cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On Tiny Tim, Charles Dickens, and Pediatrics

Sir .—Using retrospective diagnosis, Lewis, 1 in the December 1992 issue of AJDC , hypothesizes a case of distal renal tubule acidosis (RTA) (type 1) in Charles Dickens' beloved literary character, Tiny Tim, 2 and provides excellent documentation of how London's working poor lived and the types of medical treatments and measures available in the 1840s. However, there are three critical points on Dickens and medicine that Lewis should consider beyond the case of Tiny Tim that would better substantiate the British novelist, rather than a 20th-century commentator, as an astute and accurate medical observer. The first point is to recall that Dickens was fascinated with all aspects of humanity, including the propensity to illness. A strong supporter of public health, medical, and sanitation reforms, Dickens was a frequent visitor to hospitals and helped raise large amounts of money for London's Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, the London Foundling Hospital,
Response of brain oxygen to therapy correlates with long-term outcome after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Brain oxygen (PbtO2) monitoring can help guide care of poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients. The relationship between PbtO2-directed therapy and long-term outcome is unclear. We hypothesized that responsiveness to PbtO2-directed interventions is associated with outcome. Seventy-six aSAH patients who underwent PbtO2 monitoring were included. Long-term outcome [Glasgow Outcome Score-Extended (GOS-E) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS)] was ascertained using the social security death database and structured telephone interviews. Univariate and multivariate regression were used to identify variables that correlated with outcome. Data from 64 patients were analyzed (12 were lost to follow-up). There were 530 episodes of compromised PbtO2 (<20 mmHg) during a total of 7,174 h of monitor time treated with 1,052 interventions. Forty-two patients (66 %) survived to discharge. Median follow-up was 8.5 months (range 0.1–87). At most recent follow-up 35 (55 %) patients were alive, and 28 (44 %) had a favorable outcome (mRS ≤3). In multivariate ordinal regression analysis, only age and response to PbtO2-directed intervention correlated significantly with outcome. Increased age was associated with worse outcome (coeff. 0.8, 95 % CI 0.3–1.3, p = 0.003), and response to PbtO2-directed intervention was associated with improved outcome (coeff. −2.12, 95 % CI −4.0 to −0.26, p = 0.03). Patients with favorable outcomes had a 70 % mean rate of response to PbtO2-directed interventions whereas patients with poor outcomes had a 45 % response rate (p = 0.005). Response to PbtO2-directed intervention is associated with improved long-term functional outcome in aSAH patients.
Experimental Analysis of Heat Transfer From Ice Rink Floors

This paper describes an experimental set-up to evaluate the refrigeration loads for ice rink floors under controlled conditions. The ice-rink set-up was instrumented to measure the temperatures along various locations within the ice-rink floor including the water/ice layer. In addition, the energy used to freeze the water is monitored over the entire charging cycle to evaluate the performance of the ice rink floor for various insulation thermal resistance values (or R-values). Four floor insulation configurations are considered in the experimental analysis of R-0 (no insulation), R-4.2, R-6.7 and R-10 (in IP unit: hr.ft2 .°F/Btu). The impact of the air temperature above the ice rink is also evaluated. The experimental results confirm that the addition of the thermal insulation beneath the ice-rink floor reduces the refrigeration load, decreased the time required to freeze the water above the ice rink, and helps maintain lower average ice temperature.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
The roles of energetics, water economy, foraging behavior, and geothermal refugia in the distribution of the bat, Macrotus californicus

Energy metabolism, thermoregulation, and water flux ofMacrotus californicus, the most northerly representative of the Phyllostomidae, were studied in the laboratory using standard methods, and energy metabolism and water fluxes were studied in the field using the doubly labelled water method together with a time budget. Daily energy expenditures of free-living bats averaged 22.8 kJ during the winter study period. Approximately 60% of this was allocated to resting metabolism costs while in the primary roosts (22 h/day).Macrotus californicus is unable to use torpor. The thermoneutral zone (TNZ) in this species is narrow (33 to 40 °C) and metabolic rate increased rapidly as ambient temperature decreased below the TNZ. Basal metabolic rate was 1.25 ml O2/g·h, or 24 J/g·h. Total thermal conductance below the TNZ. was 1.8 mW/g·°C, similar to values measured for other bats. Evaporative water loss showed a hyperbolic increase with increasing ambient temperature, and was approximately 1% of total body mass/h in the TNZ. The success of these bats as year-round residents in deserts in the southwestern United States is probably not due to special physiological adaptations, but to roosting and foraging behavior. They use geothermally-heated winter roost sites (stable year-round temperatures of approximately 29 °C) which minimize energy expenditures, and they have an energetically frugal pattern of foraging that relies on visual prey location. These seem to be the two major factors which have allowedM. californicus to invade the temperate zone.
Molecular Insight into the Pathway to Crystallization of Aluminum

We use molecular simulations to study the onset of crystallization in a liquid of Al, cooled at a temperature 20% below the melting point. We show that Al nucleates into a random packing of the hex...
Simulating organizational decision making in a regulated industry

Abstract This paper presents models that simulate executive decision making in the electric utility industry. One is derived from interviews in the Southern California electric utility industry. The other is created to address the questionable theoretical aspects of the executive based model. Each is tested with econometric statistical procedures, and conclusions are derived from a comparative analysis of the results. The results are then used to derive policy implications for the electric utility firm and the regulatory body.
The polypeptides of adenovirus VIII. The enrichment of E3 (11,000) in the nuclear matrix fraction

Abstract Subnuclear fractions have been studied in order to localize E3 (11,000 daltons) which is an intranuclear adenovirus type 2 (Ad 2 ) -induced early protein. Of the various subnuclear fractions that were generated from [ 35 S]methionine-labeled Ad 2 -infected HeLa nuclei and whose polypeptides were analyzed by SDS-disc-PAGE, it was the nuclear matrix fraction (NM) that was enriched for E3. The nuclear matrix fraction corresponds to the pelleted material obtained after high salt and DNase treatment of disrupted detergent-washed nuclei and contains a polypeptide pattern that is qualitatively different from that of the whole nucleus. Although NM contained only 10–12% of the total nuclear-incorporated [ 35 S]methionine, it contained about 30–45% of the total E3. Thus, there is a 3.0- to 4.5-fold increase of E3 in the NM fraction. Moreover, the association of E3 with the NM is a strong one. Only denaturant combinations, such as 1% Triton X-100 and 5 M urea, or 2 M guanidine HCl and 2 M NaCl, were able to extract most of the associated E3, while 1% Triton X-100 or 2 M NaCl alone could not. Reconstruction experiments confirmed that the association of E3 to the NM fraction is not merely an artifact of the fractionation procedure. In addition, E2 (19,000) and a new early protein (39,000–40,000) were the only other early polypeptides to be resolved in the infected NM; in particular, neither El (72,000 single-strand DNA-binding protein) nor its known breakdown products were observed in this fraction.
The use of ultrasound to determine the position of the mandibular condyle

A randomized, single blind study of 20 patients examined the accuracy of ultrasound in establishing the position of the mandibular condyle in relation to the glenoid fossa. The sonographic technique is described. The temporomandibular joint was imaged sonographically with the patients in an open- and a closed-mouth position as a model for condylar sag and proper condylar seating, respectively, during mandibular ramus osteotomy procedures. One radiologist identified condylar position correctly in 38 of 40 still ultrasound images, with a sensitivity and a specificity of 95%. During real time ultrasound examination, it is possible to visualize varying degrees of condylar movement in relation to the glenoid fossa. The results of this study support the potential use of ultrasound as an adjunct to mandibular orthognathic surgery.
Cubism at the nanoscale.

Some of the most famous images in nanoscience and technology have been produced by scanning probe microscopes but, as Chris Toumey explains, there is much more to these images than meets the eye.
Multi-rover testbed for teleconducted and autonomous surveillance, reconnaissance, and exploration

At Caltech's Visual and Autonomous Exploration Systems Research Laboratory (http://autonomy.caltech.edu) an outdoor multi-rover testbed has been developed that allows for near real-time interactive or automatic control from anywhere in the world via the Internet. It enables the implementation, field-testing, and validation of algorithms/software and strategies for navigation, exploration, feature extraction, anomaly detection, and target prioritization with applications in planetary exploration, security surveillance, reconnaissance of disaster areas, military reconnaissance, and delivery of lethal force such as explosives for urban warfare. Several rover platforms have been developed, enabling testing of cooperative multi-rover scenarios (e.g., inter-rover communication/coordination) and distributed exploration of operational areas.
Academic Self-Esteem and Perceived Validity of Grades: A Test of Self-Verification Theory

Abstract The hypothesis derived from self-verification theory that semester GPA would be (a) positively related to perceived validity of grades scores among high academic self-esteem college students and (b) inversely related to perceived validity of grades scores among low academic self-esteem college students was tested. Subjects were 281 undergraduates enrolled in an introductory psychology course at a large state university. A multiple regression analysis indicated that semester GPA and academic self-esteem exerted a joint effect on perceived validity of grades scores (net R 2 = .04). Contrary to our prediction, simple slope analyses indicated that the slope for semester GPA was positive for low and high academic self-esteem students alike, although the slope was steeper for high relative to low academic self-esteem students. Several possible boundary conditions on self-verification effects are discussed related to the extremity, globality, and subjectivity of positive feedback provided to low self-esteem individuals.
The GoMOOS nowcast/forecast system

Abstract A circulation nowcast/forecast system has been developed for the Gulf of Maine as an integral component of the Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System (GoMOOS). It has been used daily since 2001 to produce short-term forecasts of the circulation and hydrographic properties in the Gulf of Maine. One of the expectations is that the nowcast/forecast system can provide consistent SST to fill in AVHRR data gaps and eventually produce reliable 3D temperature and flow fields for fisheries and other applications. The framework of the nowcast/forecast system is presented, including an algorithm for assimilating satellite-derived SST. Comparisons between the predicted and the observed temperature (both in situ and satellite-derived) and velocity are discussed. In general, the assimilation algorithm is stable and produces robust SST patterns. Seasonal variations in temperature and the coastal current are reasonably reproduced. Correlation between the modeled and observed fields in the synoptic band is summarized for individual buoys in monthly bins. The Root-Mean-Square (RMS) errors for the M2 tidal ellipse are estimated at 1.9 and 1.2 cm s−1 for the major and minor axis, respectively, while the RMS error in ellipse orientation is at 11°.
IS PREECLAMPSIA AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

Preeclampsia is a life-threatening hypertensive disease of pregnancy. The condition is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies that activate the major angiotensin receptor, AT1. Research conducted during the past decade has shown that these autoantibodies activate AT1 receptors on a variety of cell types and provoke biological responses that are relevant to the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. The introduction of these autoantibodies into pregnant mice results in hypertension, proteinuria and a variety of other features of preeclampsia including small fetuses and placentas. These findings demonstrate the pathophysiological role of these autoantibodies in preeclampsia. The biological properties of these autoantibodies can be blocked by a 7-amino acid peptide that corresponds to a specific sequence associated with the second extracellular loop of the AT1 receptor. The fact that autoantibodies from different individuals are directed to a common epitope provides obvious diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities. Research reviewed here raises the intriguing possibility that preeclampsia may be a pregnancy-induced autoimmune condition characterized by the presence of disease-causing angiotensin receptor activating autoantibodies.
A uniquely stable replication-competent retrovirus vector achieves efficient gene delivery in vitro and in solid tumors.

A major obstacle in cancer gene therapy is the limited efficiency of in vivo gene transfer by replication-defective retrovirus vectors in current use. One strategy for circumventing this difficulty would be to use vectors capable of replication within tumor tissues. We have developed a replication-competent retrovirus (RCR) vector derived from murine leukemia virus (MuLV). This vector utilizes a unique design strategy in which an internal ribosome entry site-transgene cassette is positioned between the env gene and the 3′ long terminal repeat (LTR). The ability of this vector to replicate and transmit a transgene was examined in culture and in a solid tumor model in vivo. The RCR vector exhibited replication kinetics similar to those of wildtype MuLV and mediated efficient delivery of the transgene throughout an entire population of cells in culture after an initial inoculation with 1 plaque-forming unit (PFU) of vector per 2000 cells. After injection of 6 × 103 PFU of vector into established subcutaneous...
HeatWave: thermal imaging for surface user interaction

We present HeatWave, a system that uses digital thermal imaging cameras to detect, track, and support user interaction on arbitrary surfaces. Thermal sensing has had limited examination in the HCI research community and is generally under-explored outside of law enforcement and energy auditing applications. We examine the role of thermal imaging as a new sensing solution for enhancing user surface interaction. In particular, we demonstrate how thermal imaging in combination with existing computer vision techniques can make segmentation and detection of routine interaction techniques possible in real-time, and can be used to complement or simplify algorithms for traditional RGB and depth cameras. Example interactions include (1) distinguishing hovering above a surface from touch events, (2) shape-based gestures similar to ink strokes, (3) pressure based gestures, and (4) multi-finger gestures. We close by discussing the practicality of thermal sensing for naturalistic user interaction and opportunities for future work.
A third-order intermediate orbit for planetary theory

By use of a new canonical transformation procedure, a third-order intermediary for planetary motion is developed. The intermediary contains all contributions that arise from the assumption of circular, coplanar orbits for the disturbing masses. The results are expressible in terms of elliptic integrals of the first, second, and third kinds.
The relative efficacy of pamphlets, CD-ROM, and the Internet for disseminating adolescent drug abuse prevention programs: an exploratory study.

Abstract Background Despite the availability of an increasing array of empirically validated adolescent drug abuse prevention programs, program materials and evaluation findings are poorly disseminated. CD-ROM and the Internet hold promise for disseminating this information to schools and agencies that directly serve youth, and to policy-making bodies that exercise control over funds to support adolescent drug abuse prevention programming. However, data on the relative efficacy of these newer technologies over conventional print means of dissemination are lacking. Methods Recruited through schools, community agencies, and policy-making bodies, 188 professionals were randomized to receive prevention program materials via pamphlets (55 participants), CD-ROM (64 participants), and the Internet (69 participants). Participants completed pretest, posttest, and 6-month follow-up measures that assessed their access to prevention program materials; self-efficacy for identifying, obtaining, and recommending these programs; and their likelihood of requesting, implementing, and recommending prevention programs to their constituents. Results Participants exposed to dissemination via CD-ROM and the Internet evidenced the greatest short- and long-term gains on accessibility, self-efficacy, and behavioral intention variables. Conclusions CD-ROM and the Internet are viable means for disseminating adolescent drug abuse prevention programs to schools, community agencies, and policy-making bodies, and should be increasingly used for dissemination purposes.
Collagen development in heart and skin of the chick embryo.

Abstract 1. 1.|The development of the collagenous framework was studied in the chick-embryo heart and skin. Collagen was detected in the heart on the 3rd day of development. The heart growth and collagen growth from the 5th to the 21st day of development can be described by continuous exponental functions. However, collagen increases more rapidly than heart weight as described by the relationship: Collagen = K (heart wet wt.)1.61 2. 2.|A mechanical interpretation of the data suggests that the increasing proportion of collagen in the enlarging heart may be related to the increasing mechanical strength requirements of the enlarging heart. 3. 3.|The amount of soluble collagen in the heart was found to be almost directly proportional to the net rate of collagen synthesis in the heart. 4. 4.|Collagen growth in the skin does not follow a continuous exponential time curve. Rather, there is an abrupt increase in skin collagen concentration between the 12th and 17th days of development. 5. 5.|This discontinuity in the synthesis of skin collagen points up the difficulty in attempting to relate soluble collagen content to the rate of growth of the organism or tissue.
The Way It Is and the Way It Could Be: Fear, Lessness and the Quest for Fearless Dialogues™

“Fearless Dialogues™ is the Civil Rights Movement of the 21st century,” says Dr. Bernard Lafayette, an original Freedom Rider and internationally renowned human rights activist. This article examines the history and philosophy of a burgeoning movement called Fearless Dialogues™, which seeks to alter the perspective of how we see and hear those who are perceived to be marginal. Drawing wisdom from a hard, heartfelt conversation documented in Ralph Ellison’s essay, “The Way It Is,” this interdisciplinary article utilizes resources from 20th and 21st century mystics to examine four primary fears that stifle dialogue and introduces an attitude of “lessness” that is necessary to create perspectival change.
Field desorption and field ion surface studies of samples exposed to the plasmas of PLT and ISX

Abstract Modifications to the surface of field-ion specimens exposed to plasma discharges in PLT and ISX determined by Imaging Atom-Probe, Field Ion Microscope, and Transmission Electron Microscope analyses have in the past shown several consistent features. Surface films consisting primarily of limiter material with trapped plasma and impurity species have been found to reside on samples with direct line of sight exposure to the plasma during the discharges. Control specimens placed in the tokamak, but shielded from the plasma, on the other hand, remained free of deposits. When exposed to only high power plasma discharges, samples placed at the wall position in PLT and ISX have survived the exposures with no evidence of damage or implantation. In this paper we describe the results of a recent exposure in PLT in which for the first time samples of stainless steel were included for High-Field Surface Analysis. Tokamak operating conditions, including stainless steel limiters, titanium gettering between discharges, and the occurrence of a disruption, also distinguished this exposure from those carried out previously. Even with stainless steel limiters, contaminant films were found to be deposited on the samples at a rate (50–60 A in six shots) comparable to earlier exposures with carbon limiters (500 A in 69 shots).
Oxidative damage in MauG: implications for the control of high-valent iron species and radical propagation pathways.

The di-heme enzyme MauG catalyzes the oxidative biosynthesis of a tryptophan tryptophylquinone cofactor on a precursor of the enzyme methylamine dehydrogenase (preMADH). Reaction of H2O2 with the diferric form of MauG, or reaction of O2 with diferrous MauG, forms the catalytic intermediate known as bis-Fe(IV), which acts as the key oxidant during turnover. The site of substrate oxidation is more than 40 A from the high-spin heme iron where H2O2 initially reacts, and catalysis relies on radical hopping through an interfacial residue, Trp199 of MauG. In the absence of preMADH, the bis-Fe(IV) intermediate is remarkably stable, but repeated exposure to H2O2 results in suicide inactivation. Using mass spectrometry, we show that this process involves the oxidation of three Met residues (108, 114, and 116) near the high-spin heme through ancillary electron transfer pathways engaged in the absence of substrate. The mutation of a conserved Pro107 in the distal pocket of the high-spin heme results in a dramatic inc...
CELL SURFACE AMYLOID BETA -PROTEIN PRECURSOR COLOCALIZES WITH BETA 1 INTEGRINS AT SUBSTRATE CONTACT SITES IN NEURAL CELLS

Amyloid beta-protein (A beta), the principal constituent of the senile plaques seen in Alzheimer's disease (AD), is derived by proteolysis from the beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta PP). The distribution and trafficking of cell surface beta PP are of particular interest because some of these molecules are direct precursors of secreted A beta and because the localization of beta PP at the cell surface may be related directly to its physiological functions. Recently, we reported that, in cultured hippocampal neurons, cell surface beta PP is preferentially expressed on axons in a striking discontinuous pattern. In this study, we describe the colocalization of cell surface beta PP and integrins in primary cultured cells. In rat hippocampal neurons, cell surface beta PP was colocalized selectively with alpha 1 beta 1 and alpha 5 beta 1 integrin heterodimers at these characteristic segmental locations. In rat cortical astrocytes, both cell surface beta PP and beta 1 integrin were located at the cell periphery in the "spreading" stage shortly after plating. In "flattened" astrocytes cultured for several days, beta PP was found in punctate deposits called point contacts. In these sites, beta PP was colocalized with alpha 1 beta 1, but not with alpha 5 beta 1 integrin heterodimers, the latter of which were situated at focal contact sites. In both neurons and astrocytes examined after shearing, clathrin and alpha-adaptin were colocalized with beta PP on the surface that directly contacts the substratum. These results are consistent with the putative role of beta PP in cell adhesion and suggests that beta PP either interacts with selected integrins or shares similar cellular machinery to promote cell adhesion.
The Meta-Pi network: connectionist rapid adaptation for high-performance multi-speaker phoneme recognition

A multinetwork time-delay-neural-network (TDNN)-based connectionist architecture that allows multispeaker phoneme discrimination (/b,d,g/) to be performed at the speaker-dependent recognition rate of 98.4% is presented. The overall network gates the phonemic decisions of modules trained on individual speakers to form its overall classification decision. By dynamically adapting to the input speech and focusing on a combination of speaker-specific modules, the network outperforms a single TDNN trained on the speech of all six speakers (95.9%). To train this network a form of multiplicative connection called the Meta-Pi connection is developed. It is illustrated how the Mega-Pi paradigm implements a dynamically adaptive Bayesian MAP classifier. It learns-without supervision-to recognize the speech of one particular speaker (99.8%) using a dynamic combination of internal models of other speakers exclusively. The Meta-Pi model is a viable basis for a connectionist speech recognition system that can rapidly adapt to new speakers and varying speaker dialects. >
An HIV-Preventive Intervention for Youth Living with HIV.

As the number of youth infected with HIV rises, secondary prevention programs are needed to help youth living with HIV meet three goals: (a) increase self-care behaviors, medical adherence, and health-related interactions; (b) reduce transmission acts; and (c) enhance their quality of life. This article describes an intervention program for youth living with HIV. Youth engage in small-group activities with other infected peers to modify their behavioral patterns. The intervention aims to (a) reduce substance use and sexual behaviors that may transmit or enhance transmission of the HIV virus; (b) reduce negative impacts of substance use on seeking and utilizing health care, assertiveness, and adherence to health regimens; and (c) enhance the quality of life to maintain behavior changes over time. Interventions that target youth living with HIV are warranted. A variety of delivery strategies are discussed for secondary interventions.
Genetic Basis of Atherosclerosis: Insights From Mice and Humans

Atherosclerosis is a complex and heritable disease involving multiple cell types and the interactions of many different molecular pathways. The genetic and molecular mechanisms of atherosclerosis have, in part, been elucidated by mouse models; at least 100 different genes have been shown to influence atherosclerosis in mice. Importantly, unbiased genome-wide association studies have recently identified a number of novel loci robustly associated with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Here, we review the genetic data elucidated from mouse models of atherosclerosis, as well as significant associations for human coronary artery disease. Furthermore, we discuss in greater detail some of these novel human coronary artery disease loci. The combination of mouse and human genetics has the potential to identify and validate novel genes that influence atherosclerosis, some of which may be candidates for new therapeutic approaches.
Sex of Supervisor, Sex of Subordinate, and Subordinate Job Satisfaction

It was hypothesized in the present research that there would be significant differences in the job satisfaction of subordinates depending upon the interaction between their sex and the sex of their supervisors. Using job satisfaction data from 139 employees, it was found that: (a) female subordinates supervised by male supervisors were less satisfied with supervision than those supervised by women, (b) females working under males reported a lower level of satisfaction with their co-workers than females supervised by females or males supervised by males, and (c) women who had female supervisors indicated a higher level of satisfaction with their work than men with male supervisors. Contrary to traditional stereotypes of women supervisors, the results suggested that these stereotypes might not be important in long-term, real-world situations.
Near-Minimum Fuel Trajectories for Multi Spacecraft Interferometric Imaging Systems in Near-Earth Orbit

In this article a methodology to calculate near-minimum fuel maneuvers for multi spacecraft interferometric imaging systems subject to linear non-symmetric dynamics is proposed. The methodology consisting of the coupling of a noninear programming problem and a linear quadratic tracker. The solutions are obtained with the purpose of describing the relationship between the quality of an image obtained by a multi spacecraft interferometric imaging system and the dynamic requirements of the maneuvers in a near earth circular orbit. These maneuvers are intended for the design of a system capable of obtaining very high resolution pictures form a near earth orbital location. The solutions account for the effects of near earth orbit dynamics. In order to relate the fuel requirements with the image quality, the relationship between the image process and the error in the final picture is studied, and a quality factor is defined in order to relate the reliability of a picture to the trajectory of the spacecraft and consequently, the fuel usage. As an application, a mid IR imager system located at a GEO location is studied and features of the design of such maneuvers as well as their feasibility and requirements are described.
Influence of cardiopulmonary resuscitation prior to defibrillation in patients with out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation.

ContextUse of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) by first arriving emergency medical technicians (EMTs) is advocated to improve the outcome for out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation (VF). However, adding AEDs to the emergency medical system in Seattle, Wash, did not improve survival. Studies in animals have shown improved outcomes when cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered prior to an initial shock for VF of several minutes' duration.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effects of providing 90 seconds of CPR to persons with out-of-hospital VF prior to delivery of a shock by first-arriving EMTs.DesignObservational, prospectively defined, population-based study with 42 months of preintervention analysis (July 1, 1990-December 31, 1993) and 36 months of postintervention analysis (January 1, 1994-December 31, 1996).SettingSeattle fire department–based, 2-tiered emergency medical system.ParticipantsA total of 639 patients treated for out-of-hospital VF before the intervention and 478 after the intervention.InterventionModification of the protocol for use of AEDs, emphasizing approximately 90 seconds of CPR prior to delivery of a shock.Main Outcome MeasuresSurvival and neurologic status at hospital discharge determined by retrospective chart review as a function of early (<4 minutes) and later (≥4 minutes) response intervals.ResultsSurvival improved from 24% (155/639) to 30% (142/478) (P=.04). That benefit was predominantly in patients for whom the initial response interval was 4 minutes or longer (survival, 17% [56/321] before vs 27% [60/220] after; P = .01). In a multivariate logistic model, adjusting for differences in patient and resuscitation factors between the periods, the protocol intervention was estimated to improve survival significantly (odds ratio, 1.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-1.90; P = .02). Overall, the proportion of victims who survived with favorable neurologic recovery increased from 17% (106/634) to 23% (109/474) (P = .01). Among survivors, the proportion having favorable neurologic function at hospital discharge increased from 71% (106/150) to 79% (109/138) (P<.11).ConclusionThe routine provision of approximately 90 seconds of CPR prior to use of AED was associated with increased survival when response intervals were 4 minutes or longer.
Sea-Level Rise Policy as Attention Intervention

This study examines the rhetorical process by which the state of North Carolina shifted from leading in sea-level rise planning to legislating policy inaction. Through the lens of the Rhetoric of Social Intervention model, it highlights how stakeholders attempted to promote and impede attention shifts to alternative templates for achieving social system prosperity. The essay's symbol-system view clarifies a vicious circle discourse cycle and points to the media's potential role in reversing it. The study recommends revisions to the policy supporters’ interventions to promote the limiting-human-activity policy template, identifies discourse cycles that have hindered policy action, suggests ways to impede polarizing cycles, and demonstrates the interventional nature of social change.
Primary soft tissue tumours of the lung

Abstract Although primary mesenchymal tumours of the lung are rare, a working knowledge of the morphology, clinical features, genetic abnormalities, and appropriate ancillary studies applicable to these lesions will be very helpful to practising pathologists who review pulmonary material. This is especially important since mesenchymal neoplasms frequently enter the differential diagnosis of other more common pulmonary tumours with sarcomatoid appearance, including sarcomatoid carcinoma and mesothelioma. This review will cover the key morphologic and clinicopathologic features of primary soft tissue tumours of the lung, including solitary fibrous tumour, synovial sarcoma, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour, pleuropulmonary blastoma, vascular lesions, and others. A practical approach to the differential diagnosis and appropriate use of relevant immunohistochemical markers and ancillary genetic studies will be discussed.
Combustion synthesis/densification of an Al2O3–TiB2 composite

The self-propagating gasless combustion reaction 3TiO2+ 3B2O3+ 10Al 5Al2O2+ 3TiB2 was used to produce an Al2O3 –TiB2 composite, which was densified by uniaxial loading immediately following completion of reaction. The densification was enabled by the high temperatures produced by the combustion reaction ( 2000°C) which rendered the reaction product ( 70% porosity) plastic. The microstructure was characterized by columnar TiB2 grains with a diameter of 1–2 m and length of 5–10 m embedded in equiaxed A12O3 (grain size 50m); the TiB2 phase tended to agglomerate in clusters. A few of the TiB2 grains exhibited dislocations, while the A12O3 was annealed. This indicates that recovery processes took place after the plastic deformation involved in densification. Several constitutive models (corresponding both to rigid-plastic and power-law creep material behavior) were used to describe the mechanical response of the porous and ductile ceramic product and compared to the experimental results, with satisfactory agreement for power-law creep models. These constitutive models have a temperature-dependent term that incorporates the effect of specimen cooling, that occurs concurrently with densification; thus, it was possible to obtain a flow stress dependence of temperature which is in reasonable agreement with values interpolated from literature experimental results. © 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Electron scattering and collimation system for a 12-MeV linear accelerator.

The original scattering and collimation system for the Siemens Mevatron XII linear accelerator used a lead scattering foil and box‐type plastic collimators. This arrangement achieves excellent field flatness by repeated electron scattering. The electrons reaching the patient are widely distributed in energy and direction. This has detrimental effects on the depth‐dose curves: slower falloff and increased surface dose. We have developed an alternative system for this accelerator, designed to minimize electron scatter and improve the safety of patient setup. Primary‐electron scatter occurs in the bending‐magnet exit window. Field uniformity is accomplished with a flattener of thin aluminum discs of different diameters, piled concentrically. An adjustable electron collimator 25 cm from the patient limits beam size, and a final electron collimator, either a cutout from lead sheet or a a custom‐made collimator of Lipowitz’s metal, in contact with the patient, define the area to be treated. This design results in lower surface dose, sharper dose falloff, bremsstrahlung contamination ⩽1%, and a field flatness expressed by a homogeneity index >0.8 for large fields. Since there is no mechanical connection between the machine and the final collimator, the safety aspects of the system are considerably improved.
An oral ulceration associated with Morgellons disease: a case report

Morgellons disease is a psycho-dermatologic condition in which patients report fibers or filaments "growing" out of their skin. This case report highlights an oral ulceration in a young woman associated with Morgellons disease, a condition that has not been previously described in the dental literature. An increasing number of individuals are self-reporting this condition and oral health care providers must be familiar with this disorder.
Commentary: Dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery.

COMMENTARY ON Joaquim AF, Murar J, Savage JW, Patel AA. Dysphagia after anterior cervical spine surgery: a systematic review of potential preventative measures. Spine J 2014;14;2246–60 ( in this issue ).
Countering Staphylococcus Overgrowth During Patch Testing in Children with Moderate to Severe Atopic Dermatitis.

Background Patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) often have a concurrent diagnosis of contact dermatitis, but patch testing in these patients presents a unique set of challenges. Barrier impairment and Staphylococcus aureus colonization and infection, along with the sealed occlusion that takes place during the patch testing procedure, can create an optimal environment for bacterial overgrowth. Aims To identify patients at risk for S. aureus overgrowth during patch testing and provide pre- and peripatch testing interventions to aid clinicians in obtaining the best possible patch test results in this complicated population. Materials and Methods A retrospective review was performed of five patients with moderate to severe AD for which S. aureus overgrowth and superinfection complicated patch test evaluation. Results All five patients were able to complete the patch test procedure and all had relevant positive patch test reactions. Complications during patch testing included erythema, oozing, foul odor under the patches, and purulent material at the patch sites. One patient had a culture performed during patch testing that showed methicillin-sensitive S. aureus. Discussion Patch testing can play an important role in the examination and management of patients with refractory AD. Conclusions Moderate to severe AD and concern regarding S. aureus overgrowth should not preclude patch testing.
An Overview of Biological Basics

Cell chemistry and cell feed are important aspects of biological basics that interest bioprocess engineers. Cells are the basic unit of living organisms. Living organisms can be single celled (unicellular) or multicellular. Therefore, living organisms are commonly cellular. Stem cell is the mother cell of the multicellular organisms. All cells contain at least one of the three macromolecules: protein, RNA , and DNA . The two major groups of cells are prokaryotic and eukaryotic , with eukaryotic cells being more complex. Both prokaryotes and eukaryotes contain both DNA and RNA. Viruses are replicating particles that are obligate parasites. Some viruses use DNA to store genetic information, while others use RNA. Viruses specific to bacteria are called bacteriophages or phages. A prion is an infectious agent composed of protein in a misfolded form. This is in contrast to all other known infectious agents which must contain nucleic acids (either DNA, RNA, or both). Other essential components of these cells are constructed from lipids and carbohydrates. The exception to the cellular living organism is a prion, which consists of protein only. Cells are usually very small, but big ones exist and can weigh over a kilogram. There are rich varieties of chemicals and materials associated with cells. These chemicals and materials present opportunities for bioprocess engineers to make sustainable products that meet the needs of humanity. This chapter introduces the various chemical compositions in cell, structures of protein, RNA and DNA, as well as the nutritional needs of cells.
The Effect of Utilization Rate on Specialization

The recognition that investment in human capital depends on its utilization (i.e., the number of hours it is used) is offered as an explanation of diverse phenomena such as of tourists' behavior, women's participation rate in the labor force, and the decline of investment in human capital with age. In this paper we examine the way the utilization rate of human capital affects specialization. We demonstrate that even if training in each specialty is subject to diminishing returns or rising cost, the utilization effects of human capital would prompt two identical individuals to specialize their training, and therefore hours of work, in different occupations.
High-temperature creep response of a commercial grade siliconized silicon carbide

Creep studies conducted in four-point flexure of a commercial siliconized silicon carbide (Si-SiC, designated as Norton NT230) have been carried out at temperatures of 1300, 1370, and 1410°C in air under selected stress levels. The Si-SiC material investigated contained ∼90% α-SiC, 8% discontinuous free Si, and 2% porosity. In general, the Si-SiC material exhibited very low creep rates (2 to 10 × 10−10 s−1) at temperatures ≤1370°C under applied stress levels of up to 300 MPa. At 1410°C, the melting point of Si, the Si-SiC material still showed relative low creep rates (∼0.8 to 3 × 10−9 s−1) at stresses below a threshold value of ∼190 MPa. At stresses >190 MPa the Si-SiC material exhibited high creep rates plus a high stress exponent (n = 17) as a result of slow crack growth assisted process that initiated within Si-rich regions. The Si-SiC material, tested at temperature ≤1370°C and below the threshold of 190 MPa at 1410°C, exhibited a stress exponent of one, suggestive of diffusional creep processes. Scanning electron microscopy observations showed very limited creep cavitation at free Si pockets, suggesting the discontinuous Si phase played no or little role in controlling the creep response of the Si-SiC material when it was tested in the creep-controlled regime.
A Formalization and Test of the “Hollow Frontier” Hypothesis

A persistent theme in Brazilian agricultural development is the presence of a “hollow frontier.” Although the concept was proposed almost forty years ago, there has been little empirical testing of its basic tenets. In this paper the hypothesis tested is that a maximum production ridge advances over time away from the areas of initial cultivation in the State of Sāo Paulo. The results of the analysis confirm the presence of a “hollow frontier” in all time periods. Several generally recognized impressions of declining production behind the advancing frontier are substantiated.
Physical Programming: A Mathematical Perspective

Physical programming (PP) is a new multiobjective and design optimization method that has been applied successfully in diverse areas of engineering and operations research. The application of PP calls for the designer to express his/her preferences by defining ranges of differing degrees of desirability for each design metric. Although this approach works well in practice, it had never been shown that the optimal solution is not unduly sensitive to these numerical range definitions. This paper shows that PP is indeed numerically well conditioned, and also compares its sensitivity to designer input (with respect to optimal solution) with that of other popular methods. This paper also provides the important proof that all solutions obtained through PP are Pareto optimal, and extends the notion of Pareto optimality to one of pragmatic implication. This paper introduces the important notion of P-Dominance that extends the concept of Pareto optimality beyond the cases minimize and maximize. We show that P-Dominance leads to the important concept of Generalized Pareto Optimal@. Numerical results arc provided, which illustrate the favorable numerical properties of physical programming.
The culture of couples: A Kaufmannesque sociology

Any scholar who dances among piles of soiled laundry runs the risk of stumbling on the triviality barrier. Yet, as sociologists we recognize that whatever could not be less important often can hardly be more important. Jean-Claude Kaufmann, professor of soci ology at the Sorbonne, focuses on the often unbecoming details of couple culture. By focusing on the mundane, the quotidian, and the local, Kaufmann brings us face-to face with the strategies by which people organize their lives together?and alone. For Kaufmann it is the scholarly taken-for granted?often with a whiff of eros or adrenaline?that truly matters. Culture for Kaufmann is not merely a strong and auton omous field, but a domain of action, a realm of personal strategy and choice. Although Kaufmann is a sociologist of marriage and the family, his work has broader implications for how participants within local cultures create a foundation of meanings on which they later rely. Kauf mann's focus on how couples manage their relationships is a singular and far-reaching contribution to the microsociology of culture, demonstrating how two cultures beco me?and do not become?one. Sociologists of culture should recognize him as one of their own, treating his research as central to understanding group idiocultures?those systems of knowledge, beliefs, behaviors, and customs shared by members of an inter acting group that become the basis of further interaction (Fine 1979). Given the insularity of American sociology, most readers of Contemporary Sociology are limited in their knowledge of French sociol ogy. For a quarter century Pierre Bourdieu was bronzed as our Durkheim. A smattering of other names?Boltanski, Hennion, Latour Dirty Linen: Couples as Seen Through Their Laundry, by Jean-Claude Kaufmann. Translated by Helen Alfrey. London, UK: Middlesex University Press, 1998. 240pp. O.P. ISBN: NA.
What difference can it make: Why write books on global justice in the first place?

This article looks at different conceptions of what political philosophy is as a vocation, with an eye on the question of what is the point of writing books specifically on global justice. The occa...
Population dynamics and reproductive modes of Pleione formosana Hayata

Pleione formosana is one of the endangered species of Orchid. To study the population dynamics and reproductive modes is important for its conservation. 13 populations of P. formosana in Baishuiji,Daiyun Mountain,Dehua County were selected to investigate its biological characteristics and reproduction,based on which population static life table,survival curve,mortality curve and fecundity schedule were made and analyzed. The results showed that: the P. formosana populations are mainly medium-sized groups of 10-200 genets,whose population structure is pyramid structure,and the survival curve was DeeveyⅡ type,showing a stable population. It has both sexual and asexual reproduction,with seed reproduction contributes mostly to the increase in the number of offspring. The net increase rate,the natural increase rate and finite rate for P. formosana are comparatively high,indicating the population in the investigated region is expanding. Conservation strategies such as strictly limit habitat destruction,human gathering and disturbance should be taken to protect them.
First-line treatment for patients with CML in chronic phase: second-generation TKIs are the therapy of choice.

How often do we choose the “second best” treatment as initial therapy for our patients with cancer? The management of chronic myeloid leukemia should be no different.