cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the convergence of the iteration sequence in primal-dual interior-point methods

Recently, numerous research efforts, most of them concerned with superlinear convergence of the duality gap sequence to zero in the Kojima—Mizuno—Yoshise primal-dual interior-point method for linear programming, have as a primary assumption the convergence of the iteration sequence. Yet, except for the case of nondegeneracy (uniqueness of solution), the convergence of the iteration sequence has been an important open question now for some time. In this work we demonstrate that for general problems, under slightly stronger assumptions than those needed for superlinear convergence of the duality gap sequence (except of course the assumption that the iteration sequence converges), the iteration sequence converges. Hence, we have not only established convergence of the iteration sequence for an important class of problems, but have demonstrated that the assumption that the iteration sequence converges is redundant in many of the above mentioned works.
Regulation of the leptin content of obese human adipose tissue

The objective of this study was to determine whether obese human adipose tissue contains preformed stores of leptin and their relationship to secreted leptin. Detergent increased detectable leptin ...
Using version spaces to support incremental searches in a software library

Information spaces of software component descriptions in software libraries tend to be unstructured and ill-defined. Powerful browsing facilities are important for the successful use of software libraries to support software reuse. Browsing is an activity which iterates two processes: search result investigation and search tactic execution. Query refinement has been identified as a common search tactic used by humans. This paper describes an experimental software library system AIRS which exploits the use of some AI techniques to support incremental searching, a type of query refinement. Specifically, AIRS uses the concept of subsumption to organize software descriptions into a generalization hierarchy, and uses version spaces, a technique originated from machine learning, to support incremental searching through the generalization hierarchy. >
Privacy-aware identity management for client-side mashup applications

This paper concerns the problem of identity management in modern Web-2.0-based mashup applications. Identity management supports convenient access to information when mashups are used in sensitive environments, such an banking, investment and online shopping, by providing services such as single sign-on.We present Web2ID, a new identity management protocol tailored for mashup applications. Web2ID leverages a secure mashup framework and enables transfer of credentials between a service provider and a consumer. We also describe a new relay framework in which communication between two service providers is mediated by a relay agent within the mashup. We show that Web2ID is privacy-preserving and prevents service providers from learning a user's surfing habits.We present an implementation of Web2ID and the relay framework using a JavaScript-based library that executes within the browser. Our implementation does not require client-side changes and is therefore fully compatible even with legacy browsers. We also highlight the key challenges faced in creating a portable, in-browser library to support identity management in mashups.
Four new unicellular chlorophycean algae from mixohaline habitats

Abstract Four new species of unicellular green algae are described from cultures isolated from mixohaline (brackish marine) habitats. These are as follows Order Chlorosarcinales Family Chlorosarcinaceae: Chlorosarcinopsis halophila sp. nov. Order Chlorococcales Family Chlorococcaceae: Halochlorococcum saccatum sp. nov. Family Oocystaceae: Oocystis minuta sp. nov. Chlorella capsulata sp. nov. These clones are well adapted by their salinity tolerances to life in estuarine waters. Inasmuch as strains resembing these clones have never been isolated from fresh waters or soils, and strains resembling them are common in enriched samples from estuarine waters, it is suggested that the new species and perhaps certain others constitute a characteristic estuarine chlorophycean flora as yet little studied.
The Coevolution of Perceptions of Procedural Fairness and Link Formation in Self-Organizing Policy Networks

A key variable to foster cooperation in groups is the perception among members that the process of making decisions is fair to everyone involved, yet little is known about how these perceptions coevolve with the interactions that take place within the groups. In this article, I use a stochastic actor-oriented model to examine the coevolution of perceptions of procedural fairness and the establishment of relationships among organizations in self-organizing policy networks in five U.S. estuaries. These networks form and evolve as their members seek to address important environmental problems that affect multiple jurisdictions. Findings show that participation in networks does not affect perceptions of procedural fairness; instead, the latter affect the former, i.e., stakeholders create ties with other actors with similar perceptions of how fair decision-making processes are. These results have important implications for our understanding of how governance institutions should be designed to find collaborativ...
RNA-Mediated Reciprocal Regulation between Two Bacterial Operons Is RNase III Dependent

ABSTRACT In bacteria, RNAs regulate gene expression and function via several mechanisms. An RNA may pair with complementary sequences in a target RNA to impact transcription, translation, or degradation of the target. Control of conjugation of pCF10, a pheromone response plasmid of Enterococcus faecalis, is a well-characterized system that serves as a model for the regulation of gene expression in bacteria by intercellular signaling. The prgQ operon, whose products mediate conjugation, is negatively regulated by two products of the prgX operon, Anti-Q, a small RNA, and PrgX, the transcriptional repressor of the prgQ promoter. Here we show that Qs, an RNA from the 5′ end of the prgQ operon, represses expression of PrgX by targeting prgX mRNA for cleavage by RNase III. Our results demonstrate that the prgQ and prgX operons each use RNAs to negatively regulate gene expression from the opposing operon by different mechanisms. Such reciprocal regulation between two operons using RNAs has not been previously demonstrated. Furthermore, these results show that Qs is an unusually versatile RNA, serving three separate functions in the regulation of conjugation. Understanding the potential versatility of RNAs and their various roles in gene regulatory networks will allow us to better understand how cells regulate complex behavior. IMPORTANCE Bacteria use RNA to regulate gene expression by a variety of mechanisms. The prgQ and prgX operons of pCF10, a conjugative plasmid of Enterococcus faecalis, have been shown to negatively regulate one another by a variety of mechanisms. One of these mechanisms involves Anti-Q, a small RNA from the prgX operon that prevents gene expression from the prgQ operon. In this work, we find that Qs, an RNA from the prgQ operon, negatively regulates gene expression from the prgX operon. These findings have a number of implications. (i) The Anti-Q and Qs RNAs act by different mechanisms, highlighting the variety of ways in which bacteria can regulate gene expression using RNAs. (ii) Reciprocal regulation between operons mediated by small RNAs has not been previously described, deepening our understanding of how bacteria regulate complex behavior. (iii) Additional roles for Qs have been described, demonstrating the versatility of this RNA.
Evaluation of 18F-DEG-VS-NT for NTR1 targeted imaging in prostate cancer

L.S. Medina, P.C. Sanelli, and J.G. Jarvik, Eds. New York, NY: Springer, 2013, 650 pages, $189 This interesting book is one of a series that aims to provide a systematic framework for understanding imaging choices based on evidence reported in the literature. Written mostly by radiologists and
Primary Rules, Political Power, and Social Change*

This paper examines the relationship between the kinds of delegate allocation rules used in Democratic presidential primaries (Winner-Take-All, Districted, and Proportional) and the power of various states within the national Democratic party. It demonstrates that these rules are often, in the short run, more important than a state's voters in determining the fate of particular candidates. It shows, in the middle run, that different types of states are clearly favored by different sets of primary regulations. It closes with some speculation about the long-run impact of these tendencies.
Molecular Cloning, Characterization, and Promoter Analysis of the Mouse Crp2/SmLim Gene PREFERENTIAL EXPRESSION OF ITS PROMOTER IN THE VASCULAR SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS OF TRANSGENIC MICE

Several members of the LIM protein family have important roles in development and differentiation. We recently isolated a rat cDNA encoding a new member of this family, CRP2/SmLIM, that contains two LIM domains and is expressed preferentially in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). To study the molecular mechanisms that regulate VSMC-specific transcription of the Crp2/SmLim gene, we cloned the cDNA and gene of mouse Crp2/SmLim. Mouse Crp2/SmLim is a single copy gene of six exons and five introns spanning approximately 20 kilobases of genomic DNA. By 5'-rapid amplification of cDNA ends and S1 nuclease protection assay, we determined that the transcription start site is an A residue 80 base pairs 5' of the translation initiation codon. A TATA-like sequence is located 27 base pairs 5' of the transcription start site, and there are potential cis-acting elements (GATA, Sp1, AP-2, E box, CCAC box, and GArC motif) in the 5'-flanking sequence. In transient transfection assays in rat aortic smooth muscle cells in primary culture, 5 kilobases of the Crp2/SmLim 5'-flanking sequence generated a high level of luciferase reporter gene activity. By deletion analysis and gel mobility shift assay, we found that the region between bases -74 and -39 of this 5 kilobase DNA fragment binds Sp1 and confers basal promoter activity in the Crp2/SmLim gene. In vitro, the 5-kilobase fragment was active in multiple cell types. In vivo, however, the 5-kilobase fragment directed high level expression of the lacZ reporter gene preferentially in the VSMC of transgenic mice, indicating the presence of VSMC-specific element(s) in this fragment.
The effects of monensin on inhibition of steroidogenesis and disruption of the Golgi complex in adrenal cells are both reversible

Following 15-30 min exposure to monensin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)- stimulated steroidogenesis in cultured adrenal cells is inhibited by 37-48 %. Electron microscopic studies reveal that, in monensin-treated cells, the Golgi complexes are disrupted into large vacuolar structures with loss of its organized structure indicating that the action of monensin on the organelles is comparably rapid. The inhibition is fully reversed after removal of the monensin-containing medium and exposure to fresh growth medium for a subsequent 4-24 h prior to stimulation. Concomitant with the restoration of full steroidogenic activity, the disrupted organelles are extensively reorganized in the cells after exposure to fresh growth medium for 4-24 h. These findings, which demonstrate, for the first time, a correlation between the morphology of the Golgi complex and steroidogenic activity, strengthen the possibility that the organelle may be involved in the regulation of steroidogenesis.
Amlodipine-Induced Bilateral Upper Extremity Edema

Objective:To report a case of bilateral upper extremity edema associated with amlodipine use in a child.Case Summary:A previously well and normotensive 6-year-old girl presented with a generalized vasculitis of unknown origin and severe hypertension. Large vessels predominantly affecting the neck, chest, and abdomen were found to be involved, resulting in abnormal arterial circulation and significant blood pressure differences between the upper and lower extremities. Multiple antihypertensive agents were initially required to control blood pressure. She was stabilized and discharged on amlodipine 10 mg each evening, atenolol 50 mg/day, and warfarin. Three days later she was noted to have facial and bilateral upper extremity pitting edema. Laboratory and radiologic assessments for possible etiologies were negative. Discontinuation of amlodipine resulted in resolution of edema.Discussion:As of June 2007, there had been no cases of bilateral upper extremity edema associated with amlodipine use reported in th...
Technical reports and non-depository publications

Abstract Federal non-depository publications disseminated by the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) increased slightly in number in 1992 as compared to 1991. This continues the trend for slight increases each year rather than the decreases of the years previous to 1991. NTIS continues to receive and disseminate federally funded research and development reports, which are abstracted in Government Reports Announcements and Index and related abstract journals. Many of the publications described in this column came directly from the authoring agency, however. These were sent either via an agency mailing list or through library solicitation. Last year, government information specialists believed the GPO Wide Information Network Data Online Act of 1991 (WINDO) would be a positive move toward establishing a single point of public access to federal electronic databases. This bill died in committee with the close of the 102nd Congress. A more limited bill was introduced in the 103rd Congress and passed as the Government Printing Office Electronic Information Access Enhancement Act of 1992 (Public Law 103–140, 107 Stat. 112). This law establishes GPO as a gateway and provider of electronic information, but limits its authority to acquire and disseminate that information as compared to the WINDO bill. The law requires GPO to create and maintain a directory of federal publications in electronic format and to provide online computer access to this directory and to other documents, for which GPO can charge reasonable fees. The law permits GPO to provide access to this online system to depository libraries without charge. However, no additional appropriations were authorized for GPO to implement the provisions of the Act. Meanwhile, federal agencies continue to utilize electronic formats to disseminate information at an increasing rate. A number of non-depository CD-ROM databases are included in this review. In many cases, the data on these CD-ROMs have not been previously available. All except one of the publications reviewed below were published in 1992. Short quotations, which are not referenced in the reviews, were taken from the preface or introduction of the document. I wish to express my appreciation to Fred C. Schmidt (FCS), Head, Documents Department, Colorado State University Libraries, for the reviews he contributed and for his help and support in the production of this column.
Age-related deficits in the ability to encode contextual change: a place cell analysis.

Aging is known to impair the formation of episodic memory, a process dependent upon the integrity of the hippocampal region. To investigate this issue, hippocampal place cells were recorded from middle-aged and old F-344 male rats while running on a “figure-8” track. The top and bottom arcs of the track were removed, converting it into a plus maze, and the animals were required to conduct a working memory task. Following this change in task, the arcs were replaced and the animals again ran the figure-8 task. Analysis of place fields across the recording session demonstrated that both middle-aged and old rats had reliable representations of the figure-8 task. A comparison of place fields between different behavioral tasks (figure-8 and plus maze) demonstrated a change in the hippocampal representation of the environment in both age groups, despite the fact that the animals remained on the maze throughout the recording session. Notably, place cells in old animals were less affected by the change in task than those in middle-aged animals. The results suggest that hippocampal neurons reflect significant behavioral events within a given environment. Furthermore, the data indicate that age-related episodic memory deficits may result from decreased sensitivity of the hippocampal network to respond to meaningful changes in the environment. Hippocampus 10:338–350, 2000 © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Family Relations of Aged Colonial Jews: A Testamentary Analysis*

Content analysis of wills probated in New York State between 1704 and 1799 is used to reconstruct the family relations of aged colonial Jews. The modernisation theory of ageing provides a backdrop for this beginning effort to specify variations in family life in history. In general, regardless of marital status, aged Jewish colonial testators followed a familistic inheritance pattern. Individual wills contained articulated and vindictive bequests. It is suggested that while the Jewish family was an important mechanism for maintaining cultural cohesion and identity, it was also an important support structure in adapting to the realities of a Christian colonial America that was rapidly modernising. Future work in the history of the family relations of aged individuals will have to be comparative.
A Framework for Optimal Decentralized Service-Choreography

We address the problem of optimizing mediator-based service composition where the services and the desired composition (goal) functionality are represented as i/o automata with loops. The objective of optimization is to minimize the costs of communications and computations necessary to realize the goal from the existing services. We develop an algorithm to compute the minimum cost of an automaton representing the choreographed behavior of services realizing the goal. This forms the central theme of our technique for developing automatically a strategy of decentralized mediation that will result in the optimized composition of services.
Narrowing of the intervertebral-disc space in children. Presumably an infectious lesion of the disc.

Attention has been called to a destructive lesion of the spine in children which involves the intervertebral disc. The disorder is similar to osteomyelitis of the spine, but because of the infrequent and minimum vertebral involvement, it is believed that the condition should be regarded as a separate entity. A series of sixteen patients is presented and the clinical picture and roentgenographie findings are described. The etiology, although not definitely established, is very likely infectious. Trauma to the spine in the presence of transient bacteremia may play a role in the pathogenesis.
The Impact of the Health Status on Consumption Behavior

How do individuals adjust their consumption behavior in response to a deterioration of their health status? In the light of demographic transition, when the number of individuals who reach a critical age where the probability of functional limitations increases dramatically, understanding how the individual health status influences consumption behavior deserves additional attention. While the theoretical framework is well established and builds on the concept of state dependent utility functions, previous empirical studies either focused on experimental designs and hypothetical questions or did not distinguish between the effects from aging and those effects from changes in the individual health status. This research paper uses empirical data, provided by the Health and Retirement Study and the related Consumption and Activities Mail Survey, to explore the consequences of functional problems in activities of daily living on consumption behavior of individuals above the age of 65; furthermore, the analysis is restricted to consumption of non durable and semi durable goods and dis-aggregates overall consumption into nine global consumption categories. First, the empirical analysis explores a system of seemingly unrelated regressions to estimate the impact of the health status on the relative composition of the consumption basket with respect to different categories of goods and services. Second, a fixed effects model is specified to focus on changes which occur within individuals and contribute to explanations how individual consumption behavior changes over time. Regression results show expected signs and significant coefficients for the impact of changes in the individual health on consumption behavior. Controlling for a powerful set of variables, findings from the empirical analysis separate out a change in consumption that can be solely associated to changes in the health status.
Analysis on the Effect of Health Education on the Control of Blood Glucose in Gravidas with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of health education on the control of blood glucose in gravidas with gestational diabetes mellitus(GDM).METHODS Health education was implemented among 308 diabetic gravidas receiving prenatal examination and delivering in our medical center from Jan,2006 to Jan,2009.Then their mastery of diabetes knowledge,the changes in health behavior and the changes in blood glucose were compared between pre-education and post-education.RESULTS There was differene in the excellence rates for mastering diabetes knowledge before and after health education(P0.01).After education,patients ' health behaviors(diet control,proper movement,monitoring weight,regular monitoring of blood glucose and regular prenatal examination)were improved markedly(P0.01)and patients'blood sugar level was significantly lower than before education(P0.05).CONCLUSION Health education can change gravidas' awareness,attitudes and behavior,improve their self-caring ability,effectively control blood glucose level,lower the incidence of complications achieve good prengnacy outcom.
Spouse similarities in high blood pressure knowledge: implications for control of high blood pressure.

This study describes the general knowledge about high blood pressure of husbands and wives using data from all 1,260 white spouse pairs from the 1982 Connecticut Blood Pressure Survey and examines the relationship between high blood pressure knowledge and control of hypertension. We found the average level of knowledge to be high; about 70% of the items were answered correctly. The correlation between spouses’ knowledge about high blood pressure was significantly high (r = .41). Multiple regression analysis was used to control for other variables that might influence the spousal correlation in knowledge. When controlling for education, age, socioeconomic status, and hypertension status of both spouses, the correlation between spouses’ knowledge remained significant (r = .24). Respondents’ knowledge and spouses’ knowledge about high blood pressure were significantly related to high blood pressure control among hypertensive persons, particularly to being aware of hypertension and being in current treatment.
Synthesis of endocrine control in hypertension.

these conditions the massive increase in excretion of sodium and water did not occur until the arterial pressure rose to 35 mmHg above the control value, a pressure rise six times that in normal animals. Therefore it seems clear that minute amounts of angiotensin can cause sodium and water retention, which can be overcome only by elevated arterial pressure. These studies also suggest that an intrarenal mechanism might exist whereby decreased angiotensin formation is one of the important mechanisms for natriuresis when an animal is sodium loaded or when the arterial pressure increases. Effect of chronic angiotensin 11 infusion on aldosterone secretion
Effects of dynamic cardiomyoplasty on left ventricular performance and myocardial mechanics in dilated cardiomyopathy.

We tested the hypothesis that dynamic cardiomyoplasty produces beneficial changes in the functional mechanics of the dilated, failing left ventricle. Chronic dilated cardiomyopathy was induced in seven mongrel dogs by rapid ventricular pacing (260 beats/min) for 3 to 4 weeks. After completion of the induction period, dynamic cardiomyoplasty was performed with the left latissimus dorsi muscle, paced synchronously with the R waves of the electrocardiogram (Medtronic SP1005). Instruments included an aortic flow probe, a left ventricular Millar pressure catheter, and piezoelectric sonomicrometric crystals on the left ventricle for measurements of wall thickness and minor and major axis dimensions. Data were obtained with the stimulator off and on. Statistical comparisons were made with Student’s t test for paired data. Dynamic cardiomyoplasty increased the cardiac output of the failing heart (966 ± 124 versus 1166 ±112 ml/min; p
Influences on specialty choice of family physician graduates of a tertiary care medical school

A survey of 392 University of Michigan Medical School family physician alumni who graduated from medical school between 1950 and 1984 explored factors influencing respondent specialty choice and satisfaction with specialty choice. The strongest influences on specialty choice were the opportunity to treat a variety of illnesses, know patients personally, and work with people as opposed to things. The traditional medical school setting offered an environment of high-quality education, opportunities to see a variety of illnesses, and a model of tertiary, uncoordinated, discontinuous care that the respondents were determined not to replicate in their own medical careers. Fifty-nine percent of the respondents had no reservations about their decision to become family physicians, 74% said they would return to the University of Michigan if they were to enter medical school again, and 91% were greatly or moderately satisfied with their choice, indicating their satisfaction with their career choice and medical school.
Late adolescence: Developmental and clinical considerations.

(1971). Late Adolescence. The Psychoanalytic Study of the Child: Vol. 26, No. 1, pp. 241-263.
Nonlinear Optical Interactions at Surfaces and Interfaces

Our discussions so far have assumed that the nonlinear couplings responsible for the phenomena explored take place in bulk matter. Of course, the presence of bounding surfaces played a central role in the discussion of solitons in optical fibers presented in Chap. 7. But the role of the surface there is to guide the electromagnetic disturbance, and to confine its fields to a finite region of space. The nonlinearity responsible for soliton formation, as described in (7.2,3), is that characteristic of the bulk material from which the optical waveguide is fabricated.
Gary W. Luck, Digby Race and Rosemary Black (eds): Demographic change in Australia’s rural landscapes: Implications for society and the environment. Volume 12 of the Landscape Series

Demographic change in Australia’s rural landscapes is a valuable and highly informative collection which examines contemporary population dynamics in rural Australia, identifying some of the drivers of demographic change using case studies or international comparisons, and exploring the implications for rural areas, their residents and communities. The volume presents an integrated, interdisciplinary approach with contributions from 24 geographers, sociologists, ecologists, educators, economists, resource and environmental managers, landscape planners, demographers and social scientists. The contributors share their diverse academic, policy and research expertise through interactive and reflective discussions which explore the environmental, land-use, social and economic effects of population growth and decline in rural Australia. Whilst the chapters stand alone as unique contributions, they also address the findings of other authors thus allowing readers to focus on those chapters of most interest, or consume the entire volume without superfluous repetition. It is this interdisciplinary approach and the format of each chapter (each with an introductory photo to set the scene, abstract, key words and numbered subheadings) which is a key strength of the book. The book consists of 16 chapters, with the first and last written by the editors. The first chapter provides an overview of the principal patterns, drivers and implications of demographic change for Australia’s rural communities, landscapes and land management, and introduces the core population dynamics affecting rural Australia: population decline as a result of restricted opportunities; and population growth resulting from counter-urbanization. The chapters that follow explore in more detail some of the variability that occurs within these broad trends.
Indicator-Based Multi-objective Bacterial Foraging Algorithm with Adaptive Searching Mechanism

Derived from the social foraging behavior of E. coli bacteria and the general adaptive concentration searching strategy, this paper proposes and develops a novel indicator-based multi-objective bacterial colony foraging algorithm (I-MOBCA) for complex multi-objective or many-objective optimization problems. The main idea of I-MOBCA is to develop an adaptive and cooperative model by combining bacterial foraging, adaptive searching, cell-to-cell communication and preference indicator-based measure strategies. In this algorithm, each bacteria can adopt its run-length unit to appropriately balance exploitation and exploration states, and the quality of position or solution is calculated on the basis of the binary quality indicator to determine the Pareto dominance relation. Our algorithm uses Pareto concept and preference indicator-based measure to determine the non-dominated solutions in each generation, which can essentially reduce the computation complexity. With several mathematical benchmark functions, I-MOBCA is proved to have significantly better performance over compared algorithms for solving some complex multi-objective optimization problems.
Basic Principles of Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Epidemiology is a discipline that studies the distribution and determinants of disease. The applications of epidemiology are diverse and include identifying causal mechanisms of disease, diagnostic testing, determining prognosis, and testing new treatments. The goal of an epidemiological study is valid measurement. To understand this goal, it is necessary to understand what it is that is being measured and what is meant by the term validity. The epidemiologist is usually interested in measuring the relationship or association between some exposure and some outcome. The first step is to measure the frequency of the exposure and/or the frequency of the outcome (e.g., disease) of interest. It is then possible to compare these measures of frequency between two populations. The demonstration that disease occurs more frequently within a population exposed to some risk factor than within a population without such exposure provides insight into the association between the exposure and the disease. “Validity” describes the extent to which a measurement is correct (i.e., reflects the truth). A major difficulty is that we typically do not know the truth. Ensuring validity, therefore, requires that we take precautions to minimize error. Broadly speaking, epidemiological studies are susceptible to two types or error—systematic error (also known as bias) and random error. Error is reduced by an awareness of its origins and by the use of appropriate study design.
Area occupation and body mass index: Composition or context?

A36 Introduction: The prevalence of obesity has increased substantially in the United States (US) and obesity has been associated with the risk of several chronic diseases, including some forms of cancer. The causes of obesity primarily result from an energy imbalance and prevention will require targeting multiple levels of its influence, including both the individual and physical environment. The purpose of this study was to determine the association of area level occupational status and body mass index (BMI) in a sample of black and white men and women in Maryland. Methods: This cross-sectional study used a random sample of non-institutionalized adults, aged 18-64, residing in six Maryland jurisdictions: Baltimore City and Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Prince George’s, and Somerset counties. Telephone interviews using Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) were administered to 906 participants between April 2006 and February 2007. These data were linked to zip code occupational measures from the 2000 US Census. BMI (height in kilograms (kg)/weight in meters (m)2) was calculated based on self-report and ordinal categories were created based on World Health Organization classifications. We restricted the analysis to 712 (78.6%) black and white men and women who had valid BMI and zip code data. Gender-specific proportional odds logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95 percent confidence intervals (CI) for area-level occupation and BMI after adjustment for confounding. All models incorporated generalized estimating equations (GEE) to adjust for the correlation between individuals residing in the same zip code. Results: BMI varied slightly between areas (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient = 2.0%), suggesting that most of the variation was between individuals. No association was observed between area percentage unemployment or area percentage in production, transportation or moving, sales and office, or service occupations. For black women, the odds of higher BMI among women living in areas composed of a moderate to high area percentage in management, professional and related occupations was 2.7 times the odds among those living in areas composed of a low percentage (OR=2.66; 95% CI= 1.47-4.94). This result was not observed for black men nor white men and women, and was not a result of confounding due to age, marital status, education, current cigarette use, physical inactivity or history of chronic diseases. Additional adjustment for area socioeconomic and racial composition did not attenuate this effect. Conclusions: Area management, professional and related occupation was strongly associated with BMI among black women. Future work should examine the sociocultural and physical features of areas with high management, professional, and related occupations so that appropriate policies and interventions targeted at both the individual and communities in which they reside may be developed.
The Role of Language Interpretation in Providing a Quality Mediation Process

This paper focuses on the role of language in mediation and the challenges multiple language fluencies bring to the practice. Beginning with a discussion of the process and ethics of mediation as a form of alternative dispute resolution, as distinct from other forms of dispute resolution including arbitration, the paper shifts to consider the importance of language. Language, and more specifically interpretation, plays a central role in the integrity of the mediation process and the quality of its outcomes. Each stage of mediation requires the participants and the mediator understand one another to ensure effective communication and a quality process. The most essential principles of mediation: self-determination, impartiality, and confidentiality, cannot be upheld when participants are unable to understand one another. Addressing language interpretation issues in mediation requires ensuring that interpreters with proper training and expertise are hired to assist in mediations. The interpreter should be a neutral and impartial third party. The mediator should be allotted additional time in a session for thorough and accurate language interpretation to ensure satisfying and sustainable solutions for participants.
The Contested Plains: Indians, Goldseekers, & the Rush to Colorado, by Elliott West. (Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1998. Pp.422.)

Many modern United States travelers, much to the chagrin of the Kansas department of tourism, are used to viewing Kansas as a place to drive through on the way to somewhere else. And so it was, author Elliott West skillfully relates in The Contested Plains: Indians, Goldseekers, & the Rush to Colorado, in the mid-nineteenth century. Prior to the Colorado gold rush of 1858 the "ocean of land" separating east and west was simply the "Great American Desert," a haven for Indians and other "items" of curious interest, but of little perceived worth.
Heterogeneous Nucleation in a 2-D Model of Martensitic Transformation with Volume Changes

We study domain pattern formation in a 2-D square to rectangle martensitic transformation using a time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau model. The model is based on a free energy in terms of the deviatoric, bulk and shear components of the strain tensor. In this work, we include a coupling between the deviatoric and bulk strains that allows for volume changes of the unit cell. An effective free energy in terms of deviatoric strains is constructed by eliminating the bulk and shear strains subject to the elastic compatibility relations. Heterogeneous nucleation is studied by considering randomly distributed stress centers that represent crystal defects. Computer simulations of the model reveal that the stress centers nucleate product phase domains that grow only in finite size. Hence, there is always some retained parent phase at the end of the transformation.
Posterior approximation with the Gibbs sampler

For many multiparameter models the joint posterior distribution is nonstandard and difficult to sample from directly. However, it is often the case that it is easy to sample from the full conditional distribution of each parameter. In such cases, posterior approximation can be made with the Gibbs sampler, an iterative algorithm that constructs a dependent sequence of parameter values whose distribution converges to the target joint posterior distribution. In this chapter we outline the Gibbs sampler in the context of the normal model with a semiconjugate prior distribution, and discuss how well the method is able to approximate the posterior distribution.
Constrained example generation: a testbed for studying issues in learning

In this paper we explore issues in learning such as the role of agenda mechanisms, noticers, history keepers, initial seed sets of knowledge, and problem sequences in the context of our Constrained Exampled Generation (CEG) system working problems in the mini-domain of linear functions.
Linking Task-Centered Intervention with Employee Assistance Programs:

Employee assistance programs (EAPs) in the American workplace are increasingly broad brush in nature. They are designed to identify and assist employees and their families, improve employee–employe...
Miniaturization of External Mechanical Vibration for Shear Wave Elastography Imaging

Ultrasound shear wave elastography is increasingly used as a non-invasive and quantitative tissue elasticity characterization method. External mechanical vibration (EMV) is an alternative to acoustic radiation force (ARF) for shear wave generation, due to its potential for inducing larger local displacements using lower power. The physical space and mass required for incorporating mechanical vibration sources makes it challenging to integrate EMV into commercial ultrasound systems in a compact and ergonomic manner. In this paper we present the design of a miniature EMV-equipped ultrasound probe that is suitable for clinical tests. Custom vibration motors were designed and tested towards optimizing the “volume-toshear-wave-amplitude” ratio. Then the mechanical design and integration of vibration motors into commercial ultrasound probes is introduced, where the spatial placement and housing of the motors is designed to improve the ergonomics of the device and the performance of the motors.
LC-MS/MS Determination of Mono-Glutamate Folates and Folic Acid in Beer

A reliable LC-MS/MS method was developed for determination of folates in beer. Clean-up steps and chromatographic conditions were optimized to remove interferences and decrease the matrix effect. The work showed that an immuno-affinity column designed for folic acid (FA) was also suitable for the oxidized forms 10-formylfolic acid (10-HCO-FA) and 7,8-dihydrofolic acid (DHF), obtaining clean extract and improving the limit of detection. For the other vitamer forms, an Oasis MAX column was used. For chromatographic conditions, a RP-18 column with low ligand density showed satisfactory retention times; moreover, the use of methanol instead of acetonitrile lowered the limit of detection up to 0.1 μg l−1. The most popular beers in Italy were collected and analyzed; mainly oxidized mono-glutamate forms, in particular 10-HCO-FA and FA, were found, at levels from 12.4 to 98.6 μg l−1 and 1.4 and 11.9 μg l−1, respectively. The vitamers 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate and 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate were also detected.
Science, Common Sense and Sociological Analysis: A Critical Appreciation of the Epistemological Foundation of Field Theory:

Field theory is often criticized because sociologists applying it fail to follow two seminal rules: the three key concepts of field theory—capital, habitus, and field structure—must be (1) implemen...
Abstract TMP68: Simple Neurological Exam Combined With Headpulse Accurately Predicts Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke

Introduction: Early prediction of whether or not a patient is having a large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke could facilitate faster treatment through triage to an endovascular center. Clinical LVO s...
Abstract TMP113: Vascular Dementia Amongst Patients Included in the National Inpatient Sample Database 2006-2014 is not on the Decline

Introduction: Vascular dementia is a significant cause of cognitive decline, gait instability, and is associated with stroke risk factors, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. The incidence of ischemic...
LISTENING FROM PLACES OF SURVIVAL: THE ROLE OF STORY LISTENING IN THE EMPOWERMENT OF FEMALE VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE

This short essay represents an edited version of a larger work-in-progress article regarding the crucial role of storytelling, listening, and acknowledgment when working with survivors of trauma an...
Effects of Oven and Laser Sintering Parameters on the Electrical Resistance of IJP Nano-Silver Traces on Mesoporous PET Before and During Fatigue Cycling

Inkjet printing of conducting traces offers well established advantages and disadvantages as an alternative to electroplating of interconnects in flexible electronics. Assessment and optimization of their reliability is, however, often more complicated than commonly recognized. This is the case for an approach based on the deposition of silver nano-particle inks onto mesoporous PET substrates. In this case heating leads the trace resistance to drop not only because of the shrinkage and cure of the organic matrix holding the particles together, but also because some of that matrix 'disappears' into the substrate pores. The substrates can however only sustain relatively brief excursions above their glass transition, nominally 75°C, so it is not always practical to sinter the traces completely by conventional means. That has consequences such as ongoing reductions in resistance over time or under cyclic loading. Laser sintering does however offer the opportunity for much better fusing of the particles without excessive heating of the PET. The present work addresses effects of sintering parameters such as time/temperature and power/speed in oven and laser sintering, respectively, on the initial resistance and its evolution in subsequent low cycle fatigue testing. Interconnects of an average width of 80 µm and thickness of 550 nm were printed and post processed by one of two different sintering techniques: a) Convection oven sintering, and (b) Laser sintering. The resulting resistances were quantified, and samples finally subjected to tensile cycling with amplitudes of 1-2% and in-situ monitoring of the resulting resistance changes using a four-point probe. As expected, the resistance increased in each cycle as the substrate was stretched and it decreased again during unloading. However unlike for other kinds of traces, even though a remaining viscoelastic strain on the substrate prevented the complete elimination of the strain on the trace, the resistance of oven sintered traces usually ended up slightly lower after each cycle than before it. This effect was stronger for higher strain amplitudes, but it could be reduced or eliminated by longer preceding sintering of the traces. While a reduction in resistance may seem preferable to an increase, an even better solution would be a lower initial resistance that remained insensitive to subsequent fatigue cycling. This could be achieved by laser sintering, but careful optimization was required as too low a power did not prevent further resistance drops in cycling while too high ones led to significant degradations in fatigue resistance.
Evaluating 10 Years of Girls Only Computing Camps: Impacts, Lessons Learned and a New Future Direction

For many years, summer computing camps have been offered as a means to attract girls and underrepresented groups to computing. This lightning talk describes the current effort to assess the return on investment for a girls only summer computing camp program offered for ten years at a Midwestern university in the U.S. In the 9th year of the program, the sponsoring college observed changing trends that suggested a need to evaluate the program's short and long term impacts and either discontinue the program or develop a new approach for the future. In this, the 11th year since the program started, a review team has been formed to 1) evaluate enrollment and retention numbers from years one through 10, 2) evaluate demographic trends among the girls who participated in the program, 3) review annual pre- and post-camp camper surveys to assess interim impacts, and 4) track campers' current school and/or career status (through a combination of alumni surveys and university enrollment records) to identify long term impacts. Following this initial assessment, the review team will compare program recruitment and retention processes to similar programs and organizations and more recent research-based developments in diversity-focused programs and outreach. The ultimate goal of this project is to move beyond summer computing camps to a more effective approach to recruiting more women and underrepresented groups to the computing field. We will share our 10-year results, lessons learned and suggestions for future efforts in this area and gather audience feedback.
Understanding the effect of skim oil recycle on the water/oil separation in steam assisted gravity drainage operations

Abstract In steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) operations, skim oil recycled to a free water knockout (FWKO) often results in poor water quality and rag formation at the oil/water interface. To improve water quality and demulsification efficiency in the presence of skim oil recycle, it is necessary to understand the status of oil and solids in the produced water throughout the process. In this paper, the effect of skim oil on the water/oil separation in SAGD operations was studied. Dynamic optical fluid imaging (DOFI) technology was used to characterize oil and solids concentrations, oil droplet sizes, and the associated size distributions in the produced water collected from various vessels in a SAGD process. The DOFI analyses show that skim oil recycle caused more oil and solids to be sent to the FWKO, treater and induced gas flotation (IGF) outlet waters and finally to oil removal filters (ORF). The increased oil in water led to more oil droplets, especially more numerous small oil droplets remaining in the produced water. These small oil droplets are more challenging to remove than larger oil droplets, resulting in deteriorated water quality. Skim oil recycle decreased the oil removal efficiency of the IGF vessel and increased fouling of ORF filters by oil and solids. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis of the solids collected from the produced water in the presence of skim oil recycle indicated that the solids are bitumen-coated fine quartz and clays. Demulsification studies show that application of dual reverse emulsion breakers could help improve water quality and alleviate the negative effects due to the solids from skim oil addition.