cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Steganographic Internet of Things: Graph Topology Timing Channels.

Given the self-aware, artificially intelligent, and complex system-of-systems nature of the Internet of Things (IoT), unintended behavior will manifest itself in many forms. In this paper, we illustrate a method for steganographic messaging that can exploit IoT side channels and be resilient to the heterogeneous communications and application protocols that exist in the IoT. We show that IoT side channels are susceptible to network steganography. Moreover, it is possible to create a data-in-motion steganographic method without network protocol modifications and mathematically bound the channel capacity. Code 5580 Information Management & Decision Architectures Branch US Naval Research Laboratory ira.moskowitz@nrl.navy.mil
Ultimate Control over Hydrogen Bond Formation and Reaction Rates for Scalable Synthesis of Highly Crystalline vdW MOF Nanosheets with Large Aspect Ratio

Large-scale synthesis of van der Waals (vdW) metal-organic framework (MOF) nanosheets with controlled crystallinity and interlayer coupling strength is one of the bottlenecks in 2D materials that has limited its successful transition to large-scale applications. Here, scalable synthesis of mBDC (m = Zn and Cu) 2D MOFs at large scales through a biphase method is demonstrated. The results show replacing water molecules with pyridine eliminates hydrogen bond formation at metal cluster sites. This prohibits tight coupling across adjacent MOF layers and sustains controllable 2D vdW MOF growth. It is further shown that control over the growth speed, crystallinity, and thickness can be achieved by addition of a controlled amount of triethylamine and formic acid to achieve highly crystalline vdW MOF nanosheets with extraordinarily high aspect ratio. The described synthesis route can easily be scaled up for large-scale production either by deposition onto desired substrates or in crystalline layered powder form. Owing to its large lateral size, vdW nature, and high crystallinity, it is possible to perform atomic force microscopy, Kelvin probe force microscopy, and Raman measurements on the 2D MOFs. The results not only establish their vibrational properties and layer-dependent responses but also show striking differences from other 2D inorganic materials.
Service Learning: Survey of the Field:1997 and 2003

The authors surveyed the field in 1997 to determine the extent of utilization of service learning principles in the pharmaceutical education community. This manuscript reports the results of a follow-up survey consisting of the original survey and two additional items, preformed six years later in 2003. A raw response rate of 55% of schools and colleges of pharmacy in the United States was achieved with the follow-up survey. Data were analyzed for the aggregate sample and for institutions that had responded to both surveys. The use of service learning was found to have increased substantially, both as a required and as an elective offering. A synopsis of qualitative responses is also presented. The authors conclude that service learning in some form has been adopted by a majority of institutions in the United States. The confluence between service learning, community engagement, and initial pharmacy practice experiences is also discussed.
National Trends of Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair versus Open Thoracic Aortic Repair in Pediatric Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury

Background Blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) occurs in Methods The National Trauma Data Bank (2007-2015) was queried for patients ≤17 years with BTAI. The primary outcomes were the incidences of TEVAR and OTAR. Secondary outcome was risk of mortality in those undergoing intervention. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to determine the risk of mortality in OTAR versus TEVAR. Results We identified 650 pediatric BTAI patients with 159 (24.5%) undergoing intervention. Of these, 124 underwent TEVAR (78.0%) and 35 (22.0%) underwent OTAR. The rate of TEVAR steadily increased from 2007 to 2015 (15.4% vs. 27.1%, P 0.05). Compared with OTAR, TEVAR patients had a higher rate of any traumatic brain injury (TBI) (63.7% vs. 37.1%, P = 0.005) and shorter hospital and intensive care unit length of stay (LOS) (16.4 vs. 21.4 days, P = 0.02; 10.1 vs. 12.2 days, P = 0.01). TEVAR and OTAR, even when stratified by ≤14 years and 15–17 years, had no difference in risk for mortality (odds ratio 1.20, confidence interval 0.29-5.01, P = 0.80). Conclusions The rate of TEVAR in pediatric BTAI nearly doubled from 2007 to 2015. Compared with OTAR, TEVAR was associated with a shorter hospital LOS despite a higher rate of TBI. There was no difference in risk for mortality between TEVAR and OTAR. Longitudinal studies to determine the long-term efficacy and complication rates, including reintervention, development of endoleak, and/or need for further operations, are needed as this technology is being rapidly adopted for pediatric trauma patients.
Nudges and Budges

We applaud Engelen’s (2019) analysis of ethical conditions to which health-promoting nudges should be oriented, if not constrained. Examining the moral landscape of choice architecture and articula...
Harmonic UHF RFID Ranging with 50-Micron Accuracy and 1-kHz Sampling Rate

Highly accurate indoor localization with unique item-level identification (ID) is a critical capability for Internet of Things (IoT), structure integrity monitoring and haptic robotic feedback. Current precision tracking approaches are limited by either accuracy or unique ID of multiple objects. The conventional ultra-high-frequency (UHF) RF identification (RFID) system attaches a passive transponder tag to each object of interest and modulates the backscattered signal with an item-level unique ID, which also serves as the signal isolation against ambient refection. However, the present RF frequency strategy introduced a high noise floor, and could achieve ranging accuracy only in the cm level. In this paper, we analyzed the noise and interference sources and formulated the corresponding countermeasures to achieve a harmonic UHF RFID system with the ranging accuracy around or less than 50 microns and the sampling rate up to 1 kHz. As UHF signals have reasonable penetration in many dielectric media, we also demonstrated our precision tracking scheme in water and construction sands.
Do changes in health reveal the possibility of undiagnosed pancreatic cancer? Development of a risk-prediction model based on healthcare claims data.

Author(s): Baecker, Aileen; Kim, Sungjin; Risch, Harvey A; Nuckols, Teryl K; Wu, Bechien U; Hendifar, Andrew E; Pandol, Stephen J; Pisegna, Joseph R; Jeon, Christie Y | Abstract: Background and objectiveEarly detection methods for pancreatic cancer are lacking. We aimed to develop a prediction model for pancreatic cancer based on changes in health captured by healthcare claims data.MethodsWe conducted a case-control study on 29,646 Medicare-enrolled patients aged 68 years and above with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) reported to the Surveillance Epidemiology an End Results (SEER) tumor registries program in 2004-2011 and 88,938 age and sex-matched controls. We developed a prediction model using multivariable logistic regression on Medicare claims for 16 risk factors and pre-diagnostic symptoms of PDAC present within 15 months prior to PDAC diagnosis. Claims within 3 months of PDAC diagnosis were excluded in sensitivity analyses. We evaluated the discriminatory power of the model with the area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) and performed cross-validation by bootstrapping.ResultsThe prediction model on all cases and controls reached AUC of 0.68. Excluding the final 3 months of claims lowered the AUC to 0.58. Among new-onset diabetes patients, the prediction model reached AUC of 0.73, which decreased to 0.63 when claims from the final 3 months were excluded. Performance measures of the prediction models was confirmed by internal validation using the bootstrap method.ConclusionModels based on healthcare claims for clinical risk factors, symptoms and signs of pancreatic cancer are limited in classifying those who go on to diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and those who do not, especially when excluding claims that immediately precede the diagnosis of PDAC.
Rethinking the Passion Lyric: Verbal Devotion, Narrative Variation, and the Poetics of Comfort in Middle English Poetry

This chapter argues that Middle English lyrics portray Christ as a vernacular speaker just as often as they portray him as a bodily sufferer; and that the narrative structure of Christ’s Lyric voice creates a textual community united by shared interpretive reading practice. It argues further that this narrative goal reveals a “poetics of comfort” within Middle English poetry: the presentation of Christ’s biblical and extra-biblical speech in vernacular lyric poetry meant to comfort and reassure through repetition, variation, and participation. The chapter traces the narrative and poetic construction of Christ’s voice across multiple lyrics—from the well-known “Surge Mea Sponsa” and “Quia Amore Langueo” to the less familiar “Complaint of Christ”—within one fourteenth-century miscellany: Lambeth Palace MS 853. In arguing for discursive and spiritual innovation within lyrics often dismissed as derivative or poetically inferior to narrative poetry, it demonstrates how the poetics of comfort developed by the Middle English passion lyric not only functioned as reassurance for lay readers, but simultaneously reconfigured the late medieval imaginary of the vernacular Word of God.
Race and poverty matters: Black and Latino linked fate, neighborhood effects, and political participation

We examine if and how race and contextual poverty, among other neighborhood effects, impact Black and Latino/a rates of political participation. To do so, we expand upon questions at the intersecti...
Anatomic Distribution of the Morphologic Variation of the Upper Lip Frenulum Among Healthy Newborns.

Importance The maxillary labial frenulum and its potential contribution to breastfeeding difficulty may substantially affect public health. However, objective studies of the frenulum are limited. Objective To measure the variations in length, thickness, and attachments of the maxillary labial frenulum in healthy newborns and to identify which anatomic measurements could be used in further research investigating the maxillary labial frenulum. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective cross-sectional study conducted measurements on images of maxillary labial frenula captured by digital photography from 150 healthy newborns admitted to the newborn nursery at a tertiary care children’s hospital in Maryland between September 1, 2017, and April 1, 2018. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was the measurement of numerous frenulum morphologic components. Results Of 150 newborns enrolled, 77 were female, the mean (SD) gestational age was 38.60 (1.72) weeks, and the mean (SD) birth weight was 3180 (570) g. The means and SDs of the morphologic components of the frenulum with the broadest distributions, which were most helpful in differentiating degrees of lip tethering, included the following: alveolar edge to frenulum gingival attachment, 1.53 (0.85) mm; frenulum length on stretch, 5.19 (1.68) mm; frenulum gingival attachment thickness, 0.84 (0.36) mm; frenulum labial attachment thickness, 2.83 (1.33) mm; and the percentage of free lip to total lip length, 87.38% (7.67%). Gingival attachment mean (SD) thickness differed between late-preterm (0.69 [0.24] mm) and term (0.88 [0.37] mm) infants (Cohend, −0.52; 95% CI, −0.94 to −0.10). Conclusions and Relevance To our knowledge, this cross-sectional study was the first to objectively measure the numerous morphologic components of the upper lip anatomy in healthy newborns. Variations in maxillary labial frenulum morphology were identified, and some combination of the stated measurements may be used to create a more robust classification system to advance quality research in the association of lip-tie with breastfeeding difficulty.
A Republic, If You Can Keep Its Elections Secure, Accurate, and Fair:

We have kept our republic through a variety of localized disasters and various problem elections. The research presented here highlights the field of “Election Science and Administration” (ESA). Re...
Underutilization of Peptic Ulcer Disease Prophylaxis Among Elderly Users of Antiplatelets and Anticoagulants.

Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) develops in approximately 25% of chronic users of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The incidence of uncomplicated PUD has been declining over the past 3 decades unlike that of complicated PUD in the elderly. An expert consensus document published jointly in 2008 by the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), the American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF), and the American Heart Association (AHA) provided recommendations on prevention of PUD among users of antiplatelets and anticoagulants. This work aimed to evaluate physicians’ compliance with these guidelines in a tertiary academic setting. We examined our medical record database for the 9 month period extending from April 2018 until December 2018. Using this database, we identified elderly patients (> 64 years old) who were chronic (> 3 months) users of low dose aspirin (81 mg once daily) and had an indication for PUD prophylaxis as per the ACG–ACCF–AHA guideline document. We performed a retrospective chart review of patients included in this study. Descriptive statistics were compared using χ2 and independent sample t tests. A total of 852 patients were included in this study. The mean age was 75 years old, and 43% of patients were females. In addition to aspirin, patients were prescribed P2Y12 inhibitors (45.5%), direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) (23%), warfarin (12%), steroids (9%) or enoxaparin (1%). Users of DOACs were most commonly prescribed apixaban (16%), followed by rivaroxaban (6%) and dabigatran (1%). Overall, only 40% of patients with an indication for PUD prophylaxis received a proton pump inhibitor. PUD prophylaxis may be underutilized in elderly patients. This finding, along with increasing rates of NSAID use and an aging population, may help explain the increased incidence of complicated PUD in the elderly. Efforts are needed to raise physician awareness of PUD prophylaxis guidelines.
Economic and Clinical Impact of Digitally Produced Dentures.

Purpose Digital denture technology has been gradually moving to the mainstream of dentistry over the last twenty-five years. Implementation of a four-step system utilizing in-house CAD/CAM milling technology may create cost savings for the clinical program in a dental university setting. An analysis was completed to evaluate the cost savings, if any, of fabricating complete dentures digitally versus traditionally through an outside lab. Materials and methods A large clinic at a North American dental school began fabricating digital dentures in 2019 utilizing the four-step Ivoclar system. A combination of 3D printing and CAD/CAM milling produced multiple denture products used in the steps of the digital process, including the final milled complete denture. Results A significant cost savings was achieved, both in terms of material cost and in chair time cost when compared to traditional laboratory fabricated complete dentures. Discussion Using 3D printing for the preliminary steps resulted in substantial cost savings. Fewer visits to complete the denture fabrication steps, along with fewer post-insertion visits, added further savings. Conclusion A large clinic at a North American dental school (university) introduced digital denture technology into the student clinical experience. This digital technology has created a cost-saving benefit when fabricating digital dentures. Using 3D printing for the preliminary steps resulted in substantial cost savings. Fewer visits to complete the denture fabrication steps, along with fewer post-insertion visits, added further savings. Patient satisfaction with the digital denture process has been consistently high, as has student and faculty satisfaction with the final product. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
"I know my body better than you:" patient focus groups to inform a decision aid on oral corticosteroid use during pregnancy.

Purpose There is unmet need for decision support regarding medication use during pregnancy. We aimed to inform the development of a decision aid on oral corticosteroid (OCS) use during pregnancy through focus groups. Methods We invited patients from one health system who had a recent live birth and a condition for which OCSs may be prescribed (ie, asthma or other autoimmune disease) to participate in focus groups. We conducted conventional qualitative content analysis of verbatim transcripts of the focus groups using inductive coding. Results There were 30 participants across five focus groups from May to June 2019. Women endorsed the need for patient-provider discussions about OCS use during pregnancy in which the provider shares risks and benefits and the patient makes her decision. Furthermore, women generally expressed support for patient-centered handouts about OCS use during pregnancy that the provider discusses with the patient. When considering whether to take OCSs in pregnancy, women had concerns about: the medication's impact on their baby (eg, miscarriage, birth defects, long-term effects), themselves (eg, effects on mood, sleep, weight gain), pregnancy complications (eg, preterm birth, increased blood pressure), and lactation. Women wanted information on OCSs (eg, indications, length of treatment, and cost), alternative treatments, and risks of not taking OCSs. Conclusions We established patient need for a decision aid on OCS use during pregnancy that providers can discuss with patients. To address patient concerns, the aid should at a minimum describe the medication's impact on baby, including long-term effects, maternal health, pregnancy complications, and lactation.
The specter of irreparable ignorance: counterfactuals and causality in economics

Those economists who have emphasized true uncertainty have tended to draw an epistemic distinction between an ascertainable past and an unknowable future. But in one critical respect—in extracting causal relationships—that epistemic distinction is not warranted. Whether they are situated in the past or future, causal arguments in economics depend equally on counterfactual reasoning. Counterfactualizing entails the construction of fictitious narratives—narratives about worlds that do not exist. Unfortunately, there is no dependable method for ascertaining the uniquely correct counterfactual. This implies that causal claims in economics, too, are irreducibly fictitious. The chief value of counterfactuals, then, is not to prove causation but to help scholars and practitioners confront an inscrutable world—to imagine and prepare for unknowable possible futures. In this endeavor, economic pluralism, which expands the range of plausible counterfactuals, is to be taken as a virtue rather than a curse.
Melting of Bridgmanite Under Hydrous Shallow Lower Mantle Conditions

High pressure and temperature experiments were carried out on bridgmanite under the hydrous shallow lower mantle conditions (24 – 25 GPa and 1673 – 1873 K with 5 – 10 wt. % of water in the starting...
Global change in marine coastal habitats impacts insect populations and communities

Salt marsh and mangrove coastal ecosystems provide critical ecosystem services, but are being lost at an alarming rate. Insect communities in these ecosystems are threatened by human impacts, including sea level rise, habitat loss, external inputs including nutrients, metals, and hydrocarbons, as well as weather events, such as hurricanes. While some disturbances are felt throughout the food web (e.g. hurricanes), others are mediated by impacts on the dominant plants (e.g. nutrient subsidies). The impacts of these disturbances on insects/spiders and their rate of recovery is dependent on trophic level, life history, and diet breadth. While we understand impacts of single disturbances relatively well, we have very little understanding of how multiple disturbances interact to affect insect communities.
An open source statistical and data processing toolbox for wide-field optical imaging in mice

Abstract Wide-field optical imaging (WOI) produces concurrent hemodynamic and cell-specific calcium recordings across the entire cerebral cortex. There have been multiple studies using WOI to image mouse models with various environmental or genetic manipulations to understand various diseases. Despite the obvious utility of pursuing mouse WOI alongside human functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and the multitude of analysis toolboxes in the fMRI literature, there is not an available open-source, user-friendly data processing and statistical analysis toolbox for WOI data. Here, we present our MATLAB toolbox for pre-processing WOI data, as described and adapted to combine processing techniques from multiple WOI groups. Additionally, we provide multiple data analysis packages and translate two commonly used statistical approaches from the fMRI literature to the WOI data. To illustrate the utility, we demonstrate the ability of the processing and analysis framework to detect a well-established deficit in a mouse model of stroke. Additionally, we evaluate resting state data in healthy mice.
Bao: Making Learned Query Optimization Practical

Recent efforts applying machine learning techniques to query optimization have shown few practical gains due to substantive training overhead, inability to adapt to changes, and poor tail performance. Motivated by these difficulties, we introduce Bao (the \underlineBa ndit \underlineo ptimizer). Bao takes advantage of the wisdom built into existing query optimizers by providing per-query optimization hints. Bao combines modern tree convolutional neural networks with Thompson sampling, a well-studied reinforcement learning algorithm. As a result, Bao automatically learns from its mistakes and adapts to changes in query workloads, data, and schema. Experimentally, we demonstrate that Bao can quickly learn strategies that improve end-to-end query execution performance, including tail latency, for several workloads containing long-running queries. In cloud environments, we show that Bao can offer both reduced costs and better performance compared with a commercial system.
Analytic Heirarchy Process

The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a theory of relative measurement of intangible criteria. With this approach to relative measurement, a scale of priorities is derived from pairwise comparison measurements only after the elements to be measured are known. The ability to do pairwise comparisons is our biological heritage and we need it to cope with a world where everything is relative and constantly changing and thus, there are no fixed standards to measure things on. In traditional measurement, one has a scale that one applies to measure any element that comes along that has the property the scale is for, and the elements are measured one by one, not by comparing them with each other. In the AHP, paired comparisons are made with judgments using numerical values taken from the AHP absolute fundamental scale of 1 to 9. A scale of relative values is derived from all these paired comparisons and it also belongs to an absolute scale that is invariant under the identity transformation like the system of real numbers. The AHP is useful for making multicriteria decisions involving benefits, opportunities, costs, and risks. The ideas are developed in stages and illustrated with examples of real-life decisions. The subject is transparent and easy to understand why it is done the way it is along the lines discussed here. The AHP has a generalization to dependence and feedback; the Analytic Network Process (ANP) is not discussed here. Keywords: analytic hierarchy process; decision making; prioritization; benefits; costs; complexity
Principles and instruments of diagnostic ultrasound and doppler ultrasound

This chapter is an April 2005 revision of a chapter written in April 1998. During that period, the basics of ultrasound examination have been surprisingly stable. Electronics have shrunk so that now full function ultrasound duplex scanners can fit in your pocket. The speed of personal computers has advanced so that the new scanners are just software residing in personal computers equipped with an ultrasound receiver on the front end and a printer or DICOM adaptor on the back end.
The stability of ions in a storage ring in the presence of small gap insertion devices

We investigate the question of ion stability in the NSLS X-ray ring with a 0.32 m long variable gap (4-18mm) undulator and 0.95 m long, 27 mm gap undulator in it. We concentrate our attention on CO ions(A=28) since they are the most bothersome in the ring. We will show the effect of a gap in the bunch train, the effect of nonlinearity in the beam kicks and the effect of a restricted longitudinal mobility of ions. The methods used and the calculations performed are general enough to be applied to any other storage ring or accelerator. >
The Round Earth Project: deep learning in a collaborative virtual world

The Round Earth Project is investigating how virtual reality technology can be used to help teach concepts that are counter-intuitive to a learner's currently held mental model. Virtual reality can be used to provide an alternative cognitive starting point that does not carry the baggage of past experiences. In particular this paper describes our work in comparing two strategies for teaching young children that the Earth is spherical when their everyday experiences tell them it is flat.
Allorecognition Proteins in an Invertebrate Exhibit Homophilic Interactions

Sessile colonial invertebrates-animals such as sponges, corals, bryozoans, and ascidians-can distinguish between their own tissues and those of conspecifics upon contact [1]. This ability, called allorecognition, mediates spatial competition and can prevent stem cell parasitism by ensuring that colonies only fuse with self or close kin. In every taxon studied to date, allorecognition is controlled by one or more highly polymorphic genes [2-8]. However, in no case is it understood how the proteins encoded by these genes discriminate self from non-self. In the cnidarian Hydractinia symbiolongicarpus, allorecognition is controlled by at least two highly polymorphic allorecognition genes, Alr1 and Alr2 [3, 5, 9-12]. Sequence variation at each gene predicts allorecognition in laboratory strains such that colonies reject if they do not share a common allele at either locus, fuse temporarily if they share an allele at only one locus, or fuse permanently if they share an allele at both genes [5, 9]. Here, we show that the gene products of Alr1 and Alr2 (Alr1 and Alr2) are self-ligands with extraordinary specificity. Using an in vitro cell aggregation assay, we found that Alr1 and Alr2 bind to themselves homophilically across opposing cell membranes. For both proteins, each isoform bound only to itself or to an isoform of nearly identical sequence. These results provide a mechanistic explanation for the exquisite specificity of Hydractinia allorecognition. Our results also indicate that hydroids have evolved a molecular strategy of self-recognition that is unique among characterized allorecognition systems within and outside invertebrates.
Electrophysiological effects of myocardial stretch and mechanical determinants of stretch-activated arrhythmias.

BACKGROUNDAlthough the existence of myocardial mechanoelectrical feedback is well established, the mechanism of arrhythmia induction by ventricular dilatation or stretch remains insufficiently defined. In particular, controversy exists when comparing the arrhythmogenic potential of chronic versus acute myocardial stretch. Also, assessment of cellular electrophysiological effects of myocardial stretch has been incomplete.METHODS AND RESULTSTo evaluate the electrophysiological and arrhythmogenic effects of slow versus rapid ventricular wall stretch, we developed an isolated Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart model in which left ventricular (LV) volume can be changed by a computer-controlled servopump. Cellular electrophysiological effects and premature ventricular excitations (PVEs) and their origin produced by the volume increases were assessed by a multiple-site monophasic action potential (MAP) recording system and by volume-conducted ECGs obtained by immersing the entire preparation in a saline-filled ta...
Quinolines and Other Alkaloids Related to Anthranilic Acid

Several alkaloids are postulated to be derived from anthranilic acid. These include some rather simple substituted anthranilic acids, quinolines, and some with condensed ring systems of various types. Some of the parent nuclei of these alkaloids are as follows:
The point prevalence of bulimic disorders from 1990 to 2004.

Objective: This study investigated the point prevalence of probable cases of bulimia nervosa (BN), eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS), and specific eating disorder symptomatology among 6,844 undergraduate women at a single site, examining changes across five 3-year time periods and on a yearly basis from 1990 to 2004. Method: Participants completed a self-report checklist that assessed the diagnostic criteria for BN (American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 1994) and the Bulimia Test (Smith and Thelen, J Consult Clin Psychol, 52, 863–872, 1984) (BULIT) or Bulimia Test-Revised (Thelen et al., Psychol Assess, 3, 119–124, 1991) (BULIT-R). Results: Chi-square analyses comparing the percentages of probable cases of BN and EDNOS and the percentages of women who reported frequent binge eating and most compensatory weight control strategies were nonsignificant. Only the percentages of women who endorsed overconcern with weight and shape and diuretic use and excessive exercise as compensatory weight control strategies changed over time. Conclusion: Consistent with Keel et al.'s (Keel et al., Psychol Med, 36, 119–127, 2006) findings regarding the point prevalence rates of BN from 1992 to 2002, results indicated that probable cases of eating disorders remained relatively stable. Methodologically, this research illustrates the importance of examining multiple data points when investigating stability or change in behavior. © 2008 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 2008
Relative Susceptibility of Pecan Weevil Fourth Instars and Adults to Selected Isolates of Beauveria bassiana

Abstract The relative susceptibility of fourth instar and adult pecan weevils, Curculio caryae (Horn), to seven isolates of the entomogenous fungus, Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, was assessed in laboratory bioassays. Lethal times as determined by probit analysis indicated that susceptibility to the isolates was in the decreasing order ARSEF-738 ≥ CCG1 ≥ ARSEF-150 ≥ 143-Mono ≥ AGBR1 ≥ ARSEF-252 ≥ AF-4 for adults and CCG1 ≥ ARSEF-738 ≥ AF-4 ≥ ARSEF-150 ≥ AGBR1 ≥ ARSEF-252 ≥ 143-Mono for fourth instars. In laboratory assays, exposure of fourth instars to conidia in soil showed that larvae were infected after burrowing through a layer of conidia mixed in the soil and that mortality levels were 73% at concentrations of 10 7 spores/g. Field tests of the "barrier" treatments yielded 23, 34, and 2% mortality for AF-4, CCG1, and ARSEF-252, respectively.
Craniofacial abnormalities resulting from targeted disruption of the murine Sim2 gene.

Sim2 is a member of the basic helix-loop-helix PAS transcription factor gene family and is evolutionarily related to the Drosophila single-minded gene, a key regulator of central nervous system midline development. In an effort to determine the biological roles of Sim2 in mammalian development, we disrupted the murine Sim2 gene through gene targeting. Mice homozygous for the disrupted allele (Sim2 -/-) exhibit a cleft of the secondary palate and malformations of the tongue and pterygoid processes of the sphenoid bone. These craniofacial malformations are the most probable cause of aerophagia (air swallowing with subsequent accumulation of air in the gastrointestinal tract) and postnatal death exhibited by Sim2 -/- mice. The developing palates of the Sim2 -/- mice are hypocellular, and at embryonic day 14.5 contain excess extracellular matrix component hyaluronan (HA) compared with heterozygotes and homozygous wild-type littermates. HA plays an important role in the regulation and mechanics of palate development. Its premature accumulation in Sim2 -/- animal palates suggests a regulatory role for Sim2 in HA synthesis and in the establishment of craniofacial architecture.
Petrology and chemistry of mesosiderites—I. Textures and composition of nickel-iron

Abstract Metal-silicate textures in ten mesosiderites indicate that metal structures formed in situ, after the presently observed physical relationships were established. The Widmanstatten structure is observed only occasionally in the mesosiderites. More often kamacite nuoleation appears to have been influenced by grain boundaries, resulting in irregular structures. Characteristic features of the metal are the invariably high Ni contents (>35 wt. %) of the centers of taenite masses and a general absence of plessite. These related features are most likely the result of Type II impingement during the later stages of kamacite growth. The bulk Ni contents of the metal of ten mesosiderites were determined by X-ray fluorescence and show a narrow range of 7.4–8.8 wt.%. Electron microprobe analyses reveal that taenite and kamacite masses in mesosiderites show distinct composition-dimension correlations related to cooling rate in the temperature range 500-350°C. Cooling rate determinations for 9 mesosiderites give the same result of 0.1°C 10 6 yr . Combined metal and silicate features are possibly consistent either with a thermal history involving continuous but markedly decelerated cooling, or with rapid initial cooling to low temperatures followed by reheating to 500°C with subsequent very slow cooling to at least 350°C. Mesosiderite cooling rates are the slowest yet determined for any meteorites. This fact is discussed with respect to its genetic implications. Udei Station, long considered to be a mesosiderite, possesses metal features which indicate a closer affinity to the octahedrites than to the mesosiderites. It has a metal bulk Ni content of 9.4 wt. % and a cooling rate of 6–10°C 10 6 yr (from 600-450°C). Its metal features, together with its silicate mineralogy, indicate it should be classified as an iron with silicate inclusions rather than as a mesosiderite.
Oral bone loss induced by mineral deficiency in a rat model: Effect of a synthetic bone mineral (SBM) preparation

Abstract Osteoporosis affects the craniofacial and oral structures and has been associated with periodontal bone loss, tooth loss and reduced jaw bone mass. Objective This study aimed to test the therapeutic efficacy of synthetic bone mineral (SBM) in minimizing alveolar bone loss induced by mineral deficiency in a rat model. SBM consists of a calcium carbonate apatite (similar to bone apatite) matrix incorporating magnesium, zinc, and fluoride ions. Design Thirty female Sprague Dawley rats (2 months old) were randomly distributed into 3 groups (10 rats per group): GA (control), on basic diet; GB, on mineral deficient (MD) diet; and GC, on MD + SBM. The rats were sacrificed after 3 months, the jawbones were isolated and the soft tissues removed. Bone density was determined using X-ray radiography (Faxitron); mandibular cortical width, panoramic mandibular index, and alveolar resorption degree (M/M ratio) using BioquantOsteo; and bone micro-architecture micro-computed tomography and scanning electron microscopy. Results Compared to control (GA), the rats on MD diet (GB) experienced significant mandibular bone loss while the rats on MD + SBM diet (GC) experienced significantly less bone loss compared to the GB group. Conclusion SBM, administered orally, may have the potential as an osteoporosis therapeutic agent in minimizing or preventing alveolar bone loss induced by mineral deficiency.
Variational principles for solving nonlinear Poisson equations for the potential of impurity ions in semiconductors

The present paper concerns itself with corrections to the potential of an impurity ion obtained by Dingle for charged impurities in semiconductors with spherical energy surfaces. In Dingle's theory, the Fermi-Dirac integral ${\mathcal{F}}_{\frac{1}{2}}$, appearing in the density of the screening charge, is expanded in powers of the potential. Dingle, retaining only terms up to and including the linear term in the potential, has obtained a linearized Poisson equation. The solution of this differential equation results in a screened Coulomb potential for the impurity ion which is scaled by the static dielectric constant of the medium. In the present paper, a variational principle is suggested that is equivalent to the Poisson equation to any given order in the impurity-ion potential. The analytical groundwork is carried through to include Poisson equations resulting from the retention of quadratic and cubic terms in the expansion of ${\mathcal{F}}_{\frac{1}{2}}$. Use of the variational principle permits the representation of the approximate solutions to the nonlinear Poisson equations as linear combinations of exponentially screened Coulomb potentials which are scaled by the static dielectric constant of the semiconductor. This feature has the advantage of permitting a straightforward modification of theories of ionized impurity scattering which are based on the use of a single screened Coulomb potential.
Surgery for Crohn's disease in infants and children

The course of Crohn's disease is quite variable in children. To assess the frequency and indications for surgery with current medical therapy, the authors reviewed the cases of 204 children (ages, 0.2 to 18.8 years at diagnosis, median, 12.8 years) who had Crohn's disease treated at a single institution from December 1968 to January 1994, with a median of 3.8 years of follow-up (range, 0.0 to 22.2 years). Ninety-four children (46%) required surgical resection for the following indications: (1) failure of medical therapy with persistent symptoms or growth retardation (n = 44, 47%), (2) intraabdominal abscess or perforation (n = 15, 16%), (3) fistula formation (n = 13, 14%), (4) obstruction (n = 15, 16%), (5) hemorrhage (n = 4, 4%), and (6) appendectomy at exploration for diagnosis (n = 3, 3%). The probability for surgery 3 years after diagnosis is 28.8% and by 5 years is 47.2%. Resections included ileocolectomy (71 children), colectomy (n = 16), small bowel resection (n = 4), and appendectomy (n = 3). Fourteen fistulas in 13 children required surgical intervention (7 enteroenteral, 3 enterovesical, 2 enterovaginal, and 2 enterocutaneous). The median duration from diagnosis to surgery for the fistulas was 2.6 years (range 0.1 to 9.8 years). Forty patients experienced recurring disease after resection during follow-up with a median of 1.8 years (range 0.4 to 18.1 years). The authors found that the course of the disease was unpredictable, with some children requiring early surgical intervention and others continuing with medical therapy for years.
Increased proportion of acetylcholinesterase-rich zones and improved morphological integration in host striatum of fetal grafts derived from the lateral but not the medial ganglionic eminence

Fetal striatal grafts are found to have a modular organization revealed by acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemistry. The AChE-rich zones represent the only portions of these grafts that are anatomically and functionally integrated into the host brain. In this study, the medial and lateral ganglionic eminences (MGEs and LGEs) were selectively dissected from the basal telencephalon of embryonic-day-14 (E14) rat fetuses to compare their relative contributions to the AChE-rich fraction of intrastriatal grafts. Separate cell suspensions prepared from either eminence were stereotaxically implanted into excitotoxically lesioned neostriatum of adult rats. Eight weeks after transplantation, grafts of the MGE were compared with those of the LGE with respect to the proportion of AChE-rich zones, graft size, graft morphology, and afferent dopaminergic innervation as revealed by tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunostaining. The mean AChE-rich fraction in LGE grafts (87% +/- 4%) was markedly greater than the AChE-rich fraction in MGE grafts (25% +/- 10%). The LGE grafts were also morphologically better incorporated into the lesioned host striatum, partially reconstituting the striatal morphology. There was no statistically significant difference in graft size between the two groups. The AChE-rich LGE grafts were TH immunoreactive, whereas the AChE-poor MGE grafts were not. We conclude that grafts derived exclusively from the fetal LGE reconstitute the striatal morphology and consist almost entirely of AChE-rich zones.
INTRA-CITY HIERARCHY OF CENTRAL PLACES: CALCUTTA AS A CASE STUDY

(1969). INTRA-CITY HIERARCHY OF CENTRAL PLACES: CALCUTTA AS A CASE STUDY. The Professional Geographer: Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 18-22.
Autoimmunity and Vascular Involvement in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc)

Endothelial injury, obliterative microvascular lesions, and increased vascular wall thickness are present in all involved organs in scleroderma. The vascular pathology is associated with altered vascular function with increased vasospasm, reduced vasodilatory capacity and increased adhesiveness of the blood vessels to platelets and lymphocytes. The extent of injury and dysfunction is reflected by changes in the circulating levels of vascular markers. The initial triggers for the vascular pathology are not known. Possible viral triggers are visited here, including cytomegalovirus in view of increased levels of anti-CMV antibodies in scleroderma, and the remarkable similarities between CM V vasculopathies and scleroderma vascular disease.Endothelial apoptosis in scleroderma may be related to viral infection, immune reactions to viral or environmental factors, reperfusion injury or to anti-endothelial antibodies. The impact of the vascular pathology on the evolution of tissue fibrosis is not known; still, cy...
Information networks for disease: commonalities in human management networks and within-host signalling networks

Network models of human epidemics can often be improved by including the effects of behaviour modification in response to information about the approach of epidemics. Similarly, there are opportunities to incorporate the flow of information and its effects in plant disease epidemics in network models at multiple scales. (1) In the case of human management networks for plant disease, each node of a network has four main components: plant communities, microbial communities, human information (among researchers, extension agents, farmers, and other stakeholders), and environmental conditions, along with their interactions. The links between nodes, representing the rate of movement between them, have three parts: the rates for plant materials, the rates for microbes, and the rates for information. Network resilience for information flow is an important goal for such systems. Game theory can provide insights into how human agents decide how to invest their efforts in strengthening information networks, and how policies can support more resilient networks. (2) For the case of within-plant signalling networks, each node has a comparable set of four main components: plant signals (often in the form of phytohormones) and development status, microbial communities and plant disease status, microbial signals (often in the form of quorum sensing molecules), and micro-environmental conditions, along with their interactions. In effect, human information is replaced by plant signals and microbial signals in this second model. The links between nodes have three parts: the rates for microbes, the rates for microbial signals (which may move separately from the microbes, themselves), and the rates for plant signals. Understanding how to enhance adaptive plant signalling networks and microbial signalling networks that support plant productivity, and disrupt microbial signalling networks that contribute to pathogenicity, will be an important step for improved disease management.
A note on the differential equation of steady, gradually non‐uniform flow in open channels

This note is intended to clarify the sign convention used in the derivation of the differential equation for steady, gradually non-uniform flow in open channels. This clarification is accomplished through the proper use of the reference axis. Such an equation is known to have special forms for various channel shapes. Equations for both the prismatic and non-prismatic channel are summarized.
The US heavy ion fusion program

Abstract This paper describes the US Heavy Ion Fusion Program in targets, target chambers and accelerators. It discusses the importance of economics in fusion research in the United States.
The roles of evaluation in academic settings

Abstract Academic evaluation is not a discipline, but a field of professional practice. It is not in jeopardy in many academic settings because it fulfills a variety of valued roles other than the production of generalizable knowledge. Although a theory of evaluation practice will not transform evaluation into a discipline, it is needed to guide practice and to improve methodological development. Evaluation utilization is likely to be an important theme in any such theory of evaluation practice.
Geographies of imperfection in telecommunication analysis

Abstract Rapid increases in computing power and data storage capacity, along with the continued evolution of commercial geographic information systems (GIS), have significantly widened the production and consumption of spatial data. Considering the varying disciplines (sociology, economics, public policy, city and regional planning, regional science, geography, etc.) investigating digital economies, the Internet, and telecommunications, it is no surprise that spatial data related to such topics is in high demand. Due to the technological complexities of telecommunication systems, however, analysts need to be aware of potential impacts associated with the use of imperfect spatial information when evaluating telecommunication infrastructure, particularly in the context of social, political, economic and environmental issues. More importantly, the implications of imperfect information on telecommunication policy development must be considered. The purpose of this paper is to explore how data imperfection is resident in a range of telecommunication analyses. A framework is presented for identifying and addressing spatial analysis sensitivities in the use of imperfect information. In addition, a case study examining imperfect information associated with digital subscriber line (xDSL) deployment in Columbus, Ohio is provided. Results suggest a significant difference in the proposed vs. actual availability of xDSL services in the study area.
THE IMPACT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE ATTENDANCE ON BACCALAUREATE ATTAINMENT

Community colleges are seen as contradictory institutions. Supporters contend that community colleges increase baccalaureate attainment by providing access to higher education for students who would otherwise not attend college, while critics argue that these institutions decrease baccalaureate attainment for students who would otherwise attend a 4-year institution. Using the National Education Longitudinal Study, this article advances the literature on the impact of community colleges on baccalaureate attainment by estimating new models that allow controlling for pathways of enrollment while using different measures of educational expectations and correcting for college choice. Findings suggest that community colleges significantly reduce the probability of attaining a bachelor’s degree, as compared to 4-year institutions, an effect that remains after having taken into account non-traditional enrollment pathways, educational expectations, and self-selection into 2-year and 4-year institutions.