cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Provision and Funding of Contraceptive Services At Publicly Funded Family Planning Agencies: 1995–2003

Publicly funded family planning agencies face significant challenges in delivering quality services to low-income women because of the higher costs of newer contraceptive methods changes in health care financing and a growing uninsured population. In 2003 627 of a nationally representative sample of 956 U.S. agencies receiving public funding for family planning services responded to an eight-page survey. Responses were compared with results from similar surveys in 1995 and 1999 to describe changes in the availability of contraceptive methods policies on method provision and funding issues. Variation was examined by agency type and Title X funding status. Between 1995 and 2003 the number of contraceptive methods available to women increased and agencies reduced barriers to oral and emergency contraceptives by liberalizing policies for their provision. By 2003 many agencies offered the newest contraceptive methods available--the progestin-only IUD (58%) the patch (76%) and the vaginal ring (39%). However more than half of agencies did not stock certain methods because of their cost and some key funding sources had declined. Between 1995 and 2003 the proportion of agencies receiving Medicaid funding fell from 91% to 80% and the proportion of clients paying full fee for their contraceptive services fell from 19% to 14%. The share of agencies waiving fees for adolescents fell from 66% in 1999 to 44% in 2003. Continued funding challenges limit the ability of publicly funded providers to offer all available methods to all women. (authors)
Hypoprothrombinemia (factor II deficiency): report of a case and review of literature.

Abstract Hypoprothrombinemia is a rare deficiency in the coagulation protein cascade. Only 10 cases of this inherited coagulation disorder have been reported in the literature. This report documents the management of a 45-year-old Hispanic man with known hypoprothrombinemia who presented to our service for multiple surgical odontectomies.
The in-vitro acid-growth response: Relation to in-vivo growth responses and auxin action.

We have examined in detail the characteristics of the hydrogen-ion extension response in frozen-thawed Avena coleoptile sections (in-vitro acid-growth response). These data allow us to compare the in vitro response with the in-vivo extension responses initiated by auxin and hydrogen ions. The in-vitro response has three characteristics in common with the in-vivo responses: a similar Q10 (3–4 between 15 and 25°C, but almost 1 between 25 and 35°); a minimum yield stress; and a lack of stored growth (i.e., an inability to induce a potential for growth during periods of reduced wall tension). Both the in-vivo and in-vitro acid-growth responses have a threshold pH of about 4.5 and give an optimum response at pH values of 3 and below. These similarities suggest that the in-vitro and in-vivo acid-growth responses have a common wall-loosening and wall-extension mechanism. We have also examined the effects of Pronase, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), elevated temperatures, calcium, and potassium ions on the in-vitro acid-growth response. We suggest that hydrogen ions do not activate wall-associated enzymes, but act to hydrolyze non-enzymatically some acid-labile linkages in the cell wall. Furthermore, we suggest that auxin induces cell elongation either by causing the release of hydrogen ions from the protoplast or by causing the appearance in the wall of an enzyme which can hydrolyse the acid-labile linkages.
Racial Differences in Civic Participation and Charitable Giving: The Confounding Effects of Educational Attainment and Unmeasured Ability

In this paper we use human capital theory to follow the links from educational attainment to civic engagement, and to other pro-social behaviors such as charitable giving and volunteering, and in so doing we offer a cautionary explanation for observed racial differences in civic participation, giving, and volunteering. Our argument is that when, in a racialized society such as the U.S., the costs and benefits of education differ by race, and when innate ability is an unmeasured source of heterogeneity across individuals, controlling for educational attainment and not for ability will create spurious race effects in empirical studies of behaviors that depend on both education and ability. Because (1) blacks at any level of educational attainment are predicted to be of higher average ability than equally educated whites and (2) higher ability is associated with higher levels of civic participation, a regression of civic participation on educational attainment and race will produce a positive coefficient on the dummy variable that takes on a value of one if the subject is African American. Using data from the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey, we find strong support for the interpretation of race effects as spurious artifacts of having included data on educational attainment without measures of innate ability.
Evidence for Freeze Tolerance in the Eastern Fence Lizard (Sceloporus undulatus)

Abstract Freeze tolerance is the ability of an organism to survive from water in portions of its body freezing due to molecular, biochemical, physiological, or a combination of these adaptations. Within squamates, freeze tolerance is documented or suspected, based on observations of freezing survival in only five species. I report an observation of survival of short-term freezing in the eastern fence lizard, Sceloporus undulatus.
Modal solutions for the dynamic plastic deformation of a beam

Abstract A closed-form solution is derived for the dynamic response of a simply supported rigid-plastic beam subject to a spatially varying time-dependent loading. Two methods are presented for obtaining basic mode approximations that predict exactly the velocity and displacement histories at the beam midpoint.
Urban containment and central-city revitalization

Abstract Planners throughout the 20th century have advocated containment of urban sprawl through a variety of means. Urban containment is incorporated into the growth management programs of several states, and growth management policies exist in at least 95 metropolitan areas. One objective of containment is to concentrate development within areas that are already urbanized, particularly in central cities. In this article, we examine the effects of the first round of urban containment programs (adopted prior to 1985) on the amount of development activity taking place in central cities and on the ratio of central-city to metropolitan-area development activity. Our findings indicate that central cities in contained metropolitan areas are attracting more development activity than cenral cities in uncontained areas. However, suburban areas in both contained and uncontained metropolitan areas continue to grow. We surmise that containment shifts development from exurban and rural areas to suburban and urban one...
Alcohol Biomarkers in Patients Admitted for Trauma

Background: To assess the value of blood alcohol levels (BAL) and carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT) in trauma patients.
In situ DRIFTS-MS studies on the oxidation of adsorbed NH3 by NOx over a Cu-SSZ-13 zeolite

DRIFT spectroscopy combined with mass spectrometry was used to investigate the oxidation of adsorbed ammonia by NO2, NO+O2 and NO2+O2 on a copper ion exchanged SSZ 13 (Cu-SSZ-13) zeolite. Compared with both NO2 and NO, the adsorption of ammonia is much stronger on the Cu-SSZ-13 zeolite. Two adsorbed ammonia species were found over the Cu-SSZ-13 zeolite studied here; notably ammonia on Bronsted acid sites (proton) and ammonia on Lewis acid sites (copper ions). These adsorbed ammonia species present different activity profiles and selectivity to N2 during NH3 oxidation. The results obtained suggest that ammonia adsorbed onto copper ions in Cu-SSZ-13 are more active at low temperatures than proton-adsorbed NH3, and give rise to a higher selectivity to N2. The formation of N2O is associated primarily with the reaction of NOx with proton-adsorbed NH3 via the formation and subsequent thermal decomposition of NH4NO3. Financial support was provided by the US Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Vehicle Technologies Program. Portions of this work were performed in the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). The EMSL is a national scientific user facility supported by the US DOE, Office of Biological and Environmentalmore » Research. PNNL is a multi-program national laboratory operated for the US DOE by Battelle.« less
Mutual Antagonism between the Ebola Virus VP35 Protein and the RIG-I Activator PACT Determines Infection Outcome

The cytoplasmic pattern recognition receptor RIG-I is activated by viral RNA and induces type I IFN responses to control viral replication. The cellular dsRNA binding protein PACT can also activate RIG-I. To counteract innate antiviral responses, some viruses, including Ebola virus (EBOV), encode proteins that antagonize RIG-I signaling. Here, we show that EBOV VP35 inhibits PACT-induced RIG-I ATPase activity in a dose-dependent manner. The interaction of PACT with RIG-I is disrupted by wild-type VP35, but not by VP35 mutants that are unable to bind PACT. In addition, PACT-VP35 interaction impairs the association between VP35 and the viral polymerase, thereby diminishing viral RNA synthesis and modulating EBOV replication. PACT-deficient cells are defective in IFN induction and are insensitive to VP35 function. These data support a model in which the VP35-PACT interaction is mutually antagonistic and plays a fundamental role in determining the outcome of EBOV infection.
Eye movement desensitization: A new treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder

The use of saccadic eye movements for treating post-traumatic stress disorder is described. The procedure involves eliciting from clients sequences of large-magnitude, rhythmic saccadic eye movements while holding in mind the most salient aspect of a traumatic memory. This results in (1) a lasting reduction of anxiety, (2) changes in the cognitive assessment of the memory, and (3) cessation of flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, and sleep disturbances. The procedure can be extremely effective in only one session, as indicated by a previous controlled study and a case history presented here. It does not require a hierarchical approach, as in desensitization, or the elicitation of disturbingly high levels of anxiety over a prolonged period of time, as in flooding. Some speculations are offered concerning the basis for the effectiveness of the procedure.
Obesity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Marker of Less Severe Disease

Both obesity and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are highly prevalent in Western societies. IBD, including Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), has been historically associated with cachexia and malnutrition. It is uncertain how obesity, a chronic pro-inflammatory state, may impact the course of IBD. The aim of this study was to report the prevalence of obesity in patients with IBD in a metropolitan US population and to assess the impact of obesity on disease phenotypes, treatment, and surgical outcomes in IBD patients. We reviewed the medical records of patients identified from the IBD registries of the Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Parkland Health and Hospital Systems who were seen from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2012. Of 581 identified IBD patients, 32.7 % were obese (BMI ≥ 30) and 67.6 % were non-obese (BMI < 30). There were 297 (51.1 %) patients with CD and 284 (48.9 %) patients with UC. The rate of obesity was 30.3 % among CD patients and 35.2 % among UC patients. Overall, obese patients were significantly less likely to receive anti-TNF treatment, undergo surgery, or experience a hospitalization for their IBD than their non-obese counterparts (55.8 vs. 72.1 %, p = .0001). Obesity is highly prevalent in our IBD patients, paralleling the obesity rates in the US population. Clinical outcomes were significantly different in obese versus non-obese patients with IBD. Despite the plausible mechanisms whereby obesity might exacerbate IBD, we have found that obesity (as defined by BMI) is a marker of a less severe disease course in IBD.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic resection of pulmonary metastases

Pulmonary lesions in patients with malignancy often require resection to provide prognostic information and to dictate further therapy. Metastasectomy may also favorably influence survival in select patients with favorable tumor histologies. Seventy-two patients with a history of malignancy and new lung lesions identified by high resolution computed tomography underwent thoracoscopic resection. The operative approach was with standard techniques using two or three trocar sites. Preoperative needle localization was used in 13 patients with small lesions that were not immediately subpleural. All target lesions were identified at thoracoscopy. Exploratory thoracoscopy was followed by parenchymal sparing wedge resection with the endoscopic stapler, the neodymium:yttrium-aluminum garnet laser, or both. Histologic analysis revealed metastatic disease in 63 patients and benign disease in 9 patients. The mean diameter of the lesions was 1.6 cm. The mean duration of chest tube drainage and postoperative hospital stay were 2.1 and 4.1 days, respectively. Thoracoscopic resection appears to be a valid approach for diagnostic resection of presumed metastases. The role of thoracoscopy in therapeutic metastasectomy remains to be defined.
Abuse-related and abuse-limiting effects of methcathinone and the synthetic “bath salts” cathinone analogs methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), methylone and mephedrone on intracranial self-stimulation in rats

Rationale Abuse of synthetic cathinones, popularized as “bath salts,” has increased dramatically in the USA since their debut in 2010. Preclinical behavioral studies may clarify determinants of the abuse-related effects produced by these compounds.
Agricultural research and extension services in China

Abstract China's agricultural extension service has been merged with the research system to assure that research focuses on practical problems and that extension programmes are informed by scientific research. A complex network of research and experimentation stations has been established, with sophisticated research centres at the national and provincial level, coordination at commune and county level, and research groups at team and brigade level. This research and extension system has developed distinctive techniques for improving productivity, including fast-maturing grains suitable for multiple-cropping systems, advanced methods of tissue culture, and methods of utilizing biological processes for plant protection.
Decomposition method for solving integrated problem of cyclic scheduling and PI controller design

We propose a novel integration method to solve the scheduling problem and the closed-loop PI control problem simultaneously. The integrated problem is formulated as a mixed-integer dynamic optimization (MIDO) problem. Solution of the MIDO problem is challenging, especially in a short time period required for online implementation. We develop a fast computational strategy to solve the integrated problem, ensuring its online applications. First, we decompose all dynamic models from the integrated problem by computing the optimal-value function of the transition cost dependent on the transition time. The optimal-value function is then discretized by optimizing a set of controller candidates offline. The optimal controller candidate generates the minimum transition cost for a given transition time. Finally, the integrated problem is transformed into a scheduling problem with controller selection. This is a mixed-integer fractional programming problem. We propose a global optimization method based on the Dinkelbach's algorithm to solve the resulting large-scale problem efficiently. The advantage of the proposed method is demonstrated by a mehyl methacrylate polymer manufacturing process.
A 150-kW, 450-MHz Gyrocon RF Generator

The output-power and conversion efficiency of the Los Alamos gyrocon were increased by a factor of 150 in the past year. Major improvements in the phase- and amplitude-control system and in understanding the electron multipactor and surface-conditioning processes increased the output power. The highest measured efficiency on this gyrocon is 23%, which was obtained with several combinations of parameters. Both the output power and the efficiency are a factor of 3 below the design values, and several possibilities are being examined to remove the discrepancy between theory and experiment.
The membrane estrogen receptor ligand STX rapidly enhances GABAergic signaling in NPY/AgRP neurons: role in mediating the anorexigenic effects of 17β-estradiol.

Besides its quintessential role in reproduction, 17β-estradiol (E2) is a potent anorexigenic hormone. E2 and the selective Gq-coupled membrane estrogen receptor (Gq-mER) ligand STX rapidly increase...
The Fifth Column---Two Essays on Model Motivation: With This Sign, Optimize & The Shekels of Silver Solution

Some time ago in a far city there was a manufacturing firm that was in a most happy state. Demand for their product far outstripped the ability to supply it. Their quality was so high that customers did accept the long lead times, rather than go to a vendor of less excellence. The profit margin on the products was comfortable, and soon the company found itself forced, happily, to go to a three-shift operation. However, it was not long before it was noticed that the part of the firm that did the final assembly and finishing was posting service rates to customers that were poor indeed. In fact, only with the greatest effort could the service rate of on-time deliveries reach 37%. What made this doubly strange was that the part of the firm that did the initial foundry work on the product was posting rates of 99.995% of desired tonnage. There was little question in the minds of management that the finishing and assembly shop needed looking into.
Climate‐strategic agriculture and the water‐soil‐waste nexus

Adoption of input-responsive varieties enhanced food production during the second half of the 20th century. However, even bigger challenges lie ahead because of the growing societal demands. For example, the global population of 7.2 billion in 2013 is projected to reach 9.2 billion by 2050 and stabilize at 10 billion by 2100. The growing and increasingly affluent population, with preference towards more and more meat-based diet, is likely to jeopardize the finite, fragile, and dwindling soil and water resources which are already under great stress in densely populated countries in Asia and elsewhere. Economic growth and increase in gross domestic product also lead to generation of waste or by-products, along with contamination and eutrophication of water resources. International trade in food/feed products also involves transfer of virtual water, which is a serious issue when water-scarce countries export virtual water to water-endowed countries. The problem is confounded by the present and future climate change driven by the growing energy demands of the carbon civilization. Thus, adaptation to climate change represents both a threat and an opportunity for sustainable development. Adaptive strategies must be sustainable socially and environmentally and advance the Millennium Development Goals, while buffering agroecosystems against extreme climate events (e.g., pedologic, agronomic, and ecologic drought). Thus, recognizing and addressing the water-soil-waste nexus is important to achieving climate-strategic agriculture. Sustainable intensification of agroecosystems, producing more per unit consumption of essential resources, must consider judicious management of hydrological and biogeochemical cycles (C, N, P, S). The soil C pool must be managed and enhanced to offset anthropogenic emissions, and mitigate/adapt to the climate change. The pace of adoption of recommended land use and soil-/plant-/animal-management practices can be kept at par with advances in scientific knowledge through continuous dialogue between scientists on the one hand and policy makers / land managers on the other to translate research data into policy and action plans.
Growth of Woolgrass in Acid Mine Drainage

Acid mine drainage (AMD) has impacted more than 3200 km (2000 miles) of streams in West Virginia. Constructed wetlands have been used for passive AMD treatment since the early 1980s, and plant growth studies in constructed wetlands are scarce. Two populations of woolgrass [Scirpus cyperinus (L.) Kunth], a bulrush species common in naturally present AMD wetlands, were investigated to determine population level differences in aboveground and belowground growth response to AMD. Differences at the level of population were found in aboveground parameters. One population had significantly greater aboveground growth than the other population during portions of the growing season when growing in AMD, suggesting greater ability to grow in AMD wetlands. Differences at the level of population were also found for root growth; however, the root growth response to AMD was not different between populations. Treatment with AMD slightly increased aboveground growth but reduced belowground growth. This suggests a potential for differential allocation to different growth components under AMD treatment. These results suggest there is a potential for selecting genotypes of woolgrass for increased performance in the presence of AMD.
Probing the subcellular localization of hopanoid lipids in bacteria using NanoSIMS.

The organization of lipids within biological membranes is poorly understood. Some studies have suggested lipids group into microdomains within cells, but the evidence remains controversial due to non-native imaging techniques. A recently developed NanoSIMS technique indicated that sphingolipids group into microdomains within membranes of human fibroblast cells. We extended this NanoSIMS approach to study the localization of hopanoid lipids in bacterial cells by developing a stable isotope labeling method to directly detect subcellular localization of specific lipids in bacteria with ca. 60 nm resolution. Because of the relatively small size of bacterial cells and the relative abundance of hopanoid lipids in membranes, we employed a primary 2H-label to maximize our limit of detection. This approach permitted the analysis of multiple stable isotope labels within the same sample, enabling visualization of subcellular lipid microdomains within different cell types using a secondary label to mark the growing end of the cell. Using this technique, we demonstrate subcellular localization of hopanoid lipids within alpha-proteobacterial and cyanobacterial cells. Further, we provide evidence of hopanoid lipid domains in between cells of the filamentous cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme. More broadly, our method provides a means to image lipid microdomains in a wide range of cell types and test hypotheses for their functions in membranes.
VITAMIN A IN THE VISION OF INSECTS.

Acetone-methanol extracts of honeybees (Apis mellifera) were chromatographed from petroleum ether on columns of aluminum oxide and magnesium oxide:celite. Vitamin A1 was identified by the Carr-Price (antimony chloride) reaction. These experiments provide the first demonstration of vitamin A in the tissues of an insect. Like retinene, vitamin A is confined to the heads and is not found in either thoraces or abdomens. Dark-adapted bees have very little vitamin A. During light adaptation the vitamin A increases, but at the expense of retinene, which decreases. As much as 0.1 µg of vitamin A/gm of heads has been recovered from light-adapted bees. Two methods are described for demonstrating the enzymic reduction of retinene to vitamin A, using an extract of the heads of honeybees.
A technique for detecting burn scars using MODIS data

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments onboard the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Terra and Aqua spacecrafts have several visible and near-infrared (NIR) channels with resolutions of 250, 500, and 1 km for remote sensing of land surfaces and atmosphere. The MODIS data directly broadcasted to ground receiving stations can have many practical applications, including the rapid assessment of fires and burned areas. In this paper, we describe an empirical technique for remote sensing of burn scars using a single dataset of MODIS NIR channels centered near 1.24 and 2.13 /spl mu/m. These channels are sensitive to changes in the surface properties induced by the fire and are not obscured by smoke. Therefore, they allow remote sensing of burn scars in the presence of smoke. Detection of burn scars from single MODIS images, without the need of data from previous days, is very useful for near real-time burn scar recognition in operational direct broadcasting systems. The technique is applied to MODIS data acquired over the western U.S. during the summer fire season, the southeastern part of Canada during the summer and spring seasons, and the southeastern part of Australia. The burnt areas estimated from MODIS data are consistent with those estimated from the high spatial resolution Landsat 7 imaging data.
On the Choice of Manufacturer's Distribution Channel Strategy Based on Game Theory

With the rapid development of E-commerce and network, many manufacturers redesign their distrution channel through adding E-market based on traditional channel. This paper develops the aggregate demand function under dual channel based on consumer utility theory, analyzes the pricing strategy and profit under different channel by using game theory, the result shows when the purchase cost from online is low, manufacturer's optimal channel strategy is dual channnel; when the cost is high, the optimal channel strategy is traditional single channel. Finally the conclusion is approved through numerical illustration.
Constraints on a Universal Stellar Initial Mass Function from Ultraviolet to Near-Infrared Galaxy Luminosity Densities

We obtain constraints on the slope of a universal stellar initial mass function (IMF) over a range of model cosmic star formation histories (SFHs) using z ≈ 0.1 luminosity densities in the range from 0.2 to 2.2 μm. The age-IMF degeneracy of the integrated spectra of stellar populations can be broken for the universe as a whole by using direct measurements of (relative) cosmic SFH from high-redshift observations. These have only marginal dependence on uncertainties in the IMF, whereas fitting to local luminosity densities depends strongly on both cosmic SFH and the IMF. We fit to these measurements using population synthesis and find the best-fit IMF power-law slope to be Γ = 1.15 ± 0.2 (assuming dN/d log m ∝ m-Γ for 0.5-120 M☉ and m-0.5 for 0.1-0.5 M☉). This M > 0.5 M☉ slope is in good agreement with the Salpeter IMF slope (Γ = 1.35). A strong upper limit of Γ < 1.7 is obtained, which effectively rules out the Scalo IMF because its fraction of high-mass stars is too low. This upper limit is at the 99.7% confidence level if we assume a closed-box chemical evolution scenario and 95% if we assume constant solar metallicity. Fitting to the Hα line luminosity density, we obtain a best-fit IMF slope in good agreement with that derived from broadband measurements. Marginalizing over cosmic SFH and IMF slope, we obtain (95% confidence ranges) Ωstars = × 10-3 h-1 for the stellar mass density, ρSFR = × 10-2 h M☉ yr-1 Mpc-3 for the star formation rate density, and ρL = × 1035 h W Mpc-3 for the bolometric, attenuated, stellar luminosity density (0.09-5 μm). Comparing this total stellar emission with an estimate of the total dust emission implies a relatively modest average attenuation in the UV (1 mag at 0.2 μm).
Encapsulation of sensors, solenoids and transformers with engineering thermoplastics

Driven by soaring demand for encapsulated solenoids, particularly for automotive applications, and the environmental need to eliminate potting in the manufacture of some transformers, engineering thermoplastics are moving rapidly into a wide range of encapsulation applications. Small, high volume coils and components are being encapsulated with polyamide (PA) nylon 66, PA 612 nylon, and polyethylene terepthalate (PET) and polybutylene terephthalate (PET) polyesters. New high temperature nylons (HTNs) are being used in encapsulating higher performance coils, and encapsulation with liquid crystal polymers (LCPs) is being developed. Thermoplastic compression molded sheet is finding use in the encapsulation of distribution transformers in the 3 to >100 kilovolt-ampere (kVA) range.
Conservation of electromagnetic momentum and radiation forces exerted on left-handed material interfaces

It is shown that the boundary conditions at left-handed material interfaces cause reversal in the propagation direction of the parallel-to-the-surface electromagnetic energy and momentum fluxes. First-principle examination excludes the possibility of induced surface wave excitation as a way of providing radiation momentum conservation. Thus the imparted net change in electromagnetic momentum should cause a recoil force parallel to the surface, which is unique to left-handed interfaces. The shear force exerted on a left-handed material interface is computed. The magnitude of this force is found detectable by experiments.
A Compact Ridge-Waveguide Contiguous-Channel Frequency Multiplexer

The experimental 4-6.25-GHz contiguous-channel frequency multiplexer being presented comprises three equal-bandwidth four-pole ridge-waveguide channel filters that are series-connected through a quasi-low-pass ridge-waveguide manifold. To minimize insertion loss, the multiplexer's port impedance-matching networks are also realized in ridge-waveguide, limiting the use of strip-type transmission line segments to short uniform-width microstrip feeder lines for linking to the multiplexer's external coaxial ports. The three channel filters are stacked with their waveguide broadsides adjacent to each other, separated only by the thicknesses of the filters' walls to achieve maximum compactness. Quasi-lumped waveguide elements are employed to properly couple the filters to the manifold. The multiplexer design methodology relies on the use of commercial general-purpose software, and on equivalent-circuit models of waveguide multiplexer subcomponents derived therewith. The observed good agreement between measured and predicted multiplexer response characteristics helps to validate the approach.
Abrupt turnover in calcareous-nannoplankton assemblages across the Paleocene/Eocene Thermal Maximum: implications for surface-water oligotrophy over the Kerguelen Plateau, Southern Indian Ocean

Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Core Section 183-1135A-25R-4 from the Kerguelen Plateau in the Indian Ocean sector of the Southern Ocean represents only the second complete, expanded sequence through the Paleocene/Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM; ~55 Ma) recovered from Antarctic waters. Calcareous nannoplankton at this site underwent an abrupt, fundamental turnover across the PETM as defined by a carbon isotope excursion. Although Chiasmolithus, Discoaster, and Fasciculithus exponentially increase in abundance at the onset, the former abruptly drops but then rapidly recovers, whereas the latter two taxa show opposite trends due to surface-water oligotrophy. These observations confirm previous results from ODP Site 690 on Maud Rise. The elevated pCO2 that accompanied the PETM caused a shoaling of the lysocline and carbonate compensation depth, leading to intensive dissolution of susceptible holococcoliths and poor preservation of the assemblages. Similarities and contrasts between the results of this study and previous work from open-ocean sites and shelf margins further demonstrate that the response to the PETM was consistent in open-ocean environments, but could be localized on continental shelves where nutrient regimes depend on the local geologic setting and oceanographic conditions.
Construction of an in vitro bistable circuit from synthetic transcriptional switches

Information processing using biochemical circuits is essential for survival and reproduction of natural organisms. As stripped-down analogs of genetic regulatory networks in cells, we engineered artificial transcriptional networks consisting of synthetic DNA switches, regulated by RNA signals acting as transcription repressors, and two enzymes, bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase and Escherichia coli ribonuclease H. The synthetic switch design is modular with programmable connectivity and allows dynamic control of RNA signals through enzyme-mediated production and degradation. The switches support sharp and adjustable thresholds using a competitive hybridization mechanism, allowing arbitrary analog or digital circuits to be created in principle. As an example, we constructed an in vitro bistable memory by wiring together two synthetic switches and performed a systematic quantitative characterization. Good agreement between experimental data and a simple mathematical model was obtained for switch input/output functions, phase plane trajectories, and the bifurcation diagram for bistability. Construction of larger synthetic circuits provides a unique opportunity for evaluating model inference, prediction, and design of complex biochemical systems and could be used to control nanoscale devices and artificial cells.
Parallelization methods for circuit partitioning based parallel automatic test pattern generation

Generation of test vectors for the VLSI devices used in contemporary digital systems is becoming much more difficult as these devices increase in size. Automatic Test Pattern Generation (ATPG) techniques are commonly used to generate these tests. Parallel processing techniques can be applied to accelerate the process of finding test patterns. One problem with this approach is that most currently available distributed memory multicomputers have a limited amount of memory on each processor which limits the size of the circuit database that can be contained on a single node. Topological partitioning of the circuit database across several processors can increase the size of VLSI circuits that can be processed on a given parallel machine. This paper presents the architecture of a topologically partitioned ATPG system and several partitioning algorithms that can be used to partition the circuit-under-test. This paper also presents several parallelization methods that may be applied to topologically partitioned ATPG on a distributed memory multicomputer. Results of using these parallelization techniques along with topological partitioning are presented. >
Differences in drug delivery with peripheral and central venous injections: Normal perfusion

The differences between central venous (CV) and peripheral venous (PV) injections with respect to drug delivery times and peak concentrations in the left ventricle are examined. In this drug-delivery model, anesthetized dogs (n = 7) received both PV and CV injections of a radionuclide tracer. Measurements of radioactivity levels were made over each ventricle during normal perfusion. There was no statistically significant difference in left ventricular delivery times or peak radioactivity levels between the two different routes. When delivery time was corrected for variations in flow rate, a small but statistically significant difference was seen, the CV route being faster than the PV route (P less than 0.05). The magnitude of the observed difference for normal perfusion (2 seconds) is unlikely to be of clinical significance.
Prehospital Agitation and Sedation Trial (PhAST): a randomized control trial of intramuscular haloperidol versus intramuscular midazolam for the sedation of the agitated or violent patient in the prehospital environment

Introduction Violent patients in the prehospital environment pose a threat to health care workers tasked with managing their medical conditions. While research has focused on methods to control the agitated patient in the emergency department (ED), there is a paucity of data looking at the optimal approach to subdue these patients safely in the prehospital setting. Hypothesis This study evaluated the efficacy of two different intramuscular medications, midazolam and haloperidol, to determine their efficacy in sedating agitated patients in the prehospital setting. METHODS: This was a prospective, randomized, observational trial wherein agitated patients were administered intramuscular haloperidol or intramuscular midazolam to control agitation. Agitation was quantified by the Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS). Paramedics recorded the RASS and vital signs every five minutes during transport and again upon arrival to the ED. The primary outcome was mean time to achieve a RASS less than +1. Secondary outcomes included mean time for patients to return to baseline mental status and adverse events. RESULTS: Five patients were enrolled in each study group. In the haloperidol group, the mean time to achieve a RASS score of less than +1 was 24.8 minutes (95% CI, 8-49 minutes), and the mean time for the return of a normal mental status was 84 minutes (95% CI, 0-202 minutes). Two patients required additional prehospital doses for adequate sedation. There were no adverse events recorded in the patients administered haloperidol. In the midazolam group, the mean time to achieve a RASS score of less than +1 was 13.5 minutes (95% CI, 8-19 minutes) and the mean time for the return of normal mental status was 105 minutes (95% CI, 0-178 minutes). One patient required additional sedation in the ED. There were no adverse events recorded among the patients administered midazolam. CONCLUSIONS: Midazolam and haloperidol administered intramuscularly appear equally effective for sedating an agitated patient in the prehospital setting. Midazolam appears to have a faster onset of action, as evidenced by the shorter time required to achieve a RASS score of less than +1 in the patients who received midazolam. Haloperidol offers an alternative option for the sedation of an agitated patient. Further studies should focus on continued investigation into appropriate sedation of agitated patients in the prehospital setting. Isenberg DL , Jacobs D. Prehospital agitation and sedation trial (PhAST): a randomized control trial of intramuscular haloperidol versus intramuscular midazolam for the sedation of the agitated or violent patient in the prehospital environment. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2015;30(5):1-5. Language: en
Some existence results for fully nonlinear elliptic equations of monge‐ampère type

We study the existence and uniqueness of solutions of Monge-Ampere-type equations. This type of equations has been studied extensively by Caffarelli, Nirenberg, Spruck and many others. (See [5] through [8] and the references therein.) We present some existence and uniqueness results for this type of equations on compact Riemannian manifolds with non-negative sectional curvature. We have also generalized some results in [7].
Characterization of coupling constants to nitrogen. Carbon‐13 chemical shifts and carbon–nitrogen coupling constants of substituted benzaldoximes

Carbon-13 chemical shifts and 13C−15N coupling constants of substituted benzaldoximes and of two non-aromatic oximes have been determined. The coupling constants display little variation as a function of the nature or position of substitution, which suggests that perturbations in the π electron distribution have little effect. The values are compared with the markedly different ones reported for mesitaldoxime, and, in conjunction with the observed solvent effects, are discussed within the Schulman-Venanzi framework for assessing the role of the lone-pair.
Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect: Does Social Capital Really Matter?

Objective To explore whether social capital and social support moderate the relationship between child maltreatment and emotional and behavioral outcomes such as depression-anxiety and aggression in 6-year-old children. Design Data from Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect were used. Data were collected through interviews and questionnaires at the child's birth and at the age of 6 years. Setting General community. Participants Two hundred fifteen maternal caregivers of children at high risk for child abuse and neglect were included in this study. Main Outcome Measures Depression-anxiety and aggression were measured through the Child Behavior Checklist. Results Among 5 potential effect modifiers (3 social capital constructs and 2 measures of social support), only 1 (instrumental support) significantly modified the relationship between maltreatment and child aggression. Conclusions Social capital did not modify the relationship between child maltreatment and either aggression or depression-anxiety. This might be related to the fact that many previous studies looked at social capital ecologically, whereas this study uses individuals as the unit of analysis. The results of this study might also indicate that previous studies of social capital and health outcomes might actually be using social capital as a proxy for social support.
Increased prevalence of infectious endocarditis in patients with type II diabetes mellitus

Abstract Background Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are at increased risk of infection. However, there are controversial reports about DM association with infectious endocarditis (IE). We evaluated the occurrence of IE in DM patients compared to a matched control. Method Treatment files of inpatients' admission that contained discharge diagnosis (ICD-9 codes) from Veterans Health Administration hospitals were used for this study. ICD-9 codes for DM ( n =293,124) and a control group with ICD-9 codes for hypertension without DM ( n =552,623) were utilized for comparison. The prevalence of IE was studied using ICD-9 codes for IE. Multivariate analysis was performed adjusting for chronic and acute renal failure and aortic and mitral valve disease. Continuous variables were analyzed by unpaired t tests. Binary variables were analyzed using the chi-square test and Fisher's Exact Tests. Results IE was present in 1340 (0.5%) DM patients versus 1412 (0.3%) patients from the control group (relative increase of 40%). Using multivariate analysis adjusting for renal failure and valvular abnormalities, DM remained independently associated with IE (odds ratio=1.9; 95% confidence interval=1.8–2.1; P Conclusion Patients with type II DM have significantly higher prevalence of IE independent of renal failure or valvular abnormalities consistent with increased vulnerability of DM patients for infections.
Polarization locking of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers using amorphous Si subwavelength transmission gratings

Summary form only given. The output light of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) can exist in two linearly polarized modes. Under normal operation, one of the modes will dominate over the other and, depending on the injection current, switching between the two modes can occur. Efforts have been made to control the polarization by use of anisotropic transverse cavity geometry, stress from an elliptical window, asymmetrical active layers, and metal gratings as the bottom reflector. In this paper we report the first demonstration of locking the polarization of VCSELs by putting a ultrathin amorphous silicon subwavelength transmission grating in front of the output window of a VCSEL.
Family Status of Low-Income Adolescent Mothers

In this investigation of young mothers'family status, the hypotheses were keyed to expect racial and age differences. The data used in this study come from a 1978 baseline survey of low-income adolescents who were eligible for the Youth Incentive Entitlement Pilot Program (YIEPP). Using this national stratified random sample, this analysis examined the family structure and support of 3,832 young women, age 15 to 19 years. Two main results emerged: First, the event of becoming a mother during her school years creates for a young woman an abrupt transition to adult status; second, the variation in the status transition and the family supports is influenced by both race and age. White mothers were significantly more likely than are Black young women to choose the pathway of early marriage, while Black mothers continue to receive family support.
Conception Practices of HIV-Infected Women in the Midwest

The aim of this interpretive study was to understand pregnancy intentions and conception practices of HIV-infected women. A purposive sample of 3 White and 12 African American women who were interested in becoming mothers was recruited from a hospital clinic and a private practice in the Midwest. Participants were interviewed three times at monthly intervals. Data were analyzed using interpretive methods. Three conception practices were identified: (a) a technical method using self-insemination, (b) a minimize-risk approach based on use of highly active antiretroviral therapy, and (c) a default approach in which no plan for conception was evident. Although all of the women reported that they had talked with their health care providers about conception, most did not have adequate information to make an informed choice. Nurses play a critical role in shaping conception decisions by providing accurate, understandable information about conception practices specific to a woman's social realities and cultural values.
Attitudes about Sanctioning Elder Abuse Offenders among Police Chiefs, Nursing Home Employees, and Students

Since the early 1970s, demographers and other social scientists have predicted an increase in the number of elderly people living in America. What has not increased to the same magnitude, however, is our understanding of the criminal victimization of elderly persons or our understanding how to respond to offenders who abuse elderly persons. Of concern in this research was the way that four groups perceive the sanctioning of offenses committed against elderly persons: police chiefs, nursing home administrators, nursing home staff, and students enrolled in sociology and criminal justice courses. By conceptualizing the perceptions of abuse among these four groups, steps can be taken toward either preventing or responding to crimes against elderly persons.
Relationship Between Birth Spacing, Child Maltreatment, and Child Behavior and Development Outcomes Among At-Risk Families

Prior research indicates that closely spaced births are associated with poor outcomes for the mother and subsequent child. Limited research has focused on outcomes for the index child (the child born immediately prior to a subsequent child in a birth interval). The objectives are to assess the association of short birth intervals in at-risk families with: (1) indicators of harsh and neglectful parenting behaviors towards the index child, including substantiated maltreatment reports across 6 years; and (2) the index child’s behavior and development in first grade. This is a longitudinal study of 658 women screened to be at-risk for child maltreatment. Twenty percent of women had a rapid repeat birth (RRB), defined as the birth of a subsequent child within 24 months of the index child. Generalized estimating equations, survival analyses, and linear and logistic regression models were used to assess the associations between RRB and index child outcomes. Women with an RRB were more likely than those without an RRB to report neglectful parenting of the index child. Children of mothers with an RRB were more likely than children of mothers without an RRB to have more behavioral problems and lower cognitive functioning in first grade. This study is among the first to focus on the associations of birth spacing with maltreatment, behavior and development outcomes in the index child. Future work regarding the effects of birth spacing should include a focus on the index child.