cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonsurgical management of dynamic pneumatocele via endobronchial administration of fibrin sealant.

A 12-year-old male was admitted to the Medical Intensive Care Unit for respiratory failure requiring temporary tracheostomy secondary to an extensive necrotizing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia. Imaging revealed destructive bronchiectasis and multifocal lung abscesses, more advanced in the right lung. He was discharged home after 42-day hospital admission. 3.5 months after his discharge, he re-presented to the Emergency Department with a large right pneumothorax and a pneumatocele measuring 10.2 × 6.2 cm2 . He was admitted to the hospital and while his pneumothorax resolved in 2 days, the size of the pneumatocele was noted to fluctuate with different phases of respiration. A computed tomography scan of the chest demonstrated a fistula between the pneumatocele and right upper lobe bronchus. Following discussion between Pulmonary medicine and Interventional radiology, transbronchial closure of the air leak was planned. Intubation was done with a dual-lumen endotracheal tube. Bronchography was performed using a diagnostic catheter. A large air leak was noted from the anterior segment of the right upper lobe bronchus. Embolization of the fistula was performed using n-butyl cyanoacrylate (nBCA, glue) injected through a second catheter under fluoroscopic guidance. The residual pneumatocele slowly resolved over 2 months. Endobronchial embolization has been described in the literature as a treatment strategy for air leaks, largely in adult patients. Endobronchial embolization of large pneumatoceles and bronchopleural fistulas may offer an alternative treatment option with less morbidity than the classic surgical approach.
‘It infuriates me': examining young adults’ reactions to and recommendations to fight misinformation about COVID-19

Social media platforms that are full of misinformation and conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic can have an adverse impact on young adults. Young adults are going through critical change...
Preliminary Considerations on Proxy Consent in the Nontherapeutic Situation

In this chapter I will first consider different types of nontherapeutic research integrated into a broader framework of basic research taxonomy. Following this, four categories of research subjects particularly prone to abuse in nontherapeutic setting will be surveyed. These categories include: psychiatric and medically handicapped patients, prisoners, children and the unborn. Under the fourth category I will discuss the issues of embryonic stem cell research, genetic therapy as well as prenatal and pre-implantation screening. These considerations lay the groundwork for the next chapter, in which the debate on the justifiability of proxy consent in nontherapeutic research is presented.
ICMP Covert Channel Resiliency

The ICMP protocol has been widely used and accepted as a covert channel. While the ICMP protocol is very simple to use, modern security approaches such as Firewalls, deep-packet inspection and intrusion detection systems threaten the use of ICMP for a reliable means for a covert channel. This study explores the modern usefulness of ICMP with typical security measures in place. Existing ICMP covert channel solutions are examined for compliance with standard RFCs and resiliency with modern security approaches.
Accuracy of six anthropometric skinfold formulas versus air displacement plethysmography for estimating percent body fat in female adolescents with phenylketonuria.

Background: The reliability of studies investigating biological and therapeutic factors that influence body composition in PKU patients depends on accurate anthropometric measurements.
Rate Determination of the CO2* Chemiluminescence Reaction CO + O + M = CO2* + M

Electronically excited carbon dioxide (CO2*) is known for its broadband emission, and its detection can lead to valuable information; however, owing to its broadband characteristics, CO2* is difficult to isolate experimentally, and its chemical kinetics are not well known. Although numerous works have monitored CO2* chemiluminescence, a full kinetic scheme for the excited species has yet to be developed. To this end, a series of shock-tube experiments was performed in H2-N2O-CO mixtures highly diluted in argon at conditions where emission from CO2* could be isolated and monitored. These results were used to evaluate the kinetics of CO2*, in particular the main CO2* formation reaction CO + O + M CO2* + M (R1). Based on collision theory, the quenching chemistry of CO2* was estimated for 11 collision partners. The final mechanism developed for CO2* consists of 14 reactions and 13 species. The rate for (R1) was determined to within about ±60% using low-pressure experiments performed in five different (H2-)N2O-CO-Ar mixtures, as follows: where R is the universal gas constant in cal/mol-K and T is the temperature in K. Final mechanism predictions were compared with experiments at low and high pressures, with good agreement at both conditions for the temperature dependence of the peak CO2* and the CO2* species time histories. Comparisons were also made with previous experiments in methane–oxygen mixtures, where there was slight overprediction of CO2* experimental trends, but with the results otherwise showing a dramatic improvement over an earlier mechanism. Experimental results and model predictions were also compared with past literature rates for CO2*, with good agreement for peak CO2* trends and slight discrepancies in CO2* species time histories. Overall, the ability of the CO2* mechanism developed in this work to reproduce a range of experimental trends represents an important improvement over the existing knowledge base on chemiluminescence chemistry.
Xanthine phosphoribosyltransferase from Streptococcus faecalis. Properties and specificity.

Streptococcus faecalis (ATCC 8043) was shown to have a purine phosphoribosyltransferase specific for xanthine. This enzyme was separated from interfering activities by heat treatment, ammonium sulfate fractionation, hydroxylapatite chromatography, and affinity chromatography. The xanthine phosphoribosyltransfer activity of this preparation was stable between pH 5.6 and 10, had a pH optimum between pH 7.4 and 8.8, and had a particle weight of 42,000 as determined by G-100 Sephadex chromatography. An initial velocity analysis when plotted in double-reciprocal form resulted in a family of parallel lines which when extrapolated to infinite concentration gave Km values for xanthine and PP-ribose-P of 20 and 53 μm, respectively. Inhibition studies with 42 purine and purine analogs indicated that oxo groups at positions 2 and 6 of the purine ring were required for optimal binding. The substitution of thio for oxo reduced binding to the enzyme ca. 20-fold. In contrast to its rigid specificity with respect to the 2,6-dioxo substituents, the enzyme bound a variety of 4,5-condensed pyrimidine systems containing a nitrogen at the position corresponding to the N-7 of xanthine. At concentrations of 1 mm, hypoxanthine, adenine, and 4,6-dihydroxypyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine were converted to their corresponding ribonucleotides at rates approximately 0.1% of the rate for xanthine. Guanine was not detected as a substrate (rate <0.007% that of xanthine). The enzyme was inhibited by the ribonucleoside mono-, di-, and triphosphates of xanthine and guanine but not by those of adenine.
Grasping Land: Space and Place in Contemporary Israeli Discourse and Experience

Grasping Land: Space and Place in Contemporary Israeli Discourse and Experience. Eyal Ben-Ari and Yoram Bilu. eds. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1997.246 pp.
Vitamin D in health and disease.

Background/purpose: Investigations have revealed that vitamin D plays an important role in many areas of health and disease. Questions over whether sun avoidance and sunscreen use will decrease vitamin D levels may concern clinicians when counseling patients at risk for vitamin D insufficiency. A review of the role of vitamin D in health and disease, the impact of photoprotection and skin type on vitamin D levels, and recommendations for adequate vitamin D intake is provided to aid clinicians in counseling patients regarding these issues. Results: Review of the literature indicates that adequate vitamin D intake is associated with decreased risk of falls and bone fractures in the elderly, breast and gastrointestinal cancer risk, cardiovascular disease, and possibly all cause mortality, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. While skin type does affect vitamin D levels, regular use of sunscreen is not associated with vitamin D insufficiency. Conclusions: Adequate intake of vitamin D is important for maintenance of good health, and may be achieved through diet and oral supplementation. Intentional or prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light should not be used as a means of obtaining vitamin D.
Non-interactive oblivious transfer and applications

We show how to implement oblivious transfer without interaction, through the medium of a public file. As an application we can get non-interactive zero knowledge proofs via the same public file.
An examination of within-session responding following access to reinforcing stimuli

Previous research has shown tangibly maintained challenging behavior can be temporarily decreased by providing presession access to the relevant tangible. However, the duration of this beneficial effect is unknown. We measured the subsequent duration of behavior reduction effects following presession access during extended classroom observation sessions by analyzing within-session patterns of responding in three children with autism. An alternating treatments design was used to analyze within- and across-session responding following presession access and presession restriction conditions. The cumulative frequency of challenging behavior was higher following the presession restriction condition for all participants and lower following presession access. Within-session analysis revealed the same basic pattern of responding across participants. Specifically, the first half of the sessions contained very little, if any, challenging behavior; however, after 60 min, the rate of challenging behavior began to increase rapidly for two of the three participants. Results are discussed in terms of implications for practitioners, satiation, habituation, and behavioral contrast.
Test‐Retest Reliability of User Information Satisfaction: A Comment on Galletta and Lederer's Paper

Galletta and Lederer [10] concluded that the short-form measure of user information satisfaction (UIS) lacks sufficient test-retest reliability. We question the validity of this conclusion since the method used by the authors for assessing test-retest reliability is not grounded in classical reliability theory. Analysis of their data suggests that the UIS instrument has adequate test-retest reliability.
Tumor necrosis factor α: A major contributor to the hyperdynamic circulation in prehepatic portal-hypertensive rats

Abstract Background/Aims: Portal hypertension is often accompanied by a hyperdynamic circulatory syndrome. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α causes vasodilatation and a hyperdynamic state in mammals by activating nitric oxide synthesis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether TNF-α plays a role in developing the hyperdynamic syndrome in portal hypertension. Methods: Portal-hypertensive rats, induced by partial ligation of the portal vein (PVL), were used. In experiment 1, rats that underwent PVL were treated with polyclonal anti-mouse TNF-α or placebo intravenously the same day of the PVL operation and 24 hours before hemodynamic studies. Hemodynamic studies were performed 5 days after PVL. In experiment 2, rats that underwent PVL received anti-TNF-α or placebo intravenously 3 days and 24 hours before hemodynamics as in experiment 1. Hemodynamics were performed 14 days after the PVL operation. TNF-α blood levels were measured using a bioassay. Results: Anti-TNF-α treatment induced a significant increase in mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and systemic vascular resistance and a significant decrease in cardiac index, portal pressure, and TNF-α levels in comparison with placebo animals. No significant effects were observed in sham rats. Conclusions:Anti-TNF-α treatment in rats that underwent PVL significantly blunts the development of the hyperdynamic circulation and reduces portal pressure. TNF-α may play a role in the hemodynamic abnormalities of portal hypertension.
The challenges of pharmacotherapy of bipolar depression

Abstract Bipolar depression is disabling and its treatment represents a major challenge to clinicians. This article briefly reviews the major pharmacological treatment options. Use of mood stabilizers as the initial treatment for the type I form of bipolar depression is strongly recommended, particularly because preventive therapy with these agents almost certainly will be subsequently indicated. It is less clear if mood stabilizers are necessary for bipolar type II depression, aside from the rapid cycling presentation. Depressive episodes that do not respond to mood stabilizers, as well as episodes that ‘break-through’ despite prophylactic therapy, warrant treatment with antidepressants. Experts similarly value earlier use of antidepressants when depressive episodes are overwhelmingly severe or, in combination with neuroleptics, psychotic. Among antidepressants, bupropion and the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are considered by expert panels as coequal first choices, with venlafaxine and the monoamine oxidase inhibitor tranylcypromine preferred for more resistant cases. The risk of antidepressant-induced hypomania or mania with concomitant mood stabilizer therapy is low, on the order of 5–10% during acute phase therapy with a SSRI or bupropion. The optimal duration of successful antidepressant therapy has not been determined.
Fenestration devices for energy conservation—III. The influence of angle-dependent shading coefficients on energy savings

Abstract The results of measured, angle-dependent, solar-optical properties are presented for a window film and a sunscreen. These properties are used to determine shading coefficients as functions of the angle of incidence of the direct solar radiation. Energy savings for the cooling season (in the transition climatic region of San Diego County) have been estimated and are compared with results for constant values of the shading coefficients. Constant values of the shading coefficients, derived from solar-optical properties for normally incident direct solar radiation, lead to high estimates (errors of cents m 2 −yr ) of energy savings for window films and low estimates (errors of m 2 −yr ) for sunscreens.
Stroke: is spot sign the answer for intracerebral haemorrhage?

Intracerebral haemorrhage continues to carry a poor prognosis despite several recent therapeutic clinical trials. A study has demonstrated that CT angiography of the brain on admission can predict haematoma expansion and clinical outcome. This CT 'spot sign' could, therefore, help physicians to select patients who are likely to benefit from treatment.
High Performance Fibers Based on Rigid and Flexible Polymers

This chapter covers recent developments in the production of well established high performance fibers such as Kevlar, PBO, Spectra and Dyneema fibers and depicts a new super strong M5. The latter fibers have the modulus of 330GPa and tenacity of 5GPa. DuPont de Nemours is currently developing commercial M5 fibers and yarns. A very interesting monomer namely, 2,5‐dihydroxyterephthalic is used for making poly{2,6‐diimidazo[4,5‐b:4′,5′‐e]pyridinylene‐1,4‐(2,5‐dihydroxy)phenylene} (PIPD). The unique feature of the polymer is that the two hydroxyl groups (on terephthalic acid) can form intermolecular hydrogen bonds and therefore fibrillation, that is often a problem for aramid fibers, is practically eliminated. As a result, M5 fibers have the highest compressive strength among synthetic fibers. Exploratory evaluation of the UV stability of M5 indicated excellent performance in that field. The mechanical properties of the new fiber make it competitive with carbon fiber in most applications ‐ in light, slender, ...
Optimal signal-to-noise ratio for linear arrays by the Schwartz inequality

Abstract A procedure has been developed which determines the excitation parameters of a linear array of isotropic sources such that the signal-to-noise ratio is maximized. The signal is considered to be a point source and the noise has a known distribution in space.
Cramer Rao bound on target localization estimation in MIMO radar systems

This paper presents an analysis of target localization accuracy, attainable by the use of MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) radar systems, configured with multiple transmit and receive antennas, widely distributed over a given area. The Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) for target localization is developed for coherent processing. It is shown that the localization estimation accuracy can be approximated as inversely proportional to the carrier frequency in the coherent case. Evaluation of the relation between sensors locations, target location, and localization accuracy is provided by a metric known as geometric dilution of precision (GDOP). GDOP contours map the relative performance accuracy for a given layout of radars over a given geographic area.
Estimates of the suprathermal O + outflow characteristic energy and relative location in the auroral oval

[1] We have surveyed one year of northern hemisphere data from the FAST satellite and obtained the first global estimates of the characteristic energy of the energetic oxygen ion outflows and their relative distribution within the auroral oval. Recent results have shown that, above ∼3,000 km, the FAST/TEAMS instrument covers the energy range that includes almost all of the escaping O + . The highest mean characteristic O + energy is found at the poleward edge of the night-side auroral oval. Our results suggest that the energization and/or transport are operating differently in the noon, dusk, midnight and dawn sectors of the auroral oval. The results presented here also provide required ground truth and boundary conditions for global modeling.
Auger electron spectroscopy study of Ni3Si

Analyse par spectrometrie Auger des surfaces de rupture de Ni 3 Si contenant ou non 0,19% at B afin de determiner la composition des joints de grains. Les joints de grains dans Ni 3 Si sont enrichis en nickel par rapport a la matrice. Observation d'une segregation de bore aux joints de grains qui augmente leur enrichissement en nickel
Engineering optimization of an improved plancha stove

This paper presents an engineering model of an improved plancha stove and demonstrates the use of advanced numerical analysis to improve plancha stove effectiveness. The advanced numerical techniques used include coupling a genetic algorithm searcher with a computational fluid dynamics evaluation of the stove performance. The plancha stove is a popular stove design. Built from steel, brick, or cement, the plancha stove is a sealed stove with a steel or cast-iron cooking surface. This permits the combustion gases to be exhausted from the living quarters via a chimney. Frying of breads (i.e., tortillas) and other foods is performed directly on the cooking surface of the stove. In contrast, cooking operations requiring boiling or simmering are performed by placing a pot containing the food on the cooking surface. Because of this two-tiered arrangement (flame-stove, surface-pot-food), the plancha stove is thought to be less efficient than stoves in which the cookpot is in direct contact with the flame. There are several standard efficiency tests; in most cases these involve heating and boiling a given amount of water, measuring the fuel used, and accounting for latent and sensible heat. On this basis, efficiency is established as the ratio between the heat absorbed by the water and heat released by the fuel. Plancha stoves are used for a variety of cooking tasks, and many of these tasks conflict with one another. For example, cooking tortillas requires a large area heated to moderate temperatures (∼250°C); simmering requires a small area of slightly higher temperatures (∼400°C); and bringing a large pot to a quick hard boil is most efficient with very high temperatures (>600°C). Because of this, traditional measures of efficiency do not provide a complete understanding of the fitness of the stove for specific applications. Using numerical modeling and experimental testing, this paper demonstrates how a measure of fitness can be used to provide a more complete understanding of plancha stove efficiency and effectiveness. This understanding can be used to assess various plancha stove designs and to determine which design provides the most benefit in a specific application.
Police agency size and investigative effectiveness

Abstract Previous research has focused on the relationship between police agency size and allocation of resources to operational and administrative functions. This study examined the relationship between agency size and investigative effectiveness. Bivariate analysis of national data indicated strong inverse relationship, but multivariate analysis of data from Maryland suggests that other variables are more important determinants of investigative success. These other variables include region within the state and the mix of crimes reported to the police. A tentative conclusion is that environmental variables have a greater effect than organizational variables on police agency investigative effectiveness.
The Balanced Budget Act: potential implications for the practice of vascular surgery.

Abstract Purpose: Previous study results have shown a favorable impact on stroke rate with an increasing hospital volume of carotid endarterectomies (CEAs). This is not only the most frequently performed peripheral vascular procedure in the United States but also perhaps the most widely dispersed procedure relative to hospital type. Medical centers have adopted various strategies to lower the cost of hospitalization by reducing the length of stay (LOS), the major component of hospital cost. By 2002, the Balanced Budget Act is projected to reduce Medicare provider payments to academic medical centers (AMCs) by 15.5%, a reduction that is twice that for minor or nonteaching hospitals. We assessed the relationships between hospital costs, CEA volume, and stroke-mortality rates in AMCs and non-AMCs in Massachusetts. Methods: With patient level data from the Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy and with hospital cost and charge reports from the Health Care Financing Administration, HealthShare Technology provided data for all the patients discharged from a Massachusetts hospital who underwent CEA (n = 10,211) during the fiscal years 1995, 1996, and 1997, including cost, LOS, and disposition. The outcomes were further defined with in-hospital stroke and mortality rates. Five high volume AMCs (HVAMCs) were compared with all other nonacademic hospitals, which were further subdivided by annual volume into high volume non-AMCs (≥50 cases), medium volume non-AMCs (24-49 cases), and low volume non-AMCs (12-23 cases). Statistical analysis was performed with analysis of variance to compare the means of all the cost and LOS data, and χ 2 test was used for comparison of incidence (significance assumed for P ≤.05). Results: Hospital costs were comparable among the four hospital types during individual years and averaged $6200, but HVAMCs were significantly more expensive overall, with a mean cost of $7882. The only centers to decrease their costs during the years evaluated were the HVAMCs, from $8706 to $6784. Length of stay did not differ among the groups in any year or overall, with a mean of 3.8 days, but did decrease between years at HVAMCs from 3.9 to 2.5 days. The combined stroke-mortality rates were significantly less at the HVAMCs (0.9%) than at either the high volume non-AMCs (1.9%) or the medium volume non-AMCs (2.5%). There was no significance in the analysis results of all the data within the low volume non-AMCs. Conclusion: Patients in HVAMCs have the best outcomes after CEA. Despite the achievement of significant efficiencies, AMCs have a small cushion to reduce further either LOS or resources to maintain a competitive cost position and to compensate for the fixed expenses of academic medicine. The Balanced Budget Act raises an equity concern for AMCs because it differentially affects the centers with the best outcomes. The financial implication of this may be a direct incentive for procedures to be done in centers with less optimal outcomes. (J Vasc Surg 2000;31:227-36.)
Effects of visual information on intelligibility of open and closed class words in predictable sentences produced by speakers with dysarthria

This study examined the independent and interactive effects of visual information and linguistic class of words on intelligibility of dysarthric speech. Seven speakers with dysarthria participated in the study, along with 224 listeners who transcribed speech samples in audiovisual (AV) or audio-only (AO) listening conditions. Orthographic transcriptions from listeners were scored for the number of words identified correctly. Correctly identified words were then coded into two linguistic classes, open and closed. Results showed that across all speakers and listeners, the AV presentation mode resulted in significantly higher intelligibility scores than the AO mode. However, the difference was significant for only three of seven individual speakers. Results also showed that across all speakers and listeners, closed class words were more intelligible than open class words. The difference between linguistic classes was significant for six of seven individual speakers. The interaction between linguistic class and mode of presentation was not significant, indicating that the margin of benefit for closed class words was consistent across presentation modalities.
The effects of long term fadrozole hydrochloride treatment in patients with advanced stage breast cancer.

Abstract Fadrozole hydrochloride at a dose of 2 mg b.i.d. has been shown to be an effective aromatase inhibitor in advanced stage breast cancer patients as determined by its ability to significantly suppress endogenous estrogen biosynthesis over a 12-week period. Continued suppression of circulating estrogen levels over a prolonged period has not yet been examined in published reports. In this study, we report the extended use of fadrozole hydrochloride at a maintenance dose of 2 mg b.i.d. in a cohort of 11 patients extending to 973 days of therapy. Results show that the degree of suppression of plasma and urinary estrogens was maintained in all patients throughout the extended period of drug use. Continued estradiol suppression of over 50% or greater from baseline was observed, as was continued suppression of estrone to over 80% from baseline. Cortisol determinations after 9 months of treatment showed no suppression from baseline. The aldosterone values and responses to cortrosyn stimulation continued to be suppressed as first noted following the initial 3 months of the core clinical trial. Objective tumor response noted in the core clinical trial did not change until disease progression. The findings suggest that fadrozole hydrochloride maintains its ability to suppress the aromatase enzyme during long term use. No observable escape from suppression of plasma and urinary estrogens occurred during prolonged treatment.
Apolipoprotein J (clusterin) activates rodent microglia in vivo and in vitro.

Apolipoprotein J (apoJ; also known as clusterin and sulfated glycoprotein (SGP)-2) is associated with senile plaques in degenerating regions of Alzheimer's disease brains, where activated microglia are also prominent. We show a functional link between apoJ and activated microglia by demonstrating that exogenous apoJ activates rodent microglia in vivo and in vitro. Intracerebroventricular infusion of purified human plasma apoJ (∼4 µg over 28 days) activated parenchymal microglia to a phenotype characterized by enlarged cell bodies and processes (phosphotyrosine immunostaining). In vitro, primary rat microglia were also activated by apoJ, with changes in morphology and induction of major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) antigen. ApoJ increased the secretion of reactive nitrogen intermediates in a dose-dependent manner (EC50 112 nm), which was completely blocked by aminoguanidine (AG), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. However, AG did not block the increased secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α by apoJ (EC50 55 nm). Microglial activation by apoJ was also blocked by an anti-apoJ monoclonal antibody (G7), and by chemical cleavage of apoJ with 2-nitro-5-thiocyanobenzoate. The mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase and protein kinase C inhibitors PD98059 and H7 inhibited apoJ-mediated induction of reactive nitrogen intermediate secretion from cultured microglia. As a functional measure, apoJ-activated microglia secreted neurotoxic agents in a microglia–neuron co-culture model. We hypothesize that ApoJ contributes to chronic inflammation and neurotoxicity through direct effects on microglia.
Technical note: A noninvasive urine collection device for female cattle: Modification of the urine cup collection method

Total urine collection from female cattle requires the use of indwelling urinary catheters or an external device requiring secure attachment with adhesive to the animal; neither method is ideal for the welfare of the cattle. A urine collection device was developed to enable total urine collection in female dairy cattle without the use of adhesive to attach the device to the vulva of the animal; the device was a modification of one described previously for female cattle. The urine collection device was made from polypropylene with maximum dimensions (height x width x depth) of 17.5 x 11.0 x 6.0 cm and an opening of approximately 42 cm(2) to cover the vulva. The device was secured using a commercially available udder support harness that provided snap-fasteners and support for the device to be positioned at the level of the vulva. At the point of attachment, a metal brace surrounded the device and was connected to the udder support by metal rings, which kept the urine cup in proper position as the animal arched to urinate. A metal O-clamp and pieces of rubber, serving as leak-proof washers, connected the bottom of the device to Gooch tubing. Another metal clamp was attached to a polyvinyl chloride adapter that was connected to a rubber hose, and urine was collected into carboys located on the floor approximately 1.5 m behind the animals. This modification of a urine cup allows several noninvasive total feces and urine collection studies of unrestricted length to be undertaken without the use of adhesive to attach the device. The floor-level collection system is a practical, portable, and handy system that will permit researchers to perform nutrient balance and metabolic studies on female cattle.
Household leverage, housing markets, and macroeconomic fluctuations

This paper examines implications of housing and household leverage on macroeconomic uctuations under credit shocks in the presence of the zero lower bound (ZLB) on nominal interest rates. To this end, I incorporate housing in a standard deleveraging model and endogenize the debt limit of borrowers by tying it to the market value of collateral assets and credit market conditions. I nd that, only with suciently high leverage, the nominal interest rate is more likely to hit the ZLB and macroeonomic
Multi-spacecraft observations of solar hard X-ray bursts

The role of multi-spacecraft observations in solar flare research is examined from the point of view of solar hard X-ray bursts and their implications with respect to models of the impulsive phase. Multi-spacecraft measurements provide a stereoscopic view of the flare region, and hence represent the only direct method of measuring directivity of X-rays. In absence of hard X-ray imaging instruments with high spatial and temporal resolution, multi-spacecraft measurements provide the only means of determining the radial (vertical) structure of the hard X-ray source. This potential of the multi-spacecraft observations is illustrated with an analysis of the presently available observations of solar hard X-ray bursts made simultaneously by two or more of the following spacecraft: International Sun Earth Explorer-3, Pioneer Venus Orbiter, Helios-B and High Energy Astrophysical Observatory-A.
THREE MODELS OF ORGANIZATIONAL CORRUPTION IN AGENCIES OF SOCIAL CONTROL

In this paper I examine the processes by which agencies of social control become organizationally corrupt, as one instance of the more general social problem of organizations adopting deviant goals. I define organizational corruption, and present three models of how it may develop: (1) the co-optation by social control agencies of the subjects of control; (2) the capture of social control agencies by external exploiters of the “power to regulate” as a marketable commodity; and (3) the domination of the agency by internal exploiters of the marketability of regulatory authority. I explore and illustrate the conditions under which each model is found and suggest some tasks for future theoretical work.
Case study: Matrix printer: No pulleys, belts, or screw

A new design trend in industry — developing products with few parts so they can be manufactured easily on an automated assembly line — is embodied in IBM Corp.'s Proprinter. The tabletop printer, a wire-matrix type for the company's personal computer line, does not have the usual array of screws, pulleys, belts, and brackets. The parts simply snap together.
Effects of parental absence on child labor and school attendance in the Philippines

This paper uses longitudinal data from the Philippines to analyze determinants of children’s time allocation. The estimation method takes into account both the simultaneity of time use decisions, by allowing for correlation of residuals across time uses, and unobservable family heterogeneity, through the inclusion of household fixed effects. Importantly, this improved estimation method leads to different results than when applying the methods previously used in the literature. Girls suffer significantly from the absence of their mother with a reduction in time spent in school that is equivalent to dropping out completely. This effect is substantially larger when controlling for household unobservables than when not. Boys increase time spent working on market related activities in response to an absent father, although this time appears to come out of leisure rather than school or doing household chores. Land ownership substantially increase the time boys spend on school activities, whereas renting land reduces the time girls spend on school. Finally, there does not appear to be a substantial trade-off between time spent on school and work, either in the market or at home.
Cytopede: a three-dimensional tool for modeling cell motility on a flat surface.

Abstract When cultured on flat surfaces, fibroblasts and many other cells spread to form thin lamellar sheets. Motion then occurs by extension of the sheet at the leading edge and retraction at the trailing edge. Comprehensive quantitative models of these phenomena have so far been lacking and to address this need, we have designed a three-dimensional code called Cytopede specialized for the simulation of the mechanical and signaling behavior of plated cells. Under assumptions by which the cytosol and the cytoskeleton are treated from a continuum mechanical perspective, Cytopede uses the finite element method to solve mass and momentum equations for each phase, and thus determine the time evolution of cellular models. We present the physical concepts that underlie Cytopede together with the algorithms used for their implementation. We then validate the approach by a computation of the spread of a viscous sessile droplet. Finally, to exemplify how Cytopede enables the testing of ideas about cell mechanics,...
A perspective on risks that impede development of drugs to modify the course of Alzheimer's disease: can they be reduced?

Abstract Discovery, development, and testing of new drugs with novel mechanisms and new indications are extremely risky. The number of new drugs introduced into clinical practice with new mechanisms and novel indications has not increased during recent years in spite of advances in biologic science. The sources of uncertainty leading to failure in drug development are discussed in three categories: biologic or target risk, clinical development uncertainty, and market uncertainty. Efforts to develop drugs that modify the course of Alzheimer’s disease and/or delay the initial clinical manifestations of disease are subject to all three types of risk. Opportunities for government, academic researchers, advocacy groups, and the pharmaceutical industry to mitigate some of these risks and possibly speed the introduction of new therapies are mentioned.
"Radically Different Learning": Implementing Sustainability Pedagogy in a University Peer Mentor Program.

Sustainability education is a growing field within higher education that fosters personal and intellectual engagement with the interconnected tensions of pressing social, ecological, economic, and political issues. Sustainability education aims to prepare learners to become creative problem solvers and active citizens who understand the relationships between and leverage points within complex systems. However, little research has been done to identify how to teach sustainability effectively in ways that prepare emerging leaders to address these complex problems. This paper provides an overview of an action research study that implemented the Burns model of sustainability pedagogy to embed sustainability into a university course on peer mentoring. Results show that implementing this model in the design and teaching of the course changed emerging educators' understanding of sustainability by making it more multidimensional, and that students gained an critical theory perspective of sustainability which they...
Agent-based modeling of Eco-Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control systems in the vicinity of intersections

Eco-Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (ECACC) systems are a type of Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control (CACC) that compute the most fuel-efficient (or near-fuel efficient) vehicle trajectory using available information regarding roadway characteristics, set-speed, upcoming signal changes and interaction with other vehicles. ECACC leverages information transfer between vehicles and infrastructure to predict future fuel consumption for alternate vehicle trajectories and selects the fuel optimal trajectory for implementation. ECACC is vehicle-dependent and hence can be modeled using adaptive agents. The ECACC algorithm defined in this paper is vehicle-sensitive and is hence emulated using agent-based models. Simulations to measure the effectiveness of the proposed system using a state-of-the-art fuel-consumption model shows reductions in fuel consumption levels of up to 30 percent in proximity of signalized intersections.
Convective diffusion in protein crystal growth

A protein crystal modeled as a flat plate suspended in the parent solution, with the normal to the largest face perpendicular to gravity and the protein concentration in the solution adjacent to the plate taken to be the equilibrium solubility, is studied. The Navier-Stokes equation and the equation for convective diffusion in the boundary layer next to the plate are solved to calculate the flow velocity and the protein mass flux. The local rate of growth of the plate is shown to vary significantly with depth due to the convection. For an aqueous solution of lysozyme at a concentration of 40 mg/ml, the boundary layer at the top of a 1-mm-high crystal has a thickness of 80 microns at 1 g, and 2570 microns at 10 to the -6th g.
Conclusion and Additional Resources

This chapter offers tips and additional books, films, television shows, Web sites, and other media resources for teaching and training.
The roommates problem revisited

Abstract One of the oldest matching problems is Gale and Shapley's (1962) [8] “roommates problem”: is there a stable way to assign 2 N students into N roommate pairs? Unlike the classic marriage problem or college admissions problem, there need not exist a stable solution to the roommates problem. However, stability ignores the key physical constraint that roommates require a room and is therefore too restrictive. This motivates a new matching problem: matching agents subject to an initial assignment. A particularly important example is kidney exchange where after an assignment has been made, subsequent tests may determine that a patient and donor are incompatible. This paper introduces an efficient algorithm for finding a Pareto improvement starting from any status quo roommates assignment.
Periodic rigidity of protein crystal structures

We initiate in silico rigidity-theoretical studies of protein crystal structures, with the goal to determine if, and how, the interactions among neighboring crystal cells affect the flexibility of biological unit. We use an efficient graph-based algorithm for rigidity analysis, and other tools available through the KINARI-Web server developed in our group. For the RNase A protein (PDB file 5RSA), which has the remarkable property of being functionally active even when crystallized, we found that the individual protein and its crystal form retain the flexibility parameters between the two states. By contrast, other proteins in our data set aggregated in larger rigid clusters when analyzed as crystals.
Current cigarette smoking among HIV-positive current and former drug users: associations with individual and social characteristics.

Cigarette smoking is endemic among HIV-positive populations and is related to substantial morbidity and mortality. Research has largely focused on individual-level characteristics associated with smoking, with less attention to social factors. We aimed to explore individual- and social-level characteristics associated with current cigarette smoking among people living with HIV. Data came from 358 individuals on antiretroviral therapy interviewed in a study on informal HIV caregiving, conducted in Baltimore, MD, USA. Most participants (75 %) were current smokers and 45 % reported current illegal drug use. In adjusted logistic regression analyses, current drug use (aOR 2.90, 95 % CI 1.58–5.30), 12-step program participation (aOR 1.74, 95 % CI 1.02–2.97), and having a main Supporter who is a current smoker (aOR 1.93, 95 % CI 1.12–3.33) were associated with current smoking. Findings suggest the importance of social-level factors in cigarette smoking among HIV seropositive drug users and have implications for developing targeted smoking cessation interventions for smokers living with HIV.
Stock market views of corporate multinationalism: some evidence from announcements of international joint ventures

Abstract This study examines trends in U.S. international joint ventures and describes the U.S.-foreign partnerships. To analyze the profitability of U.S. international joint ventures, it develops a data set of all such ventures from 1969–1989 and indicates their general nature and trends. It then investigates the effects of announcements of international joint ventures on common stock returns. It also determines whether the gains or losses affected by the announcements of cross-border alliances are related to the economic status of the host countries and foreign partners, the specific industries, ana the number of participatingfirms in these joint ventures.
Sources of exchange-rate volatility: Impulses or propagation?

This paper examines whether the remarkable increase in exchange-rate variability since the end of the Bretton Woods period has been the result of a less stable structure (the propagation mechanism) or more volatile shocks (the impulses). Using monthly data over the 1957:1 to 2000:12 period from the US, Canada, Germany, and the UK, our estimates of actual and counterfactual variances suggest that the increased volatility is entirely the result of more violent shocks, and not at all the consequence of a less stable structure. This result is robust to a number of different specifications examined.
Generalized circular autoregressive models for isotropic and anisotropic Gaussian textures

A new class of random field models, called generalized circular autoregressive (GCAR) models, is introduced. GCAR models have noncausal neighbors that have the same autoregressive parameter values if they are on the same circle or ellipse and that have circular or elliptical correlation structures. This model is better for modeling isotropic or anisotropic natural textures than earlier approaches to modeling of isotropic textures and can represent complex textures with a small number of parameters. Parameter estimation is also considered, and a multistep estimation algorithm is presented. Properties of estimators of GCAR models are also investigated. The efficacy of GCAR models in modeling real textures is demonstrated by synthesizing images resembling real textures by use of parameters estimated from textures selected from the Brodatz texture album. Limitations of GCAR models are also discussed.
Building mutually beneficial partnerships to improve physical activity opportunities through shared-use efforts in under-resourced communities in Los Angeles County.

Abstract Objective To evaluate 18 shared-use agreements (SUAs) implemented in Los Angeles County during 2010–2012. SUAs opened school grounds and/or facilities in seven school districts to increase physical activity opportunities for under-resourced communities with high prevalence of obesity. Methods We reviewed the extent to which SUAs addressed school district concerns about cost responsibility , sustainability , and scope . A school site and community partner survey was conducted to inform planning and to facilitate comparisons of the types and range of legal clauses (up to 16) contained in the agreements. We used geographic information systems and 2010 United States Census data to estimate the population reached and the potential benefits of the SUAs. Results SUAs varied in the degree to which they addressed the three categories of concerns. Eight of the 18 agreements included 13 of the 16 legal clauses. We estimate that these SUAs have the potential to reach nearly 165,000 children (ages 5–19) and more than 500,000 adults (ages 20–64) at a cost of about $0.38 per community member reached. Conclusion SUAs that include legal clauses to address school concerns about factors such as vandalism, staffing and funding represent a promising strategy for increasing physical activity opportunities in under-resourced neighborhoods where the prevalence of obesity is high.
LARGE AREA FULL-FIELD OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY USING WHITE LIGHT SOURCE

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an emerging technology for high-resolution cross-sectional imaging of 3D structures. Not only could OCT extract the internal features of an object, but it could acquire the 3D profile of an object as well. Hence it has huge potentials for industrial applications. Owing to non-scanning along the X-Y axis, full-field OCT could be the simplest and most economic imaging system, especially for applications where the speed is critical. For an OCT system, the performance and cost basically depends on the light source being used. The broader the source bandwidth, the finer of the depth resolution that could be reached; the more power of the source, the better signal-to-noise ratio and the deeper of penetration the system achieves. A typical SLD (Superluminescent Diode) light source has a bandwidth of 15 nm and 10 mW optical power at a price around $6,000. However, a Halogen bulb having 50W power and 200nm bandwidth only costs less than $10. The design and implementation of a large-area, full-field OCT system using Halogen white-light source is described in the paper. The experimental results obtained from 3D shaping and multiple-layer tomographies are also presented.