cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictive Value of a Genomic Classifier in Indeterminate Thyroid Nodules Based on Nodule Size.

Importance Genomic classifiers were developed to better guide clinicians in the treatment of indeterminate thyroid nodules (ITNs). To our knowledge, whether there is variation in the diagnostic accuracy of these tests depending on ITN size has not been previously studied. Objective To analyze the diagnostic performance of a genomic classifier in relation to ITN size. Design, Setting, and Participants A case series study with medical records review was conducted including all patients with a cytologic diagnosis of ITN managed with genomic classifier testing and surgery from January 2015 to December 2018 at NYU Langone Health. Demographics, ITN characteristics, genomic profiles, treatment, and final pathologic findings were recorded. Data analysis was conducted from March to April 2021. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary aim was to assess the positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), sensitivity, and specificity of a genomic classifier test (ThyroSeq) in relation to ITN size ( 4 cm). The secondary aim was to investigate the risk of cancer associated with genetic signatures. Results Of the 212 patients with 218 ITNs, 158 (74.5%) were women; median (SD) age was 49 (15.6) years. Genomic classifier results were positive in 173 ITNs (79.4%) treated with surgery. In this group of 173 positive ITNs, 46 (26.6%) were malignant on final pathologic testing. Overall, the observed cancer prevalence in the population was 23.9% (52 ITNs). In 45 ITNs that underwent surgery despite a negative genomic classifier interpretation, 6 (13.3%) were malignant. The PPV of a positive test was 27% and the NPV was 87%. The PPV and NPV findings improved as the ITN size increased ( 4 cm [n = 33]: PPV, 50%; NPV, 89%). Test specificity was higher in larger ITNs ( 4 cm: 40%;P = .01). IsolatedRASsequence variations were the most common variant identified in malignant nodules (11 [21.1%] of all ITNs), followed byBRAFvariants (7 [13.5%] of all ITNs). Conclusions and Relevance In this case series, the performance of the ThyroSeq test improved for larger ITNs. The risk of cancer in large ITNs with negative test results was low. These data suggest that, in genomic classifier–negative ITNs larger than 4 cm, initial management of thyroid lobectomy may be sufficient.
Character, Narrator, and Simile in the Iliad : Similes in the Narrator-Text

the results of the previous chapters urge an exploration of the Iliad 's narrator-text itself and a search for the competitive dynamics of similes therein. I begin this chapter with a brief examination of the sequential arrangement of one pair and one series of similes in the narrator-text. At such moments, the poet gives a competitive orientation to the similes describing the heroes' martial contests. This arrangement amplifies the successful warrior's feat. I then study at greater length a hitherto neglected component of the narrator's similes. Like sequences of similes, individual extended similes in the narrator-text can evince an agonistic orientation: they contribute to the portrayal of the characters in the Iliad as competitors for time in the spotlight. TWO SEQUENCES OF SIMILES When they first meet in combat, Patroklos and Hektor resemble two lions ( Il . 16.756–58), but when Hektor gains the upper hand, Patroklos is said to resemble a boar, and Hektor, a lion that defeats the boar (16.823–28). Deborah Beck writes, “[Patroklos] has been beaten in the battle of both narrative and simile” (2005a: 180). We could just as easily say that Hektor wins in the battle of both narrative and simile. What happens in one important element of the discourse (the simile) parallels and reinforces the victor's success at the level of the story: the vehicle that represents the victor triumphs over the vehicle that represents his opponent.
DNA damage in breast cancer plus another primary cancer, early onset breast cancer, thyroid cancer and cancer-free individuals

2889 Although a large number of DNA repair gene polymorphisms recently have been described, the relationship of these polymorphisms to DNA repair phenotype remains largely unknown. In an ongoing study, we are using the Comet assay to assess the DNA repair capacity of 90 EBV-transformed normal lymphoblastoid cell lines from the Polymorphism Discovery Resource (Coriell Cell Repository, NJ). These same cell lines have been re-sequenced as part of the Environmental Genome Project (EGP) in order to discover common polymorphisms and we have recently used this genotype data to construct haplotypes on a set of DNA repair and cell cycle control genes. We are combining haplotype and Comet data to assess whether DNA repair gene haplotypes determine DNA repair phenotype. We present here preliminary analysis on 57 cell lines for which we have Comet data along with the haplotypes of 5 DNA repair genes (ADPRT, LIG3, XRCC1, OGG1 and Polb). We used two DNA damaging agents, methyl-methanesulfonate (MMS), an alkylating agent, and hydrogen peroxide (H202) an oxidizing agent. DNA damage from both agents is repaired by the Base Excision Repair (BER) pathway. A modified version of the alkaline comet assay protocol was used as described by Singh et al (1988). Briefly, normal lymphoblastoid cell lines were tested in duplicate on two different days and exposed to 10 uM H202 for 20 min at 4° C or 1 mM MMS 30 minutes at 37 ° C. Komet 5.0 digital imaging and analysis software (ILS) was employed to measure Olive Tail Moment (OTM) on 100 cells/cell line (25 cells x 4 slides) before treatment (NT), immediately after treatment (T0), and after ∼50% repair (T1: 10 minutes for H2O2 and 4hrs for MMS). We estimated DNA repair between maximal damage at T0 and partial repair at T1 by analyzing the average base-2 logarithm of the post-repair median OTM, expressed as a proportion of the median OTM immediately after exposure. Preliminary analysis suggests that the overall exposure response correlation of cells to the two damaging agents (MMS vs H202) is moderately strong (Pearson correlation coefficient of .44, p=0.0007). For MMS, none of the gene haplotypes showed statistically significant association with the DNA repair response, nor did 4 of the 5 gene haplotypes for H2O2. However, we did find a significant association between DNA repair response to H2O2 and gene haplotypes of ADPRT (p=.0008). The ADPRT gene (ADP-ribosyltransferase (NAD+;poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase), otherwise known as PARP, is a nuclear zinc finger DNA-binding protein involved in the regulation of the molecular events in the recovery of cells from DNA damage and is important in the detection of single strand breaks. ADPRT knockout cells are known to be hypersensitive to MMS, but our preliminary findings suggest that ADPRT haplotype may affect H202 DNA damage response.
PHOTOELECTROCONVERSION BY SEMICONDUCTORS : A PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY EXPERIMENT

A physical chemistry experiment illustrating photochemistry, cyclic voltammetry, the properties of semiconductors, and surface chemistry is described. The experiment consists of constructing a liquid-junction photochemical cell, determining the cell parameters, then modifying the surface of the electrode to enhance the conversion efficiency of the cell. The students will learn some fundamental physical and chemical principles related to light and electricity interconversion as well as the properties of semiconductors. The experiment can also be developed into an undergraduate research or independent study project.
Visualization of large-scale chromatin structure and dynamics using the lac operator/lac repressor reporter system.

Publisher Summary In situ hybridization methods have been pivotal in allowing the exploration of chromosome and gene arrangements within interphase nuclei. However, the requirement of DNA denaturation for in situ hybridization is incompatible with direct in vivo observations. Moreover, the harsh conditions required for DNA denaturation are antagonistic to ultrastructural preservation. This has led to a large gap between primarily light microscopy studies, using in situ hybridization to examine the locations of specific chromosomal regions or loci, and ultrastructural analysis of higher order, “generic” chromatin structure, primarily by electron microscopy. In an attempt to bridge these two structural approaches, this chapter explores the use of protein–DNA recognition as a tag for localizing specific chromosome regions to provide an alternative to in situ hybridization. The chapter uses the lac operator/repressor system for an initial test case for several reasons. The lac repressor had been demonstrated as having the capability of binding in vitro to an operator sequence packaged within nucleosomes with only a small decrease in binding affinity. Later in vivo experiments confirmed the specific binding of lac repressor to lac operator within eukaryotic cells.
Performance limits in fading MIMO channels

The multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channel is typically modeled as a randomly varying fading channel. Therefore the channel capacity is also a random variable and can vary from zero to infinity in a Rayleigh channel. Given this random nature of the channel capacity when the transmitter does not have channel knowledge, any signaling rate it chooses to use may not be supported by the channel with a finite probability, leading to a transmission error even when ideal channel coding for that chosen rate is employed. Therefore, in the absence of channel knowledge, the packet (or block) error rate (PER) is equal to the outage of capacity for the specified signaling rate. We study the fundamental limits on packet error rate versus signaling rate versus average SNR and the performance tradeoffs therein. We then examine such tradeoffs for several specific space-time coding schemes have. been. proposed that maximize either rate or diversity. These coding schemes modify the achievable capacity of the channel and therefore also the corresponding performance tradeoffs.
Using a Mobile App to Teach Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities to Identify Potential Food Allergens

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of using augmented reality applications to identify potential food allergens. Seven individuals with intellectual disabilities participated. Par...
Roots, Shoots, and Fruits of Persuasion in Military Affairs

Because of the relatively recent application of scientific methods to the study of persuasion effects--and the consequent replicability of those effects--the relationship between governments and students of persuasion has changed radically. As is clear from Sara King's (2010) article, the U.S. government seeks a beneficial relationship. Not so clear is the proper role of the persuasion scientist in that relationship. I advocate one such role, that of audience-empowering educator. Therein, the goal is not to use persuasion to strengthen the desired message artificially but to convince desired audiences to be open to processing the message fully. Language: en
Magnetoresistive sensor based scanning probe microscopy

Integrated sensors are essential for scanning probe microscopy (SPM) based systems where a large number of cantilevers are employed in parallel for high-throughput. However, common integrated sensors such as piezoresistive, piezoelectric, capacitive and thermoelectric, suffer from low bandwidth and/or low resolution. In this work, a novel magnetoresistive (MR) sensor based scanning probe microscopy technique is presented which can detect the deflection of the cantilever with nano-scale resolution and a bandwidth in excess of 1 MHz. This technique is suitable for high-speed imaging using integrated sensors which can be fabricated using micro-electromechanical-system (MEMS) and thin-film technology to make large scale parallel-SPM devices.
Oxide nanowires for solar cell applications

Oxide nanowire arrays were studied for their applications to solar cells. It was demonstrated that the nanowires could provide direct pathways for electron transport in dye-sensitized solar cells and therefore, while forming photoelectrode films, they offered better suppression of charge recombination than nanoparticles. However, the photoelectron films consisting of nanowires suffered a disadvantage in giving large surface area for dye adsorption. Such a shortcoming of nanowires had been exemplified in this paper illustrating that it could be well compensated by incorporating with nanoparticles to form a nanoparticle–nanowire array hybrid photoelectrode film. The oxide nanowires were also demonstrated to be able to enhance the performance of inverted structure polymer solar cells as a cathode buffer layer by establishing a large interface with the polymers so as to facilitate the transport of photogenerated electrons from the polymer to the electron collecting electrode. Such an enhancement effect could be further boosted while the nanowires were replaced with nanotubes; the latter may build up larger interface with the polymers than the former and therefore facilitates the electron transport more efficiently.
A phospholipase C-dependent inositol polyphosphate kinase pathway required for efficient messenger RNA export.

In order to identify additional factors required for nuclear export of messenger RNA, a genetic screen was conducted with a yeast mutant deficient in a factor Gle1p, which associates with the nuclear pore complex (NPC). The three genes identified encode phospholipase C and two potential inositol polyphosphate kinases. Together, these constitute a signaling pathway from phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate to inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6). The common downstream effects of mutations in each component were deficiencies in IP6 synthesis and messenger RNA export, indicating a role for IP6 in GLE1function and messenger RNA export.
In–class permanent teams in a team–lecture hybrid instructional strategy: application in health management and public administration courses

The author presents a team–lecture hybrid (TLH) instructional design which adopts and improves on team–based learning (TBL) strategies by enlarging the learner's empowerment zone in the learning environment while maintaining the instructor's leadership as an active teacher. The design is guided by an integrated conceptual framework which links objectivist, constructivist, and social learning approaches to shape a learner–centred and learner oriented strategy. The rationale, conceptual framework, program components, and implementation are described. Evaluation strategies and lessons learned from the two year implementation process are also covered.
Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change and variability in semi‐arid rural southeastern Arizona, USA

Agricultural and livestock producers experiencing climate change and variability are simultaneously subject to other sources of environmental vulnerability, as well as political, social, and economic uncertainty. Producers' adaptive decision making takes into account short-term seasonal factors, while seeking to preserve livelihood stability over the long term. This study identifies multiple sources of vulnerability for farmers and ranchers in southeastern Arizona, and the adaptive strategies they have adopted including the use of information such as seasonal climate forecasts (SCFs). Interviews with producers and extension agents in Pima and Cochise Counties reveal that the principal climatic risks are drought, floods and frosts, and that groundwater use remains a crucial strategy despite increasing pumping costs. Low risk tolerance and uncertainty of seasonal production and marketing conditions diminish the utility of SCFs as a decision-making tool. Instead, farmers and ranchers continue to rely on past experience and short-range forecasts, hedging each year instead of taking significant risks. By examining the role of climate information in complex production decisions, the study shows that access to information is not the principal limitation to improving decision making. Comparison to other regions reaffirms common vulnerabilities among producers and highlights research and communication needs that have global relevance.
Networks and compatibility: Implications for antitrust

In this paper we draw crucial parallels between the concepts of compatibility and networks and the more traditional concepts of complementarity and vertical relationships. We also develop the important distinctions between ‘two-way networks’ and ‘one-way networks’. We then apply our framework to a number of current antitrust issues.
Mouse Mandible Contains Distinctive Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Although human orofacial bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells showed differentiation traits distinctly different from those of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from long bone marrow (BMMSCs), mouse MSCs derived from orofacial bone have not been isolated due to technical difficulties, which in turn precludes the use of mouse models to study and cure orofacial diseases. In this study, we developed techniques to isolate and expand mouse orofacial bone/bone-marrow-derived MSCs (OMSCs) from mandibles and verified their MSC characteristics by single-colony formation, multi-lineage differentiation, and in vivo tissue regeneration. Activated T-lymphocytes impaired OMSCs via the Fas/Fas ligand pathway, as occurs in BMMSCs. Furthermore, we found that OMSCs are distinct from BMMSCs with respect to regulating T-lymphocyte survival and proliferation. Analysis of our data suggests that OMSCs are a unique population of MSCs and play an important role in systemic immunity. Abbreviations: BMMSC, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell; HA/TCP, hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate; OMSC, orofacial mesenchymal stem cell; OVX, ovariectomized.
Race talk and school equity in local print media: the discursive flexibility of whiteness and the promise of race-conscious talk

This article examines how a progressive, rural/small city community in the USA wrestles with race, racism, and school equity in the public arena of print media. It inquires into the tensions, limitations, and possibilities for race-conscious discourse in the face of both explicit racist hate speech and benevolent liberal race talk. Based on ethnographic and cultural discourse analyses of local print media, this article draws from critical race and whiteness theories to examine how racist hate speech, occurring in a non-education context of a police-related tragedy, and benevolent liberal race talk on school equity issues mutually reinforce the logic of white racial dominance. It also locates the possibilities of race-conscious talk as generative speech that demands a response.
Spatial heterogeneity in aeolian erodibility: Uniform, topographic, geomorphic, and hydrologic hypotheses

[1] Soil aeolian erodibility is the efficiency with which soil produces dust for a given meteorological forcing. Quantifying soil erodibility is crucial for forecasting dust events and the climatological distribution and forcing of dust. We use long-term station observations and satellite indices of mineral dust to ascertain the role of regional topography, geomorphology, and hydrology in controlling sediment availability and erodibility. Our null hypothesis is that soil erodibility is globally uniform, so that emissions are determined by instantaneous local meteorology, vegetation, and soil moisture. We describe and quantify three competing hypotheses on regional processes which may affect local soil erodibility: (1) Erodibility is characterized by the relative elevation of source regions in surrounding basins. (2) Erodibility is characterized by the upstream area from which sediments may have accumulated locally through all climate regimes. (3) Erodibility is characterized by the local present-day surface runoff. These hypotheses are tested in 3-year simulations of the global Dust Entrainment and Deposition (DEAD) model. All three spatially varying erodibility hypotheses produce significantly better agreement with station and satellite data than the null (Uniform) hypothesis. The Uniform hypothesis explains none of the spatial structure of emissions in Australia. Heterogeneous erodibility may explain up to 15–20%, 15–20%, and 50% more of the spatial structure of dust emissions than Uniform erodibility in the Sahara+Arabian Peninsula, East Asia, and Australia, respectively. The Geomorphic erodibility hypothesis performs best overall, but results vary by region and by metric. These results support the hypothesis that dust emission ‘‘hot spots’’ exist in regions where alluvial sediments have accumulated and may be disturbed. Our physically based erodibility hypotheses help explain dust observations in some regions, particularly East Asia, and can be used to help discriminate between natural and anthropogenic soil emissions. INDEX TERMS: 0305 Atmospheric Composition and Structure: Aerosols and particles (0345, 4801); 1625 Global Change: Geomorphology and weathering (1824, 1886); 1815 Hydrology: Erosion and sedimentation; 1824 Hydrology: Geomorphology (1625); KEYWORDS: mineral dust aerosol, arid geomorphology, aeolian processes, hydrologic routing, landscape erodibility
From Stochastic Grammar to Bayes Network: Probabilistic Parsing of Complex Activity

We propose a probabilistic method for parsing a temporal sequence such as a complex activity defined as composition of sub-activities/actions. The temporal structure of the high-level activity is represented by a string-length limited stochastic context-free grammar. Given the grammar, a Bayes network, which we term Sequential Interval Network (SIN), is generated where the variable nodes correspond to the start and end times of component actions. The network integrates information about the duration of each primitive action, visual detection results for each primitive action, and the activity's temporal structure. At any moment in time during the activity, message passing is used to perform exact inference yielding the posterior probabilities of the start and end times for each different activity/action. We provide demonstrations of this framework being applied to vision tasks such as action prediction, classification of the high-level activities or temporal segmentation of a test sequence, the method is also applicable in Human Robot Interaction domain where continual prediction of human action is needed.
Human carbonic anhydrase IV: in vitro activation and purification of disulfide-bonded enzyme following expression in Escherichia coli.

Abstract Human carbonic anhydrase IV (CA IV) expressed in Escherichia coli was refolded and activated in cell extracts with the help of endogenous periplasmic protein disulfide isomerase, DsbA, in the presence of oxidized glutathione. The refolding and activation were inhibited by bacitracin but not affected by known cofactors or activators of other chaperones. Although the yield of the purified CA IV recovered from cell extracts was maximal when activated at 4°C in the presence of 2 m m oxidized glutathione, the rate of refolding and activation was much more rapid at 25 and 37°C. The enzyme purified from the E. coli cell extracts following activation in vitro showed similar structural stability and functional properties as CA IV purified from secretion medium from a stably transfected CHO cell line. These studies suggest that the soluble truncated form of human CA IV expressed in E. coli, which is a disulfide-bonded zinc metalloenzyme, can provide a useful model enzyme for studies of protein folding and enzyme activation in vitro. Furthermore, the procedure described for recovery of CA IV following expression in E. coli may be useful for in vitro activation and subsequent purification of other disulfide-containing proteins.
On the combination of kinematics with flow visualization to compute total circulation - Application to vortex rings in a tube

To date the computation of the total circulation, or strength of a vortex has required detailed measurements of the velocity field within the vortex. In this paper a method is described in which the kinematics of the vortical flow field is exploited to calculate the strength of a vortex from relatively simple flow visualization measurements. There are several advantages in the technique, the most important being the newly acquired ability to calculate the transient changes in strength of a single vortex as it evolves. The method is applied to the study of vortex rings, although the development can be carried over directly to study vortex pairs, and it is expected that it can be generalized to other flows which contain regions of concentrated vorticity. The accuracy of the method as applied to vortex rings, assessed in part by comparing with the laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) measurements of Sullivan et al., is shown to be excellent.
All-plastic solar cells with a high photovoltaic dynamic range

We report on semitransparent air-processed all-plastic solar cells, fabricated from vacuum-free processes, comprising two polymer electrodes, a polymeric work-function modification layer and a polymer:fullerene photoactive layer. The active layer and the top PEDOT:PSS electrode were prepared by sequential film-transfer lamination on polyethylenimine-modified PEDOT:PSS bottom electrodes. The transferring of films offers ease of layer patterning and the misalignment of defects in the different layers resulting from the additive film transfer lamination process yields high shunt resistance values of 108 ohm cm2. Consequently, all-plastic solar cells fabricated with this process exhibit very low reverse bias dark current and can operate in the photovoltaic quadrant with light irradiance varying over five orders of magnitude. The analysis of the values of the open-circuit voltage as a function of light irradiance over that wide dynamic range points toward an ideality factor of n = 1.82 and a reverse saturation current density of 6.2 × 10−11 A cm−2 for solar cells with an active layer comprised of a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and an indene fullerene bis-adduct.
Structure and Dynamics of Aromatic Residues in Spider Silk: 2D Carbon Correlation NMR of Dragline Fibers

The structure of aromatic residues in spider silk has remained relatively uncharacterized. This is primarily due to the relatively low abundance of aromatic residues in dragline spider silk. NMR characterization has been further hindered by the inability to 13C-isotopically enrich these amino acids in the silk effectively. In the present contribution, it is shown that feeding spiders an aqueous solution of [U−13C/15N]-l-phenylalanine 13C-enriches Tyr to a level of 20−30% in dragline spider silk. This enables the collection of 2D through-bond 13C double quantum/single quantum (DQ/SQ) correlation spectra with the refocused INADEQUATE solid-state NMR pulse sequence. These 2D spectra provide the complete unambiguous assignment of the Tyr resonances in dragline silks from two spider species: N. clavipes and A. aurantia. Additionally, weak resonances are detected for Phe in A. aurantia dragline silk that is present at levels <1%. The conformation dependence of the Cα, Cβ, and carbonyl chemical shifts show that ...
MEASURED NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE FREE-INDUCTION-DECAY SHAPES AND MOMENTS FOR $sup 19$F IN CaF$sub 2$

The results of NMR free-induction-decay-shape measurements for ${\mathrm{F}}^{19}$ in single crystals of Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ and polycrystalline Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ are reported. The second and fourth moments of the corresponding absorption line are derived by empirical fits of the decay shapes. The probable errors for our results are smaller than those reported by earlier workers, and the results agree more closely with theoretical predictions for spins in a rigid lattice.
Effects of 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. doses of isosorbide-5-mononitrate during twice-daily therapy in stable angina pectoris.

"Trough" plasma concentrations of isosorbide-5-mononitrate (IS-5-MN), an active metabolite of isosorbide dinitrate, of less than 95 ng/ml are considered necessary to prevent development of tolerance to isosorbide dinitrate and IS-5-MN. In a double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study, the effects of IS-5-MN during twice daily eccentric therapy were evaluated in 18 patients with reproducible exercise-induced angina who were nitrate responders. In a random order, patients received either placebo or IS-5-MN (20 mg) at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. for 1 week each. Average trough plasma IS-5-MN concentrations before the 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. doses were 67 and 226 ng/ml, respectively, and increased to 382 and 488 ng/ml 2 hours after the 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. doses, respectively. Despite a more than threefold higher trough plasma IS-5-MN concentration before the 2 p.m. dose than before the 8 a.m. dose, the increase in exercise duration 2 hours after the doses was similar (1.21 minutes [21%] after 8 a.m. dose, and 1.08 minutes [19%] after 2 p.m. dose). These increases in exercise duration after IS-5-MN were significantly (p less than 0.01) greater than those observed after placebo (0.17 minutes [3%] after 8 a.m. dose, and -0.05 minute [-0.5%] after 2 p.m. dose). Reduction in standing systolic blood pressure at 2 hours after the doses was also nearly identical after the 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. doses of IS-5-MN (21 [15%] and 19 [14%] mm Hg, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Comprehensive Risk Assessment for Bypass (CRAB) facilitates efficient perioperative risk assessment for patients with critical limb ischemia

Objective Specific perioperative risk assessment models have been developed for bariatric, pancreatic, and colorectal surgery. A similar instrument, specific for patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI), could improve patient-centered clinical decision making. We describe a novel tool to predict 30-day major morbidity and mortality (M&M) after bypass surgery for CLI. Methods Data for 4985 individuals from the 2007 to 2009 National Surgical Quality Improvement Program were used to develop and internally validate the model. Outcome measures included mortality, major morbidity, and a composite end point (M&M). M&M included mortality and the most severe postoperative morbidities that were highly associated with death (eg, sepsis and major cardiopulmonary complications). More than 30 preoperative factors were tested for association with 30-day mortality, major morbidity, and M&M. Significant predictors in multivariate models were assigned integer values (points), which were added to calculate a patient's Comprehensive Risk Assessment For Bypass (CRAB) score. Performance was assessed (C-index) across all outcome measures and compared with other general tools (American Society of Anesthesiologists class, Surgical Risk Scale) and existing CLI-specific survival prediction models (Finnvasc score, Edifoligide for the Prevention of Infrainguinal Vein Graft Failure [PREVENT III] score) on a distinct validation sample (n = 1620). Results In the derivation data set (n = 3275), the 30-day mortality rate was 2.9%. The rate of any major morbidity was 19.1%. The composite end point M&M occurred in 10.1%. Significant predictors of M&M by multivariate analysis included age >75 years, prior amputation or revascularization, tissue loss, dialysis dependence, severe cardiac disease, emergency operation, and functional dependence. Applied to a distinct validation sample of 1620 patients, higher CRAB scores were significantly associated with higher rates of mortality, all major morbidities, and M&M ( P Conclusions The CRAB is a CLI-specific, risk assessment instrument derived from multi-institutional American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program surgical outcomes data that out-performs existing prognostic risk indices in the prediction of clinically significant adverse events after bypass surgery. Use of the CRAB as a risk assessment tool provides an evidence basis for patient-centered clinical decision making and may have a role in identifying patients at higher risk for surgical revascularization in whom an endovascular approach is preferable.
A DMA interface between a Biomation 8100 and an Intel MDS-800 microcomputer development system.

An interface is described which permits high‐speed data transfer between a Biomation 8100 transient recorder and an Intel MDS‐800 microcomputer system equipped with an MDS‐501 DMA (direct memory access) channel controller. The interface is especially useful for data acquisition situations in which many successive traces must be recorded. For example, signal averaging can be performed within the microcomputer system.
The effect of selected prosodic errors on the intelligibility of deaf speech.

Abstract A trained speech pathologist listened to recordings of 40 deaf children, each reading 15 sentences and recorded instances of four types of prosodic errors: adventitious sounds, excessive phoneme duration, pitch breaks, and pauses. The scores were correlated with previously obtained intelligibility scores. It was found that adventitious sounds, except those obviously operating as transitional sounds to ease the movement from one place of articulation to another, had the greatest negative effect on intelligibility, followed by very long duration and pitch breaks. Medium and long pauses, long duration, prolonged closure (i.e., long duration plosives), and adventitious transitional sounds had a lesser negative effect. Short pauses had a small positive effect on intelligibility. The method used to identify the errors was one that can hopefully be evolved into an evaluative instrument for practical use in schools for the deaf.
Blending Content and Contact: The Roles of Diversity Curriculum and Campus Heterogeneity in Fostering Diversity Management Competency

Managers must understand, embrace, and leverage the demographic differences among their employees if they are to succeed in today's multicultural organizations. Thus, diversity management competency (DMC) has become a necessity. Two tools for developing DMC among students during their business education are the provision of diversity content and structured contact with dissimilar others. This article reviews and integrates research from several literatures in the context of Raelin's (1997) model of work-based learning to assist faculty in developing diversity courses.
BOLD response to semantic and syntactic processing during hypoglycemia is load-dependent

This study investigates how syntactic and semantic load factors impact sentence comprehension and BOLD signal under moderate hypoglycemia. A dual session, whole brain fMRI study was conducted on 16 healthy participants using the glucose clamp technique. In one session, they experienced insulin-induced hypoglycemia (plasma glucose at ∼50mg/dL); in the other, plasma glucose was maintained at euglycemic levels (∼100mg/dL). During scans subjects were presented with sentences of contrasting syntactic (embedding vs. conjunction) and semantic (reversibility vs. irreversibility) load. Semantic factors dominated the overall load effects on both performance (p<0.001) and BOLD response (p<0.01, corrected). Differential BOLD signal was observed in frontal, temporal, temporo-parietal and medio-temporal regions. Hypoglycemia and syntactic factors significantly impacted performance (p=0.002) and BOLD response (p<0.01, corrected) in the reversible clause conditions, more extensively in reversible-embedded than in reversible-conjoined clauses. Hypoglycemia resulted in a robust decrease in performance on reversible clauses and exerted attenuating effects on BOLD unselectively across cortical circuits. The dominance of reversibility in all measures underscores the distinction between the syntactic and semantic contrasts. The syntactic is based in a quantitative difference in algorithms interpreting embedded and conjoined structures. We suggest that the semantic is based in a qualitative difference between algorithmic mapping of arguments in reversible clauses and heuristic linking in irreversible clauses. Because heuristics drastically reduce resource demand, the operations they support would resist the load-dependent cognitive consequences of hypoglycemia.
Vorticity Measurements Using Calibrated Vane-Vorticity Indicators and Cross-Wires

Vane-type vorticity indicators of various sizes have been constructed, calibrated, and used for direct and rapid measurement of local mean streamwise vorticity in several swirling flows. The dependence of the calibration factor, which relates the vane rotational speed to the local angular velocity of the fluid, on the trees (ream velocity, the fluid rotational speed, and the transverse vorticity gradient was determined. When the vanes were calibrated carefully and checked and maintained regularly, good agreement was achieved with vorticity profiles obtained using cross-wire data. Otherwise, a vane could be used only to give an indication of vorticity. Nomenclature Nj- = angular velocity of the fluid, rpm Nv = angular velocity of the vane-vorticity indicator, rpm r = radial distance measured from the center of the test section Ux = freestream mean velocity W — vertical velocity in the fluid normal to the streamwise direction x - axial or streamwise distance y = lateral distance normal to streamwise direction and measured from the center of the test section z = vertical distance normal to streamwise direction and measured from the center of the test section a = half-angle setting between the airfoils rj = vane indicator ratio T = delay time in autocorrelation function Qv = vorticity in the streamwise direction
Alkylamine-Ligated H93G Myoglobin Cavity Mutant: A Model System for Endogenous Lysine and Terminal Amine Ligation in Heme Proteins such as Nitrite Reductase and Cytochrome f

His93Gly sperm whale myoglobin (H93G Mb) has the proximal histidine ligand removed to create a cavity for exogenous ligand binding, providing a remarkably versatile template for the preparation of model heme complexes. The investigation of model heme adducts is an important way to probe the relationship between coordination structure and catalytic function in heme enzymes. In this study, we have successfully generated and spectroscopically characterized the H93G Mb cavity mutant ligated with less common alkylamine ligands (models for Lys or the amine group of N-terminal amino acids) in numerous heme iron states. All complexes have been characterized by electronic absorption and magnetic circular dichroism spectroscopy in comparison with data for parallel imidazole-ligated H93G heme iron moieties. This is the first systematic spectral study of models for alkylamine- or terminal amine-ligated heme centers in proteins. High-spin mono- and low-spin bis-amine-ligated ferrous and ferric H93G Mb adducts have been prepared together with mixed-ligand ferric heme complexes with alkylamine trans to nitrite or imidazole as heme coordination models for cytochrome c nitrite reductase or cytochrome f, respectively. Six-coordinate ferrous H93G Mb derivatives with CO, NO, and O(2) trans to the alkylamine have also been successfully formed, the latter for the first time. Finally, a novel high-valent ferryl species has been generated. The data in this study represent the first thorough investigation of the spectroscopic properties of alkylamine-ligated heme iron systems as models for naturally occurring heme proteins ligated by Lys or terminal amines.
Medicare payment generosity and access to care

All payments to physicians under Medicare Part B are adjusted to reflect geographic differences in practice costs. The methods used for this adjustment, and temporary price floors imposed by Congress, have created longstanding systematic under and overpayment across physicians, whereby some are routinely underpaid while others are routinely overpaid. Using a nationally representative 2008 survey of physicians, this study examines whether the relative generosity of Medicare influences beneficiary access to care. We find that in areas where Medicare payments are more generous physicians are more likely to accept new Medicare patients, whereas in less generous areas, they are less likely. Our estimated models suggest that if Medicare could eliminate the systematic biases inherent its payment formula, it would see a net improvement to access to care under Medicare Part B.
Cervical artery dissections: evidence for redissection in previously dissected arteries: report of three cases.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE Among patients with spontaneous internal carotid artery (ICA) or vertebral artery dissections, there is a small but significant risk of development of dissection in an uninvolved ICA or vertebral artery at some time in the future. Recurrence of dissection in a previously dis
Ophthalmlic Involvement in Aggressive Histiocytosis X

The authors report the clinicopathologic features of an unusually aggressive form of histiocytosis X (Langerhans' cell histiocytosis) in a 36-year-old man who presented with diplopia and early development of pituitary failure from presumed involvement of the hypothalamus. Results of postmortem examination showed infiltrates of histiocytes and mixed inflammatory cells, with a variably dense desmoplastic tissue within the orbit and sclera bilaterally, the left optic nerve, choroid, emissary canals, and many other body systems including the pituitary, heart, lung, and gastrointestinal tract. Diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining of large histiocytes within diseased areas, with anti-T6 and anti-S-100 antibodies.
Management of Complications of Congenital Hand Disorders

This article reviews treatment and presents complications seen in the treatment of 7 common congenital hand differences, including syndactyly, camptodactyly, ulnar and radial polydactyly, thumb hypoplasia, radial longitudinal deficiency, and epidermolysis bullosa. The management of these conditions is challenging but has evolved over the last several decades with refined understanding of the disease processes and treatments. The goal of this article is to synthesize prior knowledge and provide further insights into these conditions that will help the surgeon avoid treatment complications.
An Axisymmetric Finite Element and Its Use to Examine the Effects of Construction Variables on Radial Tires

Abstract A nonlinear axisymmetric formulation has been developed which allows circumferential as well as radial and lateral displacements. Significant circumferential displacements occur in radial tires under an inflation load both in the crown region and in the sidewall of the tire. The model is used in this study to assess the types of deformations that occur and the effect of construction variables on these deformations. The variables considered include belt angle, belt width, belt edge filler modulus, and chafer angle. The effect of changes in these variables on both in‐plane and circumferential deformations, as well as cord loads and interply shear strains are reported. Wherever possible the numerical results are compared with experimental measurements. Predicted deformations due to chafer orientations were sometimes unexpected, but were confirmed by experiment.
The Management of “Nonrelational Sexuality”: Positioning Strategies in Adolescent Male Talk about (Hetero)Sexual Attraction

This article uses a discursive psychological approach in examining how three different age groups of young adolescent boys (ages 10-15) construct and then manage various forms of “nonrelational sexuality” in focus group conversations. Rather than seeing nonrelational sexuality as something that is successfully or unsuccessfully “resolved” during the course of development, nonrelational sexuality will be seen as a fluid and socially constructed resource that is variously used by young men as a way to account for their masculine identities. The analysis will particularly focus on the safeguarding strategies that each age group of young men actively uses to both anticipate and counter the potential “trouble” of nonrelational sexuality and, in so doing, how they indirectly keep forms of nonrelational sexuality alive without directly appearing serious or misogynistic about it. The analysis will demonstrate how nonrelational forms of sexuality, like most instantiations of hegemonic masculinity, are notoriously ...
The k th upper chromatic number of the line

Abstract Let S ⊆ R n , and let k ϵ N . Greenwell and Johnson [3] define χ ( k ) ( S ) to be the smallest integer m (if such an integer exists) such that for every k × m array D = ( d ij ) of positive real numbers, S can be colored with the colors C 1 , …, C m such that no two points of S which are a (Euclidean) distance d ij apart are both colored C j , for all 1 ⩽ i ⩽ k and 1⩽ j ⩽ m . If no such integer exists then we say that χ ( k ) ( S ) = ∞. In this paper we show that (k) ( R ) is finite for all k .
Apatite compositions from oceanic cumulates with implications for the evolution of mid-ocean ridge magmatic systems

Apatite distributions and compositions from cumulates from the EPR at Hess Deep, the MAR at the Kane Transform, and the SWIR at ODP Hole 735B were determined to assess the variability at each setting and to evaluate the potential utility of apatite in understanding the evolution of the lower ocean crust. Apatite in cumulates with low P 2 O 5 contents are heterogeneously distributed along linear arrays or in tight clusters suggesting they crystallized from planar or pipe-like channels of evolved liquid. Most of the variation in the apatite composition is in the halogen site. The X F A and X Cl Ap are inversely correlated defining trends at near constant X OH Ap with EPR X OH Ap = 0.25, MAR X OH Ap = 0.45, and SWIR X OH Ap = 0.65. These trends are defined both by sample averages and by the range of individual analyses in samples with large ranges in their F/Cl ratio. These trends are interpreted to reflect the reequilibration of apatite from variably evolved liquids/fluids that moved through the crystal mush. Comparison of the F-Cl-OH contents of apatite with the F-Cl-OH contents of glasses recovered from the same ridges show approximate correspondence: apatite and glasses from the EPR have the highest halogen contents while apatite and glasses from the MAR and SWIR have more OH. Some of the higher Cl contents in the apatite are interpreted to be produced by degassing of the cumulus pile while others reflect the assimilation of a seawater component. We suggest that systematic analysis of apatite from oceanic cumulates might allow cumulates that crystallized at shallow depths and assimilated seawater-derived components to be distinguished from those that crystallized below the level of seawater interaction.
Ion trap collisional activation of protonated poly(propylene imine) dendrimers: generations 1–5

Abstract Ions derived from electrospray ionization of poly(propylene imine) dendrimers (generations 1–5, synthesized from a 1,4-diaminobutane core) were subjected to ion trap tandem mass spectrometry. In some cases, ion/ion proton transfer reactions were used to form low charge state parent ions from higher charge state ions generated by electrospray. In addition, ion/ion proton transfer reactions performed on product ions formed by ion trap collisional activation of multiply charged parent ions facilitated interpretation of tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) spectra. Almost all of the products derived from dendrimer parent ions could be rationalized based on a set of dissociation processes involving a previously noted intramolecular nucleophilic attack by a nearest-neighbor nitrogen atom on a carbon alpha to a protonation site. For a given protonation site, attack can occur either from the adjacent nitrogen closer to the interior or closer to the exterior of the dendrimer. The processes that lead to the dominant products are highly dependent upon parent ion charge state. Singly charged ions fragment primarily by processes directed by protonation at a diaminobutane nitrogen whereas highly charged parent ions fragment largely by processes directed by protonation closer to the periphery of the dendrimer. MS/MS data for singly charged ions of series of synthesis failure products in the fourth and fifth generation dendrimers were collected. The results show that ion trap tandem mass spectrometry can provide information about the composition of mixtures of isomeric products resulting from side reactions that occur during the course of the multistep syntheses of the dendrimers. The data show, for example, that synthesis failures tend to occur on one side of the dendrimer.