual diffusivities, and heats of transport have been measured as a function of composition in six binary systems of six- to eight-carbon alkanes in carbon tetrachloride at 30°C and ambient pressure. The measurement methods and the accuracy of the measured values are: Taylor dispersion method for diffusivities with 2% accuracy, transient hot-wire method for thermal conductivities with 2% accuracy, and Dufour effect method for heats of transport with about 4% accuracy. Results indicate that increased chain length decreases the diffusivity and heat of transport, but has only a small increasing effect on thermal conductivity. Branching of the alkane chain tends to increase the diffusivity, slightly lower the heat of transport and significantly lower the thermal conductivity.
Graph Based Classification of MRI Data Based on the Ventricular System

The ventricular system inside the brain is known to enlarge and change shape given conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. This change in shape may provide a way to assess the level of cognitive impairment of a patient, as well as other intellectual characteristics. This paper describes the use of trees to represent the 3D space containing the third and lateral ventricles, and classification of these trees using frequent sub graph mining and support vector machines. Level of cognitive impairment and years of education are shown to be predictable given a tree representation of the shape of the third and lateral ventricles, demonstrating that the shape of the ventricular system correlates with these attributes. These results were generated using a cross-sectional collection of 416 MR images of subjects ranging in age from 18 to 96 years, including 100 subjects diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
Retrieving images by 2D shape: a comparison of computation methods with human perceptual judgments

In content based image retrieval, systems allow users to ask for objects similar in shape to a query object. However, there is no clear understanding of how computational shape similarity corresponds to human shape similarity. In this paper several shape similarity measures were evaluated on planar, connected, non-occluded binary shapes. Shape similarity using algebraic moments, spline curve distances, cumulative turning angle, signal of curvature and Hausdorff- distance were compared to human similarity judgments on twenty test shapes against a large image database.
Basal-cell carcinoma originating at the colostomy site: Report of a case

An unusual case of basal-cell carcinoma originating at the site of a long-standing colostomy is presented. Irritation and frequent ulceration around the colostomy site as a result of bad hygiene and reluctance to use colostomy appliance by the patient may have caused this tumor. A long-term cure for more than 37 years was obtained following radiation therapy for carcinoma of the rectum. Radiation therapy should be attempted for palliation or possible cure, despite adverse indications, whenever surgical excision of the carcinoma of the rectum is not possible.
Conduction in a-Si:H studied by traveling wave technique☆

Abstract It appears that the traveling wave technique pioneered by Adler et al. probes the transport properties near the surfaces and not of the bulk. Neglecting surface states we obtain microscopic mobilities for electrons near the surface between 8 and 10 cm 2 /Vs in heavily doped n-type a-Si:H after annealing and after light-soaking. These values agree well with time-of-flight measurements on intrinsic material.
Dr. Wohl's Violin: A Family Doctor's Last Act of Kindness

It began as a typical afternoon in the coronary care unit. While trying to finish my charting so that I could get home for dinner with my family, I was paged to the CCU resident's office. In the cl...
Patriots' Day Fire on April 19, 1950 at Children's Hospital Boston

Patriots' Day is a legal holiday in Massachusetts and Maine, celebrating the battle of Concord and Lexington on April 19, 1775. The event of April 19, 1950, was very unusual, because of the origin of a fire at Children's Hospital Boston. At that time, the hospital consisted of 2-story stucco pavilion buildings that housed patients of diverse ages. In addition, on the southwest side of the area, there was a routine laboratory facility adjacent to the clinical neurology unit. The surgical suite was also on the southwest side. In the midst of these buildings was Dr James Gamble's study research laboratory, with his magnificent cherry wood library that contained his personal collection of research journals. This conference room was used for chart reviews for patient and brief seminars. The personnel in the Gamble Division consisted of Dr Gamble, the director and professor; Dr William M. Wallace, his protege; and 4 postgraduate fellows, including the author who personally observed these events. Before 1945, clinical chemistry consisted of quantitative chemical analysis1,2; thus, sodium was determined after ashing at … Address correspondence to Robert Schwartz, 33 North Ave, Providence, RI 02906
High energy density fusion using the Compact Torus

The authors are considering using the Compact Torus (CT) magnetic field configuration to produce fusion energy in high-energy density regimes, where the pressures generated extend well beyond the strength of materials. Under such conditions, nearby walls that provide inertial damping are vaporized and pushed aside with each shot. Spherical plasma scaling is being studied for initial plasma-field energies of 10 and 100 MJ. Nonaxisymmetric fuel injection, which can increase Q to 100 or more, appears possible. Magnetic fields are still required in this regime, since field-free electron conduction losses are large. However, plasma energy transport at the Bohm rate is small. The magnetic field can provide confinement or insulation against electron heat conduction. The possibility of a high-energy-density fusion reactor with destructible walls has been noted for some time. What is new is a low-cost driver for forming high-energy-density CTs at high efficiency and on the timescale of the application discussed here. >
An External Aortic Root Device for Decreasing Aortic Regurgitation: In Vitro and In Vivo Animal Studies

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if a device placed externally around the aortic root decreases regurgitant flow in acute aortic regurgitation. Background: Aortic regurgitant flow is dependent on central aortic pressure and the aortic root and leaflet geometry. It may be possible to decrease aortic regurgitant severity by reducing aortic root size or dimension changes. Methods: Aortic regurgitation was created in eight calf heart specimens suspended in a continuous flow system. Retrograde and antegrade aortic flow and distending aortic pressure were measured at baseline and after placement of an external aortic device at the level of the aortic annulus. In two additional specimens, the incompetent aortic valve was visualized fiberoptically before and after placement of the external device. Acute aortic regurgitation was created surgically in four live calves by excising a portion of the aortic leaflets. Antegrade and retrograde flow, left ventricular pressure, and central aortic pressure were measured at baseline, after creation of aortic regurgitation, and after placement of the external device. Results: In the in vitro calf specimens, regurgitant flow decreased from 46.9 cc/sec to 15.1 cc/sec (66.0%± 21.8% decrease) after placement of the external device (p < 0.001). The regurgitant orifice area decreased from 0.13 ± 0.04 cm2 to 0.04 ± 0.02 cm2 after device placement (p < 0.001). Antegrade flow was reduced to a smaller extent (20.0%± 19.2% decrease) by the device (p < 0.05). Placement of the device around the aorta resulted in improved coaptation of the leaflets with a marked reduction in defect size by endoscopic visualization. Use of the external aortic device was associated with improvement in aortic regurgitant severity in three of four calves with surgically created aortic regurgitation. Concluslons: In these preliminary studies, acute experimental aortic regurgitant severity is decreased by the use of an external aortic device, probably due to reduction in aortic annular dimension changes and improved aortic leaflet apposition. Further studies are needed to determine the effectiveness of this device in chronic aortic regurgitation. (J Card Surg 1994;9:304–313)
The Interconnection of Childhood Poverty and Homelessness: Negative Impact/Points of Access:

Child poverty negatively impacts the development of children; family homelessness compounds the issues. Both have dramatically increased over the last two decades with far-reaching, poorly understood consequences. The impact of the instability of poverty and homelessness on children is often hidden or difficult to comprehend. Few studies critically examine the impact on a child's sense of safety and security. Using mixed method inquiry, this research sought to examine the effects of poverty and homelessness on children 8 to 12 years of age. The voices of the children illuminate the underlying strengths and vulnerabilities. Results indicate that homelessness leaves children feeling a decreased sense of support and an increased sense of isolation.
Transmitted HIV-1 Drug Resistance: Are We Seeing Just the Tip of an Epidemiological Iceberg?

Because of increasing recognition of HIV1 drug resistance among antiretroviral (ARV)-naive individuals, national guidelines now recommend HIV drug-susceptibility genotyping before the start of HIV treatment (a moderate-strength recommendation based on expert opinion) and consideration of genotyping at the time of HIV diagnosis (an optional-strength recommendation based on expert opinion) [1]. In this issue of the Journal, Smith et al. [2] present data that further support the persistence of ARV drug-resistant HIV in seminal plasma and provide evidence for the horizontal transmission of HIV
ELECTROCHEMICAL ALTERATION OF CLAY SOILS

The composition and physical properties of three clay soils were altered by introducing aluminum under an electro-chemical gradient in order to evaluate the role of pH in controlling changes in soil composition and the feasibility of pH buffering during electrochemical treatment.
Slot spiral detector array for broadband THz imaging 1

Medical imaging applications of THz signals typically employ a mechanical raster scan using a single detector to acquire two-dimensional images of excised tissues [1] [2]. This approach involves mechanical parts and the generation of a simple THz image can take tens of minutes. Such a long acquisition and processing time is a major bottleneck in the widespread utilization of THz imaging in the medical arena as well as for various military and civilian applications. Nonetheless, the promise of THz signals (200GHz-1THz) for ex-vivo imaging and identification, particularly of malignant tissues, appears to be a viable and promising tool due to the high contrasts and resolutions achievable by the sub-millimeter wavelengths.
The Impact of Ibuprofen on the Efficacy of Antihypertensive Treatment With Hydrochlorothiazide in Elderly Persons

Background Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may alter blood pressure through their inhibitory effects on prostaglandin biosynthesis. Such potential hypertensive effects of NSAIDs have not been adequately examined in the elderly, who are the largest group of NSAID users. Methods We performed a randomized, double-blind, two-period crossover trial of ibuprofen (1800 mg per day) vs placebo treatment in patients older than 60 years of age with hypertension controlled with hydrochlorothiazide. While continuing their usual thiazide dosage, subjects were randomized to a 4-week treatment period (ibuprofen or placebo) followed by a 2-week placebo wash-out period and a second 4-week treatment period with the alternative therapy. Supine and standing systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured weekly. Results Of 25 randomized subjects, 22 completed the study protocol (mean age = 73 +/- 6.7 years). Supine systolic blood pressure and standing systolic blood pressure were increased significantly with ibuprofen treatment, compared with placebo. Mean supine systolic blood pressures were 143.8 +/- 21.0 and 139.6 +/- 15.9 mmHg on ibuprofen and placebo, respectively (p = .004). Mean standing systolic blood pressures were 148.1 +/- 19.9 and 143.4 +/- 17.9 mmHg on ibuprofen and placebo, respectively (p = .002). Conclusion We conclude that 1800 mg per day of ibuprofen does induce a significant increase in systolic blood pressure in older hypertensive patients treated with hydrochlorothiazide. NSAID therapy may negatively impact the control of hypertension in elderly patients.
OTLR:Opportunistic Transmission with Loss Recovery for WLANs

With opportunistic transmissions, a node exploits a stable high data rate to transmit multiple frames (instead of one) whenever it captures a contended medium. The IEEE 802.11 networks could support such multi-frame transmissions at high data rates if the channel remains stable long enough. Opportunistic transmission has been studied and shown to improve IEEE 802.11 networks performance. However, to our knowledge all opportunistic schemes require RTS/CTS control frames while RTS/CTS control frames are usually not used. First, this work introduces a Basic Opportunistic Transmission (BOT) scheme that works without RTS/CTS control frames. However, the lack of RTS/CTS control frames may lead to high congestion loss rates that defeat any opportunistic scheme and drastically lower network performance. Channel fading exacerbates the frame loss. This work addresses this weakness by proposing an effective loss recovery strategy to enable BOT to cope with frame losses from congestion and channel fading. BOT with loss recovery constitutes the OTLR. Extensive ns-2 simulations with CBR and TCP traffic illustrate that 1) BOT yields a dramatic improvement over traditional single frame transmission, 2) BOT is vulnerable to high frame loss rates stemming from collisions or channel fading, and 3) OTLR improves BOT's performance in lossy environments.
Atiyah-Drinfeld-Hitchin-Manin-Nahm boundary conditions from removing monopoles

Boundary conditions play an important role in the ADHMN construction of BPS monopole solutions. In this paper we show how different types of boundary conditions can be related to each other by removing monopoles to spatial infinity. In particular, we use this method to show how the jumping data naturally emerge. The results can be interpreted in the D-brane picture and provide a better understanding of the derivation of the ADHMN construction from D-branes. We comment briefly on the cases with non-Abelian unbroken symmetry and massless monopoles.
Physician's Death Anxiety and Patient Outcomes

It was hypothesized that terminal patients of physicians with high death anxiety would survive longer during their final hospital stay than terminal patients of physicians with low death anxiety. This was based on the reasoning that physicians high in death anxiety would be less willing to accept their patients' terminality and therefore would be more likely to use heroic measures to keep them alive. Hospital physicians were asked to complete a death anxiety scale over the telephone. Unknown to them, hospital records were later examined to determine the number of patients treated by each physician, the number that died, the length of final hospital stay of dying patients and the length of stay in the hospital of non-dying patients. As predicted, patients of physicians with high death anxiety were in the hospital an average of five days longer before dying than patients treated by physicians of medium and low death anxiety.
Adaptation and the quality of life in work and family settings.

The paper describes the development of scales to assess the perceived social-environmental quality of work and family settings. The use of these scales in comparing and contrasting work and family settings and in examining their role as contexts for adaptation and growth is illustrated. Some tentative conclusions about social-environmental influences on individual and family adaption are drawn and practical applications for planning ecologically oriented interventions are discussed.
Factors impacting trauma treatment practice patterns: the convergence/divergence of science and practice.

Abstract Objective This study surveyed the practice patterns of behavioral health providers to determine the degree to which providers in this study utilized evidence-based approaches when dealing with traumatized individuals and the extent to which these practice methods vary as a result of population density or provider characteristics. Method A survey instrument was designed specifically for this study. The Trauma Practices Questionnaire (TPQ) a 22-item trauma treatment practice utilization scale was mailed to all licensed or certified behavioral health providers in a southern state ( N = 5752). Responses of 1121 professionals who represent seven disciplines are reported. Results Gender and the acquisition of specialized trauma training impacted the way providers practice. Discipline-specific differences became statistically nonsignificant when controlling for gender. Several areas of guideline convergence were uncovered (e.g. the frequent use of CBT) as well as practices that were divergent from best practice recommendations, especially with regards to the use of psychopharmacological interventions. Conclusions Results highlight issues related to translational research dissemination and training practices, as well as factors that might affect clinician's acceptance of and compliance with evidence-based practices.
Uptake and impact of a clinical diagnostic decision support tool at an academic medical center.

Background: Use of differential diagnosis (DDX) generators may reduce the incidence of misdiagnosis-related harm, but there is a paucity of research examining the use and impact of such systems in real-world settings. Methods: In September 2012, the DDX generator VisualDx was made available across our entire academic healthcare system. We examined the use of VisualDx by month for the 18 months following its introduction. In addition, we compared the number of inpatient dermatology consults requested per month at the flagship hospital of our healthcare system for the 12 months before versus 18 months after VisualDx introduction. Results: Across our entire academic healthcare system, there were a median of 474 (interquartile range 390–544) unique VisualDx sessions per month. VisualDx was accessed most frequently through mobile devices (35%) and the inpatient electronic health record (34%). Prior to VisualDx introduction, there was a non-significant increase in the number of inpatient dermatology consultations requested per month at the flagship hospital of our healthcare system (1.0 per month, 95% CI –2.5–4.6, p = 0.54), which remained 1.0 consults per month (95% CI –0.9–2.9, p = 0.27) following its introduction (p = 0.99 comparing post- versus pre-introduction rates). Conclusions: The DDX generator VisualDx was regularly used, primarily on mobile devices and inpatient workstations, and was not associated with a change in inpatient dermatology consultation requests. Given the interest in DDX generators, it will be important to evaluate further the impact of such tools on the quality and value of care delivered.
CT SCREENING FOR LUNG CANCER

Recommendations against screening for lung cancer were based on the lack of a reduction in mortality of the screened group as compared with the control group in randomized control trials. These results were interpreted as showing that early detection of lung cancer as a result of screening did not decrease the mortality rate compared with detection after presentation of symptoms for the populations being screened. Evidence, however, shows that earlier-stage intervention leads to substantially higher rates of survival. Screening, therefore, is an effective means to prevent deaths from this otherwise fatal disease. This article discusses the evidence of both CT and chest radiograph screening.
Common Problems in Capital Structure Research: The Financial-Debt-To-Asset Ratio, and Issuing Activity vs. Leverage Changes

This paper points out two common problems in capital structure research. First, although it is not clear whether they should be considered debt, non-financial liabilities should never be considered as equity. Yet, the common financial-debt-to-asset ratio (FD/AT) measure of leverage commits exactly this mistake. Thus, research that explains increases in FD/AT explains, at least in parts, decreases in non-financial liabilities. Future research should avoid FD/AT altogether. Second, equity issuing activity should not be viewed as equivalent to capital structure changes. Empirically, the correlation between the two is weak. The capital structure and capital issuing literature are distinct.
Polysomnographic sleep disturbances in nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, cocaine, opioid, and cannabis use: A focused review

Background and Objectives In the United States, approximately 60 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders and about 22 million Americans report substance dependence or use disorders annually. Sleep disturbances are common consequences of substance use disorders and are likely found in primary care as well as in specialty practices. The aim of this review was to evaluate the effects of the most frequently used substances—nicotine, alcohol, opioids, cocaine, caffeine, and cannabis—have on sleep parameters measured by polysomnography (PSG) and related clinical manifestations. Methods We used electronic databases such as PubMED and PsycINFO to search for relevant articles. We only included studies that assessed sleep disturbances using polysomnography and reviewed the effects of these substances on six clinically relevant sleep parameters: Total sleep time, sleep onset latency, rapid-eye movement, REM latency, wake after sleep onset, and slow wave sleep. Results Our review indicates that these substances have significant impact on sleep and that their effects differ during intoxication, withdrawal, and chronic use. Many of the substance-induced sleep disturbances overlap with those encountered in sleep disorders, medical, and psychiatric conditions. Sleep difficulties also increase the likelihood of substance use disorder relapse, further emphasizing the need for optimizing treatment interventions in these patients. Conclusion and Scientific Significance Our review highlights the importance of systematically screening for substance use in patients with sleep disturbances and highlights the need for further research to understand mechanisms underlying substances-induced sleep disturbances and on effective interventions addressing these conditions. (Am J Addict 2015;9999:1–9)
Specification and Speculation Concerning the Politics of Workplace Family Policies

The article begins with a discussion of the family changes related to shifts in the composition of the labor force that have led to a concern about family benefits in the workplace. It then covers the reasons for their general absence in the U.S. An analysis follows of the unrecognized consequences of the attention given to the comparatively few instances of family benefits in corporate America. The final section of the article concerns the varying judgments of the authors of the articles in this special issue on the efficacy of existing workplace family policies for businesses and their employees and their families.
Neuroanatomic Predictors to Prodromal Psychosis in Velocardiofacial Syndrome (22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome): A Longitudinal Study

Background Up to 30% of young adults with velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS; 22q11.2 deletion syndrome) develop schizophrenia or psychosis. Identifying the neuroanatomic trajectories that increase risk for psychosis in youth with this genetic disorder is of great interest. Methods We acquired high-resolution anatomic magnetic resonance images and measures of psychiatric function on 72 youth with VCFS, 26 unaffected siblings, and 24 age-matched community control subjects at two time points: between late childhood (mean age 11.9 years) and mid-adolescence (mean age 15.1 years). Results With the exception of cranial gray matter and orbitofrontal prefrontal cortex, neuroanatomic trajectories in youth with VCFS were comparable to unaffected siblings and community control subjects during this developmental window. However, in youth with VCFS, longitudinal decreases in the volumes of cranial gray and white matter, prefrontal cortex, mesial temporal lobe, and cerebellum were associated with increased combined prodromal symptoms at Time 2. In contrast, only decreases in temporal lobe gray matter volumes ( p p Conclusions These findings are in line with studies of non-VCFS individuals at risk for schizophrenia and suggest that early decrements in temporal lobe gray matter may be predictive of increased risk of prodromal psychotic symptoms in youth with VCFS.
Management of the Diabetic Patient with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and one of the most prevalent microvascular complications of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, risk of death is increased at all stages of DKD. As early as the microalbuminuric stage, the death rate approaches 20% per year. Therefore, management strategies should address reducing risk of mortality as well as progression to ESRD. DKD is associated with multiple co-morbidities including hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, anemia, and bone and mineral metabolism disorders (BMD). Anemia and BMD often occur earlier in the course of DKD than with other forms of chronic kidney disease. Pharmacological and dietary management of hyperglycemia, hypertension, dyslipidemia, anemia, and BMD pose specific challenges in DKD. However, with heightened awareness of risks and a multifactorial management approach, the impact of DKD on micro- and macrovascular complications and death can be reduced.
Sizing Ground Taps to Minimize Substrate Noise Coupling in RF LNAs

The influence of the sizing of ground taps on the noise injected into a 1.5GHz low noise amplifier (LNA), by a stepped buffer, for a heavily doped CMOS process is quantitatively examined. Precise modeling provides good agreement between measurements and simulations. A 10dB increase in isolation was achieved by scaling the area of the substrate contact by a factor of 400, and by increasing the proximity of the contacts to the sensitive transistors.
Intubation of the Neurologically Injured Patient

Abstract Background Intubation of the neurologically injured patient is a critical procedure that must be done in a manner to prevent further neurologic injury. Although many different medications and techniques have been used to meet specific needs, there is little to no evidence to support many claims. Objective To review the literature regarding important topics relating to intubating patients with neurologic injury. Discussion Airway management requires ideal preoxygenation and airway maneuvers to minimize manipulation of the larynx and to maximize first-pass success. There is no evidence that lidocaine pretreatment decreases intracerebral pressure (ICP). Fentanyl can be used to help blunt the hemodynamic response to intubation. Esmolol is another medication that can blunt the hemodynamic response. Ketamine can be used and is possibly the ideal agent, having a neutral hemodynamic profile. A prefasciculation dose for neuromuscular blockade has not been shown to have any effect on ICP. Conclusions Ideal intubation conditions should be obtained through the use of airway manipulation techniques and appropriate medication choice for rapid sequence intubation in patients who are neurologically injured.
The Persistence of Multifamily Firms: Founder Imprinting, Simple Rules, and Monitoring Processes

This study focuses on a particular form of family businesses—businesses with at least two unrelated founding families—and how their organizational form of a multifamily business persists over several generations. Using an inductive approach to study five multifamily cases, we discovered that these firms did not meet complexity with complex structures and processes. Instead, four cases developed and utilized simple rules imprinted by the founders and pulled through to current generations, enabling effective mutual monitoring and persistence of the multifamily organizational form. The lack of simple rules development is associated with one multifamily business to abandon this organizational form.
Distribution of ICAM‐1, LFA‐3 and HLA‐DR in healthy and diseased gingival tissues

Cell adhesion molecules are involved in recognition and effector aspects of the host response, including the control of migration of leukocytes into inflammatory sites. In this study we have demonstrated that the distribution of three cell-surface molecules involved in cell interactions, ICAM-1, LFA-3 and HLA-DR is distinct and different in healthy and diseased gingival tissue. ICAM-1 was consistently expressed by junctional epithelial cells in healthy gingiva and by pocket epithelium in diseased gingiva but was not detectable on the majority of keratinocytes in external gingival epithelium. ICAM-1 was also expressed by endothelial cells of gingival blood vessels and a subset of leukocytes in the infiltrated connective tissue in both healthy and diseased gingiva. HLA-DR and LFA-3 were also expressed by epithelial cells and endothelial cells but in patterns which were distinctly different from ICAM-1.
Big brother is watching: computer monitoring and communication

A study was conducted to examine employees' reactions to computer monitoring. Associated issues that were examined included the employees' level of stress, job satisfaction and commitment; their feelings of personal control; and their opinions regarding management's use of information gathered through monitoring. Results of the study indicated that, contrary to many reports, computer monitoring can be positive when used correctly and accompanied with effective management communication. Employees' levels of stress were negatively correlated with their feelings of job satisfaction, personal control, commitment to the organization, and the employees' feelings about the appropriateness of the way in which their managers used the information gathered by monitoring. These results highlight the importance of the responsible use of monitoring, the significance of communication, and the value of recognizing and rewarding good performance. >
Managing acute urticaria

Abstract The physician should be familiar with preventive measures for acute urticaria or its most severe form, anaphylaxis, and with the general principles of management. Treatment does not differ basically whether given in a nonmedical setting, the emergency room, or the office, except for the availability of special supplies and equipment, such as oxygen, if needed. In all cases, a history should be obtained quickly, the patient should be examined to confirm the diagnosis, and epinephrine should be administered. Hospitalization is indicated in severe cases with systemic symptoms. Once the acute episode has been treated, the physician must decide whether further investigation is necessary. Quite often a presumptive etiologic diagnosis is made on the basis of the history. Allergy testing is not part of the routine evaluation of the patient with urticaria.
In SHR rats, dietary potassium determines NaCl sensitivity in NaCl-induced rises of blood pressure

The current study tested whether the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) from Charles River Laboratories are resistant or not to NaCl-induced rises of blood pressure and deaths. These rats are fairly NaCl-resistant on a 2.1% high K diet, whereas they are quite susceptible to NaCl-induced hypertension and deaths on a 0.5% normal K diet. Thus, a high K diet strongly protects against a NaCl-induced rise of blood pressure as well as deaths in these SHR rats. Hence the level of dietary K determines the degree of NaCl sensitivity in these SHR rats.
Popular Control of Public Policy: A Normal Vote Analysis of the 1968 Election

The importance of issues in deciding elections changes from one election to the next. As Key has shown, the issues of the role of the federal government in social life helped create the New Deal Democratic majority. In contrast, issues had only a marginal impact on the apolitical elections of the 1950s. Converse's technique of normal vote analysis reveals that issues were again highly related to the vote in 1968. This was particularly true of attitudes toward Vietnam, urban unrest and race, social welfare, and Johnson's performance as president. Yet, even in an election in which issues appear important, some can have very different consequences for popular control of policy than others. On some issues, the electorate exercises no effective constraints on leaders' policy choices. On others (e.g., the escalation in Vietnam), the electorate permits leaders a wide array of options when a policy is adopted and passes a retrospective judgment on such choices in subsequent elections. Finally, on still other issues, the public may limit the options of leaders at the time a policy is adopted. The paper suggests the stringent conditions necessary for this type of popular control to exist.
Hybrid Standing Wave and Whispering Gallery Modes in Needle-Shaped ZnO Rods: Simulation of Emission Microscopy Images Using Finite Difference Frequency Domain Methods with a Focused Gaussian Source

Two-photon emission microscopy is used to investigate the photoluminescence properties of individual ZnO rods. The rods are 10–20 μm in length with a tapered cross section that varies from 1 to 2 μm at the midpoint to several hundred nanometers at the ends. The tapered shape and hexagonal cross section result in complex optical resonator modes that lead to periodic patterns in the two-photon emission image. Finite-difference frequency domain methods using a series of excitation sources, including focused Gaussian, point dipole, and plane wave, suggest that resonator modes have both standing wave (Fabry-Perot) and whispering gallery mode character, whose relative contributions vary along the rod axis.
The role of implantable cardioverter defibrillators in high-risk CABG patients identified early post-cardiac surgery.

Aims To assess clinical markers that can be used in predicting the outcome and role of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) in coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) patients with severely depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), independent of time from revascularization. Methods and results The database was searched for patients who had CABG surgery and had an ICD within 4 months of surgery, between 1999 and 2005. The records were reviewed for LVEF, status of revascularization, programmed electrical stimulation results, and medications. The primary endpoints were: combined total mortality (TM) and appropriate ICD therapy (ICD-T), and the individual outcomes of TM and ICD-T. One hundred and sixty-four patients were identified, 69 had an ICD implanted for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death and were followed till June 2009. The mean pre- and post-operative LVEFs were 29 and 33%, 46 (67%) had incomplete revascularization, and 38 (55%) had inducible ventricular arrhythmias. Over the mean follow-up of 40 months, 20 patients (29%) died and 18 (26%) had ICD-T. In the Cox proportional hazard model, the following variables were significant at the 0.05 level; for the combined outcome TM and ICD-T: congestive heart failure (CHF) class III/IV and coronary artery disease (CAD) + valvular disease; for ICD-T outcome: CAD + valvular disease; for TM outcome: female gender, LVEF <35%, CHF class III/IV, and lack of angiotensin converting enzyme-inhibitor therapy. Conclusion Clinical assessment of CABG patients can assist in selecting a high-risk group with TM and ICD-T rates comparable to those of primary prevention studies and could be useful for future randomized ICD studies in this selective group of patients.
TU-AB-204-02: Device Adverse Events and Compliance

The responsibilities of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have increased since the inception of the Food and Drugs Act in 1906. Medical devices first came under comprehensive regulation with the passage of the 1938 Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. In 1971 FDA also took on the responsibility for consumer protection against unnecessary exposure to radiation-emitting devices for home and occupational use. However it was not until 1976, under the Medical Device Regulation Act, that the FDA was responsible for the safety and effectiveness of medical devices. This session will be presented by the Division of Radiological Health (DRH) and the Division of Imaging, Diagnostics, and Software Reliability (DIDSR) from the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) at the FDA. The symposium will discuss on how we protect and promote public health with a focus on medical physics applications organized into four areas: pre-market device review, post-market surveillance, device compliance, current regulatory research efforts and partnerships with other organizations. The pre-market session will summarize the pathways FDA uses to regulate the investigational use and commercialization of diagnostic imaging and radiation therapy medical devices in the US, highlighting resources available to assist investigators and manufacturers. The post-market session will explain the post-market surveillance and compliance activities FDA performs to monitor the safety and effectiveness of devices on the market. The third session will describe research efforts that support the regulatory mission of the Agency. An overview of our regulatory research portfolio to advance our understanding of medical physics and imaging technologies and approaches to their evaluation will be discussed. Lastly, mechanisms that FDA uses to seek public input and promote collaborations with professional, government, and international organizations, such as AAPM, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Image Gently, and the Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance (QIBA) among others, to fulfill FDA's mission will be discussed. Learning Objectives: 1.Understand FDA's pre-market and post-market review processes for medical devices 2.Understand FDA's current regulatory research activities in the areas of medical physics and imaging products 3.Understand how being involved with AAPM and other organizations can also help to promote innovative, safe and effective medical devices J. Delfino, nothing to disclose
Quality Evaluation of Apples

The apple is one of the most consumed fruits in the world, and there is a critical need for enhanced computer vision technology for the quality assessment of apples. This chapter gives a review on recent advances in various computer vision techniques for detecting surface and internal defects and assessing texture and flavor in apples. While color imaging is being widely used for sorting and grading apples for color and size, it is insufficient for detecting surface defects like bruises. Thermal, X-ray, and magnetic resonance imaging are promising for internal defect detection; however, equipment cost and inspection speed are still the main hurdles for their commercial adoption. Much research has been focused on hyper- and multispectral imaging, especially spectral scattering, for assessing the external and internal quality of apples. Cost-effective imaging technology was recently developed for presorting apples in the orchard to achieve cost savings for the apple industry.
161 : IL6 promotes the progression of experimental autoimmune myocarditis to dilated cardiomyopathy

We have recently reported that IL17A −/− animals are protected from progression of experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) as determined by echocardiography on day 54. IL17A −/− mice had lower IL6 levels in their heart compared with wildtype (WT) BALB/c animals. This was the only cytokine found to differ significantly between the two groups at both days 14 and 21. To investigate the IL6 requirement for DCM development we used two experimental approaches. First, we over-expressed IL6 in WT and IL17A −/− animals through hydrodynamic gene delivery (HGD) on days −1 or 7 of EAM. Mice over-expressing IL6 showed worsening of heart function compared to controls. Second, we blocked IL6R signaling using an anti-IL6R monoclonal antibody (mAb) in WT mice with EAM. Mice administered the anti-IL6R mAb on days 7 and 14 or 14 and 21 of EAM were protected from heart failure and DCM development by day 54 of disease. At day 14 of EAM there was reduced STAT3 phosphorylation in the heart after anti-IL6R mAb administration and increased STAT3 phosphorylation following HGD of IL6. In the mice receiving anti-IL6R mAb there was a significant decrease in the total number of CD45 + cells infiltrating the heart as measured by flow cytometry with similar composition in controls. Mice over-expressing IL6, both WT and IL17A −/− genotypes, had more CD11b + F4/80 + macrophages as well as CD11b + Ly6G + neutrophils in the heart. IL6R mAb treated mice had lower circulating complement C3 levels where over-expressing mice had higher C3 levels than controls. Our data suggest that in EAM IL6 promotes the development of DCM during early events around day 7.
Quantifying Plaque Burden and Morphology Using Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography to Predict Coronary Physiology: Helpful…But Is It Sufficient?

> Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning. > > —Winston Churchill Coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) is a powerful noninvasive technique that can be used to visualize the presence, extent, and severity of both noncalcified and calcified plaque. When compared with other noninvasive imaging approaches, coronary CTA has the highest sensitivity to detect anatomic stenosis and, consequently, the highest negative predictive value to exclude obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD).1 However, once a coronary stenosis is identified, a limitation of CTA—which is equally problematic for invasive coronary angiography—is that the physiological consequences associated with those stenoses cannot be determined with any degree of accuracy.2,3 On the other hand, the presence and severity of ischemia are essential for understanding the pathophysiology of patient’s symptoms and determining the potential role of coronary revascularization. Consequently, multiple techniques have been introduced to harness physiological data from CTA and infer whether a stenosis is hemodynamically significant. Some investigators have applied computational fluid dynamic modeling to estimate coronary pressure gradients and calculation of the fractional flow reserve across stenosis.4 Others have relied on the use of iodinated contrast at rest and during pharmacological stress to assess myocardial perfusion (computed tomography [CT] perfusion)5 in a similar manner to radionuclide scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging–based myocardial perfusion techniques. Recent clinical trials have demonstrated that in carefully selected patients, these techniques can provide useful information to understand the physiological significance of stenoses.6–9 So, it is clear that the paradigm of isolated stenosis quantification with angiography (noninvasive or invasive) has provided insufficient and, sometimes, misleading information for diagnosis and management of CAD. However, there is limited data addressing the question of whether a more complete quantification of …
Index coding and local partial clique covers

Index coding, or broadcasting with side information, is a network coding problem of most fundamental importance. In this problem, given a directed graph, each vertex represents a user with a need of information, and the neighborhood of each vertex represents the side information availability to that user. The aim is to find an encoding to minimum number of bits (optimal rate) that, when broadcasted, will be sufficient to the need of every user. Not only the optimal rate is intractable, but it is also very hard to characterize with some other well-studied graph parameter or with a simpler formulation, such as a linear program. Recently there have been a series of works that address this question and provide explicit schemes for index coding as the optimal value of a linear program with rate given by well-studied properties such as local chromatic number or partial clique-covering number. There has been a recent attempt to combine these existing notions of local chromatic number and partial clique covering into a unified notion denoted as the local partial clique cover (Arbabjolfaei and Kim, 2014). We present a generalized novel upper-bound (encoding scheme) — in the form of the minimum value of a linear program — for optimal index coding. Our bound also combines the notions of local chromatic number and partial clique covering into a new definition of the local partial clique cover, which outperforms both the previous bounds, as well as beats the previous attempt to combination.
Patient satisfaction in musculoskeletal medicine

Purpose of review This is a literature review of the measurement of patient satisfaction in musculoskeletal medicine. Its purpose is to better understand the motivation for such measurements, the potential confounders, and the potential physician behaviors that may modulate such measures.
Associations between Race and Eating Disorder Symptom Trajectories in Black and White Girls

Epidemiological research suggests racial differences in the presentation of eating disorder symptoms. However, no studies have examined associations between race and eating disorder symptom trajectories across youth and adolescence, which is necessary to inform culturally sensitive prevention programs. The purpose of the current study was to examine the trajectories of eating disorder symptoms from childhood to young adulthood and to examine whether race was associated with trajectory group membership. Data were drawn from 2,305 Black and White girls who participated in a community-based longitudinal cohort study (Pittsburgh Girls Study) examining the development of psychopathology. The child and adult versions of the Eating Attitudes Test assessed self-reported eating disorder symptoms at six time points between ages 9 and 21 years. Growth mixture modeling was used to examine developmental trajectories of dieting, bulimia/food preoccupation, and total eating disorder symptom scores. Given potential confounds with race and disordered eating, financial strain (i.e., receiving public assistance) and weight were included as covariates. Four to six distinct developmental patterns were found across eating disorder symptoms, including none, increasing, decreasing, or increasing-decreasing trajectories. Black girls had a greater likelihood of being in the decreasing trajectories for dieting, bulimia/food preoccupation, and total eating disorder symptom scores. White girls were more likely to follow increasing trajectories of dieting and total eating disorder symptom scores compared to Black girls. These results highlight the importance of examining the influence of racial background on eating disorder symptoms and the potential need for differences in the timing and focus of prevention interventions in these groups.