cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regional exhaustion of intellectual property

This paper analyzes the causes and consequences of regional exhaustion of intellectual property, a discriminatory policy regime under which a set of countries permit parallel imports from one another but not from the rest of the world. A three-country model is developed in which each country chooses between national (ne), international (ie), or regional exhaustion (re). To the best of our knowledge, this is the …rst model to explicitly endogenize the choice between the three types of exhaustion regimes that are observed in the world. We …nd that when countries a and b are relatively similar to each other in size and country c is su¢ ciently small relative to them, in equilibrium, at least one of the large countries chooses re with respect to the other large country (who either opts for re or ne). We also consider a scenario where countries can only implement non-discriminatory exhaustion regimes (i.e. ne or ie). Comparing the outcomes under this non-discrimination scenario with those under the core model, we show that the option to choose re makes all countries better o¤. Thus, there is some justi…cation for the wide latitude available to WTO members with respect to their exhaustion policies.
Bayesian face recognition using deformable intensity surfaces

We describe a novel technique for face recognition based on deformable intensity surfaces which incorporates both the shape and texture components of the 2D image. The intensity surface of the facial image is modeled as a deformable 3D mesh in (z, y, I(x, y)) space. Using an efficient technique for matching two surfaces (in terms of the analytic modes of vibration), we obtain a dense correspondence field (or 3D warp) between two images. The probability distributions of two classes of warps are then estimated from training data: interpersonal and extrapersonal variations. These densities are then used in a Bayesian framework for image matching and recognition. Experimental results with facial data from the US Army FERET database demonstrate an increased recognition rate over the previous best methods.
Development of a "treatment program" descriptor: the addiction treatment inventory.

This paper reviews the current literature on the definition and classification of drug and alcohol user treatment “programs” and provides a rationale for our approach to measuring the treatment programs in the Drug Evaluation Network System (DENS). The DENS gathers extensive background and recent status data on patients' drug, alcohol, psychiatric, medical, employment, legal, and family problems as they enter a sample of treatment programs throughout the country. The DENS recognized the need for descriptive information on important structural, organizational, and service delivery aspects of the programs in which those patients were treated. To this end, we present our efforts thus far in characterizing and monitoring “service delivery units” or “programs” that are sampled in the DENS system. Specifically, we present development of the Addiction Treatment Inventory (ATI), a standardized measurement instrument to characterize these service delivery units and their services.
Separation of uranium-234 from aged plutonium-238

Abstract Small quantities of highly purified 234U can be readily separated from aged 238Pu by precipitating the uranium as NaUO2(Ac)3. Two precipitations of uranium yielded a product containing less than 10 ppm 238Pu contamination.
The discrepancy in discrepant analysis

Discrepant analysis is a widely used technique that attempts to provide estimates of sensitivity and specificity in the presence of an imperfect gold-standard. This technique has been applied by many researchers to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of DNA-amplification tests for Chlamydia trachomatis such as the plasmid-based ligase chain-reaction and polymerase chain-reaction tests. However, the sensitivity and specificity estimates obtained by discrepant analysis are upwardly biased, and this bias remains even when a perfect test is used to resolve the discrepant results. This technique should not be adopted for evaluating the performance of a diagnostic test.
Psychostimulant dependence in a community sample.

Objective. To examine the prevalence of psychostimulant dependence and the characteristics associated with nonmedical users’ development of dependence. Methods. The study sample was drawn from the 1995 to 1998 National Household Surveys on Drug Abuse. Statistical analysis was conducted on a total of 1047 individuals aged 12 or older who reported nonmedical use of stimulants in the past year. Multiple multinomial logistic regression identified factors related to stimulant dependence and dependence problems. Results. Among all past year stimulant users, 19% met criteria for stimulant dependence in the past year, and an additional 16% reported having one to two dependence problems. Adjusting for demographics and drug use characteristics, female stimulant users were an estimated 2.6 times more likely than male users to develop dependence. Not only did the Western region of the United States have more recent stimulant users than other regions, its users also were more likely to meet criteria for dependence or ...
State-of-the-Art Interventions for Office-Based Parental Tobacco Control

Parental tobacco use is a serious health issue for all family members. Child health care clinicians are in a unique and important position to address paren- tal smoking because of the regular, multiple contacts with parents and the harmful health consequences to their patients. This article synthesizes the current evi- dence-based interventions for treatment of adults and applies them to the problem of addressing parental smoking in the context of the child health care setting. Brief interventions are effective, and complementary strategies such as quitlines will improve the chances of parental smoking cessation. Adopting the 5 A's frame- work strategy (ask, advise, assess, assist, and arrange) gives each parent the maximum chance of quitting. Within this framework, specific recommendations are made for child health care settings and clinicians. Ongo- ing research will help determine how best to implement parental smoking-cessation strategies more widely in a variety of child health care settings. Pediatrics 2005;115: 750-760; tobacco, smoking, adolescent, child, parent, pedi- atrician, nicotine-replacement therapy, NRT, nicotine, to- bacco dependence, guideline, clinical practice guideline, environmental tobacco smoke, secondhand smoke, SHS. ABBREVIATIONS. SHS, secondhand smoke; ETS, environmental tobacco smoke; NRT, nicotine-replacement therapy; PHS, US Pub- lic Health Service; AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.
Predator biodiversity strengthens herbivore suppression

Species diversity at lower trophic levels generally improves ecosystem functioning. However, the impact of greater predator diversity on herbivore regulation is uncertain because predator species both compete with and prey on each other. In a large-scale field experiment we examined the relationship between predator species diversity and the suppression of two herbivores, green peach and cabbage aphids, on collard plants. We show that, for both aphid species, the strength of herbivore suppression increased with higher predator biodiversity. Greater resource exploitation by predators in diverse communities generally led to improved predator survivorship and reproduction. Herbivore population size was negatively correlated with plant biomass, providing evidence that greater aphid suppression leads to improved plant growth. Our study suggests a harmonious relationship between predator conservation and herbivore control, and a relatively weak role for predator interference, within this community.
Discrimination in the Ranks: An Empirical Study with Recommendations

Successful recruitment and retention of qualified police officers is a primary concern of departments and supervisors. Employment discrimination is an onerous stress that negatively interferes with success. In this article, the authors discuss the legal concepts of employment discrimination, report the discrimination experiences of the officers in their research database, and make recommendations for confronting and preventing employment discrimination. The database includes numerous descriptive variables taken from employment discrimination claims field in Ohio during a 15-year period. It is the most complete database on employment discrimination in the United States.
Unified Terrain Mapping Model With Markov Random Fields

A terrain mapping model is proposed using a generalized Markov random field (MRF) representation. Unlike previous work, the proposed MRF can fully represent uncertainties due to sensor pose and measurement errors, as well as data association errors in a single model. Additionally, neither homoscedasticity nor a predefined shape of the likelihood distribution is assumed. The flexibility of an MRF model allows spatial height correlations to be incorporated. The ability to include spatial correlations not only improves the accuracy through the benefits of Bayesian prior modeling, but also serves as a basis for terrain property characterization. Maximum likelihood solutions of terrain roughness are derived. Benefits of the proposed model are demonstrated experimentally on indoor and outdoor datasets. Results show that the MRF model leads to lower height estimation errors. In addition, the capability of estimating non-Gaussian height distributions allows the information about individual terrain features to be preserved. Finally, the model is able to accurately estimate the roughness of the terrain, which is beneficial for edge detection of obstacles and nontraversible terrain regions.
Approximate Element Computational Time for Domain Decomposition in Parallel Finite Element Code

This paper discusses a method that is able to approximate the element computational time in a finite element analysis code which can be used for domain decomposition purpose. The method models element computational time as functions of material law and model, element geometry and formulation, element integration scheme, node distribution, element contact, and other finite element approximation techniques. The method is based on multi-parameter linear model where parameters can be derived from measured CPU times of simple and small experiments. This paper only describes the computational cost approximations for solid and shell elements. The paper shows that the cost model works well and has positive impacts on parallel load balancing. Although element computational time of some exceptional material laws and element formulations can not be modeled by this method, the experimental results show that the method can predict the computational time correctly for more than 90% of material models and element formulations used in explicit finite element analysis codes.
Telomere position effect is regulated by heterochromatin-associated proteins and NkuA in Aspergillus nidulans.

Gene-silencing mechanisms are being shown to be associated with an increasing number of fungal developmental processes. Telomere position effect (TPE) is a eukaryotic phenomenon resulting in gene repression in areas immediately adjacent to telomere caps. Here, TPE is shown to regulate expression of transgenes on the left arm of chromosome III and the right arm of chromosome VI in Aspergillus nidulans. Phenotypes found to be associated with transgene repression included reduction in radial growth and the absence of sexual spores; however, these pleiotropic phenotypes were remedied when cultures were grown on media with appropriate supplementation. Simple radial growth and ascosporogenesis assays provided insights into the mechanism of TPE, including a means to determine its extent. These experiments revealed that the KU70 homologue (NkuA) and the heterochromatin-associated proteins HepA, ClrD and HdaA were partially required for transgene silencing. This study indicates that TPE extends at least 30 kb on chromosome III, suggesting that this phenomenon may be important for gene regulation in subtelomeric regions of A. nidulans.
Privacy protection of enterprise information through inference analysis

Ensuring that disclosure of information to outside entities is in conformance with the enterprise privacy policies is of utmost concern for all enterprises dealing with consumer information. The existing protection measures proposed for meeting this goal are inadequate. In this paper we present an approach in which the privacy label taxonomy is developed to classify information types in an enterprise by their privacy labels. Inference analysis is performed on the information types using a disjunctive logic programming technique to detect violations of privacy labeling semantics in various information types. The analysis also provides the technique to deal with such violations so as to achieve a violation-free privacy labeling scheme.
Computational model of image formation process in DIC microscopy

A computational model of the image formation process has been developed for the Nomarski differential interference contrast (DIC) microscope. The DIC microscope images variations of the phase of the light wave transmitted through the specimen. In the study of biological phenomena, the DIC microscope is used to visualize live cells which are highly transparent in the visible spectra but distort the phase of the impinging light wave. Within the microscope, a birefringent prism splits the transmitted light wave into two laterally sheared wavefronts. An interference pattern is imaged when the wavefronts recombine. The computational model we developed uses polarization ray-tracing techniques. Rays propagating through different microscope components and the specimen are traced. A specimen is represented by a 3D grid of voxels, each containing a complex refractive index. At the image plane, a coherent superposition of the diffracted field due to each ray contributes to the image intensity. Partial coherence at the image plane is also simulated by wavefronts with different propagation directions. By computing the image intensity at different positions along the axial direction, we can obtain optically sectioned images. In order to evaluate our model, we compared simulated images to the images taken under a real DIC microscope. We constructed test specimens of known shape and properties, using polystyrene beads in optical cement and an etched glass wafer. As the next step, we plan to use this computational model for the reverse problem, i.e. to reconstruct the 3D refractive index distribution of an imaged specimen.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Malignant Pheochromocytoma of the Adrenal Medulla (Paraganglioma)Report of Case Simulating Carcinoma of the Adrenal Cortex with Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency

It is customary to associate pheochromocytoma of the suprarenal gland with attacks of paroxysmal hypertension in which pallor, cold, clammy extremities, palpitation, ‘pounding’ of the pulse, particularly in the head and neck, and severe headache are constant findings, and in which a wide variety of other signs and symptoms of sympathomimetic type are common. Such attacks may be sufficiently severe to lead to death from cerebral hemorrhage, edema of the lungs, or coma symptomatically resenv bling that of uremia. Despite the fact that only a few more than 100 cases of pheochromocytoma of the adrenal have been reported in the literature (1), the above syndrome associated with paraganglioma of a benign type is well understood, although not always recognized. The clinical findings and course of malignant forms of the condition are not so well distinguished, as only 8 cases, including that herein described, are on record, not one of which has exhibited the acute attacks of widely fluctuating blood pressure and ...
Fine-Tuning Time-of-Day Transitions for Arterial Traffic Signals

Time-of-day operation (i.e., the implementation of different signal settings at different times of the day) is commonly used in traffic signal operation to accommodate time-dependent traffic patterns. In the current practice of signal retiming, traffic engineers rely largely on engineering judgments to determine the proper time-of-day transitions; this approach may lead to inefficient operations. For such a deficiency to be reduced, in this research an easy-to-use approach was proposed to fine-tune time-of-day transitions for signalized arterials. The optimal transition points were determined through the evaluation of total delays on the basis of a Highway Capacity Manual (HCM) formula. To account for the impact of the coordination and actuation of arterial signals, the researchers extended HCM formula with a simple but effective model to estimate the green duration of actuated traffic signals. The proposed approach was demonstrated and validated with a case study that used traffic data collected from the...
The pioneering social entrepreneur of India: exploring the life and work of Vidyasagar in Colonial British India

Ishwar Chandra Bandopadhyay ('Vidyasagar') is widely regarded as an eminent social reformer from Bengal, India of the 19th century. In this paper, we explore Vidyasagar's initiatives in conjunction with the British administrators, were not simply as those of asocial reformer, but of a pioneering social entrepreneur. We begin by reviewing definitions of social entrepreneurship and establishing his pioneering work in this domain. Using a 2 × 2 matrix, we develop a typology of his enterprises by considering whether they were: a) directed by positive or desirable (i.e., approach) outcomes vs. instigated by a prevention of negative or undesirable (i.e., avoidance) outcomes; b) whether these policies were directed particularly at women, or at the general society at large. He funded most of his social entrepreneurial works either from the revenues generated by his own literary works, or from his salary. We finally review the salient characteristics of social entrepreneurs as defined in the literature, and illustrate how Vidyasagar's work meets these criteria.
Early detection of prostate cancer: can we have our cake and eat it too?

Prostate cancer continues to remain the most polarizing of diseases. On one side, experts labor over the routine use of screening tools for early detection due to the risk of overdetection of clini...
Toxic effect of ciodrin and dichlorvos applied topically to horses and their efficacy against internal parasites.

Ciodrin® ( alpha . methylbenzyl 3-hydroxycrotonate dimethyl phosphate) and dichlorvos were applied topically as oil and water treatments on horses to determine possible toxic effect. No clinical symptom of toxicity was seen in any of the horses. However there was inhibition of plasma CHE activity. None of the treatments was effective in reducing fecal strongyle egg counts.
On Arccotangent Relations for π

(1938). On Arccotangent Relations for π. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 45, No. 10, pp. 657-664.
Lyme Disease Risk Influences Human Settlement in the Wildland–Urban Interface: Evidence from a Longitudinal Analysis of Counties in the Northeastern United States

The expansion of human settlement into wildland areas, including forests in the eastern United States, has resulted in fragmented forest habitat that has been shown to drive higher entomological risk for Lyme disease. We investigated an alternative pathway between fragmentation and Lyme disease, namely whether increased risk of Lyme disease results in a reduced propensity to settle in high-risk areas at the interface of developed and undeveloped lands. We used longitudinal data analyses at the county level to determine whether Lyme disease incidence (LDI) influences the proportion of the population residing in the wildland-urban interface in 12 high LDI states in the eastern United States. We found robust evidence that a higher LDI reduces the proportion of a county's population residing in the wildland-urban interface in high-LDI states. This study provides some of the first evidence of human behavioral responses to Lyme disease risk via settlement decisions.
Activation of Phosphorylase Kinase by Physiological Temperature

In the six decades since its discovery, phosphorylase kinase (PhK) from rabbit skeletal muscle has usually been studied at 30 °C; in fact, not a single study has examined functions of PhK at a rabbit's body temperature, which is nearly 10 °C greater. Thus, we have examined aspects of the activity, regulation, and structure of PhK at temperatures between 0 and 40 °C. Between 0 and 30 °C, the activity at pH 6.8 of nonphosphorylated PhK predictably increased; however, between 30 and 40 °C, there was a dramatic jump in its activity, resulting in the nonactivated enzyme having a far greater activity at body temperature than was previously realized. This anomalous change in properties between 30 and 40 °C was observed for multiple functions, and both stimulation (by ADP and phosphorylation) and inhibition (by orthophosphate) were considerably less pronounced at 40 °C than at 30 °C. In general, the allosteric control of PhK's activity is definitely more subtle at body temperature. Changes in behavior related to activity at 40 °C and its control can be explained by the near disappearance of hysteresis at physiological temperature. In important ways, the picture of PhK that has emerged from six decades of study at temperatures of ≤30 °C does not coincide with that of the enzyme studied at physiological temperature. The probable underlying mechanism for the dramatic increase in PhK's activity between 30 and 40 °C is an abrupt change in the conformations of the regulatory β and catalytic γ subunits between these two temperatures.
Light-emitting Diodes: A Brief Review and Clinical Experience.

Background: In the early 1990s, the biological significance of light-emitting diodes was realized. Since this discovery, various light sources have been investigated for their cutaneous effects. Study design: A Medline search was performed on light-emitting diode lights and their therapeutic effects between 1996 and 2010. Additionally, an open-label, investigator-blinded study was performed using a yellow light-emitting diode device to treat acne, rosacea, photoaging, alopecia areata, and androgenetic alopecia. Results: The authors identified several case-based reports, small case series, and a few randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of four different wavelengths of light-emitting diodes. These devices were classified as red, blue, yellow, or infrared, and covered a wide range of clinical applications. The 21 patients the authors treated had mixed results regarding patient satisfaction and pre- and post-treatment evaluation of improvement in clinical appearance. Conclusion: Review of the literature revealed that differing wavelengths of light-emitting diode devices have many beneficial effects, including wound healing, acne treatment, sunburn prevention, phototherapy for facial rhytides, and skin rejuvenation. The authors’ clinical experience with a specific yellow light-emitting diode device was mixed, depending on the condition being treated, and was likely influenced by the device parameters.
OVERVIEW OF ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF LE CHEVALIER VINORELBINE STUDY

The costs and relative cost-effectiveness of different treatments for common illnesses are an increasing concern. New treatments for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer are having an impact. However, these treatments vary markedly in their direct financial costs, toxicity, and quality-of-life profiles. Direct comparisons between most combination regimens are not yet completed. Vinorelbine (Navelbine) is the first new agent approved in the United States for the treatment of metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer in more than a decade. We previously reported results of a post-hoc economic analysis that compared the anticipated cost-effectiveness of three regimens used to treat non-small-cell lung cancer (vinorelbine alone versus vinorelbine plus cisplatin [Platinol] versus vindesine plus cisplatin, the assumed standard treatment in Europe). Results showed that vinorelbine plus cisplatin was the most effective regimen. Using vinorelbine alone as a baseline, vinorelbine plus cisplatin added 56 days of life at an additional cost of $2,700, resulting in a cost-effectiveness ratio of $17,700 per year of life gained. Similarly, vindesine plus cisplatin added 19 days of life at a cost of $1,150, or $22,100 per year of life gained. Compared to vindesine plus cisplatin, vinorelbine plus cisplatin added 37 days of life at a cost of $1,570, or $15,500 per year of life gained. We conclude that the incremental cost-effectiveness of the vinorelbine plus cisplatin regimen was less than most commonly accepted medical interventions. If vinorelbine is preferred because of its favorable toxicity profile, the additional effectiveness of cisplatin added substantial efficacy at an acceptable cost.[ONCOLOGY(Suppl 4):14-17, 1998]
Hypophosphatasia and the risk of atypical femur fractures: a case-control study.

Case reports have linked adult hypophosphatasia as a possible cause of atypical femur fractures (AFF) associated with bisphosphonate use. Adult hypophosphatasia is an asymptomatic genetic condition which results in low alkaline phosphatase and elevated pyridoxal phosphate. We conducted a case–control study to assess the role of hypophosphatasia and atypical femur fracture. We recruited 13 control patients who took long term bisphosphonates without complication and 10 patients who sustained atypical femur fractures (mean bisphosphonate use, 9 years both cohorts). Patients underwent clinical exam and measurement of alkaline phosphatase and pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) levels. In addition, DNA was extracted and the ALPL gene was sequenced in both cohorts. Low alkaline phosphatase levels (<55 U/L) were seen in 5/10 AFF patients and 5/13 control patients. Two control patients demonstrated low alkaline phosphatase levels and elevated PLP. The alkaline phosphatase (ALPL) gene exons and intron splice sites were sequenced in the atypical femur fracture and control cohorts and no coding mutations were identified in any subjects. Atypical femur fracture patients demonstrated more varus hip alignment (p < 0.048) with no significant difference in mechanical axis. We found no evidence of hypophosphatasia as a risk factor for atypical femur fractures. Laboratory findings of mildly low alkaline phosphatase activity were equally common in atypical and control cohorts and may be due to long term bisphosphonate use. Clinicaltrials.gov number NCT01360099 . Prospectively registered May 20, 2011. First patient enrolled June 14, 2011.
A New Method for Determination of Left-to-Right Cardiac Shunts

Left-to-right cardiac shunt quantitation can be determined from first pass radionuclide angiography. The traditional technique fits a gamma variate to the lung time-activity curve (TAC) and a second gamma variate to the recirculation portion of the curve. Problems may arise, however, with the fitting of the gamma variate to the subtracted recirculation curve. We have investigated a new technique in which the recirculation fitting is no longer required. The new method fits a gamma variate to the first-pass portion of the lung TAC. This gamma variate is used to generate a curve which simulates the expected shape of a normal lung TAC in response to systemic recirculation. The simulated data is then subtracted from the observed lung TAC. A correlation coefficient of r = 0.87 was obtained when these two methods were compared. We now prefer the new method since it overcomes the problem of fitting the subtracted recirculation position of the curve.
Resolving hydrologic water balances through a novel error analysis approach, with application to the Tahoe basin

We introduce a new approach for improving estimates of water balance components, applicable to a multi-period water balance series for a lake, watershed, or other area of any size. It consists of making use of statistical relationships between a component series estimate and the residual errors of the water mass balance series. Through this approach, two novel specific techniques are developed. The first, ‘precipitation-decorrelation’, entails implementing a criterion of decorrelation of residual errors from precipitation estimates. The second, ‘residual-redistribution’, consists of redistributing each residual error over initial water balance component estimates, in accord with an error minimization criterion for each component series. Efficacy is tested using series of annual water balances for the Tahoe Basin. Upon implementation of precipitation-decorrelation, a tightly bounded statistical estimate of mean annual Lake Tahoe evaporation is obtained, which closely matches independent measurement-based estimates. Residual-redistribution yields revised estimates of annual series of Tahoe areal precipitation and watershed runoff, which are each shown to have substantially reduced random error variance. Highly precise revised estimates of inter-annual variations in Tahoe precipitation have enabled resolution of the watershed multi-year ‘memory’ of precipitation, and more reliable separation of inter-annual changes in watershed storage from inter-annual variations in atmospheric loss.
Dosimetric advantages of intensity modulated radiation therapy in locally advanced lung cancer.

Abstract Purpose Radiation therapy plays an essential role in the treatment of locally advanced lung cancer, but it inevitably leads to incidental and unnecessary dose to critical organs, including the lung, heart, and esophagus. Numerous radiation dose-volumetric parameters have been associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of the present study is to quantify differences in normal tissue radiation exposure with intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) compared with 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT). Methods and materials Twenty-four consecutive patients with locally advanced lung cancer undergoing definitive IMRT were enrolled on a phase 1 protocol. For each patient, an optimized 3D-CRT plan was also designed. Plans were normalized in terms of planning target coverage with a standard dose of 60 Gy in 2-Gy fractions with a subset of patients also receiving elective nodal irradiation to a dose of 44 Gy in 2-Gy fractions. Normal tissue dosimetric comparisons were made for the lung, heart, and esophagus. Results IMRT decreased incidental dose to the lungs, heart, and esophagus. For lung, both V20 Gy (21.5% vs 26.5%, P P P = .76). For heart, there was improvement in V5 (28.9% vs 33.7%, P P = .10). For esophagus, all dosimetric endpoints were improved (V20 Gy, V45 Gy, V60 Gy, mean dose). For example, V60 was 6.5% with IMRT compared with 21% with 3D-CRT ( P Conclusions IMRT significantly decreased unnecessary dose to critical organs with equivalent coverage of planning target volumes. IMRT may therefore improve the tolerability of therapy.
Bond Behavior of FRP–Concrete in Presence of Intermediate Crack Debonding Failure

AbstractAn experimental and numerical program to investigate the behavior of intermediate crack (IC) debonding failure and the bond-slip relationship between the fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) plat...
Changes in visceral adiposity, subcutaneous adiposity, and sex hormones in the diabetes prevention program

Context The degree to which changes in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) relate to corresponding changes in plasma sex steroids is not known. Objective We examined whether changes in VAT and SAT areas assessed by computed tomography were associated with changes in sex hormones [dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), testosterone, estradiol, estrone, and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)] among Diabetes Prevention Program participants. Design Secondary analysis of a randomized trial. Participants Overweight and glucose-intolerant men (n = 246) and women (n = 309). Interventions Intensive lifestyle change with goals of weight reduction and 150 min/wk of moderate intensity exercise or metformin administered 850 mg twice a day or placebo. Main outcome measures Associations between changes in VAT, SAT, and sex hormone changes over 1 year. Results Among men, reductions in VAT and SAT were both independently associated with significant increases in total testosterone and SHBG in fully adjusted models. Among women, reductions in VAT and SAT were both independently associated with increases in SHBG and associations with estrone differed by menopausal status. Associations were similar by race/ethnicity and by randomization arm. No significant associations were observed between change in fat depot with change in estradiol or DHEAS. Conclusions Among overweight adults with impaired glucose intolerance, reductions in either VAT and SAT were associated with increased total testosterone in men and higher SHBG in men and women. Weight loss may affect sex hormone profiles via reductions in visceral and subcutaneous fat.
Multiple Schedules of Escape-Avoidance with Sequential Warning Stimuli

Three rats were trained to escape electric shock by satisfying a continuous (CRF) or differential reinforcement of low rate (DRL) escape schedule. These escape schedules, accompanied by visual cues, were randomly alternated at 5-min intervals in a multiple schedule format. Each escape schedule was linked with a 20-sec avoidance component (R-S = 20 sec), in which responses prevented the occurrence of escape periods. Three 5-sec duration, auditory and visual warning stimuli (WS) were provided during the R-S intervals. Later, signaled avoidance components alternated with unsignaled components. In general, all subjects produced the high (CRF) and low (DRL) escape rates expected. The data produced during the shock off intervals revealed that avoidance was higher in the DRL escape components relative to the CRF escape components. Signaled avoidance produced superior avoidance relative to unsignaled avoidance. All 3 rats responded to the first two WS instead of waiting until the last WS appeared. The differential escape rates, in conjunction with the differential avoidance performances, indicated evidence of reliable stimulus control by the various cues associated with the various escape-avoidance schedules employed.
Alignment strategy for the ATLAS tracker

The ATLAS experiment is a multi-purpose particle detector that will study high-energy particle collisions produced by the Large Hadron Collider. For the reconstruction of charged particles, and their production and their decay vertices, ATLAS is equipped with a sophisticated tracking system, unprecedented in size and complexity. Full exploitation of both the Inner Detector and the muon spectrometer requires an accurate alignment. The challenge of aligning the ATLAS tracking devices is discussed, and the ATLAS alignment strategy is presented and illustrated with both data and Monte Carlo results.
Pseudoaneurysm complicating right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduit surgery: Incidence and risk factors.

Abstract Objectives Although pseudoaneurysm is an uncommon complication after right ventricle–to–pulmonary artery conduit placement, it has the potential to cause significant morbidity and mortality. Methods We performed a review of patients with pseudoaneurysms diagnosed at our institution in a 20-year period (from 1995 through 2015) and compared their clinical characteristics with a group of age- and sex-matched control patients. Results We found that younger age, smaller size, the diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot, the use of a pulmonary homograft conduit, the presence of an unrestrictive ventricular septal defect after conduit placement, and having at least systemic right ventricular pressure were all more common in patients who had pseudoaneurysms develop. Conclusions This study is unique in identifying both patient and surgical factors that may predispose to pseudoaneurysm development and can help inform optimal strategies to monitor and evaluate this patient population.
Iatrogenic Kaposi's Sarcoma in an HIV-Negative Young Male With Crohn's Disease and IgA Nephropathy: A Case Report and Brief Review of the Literature.

Background. Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) is a vascular tumor arising in association with human herpesvirus–8 (HHV-8) infection, and different variants show different clinical presentations. Isolated intestinal KS in the background of Crohn’s disease (CD) is exceedingly rare with only 3 cases reported in the English literature (from 1966 to 2016). Case Presentation. Herein, we report a case of intestinal KS in a 21-year-old HIV-negative Ethiopian male with a long-standing history of steroid therapy for his underlying IgA nephropathy. Recent gastrointestinal biopsies confirmed an additional diagnosis of CD. Despite the addition of Infliximab to his therapy, his CD remained refractory, and a laparoscopic-assisted ileocolectomy was performed to alleviate a partial small bowel obstruction. Examination of his terminal ileum demonstrated a polypoid mass with adjacent incidental ileal submucosal nodules. These nodules were composed of plump spindle cells with scattered mitoses and vascular channels with extravasated red...
Investigation of poly (glycidyl methacrylate-co-styrene) as a curing agent for soy-based wood adhesives

Abstract In this study, poly (glycidyl methacrylate-co-styrene) (PGS) emulsions were synthesized through a free radical initiated emulsion polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) and styrene. The PGS was characterized with FTIR, and investigated as a curing agent for soybean flour (SF)-based wood adhesives. Seven-ply plywood panels were prepared with the SF-PGS adhesives and were evaluated for their water resistance through a three-cycle water-soaking test. Effects of the PGS/SF weight ratios, hot press temperature, hot press time, and usage of NaOH on the water resistance of the resulting plywood panels were investigated. Decrease in the relative amount of GMA in the PGS reduced the effectiveness of the PGS as a curing agent in the SF-PGS adhesives. Plywood panels made with the SF-PGS adhesives met the industrial requirement for interior plywood.
Hypoglycemia in the Nondiabetic Patient

Under most physiologic conditions encountered in modern life, glucose is the brain’s obligate fuel (Cryer, 117:868–870, 2007); therefore maintenance of blood glucose within the physiological range is of great importance. Hypoglycemic disorders, although uncommon (Service, J Clin Invest 332:1144–1152, 1995), are significant because low blood glucose leads to symptoms and signs of brain dysfunction. Profound or prolonged hypoglycemia may lead to cardiac arrhythmias, cognitive dysfunction or brain death (Cryer, N Eng J Med 117:868–870, 2007). However, the symptoms of hypoglycemia such as tachycardia, sweating, tremor, and nervousness are not specific to hypoglycemia. To diagnose a hypoglycemic disorder, it is necessary to document low blood glucose at the time of symptoms compatible with neuroglycopenia. These symptoms should be ameliorated by correction of the hypoglycemia. This is often referred to as Whipple’s triad (Whipple, Can Med Assoc J 66:334–342, 1952) and such documentation must underpin the diagnosis of a hypoglycemic disorder.
Short interpregnancy interval and adverse birth outcomes in women of advanced age: a population-based study.

Abstract Purpose Short interpregnancy interval (IPI) has been linked with adverse birth outcomes. However, the association in advanced age women needs further investigation. This study aims to examine the association between short IPI and adverse birth outcomes including preterm birth, post-term birth, low birth weight, and macrosomia, in a population of advanced age U.S. women. Methods The 2016 U.S. public-use natality data was analyzed. Analysis was restricted to women with second-order singleton live births who were ≥35 years at first live birth (n = 46,684). Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine the association between short IPI and adverse birth outcomes. Results Short IPI in advanced age women was significantly associated with higher odds of extremely preterm birth (0–5 months IPI: adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07–5.52; 6–11 months IPI: AOR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.09–4.31), very preterm birth (0–5 months IPI: AOR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.04–2.56), and extremely low birth weight (0–5 months IPI: AOR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.28–4.60) in the second delivery. An inverse relationship between short IPI and post-term birth was observed and no significant association between short IPI and macrosomia was found. Conclusions Short IPI in advanced age women increases the odds of adverse birth outcomes in the second delivery.
Inhibitors that target fusion

The process of viral entry offers several advantages for drug intervention. Targeting extracellular events eliminates challenges in ensuring adequate drug delivery into cells. Disabling HIV before integration of viral DNA into host cells also prevents the potential for establishment of viral persistence in longlived cells. Recent progress in understanding the molecular basis of the HIV entry process points to new therapeutic strategies. In this chapter, we focus on agents that target the step of virus-cell fusion from a mechanistic point of view. Issues related to product development of fusion inhibitors for eventual clinical use are covered in the Chapter by Greenberg.
Prevention of Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity: Challenges and Opportunities

Anthracycline compounds are major culprits in chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity, which is the chief limiting factor in delivering optimal chemotherapy to cancer patients. Although extensive efforts have been devoted to identifying strategies to prevent anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, there is little consensus regarding the best approach. Recent advances in basic mechanisms of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity provided a unified theory to explain the old reactive-oxygen species hypothesis and identified topoisomerase 2β as the primary molecular target for cardioprotection. This review outlines current strategies for primary and secondary prevention of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity resulting from newly recognized molecular mechanisms and identifies knowledge gaps requiring further investigation.
Health Determinants for Individuals and Populations

As discussed in Part I, the breakdown in healthcare infrastructure has fundamentally to do with the lack of actionable data. The success of public health and personal medicine depend on simple models that limit individual variation sufficiently to scale effectively to large populations. These models fail for problems where the variation is greater than the model will support. Such problems require more actionable data, both broader and deeper. The crisis in healthcare infrastructure is due to the solution failures including the most common health problems in the modern era of chronic conditions.
Developmental exposures to ultrafine particle air pollution reduces early testosterone levels and adult male social novelty preference: Risk for children's sex-biased neurobehavioral disorders.

Abstract Epidemiological studies have reported associations of air pollution exposures with various neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit and schizophrenia, all of which are male-biased in prevalence. Our studies of early postnatal exposure of mice to the ultrafine particle (UFP) component of air pollution, considered the most reactive component, provide support for these epidemiological associations, demonstrating male-specific or male-biased neuropathological changes and cognitive and impulsivity deficits consistent with these disorders. Since these neurodevelopmental disorders also include altered social behavior and communication, the current study examined the ability of developmental UFP exposure to reproduce these social behavior deficits and to determine whether any observed alterations reflected changes in steroid hormone concentrations. Elevated plus maze, social conditioned place preference, and social novelty preference were examined in adult mice that had been exposed to concentrated (10-20x) ambient UFPs averaging approximately 45 ug/m3 particle mass concentrations from postnatal day (PND) 4–7 and 10–13 for 4 h/day. Changes in serum testosterone (T) and corticosterone where measured at postnatal day (P)14 and approximately P120. UFP exposure decreased serum T concentrations on PND 14 and social nose-to-nose sniff rates with novel males in adulthood, suggesting social communication deficits in unfamiliar social contexts. Decreased sniff rates were not accounted for by alterations in fear-mediated behaviors and occurred without overt deficits in social preference, recognition or communication with a familiar animal or alterations in corticosterone. Adult T serum concentrations were positively correlated with nose to nose sniff rates. Collectively, these studies confirm another feature of male-biased neurodevelopmental disorders following developmental exposures to even very low levels of UFP air pollution that could be related to alterations in sex steroid programming of brain function.
Demonstration of Bias Dependence of Tunnel Magnetoresistance in Co-MgO-Co Magnetic Tunnel Junctions using First Principles Calculations

This paper reports the bias dependence of tunneling magnetoresistance in Co-MgO-Co magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) using first principles SGGA band structure calculations at four different temperatures. The Co-MgO-Co tunnel junction has been simulated at four different temperatures to obtain the I-V and dI/dV-V characteristics with parallel and anti-parallel magnetization states, respectively. The TMR ratios have been computed at all four different temperatures. It is seen that temperature doesn't seem to greatly fluctuate the TMR ratios of this magnetic tunnel junction, thereby making it suitable for applications over a wide range of temperatures. For the same four temperatures, the tunnel junction has been simulated for increasing insulator thicknesses. The exponential increase in resistance in both parallel and antiparallel magnetization states has been observed with an increase in the insulating layer thickness. The effect of increasing insulator thicknesses on the TMR ratios at all the four temperatures has also been presented in this paper. The demonstration of bias dependence of tunneling magnetoresistance presented in this paper aptly justifies the application of Co-MgO-Co MTJs in Magnetoresistive Random Access Memories.