cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human Factors Issues for Automated Highway Systems

Abstract The automated highway system (AHS) is “the application of vehicle/highway automation technology to provide significant improvements in traffic safety, throughput, travel times, comfort, convenience, energy, and [the] environment.” Under a contract with the Federal Highway Administration to investigate human factors aspects of the design of the AHS, 14 experiments and several analytical tasks have been conducted. The results of the experiments and analytical work on automated-steering failures are reviewed, followed by a summary of the implications of that work for automated highway systems. Then, several critical human factors research issues - from a list of 62 developed during the contract - are presented and discussed.
Similar but Different: Sociocultural Attitudes towards Appearance, Body Shape Dissatisfaction, and Weight Control Behaviors among Male and Female College Students.

Abstract Background: Although females have a higher incidence of eating disorders than males, there is evidence that among college students both males and females are vulnerable to risk factors associated with eating disorders. Purpose: To explore the relationship between sociocultural attitudes towards appearance (SCATA), body shape (dis)satisfaction (BSD), and attempts to change body weight among male and female college students. Methods: Participants were undergraduates (n=224) attending a large southeastern university. A paper-pencil survey was completed that included demographic information, SATAQ-R, the Contour Drawing Rating Scale, and a single item assessing current attempts at changing body weight. Results: Logistic regression models revealed that factors related to current attempt to change body weight differed by gender. The two significant factors observed for males included Internalization of SCATA (OR=1.18) and BSD (OR=3.16). Significant factors for females included awareness of SCATA (OR=1....
Processor Utilization in Multiprogramming Systems via Diffusion Approximations

Cyclic queuing systems have been proposed by several authors in the study of the behavior of multiprogrammed computer systems. Programs in the system wait for service at the central processor unit CPU; then, after page fault or input-output request at a data transmission unit DTU, the process repeats until the program completes. Semi-Markov analysis of such systems, based on the apparently plausible assumption of independently but exponentially distributed CPU burst time, and independent, but nearly constant DTU tune may be conducted. This paper presents some very simple approximations based on a continuous-state approximation-the simple diffusion with two reflecting barriers-to describe the CPU utilization. Computational experience from which the quality of the approximations can be assessed is reported.
Inclusions and inhomogeneities in strain gradient elasticity with couple stresses and related problems

Abstract At small length scales and/or in presence of large field gradients, the implicit long wavelength assumption of classical elasticity breaks down. Postulating a form of second gradient elasticity with couple stresses as a suitable phenomenological model for small-scale elastic phenomena, we herein extend Eshelby’s classical formulation for inclusions and inhomogeneities. While the modified size-dependent Eshelby’s tensor and hence the complete elastic state of inclusions containing transformation strains or eigenstrains is explicitly derived, the corresponding inhomogeneity problem leads to integrals equations which do not appear to have closed-form solutions. To that end, Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion method is extended to the present framework in form of a perturbation series that then can be used to approximate the elastic state of inhomogeneities. The approximate scheme for inhomogeneities also serves as the basis for establishing expressions for the effective properties of composites in second gradient elasticity with couple stresses. The present work is expected to find application towards nano-inclusions and certain types of composites in addition to being the basis for subsequent non-linear homogenization schemes.
Rigid-Body Trajectory Reconstruction

References 1Lanchester, F. W., Aerodonetics, Archibald Constable, London, 1908. 2Etkin, B., and Reid, L. D., Dynamics of Flight: Stability and Control, Wiley, New York, 1996. 3Nelson, R. C., Flight Stability and Automatic Control, McGraw–Hill, New York, 1990. 4Roskam, J., Airplane Flight Dynamics and Automatic Flight Controls, Vol. 1, Roskam Aviation and Engineering Corp., Lawrence, KS, 1979. 5Pradeep, S., “A Century of Phugoid Approximations,” Aircraft Design, Vol. 1, 1998, pp. 89–104. 6Ananthkrishnan, N., and Unnikrishnan, S., “Literal Approximations to Aircraft Dynamic Modes,” Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics, Vol. 24, No. 6, 2001, pp. 1196–1203. 7Phillips, W. F., “Phugoid Approximation for Conventional Airplanes,” Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 37, No. 1, 2000, pp. 30–36.
Impact of the stereochemistry of benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol 9,10-epoxide-deoxyadenosine adducts on resistance to digestion by phosphodiesterases I and II and translesion synthesis with HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Spatial orientations of bulky DNA adducts can influence the extent of resistance to digestion by exonucleases and translesion synthesis by HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-1 RT). In order to determine how different diastereomers of benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol 9,10-epoxide (BPDE)-adducted DNAs influence the activity of these enzymes, 11-mer and 33-mer oligodeoxyribonucleotides were synthesized bearing site-specific and stereospecific BPDE adducts at adenine N6 on position two of the human N-ras codon 61. Phosphodiesterase I, which hydrolyzes DNA in the 3‘→5‘ direction, exhibited greater resistance opposite the lesion with C10-R BPDE-adducted templates than the corresponding C10-S adducts. However, the opposite stereoselective resistance to digestion was observed with phosphodiesterase II, which hydrolyzes DNA in the 5‘→3‘ direction. These results are complemented by the in vitro replication pattern exhibited with HIV-1 RT. Primer extension reactions under conditions defining single encounters between po...
Targeting angiogenesis for the treatment of prostate cancer

Introduction : While multiple therapies exist that prolong the lives of men with advanced prostate cancer, none are curative. This had led to a search to uncover novel targets for prostate cancer therapy, distinct from those of traditional hormonal approaches, chemotherapies, immunotherapies and bone-targeting approaches. The process of tumor angiogenesis is one target that is being exploited for therapeutic gain. Areas covered : The most promising anti-angiogenic approaches for treatment of prostate cancer, focusing on clinical development of selected agents. These include VEGF-directed therapies, tyrosine kinase inhibitors, tumor-vascular disrupting agents, immunomodulatory drugs and miscellaneous anti-angiogenic agents. While none of these drugs have yet entered the market for the treatment of prostate cancer, several are now being tested in Phase III registrational trials. Expert opinion : The development of anti-angiogenic agents for prostate cancer has met with several challenges. This includes disc...
Superconducting order parameter in the transition region

Abstract The temperature dependence of the superconducting order parameter in the transition region is obtained by retaining in the Ginzburg-Landau theory the effects of higher order interactions. Illustrative numerical results are exhibited for one- and two-dimensional systems.
Timewarp: techniques for autonomous collaboration

This paper presents a set of techniques for supporting autonomous collaboration—collaboration where participants work independently for periods, and then join together to integrate their efforts. This paper posits that autonomous collaboration can be well-supported by systems in which the notion of time is made both explicit and editable, so that the parallel but divergent states of a shared artifact are exposed in the interface. We have developed a system, called timewarp, that explores these ideas, and provides support for distribution, awareness, and conflict resolution in an application-independent fashion.
Tobacco and lung cancer.

In June 1997, representatives of 40 state attorneys general and of five of the six American tobacco companies jointly announced an historic agreement. In this agreement, for the first time, the tobacco industry admitted that cigarette smoking caused disease. After decades of investigation and the publishing of literally thousands of scientific studies, the tobacco industry acknowledged a link between smoking and lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disorders and a number of other maladies. Parenthetically, the industry also conceded that nicotine, the principle ingredient in tobacco, is addictive. The details of this agreement, the costs, the resulting regulations, indeed the entire political future of the agreement, remains to be worked out. What is historic, and pertinant to this article, is the admission by the tobacco industry of the central role tobacco plays in development of lung cancer, one of the most important killers of the latter half of the 20th century. The admission of this link completes the circle that started with the very use of tobacco, leading through the identification of risks associated with tobacco, to the efforts directed toward cessation and prevention of smoking.
Molecular consequences of BEST1 gene mutations in canine multifocal retinopathy predict functional implications for human bestrophinopathies

Purpose. Bestrophin-1 gene (BEST1) mutations are responsible for a broad spectrum of human retinal phenotypes, jointly called bestrophinopathies. Canine multifocal retinopathy (cmr), caused by mutations in the dog gene ortholog, shares numerous phenotypic features with human BEST1-associated disorders. The purpose of this study was the assessment of molecular consequences and pathogenic outcomes of the cmr1 (C73T/R25X) premature termination and the cmr2 (G482A/G161D) missense mutation of the canine model compared with the C87G/Y29X mutation observed in human patients.
Acquisition of mid-infrared spectra from nonrepeatable events with sub-100-micros temporal resolution using planar array infrared spectroscopy.

A novel method is presented that is capable of collecting time-resolved vibrational spectroscopic information with sub-100-μs temporal resolution. Unlike previous step scan FT-IR approaches, the ph...
Fluorescent probes for nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide in cell signaling

Nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) have emerged as essential small molecules for cellular signal transduction owing largely to their ability to mediate oxidative posttranslational modifications (PTMs). Inventing new ways to track these small, diffusible, and reactive species with spatial and temporal resolution is a key challenge in elucidating their chemistry in living systems. Recent progress in the development of fluorescent probes that respond selectively to NO and H(2)O(2) produced at cell signaling levels offers a promising approach to interrogating their physiological production, accumulation, trafficking, and function.
Adding dependent choice

Abstract Le: ZF be Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory and DC be the principle of dependent choice. This paper presents a uniform method for transforming a ZF model of a statement θ into a ZF + DC model of θ.
Minimally invasive hemodynamic monitoring and goal-directed therapy

To the extent possible, hemodynamic monitoring should be non-invasive, continuous and reflect metabolic qualities, such as tissue blood flow and oxygen delivery. Recent advances in technologies have created new opportunities to switch from more invasive and risky monitoring to less invasive eons. However, degradation of signal quality and understanding of the relation between these newer minimally invasive and non-invasive measures with more traditional invasive ones is central to their effective use. Finally, since no monitoring device improves patient outcome unless coupled to a treatment that improves patient outcome, finding common pathways to integrate these newer monitoring devices into proven treatment algorithms will be an essential part of their integration into clinical practice.
Intramedia Mediation: The Cumulative and Complementary Effects of News Media Use

This study focuses on one often overlooked political communication-based media effect, intramedia mediation, and the indirect effects that stem from relationships that exist among various forms of media use. Data from a 2000 national Annenberg election panel survey are used to assess a series of relationships between television and newspaper public affairs use and how these forms of media consumption affect citizens' knowledge of presidential campaign endorsements. The indirect effects that stem from the relationships that exist among these two forms of media use reflect the cumulative and complementary functions of mass communication consumption across time. An analysis of intramedia mediation in coordination with the study of the direct effects of public affairs media use on this study's outcome variable produces substantially larger overall effects for both forms of news use. Thus, the study of intramedia mediation contributes to a better understanding of the full range of media influences on a given o...
A sand/granular carbon filtration treatment system for removing aqueous pesticide residues from a marine toxicology laboratory effluent

Abstract Flow-through toxicity tests using marine organisms can generate large volumes of contaminated seawater effluent which should be treated to remove the contaminants before discharge into the environment. We have developed a sand filtration/carbon treatment system that removes from these effluents a diversity of organophosphate, organochlorine and pyrethroid pesticide residues down to their detection limit. The sand filter removed an average of 72% (range 4–99%) of the chemicals by continuously filtering suspended particulates and chemicals associated with the particulate. Following sand filtration, effluent water slowly percolates through granular carbon. Overall, organic removal efficiencies average 91% (range 24–99%). Initial construction cost was less than $20,000.
Lightest U-parity Particle (LUP) dark matter

Abstract We suggest a U ( 1 ) ′ gauge symmetry as an alternative to the usual R-parity of supersymmetric standard models, showing that it can also work as a common source of stabilities of proton and dark matter in addition to other attractive features. The residual discrete symmetries of a single U ( 1 ) ′ can provide stabilities to both the MSSM sector (proton) and the hidden sector (new dark matter candidate, LUP). The LUP can expand the viability of many models such as R-parity violating models and gauge mediation models regarding dark matter issue.
Homicide and Nativity: A Look at Victimization and Offending in Los Angeles County

Immigration has been associated with crime. Whether immigrants are more involved than native-born persons in violent crime, in general, and in homicide, in particular, is less clear. The authors addressed the latter question by examining the 9,442 homicides from 1990 to 1994 in Los Angeles County. To avoid attributing to nativity the risk associated with age, gender, and ethnicity, population structure differences of the two groups were taken into account. Immigrants are at slightly higher risk of becoming a homicide victim than native-born persons. Offense rates are difficult to interpret because in 42.3% of the homicides, no suspect was identified; using data from known suspects, U.S.-born persons are 1.29 times more likely than foreign-born persons to commit homicide. The nature of the homicides of immigrants and by immigrants are, with some exceptions, substantially similar to the homicides of and by natives. More and better data are needed to inform policy.
Effect of Krebiozen on Lymphoid Tumor Transplants in Chickens

Abstract INTRODUCTION A REPORT (Ivy, 1951) was given in Chicago in March, on “Krebiozen, an agent for the treatment of malignant tumors.” The material, Krebiozen, is a biological agent separated from the serum of the horse by Dr. Stephen Durovic, after stimulation of its reticulo endothelial cells. Durovic hypothesized that Krebiozen was the regulator of cellular proliferative activity. The material used in these tests was obtained * in sealed glass ampules, containing 0.01 mg. of the Krebiozen dissolved in 1 cc. of paraffin oil No. 9. EXPERIMENTAL RPL strain 16 tumor (Burmester and Prickett, 1945) was chosen as the test inoculum. The tumor material was secured from a pool of the 61st passage of a pectoral muscle lymphoid tumor RPL strain 16. This material was known to produce tumors in practically all birds of line 15 (El Dardiry et al., 1952) which is a line of chickens bred for a number of . . .
California Safety-Net Hospitals Likely To Be Penalized By ACA Value, Readmission, And Meaningful-Use Programs

The Affordable Care Act includes provisions to increase the value obtained from health care spending. A growing concern among health policy experts is that new Medicare policies designed to improve...
Strength and Anthropometric Characteristics of Selected Offensive and Defensive University-Level Football Players:

Prediction of football-playing ability from several tests of power and anthropometric measures and a prediction of body fat from several skinfold sites was determined among university-level footbal...
Pseudo-cold-fronts in the USA

Beginning with Bergeron’s analysis of a pseudo-cold-front over the Middle Western United States, the general characteristics of this phenomenon are described in relation to convective cloud systems with organized persistent circulations. Features reviewed include the roles of condensation and evaporation in driving these circulations, their relation to the synoptic-scale environment including the supply of water vapor, the character of the pseudo-cold-front boundary, and the distribution of precipitation related to severe storm circulations.
Efficiency of zinc fertilization for flooded rice

Several Zn-deficient soils from the major rice growing areas in the USA were characterized with respect to extractable and labile Zn and other parameters including available P, pH, organic matter, and cation exchange capacity. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to determine whether the above factors influence the response of several rice cultivars to ZnSO4 or ZnEDTA applied as a mixed preplant treatment or to the floodwater at panicle initiation. Response of the rice to Zn varied widely among soils with labile Zn (L value) being a poor indicator of Zn availability and soil pH, and DTPA or 2 N MgCl2 extraction of Zn being the most reliable indices. Soil incorporation prior to flooding was more effective than floodwater application for the initial crop, but both methods of placement were comparable for a subsequent ratoon crop. In either situation, ZnSO4 was superior to ZnEDTA. Recovery of Zn from ZnSO4 was generally less than 5 percent where Zn response was obtained and up to 14 percent from nonresponsive soils.
Positive contrast ventriculography with Dimer X in hydrocephalus.

Ventriculograms using Dimer X, a water soluble contrast medium, were carried out on 24 patients to find the cause of abnormal increase in head size. Two patients had convulsions after the examination, but their clinical condition before the examination was such that the Dimer X could not be held to be solely responsible. There were no long term after-effects in any of the patients. The dose of Dimer X should be restricted to 5 ml., and this should be placed in the third ventricle under television control. In eight patients with spina bifida cystica in whom this was done, the aqueduct, fourth ventricle and basal cisterns were well outlined. Attention is drawn to the shape of the aqueduct and anterior wall of the third ventricle in patients suffering from myelomeningocoele, and to the gross upward herniation of the midbrain through the tentorium which occurred in two patients with myelomeningocoele and long standing ventriculo-atrial shunts. More information is gained if air is injected after the Dimer X, and prone and supine films taken. Premedication with diazepam is recommended before the procedure. The contrast medium Dimer X is recommended for the diagnosis of lesions in the posterior fossa.
Secondary carnitine deficiency and impaired docosahexaenoic (22:6n‐3) acid synthesis: a common denominator in the pathophysiology of diseases of oxidative phosphorylation and β‐oxidation

A critical analysis of the literature of mitochondrial disorders reveals that genetic diseases of oxidative phosphorylation are often associated with impaired β-oxidation, and vice versa, and preferentially affect brain, retina, heart and skeletal muscle, tissues which depend on docosahexaenoic (22:6n-3)-containing phospholipids for functionality. Evidence suggests that an increased NADH/NAD+ ratio generated by reduced flux through the respiratory chain inhibits β-oxidation, producing secondary carnitine deficiency while increasing reactive oxygen species and depleting α-tocopherol (α-TOC). These events result in impairment of the recently elucidated mitochondrial pathway for synthesis of 22:6n-3-containing phospholipids, since carnitine and α-TOC are involved in their biosynthesis. Therapeutic supplementation with 22:6n-3 and α-TOC is suggested.
Controlling fragmentation and space consumption in the metronome, a real-time garbage collector for Java

Now that the use of garbage collection in languages like Java is becoming widely accepted due to the safety and software engineering benefits it provides, there is significant interest in applying garbage collection to hard real-time systems. Past approaches have generally suffered from one of two major flaws: either they were not provably real-time, or they imposed large space overheads to meet the real-time bounds.Our previous work [3] presented the Metronome, a mostly non-copying real-time collector. The Metronome achieves worst-case pause times of 6 milliseconds while maintaining consistent mutator CPU utilization rates of 50% with only 1.5-2.1 times the maximum heap space required by the application, which is comparable with space requirements for stop-the-world collectors.However, that algorithm assumed a constant collection rate, ignored program-dependent characteristics, and lacked a precise specification for when to trigger collection or how much defragmentation to perform. This paper refines the model by taking into account program properties such as pointer density, average object size, and locality of object size. This allows us to bound both the time for collection and consequently the space overhead required much more tightly. We show experimentally that most parameters usually are not subject to large variation, indicating that a small number of parameters will be sufficient to predict the time and space requirements accurately.Our previous work also did not present the details of our approach to avoiding and undoing fragmentation. In this paper we present a more detailed analysis of fragmentation than in previous work, and show how our collector is able to bound fragmentation to acceptable limits.
An Analysis of Children's Strategies for Reading Mathematics

Students “doing” mathematics ultimately results in students reading mathematics. This reading of mathematics is manifested in students reading words, symbols (including numerals), and visuals such as diagrams and graphs. Furthermore, students' successful response to word problems engages them in reading mathematics in the context of real − life or contrived situations presented in text. There are a variety of skills that students might use to read mathematics in these various arenas, and in most cases, multiple skills are utilized. This article presents the cases of two fourth grade students engaged in reading a children's trade book with embedded mathematics and in reading from their mathematics textbook. The authors found that the students utilized the knowledge from their daily lived experiences (from direct and indirect engagements) to assist them with the mathematics in the trade book and used conceptual understanding rather than formal procedures in response to the text of the mathematics textbook.
Psychosocial factors in cardiovascular disease: implications for therapeutic outcomes

The etiology of cardiovascular diseases is complex, involving the interaction of genetic, biologic, behavioral and psychosocial factors. The role played by psychosocial factors in the etiology and progression of cardiovascular diseases stems from several sources: their influence on behaviors that either promote health or increase risk, the neuroendocrine changes accompanying emotions and their interaction with genetic factors. The focus of this article is the elucidation of pathways that mediate the effects of psychosocial factors on cardiovascular health and the implications for clinical intervention.
The use of novel, direct diode lasers for large area hard-facing and high deposition rate cladding to enhance surface wear and corrosion resistance

The objective of this paper is to introduce large area heat treating and cladding processes using novel, free space diode lasers as a means to reduce re-manufacturing costs and extend field lifetime of components. Lasers have been explored as an option for hard-facing and repair of metal surfaces for several years. This paper will describe how recent advances in diode laser design have resulted in enhanced process yields, improved quality and increased throughput, while also minimizing operating cost. A quantitative study shows that the time needed to cover a one square meter area during heat treating, and also during cladding applications, decreases by a factor of approximately 2.5, even when the laser power has only been increased by a factor of 1.75. This assumes the line beam length has also been increased to take full advantage of the additional laser power.
Scanning Processes and Sentence Recognition

This report summarizes an experiment designed to study the disruptive effects on immediate recall of interfering with the ability to scan ahead. Sentences were printed on paper tape which was pulled through a window, the size of which could be controlled. There were two exposure widths, three rates of tape movement, and three types of material which varied in length: equational and transitive sentences as well as random strings of words. Errors increase as the exposure width is decreased, and the magnitude of the disruptive effect is most marked for the longer sentences and the faster rate of presentation. A possible explanation is advanced emphasizing the likelihood that Ss store information in a sensory register and scan that register in order to segment sentences into phrases, phrases into words, and words into smaller functional units. As one limits exposure width, one interferes with the transfer of information into the sensory register and with the processing of information after it is stored in the register.
Deceived by ease of use: using paradigmatic applications to build visual design environments

Application frameworks for visual design environments usually offer a wide range of features and easyto-use mechanisms to develop applications. We observed that sometimes those features deceive application designers: Tempted by the desire to make rapid progress, designers go into too much detail about easy things too early in the process, like graphical representations. After the easy-to-use mechanisms have been exploited, they find themselves stuck and frustrated. Premature design decisions made during the feature-driven phase can corrupt application system architecture or require abandonment of much work. Extensive rework endangers project success. Paradigmatic applications can help to bridge the gap between application framework features and intended application – better than manuals or additional features can. As examples and sources for reusable components, this special kind of exemplary applicationsdirects the attention of designers to higher-level building blocks and helps them to avoid premature feature exploitation. We characterize paradigmatic applications and describe their impact on the design process.
Petrology and major element geochemistry of Peru margin phosphorites and associated diagenetic minerals: authigenesis in modern organic -rich sediments

Abstract New petrographic and major element geochemical data from modern Peru margin upper slope-outer shelf phosphorites are presented, which provide insight into their origin and paragenetic relationship with other authigenic minerals (glauconite, pyrite and dolomite) occurring in organic-rich sediments. Glauconites are precipitated relatively early following the partial reduction of ferric iron and, following this process, phosphate, pyrite, and then dolomite precipitation take place at progressively deeper levels in the sediment in association with microbial reduction of sulfate. As in many ancient economic phosphorite deposits, the phosphatic facies here consist of nodules, crusts, coatings and strata composed of phosphatic pelletal grains (ooids, structureless grains, intraclasts, clumps and biogenic grains) in association with organic-rich biosiliceous sediments. All are considered to have formed within a few centimeters or within a few tens of centimeters below the sediment-water interface. Important factors that influence which morphology will tend to develop include the amount of available pore space, the presence of suitable nucleation sites, the amount and size of siliciclastic detritus incorporated as inclusions and the relative solution chemistries of the precipitating solutions. Bacterial mediation may play an important, but as yet unspecified role in the precipitation process. Textural data and factor analysis of chemical data suggest that structureless pellets are relatively inclusion-free Na-F-Mg-CO3-substituted pore-water precipitates whereas ooids are inclusion-rich pore-water precipitates poor in lattice-substituted components. Variations in nodular cement birefringence and crystallinity are suggested to have been produced by similar lattice substitutions that directly reflect pore-water carbonate ion concentrations and thus relative degrees of organic-matter degradation. Phosphate and dolomite are intimately mixed, yet mineralogically distinct phases in phosphatized dolomicrites. Depth-stratified threshold carbonate ion concentrations may control the lower limit at which phosphatic minerals may precipitate. Below depths of a few centimeters, excessive carbonate ion concentrations and diminished reactive iron and sulfate concentrations favor the development of dolomite while precluding further development of phosphatic minerals and pyrite. Periodic sediment reorganization (bioturbation, current winnowing and erosion, mass wasting, etc.) plays an important role in both concentrating pelletal grains and maintaining nodules and crusts at critical depth levels in the sediment, as well as mixing ordered mineral parageneses into complicated sequences.
Smoking and outcomes after knee and hip arthroplasty: a systematic review.

Objective. Studies have suggested higher rates of perioperative and postoperative complications in smokers compared to nonsmokers. The objective of this systematic review was to assess the association of smoking and postoperative outcomes following total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Methods. A search of 6 databases (The Cochrane Library, Scopus, Proquest Dissertation abstracts, CINAHL, Ovid Medline, and Embase) was performed by a Cochrane librarian. All titles and abstracts were screened by 2 independent reviewers with expertise in performing systematic reviews. Studies were included if they were fully published reports that included smoking and any perioperative or postoperative clinical outcome in patients with TKA or THA. Results. A total of 21 studies were included for the review, of which 6 provided multivariable-adjusted analyses, 14 univariate analyses, and one statistical modeling. For most outcomes, results from 1–2 studies could be pooled. Current smokers were significantly more likely to have any postoperative complication (risk ratio 1.24, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.54) and death (risk ratio 1.63, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.51) compared to nonsmokers. Former smokers were significantly more likely to have any post-operative complication (risk ratio 1.32, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.66) and death (risk ratio 1.69, 95% CI 1.08 to 2.64) compared to nonsmokers. Conclusion. This systematic review found that smoking is associated with significantly higher risk of postoperative complication and mortality following TKA or THA. Studies examining longterm consequences of smoking on implant survival and complications are needed. Smoking cessation may improve outcomes after THA or TKA.
A Consulting Model for Providing Integration Opportunities for Preschool Children with Disabilities

Project STIP (Supported Transition to Integrated Preschools) implemented and evaluated a teacher consulting model to increase integration opportunities for preschool children with disabilities who were served in self-contained special education classrooms in a public school system. The model is appropriate for children with a variety of disabilities. Evaluation data on program curriculum change and consumer satisfaction are presented. These data show that parents and preschool regular educators evaluated the model positively and identified the opportunity to collaborate with special educators as essential for successful integration. In addition, these data demonstrate that integration opportunities increased during the 3 years of the project.
A segmented polyurethane composite prosthetic anterior cruciate ligament in vivo study

A segmented polyurethane prosthetic anterior cruciate ligament prototype has been developed and its in vivo integrity assessed in canine subjects. Prosthetic ligaments surgically implanted for 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16 months were assessed clinically in living subjects, at time of autopsy, and microscopically postautopsy. It was found that the ligaments were adequate in strength to provide stability and last for periods up to 16 months. Notching of the ligaments was observed at two designated friction points.
Vibration platform testbed for deep-space aquisition, tracking, and pointing

A model for the Precise Acquisition, Tracking and Pointing (ATP) system will be discussed and experimental performance data will be presented.
Full results of the Evidence of Interferon Dose-Response-European North American Comparative Efficacy (EVIDENCE) study: A multicenter, randomized, assessor-blinded comparison of low-dose weekly versus high-dose, high-frequency interferon β-1a for relapsing multiple sclerosis

Abstract Background: Interferon (IFN)-β therapy represents an important advance in the management of relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS), but information about the relative benefits and risks of available preparations is limited. Objective: This report describes the full results of the Evidence of Interferon Dose-response-European North American Comparative Efficacy (EVIDENCE) study, combining analyses that were previously reported in separate publications for different phases of the study. Methods: The EVIDENCE study was a multicenter, randomized, assessor-blinded comparison of 2 IFN-β dosing regimens. In the study, patients with relapsing MS were randomly assigned to SC IFN-β1a 44 lag TIW (Rebif ® , Serono Inc., Geneva, Switzerland) or IM IFN-βla 30 μg QW (Avonex ® , Biogen Idec, Cambridge, Massachusetts) for 1 to 2 years. The primary clinical end point during the comparative phase was the proportion of patients who remained free from relapses; secondary and tertiary clinical end points included the annualized relapse rate and time to first relapse, re- spectively. All clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluations were performed by blinded assessors. In the crossover phase of the study, patients who were originally randomized to low-dose QW treatment switched to the high-dose TIW treatment for an additional 8 months. Adverse events were determined by spontaneous reporting and monthly laboratory testing during the comparative phase. Results: A total of 677 patients were enrolled in the study and evenly randomized to treatment; 605 patients completed the comparative phase and 439 completed the crossover phase. During the comparative phase, a significantly higher proportion of patients in the high-dose TIW treatment group remained free from relapses when compared with patients in the low-dose QW treatment group (adjusted odds ratio, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.1-2.0; P = 0.023). The high-dose TIW regimen was also associated with a significant reduction in the annualized relapse rate (−17%; P = 0.033) and a prolonged time to first relapse (hazard ratio, 0.70; P = 0.002). MRI measures of disease activity were significantly reduced in the high-dose TIW group compared with the low-dose QW treatment. During the crossover phase, a 50% reduction in mean relapse rates was observed in patients who converted from low-dose QW treatment to high-dose TIW treatment ( P P P Conclusions: The comparative phase of the EVIDENCE study found that treatment of MS with SC IFN-β1a 44 μg TIW was associated with a significant reduction in clinical and imaging measures of disease activity over 1 to 2 years, when compared with IM IFN-βla 30 μg QW treatment. The crossover phase found that patients who changed from low-dose QW treatment to high-dose TIW treatment experienced enhanced benefits of treatment without a substantial increase in adverse events.
When job “openings” weren’t: Estimates of the extent of informal network hiring in sociology, 1965–1972

Depuis plusieurs annees, des sociologues (specialement ceux qui sont sur le marche du travail et ceux qui enseignent) cherchent a savoir si certaines « ouvertures » d'emploi annoncees publiquement sont reellement ouvertes dans les faits. L'article propose un reexamen des donnees des bulletins d'emploi de l'Association Americaine de Sociologie, relatives aux annees 1965-1972 et 1984-1989, qui permet d'estimer la progression des emplois informels en sociologie au cours de la premiere periode
Geochronology of drowned Hawaiian coral reefs

Abstract Two deeply submerged coral reefs were sampled with the HURL submersible Pisces V off the islands of Hawaii and Maui. An ancient fringing reef at 950 m depth on the Kohala slope of Hawaii was observed from deep-towed camera photographs and during submersible operations. A second reef at 1650 m depth on the Haleakala slope of Maui was observed on side-scan images, deep-towed camera photographs and during submersible observations. Ages of the two reefs were determined by electron spin resonance dating with a signal intensity for aragonitic coral at g = 2.0007 used to ascertain the accumulated dose by the additive dose method. Uranium concentration was measured by neutron activation analysis. The chronology of the reefs indicates that drowning coincided with periods of rapid global climate change at the termination of continental glaciation at approximately 250 ka and 340 ka. The drowning events correlate with oxygen isotope stage boundaries 7 8 and 9 10 . These data support models of reef drowning on subsiding volcanic edifices.
Nonlinear Tapping-Tip Dynamics in Atomic Force Microscopy

Tapping or intermittent contact atomic force microscopy (AFM) is widely used scanning probe techniques for high resolution imaging, manipulation and nanolithography. The presence of van der Waals forces and nanoscale impacts render highly nonlinear the dynamics of the AFM microcantilever while it operates in the tapping mode. A comprehensive nonlinear analysis of the nonlinear dynamics of AFM microcantilevers tapping on a nanostructure using the theoretical and computational tools of modern nonlinear dynamics has not yet been presented. Also, a rational connection between certain features of the tip-sample interaction potential and the nonlinear response has not been established satisfactorily. To address this problem, we have combined both experimental and nonlinear computational analysis of the tapping response of a microcantilever as a function of the excitation frequency. We show that this approach enables a comprehensive understanding of the nonlinear dynamic behavior observed in AFM experiments.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Weighing lysimeter systems for quantifying water use and studies of controlled water stress for crops grown in low bulk density substrates

Abstract An autonomous weighing lysimeter system is explained in detail for quantifying water use for a wide range of species and plant sizes in greenhouse and outdoor environments. Complete computer programs for managing these systems are provided. The system is scalable and based on the direct measurement of mass using hermetically sealed and temperature compensated S-type load cells. It is designed for measurement of single plants growing in low bulk density substrates in containers suspended from above. With light substrates matched to load cell capacity, accuracies up to 0.25 g kg −1 measured (0.025%) can be achieved. An example of programming versatility for the study of long term deficit irrigation on shrub and tree growth is reviewed. A single value in the program regulates adjustable rates of controlled implementation of water stress that can be sustained once the desired level is achieved. Details and examples of mechanical components are provided along with solutions to issues that arose over time. A web page for complete programs written in EDLOG and CRBasic for 16 lysimeter systems is provided for reference for discussions of key programming components. The system is amendable to any crop that can be grown in low bulk density substrates where the emphasis is on transpiration and plant size, while root volume or extent is of minimum concern.
Quantitative Lewis/Brönsted Ratios Using DRIFTS

The extinction coefficient ratio (ECR) of coordinatively bonded pyridine (Lpy) and protonated pyridine (Bpy) was determined in situ by diffuse-reflectance FTIR spectroscopy (DRIFTS), by exposing sulfated zirconia (SZ) containing chemisorbed pyridine to water vapor. Both pure and KBr-diluted SZ samples were analyzed. The linearity with concentration of the Kubelka−Munk transformation was verified for pyridine interacting with the undiluted SZ samples. The portability of published ECR values between transmission and diffuse-reflectance IR spectroscopy, as well as between different types of materials, was found questionable. For the SZ samples analyzed, following a statistical analysis of the data, an Lpy/Bpy ECR value of 2.05 ± 6.3% was determined, resulting in the calculation of an initial Lewis/Bronsted acidity ratio value of 1.1 in the freshly activated material. This ECR determination method should be applicable to other similar solid acids that have a window of relative transparency in the 1600−1400 cm...
Garnets with dodecahedral rare earths and scandium, octahedral scandium, and tetrahedral iron. I. Compositional and structural studies

It has been found possible to prepare garnets with magnetic trivalent rare-earth ions filling all or most dodecahedral sites while nonmagnetic Sc/sup 3 +/ ions fill all octahedral sites and magnetic Fe/sup 3 +/ ions fill all or most tetrahedral sites. Phase-pure garnets found include (RE/sub 3-y/Sc/sub y/)(Sc/sub 2/)(Fe/sub 3/)O/sub 12/, where RE is Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, or Dy, and y can be zero with Sm and Eu; (Nd/sub 3/)(Sc/sub 2/)(Fe/sub z/Ga/sub 3-z/)O/sub 12/; and other Nd--Sc--Fe garnets with small amounts of Y, Gd, or Lu added in order to bring z up to 3. Results are interpreted in terms of size factor and comfort factor.
Interaction of Aging and Exercise on the Cardiovascular System of Healthy Adults

Following physical maturity, all body functions inevitably progressively decline with aging; however, there is a great deal of variability in the rate of decline and the associated development of significant functional impairments. Both genetic and lifestyle factors, including physical activity habits, contribute to this variability in physiological changes, as well as to the associated risk of chronic degenerative diseases. The effect of healthy natural aging on functional capacity and its related cardiovascular and respiratory contributors has primarily been studied by cross-sectional and, less frequently, by longitudinal studies. In these studies, physically active men and women at all ages were observed to have a superior functional capacity, as well as a lower rate of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality, as compared with matched sedentary individuals. In addition, a limited number of studies, involving healthy elderly men and women, have demonstrated that moderate-to-vigorous exercise trai...
Factors that influence healing in chronic venous ulcers treated with cryopreserved human epidermal cultures.

background. Cryopreserved epidermal cultures (CEC) offer an “off the shelf” treatment for chronic wounds. These cultures are derived from neonatal foreskin and grow rapidly in vitro to form epidermal sheets. They do not require a biopsy from the patient, an advantage compared to autografts. They seem to act as a biological dressing, stimulating epithelialization from the wound edges and adnexae, probably through growth factor release. objective. To summarize our recent experience with the use of CEC in chronic venous leg ulcers and to determine the factors that influence healing in chronic venous ulcers treated with CEC. patients and methods. A single arm, open label study including a total of 11 patients with documented venous ulcers was performed. The study involved the application of cryopreserved epidermal cultures every other week to nonhealing leg ulcers for a total of 12 weeks or until complete healing of the ulcer. results. A total of 11 patients with one or more leg ulcers were treated. The average age was similar in healed and unhealed groups. Seven patients completely healed after an average of 4.14 CEC applications. Four patients did not heal after a total of 12 CEC applications. conclusion. Predictors for failure to heal after CEC application in our patients were long wound duration, wound size, presence of lipodermatosclerosis, and history of failed prior split-thickness skin grafts.
A control-theoretic approach to flow control

This paper presents a control-theoretic approach to reactive flow control in networks that do not reserve bandwidth. We assume a round-robin-like queue service discipline in the output queues of the network's switches, and propose deterministic and stochastic models for a single conversation in a network of such switches. These models motivate the Packet-Pair rate probing technique, and a provably stable rate-based flow control scheme. A Kalman state estimator is derived from discrete-time state space analysis, but there are difficulties in using the estimator in practice. These difficulties are overcome by a novel estimation scheme based on fuzzy logic. We then present a technique to extract and use additional information from the system to develop a continuous-time system model. This is used to design a variant of the control law that is also provably stable, and, in addition, takes control action as rapidly as possible. Finally, practical issues such as correcting parameter drift and coordination with window flow control are described.
Aztec cannibalism : An ecological necessity?

It has been proposed that Aztec human sacrifice and cannibalism can best be explained as a response to population pressure and famine. The greatest amount of cannibalism, however, coincided with times of harvest, not with periods of scarcity, and is better explained as a thanksgiving. Tenochtitlan recevied large quantities of food tribute and engaged in intensive (chinampa) agriculture. These two sources alone would have provided enough to feed practically the entire population of the city. The Aztecs also consumed various animals and insects that were good protein sources. The amount of protein available from human sacrifice would not have made a significant contribution to the diet. Cannibalism was not motivated by starvation but by a belief that this was a way to commune with the gods.