cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endodontics Specialists' Practice during the Initial Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Abstract Introduction The first outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States resulted in a nationwide closure of dental offices that created an oral health crisis. The aim of this observational study was to analyze and compare the characteristics of patients who visited 2 private endodontics offices from March 16 to May 31, 2020, compared with the same period in 2019. Methods Demographic, diagnostic, and procedural data of 1520 (693 in 2020 and 827 in 2019) patient visits were collected. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to assess the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on patient-related variables. Results Bivariate analyses showed that the number of patient visits decreased in April and May 2020 (P 49.5 years) (odds ratio [OR] = 0.720; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.573–0.906), more patients with kidney diseases (OR = 2.690; 95% CI, 1.143–6.331), higher levels of pain on percussion (OR = 2.277; 95% CI, 1.718–3.016), less cases with previously initiated treatment (OR = 0.242; 95% CI, 0.080–0.731), less periapical diagnoses of asymptomatic apical periodontitis (OR = 0.510; 95% CI, 0.306–0.849), and a higher number of nonsurgical root canal treatments (OR = 2.073; 95% CI, 1.397–3.074) and apicoectomies (OR = 2.799; 95% CI, 1.367-5.729). Conclusions These findings show that the public health burden of endodontic infections was more intense during the initial outbreak of COVID-19.
Breast Self-examination, the Health Belief Model, and Sexual Orientation in Women

This study investigated relationships among sexual orientation in women, breast self-examination (BSE) practice, and the Health Belief Model (HBM). The Champion Health Belief Scale was administered to 303 women over 35 years of age, with nearly equal samples of heterosexual and lesbian women. Significant differences were found for BSE practice between heterosexual and lesbian women, while only the HBM construct “health motivation” was found to significantly discriminate between the subsamples. The HBM constructs—“susceptibility,” “health motivation,” “confidence,” and “barriers”—were found to explain a significant portion of the variance of BSE in both subsamples. Heterosexual women were more likely than lesbian women to practice BSE regularly and to pursue preventive health care in general and annual gynecological examinations specifically. Implications include educating lesbian women on the importance of preventive medical care, and reducing barriers to its practice among the lesbian population.
Why Do Some Occupations Pay More than Others? Social Closure and Earnings Inequality in the United States1

This article elaborates and evaluates the neo‐Weberian notion of social closure to investigate positional inequality in the United States. It argues that social and legal barriers around occupations raise the rewards of their members by restricting the labor supply, enhancing diffuse demand, channeling demand, or signaling a particular quality of service. Hypotheses derived from the closure perspective are evaluated using new data that map five institutionalized closure devices—licensing, educational credentialing, voluntary certification, association representation, and unionization—onto 488 occupations. Results from multilevel models demonstrate that closure practices, particularly those that generate tangible restrictions on the labor supply, shape the contemporary structure of occupational earnings. Returns to these strategies vary across occupations but are not tightly linked to the complexity of the occupation's knowledge base. If suitably elaborated, closure theory thus offers a promising complemen...
The DOE's natural gas R&D portfolio: An analysis of an industry proposal☆

Abstract The natural gas industry has proposed an increase in the US DOE gas R&D budget from about US$100 million to about US$250 million per year for each of the next 10 years. The proposal includes four programmes: natural gas supplies, fuel cells, natural gas vehicles and stationary combustion systems. This paper assesses the gas industry proposal and recommends a natural gas R&D strategy for the DOE. The methodology is a conceptual framework based on an analysis of market failures and the energy policy objectives of the DOE's National Energy Strategy. The gas programmes that would contribute to energy policy goals are identified.
Investigation of the structure sensitivity of nitrogen adsorption on single crystal ruthenium clusters using density functional theory

Ruthenium has long been known to be an effective catalyst for ammonia synthesis. However, compared to the traditional iron-based catalysts, studies on ruthenium-based catalysts are limited. The rate determining step of ammonia synthesis, the dissociative adsorption of dinitrogen, has been shown to be extremely structure sensitive on both iron and ruthenium catalysts. To study this structure sensitivity on ruthenium, density functional theory calculations were performed on Ru(001) and Ru(110) clusters. End-on, side-on, and dissociated adsorption states were investigated on both surfaces. While the Ru(110) cluster could stabilize all three adsorption modes, a minimum energy structure for the side-on adsorption on Ru(001) could not be found. It is likely that this side-on mode can provide a low energy pathway to the dissociated state, thereby resulting in faster dissociative adsorption on Ru(110).
Visual and chemical tissue markers for bovine carcass components.

A two-component, nontoxic, quantifiable animal/carcass tracing system was developed using riboflavin as an on-premises, initial carcass identifier visible under longwave ultraviolet (UV) light and deuterium oxide (D/sub 2/O) as a tracer analytically quantified via fixed wavelength infrared spectrophotometry. Twenty-four cull cows and heifers were allocated into eight antemortem treatment groups (1, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144 h) for evaluation of the efficacy of riboflavin and D/sub 2/O as tissue tracers in postmortem meat tissues. All cattle were slaughtered using conventional procedures and inspection. To study postmortem riboflavin marker changes due to constant light exposure over time, fluorescence and emission intensity scores were obtained by a trained panel 24, 48, and 168 h postslaughter. The riboflavin marker intensity rating means for UV fluorescence were classified as identifiable on all carcasses when evaluated under UV light, but were classified as not identifiable when evaluated under ambient light. Deuterium oxide levels in all tissue water samples, regardless of antemortem infusion group, contained D/sub 2/O concentrations at least 2.5 times greater than those found in background water. Deuterium oxide was shown to disperse rapidly throughout living tissues. Correlations within animals for D/sub 2/O levels from blood and muscle were all highly significantmore » (r = .99).« less
Mobile Challenges for Embedded Computer Vision

The mobile environment poses uniquely challenging constraints for designers of embedded computer vision systems. There are traditional issues such as size, weight, and power, which are readily evident. However, there are also other less tangible obstacles related to technology acceptance and business models that stand in the way of a successful product deployment. In this chapter, I describe these issues as well as other qualities desired in a mobile smart camera using computer vision algorithms to “see and understand” the scene. The target platform of discussion is the mobile handset, as this platform is poised to be the ubiquitous consumer device all around the world.
Influence of patient activation and health literacy on quality of life among patients with COPD

Background: While many factors contribute to the health status of patients with COPD little attention has been given to the influence of patient activation (PA) and health literacy (HL). Objectives: The purpose of this analysis was to examine the influence of PA and HL on quality of life (QOL) among a sample of patients with COPD. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from patients with COPD eligible for pulmonary rehabilitation enrolled in a self-management clinical trial. PA was measured using two questions: confidence on when to seek medical care (ACT1) and frequency of taking a list of medications to doctor visits (ACT2). HL was measured using three questions: confidence in filling out forms, frequency of help needed to read hospital materials, or problems learning about medical condition. QOL was measured using generic (SF-12) and disease-specific (Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire [CRQ]) instruments. Results: Of 218 patients the majority reported being confident/very confident when to seek medical care (ACT1=79.8%) and taking a list of medicines (ACT2=63.8%). The association between levels of PA and QOL was examined separately using linear regression: ACT1 was directly and significantly associated with CRQ, and SF-12 physical and mental composite scores. In contrast ACT2 was only significantly, but inversely associated with CRQ. There was no association between levels of HL and any measures of QOL. Conclusion: These results suggest that a component of patient activation (ACT1) is associated with improved QOL and may offer a specific target for intervention to enhance activation and outcomes. Funding: National Institutes of Health-NHLBI R18 HL092955.
EFFECTS OF VARIED DURATIONS OF TRAINING ON IMPROVEMENT IN CARDIORESPIRATORY ENDURANCE

Twenty-nine subjects trained for 6 weeks for the purpose of comparing the effects of various durations of exercise. All subjects trained three days per week at 75% of maximum heart rate. Training durations were 5 min (N = 10), 15 min (N = 10) and 25 min (N = 9) with over 80% of the training sessions consisting of monitored treadmill walking on a grade. Pre and post-testing consisted of a maximal treadmill walk and a submaximal bicycle ride for the three training groups and a control group (N = 10). The improvements in treadmill time were 7.7%, 14.7% and 20.2% for the three training groups, all significant. The improvement for the 5 min group was not different than that of the control or 15 min groups. Improvement in the 25 min group was significantly greater than the control and 5 min groups, but not the 15 min group. The same differences were noted when estimated maximal oxygen uptake changes were analyzed. The results indicate that at least 15 and preferably 25 min of exercise is necessary to produce optimal endurance improvement with the training intensity and frequency used in this study.
CYTO- AND HISTOPATHOLOGIC CORRELATION IN MIXED MESENCHYMAL TUMORS OF THE UTERUS.

T H E M I x E D mesenchymal tumor” of the uterus has consistently been associated with a poor prognosis. lo Thorough study, however, suggests a variety of problems which bear upon this gloomy outlook, not the least of which is the delay in institution of therapy. Often lesions have grown locally to the size of “a baby’s head” caused by absence of symptomatology and lack of routine examination. In other instances the bizarre atypical changes of the lesion have necessitated consultation to confirm the diagnosis thus adding to the delay. Furthermore, treatment has often been inadequate because of the lack of a prescribed plan of attack and inaccurate diagnosis of the early malignant changes in precursory lesions. During the past decades, in the study of malignant disease, much emphasis has been placed on the importance of early diagnosis and more accurate evaluation of precursory and preinvasiv-e lesions. Statistics indicate that the increased salvage in carcinoma of the cervix is related largely to diagnosis of the disease in its earliest stages and the recognition of carcinoma in situ as a definite
U.S. College Students' Sexual Activity: The Unique and Interactive Effects of Emotion Regulation Difficulties and Attachment Style

ABSTACTObjectives: This study explored the association between emotion regulation difficulties and sexual activity, and whether emotion regulation difficulties moderated the link between attachment and sexual activity. Methods: U.S. college students (N = 373) from two institutions completed self-report measures of sexual activity, emotion regulation difficulties and attachment. Results: Findings indicated that greater emotion regulation difficulties were associated with less frequent exclusive sexual activity. Moreover, emotion regulation difficulties moderated links between attachment avoidance and sexual activity, and associations varied according to relational context and gender. Conclusions: Implications for promoting sexual health and relationship intimacy are discussed.
Integration of geometric and non-geometric attributes for fast object recognition

Both man-made and natural objects are described by both their geometric shapes and by their non-geometric attributes such as color. The objective of the proposed research is to create a system which integrates geometric and non-geometric attribute information for fast 3D model-based object recognition. Hashing is employed in a hypothesize and verify approach to the 3D model-based object recognition problem. Viewpoint independent attributes are used in the hypothesis generation stage to eliminate model objects from consideration during hypothesis formation. Utilizing more than one attribute in the proposed hashing scheme helps to ensure a reduction in the actual execution time for object recognition over a larger number of model bases. A nice feature of the system is that new object attributes can be added with relative ease. Issues concerning the ranking of attributes by their distinctiveness with respect to the objects in the model base are discussed. Current work on the use of an information theoretic measure in the design of an optimal multiple attribute hash table is presented.
Two Short-Chain Dehydrogenases Confer Stereoselectivity for Enantiomers of Epoxypropane in the Multiprotein Epoxide Carboxylating Systems of Xanthobacter Strain Py2 and Nocardia corallina B276†

Epoxide carboxylase from the bacterium Xanthobacter strain Py2 is a multicomponent enzyme system which catalyzes the pyridine nucleotide-dependent carboxylation of aliphatic epoxides to β-ketoacids as illustrated by the reaction epoxypropane + CO2 + NADPH + NAD+ → acetoacetate + H+ + NADP+ + NADH. The combination of four distinct proteins, designated components I−IV, are required for the reconstitution of epoxide carboxylase activity with racemic mixtures of short-chain (C3−C5) terminal epoxyalkanes. In this work, components III and IV of the epoxide carboxylase system are shown to confer specificity for epoxyalkane enantiomers. Components I−III supported the carboxylation of (R)-epoxypropane, while components I, II, and IV supported the carboxylation of (S)-epoxypropane. At fixed concentrations of components I and II, the rates of (R)- and (S)-epoxypropane carboxylation saturated with increasing concentrations of component III or IV to give identical maximal rates for the two epoxide substrates. (S)-Epox...
Permeability of the blood–brain and blood–spinal cord barriers to interferons

Interferons (IFNs) are cytokines that produce effects in the CNS even though their production occurs mainly in the periphery. Direct passage of IFNs from blood to CNS could be an important route by which circulating IFNs exert their central effects. In this report, we characterize the pharmacokinetics of the passage of IFNs through the blood-brain and blood-spinal cord barriers in four separate regions: whole brain and the cervical, thoracic and lumbosacral segments of the spinal cord. We found that the spinal cord had greater permeability to IFNs than did the brain. For each corresponding region, the permeability to IFN alpha was higher than that to IFN gamma. Capillary depletion after cardiac perfusion showed that most of the injected IFN was not entrapped by the vasculature but entered the parenchyma of the brain. HPLC showed that most of the IFN gamma entered in intact form. The passage of radioactively labeled IFN gamma into the brain and cervical spinal cord was saturated by a low dose of unlabeled IFN gamma, while passage into the thoracic and lumbosacral spinal cord was not saturated. In contrast, for another cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha), a saturable transport system was present in distal spinal cord as well as the brain. The results show that IFNs and TNF alpha can enter the CNS from the periphery but with regional differences.
Recurrent ischemic optic neuropathy

Idiopathic ischemic optic neuropathy, presumed infarction in the retro-laminar segment of the optic nerve, is bilateral in as many as 50% of cases, but rarely occurs twice in the same optic nerve. We found only four anecdotal references to such recurrent involvement among 328 cases reported in the medical literature. Our patient, a 71-year-old man had two distinct episodes of infarction in the right optic nerve, each causing a distinct defect in the visual field as well as optic disc swelling. The rarity of recurrent symptoms affecting the same optic nerve may relate to mechanical factors. The initial infarct, by reducing the number of nerve fibers traversing the scleral canal, may decompress the remaining fibers and protect them from further irreversible damage. Thus, mechanical compression of optic nerve fibers within the scleral canal is implicated as a factor, in addition to vascular disease in the pathogenesis of ischemic optic neuropathy.
Radiometric ages of brachyuran crabs from the Galapagos spreading‐center hydrothermal ventfield

The ages of four crab carapaces from the Galapagos spreading-center hydrothermal ventfield were determined radiometrically using members of the U and Th decay chains. One animal had an age of 0.1 years and therefore had undergone molting just before collection; the other three had last molted 3-4 years before collection.
New radiopharmaceuticals and new applications in medicine

All areas of radiology are constantly evolving. At times rapid advances are made because new equipment or pharmaceuticals are introduced. At others the evolution is gradual as established procedures and techniques are refined. The following review of selected areas in nuclear medicine includes both dramatic changes due to new developments and evolutionary changes in established techniques. The first section reviews the development of monoclonal antibodies for use in radioscintigraphy of neoplastic disease. Although many articles have been written about this topic over the years, the clinical applications have suddenly expanded because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved one monoclonal antibody for use in the imaging of colorectal and ovarian cancer. It is anticipated that a number of other antibodies will be approved for clinical scintigraphy of both malignant and benign disease and immunotherapy. It is advised that the radiologist performing nuclear medicine procedures become knowledgeable about this expanding area of clinical application. The second section reviews several new radiopharmaceuticals that are being used with increasing frequency for myocardial imaging. The behavior of these tracers is different from that of thallium, and specialized imaging techniques are required. Although the clinical value of these agents is still questioned by some, they are widely used. Familiarity with this topic is recommended. The last section reviews some of the radiopharmaceuticals available for renal imaging and functional evaluation. The relatively new technetium-labeled pharmaceutical that approximates the behavior of hippuran is emphasized. New applications with the renal cortical imaging agent technetium DMSA are also reviewed. A thorough knowledge of the biologic behavior of these tracers and appropriate imaging and measurement techniques is extremely important for their appropriate clinical use.
Biosynthesis of δ-aminolevulinic acid in the unicellular rhodophyte, cyanidium caldarium

Levulinic acid, a competitive inhibitor of δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydrase, inhibited chlorophyll-a and phycocyanobilin synthesis by 50% in vivo in the unicellular rhodophyte, Cyanidium caldarium. Inhibition of tetrapyrrole synthesis was accompanied by accumulation of δ-aminolevulinic acid in amounts equivalent to the difference between chlorophyll-a and phycocyanobilin synthesis in control and levulinic aicd treated cells. δ-Aminolevulinic acid produced by levulinic acid treated cells incubated with specifically labeled glycine, α-ketoglutarate and glutamate was degraded in alkaline periodate to the succinic acid (C1-C4) and formaldehyde (C5) derivatives. The distribution of radioactivity in these fragments suggested that the carbon skeleton of δ-aminolevulinic acid is derived directly from α-ketoglutarate and glutamate.
Role of hepatic fibrin in idiosyncrasy-like liver injury from lipopolysaccharide-ranitidine coexposure in rats.

Coadministration of nonhepatotoxic doses of the histamine 2-receptor antagonist ranitidine (RAN) and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) results in hepatocellular injury in rats, the onset of which occurs in 3 to 6 hours. This reaction resembles RAN idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity in humans. Early fibrin deposition occurs in livers of rats cotreated with LPS/RAN. Accordingly, we tested the hypothesis that the hemostatic system contributes to liver injury in LPS/RAN-treated rats. Rats were given either LPS (44.4 × 106 EU/kg) or its vehicle, then RAN (30 mg/kg) or its vehicle 2 hours later. They were killed 2, 3, 6, 12, or 24 hours after RAN treatment, and liver injury was estimated from serum alanine aminotransferase activity. A modest elevation in serum hyaluronic acid, which was most pronounced in LPS/RAN-cotreated rats, suggested altered sinusoidal endothelial cell function. A decrease in plasma fibrinogen and increases in thrombin-antithrombin dimers and in serum concentration of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 occurred before the onset of liver injury. Hepatic fibrin deposition was observed in livers from LPS/RAN-cotreated rats 3 and 6 hours after RAN. Liver injury was abolished by the anticoagulant heparin and was significantly attenuated by the fibrinolytic agent streptokinase. Hypoxia, one potential consequence of sinusoidal fibrin deposition, was observed in livers of LPS/RAN-treated rats. In conclusion, the results suggest that the hemostatic system is activated after LPS/RAN cotreatment and that fibrin deposition in liver is important for the genesis of hepatic parenchymal cell injury in this model. (HEPATOLOGY 2004;40:1342–1351.)
Maximal injective subalgebras of tensor products of free group factors

In this article, we prove the following results. Let L(F(ni)) be the free group factor on ni generators (ni⩾2) and λ(gi) be one of standard generators of L(F(ni)) for 1⩽i⩽N. Let Ai be the abelian von Neumann subalgebra of L(F(ni)) generated by λ(gi). Then the abelian von Neumann subalgebra ⊗i=1NAi is a maximal injective von Neumann subalgebra of ⊗i=1NL(F(ni)). When N is equal to infinity, we obtain strongly stable II1 factors (or called McDuff factors) that contain maximal injective abelian von Neumann subalgebras.
Constructing type systems over an operational semantics

Abstract Type theories in the sense of Martin-Lof and the NuPRL system are based on taking as primitive a type-free programming language given by an operational semantics, and defining types as partial equivalence relations on the set of closed terms. The construction of a type system is based on a general form of inductive definition that may either be taken as acceptable in its own right, or further explicated in terms of other patterns of induction. One such account, based on a general theory of inductively-defined relations, was given by Allen. An alternative account, based on an essentially set-theoretic argument, is presented.
The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: An Annotated Bibliography

We compiled this bibliography to acknowledge the work that CASTL builds on, and to locate this new effort in the longer trajectory of related developments. It has two sections. The first, a definitional one, includes significant statements about the idea of the scholarship of teaching and learning, drawn from various traditions that contribute to its evolving conception. The second section points readers to resources that may assist them in performing the scholarship of teaching and learning.
Probing the photoreaction mechanism of phytochrome through analysis of resonance Raman vibrational spectra of recombinant analogues.

Resonance Raman spectra of native and recombinant analogues of oat phytochrome have been obtained and analyzed in conjunction with normal mode calculations. On the basis of frequency shifts observed upon methine bridge deuteration and vinyl and C15-methine bridge saturation of the chromophore, intense Raman lines at 805 and 814 cm-1 in Pr and Pfr, respectively, are assigned as C15-hydrogen out-of-plane (HOOP) wags, lines at 665 cm-1 in Pr and at 672 and 654 cm-1 in Pfr are assigned as coupled CC and C−C torsions and in-plane ring twisting modes, and modes at ∼1300 cm-1 in Pr are coupled N−H and C−H rocking modes. The empirical assignments and normal mode calculations support proposals that the chromophore structures in Pr and Pfr are C15-Z,syn and C15-E,anti, respectively. The intensities of the C15-hydrogen out-of-plane, CC and C−C torsional, and in-plane ring modes in both Pr and Pfr suggest that the initial photochemistry involves simultaneous bond rotations at the C15-methine bridge coupled to C15−H w...
Henry Ossawa Tanner: American Artist

Mathews's standard biography of Henry Ossawa Tanner (1859-1937), based on extensive research in archives in this country and family records in France, where Tanner emigrated before the turn of the century to find freedom and acceptance, provides a full account of Tanner's life and art.
Detection of Functional Matrix Metalloproteinases by Zymography

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-containing endopeptidases. They degrade proteins by cleavage of peptide bonds. More than twenty MMPs have been identified and are separated into six groups based on their structure and substrate specificity (collagenases, gelatinases, membrane type [MT-MMP], stromelysins, matrilysins, and others). MMPs play a critical role in cell invasion, cartilage degradation, tissue remodeling, wound healing, and embryogenesis. They therefore participate in both normal processes and in the pathogenesis of many diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Here, we will focus on MMP-2 (gelatinase A, type IV collagenase), a widely expressed MMP. We will demonstrate how to detect MMP-2 in cell culture supernatants by zymography, a commonly used, simple, and yet very sensitive technique first described in 1980 by C. Heussen and E.B. Dowdle. This technique is semi-quantitative, it can therefore be used to determine MMP levels in test samples when known concentrations of recombinant MMP are loaded on the same gel. Solutions containing MMPs (e.g. cell culture supernatants, urine, or serum) are loaded onto a polyacrylamide gel containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS; to linearize the proteins) and gelatin (substrate for MMP-2). The sample buffer is designed to increase sample viscosity (to facilitate gel loading), provide a tracking dye (bromophenol blue; to monitor sample migration), provide denaturing molecules (to linearize proteins), and control the pH of the sample. Proteins are then allowed to migrate under an electric current in a running buffer designed to provide a constant migration rate. The distance of migration is inversely correlated with the molecular weight of the protein (small proteins move faster through the gel than large proteins do and therefore migrate further down the gel). After migration, the gel is placed in a renaturing buffer to allow proteins to regain their tertiary structure, necessary for enzymatic activity. The gel is then placed in a developing buffer designed to allow the protease to digest its substrate. The developing buffer also contains p-aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA) to activate the non-proteolytic pro-MMPs into active MMPs. The next step consists of staining the substrate (gelatin in our example). After washing the excess dye off the gel, areas of protease digestion appear as clear bands. The clearer the band, the more concentrated the protease it contains. Band staining intensity can then be determined by densitometry, using a software such as ImageJ, allowing for sample comparison.
Are uniform phantoms sufficient to characterize the performance of iterative reconstruction in CT

The evaluation of dose reduction potential from iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms is an area of ongoing research in CT. The non-linearity of IR algorithms poses challenges to using traditional image quality metrics. Past attempts to evaluate iterative algorithms have relied on measurements taken from uniform background phantoms. In this study, noise is evaluated in CT images with no texture (water), fine texture (sponge + water), and gross texture (acrylic spheres + water. Images were reconstructed with a commercially available IR algorithm (SAFIRE 5) and filtered back projection (FBP). Noise was characterized in terms of its magnitude (pixel standard deviation) and stationarity across reconstruction algorithms and background types using an image subtraction technique. The IR algorithm reduced noise magnitude across all dose levels by 66 ±1%, 47 ±3%, and 29 ±4% in uniform, finely textured, and grossly textured backgrounds respectively. Noise was reasonably stationary in uniform FBP and IR images. For IR images with gross texture, pixel noise was 29 ±4% lower in acrylic sphere regions compared to water regions in the same slice. For FBP images, there were negligible differences between acrylic sphere and water regions in terms of pixel noise. This object-dependent noise is a feature of SAFIRE reconstruction that has not been previously reported.
Thermally Driven Flow in a Rotating Spherical Shell: Axisymmetric States

A spherical analogue of the rotating annulus experiments modeling atmospheric motion, in which a liquid is contained between two rigid, corotating and concentric hemispheres upon both of which thermal gradients are imposed, is presently studied by means of numerical models. Temperatures are lower on the inner than on the outer sphere, and decrease towards the pole. Using Navier-Stokes equations which assume symmetry about the polar axis, finite difference numerical models yield steady-state solutions to the equations. Hydrostatic and nonhydrostatic solutions are compared for cylindrical and spherical cases, and it is found in the case of the spherical shell that the differences between hydrostatic and nonhydrostatic solutions are small and largely confined to the regions near the pole and equator. It is suggested that nonhydrostatic effects on the axisymmetric state will not affect the flow's baroclinic stability.
Focal MRI findings in early SSPE

Many investigators have identified localized cortical involvement in subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) by clinical and electrophysiologic criteria. Some investigators have reported such abnormalities in the posterior cerebrum early in the course of the disease, but without radiologic correlation. Recently, magnetic resonance imaging has been used to follow the progression of SSPE. The largest reported study of SSPE utilizing magnetic resonance imaging indicated that focal abnormalities were distinctly rare and actually mitigated against the diagnosis of SSPE. We report an SSPE patient with focal cerebral dysfunction and magnetic resonance imaging evidence of distinctly focal inflammatory disease early in the course of the illness.
Talking about my generation and class? Unpacking the descriptive representation of women in Asian parliaments

Synopsis Since women (like men) differ in their interests and perspectives, we argue, that studies of the descriptive representation of women in politics ought to consider not only how many women are elected, but also which segments of the female population are proportionally represented and under-represented. Applying this framework to new data on the demographic characteristics of over 4000 members of parliament from sixteen countries in Asia, we find female MPs typically unrepresentative of their country's female populations at the pivotal intersections of social class and generation. With few exceptions, the majority of women (those who are young, elderly, in working-class occupations, and with average levels of education) are highly under-represented despite considerable variation across countries in electoral systems, quotas for female representation, and levels of socio-economic development. These findings raise interesting questions and offer new avenues for future research on the descriptive representation and substantive representation of women in politics.
Si3N4 thickness and its oxidation time influence on O/N/O DRAM cell performance

Abstract In dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices the cell capacitance performance is considered one of the main properties from a reliability stand point. The cell can lose the stored charge because of many leakage currents. One of them depends on the quality of the materials used to form the capacitor itself. In trench technology the most used capacitor is a stacked layer made of silicon nitride and oxide: SiO 2 /Si 3 N 4 /SiO 2 . The first silicon oxide is a native layer grown during the push of the wafers in the thermal reactor used to deposit the nitride layer; the second oxide is a layer grown during the thermal oxidation of nitride film. In the paper the influence of silicon nitride thickness and second oxide on the final device yield is studied together with the changes in cell performance (capacitance, breakdown voltage and current).
Lessons from Antiquity: The Wisdom of Solomon

Solomon who, according to both religious and secular sources, was the “wisest man” can teach us many important truths in both managerial and personal spheres.
Differences in Engineered Cartilage From Human Chondrocytes and Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Pellet and Construct Culture

Articular cartilage serves as the load-bearing material of joints. One approach to functional tissue engineering is to recapitulate the biochemical and mechanical function of healthy native cartilage in vitro, prior to implantation. We have been successful in cultivating engineered cartilage with compressive mechanical properties and glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content near native values by encapsulating chondrocytes or stem cells in a clinically relevant hydrogel [1, 2]. Clinical application of functional engineered cartilage will likely use of chondrocytes (AC) from osteoarthritic tissue or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which have been shown to have chondrogenic potential. That is, it is may be more feasible to differentiate healthy MSCs towards a chondrogenic lineage than to ‘reprogram’ ACs acquired from an osteoarthritic joint.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Soffer's inequality

Various issues surrounding a recently proposed inequality among twist-two quark distributions in the nucleon are discussed. We provide a rigorous derivation of the inequality in QCD, including radiative corrections and scale dependence. We also give a more heuristic, but more physical derivation, from which we show that a similar inequality does not exist among twist-three quark distributions. We demonstrate that the inequality does not constrain the nucleon`s tensor charge. Finally we explore physical mechanisms for saturating the inequality, arguing it is unlikely to occur in nature.
Speciation of termite gut protists: the role of bacterial symbionts

At least 12 termite gut protists have been named because of their bacterial symbionts. Dozens more species are diagnosed by epi- and endosymbionts and more still have regular bacterial associations referred to in their species description. Molecular systematic studies have begun to identify these bacteria, but the ecological relations with their protist bionts are still unknown. Recent findings of acetogenic spirochetes in termite guts may explain the peculiar arrangement of spirochetes on some of these protists. Other bacteria function as motility or chemotactic symbionts of these protists. The size and shape of the parabasal body, a Golgi complex, are morphological characters of the Parabasalia (trichomonads, hypermastigids) that may be influenced by regular, heritable epi- and endosymbiotic bacteria.
Prophylaxis for deep venous thrombosis in craniotomy patients : A decision analysis

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the most efficient perioperative prophylactic strategy for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in craniotomy patients by use of a decision analysis model. METHODS: We conducted a structured review of the relevant literature and compiled the reported incidences of DVT, pulmonary embolism, and postoperative intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in craniotomy patients. We also obtained from the literature estimates of the likelihood and the impact of various outcomes of these complications. Data from 810 craniotomies performed at our own institution were also examined. The decision analytic model was then used to compare the effectiveness of pneumatic compression boots with pneumatic compression boots combined with either unfractionated or low-molecular-weight heparin. The model dealt with variability by using both sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulation. RESULTS: As expected, the addition of heparin lowered the incidence of both DVT and pulmonary embolism, but at the cost of increasing ICH. Because the deleterious effects of ICH were so much greater than the benefits from heparinization, overall outcomes were best with mechanical prophylaxis alone. This was especially true for low-molecular-weight heparin, which is associated with a relatively high risk of ICH. Our own institutional data support the findings in the literature. Although the differences are modest, they reach statistical significance in the case of low-molecular-weight heparin. CONCLUSION: Using decision analytic modeling, we have shown that mechanical prophylaxis yields outcomes in craniotomy patients superior to those of either unfractionated or low-molecular-weight heparin.
Computational analysis of micron-particle deposition in a human triple bifurcation airway model.

Steady laminar axisymmetric inhalation flow and wall deposition of micron-size particles in representative triple bifurcation airways have been simulated using a commercial finite-volume code with user-enhanced programs. Assuming spherical non-interacting particles (3 μm≤ d p ≤7 μm), various inlet Reynolds numbers (Re=500-2000) and Stokes numbers (St=0.02-0.23) were considered. The resulting particle deposition patterns were analyzed and then summarized in terms of deposition efficiencies, i.e. DE=DE(Re,St) Surprisingly high DE-values occur at relatively low Reynolds numbers (e.g., Re=500 ) in the third bifurcation. The quantitative results are of interest to researchers either conducting health risk assessment studies for inhaled particulate pollutants or analyzing drug aerosol inhalation and deposition at desired lung target sites.
Comparisons between thermodynamic and one-dimensional combustion models of spark-ignition engines

Results from a one-dimensional combustion model employing a constant eddy diffusivity and a one-step chemical reaction are compared with those of one-zone and two-zone thermodynamic models to study the flame propagation in a spark-ignition engine. One-dimensional model predictions are found to be very sensitive to the eddy diffusivity and reaction rate data. The average mixing temperature found using the one-zone thermodynamic model is higher than those of the two-zone and one-dimensional models during the compression stroke, and that of the one-dimensional model is higher than those predicted by both thermodynamic models during the expansion stroke. The one-dimensional model is shown to predict an accelerating flame even when the front approaches the cold cylinder wall.
Alaskan Gay Males’ Couple Experiences of Societal Non-Support: Coping Through Families of Choice and Therapeutic Means

Trends in the marriage and family therapy (MFT) field show that gay men access therapy at a rate two to four times greater than their heterosexual counterparts. Thus, MFTs must be prepared to meet the needs of such clientele. Little research has been conducted on male–male couple experiences and less has been conducted in Alaska. In this qualitative study involving eleven participants we explored societal experiences and coping strategies of Alaskan male–male couples. Themes demonstrated more non-supportive than supportive experiences, the use of families of choice as the primary means of coping, and mixed therapeutic experiences.
Removal of dibenzothiophenes from model diesel fuel on sulfur rich activated carbons

Abstract Adsorption of dibenzothiophene (DBT) and 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (DMDBT) from model diesel fuel with 20 ppmw total concentration of sulfur was investigated on commercial wood based carbon exposed to hydrogen sulfide at 650 °C and 800 °C. The initial and exhausted carbons were characterized using adsorption of nitrogen, thermal analysis, potentiometric titration, FTIR, mass spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. The selectivities for DBT and DMDBT adsorption were calculated with reference to naphthalene. The results showed a marked positive effect of sulfur incorporated to the carbon matrix on the capacity and selectivity for DBT and DMDBT removal from model diesel fuel. This was linked to possible sulfur–sulfur interactions in the whole range of pores. Sulfur in the carbon matrix also contributes to activation of oxygen and oxidation of DBT to sulfoxides and sulfones. Owing to this, not only micropores but also larger pores are active in the selective adsorption.
Abdominoplasty With Progressive Tension Closure Using A Barbed Suture Technique

Background Seroma and skin necrosis are potential complications following abdominoplasty. Many methods have been employed to prevent these complications, including the progressive tension suture technique. Objective The authors evaluate a progressive tension suture technique modification using the Quill barbed suture (Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) to determine whether the original benefits of this classic technique can be obtained in a shorter operative period. Methods The modified progressive tension closure technique with Quill sutures uses barbed sutures to plicate the abdominoplasty flap to the underlying abdominal wall. The placement of the suture is performed with a running suture technique and provides progressive tension, resulting in minimal tension along the incision line. Data from 58 patients undergoing abdominoplasty using this technique are examined, including time to insert the sutures and complications such as seroma, hematoma, and skin necrosis. Results There was a marked reduction in the time necessary to perform the modified progressive tension suture technique using barbed sutures compared to previously published data. The authors' average time was nine minutes to complete plication of the entire abdominal flap. One seroma is reported, which was resolved with one aspiration. No hematomas or skin necrosis complications are reported. Conclusions Using barbed sutures to perform progressive tension suture closure in abdominoplasty is a safe and effective way to considerably reduce operative time and retain all of the benefits of the original progressive tension suture technique.
Support groups for family caregivers of dementia victims: questions, directions, and future research.

The caregivers of Alzheimer's and other dementia victims can benefit from a variety of support groups This concept and some models of support are presented, along with specific concerns that are frequently overlooked.
Improved Mechanical Properties and Thermal Stability of Sm-Co High Temperature Magnets Resulting From Surface Modifications

Abstract Improved mechanical properties and thermal stability of Sm-Co high temperature magnets resulting from surface modifications are reported. Compared to un-modified magnets, the modification with 15 μm sulfamate-Ni plating improved the fracture toughness by 76% and the thermal stability by 143% in vacuum and 861% in air for aging at 500 °C for up to 3000 hours. Microstructures of some specimens with and without modification were studied using SEM with EDS, and showed different fracture patterns. The improvements in mechanical properties were resulted by closing the infinite crack-origin sites on the surface of the brittle magnets with ductile metal. The striking improvement in thermal stability was achieved by sealing the Sm-Co magnets with corrosion resistive metal to limit oxidation. The adhesive bond strength between the magnet and the modified surface plays an important role in these improvements.
Form perception without attention.

Methods were devised which made it possible for subjects to look directly at novel forms without attending to them. In one method a state of inattention was achieved without the use of distracting or competing material whereas in a second method the subjects selectively attended to one series of moving figures rather than another simultaneously presented series. While recognition of form directly afterward was excellent even under incidental conditions with attention it was poor or at a chance level without attention. The results suggest that without attention memory of the specific shape of a figure is not established although there is memory for certain other general characteristics of the figure. It is argued that this failure of adequate trace formation results from the failure to “describe” the spatial relations which characterize a figure. It is suggested that such a process of description constitutes the essence of form perception and does not occur without attention.
The effects of pertussis toxin on dopamine D2 and serotonin 5-HT1A autoreceptor-mediated inhibition of neurotransmitter synthesis: Relationship to receptor reserve

Abstract Irreversible inactivation of striatal D2 dopamine (DA) autoreceptors with N-ethoxycarbonyl-2-ethoxy-1, 2-dihydroquinoline (EEDQ) or inaetivation of striatal guanine nucleotide binding proteins (G proteins) with pertussis toxin (PT) shifted the dose-response curve for N-n-propylnorapomorphine (NPA)-mediated inhibition of γ-butyrolactone (GBL)-induced elevation of L -3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine ( L -DOPA) to the right, with a decrease in the maximum response. For the partial agonist (+)-3-(3-hydroxyphenyl-N-n-propylpiperidine [(+)-3-PPP], in contrast, there was little shift in the ED50, after inactivation of either D2 receptors or G proteins. Completely analogous effects were found at the somatodendritic 5-HT1A autoreceptor in the raphe nuclei, mediating inhibition of the synthesis of serotonin (5-HT); the full agonist, 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) and the partial agonist, buspirone were utilized to inhibit the synthesis of 5-HT, as measured by changes in levels of L -5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP). Additionally, in both systems, combined treatment with pertussis toxin, followed by EEDQ, reduced the maximum effect, when compared to either agent alone but had little further effect on the ED50. In systems exhibiting a large receptor reserve for agonists, such as those described above, the same pattern of response seen after inactivation of receptors or G proteins may reflect the operation of a common mechanism underlying the phenomenon of receptor reserve.