cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Primary Care Perceptions and Practices on Discussion and Advice Regarding Sexual Practices.

OBJECTIVES The United States has experienced an increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the past decade, a trend that may be influenced by communication gaps between family physicians and patients. We sought to identify factors that hinder discussion about safe sexual practices and STIs, understand physicians' perceptions of their role in preventing STIs, and explore methods of initiating discussions on sexual health. METHODS From April 30, 2016 to September 1, 2016, family physicians at our institution were given written surveys with 22 questions to answer and rank in order of their best practice. The survey assessed participants' age, sex, level of medical education, and possible barriers to initiating discussion and offering advice on safe sexual practices. RESULTS All of the participants identified time constraints and the presence of a patient's spouse, parents, or siblings as the most common barriers. Other barriers included fear of embarrassing patients and feeling inadequately knowledgeable about the sexual practices of lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgender patients. All of the participants reported that patients rarely object to discussing sexual behaviors. CONCLUSIONS Our study identified several barriers that family physicians may face when initiating discussions and advising patients on safe sexual practices. To prevent new cases of STIs, it is important to work around these barriers to improve physician-patient communication. This can be further improved by providing continuous learning opportunities for medical students, residents, and board-certified family physicians on ways to appropriately counsel patients on safe sexual practices.
Red light: A novel, non-pharmacological intervention to promote alertness in shift workers.

Abstract Introduction: Night work requires inversion of the natural, diurnal human activity-rest cycle and is associated with decreased alertness and some measures of performance, reduced safety, adverse health effects, and chronic disruption of the melatonin cycle that has been associated with increased risk for several major diseases. Previous studies show that red light exposures at night can promote alertness and improve performance while not negatively affecting melatonin secretion. Method: This ongoing crossover, mixed (within- and between-subjects) design field study is testing the efficacy and acceptance of red light delivered to day-shift and night-shift workers using personal light glasses while they are at work. Each participant experienced three lighting interventions at the eyes: red light (50 lx, 630 nm, the treatment intervention), blue light (50 lx, 460 nm, the positive control intervention), and dim white light (10 lx, 3,000 K, the placebo control). During the interventions, participants underwent visual performance testing, submitted salivary melatonin and cortisol samples, and provided subjective reports of sleepiness, sleep disturbance, and general health over the 20-week protocol. Due to the ongoing nature of the study, only the performance and subjective reports are presented here. Results: Preliminary results indicate that response times were improved by the red and blue interventions, but not accuracy and hit rates. Blue light was associated with improvements to self-reported sleep disturbances compared to dim light. Conclusions: These field results partially support our laboratory results that showed a positive effect of red light for promoting alertness and certain performance outcomes during the day and at night. Practical Applications: Red light may be used to improve response times in shift workers. Continued research will elucidate the lighting interventions’ effects on melatonin and objective sleep measures (actigraphy).
Data Redundancy for the Detection and Tolerance of Software Faults

In crucial computer applications, such as avionics systems and automated life support systems, great confidence must be placed in the correct, safe, and reliable operation of the software. For a typical system, current development, analysis, and fault tolerance techniques cannot guarantee either the absence of software faults or adequate levels of confidence in proper operation. Such systems are nonetheless being built, however, and it is desirable to enlarge the set of techniques available for improving the software for critical applications. One such set is based upon the use of design redundancy to provide fault tolerance during operation and to aid testing during development The most general of these techniques, N-version programming and recovery blocks, have been the subjects of widespread study.
Sluggish cognitive tempo in autism, ADHD, and neurotypical child samples

Abstract Background Sluggish cognitive tempo (SCT) recently experienced a resurgence of interest in children with ADHD, but only three small studies have investigated SCT in autism. Method Mothers rated 1,436 children with autism, 1,056 with ADHD without autism, and 186 typical controls, 2-17 years, on six SCT items from the Pediatric Behavior Scale. Results Almost half (49%) of children with autism scored 1.5 standard deviations or more above the typical SCT mean, as did 40% with ADHD-Inattentive and 31% with ADHD-Combined. The significantly greater prevalence in autism versus ADHD is largely explained by the high frequency of ADHD in autism and the increased risk of SCT when both disorders are present. However, the higher than normal prevalence of SCT in autism is not accounted for by co-occurring ADHD because SCT scores were higher than the norm in children with autism who did not have ADHD and SCT scores did not differ significantly between children with autism without ADHD and children with ADHD without autism. Conclusions Previous research indicated SCT was associated with ADHD-Inattentive type, but our findings show that SCT is even more prevalent in autism. SCT is most common when autism and ADHD co-occur. Because autism without ADHD is rare (whereas ADHD without autism is not), it is important to assess both SCT and ADHD in children referred for autism evaluations and rule-out autism in children referred for ADHD. SCT may be another neurocognitive problem shared by children with autism and children with ADHD in need of assessment and intervention.
Emotional Confidants in Ethnic Communities: Social Network Analysis of Korean American Older Adults

Objective: Ethnic communities often serve as the primary source of emotional support for older immigrants. This study aims to identify individuals who are more likely to be nominated as emotional confidants by age peers in the ethnic community and to examine factors contributing to the likelihood of being a more frequently endorsed confidant. Method: Data were drawn from a survey with 675 older Korean Americans. Using the name-generator approach in Social Network Analysis (SNA), participants were asked to list the names of three emotional confidants among age peers in the community. Results: A higher level of popularity (i.e., in-degree centrality) was predicted by male gender, advanced education, lower functional disability, fewer symptoms of depression, and higher levels of participation in social activities. Discussion: Our findings suggest the value of SNA as a means of identifying the key emotional confidants in the community and utilizing them in community-based interventions.
Influence Maximization Under Generic Threshold-based Non-submodular Model.

As a widely observable social effect, influence diffusion refers to a process where innovations, trends, awareness, etc. spread across the network via the social impact among individuals. Motivated by such social effect, the concept of influence maximization is coined, where the goal is to select a bounded number of the most influential nodes (seed nodes) from a social network so that they can jointly trigger the maximal influence diffusion. A rich body of research in this area is performed under statistical diffusion models with provable submodularity, which essentially simplifies the problem as the optimal result can be approximated by the simple greedy search. When the diffusion models are non-submodular, however, the research community mostly focuses on how to bound/approximate them by tractable submodular functions so as to estimate the optimal result. In other words, there is still a lack of efficient methods that can directly resolve non-submodular influence maximization problems. In this regard, we fill the gap by proposing seed selection strategies using network graphical properties in a generalized threshold-based model, called influence barricade model, which is non-submodular. Specifically, under this model, we first establish theories to reveal graphical conditions that ensure the network generated by node removals has the same optimal seed set as that in the original network. We then exploit these theoretical conditions to develop efficient algorithms by strategically removing less-important nodes and selecting seeds only in the remaining network. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first graph-based approach that directly tackles non-submodular influence maximization.
Diverse classes of constraints enable broader applicability of a linear programming-based dynamic metabolic modeling framework

Current metabolic modeling tools suffer from a variety of limitations, from scalability to simplifying assumptions, that preclude their use in many applications. We recently created a modeling framework, LK-DFBA, that addresses a key gap: capturing metabolite dynamics and regulation while retaining a potentially scalable linear programming structure. Key to this framework9s success are the linear kinetics and regulatory constraints imposed on the system. However, while the linearity of these constraints reduces computational complexity, it may not accurately capture the behavior of many biochemical systems. Here, we developed three new classes of LK-DFBA constraints to better model interactions between metabolites and the reactions they regulate. We tested these new approaches on several synthetic and biological systems, and also performed the first-ever comparison of LK-DFBA predictions to experimental data. We found that no single constraint approach was optimal across all systems examined, and systems with the same topological structure but different parameters were often best modeled by different types of constraints. However, we did find that the optimal constraint approach was generally robust to local perturbations of the system, indicating that just a single wild-type dataset could allow identification of the ideal constraint for a given system. These results suggest that the availability of multiple constraint approaches will allow LK-DFBA to model a wider range of metabolic systems.
Enabling topological flexibility for data centers using omniswitch

Most data centers deploy fixed network topologies. This brings difficulties to traffic optimization and network management, because bandwidth locked up in fixed links is not adjustable to traffic needs, and changes of network equipments require cumbersome rewiring of existing links. We believe the solution is to introduce topological flexibility that allows dynamic cable rewiring in the network. We design the OmniSwitch prototype architecture to realize this idea. It uses inexpensive small optical circuit switches to configure cable connections, and integrates them closely with Ethernet switches to provide large-scale connectivity. We design an example control algorithm for a traffic optimization use case, and demonstrate the power of topological flexibility using simulations. Our solution is effective in provisioning bandwidth for cloud tenants and reducing transmission hop count at low computation cost.
Identification of a Molecular Signature in Human Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Using Serum and Functional Genomics

Understanding active proinflammatory mechanisms at and before type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) onset is hindered in humans, given that the relevant tissues are inaccessible and pancreatic immune responses are difficult to measure in the periphery by traditional approaches. Therefore, we investigated the use of a sensitive and comprehensive genomics strategy to investigate the presence of proinflammatory factors in serum. The sera of recent onset diabetes patients ( n = 15, 12 possessing and 3 lacking islet cell autoantibodies), long-standing diabetes patients ( n = 12), “at risk” siblings of diabetes patients ( n = 9), and healthy controls ( n = 12) were used to induce gene expression in unrelated, healthy PBMC. After culture, gene expression was measured with microarrays and normalized expression data were subjected to hierarchical clustering and multidimensional scaling. All recent onset sera induced an expression signature (192 UniGenes; fold change: >1.5, p n = 3) before and after onset support the hypothesis that the signature emerges years before onset. This study supports prior investigations of serum that reflect disease processes associated with progression to T1DM. Identification of unique inflammatory mediators may improve disease prediction beyond current islet autoantibodies. Furthermore, proinflammatory serum markers may be used as inclusion criteria or endpoint measures in clinical trials aimed at preventing T1DM.
High contrast reflective display using a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal

Polymer-dispersed liquid crystal confined in a thin 90/spl deg/ twisted cell (T-PDLC) exhibits an enhanced contrast ratio due to the surface anchoring effect. A black and white polarizer-free reflective display using a dye-doped T-PDLC is demonstrated.
Neuromuscular Adaptations in Elderly Adults Are Task-Specific during Stepping and Obstacle Clearance Tasks.

Elderly adults have a diminished movement capacity due to physiological and neurological declines associated with advancing age. Previous research suggests that elderly adults use altered neuromuscular patterns to conduct activities of daily living (ADLs). Limited research has addressed these altered activation strategies in obstacle clearance, stair ascent and stair descent. The purpose of this study was to compare neuromuscular activation patterns in young and elderly adults during these tasks. Eleven young and 10 healthy elderly adults performed five downward stepping, upward stepping and obstacle clearance trials. Surface EMG was measured from the quadriceps, hamstrings, gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles. A 2×3 (group × condition) repeated measures analysis of variance was used to determine significant differences in muscle activation intensity. An apriori alpha level was set at p<0.05. The results showed that elderly adults exhibited greater activation intensity than the young adults in all movement conditions. The significant differences in muscle activation intensity in the elderly adults were limited to the musculature driving the tested movement. The findings of the current study support previous research that elderly adults perform ADLs at a greater relative intensity than young adults. Furthermore, the current study shows that the disproportionate increase in muscle activation intensity is limited to the muscles that functionally drive the required task.
1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol Prevents and Ameliorates Symptoms of Experimental Murine Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Anecdotal data suggest that the amount of vitamin D available in the environment either from sunshine exposure or diet may be an important factor affecting the development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in humans. We tested the vitamin D hypothesis in an experimental animal model of IBD. Interleukin (IL)-10 knockout (KO) mice, which spontaneously develop symptoms resembling human IBD, were made vitamin D deficient, vitamin D sufficient or supplemented with active vitamin D (1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol). Vitamin D-deficient IL-10 KO mice rapidly developed diarrhea and a wasting disease, which induced mortality. In contrast, vitamin D-sufficient IL-10 KO mice did not develop diarrhea, waste or die. Supplementation with 50 IU of cholecalciferol (5.0 microgram/d) or 1, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (0.005 microgram/d) significantly (P < 0. 05) ameliorated symptoms of IBD in IL-10 KO mice. 1, 25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol treatment (0.2 microgram/d) for as little as 2 wk blocked the progression and ameliorated (P < 0.05) symptoms in IL-10 KO mice with already established IBD.
Maternal Physical Activity in Pregnancy and Infant Size for Gestational Age

Abstract PURPOSE: To estimate the effect of several types of maternal physical activity in pregnancy on size for gestational age and length of gestation. METHODS: Telephone interviews, birth certificates, and medical records provided data on physical activity and other factors for a random sample of 291 Colorado residents. Backward polychotomous logistic regression modeling yielded estimates of the odds ratios for size for gestational age (appropriate versus small or large) and length of gestation (term versus pre-term or post-term) in relation to second and third trimester maternal physical activity. RESULTS: Performance of any moderate or vigorous physical activity for two hours per week or more in any month was associated with a decreased risk of large infant size for gestational age (LGA; odds ratio = 0.3, 95% confidence interval = 0.2, 0.7), but had no significant effect on risk of small infant size for gestational age (SGA; odds ratio (OR) = 0.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.3, 2.3). Length of gestation was not affected by prenatal physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that prenatal physical activity may decrease risk of LGA, as might be expected given its salutary effects on glucose tolerance.
Modern Motive Power for the Sorocabana Railway

THE Sorocabana Railway in inaugurating electric traction on its extensive meter-gauge system has selected the 87-mile-long double-track section between Sao Paulo and Santo Antonio in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, for the initial electrification. Twenty locomotives are being furnished to handle passenger, freight, and mixed trains with scheduled speeds of 35 miles per hour for passenger, and 30 miles per hour for freight and mixed trains over a mountainous terrain involving maximum grades of two per cent, and prevailing minimum radius curves of approximately 800 feet.
Threats of Cross-Contamination on Effects of a Sexual Risk Reduction Intervention: Fact or Fiction

This study sought to empirically evaluate the extent and impact of cross-contamination on the effects of a STI/HIV intervention trial previously shown to be effective in reducing high-risk sexual behaviors among African-American adolescent females. Participants were recruited through community health agencies in the Southeastern United States and comprised 522 sexually active 14- to 18- year-old African-American females who completed self-administered questionnaires and face-to-face interviews at baseline, 6- and 12-month time points. Participants were randomized to a STI/HIV risk reduction group or a general health promotion group. The STI/HIV intervention group participated in four group sessions addressing constructs such as HIV knowledge, communication, condom use self-efficacy and condom use behaviors. The control group participated in four group sessions focused on general health topics. The study setting afforded multiple opportunities for cross-talk between intervention and control group participants. Consistent condom use, defined as condom use during every vaginal sex act, was the primary outcome measure. Other outcome measures included various sexual behaviors, observed condom application skills and psychosocial variables associated with HIV preventive behaviors. Approximately 73% of participants reported some level of cross-talk. Linear and binary GEE models assessing the impact of the STI/HIV intervention on contaminated vs. uncontaminated control group participants indicated no differential effects of the intervention. Furthermore, equivalence tests demonstrated that contaminated and uncontaminated control groups were equivalent. Findings from this study provide empirical evidence suggesting that behavioral and psychosocial outcomes may be resistant to cross-contamination in randomized controlled trials testing safer sex interventions among African-American adolescent females.
Understanding the motivation to use web portals

Social escapism motivation is the main determinant of web portal intention-to-use.The influence of motivation on intention-to-use of web portal was investigated.Motivations were highly correlated to intention-to-use of web portal. The purpose of this research was to study the motivation attributes of information products from the end-users' perspective, and to measure the impact of these attributes on intention-to-use. In the context of Web portal use, the information product generally includes three types of services: personal services (e.g., email), information services (e.g., online news) and search services. The literature underscores the importance of motivational factors such as social escapism and privacy concerns on the intention to use. Drawing from this theoretical background, an initial set of motivation attributes has been identified, and an experimental study using 142 subjects as Web portal users has been conducted. As far as impact analyses are concerned, social escapism motivation, information motivation, interactive control motivation, and socialization were found to highly correlate to all of the three types of services and the combined use. Lessons learned from this study should also help IT professionals to design, develop and deploy more effective general web portals.
The AuD Program at Towson University

Purpose: This article provides an overview of the Towson University doctor of audiology (AuD) program. Method: Faculty and facilities, program highlights and requirements, admission criteria, and f...
Bifurcation at multiple eigenvalues and stability of bifurcating solutions

If K is a bounded linear operator from the real Banach space U into the real Banach space V and ƒ:U×R→V has the value zero at (0, 0), the existence and linear stability of the equilibrium solutions of the dynamical system K dudt = ƒ(u, α) which are close to the origin in U×R are studied. It is assumed that ƒu(0, 0): U → V is a Freholm operator of index zero. The only restriction on the dimension of the null space of ƒu(0, 0) and the order of vanishing, at (0, 0), of ƒ restricted to the null space of Dƒ(0,0):U×R→V, is that they both be finite positive integers. The main result gives conditions under which the equation, which determines the equilibrium solutions in a neighborhood of the origin, also determines the stability of these equilibrium solutions.
Parameter sensitivity and importance measures in nonlinear finite element reliability analysis

Finite element reliability methods allow the analyst to define material, load, and geometry parameters as random variables to represent uncertainties in these model parameters. Approximate probabilistic analysis methods produce estimates of the response variance/covariances, probabilities of exceeding specified structural performance thresholds, and parameter importance measures. A necessary ingredient for such analysis is consistent, efficient, and accurate algorithms for computing finite element response sensitivities. In this paper, unified response sensitivity equations with respect to material, load, and geometry parameters are developed for the time- and space-discretized finite element model. The sensitivities with respect to nodal coordinates and global shape parameters in the presence of material and geometric nonlinearities represent an extension of previous work. Practical computer implementation issues are emphasized. The equations are implemented in the comprehensive, open-source, object-orie...
A pilot study investigating the efficacy of postoperative dietary counseling to improve outcomes after bariatric surgery.

Abstract Background Bariatric surgery is a powerful treatment of severe obesity. During the past several years, a greater appreciation for the need for multidisciplinary care to optimize outcomes has developed, and a number of studies have been started to examine the role of postoperative interventions used in combination with surgery. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the hypothesis that the provision of postoperative dietary counseling, delivered by a registered dietitian, would lead to greater weight loss and more positive improvements in dietary intake and eating behavior compared with standard postoperative care. The study was performed at an academic medical center. Methods Eighty-four individuals who underwent bariatric surgery were randomly assigned to receive either dietary counseling or standard postoperative care for the first 4 months after surgery. The participants completed measures of macronutrient intake and eating behavior at baseline and 2, 4, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after surgery. Results The patients who received dietary counseling achieved greater weight loss than those who received standard postoperative care that did not involve this counseling, although this difference did not reach statistical significance. Patients in the dietary counseling arm did report significant changes in several eating behaviors believed to be important to successful long-term weight maintenance. Conclusion The results of our pilot study provide some support for the efficacy of early postoperative dietary counseling to improve outcomes after bariatric surgery.
Elastic modulus of amorphous polymer thin films: relationship to the glass transition temperature.

Understanding the mechanical properties of polymers at the nanoscale is critical in numerous emerging applications. While it has been widely shown that the glass transition temperature (Tg) in thin...
Phase field microelasticity modeling of dislocation dynamics near free surface and in heteroepitaxial thin films

Abstract Dislocation dynamics near a free surface and in heteroepitaxial thin films are simulated using an extended version of the nanoscale Phase Field Microelasticity model of dislocations [Acta Mater. 49 (2001) 1847]. The model automatically takes into account the effect of image forces on dislocation motions. In particular, the operations of Frank–Read sources in epitaxial films grown on infinitely thick and relatively thin substrates are investigated. The simulation reveals different misfit dislocation behaviors at the interface. Its implication on the interface susceptibility to crack nucleation is discussed.
Tem Observation of Grown-in Defects in Cz-Si Crystals and their Secco Etching Properties

Grown-in defects detected by IR laser scattering tomography (LSTDs) in Czochralski-grown Si crystals were identified by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with a special defect positioning technique. The basic structure of the LSTD was revealed to be a composite of two or three incomplete octahedral voids with the 100–300nm total size. The TEM images of the defect showed existence of 2∼4nm-thick walls surrounding the voids. These thin-walls are considered to be made of oxide, SiOx. These LSTDs are indeed dominant grown-in defect species in most of the commercial CZ-Si walers. The LSTD after 1200°C oxidation was also observed by TEM. The resulting image shows that the defect changed from void to filled oxide precipitate by the high temperature heat treatment. On the other hand, in very slowly pulled crystals with ∼0.4mm/min rate, interstitial type dislocation loops were observed as major defect species. Non-agitated Secco etching of these grown-in defects delineates “flow patterns” (FPs) or pits without the flow patterns. The FP forming property is shown to disappear by oxidation at temperature above 1150°C, while the defect itself remains stable. This implies that the grown-in defects lose their chemical properties to form FPs by the high-temperature oxidation. It is further revealed that the grown-in defects, which once lost the FP forming property by the high-temperature oxidation, can form FPs again by an intentional Cu contamination. Thus a possible FP formation factor is Cu decoration at the grown-in defect site. Defect formation model of the as-grown twin-type LSTD is also proposed.
Sorption of benzene and trichloroethylene (TCE) on a desert soil: Effects of moisture and organic matter

Sorption of Trichlorethylene (TCE) and Benzene onto a desert soil has been investigated, at two different temperatures and various moisture contents, using a gas chromatographic method. Sorption of these two VOCs to the unmodified soil was compared to sorption onto the same soil that was alternately treated with hydrogen peroxide (to remove organic carbon) or with humic acids (to add organic carbon) in order to examine the role of soil organic matter in vapor phase sorption. Results from this study indicate that organic carbon plays only a minor role in sorption at low moisture contents.
Characterization of hypereutectic Al-Si powders solidified under far-from equilibrium conditions

The rapid solidification microstructure of gas-atomized Al-Si powders of 15, 18, 25, and 50 wt pct Si were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In order of increasing particle size, the powders exhibited microcellular Al, cellular/dendritic Al, eutectic Al, and primary Si growth morphologies. Interface velocity and undercooling were estimated from measured eutectic spacing based on the Trivedi–Magnin–Kurz (TMK) model, permitting a direct comparison with theoretical predictions of solidification morphology. Based on our observations, additional conditions for high-undercooling morphological transitions are proposed as an extension of coupled-zone predictions.
On thought experiments as a priori science

Abstract Against Norton's claim that all thought experiments can be reduced to explicit arguments, I defend Brown's position that certain thought experiments yield a priori knowledge. They do this, I argue, not by allowing us to perceive “Platonic universals” (Brown), even though they may contain non‐propositional components that are epistemically indispensable, but by helping to identify certain tacit presuppositions or “natural interpretations” (Feyerabend's term) that lead to a contradiction when the phenomenon is described in terms of them, and by suggesting a new natural interpretation in terms of which the phenomenon can be redescribed free of contradiction.
A temperature-sensitive mutant of Sendai virus with an altered hemagglutinin-neuraminidase polypeptide: consequences for virus assembly and cytopathology.

Abstract Sendai virus mutant ts 271 was previously shown to be an RNA positive mutant with a temperature-sensitive hemagglutinin. We now report that noninfectious virus particles are produced when this mutant is grown at the nonpermissive temperature. These virus particles appear to have only one defect: they are devoid of a single polypeptide, the 70,000 dalton HN glycopolypeptide responsible for hemagglutinin and neuraminidase activities. Consequently, the noninfectious particles lack these activities and they are incapable of attaching to cells. Moreover, cells producing the particles contain neither hemagglutinin nor neuraminidase activities, suggesting that the relevant glycopolypeptide does not assume a functional conformation when it is synthesized under nonpermissive conditions. We conclude that Sendai virus morphogenesis does not require HN as a structural element or any function supplied by HN. Other consequences of the mutation were marked lessenings of cytopathology and cell protein synthesis inhibition during infections at nonpermissive temperature, indicating that the native HN glycopolypeptide is an important factor in cell killing by Sendai virus.
Effects of serum lipid levels on restenosis after coronary angioplasty.

Abstract Although the association of serum lipid levels with the risk of atherosclerosis is well-recognized, the relation between these levels and restenosis after coronary angioplasty is uncertain. This study examines 186 patients enrolled in a trial of fish oil for prevention of restenosis. Fasting lipid levels (cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglycerides) were measured before angioplasty, and in 90 patients repeated at 6-month follow-up. Fifty-nine patients (32%) developed clinical restenosis confirmed by angiography. Patients who went on to develop restenosis underwent multivessel angioplasty (p
Second‐law analysis and optimization of microchannel flows subjected to different thermal boundary conditions

Entropy generation and transfer in microchannel flows were calculated and analyzed for different thermal boundary conditions. Due to the small flow cross-sectional area, fluid temperature variation in the lateral direction was neglected and a laterally lumped model was developed and used in the first- and second-law analyses. Since the Peclet numbers of microchannel flows are typically low, heat conduction in the flow direction was taken into consideration. Computed fluid temperature and entropy generation rate were cast into dimensionless forms, thus can be applied to different fluids and channels of different sizes and configurations. Local entropy generation rate was found to be only dependent upon the temperature gradient in the flow direction. The optimization results of microchannel flows exchanging heat with their surroundings indicate the optimal fluid temperature distribution is a linear one. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bonding and frequency shifts in XN2 and XCO compounds

Abstract The origin of the general experimental observation that ΔF N 2 >ΔF co for N 2 vs. XN 2 and CO vs. XCO is discussed. The relative donor-acceptor properties of N 2 and CO are examined in general terms applicable to a wide range of π donor substituents, X. Specific examples, for illustrative purposes, are X = N − and O. These simple substituted N 2 and CO compounds have been treated by rigorous SCF procedures and those results form a quantitative basis for the discussion.
Determinants of RNA Binding and Translational Repression by the Bicaudal-C Regulatory Protein

Bicaudal-C (Bic-C) RNA binding proteins function as important translational repressors in multiple biological contexts within metazoans. However, their RNA binding sites are unknown. We recently demonstrated that Bic-C functions in spatially regulated translational repression of the xCR1 mRNA during Xenopus development. This repression contributes to normal development by confining the xCR1 protein, a regulator of key signaling pathways, to specific cells of the embryo. In this report, we combined biochemical approaches with in vivo mRNA reporter assays to define the minimal Bic-C target site within the xCR1 mRNA. This 32-nucleotide Bic-C target site is predicted to fold into a stem-loop secondary structure. Mutational analyses provided evidence that this stem-loop structure is important for Bic-C binding. The Bic-C target site was sufficient for Bic-C mediated repression in vivo. Thus, we describe the first RNA binding site for a Bic-C protein. This identification provides an important step toward understanding the mechanisms by which evolutionarily conserved Bic-C proteins control cellular function in metazoans.
Detection of liver metastisis using the backpropagation algorithm and linear discriminant analysis

The purpose of this study was to compare the classification capabilities of the backpropagation algorithm and linear discriminant analysis for detecting liver metastisis using image texture features obtained from ultrasonic images of the liver. Twenty-one quantitative parameters were obtained from 134 regions of interest of equal size. The images were collected by the same radiologist on the same imager with the controls adjusted for variations in patient body size so as to produce images of consistent quality. Quantitative features were divided so that 13 were first-order statistics, 6 were second-order statistics, and 2 were image gradient parameters. The same features were processed by both the backpropagation algorithm and linear discriminant analysis using `jack-knife'' testing and the results of each computer- generated classification was compared to the supplied diagnosis in an effort to determine which method could best identify patterns. For this particular application, the backpropagation neural network was found to have slightly superior classification results (87) than linear discriminant analysis (83).© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Lipid hydroperoxides potentiate mesenteric artery vasoconstrictor responses

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of lipid and organic hydroperoxides on vasomotor activity of isolated rat superior mesenteric arteries. Hydroperoxides did not elicit measurable responses in unstimulated (quiescent) mesenteric arteries. Contractile responses to potassium, however, were significantly potentiated by 13-(s)-hydroperoxylinoleic acid (range 3–54 μM). Potentiation of potassium responses by linoleic acid (18:2) and linolenic acid (18:3) was increased by pretreatment of the fatty acids with lipoxygenase (p
Preparing Educational Leaders to Embrace the "Public" in Public Schools.

Purpose – George Counts' classic 1932 speech asks, “Dare the school build a new social order?” This article proposes examining whether emerging school leaders are prepared to face this challenge and embrace the society‐building responsibility at the core of public schooling. It aims to focus especially on students from homogeneous backgrounds, their capacity to address issues of diversity, and the extent to which their educational leadership program has prepared them to champion social justice within schools.Design/methodology/approach – This study looks at emerging leaders in three master's level cohort programs in educational leadership at a state university in New England. It incorporates survey data, interviews, and document analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to organize and summarize the data. Open‐ended questions and interviews were transcribed and coded, and program documents examined to identify overall purposes of educational leadership and evidence of diversity awareness.Findings – Findi...
Interim Results of the 5-Box Thoracoscopic Maze Procedure

Background In accordance with the Cox-Maze paradigm, successful treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) requires (1) complete posterior left atrial isolation, (2) elimination of corridors for perimitral reentry, (3) elimination of cardiac venous (superior vena cava and coronary sinus) arrhythmogenic foci, (4) complete autonomic denervation, and (5) occlusion or removal of the left atrial appendage. Using a totally thoracoscopic approach, isolation of all left atrial arrhythmogenic substrate is achieved through the creation of 5 discrete but contiguous compartments, thereby enabling unambiguous verification with bidirectional block. Since no previous closed-chest procedure incorporates all these end points, an update on patient outcomes is reported. Methods One hundred seventy-nine consecutive patients with antiarrhythmic drug–resistant AF (3 paroxysmal, 5 persistent, 171 longstanding persistent cases), known preoperatively for 5.7 (range 0.5 to 25) years, underwent the 5-box thoracoscopic Maze procedure. Only 1 patient suffered a serious procedural complication (sternotomy for pulmonary artery injury). Postoperative rhythm surveillance consisted of 1 week of continuous ambulatory monitoring at 3, 6, 13, and 24 months. Failure was defined as any tachyarrhythmia exceeding 30 seconds beyond the 3-month anniversary. Results Freedom from AF was observed in 137 of 142 patients at 3 months, 115 of 119 patients at 6 months, 75 of 78 patients at 13 months, and 24 of 25 patients at 24 months. Two patients remain in sinus rhythm on low-dose antiarrhythmia therapy. Warfarin is discontinued only after the first monitoring session confirms rhythm stability. Conclusions Replication of the left atrial Cox-Maze lesion set through a totally thoracoscopic approach isolates virtually all arrhythmogenic substrate. Meticulous verification of compartment integrity allows for outcomes equivalent to the Cox-Maze benchmark.
Ejection of milk in relation to oxytocin injected intravenously.

Abstract Oxytocin varying from 0.05 to 20.0 USPU was injected intravenously into 48 cows to study the effect on ejection of milk from the fine ducts and alveoli. The effects of exogenous oxytocin on milk ejection were measured by changes in the time from injection to the beginning of milk flow (latent period), the duration of milk flow, and milk yield. With increasing oxytocin to 0.25 USPU, the length of the latent period decreased. The duration of milk flow increased with increasing oxytocin to 0.5 USPU, and milk yields increased with increasing oxytocin to 1.25 USPU. The shortest latent period was at 10.0 and 20.0 USPU (0.3min). Duration of milk flow was longest (6.6min), and milk yield greatest (1.61kg) at 1.25 USPU of oxytocin.
PDF calculations of turbulent nonpremixed flames with local extinction

Abstract A joint velocity–composition–turbulence frequency probability density function (PDF) model is used to calculate a series of piloted-jet flames of methane. The ingredients of the present model include the simplified Langevin model for velocity, a stochastic model of turbulence frequency, the Euclidean minimum spanning tree (EMST) mixing model, and the 16-species augmented reduced mechanism for methane. The solutions are obtained using a particle/mesh algorithm, and the chemistry mechanism is implemented via the in situ adaptive tabulation (ISAT) algorithm. These flames exhibit an increasing amount of local extinction with increasing jet velocity, and are good cases to test the capabilities of turbulent combustion models to account for local extinction in turbulent nonpremixed flames. The calculation results are compared extensively with the experimental data, and demonstrate the ability of the PDF model to represent, quantitatively, the processes of local extinction and reignition that occur in these flames.
Stress induced in heart and other tissues by rat dermal exposure to JP-8 fuel

Limited information is available regarding the development of systemic organ stress by dermal exposure to JP-8 fuel. In this study, the systemic stress potential of this fuel is evaluated in a rat model subjected to dermal applications of JP-8 for 7 days at 300 μl per day. Tissue histology indicated that JP-8 induces morphological alterations that suggest that tissue stress in the heart is more substantial than stress in the kidney and liver. Immunoblot analysis of tissues revealed increased levels of the inducible heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) in the heart, kidney, and liver after this dermal JP-8 exposure. This exposure also leads to increased levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1/HSP3) in the liver. Additionally during this exposure, a negative regulator of inflammation, IκBα (inhibitor of NF-κB), was increased in the liver, slightly increased in the kidney, and not increased in the heart. Two regions of the rat brain were also examined and HSP70 and IκBα were increased in the cerebellum but not significantly increased in the cortex. This study indicates dermal JP-8 exposure causes systemic alterations that are associated with cytoprotective activities (e.g., in the liver) as well as potentially toxic mechanisms (heart and kidney).
Pulse Shape Discrimination in Impure and Mixed Single-Crystal Organic Scintillators

Neutron/gamma pulse shape discrimination (PSD) utilized for detection of high-energy neutrons with organic scintillators was investigated using a model system of mixed diphenylacetylene-stilbene single crystals of different compositions. The results of the studies, which include experimental tools of crystal growth and characterization combined with computer simulation, showed that the presence of impurities with lower bandgap energies can be a major factor influencing PSD properties of organic materials. Depending on the concentration, an impurity may suppress or increase the rate of excited triplet state interaction leading, respectively, to a complete disappearance or enhancement of PSD, consistent with a percolation threshold. The results are applied to produce novel materials with controlled decay characteristics. Single crystals with a large fraction of delayed light and enhanced PSD have been grown for high energy neutron detection, while crystals with suppressed delayed light were produced for use as low-afterglow scintillators for energetic neutron detection in time-of-flight experiments.
In situ bioremediation of explosives-contaminated soil: A soil column study

In situ bioremediation of soil contaminated with explosives was studied using columns packed with contaminated soil. Several operating strategies were investigated, including continuous flooding of the soil column with dilute molasses or succinate solution, and periodic operating cycles consisting of flooding followed by draining and aeration. Two control columns were also used, which were flooded with deionized water. All of the soil columns that received molasses solution degraded 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and other explosive contaminants present in the soil. However, the most efficient removal of contaminants in terms of TNT removal rates was achieved by the soil column that was operated periodically with flooding with molasses solution, followed by draining and aeration. The columns that received succinate as co-substrate did not perform well. In control columns with deionized water, there was no removal of TNT. Results of this study will aid in improving the design and operation of field-scale bioremediation systems.
Accumulation and degradation of the protein moiety of cadmium-metallothionein (CdMT) in the mouse kidney.

Of major concern in Cd toxicity is its ability to produce renal damage after chronic exposure in humans and experimental animals. Renal injury affects predominantly the proximal tubules and more specifically first segments of these tubules. Similar toxic effects to the kidneys are observed after administration of cadmium bound to metallothionein (CdMT). Therefore, CdMT was used in this study as a model to understand the mechanism(s) of Cd nephrotoxicity. It has been recently demonstrated that Cd from CdMT was preferentially taken up by the proximal convoluted tubules. Therefore, the purpose of these studies was to determine if the organic portion of the complex was also accumulated in these tubules. [35S]CdMT prepared from rat liver was administered intravenously to mice at a nonnephrotoxic dose (0.1 mg Cd/kg). The radioactivity in the kidney showed maximum level (80% of the dose) 15 min after the injection. This preferential renal uptake was also observed after administration of various doses of [35S]CdMT. In contrast to the earlier observed persistency of 109Cd in the kidney after 109CdMT administration, 35S disappeared rapidly (with a half-life of approximately 2 hr), and 24 hr after injection of [35S]CdMT, there was very little 35S left in the kidneys. These observations indicate that the protein portion of CdMT is rapidly degraded after renal uptake of CdMT and the released Cd is retained in the kidney. Within the kidney, 35S distributed mainly to the cortex. Light microscopic autoradiography showed that [35S]CdMT preferentially distributed to the proximal convoluted tubule (S1 and S2), which is the site of nephrotoxicity. Within the S1 and S2 segments, a greater distribution of 35S to the apical portion of the cells was observed after administration of both a nonnephrotoxic (0.1 mg Cd/kg) and a nephrotoxic (0.3 mg Cd/kg) dose. 109Cd administered as 109CdMT also distributed to the apical portion of the S1 and S2 cells. Therefore, both the organic (35S) and inorganic (109Cd) portions of CdMT are rapidly and efficiently taken up by the S1 and S2 cells of the proximal tubules, the site of nephrotoxicity. These observations support the concept that CdMT is readily taken up by the proximal tubular cells as a complex, and then its protein portion is rapidly degraded to release Cd that binds permanently to intracellular sites and produces nephrotoxicity.