cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Traumatic injury of the knee extensor mechanism in skeletally immature patients: Outcome and classification.

Abstract Background The literature is limited on the etiology and outcome of acute traumatic knee extensor mechanism injuries in skeletally immature patients with lack of a reliable classification system. Methods Data on patients who sustained an acute traumatic injury of the knee extensor mechanism were reviewed with a minimum of 12-month follow-up. Functional outcome was evaluated regarding knee active range of motion. Functional outcome was described using the Knee Society Score (KSS). Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Results Seventy-two patients with 74 knee extensor mechanism injuries were identified. The age at the time of injury was 13.9 ± 1.9 years. They included 59 injuries with tibial tubercle avulsion fracture, six injuries with patellar tendon avulsion without bone injury, six injuries with combined patellar tendon avulsion with tibial tubercle fracture, two injuries with sleeve fracture, and one injury with quadriceps tendon avulsion. According to our classification, type IB1 injury was the commonest injury (79.7%). The time to return to sports was 5.23 ± 2.98 months. The flexion was 128.7° ± 13.3°. A mean terminal extension lag of 5.6° was detected in three patients (4.1%). The KSS was 94.8 ± 8.1 and the functional outcome was graded excellent in 64 patients (88.9%), good in seven patients (9.7%), and fair in one patient (1.4%). Conclusions Traumatic injuries of the knee extensor mechanism in skeletally immature patients represent a wide variety of injuries including bony injuries in 82.4% of cases reviewed, tendinous injuries in 9.5%, and both bone and tendinous injuries in 8.1%. Our proposed classification system provides a more precise description of the injury pattern.
CostEfficient Dynamic Management of Cloud Resources through Supervised Learning

Brief Biography: Muhammad Wajahat is a PhD candi- date in the department of Computer Science at Stony Brook University. He works in the Performance Analysis of Com- puter Systems (PACE) Lab, under the supervision of Dr. Anshul Gandhi. Before joining PACE LAb, he graduated with distinction from Lahore University of Management Sci- ences (LUMS), Pakistan, with an honor thesis that investi- gated performance improvement of cloud gaming using Soft- ware De ned Networking (SDN). His current research fo- cuses on performance modeling and resource management to improving performance and resource utilization in cloud systems. He has worked with leading cloud research groups at IBM Research and AT&T Labs Research on application autoscaling and hotspot mitigation in private clouds.
Linking historical discriminatory housing patterns to the contemporary food environment in Baltimore

Food access literature links disinvested communities with poor food access. Similarly, links are made between discriminatory housing practices and contemporary investment. Less work has examined the relationship between housing practices and food environment disparities. Our central premise is that these practices create distinctions in food environment quality, and that these disparities may have implications for food system advocacy and policymaking. In this paper, we link an objective food environment assessment with a spatial database highlighting redlining, blockbusting, and gentrification in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. Standard socioeconomic and housing characteristics are used to control for race, income, and housing composition in a multivariate regression analysis. Our findings highlight that blockbusting-rather than redlining-most strongly shapes poor food access. Redlining and gentrification, meanwhile, are associated with better food access. These findings raise important points about future policy discussions, which should instead be focused on ameliorating more contemporary patterns of housing inequality.
First Policy, Then Action: A Co-Production Approach to Understand the Application of Urban Climate Knowledge in Land Use Planning

Barriers to the application of climate science in land use planning are often understood as a problem related to perceived disciplinary knowledge gaps. This paper argues that, instead, limitations ...
Investigative approaches to researching information technology companies

Abstract Recent events reveal the potential for information technologies to threaten democratic participation and destabilize knowledge institutions. These are core concerns for researchers working...
Radiofrequency Ablation of Small Renal Masses.

Although the incidence of localized renal cell carcinoma has increased in recent decades due to greater use of imaging, the treatment has shifted to less invasive, nephron-sparing approaches. Radio...
Nollan and Dolan : Providing a Roadmap for Adopting a Uniform System to Determine Transportation Impact Fees

Local governments employ various systems to determine how to justify and when to assess transportation impact fees on new or proposed development. Most litigation in this field has resulted from the developers’ disagreement over local governments’ discretion in deciding how to justify and when to assess the fees. Thus, the main disputes that have arisen with respect to transportation impact fees are over these simple how and when questions. Although most systems implemented by local governments appear to be fair and equitable, this Article sets out to find an optimal transportation impact fee system that most accurately conforms to the standards established by the United States Supreme Court in Nollan v. California Coastal Commission and Dolan v. City of Tigard, decisions which serve as guideposts for justifying the implementation of an impact fee system.
Mipafox — Inhibitor of Cholinesterase, Neurotoxic Esterase, and DFP-ase: Is there a “Mipafox-ase”?

In 1946 there was published both the synthesis of the archetypal organophosphorus cholinesterase inhibitor, DFP,1 and the finding of an enzyme that hydrolyzes and thus detoxifies this compound.2 In 1963, in the same landmark volume to which Karczmar contributed two chapters on particular aspects of the acetylcholine system often elucidated by the use of DFP,3,4 Mounter5 reviewed the subject that has come to be known as “DFPase”. While a relationship of a compound that is an inhibitor of cholinesterase to an enzyme that hydrolyzes that compound will be self-evident, every imaginable aspect of the one enzyme is either understood or under study, whereas the other enzyme, seemingly without natural substrate or physiological role, may require some introduction.
Fibrous Proteins from Recombinant Microorganisms

Keywords: protein polymers; silk; elastin; collagen; keratin; nanostructured materials; protein engineering; β-sheet; β-turn; α-helix; 31-helix; protein truncation; spider; dragline; flagelliform; Pichia pastoris; Escherichia coli; Bacillus subtilis; Bacillus brevis; protein secretion
Divergence-based framework for diffusion tensor clustering, interpolation, and regularization

This paper introduces a novel framework for diffusion tensor combination, which can be used for tensor averaging, clustering, interpolation, and regularization. The framework is based on the physical interpretation of the tensors as the covariance matrices of Gaussian probability distributions. The symmetric Kullback-Leibler divergence provides a natural distance measure on these distributions, which leads to a closed-form expression for the distance between any two diffusion tensors, as well as for the weighted average of an arbitrary number of tensors. We illustrate the application of our technique in four different scenarios: (a) to combine tensor data from multiple subjects and generate population atlases from ten young and ten older subjects, (b) to perform k-means clustering and generate a compact Gaussian mixture of multiple tensors, (c) to interpolate between tensors, and (d) to regularize (i.e., smooth) noisy tensor data. For boundary-preserving regularization, we also propose a non-linear two-stage smoothing algorithm that can be considered remotely similar to a median filter.
Chapter 3.7 – Stress and drug abuse

Abstract Most major theories and models of addiction identify stress as an important factor in increasing drug use and in relapse. The basis for this association comes from epidemiological studies, clinical observations and survey data and some human laboratory studies. While substantial preclinical data support the notion that stress exposure enhances drug self-administration and that stress reinstates drug-seeking behavior, there is little direct evidence in humans on the interactions between stress and addictive processes, such as drug use, craving, tolerance, sensitization, withdrawal, and relapse. The purpose of this chapter is to examine the role of stress in addictive processes with a specific focus on human studies. The role of stress on additive processes is broken down into two categories: first, how stress may increase the vulnerability to drug abuse is examined, and second, the effects of chronic drug abuse on the stress response, stress-related coping and relapse are assessed. Unanswered questions and areas of future research on the association between stress and drug abuse in humans are identified. By examining the proposed mechanisms underlying the association between stress and drug abuse and the supporting empirical evidence, the goal is to expand the current knowledge base on how stress may perpetuate drug abuse. A greater understanding of this association will facilitate future research in this area, which in turn can have a significant impact on both prevention and treatment development in the field of addiction.
Effectiveness of qPCR permutations, internal controls and dilution as means for minimizing the impact of inhibition while measuring Enterococcus in environmental waters.

Aims: Draft criteria for the optional use of qPCR for recreational water quality monitoring have been published in the United States. One concern is that inhibition of the qPCR assay can lead to false-negative results and potentially inadequate public health protection. We evaluate the effectiveness of strategies for minimizing the impact of inhibition. Methods and Results: Five qPCR method permutations for measuring Enterococcus were challenged with 133 potentially inhibitory fresh and marine water samples. Serial dilutions were conducted to assess Enterococcus target assay inhibition, to which inhibition identified using four internal controls (IC) was compared. The frequency and magnitude of inhibition varied considerably among qPCR methods, with the permutation using an environmental master mix performing substantially better. Fivefold dilution was also effective at reducing inhibition in most samples (>78%). ICs were variable and somewhat ineffective, with 54–85% agreement between ICs and serial dilution. Conclusions: The current IC methods appear to not accurately predict Enterococcus inhibition and should be used with caution; fivefold dilution and the use of reagents designed for environmental sample analysis (i.e. more robust qPCR chemistry) may be preferable. Significance and Impact of the Study: Suitable approaches for defining, detecting and reducing inhibition will improve implementation of qPCR for water monitoring.
Tactile hand gesture recognition through haptic feedback for affective online communication

Our study explores how individuals communicate emotions using tactile hand gestures and provides evidence supporting the link between emotions and gestures to investigate the usability of tactile hand gestures for emotional online communication. Tactile hand gestures are used as the source of information to get to emotions. In this study, behavioral aspects of tactile hand gestures being used for emotional interaction are observed through a sensory input device and analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). In user experiments, subjects perform tactile hand gestures on the sensory input device in the response of a list of distinct emotions (i.e. excited, happy, relaxed, sleepy, tired, lonely, angry and alarmed). An analytical method is used to recognize gestures in terms of signal parameters such as intensity, temporal frequency, spatial frequency and pattern correlation. We found that different emotions are statistically associated with different tactile hand gestures. This research introduces a new way of creating online emotional communication devices that approximate the use of natural tactile hand gestures in face-to-face communication.
Design Sensitivity Analysis and Optimization of Kinematically Driven Systems

A state space design sensitivity analysis and optimization method is presented in which problems of optimal design of machines are formulated in a setting that allows treatment of general design objectives and constraints. Synthesis of machines to perform both kinematic and kinetic functions is considered. A Cartesian coordinate formulation is employed for position, velocity, acceleration, and force analysis. An adjoint variable technique is employed to compute derivatives with respect to design of general cost and constraint functions that involve kinematic, force, and design variables. Linearization (or sequential quadratic programming) and gradient projection optimization algorithms are employed, using the design sensitivity analysis method developed, for design optimization. Four optimal design problems are solved to demonstrate use of the method.
CD64/Fc gamma RI is a granulo-monocytic lineage marker on CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells

The aim of this study was to identify markers specific for granulo-monocytic commitment of progenitor cells. Large panels of antibodies were screened for selective staining of subsets of CD34+ cells from fetal and adult bone marrow. Flow cytometric analysis showed that CD64/fc gamma RI was undetectable on noncommitted progenitor cells (CD34++, CD38-/lo, HLA-DR+) and expressed on a subset of lineage-committed progenitors (CD34+, CD38+) with higher mean orthogonal light scatter than the remaining CD34+ cells. The CD34+, CD64+ cells were CD19- and the majority were CD45RA+, CD71lo, suggesting that CD64 recognized granulomonocytic progenitor cells. Specificity of CD64 for the granulo-monocytic lineage was shown by demonstrating that colonies arising from CD34+, CD64+ cells consisted of 98% +/- 2% colony-forming unit-granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) in semisolid medium containing stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-6, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and erythropoietin (EPO). In contrast, 63% +/- 15% of the colonies from the CD34+, CD64- cells were burst-forming unit-erythroid/colony-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E/CFU-E). Furthermore, four-color immunofluourescence and cell sorting was used to analyze the progeny of cells cultured in liquid medium containing identical cytokines as used in the semisolid medium. This analysis showed that CD34+, CD64+ cells gave rise to 83% +/- 10% granulo-monocytic cells whereas progeny of the CD34+, CD64- cells contained 81% +/- 11% erythroid cells. Neutrophils as well as basophils and monocytes/macrophages were present in the cultures from CD34+, CD64+ cells, showing that this population contains progenitors of most types of granulo-monocytic cells. Two widely used myeloid markers, CD13 and CD33, were not myeloid-specific, because both were clearly positive on noncommitted progenitor cells. Of 40 antigens tested, CD15 was the only other marker fulfilling the criteria of a myeloid-specific marker. However, at concentrations of CD15 that did not induce aggregation, CD15+ cells constituted less than 50% of the CD34+, CD64+ cells. Furthermore, the CD34+, CD15- cells showed more than 50% higher CD34 mean fluorescence intensity than the CD64+, CD15+ cells, indicating that CD64 appears earlier than CD15 during differentiation. Thus, among a large number of antigens screened, CD64 was the most useful for the identification and purification of granulo-monocytic progenitor cells.
Ectopia lentis in Marfan's syndrome causing positional visual symptoms.

A 33-year-old woman with Marfan's syndrome described blurred vision in the left eye when looking up while lying on her back. The right lens had been previously removed after it dislocated into the anterior chamber. Examination of the fundus and MR …
Gene expression patterns of murine dentin matrix protein 1 (Dmp1) and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) suggest distinct developmental functions in vivo

Although the precise mechanisms of the conversion of predentin to dentin are not well understood, several lines of evidence implicate the noncollagenous proteins (NCPs) as important regulators of dentin biomineralization. Here we compared the in vivo temporospatial expression patterns of two dentin NCP genes, dentin matrix protein 1 (Dmp1), and dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) in developing molars. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed on embryonic day 13 to 1-day-old first molars using Dmp1- and DSPP-specific primer sets. Dmp1 transcripts appeared at the late bud stage, while DSPP mRNA was seen at the cap stage. Expression of both genes was sustained throughout odontogenesis. In situ hybridization analysis revealed interesting differences in the expression patterns of these genes. While Dmp1 and DSPP showed coexpression in young odontoblasts before the start of mineralization, the expression of these genes was notably distinct at later stages. Dmp1 expression decreased in secretory odontoblasts after the appearance of mineral, while high levels of DSPP were sustained in odontoblasts. In early secretory ameloblasts, DSPP expression was transient and down-regulated with the appearance of dentin matrix. Interestingly, Dmp1 expression became evident in ameloblasts during the maturative phase of amelogenesis. In contrast to Dspp expression that was tooth-specific, Dmp1 was expressed by osteoblasts throughout ossification in the skeleton. Probes directed to the “DSP” and “DPP” regions of the DSPP gene showed identical patterns of mRNA expression. These data show that the developmental expression patterns of Dmp1 and DSPP are distinct, implying that these molecules serve different biological functions in vivo.
Effects of Celebrity Media Exposure on Box-Office Performance

This article examines the relation between box-office performance and celebrity media exposure, as measured by appearances in the celebrity magazine, People. This study employs variables that capture different time periods to test whether People magazine appearances were merely part of a general promotional effort by a studio or whether appearances reflected the popular appeal of the actor. The results indicate that promotional appearances do not significantly affect box-office revenues. In fact, it is the star's popular appeal reflected in appearances prior to the promotional push that significantly affect box-office success.
Electrical fascicle identification as an adjunct to nerve repair

Twenty-eight upper extremity nerves in 25 patients were repaired using an electrical nerve stimulator to identify major fascicles for their sensory and motor content. The proximal stump was searched for major sensory fascicles, as determined by the patient's verbal response, while using a general anesthesia "wake-up" technique. The distal stump was searched for major motor fascicles, judged by the observed twitch in the appropriate intrinsic muscles of the hand. Repair was usually by selective fascicle suture combined with epineurial suture. Identification of the separate digital nerve fascicles in the distal stump was not attempted. Ten median and five ulnar nerves were evaluated after 2 to 4 years. Median nerve repairs have shown satisfactory results, with thenar motor recovery ranging from 25% to 95% of normal in nine of 10 cases. Pure median nerve supply of the thenar muscles was confirmed by ulnar nerve block. The small ulnar nerve sample also shows encouraging results, but more end results are needed to substantiate the current impression.
Sassoon's The One-Legged Man: Life through Death and Destruction

(2008). Sassoon's The One-Legged Man: Life through Death and Destruction. The Explicator: Vol. 66, No. 2, pp. 97-99.
Is there a temporal basis of the word length effect? A response to Service (1998)

Service (1998) carried out a study of the word length effect with Finnish pseudowords in which short and long pseudowords were identical except for the inclusion of certain phonemes differing only in pronunciation length, a manipulation that is impossible in English. She obtained an effect of phonemic complexity but little or no word duration effect per se — a discrepancy from the expectations generated by the well-known working memory model of Baddeley (1986). In the present study using English words, we controlled for phonemic complexity differences by using the same words for the short- and long-word sets, but with instructions inducing shorter or longer pronunciation of the words. We obtained substantial word duration effects. Concerns raised by Service are addressed, and we conclude that both duration and complexity are likely to contribute to the word length effect in serial recall.
Characterization of complexes of egg yolk phosphatidylcholine and apolipoprotein A-II prepared in the absence and presence of sodium cholate.

Abstract Complexes of apolipoprotein A-II and egg yolk phosphatidylcholine were prepared in mixtures of different composition in the absence and presence of sodium cholate. By gradient gel electrophoresis, complex preparations were polydisperse and particle size distributions were influenced by the composition of the reconstitution mixture. Complexes generally exhibited a discoidal morphology by electron microscopy, but showed increased formation of vesicular complexes at elevated levels of egg yolk PC in the mixtures. By chemical crosslinking, complexes formed in the absence of cholate were shown to consist primarily of discoidal species with three apolipoprotein A-II molecules per particle in the mixtures investigated; complexes formed in the presence of cholate included species ranging from three to five apolipoprotein A-II per particle. The number of apolipoprotein A-II per particle and the sizes of the complexes, prepared in cholate, increased with increase of egg yolk PC in the reconstitution mixture. Relative to the particle size distribution of discoidal complexes formed in the absence of cholate, those prepared in cholate showed a distribution shifted to larger particle sizes. Complexes of similar particle size distribution formed in the presence or absence of cholate showed similar physical-chemical properties. Discoidal complexes with the same number of apolipoprotein A-II per particle but of different size and composition were observed, suggesting the possibility of some conformational adaptation of apolipoprotein A-II leading to stabilization of egg yolk PC bilayers of different diameter. Properties of particle size distributions of discoidal complexes prepared in cholate of apolipoprotein A-II and egg yolk PC were compared with those of complexes of apolipoprotein A-I previously reported (Nichols A.V., Gong E.L., Blanche P.J. and Forte T.M. (1983) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 750, 353–364).
Nonlinear field dependence and f -wave interactions in superfluid 3 He

We present results of transverse acoustics studies in superfluid ${}^{3}$He-$B$ at fields up to 0.11 T. Using acoustic cavity interferometry, we observe the acoustic Faraday effect for a transverse sound wave propagating along the magnetic field, and we measure Faraday rotations of the polarization as large as 1710${}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$. We use these results to determine the Zeeman splitting of the imaginary squashing mode, an order-parameter collective mode with total angular momentum $J=2$. We show that the pairing interaction in the $f$-wave channel is attractive at a pressure of $P=6$ bars. We also report nonlinear field dependence of the Faraday rotation at frequencies substantially above the mode frequency not accounted for in the theory of the transverse-acoustic dispersion relation formulated for frequencies near the mode. Consequently, we have identified the region of validity of the theory allowing us to make corrections to the analysis of Faraday rotation experiments performed in earlier work.
Laser-induced fluorescence and fluorescence depletion spectroscopy of the jet-cooled CF3S radical

Abstract The spectrum of the CF 3 S free radical has been observed for the first time cooled in a supersonic free jet expansion. Both ‘bright’ and ‘dark’ levels of the A state have been observed using a combination of laser-induced fluorescence and fluorescence depletion spectroscopy. The photofragmentation of CF 3 S is shown to be very mode specific.
Local connectedness in hyperspaces

In 1974 J. T. Goodykoontz showed that for a metric continuum (X, T), the following statements are equivalent: (I) 2 X is locally connected atM∈2 X and (II) 2 X is locally connected at each component ofM∈2 X . In this paper, the relationships between statements (I) and (II) are further investigated and Goodykoontz's characterization of local connectedness at elements of 2 X is extended to many spaces that are weaker than metric continua.
The Nature and Types of Organizational Taxonomies: An Overview

Although organizational taxonomies have been the subject of numerous conceptualizations and several research studies, no generally accepted method of classifying organizations has yet been formulated. This article provides a critical review of these past theoretical and empirical efforts in an attempt to establish a research foundation for future investigations.
Prerequisite skills, early instruction, and success in first-grade reading: Selected results from a longitudinal study

We report selected results from a longitudinal study of reading development. Children were assessed on a variety of measures on their entry to kindergarten. Their reading success was evaluated in first grade. Further, characteristics of the language arts program to which the children were exposed in kindergarten were observed. Measures administered in kindergarten were evaluated for their ability to predict first-grade reading achievement. It was found that a child's ability to name letters in kindergarten was the strongest predictor of first-grade reading skill. Among the nonreading measures, measures of linguistic processing skills, particularly phonological processing, were found to account for the largest proportion of variance in first-grade reading. Several characteristics of the kindergarten language arts program were also found to be related to first-grade reading performance. Further, some of these relationships varied depending on the risk status of the children for experiencing later reading difficulties as determined on the basis of the prediction aspect of the study. For example, the proportion of time devoted to activities designed to attune children to the phonemic nature of language was related to first-grade reading success for “at risk” children, but not for children who were not identified as “at risk.” © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
GENESIS OF THE RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIUM IN THE MACAQUE MONKEY

The development of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) was studied in rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) fetuses, neonates, and juveniles exposed to a pulse of (3H-TdR) between embryonic day (E) 25 and postnatal day (P) 204 and examined at short and long intervals after the injection of the isotope. The RPE develops from the outer layer of the optic cup which by E45 consists of a multistratified epithelium. The outer layer appears immature near the retina's edge and gradually becomes monostratified and more mature centrally. Even at this early stage, all cells contain pigmented melanosomes, although peripherally the pigment is limited to the apical portion of the cells. Examination of autoradiograms from animals allowed to survive for several postnatal months shows that monkey RPE cell genesis begins just after E27, increasing to a peak frequency of 0. 38 cells/mm at E43. Between E30 and E85 the density of radiolabelled cells varies within a restricted range of from 0.2 to 0.4 cells/mm (mean = 0.25 ± 0.09). From the density of radiolabelled cells, and data on the overall density of RPE cells in the juvenile retina, we determined the labelling index. During the first half of gestation, between 0. 38% and 0. 99% (mean = 0. 65 ± 0. 22) of RPE cells are generated during the short interval of isotope availability after pulse injection. Approximately 5% of RPE cells were generated by E33, and 50% by E71. After E85, RPE cytogenesis begins gradually to decrease, and 95% of the cells have been generated by the time of birth. Continued, very low density (0. 01 cells/mm) cytogenesis in the RPE is seen at P17, and persists at least until seven months postnatally. RPE cell genesis begin near the fovea, and proceeds towards the periphery. Cell division largely ceases in both foveal and perifoveal regions by E56, at which time labelled cells first begin to appear peripheral to the equator. Besides the timing differences, RPE genesis in the central retina differs from that in the peripheral retina in that it proceeds at a higher rate, and lasts for a shorter time period. A prolonged postnatal period of low density RPE cell genesis persists in both central and peripheral retina. Comparison of the pattern of expansion of the area containing radiolabelled cells in the RPE and neuroretina demonstrates a remarkable spatial and temporal correspondence. Close analysis suggests that at any point on the retina, the last cells are generated in the neuroretina slightly before the last cells in the RPE. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Undecidable questions related to Church-Rosser Thue systems

Abstract The following four properties are shown undecidable for finite Thue systems S: Is S equivalent to a finite Church-Rosser (respectively: almost confluent, preperfect) system? Does S generate a Church-Rosser congruence?
Absorption Coefficient of Helium for its Own Radiation

The absorption coefficient of helium for its own radiation in the extreme ultra-violet was measured for various pressures. In the range of pressure from 0.016 to 0.040 mm Hg the mass absorption coefficient was found to be 1.24\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{7}$. For lower pressures the mass absorption coefficient increases rapidly with decrease in pressure.
Essential information and support needs of family caregivers.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to identify essential information and support needs of family caregivers for individuals with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, and to examine the relationship between caregiver characteristics and needs. Caregivers ( n =128, response rate=49.4%) returned a survey detailing information needs, support needs, and personal information. The need for information concerning diagnosis/treatment and legal/financial issues was more important than general information about the disease. Specifically, information about health plan coverage was most important. Experienced caregivers also needed legal/financial information, as well as support. Female caregivers rated needs related to support as significantly more important than male caregivers. Practitioners should realize that caregivers may have different information and support needs and these needs may change throughout the caregiving experience.
Efficient visual system processing of spatial and luminance statistics in representational and non-representational art

An emerging body of research suggests that artists consistently seek modes of representation that are efficiently processed by the human visual system, and that these shared properties could leave statistical signatures. In earlier work, we showed evidence that perceived similarity of representational art could be predicted using intensity statistics to which the early visual system is attuned, though semantic content was also found to be an important factor. Here we report two studies that examine the visual perception of similarity. We test a collection of non-representational art, which we argue possesses useful statistical and semantic properties, in terms of the relationship between image statistics and basic perceptual responses. We find two simple statistics-both expressed as single values-that predict nearly a third of the overall variance in similarity judgments of abstract art. An efficient visual system could make a quick and reasonable guess as to the relationship of a given image to others (i.e., its context) by extracting these basic statistics early in the visual stream, and this may hold for natural scenes as well as art. But a major component of many types of art is representational content. In a second study, we present findings related to efficient representation of natural scene luminances in landscapes by a well-known painter. We show empirically that elements of contemporary approaches to high-dynamic range tone-mapping-which are themselves deeply rooted in an understanding of early visual system coding-are present in the way Vincent Van Gogh transforms scene luminances into painting luminances. We argue that global tone mapping functions are a useful descriptor of an artist's perceptual goals with respect to global illumination and we present evidence that mapping the scene to a painting with different implied lighting properties produces a less efficient mapping. Together, these studies suggest that statistical regularities in art can shed light on visual processing.
Attraction force characteristics engendered by bounded, radially diverging air flow

When axially directed air flow enters a parallel plate passage through a hole in one of the plates, the ensuing diverging radial flow is such that a depressed pressure region occurs to some extent over the inlet region of the passage. If the plate against which the inlet air stream impinges is allowed to move freely, it will, under proper flow and other conditions, assume a position of stable equilibrium reflecting a balance among plate weight, the momentum repelling force of the stream, and a net restraining attraction force due to the radial pressure distribution in the passage. This phenomenon, the “Bernoulli” or “axi-radial” effect, has long been of interest in areas such as gas film lubrication and radial diffusers, and it has been applied extensively in IBM systems for contactless transport and motion control of semiconductor wafers on an air film. A steady, laminar, incompressible flow analysis for a representative axisymmetric circular disk model is presented here. A one-dimensional approach, using the general energy equation in conjunction with a passage flow friction factor variation, is applied to obtain an approximate relationship for radial pressure distribution. The friction factor, embodying the influence of varying viscous and inertial forces, is postulated on the basis of specialized radial flow studies in the literature. By also applying the momentum balance condition, an approximate overall solution is obtained which, for arbitrary model dimensions, describes the relationship among equilibrium passage spacing, resultant reaction fluid force and free disk weight, and a flow Reynolds number. The analytical predictions are compared with results from model experiments, and generally favorable agreement is indicated.
Comparison of Methods for Estimating the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient for Binary Responses in Cancer Prevention Cluster Randomized Trials

The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) is a fundamental parameter of interest in cluster randomized trials as it can greatly affect statistical power. We compare common methods of estimating the ICC in cluster randomized trials with binary outcomes, with a specific focus on their application to community-based cancer prevention trials with primary outcome of self-reported cancer screening. Using three real data sets from cancer screening intervention trials with different numbers and types of clusters and cluster sizes, we obtained point estimates and 95% confidence intervals for the ICC using five methods: the analysis of variance estimator, the Fleiss-Cuzick estimator, the Pearson estimator, an estimator based on generalized estimating equations and an estimator from a random intercept logistic regression model. We compared estimates of the ICC for the overall sample and by study condition. Our results show that ICC estimates from different methods can be quite different, although confidence intervals generally overlap. The ICC varied substantially by study condition in two studies, suggesting that the common practice of assuming a common ICC across all clusters in the trial is questionable. A simulation study confirmed pitfalls of erroneously assuming a common ICC. Investigators should consider using sample size and analysis methods that allow the ICC to vary by study condition.
Limits on the trapping of atmospheric CH4 in martian polar ice analogs

Abstract Recent detection of methane (CH 4 ) on Mars has generated interest in possible biological or geological sources, but the factors responsible for the reported variability are not understood. Here we explore one potential sink that might affect the seasonal cycling of CH 4 on Mars – trapping in ices deposited on the surface. Our apparatus consisted of a high-vacuum chamber in which three different Mars ice analogs (water, carbon dioxide, and carbon dioxide clathrate hydrates) were deposited in the presence of CH 4 gas. The ices were monitored for spectroscopic evidence of CH 4 trapping using transmission Fourier-Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and during subsequent sublimation of the ice films the vapor composition was measured using mass spectrometry (MS). Trapping of CH 4 in water ice was confirmed at deposition temperatures 4 was observed in the ice analogs studied at warmer temperatures (140 K for H 2 O and CO 2 clathrate, 90 K for CO 2 snow) with approximately 10 mTorr CH 4 in the chamber. From experimental detection limits these results provide an upper limit of 0.02 for the atmosphere/ice trapping ratio of CH 4 . If it is assumed that the trapping mechanism is linear with CH 4 partial pressure and can be extrapolated to Mars, this upper limit would indicate that less than 1% is expected to be trapped from the largest reported CH 4 plume, and therefore does not represent a significant sink for CH 4 .
Something new under the Sun: forty years of philosophy of religion, with a special look at process philosophy

Looking back over the last 40 years of work in the philosophy of religion provides a fascinating vantage point from which to assess the state of the discipline today. I describe central features of American philosophy of religion in 1970 and reconstruct the last 40 years as a progression through four main stages. This analysis offers an overarching framework from which to examine the major contributions and debates of process philosophy of religion during the same period. The major thinkers, topics, positions, and controversies are presented, analyzed, and critiqued. In the concluding section I offer a critical appraisal of the state of the field today based on the results of these historical analyses.
An Investigation of Multicomponent Droplet Vaporization in Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Risers

Fluidized Catalytic Cracking (FCC) oil refining technology converts heavy feed oil into lighter, more valuable components using hot catalysts in a riser reactor. The interphase mixing, vaporization, and chemical reactions are the controlling processes inside the FCC riser. The interactions between the feed oil spray and the gas/solid flow determine the final products of the cracking process, and ultimately the profitability of the FCC unit. A three-phase reacting flow computational fluid dynamic (CFD) code, ICRKFLO, has been developed for the simulation of FCC riser flows. In this study, ICRKFLO is used to simulate a low profile FCC riser. A low profile riser has a shorter residence time than standard FCC risers, and the modeling of the droplet vaporization process is of great importance. Because feed oil is composed of many hydrocarbon components, each of which vaporize at a different temperature, a new vaporization model is developed to include multicomponent vaporization of a droplet. The model allows the boiling point temperature of the droplets to vary as the vaporizing droplet loses mass to the gaseous phase. Comparison between the existing and new models shows a significant change in gasoline yields at the riser exit.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Risk Factors Associated with AIDS in Haiti

A total of 121 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients diagnosed in Haiti were studied between June 1979 and December 1983. Risk factors were identified in 65% of 34 patients evaluated in a standardized manner since July 1983 and included: bisexuality, 38%; blood transfusion, 21%; and intravenous drug abuse or a spouse with AIDS, 6%. These risk factors were reported by only 20% of the 85 patients studied between June 1979 and June 1983. AIDS patients also reported more frequent parenteral injections prior to the onset of their illness than control subjects (e.g., siblings, friends, sexual partners). Heterosexual activity among female AIDS patients was also greater than in their female controls. It was concluded that, in contrast to the experience reported among Haitians with AIDS in the USA, risk factors are present among most patients with AIDS in Haiti.
Oestrus and ovarian morphology in gilts following treatment with orally effective steroids.

THIS communication describes an experiment carried out to evaluate the effect of two combinations of progestin and oestrogen treatments on oestrus and ovarian morphology in gilts.
The role of the nucleus in measles virus replication.

Data bearing on the appearance of measles-specific components in infected-cell nuclei have been reviewed. There is suggestive evidence that nuclear compartmentalization may be host-dependent and that nuclear accumulations may increase when virus release is blocked. It remains uncertain whether the presence of viral components in the nucleus is an incidental or a required stage in measles virus replication. We noted, however, that radioactively labeled measles RNA was demonstrated in nucleoplasmic fractions following short exposures to [3H]-uridine, and that it appeared to accumulate in association with the nucleus late in infection. We recently have been examining nuclei isolated from measles virus infected cells for viral polymerase activity, but none has been demonstrated.
Mitigation of Seed Germination Impediments in Hairy Vetch

Hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) is a promising winter cover crop for northern climates, but germination can be limited by low soil moisture conditions. Farmers may be reluctant to use hairy vetch, concerned that hard seed will emerge as weeds in succeeding crops. This work examines germination, dormancy, and viability of hairy vetch seeds from nine commercial seed sources, and evaluates the effects of mechanical scarification and ambient temperature hydropriming on the degree of hard-seededness, germination, seed viability and seedling vigor in a range of simulated soil moisture conditions. Hydropriming increased germination by 5% across seed sources and water potentials, but reduced seedling growth by 16%. Mechanical scarification eliminated all hard-seededness, but increased physiologically dormant seed by ∼5% and nonviable seed by ∼2% and reduced seedling growth by 39%. This work indicates that pretreatments may increase germination and reduce hard-seededness, but reduce seed viability and seedling vigor in some seed sources.
Dynamic load head-disk interface durability of 50 percent sliders and polished disks

The dynamic load head-disk interface durability is experimentally investigated using 50 percent TPC sliders and super-smooth disks. Severe head-disk contact conditions are applied and disk-synchronized head loading motions are performed in order to see the effect of repeated dynamic load head-disk contacts. Readback signals are recorded and analyzed, and the disk surfaces of the head-disk contact area are examined after 100,000 repeated contacts. The results are compared with those of our previous study. We find that the dynamic load head-disk interface durability of 50 percent TPC sliders and polished disks is superior to that of 70 percent taper-flat sliders and textured disks, and the experimental results suggest that better dynamic load head-disk interface reliability can be achieved with good head-loading velocity control, even though head-disk contact may occur during loading.
Substrate Utilization by the Fetal Sheep Lung during the Last Trimester

ABSTRACT: In vivo substrate utilization has not been described for the maturing fetal lung. We, therefore, studied pulmonary delivery and use of major fetal substrates in six chronically catheterized fetal lambs over 119–141 days gestation. Oxygen, glucose, lactate, and α-amino nitrogen concentrations were measured in the pulmonary artery and pulmonary vein whereas lung blood flow was determined using labeled microspheres. We found that lung oxygen availability and use increased near term. Oxygen delivery averaged 4960 ± 480 (SEM) μl/min and rose with fetal age (p < 0.05); uptake averaged 708 ±111 μl/min and increased 93% near term (p < 0.05). In contrast, glucose availability and use fell with gestation. Pulmonary artery glucose decreased with time (p < 0.001), with a mean drop of 5.05 ± 1.71 mg/dl in individual animals (p < 0.05). Average glucose uptake was 844 ± 225 μg/min and fell near term (p < 0.05). Lactate was produced by the lung at a mean rate of 534 ±176 μg/min; this did not change with gestation. Lung amino nitrogen availability increased with fetal age. Pulmonary artery amino nitrogen rose by 1.35 mg/dl, or 43% (p < 0.001) and lung delivery of amino nitrogen increased (p < 0.05). The mean pulmonary glucose/O2 ratio was 1.48 ± 0.26 and decreased with gestation (p < 0.05), being < 1.0 near term. The glucose-lactate/O2 ratio was 0.67 ± 0.26, implying that 30% of lung oxidative metabolism is still unaccounted for. The alterations in delivery of substrates to the lung which were identified may serve as signals for pulmonary maturation, inducing the changes in lung metabolism that were found near term.
Picosecond MPI mass spectrometry of CH3I in the process of dissociation

Picosecond multiphoton ionization and time-of-flight mass spectrometry has been used to monitor the dissociation of methyl iodide excited to its A continuum. The measured signals show a rapid buildup when the probe laser is tuned to a resonance of free atomic iodine and a sharp feature at zero time delay when it is tuned off-resonance. Enhanced signal is also observed in the parent ion channel. These results illustrate the possible use of this technique for the probing of fragment species before they are completely separated from their partners in a half-collision process.
The Peace Corps Experience: Challenge and Change, 1969-1976

A former deputy director of the Peace Corps offers both a first-hand look at life in the agency - in the field and at headquarters - and a radical reinterpretation of its history during the Nixon and Ford administrations. By the end of the 1960s, the Peace Corps was in disarray. Debate raged over its effectiveness, and many new volunteers embraced the anti-establishment behavior of the day's youth. When President Nixon appointed Joseph Blatchford as director in 1969, some insiders felt the agency's days were numbered - especially when Blatchford set about re-evaluating the Peace Corps' mission and initiated a program called New Directions to reorient its work. Many observers simply lump Blatchford's efforts with the failures and faults of the Nixon administration. David Searles, however, contends that the new director's initiatives revitalized the Peace Corps and made it more relevant. He relates the history of these policies and their implementation in the field, drawing on his experience as country director for the Peace Corps in the Philippines. He shows how, despite constant carping from veterans of the early Peace Corps and much furor at headquarters, New Directions re-energized the agency and renewed and reaffirmed the Peace Corps' mission.