cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Striving for coherency to mitigate the complexity of system design

Software system complexity needs to be viewed from the perspectives of both the design product and the design process. In typical practice, design products appear quite overly complex relative to the capabilities provided. Frequently, system designs seem to exhibit a large degree of unwarranted complexity. On the other hand, system-level design methods are usually lacking in complexity relative to the challenge of essential design tasks. In consequence, too many design commitments are made without adequate bases, out of proper order, or by default. The result of such design commitments is a combination of unwarranted complexity and compromised system capabilities. Two other distinctions that also need to be acknowledged are the differences between: functional architecture and architectural design; and system requirements and system specifications. Distinctions are usually not observed in development processes that are dismissive of the nature and ramifications of proper system-level design. Here, the dilution of the system design effort tends to compromise the design product, because many of the major design commitments are made in the absence of a precisely defined architectural design. Whether soundly based or not, these early-on commitments continue to profoundly affect product construction and complexity throughout development. Accordingly, it is vital to invest in rigorous system-level design methods and practices. They can engender coherence, and hence mitigate complexity in design products and disorder in later stages of development.
Channel-Length-Dependent Transport Behaviors of Graphene Field-Effect Transistors

This letter presents a detailed study of transport in graphene field-effect transistors (GFETs) with various channel lengths, from 5 μm down to 90 nm, using transferred graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition. An electron-hole asymmetry observed in short-channel devices suggests a strong impact from graphene/metal contacts. In addition, for the first time, we observe a shift of the gate voltage at the Dirac point in graphene devices as a consequence of gate length scaling. The unusual shift of the Dirac point voltage has been identified as one of the signatures of short-channel effects in GFETs.
A double-spike method for K–Ar measurement: A technique for high precision in situ dating on Mars and other planetary surfaces

A new method for K–Ar dating using a double isotope dilution technique is proposed and demonstrated. The method is designed to eliminate known difficulties facing in situ dating on planetary surfaces, especially instrument complexity and power availability. It may also have applicability in some terrestrial dating applications. Key to the method is the use of a solid tracer spike enriched in both ^(39)Ar and ^(41)K. When mixed with lithium borate flux in a Knudsen effusion cell, this tracer spike and a sample to be dated can be successfully fused and degassed of Ar at <1000 °C. The evolved ^(40)Ar^∗/^(39)Ar ratio can be measured to high precision using noble gas mass spectrometry. After argon measurement the sample melt is heated to a slightly higher temperature (∼1030 °C) to volatilize potassium, and the evolved ^(39)K/(41)K ratio measured by Knudsen effusion mass spectrometry. Combined with the known composition of the tracer spike, these two ratios define the K–Ar age using a single sample aliquot and without the need for extreme temperature or a mass determination. In principle the method can be implemented using a single mass spectrometer. Experiments indicate that quantitative extraction of argon from a basalt sample occurs at a sufficiently low temperature that potassium loss in this step is unimportant. Similarly, potassium isotope ratios measured in the Knudsen apparatus indicate good sample-spike equilibration and acceptably small isotopic fractionation. When applied to a flood basalt from the Viluy Traps, Siberia, a K–Ar age of 351 ± 19 Ma was obtained, a result within 1% of the independently known age. For practical reasons this measurement was made on two separate mass spectrometers, but a scheme for combining the measurements in a single analytical instrument is described. Because both parent and daughter are determined by isotope dilution, the precision on K–Ar ages obtained by the double isotope dilution method should routinely approach that of a pair of isotope ratio determinations, likely better than ±5%.
Comparative Persistence on β-Blockers Versus Calcium Channel Blockers for Ventricular Rate Control in Nonelderly Patients With Atrial Fibrillation:

Background: For patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), early treatment is essential to prevent serious complications such as stroke. Several randomized clinical trials have shown that rate-control may be as effective as rhythm-control medications, whereas the latter have serious side effects. Little evidence exists, however, about which class of rate-control medication—β-blockers (BBs) or calcium channel blockers (CCBs)—may be superior. Objective: The objective was to compare the long-term persistence on BBs versus CCBs in nonelderly adult patients with AF. Methods: A longitudinal retrospective cohort study for patients 40 to 60 years old with newly diagnosed AF (identified by ICD-9 code 427.31) was performed using data from Ohio Medicaid physician, institutional, and pharmacy claims from January 2006 through June 2011. A Cox proportional hazard regression, with time to change out of rate-control therapy as the dependent variable, was estimated to compare persistence on (proxy for effectiveness of) rate-...
Human exposure to mercury: A critical assessment of the evidence of adverse health effects

The ubiquitous nature of mercury in the environment, its global atmospheric cycling, and its toxicity to humans at levels that are uncomfortably close to exposures experienced by a proportion of the population are some of the current concerns associated with this pollutant. The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the scientific quality of published reports involving human exposures to mercury and associated health outcomes as an aid in the risk evaluation of this chemical. A comprehensive review of the scientific literature involving human exposures to mercury was performed and each publication evaluated using a defined set of criteria that are considered standards in epidemiologic and toxicologic research. Severe, sometimes fatal, effects of mercury exposure at high levels were primarily reported as case studies. The disasters in Minamata, Japan, in the 1950s and in Iraq in 1971-1972 clearly demonstrated neurologic effects associated with ingestion of methylmercury both in adults and in infants exposed in utero. The effects were convincingly associated with methylmercury ingestion, despite limitations of the study design. Several well-conducted studies have investigated the effects of methylmercury at levels below those in the Iraq incident but have not provided clear evidence of an effect. The lower end of the dose-response curve constructed from the Iraq data therefore still needs to be confirmed. The studies of mercury exposure in the workplace were mainly of elemental or inorganic mercury, and effects that were observed at relatively low exposure levels were primarily neurologic and renal. Several studies have investigated effects associated with dental amalgam but have been rated as inconclusive because of methodologic deficiencies. In our overall evaluation, 29 of 110 occupational studies and 20 of 54 studies where exposure occurred in the natural environment provided at least suggestive evidence of an exposure-related effect.
Region and Political Opinion in the Contemporary United States

Regional differences in political views are widely recognized but rarely studied. This article considers two theories of regional differences. The first suggests that differences will be reduced by familiarity and interregional contact. Hence, they will be smaller among the more educated and will decline with time. The second suggests that regional identity competes with ethnic and religious identities. Hence, regional differences will be smaller among groups with strong alternative identities, such as blacks, Catholics, and fundamentalist Protestants. These predictions are tested using political opinions measured in the General Social Survey. Regional differences are unaffected by education but appear to have become smaller over the last few decades. They are substantially smaller among blacks and Catholics, although not among Protestant fundamentalists. Overall, the results support the idea of competition among identities
Role of Adenosine in Postischemic Dysfunction of Coronary Innervation

Abstract We sought to determine the role of adenosine in the sustained but reversible decrease in cardiac neurotransmission that occurs after brief ischemia. Adult mongrel dogs were anesthetized and instrumented for measurements of heart rate, arterial pressure, and left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) flow velocities. Changes in coronary vascular resistance were measured during bilateral stimulation of the stellate ganglia. After β-adrenergic blockade and bilateral vagotomy, stellate stimulation increased coronary vascular resistance in the LAD and LCX beds 28±2% and 30±3%, respectively. After a 15-minute infusion of adenosine into the LAD, the peak increase in LAD resistance was significantly reduced (18±2%) compared with LCX (34±5%) and control (P<.05, n=6) resistance. The LAD response after infusion of the vasodilator papaverine was unchanged (n=6). Intracoronary infusion of adenosine deaminase (n=10) but not vehicle (n=5) into the LAD during a 15-mi...
Inhabitants of Landscape Scars: Succession of Woody Plants After Large, Severe Forest Fires in Arizona and New Mexico

Understanding consequences of changes in climate and fire regimes for succession in plant communities is critical for conservation planning at broad spatial and temporal scales. We selected two sites that burned in high-severity fire decades ago and studied succession in the woody plant community and its variations across two environmental gradients; elevation and distance from a lower- severity/unburned edge. By overlaying an ordination of data for woody species on the modeled environmental gradient most closely related to variation in communities, we analyzed the interaction of life-history traits of species and landscape heterogeneity at each study site. Species that resprout from surviving roots were widespread across the distance gradient 28 years after the La Mesa fire in New Mexico. Species that reproduce from off-site seed, including Pinus ponderosa, were more prevalent where resprouters (e.g., Quercus) were less important in defining communities. At Saddle Mountain, Arizona, 45 years post-fire, we observed neighborhood interactions across the elevation gradient, for example, where shade-tolerant conifers (e.g., Abies concolor) occurred in understories of Populus tremuloides .A t both sites, greater cover of woody plants that reproduce from off-site seed at shorter distances from a lower-severity/unburned edge suggested migration of these species following the model of wave-form succession. In contrast to studies that emphasize undesirable effects when forest transitions to openings and alternative habitats, our research elucidates the need for further consideration of both young forest communities and the persistent species and communities described as landscape scars in conservation plans for forest systems of the southwestern United States.
'Now What the Hell You Gonna Do in Those Days?' A Research Note on Practical Barriers to Indian Land Claims

There are extra-legal barriers that American Indian people faced when confronted with the illegal theft of their lands, or with any dispossession of their lands. Indian tribes and Indian people faced numerous practical barriers to bringing land and treaty claims prior to the modern era, including without limitation: (1) lack of financial resources; (2) lack of knowledge and sophistication about the American legal system; (3) demoralization; (4) lack of a clear and authorized tribal governmental plaintiff; and (5) government interference and control over tribal affairs. For Indian tribes pursuing a remedy for these claims, there is a significant defense raised - why didn't the tribes or the Indians bring these claims before? Since the Supreme Court decided Sherrill v. Oneida Indian Tribe, the equitable defense of laches has been raised by states, local units of government, and property owners against the tribal claims with frightening success rates. The defense is superficially compelling in large part because the practical reasons for failing to bring suit decades sooner might not be considered excusable. In a pending case, Oneida Indian Nation v. County of Oneida, the National Congress of American Indians attempted to flesh out the practical barriers to tribal land claims in an amicus brief. This short Essay attempts to add to that research. But the ultimate purpose of this Essay is to call for serious empirical research on this difficult question - why didn't Indians and tribes file suit to vindicate their rights to land?
Industrial Networking

This article investigates the use of Ethernet/Internet Protocol (IP) communications protocol for data acquisition and the control of electrical networks in an industrial environment. A survey of the existing topologies for interface is shown, together with the configurations that are possible using Ethernet/IP standards. The possibility of integrated control of the electrical system into a utilities control network is discussed. The benefits that can be derived from the use of high-speed communications such as Ethernet/IP to monitor and control electrical systems are discussed.
Feasibility of band gap engineering of pyrite FeS2

We use first-principles computations to investigate whether the band gap of pyrite FeS${}_{2}$ can be increased by alloying in order to make it a more effective photovoltaic material. In addition to the isostructural compounds that have a larger band gap (ZnS${}_{2}$, RuS${}_{2}$, OsS${}_{2}$), we evaluate non-rare-earth isovalent alloying candidates among all metals, transition metals, and semiconductor elements up to group IV and period 6 in the periodic table. From this screening procedure, we find that the group II elements (Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba) and Cd have higher band gaps in the pyrite structure than FeS${}_{2}$. Practical band gap enhancement is observed only in the Ru and Os alloyed systems, but their incorporation into pyrite may be severely limited by the large positive enthalpy of mixing. All other candidate $(\mathrm{Fe},\mathrm{M}){\mathrm{S}}_{2}$ systems exhibit very large gap bowing effects such that the band gap at intermediate compositions is even lower than that of FeS${}_{2}$. Positive correlations between immiscibility and differences in electronegativity and Shannon ionic radius are observed.
Transition between Collective Behaviors of Micromotors in Response to Different Stimuli

We report a Ag3PO4 microparticle system showing collective behaviors in aqueous medium. Transition between two emergent patterns, namely “exclusion” and “schooling”, can be triggered by shift in chemical equilibrium upon the addition or removal of NH3 or in response to UV light. The transitions are consistent with a self-diffusiophoresis mechanism resulting from ion gradients. The reported system is among the few examples of nanomotors that are based on a reversible nonredox reaction and demonstrates new design principles for micro/nanomotors. Potential applications of the reported system in logic gates, microscale pumping, and hierarchical assembly have been demonstrated.
Decreasing Your Student Loan Cohort Default Rate: Leading a College-Wide Change Initiative at Mohave Community College

ABSTRACTBurgeoning student debt and the ability of programs to adequately prepare students for jobs that will allow them to repay that debt comprise a topic of great interest in the current higher education policy environment. A key accountability measure used by the Department of Education for more than two decades has been the student loan cohort default rate (CDR), which measures the percentage of an institution’s student borrowers who default on their federal student loans. Mohave Community College (MCC) had the sixth highest CDR for two-year public institutions for the FY2009 cohort at 36.7%. At risk of losing all federal financial aid eligibility, the institution underwent an impressive transformation in just 3 years, during which time MCC decreased the CDR by 8 percentage points through a combination of challenges and appeals, outreach, financial literacy, and student success efforts. MCC was able to achieve successful transformation through a top-down leadership strategy that included open communi...
Sex and Seasonal Differences in Weight of Liver and Spleen.

Conclusion(1) Weights of liver and spleen obtained at all months of the year on 499 male and 444 females, healthy, adult ring doves demonstrate that a true sex difference exists. Though the male body weight is slightly larger, the male livers and spleens are smaller, 9.476, and 23.5%, respectively. (2) A true seasonal increase in size of liver and spleen occurs in spring and summer in both sexes (10.4% and 12.0% in 8; 6.1% and 4.3% in 9 9). (3) These changes in spleen and liver are positively correlated with size changes in testis and ovary; and negatively correlated with size changes in the thyroids of these animals.
Deep Crater in Heavily Calcified Aortic Valve Leaflet: A “Smoking Gun” for Embolic Stroke

The association of severe calcific aortic stenosis with clinically significant stroke has not been well established. This case vividly describes the relationship with clinical and pathological (gross and microscopic) findings in a 62-year-old man with a severely calcified bicuspid aortic valve. Eleven months prior to aortic valve surgery, the patient had stigmata of cerebral embolic events in the absence of any other embolic source. During the aortic valve replacement surgery for aortic stenosis, he was found to have a large atheroma on the aortic valve cusp with a crater containing friable debris in its center. These findings support the potential for embolic stroke in patients with severe calcific aortic stenosis. We recommend that the aortic valve be considered as an embolic source in patients with an otherwise cryptogenic cerebrovascular accident.
Nimannn pick disease:three cases reports and review of literantures

Objective To improve the understanding of Nimannn pick diesease.Methods Three cases of Niemann-Pick disease were reported and the literatures were revieved.Results All of three patients had splenohepatomegalia,varying degrees of anemia and liver damage.Bone marrow examination revealed Niemann Pick cells and confirmed the diagnose of Niemann Pick disease.Conclusions Niemann-Pick disease is rare disease,the bone marrow examination should be completed as soon as possible.
Clinical feature and treatment of Cytomegalovirus-associated low respiratory tract infection in childhood

Objective To investigate the Clinical feature and treatment of Cytomegalovirus(CMV)-associated low respiratory tract infection(LRI) in childhood. Methods The Clinical data of 38 patients diagnosed as CMV-associated LRI determined by ELISA were analyzed. Results 34 of 38 cases(89.5%) were less than 1 year,breast-feeding and mixed-feeding 29 cases(76.3%). The clinical symptoms chiefly included cough,wheeze,fever,dyspnea,body signs and X-ray changes of lung are obvious,WBC of blood routine increased in 22 cases(57.9%),most differential counts were normal,Hb of 12 cases(31.6%) descend,13 cases(34.2%d) were accompanied by other infections,damages of out-of-lung organ had 21 cases(55.3%),The pathogens of all patients were not certain before hospitalization; All patients were treated by Ganciclovir(GCV),30 cases(78.9%) recovered,6 cases improved,2 cases(5.3%) died. Conclusions CMV-associated LRI usually takes place in infant feeded with breast or mixed feeding,its clinical symptoms,body signs,X-ray and blood routine are not specifical. This disease often accompanys other infections and out-of-lung damages,often occurs erroneous diagnosis and treatment; The treatment of GCV is safe,efficient. Severe cases can result in death.
Robot locomotion on hard and soft ground: Measuring stability and ground properties in-situ

Dynamic behavior of legged robots is strongly affected by ground impedance. Empirical observation of robot hardware is needed because ground impedance and foot-ground interaction is challenging to predict in simulation. This paper presents experimental data of the MIT Super Mini Cheetah robot hopping on hard and soft ground. We show that controllers tuned for each surface perform better for each specific surface type, assessing performance using measurements of 1.) stability of the robot in response to self-disturbances applied by the robot onto itself and 2.) the peak accelerations of the robot that occur during ground impact, which should be minimized to reduce mechanical stress. To aid in controller selection on different ground types, we show that the robot can measure ground stiffness and friction in-situ by measuring its own interaction with the ground. To motivate future work in variable-terrain control and in-situ ground measurement, we show preliminary results of running gaits that transition between hard and soft ground.
Giant Spin-Driven Ferroelectric Polarization in BiFeO 3 at Room Temperature

The spin-driven polarizations of type-I multiferroics are veiled by the preexisting ferroelectric (FE) polarization. Using first-principles calculations combined with a spin model, we uncover two hidden but huge spin-driven polarizations in the room-temperature multiferroic BiFeO(3). One is associated with the global inversion symmetry broken by a FE distortion, and the other is associated with the local inversion symmetry broken by an antiferrodistortive octahedral rotation. Comparison with recent neutron scatterings reveals tha first polarization reaches ∼3.0 μC/cm(2), which is larger than in any other multiferroic material. Our exhaustive study paves a way to uncover the various magnetoelectric couplings that generate hidden spin-driven polarizations in other type-I multiferroics.
In-Transit Telemedicine Speeds Ischemic Stroke Treatment Preliminary Results

Background and Purpose—Time to treatment is critically important in ischemic stroke. We compared the efficacy and cost of teleneurology evaluation during patient transport with that of mobile stroke transport units. Methods—Using cellular-connected telemedicine devices, we assessed 89 presumptive stroke patients in ambulances in transit. Paramedics assisted remote teleneurologists in obtaining a simplified history and examination, then coordinating care with the receiving emergency department. We prospectively assessed door-to-needle and last-known-well-to-needle times for all intravenous alteplase–treated stroke patients brought to our emergency departments by emergency medical services’ transport, comparing those with and without in-transit telestroke. Results—From January 2015 through March 2016, 111 stroke patients received intravenous alteplase at study emergency departments. Mean door to needle was 13 minutes less with in-transit telestroke (28 versus 41; P=0.02). Although limitations in cellular co...
An Analogue of the Kostant–Rallis Multiplicity Theorem for θ-Group Harmonics

The main result in this paper is the generalization of the Kostant–Rallis multiplicity formula to general θ-groups (in the sense of Vinberg). The special cases of the two most interesting examples one for E6 (three qubits) and one for E8 are given explicit formulas.
Driving Pan-Americanism: The Imagination of a Gulf of Mexico Highway

This article examines the intertwined efforts of Mexican and Cuban officials, US policy makers and business interests, as well as tourists and tourism advocates, to link all three countries' highway systems around the Gulf of Mexico and promote automobile excursions in the region from the 1930s through the 1950s. Adopting Ricardo D. Salvatore's concept of "transportation utopia," the article argues that the physical and imaginary construction of this particular infrastructural project came into being through the combined impact of the politics of hemispheric unity, the emergence of tourism as a development strategy, and the growing vogue of automobile touring. The article first situates the circum-gulf highway project within an earlier history of road building, tourism, and motoring in Cuba and Mexico. It then traces the numerous efforts by officials from all three countries to join these road systems through a circum-Gulf automobile link, an idea that soon became the subject of numerous articles publishe...
Basal lamina of avian ovarian follicle: influence on morphology of granulosa cells in-vitro

Abstract Experiments were conducted to determine the influence of basal lamina on the morphology of ovarian granulosa cells in vitro. Pure and intact basal lamina was isolated from the large preovulatory follicles of the chicken ovary and designated basal lamina of avian ovarian follicle (BLAOF). Examination of the isolated basal lamina with electron microscope revealed an ultrastructure that is similar to that of basal lamina in the intact ovarian follicle. Pieces of the intact basal lamina were attached to the bottom of 32 mm culture dishes (BLAOF-coated dishes) in which differentiated granulosa cells isolated from the largest preovulatory follicle or undifferentiated granulosa cells isolated from immature small yellow chicken ovarian follicles were cultured; uncoated dishes served as controls. Granulosa cells incubated on intact basal lamina assumed spherical shape, whereas granulosa cells incubated directly on plastic in control dishes became highly flattened. Interestingly, granulosa cells that attached to plastic close to BLAOF (in BLAOF-containing dishes) became rounded. The storage of BLAOF-coated culture dishes at 4°C for 2 years had no apparent effect on its ability of the matrix material to induce changes in granulosa cell shape. Some components of the basal lamina could be solubilized with guanidine–HCl alone (fraction 1; 90–95% of total protein in BLAOF) with the remaining components solubilized with β-mercaptoethanol containing guanidine–HCl (fraction 2; 5–10% of total protein in BLAOF). Differentiated and undifferentiated chicken granulosa cells became rounded when incubated in fraction 1-pre-coated wells; whereas those incubated directly on plastic in control wells were flattened. Similarly, when fraction 1 of solubilized basal lamina was added as liquid to incubation mixture, it caused both differentiated and undifferentiated granulosa cells to assume spherical shapes. The storage of fraction 1-coated culture dishes at 4°C for 12 or more months had no apparent effect on its ability to influence granulosa cell shape. Fraction 1-induced changes in granulosa cell shape were similar to those observed for complete and intact basal lamina (BLAOF). These findings demonstrate that intact homologous basal lamina (BLAOF) or its solubilized (fluidized) form can induce normal (in vivo) morphology in granulosa cells. It is suggested that BLAOF or its solubilized form can be used to culture cells in experiments designed to examine the influence of the natural basal lamina microenvironment on cellular behavior and function.
Realization of moving object detection and tracking algorithm based on frame difference method and particle filter algorithm

With the multimedia sensor is widely used, moving objects detection and tracking based on video have gradually become a popular research field in multimedia sensor networks. For the multimedia sensor networks, the existing target detection and tracking algorithm cannot meet the system requirements of real-time and accuracy, which existing the problem of slowness and target missing. Therefore, this paper proposes moving target detection and tracking algorithm based on frame difference method and particle filter algorithm. At the same time, a WMSN node experiment platform based on ARM embedded system is constructed. Through the practical experiment, the effective detection and tracking of the moving target are realized on the platform. Compared with the general computer simulation experiment, the experimental results running on the experiment platform is closer to the practical application. Finally, the experimental results show that the algorithm proposed in this paper is superior to Kalman filter in speed and stability.
Controllability, Observability, and Integrated State Estimation and Control of Networked Battery Systems

This paper develops an integrated state estimation and control methodology of networked battery systems that require only terminal voltage and current measurements for reduced cost and complexity. Without direct internal voltage/current measurements and individual control on each battery pack in the system, a networked battery system is inherently uncontrollable and unobservable. By employing bypass power electronics, we show that the networked system can be made controllable and observable by switching control. To coordinate switching control for integrated state of charge (SOC) estimation and control, this paper introduces switching control algorithms that use time division, duty cycle control, and periodic switching. It is shown that under noisy terminal voltage and current measurements, state estimation algorithms are convergent, and the control algorithms can achieve balanced SOC control during operation. The proposed hardware and methodology framework is useful for networked battery systems that can accommodate battery packs of different types, ages, and power/capacity ratings. Case studies using production batteries demonstrate convergence behavior for both state estimation and SOC consensus control under time-varying charging current profiles. The approach will be especially useful for managing battery storage systems to support power grids with renewable energy sources where the battery systems are required to operate continuously.
Simple randomized algorithms for tractable row and tree convex constraints

We identify tractable classes of constraints based on the following simple property of a constraint: "At every infeasible point, there exist two directions such that with respect to any other feasible point, moving along at least one of these two directions decreases a certain distance metric to it". We show that connected row convex (CRC) constraints, arc-consistent consecutive tree convex (ACCTC) constraints, etc fit this characterization, and are therefore amenable to extremely simple polynomial-time randomized algorithms--the complexities of which are shown to be much less than that of the corresponding (known) deterministic algorithms and the (generic) lower bounds for establishing path-consistency. On a related note, we also provide a simple polynomial-time deterministic algorithm for finding tree embeddings of variable domains (if they exist) for establishing tree convexity in path-consistent networks.
One-Year Follow-Up of Girls with Precocious Puberty and Their Mothers: Do Psychological Assessments Change over Time or with Treatment?

Background: To determine whether psychological characteristics of girls with variations of early puberty and their mothers change over time and with treatment in girls with central precocious puberty (CPP). Methods: Girls with CPP, premature adrenarche (PA), and early normal puberty (ENP) completed psychological assessments at baseline and after 1 year along with their mothers. All girls with CPP were treated with GnRH analogs. Psychological effects of group and time were examined using 2 × 3 mixed ANOVAs. Results: Sixty-two subjects aged 7.5 ± 1.4 years (range 4.8–10.5) were enrolled, of whom 36 (15 with CPP, 8 with PA, and 13 with ENP) completed 1-year follow-up assessments. Psychological measures were normal in all girls. No significant group differences were found for any measure of girls’ psychological functioning at either time point. However, across all groups there was change over time with a decrease in perceived physical competence (p < 0.001) and an increase in perceived maternal acceptance (p = 0.001). Conclusion: No abnormalities in psychological functioning were found among girls with variations of early puberty, and all groups were in the normal range. Our results are largely reassuring regarding concerns of adverse psychological consequences of early puberty in girls.
Protocol for Single-Stage Bilateral Temporomandibular Joint Replacement Using Intraoperative Navigation in Patients With Ankylosis

Treatment of patients with bilateral temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis in a single-stage procedure can be challenging. The implementation of intraoperative navigation has proved beneficial by enabling faster and safer excision by providing real-time identification of vital structures. Navigation also can be used to verify site preparation for custom joint prostheses. This article seeks to establish a protocol, based on the use of intermaxillary fixation screws, to produce accurate and repeatable outcomes for the correction of bilateral TMJ ankylosis with total joint replacement in a single-stage procedure.
β-amyloid deposition is associated with gait variability in usual aging.

Abstract Background Higher amyloid burden predicts gait slowing in aging. Whether and which gait characteristics are associated with amyloid burden is less clear. Gait variability may be more sensitive to amyloid burden than mean gait characteristics. Methods In the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging, 99 older participants without neurological disease had concurrent amyloid imaging and assessment of gait characteristics. β-amyloid burden was measured using 11C-Pittsburgh compound B (PiB) positron emission tomography. PiB+/− status was based on a mean cortical distribution volume ratio (DVR) cut point. Gait characteristics were quantified by 3D motion analysis. Cross-sectional associations of PiB+/− status and DVR in motor-related regions (primary motor cortex, putamen, caudate) with gait characteristics were examined using linear regression, adjusted for age, sex, height, body mass index, gait speed and covariates (memory, executive function, visuoperceptual speed, depressive symptoms, cardiovascular risk, ApoE e4, cerebrovascular burden, neurodegeneration, peripheral arterial disease, knee pain). Results Being PiB+ and higher DVR in motor-related regions were associated with greater gait speed variability, cadence variability, and gait cycle time variability but not with mean gait characteristics. Associations remained similar after adjustment for gait speed and covariates, except for memory, which attenuated associations of PiB+/− with cadence variability and gait cycle time variability. Associations were prominent in men but were not found in women. Conclusions In usual aging, integrated temporal gait variability measures, but not mean performance, appear related to amyloid burden from cortical and motor-related cortical and subcortical regions, especially in men. Increased gait variability may be a subclinical indicator of increased amyloid burden in men.
Foundations and Their Institutional Context: Cross-Evaluating Evidence from Germany and the United States

According to the relevant literature, the relationship between government and the private foundation sector in Germany is marked by a “paradigm of conflict” very similar to the one that has often dominated the U.S. discussion of government/nonprofit relationships in the past. More specifically, scholars often hold that the development of foundations in Germany is largely hampered by an administrative and regulatory climate that weakens rather than strengthens the foundation community. Two main arguments are brought forth in this context: First, the expansion of the state bureaucracy into traditional activity fields of foundations “crowds out” the foundation sector; second, the structure of tax regulations is detrimental to a “sound” development of foundations. However, while these arguments figure prominently in the policy debate, they have neither empirically nor analytically been substantiated as of yet. Borrowing from organizational theory, this article critically evaluates the arguments in the light of available evidence in an effort to contribute to a better understanding of foundations in an international context.
Ranching Sustainability in the Northern Great Plains: An Appraisal of Local Perspectives

On the Ground • In eight counties in Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska characterized by high levels of intact Northern Great Plains grassland habitat, ranchers observe the following sustainability challenges: • Land prices and lack of land for purchase • Profitability • Family succession and community change (depopulation) • Notably, they do not anticipate extensive cropland conversion in the western edge of the Northern Great Plains. • We observed differences in the experience of these challenges based on the ranch ownership lifecycle. • In response, we recommend that conservation and government programs focused on sustainable ranching should adopt a framework for strategy and program evaluated based on the lifecycle framework. • Assisting emerging ranchers, according to this research effort, will demand more than coming up with loan funds or extra forage. Rather it will mean rethinking the existing pathway that operators follow on the route from emerging to established ranchers. • In addition, conservation and government programs and future research should address the impacts and patterns of land agglomeration in the Northern Great Plains.
Characterization of the newly-formed internucleotide bond of in vitro spliced mRNAs

Abstract Precursor RNAs were synthesized in vitro from a plasmid in which the early region 2 (E2) of adenovirus 2 is fused to an efficient bacteriophage promoter (Salmonella phage 6). The RNAs were purified and utilized as substrates for in vitro splicing in the presence of nuclear extracts prepared from MOPC-315 mouse myeloma cells. We have shown previously (Goldenberg, C. J., PNAS, August, in press, 1984) that in vitro splicing in those extracts was accurate at the nucleotide level. We now show that: i) the new internucleotide bond at the splice junction generated in vitro is a 3′, 5′-phosphodiester bond; and ii) the phosphate that forms the splice between the exons is derived from the pre-mRNA.
Advances in diagnosing canine hip dysplasia.

The DI method was developed, at least in part, because of perceived variations among radiologists in regard to subjective hip scores assigned to radiographs. It also was recognized that the prevalence of CHD among many dog breeds was disturbingly high, despite efforts to lower the prevalence using subjective score as a selection criterion. The DI method was developed on the basis of results of mechanical testing of cadaver hip joints, which accomplished 3 principal objectives. First, it showed that when the hip joint is in the standard, hip-extended, internally rotated position, passive laxity is minimized. Second, it showed that passive laxity was maximized when the hip joint is in the neutral position. Third, it demonstrated the sigmoidal nature of the load/displacement curve for the hip joint in the neutral position, which suggested that high repeatability from examiner to examiner in regard to DI could be expected without the need to standardize applied force. The mean and range of DI were shown to vary from 1 breed to the next, but within an individual dog, DI appears to remain constant (within limits of scientific acceptability and clinical applicability) from 16 weeks of age. Passive hip laxity measured on the distraction view is, on average, 2.5 to 11 times greater than that measured on the standard, hip-extended radiographic view. Performance Borzois and Greyhounds, which have an extremely low prevalence of CHD, uniformly have tight hip joints (DI 0.3 will develop DJD by 3 years of age, and DI has been shown to be the principal risk factor for development of DJD. Susceptibility to development of DJD appears to be breed-specific. For example, given equivalent DI, German Shepherd Dogs are more at risk for developing DJD than are Rottweilers. Heritability of DI is higher than that of the subjective hip score; thus, selection pressure based on DI should result in faster genetic change than selection pressure based on subjective hip scores. Finally, the DI method has been performed on approximately 14,000 dogs, some of which were evaluated multiple times. It is apparent that this method is no more harmful than the standard, hip-extended radiographic method or palpation performed as part of a routine orthopedic examination.
Invariant solutions of surfactant-driven flows

We consider a localized surfactant monolayer on the free surface of a thin viscous film. Flows generated by a gradient in surfactant concentration are described by a nonlinear system of PDE’s (Jensen’s equations). We study classical Lie symmetries of this system and discuss the classes of its invariant and partially invariant solutions. We derive corresponding reduced systems and find several classes of analytic solutions of Jensen’s equations. We discuss the properties and physical meaning of these solutions.
Sentimental Savants: Philosophical Families in Enlightenment France. By Meghan K. Roberts. (Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2016. Pp. 214. $45.00.)

Recent interest in the conjunction of work and family life in the lives of creative couples—the best‐known example for most of us being Pierre and Marie Curie—is reflected in this sprightly book. T...
Cross-border transactions, mergers and the inconsistency of international reference points

Abstract Reference point theory is a well-established phenomenon in the behavioral economics field (Anchoring Theory). Its broad implications also extend to financial topics. For example, Baker et al. (2012) demonstrate the impact of a range of reference points related to 52-week high stock price on domestic merger and acquisition activity. The anchoring behavioral bias is universal and not limited to the United States. An investigation into the power and impact of reference points in explaining merger and acquisition activity in an international setting is valuable as firms face heterogeneous legal, regulatory, and market conditions. In addition, cross-border mergers change the legal structure of the shares of the target firm. Using the 52-week high share price of the target, this study investigates the impact of increased information asymmetry in estimating synergistic effects.
Entertainment media and the information practices of queer individuals

Abstract While LIS literature addresses queer individuals' information practices in certain contexts, a gap exists in understanding interactions with entertainment media (EM), which can be broadly defined as fictional and creative non-fiction content such as movies and television. Ten semi-structured interviews with queer individuals and content analysis of EM resources using constructivist grounded theory found that participants viewed EM as a salient part of their identity-related information practices. In particular, participants engaged in discovery practices that included seeking, satisficing, and triangulation, and consumption practices that included validation, fact-finding, evaluation, and creation. Participants discussed the complex and contextual positive and negative attributes of queer-representative EM, as well as their experiences attempting to access such content in information institutions. Findings suggest ways in which knowledge workers may improve EM-related information systems and services to better assist queer individuals.
Stress Testing Versus CT Angiography in Patients With Diabetes and Suspected Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract Background The optimal noninvasive test (NIT) for patients with diabetes and stable symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD) is unknown. Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess whether a diagnostic strategy based on coronary computed tomographic angiography (CTA) is superior to functional stress testing in reducing adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes (CV death or myocardial infarction [MI]) among symptomatic patients with diabetes. Methods PROMISE (Prospective Multicenter Imaging Study for Evaluation of Chest Pain) was a randomized trial evaluating an initial strategy of CTA versus functional testing in stable outpatients with symptoms suggestive of CAD. The study compared CV outcomes in patients with diabetes (n = 1,908 [21%]) and without diabetes (n = 7,058 [79%]) based on their randomization to CTA or functional testing. Results Patients with diabetes (vs. without) were similar in age (median 61 years vs. 60 years) and sex (female 54% vs. 52%) but had a greater burden of CV comorbidities. Patients with diabetes who underwent CTA had a lower risk of CV death/MI compared with functional stress testing (CTA: 1.1% [10 of 936] vs. stress testing: 2.6% [25 of 972]; adjusted hazard ratio: 0.38; 95% confidence interval: 0.18 to 0.79; p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in nondiabetic patients (CTA: 1.4% [50 of 3,564] vs. stress testing: 1.3% [45 of 3,494]; adjusted hazard ratio: 1.03; 95% confidence interval: 0.69 to 1.54; p = 0.887; interaction term for diabetes p value = 0.02). Conclusions In diabetic patients presenting with stable chest pain, a CTA strategy resulted in fewer adverse CV outcomes than a functional testing strategy. CTA may be considered as the initial diagnostic strategy in this subgroup. (PROspective Multicenter Imaging Study for Evaluation of Chest Pain [PROMISE]; NCT01174550)
Allergic Rhinitis and Sleep: Approaches to Management

Allergic rhinitis is an IgE-mediated immune reaction of the nasal mucosa to foreign substances (allergens) characterized by sneezing, nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, and nasal itching often accompanied by red, watery, itchy eyes, thus the term rhinoconjunctivitis. For these symptoms to occur, various key pathophysiologic responses must be present and will be described briefly. Initially, the nasal mucosa is exposed to an allergen of which there are many varieties. The allergen is processed by antigen-presenting cells (such as macrophages, dendritic cells, and Langerhans cells), and portions of it are then presented to helper T cells as well as class II MHC molecules [1,2]. Helper T cells then secrete cytokines promoting growth and differentiation of other immune cells involved in the allergic response. The helper T cells are of the TH2 CD4+ variety and are responsible for secretion of cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 [3]. IL-4 and IL-13 are key molecules involved in the upregulation of production of allergen-specific IgE by plasma cells, and IL-5 is important in the recruitment and survival of eosinophils, key cells in the allergic response [3–5]. Allergen-specific IgE attaches to high-affinity receptors on mast calls and basophils as well as low-affinity receptors on other cell types creating a sensitized nasal mucosa [6].
Computational Reverse-Engineering Analysis for Scattering Experiments on Amphiphilic Block Polymer Solutions.

In this paper, we present a computational reverse-engineering analysis for scattering experiments (CREASE) based on genetic algorithms and molecular simulation to analyze the structure within self-...
Printer orientation effects and performance of novel 3-D printable acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) composite filaments for thermal enhancement

Abstract This study presents a fabrication method to create various 3-D printable acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) composite filaments designed for thermal applications and improved heat transfer versus typical plastics. Thermal conductivity data and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images are presented and discussed to discern filler morphology and alignment. The effects of different printer orientations on thermal conductivity are established. Results indicate nanotube and flake fillers align with filament print direction, and structures printed in the vertical print orientation can improve thermal conductivity by as much as 70% over a horizontal print orientation.