cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Correlations Between the USMLE Step Examinations, American College of Physicians In-Training Examination, and ABIM Internal Medicine Certification Examination.

Purpose: To assess the correlations between United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) performance, American College of Physicians (ACP) Internal Medicine In-Training Examination (IM-ITE) performance, American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Internal Medicine Certification Exam (IM-CE) performance, and other medical knowledge and demographic variables. Method: The study included 9,676 postgraduate year (PGY) 1, 11,424 PGY2, and 10,239 PGY3 internal medicine (IM) residents from any Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited IM residency program who took the IM-ITE (2014 or 2015) and the IM-CE (2015-2018). USMLE scores, IM-ITE percent correct scores, and IM-CE scores were analyzed using multiple linear regression and IM-CE pass/fail status was analyzed using multiple logistic regression, controlling for USMLE Step 1, Step 2 Clinical Knowledge, and Step 3 scores; averaged medical knowledge milestones; age at IM-ITE; gender; and medical school location (United States or Canada vs international). Results: All variables were significant predictors of passing the IM-CE with IM-ITE scores having the strongest association and USMLE Step scores being the next strongest predictors. Prediction curves for the probability of passing the IM-CE based solely on IM-ITE score for each PGY show that residents must score higher on the IM-ITE with each subsequent administration to maintain the same estimated probability of passing the IM-CE. Conclusions: The findings from this study should support residents and program directors in their efforts to more precisely identify and evaluate knowledge gaps for both personal learning and program improvement. While no individual USMLE Step score was as strongly predictive of IM-CE score as IM-ITE score, the combined relative contribution of all 3 USMLE Step scores was of a magnitude similar to that of IM-ITE score.
Passive aeroelastic deflection of avian primary feathers.

Bird feathers are complex structures that passively deflect as they interact with air to produce aerodynamic force. Newtonian theory suggests that feathers should be stiff to effectively utilize this force. Observations of flying birds indicate that feathers respond to aerodynamic loading via spanwise bending, twisting, and sweeping. These deflections are hypothesized to optimize flight performance, but this has not yet been tested. We measured deflection of isolated feathers in a wind tunnel to explore how flexibility altered aerodynamic forces in emulated gliding flight. Using primary feathers from seven raptors and a rigid airfoil, we quantified bending, sweep, and twisting, as well as ∝ (attack angle) and slip angle. We predicted that 1) feathers would deflect under aerodynamic load, 2) bending would result in lateral redirection of force, 3) twisting would alter spanwise ∝ "washout" and delay the onset of stall, and 4) flexural stiffness of feathers would exhibit positive allometry. The first three predictions were supported by our results, but not the fourth. We found that bending resulted in the generation of lateral forces towards the base of the feather on the order of ~10% of total lift. In comparison to the airfoil which stalled at ∝=13.5°, all feathers continued to increase lift production with increasing angle of attack to the limit of our range of measurements (α=27.5°). We observed that feather stiffness exhibited positive allometry (∝ mass1.1±0.3), approximately consistent with previous research showing that stiffness does not scale as predicted by geometric similarity (∝ mass1.67). These findings demonstrate that feather flexibility may provide passive roll stability and delay stall by twisting to reduce local ∝ at the feather tip. Our findings are the first to measure forces due to feather deflection under aerodynamic loading and can inform future models of avian flight as well as biomimetic morphing-wing technology.
Latent Class Analysis of Self-directed Violence and Indirect Self-harm Behaviors: Gender Differences and Associations With Mental Health Symptoms.

Objective This study aimed to (1) examine whether the latent class structure of individuals engaging in self-directed violence and indirect self-harm behaviors (eg, substance use, disordered eating) varied by gender in a sample of US veterans, and (2) test the associations of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive symptoms with the resulting classes. Study design Cross-sectional data from 3581 veterans, ages 18-50 (51.9% identified as women) were analyzed. Veterans self-reported histories of self-directed violence, substance use, and disordered eating. Latent class analysis and latent class regression were used to explore class structure by gender and examine association of class membership with PTSD and depressive symptoms. Results A 4-class model was supported in the sample. Class 1 (20.0%) was characterized by substance use and self-directed violent thoughts and behaviors. Class 2 (8.3%) was characterized by substance use, disordered eating, and self-directed violent thoughts and behaviors. Class 3 (12.6%) was distinguished by indirect self-harm behaviors (substance use and disordered eating). Class 4 (59.6%) reflected low likelihood of behavioral dysregulation. Classes were partially invariant across gender; endorsement of substance use behaviors was generally higher for men in each class. Comorbid clinically significant depressive and PTSD symptoms were associated with the class characterized by highest behavioral dysregulation. Conclusions Self-directed violent thoughts and behaviors present comorbidly with indirect self-harm in men and women veterans, although patterns of indirect self-harm behaviors differ slightly by gender. Such comorbidity may be associated with more severe presentations of psychiatric concerns.
Cutaneous Polyarteritis Nodosa

Cutaneous involvement of medium vessel vasculitis most commonly presents with features of inflammatory subcutaneous nodules, purpura, livedo reticularis, and ulceration. The clinical and histopathologic features of isolated cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa (c-PAN) are indistinguishable from the cutaneous involvement of systemic polyarteritis nodosa; however, these conditions differ in their prognosis and treatment. An approach to distinguish between these clinical entities is herein described. In addition, conditions commonly mimicking cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa are reviewed.
From structure to mechanism: skiing the energy landscape.

It is time for structural biologists to embrace the challenge of quantitatively describing functional energy landscapes.
New phases in color-flavor-locked quark matter

We consider $O({\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s})$ corrections to the squared masses of the pseudo-Goldstone excitations about the ground state of dense quark matter. We show that these contributions tend to destabilize the vacuum, leading to a surprisingly complex phase structure for quark matter as a function of quark mass, even for small ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}$. In particular we find two new phases of CFL quark matter possibly relevant for the real world, for which ${\overline{\ensuremath{\theta}}}_{\mathrm{Q}\mathrm{C}\mathrm{D}}=\ensuremath{\pi}/2$.
Protein constituents of the mouse spermatozoon. I. An electrophoretic characterization

Abstract Total protein constituents of the mouse spermatozoon have been fractionated and characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Three spermatozoan fractions were obtained following homogenization with 1% sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) and sucrose gradient centrifugation: SDS-soluble proteins, SDS-insoluble tail components, and SDS-insoluble head components. Purities of these fractions were assessed at greater than 95% using Nomarksi differential interference microscopy. Subsequently, the SDS-insoluble sperm heads were further fractionated into five protein subclasses by ultracentrifugation and ion-exchange chromatography. SDS-Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicates that each of these spermatozoan fractions contains distinct protein species. Furthermore, the electrophoretic profiles are highly reproducible and show no evidence of cross-contamination or proteolysis. The SDS-soluble fraction, which includes proteins from the plasma membrane, acrosome, axoneme, matrix and cristae of the mitochondria, contains one major 39,000-molecular weight band and numerous minor bands with molecular weights ranging from ∼30,000 to greater than 100,000. In contrast, electrophoresis of the SDS-insoluble tail proteins reveals the presence of at least nine prominent bands with apparent molecular weights between 21,000 and 89,000. Ultrastructural analysis suggests that this fraction contains proteins from the outer dense fibers, fibrous sheath, outer mitochondrial membranes, and structural elements of the neck region of the sperm tail. Two subfractions of the SDS-insoluble sperm heads each contain one of the two mouse protamines. In addition, the acidic and moderately basic head fractions each contain a limited number of distinct protein bands with molecular weights ranging from 14,000 to 76,000. These proteins are apparently derived from either the spermatozoan nucleus or the associated perinuclear material, since all other sperm head structures are solubilized during SDS treatment. One- and two-dimensional electrophoresis on acetic acid-urea polyacrylamide gels indicates that the moderately basic fraction may contain minor components that resemble certain histones and/or spermatidal basic nuclear proteins.
The Negotiated Reformation: The Urban Reformation in Donauwörth

On March 26, 1545, the city council in Donauworth sent a delegation to its southern neighbor Augsburg. Drawing on the traditionally close ties between the cities, Donauworth's magistrates sought Augsburg's protection against the arrival of Spanish soldiers. The troops, who were under Habsburg command, had been ordered to the Turkish wars in Hungary by King Ferdinand. On their way, they were scheduled to stop at Donauworth to board ships supplied by the local council. Donauworth possessed neither the funds nor the ability to accommodate the soldiers, and the council feared “should [the Spaniards]…receive word…[we] have recently introduced religious change, they will be inclined toward dangerous action against [our] city.” Augsburg's council agreed to send a detachment of troops to protect its neighbor, despite Donauworth's decision three weeks earlier to adopt reform modeled on Nuremberg rather than Augsburg. This action had directly contradicted the wishes of Augsburg's magistrates and temporarily soured relations between the cities. In its time of need, however, Donauworth's council apologized to its neighbor that it “has not followed your example in all things, most notably in the acceptance of free Christian teaching and the Gospel, as well as the outward ceremonies of the Church.” It had acted out of “great cautiousness,” but Augsburg's magistrates remained its “dear sirs and fathers.” The council hoped “with time God may grant a better opportunity to act with less fear.”
Organizing Care for Complex Patients in the Patient-Centered Medical Home

The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a model for strengthening primary care through the reorganization of existing practices to provide patient-centered, comprehensive, coordinated, and accessible care that is continuously improved through a systems-based approach to quality and safety.[1][1
Investigation of ultrawideband pulses in wideband helix traveling wave tubes

The paper deals about the investigations of transient TWT excitation. The numerical simulations are largely based on a 1D time-domain model, as well as the frequency domain code LATTE. The time domain code models the particles, including space charge, using the particle-in-cell method. Fields are calculated using the pseudo-spectral time-domain method with a modification to incorporate helix waveguide dispersion effects and attenuation into a 1D model. Both models have been validated against experimental measurements on the XWING TWT.
Learning Technologies Then and Now

Bill Ferster's latest book, Teaching Machines: Learning from the Intersection of Education and Technology, explores the history of self-directed learning, from correspondence courses to MOOCs. If you're new to the educational technology landscape, this book is a thought-provoking introduction.
The effects of calcium channel antagonists on short- and long-term retention in mice using spontaneous alternation behavior

The effect of calcium channel antagonists (CCA's) on working and reference memory in mice was studied using spontaneous alternation (SA) behavior in a T maze. Mice were given either one or four forced trials to either the right or the left arm on the training session (T1) followed by a free choice test (T2) at varying intervals after the initial trial. Untreated animals given one forced trial exhibited significantly greater levels of SA than chance at all delay intervals out to 20 min but not at 30, 60, or 180 min. Animals given four forced trials showed significant levels of SA 24 h after exposure but not at 72 h. Additional groups of mice were treated with amlodipine, nimodipine, diltiazem, and verapamil 1 h before T1. Mice given one forced trial were tested 30, 60, or 180 min after T1 while mice given four forced trials were tested 72 h after T1. Results showed that all of the CCA's except verapamil produced significant SA at the 30-min interval and nimodipine and diltiazem also significantly increased SA at the 60-min-delay interval. No significant effects were observed at the 180-min test. In the four trial groups, all of the CCA's with the exception of verapamil produced significant levels of SA at the 72-h interval. These results indicate that representative CCA's from both the dihydropyridine and the benzothiazapine classes can facilitate both short- and long-interval SA, thereby providing further confirmation that CCA's can enhance memory processing in young animals.
Inhomogeneity in cosmological element formation

Cosmological deuterium production is sensitive to variations from the homogeneity which is assumed in standard cosmological models. We demonstrate that a wide range of possible variations in primordial shearing velocity fields can produce deuterium with an abundance comparable to (or exceeding) the observed value even in closed models, without greatly altering the production of helium or appreciably distorting the isotropy of the microwave background radiation.
BRMS1 expression alters the ultrastructural, biomechanical and biochemical properties of MDA-MB-435 human breast carcinoma cells: an AFM and Raman microspectroscopy study.

Abstract Restoring BReast cancer Metastasis Suppressor 1 (BRMS1) expression suppresses metastasis in MDA-MB-435 human breast carcinoma cells at ectopic sites without affecting tumor formation at orthotopic site in the body. BRMS1 expression induces many phenotypic alterations in 435 cells such as cell adhesion, cytoskeleton rearrangement, and the down regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression. In order to better understand the role of cellular biomechanics in breast cancer metastasis, the qualitative and quantitative detection of cellular biomechanics and biochemical composition is urgently needed. In the present work, using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and fluorescent microscopy we revealed that BRMS1 expression in 435 cells induced reorganization of F -actin and caused alteration in cytoarchitectures (cell topography and ultrastructure). Results from AFM observed increase in biomechanical properties which include cell adhesion, cellular spring constant, and Young’s modulus in 435/BRMS1 cells. Raman microspectroscopy showed weaker vibrational spectroscopic bands in 435/BRMS1 cells, implying decrease in concentration of cellular biochemical components in these cells. This was despite the similar spectral patterns observed between 435 and 435/BRMS1 cells. This work demonstrated the feasibility of applying AFM and Raman techniques for in situ measurements of the cellular biomechanics and biochemical components of breast carcinoma cells. It provides vital clues in understanding of the role of cellular biomechanics in cancer metastasis, and further the development of new techniques for early diagnosis of breast cancer.
‘Fühlst du dich als Deutsche oder als Afrikanerin?’:1 May Ayim's Search for an Afro‐German Identity in her Poetry and Essays

Until her suicide in 1996, May Ayim was one of the leading voices among Afro-German women and the group's most prominent poet. In her poetry and essays, she addresses such topics as marginalisation, multiculturalism and identity formation and describes her struggle to live in a society where she encountered racial prejudice and stereotypes. Her texts map the stages in her development from rejecting being black and wishing to be white to affirming her biracial identity, which she came to view as a source of her creativity. In her poetry she not only depicts aspects of the Afro-German experience but also powerfully evokes feelings of abandonment, loneliness, love and death. In this article I will set Ayim's work into the context of the Afro-German experience and highlight issues that were of particular concern to her.
Inadvertent Placement of Pacemaker Lead into the Systemic Ventricle in Repaired D-Transposition of the Great Arteries

We report a case of a 27-year-old man with Senning repair of D-transposition of the great arteries. A dual-chamber pacemaker was placed for syncope due to sinoatrial node dysfunction 3 years before this presentation. He had no further syncope but complained of dyspnea on exertion and mild exercise intolerance. A routine chest x-ray and transthoracic echocardiography suggested the presence of a pacing lead in the systemic ventricle (anatomic right ventricle). To better define the anatomy and lead position, he underwent a gated computed tomography scan. This showed …
Designing Your International M&A Strategy

A European multinational firm may want to buy your company! Or perhaps you are considering acquiring a foreign company. Either way, more companies are considering international M&As. But do you have a strategy that is well thought out? The authors show how to develop one—and successfully implement it. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Cigarette Smoking in Veteran Women: The Impact of Job Strain

To evaluate the health effects of role overload, the relationship between multiple role (i.e., worker, spouse, caretaker) strain and current cigarette smoking was examined. A cross-sectional survey of women veterans, aged 36-85 years, was performed measuring home and job strain and health behaviors. Of the 275 women who rated both their work and home strains, 25% (n = 69) currently smoke cigarettes. Higher work strain, but not higher home strain, was associated with smoking adjusting for age, education, income, weight, and marital status. A stressful work environment may trigger persistent smoking and should be addressed during smoking cessation counseling.
The development of the nucleus isthmi in Xenopus laevis. I. Cell genesis and the formation of connections with the tectum

The nucleus isthmi (NI) of the amphibian relays visual input from one tectum to the other tectum and thus brings a visual map from the eye to the ipsilateral tectum. This isthmotectal visual map develops slowly; it is first detected electrophysiologically at stages 60–62, the age at which the eyes begin their dorsalward migration and the region of binocular overlap begins to increase in extent. During this critical period of life, normal binocular visual input is required for establishment of normal topographic isthmotectal projections. In this study, we have used anatomical methods to trace cell birth, cell death, and formation of connections by the nucleus isthmi during the critical period. Tritiated thymidine labelling demonstrates that cells in the nucleus isthmi are generated throughout most of tadpole life (stages 29–62). Most cells conform to an orderly ventrodorsal gradient starting from stage 29 and extending to stage 56; later cells are inserted at apparently random locations in the nucleus. We have re-examined the hypothesis of Tay and Straznicky (1980) that the order of cell genesis in the NI and tectum could help establish proper isthmotectal connections, and we find that a timing mechanism does not explain the two-dimensional topography of the isthmotectal map but that timing may aid in proper mediolateral positioning of isthmotectal axons at the points where they first enter the tectum. Horseradish peroxidase labelling was used to investigate whether anatomical projections from tectum to NI and from NI to tectum are present prior to the onset of eye migration. The results show that there are tectoisthmotectal projections by stage 52. Moreover, isthmotectal axons grow into as yet monocular tectal regions prior to the onset of eye migration. At stage 60, when binocular overlap begins, isthmotectal axons are visible throughout the tectum but are densely branched only at the rostral tectal margin, the location where they are predicted to occur on the basis of electrophysiological maps.
Digital Panel Assembly for Automotive Body-in-White

This paper presents the methodology of Digital Panel Assembly (DPA), a computer aided approach in automotive body panel assembly. Core to the methodology is special-purpose finite element software, EAVS, that can simulate the panel assembly processes and predict assembly dimensions by taking into considerations of the compliant nature of panels and sub-assemblies. To validate the methodology, a non-contact EOIS optical scanning procedure for panel measurement is established. The validation study shows that the reported methodology can accurately predict the 1st level panel sub-assemblies. Finally, the resource requirements, functional capabilities, and scalability of the digital panel assembly methodology towards a complete Body-in-White implementation are discussed.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Local Adjustment of the Background Error Correlation for Surface Analyses over Complex Terrain

The terrain between grid points is used to modify locally the background error correlation matrix in an objective analysis system. This modification helps to reduce the influence across mountain barriers of corrections to the background field that are derived from surface observations. This change to the background error correlation matrix is tested using an analytic case of surface temperature that encapsulates the significant features of nocturnal radiation inversions in mountain basins, which can be difficult to analyze because of locally sharp gradients in temperature. Bratseth successive corrections, optimal interpolation, and three-dimensional variational approaches are shown to yield exactly the same surface temperature analysis. Adding the intervening terrain term to the Bratseth approach led to solutions that match more closely the specified analytic solution. In addition, the convergence of the Bratseth solutions to the best linear unbiased estimation of the analytic solution is faster. The intervening terrain term was evaluated in objective analyses over the western United States derived from a modified version of the Advanced Regional Prediction System Data Assimilation System. Local adjustment of the background error correlation matrix led to improved surface temperature analyses by limiting the influence of observations in mountain valleys that may differ from the weather conditions present in adjacent valleys.
Summer Camp, Seaside Station, and Marine Laboratory: Marine biology and its institutional identity

Cet article traite des laboratoires construit pour l'etude de la vie marine aux Etats-Unis et de leur identite institutionnelle. Le travail de l'auteur se concentre autour de trois aspects des institutions de la biologie americaine : leur place au sein du developpement de la biologie aux Etats-Unis, leurs objectifs au niveau local dans le traitement de problemes d'ordre biologique, et leur role pedagogique particulier dans l'implication des etudiants dans des travaux pratiques de recherche et d'observation.
Automated, high-precision coulometric titrimetry part I. Engineering and implementation

Abstract Automated constant-current coulometry, based on Faraday's achieves uncertainties (relative standard deviation) of less than 1 part in 20 000 without chemical standardization. It is applicable to acid-base, redox, and precipitation titrations of high-purity compounds and solutions. Automation of the technique permits unsupervised operation and reduces operator-dependent errors. Initial setup and sample introduction are the sole manual steps. Each assay consists of a main titration at high, constant current, bracketed by the initial and final endpoint routines, each at a lower current. The coulometric assay is analogous to a conventional titration in which two different concentrations of the titrant are used to attain optimum accuracy. The initial endpoint determination corresponds to the blank determination in a classical titration includes a statistical analysis of the random and systematic uncertainties associated with the analysis. Individual steps in the procedure are performed by a hierarchical series of subroutines to reduce program complexity. Results are presented for K2Cr2O7, benzoic acid, and solutions of strong acids.
Tunable 1.55 - 2.1 GHz 4-Pole Elliptic Bandpass Filter With Bandwidth Control and ${> 50}~{\hbox {dB}}$ Rejection for Wireless Systems

This paper presents a four-pole elliptic tunable combline bandpass filter with center frequency and bandwidth control. The filter is built on a Duroid substrate with er=10.2 and h=25 mils, and the tuning is done using packaged Schottky diodes. A frequency range of 1.55-2.1 GHz with a 1-dB bandwidth tuning from 40-120 MHz (2.2-8% fractional bandwidth) is demonstrated. A pair of tunable transmission zeroes are synthesized at both passband edges and significantly improve the filter selectivity. The rejection level at both the lower and upper stopbands is >; 50 dB and no spurious response exists close to the passband. The measured third-order intermodulation intercept point (TOI) and 1-dB power compression point at midband (1.85 GHz) and a bandwidth of 110 MHz are >; 14& dBm and 6 dBm, respectively, and are limited by the Schottky diodes. It is believed that this is the first four-pole combline tunable bandpass filter with an elliptic function response and center frequency and bandwidth control. The application areas are in tunable filters for wireless systems and cognitive radios.
Particle Losses in Glass Honeycomb Denuder Samplers

Particle loss tests have been performed on glass honeycomb denuders for particles in the size range 0.05–2 (Am. The tests were conducted at three different flow rates (1.5, 4, and 10 L/min). Fluorescent monodisperse latex particles were used as a test aerosol. Experimental results were compared to those predicted by the theory that combines diffusion, impaction, and interception. It was demonstrated that particle losses reach a minimum for particles in the range 0.5–0.75 (μm and become higher for smaller or larger particles. Although for every flow rate tested the particle losses appear to be higher than the predictions of theory, they exhibit similar trends with the theoretical predictions. In all cases the particle losses on the glass honeycomb denuder were found to be < 5%. The effect of relative humidity on particle loss was examined at 1.5 L/min sampling flow rate. The results did not demonstrate a dependence of the loss on the humidity. It was expected that a lower relative humidity (10% to 20%) wou...
Reduced aminergic synthesis in the hypothalamus of the infertile, genetically diabetic (C57BL/KsJ-db/db) male mouse

Diabetes mellitus is commonly associated with reproductive neuroendocrinopathy in both humans and animal models for the disease. Diabetes-associated reproductive failure in the male is a result of multilevel dysfunction within the hypothalamo-pituitary-testicular axis. In view of the known effects of diabetes on hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotropins in chemically-induced animal models for diabetes, we examined hypothalamic aminergic activities (important to the regulation of GnRH release), circulating gonadotropin levels and testicular morphology in the infertile, genetically diabetic (C57BL/KsJ-db/db) male mouse. Groups of 2–5 month old (average age: 3.4 months) and 6–11 month old (average age: 8.8 months) diabetic mice were compared with age-matched non-diabetic (C57BL/KsL-+/?) male mice. Diabetic mice in both age groups were markedly obese and hyperglycemic. Hypothalamic serotonin synthesis was inhibited in the preoptic area-anterior hypothalamus (POA-AH) in both 2–5 month old and 6–11 month old diabetic mice as well as in the mediobasal hypothalamus-median eminence (MBH-ME) of 6–11 month old diabetic mice. Catecholamine synthesis (norepinephrine and dopamine) was reduced in the POA-AH of 2–5 month old diabetic mice and in the MBH-ME of 6–11 month old mice. These aminergic changes were associated in 2–5 month old diabetic mice with reduced circulating levels of LH and in 6–11 month old diabetic mice, of both LH and FSH. In 6–11 month old diabetic mice, testes were characterized by a thickened tunica albuginea, numerous Sertoli cells and the near absence of any spermatogenic cells. The epididymis from these diabetic mice was devoid of spermatozoa. In considering the central role played by these hypothalamic amine systems in regulating GnRH release and thus reproductive function, these results suggest, at least in part, an explanation for the infertility associated with the genetically diabetic male mouse.
Promotion of BRCA1-associated triple-negative breast cancer by ovarian hormones.

Purpose of reviewMammary epithelial proliferation is controlled by the ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone. Although BRCA1 (breast cancer 1, early onset) is ubiquitously expressed, women with BRCA1 mutations have a propensity to develop tumors in tissues sensitive to ovarian hormone. An under
An improved approach for determining the optimal orientation of orthotropic material

Several approaches for determining the optimal orientation in the topological optimization process are discussed in this paper. It is shown that the use of a strain based method may give an even worse result than the case in which the discrete orientational variables are fixed in the optimization process, because strong couplings exist among the orientational variables when the strain field is used. The stress field is less sensitive than the strain field with respect to the variations of the orientational variables. Therefore, the coupling between the orientational variables is relatively weak when the stress field is used. This explains why the stress based approaches (e.g. Suzuki and Kikuchi 1991; Diaz and Bendsoe 1992) are more efficient than the strain based method. This kind of approach will be generalized to deal with more general optimization problems. It will be shown that the new approach can not only obtain the best result for the problem as compared to the other methods, but also has the generality for various optimization problems. Several examples will be presented to support the above statements.
Design of the Battery Energy Storage Test Facility

The Battery Energy Storage Test (BEST) Facility is being constructed for the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) by Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G) Company. The purpose of the facility, its general design philosophy, the proposed interactions of the facility with advanced batteries and AC/DC conversion equipment, and the layout of the facilty are described in this paper. The BEST Facility is one in a series of projects to encourage commercialization of battery energy storage systems. Through its particular design and implementation, advanced battery systems will be brought from the laboratory to application on a utility system. This step will provide significant information for both manufacturers and utilities on the characteristics of battery energy storage system.
State-of-the-art instruments for detecting extraterrestrial life

In the coming decades, state-of-the-art spacecraft-based instruments that can detect key components associated with life as we know it on Earth will directly search for extinct or extant extraterrestrial life in our solar system. Advances in our analytical and detection capabilities, especially those based on microscale technologies, will be important in enhancing the abilities of these instruments. Remote sensing investigations of the atmospheres of extrasolar planets could provide evidence of photosynthetic-based life outside our solar system, although less advanced life will remain undetectable by these methods. Finding evidence of extraterrestrial life would have profound consequences both with respect to our understanding of chemical and biological evolution, and whether the biochemistry on Earth is unique in the universe.
“We don't want to talk about that”: Overcoming barriers to rural aging research and interventions on sensitive topics

Geographical, economic, social and cultural barriers to accessing services in rural areas are widely reported. Less widely discussed are dilemmas posed by individual and community reluctance to address sensitive health issues. This article, focusing on the highly sensitive area of mental health, and employing a participatory action approach, describes the natural history of a project, the Mental Health and Aging Initiative (MHAI) to enhance awareness of mental health issues in rural Kentucky-Appalachian communities and overcome the reluctance of individuals in these communities to seek assistance. Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), MHAI involved an educational intervention to improve knowledge about mental health and aging in rural Appalachian counties. The need to overcome significant community reluctance to engage in discussion of mental health resulted in significant modification of the protocol. The intervention was grounded in recognition of four key aspects of the local situation: (1) the need to understand the sensitivity of mental health as an element of rural culture; (2) the critical role of local community leaders as points of entry, acceptance, and action; (3) the need to overcome social stigma and reframe the topic of mental health in a more positive light; and (4) the need for methodological innovation in developing an empowering educational action plan oriented toward community-wide long-term impact. The intervention model that emerged from these considerations was based on engaging community leaders, providing educational and technical resources, and nurturing the acceptance by individual rural residents of responsibility for monitoring community mental health. This motif became a central theme in a strategy designed to facilitate culture change and acceptance of mental health as a community concern. It involved active engagement of community representatives in defining and implementing an intervention consistent with participatory action research as a means of empowering rural residents in monitoring and addressing sensitive health care issues. Given that many issues in rural health are difficult to address because of such sensitivity, the approach described is considered to have application in other contexts.
Development of a Weighted Heuristic for Website Evaluation for Older Adults

Older adults are the fastest growing population of Internet users. As websites acquire a greater number of older visitors, it is vital that they are designed with this demographic in mind. Older users typically have different user characteristics than younger users; they may have changes in perceptual abilities, motor skills, cognitive abilities, mental models, and confidence in the use of technology. This research documents the development of a new weighted heuristic measure for evaluating the usability of websites for older adults and its validation with performance testing. Results from a repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that websites with different heuristic classifications were significantly different with respect to performance metrics and System Usability Scale ratings. Conclusions point to the need for web design that takes into account preferences and abilities of older web users.
Microstructure and dynamics of a mesogenic diol

Abstract A number of techniques have been used to elucidate the structure and dynamics of 4,4′-bis(6-hydroxyhexyloxy)biphenyl (BHHBP) in its various phases. X-ray diffraction studies indicate that the molecules pack in a crystalline phase which melts to produce a highly ordered smectic/disordered crystal mesophase. Based on molecular models and the infrared results, the all trans conformation requires a 45°–55° tilt of the molecules in the smectic layers. Infrared spectroscopic results indicate that a predominantly trans chain conformation and hydrogen bonding of the layered crystal structure persists through the mesophase. Additionally, rotational freedom about the biphenyl linkage appears to occur only in the isotropic phase. NMR data indicate that the alkoxy chain is at or near co-planarity with the respect to the phenyl ring in the crystalline phase, with reorientational motion of the biphenyl group becoming allowed in the mesophase in the form of rapid (τc ∼ 3 μs at 100°C) small angle liberations and...
Anatomy of the postcranial skeleton of “Miacis” uintensis (Mammalia: Carnivoramorpha)

ABSTRACT This paper provides the first detailed description of the only known postcranial skeletal elements of “Miacis” uintensis. The morphology of the skeleton differs markedly from previously described “miacids” (a paraphyletic assemblage of early fossil carnivoramorphans), invalidating the notion that all “miacids” were very similar in their postcranial morphology and locomotor styles. The majority of the differences indicate an animal less well adapted to an arboreal lifestyle than has been inferred for other early “miacid” carnivoramorphans. A phylogenetic analysis clearly nests “Miacis” uintensis within the paraphyletic array of taxa previously referred to as the “Miacidae,” in a position closer to the crown clade Carnivora than is Vulpavus, a “miacid” whose postcranium has been previously described. When compared with the early canid Hesperocyon, this specimen shares many features thought to relate to the acquisition of a more terrestrial mode of life. This result indicates that, in contrast to pr...
Psychosocial dynamics of the US Catholic Church sexual abuse crisis.

Background: This paper presents open systems analysis of the organizational dynamics of the US Catholic Church sexual abuse crisis. Most of the current literature on the crisis assigns culpability to various parties involved – in most cases to bishops and Church officials in Rome. This analysis offers a way of understanding events that goes beyond assigning culpability on the part of Church leaders.Material and Discussion: As an open system, a church is a system of interdependent, purposive activities, one that survives and develops through interchanges with its environment including the society of which it is a part. Key elements in this discussion include the dynamics that result from the idiosyncratic church structures and processes, and the apparent preoccupation with sexual matters, all of which are imbedded in a religious belief system and a high dependency culture.Conclusions: The picture is of a church experiencing the catastrophe of thousands of cases accusing priests of sexual abuse of young peo...
Cyclodeviation in Acquired Vertical Strabismus

• The prevalence and pattern of cyclodeviation can differentiate among superior oblique palsy, dysthyroid ophthalmopathy, nondysthyroid restrictive ophthalmopathy, myasthenia gravis, and skew deviation. Excyclodeviation was detected in 30 of 33 patients with superior oblique palsy, eight of 15 patients with dysthyroid ophthalmopathy, three of six patients with nondysthyroid restrictive ophthalmopathy, and one of 13 patients with myasthenia. No cyclodeviation was found in cases of skew. Incyclodeviation was found in two patients with dysthyroid ophthalmopathy, two with nondysthyroid restrictive ophthalmopathy, and three with myasthenia. The amount of cyclodeviation did not vary between head-tilt positions, but did vary between primary and eccentric gaze positions, usually in the same direction as the amount of hyperdeviation. The patient's awareness of the presence of cyclodeviation varied with the degree of cyclodeviation, being 100% (4/4) for 15°, 86% (12/14) for 10°, and only 55% (11/21) for 5°.
Sibling relationship quality and social functioning of children and adolescents with intellectual disability.

Abstract We examined sibling relationships for children and adolescents with intellectual disability and assessed implications for their social functioning. Targets (total N = 212) had either intellectual disability, a chronic illness/physical disability, or no disability. Nontarget siblings reported on relationship quality, sibling interactions were observed, and teachers reported on social adjustment. Group comparisons highlighted the asymmetrical hierarchy and low conflict unique to siblings and targets with intellectual disability. Sibling relationships characterized by high warmth/closeness, positive affect, and few negative behaviors were predictive of fewer behavior problems for the targets at school. Both high warmth/ closeness and high conflict predicted greater social competence for the targets with intellectual disability, though warmth, conflict, and sibling management had different implications depending on the sibling's gender.
Characterization of castor bean neutral lipids by mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry

A method has been developed for the characterization of intact neutral lipids isolated from castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) by mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (MS/MS). The molecular weights of the trimethylsilyl (TMS) derivatives of the neutral lipids are determined by using both electron impact and chemical ionization (ammonia). Collision-induced dissociation daughter spectra of the (M-CH3)+ ions yield fragment ions that allow easy determination of the acyloxy groups present. The chainlength and degree of unsaturation for each acyloxy group are indicated by R in the ion represented by the general formula (RCO + 74)+. Other ions of diagnostic value include (M-RCOO)+, (M-RCOOH)+, [(M-CH3-RCOOH]+ and [(M-RCOOH)-16]+. The presence of a TMS group in any of these fragments results in the formation of ions representing the loss of OTMSH. Prior to MS/MS analysis, partial fractionation by high-performance liquid chromatography (according to degree of unsaturation in the neutral lipids) is useful because daughter spectra are generated free of any isotopic contamination, and minor components are concentrated in single fractions, which aids their characterization. By using this method, 11 neutral lipids were characterized in castor bean.
Surgery for Parkinson disease in the United States, 1996 to 2000: practice patterns, short-term outcomes, and hospital charges in a nationwide sample.

Object. The surgical treatment of Parkinson disease (PD) has undergone a dramatic shift, from stereotactic ablative procedures toward deep brain stimulaion (DBS). The authors studied this process by investigating practice patterns, mortality and morbidity rates, and hospital charges as reflected in the records of a representative sample of US hospitals between 1996 and 2000. Methods. The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study by using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database; 1761 operations at 71 hospitals were studied. Projected to the US population, there were 1650 inpatient procedures performed for PD per year (pallidotomies, thalamotomies, and DBS), with no significant change in the annual number of procedures during the study period. The in-hospital mortality rate was 0.2%, discharge other than to home was 8.1%, and the rate of neurological complications was 1.8%, with no significant differences between procedures. In multivariate analyses, hospitals with larger annual caseloads had lower mo...
An application of Kendall distributions and alternative dependence measures: SPX vs. VIX

Abstract Most of the recently-defined notions of positive or negative dependence rely upon a variety of orderings of bivariate random vectors. These orderings are generally partial orders, and thus there are many pairs of random vectors which are not comparable. By using a weakened version of stochastic domination and the concepts of Kendall distributions and metacopulas, an entirely new class of orderings, in which the comparability issue is resolved, has been recently created. Each ordering in this class can be used to construct a measure of dependence. A detailed example will be given, using data from the Standard & Poor’s 500 index and Chicago Board of Trades index for implied volatility.
Differentiating adenomas from hyperplastic colorectal polyps: narrow-band imaging can be learned in 20 minutes

Background Colonoscopy with narrow-band imaging can allow real-time determination of polyp histology. Objective To determine whether physicians with varying levels of experience can learn and apply endoscopic criteria to distinguish between adenomas and hyperplastic polyps. Design Prospective observational study. Setting University teaching hospital. Participants This study involved 37 physicians (medical residents, N=12; gastroenterology fellows, N=12; and gastroenterology faculty, N=13). Intervention Small-group, 20-minute, didactic teaching sessions in which the endoscopic criteria for determining polyp histology by using narrow-band imaging were described and demonstrated. Main Outcome Measurements Learning outcomes were evaluated by using written pretests and posttests in which participants scored pathologically verified, high-definition polyp photographs as adenomas or hyperplastic polyps. Results The mean overall scores increased significantly from 47.6% correct on the pretest to 90.8% correct on the posttest ( P = .0001). The overall mean percentage of responses answered don't know was significantly lower on the posttest (0.6%) compared with the pretest (20.5%, P Limitations Our study did not assess for sustained improvement with time or in vivo accuracy of histological prediction during live colonoscopy. Further validation in a sample of community physicians is required. Conclusion A short, didactic teaching session can achieve high accuracy and good interobserver agreement in the use of narrow-band imaging for determining the histology of colorectal polyps.
Radiologists' salaries: should we worry?

1Diagnostic Radiology, Yale University, 333 Cedar St., New Haven, CT 06510-3206. Address correspondence to H. P. Forman, Associate Editor, Health Policy (HealthPolicy@arrs.org). n a recent article in the Sunday New York Times [1], Alex Berenson returned to an old, but neverquite-dead issue: whether physicians’ salaries are (partly) responsible for the troubles in our health care system. In his piece, titled “Sending Back the Doctor’s Bill,” he interviewed various economists who concluded that “the relatively high salaries paid to American doctors” were, indeed, part of the problem. The piece does go on to mention that the issue is actually “the way [my emphasis] they are compensated.” During the late 1980s, physician salaries were frequently pointed to as part of the problem. Then managed care came along as a new target of populist venom followed quickly by the pharmaceutical companies and their profitability. Now, during a bear market for the drug companies, fingers are once again pointing at physicians and their salaries. In the Berenson piece, the high salaries of radiologists are mentioned explicitly: “Doctors in the United States earn two to three times as much as they do in other industrialized countries. American doctors make an average of $200,000 to $300,000 a year....But in specialties like radiology, physicians can take home $400,000 or more.” Should we be concerned? Should all physicians? Is there truth to the argument that physicians may be part of the problem rather than the solution?