cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessment of serum creatine kinase among adolescent patients following jimsonweed (Datura stramonium) and moonflower (Datura inoxia) ingestions: a review of 11 cases.

Introduction. Datura stramonium (DS) (jimsonweed) is well known for its abuse potential for hallucinogenic effects and Datura inoxia (DI) (moonflower) has been abused for similar effects. To our knowledge, only one case report describes rhabdomyolysis in association with DS or DI ingestion. Case identification and details. Patient hospital charts were retrospectively screened from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2007 to identify patients with qualifying ICD-9 codes for toxic plant ingestions. We report on 11 patient cases of DS/DI ingestions in which serum creatine kinase (CK) concentrations were monitored. These admissions occurred at our hospital over a 6-year period. Serum CK concentrations ranged from 72 to 70,230 U/L. Only three patients had serum CK concentrations greater than 1,000 U/L. One patient with a peak concentration of 70,230 U/L and a positive myoglobinuria was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis. Discussion. Based on our review of the literature and these cases, it is possible that serum CK con...
Modeling managerial promotion decisions using Bayesian networks: an exploratory study

Purpose – A review of the academic literature on managerial promotions reveals that there has been a limited number of studies conducted on this subject. This study aims to identify key determinants used by managers in making managerial promotion decisions via Bayesian networks. It also seeks to explore the effects these determinants have on managerial promotion outcomes.Design/methodology/approach – The researchers surveyed MBA students with significant work experience to assess the effect levels for 13 managerial promotion factors derived from a research study by Service and Lockamy. The participants were asked to assign a percentage effect level to these factors. Factor analysis was used to determine the most influential factors, and Bayesian networks were constructed to determine the probability of receiving a promotion based on these factors.Findings – The results indicate that there are five key determinants which have the most influence on managerial promotions. They also indicate that managerial p...
Geochemistry of suspended particles in a mine-affected mountain stream

Abstract The particles in a mine drainage and the creek into which it drains were examined using microbeam and filtration methods. The composition of the particles in the drainage and creek were distinctly different, though both carried a chemical signal from the mine. High concentrations of particles made up of Fe and S were seen in the drainage, especially during low flow. The molar Fe:S ratio of these suspended particles was 3.5:1. The influx of the mine drainage into the creek increased the relative number of aggregates and particles with associated Fe. However, few discrete Fe–S particles were seen in the creek, where solid-phase Fe and S were consistently associated with aluminosilicate minerals. Instream precipitation is predicted and appears to be an important additional source of Fe and Al oxyhydroxides to the particles. Some of the Fe and Al associated with particles in the creek was acid-soluble, but most of the acid-soluble Zn, Mn, Cu, Ca, Mg and Si were transported in the
Chronic occlusive rheumatic coronary vasculitis and myocardial dysfunction.

Abstract An important sequela of rheumatic fever may be varying degrees of severe occlusive coronary vasculitis associated with myocardial dysfunction. Clinically, this pathogenesis may be suspected in patients with predominant mitral stenosis but with disproportionately excessive fatigue, dyspnea and angina. The paradoxic electrocardiographic pattern of left axis deviation, or left ventricular hypertrophy, or both, should arouse caution as to surgical correction. Cardiac catheterization is of significant help in evaluation of the myocardial and valvular components of the disease.
Three findings regarding privacy online

The Internet now enables firms to collect detailed and potentially intrusive data about their customers both easily and cheaply. I discuss three empirical results related to customer privacy-protection that is enacted in response to this change.1) Privacy protection that focuses on obtaining consent appears to lead to less effective advertising. This is based on results from extensive empirical analysis into how effectiveness of online advertising changed in response to the implementation of the E-Privacy Directive in Europe.2) Privacy protection which gives direct control over customers' privacy appears to enhance economic outcomes. This is based on a detailed case study of customer responsiveness to different forms of advertising in the wake of a change in Facebook privacy policies.3) Restricting the length of time that potentially private data is stored appears to have little economic impact. This is based on empirical analysis of aggregate search behavior following a change in the length of time search engines were told they could store search engine query data in Europe.
Coronary arterial size late after the atrial inversion procedure for transposition of the great arteries: Implications for the arterial switch operation

Abstract Background: Coronary flow reserve in the hypertrophied ventricle is reduced. One contributing factor may be the size of the proximal coronary arteries. In patients who undergo atrial inversion procedures for transposition of the great arteries, the left coronary artery supplies the pulmonary ventricle and may be smaller than the right coronary artery. We hypothesized that the dimensions of the coronary arteries may correlate with symptomatic status after atrial inversion and may be an important factor when these patients are considered for the arterial switch operation. Methods: The proximal left and right coronary arteries were measured in 9 patients with transposition and failure of the systemic right ventricle after atrial inversion, 10 asymptomatic patients after atrial inversion, and 10 patients with normal hearts. The diameters of the coronary arteries were indexed to body surface area and compared. Results: The absolute and indexed diameters of the right coronary artery were greater in symptomatic patients than in asymptomatic patients (indexed: 3.1 ± 0.6 vs 2.4 ± 0.4 mm/m 2 , P P P = .003 [asymptomatic], 3.6 ± 0.5 mm, P = .01 [control]). In symptomatic patients, the absolute and indexed diameters of the left coronary artery were smaller than those of the right (indexed: 2.1 ± 0.6 vs 3.1 ± 0.6 mm/m 2 , P 2 , P = .44), and the left coronary artery was larger in normal control patients (2.2 ± 0.4 vs 2.0 ± 0.3 mm/m 2 , P Conclusions: Differences in the sizes of the proximal coronary arteries may be related to symptomatic status in patients with transposition of the great arteries who have undergone an atrial inversion procedure, as well as to the efficacy of ventricular retraining. When pulmonary artery banding and subsequent arterial switch are considered for patients with a Mustard or Senning procedure and a failing systemic right ventricle, the size of the proximal coronary arteries may be an important factor and should be evaluated with preoperative imaging studies. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2000;120:1047-52)
ROENTGEN RAY INTOXICATION : IV. INTESTINAL LESIONS AND ACUTE INTOXICATION PRODUCED BY RADIATION IN A VARIETY OF ANIMALS.

These experiments show that the common laboratory animals are about equally sensitive to the x-ray given over the abdomen. The clinical reaction following a M.L.D. is very similar and the intestinal pathology almost identical. The rat and guinea pig are slightly more sensitive to the x-ray than are the dog, cat, and rabbit. By contrast birds, frogs, and reptiles are very resistant to the x-ray and may tolerate two or three doses of radiation lethal for dogs. We can offer no convincing explanation for this fact which is discussed above. These data strengthen our belief in the scattered and incomplete observations on human cases which indicate that the human intestinal tract is likewise sensitive to radiation. This fact must be given careful consideration in conditions where abdominal or pelvic radiation is being used because such injury done to intestinal epithelium is always serious and in some cases irreparable.
Behavioral and Reproductive Differences in Mice as a Function of Inbreeding

Twenty brother-sister pairs of mice were randomly selected from a genetically heterogeneous population of mice to begin a schedule of inbreeding that lasted for six generations (F = 0 to F = .732). We examined a number of indices of reproductive behavior and found that all declined as a function of inbreeding. Specifically, there was a consistent decline in the number of fertile matings, in the number of offspring that survived to weaning, and in the weight of the pups at the time of weaning (21 days of age). We also examined a number of behaviors with the following results: there was a systematic increase in the number of trials required to learn an active avoidance task and a consistent decrease in the number of trials required to extinguish this habit. We observed a statistically significant difference in the retention of a passive avoidance habit, but these results were quite variable and not consistent across generations of inbreeding. Finally, we observed that inbreeding had little effect on measures of locomotor behavior.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RESPIRABLE DUST GENERATION AND COAL SEAM CHARACTERISTICS

Abstract Experiments were conducted to obtain relationships between the yield of respirable dust from the continuous mining process and coal seam properties. This study was based on an in-mine sampling strategy, and both dust and coal samples were collected during the coal-cutting process from 7 coal seams over 44 shifts of operation. Observed levels of respirable dust concentration were converted to a generated mass of dust per ton mined and normalized to adjust for the impact of cutting time and ventilation quantity. Statistical analyses were used to determine the relationships among the normalized respirable dust (NRD) generated and various coal seam properties obtained from proximate analyses (as-received basis) of run-of-mine (ROM), upper-channel, and lower-channel samples. A consistent improvement in the strength of the correlation between normalized respirable dust and coal seam constituents was observed along the vertical seam profile. The lower-channel sample constituents, being structurally more...
PMU-based multi-input SVC supplementary controller for damping inter-area oscillation

Low frequency inter-area oscillation is a major problem in power system operation. If not damped, these oscillations prolong, grow, and decrease transmission capacity of the tie-lines, causing interruption in energy supply. Several methods for damping of these oscillations are reported in literature. The damping may be provided by appropriate control of different components in power system such as generator excitation systems and various FACTS devices including SVC. The main objective of SVCs is to support reactive power and maintain bus voltages. However, supplementary controllers may be added to SVCs to provide the needed damping for inter-area oscillations. The supplementary controllers reported in literature use only local measurements. This paper proposes a SVC supplementary control scheme that uses both remote and local signals (provided by PMUs). A two-area four-machine test system was used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed controller. Results show that the proposed controller provides better damping than other types of controllers.
Solid State Electrical Conductivity of Radical Polymers as a Function of Pendant Group Oxidation State

We establish the relationship between pendant group chemical identity and the ability of a specific radical polymer, poly(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyloxy methacrylate) (PTMA), to transport charge in the solid state. Radical polymers (i.e., macromolecules with aliphatic carbon backbones and pendant groups containing stable radical moieties) have attracted much attention in organic electronic applications due to straightforward synthetic methods, easily tunable electronic properties, and relatively high-performance with respect to charge transport. Because charge transport can occur only through the pendant group of these completely amorphous radical polymers, controlling the precise chemical nature of these functional groups is of key import. Specifically, we have determined that the deprotection step, which converts the pendant group functionality through a simple oxidation reaction, can lead to four distinct chemical functionalities along the radical polymer, as monitored by a range of complementary sp...
Consistent left-right asymmetry cannot be established by late organizers in Xenopus unless the late organizer is a conjoined twin

How embryos consistently orient asymmetries of the left-right (LR) axis is an intriguing question, as no macroscopic environmental cues reliably distinguish left from right. Especially unclear are the events coordinating LR patterning with the establishment of the dorsoventral (DV) axes and midline determination in early embryos. In frog embryos, consistent physiological and molecular asymmetries manifest by the second cell cleavage; however, models based on extracellular fluid flow at the node predict correct de novo asymmetry orientation during neurulation. We addressed these issues in Xenopus embryos by manipulating the timing and location of dorsal organizer induction: the primary dorsal organizer was ablated by UV irradiation, and a new organizer was induced at various locations, either early, by mechanical rotation, or late, by injection of lithium chloride (at 32 cells) or of the transcription factor XSiamois (which functions after mid-blastula transition). These embryos were then analyzed for the position of three asymmetric organs. Whereas organizers rescued before cleavage properly oriented the LR axis 90% of the time, organizers induced in any position at any time after the 32-cell stage exhibited randomized laterality. Late organizers were unable to correctly orient the LR axis even when placed back in their endogenous location. Strikingly, conjoined twins produced by late induction of ectopic organizers did have normal asymmetry. These data reveal that although correct LR orientation must occur no later than early cleavage stages in singleton embryos, a novel instructive influence from an early organizer can impose normal asymmetry upon late organizers in the same cell field.
Investigating the effects of bulk supercooling and rapid solidification on Co–Ni–Ga ferromagnetic shape memory alloys

In this study, Electromagnetic Levitation (EML) technique was utilized to explore the effect of bulk supercooling and rapid solidification in alloys with Co46Ni27Ga27 and Co48Ni22Ga30 (at.%) compositions. The effects of γ + β on the martensitic and austenitic transformation temperatures and magnetic properties were investigated. The presence of γ phase was found to suppress the martensitic and austenitic transformations to below room temperature. Bulk supercooling and rapid solidification led to the formation of homogeneous martensitic phase from the hyperperitectic Co46Ni27Ga27 alloy. In contrast with pure martensite phase in Co48Ni22Ga30, the hyperperitectic martensite in supercooled Co46Ni27Ga27 sample showed no grain boundaries microsegregation and embrittlement that caused deep cracks along grain boundaries. The sample had a high Curie temperature about 400 K and good directional magnetic properties.
Effects of complementary phase-shift imaging on gate CD control

Gate patterning has always been held to tight specifications for CD variation compared to other layers. Specifically, the gate layer is more concerned with the total CD variations including Across Chip Linewidth Variation (ACLV), Across Wafer Linewidth Variation (AWLV), CD variation through pitch (Proximity bias), than other layers. Therefore, complementary phase shift (c:PSM) imaging has been introduced at the gate layer under the assumption that it will reduce the total CD variation compared to binary imaging. However, c:PSM data conversion of random logic can introduce additional biases that also impact CD control. These new biases include CD variation as a function of shadow size, reticle-to-reticle overlay error, shifter width, and shifter height (a function of the transistor width and the shifter extension). This paper will show the improvements in ACLV and AWLV using c:PSM. This paper will also look at the increase in the proximity bias for c:PSM compared to binary imaging and show results for implementing a 1-D OPC correction on the phase shift reticle. In addition, this paper will also look at the magnitude of the various additional c:PSM biases mentioned. This paper will discuss the interaction of the different phase shift conversion input parameters for complex random logic and the limitations they impose on how tight we can make the final CD distribution. Finally, since c:PSM allows for selective sizing of CDs over active and over field, a brief discussion will also be given for the CD control of the complementary binary reticle.
Importance of atmospherically deposited nitrogen to the annual nitrogen budget of the Neuse River estuary, North Carolina.

Abstract Wet deposition of nitrogen, as NH 4 + , NO 3 − , and organic N, contributes up to 50% of the total externally supplied or ‘new’ N flux to the Neuse River Estuary (North Carolina). Excessive nitrogen (N) loading to N-sensitive waters such as the Neuse River Estuary has been linked to changes in microbial and algal community composition and function (harmful algal blooms), hypoxia/anoxia, and fish kills. In a 4-year study from July 1996 to July 2000, the weekly wet deposition of NH 4 + , NO 3 − , and dissolved organic N was calculated, based on concentration and precipitation measurements, at 11 sites on a northwest–southeast transect in the watershed. Data from this period indicate that the annual mean total wet atmospherically deposited (AD)-N flux was 11 kg ha −1 year −1 . Deposition was fairly evenly distributed between nitrate, ammonium, and organics (32%, 32%, and 36%, respectively). Seasonally, the summer (June–August) months contained the highest weekly wet total N deposition; this trend was not driven by precipitation amount. Estimates of watershed N retention and in-stream riverine processing revealed that the AD-N flux contributed an estimated 20% (range of 15–51%) of the total ‘new’ N flux to the estuary, with direct deposition of N to the estuary surface accounting for 6% of the total ‘new’ N flux. This study did not measure the dry depositional flux, which may double the contribution of AD-N to the estuary. The AD-N is an important source of ‘new’ N to the Neuse River Estuary as well as other estuarine and coastal ecosystems downwind of major emission sources. As such, AD-N should be included in effective nutrient mitigation and management efforts for these N-sensitive waters.
Global tests of P-values for multifactor dimensionality reduction models in selection of optimal number of target genes

Multifactor Dimensionality Reduction (MDR) is a popular and successful data mining method developed to characterize and detect nonlinear complex gene-gene interactions (epistasis) that are associated with disease susceptibility. Because MDR uses a combinatorial search strategy to detect interaction, several filtration techniques have been developed to remove genes (SNPs) that have no interactive effects prior to analysis. However, the cutoff values implemented for these filtration methods are arbitrary, therefore different choices of cutoff values will lead to different selections of genes (SNPs). We suggest incorporating a global test of p-values to filtration procedures to identify the optimal number of genes/SNPs for further MDR analysis and demonstrate this approach using a ReliefF filter technique. We compare the performance of different global testing procedures in this context, including the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, the inverse chi-square test, the inverse normal test, the logit test, the Wilcoxon test and Tippett’s test. Additionally we demonstrate the approach on a real data application with a candidate gene study of drug response in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis. Extensive simulation of correlated p-values show that the inverse chi-square test is the most appropriate approach to be incorporated with the screening approach to determine the optimal number of SNPs for the final MDR analysis. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test has high inflation of Type I errors when p-values are highly correlated or when p-values peak near the center of histogram. Tippett’s test has very low power when the effect size of GxG interactions is small. The proposed global tests can serve as a screening approach prior to individual tests to prevent false discovery. Strong power in small sample sizes and well controlled Type I error in absence of GxG interactions make global tests highly recommended in epistasis studies.
Expressive and Efficient Peer-to-Peer Queries

It is demonstrated how to provide a peer-to-peer system that supports an expressive query language while maintaining efficient distribution over a wide-area network. The key is to base message routing on the contents of the query messages and to use advertisements from resource providers to make that routing efficient. Advertisements are special queries that describe the data sets available at each site. Queries are encoded as messages that are efficiently distributed to sites providing advertisements Distribution is determined by using a limited form of symbolic execution to intersect queries and advertisements. Performance measurements indicate that cost of symbolic intersection is low.
Autoimmune Disease Risk Variant of IFIH1 Is Associated with Increased Sensitivity to IFN-α and Serologic Autoimmunity in Lupus Patients

Increased IFN-α signaling is a heritable risk factor for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). IFN induced with helicase C domain 1 (IFIH1) is a cytoplasmic dsRNA sensor that activates IFN-α pathway signaling. We studied the impact of the autoimmune-disease–associated IFIH1 rs1990760 (A946T) single nucleotide polymorphism upon IFN-α signaling in SLE patients in vivo. We studied 563 SLE patients (278 African-American, 179 European-American, and 106 Hispanic-American). Logistic regression models were used to detect genetic associations with autoantibody traits, and multiple linear regression was used to analyze IFN-α–induced gene expression in PBMCs in the context of serum IFN-α in the same blood sample. We found that the rs1990760 T allele was associated with anti-dsDNA Abs across all of the studied ancestral backgrounds (meta-analysis odds ratio = 1.34, p = 0.026). This allele also was associated with lower serum IFN-α levels in subjects who had anti-dsDNA Abs ( p = 0.0026). When we studied simultaneous serum and PBMC samples from SLE patients, we found that the IFIH1 rs1990760 T allele was associated with increased IFN-induced gene expression in PBMCs in response to a given amount of serum IFN-α in anti-dsDNA–positive patients. This effect was independent of the STAT4 genotype, which modulates sensitivity to IFN-α in a similar way. Thus, the IFIH1 rs1990760 T allele was associated with dsDNA Abs, and in patients with anti-dsDNA Abs this risk allele increased sensitivity to IFN-α signaling. These studies suggest a role for the IFIH1 risk allele in SLE in vivo.
EFFICIENT COMPUTATION OF KINSHIP AND IDENTITY COEFFICIENTS ON LARGE PEDIGREES

With the rapidly expanding field of medical genetics and genetic counseling, genealogy information is becoming increasingly abundant. An important computation on pedigree data is the calculation of identity coefficients, which provide a complete description of the degree of relatedness of a pair of individuals. The areas of application of identity coefficients are numerous and diverse, from genetic counseling to disease tracking, and thus, the computation of identity coefficients merits special attention. However, the computation of identity coefficients is not done directly, but rather as the final step after computing a set of generalized kinship coefficients. In this paper, we first propose a novel Path-Counting Formula for calculating generalized kinship coefficients, which is motivated by Wright's path-counting method for computing inbreeding coefficient. We then present an efficient and scalable scheme for calculating generalized kinship coefficients on large pedigrees using NodeCodes, a special encoding scheme for expediting the evaluation of queries on pedigree graph structures. Furthermore, we propose an improved scheme using Family NodeCodes for the computation of generalized kinship coefficients, which is motivated by the significant improvement of using Family NodeCodes for inbreeding coefficient over the use of NodeCodes. We also perform experiments for evaluating the efficiency of our method, and compare it with the performance of the traditional recursive algorithm for three individuals. Experimental results demonstrate that the resulting scheme is more scalable and efficient than the traditional recursive methods for computing generalized kinship coefficients.
POORLY CONTROLLED BLOOD PRESSURE IS INDEPENDENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH A 50% HIGHER RISK OF STROKE OR SYSTEMIC EMBOLISM IN PATIENTS WITH ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: RESULTS FROM THE ARISTOTLE TRIAL

Hypertension (HTN) is an important risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), stroke in AF, and bleeding. We aimed to assess the effect of blood pressure (BP) control as well as the treatment effect of apixaban and warfarin according to BP on outcomes. The study population included 18,201 patients
They're All My Children: Foster Mothering in America

They're All My Children: Foster Mothering in America. Danielle F. Wozniak. New York: NYU Press, 2002. + 245 pp.
Robert Kilwardby on the Relation of Virtue to Happiness

The growing sophistication of philosophical speculation together with the increasingly contentious claims of the thirteenth-century masters of Arts and Theology is reflected in the literary career of Robert Kilwardby. As a young Parisian Arts master, Kilwardby devoted much of his energy to explaining the works of Aristotle, recently introduced into the University’s curriculum. Although particularly interested in the logical treatises, Kilwardby most likely commented upon the so-called ‘Ethica vetus et nova’, which were part of the Arts curriculum in the first half of the thirteenth century. Kilwardby’s commentary, while quickly superseded by the more complicated questions on the entire Ethics, represents an extremely important transitional phase in the understanding of Aristotle’s moral philosophy. Kilwardby’s careful reading of Aristotle’s text allowed him to reject the usual religious interpretation of his contemporaries. His awareness of the limitations of moral science marks a decisive step away from the earlier reading of the Nicomachean Ethics ( EN ), which viewed Aristotle’s doctrine of the human good to be identical with the religious ideal of union with God. As a result, Kilwardby’s commentary on the EN demonstrated how Aristotle’s ethics could no longer be understood as a slight variant of Christian moral theology.
The Referendum Conundrum: Referenda or Referendums ?

Scholars often use referenda as the plural for referendum . This choice is a hypercorrection—it may sound like proper Latin, but it is not. Referendums is always the correct choice. However, we maintain that there is value in using referendums for multiple events and referenda for multiple propositions.
Generation and control of sound bullets with a nonlinear acoustic lens

Acoustic lenses are employed in a variety of applications, from biomedical imaging and surgery to defense systems and damage detection in materials. Focused acoustic signals, for example, enable ultrasonic transducers to image the interior of the human body. Currently however the performance of acoustic devices is limited by their linear operational envelope, which implies relatively inaccurate focusing and low focal power. Here we show a dramatic focusing effect and the generation of compact acoustic pulses (sound bullets) in solid and fluid media, with energies orders of magnitude greater than previously achievable. This focusing is made possible by a tunable, nonlinear acoustic lens, which consists of ordered arrays of granular chains. The amplitude, size, and location of the sound bullets can be controlled by varying the static precompression of the chains. Theory and numerical simulations demonstrate the focusing effect, and photoelasticity experiments corroborate it. Our nonlinear lens permits a qualitatively new way of generating high-energy acoustic pulses, which may improve imaging capabilities through increased accuracy and signal-to-noise ratios and may lead to more effective nonintrusive scalpels, for example, for cancer treatment.
Changes in vertebral strength-density and energy absorption-density relationships following bisphosphonate treatment in beagle dogs

Summary We aimed to determine the effects of bisphospho- nates on mechanical properties independent of changes in bone density. Our results show that at equivalent bone densities, vertebrae from beagles treated with bisphosphonate have equivalent bone strength and reduced bone energy absorption compared to those from untreated animals. Introduction Assessing the relationship between mechanical properties and bone density allows a biomechanical evalu- ation of bone quality, with differences at a given density indicative of altered quality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the strength-density and energy absorption-density relationships in vertebral bone following a one-year treat- ment with clinical doses of two different bisphosphonates in beagle dogs. Methods Areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and compres- sive mechanical properties (ultimate load and energy absorp- tion) were assessed on lumbar vertebrae from skeletally mature beagle dogs treated with vehicle (VEH), alendronate (ALN), or risedronate (RIS). Relationships among properties were assessed using analyses of covariance. Results Neither treatment altered the strength-density rela- tionship compared to VEH, suggesting increases in vertebral strength with bisphosphonate-treatment are explained by increased density. The energy absorption-density relationship was altered by ALN, resulting in significantly lower energy absorption capacity at a given aBMD compared to both VEH (−22%) and RIS (−14%). Conclusions These data document that after adjusting for increased aBMD, vertebrae from animals treated with bisphosphonates have similar strength as those from untreated animals. Conversely, when adjusted for increased aBMD, alendronate treatment, but not risedronate treatment, signifi- cantly reduces the energy required for vertebral fracture, indicative of an alteration in bone quality.
Comparison of supine and prone scanning separately and in combination at CT colonography

PURPOSE: To compare colonic distention, adequacy of colonic preparation, and colorectal polyp detection as assessed with supine and prone scanning separately and in combination at computed tomographic (CT) colonography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT colonography and colonoscopy were performed in 182 patients. Distention and preparation of eight colonic segments were rated separately on a scale of 1–4 (1, segment completely distended or no residual material; 4, segment collapsed or large amounts of residual material). The distention, preparation, and polyp detection data were compared with regard to each position alone and then in combination. CT findings were correlated with colonoscopic findings. RESULTS: The percentage of colonic segments with grade 1 distention and preparation was 93.7% (1,364 of 1,456) and 66.6% (969 of 1,456), respectively, with combined scanning; 86.4% (1,258 of 1,456) and 52.1% (759 of 1,456), respectively, with supine scanning alone; and 85.6% (1,246 of 1,456) and 57.1% (831 of 1,456)...
Teaching a Behavioral Economics Elective: Highlighting the Science of Economics†

Abstract In this paper, I provide an overview of how one might teach an advanced undergraduate elective on Behavioral Economics. While I focus on the structure and themes from my own course, I also attempt to highlight ways in which instructors might choose an alternative structure. Throughout, I emphasize how a Behavioral Economics elective is a great vehicle in which to highlight to undergraduates the science of Economics.
Analysis of a Polynomial System Arising in the Design of an Optical Lattice Filter Useful in Channelization

In this work, we consider design questions for an active optical lattice filter, which is being manufactured at the University of Texas at Dallas, and which has proven to be useful in the signal processing task of RF channelization. The filter can be described by a linear, discrete time state space model. The controlling agents, the gains, are embedded in the matrices intervening in this state space model. Consequently, techniques from linear feedback control theory do not apply. We concentrate on the question of finding real valued gains so that the A matrix of the state space model has a prescribed characteristic polynomial. We find that three of the coefficients can be arbitrarily picked, but that the remaining are constrained by these and the other system parameters. Our techniques use methods from constructive algebraic geometry.
Changes in milk proteins treated with hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract The effect of hydrogen peroxide on skimmilk and the individual proteins therefrom was studied, using electrophoretic mobility on polyacrylamide gel (PAG) with and without urea and 2-mercaptoethanol (ME). Also measured were whey protein and non-protein nitrogen as a function of concentration and time of exposure to H 2 O 2 . A heat-induced κ -casein and β -lactoglobulin complex was examined on PAG with and without urea-ME. Following hydrogen peroxide treatment of individual proteins, the migration rates on PAG electrophoresis were reduced for α s -casein and β -lactoglobulin, were increased for β -casein and bovine serum albumin, and did not change for κ -casein or α -lactalbumin. In skimmilk, β -casein migration was slowed. When the samples and the gel both contained urea-ME, α s - and β -casein migration rates were reduced, those of β -lactoglobulin and BSA were increased, and those of κ -casein and α -lactalbumin were unchanged. Whey protein nitrogen decreased and nonprotein nitrogen increased as a function of H 2 O 2 concentration and time. Hydrogen peroxide did not induce complex formation between β -lactoglobulin and κ -casein. The heat-induced complex of these two proteins was ruptured by use of urea-ME.
Pets.com, Inc.: Assessing Financial Performance and Risks in the e‐Commerce Industry

Pets.com, Inc. (Pets) was formed as an Internet retailer of pet supplies in 1999. After experiencing rapid sales growth and hemorrhaging cash in it s first year, an initial public offering (IPO) was scheduled for February 2000. In this instructional case, you will evaluate the ability of this real‐world company to continue as a going concern by analyzing the financial information and business risk disclosures included in Pets' Prospectus. The case is ideal for an auditing class as it provides a background to examine how going concern and fraud risks impact the audit reporting decision. A focus on corporate governance issues, financial statement analysis techniques, bankruptcy prediction models, and e‐commerce company business models would also make this case useful for financial accounting courses (e.g., accounting theory and/or financial statement analysis).
Eggs as Energy: Revisiting the Scaling of Egg Size and Energetic Content Among Echinoderms

Marine organisms exhibit substantial life-history diversity, of which egg size is one fundamental parameter. The size of an egg is generally assumed to reflect the amount of energy it contains and the amount of per-offspring maternal investment. Egg size and energy are thought to scale isometrically. We investigated this relationship by updating published datasets for echinoderms, increasing the number of species over those in previous studies by 62%. When we plotted egg energy versus egg size in the updated dataset we found that planktotrophs have a scaling factor significantly lower than 1, demonstrating an overall trend toward lower energy density in larger planktotrophic eggs. By looking within three genera, Echinometra, Strongylocentrotus, and Arbacia, we also found that the scaling exponent differed among taxa, and that in Echinometra, energy density was significantly lower in species with larger eggs. Theoretical models generally assume a strong tradeoff between egg size and fecundity that limits energetic investment and constrains life-history evolution. These data suggest that the evolution of egg size and egg energy content can be decoupled, possibly facilitating response to selective factors such as sperm limitation which could act on volume alone.
Avoiding the imminent plague of troponinitis: the need for reference limits for high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T.

The limitations of the presently used troponin assays when obtained early after presentation in patients with chest pain are well documented. Their sensitivity and specificity for acute myocardial infarction (MI) are 77% and 93% for troponin I and 80% and 91% for troponin T [(1)][1], respectively. A
Ultralight-Trapping Filters With Volume Reflection Holograms

Light trapping is a useful approach for increasing the absorption of thin film photovoltaic (PV) cells. Simple light trapping can be achieved by incorporating a scattering layer on the top and bottom surface of cells and can increase absorption by a factor of 4n2. Recently, ultralight trapping using Rugate and 1-D photonic bandgap filters have been proposed to increase light trapping by a factor of 4n2 /sin2θ, where θ is half of the acceptance angle. In this paper, we present the design of a holographic ultralight trapping filter. The holographic filter can be implemented in large areas at a low cost, which makes it scalable for PV applications. A design is presented that increases the optical path length for near bandgap wavelengths in a thin-film silicon PV cell. The optical path length enhancement is converted to electrical output using the PC-1D simulation software. The short-circuit current for a 10-µm-thick silicon PV cell increases by nearly 14.7% relative to a cell without light trapping.
Electron Collision Cross Sections Involving Excited States

Knowledge of the integral cross sections for the electron-impact excitation of atoms initially in a metastable state is of fundamental importance not only in determining the number densities of atoms in various excited states, but also in understanding the overall collision dynamics of energy transfer and excited-state diagnostics in partially ionized gases. Recently, the study of transitions between metastable states of He has been revitalized by experimental measurements at Kaiserslautern (Muller-Fiedler et al. 1984) of the differential cross sections, and at Madison (Rall et al. 1989) of the integral cross sections for the 23S → 33L electronic excitations in helium. This signals a new era in experiments involving metastable states in that much more detailed information can now be obtained by modern measurements than was possible in the pioneering work of Phelps (1955). This has also marked a resurgence in theoretical activity in this area as well with recent distorted wave calculations (Mathur et al., 1987) and optical potential calculations (Vucic et al. 1987). In this note we will briefly summarize the original multichannel eikonal theory of Flannery and McCann (1974a, b, c, 1975a,b), together with the correction needed to account for the influence that distant trajectories have on the scattering amplitude for states dipole-coupled via an optically-allowed transition to the initial state (Mansky and Flannery 1989a).
Identification of the Mathematical Model of a Servo Valve by means of a Square Wave Signal

Paper describes the experimental results of identification of a two-stage servo valve with moving coil force motor by means of a square wave signal and the method of mathematical treatment. The transfer function of the valve identified is obtained as $$ G(s) = \frac{{0.04767}}{{\frac{{{S^2}}}{{{{59.4}^2}}} + \frac{{2x0.47}}{{59.4}}s + 1}}$$ The step response of this transfer function was computed by digital simulation and was compared with the experimental results of the valve. Two lines withing 5% of one another.
Characterization of Biomechanical Properties of Primary Endothelial Cells Exposed to Shear Stress

Mechanotransduction, the process where cells convert biophysical signals into chemical signals, directs the behavior and function of endothelial cells (ECs) because of their unique position on the luminal surface of blood vessels. ECs are in direct contact with blood and can sense changes in shear stress caused by alterations in flow rate. To investigate the biophysical implications of this response we recapitulated physiological levels of shear stress in vitro using two systems, imaged and measured the consequent cytoskeletal changes with immunofluorescence, and quantified cortical stiffness distributions. We developed a sampling method for Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) stiffness measurements by which force-indentation data is collected in a uniform grid (force map) over multiple cells within a monolayer. In this way, the sampling bias resulting from the selection of force-indentation measurements was reduced. Hertzian contact modeling for AFM was used to specifically isolate the cortical stiffness of the cell using a pyramidal indenter and small indentation depths (100 nm). Nonparametric statistics were used to compare the distributions of moduli from a given experiment, as the data distribution was not Gaussian. Actin filament alignment was quantified using Hough Transforms on immunofluorescence images and increased when cells were exposed to shear stress. The medians of stiffness distributions within sheared EC monolayers increased in magnitude when compared to static monolayers, yielding a method-dependent increase in cortical stiffness of up to 60%. This demonstrates that physiological levels of shear stress dramatically affect ECs morphology in a way that cannot be simulated under static conditions. We concluded that the biophysical milieu of a cell's physiological microenvironment must be recapitulated in order to represent characteristic cellular mechanical properties in vitro.
Ultrathin Free-Standing Polymer Films Deposited onto Patterned Ionic Liquids and Silicone Oil

We studied the vapor deposition of polymers onto the surfaces of silicone oil and imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs). We found that the deposition of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) resulted in polymer particles on silicone oil whereas continuous polymer skins formed on 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF6]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF4]), and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([emim][BF4]). The silicone oil and ILs were patterned onto a common substrate by exploiting their different wetting properties. Ultrathin free-standing PHEMA and PNIPAAm films of different shapes were produced by confining the shape of the IL within a wax barrier, surrounding it with silicone oil, and then depositing the polymer. The silicone oil prevented the polymer film from connecting to the underlying substrate and maintained the shape of the polymer film during deposition. Our process allows for multidimensi...
Rapid Time Scanning Using a Spatial Light Modulator for Terahertz Imaging

We describe and characterize a novel high-speed, all optical variable delay line design that uses a spatial light modulator to time delay gate pulses used for electro-optic sampling in pulsed terahertz hyperspectral imaging.
Overcoming Common Misunderstandings About Students With Disabilities Who Are English Language Learners

Special education programs are increasingly serving students with disabilities who are English language learners and their families. Facilitating bilingualism is an effective practice and aligns with culturally responsive special education service provision. It is critical for special educators and service providers to learn about bilingualism, second language learning, and students with disabilities to responsibly participate in individualized education program team decision making. This column presents five misunderstandings about students who are English language learners with disabilities. Based on the research literature, responses to each misunderstanding are presented and include implications and recommendations for special educators.
Simulation model research on HVDC power transmition control system

HVDC control systemsimulation model plays a pivotal role for building the electrical operators training simulation system and for keeping the HVDC system running safely and stably.The paper is based on the analysis of the working principle of HVDC power transmition control system,using PSCAD/EMTDC software builds the HVDC power transmition control system simulation model and tests the faults simulation of the model,the results are the same as those of the real operating system.The simulation results shows that the HVDC control system model built in the paper can meet all the requirements of the simulation training for HVDC power transmition control system and use in theoretical research and simulation analysis for HVDC power transmition control system.
The effect of guancydine on blood pressure, vascular reactivity, and norepinephrine uptake in essential hypertension

Guancydine was administered to 10 patients for a period of 3 weeks to 6 months. The drug produced a decrease in both supine and standing blood pressures as well as in digital vascular reactivity but caused no change in tritiated norepinephrine uptake. Its action appears to be direct inhibition of vascular smooth muscle. Side effects were minimal and transitory.
High-Throughput Optical Sensing Immunoassays on Smartphone.

We present an optical sensing platform on a smartphone for high-throughput screening immunoassays. For the first time, a designed microprism array is utilized to achieve a one-time screening of 64 samples. To demonstrate the capability and the reliability of this optical sensing platform on smartphone, human interleukin 6 (IL-6) protein and six types of plant viruses are immunoassayed. The ability of quantification is shown by a sigmoidal dose–response curve fitting to analyze IL-6 protein. The accuracy in measuring the concentrations of IL-6 protein achieves 99.1%. On the other hand, to validate on-field immunoassays by our device, a total of 1030 samples are assayed using three immunoassay methods to detect six types of plant viruses. The accuracy is up to 96.2–99.9%; in addition, there is a high degree of agreement with lab instruments. The total cost for this high-throughput optical screening platform is ∼$50 USD. The reading time is only 2 s for 64 samples. The size is just as big as a portable hard ...
Padé approximant,J-fraction andK-matrix in potential scattering

The theory ofJ-fractions is applied to obtain the continued fraction representation of Pade approximants forK-matrix in potential scattering. It is shown that when a potential can be approximated by a sum of separable potentials of the same sign on the energy shell, theJ-fraction is positive definite. The necessary and sufficient condition for the convergence of a positive definiteJ-fraction to a meromorphic fraction is the vanishing of its coefficients as the rank increases. Convergence of the sequence of approximants for the scattering length of square-well potential is rigorously established in terms of the convergence properties of the positive definiteJ-fraction.