cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sarcomas in organ allograft recipients

In a review of 8724 de novo malignancies that occurred in 8191 organ allograft recipients sarcomas were 7.4% of cancers. Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) made up 5.7%, and other sarcomas (OS) 1.7% a much higher proportion than in the general population. KS was most common in Arab, black, Italian, Jewish, or Greek patients. In 60% of patients with KS the lesions were confined to the skin and/or oropharynx while 40% involved internal organs and/or lymph nodes. Complete remissions following various treatments occurred in 53% of the former group and 27% of the latter. In both groups 32% and 60% of remissions, respectively, occurred when the only treatment was reduction or cessation of immunosuppressive therapy. However, this treatment caused impaired function or allograft loss from rejection in 22 of 34 kidney recipients. Recurrent KS occurred in 5% of patients in remission when immunosuppressive therapy was resumed. Nine of 114 patients (8%) tested for human immunodeficiency virus were positive. Most OS arose in internal organs or soft tissues. The major types were fibrous histiocytoma (20 patients), leiomyosarcoma (15), fibrosarcoma (12), rhabdomyosarcoma (9), hemangiosarcoma (8), undifferentiated sarcoma (7) and mesothelioma (6). Several unusual features were noted. Remarkably, 10 of 105 (10%) sarcomas occurred adjacent to or in a renal (6) or hepatic (4) allograft. Leiomyosarcomas are rare in children, yet 5 of 15 (33%) occurred in pediatric patients. Three hemangiosarcomas occurred in forearms at sites of arteriovenous fistulas used for pretransplant hemodialysis access. One leiomyosarcoma and one fibrosarcoma occurred in previously irradiated areas. One patient with mesothelioma had a history of asbestos exposure and two others had possible exposure.
Automatically generating abstractions for planning

Abstract This article presents a completely automated approach to generating abstractions for planning. The abstractions are generated using a tractable, domain-independent algorithm whose only input is the definition of a problem to be solved and whose output is an abstraction hierarchy that is tailored to the particular problem. The algorithm generates abstraction hierarchies by dropping literals from the original problem definition. It forms abstractions that satisfy the ordered monotonicity property, which guarantees that the structure of an abstract solution is not changed in the process of refining it. The algorithm for generating abstractions is implemented in a system called ALPINE, which generates abstractions for a hierarchical version of the PRODIGY problem solver. The abstractions generated by ALPINE are tested in multiple domains on large problem sets and are shown to produce shorter solutions with significantly less search than planning without using abstraction.
Psychosocial Characteristics of Nonoffending Mothers of Sexually Abused Girls: Findings From a Prospective, Multigenerational Study

This study examined psychosocial characteristics of nonoffending mothers of sexually abused girls. The sample consisted of 72 ethnically diverse mothers of sexually abused girls aged 6 to 16 years, and 55 mothers of girls who were demographically similar with the abused girls on age, socioeconomic status, and family constellation. The variables examined included measures of the mothers' childhood developmental histories and current functioning (e.g., depression, parenting), as well as their current family environment. The specific questions addressed were (a) whether mothers of sexually abused girls could be distinguished from mothers of comparison girls on various psychosocial characteristics and (b) whether three subgroups of mothers (i.e., mother and daughter sexually abused, daughter-only abused, neither mother nor daughter abused) would exhibit different patterns of psychosocial characteristics. Results show that nonoffending mothers of sexually abused girls may confront considerable psychosocial challenges following the disclosure of their daughters' sexual abuse and that mother's own childhood abuse experiences may be an important factor to understand these challenges.
Agenda building in criminal justice: The case of determinate sentencing

An understanding of policy development, change and implementation is a necessary ingredient in analysis of criminal justice policy. This paper attempts to describe the process of policy formation in criminal justice within the framework, of “Agenda Building.” Through case studies of sentencing reform policy changes in two states, the applicability of the Agenda Building model to the study of criminal justice policy is demonstrated. The argument is advanced that, through the use of such approaches to the study of justice policy change, we will enhance our understanding of the diversity of specific policies and practices which can emerge from an apparently unified reform movement. Further, it is suggested that an enhanced understanding of policy development will allow reformers to better direct and control policy formulation.
Failure of Hypophysectomy, Adrenalectomy or Thyroidectomy to Affect Response of Non-Esterified Fatty Acids to Fasting:

SummaryThere is no evidence of diurnal variation of plasma NEFA levels in rats. Hypophysectomized, adrenalectomized and thyroidectomized animals show significantly lower plasma NEFA values than normal rats either when food is provided ad lib. or after fasting. After 16 hour fast, both normal and operated rats show marked increase in plasma NEFA levels. It is probable that the mechanism involved in NEFA response to fasting is not controlled by pituitary, thyroid or adrenal hormones.
The importance of dissolved N:P ratios on mayfly (Baetis spp.) growth in high-nutrient detritus-based streams

The concept of ecological stoichiometry has been useful for understanding nutrient dynamics in aquatic food webs; however, the majority of studies have focused on autotrophic systems, leaving detritus-based food webs largely understudied. In addition, most detritus-based studies have explored enrichment in high-gradient, low-nutrient systems, despite the fact that many of the streams most likely to face enrichment (those surrounded by agriculture) are low-gradient and contain inherently higher dissolved nutrient concentrations due to differences in soil type, geomorphology, and atmospheric deposition. Constraints on consumer growth due to consumer-resource imbalances have been documented in these low-nutrient streams, but the extent to which consumer growth may be limited in higher-nutrient, detritus-based streams is unknown. We investigated the impact of dissolved nutrients (N and P) on mayfly growth, using artificial streams simulating a high-nutrient detritus-based system. Mayflies were reared and sampled under two total nutrient concentrations, one meant to mimic a more natural undisturbed (ambient) watershed and one to mimic a disturbed (enriched) watershed. Under each of these conditions two N:P ratios (low and high) were tested. The low N:P treatments produced higher mayfly growth under both ambient and enriched conditions, showing that nutrient limitation can occur even in high-nutrient streams.
Flexible sigmoidoscopy and the despecialization of gastrointestinal endoscopy an environmental impact report

Background. Gastrointestinal endoscopy is a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for the prevention of premature death from cancer. Flexible equipment innovations during the 1970s increased the power of this technique dramatically. For family physicians and general internists, dissemination of these techniques started around 1979 and continued during the 1980s. Methods. In this report, data describing the gradual reformation of primary-care cancer screening are discussed
Genome Survey for Loci That Influence Successful Aging: Results at 10-cM Resolution

Objective A systematic genome survey was initiated to identify loci that affect the likelihood of reaching age 90 with preserved cognition (successful aging). Methods The genome survey was conducted at 10-cM resolution for simple sequence tandem repeat polymorphisms (SSTRPs) that identify genes for S uccessful AG ing ( SAG loci) by virtue of linkage disequilibrium. Efficiency was enhanced by genotyping pools of DNA from 100 cognitively intact elders and 100 young (18–25 years) adults. The comparison groups included equal numbers of white men and women of similar ethnicity that were recruited from the southwestern Pennsylvania region. Results Our genome survey identified nine SAG candidate loci that may influence the likelihood of reaching age 90 or more with preserved cognition. Two of the autosomal SAG loci revealed stronger allelic associations with successful aging in men than women (D1S1728, D8S264) and two were located on sex chromosomes (DXS9902, DYS390). DXS9902 resides within a predicted gene, whereas six of the SAG loci are located within regions previously reported to show linkage to other phenotypes. Conclusions The results of our study suggest that loci with differential effects on the successful aging of men and women may be common. The majority of the SAG candidate loci detected in this study overlap with regions previously reported to show linkage to susceptibility genes for cardiovascular disorders, psychiatric disorders, and the accumulation of tissue damage resulting from oxidative stress.
The rate distortion function for a class of sources

For a source with a known probability distribution, α, Shannon's rate distortion function, Rα(d), specifies the minimum channel capacity required to transmit the output of the source with average distortion ≦ d. In practice, the encoding system must often be designed when only vague information is available concerning the source distribution; i.e., it is known only that the source distribution is a member of some class α. It is thus important to extend Shannon's theory to cover this case. In this paper we define a rate distortion function for a class of sources, Rα(d), and prove a coding theorem. This theorem establishes that Rα(d) is the minimum channel capacity required by any system which can transmit each source in α with average distortion ≦ d, and that for a compact class of sources this rate can be approached as closely as desired. Further, we show that for a compact class, Rα(d) is the sup of Rα(d) over all α in α. This last result is important in that it greatly simplifies the computation of Rα(d).
Refining nondeterminism in context-free languages

Four infinite hierarchies of classes of context-free languages are established based on (i) finite unions, (ii) number of nondeterministic moves of any specified fan-out, (iii) finite intersections, and (iv) finite concatenations, respectively. All these hierarchies lie between the classes of deterministic and unambiguous context-free languages.
Wireless sensing and monitoring of physiological movements and volume changes

There has been growing interest in the use of low-power wireless technology for contact and remote detection and monitoring of physiological movements and volume changes. Some of the leading applications will be discussed. Remote or non-contact sensing of body movements associated with the expansion and contraction of the circulatory and respiratory systems in particular provides a non-invasive technique for measuring such vital physiological signatures as blood vessel pulse, respiratory rate, and heart rate. Wireless techniques provide a simple approach for detecting physiological and pathological movements and volume changes without compromising the integrity of the physiological substrates. A beam of radio frequency energy is directed to the target organ or tissue, and the reflected signal is processed to yield information on the organ or tissue of interest. Non-invasive measurements have provided sensing and monitoring for apex cardiograms, respiration rate and apnea detection, peripheral blood pulse waves, pressure pulse characteristics, arterial wall movement, and life sign (heart rate and respiration rate) detection. RF wireless techniques are providing a capability for detection and monitoring of physiological movement and volume change with unprecedented opportunities. Indeed, the large variety of potential uses of non-invasive measurement with microwaves, whether with direct contact or remote sensing, is just beginning to be seriously explored.
Successfully treated pulmonary artery rupture complicated by aneurysm formation

R EPORTED COMPLICATIONS from pulmonary artery (PA) catheterization include atria1 and ventricular dysrhythmias, balloon rupture, pulmonary &hernia and infarction, pulmonary embolization, intracardiac knotting, and bacteremia.’ One of the most severe (and potentially lethal) complications associated with use of balloon-tipped PA catheters is PA rupture with subsequent endobronchial hemorrhage, which occurs with a reported incidence of 0.2% and a fatality rate of approximately .50%.’ A case report of PA perforation and subsequent development of a PA aneurysm is presented. A PA catheter-induced aneurysm and its treatment have not been reported previously.
Two-dimensional Zernike Wavelets for One-dimensional Complex Signal Identification

We present an approach to complex signal identification that uses a non-linear transformation into a 2-D (image) domain as a fundamental first step. Motivating this approach is the observation that many complex signals of interest have characteristic complex--plane behaviors when viewed under certain invariance rules, e.g., rotation and/or scaling in the complex--plane. Orthonormal bases in 2D that exhibit special properties may be employed to some advantage for 1D classification. Specifically, we use the Zernike transform to yield rotationally invariant features of complex 1D signals. These features may be furthered projected into a low dimensional subspace via a standard Fisher analysis in the context of a specific data set. Using a small data set consisting of six different sources the method is shown to perform well and exhibit a high level of noise robustness. The resulting feature vector is of low dimensionality and has reasonable computational cost.
Quantitative characterization of the microstructure of two-phase TiB2 + Al2O3 ceramics using mean integral curvature

Two-phase TiB2+Al2O3 ceramics with an interconnected or dispersed TiB2 (minor)-phase microstructure can be produced by variations in processing parameters. A standard method of quantitative characterization of the microstructural bias, i.e., the degree of TiB2 phase connectivity relative to its dispersion, is necessary to comprehend the mechanism(s) controlling the evolution of microstructure during processing. In this work, techniques derived from stereology were used to quantitatively characterize the microstructural bias on the basis of the connectivity and dispersion of the minor phase (TiB2), in addition to the size of the TiB2- and Al2O3-phase regions. The mean integral curvature calculated using the area particle-count and area tangent-count methods was determined to quantitatively describe the connectivity of the TiB2 minor phase around the Al2O3 major phase. The results illustrate that, in spite of partial and mixed bias, integral curvature measurements (particularly those based on the area tangent-count method) provide a reliable and reproducible means for quantitative characterization of the two-phase biased microstructure.
Iterative improvements of a nearest neighbor classifier

Abstract In practical pattern recognition applications, the nearest neighbor classifier (NNC) is often applied because it does not require an a priori knowledge of the joint probability density of the input feature vectors. As the number of example vectors is increased, the error probability of the NNC approaches that of the Baysian classifier. However, at the same time, the computational complexity of the NNC increases. Also, for a small number of example vectors, the NNC is not optimal with respect to the training data. In this paper, we attack these problems by mapping the NNC to a sigma-pi neural network, to which it is partially isomorphic. A modified form of back propagation (BP) learning is then developed and used to improve classifier performance. As examples, we apply our approach to the problems of handprinted numeral recognition and geometrical shape recognition. Significant improvements in classification error percentages are observed for both the training data and testing data.
Generic cyclic polynomials of odd degree

For any cyclic group G of odd order and any field F whose characteristic does not divide the order of G it is possible to find a polynomial which parametrizes all extensions of F with group G. In this paper such a polynomial is explicitly constructed for each such group G which is valid for all such fields F.
Stability of rebaudioside A under acidic conditions and its degradation products

Abstract Stability of rebaudioside A, a sweet component of Stevia rebaudiana was studied covering a typical pH range 2.8–4.2 that simulated both relevant and extreme beverage storage conditions. Thus, rebaudioside A was evaluated in mock beverage solutions by simulating formulations used in commercial cola soft drinks (pH 2.8 and pH 3.2), lemon–lime soft drinks (pH 3.8), and root beer soft drinks (pH 4.2) but lacking the flavor components. The mock beverage samples, formulated at ~ 500 mg/l were subjected to various temperature conditions (5, 20, 30, and 40 °C) for 26-weeks at each pH. Samples were analyzed at scheduled intervals throughout the 26-week period for rebaudioside A, its known impurities and degradation products. Experimental results indicated that rebaudioside A yielded six minor degradation compounds whose structural characterization was performed on the basis of 1D ( 1 H, 13 C) and 2D (COSY, HSQC, HMBC) NMR, HRMS, MS/MS spectral data as well as enzymatic and acid hydrolysis studies.
Science and Technology for Natural Disaster Reduction

During the 1990s, the UN sponsored the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR) with the objective of reducing losses caused by natural hazards. Strategies for achieving that end include locating structures and people out of harm's way, building structures to withstand stresses imposed by hazards, and warning of impending hazardous conditions, all of which must be based on sound scientific knowledge and technical methods. Implementation of these strategies, however, has been difficult because the public does not appreciate the threat posed by hazards or understand the loss-prevention approaches. Nevertheless, the need for prevention and mitigation measures has gained in recognition, and many activities will continue or begin beyond the Decade. The IDNDR Scientific and Technical Committee identified 5 challenges to guide future programs: 1) integrate natural disaster management with overall planning; 2) anticipate megadisasters due to population concentrations; 3) reduce environmental and resource vulnerability; 4) improve disaster prevention capabilities of developing countries; and 5) assure effective coordination and implementation.
CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS AND EXPOSURE TO EXOGENOUS FEMALE SEX HORMONES

We conducted a case-control study of maternal sex hormone exposure and the risk for major malformations. Using population-based surveillance data from the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program, we analyzed interviews from 1970-1979 for first trimester exposures to sex hormones among mothers of children with the following defects: oro-facial clefts; Down syndrome; diaphragmatic hernia; limb reduction defects; and esophageal, intestinal, or anal atresia. During the study period, 1,396 children with at least one of these defects were born in the surveillance area and 79% of the mothers were interviewed. For each defect category, the other defect categories served as the comparison group. We found no associations between any defect and oral contraceptive exposures; however, we did find an association between esophageal atresia and sex hormone exposure (odds ratio (OR) = 2.8, p = 0.009). Sex hormone exposures were subdivided, and associations persisted between esophageal atresia and 1) progestins and non specified sex hormones combined, and 2) hormonal pregnancy tests. Our findings suggest a relationship between esophageal atresia and non contraceptive sex hormone exposures. If causal, however, exposure would have a low absolute risk, on the order of 6/10,000 exposed live births.
Brief therapy of conversion reactions: an in-hospital technique.

This paper describes a treatment method for conversion phenomena, reactions that present special technical difficulties. The strategy focuses the patient's attention on the fact that his symptoms are psychologically motivated and reduces opportunity for secondary gain. The author reports data from a clinical trial in which the special treatment regimen was compared with a variety of other treatment methods; he cautions that early identification and treatment are necessary to prevent the symptom complex from becoming a permanent feature of the patient's mental life.
Belief and Feeling in Self-reports of Emotion: Evidence for Semantic Infusion Based on Self-esteem

When people make verbal reports of their emotional experience, they can rely on multiple sources of knowledge, including generalized beliefs about the self. To the extent that generalized beliefs about the self are used, we term the resultant consequence a semantic infusion effect. Across three studies, we demonstrate the predictable consequences of making emotion judgments more quickly versus more slowly, based on a recent model of the emotional self-report process (Robinson & Clore, 2002a). As predicted, when participants (Ns = 69, 37, and 44) made emotion judgments involving long time frames (e.g., last couple of months; Studies 1–3), faster judgments were associated with emotion ratings that were more consistent with global self-esteem. By contrast, when making emotion judgments involving a short time frame (right now; Study 3), the same pattern was not found. Results are interpreted in terms of semantic infusion effects, although other theoretical frameworks are also discussed. The results have impli...
Signal subspace method of multiple source location

A high resolution parametric signal subspace algorithm for estimating the direction-of-arrivals of multiple wavefronts impinging on an array is presented. This algorithm is effective in both the incoherent and coherent wavefront case. >
Radiolabeled antibody imaging of patients with potentially resectable colorectal adenocarcinoma.

Thirty-two patients with potentially resectable recurrent colorectal adenocarcinoma were imaged with the radioimmunoconjugate 111In-satumomab pendetide to determine whether imaging supplies clinically relevant information relating to the extent of disease in patients with different presenting characteristics. Patients included 12 with increasing carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) without anatomical evidence of recurrence, 13 with radiological abnormalities consistent with apparently isolated metastases, and 7 with recurrence and anatomical abnormalities of unclear significance. 111In-satumomab pendetide imaging detected extrahepatic abdominal and pelvic disease in 16 subjects. Imaging was most informative in patients with recurrent disease and anatomical abnormalities of unclear significance, but imaging of the liver was suboptimal owing to high levels of nonspecific uptake. We conclude 111In-satumomab pendetide imaging can supply clinically relevant information relating to the extent and location of recurren...
Ambushed by Empathy: George Brant’s Grounded

George Brant’s Grounded explores the ethical complexities of military drone use through the story of an Air Force pilot who, after the birth of her daughter, is re-commissioned to pilot drones over Afghanistan from the Nevada desert. The play reveals the devastating costs of contemporary warfare, as well as the possibility for empathy through systems of global surveillance.
Optimal synthesis of finite difference models for multiconductor transmission lines via Gaussian spectral rules

We present an algorithm for the generation of optimal, nonuniform finite difference grids for the analysis of multiconductor transmission lines (MTL). Such MTL segments are the basic constitutive elements of large interconnect networks used for broadband signal transmission in state-of-the-art, GHz processor-based, computing systems. The algorithm is based on a Pade-Chebyshev approximation of the input impedance, implemented via the Lanczos procedure, and results in compact, multi-port, frequency-dependent representations of MTLs. A dramatic reduction of computational time is possible, using just over two points per wavelength to achieve superexponential convergence in the response at the input of the line. Moreover, the generated models have the advantage to be passive by construction, which enables their efficient incorporation into SPICE-based simulation tools for circuit design.
CHARACTERISTICS OF STREPTOCOCCAL GROUP-SPECIFIC ANTIBODY ISOLATED FROM HYPERIMMUNE RABBITS

Intravenous immunization of New Zealand red rabbits with streptococcal group-specific bacterial vaccines yielded sera which possessed markedly elevated γ-globulin. The sera of one rabbit immunized with Group A-variant vaccine possessed 55 mg/ml of γ-globulin. The bulk of this γ-globulin, identified as γG-globulin, was homogeneous by zone electrophoresis and of specificity directed against the Group A-variant carbohydrate antigen. L chains isolated from specific antibody obtained from an immune precipitate were distributed as a single band on starch gel electrophoresis, whereas the normal γ-globulin traveled as a diffuse smear. These data suggest that the rabbit streptococcal Group A-variant antibodies possess a limited range of physicochemical properties and electrophoretic mobility compared to that generally observed for the normal complement of γ-globulin.
Algorithmic derandomization via complexity theory

We point out how the methods of Nisan [31, 32], originally developed for derandomizing space-bounded computations, may be applied to obtain polynomial-time and NC derandomizations of several probabilistic algorithms. Our list includes the randomized rounding steps of linear and semi-definite programming relaxations of optimization problems, parallel derandomization of discrepancy-type problems, and the Johnson--Lindenstrauss lemma, to name a few.A fascinating aspect of this style of derandomization is the fact that we often carry out the derandomizations directly from the statements about the correctness of probabilistic algorithms, rather than carefully mimicking their proofs.
Prolonged Pressor Effects of Selective Stimulation of the Stellate Ganglion

With both intensity and duration of individual current pulses maintained constant and at low values, frequencies were varied from ½ to 80/sec., and the stimulating current was applied to the stellate ganglion of the open chest dog. Whereas systolic and pulse pressures increased rapidly with the application of high frequency currents, the pressures were not long maintained even though the stimulation was continuous. With low frequency currents, systolic and pulse pressures rose more slowly but to higher levels which were sustained for periods of 5 to 11 hours. It is believed that neither cardiac acceleration nor systemic vasoconstriction contributed significantly to the pressor responses, but rather that augmentation of myocardial contraction and increased systolic ejection were the important causative factors.
Regional activation of rapid onset vasodilatation in mouse skeletal muscle: regulation through α-adrenoreceptors

Exercise onset entails motor unit recruitment and the initiation of vasodilatation. Dilatation can ascend the arteriolar network to encompass proximal feed arteries but is opposed by sympathetic nerve activity, which promotes vasoconstriction and inhibits ascending vasodilatation through activating α-adrenoreceptors. Whereas contractile activity can antagonize sympathetic vasoconstriction, more subtle aspects of this interaction remain to be defined. We tested the hypothesis that constitutive activation of α-adrenoreceptors governs blood flow distribution within individual muscles. The mouse gluteus maximus muscle (GM) consists of Inferior and Superior regions. Each muscle region is supplied by its own motor nerve and feed artery with an anastomotic arteriole (resting diameter ∼25 μm) that spans both muscle regions. In anaesthetized male C57BL/6J mice (3–5 months old), the GM was exposed and superfused with physiological saline solution (35°C; pH 7.4). Stimulating the inferior gluteal motor nerve (0.1 ms pulse, 100 Hz for 500 ms) evoked a brief tetanic contraction and produced rapid (<1 s) onset vasodilatation (ROV; diameter change, 10 ± 1 μm) of the anastomotic arteriole along the active (Inferior) muscle region but not along the inactive (Superior) region (n= 8). In contrast, microiontophoresis of acetylcholine (1 μm micropipette tip, 1 μA, 500 ms) initiated dilatation that travelled along the anastomotic arteriole from the Inferior into the Superior muscle region (diameter change, 5 ± 2 μm). Topical phentolamine (1 μm) had no effect on resting diameter but this inhibition of α-adrenoreceptors enabled ROV to spread along the anastomotic arteriole into the inactive muscle region (dilatation, 7 ± 1 μm; P < 0.05), where remote dilatation to acetylcholine then doubled (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that constitutive activation of α-adrenoreceptors in skeletal muscle can restrict the spread of dilatation within microvascular resistance networks and thereby increase blood flow to active muscle regions.
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF DENGUE-2 VIRUS RNA DURING THE EXTRINSIC INCUBATION PERIOD IN INDIVIDUAL AEDES AEGYPTI

Dengue virus-2 (DENV-2) RNA was quantified from the midgut and legs of individual Aedes aegypti at each of 14 days postinfectious blood meal (dpi) in a DENV-2 susceptible strain from Chetumal, Mexico. A SYBR Green I based strand-specific, quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was developed. The lower detection and quantitation limits were 20 and 200 copies per reaction, respectively. Amounts of positive and negative strand viral RNA strands were correlated. Numbers of plaque-forming units (PFU) were correlated with DENV-2 RNA copy number in both C6/36 cell cultures and mosquitoes. PFU were consistently lower than RNA copy number by 2-3 log(10). Midgut levels of DENV-2 RNA peaked 8 dpi and fluctuated erratically between 6 and 9 dpi. Copies of DENV-2 RNA varied significantly among infected mosquitoes at each time point. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR is a convenient and reliable method that provides new insights into virus-vector interactions.
The economics of improving medication adherence in osteoporosis: validation and application of a simulation model.

Context: Adherence to osteoporosis treatment is low. Although new therapies and behavioral interventions may improve medication adherence, questions are likely to arise regarding their cost-effectiveness. Objective: Our objectives were to develop and validate a model to simulate the clinical outcomes and costs arising from various osteoporosis medication adherence patterns among women initiating bisphosphonate treatment and to estimate the cost-effectiveness of a hypothetical intervention to improve medication adherence. Design: We constructed a computer simulation using estimates of fracture rates, bisphosphonate treatment effects, costs, and utilities for health states drawn from the published literature. Probabilities of transitioning on and off treatment were estimated from administrative claims data. Setting and Patients: Patients were women initiating bisphosphonate therapy from the general community. Intervention: We evaluated a hypothetical behavioral intervention to improve medication adherence. ...
Literature Review: Health-related Quality of Life Measurement in Pediatric Oncology: Hearing the Voices of the Children

pediatric oncology. Results Data demonstrate that children as young as 5 years of age can reliably and validly self-report their HRQOL when an age-appropriate instrument is utilized. Conclusions The evidence supports including pediatric patients’ perspectives in clinical trials. Parent proxy-report is recommended when pediatric patients are too young, too cognitively impaired, too ill or fatigued to complete a HRQOL instrument, but not as a substitute for child self-report when the child is willing and able to provide their perspective.
A New Look At Amorphous Vs Microcrystalline Structure

Historically, non-periodic models have usually found preference over microcrystalline ones for describing the structure of amorphous materials. Nevertheless, truly microcrystalline materials do exist, and the characteristic, monotonically decreasing isothermal calorimetric signal associated with the growth of the grains, can sometimes be used to identify them unambiguously. An example of the identification of the micro-quasicrystalline structure of some sputtered aluminum-transition metal alloys is discussed.
RHIC challenges for low energy operations

There is significant interest in RHIC heavy ion collisions at radics =5-50 GeV/u, motivated by a search for the QCD phase transition critical point. The lowest energies are well below the nominal RHIC gold injection radics = 19.6 GeV/u. There are several challenges that face RHIC operations in this regime, including longitudinal acceptance, magnet field quality, lattice control, and luminosity monitoring. We report on the status of work to address these challenges, including results from beam tests of low energy RHIC operations with protons and gold.
Trust and Leader—Member Exchange: A Closer Look at Relational Vulnerability

Trust in work relationships is an intriguing topic in leader—member exchange (LMX) research, however, previous LMX studies examined trust as unidimensional. Research on LMX has yet to explore the m...
Experimental studies on optokinetic nystagmus. I. Normal cats.

This study is an assessment of the functioning of the oculomotor neural reflex in humans. Optokinetic stimuli have been applied by rotating a large drum with white stripes on the wall at different velocities around the subjects and the nystagmic movements were recorded electronystag-mographically. In the first group of 18 subjects the responses varied both in frequency and amplitude. However, there seemed to be two general patterns. One pattern showed a tendency toward small amplitude and high frequency nystagmus and the second pattern small frequency and large amplitude nystagmus. In the second group of 32 subjects two tests were made. During the first test the subjects were instructed to follow the stripes, and in the second to stare straight ahead. By following the specific instructions, two different sets of optokinetic nystagmus responses were obtained that corresponded to the two patterns observed in the Group I experiments. Whether “stare” or “look” the responses of the individuals showed a similar...
Clinical presentation and diagnostics

Although most patients with epithelial ovarian cancer will present with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage III or IV disease, occasionally, a woman with a pelvic mass in the absence of ascites, carcinomatosis, and pleural effusion or other clinical and radiologic findings of advanced disease will be ultimately diagnosed with an early stage ovarian carcinoma (Figure 3.1).
Rationing Expensive Lifesaving Medical Resources

In this Article, Professor Mehlman examines the possible systems for rationing expensive lifesaving medical technologies. First, he concludes that the costs of any rationing system probably exceed its benefits. Consequently, he rejects the rationing of expensive but available lifesaving medical technologies. Second, he argues that the increased availability of the technologies and the recent expansion of patient rights to sue will result in a substantial number of judicial challenges to rationing. Finally, he suggests detailed criteria to aid the courts in deciding whether a resource has been improperly rationed.
Date (Phoenix dactylifera) Polyphenolics and Other Bioactive Compounds: A Traditional Islamic Remedy’s Potential in Prevention of Cell Damage, Cancer Therapeutics and Beyond

This review analyzes current studies of the therapeutic effects of Phoenix dactylifera, or date palm fruit, on the physiologic system. Specifically, we sought to summarize the effects of its application in preventing cell damage, improving cancer therapeutics and reducing damage caused by conventional chemotherapy. Phoenix dactylifera exhibits potent anti-oxidative properties both in vitro and in vivo. This allows the fruit to prevent depletion of intrinsic protection from oxidative cell damage and assist these defense systems in reducing cell damage. Macroscopically, this mechanism may be relevant to the prevention of various adverse drug events common to chemotherapy including hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, gastrotoxicity, and peripheral neuropathy. While such effects have only been studied in small animal systems, research suggests a potential application to more complex mammalian systems and perhaps a solution to some problems of chemotherapy in hepato-compromised and nephro-compromised patients.
The role of extracellular matrix in the formation of the sclerotome

The development of the sclerotome is considered as a model for the formation of mesenchyme from an epithelium. In early epithelial somites, transmission and scanning electron microscopy indicate considerable ultrastructural similarity between the future sclerotome and dermamyotomal regions. Subsequently, these two regions diverge in their development. In the forming dermamyotome, junctional complexes become more extensive and the cells become elongated, closely applied to each other, and have angular surface contours. In the forming sclerotome, there is an early reduction in apical junctions. The cells elongate, keeping their original polarity, and acquire numerous filopodia which contain punctate junctions at sites of cell-to-cell contact. Associated with cellular extension is an expansion of the intercellular spaces which do not contain any ultrastructurally recognizable material. Evidence for a role of hyaluronic acid in the expansion of the intercellular spaces is presented. As identified by the susceptibility of cetylpyridinium chloride precipitates to Streptomyces hyaluronidase and chromatographic separation of chondroitinase ABC digestion products, as much as 64–68% of the [3H]glucosamine-labeled glycosaminoglycans synthesized by explanted somites is hyaluronic acid. In addition, hyaluronidase-sensitive label is localized in the intercellular spaces of the sclerotome, as demonstrated by autoradiography. When ,Streptomyces hyaluronidase is injected in ovo into living embryos, the sclerotomal mesenchyme differentiates morphologically, but intercellular spaces are drastically reduced. It is hypothesized that the sclerotomal cells produce a hyaluronate-enriched extracellular matrix which is inflated by hydration to mediate the expansion of the sclerotomal mass towards the notochord.
Linear Reservoirs and Numerical Diffusion

The conceptual model of a cascade of linear reservoirs, in particular the SSAR routing equation, is reviewed in the light of the theory of numerical diffusion. The SSAR routing equation is a special case of the Muskingum routing equation. Since the latter simulates the diffusion processes by “off-centering” the temporal derivative in its discrete formulation, it follows that the same numerical diffusion mechanism underlies the SSAR routing equation and its associated linear reservoir assumption. The extension of the technique to a cascade of linear reservoirs, thus providing an additional parameter for simulation purposes, is readily envisaged. The use of a conceptual model such as the cascade of linear reservoirs remains a problem of system identification: given an excitation (excess rainfall) and system response (basin outflow), the overall system characteristics (model parameters) are sought by calibration.
Implementation of Partial Separability in a Source-to-Source Transformation AD Tool

A significant number of large optimization problems exhibit structure known as partial separability, for example, least squares problems, where elemental functions are gathered into groups that are then squared. The sparsity of the Jacobian of a partially separable function can be exploited by computing the smaller Jacobians of the elemental functions and then assembling them into the full Jacobian. We implemented partial separability support in ADIC2 by using pragmas to identify partially separable function values, applying source transformations to subdivide the elemental gradient computations, and using the ColPack coloring toolkit to compress the sparse elemental Jacobians. We present experimental results for an elastic-plastic torsion optimization problem from the MINPACK-2 test suite.
Fixation Options for the Volar Lunate Facet Fracture: Thinking Outside the Box.

Background Fractures of the distal radius with small volar ulnar marginal fracture fragments are difficult to stabilize with standard volar locking plates. The purpose of this study is to describe alternative techniques available to stabilize these injuries. Materials and Methods Five patients were identified retrospectively with unstable volar lunate facet fracture fragments treated with supplemental fixation techniques. The demographic data, pre- and postoperative radiographic parameters, and early outcomes data were analyzed. The AO classification, preoperative and final postoperative ulnar variance, articular step-off, volar tilt, radial inclination, and teardrop angle were measured. The lunate subsidence and length of the volar cortex available for fixation were measured from the initial injury films. Description of Technique Lunate facet fixation was based on the morphology of the fragment, and stabilization was achieved with headless compression screws in three patients, a tension band wire construct in one, and two cortical screws in another. Results Five patients with a mean age of 58 years (range: 41–82) were included. There were two AO C3.2 and three B3.3 fractures. Preoperative radiographic measurements including radial inclination, tilt, and ulnar variance all improved after surgery and were maintained within normal limits at 3-month follow-up. There was no change in the teardrop angle at final follow-up (70–64 degrees; p = 0.14). None of the patients had loss of fixation or volar carpal subluxation. The mean visual analog scale pain score at 3 months was 1 (range: 0–2). Conclusions The morphology of volar lunate facet fracture fragments is variable, and fixation must be customized to the particular pattern. Small fragments may preclude the use of plates and screws for fixation. These fractures can be managed successfully with tension band wire constructs and headless screws. These low-profile implants may decrease the risk of tendon irritation that might accompany distally placed plates.
Social Media Engagement Theory: Exploring the Influence of User Engagement on Social Media Usage

Business models that rely on social media and user-generated content have shifted from the more traditional business model, where value for the organization is derived from the one-way delivery of products and/or services, to the provision of intangible value based on user engagement. This research builds a model that hypothesizes that the user experiences from social interactions among users, operationalized as personalization, transparency, access to social resources, critical mass of social acquaintances, and risk, as well as with the technical features of the social media platform, operationalized as the completeness, flexibility, integration, and evolvability, influence user engagement and subsequent usage behavior. Using survey responses from 408 social media users, findings suggest that both social and technical factors impact user engagement and ultimately usage with additional direct impacts on usage by perceptions of the critical mass of social acquaintances and risk.
Monitoring hydration of UHPC and conventional paste by quantitative analysis on Raman patterns

Abstract Cement hydration governs physical, chemical and mechanical properties of cement pastes. Therefore, tracing hydration progress in different types of cement pastes can help to understand different hydration mechanisms and paste behaviours. In the present research, a quantitative analysis on Raman spectroscopy (RS) patterns for conventional cement paste and ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) matrix at different hydration ages has been applied. It has been found that quantitative analysis on peak area of Raman patterns is fully capable to differentiate between conventional cement hydration and pozzolanic reaction in UHPC. The result also showed that silica fume included in the UHPC matrix was more reactive at early ages, which was completely in agreement with reduction of calcium hydroxide (CH) content at the same hydration period.
Policy and global change research

The history of the U.S. Global Change Research Program calls into question its sustainability. The Program was established on the presumption that a prerequisite for rational, comprehensive, and cost-effective policy responses is the reduction of scientific uncertainty through comprehensive predictive models. This presumption remains a significant barrier to the renewal of public support for the Program through near-term progress consistent with its mandate ‘to produce information readily usable by policymakers’. This article critiques the use of comprehensive predictive models for policy purposes; proposes one modest alternative to comprehensive predictive models as a means of integrating scientific and non-scientific considerations into recommendations readily usable by policymakers; and places the issue in the broader context of a paradigm shift in U.S. science and technology policy. The purpose is to expedite progress, consistent with the policy mandate, that would help sustain public support for the Program.
Current situation and the risk factors of electronic cigarette using in the junior high school students from Guangxi in 2013

Objective To understand the status of using electronic cigarette and related risk factors in the junior school students form Guangxi,for providing a scientific basis on the implementation of effective measure to control youth electronic cigarette use in the future.Methods Cluster sampling method was applied and the Global Youth Tobacco Epidemic Survey Questionnaire were used to collect data of students in 36 junior schools in Guangxi in 2013.Results A total of 5858 validated questionnaires were obtained. The rates of attempted to and current smoking were 24.8% and 11.2% in the students respectively. The rate of heard of and using electronic cigarette were46.71%(2 736/5 858) and 2.85%(167/5 858) respectively. Multivariate regression analysis showed that sex, age,grade and with smoking friends were risk factors with had OR values of 2.422,1.661,1.743,and 3.005,respectively.Conclusion The rate of heard of and using electronic cigarette in the junidy high school students in Guangxi is high, electronic cigarettes online shopping website was easy to obtain and there is existence of regulatory gaps,so combined system of controlling electronic cigarette smoking among teenagers should be set up.