cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification of Urinary Stone and Sediment Crystals by Scanning Electron Microscopy and X-Ray Microanalysis

AbstractA procedure based on scanning electron microscopic techniques is described for the identification of crystals in urinary sediments and stones. The crystals are identified by their morphology and elemental composition using scanning electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis. The procedure has a number of advantages over conventional methods. It is easy to use. It is non-destructive so that both the exterior and interior of the same stone can be separately analyzed. It is the only technique in which information about spatial relationships between various crystals in a stone can be obtained easily. Scanning electron microscopic techniques can detect minor components, and analysis of a wide variety of materials ranging from amorphous substances to microcrystals to macroscopic stones is possible.
Postbaccalaureate Salaries of Psychology Majors from a Historically Black University: How Much Does a Master's Degree Add?.

A sample of predominantly African American psychology major baccalaureates from a historically Black university self-reported job types, salaries, and master’s degree completion. For this pre-2009 recession sample, we found that (a) the rates of employment were quite high; (b) most jobs were related to health, mental health, social work, and education; and (c) the average salary was comparable to national estimates. After controlling for GPA, completion of a master’s degree predicted substantially higher salaries.
Uncontrolled Discharge Diastolic Blood Pressure is Associated with Favorable Outcome after Ischemic Stroke (P5.170)

Objective: To explore the association between discharge blood pressure (BP) and outcomes based on stroke subtype. Background: Discharge BP may reflect outpatient BP control, and therefore affect stroke outcomes. We explored this association relative to stroke subtype and 30-day modified Rankin score (mRS). Design/Methods: From January 2012 to December 2013, 1231 patients were included in a stroke quality outcomes database. Telephone interviews were used to determine 30-day mRS. We included acute ischemic stroke patients with discharge BP data available, and used the inpatient evaluation to determine TOAST classification. Discharge BP was categorized as controlled (SBP<140, DBP<90) or uncontrolled (SBP蠅140, DBP蠅90). Likelihood of favorable outcome (defined as mRS 0-2) in strokes of each TOAST category was determined for controlled versus uncontrolled SBP and DBP. Results: We included 335 patients with complete data, of whom 221 (66.0[percnt]) had controlled BP, while 114 (34.0[percnt]) were uncontrolled. Women (40[percnt] vs. 28.9[percnt], p=0.032), non-white race (43.0[percnt] vs 29.9[percnt], p=0.021), history of diabetes (43.2[percnt] vs. 30.5[percnt] p=0.031), and hypertension (38.4[percnt] vs. 22.7[percnt], p=0.006) were more likely to have uncontrolled discharge SBP. Controlled and uncontrolled SBP groups had similar rates of favorable outcome (55.2[percnt] vs. 51.3[percnt], NS). Patients with controlled DBP at discharge were less likely to have favorable outcome than with uncontrolled DBP (51.3[percnt] vs. 78.8[percnt], p=0.03). SBP control did not alter 30-day outcome regardless of TOAST etiology. Controlled DBP was less likely to result in favorable 30-day outcome in small-vessel stroke (54.7[percnt] vs. 81.3[percnt], p=0.049) and strokes of indeterminate etiology (50[percnt] vs. 87.5[percnt], p=0.044), but did not affect outcome in other TOAST subtypes. Conclusions: Uncontrolled DBP at discharge was more likely to result in a favorable outcome, particularly among small-vessel and indeterminate stroke etiologies. Aggressive BP control during acute ischemic stroke hospitalization may not benefit these patients. These results require confirmation in a larger dataset. Disclosure: Dr. Schlick has nothing to disclose. Dr. Le has nothing to disclose. Dr. Nezhad has nothing to disclose. Dr. Melmed has nothing to disclose. Dr. Eskenazi has nothing to disclose. Dr. Song has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lyden has received personal compensation for activities with PhotoThera, Inc. and ZZ Biotech as a consultant.
The writing process in magneto-optical recording

An optical disc is a multilayered medium consisting of a thick glass substrate on which many layers of different materials are sputtered. Only one of these layers serves as a recording medium and it is initially magnetized uniformly in one direction. To write on this disc, the initial magnetic field is altered by focusing light from a laser source with high numerical aperture (NA) lens to heat the magnetic medium beyond its Curie point, the temperature at which the magnetic medium loses its magnetization. This domain with zero magnetization is subsequently magnetized in the reversed direction by using an induction magnet. All these processes take place while the disc is rotating at a very high speed with respect to the laser. It is well known that partial obscuration reduces the spot size and the depth of focus; and in the present case of optical recording both are highly desirable. Significant improvement in data densities and quality of the written spot is achieved by writing with an obscured pupil as shown here. In this paper, we examine optical imaging and transient heat transfer problems to study the writing process. The vector diffraction theory is employed to calculate energy distribution on the disc surface and then this energy distribution is used as a source for the heat transfer problem. Writing with lenses of various NA is examined and various optical effects such as "fill factors" and obscuration, mechanical effects such as the thermal properties of the disc material, and writing conditions are considered. Results pertinent to the design of the disc medium, the optical elements, the mechanical components, and the development of the write algorithm are discussed. The quality of the written spots and the resulting data densities during a typical write sequence is discussed.
Eltrombopag Can Stimulate Trilineage Hematopoiesis In Patients with Refractory Severe Aplastic Anemia

Abstract 4427 Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is characterized by trilineage marrow hypoplasia and a paucity of hematopoietic stem cell progenitors. SAA is treated with immunosuppression or allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT), with a successful outcome in a majority. However, 20–40% of patients without a suitable donor for SCT do not respond to immunosuppression and may have persistent severe thrombocytopenia. Thrombopoietin (TPO) is the principal regulator of platelet production, and it exerts its effects through binding the megakaryocyte progenitor TPO receptor mpl, which stimulates production of mature megakaryocytes and platelets. Eltrombopag, a small molecule TPO mimetic that binds to mpl, increases platelet counts in healthy subjects, and in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura. Both TPO and eltrombopag stimulate more primitive multilineage progenitors and stem cells in vitro. Patients with SAA and thrombocytopenia have very elevated TPO levels; nevertheless, we asked whether pharmacologic doses of eltrombopag could stimulate hematopoiesis in these patients without other options. We are conducting a pilot phase II study of eltrombopag in SAA patients with severe thrombocytopenia refractory to immunosuppressive therapy. Consecutive eligible adult patients were treated with oral eltrombopag at an initial dose of 50 mg daily, with escalation to a maximum dose 150 mg daily, with the goal of maintaining a platelet count of >20,000/uL above baseline. Treatment response was measured after three months and was defined as platelet count increases to 20,000/uL above baseline, or stable platelet counts with transfusion-independence for a minimum of 8 weeks. Nine patients have been enrolled and six are evaluable for response to date. Two patients did not respond to treatment. Three patients achieved platelet responses by 12 weeks of treatment, and all have sustained their responses (median follow up 10 months). Four patients exhibited improved hemoglobin levels 12 weeks after starting treatment (median hemoglobin increase of 2.1 g/dL) and two patients who were previously dependent on packed red blood cell transfusions have achieved transfusion-independence. Three neutropenic patients exhibited increased neutrophil counts after treatment with eltrombopag (median increase 0.46K cells/uL). These results provide evidence that eltrombopag can improve platelet counts in patients with severe refractory thrombocytopenia, and perhaps more surprisingly, have a clinically relevant impact on erythropoiesis and myelopoiesis. Updated data will be presented at the Society9s meeting. Disclosures: Off Label Use: Eltrombopag for thrombocytopenia in refractory severe aplastic anemia patients.
Barriers and Supports to Dating Violence Communication between Latina Adolescents and Their Mothers: A Qualitative Analysis

Few Latinx parents and adolescents talk with one another about dating violence, yet communication with parents could help adolescents make better decisions about dating relationships. Seventeen Latina adolescents (15–17 years old) and their mothers living in Washington D.C and central Virginia participated in semi-structured interviews to explore their perceptions of dating violence behavior and communication with parents about dating violence. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and coded for emergent themes using a grounded theory approach. Seven themes emerged and were grouped into three domains: (a) Parental Messages about Problems in Dating Relationships; (b) Barriers and Supports for Parent-Adolescent Communication about Dating Problems; and, (c) Cultural Values and Differences. The results of this study can be used to inform future work focused on improving parent-adolescent communication about dating violence and to enhance healthy adolescent Latina dating decisions.
On the learning difficulty of visual and auditory modal concepts: Evidence for a single processing system

The logic operators (e.g., “and,” “or,” “if, then”) play a fundamental role in concept formation, syntactic construction, semantic expression, and deductive reasoning. In spite of this very general and basic role, there are relatively few studies in the literature that focus on their conceptual nature. In the current investigation, we examine, for the first time, the learning difficulty experienced by observers in classifying members belonging to these primitive “modal concepts” instantiated with sets of acoustic and visual stimuli. We report results from two categorization experiments that suggest the acquisition of acoustic and visual modal concepts is achieved by the same general cognitive mechanism. Additionally, we attempt to account for these results with two models of concept learning difficulty: the generalized invariance structure theory model (Vigo in Cognition 129(1):138–162, 2013, Mathematical principles of human conceptual behavior, Routledge, New York, 2014) and the generalized context model (Nosofsky in J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn 10(1):104–114, 1984, J Exp Psychol 115(1):39–57, 1986).
Overview of Cerebrovascular Disease: Role of the Endothelium

The circulation of the brain differs from that of other organs in several respects, most notably by the rigorous application of the universal principle that the volume of blood entering an organ cannot exceed that which exits. Unlike other solid organs, the brain is confined within a non-resilient, rigid, bony box — the skull. Parenchymatous organs such as the spleen, kidney, liver and the abdominal viscera, even the skeletal musculature, have the capacity to accommodate transient changes in blood volume and blood pressure. Not so for the brain. An increase in brain volume causes brain substance to press against the unyielding skull and, in severe instances, to seek egress through various channels called foramina — portals via which nerves exit, and blood vessels enter and also exit the cranium. The largest of these channels is the foramen magnum, the pathway for the spinal cord. Literally, the brain is forced out of the skull by the build-up of pressure within it. This is known as herniation of the brain. It is accompanied by loss of consciousness and, if unchecked, may progress to coma and death. Lesser degrees of intracranial pressure while not fatal, result in compromise of neuronal function.
Prolonged intravenous infusion of sodium nitrite delivers nitric oxide (NO) in humans.

In preclinical studies, infusion of sodium nitrite delivers nitric oxide (NO) as treatment of vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage. We evaluated safety and toxicity of intravenous nitrite administration in healthy volunteers infused with increasing doses of sodium nitrite for 48 h. Twelve volunteers (5 men, 7 women; mean age was 38.8 years, range 27–56 years) participated in the study. The starting sodium nitrite dose was 4.2 mg/kg/h, and it was doubled for each subsequent volunteer up to a maximal dose of 533.8 mg/kg/h at which a clinically silent dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was observed. Toxicity included a transient decrease of mean arterial blood pressure or asymptomatic increase of methemoglobin level above 5%. The maximal tolerated dose (MTD) was 267 mg/kg/h. S-Nitrosothiols increased significantly in plasma, confirming in vivo sodium nitrite reduction to NO and encouraging its use against vasospasm and ischemia-reperfusion injury to the brain, kidneys, liver, and heart.
Hydatid cyst: Occurrence in Central California

Abstract Hydatid cysts occur throughout the world and are occasionally seen in sheep-raising areas of the United States. The use of slaughter-houses and the sanitary disposal of the offal prevent this disease from being more widespread in this country. The disease may be more common in the United States than is realized, however, as indicated by eight cases reported from the San Joaquin Valley of California. With the increasing transportation of tourists, service personnel, and peace corps workers to and from underdeveloped areas of the world, we will probably see more of this disease in the future. It is therefore important to understand the varied clinical features of this parasitic disease. Since antibiotics and chemotherapeutic agents are ineffective in the treatment of the hydatid form, surgical removal of the cyst is necessary.
Recurrent desmoid-type fibromatosis associated with underlying neuromuscular choristoma.

OBJECTIVEDesmoid-type fibromatosis (DTF) presents a therapeutic dilemma. While lacking metastatic potential, it is a locally aggressive tumor with a strong propensity for occurrence near nerve(s) and recurrence following resection. In this study, the authors introduce the association of an occult neuromuscular choristoma (NMC) identified in patients with DTF.METHODSAfter experiencing a case of DTF found to have an occult NMC, the authors performed a retrospective database review of all other cases of biopsy-proven DTF involving the extremities or limb girdles in patients with available MRI data. Two musculoskeletal radiologists with expertise in peripheral nerve imaging reviewed the MRI studies of the eligible cases for evidence of previously unrecognized NMC.RESULTSThe initial case of a patient with an occult sciatic NMC is described. The database review yielded 40 patients with DTF—18 (45%) in the upper limb and 22 (55%) in the lower limb. Two cases (5%) had MRI findings of NMC associated with the DTF, ...
Finding Meaning in a Parent's Cancer Diagnosis: Teens Tell Their Story

As a Master's in Social Work student at the University of Maryland Baltimore, I had the opportunity to work closely with the Saint Agnes Cancer Institute, which offers support programming for youth...
Abstract A87: Which head and neck cancer patient benefits from being married: The man or the woman?

Introduction: Among the known nonclinical prognostic factors for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) survivorship, there has been recent focus on the potential benefits of being married. Several studies have shown that marriage confers a survival advantage for HNSCC patients. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that there may be marked differences in this survival benefit based on the sex of the patient. To date, no study has described how sex differences influence head and neck cancer survivorship based on marital status. Our study aimed to determine whether marital status at diagnosis impacts survivorship of HNSCC differently based on sex. Methods: In this retrospective study, we utilized a patient cohort of 27,208 confirmed HNSCC cases from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 database (2004–2014) who received chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Actuarial survival curves stratified by marital status at diagnosis (married/partnered, never married, divorced/separated, widowed) indicated cancer-specific survival from HNSCC. Survival differences between marital status groups were first assessed by log-rank tests with Bonferroni adjustments. Second, patients9 demographic and clinical characteristics including sex, marital status, race/ethnicity, insurance status, HNSCC site, stage, age at diagnosis, year of diagnosis, and county-level poverty were utilized in Fine and Gray competing risk proportional hazard models to examine the potential interaction between sex and marital status and estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) for death from HNSCC. Results: The cohort was mostly men (80.8%) and married/partnered (56.5%). Married/partnered patients had the best survival of any marital status group (log-rank and Bonferroni p Conclusions: Our study has shown for the first time in the head and neck cancer literature that while being married confers survival benefits in general, married men with HNSCC may benefit more than women. Unmarried men seemed to fare the worst compared with every marital status for both men and women. More research is needed to understand this differential marital status benefit based on sex. Additionally, efforts should focus on developing analogous support systems for men and women who are head and neck cancer patients that could improve their survival, especially unmarried men and widowed men and women. Citation Format: Nosayaba Osazuwa-Peters, Matthew C. Simpson, Lauren M. Cass, Sai Deepika Challapalli, Zisansha S. Zahirsha, Eric Adjei Boakye, Sean T. Massa. Which head and neck cancer patient benefits from being married: The man or the woman? [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr A87.
Post-transplant Psychosocial and Mental Health Care of the Lung Recipient

Patients with advanced lung disease and undergoing lung transplantation have increased rates of depression, anxiety, and cognitive dysfunction. After the lung transplantation, although the quality of life improves, depression and anxiety remain. Depression after lung transplantation has been demonstrated to worsen graft survival, increase risk of chronic rejection, and decrease patient survival. On the other hand, post-transplant anxiety, although distressing, has not been shown to be related to worsened clinical outcomes. Delirium post-lung transplantation occurs in approximately one third of patients and is linked to worse morbidity. Some patients also experience persistent cognitive dysfunction. Patients with shorter time of abstinence from tobacco, patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and patients surrounded by those who smoke are at increased risk to relapse on tobacco use. Nonadherence is associated with worse clinical outcomes, and it is important to understand its multifactorial nature and to provide evidence-based interventions. This chapter discusses existing literature on post-lung transplant cognitive, anxiety, mood, and tobacco use disorders, as well as adherence and quality of life. This chapter provides some guidance on management and suggests future areas for research.
Deep learning: A philosophical introduction

Deep learning is currently the most prominent and widely successful method in artificial intelligence. Despite having played an active role in earlier artificial intelligence and neural network research, philosophers have been largely silent on this technology so far. This is remarkable, given that deep learning neural networks have blown past predicted upper limits on artificial intelligence performance—recognizing complex objects in natural photographs, and defeating world champions in strategy games as complex as Go and chess—yet there remains no universally-accepted explanation as to why they work so well. This article provides an introduction to these networks, as well as an opinionated guidebook on the philosophical significance of their structure and achievements. It argues that deep learning neural networks differ importantly in their structure and mathematical properties from the shallower neural networks that were the subject of so much philosophical reflection in the 1980s and 1990s. The article then explores several different explanations for their success, and ends by proposing ten areas of research that would benefit from future engagement by philosophers of mind, epistemology, science, perception, law, and ethics.
Structure of HfO2 modified with Y, Gd, and Zr at ambient conditions and high pressures

High-resolution and high-pressure X-ray diffraction measurements were performed to determine the effects of 5% Y, 3% Gd, and 50% Zr substitution on the crystal structure and polymorphism of HfO2. High-resolution experiments at ambient pressure show a mixture of monoclinic and cubic fluorite phases in 5% Y:HfO2 and 3% Gd:HfO2, while 50% Zr:HfO2 formed a monoclinic, single-phase solid solution. Crystallographic refinement using the Rietveld method indicates that Y and Gd substitute for Hf in both the monoclinic and cubic phases. High-pressure X-ray diffraction was performed in situ up to 31 GPa and shows that the pressure-induced phase transitions were reduced with the addition of either Y, Gd, or Zr relative to the transition pressures in undoped HfO2. The pressure-induced changes in lattice parameter, relative volume, and spontaneous strain are reported.
Sex-specific risk assessment of sudden cardiac death

Abstract Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is defined as an unexpected death that occurs within a short time period (
Falls prevention: Identification of predictive fall risk factors

Patient falls are the most common adverse safety event in hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide. There are many risk factors associated with inpatient falls such as medications, unsteady gait, alteration in mental status, and environmental hazards. Risk assessment is the primary intervention for falls prevention. This study aims to provide a detailed review of the literature to identify and synthesize research evidence on risk factors that may contribute to patient falls in the adult inpatient hospital setting that are not captured by current fall risk assessment tools. After the identification of those key risk factors not found on the most common fall risk assessment tools, the results of this review will be used to develop a new evidence based fall risk assessment tool.
Reconstructing Historical Forest Cover and Land Use Dynamics in the Northeastern United States Using Geospatial Analysis and Airborne LiDAR

The northeastern United States experienced extensive deforestation during the seventeenth through twentieth centuries primarily for European agriculture, which peaked in the mid-nineteenth century,...
Construction and Appraisal of Modern High- efficient Agriculture Evaluation Index System for Jiangsu Province

On the basis of expounding the connotation and characteristics of modern high-efficient agriculture,combining with the actual development of modern high-efficient agriculture in various regions,we selected indexes in 5 aspects(land,labor force,water,material resources and technical resources),and built the evaluation index system,evaluation model and evaluation method for modern high-efficient agriculture,so as to evaluate the comprehensive benefit of the high-efficient agricultural development in Jiangsu province and its cities during "the Eleventh Five-Year Plan"period. The results showed that the economic benefit had maximum contribution to the comprehensive benefit. To keep the long-term and sustainable development of modern high-efficient agriculture in Jiangsu province,we should make more efforts to ecological benefit,resource security etc.,and better coordinate all aspects of benefits under the premise of enhancing the production efficiency.
The Good Samaritan: A Superb Smithian Economist, But a Poor Benthamite Utilitarian Economist

Economists for over two and one half centuries have completely and totally confused and mixed up the Virtue ethics approach of Adam Smith with the Utilitarian ethics approach of Jeremy Bentham. The major snafu concerns the directly conflicting definitions of self interest of Smith and Bentham. Smith’s definition of self interest is very simple and straight forward in both The Theory of Moral Sentiments and The Wealth of Nations. Self interest is prudent behavior. Prudent behavior is the First Virtue in the four Virtues discussed by Aristotle (Prudence,Temperance,Courage,Justice). T. Aquinas added Faith, Hope, and Charity (Benevolence). Prudence is conduct that is circumspect, involves hard work, and requires dedication, motivation, frugality, parsimony, carefulness, caution, and discipline. The goal of the prudent individual is, in order to make their small business a success over time so as to care for themselves, their families and relatives, financial success. Of course, Prudence is the necessary condition that must be satisfied first before any of the other virtues can be attempted, practiced, or implemented. Maximizing the profits from their small business operations represents prudent behavior because they can satisfy the basic needs of their families, relatives, as well as for themselves. Self interest for Bentham has nothing to do with the virtue of prudence. Self interest is behavior that creates or leads to the amassing of wealth only for the sake of accumulating wealth. This is why Bentham stated that money was a good proxy to stand in for utility in his rule to Maximize Utility. Thus, Maximize Utility means to accumulate wealth.
Protamine Sulfate Neutralization Profile of Various Dosages of Bovine, Ovine and Porcine UFHs and Their Depolymerized Derivatives in Non-Human Primates:

Introduction:Currently used unfractionated heparins (UFHs) and low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) are derived from porcine intestinal mucosa. However, heparins have also been manufactured from t...
Lgr6 marks epidermal stem cells with a nerve-dependent role in wound re-epithelialization

Stem cells support lifelong maintenance of adult organs, but their specific roles during injury are poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that Lgr6 marks a regionally restricted population of epidermal stem cells that interact with nerves and specialize in wound re-epithelialization. Diphtheria toxin-mediated ablation of Lgr6 stem cells delays wound healing, and skin denervation phenocopies this effect. Using intravital imaging to capture stem cell dynamics after injury, we show that wound re-epithelialization by Lgr6 stem cells is diminished following loss of nerves. This induces recruitment of other stem cell populations, including hair follicle stem cells, which partially compensate to mediate wound closure. Single-cell lineage tracing and gene expression analysis reveal that the fate of Lgr6 stem cells is shifted toward differentiation following loss of their niche. We conclude that Lgr6 epidermal stem cells are primed for injury response and interact with nerves to regulate their fate.
Layered multiferroic composites

In a composite consisting of magnetostrictive and piezoelectric phases, the magnetoelectric (ME) effect is the result of a “product-property,” that is the mechanical deformation due to magnetostriction results in a dielectric polarization due to the piezoelectric effect. The early works on ME composites dealt with CoFe 2 O 4 and BaTiO 3 and were prepared by two methods: sintering and unidirectional solidification of eutectic melts. Both types of composites developed microcracks due to thermal expansion mismatch and yielded ME coefficients that were a factor 40–60 smaller than calculated values. Possible causes include (1) microcracks, defects, and impurities that result from incompatible structural and thermal properties of the two phases, leading to poor mechanical coupling and (2) a large leakage current resulting in loss of polarization. Harshe, Dougherty, and Newnham, in their pioneering work on ME composites, proposed a theoretical model for multilayer heterostructures with alternating layers of magnetostrictive and piezoelectric phases. A multilayer structure is expected to be far superior to bulk composites due to reduction in leakage current, and the structure can easily be poled electrically to further enhance the piezoelectricity. This chapter is on thick film and thin film layered composites with ferroelectric oxides and ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic metals/alloys or oxides. Ferromagnetic/ferrimagnetic oxides, including ferrites, manganites, 3d-transition metals/alloys for the magnetic phase and lead zirconate titanate (PZT), barium titanate (BTO), or lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (PMN-PT) for the ferroelectric phase, are considered. Recent efforts on composites with piezoelectric AlN, lanthanum-gallium-tantalate (langatate), and quartz are also addressed.
Variance Rate Theory of Conditional Importance Sampling Estimators

We consider again our usual framework: for every integer n, let Z p ,n be a random variable taking values in some complete separable metric space S n . Let P n be the probability measure induced by Z p,n on S n . We suppose that for each random variable Z p,n we have access to some information about it contained in an information random variable Z pi,n taking values in some other probability space I n . Let P i,n denote the probability measure induced by Z pi,n on I n . Let f n be an R d -valued measurable function on the space S n ; that is, f n : S n → R d , and we suppose we are interested in ρ n = P(f n (Z p,n ) Є nE), for some Borel set E ⊂ R d .
Pornographic space-time and the potential of fantasy in comics and fan art

By putting pornographic comics and fan art into conversation, this article contends that works intended to depict and fuel sexual fantasy structure time and space differently with the goal of directly engaging the reader and extending the duration of her pleasure. Further, the comics and pieces of fan art examined herein are produced by, for, and about women and suggest an alternative vision of female desire that challenges contemporary understandings of pornography's utility and functioning as it intersects with fantasy in the private sexual economy.
Changes in Deoxyribonucleic Acid Synthesis Regulation in Chinese Hamster Cells Infected with Simian Virus 40

Abstract Infection of primary or secondary cultures of Chinese hamster embryo cells with simian virus 40 at a multiplicity of 20 to 50 induced synthesis of the virus-specific intranuclear T antigen in 80 to 90% of the cells within 48 to 72 hr. In the infected cultures, 30 to 50% more cells were recruited into deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis than in the controls, whether or not the cultures were confluent. The newly synthesized DNA was mostly cellular, since little virus was produced (as shown by various techniques: immunofluorescence for viral antigen, virus growth curves, and isolation of viral DNA from infected cultures). Transformed cells could be detected a few weeks after infection and produced tumors when inoculated into irradiated animals. Chromosomal changes were observed soon after infection (24 hr). Initially, there was a marked increase in the proportion of polyploid cells (8 to 14%), most of which were chromosomally normal. In a few weeks, a large majority of the infected population was polyploid (30 to 50%). Thus, the polyploid cells have the ability to proliferate. Evidence is presented to suggest that polyploid cells arise by stimulation of cells in the G1, G2, or S phases to undergo two or more successive periods of DNA synthesis without an intervening mitosis. With a subsequent loss or redistribution of chromosomal material, this may lead eventually to a biologically transformed cell; thus, it is suggested that the initial event(s) relevant to transformation occurs at the level of control of cellular DNA synthesis.
Alcohol consumption and periodontal disease. The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Objective: This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of alcohol consumption on the severity of periodontal disease. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study employed 13,198 subjects of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) aged 20 and older who have at least six natural teeth. Alcohol intake was represented both as a continuous variable and dichotomized using 5, 10, 15, and 20 drinks/week as cut-points. Periodontal disease was represented by clinical attachment loss (CAL) and was assessed both as a continuous variable and dichotomized as <1.5 mm and 1.5 mm. Independent effect of alcohol on CAL was assessed by weighted multiple linear and logistic regression analyses adjusting simultaneously for the effects of age, gender, race, education, income, smoking, diet, diabetes, gingival bleeding, number of remaining teeth. Results: There was a significant linear relationship between number of drinks per week and log CAL (p=0.0001). Odds ratios for the risk of attachment loss using 5, 10, 15, and 20 drinks/week as cut-points were 1.22 [1.02–1.47], 1.39 [1.13–1.71], 1.54 [1.22–1.93], and 1.67 [1.25–2.23], respectively. Conclusion: Alcohol consumption may be associated with increased severity of CAL in a dose-dependent fashion. Prospective studies and studies of mechanism are needed to confirm the role of alcohol as a risk factor for periodontal disease.
The GuideLine Implementability Appraisal (GLIA): development of an instrument to identify obstacles to guideline implementation

Clinical practice guidelines are not uniformly successful in influencing clinicians' behaviour toward best practices. Implementability refers to a set of characteristics that predict ease of (and obstacles to) guideline implementation. Our objective is to develop and validate a tool for appraisal of implementability of clinical guidelines. Indicators of implementability were identified from the literature and used to create items and dimensions of the GuideLine Implementability Appraisal (GLIA). GLIA consists of 31 items, arranged into 10 dimensions. Questions from 9 of the 10 dimensions are applied individually to each recommendation of the guideline. Decidability and Executability are critical dimensions. Other dimensions are Global, Presentation and Formatting, Measurable Outcomes, Apparent Validity, Flexibility, Effect on Process of Care, Novelty/Innovation, and Computability. We conducted a series of validation activities, including validation of the construct of implementability, expert review of content for clarity, relevance, and comprehensiveness, and assessment of construct validity of the instrument. Finally, GLIA was applied to a draft guideline under development by national professional societies. Evidence of content validity and preliminary support for construct validity were obtained. The GLIA proved to be useful in identifying barriers to implementation in the draft guideline and the guideline was revised accordingly. GLIA may be useful to guideline developers who can apply the results to remedy defects in their guidelines. Likewise, guideline implementers may use GLIA to select implementable recommendations and to devise implementation strategies that address identified barriers. By aiding the design and operationalization of highly implementable guidelines, our goal is that application of GLIA may help to improve health outcomes, but further evaluation will be required to support this potential benefit.
Industrial Designers: Are You Ready for Foreign Markets? Assessing Designer Confidence and Prediction Accuracy in a Transnational Marketing Context

In order to boost sales in foreign markets and compete with emerging local competitors, global companies from developed countries are realizing that they need to develop products specifically for the local markets. Meanwhile, companies in developing nations are building up their design staff and seeking to establish their own global brands. This recent growth in design activity targeting overseas markets suggests the need for academic research to better understand the phenomenon of design expertise transfer across national borders. The present research explores industrial designers' expertise transfer across cultures with respect to knowledge calibration. Based on the literature on expertise and Shanteau's theory of expert competence, several hypotheses are developed regarding the main effect of culture, and the interaction between culture and expertise level, on design confidence and prediction accuracy. A three-phase experimental study is conducted to test the hypotheses. Results suggest that both expert designers and non-expert designers are poorly calibrated and overconfident. Nonetheless, expert designers are better calibrated when designing products for a foreign market than for their home market. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.
A neural network based method for the inverse problem of electrical impedance tomography

Electrical impedance tomography is an emerging imaging modality based on reconstruction of the resistivity distribution of the interior of the body, using non-invasive surface electrical measurements. Image reconstruction is a nonlinear, ill-posed, inverse problem. A new approach to the reconstruction problem is proposed, using multi-layer feed forward neural networks. The technique was tested using numerical simulations and actual measurements from a physical model. When compared with iterative techniques, superior performance was observed vis-a-vis image quality, reconstruction time and robustness to noise. This method can be easily adapted for different forward models of resistivity distribution used in existing reconstruction algorithms.
Application of existing technology to meet increasing demands for automated sample handling.

As the clinical laboratory advances toward total automation, the marketplace is now demanding more-efficient sample-handling systems. These demands have arisen over a relatively short period of time, in part because of heightened concern over laboratory safety and the resulting manpower shortages. Adding sample-handling capabilities to existing instrumentation is often a challenge, because usually mechanical or system constraints are present that interfere. This challenge has been overcome in the DuPont Sample Management System (SMS), a second-generation general chemistry analyzer that incorporates the latest barcode and computer-interfacing technology. The development of the SMS system relies heavily on recent advances in technology, e.g., software modeling and computer-aided design. The SMS system includes a barcode scanner based on "charge-coupled device" technology, a random-access sample wheel, and new software that oversees the various functions.
The genetics of nicotine dependence.

Despite almost two decades of intensive tobacco-control efforts, approximately 23% of American adults continue to smoke, and 13% are nicotine-dependent. Cigarette smoking is the greatest preventable cause of cancer, accounting for at least 30% of all cancer deaths and 87% of lung cancer deaths. Smoking behavior is in.uenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Many years of twin and adoption studies have demonstrated that the heritability of liability for nicotine dependence (ND) is at least 50%. During the past several years, signi.cant efforts have been made to identify susceptibility genes for ND using both genome-wide linkage and association analysis approaches. It is expected that identi.cation of susceptibility genes for ND will allow the development and tailoring of both prevention strategies for individuals at risk and effective treatment programs and medicines for individuals who use tobacco products. This review summarizes the recent progress in genetic studies of ND. As genotyping technology is being improved and well-characterized clinical samples on smoking behavior become available, more and more genes and genetic variants responsible for ND will be identi.ed in the near future.
Evidence that a quinone may be required for the production of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide in neutrophils.

Abstract Neutrophils contain a quinone that may function as an electron carrier during production of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. First, addition of exogenous coenzyme Q-10, coenzyme Q-6, vitamin K 1 , benzoquinone or duroquinone to rat peritoneal neutrophils resulted in increased rates of oxygen consumption and increased rates of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide production. Duroquinone titration studies showed saturation kinetics at submillimolar concentrations for oxygen consumption and for hydrogen peroxide and superoxide production. Second, tropolone, 2-hydroxy-2,4,6-cycloheptatrienone, effectively inhibited oxygen metabolism in neutrophils perhaps because of its structural similarity to quinone. Dibromothymoquinone, a known inhibitor at the quinone level in chloroplasts and mitochondria, was also inhibitory in neutrophils.
Low Temperature Performance of Sasobit-Modified Warm-Mix Asphalt

In the summer of 2008, a field trial project using Sasobit-modified warm-mix asphalt (WMA) was established in Alaska, which was Alaska’s first experience with a WMA technology. Previous studies conducted by writers identified a number of engineering benefits of Sasobit-modified WMAs over conventional hot-mix asphalt (HMA). This paper presents a further assessment focusing on low temperature performance of both Sasobit-modified WMA binders and mixes. A series of binder tests including bending beam rheometer (BBR), direct tension test (DTT), and asphalt binder cracking device (ABCD) tests were conducted. Indirect tension tests (IDT) of mixtures along with a thermal cracking analysis were performed to obtain a more definitive answer regarding the WMA application for cold-weather conditions. Results showed a decrease of tensile strength for both WMA binders and mixtures at low temperatures, and the cracking temperatures of both WMA binders and mixtures increased with the increase of Sasobit content. However, the increase in cracking temperature was very slight, which indicated that Sasobit addition had an insignificant effect on resistance to low temperature cracking. Therefore, Sasobit-modified WMA should be suitable for the Northern Region of the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (AKDOT&PF) without compromising the resistance to low temperature cracking.
Analysis of Longitudinal Data in the Presence of Informative Observational Times and a Dependent Terminal Event, with Application to Medical Cost Data

In longitudinal observational studies, repeated measures are often taken at informative observation times. Also, there may exist a dependent terminal event such as death that stops the follow-up. For example, patients in poorer health are more likely to seek medical treatment and their medical cost for each visit tends to be higher. They are also subject to a higher mortality rate. In this article, we propose a random effects model of repeated measures in the presence of both informative observation times and a dependent terminal event. Three submodels are used, respectively, for (1) the intensity of recurrent observation times, (2) the amount of repeated measure at each observation time, and (3) the hazard of death. Correlated random effects are incorporated to join the three submodels. The estimation can be conveniently accomplished by Gaussian quadrature techniques, e.g., SAS Proc NLMIXED. An analysis of the cost-accrual process of chronic heart failure patients from the clinical data repository at the University of Virginia Health System is presented to illustrate the proposed method.
Threshold stress superplastic behavior and dislocation activity in a three-phase alumina-zirconia-mullite composite

Abstract Creep tests were performed in compression on a three-phase alumina–zirconia–mullite composite in the temperature range 1673–1773 K. The data show steady-state deformation behavior with a high-strain rate. Plots of strain rate versus applied stress on a logarithmic scale exhibit a sigmoidal relationship, i.e., an increase of stress exponent with a decrease in applied stress. It is shown that such an increase in the stress exponent with increasing stress can be correlated with the existence of a threshold stress, which decreases with increasing temperature. Transmission electron microscopy studies reveal dislocation activity in some grains of the deformed material, which was not present in the as-sintered materials, indicating that dislocations were generated during deformation. These results, which are similar in trend to those reported for superplastic metallic alloys, lead to the conclusion that dislocation motion plays a role in accommodating grain boundary sliding in this material.
Cooperatives, Worker-Owned Enterprises, Productivity and the International Labor Organization

As a contribution to the most recent World Employment Report of the International Labor Organization (ILO), we reviewed the multinational literature on productivity in cooperatives and workerowned enterprises. Of particular interest were comparisons between the productivity impacts of employee-owned enterprises, producer cooperatives and small business cooperatives, 1 and their conventionally owned competitors. We examined related aspects such as enterprise survival and profitability, along with other aspects of firm performance. Finally, we looked at evidence on the corollary benefits of forms of employee ownership for workers, producers and for their communities. This article summarizes our findings in these areas.
Optical absorption by GAP states in hydrogenated amorphous silicon

Abstract An absorption band peaking at ∼1.25 eV has been observed as a structure in the photovoltaic and photoconductivity spectra of several samples of hydrogenated amorphous silicon. This transition at ∼ 1.25 eV appears to be the inverse of the luminescence process, suggesting that these transitions occur between donors and acceptors.
Analysis of Effects of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and Ozone on Cotton Yield Trends

(...) To analyze the effects of [CO 2 ] and [O 3 ] on cotton-yield trends, simulations were made using the cotton crop model-GOSSYM. Input data for simulations were obtained drom cotton breeders' trial sites located at Florence, SC; Stoneville, MS; College Station, TX; Phoenix, AZ; and Fresno, CA. The simulated effects of the [CO 2 ] and [O 3 ] on cotton yield changed from location to location due to interactions with soil, plant, and atmospheric variables and with nutrient levels in the soil. Given enough N, the increased [CO 2 ] would probably result in a 10% increase in lint yield (...)
Effect of electric fields on the nanoindentation response of piezoelectric materials

A three-dimensional finite element model is developed to capture the influence of electric fields on the nanoindentation response of anisotropic piezoelectric materials. Nine classes of indentations are carefully examined and it is demonstrated that the indentation response of piezoelectric materials is, in general, strongly influenced by electric fields when the electric field is aligned parallel to the poling direction. Furthermore, in-plane electric fields can be used in conjunction with nanoindentation to identify domains which are poled in specific in-plane directions.
Therapy of Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome in Adults

The therapy of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome remains controversial. Depending on the underlying glomerular lesion, a conservative or aggressive approach may be indicated. The choice is also dictated b