cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of video trainer and virtual reality training systems on acquisition of laparoscopic skills.

Training on a video trainer or computer-based minimally invasive surgery trainer leads to improved benchtop laparoscopic skill. Recently, improved operative performance from practice on a video trainer was reported. The purpose of this study was three fold: (a) to compare psychomotor skill improvement after training on a virtual reality (VR) system with that after training on a video-trainer, (VT) (b) to evaluate whether skills learned on the one training system are transferable to the other, and (c) to evaluate whether VR or VT training improves operative performance. For the study, 50 junior surgery residents completed baseline skill testing on both the VR and VT systems. These subjects then were randomized to either a VR or VT structured training group. After practice, the subjects were tested again on their VR and VT skills. To assess the effect of practice on operative performance, all second-year residents (n = 19) were evaluated on their operative performance during a laparoscopic cholecystectomy before and after skill training. Data are expressed as percentage of improvement in mean score/time. Analysis was performed by Student's paired t-test. The VR training group showed improvement of 54% on the VR posttest, as compared with 55% improvement by the VT group. The VR training group improved more on the VT posttest tasks (36%) than the VT training group improved on the VR posttest tasks (17%) (p <0.05). Operative performance improved only in the VR training group (p <0.05). Psychomotor skillsimprove after training on both VR and VT, and skills may be transferable. Furthermore, training on a minimally invasive surgery trainer, virtual reality system may improve operative performance during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Mechanical response of single-layer tetrahedral trusses under shear loading

It has been demonstrated by analytical and numerical studies that lattice core panels may be structurally more efficient than other lightweight structures that are currently available. This paper addresses the mechanical performance of single-layer tetrahedral trusses under shear loading. The truss specimens were fabricated by rapid prototyping and investment casting. Casting defects can contribute significantly to the deviation of the experimental results from the theoretical and numerical predictions. The results also highlight the anisotropic and asymmetric response of the truss architecture selected for this study.
Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score and adverse cardiac outcomes in patients hospitalized for acute cardiac disease.

Abstract Objective The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) is increasingly used as a depression assessment tool in cardiac patients. However, in contrast to older depression instruments, there is little data linking PHQ-9 scores to adverse cardiac outcomes. Our goal was to evaluate whether higher PHQ-9 scores were predictive of subsequent cardiac readmissions among depressed patients hospitalized for an acute cardiac event. Methods Patients diagnosed with depression during hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, or arrhythmia were enrolled in a randomized depression management trial. Participants were administered PHQ-9 at enrollment, and data was collected regarding cardiac readmissions and mortality over the next 6 months. To evaluate the independent association of PHQ-9 score with subsequent cardiac readmission, Cox regression analysis that included relevant sociodemographic and medical covariates was used. Survival analysis examining time to first event, stratified by quartile of initial PHQ-9 score, was performed using Kaplan–Meier curves and log-rank test for trend. Analyses were then repeated using a composite (cardiac readmission or mortality) outcome. Results Among 172 subjects, 62 (36.0%) had a cardiac-related rehospitalization. Higher initial PHQ-9 score predicted cardiac-related rehospitalization, independent of multiple relevant covariates (hazard ratio 1.09 [95% confidence interval = 1.02–1.17]; p = 0.015). On survival analysis, log-rank test for trend revealed a significant rise in event rates across increasing PHQ-9 quartiles ( χ 2 = 6.36; p = 0.012). Findings were similar (p Conclusion In depressed cardiac patients, each additional point on the PHQ-9 was independently associated with a 9% greater risk of cardiac readmission over the subsequent 6 months.
Impact of programming language on success in high school programming contests (abstract only)

Programming contests have been used at the high school level to motivate students to study computing and generate excitement about computing topics. However, little investigation has been done into whether the selection of programming language impacts success in such contests. This poster presents the results of an analysis of five years of high school contest results held at Western New England University. The analysis looks at the languages used by winning teams and number of submissions. Results appear to indicate that winning teams use Java and Python for programming languages while less successful teams use BASIC, VisualBasic and C++. Interestingly, the majority of teams used BASIC as their programming language. Another interesting result was that low performing teams tend to have a disproportionately large number of submissions.
Elongation of 1,3-Polyols via Iterative Catalyst-Directed Carbonyl Allylation from the Alcohol Oxidation Level

Iterative enantioselective carbonyl allylation from the alcohol oxidation level under the conditions of iridium catalyzed transfer hydrogenation enables chain elongation of 1,3-polyols. High levels of catalyst-directed enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity are observed.
Riverine Predation on Sockeye Salmon Fry Migrating to Lake Washington

Abstract Recent declines in freshwater survival of juvenile sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka in Lake Washington, Washington, prompted an examination of stage-specific mortalities. Previous investigations obscured the effects of winter flooding and postemergent predation on estimates of egg-to-fry survival. The purpose of this study was to explicitly estimate predation losses so that biotic and abiotic sources of mortality could be identified and quantified. During 1983–1985, the smolts of wild steelhead O. mykiss were the primary riverine predator of sockeye salmon fry migrating from the Cedar River into Lake Washington. Fry constituted 2–52% wet biornass of the smolts' diet, and averaged 13% of the diet from February through mid-May. Hatchery-reared steelhead smolts were stocked in the river during the latter half of the fry migration but showed no evidence of preying on fry. Fifty-four bioenergetics simulations were run to examine the effects of different rates of predator growth, temperature regimes, ...
Low intensity laser therapy: Still not an established clinical tool

The surgical, ophthalmological, and dermatological applications of high power lasers are well known and easily understood. What is neither as well known nor as easily understood is that lasers at powers that are orders of magnitude smaller have also been used in the laboratory and clinic for nearly 30 years to modulate cell function, lessen pain, and accelerate healing of soft tissue injuries. This article analyzes the rationale of this approach, examines the utility of laser therapy in its most common clinical applications, reviews and synthesizes the findings, and concludes that although laboratory findings seem authentic, clinical utility remains unestablished.
The County Health Rankings: rationale and methods

Annually since 2010, the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have produced the County Health Rankings—a “population health checkup” for the nation’s over 3,000 counties. The purpose of this paper is to review the background and rationale for the Rankings, explain in detail the methods we use to create the health rankings in each state, and discuss the strengths and limitations associated with ranking the health of communities. We base the Rankings on a conceptual model of population health that includes both health outcomes (mortality and morbidity) and health factors (health behaviors, clinical care, social and economic factors, and the physical environment). Data for over 30 measures available at the county level are assembled from a number of national sources. Z-scores are calculated for each measure, multiplied by their assigned weights, and summed to create composite measure scores. Composite scores are then ordered and counties are ranked from best to worst health within each state. Health outcomes and related health factors vary significantly within states, with over two-fold differences between the least healthy counties versus the healthiest counties for measures such as premature mortality, teen birth rates, and percent of children living in poverty. Ranking within each state depicts disparities that are not apparent when counties are ranked across the entire nation. The County Health Rankings can be used to clearly demonstrate differences in health by place, raise awareness of the many factors that influence health, and stimulate community health improvement efforts. The Rankings draws upon the human instinct to compete by facilitating comparisons between neighboring or peer counties within states. Since no population health model, or rankings based off such models, will ever perfectly describe the health of its population, we encourage users to look to local sources of data to understand more about the health of their community.
Self-calibration and mirror center offset elimination of a multi-beam laser tracking system

Abstract New methods for the self-calibration of a laser tracking coordinate measuring machine are reported in this paper. Proper calibration of a laser tracking system is essential prior to using such a device for coordinate measuring. The task is nontrivial in the absence of other measurement systems of comparable accuracy. One has to rely on a self-calibration strategy. Two calibration methods, one based on a four-tracker system and the other based on three trackers combined with precision planes to constrain the target motion, are proposed. Iterative optimization algorithms are developed. A basic assumption for these calibration methods is that there is no tracking mirror center offset. Error analysis presented in this paper reveals that measurement errors due to mirror center offsets are significant. Therefore before calibrating the laser tracking system, the mirrors must be adjusted so that the laser beams hit the mirror centers. The adjustment is a tedious manual task. In the FAU laser tracking machine, an adjustment procedure which employs a four quadrant detector has been devised for the elimination of tracking mirror center offsets. Simulation and experimental results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the suggested methods.
Characterization of flavor and texture development within large (291 kg) blocks of Cheddar cheese.

Cheddar cheese is a natural product that has a variable flavor and texture profile. Many companies produce 291-kg blocks of Cheddar cheese, which are subsequently cut and shipped, or stored and subsequently cut. Previous research has shown that compositional differences exist within 291-kg blocks and that these differences may influence flavor and texture development. The objectives of this study were to systematically characterize flavor and texture differences within 291-kg blocks. On 2 different occasions, a 291-kg block was manufactured at each of 4 manufacturing facilities. After 7 d, the 291-kg blocks were sliced into sixteen 18-kg sample portions using a predetermined diagram, and each portion was labeled appropriately (outer corner, inner corner, etc.) and stored at 7°C. Cheese from different locations within the 291-kg blocks was evaluated at 1, 4, 8, and 12 mo. At each time point, two 18-kg portions representing an inside and outside location with the 291-kg block cross-section (from inside to outside) were sampled. The moisture content was lower in the inner than outer locations within the 291-kg blocks. Protein hydrolysis was higher in the inner location and inner locations developed aged Cheddar flavors sulfur, nutty, and brothy more rapidly than the outer locations. However, plant-to-plant differences in aging were often larger than differences caused by block location. These differences were due to differences in cheese manufacturing practices among plants. Dynamic headspace results for flavor volatiles were consistent with descriptive sensory flavor results, documenting differences between inner and outer locations within 291-kg blocks. The inner locations were more fracturable and the outer locations were more cohesive and had more residual in the mouth. Inner locations had greater fracture strain than outer locations. Documenting the differences in aging of 291-kg blocks of Cheddar cheese is important in understanding how to make a consistent high-quality Cheddar cheese.
Comparison of insulin autoantibody: polyethylene glycol and micro-IAA 1-day and 7-day assays.

Background Older studies of diabetes development typically utilized a 7-day incubation polyethylene glycol competitive insulin autoantibody assay (CIAA). Our standard micro-IAA assay (mIAA) utilizes precipitation with proteins A/G and 1-day incubation (1-day mIAA), but is less sensitive compared to the CIAA assay. Methods We performed CIAA and mIAA assays in various conditions. We analyzed serum samples from 446 type 1 diabetes patients, from another set of 247 type 1 diabetes patients within 2 weeks of initiation of insulin treatment, from 150 healthy control donors, from 22 healthy participants in the diabetes autoimmunity study in the young (DAISY), and also coded sera from 50 patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes and 50 blood donor control samples. Results In the process of our study, we found that the key condition was the incubation time. Therefore, we extended the incubation time to 7 days (7-day mIAA assay). No CIAA-negative control was positive with either 1-day or 7-day mIAA. In a new onset type 1 diabetes and at risk cohorts (DAISY study), the 7-day mIAA identified an additional 18% as being positive along with 16% of those who were initially 1-day mIAA negative and CIAA positive. Most subjects detectable only with the 7-day mIAA assay had intermediate levels of CIAA (80–300 nU/mL) (p = 0.01). Conclusions The 7-day mIAA assay identifies a small but significant additional subset of individuals positive on the CIAA assay, while preserving specificity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ultrashort pulse laser ionization of ions in a plasma

Theoretical calculations are presented that show that optical field ionization of an ion in a plasma medium, induced by an intense ultrashort laser pulse, is sensitive to the plasma screening of the binding potential of the target ionic electrons by surrounding plasma electrons. Hence experimental measurements of ionization rate versus plasma electron density would provide a direct test of theoretical plasma models for hot, dense matter. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
A characterization of all elliptic algebro-geometric solutions of the AKNS hierarchy

Here ~9(x):p(x; wl,w3) denotes the elliptic Weierstrass function with fundamental periods 2wl and 2w3 (Im(w3/Wl)#0). In the special case where Wl is real and w3 is purely imaginary, the potential q(x) in (1.1) is real-valued and Ince's striking result [51], in modern spectral-theoretic terminology, yields that the spectrum of the unique self-adjoint operator associated with the differential expression L2=d2/dx 2 +q(x) in L2(R) exhibits finitely many bands (and gaps, respectively), that is,
Renal effects of prostaglandin A1 in patients with essential hypertension

Renal effects of prostaglandin A 1 in patients with essential hypertension. To evaluate the effect of subvasodepressor doses (0.1 µg/kg/min) of prostaglandin A 1 (PGA 1 ) on renal function, 18 acute studies were performed on seven patients with essential hypertension during both sodium loading and water diuresis. During sodium loading, an increase in effective renal plasma flow (ERPF), urine flow (V), urinary sodium excretion (U Na V), and urinary potassium excretion was seen following PGA 1 infusion. The filtered sodium load remained stable while fractional sodium excretion (U Na /F Na ) increased. Free water reabsorption (T c H 2 O ) fell from baseline levels and approached negative values when fractional sodium excretion was high. During water diuresis, PGA 1 infusion resulted in marked increases of ERPF, V, U Na V, and free water clearance (C H 2 O ). The fraction of glomerular filtrate excreted (V/GFR) and the fraction of the filtered water load excreted as free water (C H 2 O /GFR) increased sharply while the fraction of glomerular filtrate reabsorbed in the proximal tubule (GFR—V/GFR) fell. These results indicate that following subvasodepressor doses of PGA 1 in hypertensive patients, the increased sodium excretion results primarily from decreased proximal tubular sodium reabsorption with enhanced sodium delivery to and transport by the distal tubule, especially in the loop of Henle. These effects on renal function are probably the result of hemodynamic and/or physical changes in the peritubular capillaries following PGA 1 -induced vasodilatation.
MAPPING ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY TEST SCORES ONTO THE COMMON EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK

The Common European Framework describes language proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening on a six-level scale. The Framework provides a common language with which to discuss students' progress. This report describes a study conducted with two panels of English language experts to map scores from four tests that collectively assess Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening on to two levels of the Framework. Panel 1 recommended cut scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language™ (TOEFL®), the Test of Spoken English™ (TSE®), and the Test of Written English™ (TWE®). Panel 2 recommended cut scores for The Test of English for International Communication™ (TOEIC®). A modification of the Angoff (1971) standard-setting approach was used for multiple-choice questions, and a benchmark method (Faggen, 1994) or examinee paper selection method (Hambleton, Jaeger, Plake, & Mills, 2000) was used for constructed-response questions.
Low-dose dual-energy computed tomography for PET attenuation correction with statistical sinogram restoration

Dual-energy (DE) X-ray computed tomography (CT) has been proposed as an useful tool in various applications. One promising application is DECT with low radiation doses used for attenuation correction in positron emission tomography (PET). In low-dose DECT, conventional methods for sinogram decomposition have been based on logarithmic transformations and ignored noise properties, leading to very noisy component sinogram estimates. In this paper, we propose two novel sinogram restoration methods that are statistically motivated; penalized weighted least square (PWLS) and penalized likelihood (PL), producing less noisy component sinogram estimates for low-dose DECT than the conventional approaches. The restored component sinograms can improve attenuation correction, thus allowing better image quality in PET. Experiments with a digital phantom indicate that the proposed methods produce less noisy sinograms, reconstructed images, and attenuation correction factors (ACF) than the conventional one, showing promise for CT-based attenuation correction in emission tomography.
A Direct Algorithm for Convective Adjustment of the Vertical Temperature Profile for an Arbitrary Critical Lapse Rate

An efficient direct algorithm of convective adjustment for an arbitrary critical value of the vertical temperature lapse rate gamma is proposed. The algorithm provides an exact and unique solution of a standard convective adjustment problem for models with temperature specified either on nonuniformly spaced levels or for layers of different thicknesses in pressure, sigma, or other vertical coordinate related to pressure. The algorithm may be recommended for use either directly in atmospheric models not explicitly including a hydrologic cycle with prescribed gamma, or as a part of more complicated parameterizations of moist convection, where gamma may be calculated depending on relative humidity.
Comparisons of measured linewidths of submicrometer lines using optical, electrical, and SEM metrologies

AbstractAn investigation is being carried out to determine the ability ofthree methods of linewidth metrology to measure the dimensions of features to less than 0.5 rim. The three methods are transmitted-light optical microscopy, electrical test structure, and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). Electrical, SEM, and reflected-light microscopy techniques are widely used for linewidthmetrology in VLSI fabrication. However, none of these widely-used techniques currently permits traceability to international standards of length. Transmitted-light optical microscopy allows traceability; however, this technique is applicable only to transparent substrates. To permit theinclusion oftransmitted-light optical microscopy in this investigation, 100-nm thick Ti films werepatterned using normal VLSI processing techniques on a 1 50-mm diameter quartz wafer. The cross-bridge resistor [1] test structure was used since this structure has been widely used inindustry and it allows the results from all three metrological techniques to be compared. Thedesign bridge widths of the test structures range from 0.4 tm to 1 .0 .tm. The results of thesemeasurements show systematic and uniform offsets between the different techniques. In this
IMMUNOLOGICAL MEMORY IN MICE : II. CELL INTERACTIONS IN THE SECONDARY IMMUNE RESPONSE STUDIED BY MEANS OF IMMUNOGLOBULIN ALLOTYPE MARKERS

Congenic mice, differing genetically only at the loci coding for immunoglobulin H chain (or Fc) structures, have been used to study cell interactions in the 7S (γG2a) antibody response to sheep erythrocytes (SRBC), as detected by the Jerne plaque-forming cell (PFC) method. The interaction between thymus and bone marrow cells was studied in adult thymectomized irradiated recipients, protected with syngeneic bone marrow and injected with thymus cells from the partner congenic strain. All of the γG2a PFC detected in the spleens of these mice were of bone marrow allotype. Adoptive secondary immune responses were then studied to determine whether a similar interaction between memory cells and bone marrow derived cells could be detected. Primed spleen cells from the partner congenic strain, or a subpopulation of these cells obtained by BSA density gradient fractionation, were injected into irradiated recipients alone, or together with syngeneic nonimmune spleen or bone marrow cells. All γG2a PFC detected in these experiments were of primed cell allotype. There was no evidence that antibody forming cell precursors in normal spleen or bone marrow participate in the adoptive secondary immune response detected 7 days after transfer of primed spleen cells. This was true regardless of whether the bone marrow cells were injected at the time of transfer, or were injected 1–2 wk earlier and allowed to become established in the spleens of recipient mice. Although no specific cell interaction was seen, bone marrow (and, to a lesser degree, normal spleen) cells were found to have a nonspecific enhancing effect on the adoptive secondary response when they were injected together with the primed spleen cells. This enhancement was not evident if the bone marrow cells were injected 1 or 2 wk prior to primed cell transfer.
Physician attitudes and practices and patient awareness of the cardiovascular complications of diabetes.

Abstract Objectives Studies were conducted to: 1) assess physicians’ attitudes and practices in managing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks in diabetes; and 2) determine the awareness of CVD risks among diabetic patients. Background Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of premature death among diabetic patients. As diabetes is often seen as a “glucose-centric” disease, it is unclear whether diabetic patients are talking with their doctors about CVD and other key clinical parameters of diabetes care such as blood pressure and cholesterol. Methods An online survey was completed by a nationally representative sample of 900 physicians. The 95% confidence interval is approximately ±2.5%. Before this study, a telephone survey of 2,008 people with diabetes was conducted using random, direct-dial screenings of U.S. households. Results Ninety-one percent of physicians believe that their patients with diabetes are “very” or “extremely” likely to have a cardiovascular event. Although physicians report discussing CVD risk factors with 88% of their diabetic patients, they perceive their diabetic patients as being only moderately knowledgeable about their increased CVD risks. Sixty-eight percent of the people with diabetes do not consider CVD to be a serious complication of diabetes; they are more likely to be aware of complications such as blindness (65%) or amputation (36%) rather than heart disease (17%), heart attack (14%), or stroke (5%). Physicians perceive “poor compliance” with behavioral modifications and medication regimens as the greatest barriers to the management of CVD risks in diabetic patients. Conclusions Materials should be made available to help facilitate communication about CVD risks, and strategies for improving compliance with life-style modifications and multiple drug therapies should be explored. Efforts should continue to promote a comprehensive approach to the management of diabetes to include aggressive control of blood glucose and other CVD risk factors.
Extensive In Vivo Metabolite-Protein Interactions Revealed by Large-Scale Systematic Analyses

Natural small compounds comprise most cellular molecules and bind proteins as substrates, products, cofactors, and ligands. However, a large-scale investigation of in vivo protein-small metabolite interactions has not been performed. We developed a mass spectrometry assay for the large-scale identification of in vivo protein-hydrophobic small metabolite interactions in yeast and analyzed compounds that bind ergosterol biosynthetic proteins and protein kinases. Many of these proteins bind small metabolites; a few interactions were previously known, but the vast majority are new. Importantly, many key regulatory proteins such as protein kinases bind metabolites. Ergosterol was found to bind many proteins and may function as a general regulator. It is required for the activity of Ypk1, a mammalian AKT/SGK kinase homolog. Our study defines potential key regulatory steps in lipid biosynthetic pathways and suggests that small metabolites may play a more general role as regulators of protein activity and function than previously appreciated.
A New Analysis Tool Assessment for Rotordynamic Modeling of Gas Foil Bearings

Gas foil bearings offer several advantages over traditional bearing types that make them attractive for use in high-speed turbomachinery. They can operate at very high temperatures, require no lubrication supply (oil pumps, seals, etc.), exhibit very long life with no maintenance, and once operating airborne, have very low power loss. The use of gas foil bearings in high-speed turbomachinery has been accelerating in recent years, although the pace has been slow. One of the contributing factors to the slow growth has been a lack of analysis tools, benchmarked to measurements, to predict gas foil bearing behavior in rotating machinery. To address this shortcoming, NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has supported the development of analytical tools to predict gas foil bearing performance. One of the codes has the capability to predict rotordynamic coefficients, power loss, film thickness, structural deformation, and more. The current paper presents an assessment of the predictive capability of the code, named XLGFBTH (Texas A&M University). A test rig at GRC is used as a simulated case study to compare rotordynamic analysis using output from the code to actual rotor response as measured in the test rig. The test rig rotor is supported on two gas foil journal bearings manufactured at GRC, with all pertinent geometry disclosed. The resulting comparison shows that the rotordynamic coefficients calculated using XLGFBTH represent the dynamics of the system reasonably well, especially as they pertain to predicting critical speeds.
Stability and Change in Gender-Related Differences on the College Board Advanced Placement and Achievement Tests

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Degrees of Freedom of MIMO $X$ Networks: Spatial Scale Invariance and One-Sided Decomposability

We show that an M×N user MIMO X network with A antennas at each node has A(MN/(M+N-1)) degrees of freedom (DoF), thus resolving in this case a discrepancy between the spatial scale invariance conjecture (scaling the number of antennas at each node by a constant factor will scale the total DoF by the same factor) and a decomposability property of overconstrained wireless networks. While the best previously known general DoF outer bound is consistent with the spatial invariance conjecture, the best previously known general DoF inner bound, inspired by the K user MIMO interference channel, was based on the decomposition of every transmitter and receiver into multiple single antenna nodes, transforming the network into an AM×AN user SISO X network. While such a decomposition is DoF optimal for the K user MIMO interference channel, a gap remained between the best inner and outer bounds for the MIMO X channel. Here we close this gap with the new insight that the MIMO X network is only one-sided decomposable, i.e., either all the transmitters or all the receivers (but not both) can be decomposed by splitting multiple antenna nodes into multiple single antenna nodes without loss of DoF. The result is extended to SIMO and MISO X networks as well and in each case the DoF results satisfy the spatial scale invariance property.
The Free Electron Laser As A Fusion Driver

The Free Electron Laser (FEL) is shown to be a potentially attractive solution to the problem of finding a suitable short wavelength fusion driver. The design of a 3 MJ, 250 nm FEL fusion driver is discussed. An inertial confinement fusion driver must be an efficient, reliable, inexpensive source of high intensity radiation. The free electron laser has the potential for meeting these requirements, therefore we have investigated an approach for incorporating an FEL into a fusion reactor. The major components of an FEL system are a laser master oscillator, an electron accelerator, an FEL amplifier (wiggler magnet), and an electron beam dump for energy recovery. These are shown schematically in Fig. 1.
Serotonin dysregulation in Fragile X Syndrome: Implications for treatment

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is a trinucleotide repeat disorder that results in the silencing of the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 gene (FMR1), leading to a lack of the FMR1 protein (FMRP). FMRP is an mRNA-binding protein that regulates the translation of hundreds of mRNAs important for synaptic plasticity. Several of these pathways have been identified and have guided the development of targeted treatments for FXS. Here we present evidence that serotonin is dysregulated in FXS and treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) sertraline may be beneficial for individuals with FXS, particularly in early childhood.
Drug Identity Change Processes, Race, and Gender. II. Microlevel Motivational Concepts

Events and experiences that are damaging and which sever young people from normative ideals and positively sanctioned statuses (marginalization) create feelings of alienation or social isolation within them and earn them undesired statuses and treatment from important others. An underlying premise of the drug-use identity change model is that individuals are motivated toward drug-related identity change because of such socially defined problems with existing ego identities (ego identity discomfort and lost control in defining an identity) in childhood and early adolescence and that certain macrolevel phenomena (e.g., social appraisal sources and social climate conducive to drug use) provide an opportunity structure for that change. Part 2 of this paper describes each of the three motivational concepts and how they vary by race and gender in the process of becoming a drug misuser. Part 3 discusses the two macrolevel opportunity concepts and how they vary by race and gender.
Effect of irrigation solutions on dentin bonding agents and restorative shear bond strength

Abstract Statement of Problem. The presence of irrigation solution prior to the application of dentin bonding agents may be one source of contamination and may adversely affect bond strength. Purpose. The purpose of this in vitro investigation was to evaluate the effect of irrigation solutions of different purity levels on the shear bond strength of a hybrid composite to dentin. Material and Methods. Forty extracted, intact human molars were hand-scaled. All soft tissue was removed, and the teeth were stored in room-temperature tap water for 1 week. Subsequently, each tooth was embedded in autopolymerizing acrylic resin with the coronal portion exposed. After complete polymerization of the resin, the dentin surfaces were exposed, and the crown was cut longitudinally on all 4 sides to produce flat dentin surfaces for bonding. The prepared specimens were assigned to 4 groups of irrigation solutions: tap water (control), sterile water, 0.9% NaCl irrigation solution, and filtered water. Within each irrigation group were 4 dentin bonding agent subgroups: Prime & Bond NT, One-Step, Single Bond Adhesive, and OptiBond Solo. The dentin surfaces (n = 10 per irrigation/bonding agent pair) were etched with 37% phosphoric acid, rinsed with the assigned irrigation solution for 15 seconds, and then dried. Plastic cylinders (3 mm long × 3 mm inner diameter) were filled with a hybrid composite (Herculite XRV) and bonded to the dentin. Specimens were loaded in a universal testing machine, and shear force was applied to the base of the composite cylinders, parallel to the dentin surfaces, at a crosshead speed of 0.05 in/min until fracture. Failure loads were recorded. Bond strength data were compared with analysis of variance ( P t tests and P values adjusted for multiple comparisons (Bonferroni method). Results. Tap water irrigation (control) produced no significant difference in bond strengths for all dentin bonding agents tested. When other irrigation solutions were used, One-Step consistently produced significantly lower bond strengths than other dentin bonding agents ( P P Conclusion. Within the limitations of this study, the bond strength to dentin of a hybrid composite irrigated with different solutions was dependent on the dentin bonding agent used. (J Prosthet Dent 2002;87:628-32.)
Mechanisms of rabies virus neutralization by glycoprotein-specific monoclonal antibodies

Abstract Incubation of radiolabeled rabies virus with neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) resulted in complete neutralization of the virus but only partial inhibition of virus binding to, and internalization by, BHK cells. Several of the neutralizing MAbs were capable of preventing infection after virus adsorption to cells; up to 30% of the bound virus was released when cells containing adsorbed virus were incubated with these MAbs at 4°, indicating that the release of bound virus accounts only in part for the neutralization of adsorbed virus. To study the mechanism of neutralization of cell-bound virus, temperature shift experiments were carried out to follow the fate of neutralized cell-adsorbed virus at 37°. Treatment of infected cells with each of the tested neutralizing MAbs had no effect on virus uptake at 37° and the MAbs were endocytosed together with the virus; however, the ability of some of the MAbs to neutralize cell-adsorbed rabies virus correlated with the fusion inhibition activity of these MAbs. We hypothesize from these data that these MAbs neutralize rabies virus by inhibiting the intraendosomal acid-catalyzed fusion step that leads to virus uncoating.
Review article Healthy cities: Controlling the costs of health care

While it is true that health care costs are straining personal and governmental budgets, it does appear to be a manageable problem. There are tools available to moderate costs, efforts are already underway to control costs by modifying the financing of health care. Whether or not these will be effective remains to be seen. There also are efforts to control costs by modifying unhealthy habits. These efforts are showing notable success. Moreover, there are efforts underway to reduce health care costs by altering the overall context of people's lives. This latter effort—to improve the health of whole communities—holds the greatest promise.
Interbase electronic coupling for transport through DNA

We develop an approach to derive single-state tight-binding sSSTBd model for electron transport in the vicinity of valence-conduction bands of polysGd-polysCd and polysAd-polysTd DNA. The SSTB parameters are derived from first principlesand are used to model charge transport through finite length DNA. We investigate the rigor of reducing the full DNA Hamiltonian to SSTB model. While the transmission coefficient spectrum is preserved, its position shifts in energy. Thymine is poorly represented and its peak height is substantially reduced. This is attributed to the abstraction of the HOMO-LUMO sHOMO, highest occupied molecular orbital; LUMO, lowest unoccupied molecular orbitald coupling to other eigenstates in the nearest-neighbor DNA bases, and can be corrected within second-order time-independent perturbation theory. Interstrand charge transport has also been analyzed and it is found that hopping to the nearest neighbor in the complementary strand is the most important process except in the valence band of polysGd-polysCd, where hopping to the second nearest neighbor between 38-ends is the most dominant process. As a result, transport between 38-ends and 58-ends in the vicinity of valence band of polysGd-polysCd is asymmetric.
COMMUNITY POLICING, DECENTRALIZED DECISION MAKING AND EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION

ABSTRACT Literature describing the theoretical components of community oriented policing (COP) generally hold that decentralization of decision making is a necessary attribute of any such effort. The literature further suggests that COP will increase employee satisfaction. Organizational behavior literature has claimed for some time that decentralized and collaborative decision making will improve employee satisfaction. This study tests whether decentralization and collaborative decision making techniques, employed as a portion of a COP implementation, enhance employee satisfaction. While the findings support both the hypotheses of COP and the organizational behavior literature, other factors condition the positive effect of such material.
Differential relationship of kinematic model and speed control strategies for a computer-controlled robot manipulator

SummaryThis paper describes a new approach to obtaining a differential relationship of a robot manipulator via the Theoretical Kinematics method which may expedite computational efforts. The method involves a successive transformation of velocities from the end-effector to the base of the manipulator, link by link, using the relationship of moving coordinate systems. The equations obtained are written in the form suitable for programming on a digital computer. Furthermore, this paper also discusses the speed control model for general robot manipulators and together presents the Inverse Jacobian of cases of underdetermined and overdetermined of joint-controlled variables.
Health care expenditures in a rural Indian community

Abstract Financing health services is an increasing concern that looms as one of the major obstacles to achieving an equitable distribution of primary health care in developing communities. An important step in solving this problem is the assessment of current levels of health care expenditures in these communities in order to determine the extent to which local resources are being used for these purposes. Ways to maximize the effectiveness of these resources can then be sought. Village level studies carried out between 1968 and 1974 in Punjab, India, revealed that at least 80% of all health care expenditures in this rural area were for services of traditional practitioners or private ‘modern’ doctors. This paper explores various aspects of these expenditures including the source of services and the effect of individual characteristics such as caste on the amount spent on health care. Out-of-pocket expenditures are contrasted to expenditures in the government system. Assessment of the impact of ‘free’ village level primary care services in this setting revealed that the poor reduced their expenditures on health care more than the wealthy, but both groups took almost equal advantage of the ‘free’ services. The results raise the possibility of mobilizing some of the savings accruing to the community to help support the ‘free’ services as well as the potential of encouraging private traditional and modern practitioners to cooperate in achieving primary health care goals.
Reducing thermal interface impedance using surface engineering

The ever-increasing demand for more functionality of electronic and optoelectronic components led to increased packaging and thermal power densities. Higher processing density can be reached by developing thermal management solutions. The current technology in electronic packaging is to attach the die to heat spreader, using materials known as Thermal Interface Materials (TIM), such as solder or silver sinter pastes. The advantage of these materials is their relatively high thermal conductivity; however, there are major problems such as voiding and degradation of TIMs over time [1]. Furthermore, the thermal resistance of the interface between TIM and surfaces is considered as a serious issue in electronics packaging. In this work, we present a new scheme to reduce thermal impedance using surface patterning. Heat transfer enhancement in this method is based on increasing heat transfer surface area per unit die are and replacing TIM with patterns made of high thermal conductive materials such as Copper. Effect of different parameters such as pattern height, diameter and pitch on heat transfer rate was investigated both experimentally and numerically. Thermal resistance was measured using conventional 1-dimensional heat transfer setup. Finally, our experimental results show that using this scheme will increase effective thermal conductivity by almost 5-fold.
Measurement of retinal vessel diameters in images produced by the Heidelberg retinal tomograph

To determine if a method can be used with the Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph (HRT) to improve measurement of retinal vessel diameters. The HRT was used to acquire 3 consecutive images of the optic nerve head in 7 normal subjects to obtain a mean topographic image. The files were transferred to `CorelPHOTO-PAINT The diameters of vessels with well- defined edges were measured using the `line tool'. Each vessel diameter was measured 5 times, and an average and standard deviation were calculated. Fifty-five arterioles and 49 venules were measured from the 7 normal subjects using `CorelPHOTO-PAINT `interactivemeas' submenu. The standard deviations of the vessels ranged from 0 to 10 microns with the majority less than 5 microns in subjects using `CorelPHOTO-PAINT of the measurable vessels ranged from 2 to 17 microns with the majority greater than 5 microns. The HRT `interactivemeas' submenu permits distance measurements, but it does not enhance the image enough to clearly define the vessel edges. Enlargement and improvement of contrast reduces user error in measuring retinal vessel diameters of HRT topographic images.
Mapping the landscape of cognitive development in children with epilepsy.

Objective Normal childhood development is defined by age-dependent improvement across cognitive abilities, including language, memory, psychomotor speed and executive function. Epilepsy is often associated with a global disruption in cognitive development, however, it is still largely unknown how epilepsy affects the overall organization of overlapping cognitive domains. The aim of the study was to evaluate how childhood epilepsy affects the developmental interrelationships between cognitive domains.
Field investigations on the snow chemistry in central and southern california—II. Carbonyls and carboxylic acids

Snow samples from central and southern California were collected during the winter of 1987–1988 from there storms and analyzed for carbonyl compounds and carboxylic acids. Approximately 90% of the samples contained total aldehyde concentrations up to 40 μM. Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were the dominant aldehydes observed; secondary aldehydes included glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and benzaldehyde. The highest aldehyde concentrations were observed in snow collected in areas where deciduous and coniferous forests are widespread. However, these aldehydes can be attributed also in part to primary and secondary products of anthropogenic activities. Formic and acetic were analyzed in all measured samples with concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 4.9 μM for HCOOH and from <0.3 to 13.4 μM for CH_3COOH. Maximum contribution of organic acids to precipitation-free acidity, calculated by assuming that the only sources of the measured formate and acetate were their respective acid forms, averaged 43.1% for samples with a pH⩽5. A consistent correlation between NH_4^+ and acetate was found. [CH_3COOH] exceeded [HCOOH] in about 50% of the samples with the highest levels for CH_3COOH measured in cores collected from lower elevated locations adjacent to the Los Angeles basin. Results presented in this paper suggest that dry deposition and/or scavenging of carbonyl compounds and organic acids to snow may be important sinks for these compounds.
A Process for Deciding How to Teach.

(1976). A Process for Deciding How to Teach. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas: Vol. 49, No. 6, pp. 279-281.