cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Race and Patient-reported Symptoms in Adherence to Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy: A Report from the Women's Hormonal Initiation and Persistence Study.

Background: Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) improves outcomes in women with hormone receptor–positive (HR+) breast cancer. Suboptimal AET adherence is common, but data are lacking about symptoms and adherence in racial/ethnic minorities. We evaluated adherence by race and the relationship between symptoms and adherence. Methods: The Women9s Hormonal Initiation and Persistence study included women diagnosed with nonrecurrent HR+ breast cancer who initiated AET. AET adherence was captured using validated items. Data regarding patient (e.g., race), medication-related (e.g., symptoms), cancer care delivery (e.g., communication), and clinicopathologic factors (e.g., chemotherapy) were collected via surveys and medical charts. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to calculate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) associated with adherence. Results: Of the 570 participants, 92% were privately insured and nearly one of three were Black. Thirty-six percent reported nonadherent behaviors. In multivariable analysis, women less likely to report adherent behaviors were Black (vs. White; OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.27–0.67; P Conclusions: Racial differences in AET adherence were observed. Longitudinal assessments of symptom burden are needed to better understand this dynamic process and factors that may explain differences in survivor subgroups. Impact: Future interventions should prioritize Black survivors and women with greater symptom burden.
Goal-striving tendencies moderate the relationship between reward-related brain function and peripheral inflammation.

Abstract Inflammation is associated with both lower and higher activity in brain regions that process rewarding stimuli. How can both low and high sensitivity to rewards be associated with higher inflammation? We propose that one potential mechanism underlying these apparently conflicting findings pertains to how people pursue goals in their environment. This prediction is based on evidence that both an inability to disengage from unattainable goals and low interest in and pursuit of important life goals are associated with poor health outcomes, including inflammation. Accordingly, this study examined the relationship between reward-related brain function and peripheral inflammation among individuals with different levels of ambitious goal-striving tendencies. Eighty-three participants completed an ambitious goal-striving tendency measure, an fMRI Monetary Incentive Delay task assessing orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and nucleus accumbens (NAc) activation during reward anticipation and outcome, and a venous blood draw to assess the inflammatory biomarkers interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and C-reactive protein, from which we computed an inflammation composite score. We observed a reward anticipation by goal-striving interaction on inflammation, such that high OFC and NAc activation to reward anticipation (but not outcome) were associated with more inflammation, among high goal-striving individuals. By contrast, low NAc activation during reward anticipation (but not outcome) was associated with more inflammation, among low goal-striving individuals. The current study provides further evidence that both blunted and elevated reward function can be associated with inflammation. It also highlights the role that goal-striving tendencies may play in moderating the relationship between neural reward anticipation and inflammation.
“It’s Very Inconvenient for Me”: A Mixed-Method Study Assessing Barriers and Facilitators of Adolescent Sexual Minority Males Attending PrEP Follow-Up Appointments

Researching PrEP retention in adolescent sexual minority men (ASMM) is critical to increasing persistence of PrEP in this priority population, yet this research is lacking. ASMM (N = 1433) completed a baseline survey for an online HIV prevention program between 2018 and 2020. Open- and closed-ended survey items identified their beliefs about attending 3-month PrEP follow-up appointments and examined the association of Andersen’s Behavioral Model factors (predisposing, enabling, and need) and confidence to attend these appointments. Qualitative and quantitative findings show that perceived parental support is a salient factor in ASMM attending PrEP follow-up appointments. Participants did not want to have to go to the doctor and get bloodwork done trimonthly, and qualitative findings elucidated rationales for this, such as perceptions that follow-ups might be time-consuming, costly, and could out their sexuality to their parents. This study suggests that parents are gatekeepers for ASMM to initiate and sustain the PrEP care continuum.
Fabrication of Poly-Si on Locally Etched SiO x as Passivating Contacts for c-Si Solar Cells

Polysilicon on silicon oxide (poly-Si/SiO x ) passivating contacts with predominant charge-carrier transport via pinholes were prepared with room temperature metal-assisted chemical etching. Pinhole areal densities in the range of 2.8×104 to 4.5×107 cm-2 were imaged by SEM. Contact resistivity of 32 m-ohm-cm2 and implied open circuit voltage of 729 mV were obtained for symmetric n+ poly-Si/SiO x grown onto randomly textured n-Cz. We also show preliminary data pertaining boron-doped polysilicon on nitride/oxide passivating contacts, with which we achieved implied open circuit voltage above 730 mV and recombination current of 0.2 fA/cm2.
Impact of daily caffeine intake and timing on electroencephalogram-measured sleep in adolescents.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Caffeine use is ubiquitous among adolescents and may be harmful to sleep, with downstream implications for health and development. Research has been limited by self-reported and/or aggregated measures of sleep and caffeine collected at a single time point. This study examines bidirectional associations between daily caffeine consumption and electroencephalogram-measured sleep among adolescents and explores whether these relationships depend on timing of caffeine use. METHODS Ninety-eight adolescents aged 11-17 (M=14.38, SD=1.77; 50% female) participated in 7 consecutive nights of at-home sleep electroencephalography and completed a daily diary querying morning, afternoon, and evening caffeine use. Linear mixed effects regressions examined relationships between caffeine consumption and total sleep time, sleep-onset latency, sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset, and time spent in sleep stages. Impact of sleep indices on next-day caffeine use was also examined. RESULTS Increased total caffeine consumption was associated was increased sleep-onset latency (β=.13; 95% CI=.06,.21; p<.001) and reduced total sleep time (β=-.17; 95% CI=-.31,-.02; p=.02), sleep efficiency (β=-1.59; 95% CI=-2.51,-.67, p<.001), and rapid-eye movement sleep (β=-.12; 95% CI=-.19,-.05; p<.001). Findings were driven by afternoon and evening caffeine consumption. Reduced sleep efficiency was associated with increased afternoon caffeine intake the following day (β=-.006; 95% CI=-.012,-.001; p=.01). CONCLUSIONS Caffeine consumption, especially afternoon and evening use, impacts several aspects of adolescent sleep health. In contrast, most sleep indicators did not affect next-day caffeine use, suggesting multiple drivers of adolescent caffeine consumption. Federal mandates requiring caffeine content labeling and behavioral interventions focused on reducing caffeine intake may support adolescent sleep health.
Thermodynamics and Stereochemistry of Diels–Alder Polymer Networks: Role of Crosslinker Flexibility and Crosslinking Density

Dynamic covalent polymer networks crosslinked through Diels–Alder (DA) reactions are promising self-healing, 3D-printable materials that have the unique ability to reshuffle their dynamic bonds in ...
Linear and Integrable Systems

This chapter considers linear dynamical systems. The concept of linearity requires the state space to be a vector space. The elements of the state space can thus be added and multiplied by real (complex) numbers. The time evolution of linear systems is represented by a linear operator on this vector space. The prime example of a linear dynamical system is the time evolution of a quantum mechanical system according to the Schrodinger equation. Linear algebra provides powerful tools for the analysis of linear operators and hence of linear systems.
Who Seeks to Adopt a Child

ABSTRACT Data from Cycle 5 of the National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) (1995) were analyzed to identify factors that could predict whether a woman 18-44 years of age would ever have sought to adopt a child. Of the 10,019 women in the specified age group overall, 508 (5.1 percent) had ever sought to adopt, including 5.4 percent of white women and 5.2 percent of black women. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted for all women and for white women and black women separately. Among women who were white, the likelihood of having ever sought to adopt increased under conditions of childlessness, a history of treatment for infertility and surgical sterility for non-contraceptive reasons, non-surgical sterility, or physical difficulty in becoming pregnant (subfecundity), and if the woman was married, older, had some amount of college education, and considered religion very important. Having received assisted reproductive technology treatment also increased the likelihood that women in this group h...
Digital Electronics for the Inclusion of Shower Max and Preshower Wire Data in the CDF Second-Level Trigger

As part of the upgrade program at CDF, electronics has been built to bring the shower max (CES) and preshower (CPR) data into the trigger at level 2. After each crossing, 384 bits from shower max and 192 from the preshower wires are latched. Data from tracks are bussed to this module to provide the wire address and momentum which are then successively compared to the wire data in large look-up tables. Approximately 50 nanoseconds is required to determine a match, write the results in FIFO, and make the results available to track memory. Monte Carlo analysis has indicated that an increase in efficiency of a factor of three in triggering on b decays will be achieved with this hardware.
The Supreme Court, the Solicitor General, and Bankruptcy: BFP v. Resolution Trust Corporation

This chapter tells the story behind BFP v. Resolution Trust Corporation. I see BFP as a case that pitted relatively plain statutory language supporting the debtor-in-possession against policy interests supporting a secured creditor. I argue that an important explanation for the Supreme Court's decision to favor policy over the language of the statute was its perception of a need to protect the availability of non-bankruptcy remedies for secured creditors. Accordingly, I situate my discussion of BFP in the context of the role that the federal government has played in the Supreme Court's cases interpreting the Bankruptcy Code. In general, I contend, the Supreme Court's decisions evince a general skepticism about broad application of the Bankruptcy Code, which often has led to surprisingly narrow interpretations of relatively clear language. That reading challenges the common understanding of bankruptcy law as a domain of the Court's plain-language interpretative practice.
A Software Framework for Creating Patient Specific Geometric Models from Medical Imaging Data for Simulation Based Medical Planning of Vascular Surgery

The primary purpose of vascular surgery is to restore blood flow to organs and tissues. Current methods of vascular treatment planning rely solely on diagnostic and empirical data to guide the decision-making process. This paper details a simulation-based medical planning system for cardiovascular disease that use computational methods to evaluate alternative surgical options prior to treatment using patient-specific models of the vascular system. A software framework, called Geodesic, is mtroduced that reduces the time required to build patient-specific models from medical imaging data from several weeks to less than one day.
How runoff begins (and ends): Characterizing hydrologic response at the catchment scale

[1] Improved understanding of the complex dynamics associated with spatially and temporally variable runoff response is needed to better understand the hydrology component of interdisciplinary problems. The objective of this study was to quantitatively characterize the environmental controls on runoff generation for the range of different streamflow-generation mechanisms illustrated in the classic Dunne diagram. The comprehensive physics-based model of coupled surface-subsurface flow, InHM, is employed in a heuristic mode. InHM has been employed previously to successfully simulate the observed hydrologic response at four diverse, well-characterized catchments, which provides the foundation for this study. The C3 and CB catchments are located within steep, forested terrain; the TW and R5 catchments are located in gently sloping rangeland. The InHM boundary-value problems for these four catchments provide the corner-stones for alternative simulation scenarios designed to address the question of how runoff begins (and ends). Simulated rainfall-runoff events are used to systematically explore the impact of soil-hydraulic properties and rainfall characteristics. This approach facilitates quantitative analysis of both integrated and distributed hydrologic responses at high-spatial and temporal resolution over the wide range of environmental conditions represented by the four catchments. The results from 140 unique simulation scenarios illustrate how rainfall intensity/depth, subsurface permeability contrasts, characteristic curve shapes, and topography provide important controls on the hydrologic-response dynamics. The processes by which runoff begins (and ends) are shown, in large part, to be defined by the relative rates of rainfall, infiltration, lateral flow convergence, and storage dynamics within the variably saturated soil layers.
The interaction of phenylalanyl transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase and phenylalanine transfer ribonucleic acid. Complex formation and resulting fluorescence quenching.

Abstract Phenylalanyl transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase and phenylalanine transfer ribonucleic acid from Escherichia coli form complexes below pH 6.5 in sucrose gradients. The stoichiometry of the complex is 1 mole of synthetase per mole of tRNA and is specific for tRNAphe. At pH 5.0, the complex has an association constant of 1 x 107 m-1. The interaction between synthetase and tRNA was also measured by the marked quenching of the fluorescence of the tryptophan residues of the synthetase. The quenching is specific for tRNAphe. It was found that at pH 5.0 a concentration of tRNA 10-fold in excess of that needed to produce maximum complex formation on sucrose gradients was required to produce maximum fluorescence quenching.
A family of PWM converters for three phase AC power conditioning

Historically, three-phase AC power conditioning has been realized using tap-changing/autotransformers or using thyristor phase controllers. These devices are either bulky and slow and/or suffer from poor waveform quality. With growing concerns of power quality prompted by widespread application of sensitive loads, it is felt that there is a need for a new generation of high performance power converters for three-phase AC power conditioning. This paper presents a means for realizing AC-AC power converters using pulse width modulation which can be utilized for power line conditioning.
Differential 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced activation of rat mammary carcinoma susceptibility Fbxo10 variant promoters via a PKC-AP1 pathway

Rat mammary carcinoma susceptibility 5a1 (Mcs5a1), which is concordant to human MCS5A1 breast cancer risk locus, mediates susceptibility by a non-mammary cell-autonomous mechanism associated with T cell differential expression of F-box protein 10 (Fbxo10). Human FBXO10, an evolutionarily conserved ubiquitin ligase gene, was shown to have a potential role in regulating cell death by controlling the degradation of Bcl-2, a key protein involved in apoptosis. Breast cancer susceptibility is controlled by interactions between environmental and genetic factors; therefore, we sought to determine if breast cancer risk-associated environmental chemicals interact with Mcs5a1 variants using luciferase reporter constructs containing 4.2 kb Fbxo10 promoters based on alleles of mammary cancer susceptible Wistar Furth (WF) and resistant Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rat strains. 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) induced activation of a 4.2 kb WF Fbxo10 promoter region, but lower levels of activation of the homologous WKY Fbxo10 promoter region. Using general and specific protein kinase inhibitors, we identified a protein kinase C (PKC) pathway that mediated TPA activation. We narrowed the possible PKCs to a member of the atypical PKC isoforms, namely PKCµ. We also determined that activator protein 1 (AP1) family member c-Fos mediated TPA activation of the 4.2 kb WF Fbxo10 promoter. TPA was shown to induce endogenous FBXO10 mRNA and FBXO10 protein in Jurkat cells, a human T cell line, with a maximal level of expression from 1.5 to 2.5 h after exposure. These results indicate that FBXO10/Fbxo10 expression is regulated by a PKC-dependent pathway acting through c-Fos, which binds AP1-specific DNA elements in Mcs5a1.
Non-axial self-similar hole filling for the porous medium equation

Self-similar solutions play an important r6le in the development of the theory of non-linear evolution equations. In addition to providing exact and sometimes even explicit solutions which can be used to validate numerical schemes, they often describe the asymptotic form of large classes of solutions in the neighborhood of some important change in behavior (such as blow-up) or at large times. Often a self-similar solution to an evolution equation in the variables (xl, ..., xd, t) is a function of the form
International standards and the IEEE standards association in the emerging global economy

The IEEE Standards Association is leading a strategic and cultural transition in order to align itself with a paradigm shift in international standards and to better meet the needs of global industry and consumers. To achieve that goal, the IEEE-SA is amid a multifaceted transition toward greater flexibility in services and significantly greater coordination and cooperation across SDOs and geographies over the long term.
Strengthening of a bridge pier capbeam using bonded FRP composite plates

Application of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite plates to strengthen the capbeam of Pier 3 of East Church Street Bridge in Chemung County, New York, is discussed in this paper. Addition of a concrete wearing surface and a median barrier to the bridge superstructure increased dead load, contributing to deficiencies in moment and shear capacities of the capbeam structure. As a result, the concrete capbeam suffered flexural and shear cracking, and was considered for strengthening using bonded FRP composite plates. Service load tests were performed before and after the plates were installed, to investigate effectiveness of the strengthening system. Installation of the plates and results from the performed load tests related to flexural behavior of the beam are discussed in the paper.
Bingocize® 3.0: a game based platform for promoting wellness in older adults

In this paper, we describe the synopsis of Bingocize®3.0, a game based platform for promoting physical and mental wellness in older adults. Based on our study of combining bingo and physical exercises in Bingocize® 1.0 and 2.0, we developed a Bingocize app. Using the app on a tablet, participants can join game sessions led by a trained health coach working on physical exercises, health education and cognitive training. Detailed tracking of the responses from the app can provide intuitive feedback to the participants. The data collection feature can also provide valuable data in wellness research for older adults.
Electromagnetic plane-wave pulse transmission into a Lorentz half-space.

The propagation of an electromagnetic plane-wave signal obliquely incident upon a Lorentz half-space is studied analytically. Time-domain asymptotic expressions that increase in accuracy with propagation distance are derived by application of uniform saddle point methods on the Fourier–Laplace integral representation of the transmitted field. The results are shown to be continuous in time and comparable with numerical calculations of the field. Arrival times and angles of refraction are given for prominent transient pulse features and the steady-state signal.
Is there a fundamental limit on nonlinear molecular susceptibilities

Nonlinear optical materials have been the focus of studies to maximize their nonlinear optical susceptibility because of their possible applications. Complex quantum expressions are often simplified with two and three state models that consider the competition between excited states, symmetry, and bond length alternation. We ask the question: Is there a fundamental upper limit of the nonlinear susceptibility, and, can this limit be achieved? We use the Thomas-Kuhn quantum sum rules, which are general and apply to any system and find that the off-resonant diagonal components of the second and third-order susceptibilities are bounded by a function that depends on the number of electrons and the transition energy to the first excited state. A large set of measurements form the literature are all found to be bounded by this horizon function as predicted. Further improvements in susceptibilities will therefore require more creative approaches that are presently used.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Thermodynamics and nuclear magnetic resonance studies of lanthanide complexation by ethylenediamine-NN′-diacetate-NN′-di-3-propionate

Abstract The proton NMR spectra of ethylenediamine- NN ′- diacetate- NN ′-di-3-propionate and its complexes with alkaline earth and diamagnetic lanthanide ions are described. Quartet splittings of the methylenic protons of the acetate groups upon complexation with metal ions of high charge density is indicative of long-lived metalnitrogen bonds and short-lived metaloxygen bonds. The observation of two AB quartets for the acetate protons complexed to trivalent ions was attributed to an unsymmetrical distribution of the acetate arms around the central ion. For Mg 2+ complex, the two acetate arms are equivalently disposed and the two quartets collapse into one. For the other alkaline earths, a singlet is observed, indicating that the metalnitrogen bond lifetime is also short. The spectra of the propionate protons are consistent of either an ABCD (LuENDPDA and YENDPDA) or an AA′BB′ (MgENDPDA) spectral pattern. The thermodynamic data support these conclusions and show that substitution of C 2 H 4 CO 2 − groups for CH 2 CO 2 − groups decreases the stability of the complex. This results from weakening of the metalnitrogen interaction due to the expansion of the
XLV. On the dislocation theory of evaporation of crystals

Abstract A complete treatment is given of the steady state spiral both in growth and evaporation of crystals, taking account of the strain energy around the dislocation. It is shown that when the crystal is evaporating there is a limiting value of the undersaturation beyond which there is no steady state solution of the problem. The core of the dislocation is then unable to remain closed and a macroscopic pit appears at the termination of the screw dislocation.
Chromium Oxide Sub-Micron Particles Fabricated by a Unique Technique: Laser-Induced Solution Deposition

We have demonstrated that well-dispersed sub-micron chromium oxide particles can be fabricated by laser-induced solution deposition (LISD) from the solution of CrCl2 solute dissolved in organic solvents containing THF and cyclohexane. The particles are uniform in composition and contain little contamination. The distribution of the particles is narrow in three sizes: 230 nm, 350 nm and 400 nm. We have discussed the kinetics of forming these three kinds of sub-micron particles and the difficulty in obtaining single-phase chromium oxide. We have successfully shown that LISD is a unique technique for fabricating submicron chromium oxide particles with uniform composition and controllable size with narrow particle size distribution. The kinetics (nucleation and growth mechanism) of forming three sizes of particles is discussed.
Pulmonary aspergilloma and AIDS. A comparison of HIV-infected and HIV-negative individuals.

Objective and methods While pulmonary aspergilloma has been well described in immunocompetent hosts, to date and to our knowledge, there has not been a description of pulmonary aspergilloma in the HIV-infected individual. A retrospective review of cases seen by the Bellevue Hospital Chest Service from January 1992 through June 1995 identified 25 patients with aspergilloma. To investigate the impact of HIV status on pulmonary aspergilloma, we compared clinical presentation, progression of disease, treatment, and outcome in the HIV-infected patient vs the HIV-negative patient with aspergilloma. Results Of the 25 patients identified, 10 were HIV-infected and 15 were HIV-negative. Predisposing diseases included tuberculosis (18/25, 72%), sarcoidosis (4/25, 16%), and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (3/25, 12%). All 25 patients had evidence of aspergilloma on chest CT. In addition, 17 of 25 patients had evidence of Aspergillus species in fungal culture, pathologic specimens, or immunoprecipitins. Hemoptysis was present in 15 of 25 (60%) (11/15 [73%] of the HIV-negative group vs 4/10 [40%] of the HIV-infected group). Severe hemoptysis (>150 mL/d) occurred in 5 of 15 (33%) of the HIV-negative group vs 1 of 10 (10%) of the HIV-infected group. Disease progression occurred more frequently among the HIV-infected group (4/8, 50% vs 1/13, 8% in HIV-negative individuals). All patients with disease progression had lymphocyte subset CD4+ Summary and conclusions We conclude the following: (1) although tuberculosis and sarcoidosis are the most prevalent predisposing diseases, P carinii pneumonia in the HIV-infected individual is a risk factor for pulmonary aspergilloma; (2) HIV-infected individuals with CD4+
The importance of the gastrointestinal tract in the control of bone mass accrual.

One of the least anticipated and less heralded outcomes of mouse genetics has been to rediscover whole organism physiology. Among the many unexpected findings that it has brought to our attention has been the realization that gut-derived serotonin is a hormone-inhibiting bone formation. The importance of this discovery presented in this review is 2-fold. First, it provides a molecular explanation for 2 human genetic diseases—osteoporosis, pseudoglioma, and high bone mass syndrome; second, it suggests a novel and anabolic way to treat osteoporosis. These findings illustrate the importance of the gastrointestinal tract in the regulation of organ physiology at yet another extraluminal site.
On hemolysis mediated by non-erythrocytic antigens, their homologous antibodies and complement.

SummaryThe data presented in this paper confirm and extend the recent observations of Fisher and Keogh(2). Erythrocytes from sheep, rabbit, and man, which have adsorbed extracts from E. coli and Salmonella typhosa, or human plasma, are lysed in the presence of complement and of corresponding immune sera for the adsorbed antigens. Evidence for the specificity of the reaction has been presented. Neither appreciable complement fixation, nor lysis occurred when erythrocytes first sensitized with non-hemolytic immune sera were then exposed to complement and the corresponding antigens.
Pain assessment in children

Abstract Acute pain in children can occur following trauma and injury or secondary to medical and surgical intervention. Before acute pain can be effectively treated, it must be accurately assessed. In spite of many years of research to enhance our understanding of pain, the assessment of pain in children continues to be a challenge and is often inconsistent and suboptimal in many organizations. Pain and its perception are multi-factorial, hence an approach to pain assessment and treatment must also be multi-faceted and multidisciplinary. Painful experiences are dynamic, with huge inter- and intra-individual variation; therefore pain assessment tools must be adaptable, reproducible and accurate to accommodate such variation. This article outlines the different tools available for pain assessment in infants and children (excluding neonates).
Competing on price: the economics of managed competition.

PURPOSE To describe the economics of teaching hospitals in an increasingly price-conscious managed care marketplace by determining the relationships between a teaching hospital's operations and cost per discharge. METHOD A quantitative correlational regression analysis was undertaken of 1993 operational and financial data from the Health Care Financing Administration for a national sample of 100 major urban, non-federal teaching hospitals. The sample was systematically selected from membership in the Association of American Medical Colleges' Council of Teaching Hospitals. RESULTS The analysis indicated that the new economics of managed competition requires teaching hospitals to focus on reducing costs through five main areas: decreasing poorly utilized beds, increasing the numbers of discharges, renovating facilities to modernize and streamline patient flow, utilizing fewer employees and thus boosting productivity, and improving the internal financing of operations and investments through working-capital management. CONCLUSION Achieving efficiency in operations in each of the five main areas will help teaching hospitals to survive the turbulence of market evolution toward managed care.
Specific vulnerability of face perception to noise: A similar effect in schizophrenia patients and healthy individuals

Face perception plays a foundational role in the social world. This perceptual ability is deficient in schizophrenia. A noise-filtering mechanism is essential for perceptual processing. It remains unclear as to whether a specific noise-filtering mechanism is implicated in the face perception problem or a general noise-filtering mechanism is involved which also mediates non-face visual perception problems associated with this psychiatric disorder. This study examined and compared the effects of external noise on the performance of face discrimination and car discrimination in schizophrenia patients (n=25) and healthy controls (n=27). Superimposing the external visual noise on face or car stimuli elevated perceptual thresholds (i.e. degraded performance levels) for both face and car discrimination. However, the effect of noise was significantly larger on face than on car discrimination, both in patients and controls. This pattern of results suggests specific vulnerability of face processing to noise in healthy individuals and those with schizophrenia.
Polymorphism in an Inbreeding Population under Models Involving Underdominance

Models of selection favoring homozygotes over the heterozygotes and involving frequency-dependency in their competitive abilities were simulated in order to determine the conditions for maintaining stable polymorphism at a diallelic locus in large inbreeding populations. With heavier inbreeding, frequency-dependency could increasingly override the effects of underdominance in both pure stand and the competing ability components of fitness in terms of yielding stable nontrivial equilibriums. The significance of such selection models is discussed for the retention of variability in inbreeding populations with a minimum of segregational load and higher overall stability in contrast to the overdominance models.
Dynamic Balance Differences as Measured by the Star Excursion Balance Test Between Adult-aged and Middle-aged Women:

Background: Middle-aged women have less postural control than younger women. The Star Excursion Balance Test is a functional and inexpensive postural control measurement tool that is sensitive to a...
Global Effects of Virulence Gene Regulators in a Bacillus anthracis Strain with Both Virulence Plasmids

Control of anthrax toxin and capsule synthesis, the two major virulence factors of Bacillus anthracis, has been associated with two regulatory genes, atxA and acpA, located on virulence plasmids pXO1 and pXO2, respectively. We used transcriptional profiling to determine whether atxA and/or acpA control genes other than those already described and to investigate functional similarities of the regulators. Transcription was assessed in a pXO1+ pXO2+ parent strain and in isogenic mutants in which one or both regulatory genes were deleted. We determined that in addition to the toxin and capsule genes, atxA controls expression of numerous other genes on both plasmids and the chromosome. Generally, plasmid-encoded genes were more highly regulated than chromosomal genes, and both positive and negative effects were observed. Certain atxA-regulated genes were affected synergistically in an atxA acpA mutant. Yet overall, acpA appears to be a minor regulator with fewer targets than atxA. In contrast to previous reports of acpA function in attenuated strains, acpA had a minimal influence on capsule gene transcription and capsule synthesis in a genetically complete strain. Surprisingly, acpA expression was positively affected by atxA, although atxA-activated capsule gene transcription is not acpA dependent. The newly discovered atxA-regulated targets include genes predicted to encode secreted proteins and proteins with roles in transcriptional regulation and signaling. Regulation of chromosomal genes by atxA is particularly intriguing, given that many of the target genes have homologues in other Bacillus species that lack atxA homologues. Given the global effect of atxA on gene expression in B. anthracis, previous assumptions regarding reduced virulence of strains harboring single plasmids must be reassessed and the potential roles of newly identified atxA-regulated genes should be investigated.
Making public transport financially sustainable

Over the past two decades, Germany has improved the quality of its public transport services and attracted more passengers while increasing productivity, reducing costs, and cutting subsidies. Public transport systems reduced their costs through organizational restructuring and outsourcing to newly founded subsidiaries; cutting employee benefits and freezing salaries; increasing work hours, using part-time employees, expanding job tasks, and encouraging retirement of older employees; cooperation with other agencies to share employees, vehicles, and facilities; cutting underutilized routes and services; and buying new vehicles with lower maintenance costs and greater passenger capacity per driver. Revenues were increased through fare hikes for single tickets while maintaining deep discounts for monthly, semester, and annual tickets; and raising passenger volumes by improved quality of service, and full regional coordination of timetables, fares, and services. Those efforts by public transport agencies were enhanced by the increasing costs and restrictions on car use in German cities. Although the financial performance of German public transport has greatly improved, there are concerns of inequitable burdens on labor, since many of the cost reduction measures involved reducing wages or benefits of workers.
GBNet: Deciphering regulatory rules in the co-regulated genes using a Gibbs sampler enhanced Bayesian network approach

Combinatorial regulation of transcription factors (TFs) is important in determining the complex gene expression patterns particularly in higher organisms. Deciphering regulatory rules between cooperative TFs is a critical step towards understanding the mechanisms of combinatorial regulation. We present here a Bayesian network approach called GBNet to search for DNA motifs that may be cooperative in transcriptional regulation and the sequence constraints that these motifs may satisfy. We showed that GBNet outperformed the other available methods in the simulated and the yeast data. We also demonstrated the usefulness of GBNet on learning regulatory rules between YY1, a human TF, and its co-factors. Most of the rules learned by GBNet on YY1 and co-factors were supported by literature. In addition, a spacing constraint between YY1 and E2F was also supported by independent TF binding experiments. We thus conclude that GBNet is a useful tool for deciphering the "grammar" of transcriptional regulation.
Black Intimacies: A Gender Perspective on Families and Relationships ‐ by Shirley A. Hill

Black Intimacies: A Gender Perspective on Families and Relationships. Shirley. Hill. New York: AltaMira Press 2005. 246 pp. ISBN 0-7591-0152-3$24.95 (paper). In Black Intimacies: A Gender Perspective on Families And Relationships, Shirley A. Hill applies a gender lens to the multiple systems of oppression which impact the lives of African Americans. Specifically, she investigates how gender is understood, defined, practiced, and perpetuated by Black people and how it affects their everyday experiences. Using a postmodern analysis, she considers the static social construction of Black identity, Black womanhood, and Black cultural norms and considers how these shape the intimate lives of Black people. Hill challenges the idea of a historically and contemporarily universal concept of intimate and familial experiences for African Americans. Hill offers a nuanced description of the struggle for civil rights in the mid-20th century. During this time, Black Americans struggled together for civil rights, despite differing interests that represented the heterogeneity of class, gender, and skin tone within this population. However, the success of the Civil Rights Movement upset Black unity and exacerbated the diversity that had historically characterized Black families and communities. Race, she insists, is no longer a unifying factor for African Americans. Intraracial postmodern diversities around race, social class, age, political allegiance, and gender more aptly characterize the experiences of Black people in the United States historically and in the present. The interaction of these multiple identities and interests presently contests the saliency of using the term "Black" as a universal category of analysis for understanding issues of family and intimacy within the group. Hill argues that neither cultural nor structural paradigms can adequately explain past and current high rates of separation, divorce, and singlemother households. Rather, these phenomena are best understood by simultaneously considering the role of human agency, Black ethos, structural opportunity, and constraints. Following Emancipation, Black women resisted hegemonic ideas of gender practices and family formation. Slavery and discrimination created structured obstacles to socioeconomic success for African Americans. Yet, it simultaneously demystified hegemonic gender and marriage ideals (i.e., a crucial link between marriage, sexuality, and childbirth) and prioritized the work roles of Black women. Consequently, Black women had the autonomy to decide on varying family formations. Yet and still, Hill suggests that racial oppression did not create a monolithic family form. Middle-class African American women, for example, set the trend for combining employment and married family life in die decades following Emancipation. However, poor and working-class women chose female-centered family structures because their partners were unable to provide them with economic security. …
Is the Emotional Stroop Paradigm Sensitive to Malingering? A Between-Groups Study with Professional Actors and Actual Trauma Survivors

Six professional actors, trained by psychologists and acting coaches to feign PTSD, were covertly enrolled into a treatment outcome study for PTSD with the aim of investigating malingering. During pretreatment assessment, individuals completed an emotional Stroop task. Vocal response latencies to different classes of stimuli were examined for sensitivity to malingering. Actor response latencies were compared to those of 6 nonlitigant PTSD patients and 6 nonanxiety controls. The actor/dissimulation group was able to feign an overall slowing of response latency across stimulus types, similar to the PTSD group. However, they were unable to modulate response latency as a function of stimulus content, a pattern that characterized the PTSD group. The use of information-processing paradigms to detect dissimulation is discussed.
Erythrocyte filterability in the burned patient

Abstract Red blood cell filterability was measured in a group of 6 simultaneously, severely burned patients. The mean filterability time was prolonged in the burn patients (25·0 ± 16·9) when compared with the normal for our laboratory (4·0 ± 1·0), indicating a decrease in deformability of the red cell. Except for a low red cell potassium and high white blood count, this could not be correlated with other serum or erythrocyte biochemical and physical characteristics studied. With adequate resuscitation it returned to normal in three days. The physiological implications are unknown.
Broad-range particle spectrographs

Abstract A brief historical review is given of some types of broad-range magnetic spectrographs employed in nuclear-structure physics. The ion optics of such systems is then discussed with emphasis on aberrations and their possible elimination. Results of some recent design studies are then presented. Finally, some practical hints are given about how to make the hardware conform to the paper design.
A Mobile Solar-PV Demonstration System for Hands-On Learning and Curriculum Development

A mobile solar-photovoltaic (solar-PV) demonstration and experimentation system has been developed for hands-on learning and curriculum development for grades K-12. The final design and design process is presented in detail, along with an assessment of the perceived technical effectiveness in meeting our original project goals. In tandem with the robust teaching tool, a curriculum was developed to compliment learning about solar-PV systems, but also to meet the needs of basic science, math and engineering teaching objectives in an integrated and hands-on way. Overall successes, failures, and a projected path forward are discussed.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Knowledge-based environment for optical system design

Optical systems are extensively utilized by industry government and military organizations. The conceptual design engineering design fabrication and testing of these systems presently requires significant time typically on the order of 3-5 years. The Knowledge-Based Environment for Optical System Design (KB-OSD) Program has as its principal objectives the development of a methodology and tool(s) that will make a notable reduction in the development time of optical system projects reduce technical risk and overall cost. KB-OSD can be considered as a computer-based optical design associate for system engineers and design engineers. By utilizing artificial intelligence technology coupled with extensive design/evaluation computer application programs and knowledge bases the KB-OSD will provide the user with assistance and guidance to accomplish such activities as (i) develop system level and hardware level requirements from mission requirements (ii) formulate conceptual designs (iii) construct a statement of work for an RFP (iv) develop engineering level designs (v) evaluate an existing design and (vi) explore the sensitivity of a system to changing scenarios. The KB-OSD comprises a variety of computer platforms including a Stardent Titan supercomputer numerous design programs (lens design coating design thermal materials structural atmospherics etc. ) data bases and heuristic knowledge bases. An important element of the KB-OSD Program is the inclusion of the knowledge of individual experts in various areas of optics and optical system engineering. This knowledge is obtained by KB-OSD knowledge engineers performing
Pediatric cardiovascular effects of imipramine and desipramine.

Abstract Electrocardiograms were evaluated in 39 children and adolescents before and after the clinical use of imipramine and desipramine. The average increase in PR interval was 0.01 seconds. The PR interval increased by 0.02 seconds in 11 subjects, and a new first-degree atrioventricular block developed in two subjects. These changes were not related to the choice between imipramine and desipramine, the dose, or the method of administration. An increase in PR interval by 0.02 seconds or more did correlate with having an abnormality disclosed on a pretreatment electrocardiogram. The average increase in PR interval was 0.007 seconds for subjects with normal baseline electrocardiograms and 0.019 seconds for subjects with conduction and nonconduction abnormalities disclosed in baseline tracings. None of the electrocardiogram changes resulted in adverse clinical consequences. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry , 1991, 30, 1:100–103.
Advances in Modeling of Water in the Unsaturated Zone

This paper reviews recent advances in modeling of water flow in the unsaturated zone. The Richards model remains the most widely accepted and fertile framework for water flow analyses. More general formulations are reserved for the analysis of problems involving macroporosity, thermal effects, and air pressure effects. Many exact and approximate solutions have been derived for particular boundary value problems of homogeneous soils using methods such as quasi-linear analysis, Green-Ampt analysis, perturbation, and the kinematic wave approximation. Numerical simulators have become bigger and more accurate due to improvements in the areas of nonlinear solution procedures, mass conservation, computational efficiency, and computer hardware. Problems of natural heterogeneity have been addressed primarily through application of various stochastic methods to the Richards model. The stochastic formulations generally refute the concept of simple “equivalent” homogeneous properties, but do themselves offer a certain limited potential for a predictive capability.