cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Host Gene Expression in Nose and Blood for the Diagnosis of Viral Respiratory Infection

Background Recently there has been a growing interest in the potential for host transcriptomic analysis to augment the diagnosis of infectious diseases. Methods We compared nasal and blood samples for evaluation of the host transcriptomic response in children with acute respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, symptomatic non-RSV respiratory virus infection, asymptomatic rhinovirus infection, and virus-negative asymptomatic controls. We used nested leave-one-pair-out cross-validation and supervised principal components analysis to define small sets of genes whose expression patterns accurately classified subjects. We validated gene classification scores using an external data set. Results Despite lower quality of nasal RNA, the number of genes detected by microarray in each sample type was equivalent. Nasal gene expression signal derived mainly from epithelial cells but also included a variable leukocyte contribution. The number of genes with increased expression in virus-infected children was comparable in nasal and blood samples, while nasal samples also had decreased expression of many genes associated with ciliary function and assembly. Nasal gene expression signatures were as good or better for discriminating between symptomatic, asymptomatic, and uninfected children. Conclsusions Our results support the use of nasal samples to augment pathogen-based tests to diagnose viral respiratory infection.
Analysis of the Effect of Field Enhancement at Fin Corners on Program Characteristics of FinFET Split-Gate MONOS

The effect of field enhancement at Fin corners on program characteristics of FinFET Split-gate metal oxide nitride oxide silicon (SG-MONOS) is analyzed. The program characteristics using source-side injection (SSI) are found to be insensitive to the variation of the curvature radius at Fin corners, which shows the robustness of FinFET SG-MONOS to Fin shape variation inthe fabrication process.
Characterization of Concrete Pile Groups with 2-D Seismic Waveform Tomography

Currently, about 28,000 bridges over water in the United States are classified as having missing key foundation information such as number and distribution of piles and pile lengths. The as-built drawings of buried concrete piles or drilled shafts are critical in assessing the hydraulic scour vulnerability of bridges. This paper presents an application of seismic waveform tomography for characterization of shaft groups. The capability of an existing 2-D Gauss–Newton seismic waveform tomography method was investigated on challenging subsurface conditions for groups of drilled shafts with various lengths within each group. The method was applied to field experimental datasets collected at the National Geotechnical Experimental Site (NGES) at College Station, Texas. The site contains two groups of four and five drilled shafts with various lengths from 10.4 to 24.1 m. Seismic wave fields were measured on the ground surface at the edges of the two pile groups, and analyzed by the 2-D waveform tomography method. Seismic results showed that waveform analysis was able to well characterize the pile groups. Individual drilled shafts and soil between them are distinguished, and lengths were also generally predicted.
Homodyned-K Distribution With Additive Gaussian Noise

The homodyned-K (HK) distribution is a three-parameter density function used to study mixed-species radar and ultrasound scattering phenomena. We analyze the distribution that results from corrupting the HK with additive Gaussian noise (HKN). This modification enables analytic study of the HK in the presence of system thermal noise in radar and ultrasound systems. The moments of intensity of the HKN are derived and a new moment method parameter estimation algorithm is tested in simulation.
Rationale and study design of the MyHEART study: A young adult hypertension self-management randomized controlled trial

Young adults (18-39 year-olds) with hypertension have a higher lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease. However, less than 50% of young adults achieve hypertension control in the United States. Hypertension self-management programs are recommended to improve control, but have been targeted to middle-aged and older populations. Young adults need hypertension self-management programs (i.e., home blood pressure monitoring and lifestyle modifications) tailored to their unique needs to lower blood pressure and reduce the risks and medication burden they may face over a lifetime. To address the unmet need in hypertensive care for young adults, we developed MyHEART (My Hypertension Education And Reaching Target), a multi-component, theoretically-based intervention designed to achieve self-management among young adults with uncontrolled hypertension. MyHEART is a patient-centered program, based upon the Self-Determination Theory, that uses evidence-based health behavior approaches to lower blood pressure. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate MyHEART's impact on changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to usual care after 6 and 12 months in 310 geographically and racially/ethnically diverse young adults with uncontrolled hypertension. Secondary outcomes include MyHEART's impact on behavioral outcomes at 6 and 12 months, compared to usual clinical care (increased physical activity, decreased sodium intake) and to examine whether MyHEART's effects on self-management behavior are mediated through variables of perceived competence, autonomy, motivation, and activation (mediation outcomes). MyHEART is one of the first multicenter, randomized controlled hypertension trials tailored to young adults with primary care. The design and methodology will maximize the generalizability of this study. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03158051.
Impacts of severe weather events on high-speed rail and aviation delays

Abstract Transportation systems have become much more vulnerable due to the increased amount of unexpected severe weather events caused by the effects of climate change . One of the direct consequences is that the punctuality of transportation systems is severely affected and the prediction of the on-time performance of scheduled service becomes challenging due to the uncertainty of severe weather’s occurrence. The objective of this paper is to investigate two fundamental questions pertaining to the operational reliability of passenger transportation systems, using high-speed rail (HSR) and aviation in China as an example: what are the impacts of severe weather events on HSR and aviation delays, and to what extent are these systems vulnerable to various types of severe weather events? To address these questions, a dataset with 350,000 detailed, on-time performance records of HSR and air services for the period October 2016–September 2017 was adopted. Based on data visualization and statistical analysis, the study reveals that the impacts of severe weather events on HSR and aviation’s on-time performance vary spatially and temporally. In general, HSR is less vulnerable than aviation to most severe weather events. In terms of the spatial variation, the operation of HSR in the southeast coastal region is affected more frequently by rain and thunderstorms , whereas the system operated in central-eastern China is more vulnerable to snowstorms .
Elimination of senescent osteoclast progenitors has no effect on the age-associated loss of bone mass in mice.

Both an increase in osteoclast and a decrease in osteoblast numbers contribute to skeletal aging. Markers of cellular senescence, including expression of the cyclin inhibitor p16, increase with aging in several bone cell populations. The elimination of p16-expressing cells in old mice, using the INK-ATTAC transgene, increases bone mass indicating that senescent cells contribute to skeletal aging. However, the identity of the senescent cells and the extent to which ablation of p16-expressing cells may prevent skeletal aging remain unknown. Using mice expressing the p16-3MR transgene, we examined whether elimination of p16-expressing cells between 12 and 24 months of age could preserve bone mass; and whether elimination of these cells from 20 to 26 months of age could restore bone mass. The activation of the p16-3MR transgene by ganciclovir (GCV) greatly diminished p16 levels in the brain, liver, and osteoclast progenitors from the bone marrow. The age-related increase in osteoclastogenic potential of myeloid cells was also abrogated by GCV. However, GCV did not alter p16 levels in osteocytes-the most abundant cell type in bone-and had no effect on the skeletal aging of p16-3MR mice. These findings indicate that the p16-3MR transgene does not eliminate senescent osteocytes but it does eliminate senescent osteoclast progenitors and senescent cells in other tissues, as described previously. Elimination of senescent osteoclast progenitors, in and of itself, has no effect on the age-related loss of bone mass. Hence, other senescent cell types, such as osteocytes, must be the seminal culprits.
Facilitating Self-reflection about Values and Self-care Among Individuals with Chronic Conditions

Individuals with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) experience the overwhelming burden of treating MCC and frequently disagree with their providers on priorities for care. Aligning self-care with patients' values may improve healthcare for these patients. However, patients' values are not routinely discussed in clinical conversations and patients may not actively share this information with providers. In a qualitative field study, we interviewed 15 patients in their homes to investigate techniques that encourage patients to articulate values, self-care, and how they relate. Study activities facilitated self-reflection on values and self-care and produced varying responses, including: raising consciousness, evolving perspectives, identifying misalignments, and considering changes. We discuss how our findings extend prior work on supporting reflection in HCI and inform the design of tools for improving care for people with MCC.
The Global Adolescent Girl Agenda: An Analysis of the Emergence and the Political Outcomes of Two Global Health Networks

This article applies the framework developed by the Global Health Advocacy and Policy Project (GHAPP) to analyze the emergence and effectiveness of global health networks to two networks. One of them is Girls Not Brides, a global network of stakeholders working to end child, early, and forced marriage. The other is the network that is working to improve menstrual hygiene management (MHM) in schools and that includes the MHM in Ten network. By providing a theoretically informed account of these two networks, the article contributes to the literature by providing accounts of additional networks that can help us deepen our understanding of the factors that shape transnational network emergence and political outcomes. The two networks in this study complement the case studies completed by the GHAPP because they focus on a complex and politically and culturally sensitive set of issues. Furthermore, this article bridges the gap between the scholarly literature and the literature produced by NGOs and international organizations by providing a theoretically informed account of the effort to end child marriage and improve (MHM) in schools.
Numerical Simulation of Isothermal Flow Across Slant Five-Tube Bundle with Spectral Element Method Code Nek5000

The helical coil steam generator (HCSG) is a specific type of shell-and-tube heat exchanger known for having a higher heat transfer coefficient than many other designs. For this reason, they are co...
Single-Stranded DNA Binding Proteins (SSBPs) Interact with LDB1 Homodimers to Facilitate DNA Looping.

Abstract Abstract 1469 Poster Board I-492 The LIM domain binding protein LDB1 is an essential cofactor of LIM-homeodomain (LIM-HD) and LIM-only (LMO) proteins in hematopoiesis and other developmental programs. We have shown that LDB1 and its LIM-HD and LMO interaction partners are protected from ubiquitylation by a small family of SSBPs. Recently, we demonstrated that these SSBPs bind to LDB1 homodimers to promote formation of a ternary complex containing two molecules of LDB1 and SSBP. This was dependent on an intact LDB1 dimerization domain (DD) and produced a shift, directly or indirectly, in the equilibrium between LDB1 monomer and dimer. In the present study, we introduced a 24-glycine linker between two full-length LDB1 peptide-coding sequences and expressed this forced or tethered LDB1 dimer (TD-LDB1) in vitro and in vivo. First, both TD-LDB1, introduced into cells by transfection, and endogenous LDB1 were found to have the same turnover rate, indicating that protection from ubiquitylation was independent of dimerization status. Second, TD-LDB1 was fused to the DNA binding domain of GAL4 (GAL4DBD) and in a second construct to the activation domain of herpesvirus VP16 (VP16AD) and these constructs were expressed in cells with a GAL4 reporter plasmid. Co-expression of GAL4-LDB1 and VP16-LDB1 significantly increased reporter luciferase activity as a result of dimerization, while co-expression of GAL4-TD-LDB1 with VP16-LDB1 did not, ruling out formation of LDB1 trimers. Likewise, co-expression of GAL4-TD-LDB1 with VP16-TD-LDB1 did not significantly affect luciferase activity, indicating that LDB1 also cannot form protein tetramers. In contrast, TD-LDB1 was able to bind SSBP2 and SSBP3 in both chemical cross-linking and mammalian two-hybrid assays, consistent with the SSBP interacting with preformed LDB1 dimers. Finally, the complete 200-amino acid DD of LDB1, reported as necessary and sufficient for protein dimerization, was confirmed in cross-linking analysis to act as a dominant negative inhibitor of LDB1 dimerization. When the DD was introduced into Lhx2-, Ldb1-, and Ssbp3-expressing cells, application of a modified electrophoretic mobility assay that can detect linking of two DNA probes in solution revealed that the DD reduced formation of a ‘looped' complex containing two DNA probes and led to the appearance of a new complex containing Lhx2, Ssbp3, and Ldb1, apparently in a monomeric form. In summary, this work elucidates a novel function of SSBPs in enhancing LDB1 dimerization and, ultimately, long-range communication between cis regulatory regions in genes. In addition, it suggests that SSBPs bind dimeric LDB1 and induce an allosteric change in the adjacent SSBP interaction domain rather than vice versa. Finally, these results lead to the prediction that an SSBP- and LDB1-containing complex could promote looping between promoter-proximal and promoter-distal LIM-HD binding elements. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Professional values development during a baccalaureate nursing degree completion program

Abstract Faculty recognized a need to further study professional values development in registered nurses during a baccalaureate degree completion program. Study participants were surveyed at the beginning and conclusion of their program using the Nurses Professional Values Scale – Revised (NPVS-R) with several additional open-ended questions. The results supported that associate degree–prepared nurses returning to school possess a level of professional values similar to nurses with a baccalaureate degree.
Evaluating the impact of first-year writing course grades on college-student persistence

Abstract Informed by Tinto’s model of persistence, this large-scale evaluation study (N = 8916) centers on intersections of first-year composition (FYC), grades, and persistence at a career-focused, polytechnic university in a midwestern U.S. state. It presents a replicable design exploring a pathway through Composition 1 and Composition 2 to graduation and suggests theoretical and practical implications for early-alert, student-support intervention. Results of binary logistic regression indicate that, accounting for demographic and enrollment factors, grades significantly predict whether students take Composition 2 immediately after Composition 1, whether they persist to Composition 2 at all, and whether they graduate. We propose that the linked sequence of writing courses may allow students to build skills over a year-long sequence, enhancing self-efficacy and grade-reinforced senses of belonging, while factors related to ethnic identity and first-generation status pose barriers at critical points along the first-year sequence. We conclude with suggested points of student-support intervention and future research on grades, first-year writing coursework, and college-student persistence related to writing self-efficacy and senses of belonging.
Acute Presentation of a Pseudoaneurysm After a Proximal Humerus Shaft Fracture: A Case Report.

Case A 69-year-old woman presented with a brachial artery pseudoaneurysm causing median, ulnar, and radial nerve compressive neuropathies 8 weeks after a proximal humerus shaft fracture treated with intramedullary nailing. She underwent a brachial artery bypass with a reverse cephalic vein interposition graft and neurolysis after decompression of a large pseudoaneurysm. Postoperatively, the patient had a normal vascular examination with recovering neurological function. Conclusions A high index of suspicion for a brachial artery pseudoaneurysm should be maintained in patients with a displaced proximal humerus shaft fracture, particularly when an abnormal neurovascular examination is present.
A simple method for producing bio-based anode materials for lithium-ion batteries

A simple and scalable method for producing graphite anode material for lithium-ion batteries is developed and demonstrated. A low-cost, earth abundant iron powder is used to catalyze the conversion of softwood, hardwood, cellulose, glucose, organosolv lignin, and hydrolysis lignin biomaterials to crystalline graphite at relatively low temperatures ( 99% coulombic efficiency.
MicroRNAs and exosomes in human milk

Abstract Virtually all living cells produce and secrete extracellular vesicles into the extracellular space. Among the various classes of extracellular vesicles, exosomes (~100 nm diameter) are of particular interest because of their unique role in cell-to-cell communication. This type of communication is facilitated by the transfer of regulatory cargos such as microRNAs from donor cells to adjacent or distant recipient cells. Evidence suggests that exosomes and their microRNA cargos are derived not only from endogenous synthesis but may also be absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract from milk, and microRNAs in milk exosomes alter gene expression in recipient cells. Studies of exosomes and microRNA cargos in human milk and infant nutrition are just beginning to emerge. Preliminary evidence, discussed in this chapter, suggests that exosomes found in milk and consumed from the diet accumulate primarily in the brain and liver in mice and change microbial communities in the murine rectum. In addition, consumption of a diet depleted of milk-borne exosomes and their microRNA cargos causes a loss in spatial learning and memory, alters purine metabolism, and might impair immune function compared with exosomes and microRNA-sufficient controls in murine models. Much remains to be discovered about milk-borne exosomes and their biological functions.
Highly Hydrophobic Organosilane-Functionalized Cellulose: A Promising Filler for Thermoplastic Composites

The aim of this work is to design and optimize the process of functionalization of cellulose fibers by organosilane functional groups using low-pressure microwave plasma discharge with hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO) precursor in order to prepare a compatible hydrophobic filler for composites with nonpolar thermoplastic matrices. Particular attention was paid to the study of agglomeration of cellulose fibers in the mixture with polypropylene. In our contribution, the dependence of the surface wettability on used process gas and treatment time was investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses were applied to characterize the surface morphology and chemical composition of the cellulose fibers. It was observed that the plasma treatment in oxygen process gas led to the functionalization of cellulose fibers by organosilane functional groups without degradation. In addition, the treated cellulose was highly hydrophobic with water contact angle up to 143°. The use of treated cellulose allowed to obtain a homogeneous mixture with polypropylene powder due to the significantly lower tendency of the functionalized cellulose fibers to agglomerate.
Abstract P114: Sparse Partial Least Squares Regression: A Promising Technique To Identify Heart-healthy Dietary Patterns In The Multi-Ethnic Study Of Atherosclerosis (MESA)

Most nutritional epidemiology studies investigating trends between diet and heart disease use outcome-independent dimension reduction methods, like principal component analysis, to create dietary p...
Supratentorial lymphocytic inflammation with parenchymal perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids: A case report and literature review.

Background Chronic Lymphocytic Inflammation with Pontine Perivascular Enhancement Responsive to Steroids is a rare disorder that presents with subacute brainstem symptoms such as ataxia, facial paresthesias, and episodic diplopia, thought to be due to a T-cell medicated perivascular inflammatory process. A supratentorial variant, Supratentorial Lymphocytic Inflammation with Parenchymal Perivascular Enhancement Responsive to Steroids (SLIPPERS), has been described in only three patients. Case description A 71-year-old male presented with word-finding difficulties, confusion, and left leg weakness. Radiographic workup demonstrated multiple supratentorial ring-enhancing lesions. PET/CT demonstrated hypermetabolism and susceptibility-weighted imaging demonstrated a hemorrhagic component. Frozen pathology revealed a predominately T-cell and monocyte inflammatory infiltrate. He demonstrated interval improvement to dexamethasone therapy, but then demonstrated worsening of his symptoms following discontinuation. Conclusion Given his dramatic response to corticosteroids, he was diagnosed with SLIPPERS. SLIPPERS is an underrecognized diagnostic entity to consider in patients with ring-enhancing lesions and can present with hypermetabolic lesions on PET/CT.
Extraction of Spatio-Temporal Data for Social Networks

It is often possible to understand group change over time through examining social network data in a spatial and temporal context. Providing that context via text analysis requires identifying locations and associating them with people. Our GeoRef algorithm too automatically does this person-to-place mapping. It involves the identification of location, and uses syntactic proximity of words in the text to link location to person’s name. We describe an application using the algorithm based upon data from the Sudan Tribune divided into three periods in 2006 for the Darfur crisis. Contributions of this paper are (1) techniques to mine for location from text (2) techniques to mine for social network edges (associations between location and person), (3) spatio-temporal maps made from mined data, and (4) social network analysis based on mined data.
Presurgical MEG to Forecast Pediatric Cortical Epilepsies

Although multiple modalities (semiology, EEG, MEG, PET, SPECT, fMRI) are useful for presurgical evaluation of patients with medication resistant epilepsy, only EEG and MEG have the millisecond time resolution to track the onset and spread of interictal discharges and ictal events. For good surgical outcome, both seizure onset zones (SOZ) and regions of immediate spread, the epileptogenic zone (EZ), need to be resected. Although for adults the main preoperative question may be whether seizures arise in left or right mesial temporal lobe, the locations of SOZ can be much more variable in children and adolescents. Recent studies indicate the most common cause of medically intractable epilepsy in pediatrics is cortical dysplasias functioning as epileptogenic regions. A child may have a single circumscribed cortical dysplastic region, multiple regions throughout a lobe, cerebral hemisphere, or even bihemispheric dysplastic regions. Sometimes seizures will start at just one focal cortical dysplastic region and spread throughout the brain. For other patients, multiple cortical dysplastic regions may independently generate seizures, more in the context of a seizure network than a single seizure focus. The difficult task is to anticipate the pattern of locations of cortical dysplasias and functional epileptogenic regions for each pediatric patient. Addressing this task adequately presurgically for each patient allows intracranial electrodes to be placed correctly to verify the locations where seizures start and to observe how the seizures spread in a single patient during different clinical seizure patterns. MEG with mathematical models of the head, brain and current source regions may be able to contribute significantly to the presurgical identification of the pediatric patient’s seizure networks and to the prediction of source locations that should be assessed with intracranial EEG recording.
Ellen Harmon White: American Prophet

Ellen Harmon White: American Prophet is a well-written collection of essays about one of the most influential leaders and distinctive characters of nineteenth-century U.S. religious history. Drawin...
On secure communication with known interference

The knowledge of interference plays a positive role in enhancing the secrecy of Gaussian wiretap channels. We address this fact using a linear deterministic model to explicitly show the interplay between different channel parameters. This evokes a coding scheme which leverages the knowledge of the interfering sequence to confuse the eavesdropper without compromising the decoding at the legitimate receiver. Through a numerical example, we show that interference enhancement through power management at the transmitter can offer higher secrecy rate compared to using the classical structured double-binning scheme.
Group 1 CD1 Genes in Rabbit

CD1 is an Ag-presenting molecule that can present lipids and glycolipids to T cells. The CD1 genes were first identified in the human, and since then, homologs have been identified in every mammalian species examined to date. Over a decade ago, CD1B and CD1D homologs were identified in the rabbit. We have extended this earlier study by identifying additional CD1 genes with the goal of developing the rabbit as an animal model to study the function of CD1 proteins. We constructed a thymocyte cDNA library and screened the library with CD1-specific probes. Based on nucleotide sequence analyses of the CD1+ cDNA clones obtained from the library, we have identified two CD1A genes and one CD1E gene as well as determined the complete sequence of the previously identified CD1B gene. The CD1E+ cDNA clones lacked the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains and, if translated, would encode for a soluble or secreted CD1E protein. In addition, expression studies demonstrated that the CD1 genes were expressed in peripheral lymphoid tissues as well as in skin, gut, and lung. Of interest is the finding that CD1A2, CD1B, and CD1E genes were found to be expressed by rabbit B cell populations. The rabbit, with a complex CD1 locus composed of at least two CD1A genes, one CD1B gene, one CD1D gene, and one CD1E gene, is an excellent candidate as an animal model to study CD1 proteins.
Numerical Computation of Multivariate Normal and Multivariate t Probabilities over Ellipsoidal Regions

An algorithm for the computation of multivariate normal and multivariate t probabilities over general hyperellipsoidal regions is given. A special case is the calculation of probabilities for central and noncentral F and x 2 distributions. A FORTRAN 90 program MVELPS.FOR incorporates the algorithm.
Accidents of the Great Society

Although published in 1970, The Costs of Accidents was written in the 1960s. In its boldness, its brilliance, and its progressive aspirations, the book is emblematic of the great society movement out of which it developed. Unimpressed with the legal and scholarly status quo, Calabresi set out to reinvent "accident law" in a manner that would best realize the set of values we care about most: minimizing accident costs within the limits set by justice. As confident as he was in his own framework, so was he critical of the value of the fault system which governed much of accident law then, and still does today. The bottom line is that the fault system is ill-suited to reducing primary accident costs. And, he argues, it is not even well suited to doing justice, so there is nothing to justify its ineptitude at cost reduction. We respond to Calabresi's critique both within his framework of primary cost reduction, and more broadly, and we articulate both responses in terms of social norms of responsibility. As a means of primary cost reduction, we argue, the internalization of social norms of safe conduct is critical. These norms are sustained, in part, by their entrenchment within a legal system that links liability to duties and duties with norms of responsibility. Moreover, the creation of "loci of responsibility", the articulation of obligations, and the provision of private individuals with an avenue of redress against one another are valuable aspects of the fault system even apart from their connection with primary cost reduction. The Costs of Accidents, by looking only at cost reduction and justice, entirely overlooks a range of values enjoyed by the fault system. In the inspiring enthusiasm to improve human welfare across the board, thinkers of the 1960s risked rendering "responsibility" a casualty of the Great Society. In following those thinkers, we must understand notions of responsibility as a friend, not a foe, of social improvement.
IS REFLECTIVE EQUILIBRIUM ENOUGH

Our “intuitions” are simply opinions: our philosophical theories are the same. Some are commonsensical, some are sophisticated; some are particular; some general; some are more firmly held, some less. But they are all opinions, and a reasonable goal for a philosopher is to bring them into equilibrium. Our common task it to find out what equilibria there are that can withstand examination, but it remains for each of us to come to rest at one or another of them... Once the menu of well-worked out theories is before us, philosophy is a matter of opinion. Is that to say that there is no truth to be had? Or that the truth is of our own making, and different ones of us can make it differently? Not at all! If you say flatly that there is no god, and I say that there are countless gods but none of them are our worldmates, then it may be that neither of us is making any mistake of method. We may each be bringing our opinions to equilibrium in the most careful possible way, taking account of all the arguments, distinctions, and counterexamples. But one of us, at least, is making a mistake of fact. Which one is wrong depends on what there is (1983: x-xi).
Evaluation of an Enzymatic Procedure for Determination of Serum Cholesterol with the Abbott ABA-100

A previously reported direct enzymatic method for cholesterol [ Clin. Chem. 20, 470 (1974)] was critically evaluated in the clinical laboratory. Other methods compared to this enzymatic procedure were: ( a ) the manual Abell—Kendall procedure, giving a regression slope (proportional sensitivity) of 0.998 and a negative bias of 9.7 mg/dl in the enzymatic procedure; ( b ) Lipid Research Clinic procedure, giving a regression slope of 1.005 and a negative bias of 8.8 mg/dl in the enzymatic procedure; and ( c ) the SMA 12/60 (Technicon) method, giving a regression slope of 0.881 and a negative bias of 20.8 in the enzymatic procedure. Replicate analyses of pooled serum by the enzymatic procedure demonstrated the following inter-run precision: mean = 178 mg/dl, SD = 4 mg/dl, CV = 2.2%. Bilirubin caused a slight positive interference (1 mg of bilirubin per deciliter appears as 1-2 mg of cholesterol). Hemolysis, lipemia, and a series of steroid drugs caused no interference. A group of 465 normal subjects was tested by the enzymatic procedure. This population had a mean cholesterol of 203 mg/dl. The 2.5 percentile was 130 mg/dl, and the 97.5 percentile was 316 mg/dl.
Life Events, Neighborhood Stress, Psychosocial Functioning, and Alcohol Use Among Urban Minority Youth

ABSTRACT This study examined personal life events and neighborhood stress as determinants of alcohol use among urban, minority youth. Personal events included disruptive and beneficial life experiences, whereas neighborhood stress assessed gang involvement and perceived neighborhood toughness. Analyses were constructed to examine the ability of several key measures of psychosocial functioning to moderate relations between life events, neighborhood stress, and alcohol use. Positive outcomes (e.g., family communication) and internal health locus of control buffered the effects of negative life events on alcohol use. High levels of absenteeism exacerbated the effects of neighborhood stress on alcohol use. Both positive and negative life events and neighborhood stress uniquely predicted alcohol use controlling for risk, gender, and ethnicity. Findings are discussed in terms of extending current etiology models to include stressful life events and contextual factors as predictors of early-stage alcohol use.
Biological Activity of Cryopreserved Bovine Spermatogonial Stem Cells During In Vitro Culture

Functional roles of spermatogonial stem cells in spermatogenesis are self-renewing proliferation and production of differentiated daughter progeny. The ability to recapitulate these actions in vitro is important for investigating their biology and inducing genetic modification that could potentially lead to an alternative means of generating transgenic animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the survival and proliferation of frozen-thawed bovine spermatogonial stem cells in vitro and investigate the effects of exogenous glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). In order to accomplish this objective we developed a bovine embryonic fibroblast feeder cell line, termed BEF, to serve as feeder cells in a coculture system with bovine germ cells. Bovine spermatogonial stem cell survival and proliferation in vitro were evaluated by xenogeneic transplantation into the seminiferous tubules of immunodeficient mice. Bovine germ cells cocultured for 1 wk resulted in significantly more round cell donor colonies in recipient mouse testes compared to donor cells transplanted just after thawing. Bovine germ cells cocultured for 2 wk had fewer colony-forming cells than the freshly thawed cell suspensions or cells cultured for 1 wk. Characterization of the feeder cell line revealed endogenous expression of Gdnf mRNA and protein. Addition of exogenous GDNF to the culture medium decreased the number of stem cells present at 1 wk of coculture, but enhanced stem cell maintenance at 2 wk compared to cultures without added GDNF. These data indicate that frozen-thawed bovine spermatogonial stem cells survive cryopreservation and can be maintained during coculture with a feeder cell line in which the maintenance is influenced by GDNF.
Logistical Strategies and Risks in Canadian Grain Marketing

Logistics management in grain marketing has become very important with the maturity of the industry. This is particularly critical in the Canadian grain marketing system, which has experienced disruptions for various reasons over many years. These problems have been the topic of numerous industry evaluations, have resulted in a complaint about service obligations during the 1996–97 crop year, and were addressed by the Estey Commission. A detailed model of the Canadian grain logistics system is developed in this paper to evaluate factors that cause disruptions, as well as the effect of several important logistics and marketing strategies on system performance. The results illustrate that there is sufficient randomness throughout the various functions of the system that it is expected that demurrage at the west coast would periodically be an important cost. The frequency of service disruptions and demurrage are affected by several factors, including the distribution of tough and damp grains, mis-graded grain and the level of exportable supplies. Several strategic variables affect system performance. These include the aggressiveness in selling relative to capacity and the level of beginning port stocks. La gestion de la logistique dans le commerce des cereales a acquis une grande importance maintenant que ce secteur a atteint la maturite. C'est particulierement important dans le systeme canadien de mise en marche des cereales lequel, pour diverses raisons, a essuye bien des perturbations ces dernieres annees. Les problemes en cause ont fait l'objet de nombreuses evaluations du secteur. Ils ont meme abouti au depot d'une plainte sur les obligations de service dans la campagne agricole 1996–1997 et ont eteetudies par la Commission Estey. Dans la presente communication nous avons construit un modele detaille du systeme canadien de logistique du marche des cereales ainsi que de l'effet de plusieurs strategies importantes de logistique et de commercialisation sur la performance du systeme. Les resultats obtenus montrent qu'il y a suffisamment d'aleatoire dans les diverses fonctions du systeme pour conclure que les frais de sejour a quai sur la cote ouest seraient periodiquement un important poste de depense. La frequence des perturbations des services et les couts a quai sont associes a plusieurs facteurs dont la livraison de grain gourd et humide, de grain mal classe et le niveau des disponibilites exportables. Plusieurs variables strategiques influent sur le fonctionnement du systeme, notamment l'agressivite manifestee dans la vente par rapport aux stocks disponibles et le niveau des stocks disponibles dans les ports au debut de la campagne d'exportation.
Swift Heavy Ion Irradiation Capabilities at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University

The irradiation capabilities at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory at Michigan State University with ions from hydrogen to uranium with energies of up to 170 MeV/u for material science and single-event effect testing are discussed.
Heat capacity of water at extremes of supercooling and superheating

Abstract : Low temperature heat capacities for water and deuterium oxide have been remeasured using different sample preparation and data analysis procedures from those used in the original studies of this anomalous region. Self-consistent results have been obtained with reproducibilities of 1%. Comparisons are made with the behavior in the superheated region at 1 atm pressure calculated from a refined equation of state by Haar et al. It appears that the kinetic metastability limit of the liquid (nucleation terminated) at both hot and cold extremes may be reached at the same value of the liquid heat capacity.
A helical-cathode proportional chamber system for a charged-particle spectrometer

The helical-cathode proportional chamber system described is used with the charged-particle spectrometer at the University of Colorado Nuclear Physics Laboratory. A theoretical analysis of the proportional chamber is presented which predicts observed behaviour. Experimental results are presented. The chamber exhibits an active volume about 68 cm long (the position-sensing direction) by 5.0 cm wide by 1.3 cm thick. The spatial resolution (fwhm) is about 1/2 mm. Propane is used as a filling gas.
EFFECTS OF HOT PROCESSING, PATTY FORMATION BEFORE OR AFTER FREEZING-THAWING AND SOY USAGE ON VARIOUS PROPERTIES OF LOW-FAT GROUND BEEF

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of combinations of boning temperature (hot = HP, cold = CP), time when patties were processed (immediately after grinding and before freezing = BF; after freezing and thawing of bulk ground beef = AF), and use of texturized soy concentrate (% usage = 0 or 20% substitution, rehydrated either in a ratio of 2.6:1 or 1.5:1) on sensory, Instron and cooking properties of ground beef patties. With the exception of HP -0% soy patties, both sensory and instrumental measures of tenderness revealed AF patties to be more tender than BF patties. BF patties received higher juiciness scores and cooking yields than AF patties. Soy usage reduced Instron values, juiciness scores, cooking loss, patty shrinkage during cooking and beef flavor intensity scores. These results indicate that the use of HP beef in combination with soy should not detrimentally affect ground beef as used in the school lunch program.
Mode shape imaging of out-of-plane and in-plane vibrating RF micromechanical resonators by atomic force microscopy

The application of atomic force microscopy (AFM) for mode shape imaging of both out-of-plane and in-plane vibrating RF micromechanical resonators is described in this work. The modulation of the amplitude of the resonator together with the lock-in detection of the AFM signal at the modulation frequency allows to achieve picometer-scale sensitivity for detecting the resonator vibration at arbitrarily large frequencies. We compare the application of this method for the characterization of the main out-of-plane thickness mode of an AlN film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) at 1.595GHz and the in-plane vibrating first radial and wine-glass modes of a poly-SiGe disk resonator at 34.5 and 47.6MHz, respectively. Our results demonstrate the capability of this method to image in-plane vibrating modes by measuring their small Poisson-coupled out-of-plane component.
Distribution and Conservation Of Plethodon Salamanders On Federal Lands In Siskiyou County, California

Abstract The Northwest Forest Plan is a large-scale ecosystem management plan that establishes a system of federal reserves interspersed with matrix forestlands where timber and other commodity production are given priority. Generally, management on reserved lands attempts to protect species associated with older forests. Whereas management in matrix lands emphasizes timber production, it maintains some protections for species associated with older forests. We conducted surveys at randomly selected points within the range of the Scott Bar Salamander (Plethodon asupak) and the southern portion of the range of the Siskiyou Mountains Salamander (P. stormi). We conducted surveys on both reserved and matrix lands to assess the relative role that these allocations play in the long-term persistence of Plethodon salamanders in this region. At low elevations (<1219 m), the proportion of sample points with captures of Plethodon spp. was significantly higher in matrix lands than on reserved lands. However, the numbe...
Lithium cobalt(II) pyrophosphate, Li1.86CoP2O7, from synchrotron X-ray powder data

Structure refinement of high-resolution X-ray powder diffraction data of the title compound gave the composition Li1.865CoP2O7, which is also verified by the ICP measurement. Two Co sites exist in the structure: one is a CoO5 square pyramid and the other is a CoO6 octa­hedron. They share edges and are further inter­connected through P2O7 groups, forming a three-dimensional framework, which exhibits different kinds of inter­secting tunnels containing Li cations and could be of great inter­est in Li ion battery chemistry. The structure also exhibits cation disorder with 13.5% Co residing at the lithium (Li1) site. Co seems to have an average oxidation state of 2.135, as obtained from the strutural stochiometry that closely supports the magnetic susceptibility findings.
Non-linear FE-based modeling of induction machine for integrataed drives

The linear and non-linear FE-based model of a three phase wound rotor induction machine is presented. The effect of stator and rotor currents on the self and mutual inductance is considered. The mathematical representation of the machine in presence of saturation is developed. The calculated model is compared with a simple d-q model, full FE-model, and a linear FE-based phase variable model. The calculated result shows a good match in accuracy with full-finite element model and in run-time with the d-q model.
M2DART: a real image rear-projection display

The Mobile Modular Display for Advanced Research and Training (M2DART) was designed and fabricated at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Warfighter Training Research Facility. The M2DART is part of a long term development goal of AFRL to produce a display and imaging system combination with significantly improved visual acuity in a full field-of- view/field-of-regard environment. The M2DART is an eight- channel, state-of-the-art, real image, rear-projection visual display system. It is a full color, high resolution, wraparound display designed for use with single-seat cockpit simulators. Depending on the number of available image generator channels, the system allows for a wide instantaneous field-of-view, when used in conjunction with a magnetic head tracker and video router combination to provide a full field- of-regard. The display is designed to accommodate a variety of visual image generators and cockpit simulators. The system uses commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) BARCO CRT projectors to display the out-the-window (OTW) visual imagery to the pilot. The M2DART concept demonstrates that a rear-projected, real image approach is a viable means of providing full color imagery to flight simulators with improved brightness and resolution characteristics. The final design of the M2DART represents a balance between such considerations as training requirements, the number of available image generator channels, system resolution, field of view, brightness, image stability and maintainability. This paper will provide a system description, which includes design trade-off considerations, hardware configuration, screen geometry, field of view, and performance specifications.
Secondary Conditions in a Community-Based Sample of Women With Physical Disabilities Over a 1-Year Period

Abstract Nosek MA, Hughes RB, Petersen NJ, Taylor HB, Robinson-Whelen S, Byrne M, Morgan R. Secondary conditions in a community-based sample of women with physical disabilities over a 1-year period. Objective To examine prevalence and predictors of secondary conditions in women with physical disabilities. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Women were recruited through private and public health clinics and various community organizations. Participants A sample of 443 predominantly ethnic minority women with physical disabilities. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure Health Conditions Checklist interference score. Results Aggregated data over a 1-year period showed that nearly the entire sample reported interference from pain (94.5%) and fatigue (93.7%) and that at least three quarters of the sample reported problems with spasticity (85.4%), weakness (81.8%), sleep problems (80.2%), vision impairment (77.9%), and circulatory problems (77.9%). Obesity was substantially more prevalent in this sample (47.6%) than in the general population of women (34.0%). The mean number of secondary conditions per woman ± standard deviation was 14.6±6.2 (range, 1−42), with 75% of the sample endorsing 10 or more conditions. On average, women reported experiencing 5.7±4.03 (range, 0−20) conditions that they rated as significant or chronic. A third (33.4%) of the variance in interference scores was accounted for in the regression analysis, with significant variance accounted for by race, disability type (women with joint and connective tissue disorders and women with postpolio reported the highest overall interference scores), greater functional limitations, and lower levels of general mental health. Conclusions Secondary conditions in women with physical disabilities are substantially more problematic than reported previously in the literature. Further research is needed to determine health disparities of women with and without disabilities. Measurement issues and the clinical relevance of these findings are discussed.