cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Left atrial structure and function and clinical outcomes in the general population

Aims Left atrial (LA) structural and functional abnormalities may be subclinical phenotypes, which identify individuals at increased risk of adverse outcomes. Methods and results Maximum LA volume (LAmax) and LA emptying fraction (LAEF) were measured via cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in 1802 participants in the Dallas Heart Study. The associations of LAEF and LAmax indexed to body surface area (LAmax/BSA) with traditional risk factors, natriuretic peptide levels, and left ventricular (LV) structure [end-diastolic volume (EDV) and concentricity0.67 (mass/EDV0.67)] and function (ejection fraction) were assessed using linear regression analysis. The incremental prognostic value of LAmax/BSA and LAEF beyond traditional risk factors, LV ejection fraction, and LV mass was assessed using the Cox proportional-hazards model. Both increasing LAmax/BSA and decreasing LAEF were associated with hypertension and natriuretic peptide levels ( P < 0.05 for all). In multivariable analysis, LAmax/BSA was most strongly associated with LV end-diastolic volume/BSA, while LAEF was strongly associated with LV ejection fraction and concentricity0.67. During a median follow-up period of 8.1 years, there were 81 total deaths. Decreasing LAEF [hazard ratio (HR) per 1 standard deviation (SD) (8.0%): 1.56 (1.32–1.87)] but not increasing LAmax/BSA [HR per 1 SD (8.6 mL/m2): 1.14 (0.97–1.34)] was independently associated with mortality. Furthermore, the addition of LAEF to a model adjusting Framingham risk score, diabetes, race, LV mass, and ejection fraction improved the c -statistic ( c -statistics: 0.78 vs. 0.77; P < 0.05, respectively), whereas the addition of LAmax/BSA did not ( c -statistics: 0.76, P = 0.20). Conclusion In the general population, both LAmax/BSA and LAEF are important subclinical phenotypes but LAEF is superior and incremental to LAmax/BSA.
Integrated optical ring resonator with micromechanical diaphragms for pressure sensing

An optical pressure sensor has been fabricated which uses an integrated-optical ring resonator to measure the strain induced in a micromachined silicon diaphragm. A silicon substrate is etched from the side opposite the silicon oxynitride optical waveguides to produce a rectangular diaphragm whose long edge lies underneath a straight section in the ring. Pressure-induced changes in the resonant frequency of the ring are measured using a frequency swept laser diode. A linear response to pressure is observed for the TM mode with a sensitivity of 0.0094 rad/kPa. This pressure sensor is rugged, is amenable to batch fabrication, and it provides a link-insensitive readout. >
Characteristics of lung pericytes in culture including their growth inhibition by endothelial substrate

Abstract Pericytes and endothelial cells from the same sample of adult rat lung have been separately established in culture by use of selective growth media. The endothelial cells are positive and the pericytes negative for angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and tissue plasminogen activator. Morphologically in culture, the pericytes are similar to pericytes from bovine retina and other sites and show positive immunofluorescence to both human platelet (nonmuscle) myosin and smooth muscle myosin. In this respect they resemble smooth muscle cells grown from the rat main pulmonary artery, but lack the myofilaments and dense bodies characteristic of muscle cells. Lung endothelial cells and fibroblasts are positive only for platelet myosin. Pericytes in culture demonstrate an unusual growth response to endothelial substrate, obtained by removing confluent endothelial monolayers with nonionic detergent or alkali. When plated onto this material at low density, pericyte growth is inhibited. By contrast, the substrate stimulates the growth of endothelial cells and has no effect on smooth muscle cells. Initial attachment of endothelial cells and pericytes to the substrate is similar.
Tensile bond strength of acrylic resin denture teeth to a microwave- or heat-processed denture base

Abstract Statement of Problem. Fracture of acrylic resin prosthetic teeth from acrylic resin denture bases can be a problem for some patients. The optimal combination of acrylic resin denture tooth, denture base material, and processing method is not known. Purpose. The objective of this study was to compare the tensile bond strengths of heat- and microwave-polymerized acrylic resins among 4 types of acrylic resin denture teeth. Material and Methods. Heat-polymerized (Lucitone 199) and microwave-polymerized (Acron MC) acrylic resins were used. Four types of acrylic resin denture teeth (IPN, SLM, Vitapan, and SR-Orthotyp-PE) were milled to a fixed diameter according to ADA specification no. 15. Ten specimens of each tooth type were processed to each of the denture base materials according to the manufacturers' instructions. Ten additional resin control specimens without teeth also were fabricated. Specimens were thermocycled and tested for strength until fracture with a custom alignment device. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance and Duncan's multiple range test. A scanning electron microscope was used to identify adhesive and cohesive failures within debonded specimens. Results. The mean force required to fracture the specimens ranged from 5.3 ± 3.01 to 21.6 ± 5.2 MPa for the microwave-polymerized base and 11.2 ± 3.0 to 39.1 ± 5.1 MPa for the heat-polymerized base. The most common failure was cohesive within the denture tooth. With each base material, Orthotyp and IPN teeth exhibited the highest bond strengths; SLM and Orthotyp bond strengths were similar. In general, heat-polymerized groups failed cohesively within the denture base resin or the tooth, and microwave-polymerized groups failed adhesively at either the ridge lap or occlusal surface of the denture tooth. Conclusion. Within the limitations of this study, the results suggest that the type of denture base material and denture tooth selected for use may influence the tensile bond strength of the tooth to the base. Selection of more compatible combinations of base and resin teeth may reduce the number of prosthesis fractures and resultant repairs. (J Prosthet Dent 2002;88:145-50.)
Spartan Mirages: Fat, Masculinity, and “Softness"

Building upon previous research on structural tensions between the male body and certain features of ‘modernity’ as well as more recent inquiries into fat and gender in the West, this cross-disciplinary ‘thought piece’ argues that fatness and certain ‘masculine’ ideals have existed in a state of tension since ancient times, and that recurring references to the therapeutic violence of ‘Spartan’ techniques reflect the extent to which such ideas continue to circulate in the present. The first section shows that this tension is most clearly illuminated when we consider how the qualities of fat - as well as the act of fattening - have related to classical ideals about masculinity. The second offers examples of how references to Spartan ‘hardness’ have been cited since the eighteenth century as methods of restoring otherwise ‘soft’ males to a more appropriately vigorous mental and bodily state. Without arguing for an unbroken or unproblematic continuity between ancient and modern culture, it suggests that classical references represent what Pierre Bourdieu sees as ‘ the product of an incessant (and thus historical) work of reproduction ’.
A chirped-pulse regenerative-amplifier FEL for the gamma-gamma collider

During a Workshop on Gamma-Gamma Colliders in Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, it was pointed out that an 1-/spl mu/m laser that can produce 1-J, 1-ps pulses at a few hundred hertz is required. With high-power scalability and ease of formatting, an FEL can be a promising candidate for such a laser. We propose an FEL scheme based on chirped-pulsed regenerative amplification to achieve this high peak-power laser. The l-ps pulse of a solid-state laser will be stretched, amplified, and recompressed to achieve the high peak power. The system is relatively simple and consists of mostly components that have already been demonstrated. This paper will describe the proposal and the important issues of such a scheme.
Knowledge-level assessment of problem solving methods

The strong interest in knowledge level description of expert systems has led to various efforts defining and cataloguing AI problem solving methods and building methodologies and tools to use them. We address the issue of matching problem solving methods to tasks. This includes: deciding whether a method is applicable to the problem at hand; if it is applicable, assessing the extent of applicability in terms of quality of results, reliability, and so forth; and deciding how to configure the method for the problem at hand. The three issues are addressed in turn. We develop a documentation framework identifying all the features of the problem solving method and the features of the problem to which it is applied. We develop a procedure for analyzing these features and deriving an assessment of the scope and the quality of the application. We show how the analysis process produces a set of problem configuration guidelines helping system designers find the optimal way to model the problem.
Rethinking ectomycorrhizal succession: are root density and hyphal exploration types drivers of spatial and temporal zonation?

Ectomycorrhizal exploration types have become an increasingly popular functional explanation for observed patterns of fungal community structure. In this study, we examined the relationship between exploration types of ectomycorrhizal fungi and root density. We did so by sampling across a root density gradient formed by the edge-interior transition on ‘tree islands’, patches of ectomycorrhizal forest in a non-ectomycorrhizal vegetation matrix. We found evidence that long-distance exploration types were more prevalent in areas of low root density while short-distance exploration types were more common in areas of high root density. Gradients in root density are common in ectomycorrhizal forests and change predictably at forest edges, within a soil profile, or over early succession. Based on these results, we propose a general model using the concept of exploration types that could explain some of the spatial or temporal patterns commonly observed in ectomycorrhizal assemblages.
PREVENTING MISMATCH OF HOMOGENEOUS COMPONENTS IN THE DESIGN OF SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE

The objective of this work is to examine the feasibility of, as well as to learn about, a process of developing software architecture that prevents the possibility of mismatch between homogeneous components implemented according to the architectural specification. This paper shows how the architecture can be organized, which restrictions it can use and, provided that they are used, how elaborate it should be in order to ensure that independently-developed artifacts are structurally compatible. Two components are deemed structurally compatible as long as they have appropriate code to avoid mismatch. Since the focus of the paper is on the structural forms of mismatch, the results are derived under the assumption that no run-time environment can prevent a component from executing any path in its code. The paper develops a formal model of architecture that provides a minimal set of concepts in terms of which the designers can reason about incompatibility of components. The model is used to identify the causes of structural mismatch and examine alternative ways of eliminating these causes. Following that, the paper adopts a set of architectural restrictions and shows how these restrictions can be applied in the design of software architectures to prevent the possibility of structural mismatch.
A Three Dimensional Kinematic and Kinetic Study of the Golf Swing

This paper discusses the three-dimensional kinematics and kinetics of a golf swing as performed by 84 male and one female amateur subjects of various skill levels. The analysis was performed using a variable full-body computer model of a human coupled with a flexible model of a golf club. Data to drive the model was obtained from subject swings recorded using a multi-camera motion analysis system. Model output included club trajectories, golfer/club interaction forces and torques, work and power, and club deflections. These data formed the basis for a statistical analysis of all subjects, and a detailed analysis and comparison of the swing characteristics of four of the subjects. The analysis generated much new data concerning the mechanics of the golf swing. It revealed that a golf swing is a highly coordinated and individual motion and subject-to-subject variations were significant. The study highlighted the importance of the wrists in generating club head velocity and orienting the club face. The trajectory of the hands and the ability to do work were the factors most closely related to skill level.
Volume Flexible Strategies in Health Services: A Research Framework

The prevalence of fluctuating demand is increasingly seen as a serious and ongoing issue facing the health services industry. Volume flexibility in a health care setting represents a means to improve service delivery and it allows organizations to leverage their scarce resources for optimal utilization in response to fluctuations in patient demand. This paper develops a research framework that describes four volume flexible strategies based on literature reviews and structured field interviews of health care administrators at a Carnegie I research and teaching hospital. This prescriptive framework and the propositions that are developed create a foundation to help guide future research on the important relationships between demand uncertainty, volume flexible strategies, and organizational performance.
Computation of a Solenoid as a Ratio of Areas and a Geometric Interpretation of the Arakawa Jacobian

Abstract A formula for the computation of a solenoidal term, for example, k · (∇ψ × ∇ϒ) or ∂(ψ,ϒ)/∂(x, y) in Jacobian form, from three or more noncollinear stations or grid points is presented. The formula is based on a geometric interpretation of the solenoid as the ratio of an elementary area (expressed as a line integral) in ψ–ϒ dependent-variable or phase space to the corresponding area in the x–y plane. The Arakawa finite-difference Jacobian on a rectangular grid in physical space is shown to be a linear combination of such ratios. Thus the Arakawa method is a line-integral method. The new interpretation readily provides the forms of the Jacobian at boundary points needed to maintain the integral constraints in a closed domain. Elementary properties of Jacobians ensure that the Arakawa Jacobian can be used on a regular mesh in any general orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system, thus permitting the use of “stretched” grids that have a lesser density of grid points away from boundaries and also away ...
Angiosperm Phylogeny: A Framework for Studies of Genome Evolution

Our understanding of plant phylogeny has improved dramatically in recent years through large-scale collaborative analyses and the application of molecular data, from single genes to entire plastid genomes. Likewise, many clade-specific analyses have clarified relationships within some of the largest groups of angiosperms. Recent advances in angiosperm phylogenetics in particular have played a significant role in selecting taxa for genetic analysis and genome sequencing. Here we summarize current methods in phylogeny reconstruction and look toward future, large-scale approaches. Finally, we provide an overview of plant phylogeny, with an emphasis on angiosperms, based on the past two decades of research. This phylogeny reveals repeated patterns of radiation throughout the angiosperms and frequent episodes of whole-genome duplication.
Federal Aid to the States: Historical Cause of Government Growth and Bureaucracy

Federal spending on aid to the states increased from $286 billion in fiscal 2000 to an estimated $449 billion in fiscal 2007 and is the third-largest item in the federal budget after Social Security and national defense. The number of different aid programs for the states soared from 463 in 1990, to 653 in 2000, to 814 by 2006. The theory behind aid to the states is that federal policymakers can design and operate programs in the national interest to efficiently solve local problems. In practice, most federal politicians are not inclined to pursue broad, national goals; they are consumed by the competitive scramble to secure subsidies for their states. At the same time, federal aid stimulates overspending by the states, requires large bureaucracies to administer, and comes with a web of complex regulations that limit state flexibility. To help spur reform, this study examines the historical growth of the aid system and describes its failings. Congress should reconsider the need for aid and begin terminating activities that could be better performed by state and local governments and the private sector.
Matters of life and death

John Cairns Princeton University Press, £12.95, pp 260 ISBN 0 691 00250 9 ——————— Rating: ![Graphic][1] ![Graphic][2] The biomedical community has only recently recognised the importance of its educational duties towards the lay public: biologists and clinicians know that didactic information provided to the general population impacts directly on research activities and helps implement their clinical applications. Therefore, attempts to promote wider understanding of science should be regarded as public spirited acts. However, popularisation … [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif
INTEGRATED PLANNING OF BEV PUBLIC FAST-CHARGING STATIONS

Abstract An abstract-map-based multi-layer optimization strategy is proposed to achieve an integrated planning of public fast-charging stations (PFCSs) to charge light-duty battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in a given geographical region, aiming to improve application of BEVs and finally enhance social welfare in a long term by optimally locating PFCSs and assigning their installed capacities to maximize the possibility of effectively charging BEVs, minimize PFCSs' infrastructure cost and mitigate negative impacts on both the transportation system and the power system. In the first layer of the proposed multi-layer strategy, the conditions of the transportation system are considered, while in the second layer, the conditions of the electric power system are taken into consideration. Finally in the third layer, an integrated planning of PFCSs is achieved by combining the consideration of both of the first two layers. On each layer from the first to the last layer, all the analysis, methodology, mathematical modeling, and case study are based on an abstract map which is rooted in the actual map of a representative geographical region. After the optimal results based on the abstract map are obtained, they are mapped back to the actual map of the representative geographical region. The results from the same case but considering different conditions, studied on each layer, are compared to prove the effectiveness and advantage of the integrated planning strategy of PFCSs.
Reducing Energy Consumption of Pneumatic Artificial Muscles With Component Integration

Pneumatic artificial muscle (PAM) is a class of flexible muscle-like actuator with low structure weight and high power density. In this paper, an integrated PAM design is presented, which incorporates peripheral elements, especially the control valves, in the interior space of the actuator to reduce the size and complexity of the entire system. More importantly, the incorporated components are expected to largely eliminate the dead volume in the PAM actuator, and improve its energy efficiency. An energy consumption analysis is presented, which estimates the maximum percentage of achievable energy savings. A practical design, incorporating standard poppet valves is also presented. To demonstrate the energy saving effect of the proposed design, experiments were conducted with a commercial PAM actuator modified to incorporate a solid bar. Experimental results indicate an energy savings of up to 13%, which is expected to increase significantly with the custom-made integrated PAM actuators in the future.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Enzyme Studies in Muscular Dystrophy. I. Muscle Proteolytic Activity and Vitamin E-Deficiency.∗

Summary1. The proteolytic activity of homogenates and extracts of muscles of rabbits with muscular dystrophy induced by vit. E-deficiency was assayed with denatured hemoglobin as substrate. 2. Vit. E-deficiency resulted in increased proteolytic activity per g wet weight of muscle and per mg of muscle protein nitrogen of both the extracts and homogenates. 3. No change in proteolytic activity of spleen, kidney or liver was observed during vit. E-deficiency.
Small mammals of Pyramid Lake and Anaho Island (Nevada)

Abstract We report on a survey of the small mammal communities of Anaho Island and the mainland surrounding Pyramid Lake in the Great Basin of western Nevada. Ten rodent species were detected on the mainland, but only the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) was detected on Anaho Island. Although the mean abundance of deer mice on the Pyramid Lake mainland was more than double that of Anaho Island (12.5 ± 10.1 individuals per trap grid compared with 5.0 ± 3.4 individuals per trap grid), we did not detect a significant difference between locations. Deer mice on Anaho Island were significantly larger in body size (mean body length = 86 ± 4 mm) than mainland mice (mean = 75 ± 7 mm), but it is unclear what mechanisms might have produced the observed divergence in body size.
Wave-Induced Seepage Effects on a Vertical Cylinder

This study deals with the seepage effects experienced by a large, vertical, circular cylinder resting on a submerged bed of sand when planar water waves interact with it. Potential theory is used to describe the seepage flow field. The sea bottom pressure condition is determined from the water field velocity potential derived by MacCamy and Fuchs (1954) in the case of planar waves diffracted by a large impervious cylinder. Consideration is also given to cylinders with a thin circular base whose diameter exceeds that of the cylinder itself. The problem formulation as well as the initiation of the analysis apply to the general case of a bed of sand with finite depth. For the case of infinite depth of the porous medium, theoretical solutions for the seepage pressure are obtained in the form of infinite integrals. Theoretical solutions for the pressure along the cylinder circular base are then derived, leading by integration to closed form expressions for the wave-induced seepage uplift force and overturning moment exerted on the cylinder. These expressions for the force and moment, which are presented in non-dimensional form are shown to be universal functions of a unique variable. Graphs are provided so that very few computations are required to determine the uplift force and overturning moment exerted on a cylinder. A comparison with various approximate theories reveals the present theory to be the only one which gives reliable results in general. The amplitude and phase angle of the oscillating wave-induced pressure along the cylinder base are determined numerically. Results for the pressure amplitude are presented as non-dimensional ratios to the amplitude of the pressure that would prevail if no cylinder were disturbing the wave field. Expressions for the exit gradient around the cylinder base are also determined. Contours of the ratio of the exit gradient to the one that would prevail in the absence of a cylinder are presented. Laboratory measurements of uplift pressure amplitudes on a circular cylinder show good agreement with theoretical calculations.
Megas and Gigas Educate (MaGE): A Curricular Peer Mentoring Program (Abstract Only)

The Megas and Gigas Educate (MaGE) program is a peer mentoring program being developed at Mount Holyoke College, a liberal arts college for women, for the introductory CS curriculum. Consistent with national trends, interest in CS is rising rapidly; current resources cannot meet demand while maintaining quality feedback and pedagogy. Supported by a Google Computer Science Capacity Award, MaGE has three main objectives: (1) to triple enrollment capacity over 3 years in introductory courses; (2) to increase enrollment and retention for women and other underrepresented groups; (3) to train students to educate, mentor, and support others in inclusive ways. Trained undergraduate students act as peer mentors to beginner students, providing close interaction and assisting with feedback. MaGE is currently being piloted in the introductory CS1 course. Enrolled students bring varying interests, including Art, History, Biochemistry, Economics and Engineering; most students have no prior programming experience. Each CS1 student is assigned a peer Giga Education Mentor (or GEM) in a 9:1 ratio. GEMs have undergone a rigorous training course that raises awareness of the role of social identity in learning, emphasizes active learning within computer science, and provides preparation for being technical peer mentors. While research supports the need for culturally-sensitive, inclusive training as part of the curriculum, we know of few peer-based models in CS that explicitly include this education. By building a diverse set of peer role models and connecting with the pre-existing co-curricular Megas and Gigas mentoring program, MaGE seeks to effectively engage underrepresented students in computing.
Computed tomography for evaluation of the small airway disease in asthma.

Small airway dysfunction and remodeling are known to influence the disease control and progression in asthma. We investigated the small airway involvement in asthmatic patients by correlating data derived from computed tomography (CT) and pulmonary function test (PFT). The CT lung scans were acquired at full inspiration and expiration using a portable spirometer to control the respiratory manoeuvers. PFT was performed before and after bronchodilator test with salbutamol 400 mcg, measuring lung volumes and flows, airway resistance (Raw) and single-breath nitrogen washout (SBN2W). Up to now, 25 patients with mild-to-moderate asthma were studied. Fifteen had a good control of the disease at the time of the study as reflected by an Asthma Control Test (ACT) score ≥ 20. The mean lumen area (LA), measured in the left lower lobe posterior-basal segmental bronchus (LB10), correlated directly with the forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) (r=0.60, p=0.002) and inversely with Raw (r=-0.52, p=0.011). The wall area percent (WA%) in the LB10 correlated inversely with FEV1 (r=-0.55, p=0.004)and directly with Raw (r=0.50, p=0.014). Air trapping, expressed as expiratory Voxel Index -856 HU (%), correlated inversely with FEV1 (r=-0.82, p
The Research on The Academic Goals of Education System based on The Analytic Hierarchy Process

Based on the scientific concept of development,accorded to the people-oriented,this paper analyzed the problems about the academic goals of education in the university,and used the analytic hierarchy process to analyze the academic of education,and provided the quality service for the students,and got the innovative working ideas and method for the student work.
Mice with Dab1 or Vldlr insufficiency exhibit abnormal neonatal vocalization patterns

Genetic and epigenetic changes in components of the Reelin-signaling pathway (RELN, DAB1) are associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk. Social communication deficits are a key component of the ASD diagnostic criteria, but the underlying neurogenetic mechanisms remain unknown. Reln insufficient mice exhibit ASD-like behavioral phenotypes including altered neonatal vocalization patterns. Reelin affects multiple pathways including through the receptors, Very low-density lipoprotein receptor (Vldlr), Apolipoprotein receptor 2 (Apoer2), and intracellular signaling molecule Disabled-1 (Dab1). As Vldlr was previously implicated in avian vocalization, here we investigate vocalizations of neonatal mice with a reduction or absence of these components of the Reelin-signaling pathway. Mice with low or no Dab1 expression exhibited reduced calling rates, altered call-type usage, and differential vocal development trajectories. Mice lacking Vldlr expression also had altered call repertoires, and this effect was exacerbated by deficiency in Apoer2. Together with previous findings, these observations 1) solidify a role for Reelin in vocal communication of multiple species, 2) point to the canonical Reelin-signaling pathway as critical for development of normal neonatal calling patterns in mice, and 3) suggest that mutants in this pathway could be used as murine models for Reelin-associated vocal deficits in humans.
Stereochemistry Balances Cell Permeability and Solubility in the Naturally Derived Phepropeptin Cyclic Peptides.

Cyclic peptide (CP) natural products provide useful model systems for mapping “beyond-Rule-of-5” (bRo5) space. We identified the phepropeptins as natural product CPs with potential cell permeability. Synthesis of the phepropeptins and epimeric analogues revealed much more rapid cellular permeability for the natural stereochemical pattern. Despite being more cell permeable, the natural compounds exhibited similar aqueous solubility as the corresponding epimers, a phenomenon explained by solvent-dependent conformational flexibility among the natural compounds. When analyzing the polarity of the solution structures we found that neither the number of hydrogen bonds nor the total polar surface area accurately represents the solvation energies of the high and low dielectric conformations. This work adds to a growing number of natural CPs whose solvent-dependent conformational behavior allows for a balance between aqueous solubility and cell permeability, highlighting structural flexibility as an important cons...
SU-G-206-15: Effects of Dose Reduction On Emphysema Score

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of reducing radiation dose levels on emphysema scores from lung cancer screening CT exams. Methods: 52 cases were selected from the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST) patients for which we had both the image series and the raw CT data. All scans were acquired with fixed effective mAs (25 for standard-sized patients, 40 for large patients) on a 64-slice scanner (Sensation 64, Siemens Healthcare) using 120kV, 64×0.6mm collimation and pitch 1.0. All images were reconstructed with 1mm slice thickness, B50 kernel. Based on a previously-published technique, we added noise to the raw data to simulate reduced-dose versions at 50% and 25% of the original dose (approximately 1.0- and 0.5-mGy CTDIvol). Lung segmentations were obtained via region growing from manual seed point at a threshold of 600HU followed by manual removal of trachea and major airways. Lung segmentations were only performed on original dose scans, and mapped to simulated reduced-dose scans. Emphysema scores based on relative area of lung with attenuation values lower than −950HU (RA950) were computed for all cases. Results: Average RA950 of all 50 cases were 31.6 (±5.5), 32.5 (±4.9) and 32.8 (±4.6) for 100%, 50% and 25% dose level respectively. The average absolute difference in RA950 between simulated and original dose scans were 1.0 (±0.7) and 1.4 (±1.1) for 50% and 25% dose level respectively. Conclusion: RA950 is relatively robust to dose level, with a difference of no more than 5 from the original dose scans. The average RA950 of this population was high for a two reasons: This was a high risk population of patients with substantial smoking history; The use of B50 kernel, which may be biased towards high emphysema scores. Further exploration with smoother kernels will be conducted in the future. Institutional research agreement, Siemens Healthcare; Past recipient, research grant support, Siemens Healthcare; Consultant, Toshiba America Medical Systems; Consultant, Samsung Electronics; NIH grant support from U01 CA181156
Survivorship Issues Among Muslim Women with Cancer

Surviving breast cancer is the hope of every woman who receives a diagnosis of breast cancer. Increasingly, women diagnosed with breast cancer in early stages can expect to live beyond 5 years. Survivorship, defined as anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer, encompasses a number of challenges: cultural, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual. Muslim women in America may face unique challenges. This chapter examines key survivorship issues related to Muslim women in the United States who face breast cancer, with recommendations for service delivery targeting both their unique and common concerns as cancer survivors.
The market and consumer welfare effects of mid-level ethanol blends in the US fuel market

Abstract This study examines the prospect that a consumer-driven market could eventually replace the myriad regulations and demand quotas in the US ethanol and gasoline fuel market. Given efficient households that minimize the cost of operating automobiles, recent vehicle technology that improves blended fuel substitution, and typical market conditions of the last five years, blended fuels with 20% ethanol concentration could occupy a volume of 82.2 billion gallons in a 138.3 billion gallon gasoline market. The consumer welfare gain associated with blended fuel is $15.9 billion annually for US consumers, or about $1000 over the life of a vehicle. The ethanol demand associated with a voluntary blended fuel market is 16.4 BGY, slightly more than the conventional component of the Renewable Fuels Standard. It is time to replace the corn RFS with a free market. But an active competition policy in the fuel marketing system may also be required. Intervention for the impending Biomass Ethanol Industry, such as a subsidy or an exemption a carbon tax, may also be in order.
Emerging Applications for Ceramic Membranes

(1990). Emerging Applications for Ceramic Membranes. Materials and Processing Report: Vol. 5, No. 6, pp. 4-5.
A Review of the Thermal-Mechanical Structures at Convergent Plate Boundaries and their Implications for Crust/Mantle Recycling

Oceanic plates are derived from the mantle at mid-ocean ridges. They migrate away until they reach convergent zones where they subduct into the mantle and in time they will be assimilated through heating. This represents the large scale crust/mantle recycling process. There are other processes that contribute to recycling at smaller scales. Island arc volcanism and back-arc spreading at convergent plate boundaries are some of the examples. Dynamic motions responsible for recycling are driven largely through thermal mechanisms. In this paper we review the thermal mechanical processes at zones of plate convergence and their implications to geological recycling processes. From a thermal point of view, plate subduction represents the cooling of the mantle since “cold” lithospheric plates are being returned to the “hot” interior. However, surface geological observations do not support the notion that extensive cooling has occurred within the mantle surrounding a descending slab, although the slab itself remains relatively cool. Active island arc volcanism and the high heat flows observed in back arc regions suggest the existence of a hot mantle above the subducting slab, produced by induced motions or secondary processes, that play an important role in influencing local geological evolution.
When, where, and why we enter: Black women’s curriculum theorising

For people of color have always theorized – but in forms quite different from the Western form of abstract logic. And I am inclined to say that our theorizing (and I intentionally use the verb and ...
Content Analysis of Vomit and Diarrhea Cleanup Procedures To Prevent Norovirus Infections in Retail and Food Service Operations.

ABSTRACT Human noroviruses are the leading cause of foodborne disease in the United States, sickening 19 to 21 million Americans each year. Vomit and diarrhea are both highly concentrated sources of norovirus particles. For this reason, establishing appropriate cleanup procedures for these two substances is critical. Food service establishments in states that have adopted the 2009 or 2013 U.S. Food and Drug Administration Food Code are required to have a program detailing specific cleanup procedures. The aim of our study was to determine the alignment of existing vomit and diarrhea cleanup procedures with the 11 elements recommended in Annex 3 of the 2011 Supplement to the 2009 Food Code and to determine their readability and clarity of presentation. In July 2015, we located vomit and diarrhea cleanup procedures by asking Norovirus Collaborative for Outreach, Research, and Education stakeholders for procedures used by their constituency groups and by conducting a Google Advanced Search of the World Wide W...
Organizational Infrastructure in the Collegiate Athletic Training Setting, Part III: Benefits of and Barriers in the Medical and Academic Models

Context: Academic and medical models are emerging as alternatives to the athletics model, which is the more predominant model in the collegiate athletic training setting. Little is known about athl...
Men in Slow Motion: Male Gesture in “Two Gallants”

In this chapter, Enda Duffy examines gesture in Dubliners, arguing that Joyce’s characters express physical movement in a paralyzed city, “only with the moist strenuous, agonizing, muscle-wrenching effort.” Duffy sees gesturing as an attempt to overcome paralysis. Echoing Giorgio Agamben’s statement that “By the end of the nineteenth century, the Western bourgeoisie had definitely lost its gestures,” Duffy notes that the opening of “Two Gallants” certainly bears this statement out: both men are fidgety and jittery, nervous and full of fret. Moreover, he sees the story as a story that explores the pathologies of unemployment and notes that “Two Gallants” is a “taxonomy of laughs and smiles, almost every one of them strangely distorted, stilted, strangled before it can be natural.” Yet, it is Corley who has the last laugh, and by attending specifically to the men’s gestures in the story, Duffy offers an exciting new reading of the work.
Risk for microbial keratitis: Comparative metaanalysis of contact lens wearers and post-laser in situ keratomileusis patients

Purpose To compare the risk for microbial keratitis in contact lens wearers stratified by wear schedule with the risk after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Setting Hamilton Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Design Comparative metaanalysis and literature review. Methods An extensive literature search was performed in the PubMed database between December 2014 and July 2015. This was followed by a metaanalysis using a mixed-effects modeling approach. Results After 1 year of daily soft contact lens wear, there were fewer microbial keratitis cases than after LASIK, or approximately 2 cases fewer cases per 10 000 ( P = .0609). If LASIK were assumed to have essentially a 1-time risk for microbial keratitis, 5 years of extrapolation would yield 11 more cases per 10 000 with daily soft contact lens wear than with LASIK, or approximately 3 times as many cases ( P P P Conclusions Microbial keratitis is a relatively rare complication associated with contact lens use and LASIK postoperatively. The risk for microbial keratitis was similar between patients using contact lenses for 1 year compared with LASIK. Over time, the risk for microbial keratitis was higher for contact lens use than for LASIK, specifically with extended-wear lenses.
Sonophoresis: Ultrasound-Mediated Transdermal Drug Delivery

Transdermal drug delivery offers a patient-compliant mode of drug administration. Its applications, however, are limited to low-molecular-weight hydrophobic drugs. Application of ultrasound has been shown to enhance transdermal transport of drugs, a phenomenon known as sonophoresis. Ultrasound under various conditions has been used to perform sonophoresis. The use of low-frequency ultrasound (f < 100 kHz) is particularly effective in enhancing skin permeability. Low-frequency sonophoresis has been shown to enhance skin permeability to various small and large molecules including proteins. A device based on low-frequency ultrasound has also been approved for human use. This chapter provides an overview of the historical perspective, mechanisms, and applications of low-frequency ultrasound.
Explaining Behavior and Development in the Language of Psychology

This paper has had as its aim the instigation of renewed attention to the doctrine of reductionism, especially in terms of its implications for the relationship of physiology and psychology. Despite the empirical character of the ultimate answer, it is asserted that the questions involved in the doctrine may properly be the concern of a logical analysis. After briefly sketching four propositions which constitute essential notions of reductionism, the argument focused upon the logical possibility of a complete translatability or derivability of the concepts and laws of psychology from those of physiology. The central contention was that the latter, lacking terms to describe the behavioral environment, was logically inadequate as a base for a thoroughgoing reduction of the former. The remainder of the paper commented upon the relationship of the doctrine to the idea of a hierarchical ordering of the sciences and to the possibility of achieving a unification of science.
On-package mm-wave FSS integration with 3D-printed encapsulation

This work outlines the design, simulation, and fabrication of a millimeter-wave (mm-wave) frequency selective surface (FSS) integrated directly onto a 3D-printed die encapsulation. The cross-shaped slot FSS is designed to function as a bandpass filter centered at 77 GHz for on-package tunability. Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing is used to fabricate encapsulations for silicon dies attached to a metallic QFN leadframe. Surface profilometry is used to assess the roughness of the SLA-printed surfaces, yielding roughness 25× lower than standard fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing techniques. Finally, inkjet printing is used in a post-process fashion to fabricate the package-integrated FSS directly onto a 3D-printed die encapsulation as a proof-of-concept demonstration.
LEFT ATRIAL APPENDAGE “SMOKE” AND STROKE RISK FOLLOWING CARDIOVERSION

Direct current cardioversion (DCCV) is proven to restore sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation. Thrombus seen on transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) however precludes the procedure. Though not indicative of a thrombus, spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) on TEE has been independently
EFFECT OF ETHANOL ON THE NUMBER OF TRITIUM ATOMS INCORPORATED FROM TRITIATED WATER INTO HEPATIC CHOLESTEROL DURING ITS BIOSYNTHESIS FROM MEVALONATE IN VIVO

In vivo incorporation of tritium from tritiated water into hepatic sterol was determined as a function of various dosages of DL-mevalonate in meal-fed rats. The number of μg atoms tritium incorporated per μmole of cholesterol synthesized reached a constant value of around 10.6 between the dosages of 2–10 mmoles of DL-mevalonate injected per kilogram body weight. This value agrees very closely with the theoretically calculated value of 9.5 based upon the biosynthetic steps from mevalonate to cholesterol. A single acute dose of ethanol, which is known to markedly alter the redox potentials of the cytoplasmic free pyridine nucleotide complex, did not significantly alter this value% Thus the tritium incorporation method reflects a true measure of sterol synthetic rate. The total number of μg atoms tritium incorporated per μmole of cholesterol on the basis of the biosynthetic steps from acetyl CoA to cholesterol was calculated to be 14.5. Since 18 μmoles of acetyl units are utilized per mole of cholesterol synthesized it follows that 1.24 μmoles acetyl units are incorporated per g atom of tritium. Accordingly, the rate of hepatic sterol synthesis in meal-fed rats in vivo was determined to be 3.48 ± 0.15 μmoles acetyl units per gram wet weight of liver per hour.
From Inclusion to Exclusion: Marginalization Across Nations

Starting with the incorporation of Darfur into colonial Sudan, the incorporation of Benishangul-Gumuz to Ethiopia, and that of coastal Kenya to British Kenya, this chapter argues that incorporation was not followed by effective government administration and that these regions were considered as different categories from the center. Although they joined the center, their histories of gravity belong across the border to their neighboring countries (Chad, Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia, respectively) and they were effectively isolated, neglected, marginalized, and severely underdeveloped.
Speech privacy criteria for closed rooms in terms of speech privacy class (SPC) values

This paper describes a new set of speech privacy criteria in terms of Speech Privacy Class (SPC) values. SPC values can be used to specify the required speech privacy for new construction or to assess the speech privacy of existing closed rooms. The ASTM E2638 measurement standard defines SPC as the sum of the measured average noise level at the position of a potential eavesdropper outside the room, and the measured average level difference between a source room average and the transmitted levels at the same location. With a given combination of level difference and ambient noise level, the likelihood of transmitted speech being audible or intelligible can be related to the probability of higher speech levels occurring in the meeting room, based on the statistics of speech levels from a large number of meetings. For a particular SPC, there is a speech level for which transmitted speech would be at the threshold of intelligibility. The probability of higher speech levels occurring is the probability of a speech privacy lapse at that SPC value. A set of increasing SPC values corresponding to increasing speech privacy are proposed and for each SPC value, one can give the probability of transmitted speech being either audible or intelligible. This makes it possible to accurately specify speech privacy criteria for meeting rooms and offices, varying from conditions of quite minimal to extremely high speech privacy, with an associated risk of a speech privacy lapse which is acceptable for each situation.
The Impact of Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose Threshold Guidelines on Prescribed Dose in a Workers' Compensation Population.

Background Prescription opioid overdose has increased markedly and is of great concern among injured workers receiving workers' compensation insurance. Given the association between high daily dose of prescription opioids and negative health outcomes, state workers' compensation boards have disseminated Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose (MEDD) guidelines to discourage high-dose opioid prescribing. Objective To evaluate the impact of MEDD guidelines among workers' compensation claimants on prescribed opioid dose. Methods Workers' compensation claims data, 2010-2013 from 2 guideline states and 3 control states were utilized. The study design was an interrupted time series with comparison states and average monthly MEDD was the primary outcome. Policy variables were specified to allow for both instantaneous and gradual effects and additional stratified analyses examined evaluated the policies separately for individuals with and without acute pain, cancer, and high-dose baseline use to determine whether policies were being targeted as intended. Results After adjusting for covariates, state fixed-effects, and time trends, policy implementation was associated with a 9.26 mg decrease in MEDD (95% confidence interval, -13.96 to -4.56). Decreases in MEDD also became more pronounced over time and were larger in groups targeted by the policies. Conclusions Passage of workers' compensation MEDD guidelines was associated with decreases in prescribed opioid dose among injured workers. Disseminating MEDD guidelines to doctors who treat workers' compensation cases may address an important risk factor for opioid-related mortality, while still allowing for autonomy in practice. Further research is needed to determine whether MEDD policies influence prescribing behavior and patient outcomes in other populations.