cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Military Dining Facility Staff Perspectives on the Implementation Barriers and Facilitators of Go for Green 2.0, a Department of Defense Nutrition Initiative (P04-003-19)

In an effort to optimize performance, readiness, and health, the Department of Defense (DoD) created a performance nutrition initiative, Go for Green (G4G). Study aims were to determine dining facility staff perspectives on barriers and facilitators to implementation as well as recommendations for program improvement. The purpose of this study was to improve the G4G 2.0 program framework by informing and developing best practices through explication of dining facility (DFAC) staff perspectives. Focus groups were conducted in two phases (May 2017 to February 2018) with supervisors and staff of Wolf DFAC, at Fort Carson, Colorado prior to G4G 2.0 implementation. Participants were recruited by purposive sampling and were identified as key stakeholders (n = 89) in the G4G initiative. Focus groups were audio recorded to capture all verbal responses, transcribed verbatim and lasted an average of 31 minutes (range 24 to 58 minutes). Transcripts were reviewed via qualitative content analysis using an exploratory, inductive approach to elucidate emergent themes from the data. DFAC staff perceptions of barriers to G4G implementation included lack of, or ineffective G4G training, inconsistent preparation of food items, G4G fidelity issues, staff perceptions of patron preferences, lack of patron familiarity to new G4G food items and lack of G4G buy-in. Implementation facilitators included training, G4G team site visits, and patron exposure to G4G menu items. Staff suggestions for G4G implementation and program improvement included training on preparation methods, having a flexible implementation timeline, up front provision of all G4G materials, for the G4G team to conduct a needs assessment, and G4G and nutrition education and awareness outside the DFAC. Results demonstrated that barriers to G4G 2.0 implementation outweighed facilitators, and supported the idea that there may be more viable, less time and work-intensive methods (aside from color-coded food cards) to promote healthier food selection by patrons. Incorporating methods to improve patron selection of healthful items in DFACs could play an instrumental role in improving Service Member health, thereby enhancing readiness to meet mission requirements. United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine.
Regression From Prediabetes to Normal Glucose Regulation and Prevalence of Microvascular Disease in the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS).

OBJECTIVE Regression from prediabetes to normal glucose regulation (NGR) was associated with reduced incidence of diabetes by 56% over 10 years in participants in the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS). In an observational analysis, we examined whether regression to NGR also reduced risk for microvascular disease (MVD). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the prevalence of aggregate MVD at DPPOS year 11 in people who regressed to NGR at least once (vs. never) during the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). Logistic regression assessed the relationship of NGR with retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, individually. Generalized additive models fit smoothing splines to describe the relationship between average A1C during follow-up and MVD (and its subtypes) at the end of follow-up. RESULTS Regression to NGR was associated with lower prevalence of aggregate MVD in models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, baseline A1C, and treatment arm (odds ratio [OR] 0.78, 95% CI 0.65–0.78, P = 0.011). However, this association was lost in models that included average A1C during follow-up (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.78–1.16, P = 0.63) or diabetes status at the end of follow-up (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.75–1.12, P = 0.40). Similar results were observed in examination of the association between regression to NGR and prevalence of nephropathy and retinopathy, individually. Risk for aggregate MVD, nephropathy, and retinopathy increased across the A1C range. CONCLUSIONS Regression to NGR is associated with a lower prevalence of aggregate MVD, nephropathy, and retinopathy, primarily due to lower glycemic exposure over time. Differential risk for the MVD subtypes begins in the prediabetes A1C range.
Online edge caching in fog-aided wireless networks

In a Fog Radio Access Network (F-RAN) architecture, edge nodes (ENs), such as base stations, are equipped with limited-capacity caches, as well as with fronthaul links that can support given transmission rates from a cloud processor. Existing information-theoretic analyses of content delivery in F-RANs have focused on offline caching with separate content placement and delivery phases. In contrast, this work considers an online caching set-up, in which the set of popular files is time-varying and both cache replenishment and content delivery can take place in each time slot. The analysis is centered on the characterization of the long-term Normalized Delivery Time (NDT), which captures the temporal dependence of the coding latencies accrued across multiple time slots in the high signal-to-noise ratio regime. Online caching and delivery schemes based on reactive and proactive caching are investigated, and their performance is compared to optimal offline caching schemes both analytically and via numerical results.
Recent advances in developing and applying biosensors for synthetic biology

Biosensors are an indispensable component of the synthetic biologist's toolbox. Informed by biology and customized through rational design and evolutionary methods, these molecular protein scaffolds translate input signals into tractable outputs. By using biosensors to introduce synthetic gene circuits and cellular signaling pathways into host organisms, naturally-occurring biological processes can be harnessed and tailored for a wide range of applications. In this review, we have compiled recent innovations and advancements that have led to the generation of robust, reliable, and flexible biosensors for utility across basic biological research and synthetic biology tools, including biological engineering efforts and clinical applications.
René Zavaleta and the contradictions of democracy

In the shadow of neoliberal capitalism, democracy is a confounding proposition. On the one hand, neoliberal ideologues claim, at least publicly, that economic freedom – freedom for capital and cons...
Do Healthcare Professionals Really Understand the Role of OT in Hospice Care

Date Presented 04/05/19 Primary Author and Speaker: Lisa Knecht-Sabres Contributing Authors: Ashley Weppner, Cassandra Powers, Brooke Siesel
Financial Services is Not a Profession

This article serves as a meta-analysis to uncover different factors comprising the definition of “profession” from multiple disciplines including medicine, business, and law. Within the literature, four major themes arise that form the basis for what constitutes a profession: knowledge; admission; organization; and ethics. Upon close examination, the broad field of financial services is lacking in every category. Material differences between other disciplines and financial services prevent the latter from being rightly labeled as a profession. However, financial planning, largely through the efforts of the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) Board, may move closer in that direction.
3.1 An Integrated BAW Oscillator with <±30ppm Frequency Stability Over Temperature, Package Stress, and Aging Suitable for High-Volume Production

Wireless sensor nodes with low power and small form factor are desirable for emerging IoT applications. These nodes usually consist of a processor, memory, radio, sensors, battery, and two quartz crystals: one at 32kHz to synchronize data transmission and the other in the MHz range to synthesize RF signals. SoC integration of the memory, processor, and radio is common; however the MHz crystal remains external, which makes up a significant portion of the entire wireless node size.
THE INFLUENCE OF MICROSTRUCTURE ON FRACTURE TOUGHNESS LEVELS IN A357 ALUMINUM ALLOY

ABSTRACT Cast aluminum alloy A357 is used in structural applications when treated to the T6 temper. The first part of the protocol, the solution heat treatment, produces measurable changes in the silicon-rich eutectic microconstituent. This is a study of how these changes affect fracture toughness levels. The fracture toughness levels, determined using the chevron-notched short bar specimen, for a range of solution heat treatments reflect the morphological changes in the silicon-rich microconstituent. Through SEM analysis, mechanistic explanations are proposed.
Editorial Commentary: The Alphabet Soup of Understanding Clinical Shoulder Research: MCID (Minimal Clinically Important Difference), PASS (Patient Acceptable Symptomatic State), SCB (Substantial Clinical Benefit), and Now . . . MOI (Maximal Outcome Improvement)

A variety of metrics have been developed for the purposes of understanding how to use and interpret patient self-reported functional outcome scores after treatment. Among these, the maximal outcome improvement (MOI) can now be added to the list. Limitations of other metrics including the minimal clinically important difference, patient acceptable symptomatic state, and substantial clinical benefit are ceiling effects if starting function is relatively high. The MOI now provides a measure of improvement based on the patient's total range of possible improvement to determine whether a satisfactory state was achieved. The value of the other measures, such as the minimal clinically important difference, is in interpreting studies comparing treatments to determine clinical significance as opposed to statistical significance, as well as performing sample size calculation for prospective studies, but may be limited in interpreting the outcomes of individual patients. The MOI provides a metric-in this case for patients after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair-that can be easily used in the clinic for assessment of improvement in an individual patient's function without limitations resulting from how good or bad his or her initial function is.
Improved Deep Learning Classification of Human Sleep Stages

We develop a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) that performs sleep stage classification from human sleep EEG and EOG signals. We build and compare several alternative CNN architectures, using nested cross-validation to evaluate performance on unseen patients for different hyperparameter values. Performance after model selection exceeds human expert inter-scorer agreement, even if only a single EEG input channel is used, and is competitive with the state of the art. We further investigate the effect of additional pre-sleep and post-sleep waking data in the training samples. We use t-SNE to visualize the responses of the internal layers of our network, enabling a more complete picture of the development of sleep stage differentiation with layer depth than do activation maximization approaches.
Aerosolized Beractant in neonatal respiratory distress syndrome: A randomized fixed-dose parallel-arm phase II trial.

Abstract Purpose There is increasing research into novel techniques of administering surfactant to preterm infants (PTIs) with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) receiving non-invasive respiratory support (NIRS). Although aerosolized surfactant (AS) is promising in PTIs receiving NIRS, the optimal surfactant dose and formulation, drug-device combination and patient profile is not known. The objective of this randomized clinical trial was to investigate the feasibility, safety, efficacy and impact of four dosing schedules of AS using two nebulizers in PTIs with RDS stratified by gestational age (GA). Methods PTIs with RDS receiving pre-defined NIRS for ≤8 h were assigned to 4 A S dosing schedules and 2 nebulizers within three GA strata (I = 240/7-286/7, II = 290/7-326/7, III = 330/7-366/7 weeks). There was no contemporaneous control group; at the recommendation of the Data Monitoring Committee, data was collected retrospectively for control infants. Results Of 149 subjects that received AS, the median age at initiation of the 1st dose and duration was 5.5 and 2.4 h respectively. There were 29 infants in stratum I, and 60 each in strata II and III. Of infants AS was well tolerated by infants and clinical caregivers. Commonest adverse events included surfactant reflux from nose and mouth (18%), desaturations (11%), and increased secretions (7%). Conclusions We have demonstrated the feasibility, absence of serious adverse events and short-term efficacy of four dosing schedules of AS in the largest Phase II clinical trial of PTIs 24–36 weeks’ GA with RDS receiving NIRS ( ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 02294630). The commonest adverse events noted were surfactant reflux and desaturations; no serious adverse effects were observed. Infants who received AS were less likely to receive intubation within 72 h compared to historical controls. AS is a promising new therapy for PTIs with RDS.
Nursing professionals' mental well-being and workplace impairment during the COVID-19 crisis: A Network analysis.

Aim To investigate the effects of years of nursing experience and mental health on work impairment among nurses during the COVID-19 crisis. Background During the COVID-19 crisis, nurses experience a greater psychological burden than other health care workers. Studies have not yet investigated the effects of years in nursing and mental health on potential work impairment during the COVID-19 crisis in nurses. Methods A survey was administered to 83 nurses on active duty during the COVID-19 crisis. The graphical LASSO and the DAG helped estimate the associations between years of nursing experience, mental health and work impairment. Results A moderate negative correlation emerged between years of nursing experience, avoidance and work impairment. A direct effect was observed between anxiety and work impairment. A moderate positive correlation emerged between anxiety, depression and work impairment. An indirect effect was observed between depression, burnout, insomnia, years of nursing experience and work impairment. Conclusions In the present sample, nurses' work impairment decreased with greater years of nursing experience and increased with higher anxiety, depression, burnout and avoidance levels. Implications for nursing management These findings can help design effective infectious disease management programmes for students and professionals in nursing to prevent breakdowns and avoid work impairment.
Moving Mountains: Geography, Neighborhood Sorting, and Spatial Income Segregation

Using a novel geospatial panel combined with data from the 2015 American Community Survey (ACS), we investigate the effect of topography – altitude and terrain unevenness – on income segregation at the neighborhood level. Specifically, we perform large-scale counterfactual simulations by estimating household preferences for topography, altering the topographical profile of each city, and observing the resulting neighborhood sorting outcome. We find that unevenness contributes to the segmentation of markets: in the absence of hilliness, rich and poor households experience greater mixing. Hillier cities are more income-segregated because of their unevenness; the opposite is true for flatter cities.
Face Recognition by Humans and Machines: Three Fundamental Advances from Deep Learning

Deep learning models currently achieve human levels of performance on real-world face recognition tasks. We review scientific progress in understanding human face processing using computational approaches based on deep learning. This review is organized around three fundamental advances. First, deep networks trained for face identification generate a representation that retains structured information about the face (e.g., identity, demographics, appearance, social traits, expression) and the input image (e.g., viewpoint, illumination). This forces us to rethink the universe of possible solutions to the problem of inverse optics in vision. Second, deep learning models indicate that high-level visual representations of faces cannot be understood in terms of interpretable features. This has implications for understanding neural tuning and population coding in the high-level visual cortex. Third, learning in deep networks is a multistep process that forces theoretical consideration of diverse categories of learning that can overlap, accumulate over time, and interact. Diverse learning types are needed to model the development of human face processing skills, cross-race effects, and familiarity with individual faces.
Temporal Trends and Factors Associated With Cardiac Rehabilitation Referral Among Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure: Awaiting the Uptick.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Decision Memo for Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) Programs–Chronic Heart Failure of February 8, 2014, expanded CR participation to patients with stable systolic chronic heart failure (CHF) and a left ventricular ejection fraction of ≤35% [(1)][1].
The Conditioning of Skeletal and Autonomic Responses: Normal—Retardate Stimulus Trace Differences1

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the stimulus trace factors in normal and retarded subjects as investigated through the use of trace and delay classical conditioning procedures. Because practically all the studies, investigating the trace–delay variable in humans have employed either electrodermal response (EDR) or eyelid conditioning paradigms, only research involving these response measures, autonomic and skeletal, respectively, are discussed in the chapter. The data discussed in the chapter indicates that conditioned stimulus (CS) duration does not play a major role in retardate trace conditioning. Although the values used have tended to be either short (50 ms) or rather long (1 s), leaving the intermediate range of CS durations unexamined, responding does not seem to be correlated with CS duration. The data, regarding trace interval length, suggest something quite different. Responding was found only in groups for which the trace interval length was 400 ms or less and never in groups for which the trace interval was 450 ms or more. In eyelid, conditioning trace and delay CSs are equally effective for the conditioning of normal adults, while the effectiveness of a trace CS for retardate conditioning appears to depend upon the length of the trace interval.
How Plausible is Chinese Annexation of Territory on the Moon

This article argues that a hypothetical decision by the People's Republic of China to assert territorial sovereignty over the area surrounding its planned manned Moon base is plausible. Enhanced international prestige in the near term and access to natural resources and strategic military positions in the long term may be sufficient temptations for China's leaders to challenge the United States to a twenty-first century space race. Strategic surprise could be successfully employed, given the opacity of Chinese decision-making; the conceptual blindness of external observers, including decision-makers, analysts, and academics; and China's repeatedly demonstrated capacity for executing military or diplomatic surprises of comparable magnitude. The ability of signatory states to withdraw from the 1967 Outer Space Treaty with one-year's notice means that international law only poses a temporary obstacle to such a decision. A manned Moon base would fulfill the condition of effective occupation necessary for terr...
Spatiotemporal evolution of a single-electrode nanosecond pulsed microplasma jet over water

Biomedical applications, in particular, the application for root canal disinfection, have motivated fundamental studies of single-electrode microplasma jets. In this work, a single-electrode nanosecond pulsed microplasma jet and its interaction with liquid water are evaluated via spatiotemporal optical emission spectroscopy as well as nanosecond gated imaging. The helium microplasma jet was generated in atmospheric air by delivering 8 kV, 164 ns pulses at a pulse repetition rate of 500 Hz. When the microplasma jet impinged on water surface, the spatiotemporal optical emission spectroscopy identified a number of reactive plasma species including O∗, OH∗, He∗, N2∗, N2+∗, and H α ∗. The presence of liquid water produced an approximately 10 times increase in the optical emission intensity compared to water not being present. As such, the presence of water has led to a significant increase in OH radical concentrations. Nanosecond gated imaging showed that the radius of the plasma plume varied with time between the nozzle and the water surface and presented a different propagation behavior from those in air.
Receptivity to Distance Learning: The Effect of Technology, Reputation, Constraints, and Learning Preferences

AbstractRecent growth in distance learning (DL) represents a significant change to management education. Notwithstanding its importance, research on DL is at an early stage of development, particularly in understanding the effect of technology perceptions on students’ receptivity toward DL. This study of 399 students at two universities investigates the role of perceived technology usefulness, technological familiarity and accessibility, reputation, constraints, learning preferences, and demographic factors on prospective receptivity toward DL. The results reveal significant relationships between many of these variables and DL receptivity, suggesting new challenges and opportunities for educators. They also indicate that some traditionally held assumptions, for example those regarding accessibility, reputation, and constraints, may not be valid in the new high-tech DL environment. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Navigating benefit transfer for salmon improvements in the Western US

A perennial problem in environmental resource management is targeting an efficient level of resource provision that maximizes societal well-being. Such management requires knowledge of both costs and benefits associated with varying management options. This paper illustrates the challenge of estimating the benefits of an improvement in a marine resource when secondary data must be used, and when total economic benefits include non-use values. An example of non-use values is existence value, which is not contingent on resource extraction nor recreational activities. State of the art techniques for adapting secondary data, or “benefit transfer”, are reviewed in the context of increasing anadromous salmon for an example Western US policy scenario. An extensive summary of applicable primary studies is provided, compiling observations from several studies surveying several thousand Western US households. The studies consistently indicate a high willingness to pay for increased salmon abundance. Analytical techniques for transferring data are described, with calculation examples using published tools, focusing on meta-regression and structural benefit transfer. While these advanced benefit transfer tools offer perspective on benefits beyond what can be learned by relying on a single study, they also represent a variety of challenges limiting their usefulness. While transparently navigating these issues, a monetized estimate of increased salmon for the policy case is provided, along with discussion on interpreting benefit transfer techniques and their results more generally. From this synthesis, several suggestions are also made for future primary salmon valuation studies.
Cracked ITO on Polyester Film Substrates for Electro-Optic Applications

Vacuum deposited indium tin oxide, ITO, is the material of choice for producing the transparent conducting electrodes used in a wide variety of electro-optic applications, including flat panel displays and solar cells. In addition to rigid substrates such as glass, ITO can be coated on flexible substrates for the production of flexible devices. Because the ITO is brittle it easily cracks if the flexible substrates are bent. The cracking of the ITO is therefore viewed within the industry as a major problem. Here we demonstrate how we can control the cracking of the ITO to produce uniform electrodes. This is accomplished by bending the film around a tight radius of curvature. The electrodes are narrow having a width of 5~10 μm. The cracks separating the electrodes are much narrower with a width of less than 0.05 μm. We demonstrate the use of these substrates using a polymer dispersed liquid crystal switchable window that can be switched in individual lines creating an electronic venetian blind effect. The addressed lines in the PDLC are defined by the contact electrode and by the applied field. Because the cracks are much smaller than the thickness of the active PDLC material they are not visible. In addition to switchable windows these substrates can be used to make passive matrix displays and touch screens. Uni-axially cracking can be easily integrated into a roll-to-roll manufacturing process.
Dominance and the Niche in Ecological Systems

In the article "Dominance and the niche in ecological systems" by S. J. McNaughton and L. L. Wolf (p. 131, 9 Jan.), equation 4 on page 132 should read w = [σ( y p • p 2 ) - [σ( y p • p )] 2 / σ y ] ½ σ y
Gravity powered flow controllers for chlorine and alum dosing

Development of robust sustainable drinking water treatment technologies requires improved methods of metering aqueous chemical solutions. Existing gravity powered technologies require contact with the chemical solution when adjusting the flow rate or they do not provide a calibrated method for setting the flow to the target value. We developed a low cost flow controller based on laminar pipe flow with a variable calibrated flow. The range of possible design flow rates is a function of the viscosity of the solution. For dilute solutions with viscosities similar to pure water the flow controller can be designed in the range of 10 to 400 ml min -1 . The flow controller has been field tested for metering chlorine and aluminium sulphate for AguaClara water treatment plants in Honduras.
The middle classes: An historic actor in today's global world

Saskia Sassen draws lines of shared experience between the protests of the ‘modest middle classes’ in diverse countries around the world, focusing on a common sense that the modern state is failing its people and a new conception of ‘the street’ as a space for political action and history-making.
Foregut exclusion disrupts intestinal glucose sensing and alters portal nutrient and hormonal milieu

The antidiabetes effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) are well-known, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Isolating the proximal small intestine, and in particular its luminal glucose sensors, from the nutrient stream has been proposed as a critical change, but the pathways involved are unclear. In a rodent model, we tested the effects of isolating and then stimulating a segment of proximal intestine using glucose analogs to examine their impact on glucose absorption (Gabsorp) and hormone secretion after a glucose bolus into the distal jejunum. Analogs selective for sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT) family members and the sweet taste receptor were tested, and measurements of the portosystemic gradient were used to determine Gabsorp and hormone secretion, including GLP-1. Proximal intestinal isolation reduced Gabsorp and GLP-1 secretion. Stimulation of the glucose-sensing protein SGLT3 increased Gabsorp and GLP-1 secretion. These effects were abolished by vagotomy. Sweet taste receptor stimulation only increased GLP-1 secretion. This study suggests a novel role for SGLT3 in coordinating intestinal function, as reflected by the concomitant modulation of Gabsorp and GLP-1 secretion, with these effects being mediated by the vagus nerve. Our findings provide potential mechanistic insights into foregut exclusion in RYGB and identify SGLT3 as a possible antidiabetes therapeutic target.
Surface and subsurface attenuation of trenbolone acetate metabolites and manure-derived constituents in irrigation runoff on agro-ecosystems

Although studies have evaluated the ecotoxicity and fate of trenbolone acetate (TBA) metabolites, namely 17α-trenbolone (17α-TBOH), 17β-trenbolone (17β-TBOH), and trendione (TBO), their environmental transport processes remain poorly characterized with little information available to guide agricultural runoff management. Therefore, we evaluated TBA metabolite transport in representative agricultural systems with concurrent assessment of other manure-derived constituents. Leachate generated using manure from TBA-implanted cattle was applied to a subsurface infiltration plot (4 m) and surface vegetative filter strips (VFSs; 3, 4, and 5 m). In the subsurface experiment, 17α-TBOH leachate concentrations were 36 ng L−1 but decreased to 12 ng L−1 in initial subsurface discharge. Over 75 minutes, concentrations linearly increased to 23 ng L−1 (C/Co = 0.32–0.64). In surface experiments (n = 4), 17α-TBOH leachate concentrations ranged from 11–150 ng L−1, remained nearly constant with time, but were attenuated by ∼70–90% after VFS treatment with no statistical dependence on the VFS length. While attenuation clearly occurred, the observations of a highly mobile fraction of all constituents in both surface runoff and subsurface discharge suggest that these treatment strategies may not always be capable of achieving threshold discharge concentrations. To attain no observed adverse effect levels (NOAELs) in receiving waters, concurrent assessment of leachate concentrations and available dilution capacities can be used to guide target treatment performance levels for runoff management. Dilution is usually necessary to achieve NOAELs, and receiving waters with less than 70–100 fold dilution capacity are at the highest risk for steroidal endocrine disruption.
Nickel Pyridinethiolate Complexes as Catalysts for the Light-Driven Production of Hydrogen from Aqueous Solutions in Noble-Metal-Free Systems

A series of mononuclear nickel(II) thiolate complexes (Et4N)Ni(X-pyS)3 (Et4N = tetraethylammonium; X = 5-H (1a), 5-Cl (1b), 5-CF3 (1c), 6-CH3 (1d); pyS = pyridine-2-thiolate), Ni(pySH)4(NO3)2 (2), (Et4N)Ni(4,6-Y2-pymS)3 (Y = H (3a), CH3 (3b); pymS = pyrimidine-2-thiolate), and Ni(4,4′-Z-2,2′-bpy)(pyS)2 (Z = H (4a), CH3 (4b), OCH3 (4c); bpy = bipyridine) have been synthesized in high yield and characterized. X-ray diffraction studies show that 2 is square planar, while the other complexes possess tris-chelated distorted-octahedral geometries. All of the complexes are active catalysts for both the photocatalytic and electrocatalytic production of hydrogen in 1/1 EtOH/H2O. When coupled with fluorescein (Fl) as the photosensitizer (PS) and triethylamine (TEA) as the sacrificial electron donor, these complexes exhibit activity for light-driven hydrogen generation that correlates with ligand electron donor ability. Complex 4c achieves over 7300 turnovers of H2 in 30 h, which is among the highest reported for a ...
Treatment of hypercholesterolemia in patients with metabolic syndrome: how do different statins compare?

Treatment of hypercholesterolemia in patients with metabolic syndrome: how do different statins compare?
Granular cell myoblastoma of the breast

Summary The diagnosis of granular cell myoblastoma was established by aspiration biopsy in two patients with tumors mimicking carcinoma of the breast. One of the patients was a male. The lesions were treated by local excision.
Safety and efficacy outcome of mentor alpha-1 inflatable penile prosthesis implantation for impotence treatment.

ABSTRACTPurpose: We investigated safety and efficacy outcome pertaining to the Mentor Alpha-1,* 3-piece inflatable penile prosthesis for impotence treatment.*Mentor Corp., Santa Barbara, California...
The strength and ductility of Ni3Ge with and without boron

Abstract Tensile and compression experiments at room temperature were performed to investigate the effects of grain size and a small amount of boron (0.06 at.%) on the strength and the ductility of polycrystalline Ni3Ge (with 23.5 at% Ge). The results showed that the boron addition not only improves the ductility slightly, from essentially zero to around 1.5%–2.0%, but also reduces the slope in the Hall-Petch-type relationship by about 15%–25%. These two effects are interpreted in terms of a reduced resistance to the transmission of slip across grain boundaries. This behavior leads to solution hardening for coarse grained materials, but to softening for fine grained aggregates. Also, the experiments suggest that the yield strength σy more reasonably obeys the expression, σy = σ0 + kyd−0.75, where σ0 and ky are constants, and d is the grain size. This relationship is explained in terms of work hardening which occurs within the Luders bands propagation which accompanies yielding. The Luders strain is given by ϵL = λd−0.51 where λ = 6.8 μm0.51.
A laser optically pumped polarized 3He target for storage rings

Abstract A polarized 3 He target for use in a storage ring has been constructed and tested. The target employs an infrared laser to polarize 3 He atoms by metastability exchange optical pumping in a Pyrex glass cell which is connected by a glass capillary to a windowless target storage cell. The target polarization direction is determined by a 3 mT magnetic field. With 3 W of incident laser power, equilibrium polarizations of 50% at a flow rate of 1 × 10 17 3 He atoms/s have been routinely achieved. Two techniques have been investigated to rapidly reverse the 3 He target polarization. Further, a scheme to interface the glass pumping cell with the storage ring vacuum has been developed.
Item response theory facilitated cocalibrating cognitive tests and reduced bias in estimated rates of decline

Abstract Objective To cocalibrate the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Modified Mini-Mental State, the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument, and the Community Screening Instrument for Dementia using item response theory (IRT) to compare screening cut points used to identify cases of dementia from different studies, to compare measurement properties of the tests, and to explore the implications of these measurement properties on longitudinal studies of cognitive functioning over time. Study Design and Setting We used cross-sectional data from three large ( n > 1000) community-based studies of cognitive functioning in the elderly. We used IRT to cocalibrate the scales and performed simulations of longitudinal studies. Results Screening cut points varied quite widely across studies. The four tests have curvilinear scaling and varied levels of measurement precision, with more measurement error at higher levels of cognitive functioning. In longitudinal simulations, IRT scores always performed better than standard scoring, whereas a strategy to account for varying measurement precision had mixed results. Conclusion Cocalibration allows direct comparison of cognitive functioning in studies using any of these four tests. Standard scoring appears to be a poor choice for analysis of longitudinal cognitive testing data. More research is needed into the implications of varying levels of measurement precision.
Spatial structures in plasmas with metastable states as bifurcation phenomena

The formation of orderly, steady, spatial structures in rf-heated plasmas that have metastable states is studied as the development of an instability of the solution to the reaction-diffusion equations for the plasma species. Plasma-species (electrons, ions, and metastable atoms) source functions are given in terms of the electron energy distribution in strong electric fields and of the various collision cross sections. The methods of two-time expansions and bifurcation theory are used to calculate the nonuniform states that bifurcate from the unstable uniform steady state for straight and toroidal tubes. The sinusoidal density variations give the discharge the appearance of glowing balls of gas. This pattern formation is analogous to the morphogenesis found in certain chemical reactions and biological processes.
Practice patterns of doctors of chiropractic with a pediatric diplomate: a cross-sectional survey

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is growing in popularity, especially within the pediatric population. Research on CAM practitioners and their specialties, such as pediatrics, is lacking. Within the chiropractic profession, pediatrics is one of the most recently established post-graduate specialty programs. This paper describes the demographic and practice characteristics of doctors of chiropractic with a pediatric diplomate. 218 chiropractors with a pediatric diplomate were invited to complete our survey using either web-based or mailed paper survey methods. Practitioner demographics, practice characteristics, treatment procedures, referral patterns, and patient characteristics were queried with a survey created with the online survey tool, SurveyMonkey© ®. A total of 135 chiropractors responded (62.2% response rate); they were predominantly female (74%) and white (93%). Techniques most commonly used were Diversified, Activator ®, and Thompson with the addition of cranial and extremity manipulation to their chiropractic treatments. Adjunctive therapies commonly provided to patients included recommendations for activities of daily living, corrective or therapeutic exercise, ice pack\cryotherapy, and nutritional counseling. Thirty eight percent of respondents' patients were private pay and 23% had private insurance that was not managed care. Pediatrics represented 31% of the survey respondents' patients. Chiropractors also reported 63% of their work time devoted to direct patient care. Health conditions reportedly treated within the pediatric population included back or neck pain, asthma, birth trauma, colic, constipation, ear infection, head or chest cold, and upper respiratory infections. Referrals made to or from these chiropractors were uncommon. This mixed mode survey identified similarities and differences between doctors of chiropractic with a pediatric diplomate to other surveys of doctors of chiropractic, CAM professionals, and pediatric healthcare providers. The pediatric diplomate certificate was established in 1993 and provides didactic education over a 2 to 3 year span. The results of this study can be used for historical information as this specialty continues to grow.
Viability studies on megakaryocytes in mechanically and enzymatically suspended rat bone marrow

Abstract Morphological examination together with neutral red or dye exclusion tests have been applied to the study of megakaryocyte viability in suspensions of femoral rat bone marrow. These suspensions were prepared by mechanical means or by an enzymatic method using collagenase. In mechanical suspensions, megakaryocyte viability (as measured by a modified nigrosin exclusion test) quickly diminishes until reaching a plateau of 20.3 ± 2.7 per cent. The mechanical procedure produces a tearing away of the cell's marginal zone followed by a bubbling process, a form of degeneration which progresses until autolysis, and/or by the entrance of normally excluded dyes. Because of this lesion, the pH gradients which normally characterize living cells cannot be maintained. Contrariwise, in collagenase suspensions a viability of at least 65.0 ± 4.2 (and more recently 84.0) per cent is assured. It appears that the peripheral zone offers a line of less resistance, the preservation of which can be secured only by a procedure which avoids physical damage to the cell.
Bioactive peptides released from in vitro digestion of human milk with or without pasteurization

Bioactive peptides released from in vitro digestion of human milk with or without pasteurization
Originality and Eroticism: Constantine Cavafy and the Alexandrian Epigram

Abstract Although it has become generally accepted by critics that Constantine Cavafy (1863–1933) was influenced greatly by the Hellenistic epigram ‘in attitude, subject matter, and technique’, a close comparison of that poetic tradition and Cavafy's poems reveals interesting differences as well as similarities. We know that Cavafy was familiar with Hellenistic literature and that he had a copy of J. W. Mackail's Select Epigrams from the Greek Anthology in his personal library. His reading, however, ‘was much more extensive than his library’. More significant than this is the evidence to be found in his poems, which range from an actual mention of ancient epigrams to obvious imitations of them. Cavafy's poems for the most part, however, are quite original in their tone and erotic stance when compared directly to the Alexandrian epigrams.
Events in learning mathematics: Insights from research in classrooms

In this paper, it is contended that in order to understand individual student's learning in the complexity of the mathematics classroom it is necessary to examine the events that occur before, during, and after learning. To illustrate, the process by which two children each construct new mathematical meanings is examined in this manner. The detailed analyses of each of these events provides insight into the processes by which individual students construct mathematical meanings in classroom settings. The investigation also reveals that the underlying social norms differ from those found in traditional classes, and that this creates different opportunities for learning. It is contended that it is the differences in the norms that have been established in their respective classes that distinguishes between the events in learning for the two children.
Pseudoavoidance responses in two-way avoidance learning

In a two-way avoidance learning task, responses sometimes occur during the CS-UCS inter­ val prior to the initial receipt of shock. The number of such pseudoavoidance (P A) responses was found to be related positively to the number of avoidance responses made after the receipt of shock, implying that some of these avoidance responses were artifactual. The use of pro­ cedures that would decrease the occurrence of P A responses would also minimize this possible contamination of the avoidance data. Evidence was presented indicating that the frequency of P A responses was decreased when some amount of exploration of the apparatus, rather than none, was given prior to avoidance training, the shuttle compartments were separated by a small rather than a large guillotine door. a neutral rather than an intense auditory CS was used. and the CS-UCS interval was short (5 sec) rather than long (10 sec). In previous investigations of two-way avoidance learning in this laboratory, it was rare to observe a sub­ ject locomote from one compartment to the other during the CS-UCS interval before the ftrst shock was received. The compartments of the apparatus employed in these studies were separated by a small guillotine door resting on a hurdle, and the procedure involved some exploration of the apparatus prior to avoidance training. When the size of the door and the exploration treatment were altered in a recent study (McAllister, McAllister, Dieter, & James, in press, Experiment 2), a large number of such responses were observed. The purpose of this paper is to present the data from the above study that relate to such pseudoavoidance (P A) responses, as well as to identify in other studies the experimental conditions that have led to such responses. Knowledge of the variables leading to PA responses would enable investigators to choose conditions that minimize their occurrence. This is important because, although a PA response does lead to the nonoccurrence (avoid­ ance) of shock, it clearly is not made as a consequence of learning. Within two-factor theory, an avoidance response is assumed to be an escape-from-fear response. Obviously, a response made during the CS-UCS interval prior to the initial receipt of shock cannot be considered an escape from conditioned fear. Similarly, from a cognitive viewpoint (e.g., Seligman & Johnston, 1973), an avoidance response made prior to the receipt of the ftrst shock cannot be the result of the subject's expect­ ancy that shock will occur if the response is not made.
Distributing water's bounty

Following an investigation of theoretical issues and an inventory of modeling requirements, support for increasing block rates is examined empirically, through comparison to a uniform rate that includes scarce water value. Using a single-year, monthly simulation model, it is found that under conditions of scarcity, households using smaller amounts of water are better off with a uniform rate than an increasing block. Large water users have opposing preferences. Similar results arise for those household characteristics which are correlated with water use, such as income, property value, number of residents, and outdoor area of the property. For example, low-income households prefer scarcity-inclusive uniform rates over increasing block rates when scarcity is present. Therefore, in contrast to popularized opinion, increasing block rates do not place the welfare burden of conservation on large water users, nor do such rates favor low-income people in scarce-water circumstances.
Examining the Association Between Preventive Screenings and Subsequent Health Services Utilization by Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

In recent years, health plans have turned to disease management programs as a means of reducing inpatient utilization while promoting preventive outpatient services provided for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between four preventive diabetes screenings (retinal eye exams, glycosylated hemoglobin [HbA1c] testing, lipid testing, and albumin testing) in the base study period, and health services utilization patterns during a 24-month follow-up study period for 2641 patients with type 2 diabetes. Claims data from Regence BlueShield of Idaho for the three periods of 2000 (base period), 2001, and 2002 (results period) have provided the basis for this empirical analysis. Based on our review of the relevant literature and results from disease management and health plan management programs, the central hypothesis of this study was that the four preventive diabetes screenings in the base study period would be associated with lower inpatient utilization and greater preventive outpatient utilization during a 24-month follow-up study period. Simple linear association analysis was used to measure the relationship between the utilization of preventive diabetes screenings and subsequent utilization of emergency room, inpatient, and preventive outpatient services. The study results show that for patients who comply with recommended lipid screening services, health plans can expect to see a significant reduction in the number of inpatient admissions over the subsequent 2 years, while marginal inpatient reductions might be expected following HbA1c testing. Furthermore, for patients who comply with recommended screenings of either retinal eye exams or albumin testing, health plans can expect to see these patients utilizing preventive outpatient services more frequently in the subsequent 2 years. Pursuing a state- or federal-supported screening program for patients with type 2 diabetes could reduce frequent utilization of inpatient services. Furthermore, in support of the goal of disease management programs to reduce inpatient utilization and increase preventive outpatient service utilization among the increasing proportion of members with type 2 diabetes, health plans are encouraged to provide education about and monitor their patients’ compliance with recommended screenings in the future. Further studies should examine the role of lipid testing in reducing the risk of microvascular diseases. Future research should also pursue an understanding of how a reduction in inpatient utilization is associated with an increased emphasis on lipid screening.
On the Analysis of Using 802.16e WiMAX for Point-to-Point Wireless Backhaul

This paper analyzes the capacity and overhead of using the IEEE 802.16e worldwide interoperability for microwave access ("WiMAX") for last mile wireless backhaul transport. It first analyzes the WiMAX overhead size using 802.16e WiMAX as backhaul. Second, both WiMAX backhaul downlink and uplink capacity analysis are presented. Lastly, an EVRC VoIP bearer traffic efficiency analysis in an 802.16e WiMAX backhaul is considered