cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-GG-I-62: The Relationship Between Half Value Layer and CTDI for Multidetector CT (MDCT)

Purpose:CTDI is a common measurement for MDCT, but Half Value Layer (HVL) is not routinely measured. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between these two measured values for different scanners at different beam energies, specifically to determine if HVL alone is an adequate predictor for CTDI values. Method and Materials:CTDI measurements (CTDI100, periphery, CTDI 100, center and CTDIw) were performed using the 32 cm diameter (body) phantom on MDCT scanners from three different manufacturers, using similar collimation settings. CTDI values were reported on a normalized (per mAs) basis. The HVL was obtained using a static (nonrotating) tube. CTDI and HVL were measured for each available beam energy and bowtie filter (for body scanning) for each system. Results: Normalized CTDIw values ranged from .019 to .134 mGy/mAs across all scanners, kVps and bowtie filters with a mean of .071 mGy/mAs. HVLs ranged from 4.5 to 9.7 mmAl across scanners, kVps and bowtie filters with a mean of 7.3 mmAl. For a given kVp (e.g. 120 kVp) the normalized CTDIw ranged from .065 to .096 mGy/ mAs with an average of .081, while the HVLs ranged from 6.6 to 8.6 mm Al with a mean of 7.9 mmAl. In general, for a given kVp, the systems with lower HVL tended to have higher CTDIw values. Conclusion: There is significant variation in normalized CTDIw values and HVL values across scanners and even bowtie filters within a scanner. However, higher HVL values yield lower CTDIw values. Thus, for a given scanner and bowtie filter selection, there does seem to be a relationship between HVL and CTDIw, but these latter values can also be influenced by other factors such as filtration not accounted for by HVL (filtration in bowtie not through the central ray) as well as beam collimation.
Vapor pressures and enthalpies of vaporization of thianthrene, acridine, and 9-methylanthracene at elevated temperatures

Abstract Vapor pressures (0.13 to 197.99 kPa) were measured of three polynuclear compounds, one containing a sulfur group, the second containing pyridinic nitrogen, and the third a methyl group. The temperature ranges of the measurements were as follows: acridine, 423.80 to 621.16 K; thianthrene, 430.79 to 593.01 K; and 9-methylanthracene, 423.76 to 587.64 K. The measurements were performed in a high-temperature static apparatus. For each compound Chebyshev polynomials have been used to fit the experimental vapor pressures. The results have been further processed to evaluate the enthalpies of vaporization.
Design reliability—estimation through statistical analysis of bug discovery data

Statistical analysis of bug discovery data is used in the software industry to check the quality of the testing process and estimate the reliability of the tested program. In this paper, we show that the same techniques are applicable to hardware design verification. We performed a study on two implementations of state-of-the-art PowerPC processors that shows that these techniques can provide quality information on the progress of verification and good predictions of the number of bugs left in the design and the future MTTF.
Single tooth implants have acceptable 4-year survival rates

Objective: To systematically review clinical studies on the performance of implant-supported single-tooth restorations (STR). Data sources: Medline 1990–1998, using keywords, ‘dental in SB’, ‘implant’ and ‘single’. Study selection: Only English papers that met a strict three-level selection procedure, including availability of or the ability to calculate life-table survival curves, were included. Data extraction and synthesis Cumulative life-table survival curves were constructed by pooling data from the included studies to new data sets. Results: Of 332 papers initially identified, the majority were excluded because they were case reports, technical notes or descriptions of clinical procedures. Nine studies met all the criteria with the data predicting a 97%(±1%) survival implant survival at 4 years, with an uncomplicated crown survival rate of 83%(±3%). Conclusions: Single tooth implants have an acceptable short-term survival rate. More information and better quality clinical studies and reporting are needed, however. Creugers NHJ, Kreulen CM, Snoek PA, deKanter RJAM. A systematic review of single-tooth restorations supported by implants. J. Dent 2000; 28:209–217
A Kemalist‐Islamist movement? The nationalist action party

The Nationalist Action Party's (NAP) victory in the April 18, 1999 general election was due to its unique position in Turkish politics, which simultaneously sustains a counter‐hegemonic discourse while legitimizing itself through the basic tenets of Kemalism. It idealizes the Turkish nation as the historical embodiment of ethnic‐religious unity and posits that such a nation requires heavy state involvement to maintain national order. Through a nationwide network of local party affiliates, the NAP not only links the local to the national but also advocates a restoration of the Turkish tradition in a new world order. It is that ideological complexity and institutional framework that fills an vacuum in Turkish politics.
Lack of phosphate incorporation into TN-I in live frog muscle

Abstract The phosphorylation of TN-I was investigated in muscles of live frogs injected with [ 32 P]orthophosphate. Isolation of TN-I was carried out by the rapid and specific technique of affinity chromatography developed by Syska, Perry, and Trayer [ FEBS Lett. 40 , 253–257 (1974)] followed by gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. No significant labeling of TN-I was found even in frogs which were exposed to the 32 P-treatment for several days. A comparison of the specific radioactivity of TN-I from resting and contracting frog muscle showed no change in the 32 P content of TN-I during muscle contraction.
Loss and recovery of transplantability of L-P59 cells.

After cultivation in vitro for 3 years, L-P59 cells failed to produce tumors in C3Hf/Bu mice. Meanwhile, the cells retained their antigenic abilities, i.e. they induced resistance in the recipient to subsequent challenge with tumorigenic L-P59 cell line. After 2 weeks of cultivation in agar, those nontumorigenic cells became again able to transplant the tumor in C3Hf/Bu recipients.
Effects of nitric oxide and peroxynitrite on endotoxin-induced leukocyte adhesion to endothelium.

Leukocyte accumulation has been shown to be increased in sepsis. Moreover, in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) knockout mice, a further increase in leukocyte accumulation has been observed during sepsis, suggesting that nitric oxide (NO) may affect leukocyte/endothelial interaction. Accelerated peroxynitrite formation also occurs during sepsis. In the present study, the effect of peroxynitrite or NO on leukocyte adhesion to nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-inhibited or endotoxin-treated endothelium was examined. Bovine aortic endothelial cells were treated with either l-NAME or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma for 4 hr and subsequent leukocyte adhesion was measured. Both l-NAME and LPS treatment resulted in increased leukocyte adhesion compared with control. Neither a peroxynitrite donor, SIN-1, nor a direct NO donor, DETA-NO, had any effect on leukocyte adhesion to untreated endothelium. However, when the l-NAME or LPS-treated endothelial cells were treated simultaneously with either SIN-1 or DETA-NO, there was a significant reduction in leukocyte adhesion. Moreover, at the concentrations used in the present study, neither peroxynitrite nor NO showed harmful effects on normal cultured endothelial cells. These data demonstrating inhibition of leukocyte adhesion to endotoxin-treated endothelium suggest that peroxynitrite or NO may exert a beneficial effect during sepsis. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Impact of perioperative events on mortality after major vascular surgery in a veteran patient population.

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to characterize the impact of perioperative events on long-term mortality after major vascular surgery at a single institution. Methods A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing major vascular surgery was performed. The primary end point was all-cause long-term mortality. Cox regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of this outcome. Results A total of 1,182 procedures in 706 patients were identified, including endovascular or open aortic aneurysm repair, open repair of aortoiliac or infrainguinal occlusive disease, amputations, and carotid endarterectomy. Perioperative cardiac and respiratory complications occurred in 4.9% and 1.4% of operations, respectively. On multivariate Cox regression analysis, adjusting for patient factors and operation performed, perioperative cardiac (hazard ratio, 5.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.7–15.9) and respiratory complications (hazard ratio, 5.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.48–16.98) were significant predictors of long-term mortality. Conclusions Although serious perioperative cardiac and respiratory events are infrequent, they have a significant impact on long-term mortality after major vascular surgery, even when adjusted for comorbidities and type of operation.
Public-sector e-commerce and state financial management: capacity versus wealth

This article examines the development of public-sector e-commerce at the state level with a focus on financial management. The author first provides a review of the current literature and relevant theories on e-government in relation to e-commerce and financial management. Second, an overview of state issues, trends, and development in the domain of e-commerce are investigated with data from an e-commerce survey. Third, the author develops and tests a model of e-commerce development. An e-commerce index is tested against a series of management and social-economic characteristics of the states. The overriding factors that explain e-commerce development at the state level are information technology (IT) management capacity and social services IT capacity. The traditional factor used to explain technology diffusion, being state wealth, was not found to be statistically significant.
Views of Discrimination among Individuals Confronting Genetic Disease

Though the US passed the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act, many questions remain of how individuals confronting genetic disease view and experience possible discrimination. We interviewed, for 2 hours each, 64 individuals who had, or were at risk for, Huntington’s Disease, breast cancer, or Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Discrimination can be implicit, indirect and subtle, rather than explicit, direct and overt; and be hard to prove. Patients may be treated “differently” and unfairly, raising questions of how to define “discrimination”, and “appropriate accommodation”. Patients were often unclear and wary about legislation. Fears and experiences of discrimination can shape testing, treatment, and disclosure. Discrimination can be subjective, and take various forms. Searches for only objective evidence of it may be inherently difficult. Providers need to be aware of, and prepared to address, subtle and indirect discrimination; ambiguities, confusion and potential limitations concerning current legislation; and needs for education about these laws. Policies are needed to prevent discrimination in life, long-term care, and disability insurance, not covered by GINA.
Tangible interaction and learning: the case for a hybrid approach

Research involving tangible interaction and children has often focused on how tangibles might support or improve learning compared to more traditional methods. In this paper, we review three of our research studies involving tangible computer programming that have addressed this question in a variety of learning environments with a diverse population of children. Through these studies, we identify situations in which tangible interaction seems to offer advantages for learning; however, we have also identify situations in which tangible interaction proves less useful and an alternative interaction style provides a more appropriate medium for learning. Thus, we advocate for a hybrid approach--one that offers teachers and learners the flexibility to select the most appropriate interaction style to meet the needs of a specific situation.
Large axially symmetric stretching of a nonlinear viscoelastic membrane

Abstract Two problems of large planar axisymmetric deformations of an annular membrane consisting of a nonlinear viscoelastic material are solved, one with prescribed deformation at the outer boundary and one with prescribed force. These problems serve as examples to illustrate the extension to a class of viscoelastic membrane problems of a formulation of the corresponding elastic membrane problem suggested by Yang [1], which is especially convenient for numerical solution. The formulation uses radial and circumferential stretch ratios as dependent variables, which in the present case are found by solving a system of first order nonlinear partial differential-integral equations. The numerical procedure is such that at each time step, the problem is equivalent to a system of first order nonlinear ordinary differential equations for the current stretch ratios. This system is then integrated by the same numerical procedure as in the corresponding elastic problem.
DFT Investigation of the Tri(amino)amine N(NH2)32+ and the Tri(azido)amine N(N3)32+ Dications and Related Mixed Amino(azido)ammonium Ions (N3)xN(NH2)4-x+ (x = 0−4)1

Structures of the tri(amino)amine N(NH2)32+ and the tri(azido)amine N(N3)32+ dications were calculated at the density functional theory (DFT) B3LYP/6-311+G* level. The tri(amino)amine dication (NH2)3N2+ (1) was found to be highly resonance stabilized with a high kinetic barrier for deprotonation. The structures of diamino(azido)amine dication (NH2)2N(N3)2+ (2), amino(diazido)amine dication (NH2)N(N3)22+ (3), and tri(azido)amine dication (N3)3N2+ (4) were also found to be highly resonance stabilized. The structures and energetics of the related mixed amino(azido)ammonium ions (N3)xN(NH2)4-x+ (x = 0−4) were also calculated.
STAT3 Is Required for Flt3L-Dependent Dendritic Cell Differentiation

The signals that control decisions of progenitor commitment involve the interplay of both cytokines and transcription factors. Flt3L has emerged as a potential regulator of dendritic cell (DC) development, but regulation of HSC commitment to the DC lineage remains poorly understood. Our central finding is the identification of STAT3 activation as a checkpoint of Flt3L-regulated DC development. Deletion of STAT3 caused profound deficiency in the DC compartment and abrogated Flt3L effects on DC development. DC derivation by Flt3L revealed a normal HSC pool, a 2- to 3-fold accumulation of CLP/CMP, but absence of common DC precursors as well as their DC progeny in STAT3-deficient mice. The formation of CMP and CLP represents the first decisive lineage commitment step, and in this regard we provide evidence that commitments of CLP/CMP to the DC lineage strictly depend on the interplay of both Flt3L and STAT3 activation.
Measurements of the lifetime of conduction electrons in liquid xenon

Abstract A gridded ionization chamber with a gap of 5.9 cm was used to study the drift of conduction electrons in liquid xenon. Electrons were generated by cosmic rays traversing the active volume of 0.6 liter. To be sensitive to the effect of electron attachment by electronegative impurities, long drift distances, or equivalently, long drift times, were achieved by reducing the electric field strength. Data were recorded for the range 7 V/cm ≤ E
Ecotourism and Conservation: Two Cases from Brazil and Peru

This article evaluates two theories to explain the relationship between ecotourism and conservation. One posits that economic benefits must accrue to local communities for ecotourism to result in conservation; the other holds that social benefits, including participation in management, must also be present. Although these ideas about causal mechanisms are not mutually exclusive, scholarly studies tend to reflect one more than the other. Two ecotourism projects from Brazil and Peru are compared. The Brazil study illustrates sea turtle ecotourism that generates economic benefits for coastal communities. The case in Peru also generates economic benefits for a local community, but has the added goal of building local management capacity. Both cases provide empirical evidence for causal mechanisms linking ecotourism with conservation. In the Brazil case, economic benefits alone seem to account for conservation outcomes. In Peru, local participation in ecotourism management has also sparked collective action for conservation.
Note on relativistic coulomb wave functions

Some results on the wave functions of a Dirac particle in a point charge Coulomb field are presented. Angular momentum and parity eigenfunctions are tabulated and used to construct solutions representing asymptotically a plane wave plus incoming or outgoing spherical waves. The solutions forr → 0 are exhibited in a form closely similar to the corresponding free particle spinors and are used to construct generalizations of the Casimir projection operators for positive or negative energy particles. The various wave functions presented are useful in calculations such as nuclear beta decay in which it is necessary to take into account final (or initial) state Coulomb interactions. Because of the similarity of the wave functions to those of a free particle, calculations including rigorously all Coulomb corrections for such processes as allowed beta decay can be performed with little more effort than is involved in a calculation using only plane waves.
Injury Patterns in Recreational Rock Climbers

We studied 39 recreational rock climbers to determine the incidence and pattern of injuries sustained in the sport at their level. Eleven climbers (26%), who climbed beyond the sport level, had sustained a major injury from a fall. Thirty-five climbers (89%) sustained at least one significant injury. Fifty percent of the injuries involved the hand or wrist. Only seven climbers (19%) had evidence of a digital pulley injury (climber's finger). Four climbers (11%) had evidence of a carpal tunnel syndrome. Twenty climbers (50%) had tendinitis in an upper extremity on physical examination.
Experience with vagus nerve stimulation for intractable epilepsy: some questions and answers.

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is gaining increasing popularity and credibility as a treatment option for patients with intractable epilepsy. VNS is a relatively recent innovation, however, and like many other incipient developments, it has engendered a number of unresolved controversies and perplexities. Limitations in our current understanding of how VNS works lie at the crux of these uncertainties. In this article, we present our clinical experience with VNS and review the fundamental issues which remain unsettled, such as the mechanism of VNS action, the factors underlying variability in patient outcome, and the selection of ideal candidates for VNS therapy. Although many enigmas persist, VNS has proven to be a safe, feasible, and potentially effective method of reducing seizures in select patient populations. It offers several advantages over extant treatments and, as a result, holds much promise for future therapy of medically refractory epilepsy.
Disequilibrium econometrics and non-linear budget constraints

Abstract In ordinary estimation situations a linear, additive error term captures some unknown combinations of population hetereogeneity and disequilibrium error. If the budget constraint is non-linear, these two sources can be separately identified.
Are wildfire management resources in the United States efficiently allocated to protect resources at risk? A case study from Montana

Abstract Federal wildfire management agencies in the United States are under substantial pressure to reduce and economically justify their expenditures. To support economically efficient management of wildfires, managers need better estimates of the resource benefits and avoided damage costs associated with alternative wildfire management strategies. This paper reports findings from a choice modeling study of the wildfire management preferences of residents in Flathead County, Montana, where resources at risk include residential homes (estimated as level of home evacuations), recreational opportunities, air quality, timberland, and forest and watershed health. Residents are willing to pay higher state and county taxes to reduce wildfire impacts on all evaluated resources at risk, and reserved their highest marginal willingness to pay (MWTP) for reducing exposure to unhealthy smoke. Although federal wildfire managers have prioritized protection of private property, including homes, survey respondents expressed their lowest MWTP for reducing home evacuations. When coupled with the negative externality generated by the moral hazard of wildfire suppression near the wildland–urban interface, a strong economic argument can be made against prioritizing protection of private homes in Flathead County.
Effect of Anti-immunoglobulin Antisera on Homograft Rejection in Mice

HETEROLOGOUS antisera against immunoglobulins or their component protein chains have been shown to inhibit the immune response in a variety of systems. Antibodies against mouse immunoglobulins, for example, inhibit the response of mouse spleen cells cultured in vitro1–3. Antibodies against the heavy chains of chicken IgM (anti-μ), administered during embryonation and again at hatching, have produced agamma-globulinaemia in bursectomized chickens4, apparently by plasma cell line elimination5. Graft-versus-host (GVH) and delayed hypersensitivity reactions have been suppressed in neonatal mice by in vitro pretreatment of injected lymphoid cells with antiserum against light chains6. Similar pretreatment with univalent fragments (Fab) of anti-immunoglobulin antibodies has diminished the GVH reaction in adult mice7.
Lognormal Estimates of Macroregional City-Size Distributions, 1950–1970

A three-parameter lognormal model is used to estimate the city-size distribution of the world and of eight UN-defined macroregions. The model is found to fit the data better than the Pareto function, and to provide a powerful means of comparing distributions among regions. Although system concentration (measured by the standard deviation index) is relatively stable in Europe and in the world at large, it is decreasing in North America, Africa, and East Asia, and increasing in Latin America and South Asia. Cities in the 250000–500000 size class are somewhat more numerous than predicted, suggesting the possibility of some kind of ‘optimum’. The theory of extreme values is used to predict the most populous city of a region and to compare predictions with actual maxima, demonstrating that the largest cities in the world are well within systematic possibilities.
Ultraperformance Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry Assay for Iohexol in Human Serum

Background: Iohexol is an iodinated contrast dye that has been shown to be useful in the estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in patients with suspected renal insufficiency. We developed and validated an ultraperformance liquid chromatography (UPLC)–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (MS/MS) assay for quantifying iohexol in human serum. Methods: Sample preparation involved dilution of 50 μL serum with 400 μL water, followed by protein precipitation with zinc sulfate and methanol containing the structural analog ioversol as the internal standard. After 1:20 dilution of the supernatant with water, 5 μL was injected into the UPLC-MS/MS system. Chromatography was performed using a Waters Oasis HLB 5-μm particle size, 2.1 × 20 mm column maintained at 50 °C. We used a 1-step acetonitrile/0.1% formic acid gradient to elute the compounds of interest at a common retention time of 0.96 min. The multiple reaction monitoring transitions used for integration and quantification were m / z 821.7→803.7 for iohexol and m / z 807.9→589.0 for ioversol in the electrospray positive ionization mode. Results: The assay was linear from 2.5 mg/L (lower limit of quantification) to 1500 mg/L iohexol, with a mean extraction efficiency of >99%. Recovery of nominal target concentrations was 99%–102%. Interassay imprecision ranged from 7.9% at a concentration of 2.5 mg/L to 4.1% at 1000 mg/L. Ion suppression studies showed no matrix effects on the ionization of the 2 compounds. Conclusions: This rapid UPLC-MS/MS method can be successfully used for quantifying iohexol in human serum. .
Further comments on ‘Decentralized control of linear dynamical systems via polynomial matrix methods. Part I: Two interconnected scalar systems’ and ‘Part II: Arbitrary interconnected systems’

It has been shown by Xie et ai (1985) that two lemmas presented by Fessas (1979,1980) are incorrect or misused. However, the results obtained by Fessas using these lemmas are true. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate this point.
Family Interaction and Learning Disabilities

This study explored the relationship of family systems theory to understanding the problems associated with learning disabilities in school children. Hypotheses were developed relating family interaction to classification of children as learning disabled (LD), emotionally disturbed (ED) and normal (N). The parents of 90 children (n = 30 LD, 30 ED, 30 N) completed The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES). Results provided partial support for the hypotheses, and were discussed in terms of: (1) implications for assessing and intervening in problems identified as learning disabilities, and (2) methods for practitioners to assist this population.
Representing Bisexuality on Television: The Case for Intersectional Hybrids

This article examines the representation of bisexual characters in scripted, U.S. prime-time network, dramatic narratives intended for emerging adult audiences. Representations of bisexuality have increased in the early part of the 21st century, but they follow a typical narrative pattern: women are more frequently represented as bisexual than men; they are generally non-White, and their sexuality is often located outside of traditional coming-out narrative disclosure more commonly associated with gay and lesbian representations. As a result, these characters operate as intersectional hybrids that serve hegemonic and counterhegemonic functions simultaneously. These representations of bisexuality contribute to cultural discourses of globalization, racial diversity and citizenship in contemporary U.S. society.
Learning video processing by example

We present an algorithm that approximates the output of an arbitrary video processing algorithm based on a pair of input and output exemplars. Our algorithm relies on learning the mapping between the input and output exemplars to model the processing that has taken place. We approximate the processing by observing that pixel neighborhoods similar in appearance and motion to those in the exemplar input should result in neighborhoods similar to the exemplar output. Since there are not many pixel neighborhoods in the exemplars, we use techniques from texture synthesis to generalize the output of neighborhoods not observed in the exemplars. The same algorithm is used to learn such processing as motion blur color correction, and painting.
Marital Quality as a Moderator of the Effects of Poor Vision on Quality of Life Among Older Adults

CONSIDERABLE evidence points to the enjoyment of better health and quality of life among married older adults relative to their non-married peers (e.g., Bookwala & Fekete, 2009; Kim & McKenry, 2002; Liu & Umberson, 2008; Pienta, Hayward, & Jenkins, 2000; Umberson, Hui, & Powers, 2009). These advantages in health and quality of life are likely to accrue at least partially from the benefits that marriage can bring in the form of supportive exchanges between spouses, ongoing companionship, and emotional attachment (e.g., Allen, Blieszner, & Roberto, 2000; Bradbury, Fincham, & Beach, 2000; Xu & Burleson, 2004). Past research has shown that being in a better quality marriage is directly related to superior quality of life in late adulthood (e.g., Antonucci, Lansford, & Akiyama, 2001; Bookwala, in press; Bookwala, 2005; Bookwala & Jacobs, 2004; Umberson, Williams, Powers, Liu, & Needham, 2006). More importantly, in the face of stressors, a good marriage can serve as perhaps the most important resource of support (Cutrona, 1996) by fostering responsiveness to a loved one’s needs and acts that communicate caring and facilitate adaptive coping with stress. Several studies accordingly have confirmed that a better quality marriage can mitigate the negative impact of late life stressors on quality of life (Bookwala & Franks, 2005; Choi & Marks, 2006; Tower & Kasl, 1995; Tower, Kasl, & Moritz, 1997). The present study focuses on the impact of poor vision as one such age-related stressor. Specifically, it examines the role of a good marriage as a potential buffer in the adverse consequences of poor vision in late life. Using vision assessed both subjectively and objectively in a national probability-based sample of adults aged 57–85 years, it examines the extent to which different aspects of marital quality (relationship satisfaction, supportive spouse behaviors, and free time spent with one’s spouse) moderate the negative effects of poor vision on three specific indicators of quality of life: functional limitations, feelings of social isolation, and depressive symptomatology. These indices are in keeping with the World Health Organization’s (1998) multidimensional definition of quality of life that incorporates individuals’ physical and social functioning and psychological states as key components.
Evaluation of Speak for Myself with Patients Who Are Voiceless.

Purpose To describe the creation and initial feasibility study of a new computer application to improve communication with people who cannot communicate by customary means during their hospitalization. Design This was a mixed-methods, quasi-experimental design. Methods This exploratory feasibility study obtained data about the experiences of 20 intensive care patients in three South Florida hospitals who were unable to speak due to mechanical obstruction. Findings Study participants (20), who ranged in age from 45 to 91 years (M = 67.4, SD = 12.88) and between −1 to +1 (SD = −0.15) on the Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale, used Speak for Myself from 4 to 16 hours with a mean of 8.86 (SD = 2.12). Ninety-five percent of the participants stated that Speak for Myself was helpful for communication. Conclusions Speak for Myself was helpful to patients who used it. This was a small study (n = 20). It warrants further investigation. Clinical Relevance Patients who are unable to communicate their needs through conventional methods still want to make their preferences and needs known. Speak for Myself is a new application that facilitates ensuring the patient's voice is heard.
Putative Somatostatin Suppression Potentiates Adrenocorticotropin Secretion Driven by Ghrelin and Human Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone

Context: Ghrelin is a 28-amino-acid Ser 3 -octanoylated peptide, and CRH is a 41-amino-acid peptide, both of which stimulate ACTH secretion. In principle, actions of these agonists could be subject to inhibitory modulation by hypothalamic somatostatin (SS). Objective: Our objective was to test the hypothesis that endogenous SS restrains ghrelin and CRH-stimulated ACTH secretion, thereby linking all three, ghrelin, CRH, and SS, with ACTH secretion.
Effects of X rays and fission neutrons on an induced proliferative response in lung type 2 epithelial cells

The recovery of the proliferative response induced by butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) was evaluated in the type 2 epithelial cell population of BALB/c mouse lung after X-ray or fission neutron irradiation. Previous autoradiographic studies revealed that the proliferative changes in the lung 2 days after BHT administration were due primarily to type 2 alveolar cells. When given immediately before BHT, radiation caused a dose-dependent decrease in the BHT-induced proliferative response, measured by [14 C]thymidine incorporation into DNA and by labeling studies. When the time between irradiation and BHT injection was lengthened, the proliferative response gradually returned in a dose-dependent manner. Dose-response curves were generated from these data, and the radiation response was characterized by the reciprocal of the slope of the exponential region of the curve, designated D0 (PF). Two types of recovery processes were investigated. (i) When the BHT stimulus after a single dose of X rays was delayed, the ...
Envelopes, high-order optimality conditions and Lie brackets

A generalization of the theory of envelopes of the classical calculus of variations to optimal control is described. This generalization extends the author's previous work (1986) in two ways. It allows the use of quasi-extremal trajectories, i.e. trajectories that satisfy all the conditions of the Pontryagin maximum principle except for the fact that the sign of the constant lambda /sub 0/ that appears in the Hamiltonian multiplying the Lagrangian is not restricted, and it makes it possible to prove nonoptimality of some 'abnormal' trajectories. The envelope technique is used to obtain an alternative proof of a theorem on the number of switchings of time-optimal bang-bang trajectories for two-vector-field systems in three dimensions. >
Factorization of high-order linear prediction polynomials

An algorithm for the numerical factorization of very-high-order polynomials with regular root structure is presented. The type of polynomial considered is typical for the z-transform of finite-length signals, with polynomial order N equal to the number of sample points. The algorithm preserves and exploits the stable root structure by solving an associated eigenvalue problem. By application of Lanczos' algorithm, the computation complexity is constant. Both the method and the algorithm are outlined in detail. Applications include the detection of possibly damped, sinusoidal signals in noise by linear prediction, the numerical evaluation of the complex cepstrum, and phase unwrapping by factorization. >
Public Attitudes About Government Involvement in Expressive Controversies

The purpose of this study is to identify segments of the public in terms of their attitudes about the permissibility of government censorship. Secondary analysis is conducted on 3 existing data sets that included J. L. Lambe's Willingness to Censor (WTC) scale (2002). Cluster analysis identifies 3 groups with different conceptions of the proper role of the government with regard to expressive controversies: Protectors who want the government to proactively ensure expression is permitted, censors who want the government to restrict expression when another social goal is at stake, and allowers who want the government simply to stay out of such controversies.
Value of conducting pharmacy residency training - The organizational perspective

With the continuing evolution of pharmacy as a clinical profession, the need to prepare well-trained clinicians beyond the knowledge gained from a doctor of pharmacy degree program is magnified. Such training is afforded by pharmacy residency programs, which have expanded from hospital sites to practice settings as diverse as managed care organizations and public health departments. Although the resident benefits from the intensive training program, the sponsoring institution also derives many benefits from hosting the residency. Fundamentally, residents are licensed pharmacists who provide several contributions to the organization at generally a much-reduced direct cost. Federal funding for graduate medical education, often referred to as Medicare pass-through funds, is a common source of support for the conduct of postgraduate year one residency programs in health system settings; other sources of funding may be found in organizational and academic outlets. Residents may be integral in expanding the revenue of an organization by serving as patient care providers, developing or enhancing services, and billing for services delivered. By virtue of the roles they can assume, residents can facilitate the redeployment of existing pharmacists to other areas, tasks, or projects, thus expanding the capabilities of the department. Increasing the capacity to conduct experiential education for pharmacy students, and the compensation for such activity, can be an additional benefit. Practice sites that conduct residency training often experience a greater degree of employee satisfaction and higher employee retention rates. Engaging in quality improvement and assessment activities, assisting in staff development, and supporting innovative approaches to care are additional activities that pharmacy residents can support. This primer from the American College of Clinical Pharmacy was developed to highlight the value an organization can realize by conducting pharmacy residency training.
Evaluation of Dispersion Methods for Silica-Based Composite Nanoparticles

A number of separation methods were applied to wash and disperse SiO 2 -coated Ag (Ag/SiO 2 ) nanocomposites in order to establish the best practical protocol for producing stable dispersions. Colloidal stability and degree of aggregation for the resulting nanodispersions were assessed. The results show that high-performance liquid chromatography is an enabling technique for a well-dispersed suspension of Ag/SiO 2 nanocomposite particulates. The nanoparticle dispersion technique is based on a size-exclusion chromatography principle that can be extended to other nanoparticles.
Combined Effects of Sucrose and Fluoride on Experimental Caries and on the Associated Microbial Plaque

In an experimental model, slabs of sound and presoftened bovine enamel were worn in the human mouth for seven days except for periodic removal for in vitro exposure to experimental variables. Supplementation with 3% sucrose for 10 minutes, four times daily for seven days yielded predicted levels of experimental caries. Parallel exposure to 3% sucrose containing 100 ppm fluoride sharply reduced or negated the resultant caries in originally sound enamel, and reversed the simulated pre-experimental caries in most samples of presoftened enamel. Serial layers of test enamel surfaces showed high levels of fluoride accumulated in the originally sound enamel, and even higher levels in the presoftened enamel that had been supplemented with sucrose-fluoride solution. Quantitation of the plaque microbial flora showed that the fluoride ion exerted no detectable influence. Consistent with the findings in previous studies, some correlation appeared to exist between the degree of experimental caries and that proportion ...
Retrieving Time from Scanned Books

While millions of scanned books have become available in recent years, this vast collection of data remains under-utilized. Book search is often limited to summaries or metadata, and connecting information to primary sources can be a challenge.
The edge effect: how and why wounds grow in size and depth.

The central tenet for healing any wound is pressure redistribution and appropriate debridement. It is generally not what you put on these wounds that heals them, but rather what you take off. If the wound is adequately debrided and plantar pressure is redistributed, in the absence of profound ischemia, most diabetic foot wounds will heal. Off-loading is best achieved by spreading force over a wide area of contact, such as with the total contact cast or certain removable cast walkers.
Vitamin E Toxicity

In Reply.— Sokol incorrectly asserts that we have extended our observations regarding pharmacologic vitamin E therapy. In all of our clinical studies, which include 418 high-risk preterm infants,1-3 the infants have consistently maintained mean plasma vitamin E levels below 3.5 mg/100 mL, which are within the adult physiologic range. Sokol is concerned that our table 3 (reference 3, page 243) includes the clinical data (excluding Apgar scores) for only the 135 infants who survived ≥10 weeks. Data (including Apgar scores) for all 168 infants are presented in Table 1.
Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Treatment of Ovarian and Primary Peritoneal Malignancies: Single Institutional Experience

Objective: To report our institutional experience onhyperthermicintraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) at the time of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) for ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer. Methods: We reviewed charts of patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC. Optimal cytoreduction was defined as residual disease < 1cm. HIPEC was administered using closed technique. The postoperative complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo classification. Grade III and IV complications were considered as major. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: During the study period, we identified262 patients who underwent HIPEC and CRS. Fifteen of those patients (6%) were diagnosed with gynecologic tumors. Five patients (33%) had primary CRS and HIPEC for primary peritoneal carcinoma and ten patients (66%) had CRS and HIPEC for recurrent ovarian tumors. The median OR time was 327 min.Optimal cytoreduction was achieved in all patients (100%) and 7 patients (47%) had no gross residual disease. Major postoperative complications were reported in five patients (33%). The median follow up was 34 months. The median progression free survival (PFS) was 7 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 1-15 months) for recurrent disease. For the primary disease the median PFS was 26 months (95% CI: 7-26 months) comparable with IP arm in GOG-172. Conclusion: Combination of CRS and HIPEC is a feasible therapeutic modality for patients with ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal malignancies. Addition of HIPEC to CRS does not seem to increase the rate of grade III and IV postoperative complications and may be associated with survival benefit.
Long-Term Risk for Device-Related Complications and Reoperations After Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Implantation: An Observational Cohort Study

Isuru Ranasinghe, Craig S. Parzynski, James V. Freeman, Rachel P. Dreyer, Joseph S. Ross, Joseph G. Akar, Harlan M. Krumholz and Jeptha P. Curtis
An Extraction of the U.S. 2005 Urban Mobility Report

The U.S. Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) issues each year an annual report on urban mobil-ity of major urban areas in the United States. Based on data collected in and before 2003 from 85 urban areas, the 2005 report assesses a series of urban mobility mea-sures, and points out that congestion within U.S. urban areas continues to grow. The report provides a list of problems caused by congestion, and recommends ac-tions that need to be taken to improve traffic operations and management. The report also includes a compara-tive analysis on benefits derived from those actions.
Sinodonty, Sundadonty, and the Beringian Standstill model: Issues of timing and migrations into the New World

Abstract C.G. Turner II made dental morphological observations on thousands of Eskimo-Aleuts and American Indians and concluded they were derived from ancestral populations in northeast Asia during the last stages of the Pleistocene. He further distinguished two dental patterns in Asia. In East Asia, populations exhibit Sinodonty, a specialized dentition with intensified trait expressions. Southeast Asians exhibit Sundadonty, a more generalized dentition for crown and root traits. Turner argued all New World groups were derived from Sinodonts. Recent work has led some researchers to conclude there is evidence for the Sundadont pattern in Native American populations, an observation in accord with craniometric research that argues for an early migration of a generalized Asian population, followed by an influx of more specialized northeast Asians. A reanalysis of Turner's dataset fails to reveal evidence for a Sundadont component in the settlement of the Americas, but it does provide support for the Beringian Standstill model proposed by geneticists.
A role for retrosomes in intracellular cholesterol transport from endosomes to the plasma membrane

The recycling component (retrosome) of the endocytic pathway was evaluated as a potential vehicle for the recycling of lipoprotein-derived cholesterol and the maintenance of a high concentration of free cholesterol in plasma membranes. Receptor-to-ligand ratios were established in three distinct endosomal compartments using a recycling receptor (apolipoprotein B/E) to confirm isolated retrosomes as recycling vesicles. Compositional studies showed that retrosomes have twice the free cholesterol in their limiting membranes as do the endosomal compartments from which they derive. Furthermore, of the three isolated endosomal fractions, retrosomes showed the highest ratio of free to esterified cholesterol derived from injected very low density lipoprotein as well as the highest free-to-esterified cholesterol mass ratio overall, confirming endosomal cholesteryl ester hydrolysis and sorting. Endosomal neutral cholesterol esterase was identified by immunoblot, whereas electron microscopy employing membrane cholesterol-specific filipin revealed a high concentration of cholesterol in appendages that appear to be the formative stage of retrosomal biogenesis.
Massive Lumbar Disk Herniation Following “Therapeutic” Water Boiling of the Lower Extremities: Case Report and Literature Review

Background Legs burning for treating lumbar radicular pain are still in use nowadays in low socioeconomical environments. They are dangerous as the case we report shows clearly. Clinical case A 49-year-old man came to our attention with severe flaccid paraparesis occurred 10 days before, almost immediately after he had immersed his legs in boiling water to treat his severe left lumbocrural pain. This was known to be due to a right L3/4 herniated disk diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging. At the examination he showed severe motor paresis and absent reflexes of his lower limbs, while crural pain was mild and sensation and urinary function were unaffected. The results of his neurologic examination led us to suspect an acute motor axon degeneration related to thermal shock. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging, performed before the planned electromyogram as an exception to the established routine, showed instead a giant 5- × 5.5-cm, herniated disk compressing the dural sac at L3. Conclusions Prompt surgical decompression led to rapid improvement. We discuss here the pathophysiology of this unusual case and point out how medieval practices for treating sciatica-like pain are not only unjustified from a medical viewpoint but also potentially dangerous.
Online learning for demand response

Demand response is a key component of existing and future grid systems facing increased variability and peak demands. Scaling demand response requires efficiently predicting individual responses for large numbers of consumers while selecting the right ones to signal. This paper proposes a new online learning problem that captures consumer diversity, messaging fatigue and response prediction. We use the framework of multi-armed bandits model to address this problem. This yields simple and easy to implement index based learning algorithms with provable performance guarantees.