cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic efficacy of multiagent chemotherapy with drug delivery enhancement by blood-brain barrier modification in glioblastoma

Reversible osmotic blood-brain barrier (BBB) modification was used in 38 patients with glioblastoma to enhance the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. The patients ranged in age from 14 to 70 years (mean, 43), and all had prior surgery and radiation; 5 had also received systemic chemotherapy. Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scores ranged from 60 to 100% (mean, 79) on admission to the treatment program. Barrier modification was achieved by intracarotid or intravertebral artery infusion of mannitol, and a chemotherapy regimen of methotrexate, cytoxan, and procarbazine was given in conjunction with barrier modification. The 38 glioblastoma patients were compared to two control groups of patients with glioblastoma; these encompassed 14 patients treated with surgery and radiation and 8 treated with surgery, radiation, and systemic chemotherapy. Survival analysis using the Cox Proportional Hazards Regression Model (corrected for age, sex, presence or absence of necrosis, and functional status) showed that patients receiving chemotherapy with BBB modification had a statistically significant (P = 0.0006) longer expected survival (17.5 months) than the control groups (12.8 and 11.4 months, respectively). Presently 16 patients of the barrier-enhanced treatment group are alive at 5 to 42 months from diagnosis (median, 20) with KPS scores ranging from 40 to 90% (median, 65). The neurological complications seen included a stroke-like syndrome in 3 patients (1 with decreased motor movement in the hand, 1 with marked hemiparesis, and 1 with hemiplegia), transient exacerbation of preexisting neurological deficits lasting 2 to 3 days, and a 15% incidence of seizures during or within 24 hours of the BBB modification. In 2 of the 38 patients, radiographic documentation of central nervous system tumor regression concurrent with the development of new tumor nodule(s) in portions of the brain distant from the region of osmotic BBB opening was seen. These studies indicate that chemotherapeutic drug delivery to tumors (as well as surrounding brain) can be augmented by osmotic BBB modification and that such therapy can result in a prolongation of survival.
Accelerator-driven transmutation of nuclear waste and electrical power production

The capabilities of modern proton or deuteron linear accelerators (1 GeV, 200 mA average current) enable a new physics and engineering approach using thermal neutrons to transmute both actinide and fission product radioactive wastes to short-lived or non-radioactive by-products. A clean and economically attractive energy source with a long-term plentiful fuel supply and no long-term waste legacy results from using thorium fuel concurrently with waste burning. The proposed method, with relatively straight-forward development and demonstration, provides an alternative to radioactive waste storage problems and continued depletion of organic fuel reserves.
Effect of quantum fluctuations on the dipolar motion of Bose-Einstein condensates in optical lattices

We reexamine dipolar motion of condensate atoms in one-dimensional optical lattices and harmonic magnetic traps including quantum fluctuations within the truncated Wigner approximation. In the strong tunneling limit we reproduce the mean field results with a sharp dynamical transition at the critical displacement. When the tunneling is reduced, on the contrary, strong quantum fluctuations lead to finite damping of condensate oscillations even at infinitesimal displacement. We argue that there is a smooth crossover between the chaotic classical transition at finite displacement and the superfluid-to-insulator phase transition at zero displacement. We further analyze the time dependence of the density fluctuations and of the coherence of the condensate and find several nontrivial dynamical effects, which can be observed in the present experimental conditions.
Effect of intracochlear perfusion of vanilloids on cochlear neural activity in the guinea pig

Recent findings show that the vanilloid receptor subtype 1 (TRPV1) is expressed by cochlear outer hair cells and spiral ganglion cells, and that its expression is up-regulated in ganglion cells after aminoglycoside treatment. This study tested the hypothesis that agents that act on TRPV1 receptors affect the spectrum of ensemble background activity (EBA). Consecutive intracochlear perfusions of the TRPV1 agonist, capsaicin (CAP 0.1, 1, and 10 parts per million), as well as its antagonist capsazepine (CZP), were used to test effects of TRPV1 activation on EBA recorded from the cochlear base. Perfusion with CAP alone produced a dose-dependent increase of the 900-Hz peak ratio (power normalized re the overall spectrum) of the EBA. The CAP effect was attenuated during concurrent perfusion with CZP. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that TRPV1 activation increases background activity of spiral ganglion cells and support a role of TRPV1 in gating spontaneous and evoked auditory nerve excitability.
Examination of the Possibility of Negative Capacitance Using Ferroelectric Materials in Solid State Electronic Devices

We show here, using fundamental energy storage relationships for capacitors, that there are severe constraints upon what can be realized utilizing ferroelectric materials as FET dielectrics. A basic equation governing all small signal behavior is derived, a negative capacitance quality factor is defined based upon it, and thousands of carefully measured devices are evaluated. We show that no instance of negative capacitance occurs within our huge database. Furthermore, we demonstrate that highly nonlinear biasing behavior in a series stack could be misinterpreted as giving a negative capacitance.
Hoechst 33342 staining of mouse bone marrow: Effects on colony‐forming cells

We have systematically studied the effect on hemopoietic colony-forming cells of staining cellular DNA with the bisbenzimidazole dye, Hoechst 33342. Mouse bone marrow cells could be adequately stained in a 30-60 min incubation with a 5 microM concentration of stain. Flow-cytometric analysis of stained cells provided cell distributions with coefficients of variation for the G1 peaks of 6% or less under these conditions. We found considerable heterogeneity among hemopoietic colony-forming cells with respect to the toxicity of the dye. Toxicity in the proliferatively quiescent stem cell population was not changed when the population became proliferatively active. In the sequence of most sensitive to least sensitive, the five progenitors studied could be arranged as follows: CFU-M, a megakaryocyte colony-forming cell; CFU-E, a relatively differentiated erythroid precursor; BFU-E, a primitive erythroid precursor; CFU-GM, a granulocyte-macrophage precursor; and CFU-S, the spleen colony-forming cell or hemopoietic stem cell. A staining procedure involving a 30-min exposure to 5 microM Hoechst 33342 provided optimal staining and no loss in four of the five progenitor populations; the CFU-M population was diminished by about 50%. We conclude that Hoechst can be regarded as a vital DNA stain for most bone marrow precursor populations, including the hemopoietic stem cell.
Species and gender differences in the metabolism and distribution of tertiary amyl methyl ether in male and female rats and mice after inhalation exposure or gavage administration.

Tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME) is a gasoline fuel additive used to reduce emissions. Understanding the metabolism and distribution of TAME is needed to assess potential human health issues. The effect of dose level, duration of exposure and route of administration on the metabolism and distribution of TAME were investigated in male and female F344 rats and CD-1 mice following inhalation or gavage administration. By 48 h after exposure, >96% of the administered radioactivity was expired in air (16–71%) or eliminated in urine and feces (28–72%). Following inhalation exposure, mice had a two- to threefold greater relative uptake of [14C]TAME compared with rats. Metabolites were excreted in urine of rats and mice that are formed by glucuronide conjugation of tertiary amyl alcohol (TAA), oxidation of TAA to 2,3-dihydroxy-2-methylbutane and glucuronide conjugation of 2,3-dihydroxy-2-methylbutane. A saturation in the uptake and metabolism of TAME with increased exposure concentration was indicated by a decreased relative uptake of total [14C]TAME equivalents and an increase in the percentage expired as volatiles. A saturation of P-450 oxidation of TAA was indicated by a disproportional decrease of 2,3-dihydroxy-2-methylbutane and its glucuronide conjugate with increased exposure concentration. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MicroScope: a knowledge-based programming environment

A description is given of MicroScope, a knowledge-based environment with tools that directly help programmers understand and modify complex programs. MicroScope is a collection of tools that share a common knowledge base and user interface and that run in a programming environment with many other tools. The features it provides are examined, namely, incremental support, annotations, constraints, dynamic analysis, history and program slices, and location of bugs. The knowledge base is described. The current MicroScope prototype is presented, and the lessons learned from it are discussed. >
Noodling: An American Folk Fishing Technique

La peche a la main (noodling) est une tradition des lacs et des rivieres du sud-est des Etats-Unis. Consideree comme une pratique de plaisance ou sportive, la peche du poisson-chat ou de la tortue necessite notamment une bonne connaissance du milieu. Sa transmission s'effectue essentiellement par la pratique et la tradition orale, et sa perennite contemporaine est en danger, notamment en raison du contexte social et des stereotypes negatifs qui lui sont associes.
Intraosseous vascular access defect: fracture mimic in the skeletal survey for child abuse

Two infants were transferred to the emergency department for injuries suggestive of child abuse. Skeletal surveys showed cortical bone defects in the proximal tibiae that were initially interpreted as healing fractures. Further investigation, however, revealed that intraosseous (IO) vascular access needles had been placed at these sites in both infants. In the appropriate clinical setting, a cortical lesion in the proximal tibia corresponding to the site of IO needle insertion should not be mistaken for a radiographic sign of child abuse.
Isovist-Based Occlusion Maps Representing Critical Variations in Le Corbusier's Museum of Unlimited Extension

The application of occlusion maps (ie, two-dimensional isovists deployed in a field) to several iterations of Le Corbusier�s Museum of Unlimited Extension are described. Built and unbuilt works are considered. Special focus is given to Le Corbusier�s design for the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo both before and after additions. Comparison and analysis of occlusion maps in the context of floor plans and perspective images are used to highlight critical variations between the projects.
A Feminist Carnal Sociology?: Embodiment in Sociology, Feminism, and Naturalized Philosophy

Wacquant’s vision of carnal sociology and enactive ethnography draws heavily from embodied mind theories in neurocognitive science and philosophy of mind. However, it also resonates with feminist epistemologies, such as sociologist Dorothy Smith's view that sociology should begin with and from the body. While both carnal sociology and the neurocognitive traditions it draws from ignore decades of feminist contributions to embodied epistemologies, I argue that feminist thought has much to contribute to materially grounded accounts of corporeal knowledge. Attention to feminist thought should also help enactive ethnographers consider the limits to the method, and the ethical and political complexities of embodied, situated knowledge.
The Number of Attentional Foci and Their Precision Are Dissociated in the Posterior Parietal Cortex

Many everyday tasks require us to track moving objects with attention. The demand for attention increases both when more targets are tracked and when the targets move faster. These 2 aspects of attention—assigning multiple attentional foci (or indices) to targets and monitoring each focus with precision—may tap into different cognitive and brain mechanisms. In this study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to quantify the response profile of dorsal attentional areas to variations in the number of attentional foci and their spatiotemporal precision. Subjects were asked to track a specific spoke of either 1 or 2 pinwheels that rotated at various speeds. Their tracking performance declined both when more pinwheels were tracked and when the tracked pinwheels rotated faster. However, posterior parietal activity increased only when subjects tracked more pinwheels but remained flat when they tracked faster moving pinwheels. The frontal eye fields and early visual areas increased activity when there were more targets and when the targets rotated faster. These results suggest that the posterior parietal cortex is specifically involved in indexing independently moving targets with attention but not in monitoring each focus with precision.
Mechanical strain enhances survivability of collagen micronetworks in the presence of collagenase: implications for load-bearing matrix growth and stability

There has been great interest in understanding the methods by which collagen-based load-bearing tissue is constructed, grown and maintained in vertebrate animals. To date, the responsibility for this process has largely been placed with mesenchymal fibroblastic cells that are thought to fully control the morphology of load-bearing extracellular matrix (ECM). However, given clear limitations in the ability of fibroblastic cells to precisely place or remove single collagen molecules to sculpt tissue, we have hypothesized that the material itself must play a critical role in the determination of the form of structural ECM. We here demonstrate directly, using live, dynamic, differential interference contrast imaging, that mechanically strained networks of collagen fibrils, exposed to collagenase (Clostridium histolyticum), degrade preferentially. Specifically, unstrained fibrils are removed ‘quickly’, while strained fibrils persist significantly longer. The demonstration supports the idea that collagen networks are mechanosensitive in that they are stabilized by mechanical strain. Thus, collagen molecules (together with their complement enzymes) may comprise the basis of a smart, load-adaptive, structural material system. This concept has the potential to drastically simplify the assumed role of the fibroblast, which would need only to provide ECM molecules and mechanical force to sculpt collagenous tissue.
On-line handwriting recognition using continuous parameter hidden Markov models

The problem of the automatic recognition of handwritten text is addressed. The text to be recognized is captured online and the temporal sequence of the data is presented. The approach is based on a left-to-right hidden markov model (HMM) for each character that models the dynamics of the written script. A mixture of Gaussian distributions is used to represent the output probabilities at each arc of the HMM. Several strategies for reestimating the model parameters are discussed. Experiments show that this approach results in significant decreases in error rate for the recognition of discretely written characters compared with elastic matching techniques. The HMM outperforms the elastic matching technique for both writer-dependent and writer-independent recognition tasks. >
Comparative Profile of Heme Acquisition Genes in Disease-Causing and Colonizing Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae and Haemophilus haemolyticus

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) are Gram-negative bacteria that colonize the human pharynx and can cause respiratory tract infections, such as acute otitis media (AOM). Since NTHI require iron from their hosts for aerobic growth, the heme acquisition genes may play a significant role in avoiding host nutritional immunity and determining virulence. Therefore, we employed a hybridization-based technique to compare the prevalence of five heme acquisition genes (hxuA, hxuB, hxuC, hemR, and hup) between 514 middle ear strains from children with AOM and 235 throat strains from healthy children. We also investigated their prevalences in 148 Haemophilus haemolyticus strains, a closely related species that colonizes the human pharynx and is considered to be nonpathogenic. Four out of five genes (hxuA, hxuB, hxuC, and hemR) were significantly more prevalent in the middle ear strains (96%, 100%, 100%, and 97%, respectively) than in throat strains (80%, 92%, 93%, and 85%, respectively) of NTHI, suggesting that strains possessing these genes have a virulence advantage over those lacking them. All five genes were dramatically more prevalent in NTHI strains than in H. haemolyticus, with 91% versus 9% hxuA, 98% versus 11% hxuB, 98% versus 11% hxuC, 93% versus 20% hemR, and 97% versus 34% hup, supporting their potential role in virulence and highlighting their possibility to serve as biomarkers to distinguish H. influenzae from H. haemolyticus. In summary, this study demonstrates that heme acquisition genes are more prevalent in disease-causing NTHI strains isolated from the middle ear than in colonizing NTHI strains and H. haemolyticus isolated from the pharynx.
Association between exercise hemodynamics and changes in local vascular function following acute exercise.

Skeletal muscle contractions are associated with physical stimuli that act upon muscle vasculature, including increased shear stress and blood pressure. It is unclear if acute dynamic exercise alters local vascular function. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of exercise hemodynamics on the effects of acute exercise on vascular function, as evaluated by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Healthy individuals (n = 14; age, 18–34 years) performed 30 min of handgrip exercise at fast and slow contractions. Blood pressure during exercise was measured using a Vasotrac system (Medwave Inc.), while shear rate during exercise and FMD at rest and after 30 min of recovery from exercise were measured in the brachial artery of the active arm using Doppler ultrasound. Estimated contractile work was correlated with blood pressure (r = 0.61, p < 0.01) and retrograde shear rate (r = –0.78, p < 0.01). As a result, blood pressure was higher (p < 0.05) and oscillatory shear index was lower (p < 0.05)...
Timing recovery for sampling detectors in digital magnetic recording

The emerging synchronous detectors in digital recording systems require precise sampling of the readback waveform. In this paper, a general minimum-mean-square-error timing recovery approach is presented which could be applied to both partial response and decision feedback systems. We also investigate a related class of timing recovery algorithms which utilize the characteristics of the channel impulse response. A performance comparison of the two approaches on a set of experimental data, equalized to a class IV partial response target, is also presented.
Gender differences in space‐time constraints

Summary This study explores gender differences in space-time constraints and their impact on women's and men's activity-travel patterns from a time-geographic perspective. Using a travel diary data set collected in Columbus, Ohio (USA), the time-budget and fixity constraints of three population subgroups are examined. This paper concludes that space-time constraints have a significant impact on individual's activity-travel patterns.
Hard error dose distributions of gate oxide arrays in the laboratory and space environments

Hard errors or "stuck bits" observed in a single memory can occur over a broad range of macroscopically measured doses. It is shown here that a major contributing factor to this is the microscopic variation of deposited dose across the large array of gate oxides composing the memory. In addition, processing variations also contribute to the spreading of hard error doses. A statistical model of these factors is presented and compared to Co-60 data. Comparisons are then made between the hard error dose distribution for Co-60 and that expected in the heart of the proton belts. It is shown that even though the average hard error dose in the proton belts is greater, the onset hard error dose can be less. Thus, the relations between the onset dose for hard errors in the two environments should be thoroughly understood before qualifying parts for space applications.
MODIS-Derived Boundary Conditions for a Mesoscale Climate Model: Application to Irrigated Agriculture in the Euphrates Basin

In arid and semiarid parts of the world, evaporation from irrigated fields may significantly influence humidity, near-surface winds, and precipitation. Using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra imagery from summer and autumn 2000 the authors attempt to improve the realism of a regional climate model (the fifth-generation Pennsylvania State University–NCAR Mesoscale Model) with respect to irrigated agriculture. MODIS data were used to estimate spatially distributed vegetation fraction and to identify areas of irrigated land use. Additionally, a novel surface flux routine designed to simulate traditional flood irrigation was implemented. Together these modifications significantly improved model predictions of water flux and the surface energy balance when judged against independent weather station data and known crop requirements. Model estimates of watershed-level water consumption were more than doubled relative to simulations that did not incorporate MODIS data, and there were small but systematic differences in predicted temperature and humidity near the surface. The modified version of the mesoscale model also predicts the existence of heat-driven circulations around large irrigated features, and these circulations are similar in structure and magnitude to those predicted by linear theory. Based on these results, it was found that accurate representation of irrigated agriculture is a prerequisite to any study of the impact of land-use change on climate or on water resources.
Short Course High Dose Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma

Purpose. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare but aggressive tumor with limited survival. To date, the ideal radiation treatment schedule, one that balances limited survival with treatment efficacy, remains undefined. In this retrospective series we investigate the effectiveness and tolerability of hypofractionated radiation therapy in the treatment of ATC. Methods. 17 patients with biopsy proven ATC treated between 2004 and 2012 were reviewed for outcomes and toxicity. All patients received short course radiation. Results. The most commonly prescribed dose was 54 Gy in 18 fractions. Median survival was 9.3 months. 47% of patients were metastatic at diagnosis and the majority of patients (88%) went on to develop metastasis. Death from local progression was seen in 3 patients (18%), 41% experienced grade 3 toxicity, and there were no grade 4 toxicities. Conclusions. Here we demonstrated the safety and feasibility of hypofractionated radiotherapy in the treatment of ATC. This approach offers shorter treatment courses (3-4 weeks) compared to traditional fractionation schedules (6-7 weeks), comparable toxicity, local control, and the ability to transition to palliative care sooner. Local control was dependent on the degree of surgical debulking, even in the metastatic setting.
A MODEL FOR EARLY EVENTS IN THE ASSEMBLY PATHWAY OF CYANOBACTERIAL PHYCOBILISOMES

Biological self-assembly is remarkable in its fidelity and in the efficient production of intricate molecular machines and functional materials from a heterogeneous mixture of macromolecules. The phycobilisome, a light-harvesting structure of cyanobacteria, presents the opportunity to study an in vivo assembly process in detail. The phycobilisome molecular architecture is defined, and crystal structures are available for all major proteins, as are a large sequence database (including a genome sequence) and effective genetic systems exist for some cyanobacteria. Recent studies on subunit interaction, covalent modification, and protein stability suggest a model for the earliest events in the phycobilisome assembly pathway. Partitioning of phycobilisome proteins between degradation and assembly is proposed to be controlled by the interaction equilibria between phycobilisome assembly partners, processing enzymes and chaperones. The model provides plausible explanations for existing observations and makes predictions that are amenable to direct experimental investigation.
Who is Being Served? Program Eligibility and Home- and Community-Based Services Use

Functional and economic eligibility criteria for publicly funded programs are causal factors in the use of home- and community-based services (HCBS). Thus, the study’s overall hypothesis was that the main program eligibility criteria would determine the particular characteristics of consumers in three of Florida’s HCBS programs: Aged and Disabled Adult Medicaid Waiver (ADW), Community Care for the Elderly, and Home Care for the Elderly (HCE). Data on 464 consumers who were 60 years and older and receiving services in one of the three programs support the overall hypothesis but revealed important exceptions. The ADW program is not serving a more functionally impaired population than the other programs. The HCE program is serving elders who are more cognitively impaired. Consumer-directed long-term care programs like HCE have the potential to better serve frail older adults and their caregivers if more public funding is allocated and other policy modifications are made nationwide.
COMPARATIVE STUDIES IN ROUS SARCOMA WITH VIRUS, TUMOR CELLS AND CHICK EMBRYO CELLS TRANSFORMED IN VITRO BY VIRUS : III. MALIGNANCY IN VIVO OF CELLS TRANSFORMED IN VITRO BY VIRUS

Chick embryo fibroblasts infected with Rous sarcoma virus in vitro are rendered malignant for such cells produce typical Rous sarcomas when injected into susceptible chicks since the tumors produced predominantly retain the sex chromatin patterns of the donor cells when such cells are injected into a recipient of the opposite sex. However, examination of the sex chromatin of cells at the periphery of the tumor shows presence of recipient cells though the bulk of the tumor is clearly of donor cell origin. Such tumors grow and cause death of the recipient. Injection of RSV induces tumors of the sex of the recipient as also does the injection of transformed cells rendered incapable of multiplication by x-rays. Following their injection into susceptible chicks, the cells transformed in vitro by virus behave in the same manner as tumor cells obtained from tumors induced by virus in vivo and cultivated in the same conditions in vitro. When such tumors induced by transformed cells are serially transferred in recipients of the opposite sex, they gradually convert to the sex of the recipient indicating that the tumors are not indefinitely transplantable. These chick embryo fibroblasts transformed in vitro show the same neo-plastic properties as tumor cells when they are introduced into the cheek pouch of the hamster or the eye of the guinea pig.
GARCH(1, 1) processes are near epoch dependent

Abstract This paper obtains conditions under which GARCH(1, 1) processes satisfy near epoch dependence without imposing strict stationarity. This substantially generalizes the conditions under which weak and strong laws of large numbers, central limit theorems and invariance principles hold for GARCH processes.
Cardiac registration: going further than atrial fibrillation ablation.

Precise delineation of anatomy and function are essential for accurately delivering interventional tools during electrophysiological procedures. Fluoroscopy is the traditional imaging modality used because it provides instantaneous information. However, it lacks precise anatomic visualization due to poor soft-tissue contrast between the area of interest and surrounding structures in a moving organ like the heart, resulting in a lack of proper intraprocedure guidance during interventional procedures, especially complex procedures such as atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and biventricular pacing. Three-dimensional imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging offer high-quality anatomic visualization, given their excellent tissue contrast characteristics and high spatial and temporal resolutions. Cardiac image registration, which involves integration of two images in the context of cardiac structures such as the left atrium, is intermodal, with the acquired image … *Corresponding author. 2801 W. Kinnickinnic River Parkway, Suite 777, Milwaukee, WI 53215, USA. Tel: +1 414 649 3390, Fax: +1 414 649 5769, Email: publishing{at}aurora.org
Which birthweight groups contributed most to the overall reduction in the neonatal mortality rate in the United States from 1960 to 1986

Summary. We determined the relative contributions of individual birthweight groups to the reduction in neonatal mortality rate (NMR) of US singleton livebirths from 1960 to 1986, the period during which neonatal intensive care was introduced and became established. Changes in the NMR for each race (non-white/white) and birthweight group were assessed in terms of three components of NMR (1) birthweight-specific neonatal mortality rate (BWS-NMR), (2) birthweight distribution, and (3) the interaction resulting from simultaneous changes in BWS-NMR and birthweight distribution. Overall, NMR decreased from 16.7 per 1000 livebirths in 1960 to 5.5 per 1000 livebirths in 1986. This reduction was achieved mainly by improvements in the BWS-NMRs of all birthweight groups. Neonates who weighed > 1.5 kg at birth were the major contributors to the overall reduction in the NMR; approximately two-thirds of total reduction in NMR between 1960 and 1980 and 52.6% of the total reduction between 1980 and 1986 occurred in the > 1.5 kg birthweight groups. Our study demonstrates that with the introduction of neonatal intensive care, survival of infants with birth weights > 1.5 kg improved markedly and that this improvement accounted for most of the decline in the neonatal mortality rate in the United States from 1960 to 1986. Therefore, in measuring the effectiveness of neonatal intensive care, the assessment should include not only very low birthweight (< 1.5 kg) but all birthweight groups.
A novel ensemble method to integrate with different technologies for moving foreground detection

Moving foreground detection can be used for the intelligent surveillance system and computer vision as an important step for many applications. Previous researchers have developed many different moving foreground detection technologies, such as background subtraction and optical flow. However, as far as we knew, there was few literature investigated ensemble method in integrate with various foreground detection technologies in real-time. In this paper, we present a new approach inspired from the ensemble system of machine learning to detect moving foreground by using weighted matrix with spatial characteristics. Furthermore, the weighted values can be automatically scaled over time for optimal flexibility and parameterization in our method. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can not only provide compared performance with the state-of-the-art methods, but also satisfy real-time applications.
Why did Tiger Woods shoot 82? A commentary on Toner and Moran (2015)

In a recent article, Toner and Moran (2015) argued that athletes need to pay conscious attention to body movements, and that an external focus of attention would not be effective for continued improvement at the elite level. Their arguments appear to be based on misunderstandings of the attentional focus literature. In this commentary, I clarify that adopting an external focus does not imply that performers are not aware of their body movements. Rather, an external focus (i.e., focusing attention of the intended movement effect) refers to the preparation of movement execution. I maintain that an external focus is necessary to optimize performance and learning at any level of performance.
Coeditors’ Introduction: The Figured World of Bilingual Education: Proyecto Bilingüe as Context for Teacher Self-Authoring

In the United States what we typically refer to as the master figured world of bilingual education was “figured” during the struggles for civil rights of the 1960s and 1970s. The landmark 1974 Supr...
Origination of the direct-indirect band gap transition in strained wurtzite and zinc-blende GaAs nanowires: A first principles study

Recent work [Appl. Phys. Lett. 100, 193108 (2012)] has demonstrated that uniaxial strain applied to wurtzite (WZ) GaAs nanowires leads to an interesting direct-indirect band gap transition. Here, we explored the potential of strain engineering on electronic structures of one-dimensional WZ and zinc-blende (ZB) GaAs nanowires along the [0001] and [111] directions, respectively. The studied strain includes uniaxial strain, radial strain, and strain along zigzag and armchair directions in the cross section of the nanowires and shear strains. It was found that the WZ and ZB GaAs nanowires with a diameter of \ensuremath{\sim}2 nm have an indirect band gap, whereas, bulk GaAs has a direct gap. The near-gap states (valence-band maximum/conduction-band minimum) are dominated by $s$ or $p$ orbitals of Ga or As atoms. The energies of these states respond very differently to the applied strains. For example, the energy increases with a positive uniaxial expansion while decreasing with a negative uniaxial compression for a state dominated by bonding s orbitals. However, for a state dominated by antibonding s orbitals, an opposite trend of its energy response to strain is observed. Furthermore, the energy response to strain of bonding p orbitals was found to be different from that of bonding s orbitals. Due to the different responses of the near-gap state energies with respect to strain, the direct-indirect band gap transition was produced. It was further found that whether a strain can trigger the direct-indirect band gap transition in the GaAs nanowires depends strongly on the type of applied strain. It requires less strain energy to convert the indirect gap to be direct in both the WZ and the ZB nanowires through applying a radial strain in the cross section, compared with applying a strain in the zigzag direction.
Second-row molecular orbital calculations: II. Semi-empirical calculations of dipole moments

Abstract The ability of four semi-empirical methods to predict dipole moments of molecules containing atoms in the second row of the periodic table is investigated. None of the methods is capable of consistently reproducing either magnitudes or qualitative trends; however, the CNDO method of Santry gives the best agreement overall. The original CNDO method of Santry and Segal emphasizes the importance of d orbitals to a greater extent than does the Santry method. Comparisons are presented with non-empirical results when possible.
“Better than White trash”: Work ethic, Latinidad and Whiteness in rural Arkansas

Diverse sites in the US South are being transformed by “new Latino immigration.” Rather than being a homogeneous process, experiences of migrant settlement are shaped by the racialized social worlds of particular historical social communities – and may in turn transform local racial formations (Winders, 2005). In one small town in rural Arkansas, Latina and Latino migrants perform boundary work (Lamont, 2000; Hartigan, 2010), constructing their identities as “good” workers and neighbors. Although migrants assert belonging and dignity by framing themselves as “better than White trash,” nonetheless this belonging is predicated on the reproduction of racial and class hierarchy as well as conformity to the structural demands of neoliberal capitalism.
Incorporation of halophenylcysteines into proteins.

SummaryIncorporation of labeled iodobenzene and p-chlorophenylcysteine into the conjugated proteins and “soluble RNA fractions” of rat liver and intestine has been demonstrated. The possibilities for production of hydrocarbon-protein conjugates by either direct reaction with the protein or initial reaction to form an amino acid analogue are recognized.
Investigation Of The Related Knowledge About Hepatitis B Prevention And The Attitude/Behaviour To Hepatitis B Carriers Among healthy population

Objective To understand the awareness of the related knowledge about hepatitis B(HB) prevention in healthy population,learn their attitudes or/and behaviors in dealing with hepatitis B carriers,and provide evidence for HB control.Method: 875 persons with immunization history on HB vaccine and their families except for HB carriers were investigated using questionnaires.Results Among 875 persons,the awareness rate of the etiology of HB and its transmission routes were over 50%,and the rate of transmission routes was only 37.5% except for sexual contact.36.6% of them knew that the main way to prevent HB was injecting HB vaccination.10.6% of them knew that the protection of antibody lasts over 10 years after injecting HB vaccination successfully.The related knowledge awareness of HB prevention and their attitudes had no differences in people with different gender and different ages,but they were different in people with different levels of education.More than 85% of them knew how to live and work together with HB carriers.Conclusion Besides the strengthening of the education about HB related knowledge,the transition from knowledge to behaviors should be paid more attention to in future.
A Review of Deepwater Pipeline Construction in the U. S. Gulf of Mexico-Contracts, Cost, and Installation Methods

The offshore pipeline network in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico is the largest and most transparent system in the world. A review of deepwater projects in the region provides insight into construction cost and installation methods and the evolution of contract strategies. Pipeline projects are identified as export systems, infield flowline systems, and combined export and infield systems, and three dozen deepwater pipeline installations from 1980–2014 are described based on OTC/SPE industry publications and press release data. Export lines and infield flowlines are equally represented and many projects used a combination of J-lay, S-lay and reel methods with rigid steel, flexible line, and pipe-in-pipe systems. The average 2014 inflation-adjusted cost for pipeline projects based on OTC/SPE publications was $2.76 million/mi and ranged from $520 000/mi to $12.94 million/mi. High cost pipelines tend to be short segments or specialized pipeline. Excluding the two cost endpoints, the majority of projects ranged from $1 to $6 million/mi. The average inflation-adjusted cost to install deepwater pipelines in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico based on available public data is estimated at $3.1 million/mi.
Exanthema associated with Zika virus infection

A 39-year-old man presented to the Acute Febrile Illness walk-in clinic with acute onset of rash and conjunctival swelling after 2 days of frontal headache, sore throat, and diff use myalgia. He did not have fever, diaphoresis, photophobia, or bleeding symptoms and reported no comorbidities. At physical examination, he had oedema and erythema of the malar region of the face and conjunctival injection (fi gure A) and a macular rash on the trunk and abdomen (fi gure B). Hyperaemia and petechiae were seen in the hard palate (fi gure C). There was a tender, mobile, soft lymph node, approximately 15 mm in diameter, behind the left ear (fi gure D), and multiple smaller palpable submandibular and cervical nodes bilaterally. Results of blood tests were within normal limits and urinalysis revealed haematuria. The patient lived in an impoverished area of Rio de Janeiro that is endemic for dengue, had not travelled recently to other areas of the country, and was not aware of any contact with other ill people. As part of the syndromic diagnosis, serology tests were performed for dengue, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis, Epstein–Barr virus, syphilis, and HIV, the results of which were all negative. RT-PCR for dengue and chikungunya were also negative. Because of the recent introduction of Zika virus in the country, we did specifi c RT-PCR for Zika virus RNA, with a positive result. The patient had no alarm signs for severe dengue fever and was instructed to return the following day for re-evaluation. He returned 14 days after the onset of symptoms for reassessment, and had completely recovered. At the time of writing, the patient was healthy. Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, which are widespread in Brazil and contribute to dengue transmission. The emergence of Zika in a naive population with high susceptibility to transmission requires physicians to be alert to its occurrence in order to characterise its manifestations and establish robust and reliable clinical surveillance.
Characteristics of Inmates Who Misuse Prescription Medication

Substance use disorders are common among incarcerated individuals, and prescribed medications have been reported as abused, diverted, or otherwise misused in correctional settings. We conducted a retrospective chart review of electronic medical records and reports on institutional charges for misuse of authorized medication by inmates in the New Jersey Department of Corrections between 2003 and 2013. The most frequently cited medications for misuse were gabapentin, diphenhydramine, clonidine, and ibuprofen. When compared with the entire current inmate population, subjects were more likely to have any history of a substance use disorder, to be in treatment for a mental illness, to have any diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, to have any history of malingering, and to be prescribed a greater number of medicines. Prescribers in correctional settings should be aware that medications not traditionally prescribed by a psychiatrist may also be misused, and caution should be taken to manage this risk.
Von Willebrand factor multimer quantitation for assessment of cardiac lesion severity and bleeding risk.

Background von Willebrand factor (VWF) multimer quantitation has been utilized in the assessment of valvular heart disease, however, there is no standardized method for quantitation. We compared three methods of assessment which utilized a normal plasma control. Methods We analyzed 476 samples and their control plasma from 368 patients with valvular heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or LVAD therapy, and 27 normal subjects. VWF multimers were assessed as normalized VWF multimer ratios (NMR) of gel bands >15/2-15 (NMR15) or gel bands >10/2-10 (NMR10). Associations of VWF laboratory and multimeric assessments with cardiac lesion severity and acquired bleeding were investigated. Results Abnormal multimers were present in 78% of patients with moderate to severe hemodynamic abnormalities compared to 19% of patients with normal or mildly abnormal hemodynamics. NMR showed strong association with severe cardiac lesions (NMR15: OR 15.29, CI 9.04-27.18; NMR10: OR 14.18, CI 8.88-23.21). PFA-CADP was strongly associated with moderate to severe cardiac lesions (OR 14.91, CI 9.08-24.50). PFA-CADP and NMR15 showed excellent ability to discriminate ≥moderate (AUC 0.86, CI 0.83-0.89 and 0.83, CI 0.79-0.87 respectively) and severe cardiac lesions (AUC 0.84, CI 0.81-0.88 and 0.85, CI 0.81-0.88 respectively). NMR was less strongly associated with bleeding (OR 4.01 for NMR10, CI 2.49-6.58). Conclusion Quantification of VWF multimers may provide clinical utility in circumstances where clinical estimation of cardiac lesion severity is challenging, such as with dysfunctional prosthetic valves. The presence of abnormal VWF multimers is associated with bleeding, however further quantitation provided only modest improvement in risk stratification.
Enriching Your Career Through the Arts

One can use the arts as a source of personal sustenance and renewal, a means of medical education, professional development and community-building, a research topic, or a healing modality with patients. The arts can also be a powerful source of professional development and renewal for medical professionals at all career stages, and can also serve a community-building purpose. There are multiple ways that creative arts can be used directly with patients with an explicit goal of healing.
Solution Structure and Elevator Mechanism of the Membrane Electron Transporter CcdA

Membrane oxidoreductase CcdA plays a central role in supplying reducing equivalents from the bacterial cytoplasm to the envelope. It transports electrons across the membrane using a single pair of cysteines by a mechanism that has not yet been elucidated. Here we report an NMR structure of the Thermus thermophilus CcdA (TtCcdA) in an oxidized and outward-facing state. CcdA consists of two inverted structural repeats of three transmembrane helices (2 × 3-TM). We computationally modeled and experimentally validated an inward-facing state, which suggests that CcdA uses an elevator-type movement to shuttle the reactive cysteines across the membrane. CcdA belongs to the LysE superfamily, and thus its structure may be relevant to other LysE clan transporters. Structure comparisons of CcdA, semiSWEET, Pnu, and major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporters provide insights into membrane transporter architecture and mechanism.
Risk prediction model for heart disease among endometrial cancer survivors.

120Background: There are an estimated 760,000 endometrial cancer survivors alive in the US today. We previously reported on increased heart disease (HD) risk among endometrial cancer survivors from...
Cardiomyopathies in Children

Pediatric cardiomyopathies are a heterogeneous group of disorders affecting the myocardium. They are associated with abnormal chamber size or wall thickness and systolic and/or diastolic dysfunction in the absence of valve disease, coronary artery disease, hypertension, congenital heart disease, or abnormal loading conditions. While previous classification schema focused primarily on functional and morphologic phenotypes, more recent proposals incorporate causative mechanisms and divide the cardiomyopathies into primary and secondary causes.
The role of apoptosis in regulating hematopoietic stem cell numbers

The importance of apoptosis, in combination with proliferation, in maintaining stable populations has become increasingly clear in the last decade. Perturbation of either of these processes can have serious consequences, and result in a variety of disorders. Moreover, as the players and pathways gradually emerge, it turns out that there are strong connections in the regulation of cell cycle progression and apoptosis. Apoptosis, proliferation, and the disorders resulting from aberrant regulation have been studied in a variety of cell types and systems. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) are defined as primitive mesenchymal cells that are capable of both self-renewal and differentiation into the various cell lineages that constitute the functioning hematopoietic system. Many (but certainly not all) mature hematopoietic cells are relatively short-lived, sometimes with a half-life in the order of days. Homeostasis requires the production of 10(8) (mouse) to 10(11) (human) cells each day. All of these cells are ultimately derived from HSC that mostly reside in the bone marrow in adult mammals. The study of the regulation of HSC numbers has focussed mainly on the choice between self-renewal and differentiation, symmetric and asymmetric cell divisions. Recently, however, it has been directly demonstrated that apoptosis plays an important role in the regulation of hematopoietic stem cells in vivo.