cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sex differences in binge drinking and suicide attempts in a nationally representative sample

Abstract Objective Prevalence of suicide continues to present a major public health problem, particularly among women. Identifying risk factors for suicide is vital to reduce the number of suicide deaths per year. Alcohol use is a well-known risk factor for suicidal behavior, but the association between binge drinking and suicide attempts across genders is less clear. Methods The current study used combined 2008–2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health data (n = 269,078) to examine the association between binge drinking and suicidal ideation and suicide attempts across sex. Results Logistic regression analyses revealed that binge drinking was associated with suicide attempts in females (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.09–1.73) but not in males (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.80–1.43). Binge drinking was not associated with suicidal ideation in either males or females. Conclusions Identifying and addressing binge drinking in women may be useful as part of a suicide prevention strategy.
Intraosseous Cannulation of a Calvarial Diploic Vein for Embolization of a Symptomatic Dural Arteriovenous Fistula: A Technical Case Report.

Background and importance Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) may present unique challenges for treatment depending on the anatomy and pattern of venous drainage. If endovascular techniques are to be employed, the DAVF must be amenable to transvenous or transarterial therapy. When access of peripheral vasculature does not provide a straightforward path, less conventional options may be available. This case highlights a novel, technically simple, and effective approach for the treatment of a subset of DAVFs, with venous drainage through calvarial diploic veins, that would make endovascular treatment otherwise challenging or impossible. Clinical presentation We present a case of a 66-yr-old female patient who was diagnosed with a symptomatic DAVF located along the sphenoid ridge with a large intraosseous channel containing the draining vein of the fistula. This lesion was successfully treated with transcranial endovascular embolization via direct intraosseous cannulation of the calvarial diploic vein. This novel approach obviated the need for a full-thickness craniotomy, afforded only minimal bone loss, and preserved the integrity of the dura. A 3-mo follow-up angiogram confirmed complete cure of the DAVF with no residual arteriovenous shunt. At 20 mo postembolization, the patient was symptom free, with no reported neurologic deficits. Complete diagnostic work-up, treatment planning in a multidisciplinary environment, and a novel approach for endovascular embolization utilizing a hybrid operating suite played key roles in the successful implementation of this technique. Conclusion This is the first report of direct intraosseous cannulation of a calvarial diploic vein for successful transcranial endovascular embolization of a symptomatic DAVF.
Expanding Role of the Erector Spinae Plane Block for Postoperative and Chronic Pain Management.

Purpose of review The erector spinae plane block (ESPB), first described in 2016, offers the promise of becoming a safe, less invasive, and technically less demanding alternative to conventional thoracic regional anesthetic techniques including thoracic epidurals and traditional paravertebral blocks. Clinical and cadaveric studies suggest that ESPB acts on the ventral rami of spinal nerves in the paravertebral space via penetration of the intertransverse connection tissues and moreover achieves visceral analgesia via the rami communicantes and sympathetic chain. Recent findings The block has garnered considerable appeal related to an inherently lower risk of neurovascular and pleural injury, low risk of local anesthetic systemic toxicity, and relative technical simplicity in comparison with epidural or paravertebral blockade. It has been utilized in the treatment of acute perioperative pain in a variety of clinical applications including breast, thoracic, and abdominal surgeries and trauma and may even offer some benefit in spine surgery. Given the combination of its efficacy and decreased associated risk when performed for perioperative pain, use of ESPB should be further explored for the management of chronic pain. Current literature at this time is limited to case studies and series performed by select groups. Though it is important to consider ESPB for chronic pain, further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the ESPB in the management of both acute and chronic pain.
Ensemble learning based linear power flow.

This paper develops an ensemble learning-based linearization approach for power flow, which differs from the network-parameter based direct current (DC) power flow or other extended versions of linearization. As a novel data-driven linearization through data mining, it firstly applies the polynomial regression (PR) as a basic learner to capture the linear relationships between the bus voltage as the independent variable and the active or reactive power as the dependent variable in rectangular coordinates. Then, gradient boosting (GB) and bagging as ensemble learning methods are introduced to combine all basic learners to boost the model performance. The fitted linear power flow model is also relaxed to compute the optimal power flow (OPF). The simulating results of standard IEEE cases indicate that (1) ensemble learning methods outperform PR and GB works better than bagging; (2) as for solving OPF, the data-driven model excels the DC model and the SDP relaxation in the computational accuracy, and works faster than ACOPF and SDPOPF.
Time-resolved characterization of microchannel flow boiling during transient heating: Part 2 – Dynamic response to time-periodic heat flux pulses

Abstract Flow boiling in microchannels is an effective method for dissipating high heat fluxes. However, two-phase heat sink operation during transient heating conditions remains relatively unexplored. In Part 1 of this two-part study, the dynamic response of flow boiling to a single heat flux pulse was experimentally studied. In this Part 2, the effect of heating pulse frequency on microchannel flow boiling is explored when a time-periodic series of pulses is applied to the channel. HFE-7100 is driven through a single 500 μm-diameter glass microchannel using a constant pressure reservoir. A thin indium tin oxide layer on the outside surface of the microchannel enables simultaneous transient heating and flow visualization. High-frequency measurements of heat flux, wall temperature, pressure drop, and mass flux are synchronized to the flow visualizations to characterize the boiling process. A square-wave heating profile is used with pulse frequencies ranging from 0.1 to 100 Hz and three different heat fluxes levels (15, 75, and 150 kW/m2). Three different time-periodic flow boiling fluctuations were observed for the heat flux levels and pulse frequencies investigated in this study: flow regime transitions, pressure drop oscillations, and heating pulse propagation. For heat flux pulses between 15 and 75 kW/m2 and heating pulse frequencies above 1 Hz, time-periodic flow regime transitions between single-phase and two-phase flow are reported. For heating profiles involving 150 kW/m2 heat flux pulses, fluid in the microchannel is always boiling and thus the flow regime transitions are eliminated. For heating pulse frequencies between approximately 1 and 10 Hz, the thermal and flow fluctuations are heavily coupled to the heating characteristics, forcing the pressure drop instability frequency to match the heating frequency. Outside this heating pulse frequency range, the pressure drop instability occurs at the intrinsic frequency of the system. For heating pulse frequencies above 25 Hz, the microchannel wall attenuates the transient heating profile and the fluid essentially experiences a constant heat flux.
Skyrmion mass from spin-phonon interaction

The inertial mass of a skyrmion arising from spin-phonon interaction is computed exactly within a toy model of the magnetoelastic coupling in a ferromagnetic film. The mass scales as the square of the strength of the magnetoelastic coupling, as the square of the film thickness, and as the first power of the lateral size of the skyrmion. For nanometer skyrmions it is in the ballpark of a few electron masses but may be significantly greater in materials with large magnetostriction. These findings are expected to stand for any complex structure of spin-phonon interaction in real materials. They must be taken into account when addressing the speed of information processing based upon skyrmions.
Diabetes Tracker: An Information System to assist and track nutritional information

Chronic disease such as diabetes has become a genuine health concern in people’s lives. Millions of people are already diagnosed with it, and this number is only expected to continue growing along with the price of any kind of aid that can be provided for this disease. This makes being able to offer any kind of assistance to those that are suffering through this regardless of economic status that much more important. This paper will discuss a prototype information system being built to provide remote healthcare via informative assistance to anyone with diabetes. To reach as much of an audience as possible, this system will be implemented on both web and mobile application-based platforms. We intend to extend this information system can provide self-health management advice for users depending on any related information to them, their condition, and the information they enter, such as their diet intake and current body condition. At this stage, we are focusing on making an easy-to-use and understand application that does not include complicated warning systems and notifications. In the future, we intend to add carefully evaluated functionalities that are user-friendly for general users who are not tech-savvy. Thus, our objective for this work is two-fold. Firstly, we plan to implement successful web and mobile-based applications that are easy and helpful to use, providing relief to those who want and need it. Secondly, we hope to advance our research and assist others in the research community and inspire others trying to solve the same problem.
Electron Energy Bands in Solids

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses electron energy bands in solids. A convenient assumption to make in beginning the discussion of the behavior of electrons in crystals is that one may consider the motion of only one particle in a periodic potential. This is an oversimplification, for one really has a many-electron problem. It should be apparent that the E(k) relation is one of the most important properties of a material. It is involved in a basic way in any calculation of the electric, optical, or thermal characteristics of the substance. The calculation of E(k) relations for actual materials is extremely complicated. Many considerations of electrical properties, for example, are based on extremely simplified models of the real band structure. Progress has been made, however, in determining energy bands in a number of the simpler metals and semiconductors. Although a theory for finding the exact energy to be associated with a model state exists, it has not yet been possible to make calculations for real systems. All existing calculations of energy bands are based on the use of one model function. The best model function is that for which the expectation value of the energy is a minimum, subject to the conditions that the one-particle functions which compose it be orthonormal.
Actual and Perceived Sharing of Ethical Reasoning and Moral Intent Among In-Group and Out-Group Members

Despite an extensive amount of research studying the influence of significant others on an individual's ethical behavior, researchers have not examined this variable in the context of organizational group boundaries. This study tests actual and perceptual sharing and variation in ethical reasoning and moral intent within and across functional groups in an organization. Integrating theory on ethical behavior, group dynamics, and culture, it is proposed that organizational structure affects cognitive structure. Departmental boundaries create stronger social ties within the group as well as intergroup biases between the groups. Thus individuals will be more likely to share in ethical reasoning and moral intent with members of their own functional group (in-group) than with members of other functional groups (out-group). Additionally, they will perceive that they are more likely to share in ethical reasoning and moral intent with in-group members than with out-group members. Responding to two versions of two ethical scenarios, respondents contrasted their own ethical behavior to their expected ethical behavior of in-group and out-group members. Empirical results confirmed the hypotheses. Organizational group boundaries create actual as well as perceptual sharing and variation in ethical reasoning and moral intent. Furthermore, when comparing perceptual sharing to actual sharing, results show that individuals understate their sharing of ethical reasoning and moral intent with out-group members and overstate their sharing with in-group members. As organizational boundaries can create actual and perceived differences between groups that could lead to inter-group conflict, suggestions for management focus on removing or blurring inter-group boundaries.
Slip Potentials on Ramps

Falls are a major cause of injuries at work, in public places and at home. In over 50 percent of falling accidents, slips led to the injury. Ramps have the potential to be particularly hazardous wi...
Extension of Small-Strain Theory to Finite Deformation of Cylindrical Vessels by Internal Over-Pressure

Calculations of the pressure distention of closed cylindrical vessels using classical infinitesimal-strain theory predict that, for isotropic materials, the length remains fixed while the diameter increases linearly with pressure. These predictions can be verified experimentally only if the radial deformation is less than 2–3%. This paper develops formulae applicable to deformations up to approximately 10 times the above, based on a modification of infinitesimal theory. The results predict significant lengthening of isotropic vessels, and ballooning or ‘blow-out’ above a certain pressure. It is shown that the classical stresses contain a common hydrostatic component which must be subtracted before the stresses can be integrated across the wall thickness to yield wall tensions. When the hydrostatic component is taken into account, Laplace’s law is found to hold for thick-walled vessels as well as for thin-walled vessels.
Sound speed estimation using ultrasound image registration

A method for estimating the average speed-of-sound (SOS) in tissue or other materials using automatic registration of electronically steered ultrasound images is presented. A mismatch between the SOS assumed for beam forming and image reconstruction and the actual SOS in the tissue to be imaged can lead to significant defocusing and geometric distortions of the image. The geometric distortions can be detected by registering multiple, overlapping images steered in different look directions. The average SOS in the field of view can be estimated from the geometric transformation required to register the images. The theoretical basis for SOS estimation using phased array and steered linear array transducers is derived. Simulations show a moderate sensitivity to noise, suggesting that SOS estimations can be accurate enough to improve image quality when used in the image formation process. Examples of SOS estimates in water and tissue-mimicking phantoms show promising results, with errors below 1%.
Changes in the magnitude of drug-unconditioned stimulus during conditioning modulate cocaine-induced place preference in mice

Drug reinforcement learning is relevant for the development of addiction. The present study investigated how changes in the magnitude of drug-unconditioned stimulus during associative learning modulate the acquisition and extinction of cocaine-induced conditioned place preference (CPP). B6;129S F2 mice were conditioned by three dosing schedules of cocaine: (1) ascending, (2) fixed and (3) descending daily doses. Following acquisition of CPP, extinction was induced by (1) context re-exposure, (2) reconditioning by saline and (3) reconditioning by descending doses of cocaine. The magnitude of CPP following conditioning by daily ascending doses of cocaine (2, 4, 8 and 16 mg/kg) was significantly higher than that obtained from conditioning by either a fixed daily dose (16 mg/kg × 4 days) or daily descending doses (24, 12, 6 and 3 mg/kg). Extinction following context re-exposure showed persistent CPP in the 'ascending' group compared to the other two groups. However, extinction via reconditioning by saline was equally effective in all groups. Interestingly, reconditioning by descending doses of cocaine (1) extinguished CPP and (2) resulted in partial resistance to the reinstatement of conditioned response by cocaine priming. Results underscore the significance of daily changes in cocaine dosage in the development and extinction of drug-induced conditioned response. Increase and decrease in cocaine dosage strengthens and weakens cocaine-associated memory, respectively. Moreover, extinction by 'tapering down' drug reward may be superior to extinction by saline.
Lived Experiences of Adult Children Who Have a Parent Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease

Little is known about the experience among adult children who have a parent with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). The purpose of this study was to explore, appreciate, and describe their experiences using a phenomenological methodology. Narratives were collected from seven participants who have a parent diagnosed with PD and analyzed according to Colaizzi’s (1978) phenomenological data analysis method. Seven thematic clusters were identified and an exhaustive description is presented to summarize the essence of their lived experience. The study indicates a strong sense of essential positivism from the participants’ stories, and overall, it seems PD has brought some degree of biological, psychological, socially, and/or spiritual meaning to their lives that they may not have otherwise noticed or experienced. Key Words: Parkinson’s Disease, Phenomenology, Biopsychosocial-spiritual, Adult, Children and Illness
On Distortion and Thickness of Knots

What length of rope (of given diameter) is required to tie a particular knot ? Or, to turn the problem around, given an embedded curve, how thick a regular neighborhood of the curve also is embedded ? Intuitively, the diameter of the possible rope is bounded by the distance between strands at the closest crossing in the knot. But of course the distance between two points along a curve goes to zero as the points approach each other, so to make the notion precise, we need to exclude some neighborhood of the diagonal.
Hepatic tissue engineering

Summary form only given. Despite more than three decades of research and development, an artificial liver has not yet become clinical reality. Although previous attempts using a multiplicity of techniques including hemodialysis, hemoperfusion, plasma exchange, crosshemodialysis, and extracorporeal perfusion have shown minor improvement in patients with acute hepatic failure, clinical trials have failed to demonstrate any survival benefit. More recent efforts have been directed at the use of hepatocytes as the basis of liver support. A primary problem with these cell-based approaches that involves the use of hepatocyte in liver assist devices is the eventual loss of differentiated phenotype. Our strategy is to target this fundamental problem by developing a bioartificial liver that incorporates highly-differentiated hepatocytes. The effect of fluid flow on cultured hepatocytes as well as the development of microchannels due to the high metabolic need of hepatocytes for oxygen will also be discussed. Finally, the efficacy of hepatic tissue engineered micro-reactors in small animal studies of liver failure will be presented. In summary, this presentation will take a critical look at past and present concepts in the development of hepatocyte-based artificial liver assist systems, and review the ongoing work on, hepatic tissue engineering in our laboratory.
Quantum theory of optical coherence of nonstationary light in the space-frequency domain

Classical theories of coherence for statistically stationary, as well as, nonstationary optical fields are frequently discussed both in the space-time and in the space-frequency domains. However, the quantum treatment of coherence theory is generally carried out in the space-time domain. In this paper, we present a quantum-mechanical theory of first-order coherence for statistically nonstationary light in the space-frequency domain.
The Effect of the State ChildrenAS Health Insurance Program on Health Insurance Coverage

This paper presents the first national estimates of the effects of the SCHIP expansions on insurance coverage. Using CPS data on insurance coverage during the years 1996 through 2000, we estimate two-stage least squares regressions of insurance coverage. We find that SCHIP had a small, but statistically significant positive effect on insurance coverage. Our regression results imply that between 4% and 10% of children meeting income eligibility standards for the new program gained public insurance. While low, these estimates indicate that states were more successful in enrolling children in SCHIP than they were with prior Medicaid expansions focused on children just above the poverty line. Crowd-out of private health insurance was estimated to be in line with estimates for the Medicaid expansions of the early 1990s, between 18% and 50%.
Diet-Induced Weight Loss Is Associated with an Improvement in β-Cell Function in Older Men

Although weight loss in older subjects has been shown to improve insulin sensitivity, it is unclear what effect this lifestyle intervention has on β-cell function. To determine whether diet-induced weight loss can improve β-cell function in older subjects, we studied 19 healthy male subjects (age, 65.4 ± 0.9 yr; body mass index, 30.9 ± 0.6 kg/m2; mean ± sem) before and after a 3-month 1200-kcal/d diet. The insulin sensitivity index (SI) was quantified using Bergman’s minimal model. The acute insulin response to glucose (AIRg) and the maximal glucose-potentiated insulin response (AIRmax) were determined and then adjusted for SI (SI × AIRg and SI × AIRmax), thus providing measures of β-cell function. Subjects demonstrated significant weight loss (95.6 ± 2.4 to 86.1 ± 2.5 kg; P < 0.001). Both fasting plasma glucose [97.3 ± 1.6 to 95.1 ± 1.3 mg/dl (5.4 ± 0.09 to 5.3 ± 0.07 mm); P = 0.05] and insulin [18.5 ± 1.3 to 12.2 ± 1.0 μU/ml (110.9 ± 7.7 to 73.5 ± 5.9 pm); P < 0.001] levels decreased. With weight loss, ...
Camouflage simulation and effectiveness assessment for the individual soldier

The mission of the Individual Protection Directorate of the U. S. Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center is to develop clothing and equipment to protect the individual combat soldier against battlefield chemical, ballistic, surveillance, environmental and nuclear hazards. In an effort to meet our countersurveillance mission, the Terrain Analysis Systn was developed by Natick in conjunction with Decilog, Inc., Melville, New York. The Terrain Analysis System was developed to satisfy the need for a scientific method of designing camouflage patterns based on natural terrain reflectance data. It functions as a portable, abridged spectrophotometer to obtain spectral refltance data in the visible and near-infrared on any scene of interest. Data is collected on videotape in the field, digitized into the computer back in the laboratory, and spectral reflectance factors determined for each pixel in the scene. The 1976 CIE L*a*b* color coordinates are calculated and the image is clustered to a user-specific number of color domains. Camouflage patterns can be designed based on these domains, and visual camouflage evaluations can be made by overlaying the designed patterns on any desired background scene. Additional capabilities include calculation of values analogous to the CIE values, which use infrared film or an image intensifier as the observer. The Terrain Analysis System is also capable of analyzing video data taken through an image intensifier or thermal imager and calculating the probability of detection of a user-defined target against the background. "What if" cases can be run to determine the detection probability under other sets of conditions, such as a detector with a different spectral response or under different atmospheric conditions.
Is changing the language enough? The Spanish-language ‘alternative’ in the USA

Alternative voices in the USA have been found in ethnic media outlets that provide information in languages other than English and focus on issues often ignored by the mainstream news. One such exa...
Design and hierarchical synthesis of branched heteromicrostructures

Smart heteromicrostructures of a new kind, composed of SiO2 microspheres and ZnO branches, have been prepared hierarchically for the first time. Such heteromicrostructures have been characterized by means of x-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Suggesting a possible formation process has been tackled. This type of smart branched heteromaterial is expected to have applications in fields of nanomedicine such as clearing clogged arteries, breaking aggregated amyloids and delivering drugs.
TOTAL QUALITY MANAGEMENT AT XEROX: A CASE STUDY

This article describes an application of total quality management (TQM) at Xerox. The article is divided into two parts. The first part describes the reasons behind Xerox's decision to implement TQM and Xerox's Leadership Through Quality process. The se..
Membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Glomerular involvement in primary Sjogren's syndrome is rare and only five cases of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis have been reported. We present a case of a 31-year-old white woman with primary Sjogren's syndrome who developed nephrotic syndrome. Evaluation showed no evidence of an associated connective tissue disease. Kidney biopsy was consistent with type I membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. The patient's nephrotic syndrome resolved spontaneously, a course that has not been reported previously in this setting.
A non-steady state diagenetic model for changes in sediment biogeochemistry in response to seasonally hypoxic/anoxic conditions in the “dead zone” of the Louisiana shelf

Abstract Biogeochemical processes occurring near the sediment–water interface can play an important role in the establishment and persistence of hypoxic-to-anoxic conditions in areas of moderate-to-shallow water depth. Results are given in this paper for diagenetic modeling of two sites from the area on the Louisiana shelf west of the Mississippi River Delta known as the “dead zone”. This is one of the largest and most studied regions where seasonal coastal hypoxia occurs. The diagenetic model was capable of generating good matches with depth profiles at both sites in the upper 8 cm. Moderate differences between predicted and observed concentrations below this depth are most likely due to the highly non-steady state conditions in this region. The model was also able to predict extremely low dissolved sulfide concentrations and bacterial sulfate reduction rates that were in good agreement with independent direct observations. A sensitivity analysis of the model to input parameters showed that the model was much more sensitive to changes in values under hypoxic conditions than norm-oxic or anoxic conditions in the overlying water. Simulations were carried out to first determine how the profiles of sediment porewater parameters and interfacial fluxes would change under differing quasi-steady state conditions where overlying dissolved oxygen concentrations and the rate of bioirrigation were varied. Next a non-steady state simulation was run to investigate how sediment biogeochemistry would change between these conditions during a hypothetical annual cycle. Results demonstrated a clear need to better understand the dynamic relationship among overlying water oxygen concentrations, the behavior of the benthic faunal community responsible for bioirrigation and sediment biogeochemistry.
Genotype-phenotype correlations in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Insights provided by comparisons of kindreds with distinct and identical beta-myosin heavy chain gene mutations.

BACKGROUNDWe have previously described two distinct mutations in the beta-myosin heavy chain gene with markedly different clinical presentations and outcome: The 908Leu-->Val mutation was associated with a low disease penetrance and a benign prognosis. In contrast, the 403Arg-->Gln mutation in a Caucasian kindred was associated with a 100% disease penetrance and high incidence of sudden cardiac death. Recently, another mutation, 606Val-->Met, has been reported to be associated with "near normal survival" and offered as evidence for the benign nature of neutral charge substitutions.METHODS AND RESULTSWe report (1) a large kindred (245 family members at risk of inheriting the disease gene) with a 256Gly-->Glu mutation characterized by a similar disease penetrance in adults and in children (56% and 60%, respectively) and a cumulative sudden cardiac death rate of only 2% at 50 years of age, (2) a kindred with the 606Val-->Met mutation with four sudden cardiac deaths in eight affected individuals, and (3) a Ko...
Expression of mouse metallothionein in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus PCC7942

A cDNA encoding mouse metallothionein was cloned into the shuttle vector pUC303, creating a translational fusion with the bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene. The resulting fusion protein has been expressed in the cyanobacteriumSynechococcus PCC7942. Cyanobacterial transformants expressed mouse metallothionein-specific mRNA species as detected by RNA slot blots. In addition, the transformants expressed a unique cadmium ionbinding protein corresponding to the predicted size of the mouse metallothionein fusion protein. Expression of this fusion protein conferred a two-to five-fold increase in cadmium ion tolerance and accumulation onSynechococcus PCC7942.
Lower-limb force production in individuals after unilateral total knee arthroplasty.

Abstract Rossi MD, Hasson S. Lower-limb force production in individuals after unilateral total knee arthroplasty. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2004;85:1279–84. Objective To determine and compare lower-limb force production during a single-leg horizontal press in involved and uninvolved limbs in people with unilateral total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and the limb of age- and gender-matched subjects. Design Quasi-experimental, posttest only control group design. Setting Subjects living in the community and were tested at a university facility. Participants Nine people with unilateral TKA and 9 subjects without TKA volunteered. The mean postsurgery time for the TKA group was 15.89±6.62 months. Interventions Not applicable. Main outcome measure Force production in kilograms during a single-leg press. Results Lower-limb force production differed significantly between involved and uninvolved limbs ( P =.007) for the unilateral TKA group. Lower-limb force production of the involved limb in persons with unilateral TKA was significantly lower than the limb of the age- and gender-matched controls ( P =.0001). Conclusions Lower-limb force production on the involved side was significantly lower than the uninvolved side. When compared with an age-matched control group, subjects with unilateral TKA produced less force during a single-leg horizontal press.
Effects of bupropion on simulated demand for cigarettes and the subjective effects of smoking.

Introduction: The biobehavioral mechanism(s) mediating bupropion’s efficacy are not well understood. Behavioral economic measures such as demand curves have proven useful in investigations of the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse. Behavioral economic measures may also be used to measure the effect of pharmacotherapies on the reinforcing effects of drugs of abuse. Methods: The effects of bupropion on simulated demand for cigarettes were investigated in a placebo-controlled doubleblind clinical trial. Participants reported the number of cigarettes they would purchase and consume in a single day at a range of prices. The effects of medication on the subjective effects of smoking were also explored. Results: Demand for cigarettes was well described by an exponential demand equation. Bupropion did not significantly de crease the maximum number of cigarettes that participants said they would smoke in a single day nor did it significantly alter the relation between price per cigarette and demand. Baseline demand elasticity did not predict smoking cessation, but changes in elasticity following 1 week of treatment did. Medication group had no effect on any subjective effects of smoking. Discussion: Bupropion had no significant effects on demand for cigarettes. The exponential demand equation, recently introduced in behavioral economics, proved amenable to human simulated demand and might be usefully employed in other pharmacotherapy studies as it provides a potentially useful measure of changes in the essential value of the drug as a reinforcer. Such changes may be useful in predicting the efficacy of medications designed to reduce drug consumption. Clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of bupropion for smoking cessation (e.g., Hurt et al., 1997; Jorenby et al., 1999). In a meta-analysis, bupropion doubled the rate of long-term cessation over placebo (Fiore et al., 2008). While the biobehavioral mechanism(s) mediating bupropion’s efficacy are not well understood (Warner & Shoaib, 2005), there is some
Fast, exact k‐space sample density compensation for trajectories composed of rotationally symmetric segments, and the SNR‐optimized image reconstruction from non‐Cartesian samples

A recently developed method for exact density compensation of non uniformly arranged samples relies on the analytically known cross-correlations of Fourier basis functions corresponding to the traced k-space trajectory. This method produces a linear system whose solution represents compensated samples that normalize the contribution of each independent element of information that can be expressed by the underlying trajectory. Unfortunately, linear system-based density compensation approaches quickly become computationally demanding with increasing number of samples (i.e., image resolution). Here, it is shown that when a trajectory is composed of rotationally symmetric interleaves, such as spiral and PROPELLER trajectories, this cross-correlations method leads to a highly simplified system of equations. Specifically, it is shown that the system matrix is circulant block-Toeplitz so that the linear system is easily block-diagonalized. The method is described and demonstrated for 32-way interleaved spiral trajectories designed for 256 image matrices; samples are compensated non iteratively in a few seconds by solving the small independent block-diagonalized linear systems in parallel. Because the method is exact and considers all the interactions between all acquired samples, up to a 10% reduction in reconstruction error concurrently with an up to 30% increase in signal to noise ratio are achieved compared to standard density compensation methods.
Sex differences in the acquisition of complex skilled movements

The praxis system comprises a network of brain regions dedicated to complex skilled movements. Following suggestions of a female advantage on learned movements (Chipman and Hampson in Neuropsychologia 44(12):2315–2329, 2006), we investigated how males and females acquire skilled movements. Subjects viewed and imitated sequences of hand movements, which were repeated ten times. Subjects’ imitations were captured by a data glove, and the temporal and spatial characteristics of the imitations were compared to the model sequence. We propose an account of the computations required for imitating hand movement sequences and define the errors that may arise from failures at these computations. Our results demonstrate a female advantage in the acquisition of hand movement sequences and show that this sex difference is accounted for by a female advantage in planning, rather than an advantage in execution or online control. Further, the female advantage is specific to the production of items within a sequence and does not affect the proper ordering of items. Our findings have important implications for sex-sensitive instructional strategies, as well as for understanding the human praxis system.
Obama and the Bolivarian Agenda for the Americas

President Barack Obama’s campaign rhetoric suggested a significant shift away from the militarist intervention practiced by U.S. administrations since the Reagan presidency, and his emphasis on multilateral diplomacy was endorsed by some key foreign policy elites. Focusing on home-grown obstacles to the hoped-for change in Latin American policy, such as domestic ideologies and narrow corporate interests, may underestimate the role of Latin American resistance and of the global shifts that have presented alternatives to the multilateral diplomacy of the OAS and the regional economic integration of the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas. The Bolivarian agenda offers a direct challenge to neoliberal globalization as promoted by the United States under presidents of both parties. While for a number of reasons it is unlikely to bring U.S. hegemony in Latin America to an end, it has facilitated alternative forms of cooperation for economic integration and security, and this poses a significant dilemma for...
Design and Validation of a High Energy Density Elastic Accumulator Using Polyurethane

Hydraulic accumulators (HAs) have been used successfully in regenerative braking systems by companies such as Ford and Eaton Corp. to increase fuel efficiency of heavy vehicles by as much as 25–35%. However, the relatively low gravimetric and volumetric energy densities of conventional HAs prohibit their use in average-sized passenger vehicles. In an attempt to address this problem, an elastomer will be used to construct a HA that will use strain as the primary energy storing mechanism. By using strain in the composition material, as opposed to compression of a precharged gas, this accumulator should virtually eliminate heat losses due to extended holding times. Because its gravimetric and volumetric elastic energy storage density values are among the highest of any material, polyurethane was the elastomer chosen as the constituent material. Using a curable type of polyurethane, an α-prototype is currently being manufactured to provide empirical data for validation.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Children of Divorce and its Effect on Their Self-Esteem:

The purpose was to investigate the temporal relationship of divorce with self-esteem of children and to assess differences in self-esteem, if any, between children of divorced families and children of intact families. The self-esteem of 60 children in Grade 9 and from divorced homes was measured using the Culture-free Self-esteem inventory. There was no significant positive correlation between the passage of time and higher self-esteem among these children. Independent t tests were then computed using the inventory scores of 60 students in Grade 9 from homes with both parents and the 60 from homes of divorced parents. Significant differences in self-esteem were found between the two groups.
Damage Limits For Optical Components Exposed To Nanosecond Laser Pulses

The mechanisms which cause a damaging interaction between laser light and optical materials are reviewed. Their dependence on laser pulse duration and wavelength is discussed and available experimental results for short pulse damage thresholds are presented. It is shown that localized absorption in coatings, surface defects, or impurity inclusions generally determines the practical irradiance limit. Intrinsic non-linear processes such as avalanche breakdown or two photon absorption set the upper limit to the safe irradiance level.
Evidence-Based Medicine Concerning Efficacy of Vaccination Against Clostridium chauvoei Infection in Cattle

Clostridium chauvoei infections occur frequently in cattle and produce disease end lethality. Vaccination is frequently used to prevent occurrence of these infections. Although the literature on blackleg is voluminous, scientific evidence on the efficacy of vaccination against C chauvoei to prevent diseases and lethality in cattle is scant. This study demonstrates that the evidence of efficacy of C chauvoei vaccines to prevent infection by this microorganism in cattle is poor to moderate. A greater participation of practitioners in clinical research and greater access to informational tools such as systematic reviews must be part of the objectives of veterinary medicine.
The effects of creatine ethyl ester supplementation combined with heavy resistance training on body composition, muscle performance, and serum and muscle creatine levels

Numerous creatine formulations have been developed primarily to maximize creatine absorption. Creatine ethyl ester is alleged to increase creatine bio-availability. This study examined how a seven-week supplementation regimen combined with resistance training affected body composition, muscle mass, muscle strength and power, serum and muscle creatine levels, and serum creatinine levels in 30 non-resistance-trained males. In a double-blind manner, participants were randomly assigned to a maltodextrose placebo (PLA), creatine monohydrate (CRT), or creatine ethyl ester (CEE) group. The supplements were orally ingested at a dose of 0.30 g/kg fat-free body mass (approximately 20 g/day) for five days followed by ingestion at 0.075 g/kg fat free mass (approximately 5 g/day) for 42 days. Results showed significantly higher serum creatine concentrations in PLA (p = 0.007) and CRT (p = 0.005) compared to CEE. Serum creatinine was greater in CEE compared to the PLA (p = 0.001) and CRT (p = 0.001) and increased at days 6, 27, and 48. Total muscle creatine content was significantly higher in CRT (p = 0.026) and CEE (p = 0.041) compared to PLA, with no differences between CRT and CEE. Significant changes over time were observed for body composition, body water, muscle strength and power variables, but no significant differences were observed between groups. In conclusion, when compared to creatine monohydrate, creatine ethyl ester was not as effective at increasing serum and muscle creatine levels or in improving body composition, muscle mass, strength, and power. Therefore, the improvements in these variables can most likely be attributed to the training protocol itself, rather than the supplementation regimen.
Results of a naturalistic study of treatment options: Switching atypical antipsychotic drugs or augmenting with valproate

Abstract Background: Combination therapy with atypical antipsychotic agents has not been well studied. Duration of persistence with a prescribed treatment regimen can be used to estimate overall treatment success. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether valproate augmentation improved treatment efficacy (ie, persistence with the prescribed regimen) and efficacy (ie, reduction of antipsychotic dose) with atypical antipsychotic drugs for older and younger patients, using a retrospective database analysis. Methods: Prescription refill data for atypical antipsychotics during calendar-year 2001 from a national pharmacy chain was used for longitudinal analyses. The database was used to identify patients aged 15 to 64 years and ≥65 years taking risperidone, quetiapine, or olanzapine (but not valproate). Patients who switched to another atypical antipsychotic (group A) or added valproate (group B) were followed after the index prescription to determine the duration of persistence with the treatment regimen and dose changes. Results: We identified 10,262 patients who were prescribed an atypical antipsychotic, of whom 1022 patients switched to an alternative atypical and 1651 added valproate to the index atypical. The addition of valproate provided significantly longer duration of treatment regimen (mean, 155–159 days) than switching from any atypical antipsychotic drug (mean, 127–130 days) for patients aged 15 to 64 years or ≥65 years (all P P = 0.002) or olanzapine (411.6 [122.8] mg/d; P = 0.007). Conclusions: In this naturalistic study, the addition of valproate to an atypical antipsychotic increased the duration of treatment compared with switching among atypical antipsychotics. Valproate augmentation may be a good treatment strategy for patients whose atypical antipsychotic monotherapy is inadequate.
A simulation model with endogenous technical advance: Information technology and increasing returns from research

Abstract This paper builds a simulation model in which technological advance is stochastic, and largely endogenous. Technology consists of two main components, research and development (R&D) and residual technical advance. R&D comprises a government-funded component, which is treated as exogenous, and a component funded by private industry, which is determined within the model. Industry-funded R&D is modeled as analogous to a stock of capital: investments depend on the rental price, or user cost of research, and the accelerator. The R&D elasticity in the production function is time-varying and increasing: R&D becomes more efficient over time. The increase in the R&D elasticity is determined in the model by computer quality. There is a relationship between residual technical advance during the 1990s and the increased share of computers and software in final demand, although this does not hold for all earlier periods. The production function also includes disaggregated capital stocks: equipment and software, housing, nonresidential structures, and government capital. The econometric model is used to conduct simulation experiments. The basic simulation illustrates how changes in computer quality affect both the R&D elasticity and residual technology. The remaining simulations examine policy issues: the R&D tax credit, and government funding for basic research.
Classification, genetic variation and pathogenicity of Lymantria dispar nucleopolyhedrovirus isolates from Asia, Europe, and North America

Abstract Lymantria dispar multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (LdMNPV) has been formulated and applied to control outbreaks of the gypsy moth, L. dispar . To classify and determine the degree of genetic variation among isolates of L. dispar NPVs from different parts of the range of the gypsy moth, partial sequences of the lef-8 , lef-9 , and polh genes were determined for Lymantria spp. virus samples from host populations throughout the world. Sequence analysis confirmed that all L. dispar virus samples tested contained isolates of the species Lymantria dispar multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus ( Baculoviridae: Alphabaculovirus ). Phylogenetic inference based on the lef-8 sequences indicated that the LdMNPV isolates formed two groups, one consisting primarily of isolates from Asia, and one consisting primarily of isolates from Europe and North America. The complete genome sequence was determined for an isolate from the Asian group, LdMNPV-2161 (S. Korea). The LdMNPV-2161 genome was 163,138 bp in length, 2092 bp larger than the previously determined genome of LdMNPV isolate 5–6 (CT, USA). The two genome sequences were co-linear, with an overall nucleotide sequence identity of 97.5% and some differences in ORF content. In droplet-feeding bioassays against neonate L. dispar larvae, isolates LdMNPV-3029 (Virin-ENSh/Russia) and LdMNPV-Ab-a624 (MA, USA) killed neonate larvae with an LC 50 values that were 1.8- to 3.2-fold lower than a sample of Gypchek® (CT, USA) and isolates LdMNPV-3041 (Japan) and LdMNPV-2161. This study expands our knowledge about genetic variation among LdMNPV isolates and provides novel information on the distinct groups in which these NPVs occur.