cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CHANGES IN SERUM VITAMIN A LEVEL DURING THE HUMAN MENSTRUAL CYCLE

THE purpose of the present investigation was to study the variations of serum vitamin A concentration in normal women in relation to the menstrual cycle. The wide variety of reports in the literature indicates that the equilibrium which exists between serum levels and liver stores of vitamin A is influenced by hormones (1–8). For example, Reichstein's compound L (3,β-acetoxy-17-α-hydroxy-allopregnan-20-one) appears to alter the equilibrium between blood and liver “A,” resulting in a decreased level of serum vitamin A and increased liver stores (1). Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system with adrenaline increases the vitamin A content of the blood and mobilizes vitamin A from the liver (2). Combined injections of estradiol and testosterone have been reported to produce a threefold to fourfold increase in the concentration vitamin A in the blood serum of immature pullets (3). When growth hormone is given to vitamin A-deficient rats, a subacute deficiency of the vitamin is converted to an acute defici...
Outage optimum routing for wireless networks

A new routing metric for multi-hop wireless ad hoc networks is presented. The proposed metric is based on the computation of Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and minimization of wireless network outage probability in a fading environment. This metric improves the Quality-of-Service by reducing dropped packets. Further, by modeling the network with a Trellis diagram and then using Viterbi Algorithm to select the best routing path, we reduce the routing complexity of our approach. Simulation results demonstrate the improvement achieved by implementation of this new metric. Performance of the proposed metric is compared to other commonly used routing metrics such as Minimum Hop Count (MinHop), Expected Transmission Count (ETX) and two other SNR-based metrics in both mobile and stationary networks.
L 1 adaptive output feedback controller for nonlinear systems in the presence of unmodeled dynamics

This paper presents the L1 adaptive output feed-back controller for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems in the presence of time and state dependent unknown nonlinearities, and multiplicative unmodeled dynamics. The L1 adaptive controller ensures uniformly bounded transient and asymptotic tracking for system's both signals, input and output, simultaneously. The performance bounds can be systematically improved by increasing the adaptation rate.
Iterative Semi-Blind Blue Estimation of Channel State Information for the Asynchronous GMAC with Memory

In this paper we propose an iterative algorithm for estimating the semi-blind BLUE of the channel impulse response with respect to each source transmitter in an asynchronous scalar Gaussian multiple access channel (GMAC) with complex-valued intersymbol interference (ISI). We examine the case for the two-user GMAC where user 1's training arrives during the data portion of user 2. We demonstrate the algorithm with simulation results and contrast these results with other known channel estimation techniques such as correlation and least squares. We prove convergence of the algorithm under certain conditions for which we can realize the iterations as separate contraction mappings. We also give approximate versions of the algorithms which are more suited to real time applications.
Bone disease in primary biliary cirrhosis: Reversal of osteomalacia with oral 25-hydroxyvitamin D

Abstract Bone disease and the response to oral 25-hydroxyvitamin D were assessed in 7 women with primary biliary cirrhosis utilizing histomorphometric analysis of undecalcified iliac crest bone biopsies. Low serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D rose from 9.2 ± 6.7 (SD) to 151.0 ± 103.7 ng/ml on oral 25-hydroxyvitamin D therapy (100–200 μg daily). On initial biopsy 5 of 7 patients had osteomalacia. Repeat bone biopsy in 6 patients after 6–8 mo of continued therapy revealed significant improvement in bone mineralization as reflected in fractional osteoid surface and relative osteoid volume. Osteomalacia healed in 4, improved in 1, and remained absent in 1. Trabecular bone volume, an index of mineralized bone mass, was diminished in 6 of 7 patients and did not change significantly over the 6–8-mo treatment period. We conclude that oral 25-hydroxyvitamin D corrects vitamin D deficiency and reverses osteomalacia in primary biliary cirrhosis.
Affixes are essential tools when teaching and studying pharmacological drug classes

Introduction: The study of pharmacology involves considerable memorisation of drug classes, individual drug names, and mechanisms of action, as well as other characteristics including side effects, drug interactions, and therapeutic uses. The voluminous memorisation involved in basic and clinical pharmacology represents a challenging task, especially considering the continuous rate at which new drugs enter the market, and given that generic and trade names often are used interchangeably. Description of Educational Tool (Pharmacology Guide): Our comprehensive table consists of common affixes and roots of generic drugs that we have found beneficial to the study and retention of pharmacology. Our table includes important aspects of over fifty different drug classes including prototypes, mechanisms of action, and pertinent references. Evaluation: Qualitative feedback indicates that students readily adopt this organised approach of using common affixes and roots when studying pharmacological drug classes. Future Plans: Pharmacology educators and students at various institutions worldwide should benefit from this organised approach for teaching and learning pharmacological information. As well, it is anticipated that new editions of this table can be readily adapted to parallel the continuous emergence of new drugs and drug classes.
System performance variations due to partially polarized noise in a receiver

We systematically investigate effects of partially polarized noise in a receiver. We introduce a relationship between the Q factor and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) that accounts for effects of partially polarized noise. We derive an expression for the distribution of the Q factor for a fixed SNR, and we validate our results by comparison to back-to-back experiments. We show that the system performance varies depending on the angle between the Stokes vectors of the signal and the noise as well as the degree-of-polarization of the noise. Highly polarized noise will cause a larger variation of the system performance.
Selfishness examined: Cooperation in the absence of egoistic incentives.

Social dilemmas occur when the pursuit of self-interest by individuals in a group leads to less than optimal collective outcomes for everyone in the group. A critical assumption in the human sciences is that people's choices in such dilemmas are individualistic, selfish, and rational. Hence, cooperation in the support of group welfare will only occur if there are selfish incentives that convert the social dilemma into a nondilemma. In recent years, inclusive fitness theories have lent weight to such traditional views of rational selfishness on Darwinian grounds. To show that cooperation is based on selfish incentives, however, one must provide evidence that people do not cooperate without such incentives. In a series of experimental social dilemmas, subjects were instructed to make single, anonymous choices about whether or not to contribute money for a shared “bonus” that would be provided only if enough other people in the group also contributed their money. Noncontributors cited selfish reasons for their choices; contributors did not. If people are allowed to engage in discussion, they will contribute resources at high rates, frequently on irrational grounds, to promote group welfare. These findings are consistent with previous research on ingroup biasing effects that cannot be explained by “economic man” or “selfish gene” theories. An alternative explanation is that sociality was a primary factor shaping the evolution of Homo sapiens. The cognitive and affective mechanisms underlying such choices evolved under selection pressures on small groups for developing and maintaining group membership and for predicting and controlling the behavior of other group members. This sociality hypothesis organizes previously inexplicable and disparate phenomena in a Darwinian framework and makes novel predictions about human choice.
Interpersonal Relationships in Women's Magazines: Dating and Relating in the 1970s and 1980s:

This article follows up Kidd's (1975) analysis of the rhetorical visions in popular magazine articles concerning personal relationships. Data were collected from articles appearing in women's magazines spanning the years 1974-90. We ask which relational visions have dominated the popular magazines through the 1970s and 1980s. The use of content analytic methods focuses on the relational themes found in Kidd's analysis: togetherness vs autonomy, self-vs other-orientation and restricted vs open communication. The findings indicate that, in fact, a new vision has emerged. This vision focuses on the issues of knowledge of self and other, equality, relationship stages and time.
Appropriateness of referral of coronary angiography patients in Sweden

OBJECTIVE—To evaluate the appropriateness of referral following coronary angiography in Sweden. DESIGN—Prospective survey and review of medical records. PATIENTS—Consecutive series of 2767 patients who underwent coronary angiography in Sweden between May 1994 and January 1995 and were considered for coronary revascularisation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES—Percentage of patients referred for coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for indications that were judged necessary, appropriate, uncertain, and inappropriate by a multispecialty Swedish national expert panel using the RAND/University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) appropriateness method, and the percentage of patients referred for continued medical management who met necessity criteria for revascularisation. RESULTS—Half the patients were referred for CABG, 25% for PTCA, and 25% for continued medical therapy. CABG was judged appropriate or necessary for 78% of patients, uncertain for 12% and inappropriate for 10%. For PTCA the figures were 32%, 30% and 38%, respectively. Two factors contributed to the high inappropriate rate. Many of these patients did not have "significant" coronary artery disease (although all had at least one stenosis > 50%) or they were treated with less than "optimal" medical therapy. While 96% of patients who met necessity criteria for revascularisation were appropriately referred for revascularisation, 4% were referred for continued medical therapy. CONCLUSIONS—Using the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method and the definitions agreed to by the expert panel, which may be considered conservative today, it was found that 19% of Swedish patients were referred for coronary revascularisation judged inappropriate. Since some cardiovascular procedures evolve rapidly, the proportion of patients referred for inappropriate indications today remains unknown. Nevertheless, physicians should actively identify those patients who will and will not benefit from coronary revascularisation and ensure that they are appropriately treated. Keywords: coronary artery bypass graft surgery; angioplasty; quality of health care; health policy
Strategic Framing Work(s): How Micro-Credit Loans Facilitate Anti-Witch Hunt Movements

This article shows how a social movement organization focused on microcredit loans is able to mobilize a community against its own cultural practice of witch-hunts. Successful mobilization against witch-hunts are possible when two conditions are met: first, when activists are able to tap into microcredit groups’ social capacity for collective mobilization (defined by ties of mutual dependence, reciprocity, and friendship); and second, when activists are able to use strategic framing to present a coherent argument about the congruence of microcredit and anti-witch-hunt goals. In this context a master frame (women’s development) emerged that effectively forged the seemingly disparate goals of microcredit loans and anti-witch-hunt campaigns into one synthetic movement. In contrast, successful mobilization against witch-hunts was difficult in areas where the activists did not have access to the microcredit networks or were not able to strategically frame the campaign.
Optical quenching of lock-on currents in GaAs:Si:Cu switches

Infrared quenching of lock-on currents has been demonstrated in a photoconductive GaAs:Si:Cu switch. After quenching of the persistent photocurrent, the current recovers in about 25 ns to a constant value. The persistent photo and dark currents are considered to be due to double injection of carriers through the ohmic contacts of the photoconductive switch. It is noted that optical quenching of lock-on current offers the possibility of using GaAs:Si:Cu switches in high-rep-rate inductive energy storage systems. >
Behavior of a Microwave Cavity Discharge over a Wide Range of Pressures and Flow Rates

Experiments are conducted over a wide range of pressures, flow rates, and power levels to demonstrate the versatility of a microwave cavity discharge. The experimental results are justified using a linear, cold plasma theory that accounts for the electron-neutral particle collisional losses in the plasma. The resonant coupling of E. M. energy to a surface wave and the resulting formation of a long, large volume plasma column is demonstrated. The absorbed power characteristics of the microwave cavity discharge are examined for gas pressures up to 500 torr and flow rates up to 2500 cm3/min in the TE011 and TE*111 mode operation of the plasma cavity system. The experimental results show that the absorbed power variation as a function of pressure of this discharge is uniform. The power absorbed by the flowing plasma is shown to increase directly as a function of the flow rate initially and reach a saturation at high flow rates. By simultaneously optimizing the cavity length, discharge pressure, and the gas flow, it is possible to couple as much as 90% of the incident power to the plasma.
An Industry View of Competencies for Entry-Level Merchandising Jobs Application of the ITAA Meta-Goals

University clothing and textile programs must respond to increasing pressure from stakeholders to prepare graduates for successful employment. This challenge calls for educators to connect with employers to identify competencies needed for entry level merchandising positions in order to develop strong curricula to meet industry needs. In this study, the authors explored the merchandising component through a survey of mid-level retail managers’ (n = 109) perceptions of the competencies needed by new graduates to succeed in early career positions. The International Textile and Apparel Association meta-goals served as a framework for assessing retailers’ views on the importance of knowledge, skills, and abilities for new graduates. Retail managers favored soft skills such as teamwork, leadership, and communication, over traditional clothing and textile content knowledge. The authors found support for curricular emphasis on experiential and collaborative learning, and continuing efforts to invigorate core clo...
Reactions K − p → Σ ± π ∓ at 4.07 and 5.47 GeV c

Experimental results, based on a hydrogen-bubble-chamber exposure, are reported for the reactions (1) ${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and (2) ${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\Sigma}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$. In the experiment, ${K}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ track lengths equivalent to 0.95 \ensuremath{\mu}b per event at 4.07 $\frac{\mathrm{GeV}}{c}$ and 0.27 \ensuremath{\mu}b per event at 5.47 $\frac{\mathrm{GeV}}{c}$ have been analyzed. The cross sections at 4.07 and 5.47 $\frac{\mathrm{GeV}}{c}$, respectively, are 107\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}27 and 84\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}14 \ensuremath{\mu}b for reaction (1), and 8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5 and 2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1 \ensuremath{\mu}b for reaction (2). The dominant feature of reaction (1) is a peripheral peak in the center-of-mass production angular distribution. Differential cross sections are presented for the pheripheral region, and a comparison with the Regge model of Sarma and Reeder is made. Because of the statistics of this experiment, only crude estimates can be given for the extreme backward (antiperipheral) differential cross section for these reactions.
A report from the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2011 (November 12-16, 2011 - Orlando, Florida, U.S.A.)

Diet and lifestyle have a direct impact on cardiovascular health and may help improve the condition in many patients suffering from or at risk for cardiac diseases, and remote and in-person behavioral interventions were shown to prompt weight loss in obese individuals (Appel, L.J., Late-Breaking Clinical Trial presentation), thus helping reduce the cardiovascular risk. In that regard, and as an example, kiwifruit was noted to lower 24-hour blood pressure (Svendsen, M. et al., Abst 16175), whereas alcoholic beverages (at least red wine and vodka) were reported to improve the cardiovascular risk by increasing collateral perfusion and, in the case of red wine, to enhance antioxidant cardioprotection (Chu, L.M. et al., Abst 16380), drug therapy is required for treating a vast array of medical conditions affecting the heart and vessels, as well as many cardiovascular risk factors very common in the general population. These issues were widely discussed in the context of new findings with improved therapies tested in clinical or preclinical studies during AHA's scientific sessions in Orlando, as summarized in the following report.
Research of intelligent control method for all-weather tracking photovoltaic system

An intelligent tracking control method of photovoltaic power generation is put forward to solve the problem of low solar cell utilization rate caused by change of weather and other defects in all-weather operation conditions.The acquisition method of environment variables and the object features is described,the control strategies of tracking photovoltaic system are discussed,and the sun location control method is analyzed.Simulation results show that the tracking algorithm is able to locate the sun accurately according with the tracking control requirements of photovoltaic system.
Injection Molding High-Aspect-Ratio Microstructures for Lab-On-A-Chip Applications

Potential applications of plastics materials in lab-on-a-chip applications are numerous. The low-cost mass-production of plastic microstructures remains a challenge, however. This paper provides experimental results of replicating high-aspect-ratio micro sampling wells using a novel injection molding process called rapid thermal response molding, in which the mold surface temperature can be rapidly changed. The effect of the heating temperature on the replicability was studied. A sharp increase in the replicated depth was observed when the heating temperature approached the melting temperature. Complete replication of the 400-µm deep and 40-µm thick microfeature was achieved with a 2-s heating duration and a total cycle time of 15 seconds.
Calculus on a Surface

The discovery of calculus made it possible to study arbitrary curved surfaces in Euclidean space R 3 . However, it gradually became clear that in many contexts, coordinates {u, v} in the surface itself are more efficient. Thus, a two-dimensional calculus was developed for surfaces, one that remains valid even if the surface is not contained in R 3 . This chapter focuses on calculus on differential and integral calculus on the Euclidean plane R 2 , highlighting that it is strictly comparable with the usual calculus on the Euclidean space R 3 . The elements of this calculus belong strictly to the surface and not to the Euclidean space R 3 in which the surface is located. The chapter illustrates the necessary mathematical conditions required for a surface to be smooth and two dimensional, along with properties of patches that are used for the study of surfaces. Along with the Euclidean spaces, such surfaces are prime examples of the general notion of manifold. The calculus of any manifold involves differentiable functions, vector fields, differential forms, mappings, and various operations of differentiation and integration.
Glycan structure of Gc Protein-derived Macrophage Activating Factor as revealed by mass spectrometry

Disagreement exists regarding the O-glycan structure attached to human vitamin D binding protein (DBP). Previously reported evidence indicated that the O-glycan of the Gc1S allele product is the linear core 1 NeuNAc-Gal-GalNAc-Thr trisaccharide. Here, glycan structural evidence is provided from glycan linkage analysis and over 30 serial glycosidase-digestion experiments which were followed by analysis of the intact protein by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Results demonstrate that the O-glycan from the Gc1F protein is the same linear trisaccharide found on the Gc1S protein and that the hexose residue is galactose. In addition, the putative anti-cancer derivative of DBP known as Gc Protein-derived Macrophage Activating Factor (GcMAF, which is formed by the combined action of β-galactosidase and neuraminidase upon DBP) was analyzed intact by ESI-MS, revealing that the activating E. coli β-galactosidase cleaves nothing from the protein-leaving the glycan structure of active GcMAF as a Gal-GalNAc-Thr disaccharide, regardless of the order in which β-galactosidase and neuraminidase are applied. Moreover, glycosidase digestion results show that α-N-Acetylgalactosamindase (nagalase) lacks endoglycosidic function and only cleaves the DBP O-glycan once it has been trimmed down to a GalNAc-Thr monosaccharide-precluding the possibility of this enzyme removing the O-glycan trisaccharide from cancer-patient DBP in vivo.
Dispersion and absorption in ferromagnetic semiconductors

A broad-band spectral analysis was undertaken of the dielectric properties of ferrites (polarization, magnetization and conduction) from d.c. to the optical spectral region. After a short description of the various measurement techniques employed, characteristic data are given of electronic conduction, space-charge polarization, infrared absorption, and ferromagnetic resonance. Various additional resonance and relaxation effects are discussed, which, in addition, may shape the very complicated frequency-response characteristics. The effect of structure and cation distribution of the ferromagnetic semiconductors on the electric and magnetic properties are also considered.
Migration Pathways of Thalamic Neurons and Development of Thalamocortical Connections in Humans Revealed by Diffusion MR Tractography

The thalamus plays an important role in signal relays in the brain, with thalamocortical (TC) neuronal pathways linked to various sensory/cognitive functions. In this study, we aimed to see fetal and postnatal development of the thalamus including neuronal migration to the thalamus and the emergence/maturation of the TC pathways. Pathways from/to the thalami of human postmortem fetuses and in vivo subjects ranging from newborns to adults with no neurological histories were studied using high angular resolution diffusion MR imaging (HARDI) tractography. Pathways likely linked to neuronal migration from the ventricular zone and ganglionic eminence (GE) to the thalami were both successfully detected. Between the ventricular zone and thalami, more tractography pathways were found in anterior compared with posterior regions, which was well in agreement with postnatal observations that the anterior TC segment had more tract count and volume than the posterior segment. Three different pathways likely linked to neuronal migration from the GE to the thalami were detected. No hemispheric asymmetry of the TC pathways was quantitatively observed during development. These results suggest that HARDI tractography is useful to identify multiple differential neuronal migration pathways in human brains, and regional differences in brain development in fetal ages persisted in postnatal development.
Irrigation Frequency and Shading Influences on Water Relations and Growth of Container-Grown Euonymus japonica ‘Aureo-marginata’

Trickle irrigation frequency, shading, water relations, and plant growth of container-grown Euonymus japonica Thunb. ‘Aureomarginata’ was investigated. Plants were grown under a combination of 3 irrigation frequencies and 2 shade levels. Stomatal conductance (gs) was reduced when plants were irrigated 3 times per week compared to irrigation daily and twice daily after week 4 under full sun and after week 8 under shade. Few differences were detected in predawn shoot water potential (Ψshoot) under shade at any irrigation level. The predawn shoot water potential (Ψshoot) was reduced (rnore negative) for plants irrigated 3 times per week compared to irrigation daily and twice daily after week 8 for plants grown under full sun and week 10 for plants grown under shade. These values remained lower for the duration of the study. Plants grown under shade and irrigated once daily had greater plant dry weight and leaf area compared to plants irrigated either twice daily or 3 times per week. They were also larger tha...
Invasive Hemodynamics and Rejection Rates in Patients With Cardiac Sarcoidosis After Heart Transplantation

Abstract Background Orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) is increasingly utilized for end-stage heart failure due to cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). However, concern regarding long-term outcomes in CS patients after OHT persists due to multi-organ involvement. Methods Baseline demographics and invasive hemodynamics were measured in 12 patients with CS and 28 patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) requiring OHT at the time of transplantation, one week post-OHT, and in routine follow-up. Primary endpoints included changes in pulmonary artery (PA) pressure, right ventricular stroke work index (RVSWI), and pulmonary compliance. Secondary endpoints included degree of allograft rejection and death. Results During a mean follow-up of 73.8 months, no differences in PA pressures, RVSWI, or cardiac index were observed in CS(n=12) compared to non-CS patients(n=28) between 1 week post-OHT and most recent follow-up. Long-term follow-up showed that pulmonary hemodynamics remained normal in the CS group. ISHLT 1990 grade > 1a rejection occurred less frequently in the CS group (17% vs. 68%, p=0.006), and 0/12 patients in the CS group experienced histologic or clinical recurrence of sarcoidosis or >2 rejection. CS patients had excellent survival post-OHT, with 0 deaths or significant rejection. Conclusions CS patients have similar post-transplant hemodynamics as non-CS patients, without evidence of RV dysfunction or pulmonary hypertension. No significant rejection nor recurrence of sarcoid in the allograft were observed in this cohort of patients with CS. Survival is similar between CS and non-CS patients. Heart transplant is a viable strategy in selected CS patients with excellent outcomes.
Tamoxifen Resistance Trumped and Oral Selective Estrogen Receptor Degraders Arrive

Predictive tests, to refine the estrogen receptor assay, for the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer with tamoxifen and oral selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERD) are required. A splice variant of the corepressor NCOR2, BQ2313636.1 predicts tamoxifen resistance to adjuvant tamoxifen and AZ9496, the first oral SERD, completes phase I studies. Clin Cancer Res; 24(15); 3480-2. ©2018 AACRSee related articles by Gong et al., p. 3681 and Hamilton et al., p. 3510.
Toward a better conversion in magnesiothermic SHS of zirconium diboride

Zirconium diboride (ZrB2) is a promising ultra-high-temperature ceramic material. Magnesiothermic self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) is an attractive method for its fabrication from relatively inexpensive oxides of zirconium and boron. However, prior studies on magnesiothermic, combustion-based methods for synthesis of ZrB2 have revealed incomplete conversion. The present work aims to determine optimal conditions for magnesiothermic SHS of ZrB2 from ZrO2 and B2O3. The addition of MgO, NaCl, and excess Mg was investigated experimentally. Mechanical activation (short-time high-energy ball milling) was used to facilitate ignition of the powder mixtures. After combustion in an argon environment, the products were leached by diluted HCl to remove magnesium compounds and NaCl. The results show that NaCl is a better additive than MgO; it effectively improves milling and decreases the amount of zirconia in the products. Further, NaCl decreases the particle size of the products, which is beneficial for sintering. The addition of excess Mg also has a positive effect on the conversion because it compensates for the loss of Mg through vaporization during the SHS process. In the products obtained by combustion and leaching of the mixtures with 20% excess Mg and 10–30 wt% NaCl, the oxygen content was below 4 wt%. Nanoscale polycrystalline ZrB2 particles were obtained using the mixture with 20% excess Mg and 30 wt% NaCl.
Contraceptive Options for Women with Headache Disease

This chapter addresses the effects of hormonal contraceptives on headache, in particular, migraine. The definition, incidence, and prevalence for migraine with and without aura are reviewed. The discussion explores the stroke risk associated with both hormonal contraception and migraine and also includes the special contraceptive concerns regarding estrogen withdrawal headache, menstrual migraine, and idiopathic intracranial hypertension. A case-based approach is used to allow practitioners an understanding of how to implement best practice recommendations, especially the selection of appropriate candidates for initiation of hormone-containing contraceptives, and decision-making about method continuation among women complaining of headache while taking hormonal contraceptives.
Molecular Dissimilarity in Chemical Information Systems

The concept of molecular dissimilarity is introduced, and shown to be a powerful complement to the well-established notion of molecular similarity. It provides a quantitative assessment of structural variation and diversity. Applications within chemical information systems are discussed. These include ranking of search output, selection of representative sets of structures, file screening, data analysis, and creativity stimulation.
Lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio in amniotic fluid and its value for the prediction of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in pregnant diabetic women.

Abstract In 101 diabetic pregnant women (Classes A through D) 146 determinations of the lecithin/sphingomyelin ( L/S ) ratio were carried out. Gestational ages were verified by serial fetal cephalometry. No L/S ratios of more than 2.0 were found before 341/2 weeks' gestation; however, in 42 per cent of patients the L/S ratio was below 2.0 at 36 weeks' gestation or later. Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) was found in 16 neonates of women with L/S ratios of 2.0 or higher; however, RDS incidence varied depending on the mode of delivery. Abdominal delivery was performed before 37 weeks' gestation in 19 patients with L/S ratios of 2.0 or higher and resulted in neonates with RDS in 41 per cent of cases. Vaginal delivery was accomplished before 37 weeks' gestation in 10 patients with L/S ratios of 2.0 or higher and no subsequent neonatal RDS was observed. After 37 weeks' gestation neonatal RDS is rare, irrespective of mode of delivery. The data presented suggest that similar numerical values of the L/S ratio at different gestational ages have a different predictive value for the occurrence of neonatal RDS.
Extended Fisheries Jurisdiction and the New Law of the Sea

International law concerning ocean fisheries is still in the process of radical transformation, but some important components of the new regime appear to be in place. The principal change, taking effect widely only since the mid-1970s, is the now commonly recognized extension of national jurisdiction to 200 nautical miles from the baseline. Accompanying this extension of national authority and in substantial measure the major impetus for it, the 3d United Nations Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) conference has elaborated jurisdictional and substantive principles for fisheries regulation in the Exclusive Economic Zone that is a major innovation of the conference.
Long-Term Costs of Maximum Nonoperative Treatments in Patients With Symptomatic Lumbar Stenosis or Spondylolisthesis that Ultimately Required Surgery: A 5-Year Cost Analysis

Study Design.Retrospective cohort study.Objective.The purpose of this study is to characterize the utilization and costs of MNTs prior to spinal fusion surgery in patients with symptomatic lumbar stenosis or spondylolisthesis.Summary of Background Data.The costs and utilization of long-term maximal
Efficacy of clofarabine and low-dose cytarabine combination for genetically high-risk acute myeloid leukemia prior to allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

e18515Background: The outcome of genetically high risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients (pts) remains poor, with a median overall survival (OS) of a few months after the failure of regimens. L...
Single Image Based Random-Value Impulse Noise Level Estimation Algorithm

Image denoising is a vital and indispensable pre-process for most applied image processing systems. Having prior knowledge about the noise level is essential for optimizing denoising algorithms. However, this information most likely does not exist for real applications and is much harder to extract from a single noisy image than from multiple noisy images. For Gaussian noise, there are many accurate state-of-the-art level estimations, whereas there are only limited random valued impulse noise level estimations proposed. Moreover, the existing proposed impulse noise estimators are limited in accuracy, especially in the presence of high noise levels. This paper presents a new random-valued impulse noise level estimation (RVI-E) algorithm using only a single image. The presented RVI-E algorithm is based on distribution property of impulse noise pixels, on correlation among the image, and on a new linear relationship between the percentage of big-distorted noise and one of all noise. The mathematical study, computer simulations, and analysis on 347 different images using five online grayscale image databases shows that (a) the presented method is efficient, robust and reliable, (b) the presented methods show stably accurate performance across images with different contents and different levels of noise (lower than 60%), and (c) the speed performance of the proposed RVI can be boosted by the parallel computing strategy, since the estimation utilizes a parallel framework.
Cannabidiol's Upregulation of N-acyl Ethanolamines in the Central Nervous System Requires N-acyl Phosphatidyl Ethanolamine-Specific Phospholipase D.

Abstract Introduction: Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) are bioactive cannabinoids. We recently showed that acute THC administration drives region-dependent changes in the mouse ...
New Media and the Loss of Individual Sovereignty

This article explores the impact of new media on authentic existence. It argues that technology has reshaped humanity in inconceivable ways, but it is taking away individual sovereignty by facilitating and enhancing power for regimes both democratic and dictatorial. With its design and sophistication that make it possible to listen in on, record, and funnel content produced in the digital realm to locations of power,new media may lead contemporary society towards an era of centralized control and coercion. The likelihood of new media being used as an instrument of power, a devicefor monitoring the masses, begets an atmosphere of fear, which compromises cognitive habits, inhibits the capacity to engage society on a critical level,and gives birth to a culture of singularity. With our ontology reconstituted by the technological and with our growing reliance on new media,we are losing our authenticity assovereign individuals.
CNNcon: A Quantitative Imaging Tool for Lung CT Image Feature Analysis

Abstract Background Lung CT scans are widely used for lung cancer screening and diagnosis. Current research focuses on quantitative analytics (radiomics) to improve screening and detection accuracy. However there are very limited numbers of portable software tools for automatic lung CT image analysis. Results Here we build a Docker container, CNNcon, as a quantitative imaging tool for analyzing lung CT image features. CNNcon is developed from our recently published algorithm for nodule analysis, based on convolutional neural networks (CNN). When provided with a list of the centroid coordinates of regions of interest (ROI) in a volumetric CT study containing potential lung nodules, CNNcon can automatically generate highly accurate malignancy prediction of each ROI. CNNcon can also generate a vector of image features of each ROI, to facilitate further analyses by combining image features and other clinical features. As a Docker container, CNNcon is portable to various computer systems, convenient to install, and easy to use. CNNcon was tested on different computer systems and generated identical results. Conclusions We anticipate that CNNcon will be a useful tool and broadly acceptable to the research community interested in quantitative image analysis. Availability CNNcon and document are publicly available and can be downloaded from the website: http://bioinformatics.astate.edu/CNN-Container/
On the stereochemistry of vicinal nucleophilic substitution of β-(phosphatoxy)alkyl radicals

Abstract It is demonstrated by means of diastereomeric probes that the vicinal nucleophilic displacement of a diethylphosphate group from a β-(phosphatoxy)alkyl radical may take place by backside or frontside attack depending on steric constraints
Phase Separation By Nucleation and Ly Spinodal Decomposition: Fundamentals

One of the most promising applications of supercritical fluids is in materials processing [1]. Interest is driven by the possibility of making highly pure materials, with desirable and controllable properties, under mild operating conditions, and with minimal downstream processing. There are many routes to the formation of solid phases from a supercritical medium, but they all involve one of two fundamental mechanisms of phase separation, nucleation or spieodal decomposition. A clear understanding of these two basic processes is necessary for the engineering design of processes involving the formation of solid phases from a supercritical medium. This article reviews the fundamentals of nucleation and of spinodal decomposition.
Redundancy in wildflower strip species helps support spatiotemporal variation in wild bee communities on diversified farms

Abstract Wildflower strips are a management practice increasingly used to provide floral resources to wild bees in agroecosystems. Yet, despite known spatiotemporal variation in wild bee communities, the degree to which different wildflower strip species consistently support wild bee communities is poorly understood. Additionally, whether such consistency is related to the functional roles wildflower species play (e.g., in supporting diverse, rare, or unique suites of bee species) has not been considered. Over three years and on four diversified farms, we evaluated spatiotemporal variation in wild bee communities and bee-flower interactions in wildflower strips to better understand the roles of flower strip species in supporting bees. We documented spatiotemporal variation in the abundance, richness, and composition of local wild bee communities. Certain wildflower species consistently supported the highest richness of wild bees across years. These wildflower species were regularly core members of the bee-flower interaction network, visited by both generalist and specialist bees. By contrast, wildflower species supporting the most unique suites of bees were variable in this role among farms. In order to select plant species for wildflower strips that consistently support a high diversity of wild bee communities within farm landscapes, it is useful to consider several different functional roles that plants may play. Whereas a handful of wildflower species may be visited by the majority of local wild bee species, achieving support for the remaining, and perhaps rarer, bee species will require planting additional flower species, which may appear redundant until the spatiotemporal variation in wild bee communities is more thoroughly considered. This functional approach to selecting wildflower species for bee conservation efforts is important for making practical recommendations to land managers and for guiding best management practices in different regions and with diverse management goals.
Unpacking Everyday Critical Pedagogy: Languaging Critique and Dialogue:

This article explores how critical pedagogy unfolds in the everyday interactions between teachers and students. Specifically, Freirean constructs of critique and dialogue were explored in two key l...
Rapid Steady-State Hypersonic Aerothermodynamic Loads Prediction Using Reduced Fidelity Models

Balancing accurate and efficient estimation of aerothermodynamic loads is a significant challenge for multidisciplinary modeling and analysis of high-speed vehicles. This study focuses on this issu...
Indoor Environmental Factors May Modify the Response to Mouse Allergen Reduction Among Mouse-Sensitized and Exposed Children with Persistent Asthma

Background Whether concomitant home exposures modify the effectiveness of mouse allergen reduction among mouse-sensitized children with asthma is unknown. Objective To determine whether a lower baseline home mouse allergen level, lower particulate matter 10 μ or less (PM10), and the absence of sensitization and exposure to other indoor allergens are associated with greater improvements in asthma associated with mouse allergen reduction. Methods A secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial of a home mouse allergen intervention was performed to examine the effect of 3 indoor factors on the relationship between mouse allergen reduction and a range of asthma outcomes. Results Participants (N = 297) were predominantly minority (78% African American, 22% Hispanic) and publicly insured (88%). Higher baseline mouse allergen levels were associated with a greater response to mouse allergen reduction for several symptom and exacerbation outcomes. Lower indoor PM10 levels were associated with a greater response to mouse allergen reduction for several symptom outcomes, but not exacerbation outcomes. Overall, sensitization and exposure to other indoor allergens did not appear to modify the effect of mouse allergen reduction. Conclusions In this population of predominantly low-income children with persistent asthma and mouse sensitization, mouse allergen reduction was associated with improvements in asthma, especially among those with high baseline mouse allergen exposure. Lower indoor PM10 was associated with greater improvements in asthma symptoms.
Dominance or Recessiveness of the Senescent Phenotype in Somatic Cell Fusions

I would like to raise a few points for discussion of Dr. Muggleton-Harris’ paper, after which I will describe some of our recent work that pertains to the central theme of this symposium. Dr. Muggleton-Harris’ data suggest that both the cytoplasm and the nucleus of an old cell have the ability to confer senescence on a reconstructed cell. On the other hand, when Wright and Hayflick (1975) looked at (whole cell)/(cytoplast) fusions they concluded that the cytoplasm of an old cell does not have the ability to confer senescence on young cells. Can these results be reconciled? Let us consider several possibilities that could account for the apparent disparity between the two sets of data.
Investigation laws and practices in child protective services.

This study was triggered by the experience of one state agency when a state audit found that its investigation response and completion rates of child abuse and neglect reports did not reach 100%. At compliance rates of 99.6% and 97.58%, respectively, the auditors and news media reported a lack of compliance by the state child welfare agency. This article reviews the approaches legislatures and agencies have used to address and resolve problems of ensuring agency responsiveness without setting standards and expectations that are impossible to meet. Language: en
Junk e-mail: an overview of issues and legislation concerning unsolicited commercial electronic mail (Spam)

Unsolicited commercial e-mail (UCE), also called "spam" or "junk e-mail," aggravates many computer users. Not only can it be a nuisance, but its cost may be passed on to customers through higher charges from Internet service providers who must upgrade their systems to handle the traffic. Proponents of UCE insist it is a legitimate marketing technique and protected by the First Amendment. Legislation to place limits on UCE was considered by the last two Congresses, but no bill cleared Congress. Four bills have been introduced in the 107th Congress: H.R. 95, H.R. 718, H.R. 1017, and S. 630. H.R. 718 has been reported form the House Energy and Commerce Committee (H.Rept. 107-41, Part I).
Analyses of Residual Thermal Stresses in Ceramic Matrix Composites

Residual thermal stresses in ceramic matrix composites containing either ellipsoidal inclusions or short fibers (i.e., fibers of finite length) are considered. First, the residual stresses in ellipsoidal inclusions are uniform, and they are analyzed using a modified Eshelby model. Although closed-form analytical solutions are obtained, their formulations are formidable. When the aspect ratio of the ellipsoid is 0, 1, or infinity, simple analytical solutions can be obtained using different models, and they are in excellent agreement with those obtained from the modified Eshelby model. Second, residual stresses in short fibers are nonuniform, and they are analyzed using a modified shear lag model, in which imaginary fibers are introduced to satisfy the continuity condition at the fiber ends. The analytical solutions are compared to the experimental results.