cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vertebral fracture assessment using the lateral scoutview of computed tomography in comparison with radiographs.

Semiquantitative vertebral fracture assessment was compared between lateral computed tomography (CT) scoutviews and conventional thoracolumbar spinal radiographs. Vertebral levels T4–L4 were assessed by both techniques in a group of 56 women (mean age 60 + 13 years). In order to compare inter- and intra-observer variabilities for the two techniques, the images were analyzed twice by two independent observers, and percentage agreement and kappa statistics were measured both between readings and between observers. Percentage agreement and kappa statistics were also used to quantify differences between techniques. In the CT scoutviews, noise and artifacts from overlying tissues in the thoracic spinal levels rendered 3.4% of the vertebrae unreadable for the first observer and 8.3% for the second observer. For the CT scoutviews the agreement between readings was 98.1%, 97.3% and 100% (k = 0.87, 0.83 and 1.0) on T4–L12, T4–12 and L1–4, respectively for the first observer, and 97.8%, 97.1% and 99.5% (k = 0.79, 0.73 and 0.92) for the second observer. For the lateral radiographs, the agreement between readings was 97.7%, 96.9% and 100% (k = 0.87, 0.85 and 1.0) on T4–L12, T4–12 and L1–4, respectively for the first observer, and 98.4%, 97.7% and 99.5% (k = 0.86, 0.82 and 0.95) for the second observer. The agreement between observers was 96.1%, 94.4% and 100% (k = 0.68, 0.58 and 1.0) on T4–L12, T4–12 and L1–4, respectively for the CT scout-views and 96.8%, 95.9% and 99.0% (k = 0.79, 0.76 and 0.91) for the lateral radiographs. The inter-technique was 95.8%, 94.2% and 99.5% (k = 0.73, 0.68 and 0.95) on T4–L12, T4–12 and L1–4, respectively for the first observer and 95.6%, 94.2% and 99.0% (k = 0.64, 0.55 and 0.90) for the second observer, with the scoutview technique detecting, on average, 23% fewer fractures than the lateral radiographs. Although the vertebral fracture detection in lumbar spine is quite comparable to that of conventional radiographs, given its reduced sensitivity for vertebral fracture detection in thoracic spine, the lateral CT scoutview technique should not be substituted for conventional radiographs where diagnosis of all vertebral fractures is of primary importance.
Evaluation of genome‐derived amplicon length polymorphism PCR primers for the genetic evaluation of related strains of Salmonella*

Aims: The intent of this study is to exploit both the genetic diversity and conservation demonstrated between the Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovar Typhi CT18 and Salm. enterica ssp. enterica serovar Typhimurium LT2 genomes by utilizing amplicon length polymorphism (ALP) to detect and differentiate various Salmonella strains. Methods and Results: Methods of ALP-PCR analysis were developed based on identifying DNA sequence deletions within highly homologous regions of the Salm. Typhi CT18 and Salm. Typhimurium LT2 genomes. This study describes the application of genome-based ALP-PCR using primer pairs designed to detect genomic differences present within both Salmonella genomes and evaluated against a reference set of Salmonella strains. Conclusions: This study defines a collection of primer sequences broadly distributed along the Salmonella genome that can differentiate various Salmonella strains. Significance and Impact of the Study: Genome-based ALP-PCR provides a useful and powerful analytical method to evaluate variability within a group of Salmonella strains independent of serological, phenotypic or other molecular approaches.
Organometallic π-complexes XXI. Vilsmeier formylation of biferrocene

Abstract Biferrocene undergoes the Vilsmeier formylation reaction to produce a mixture of many formylated biferrocenes. Both 1′-formyl and 1′,1‴-diformylbiferrocene have been isolated and characterized, and certain reactions of these substances have been investigated.
Trans-Mediterranean comparison of geochemical paleoproductivity proxies in a mid-Pleistocene interrupted sapropel

Abstract Sapropel layers in the sediment record of the Mediterranean Sea reflect periods of climate-induced elevated marine production associated with precessional minima. Some of these layers feature interruptions that represent centennial-to-millennial returns to the predominantly low-productivity conditions of this sea. We have measured multiple geochemical paleoproductivity proxies in the interrupted sapropel layer that corresponds to insolation cycle 90 (955 ka) at 1-cm intervals in a four-site transect from the Balearic Basin to the Levantine Basin to assess similarities and differences in its expression at the four locations. The interrupted sapropels are similarly divided by an organic-carbon-poor interval into an upper layer in which organic carbon concentrations reach 2–7 wt.% and a lower layer in which they peak between 1 and 3 wt.%. The interruption was essentially synchronous in the Balearic Basin, the Tyrrhenian Basin, and the Ionian Basin, but it was delayed and shorter in the Levantine Basin. Lighter nitrogen isotope compositions consistently accompany higher organic carbon accumulation rates in the sapropel layers, which implies a shift from coccolith-dominated organic matter production towards a mode of primary production in which cyanobacteria were important during times of sapropel deposition. Organic carbon isotopic compositions become heavier as organic carbon accumulation increases at three of the locations, which is consistent with elevated productivity. However, they become lighter at the Levantine Basin site, which suggests greater delivery of isotopically light fluvial waters to this part of the Mediterranean Sea. The local paleoclimate conditions conducive to sapropel formation evidently were not completely uniform across the Mediterranean region but their occurrences were synchronous. Moreover, the co-existence of an essentially same-age interruption of the sapropels at the four locations shows that climate could change rapidly and concordantly across the region at much less than precessional intervals.
Which Algorithm for Scheduling Add-on Elective Cases Maximizes Operating Room Utilization? Use of Bin Packing Algorithms and Fuzzy Constraints in Operating Room Management

Background The algorithm to schedule add-on elective cases that maximizes operating room (OR) suite utilization is unknown. The goal of this study was to use computer simulation to evaluate 10 scheduling algorithms described in the management sciences literature to determine their relative performance at scheduling as many hours of add-on elective cases as possible into open OR time. Methods From a surgical services information system for two separate surgical suites, the authors collected these data: (1) hours of open OR time available for add-on cases in each OR each day and (2) duration of each add-on case. These empirical data were used in computer simulations of case scheduling to compare algorithms appropriate for “variable-sized bin packing with bounded space.” “Variable size” refers to differing amounts of open time in each “bin,” or OR. The end point of the simulations was OR utilization (time an OR was used divided by the time the OR was available). Results Each day there were 0.24 ± 0.11 and 0.28 ± 0.23 simulated cases (mean ± SD) scheduled to each OR in each of the two surgical suites. The algorithm that maximized OR utilization, Best Fit Descending with fuzzy constraints, achieved OR utilizations 4% larger than the algorithm with poorest performance. Conclusions We identified the algorithm for scheduling add-on elective cases that maximizes OR utilization for surgical suites that usually have zero or one add-on elective case in each OR. The ease of implementation of the algorithm, either manually or in an OR information system, needs to be studied.
Video surveillance captures student hand hygiene behavior, reactivity to observation, and peer influence in Kenyan primary schools.

Background In-person structured observation is considered the best approach for measuring hand hygiene behavior, yet is expensive, time consuming, and may alter behavior. Video surveillance could be a useful tool for objectively monitoring hand hygiene behavior if validated against current methods.
Medications During Pregnancy: Antihypertensives and Immunosuppressives

Use of prescription and nonprescription medications is common during pregnancy and is required in many women with underlying kidney disease or hypertension and in all with solid-organ allografts. Systematic assessment of drug safety during pregnancy is lacking, as are rigorous and comprehensive studies of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics to guide drug selection and dosing across pregnancy. Renal and hepatic clearances of many drugs change markedly during pregnancy and pitfalls may complicate routine therapeutic monitoring of some drugs during pregnancy. However, available data and clinical experience allow reasonable strategies for selection and dosing of immunosuppressive agents in pregnant transplant recipients and of antihypertensive agents in women with mild or more severe hypertension complicating their pregnancies.
Etiology and natural history of diabetic retinopathy: an overview.

Purpose. The morbidity and mortality from and economic impact of diabetes mellitus in the United States, pathogenesis of microvascular diabetic complications, contribution of poor long-term glycemic control to risk for diabetic retinopathy and other microvascular complications, prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, methods for measuring visual acuity, and manifestations of disease progression and etiology of blindness in patients with diabetic retinopathy are discussed. Summary. Diabetic retinopathy and other microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes cause considerable morbidity and mortality and have a large economic impact in the United States. Patients with poor long-term glycemic control are more vulnerable to diabetic retinopathy than to other microvascular complications of diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy is the third leading cause of all cases of blindness in the United States and the leading cause of new cases in adults. Retinopathy is already present at the time of diagnosis in 20% of patients with type 2 diabetes. Retinopathy and other micro-vascular complications are attributed to chronic hyperglycemia, vascular damage and leakage, edema, capillary basement membrane thickening, neovascularization, hemorrhage, and ischemia. Measurements of visual acuity loss are expressed in terms of the distance at which a person with normal vision can see what the test subject can see from 20 feet away. Diabetic retinopathy begins as nonproliferative abnormalities and progresses to proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Macular edema can develop at any time in the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Macular ischemia, retinal and vitreous hemorrhage, and retinal detachment are the primary causes of blindness in patients with diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion. Diabetic retinopathy is a costly and progressive condition associated with chronic hyperglycemia. It is potentially vision-threatening.
Recent Innovations in Vehicle Suspension Systems

Suspension system is one of the most important systems in a modern vehicle. It significantly contributes to the vehicle’s availability and safety; keeps vehicle occupants comfortable; also protects the vehicle from damage and wear. Due to its importance in the vehicle structure, a massive amount of effort has been spent on enhancing the performances of suspension system, such as stability, controllability, and other capabilities. This paper briefly reviews recent innovations and some representative patents (since 2000) in this area and outlines the features and advantages of these inventions. The future trends of research in the suspension system design are also discussed. Keyword: Suspension system, stability, controllability.
The Trophic Consequences of Oyster Stock Rehabilitation in Chesapeake Bay

There is mounting speculation that overharvesting of oyster stocks (Crassostrea virginica) in Chesapeake Bay may be a factor contributing to the decline in water quality and shifts in the dominance of species inhabiting the estuary. The trophic consequences of increasing the oyster population may be addressed using a simple quasi-equilibrium, mass action model of the exchanges transpiring in the Chesapeake mesohaline ecosystem. According to output from the model, increasing oyster abundance would decrease phytoplankton productivity as well as stocks of pelagic microbes, ctenophores, medusae, and particulate organic carbon. Recently acquired field data on phytoplankton productivity, bacterioplankton, and labile organic carbon in the vicinity of rafted oyster aquaculture support model predictions. The model also indicates that more oysters should increase benthic primary production, fish stocks, and mesozooplankton densities. Hence, augmenting the oyster community by restoring beds or introducing raft culture represents a potentially significant adjunct to the goal of mitigating eutrophication through curtailment of nutrient inputs. *** DIRECT SUPPORT *** A01BY059 00005
Targeted nonviral delivery vehicles to neural progenitor cells in the mouse subventricular zone

Targeted gene therapy can potentially minimize undesirable off-target toxicity due to specific delivery. Neuron-specific gene delivery in the central nervous system is challenging because neurons are non-dividing and also outnumbered by glial cells. One approach is to transfect dividing neural stem and progenitor cells (NSCs and NPCs, respectively). In this work, we demonstrate cell-specific gene delivery to NPCs in the brains of adult mice using a peptide-modified polymeric vector. Tet1, a 12-amino acid peptide which has been shown to bind specifically to neuronal cells, was utilized as a neuronal targeting ligand. The cationic polymer polyethylenimine (PEI) was covalently modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG) for in vivo salt stability and Tet1 for neuron targeting to yield a Tet1-PEG-PEI conjugate. When plasmid DNA encoding the reporter gene luciferase was complexed with Tet1-PEG-PEI and delivered in vivo via an injection into the lateral ventricle, Tet1-PEG-PEI complexes mediated increased luciferase expression levels in brain tissue when compared to unmodified PEI-PEG complexes. In addition, cells transfected by Tet1-PEG-PEI complexes were found to be exclusively adult NPCs whereas untargeted PEG-PEI complexes were found to transfect a heterogenous population of cells. Thus, we have demonstrated targeted, nonviral delivery of nucleic acids to adult NPCs using the Tet1 targeting ligand. These materials could potentially be used to deliver therapeutic genes for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Computational study of an unsteady heat transfer problem related to high power lasers

Abstract Unsteady heat transfer problems related to a closed cycle, pulsed, high power laser are characterized by sudden variations of fluid bulk temperature. An idealized model to represent these problems is the incompressible flow past a flat plate subjected to a step change in the fluid bulk temperature. The response of the wall heat transfer and the thermal boundary layer thickness to this step change in temperature are, therefore, calculated in this paper. The thermal boundary layer equation is cast in a finite difference form. This equation is solved by an explicit predictor-corrector method using a filtering parameter. The accuracy of the method is verified by comparison with the steady-state solutions at large times and was found to be excellent. Existence of similarity variables proposed in an earlier work using the integral method has been verified successfully.
Blunt versus sharp expansion of the uterine incision in low-segment transverse cesarean section.

Abstract Objective: Both blunt and sharp expansion of the initial incision at transverse cervical cesarean birth have advocates, on the basis of theoretic concerns. We sought to study the incidence of complications, including unintended extension, associated with each of these methods by comparison by means of a prospective, randomized study. Study Design: Women scheduled to undergo nonemergency cesarean birth were assigned to blunt and sharp expansion groups. Other than expansion of the incision, standard technique was used throughout surgery. Data, including length and number of unintended extensions, vessel laceration, and length of surgery, were recorded immediately. Results: The blunt ( n = 139) and sharp ( n = 147) expansion groups were similar with regard to indication and duration of labor. No difference in the incidence of unintended extension, postoperative endometritis, duration of surgery, or estimated blood loss was noted. The frequency of unintended extension (1.4%,15.5%, and 35.0% for no labor and first and second stages, respectively) correlated with the stage of labor. Conclusion: Blunt and sharp expansions of the uterine incision are equivalent in ease and safety.
ac Dynamics of a Pinned Flux-Line Lattice

The surface impedance of $2H$- ${\mathrm{NbSe}}_{2}$ in the mixed state was measured over the frequency range 10--3000 MHz in fields up to 2 T. A crossover between pinned and viscous flux-line dynamics is observed at a pinning frequency, ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{p}$. The measured ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{p}$ is compared to that predicted by a single-particle ``washboard potential'' model of pinning. When the flux lattice is in an ordered state, ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{p}$ is in good agreement with the model. However, when it is in a metastable disordered state, ${\ensuremath{\omega}}_{p}$ is nearly two orders of magnitude larger than expected, indicating the appearance of internal degrees of freedom and glassy dynamics.
Analysis of finite-phased arrays of aperture-coupled stacked microstrip antennas

Analytical results for finite-phased arrays of aperture-coupled stacked microstrip antennas are presented. In order to evaluate the characteristics of aperture-coupled microstrip antennas in a finite array and derive the moment-method solutions for the unknown current distributions on the patches and slots, the reciprocity theorem and the spectral domain Green's functions for a dielectric slab are used. Various sized arrays are considered and compared with solutions for an infinite array. Numerical results are presented to illustrate the input impedance, mutual coupling, active reflection coefficient versus scan angle, radiation efficiency, and active-element gain patterns.
‘It’s my money’: Social class and the perception of remittances among Bangladeshi migrants in Japan

This study recognizes migrants’ perception of remittances as shaped by their class position both in the home and destination countries. Following Max Weber’s idea that individuals’ rationality is produced in their sociocultural context, this ethnographic inquiry among a group of Bangladeshi temporary migrants in Japan demonstrates how their interests interact with the structural opportunities and constraints in developing a distinct perception of remittances as a means towards higher social status. Opportunities to earn higher income motivated middle-class families in Bangladesh to send their sons abroad, who persevered in low-class jobs in Japan. While supporting the families through remitting, these migrants became aware that their future social status would depend primarily on their own career in Bangladesh rather than family background. Hence, they began to perceive remittance as a productive capital to develop their future careers. This article argues that their middle-class social position led these...
Pretend play by African American children in head start

Abstract Play behaviors of African American 4-year-olds from impoverished families were observed naturalistically. Children's free play was videotaped in Head Start classrooms over several weeks in the playhouse, block corner, and outside play yard. Play was categorized into cognitive play types—functional, constructive, and pretend play. Children most frequently engaged in functional play. Contrary to Smilansky's findings, impoverished children also engaged in pretend play. This play type was high in quality (object use, number of participants, and subtypes of pretense exhibited) but low in quantity (number and duration of play episodes) compared to other types of play. These findings are discussed in the context of theories of pretend play.
Synthetic Lipid Second Messenger sn-1,2-Didecanoylglycerol: A Complete Tumor Promoter in Mouse Skin

sn -1,2-Didecanoylglycerol, a synthetic lipid second messenger and model diacylglycerol, was evaluated as a complete skin tumor promoter in CD-1 mice. In addition, sn -1,2-dioctanoylglycerol, sn -1,2-didecanoylglycerol, the second stage tumor promoter mezerein, and the complete tumor promoter 12- O -tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) were examined for their ability to stimulate epidermal protein kinase C activity in vitro . All four compounds stimulated epidermal protein kinase C activity utilizing lysine-rich histone as the phosphate acceptor substrate. sn -1,2-Dioctanoylglycerol and sn -1,2-didecanoylglycerol stimulated epidermal protein kinase C activity to a maximum velocity similar to that obtained when the enzyme was stimulated with TPA; however, about 1000 times greater concentration of the sn -1,2-diacylglycerols was required. sn -1,2-Didecanoylglycerol was evaluated as a complete skin tumor promoter in CD-1 mice utilizing a dosing regimen demonstrated to produce epidermal hyperplasia. Mice were initiated with 200 nmol 7,12-dimethylbenz[ a ]anthracene. One week later the mice received twice daily topical applications of 1 nmol TPA, 2 µmol sn -1,2-didecanoylglycerol or 5 µmol sn -1,2-didecanoyglycerol, 5 days/week. Additional initiated mice received twice weekly topical applications of 2 or 5 nmol TPA. Initiated mice treated with 5 nmol TPA twice weekly or with 1 nmol TPA twice daily for 5 days/week (cumulative weekly doses of 10 nmol TPA) responded similarly, based on the tumor incidence and the average number of tumors per mouse. Initiated mice treated with 2 or 5 µmol sn -1,2-didecanoylglycerol twice daily developed tumors in a dose-dependent manner. Initiated mice treated with 5 µmol sn -1,2-didecanoylglycerol twice daily developed many tumors, and at 20 weeks there was a 74% tumor incidence and an average of 6.0 tumors/mouse. At 20 weeks, 24% of the initiated mice treated with 2 µmol sn -1,2-didecanoylglycerol twice daily developed tumors, with an average of 1.1 tumors/mouse. Mice which were not initiated but treated twice daily with 5 µmol sn -1,2-didecanoylglycerol for 20 weeks did not develop any tumors. These data demonstrate that the representative synthetic lipid second messenger sn -1,2-didecanoylglycerol, like TPA, is a complete tumor promoter in DMBA-initiated mouse skin.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Niemann-Pick Type C Disease

Niemann-Pick Type C disease is a homozygous recessive disorder resulting in errant intracellular cholesterol metabolism and the accumulation of intracellular unesterified cholesterol and sphingolipids. Although no current effective treatment exists for Niemann-Pick Type C disease, a number of therapies are under development in animal models. As therapies are brought into clinical trials, it will be extremely helpful to have a reliable means to track the progression of the disease and to monitor its response to therapy. In this effort, diffusion tensor imaging has been applied to investigate the white matter in a Niemann-Pick Type C patient, and the results compared to those from age-matched control subjects. Diffusion tensor imaging enables quantitative measurement of water diffusion in white matter, which is sensitive to the architecture and integrity of the tissue. Compared with control subjects, significant reductions in fractional anisotropy values were observed in regions of white matter, most prominently in the corpus callosum. The results from this case study suggest that diffusion tensor imaging may allow progression of the disease to be quantitatively measured and may be able to play a role as a surrogate marker in clinical trials.
A 1.8-3.1 dB noise figure (3-10 GHz) SiGe HBT LNA for UWB applications

We present the design and implementation of an ultra-wideband (UWB) silicon-germanium (SiGe) heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) low-noise amplifier (LNA) for use in UWB systems. The use of a shunt base-emitter capacitor and weak shunt resistive feedback in a cascode amplifier with inductive degeneration significantly improves the input bandwidth of the LNA, and allows very low noise figure to be achieved simultaneously. The LNA was fabricated in a commercially-available 0.18 /spl mu/m 120 GHz SiGe HBT BiCMOS process technology. The circuit occupies an area of 0.72 mm/sup 2/, and exhibits a record noise figure (NF) of 1.8-3.1 dB across 3.0-10.0 GHz. This SiGe LNA is very broadband, covering the entire frequency range of 0.1 to 13.6 GHz, attains a maximum gain is 20.3 dB, and operates off a 3.3 V supply with a total power consumption of 26 mW.
The structure of shift–modulation invariant spaces: The rational case

In this paper we study structural properties of shift–modulation invariant (SMI) spaces, also called Gabor subspaces, or Weyl–Heisenberg subspaces, in the case when shift and modulation lattices are rationally dependent. We prove the characterization of SMI spaces in terms of range functions analogous to the well-known description of shift-invariant spaces [C. de Boor, R. DeVore, A. Ron, The structure of finitely generated shift-invariant spaces in L2(R d ), J. Funct. Anal. 119 (1994) 37–78; M. Bownik, The structure of shift-invariant subspaces of L2(R n ), J. Funct. Anal. 177 (2000) 282–309; H. Helson, Lectures on Invariant Subspaces, Academic Press, New York/London, 1964]. We also give a simple characterization of frames and Riesz sequences in terms on their behavior of the fibers of the range function. Next, we prove several orthogonal decomposition results of SMI spaces into simpler blocks, called principal SMI spaces. Then, this is used to characterize operators invariant under both shifts and modulations in terms of families of linear maps acting on the fibers of the range function. We also introduce the fundamental concept of the dimension function for SMI spaces. As a result, this leads to the classification of unitarily equivalent SMI spaces in terms of their dimension functions. Finally, we show several results illustrating our fiberization techniques to characterize dual Gabor frames.
The Use of Threats in Children's Discourse:

This study investigates the nature of threats and their responses as collaborative units in children's discourse. Coding of conversations between preschool children yields frequency data that suggest that assertions provoke threats while offensive threats are produced more than defensive threats. Analyses of types of threats indicate a preference for expressing harm to the interactional partner or intending to withhold an object or action from the partner. The partner most frequently responds to the threat with a rejection thereby countering the speaker's attempt to control. The sex of the interactant does not influence the frequency of threats, but it does affect the type of threat as female children show a clear preference for withhold-object or action and harm-threats while male children focus exclusively on harm-threats. Younger children produce more threats than older children and threats occur more frequently in child-directed settings compared to adult-directed settings.
Diagnostics of Insulation Condition and Risk Evaluation of Electrical Machines Employed in Mining Application

Medium voltage machines are extensively employed in power generation and industrial applications. In general, they are very reliable with an expected lifetime in the order of 30 to 50 years depending on service class. However, when a machine fails, sometimes unexpectedly, production disruption and downtimes can be very costly. About 50% of failures are related with loss of dielectric strength of the electrical insulation. Insulation deterioration is caused by the combination of thermal, mechanical, electrical and environmental stresses. Timely detection of insulation condition can be done mainly with off-line partial discharges monitoring and dielectric losses monitoring. This paper reviews the current issues involved in the diagnostics of insulation condition for an effective risk evaluation of electrical machines, highlighting the most relevant topics regarding mining application, where environmental conditions and feeding with power converters states more severe stresses than normal power applications.
American Men and Identity: Contemporary African-American and Latino Style

African-American and Latino men adorn and wear clothing as an integral part of personal iden- tity. Their styles, fashions, and popular music have impacted American culture during both the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Ironically, there is little written about these two groups as innovators of male fashion style responsible for such looks as zoot suits, mambo, rhythm and blues (RB therefore, they cannot be categorized into one neat label. Confirming these same notions of individuality, Helen Bradley Foster contends that while the clothing of American blacks has traditionally been clustered into one style, it possesses many unique looks and qualities that reflect the dichotomy between American and African. She also argues that while African Americans have traditionally "adopted the prevailing cultural dress of each period, their style often sets them apart" (Foster 16). She notes that American fashions came from Europe until the 1950s; however, black styles began to inspire the fashions of white American dress as well. Many items from both Latino and black style have been adopted as mass fashion, including sneakers that minority athletes have worn first, doo rags made popular by African Americans and Latinos during the late 1960s, Yamamoto Kansai sweaters (also known as Bill Cosby sweaters), and hip-hop and reggaeton apparel (Foster 16). However, it is the zoot suit that launches the associations of minority men to fashion in the United States. Zoot Suits and Pachucos In the early 1940s, African-American and Mexican-American youths adopted the zoot suit, a fashion connected with the swing jazz craze and interpreted through such dances as the Lindy hop, swing, and jitterbug in halls and clubs across the United States (Alvarez 303; Pagan 466-68; Tortora and Eubank 415). Besides its connection with music, this dandified suit was a statement of defiance by a generation of young men negotiating their place in society. As noted in Street Style: From Sidewalk to Catwalk, the zoot suit, with its lavish fabrics (e.g., sharkskin) and accessories was the vehicle for minority youths to advertise, "I've got it made" (Polhemus 17; "Zoot Suit Riots"). The zoot suit is an extreme version of the 1930s and 1940s English drape suit (Figure 1) and the sack suit for men (Candelaria 265; FarrellBeck and Parsons 103; Pickens 339; Tortora and Eubank 465). 1 It consists of a long, almost kneelength single- or double-breasted coat with wide shoulders and lapels as well as fingertip-length sleeves. The trousers are very baggy, with "reat" (exaggerated) pleats, fitting high on the waist, tapering to extremely narrow cuffs and held in place with suspenders. The zoot suit attire is accessorized with a wide-brimmed "pancake" or "porkpie" hat, a necktie or bow tie, a very long watch chain, and thick-soled shoes (Escobar 897-98; Webb 231-33, 235-36). …
Unbiased bootstrap error estimation for linear discriminant analysis

Convex bootstrap error estimation is a popular tool for classifier error estimation in gene expression studies. A basic question is how to determine the weight for the convex combination between the basic bootstrap estimator and the resubstitution estimator such that the resulting estimator is unbiased at finite sample sizes. The well-known 0.632 bootstrap error estimator uses asymptotic arguments to propose a fixed 0.632 weight, whereas the more recent 0.632+ bootstrap error estimator attempts to set the weight adaptively. In this paper, we study the finite sample problem in the case of linear discriminant analysis under Gaussian populations. We derive exact expressions for the weight that guarantee unbiasedness of the convex bootstrap error estimator in the univariate and multivariate cases, without making asymptotic simplifications. Using exact computation in the univariate case and an accurate approximation in the multivariate case, we obtain the required weight and show that it can deviate significantly from the constant 0.632 weight, depending on the sample size and Bayes error for the problem. The methodology is illustrated by application on data from a well-known cancer classification study.
The Intensity Measurement of Small X-Ray Diffraction Spots by Projection of a Positive Print

The positive print method of measuring the integrated intensities of x-ray diffraction patterns has been combined with a projection and photometering apparatus. The time required for the intensity measurement of a single small spot is approximately 30 seconds. The apparatus and typical results are described.
The community-level effects of women's education on reproductive behaviour in rural Ghana

Using survey data collected in rural Ghana during the 1980s this study examines whether a womans interest in fertility regulation and contraception is influenced by the education of other women in her community. The study finds that net of her own characteristics a womans interest in limiting fertility and using modern contraception increases with the percent of women with education in her community. The finding suggests that female education has a greater capacity to introduce novel reproductive ideas and behaviors into rural areas of Africa and thereby transform the demographic landscape in the region than is currently believed. Other community characteristics that increase womens interest in regulating fertility and contraceptive use in this setting include access to transportation and proximity to urban areas. However these are not as powerful as womens education in transforming reproductive behavior. (authors)
Income Equality Across Cities

This paper investigates why the level of income inequality differs across U.S. cities and why some cities experience faster increases in the level of inequality than others. The rising level of income inequality in the US has received growing attention from both researchers and policy makers. Using the Decennial Census and the American Community Survey (ACS), this study also finds that income inequality increased for most U.S. cities over the past thirty years. The changes in inequality, however, show different patterns in different time periods. From 1980 to 2000, the income of both the bottom and the top 10th percentiles increased in most cities, despite the increase of income inequality. In the most recent decade, however, the income of both the bottom and the top deciles decreased, but the income of the bottom tenth decreased more than the top. This suggests that there may be different reasons behind the changes in the level of inequality over time. In the most recent decade, we find that negative labor market conditions best explain the increase of income inequality. When the economy turns negative, those in the bottom tenth percentile experience greater drops in the levels of their incomes compare to those in the top tenth, as they are more likely to lose their jobs. In addition, we find that inequality is lower in MSAs with higher wage minimums and higher shares of union members, suggesting that these policies have some effectiveness in reducing income inequality.
Medical Malpractice – Medicolegal Perspectives: Negligence, Quantum

Reparation for people injured by the negligence of another, including healthcare providers, primarily includes the award of money damages. Although money damages in many cases cannot fully compensate a person who is the victim or medical negligence, it is the remedy provided for by the American legal system. This chapter explains the various kinds of money damages and the proof required for an injured person to be eligible to receive money damages.
Confronting Heteronormativity in Online Games A Critical Discourse Analysis of LGBTQ Sexuality in World of Warcraft

In 2008, ten million people were playing the massive multiplayer role-playing game World of Warcraft (WoW); a fantasy-based virtual landscape where players bridge real-life personas with digital identity. However, the construction of sexuality within this gaming environment has created an oppressive atmosphere for individuals who do not adhere to a heteronormative lifestyle. In this essay, I undress the bottom-up and top-down structures that are regulating an environment that has no use for a constructed sexual binary and yet has one strictly imbedded in it. This analysis utilizes discourse analysis to analyze 400 messages posted to a WoW discussion board regarding the topic of “LGBTQ players and the WOW Community” in order to queer the sexuality presented in this space. This essay is further supplemented with my own experience playing the game and with an analysis of the games structural elements.
Extracellular proteases as targets for treatment of cancer metastases

Metastasis, the dissemination of tumor cells to distant organs, is often associated with fatal outcome in cancer patients. Formation of metastasis requires degradation of extracellular matrices and several families of proteases have been implicated in this process, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), serine and cysteine proteases. Inhibition of these enzymes in animal models of metastasis has shown impressive therapeutic effects. This report discusses the various approaches used for enzyme inhibition and describes new developments in drug design for inhibition of proteases in metastatic disease.
Evaluation of Insecticides for Lygus Bug Control and Their Effect on Predators and Pollinators

A laboratory method involving the use of caged carrot seed heads was evolved to study the effectiveness of new insecticides and insecticidal combinations for lygus bug control. These laboratory tests showed that DDT or toxaphene combined with Dipterex or malathion resulted in quicker lygus bug mortality and lasted for a longer period of time than each insecticide did when used alone. Malathion and Dipterex alone resulted in satisfactory lygus bug control, but they were not as long lasting as DDT. Bayer 19639, Thiodan, demeton, endrin, and a combination of DDT-Trithion were identified as new treatments of potential value against this pest by means of the laboratory tests. Replicated plots and aircraft applications in fields of seed carrots showed that DDT was satisfactory for lygus bug control in this area. DDT did not appreciably reduce numbers of honeybees or cause a buildup of red spiders. Dipterex and malathion resulted in satisfactory lygus bug control, caused no spider mite buildup, but did not last as long as DDT and were of no ad- vantage for use on the carrot seed crop. Under the conditions of these experiments, DDT-Dipterex was the only new treatment indicated as a possible substitute for DDT or toxaphene for lygus bug control. This combination treatment significantly increased mortality over that of DDT, did not induce a buildup of spider mites, or reduce numbers of honeybees. The toxaphene-Dipterex combination was also significantly more toxic to lygus bugs than DDT. However, this combination, as well as toxaphene-malathion and DDT-malathion combinations, caused a spider mite buildup; and they were highly toxic to the predaceous insects present in carrots grown for seed. Data from field trials on carrot seed crops showed that it was advisable to evaluate new treatments in terms of their effect on beneficial insects as well as on the lygus bugs.
Interference of the surface of the solid on the performance of tethered molecular catalysts.

The catalytic performance of cinchonidine in the promotion of thiol additions to conjugated ketones was used as a probe to assess the tethering of molecular functionality onto solid surfaces using well-known “click” chemistry involving easy-to-react linkers. It has been assumed in many applications that the tethered molecules retain their chemical properties and dominate the chemistry of the resulting solid systems, but it is shown here that this is not always the case. Indeed, a loss of enantioselectivity was observed upon tethering, which could be accounted for by a combination of at least three effects: (1) the nonselective catalytic activity of the surface of the solid itself; (2) the activity of the OH species generated by hydrolysis of some of the Si–alkoxy groups in the trialkoxy moieties used to bind many linkers to oxide surfaces; and (3) the bonding of the molecule to be tethered directly to the surface. Several ideas were also tested to minimize these problems, including the silylation of the a...
Effect of pH on the Binding of β-Lactoglobulin to Sodium Polystyrenesulfonate

The binding of β-lactoglobulin to the synthetic polyanion, sodium polystyrenesulfonate, was studied by frontal analysis continuous capillary electrophoresis (Gao et al. Anal. Chem. 1997, 69, 2945). The data were fit to a modified Scatchard plot, and the intrinsic binding constant, Kobs, was measured as a function of pH at fixed ionic strength of 0.05 M. The pH dependence of Kobs was found to follow the semi-logarithmic dependence of Kobs on protein charge Z predicted by Lohman and Record, despite the fact that the net protein charge was of the same sign as the polyanion. However, the magnitude of ∂ log Kobs/∂Z did not agree with the predicted value, either for this system or for pentalysine/DNA data. The current results suggest that the free energy of binding of a protein to a synthetic polyelectrolyte depends on some local protein charge that may vary linearly with the net protein charge.
Recruitment for a hospital-based pragmatic clinical trial using volunteer nurses and students:

Background/aims:Recruitment of subjects is critical to the success of any clinical trial, but achieving this goal can be a challenging endeavor. Volunteer nurse and student enrollers are potentiall...
Neurodevelopment in Piglets is Influenced by Perinatal Choline Status as Evidenced by Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Adequate choline supply during the perinatal period is critical for proper brain formation when robust neurogenesis and neuronal maturation are occurring. To examine the impact of perinatal choline...
A multiscale gradient-dependent plasticity model for size effects

AbstractThe mechanical behaviour of polycrystalline material is closely correlated to grain size. In this study, we investigate the size-dependent phenomenon in multi-phase steels using a continuum dislocation dynamic model coupled with viscoplastic self-consistent model. We developed a dislocation-based strain gradient plasticity model and a stress gradient plasticity model, as well as a combined model, resulting in a theory that can predict size effect over a wide range of length scales. Results show that strain gradient plasticity and stress gradient plasticity are complementary rather than competing theories. The stress gradient model is dominant at the initial strain stage, and is much more effective for predicting yield strength than the strain gradient model. For larger deformations, the strain gradient model is dominant and more effective for predicting size-dependent hardening. The numerical results are compared with experimental data and it is found that they have the same trend for the yield st...
REASONS FOR DROP OUT OF HEROIN ADDICTS IN METHADONE MAINTENANCE TREATMENT IN LANZHOU

Objective:To explore the reasons for drop out of heroin addicts in methadone maintenance treatment(MMT) in Lanzhou.Methods: A follow-up was conducted among 1024 cases who dropped out from MMT in the Clinic of Qilihe District Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Lanzhou from January,2007 to December,2009.Results: During the period,1024 cases dropped out,accounting for 60.8% among the 1684 heroin addicts receiving MMT.The reasons for dropout could be summarized as follows:(1)being arrested for relapse heroin again,286 cases,accounting for 27.93%;(2) being arrested for criminal offense,70 cases,accounting for 6.84%;(3) can not afford for MMT,27 cases,accounting for 2.64%;(4) died during MMT,8 cases,accounting for 0.78%;(5) self-report of being drug free,86 cases,accounting for 8.40%;(6)having other diseases,side effects of MMT or being pregnant,178 cases,accounting for 17.38%;(7) Family tragedies(divorce and so on),105 cases,accounting for 10.25%;(8)living or work at the other place,or other unkown reasons,264 cases,accounting for 25.78%.Conclusion: Reasons for drop out are various.Appropriate measures are needed for the MMT patients to prevent the dropout and improve the retention rate.
CVD in Wear-and Corrosion-Resistant Applications

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) coatings are useful in applications requiring resistance to wear and corrosion over a wide range of temperature. Wear and corrosion protection can be provided by the techniques of hard-facing and plating or by surface modification processes such as boriding, nitriding, carburizing, and ion implantation. The protection these processes provide is adequate in most environments but fail over a period of time if the conditions are too severe. Another useful technique is plasma spraying. It has a drawback of requiring thick deposits to insure adequate protection. It often requires extensive grinding and polishing. Other techniques, such as sputtering, provide excellent protection. CVD suffers limitations to a lesser degree and so it is being used in many industrial applications, particularly those operating in extreme conditions. It is the best solution to severe problems of erosion, friction, or hot corrosion. The number of CVD coating materials for wear and corrosion resistance is relatively small. The most important are—titanium carbide, titanium carbonitride, and chromium carbide.
’singlish’ and the Sinophone: Nonstandard (Chinese/English) Languages in Recent Singaporean Cinema

One of the titles I thought about giving this chapter is this: ‘Can the Sinophone Speak Singlish?’ Singlish is a popular way of referring to the variety of English that is commonly spoken in Singapore. It is a creolized form of English with a grammar closer to Hokkien than to English — it also has the reputation for being ‘ungrammatical’ — and with a vocabulary derived from Hokkien, Malay, Cantonese, other Sinitic or Chinese languages, Tamil and English. Yen Yen Woo and Colin Goh, the creative husband-and-wife team behind TalkingCock: The Movie (2002) describe Singlish in this way: Singlish is Singaporean vernacular English, a polyglot of English, Malay, Tamil, and various Chinese dialects. Closer to Cockney and Creole than to pidgin, Singlish is often characterized by humorous wordplay that cuts across multiple languages. Extremely popular, it may be the only uniquely Singaporean cultural identifier. (2007, p. 104)
Chickasaw Nation: Interpreting a Broken Statute

This report discusses the Supreme Court's 2001 decision in Chickasaw Nation v. United States, in which the Supreme Court interpreted a provision of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act that contained contradictory phrases - one suggesting that Indian tribes were exempt from some occupational and excise taxes and one suggesting the contrary. The statute on its face made no sense, and the legislative history was of little help in resolving the ambiguity. Although the statute was clearly broken, the Court concluded that no ambiguity existed and that Congress did not intend to exempt tribes from those various wagering taxes. The author argues that in coming to that conclusion, the Court gave insufficient weight to the Indian canons of construction, which are intended to deal with precisely this sort of ambiguous situation; indeed, the Court downplayed the significance of the time-honored canons. Furthermore, the author argues that the Court incorrectly assumed that Indian tribes, absent express statutory language to the contrary, are routinely subject to generally applicable federal taxes.