cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Half‐strength citrate CPD and new additive solutions for improved blood preservation. 2. The effect of storage at ambient temperature before component preparation and different means of supplying glucose to the red cells

Summary. In current anticoagulant-additive systems used for the preparation of blood components an early loss of erythrocyte 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate (BPG) during storage is unavoidable. This increases reversibly the oxygen affinity of the haemoglobin of red blood cells (RBC). Using half-strength citrate CPD solution (0·5CPD) as anticoagulant and a red-cell additive solution (RAS 2) containing citrate, adenine, phosphate, mannitol and glucose, it was possible effectively to counteract this undesirable effect without loss of adenine nucleotides. The initial mean BPG level was maintained for 4 weeks and the total adenine nucleotide concentration for 7 weeks. The initial BPG level decreased upon prolonged hold of the whole blood at ambient temperature to 85–90% of normal after 4 h, 70% after 12 h and 50% after 22 h. Both preparation and storage haemolysis were lower in 0·5CPD blood processed into RAS-2-suspended RBC than in CPD blood processed into SAGM-suspended cells. The possibility of adding glucose to the red cells via the primary anticoagulant instead of the additive solution was tested. The glucose concentration had to be increased to three times that in normal CPD to supply the red cells with sufficient glucose for 6–7 weeks of storage. However, this caused increased haemolysis, particularly after prolonged hold of the whole blood at ambient temperature before component preparation. The results therefore indicate that the glucose supply should be in the additive solution. Less citric acid in the 0·5CPD anticoagulant, an increase in intracellular pH on addition of the new additive solution and supply of phosphate seem to be major factors in explaining the effects. The new combination of anticoagulant and red-cell additive solution is a clear improvement for blood component preparation and storage.
SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND COORDINATION CHEMISTRY OF LONG CHAIN n-ALKYLDIPHENYLPHOSPHINE LIGANDS

A series of alkyldiphenylphosphines with straight-chain alkyl groups, PPh2(CnH2n+1), where n = 5–20, their oxides, P{O}Ph2(CnH2n+1), and sulfides, P{S}Ph2(CnH2n+1), where n = 1–20, have been prepar...
The identity politics of school life: territoriality and the racial subjectivity of teen girls in LA

This paper explores the processes through which teen girls attending a multi-racial high school in Los Angeles, California, USA, contend with racial territories and segregation on campus. They express discomfort and pain when their racialized bodies enter into the ‘wrong’ segregated territory and are met with stares, racial epithets, or silence. I argue that the girls' pain indicates the power of social categories to mark their bodies, but that the girls' subjectivities exceed their bodies of difference. Rather, their narratives point to the ways their racial identifications are fundamentally social and intersubjective, or made in relations to other bodies/subjects, and spatial, articulated through struggles over territory and space at school.
Congenital Heart Disease and Genetics

Improvements in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart disease have drastically reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with such defects. Knowledge regarding the genetic contributions to congenital heart disease is considered to be in its infancy; however, the field of cardiovascular genetics in humans is moving at a rapid pace. This article discusses what is currently known about the genetic contribution to congenital heart disease, including structural defects and congenital cardiac arrhythmias. Genetic and chromosomal syndromes that involve the heart are reviewed along with genetic testing.
Nuclear safety considerations in the conceptual design of a fast reactor for space electric power and propulsion

Some nuclear safety aspects of a 3.2 mWt heat pipe cooled fast reactor with out-of-core thermionic converters are discussed. Safety related characteristics of the design including a thin layer of B4C surrounding the core, the use of heat pipes and BeO reflector assembly, the elimination of fuel element bowing, etc., are highlighted. Potential supercriticality hazards and countermeasures are considered. Impacts of some safety guidelines of space transportation system are also briefly discussed, since the currently developing space shuttle would be used as the primary launch vehicle for the nuclear electric propulsion spacecraft.
Effects of egg composition and prey density on the larval growth and survival of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis Mitchill)

Eggs were collected from two stocks of lake whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis, in Lakes Michigan and Huron to assess the effect of egg composition and prey density on larval growth and survival. Egg composition parameters including wet weight (mg egg−1), dry weight (mg egg−1), percent water, total caloric content (cal egg−1), caloric density (cal egg−1), percent lipid content, and total lipidcontent (mg egg−1) were measured. Fish hatched from six parental females in each stock were fed one of four rations (0, 18, 24, 50 brine shrimp larva−1 day−1) after yolk sac absorption. Length at hatch, endogenous growth, exogenous growth, and survival were measured during a 42-day laboratory experiment. Length at hatch of larvae was positively related to egg caloric content (r2=0.780). Endogenous growth for lake whitefish larvae was positively related to percent lipid content (r2=0.896) and total egg lipid content (r2=0.876) of parental females. Exogenous growth and survival of larval lake whitefish was positively related to prey availability. Larval fish growth was accurately modelled (r2=0.973) as a function of prey abundance using a threshold-corrected hyperbolic equation. These results indicate that both egg composition and prey availability have the potential to influence the growth and survival dynamics of larval lake whitefish significantly.
Estimation of myocardial water content using transverse relaxation time from dual spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging

Dual spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging may be used for calculation of transverse myocardial relaxation time from the signal intensity of the echoes considered. In this study, the ability of myocardial transverse relaxation time (T2) to quantitate myocardial edema of the right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle (LV) was tested. Dual spin-echo magnetic resonance images of the entire hearts were obtained and T2 of the RV and LV myocardium calculated from the signal intensities within multiple regions of interest distributed over the myocardium. Six hearts were intermittently perfused through an aortic cannula with three perfusates of decreasing osmolality. Biopsies were obtained for water content (WC) analysis both before and after imaging the hearts at baseline and post-perfusion. A seventh (control) heart was not perfused; instead dual spin-echo imaging was performed at the same time intervals as in the perfused hearts. Prior to any intervention, there was no significant difference between baseline RV (79.49 +/- 2.10%) and LV (77.99 +/- 2.44%, p = .2) myocardial water content; RV myocardial T2 (59.9 +/- 5.8 msec) was slightly but not significantly longer than that of the LV (54.6 +/- 5.7 msec, p = .1). After induction of edema, strong correlation was found between right ventricular myocardial water content measurements and right ventricular T2 (RV WC = 68.5 + 0.19 x RV T2; N = 27, R = 0.92, p < .0001, SEE = 1.56%). Similarly, strong correlation was found between left ventricular myocardial water content and T2 (LV WC = 62.1 + 0.29 x LV T2; N = 27, R = 0.92, p < .0001, SEE = 1.80%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Enhancement of thermal and electrical properties of carbon nanotube polymer composites by magnetic field processing

We show that the thermal and electrical properties of single wall carbon nanotube (CNT)-polymer composites are significantly enhanced by magnetic alignment during processing. The electrical transport properties of the composites are mainly governed by the hopping conduction with localization lengths comparable to bundle diameters. The bundling of nanotubes during the composite processing is an important factor for electrical, and in particular, for thermal transport properties. Better CNT isolation will be needed to reach the theoretical thermal conductivity limit for CNT composites.
Globalization of Culture and the Arts

This article examines the state of the field in the sociological literature on the globalization of culture and focuses on key empirical works in the globalization of the arts. The first part of the article presents the main trends in theorizing about the globalization of culture in its broadest terms, that is, the large-scale changes in worldviews that both facilitate and are made possible by globalization such as modernization, universalism, consumerism, and McDonaldization. The second part of the article examines empirical work on television, music, and the performing arts in light of theorizing about globalization and commodification, audience reception, localization and glocalization, the role of the state, imperialism, global cultural fields, and global norms. In terms of theory, the article explores the tension between globalization’s homogenizing and diversifying tendencies. The review of the empirical literature includes research conducted in Cuba, Israel, Italy, Japan, Russia, Singapore, the USA, and Uzbekistan.
Bateman Revisited: The Reproductive Tactics of Female Primates

SYNOPSIS. The breeding system of an animal population is thought to depend on the ability of one sex (usually the male) to acquire mates, either directly through association with females or indirectly through defense of the resources desired by females. The sex that contributes most to infant care (usually the female) is constrained by parental involvement and thereby limits reproduction of the opposite sex. Accordingly, males, but not females, enhance their reproductive success by acquiring additional mates. This classical view has emphasized the role of male‐male competition in sexual selection, at the expense of fully exploring the potential for female choice. A more recent shift in focus has revealed substantial variation in female reproductive success and increasingly accentuates the importance of female intrasexual competition and male mate choice. A comparative review of primate reproduction, therefore, challenges expectations of male control and female compliance, and calls for a comprehensive treatment of costs and benefits that extends beyond conventional mention of heavy female investment versus male negligence or absenteeism. For individuals that manipulate their social environment or reproductive output, consideration of more subtle, even cryptic, aspects of female behavior and physiology (e.g., social strategizing, sexual solicitation or rejection, sexual advertisement or concealed ovulation, multiple mating, and reproductive failure) raises the question of whether females can be effectively ‘monopolized.’ Widespread patterns that counter Bateman’s paradigm call for a reexamination of the predictions generated by dichotomizing gametes into ‘expensive eggs’ and ‘cheap sperm,’ and encourage continued mechanistic research focused on conception quality rather than quantity. THE DARWIN‐BATEMAN PARADIGM
Reproductive Potential of Monochamus carolinensis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) with Respect to Pinewood Nematode Phoresis

The pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner & Buhrer) Nickle, and its cerambycid beetle vector, Monochamus carolinensis (Olivier), are symbionts developing within the xylem of infested pines. The nematode is transported from infested trees to new host trees by Monochamus beetles. We investigated the influence of the number of 4th-stage dispersal juveniles carried per beetle on the reproductive potential of M. carolinensis. Fertility tables were constructed for 3 cohorts of M. carolinensis that differed only in the number of 4th-stage dispersal juveniles carried by individual adults upon emergence from logs in which they developed. Population parameters were compared among the cohorts. The intrinsic rate of increase and associated population parameters of beetles that carried a low or medium number of 4th-stage dispersal juveniles were consistently higher than those with a high number of 4th-stage dispersal juveniles, although the differences were not significant.
Growth properties of the Fourier transform

In a recent paper by the authors, growth properties of the Fourier transform on Euclidean space and the Helgason Fourier transform on rank one symmetric spaces of non-compact type were proved and expressed in terms of a modulus of continuity based on spherical means. The methodology employed first proved the result on Euclidean space and then, via a comparison estimate for spherical functions on rank one symmetric spaces to those on Euclidean space, we obtained the results on symmetric spaces. In this note, an analytically simple, yet overlooked refinement of our estimates for spherical Bessel functions is presented which provides significant improvement in the growth property estimates.
The convective instability pathway to warm season drought in Texas. Part II: Free-tropospheric modulation of convective inhibition.

This study is concerned with the modulation by convectiveinstability of summertime precipitation in Texas as a mechanism for maintaining or enhancing drought. The important role of convective inhibition (CIN), its dependence on the temperature at 700 hPa and the surface dewpoint, and the mechanism by which soil moisture modulates precipitation through CIN were described in Part I of this two-part series study. This study, Part II, examines the dynamic and physical processes controlling the temperature at 700 hPa and elucidates the large-scale influences on convective instability and precipitation integrating the principal processes found in both Parts I and II. Back-trajectory analysis indicates that a significant contributor to warming at 700 hPa is the inversion causedby warmairtransportfromtheRockyMountainsandtheMexicanPlateauwhere thesurfacepotential temperatureis greaterthan307.5 K, ratherthanbysubsidence.It wasfound thatdownwardmotionandwarm air transport are enhanced in Texas when an upper-level anticyclonic circulation develops in the southern United States. Upper-levelanticycloniccirculationsinthesouthernUnitedStates,oneofthedistinctivefeaturesofcentral U.S.droughts,stronglyaffectTexassummertimeprecipitationbymodulatingthethermodynamicstructureof the atmosphere and thus convective instability. Stationary anticyclonic anomalies increase CIN not only by enhancing warm air transport from the high terrain but also by suppressing the occurrence of traveling disturbances. The resulting reduced precipitation and dry soil significantly modulate surface conditions, which elevates CIN and decreases precipitation. The aforementioned chain reaction of upper-level anticyclone influences that is expected to play an important role in initiating and maintaining Texas summer droughts can be understood within the context of CIN.
Delivering Difficult News to Parents: Guidelines for School Counselors.

School counselors often have to give difficult news to parents, a process that can be stressful and troubling for everyone involved. While the reaction of each parent is unique, research indicates that many parents who have been given difficult news about their children feel that the information was delivered poorly. This article provides guidelines for the delivery of difficult news to parents, including strategies for appropriate preparation and follow-through.
Electro-thermo-mechanical responses of conductive adhesive materials

Micromechanics models which aim to provide an understanding of conductive adhesive materials from the level of micro-particles (less than 30 mm) are presented in this paper. The pressure-induced conducting mechanisms are investigated. A deformation analysis reveals a logarithmic pressure-resistance relationship and is capable of addressing the conducting phenomena for both rigid and deformable particle systems within a contact mechanics framework. This logarithmic relationship also provides analytical support for findings reported in the literature of conductive adhesive research. It is observed that electrical contacts are made by squashing conducting particles for a deformable particle system while the particle penetration creates a crater in metallization to make contacts for a rigid particle system. The current analysis provides simple closed-form solutions for the elastic deformation of single-particle contacts and based on the assumption that the contact forces are evenly distributed in a conductive film, the pressure-resistance responses are correlated to the particle volume fraction. The high volume fraction, while ensuring that there are a sufficient number of particles to make contacts, may limit the particle deformation due to overall increased stiffness, resulting in the increased resistance on a per particle basis. The current analysis also offers insight into design considerations whereby limited amount of deformation (low processing temperature) and sufficiently low electrical resistance are to be simultaneously satisfied. For the mechanical performance, the uniaxial nonlinear stress-strain relationship is obtained for conductive adhesive systems in terms of polymer and particle material properties. The Mori-Tanaka's method is utilized to account for particle-particle and particle-matrix interactions. The behaviour in thermal expansion within the elasto-plastic deformation range is also obtained in a similar fashion. In all these calculations, only a very simplified finite element analysis for the problem of a particle embedded into an infinitely extended matrix material needs to be carried out.
Effect of carboxylesterase inhibitors on the acute hepatotoxicity of esters of allyl alcohol.

Abstract Inhibitors of carboxylesterases were used to determine the importance of enzymatic hydrolysis in the production of liver injury by esters of allyl alcohol. Hydrolysis of the esters allyl acetate, allyl cinnamate, and allyl phenoxyacetate by homogenates of liver from rats treated with 125 mg/kg triorthotolyl phosphate (TOTP) was almost completely inhibited compared to that of control livers. Allyl acetate, allyl cinnamate, and allyl phenoxyacetate were administered orally to rats 18 hr after pretreatment with 125 mg/kg TOTP or 0.5 to 10 mg/kg of the defoliant S,S,S-tributylphosphorotrithioate (DEF). TOTP pretreatment significantly inhibited the rise in plasma alanine-α-ketoglutarate transaminase (AKT) activity and prevented changes in liver morphology produced by 60 to 150 mg/kg allyl acetate. DEF pretreatment protected against the hepatotoxicity of 60 mg/kg allyl acetate. This protective effect was maximal after treatment with 1 mg/kg DEF, which inhibited liver esterase 56%. TOTP prevented the elevation of plasma AKT activity induced by 250, 400, or 600 mg/kg allyl cinnamate. TOTP exerted only a slight protective effect against allyl phenoxyacetate hepatic necrosis, in that it prevented the injury produced by 200 mg/kg but not that produced by 250 or 400 mg/kg allyl phenoxyacetate. Pretreatment of rats with 375 mg/kg pyrazole, an inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase, completely prevented the elevation of plasma AKT activity after 90 mg/kg allyl acetate or 250 mg/kg allyl cinnamate. These studies demonstrate that, while it is likely that all three allyl esters share a common mechanism of hepatotoxic action, enzymatic hydrolysis is a necessary step in the activation of allyl acetate and allyl cinnamate to hepatotoxins but is less important in the activation of allyl phenoxyacetate.
Cardiac Troponin T in Chest Pain Unit Patients Without Ischemic Electrocardiographic Changes: Angiographic Correlates and Long-Term Clinical Outcomes

Abstract OBJECTIVES We prospectively evaluated the relation between cardiac troponin T (cTnT) level, the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and long-term prognosis in patients with chest pain but no ischemic electrocardiographic (ECG) changes who had short-term observation. BACKGROUND Cardiac TnT is a powerful predictor of future myocardial infarction (MI) and death in patients with ECG evidence of an acute coronary syndrome. However, for patients with chest pain with normal ECGs, it has not been determined whether cTnT elevation is predictive of CAD and a poor long-term prognosis. METHODS In 414 consecutive patients with no ischemic ECG changes who were triaged to a chest pain unit, cTnT and creatine kinase, MB fraction (CK-MB) were evaluated ≥10 h after symptom onset. Patients with adverse cardiac events, including death, MI, unstable angina and heart failure were followed for as long as one year. RESULTS A positive (>0.1 ng/ml) cTnT test was detected in 37 patients (8.9%). Coronary artery disease was found in 90% of 30 cTnT-positive patients versus 23% of 144 cTnT-negative patients who underwent angiography (p 5 ng/ml) (chi-square = 21.08, p = 0.0008). In a model including both biochemical markers, CK-MB added no predictive information as compared with cTnT alone (chi-square = 23.57, p = 0.0006). CONCLUSIONS In a group of patients with chest pain anticipated to have a low prevalence of CAD and a good prognosis, cTnT identifies a subgroup with a high prevalence of extensive and complex CAD and increased risk for long-term adverse outcomes.
Arc diagrams: visualizing structure in strings

This paper introduces a new visualization method, the arc diagram, which is capable of representing complex patterns of repetition in string data. Arc diagrams improve over previous methods such as dotplots because they scale efficiently for strings that contain many instances of the same subsequence. This paper describes design and implementation issues related to arc diagrams and shows how they may be applied to visualize such diverse data as music, text, and compiled code.
Heparin Dosing in Obese Pediatric Patients in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

Background:Unfractionated heparin (UFH) dosing may need to be adjusted when used in obese patients. The prevalence of pediatric obesity is increasing and, to our knowledge, no data exist to determine the effect of obesity on UFH therapy in children.Objective:To determine whether obese pediatric patients who receive a weight-based dose of UFH in the cardiac catheterization laboratory exhibit an enhanced response compared with those of normal body habitus.Methods:The records of pediatric patients who underwent a cardiac catheterization procedure from September 2006 to September 2010 at Texas Children's Hospital were reviewed. Patients were included if they had received a bolus dose of UFH during their procedure, and had pre- and post-UFH bolus activated clotting time (ACT) values determined. Patients were identified as obese if their body mass index (BMI) was at the 95th percentile or more for age and sex and were matched by age, sex, and catheterization procedure to a control group of patients with a BMI l...
Posterior Approach to Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy

Despite an inauspicious start, minimally invasive radical prostatectomy (MIRP) has become the standard of care over the past 15 years. The path to its popularity has been driven by socioeconomic and cost concerns as well as improved technology. The technique for MIRP has also evolved in approach and outcomes. The initial Montsouris technique for laparoscopic radical prostatectomy reported by Dr Guillonneau and Dr Vallancien demonstrated that MIRP is technically feasible and reproducible. Today, the Montsouris technique they developed remains the basis for the posterior approach to robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. As technology and surgical skill improved, other approaches, including extraperitoneal dissection, anterior intraperitoneal dissection, and robotic-assisted MIRP became commonplace, with abandonment of the posterior approach in many centers. However, of late, there has been a resurgence in interest and application of the posterior approach to MIRP. At our center, the posterior Montsouris technique has become the preferred approach for MIRP. The essence of this approach is in performing the dissection of the vas deferens and seminal vesicles prior to the development of the space of Retzius. This allows for confidence in controlling the seminal vesicles and vas deferens after the posterior aspect of the bladder neck is incised and thereby removing the risk of blind damage to the rectum searching for those structures behind the posterior aspect of the bladder incision. To begin, one must first identify the peritoneal ridge nearest the recto-vesicle junction to make your incision, dissect out the vas deferens then the seminal vesicles behind them. The next step is to develop Denonvillier’s fascia posteriorly to the prostate until yellow perirectal fat is visible. At this point, attention returns anteriorly where the rest of dissection is performed allowing prostate removal and vesicourethral anastomosis.
Dual-Mode Metamaterial-Based Microwave Components

This chapter reviews several examples of how the mode concepts of composite right/left-handed transmission line metamaterials can be utilized in the development of unique microwave components. These components are analyzed from a modal characteristic point of view and are based on the concept of both mode coupling and the variation of the field profiles associated with each mode. Both guided modes and resonant modes are discussed. Finally, an example of a system application based on a mode-based metamaterial structure is presented.
Spanish-Language Test Accommodations: Recommended or Required by NCLB?

This note looks at the Coachella Valley v. State of California suit, in which a group of California school districts, community groups, and students sought to have greater foreign-language testing accommodations, such as those encouraged under the No Child Left Behind Act, implemented in California. It looks at the history of language accommodations offered in California and in other jurisdictions and suggests that state law may allow for more accommodations to be put in place.
AIM: A new information model and standard for annotation and mark-up of nuclear medicine images

1008 Learning Objectives A standard for communication between image analysis and reporting software can improve reporting efficiency and workflow and minimize transcription errors that can occur when quantitative results are dictated rather than transferred electronically. The use of this standard also facilitates the adoption of structured reporting with its numerous benefits including data mining and research. Using well-defined common data elements and controlled terminologies, image annotations can be queried, retrieved and computed upon. Image annotations such as quantitative measurements and mark-ups are typically captured on clinical imaging workstations in proprietary formats while human image interpretations are captured in clinical or research reports. This makes image annotations difficult to query, retrieve and analyze. The NCI’s Cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid (caBIG™) Imaging Workspace has developed a standards-based model for Annotation and Image Markup (AIM). AIM functionality has been incorporated into multiple imaging workstations. The AIM programming library creates, validates and transforms AIM annotations between AIM XML and DICOM SR. We linked core annotation functionality to the AIM software development kit such that annotations and measurements made on displayed images are captured in an AIM data service. Controlled terms from RadLex can be presented in a structured report template or annotations can be entered ad hoc. We have modified an open source imaging workstation to capture image annotation and markup in the AIM format using controlled terminologies. The resulting annotation can then be serialized as XML or DICOM SR. This then enables the creation of large collections of AIM annotations that can be queried not only to find images of similar content but to correlate pixel interpretation with other biomedical information content. This project demonstrates how a clinical imaging workstation can be easily modified to support AIM
The Complementary Virtues of Qualitative and Quantitative Research: Reply to Altheide

Before I can comment on Professor Altheide's remarks, some background information will be needed. In a series of papers in the American Sociological Review, the American Journal of Sociology, Social Forces, and in Science I presented evidence suggesting that publicized suicide stories trigger imitative suicides, some of which are misclassified as accidents (Phillips, a, b, c, d, e; Bollen and Phillips). These papers showed that: (1) U.S. suicides rise significantly just after publicized suicide stories (e.g., that of Marilyn Monroe). (2) Fatal automobile accidents also increase just after publicized suicide stories. (3) Sincle-car accidents increase more than other types of accidents. (4) The drivers in these single-car accidents are unusually similar to the person described in the suicide story, but passengers in these accidents are not similar to the person described in the suicide story. (5) The more publicity given to the suicide story, the greater the increase in suicides and the greater the increase in motor vehicle accidents. (6) The increase in suicides and motor vehicle accidents occurs primarily in the geographic areas where the suicide story is publicized. These findings are based on a systematic survey of more than 80,000 suicide and accident statistics. In follow-up papers in Science and in Social Forces I showed that these findings for suicides and motor vehicle accidents also hold for airplane accidents. I examined 172 airplane accidents (not 16 as Dr. Altheide claims) and showed that: (7) U.S. private plane crashes increase significantly just after publicized murder-suicide stories. (8) The greater the publicity devoted to the murder-suicide story, the greater the increase in private plane crashes. (9) The increase in plane crashes occurs primarily in the geographic areas where the murder-suicide story is publicized. These findings hold not only for non-commercial but also for commercial plane crashes. Specifically, (10) U.S. commercial plane crashes increase significantly just after publicized murder-suicide stories. (11) The greater the publicity devoted to the murder-suicide story, the greater the increase in commercial plane crash fatalities just afterwards. All of these eleven findings are statistically significant and persist after one corrects for seasonal fluctuations in the data and for trends over time. Alternative explanations for the findings were assessed. At present,
The effects of stimulus incongruity on the free looking time of adults and children

Previous studies, using relative measures of looking behavior, have reported an increasing monotonic relationship between stimulus incongruity and looking time. The present experiment was designed to (1) determine if a similar relationship would be observed if an absolute measure of looking time was employed and (2) determine if differences in patterns of looking behavior would be found for adults and children. The results demonstrate the feasibility of employing a “free-looking” procedure in studies of visual selection and clearly demonstrate for both adults and children an increasing monotonic relationship between degrees of incongruity and looking time.
Study on the System Identification of the RBF Neural Network

The paper starts from the system identification p ri nciple of neural networks,using a group of I/O data provided by the neural netwo rk toolbox for Matlab, applying the RBF network to process system identific ation ,setting up the RBF neural network identification model,simulating the output cu rve,be sides compared and analyzed for the result of identification,realizing further t he best approximation character of the RBF network.
Evaluating a computer-based experiential learning simulation: a case study using criterion-referenced testing.

A case study of a computer-based experiential learning program involving the use of criterion-referenced testing as a quantitative evaluation tool is described. The simulation was designed to introduce nurses to basic computer operations. One hundred and thirty-eight nurses participated in the evaluation using a specially prepared version of the program that recorded the time required to perform actions, the number of unsuccessful attempts to complete instructions, and the number of correct responses to specific questions. The ability of the nurses to "drag and drop" increased significantly from less than 20% to more than 90% (p < .05, Student's t-test). Their knowledge of the definitions of four computer-related terms (i.e., trackball, desktop, window, and icon) increased significantly (from 65% to 80%, p < .1). In subjective evaluations, 82% of respondents reported that they enjoyed the lesson and 89% wanted more computer-based instructional units to be developed. Use of criterion-referenced testing helped to shed new light on the utility of such computer aided instructional systems.
Theoretical Methods in the Assessment of Vision and Automated Perimetry

An analytic understanding of automated perimetry requires an appreciation of the fundamental theories of vision and an understanding of the basic mathematical rudiments of signal processing theory. The theories of vision by Weber, Fechtner, and Stevens are evaluated and the mathematical bases of logarithmic, exponential, and power functions are considered as they relate to various models of visual functioning. Presenting perimetry results as actual, linear stimulus values, not theoretical, non-linear response values, could better allow clinicians to assess and examine the testing data directly to evaluate more correctly and accurately their patients' visual function.
Investigation of mechanisms of vagus nerve stimulation for seizure using finite element modeling

Abstract Objective While the efficacy of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) to reduce seizures in pharmaco-resistant patients is clinically proven, its efficacy and side effects mechanisms are not fully understood. Our goals were 1) to use a finite element model (FEM) and axon models to examine different fiber activation and blocking thresholds and 2) examine fiber activation and blocking in three fiber groups likely to be responsible for efficacy and side effects. Methods Using FEM, we examined the field potential along axons within a vagus nerve model with fascicles. These data were input to a computational fiber model to estimate numbers of axons activated across all diameters. We estimated numbers of activated and blocked fibers by diameter. Results 1) At the low end of VNS amplitudes, little efficacy for seizure control is appreciated while large Aβ fibers associated with the recurrent laryngeal nerve are recruited. As amplitudes are increased, Aβ fibers can produce hoarseness, and next recruited are fast B fibers associated with the aortic fascicle. We hypothesize these B fibers are the source of efficacy in treating seizure. As amplitudes are further increased, coughing may occur, possibly due to recruitment of smaller and deeper pulmonary fibers. 2) Clinical parameters are in a range that could cause inadvertent blocking at the cathode and activation at the anode. Conversely, innovative approaches to field shape and charge-balancing can allow controlled fiber activation at the cathode for maximum activation of the fibers responsible for efficacy, and possibly blocking at the anode to minimize side effects and expand therapeutic range. In design and operation, the cathode and anode can each be approached as a band pass filter. Significance The B fiber group is necessary and possibly sufficient to produce VNS efficacy in epilepsy. This group may emanate from aortic baroreceptors that, via synapses in the solitary tract nucleus, stimulate the locus coeruleus, hypothalamus and other influential targets such as the hippocampus. Responder rates may be increased with a lead that fully encircles the nerve. With better identification of the fiber groups involved in VNS, efficacy, side effects, therapeutic range and responder rates can be optimized.
Quantitative CT Measures of Bronchiectasis in Smokers.

Background Bronchiectasis is frequent in smokers with COPD; however, there are only limited data on objective assessments of this process. The objective was to assess bronchovascular morphology, calculate the ratio of the diameters of bronchial lumen and adjacent artery (BA ratio), and identify those measurements able to discriminate bronchiectasis. Methods We collected quantitative CT (QCT) measures of BA ratios, peak wall attenuation, wall thickness (WT), wall area, and wall area percent (WA%) at matched fourth through sixth airway generations in 21 ever smokers with bronchiectasis (cases) and 21 never-smoking control patients (control airways). In cases, measurements were collected at both bronchiectatic and nonbronchiectatic airways. Logistic analysis and the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were used to assess the predictive ability of QCT measurements for bronchiectasis. Results The whole-lung and fourth through sixth airway generation BA ratio, WT, and WA% were significantly greater in bronchiectasis cases than control patients. The AUCs for the BA ratio to predict bronchiectasis ranged from 0.90 (whole lung) to 0.79 (fourth-generation). AUCs for WT and WA% ranged from 0.72 to 0.75 and from 0.71 to 0.75. The artery diameters but not bronchial diameters were smaller in bronchiectatic than both nonbronchiectatic and control airways (P Conclusions Smoking-related increases in the BA ratio appear to be driven by reductions in vascular caliber. QCT measures of BA ratio, WT, and WA% may be useful to objectively identify and quantify bronchiectasis in smokers. Trial Registry ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT00608764; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.
Exploitation of Novel Hyperdiploid and Nonhyperdiploid Myeloma Cell Lines for Studying Innovative Interventions for Myeloma and Its Associated Bone Disease.

Abstract Establishment of clinically relevant human myeloma (MM) cell lines is central for our understanding of MM pathogenesis and development of novel therapies for the disease. Unfortunately, most available lines were generated from extramedullary sites and categorized as nonhyperdiploid. In contrast, hyperdiploid MM cell lines are rare. We established procedures for establishment of stroma-dependent MM lines by passaging primary MM in SCID-hu or SCID-rab mice followed by maintenance in co-culture with stromal cells. We described the establishment and characterization of 2 hyperdiploid (LD, and CF) and 2 nonhyperdiploid (JB and BN) cell lines. LD, CF, JB and BN cells have approximately 51, 57, 44 and 43 chromosomes, respectively. Using our animal models, we also established bortezomib-sensitive and -resistant BN lines. These cell lines were cellularly, phenotypically and molecularly characterized using flow cytometry immunophenotyping, DNA content, G-band and multicolor spectral karyotyping (SKY), and microarray. The cell lines were infected with lentiviral-expressing luciferase for detection of tumor cells at high sensitivity level and for monitoring MM growth in co-cultures and in vivo by live animal imaging. We have reported that hyperdiploid MM cells express high level of the Wnt signaling inhibitor, DKK1, and that DKK1 expression is correlated with level of bone disease. The CF cells which typically represent hyperdiploid patients based on pattern of trisomies, DKK1 expression and induction of severe osteolysis, were engrafted in SCID-rab mice and upon establishment of MM were locally treated with control and DKK1 neutralizing antibodies (RD in contrast to control group, bone mineral density (BMD) of the myelomatous bone was preserved by anti-DKK. Prevention of bone loss by anti-DKK1 antibody was associated with increased number of osteocalcin-expressing osteoblasts (27±4 vs. 8±3 in control bones, p
Endoscopic ultrasound localization of a pancreatic insulinoma : Case report and review of the localization techniques

A 23-year-old male was referred to our hospital for evaluation of new-onset seizures. Signs and symptoms of neuroglycopenia, including weakness, dizziness, and confusion, appeared during fasting and resolved promptly with intravenous dextrose administration. Insulin, proinsulin, and C-peptide levels were consistent with a diagnosis of insulinoma. Screening tests for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 and surreptitious sulfonylurea uses were negative. Preoperative localization of the insulinoma by transabdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography, and indium-111 octreoscanning were unsuccessful. Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) identified a 6- to 7-mm tumor at the juncture of the head and body of the pancreas. Surgical exploration confirmed the preoperative localization, and an 8-mm tumor was simply enucleated. The patient has been free of symptoms for 18 months since surgery. This report describes the utility of EUS to localize a solitary pancreatic insulinoma and provides a comparison of EUS and other preoperative localization techniques.
Applying critical pathways to neurosurgery patients at the University of Michigan Medical Center.

UNLABELLED Project Overview: In April 1990, The University of Michigan Hospitals began a major, multidisciplinary project to standardize care processes in order to increase efficiency and reduce costs while maintaining the quality of clinical care. A team of nurses began the project by developing critical pathways for two neurosurgery procedures--lumbar laminectomy and transphenoidal pituitary tumor resection. The pathways were reviewed by physicians and other staff from other disciplines and were implemented in January of 1991. KEY FINDINGS Data from the first 14 months show a decrease in patients' average lengths of stay in both the intensive care unit (ICU) and routine care unit. Costs and variance data are being analyzed and further improvements to the pathways are being made. Eleven critical paths are now being used for neurosurgery patients. In retrospect, participants learned that physicians should be involved at the earliest stages of critical pathway development and in the process of implementation.
Abstract B38: Radiation enhances intracellular delivery of anti-MGMT oligomers to reduce protein expression in vitro and in a xenograft model

High levels of DNA repair enzyme O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) in glioblastoma tumor are associated with temozolomide resistance and poor prognosis. MGMT provides a promising therapeutic target to overcome chemo-resistance and improve overall survival in cancer patients. In this study, we investigate the enhanced delivery of anti-MGMT morpholino oligonucleotide (AMON) using a sub-therapeutic dose of radiation to reduce MGMT expression of human cancer cells (T98G glioma and H460 and A549 non-small cell lung carcinoma) in vitro and in vivo. Compared to standard transfection techniques, sub-therapeutic dose of radiation enhanced intracellular AMON delivery and transiently reduced MGMT protein expression at 3 d in vitro. The optimal radiation dosage was cancer cell type dependent and ranged from 1-12 Gy. In addition, AMON delivered using sub-therapeutic dose of radiation increased cytotoxicity of T98G cells in response to temozolomide compared to radiation and temozolomide alone in vitro. In a H460 subcutaneous xenograft tumor model, intravenous AMON administration reduced MGMT protein level by 50% in irradiated tumors but not in contralateral non-irradiated lesions within the same animal. Tumor MGMT protein downregulation by AMON did not alter DNA promoter methylation status. Our results demonstrate for the first time the use of radiation to enhance the intracellular delivery of antisense oligonucleotides to modulate MGMT protein expression in vitro and in vivo. We have previously shown that antisense nucleotides can be delivered to the brain parenchyma using osmotic blood brain barrier disruption. Therefore, we believe that cancer patients with MGMT overexpression, unmethylated DNA promoter and/or resistance to DNA alkylating agents may benefit from this novel antisense therapeutic technology to improve overall survival. Citation Format: Jeffrey Wu, Prakash Ambady, DreeAnna Morris, Michael Pagel, Randy Woltjer, Joshua Walker, Leslie Muldoon, Edward Neuwelt. Radiation enhances intracellular delivery of anti-MGMT oligomers to reduce protein expression in vitro and in a xenograft model [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on DNA Repair: Tumor Development and Therapeutic Response; 2016 Nov 2-5; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2017;15(4_Suppl):Abstract nr B38.
Polycations. XXIV. Approaches to Polycationic Alternatives to Antibiotics

Efforts toward the development of polycationic lipid materials as alternative approaches for control of pathogenic bacteria continue. Herein are described several carbohydrate scaffolding systems for the covalent attachment of cationic lipids to provide clusters of sites capable of disrupting the pathogenic bacterial cells. Studies with S. aureus and E. coli are reported.
The One-Minute Physical Examination

The examination conducted thus far gives insight into many functions. The first impression and the comprehensive examination of the hand and the wrist provide information on local or systemic abnormalities of the blood, skin, joints, endocrine glands, cardiorespiratory functions, and neurologic systems. With studied practice of already-noted functions, the clinician may be able to quickly determine the urgency of care. Certainly, a careful look with palpation of the hands and wrists is a well-invested minute for starting every physical examination.
Proton pump inhibitors in Barrett's esophagus: Pluripotent but controversial

BACKGROUND: Barrett's esophagus (BE), a significant complication of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), is the single most important risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma. The strong association between BE and chronic GERD suggests that abnormal esophageal acid exposure plays a vital role in this condition. METHODS: Review on PPI treatment for Barrett's esophagus. RESULTS: The progression of BE from specialized intestinal metaplasia to dysplasia and finally invasive carcinoma is incompletely understood, but increased and disordered proliferation is a key cellular event. In both ex vivo experiments and clinical trials in humans, effective acid suppression scales down the proliferative activity of Barrett's metaplasia and the likelihood of dysplasia as well. Today, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are almost universally used for the management of reflux symptoms in patients with BE while they may offer many other benefits when used as single agents or in conjunction with pharmacologic or endoscopic therapies. Yet, acid suppression with these drugs may be suboptimal in many patients and their ultimate role in preventing cancer formation has not yet been proven. Because PPIs are life-long therapy for patients with BE, their potential drawbacks need to be reviewed and their relative value need to be balanced when compared to laparoscopic fundoplication. CONCLUSIONS: The ability of PPIs to suppress acid profoundly and consistently may be crucial in the long-term management of BE and esophageal cancer chemoprevention.
Management of high pressure water jet oropharyngeal injury

Abstract High-pressure water jets are used widely across various industries, and work-related injuries to the extremities commonly occur. However, high-pressure water injuries to the oropharynx are uncommon and can result in significant injury and aerodigestive compromise. These injuries are characterized by severe internal injuries far exceeding the minimal observable external damage. Here we review the case of a 37-year-old male with an oropharyngeal injury secondary to a power washer, the associated management, and provide a review of the literature of similar injuries.