cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Successful pregnancy in a series of patients with adenomyosis

Objective: To report the surgical technique and pregnancy outcome in a series of patients with adenomyosis. Methods: This is an observational study of patients who underwent laparoscopy or laparoscopically assisted cytoreductive surgery for symptomatic enlarged uterus due to uterine myoma or adenomyosis or both who desired to preserve their reproductive system. Results: We present a series of nine patients—mean age 36.2 years (range, 31–41 years), mean gravida 1.7, para 0.3, with histologically confirmed adenomyosis or ademyoma—who achieved pregnancy. The average length of time from surgery to conception was 6.9 months (range, 3–14). One patient was treated preoperatively with danazol (case 1); one with nafarelin acetate (case 2); and two with oral contraceptive pills (cases 4, 6). Five patients conceived spontaneously (cases 2, 4, 5, 7, 9). Two patients used clomiphene citrate and intrauterine insemination (cases 1, 3); one used clomiphene citrate and timed intercourse (case 8). Case 6 had in vitro fertilization. Five patients carried to term (cases 1, 2, 3, 4, 8); one had a cesarean birth at 36 weeks, delivering twins (case 6); one is currently in the second trimester (case 5); and two patients had missed abortion at 12 and 9 weeks (cases 7, 9). The most common associated pathologies were endometriosis (56%), adhesions (56%), and leiomyomata (22%). Conclusion: Adenomyosis theoretically is associated with infertility, and hysterectomy has been considered the treatment of choice. However, previous anecdotal case reports and our series indicate that in patients with adenomyosis who desire pregnancy, there is a good chance for successful pregnancy after cytoreductive surgery.
A biological assessment of streams in the eastern United States using a predictive model for macroinvertebrate assemblages

: A predictive model (RIVPACS-type) for benthic macroinvertebrates was constructed to assess the biological condition of 1,087 streams sampled throughout the eastern United States from 1993-2003 as part of the U.S. Geological Survey’s National Water-Quality Assessment Program. A subset of 338 sites was designated as reference quality, 28 of which were withheld from model calibration and used to independently evaluate model precision and accuracy. The ratio of observed (O) to expected (E) taxa richness was used as a continuous measure of biological condition, and sites with O/E values <0.8 were classified as biologically degraded. Spatiotemporal variability of O/E values was evaluated with repeated annual and within-site samples at reference sites. Values of O/E were regressed on a measure of urbanization in three regions and compared among streams in different land-use settings. The model accurately predicted the expected taxa at validation sites with high precision (SD = 0.11). Within-site spatial variability in O/E values was much larger than annual and among-site variation at reference sites and was likely caused by environmental differences among sampled reaches. Values of O/E were significantly correlated with basin road density in the Boston, Massachusetts (p < 0.001), Birmingham, Alabama (p = 0.002), and Green Bay, Wisconsin (p = 0.034) metropolitan areas, but the strength of the relations varied among regions. Urban streams were more depleted of taxa than streams in other land-use settings, but larger networks of riparian forest appeared to mediate biological degradation. Taxa that occurred less frequently than predicted by the model were those known to be generally intolerant of a variety of anthropogenic stressors.
Pandora, Or, A Never‐ending Box of Musical Delights

The free Internet radio station Pandora (http://www.pandora.com) doesn't have any disc jockeys, weather, or news, but it does have a unique way of organizing the music it offers through its streami...
Meal-induced secretion of gastrointestinal regulatory peptides is not affected by sleep

The mechanisms responsible for the disruption of the migrating motor complex (MMC) by feeding are not fully understood. Sleep reduces the duration of the postprandial or fed pattern of motility in the intestine. This study was set out to determine if this effect is associated with sleep-induced changes in the secretion of regulatory peptides in response to food. Methods: Duodenojejunal motility was studied in 15 healthy ambulant subjects for 2 consecutive days. On one day identical solid meals were consumed in the morning and late in the evening, the latter followed by sleep. On the other day, identical liquid meals were infused into the stomach and the duodenum in the morning and late in the evening, the latter after the onset of sleep. Plasma concentrations of gastrin, neuro­tensin, peptide YY (PYY), pancreatic polypeptide (PP), motilin and glucose were monitored before and after meals. Sleep significantly shortened the duration of the fed pattern after the solid meal and even more so after the liquid meal. The plasma concentrations of all peptides, except motilin, increased significantly following each meal. Blood glucose levels rose after each meal, the changes being similar with all meals. Food-induced gastrointestinal regulatory peptides secretion and intestinal absorption of glucose are not affected by sleep. The vagal response to a meal, as indicated by PP release, is intact during sleep. The results support the importance of neural mechanisms in the modulation of the postprandial pattern of intestinal motility.
Casual systems and feedforward loops

It is shown that a causal linear system with an equal number of inputs and outputs can be made to be simultaneously invertible and output reproducible by employing a feedforward loop. This feed-forward loop does not affect the stability, of the system one way or the other.
The Rise of Asia: Economics, Society, and Politics in Contemporary Asia

Preface and Acknowledgments List of Tables Prologue: East and Southeast Asia and the Changing Balance of World Economic Forces The Age of Colonialism and Imperialism: From an External to an Internal Dynamic The Role of Markets: Peasant Families, Commercial Agriculture and Protoindustrialisation Asian Elites in the Economy and in Politics The First Asian Tiger: The Transformation of Japan Asian Economies, the International Economy and Development in the Interwar Era Japanese Imperialism and the Pacific War Asian Nationalism Economics, Politics and Asian Development in the Postwar World How much is there to Share? Population, Resources and Productivity The Dark Side: Women in Asian Development The Developmental State in Asia: Japan and the Four Tigers New Tigers, New Dragons, New Giants? The State and Development in China and Southeast Asia. Epilogue: Can Growth Continue? Bibliography
Space-time tradeoffs for adaptive real-time tracking

Many current optical flow algorithms are not suited for practical implementations such as tracking because they either require massively parallel supercomputers, specialized hardware, or up to several hours on a scientific workstation. One particular reason for this is the quadratic nature of the search algorithms used in these problems. We present two modifications to these types of algorithms which can convert quadratic-time optical flow algorithms into linear-time ones. The first uses a variable image sampling rate which trades space for time and yields an algorithm that is at worst linear, and at best constant, in the speed of the moving objects in the image. This technique finds the fastest motion in an image and is ideal for tracking, since the fastest moving objects in a robot's environment are generally the most interesting. The second modification extends this approach to create a multiple-speed optical flow field by transforming quadratic searches over space into linear searches in time. This space-time inversion has the effect of searching for faster moving objects in each image earlier than for slower moving ones, with additional effort being exerted to search for slower objects only when desired. A system of velocity masking allows a tradeoff of angular resolution (but not magnitude resolution) for an optical flow algorithm only linear in the range of velocities present.
Electric current mapping using the acousto-electric effect

Conventional methods for mapping cardiac current fields lack either spatial resolution (e.g. ECG) or are time consuming (e.g., intra-cardiac catheter electrode mapping). We present a method based on the acousto-electric effect (AEE) with potential for rapid mapping of current fields in the heart with high spatial resolution. The AEE is a pressure-induced conductivity modulation, in which focused ultrasound can be used as a spatially localized pressure source. When an ultrasound beam is focused between a pair of recording electrodes in a homogeneous conductive medium, an induced voltage will be produced due to the pressure-modulated conductivity and local current density. The amplitude of the voltage change should be proportional to fluctuations in current density, such as those generated during the cardiac cycle, in the region of focused ultrasound. Preliminary experiments demonstrate the feasibility of this method. A 540 kHz ultrasound transducer is focused between two tin electrodes lying parallel to the beam axis. These electrodes inject current into a 0.9% saline solution. A pair of insulated stainless steel electrodes exposed at the tip is used to record voltage. To simulate a cardiac current, a low frequency current waveform is injected into the sample such that the peak current density (8 mA/cm 2 ) approximates cardiac currents. The transducer is pulsed at different delays after waveform initiation. Delays are chosen such that the low frequency waveform is adequately sampled. Using this approach an emulated ECG waveform has been successfully reconstructed from the ultrasound modulated voltage traces.
KOMMEMORATING THE KU KLUX KLAN

Pulaski, Tennessee, is the birthplace of the Ku Klux Klan, a fact memorialized in a plaque that hangs on the wall of the old courthouse in the center of that town. Drawing on the postReconstruction myth of the "lost cause" of the Confederacy, Pulaskians have long celebrated the Klan in their town's history, remembering it as a noble and chivalrous group that saved the South from the ravages of Reconstruction. In recent years however, marches in Pulaski by the current Klan have led many Americans to believe that the Klan commemoration in Pulaski stands not for chivalry but for racism. The negative publicity of these Klan marches has created a problem of cognitive dissonance for Pulaskians, forcing them to rethink such commemoration. Ultimately, the people of Pulaksi opted to turn the Klan plaque around so that its inscription now faces the wall and cannot be read. Pulaskians claim this turning of the plaque illustrates both their town's continued allegiance to the Reconstruction Klan and their rejection of the current Klan's racism. We explain Pulaskians' reaction with two prominent approaches to the study of collective memory: the social constructionist view that collective memories are shaped by current concerns and the Durkheimian view that stresses the continuity of collective memories over time.
Urethral diverticula in women: discrepancies between magnetic resonance imaging and surgical findings

AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2010; 194: W316-22.Objective: The objective of our study was to determine the relationship between the apparent diffusion coef-ficient (ADC) value on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and Gleason score of prostate cancer and percentage of tumor involvement on prostate core biopsy. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective study of 57 patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer who underwent endorectal MRI with DWI between July 2007 and March 2008. Regions of interest (ROIs) were drawn on ADC maps at sites of visible tumor on DW images and ADC maps. A hierarchic mixed linear model was used to compare the ADC value of prostate cancer with the Gleason score and the percentage of tumor on core biopsy. Results: Eighty-one sites of biopsy-proven prostate cancer were visible on DW images and ADC maps. The least-squares mean ADC for disease with a Gleason score of 6 was 0.860 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s (standard error of the mean [SEM], 0.036); Gleason score of 7, 0.702 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s (SEM, 0.030); Gleason score of 8, 0.672 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s (SEM, 0.057); and Gleason score of 9, 0.686 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s (SEM, 0.067). Differ-ences between the mean ADC values for a prostate tumor with a Gleason score of 6 and one with a Gleason score of 7 (p = 0.0096) and for a prostate tumor with a Gleason score of 6 and one with a Gleason score of 8 (p = 0.0460) were significant. Comparison between the ADC and percentage of tumor on core biopsy showed a mean ADC decrease of 0.006 (range, 0.004-0.008 x 10(-3) mm(2)/s) for every 1% increase in tumor in the core biopsy specimen. Conclusion: DWI may help differentiate between low-risk (Gleason score, 6) and intermediate-risk (Gleason score, 7) prostate cancer and between low-risk (Gleason score, 6) and high-risk (Gleason score > 7) prostate cancer. There is an inverse relationship between the ADC and the percentage of tumor involvement on prostate core biopsies.
Hydrocarbon accumulation and lipid biosynthesis during larval development in the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni

Abstract Larvae of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni , were analyzed for the accumulation and biosynthesis of cuticular and internal hydrocarbon at closely spaced and accurately timed intervals during the fourth and fifth stadia. Large differences in the incorporation of [1- 14 C]acetate into hydrocarbon were observed at different times during larval development. Much higher incorporation was observed during feeding stages as compared to wandering stages, while lowest rates of biosynthesis occurred just prior to ecdysis. Fourth stadia wanderers accumulated increased amounts of internal hydrocarbon, which is apparently used to cover the newly forming cuticle. During the fourth to fifth stadium moult insects lost all cuticular hydrocarbon that was present on the old cuticle (about 8 μg/insect) and had about 8 μg/insect on the surface of the newly exposed cuticle. During the fourth stadium incorporation of [1- 14 C]acetate into total lipid declined between feeding and wandering stages from 24% of injected radiolabel to 7%. Similar decreases in lipid biosynthesis were observed between feeders and wanderers in fifth stadium larvae with the greatest decrease found in the triacylglycerol fraction. These results document dramatic changes in the accumulation and biosynthesis of hydrocarbon and other lipids during larval development.
Identification of the hammerhead ribozyme metal ion binding site responsible for rescue of the deleterious effect of a cleavage site phosphorothioate.

The hammerhead ribozyme crystal structure identified a specific metal ion binding site referred to as the P9/G10.1 site. Although this metal ion binding site is 20 A away from the cleavage site, its disruption is highly deleterious for catalysis. Additional published results have suggested that the pro-RP oxygen at the cleavage site is coordinated by a metal ion in the reaction's transition state. Herein, we report a study on Cd 2+ rescue of the deleterious phosphorothioate substitution at the cleavage site. Under all conditions, the Cd 2+ concentration dependence can be accounted for by binding of a single rescuing metal ion. The affinity of the rescuing Cd 2+ is sensitive to perturbations at the P9/G10.1 site but not at the cleavage site or other sites in the conserved core. These observations led to a model in which a metal ion bound at the P9/G10.1 site in the ground state acquires an additional interaction with the cleavage site prior to and in the transition state. A titration experiment ruled out the possibility that a second tight- binding metal ion (Kd < 10 IM) is involved in the rescue, further supporting the single metal ion model. Additionally, weakening Cd 2+ binding at the P9/G10.1 site did not result in the biphasic binding curve predicted from other models involving two metal ions. The large stereospecific thio-effects at the P9/ G10.1 and the cleavage site suggest that there are interactions with these oxygen atoms in the normal reaction that are compromised by replacement of oxygen with sulfur. The simplest interpretation of the substantial rescue by Cd 2+ is that these atoms interact with a common metal ion in the normal reaction. Furthermore, base deletions and functional group modifications have similar energetic effects on the transition state in the Cd 2+ -rescued phosphorothioate reaction and the wild-type reaction, further supporting the model that a metal ion bridges the P9/G10.1 and the cleavage site in the normal reaction (i.e., with phosphate linkages rather than phosphorothioate linkages). These results suggest that the hammerhead undergoes a substantial conformational rearrangement to attain its catalytic conformation. Such rearrangements appear to be general features of small functional RNAs, presumably reflecting their structural limitations.
MMPI‐2 profiles of women differing in sexual abuse history and sexual orientation

Four groups of women (N = 115) self-identified as having histories of childhood sexual abuse or no such histories and self-identified as either heterosexual or lesbian were compared using a questionnaire and the MMPI-2. Subjects ranged in age from 21-60 years with 60% between ages 30-50 years. Results of a Three-Way MANOVA for abuse history and sexual orientation repeated across MMPI-2 clinical scales showed a between-subjects effect for abuse, and within-subjects effects for orientation and abuse. T scores of women with abuse histories were significantly higher than those of women without abuse histories on Hs, D, Pd, Pa, Pt, Sc, and Ma scales of the MMPI-2. Profiles indicated an 8-4 codetype and a Scarlett O'Hara V configuration for the group with abuse history. Heterosexual women obtained significantly higher t scores than did lesbians on the Depression scale. Results show that the MMPI-2 can be used to help detect lesbian as well as heterosexual adults who were sexually molested as children.
Interaction of Microorganisms, Insects, and Freezing Injury on Conifers

Microorganisms and insects use conifer tissue as a substrate and food source, which can result in damage and disease. Physiological changes and reduction in vigor of the host tissue resulting from microbial and insect activity could impair the ability of conifers to develop freezing tolerance. Freezing injury also damages cells and reduces tissue vigor, which could predispose conifers to pest damage and microbial infection. Therefore, there are potential interactions between freezing injury and conifer pests.
Closeness metrics for system-level functional partitioning

An important system design task is the partitioning of system functionality for implementation among multiple system components, including partitions among hardware and software components. We present a set of closeness metrics to aid such partitioning. These metrics can be used by a designer or by automated algorithms, to cluster together functional objects that should be implemented on the same component. We summarize experiments for determining the best combination of metrics for particular uses, and we demonstrate the advantages of clustering with the closeness metrics before applying hardware or hardware/software partitioning.
A merged process for thick single-crystal Si resonators and BiCMOS circuitry

A simple process has been developed which combines thick single-crystal Si micromechanical devices with a bipolar complimentary metal-oxide-semiconductor (BiCMOS) integrated circuit process. This merged process allows the integration of Si mechanical resonators as thick as 11 /spl mu/m with any integrated circuit process with the addition of only a single masking step. The process does not require the use of Si on insulator wafers or any type of wafer bonding. The Si resonators were etched in an inductively coupled plasma source which allowed deep trenches to be fabricated with high aspect ratios and smooth sidewall surfaces. Clamped-clamped beam Si resonators that were 500 /spl mu/m long, 5 /spl mu/m wide, and 11 /spl mu/m thick have been fabricated and tested. A typical resonator had a resonance frequency of 28.9 kHz and a maximum amplitude of vibration at resonance of 4.6 /spl mu/m in air. The average measured resonance frequency across a 4-in-diameter Si wafer was within 0.5% of that predicted by theory. Working NMOS transistors were fabricated and tested on the same chip as the resonator with measured threshold voltages of 0.6 V and an output conductance of 2.0/spl times/10/sup -5/ /spl Omega//sup -1/ for a gate voltage of 4 V.
Free distance bounds for convolutional codes

The best asymptotic bounds presently known on free distance for convolutional codes are presented from a unified point of view. Upper and lower bounds for both time-varying and fixed codes are obtained. A comparison is made between bounds for nonsystematic and systematic codes which shows that more free distance is available with nonsystematic codes. This result is important when selecting codes for use with sequential or maximum-likelihood (Viterbi) decoding since the probability of decoding error is closely related to the free distance of the code. An ancillary result, used in proving the lower bound on free distance for time-varying nonsystematic codes, furnishes a generalization of two earlier bounds on the definite decoding minimum distance of convolutional codes.
A dual-frequency stacked circular-disc antenna

The dual-frequency behavior of a pair of stacked circular-disc printed-circuit antennas is investigated experimentally. The input impedance is measured as a function of the sizes of the discs with emphasis placed on the values of the two resultant resonant frequencies.
Inner Product Spaces

For x = (x1,...,xn),y = (y1,...,yn two points in Rn we define the distance from x to y by $$ d(x,y) = \sqrt {(x_1 - y_1 )^2 + \cdots + (x_n - y_n )^2 } . $$
The development of an instrument to measure English Language Learner (ELL) teacher work stress

Abstract The purpose of the current study was to develop a measure of English Language Learner (ELL) teacher stress that highlights multiple aspects of teachers' work settings that impact their work stress. Ninety-eight ELL teachers from 29 U.S. states completed an online questionnaire, including the current measure in development, a demographic survey, the Teacher Stress Inventory, and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The development of the final 40-item ELL Teacher Stress Measure (ETSM) is described. The new ELL Teacher Stress Measure addresses a significant gap in the field and provides a tool that is useful in a variety of school settings.
Reconstructing Weak and Failed States: Insights from Tocqueville

It is argued that the process of reconstructing weak and failed states along liberal democratic lines is a cultural rather than a mere technical issue. The work of Alexis de Tocqueville provides key insights into the foundations of liberal democracy and the limitations on the ability of foreign countries to export liberal democratic institutions via military occupation and reconstruction. After considering these insights, the implications for reconstruction efforts are considered.
The Purposes of American State Constitutions

Any essay on this topic must face the fact that those writing state constitutions in the United States do so in a double context. First, state constitutions must contain all that is necessary for any true constitution. That is, the framers are called upon to create a document that would be recognized as an adequate constitution in any context. Second, the framers of a state constitution operate within the context defined by the United States Constitution: thus, they must write a document that is appropriate to the federal system created by that national document. This double context results in American state constitutions having a rather complex set of purposes. Our discussion, then, must proceed at two levels: one. a general investigation of the purposes of constitutions in general, and the other, a discussion of the state constitutions within the federal system. This will require some direct discussion of the United States Constitution as well since it serves as the vital link bringing the two levels of analysis together.
Design and Construction Techniques for the Outer-jacketing Structures Reconstruction Project of a School Building

In order to meet the needs of the development,a 2 stories outer-jacketing frame is to be built around a 3-storiey masonry school building. The angle-steel concrete column the encased H-shape steel composite beam are used in the outer-jacketing frame. In order to make sure that the original building works as usual during construction,self-supporting in-situ concrete floor structure during construction is adopted. The design methods and construction techniques for this reconstruction project are systemically introduced. It not only can be served as reference for the construction of the similar project,but also can provide the technical support for perfecting the decision-making system and technique measure of the outer-jacketing structure for adding story around existing building.
Roles of neutral endopeptidase in airways.

In recent years, studies of the regulation of the airways have focused to an increasing degree on the roles of neuropeptides. Several peptides have been shown to be present in airways and mediate such diverse responses as ion transport, mucus secretion, bronchospasm or relaxation, edema, cough, changes in vascular permeability, and neutrophil chemotaxis. More recently, studies have described the roles of peptidases, most notably neutral endopeptidase (NEP, also known as enkephalinase, or E.C. 3.4.24.11) and kininase II (also known as angiotensin-converting enzyme, or E.C. 3.4.15.1) in modulating peptide-induced responses. The enzymes cleave a wide variety of peptides, generating metabolites that are inactive in the systems studied to date. Thus inhibitors of NEP potentiate responses to peptides that are cleaved by it. Therefore, NEP plays roles in modulating peptide-induced effects analogous to the role of acetylcholinesterase in modulating cholinergic neurotransmission. In several experimental respiratory diseases, the activity of neutral endopeptidase is decreased, resulting in increased responses to peptides. The therapeutic application of recombinant NEP protects the airways from the adverse actions of stimuli that release inflammatory peptides, and induction of the NEP gene expression by glucocorticoids suggest a possible mechanism for the action of these steroids in treating airway diseases such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, or cystic fibrosis.
The role of new laboratory tests in clinical decision-making.

Both innovative and established quantitative methods are described to analyze not only the technical but also the clinical merits of new laboratory tests. The practicality of the predictive value model and of decision analysis is highlighted through the application of these methods to a common clinical problem, the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia.
Issues involved in combining drugs with psychotherapy for the borderline inpatient.

The pathology of borderline patients, usually reflecting a mixture of biologically and psychologically based etiologies, generally requires treatment with both drugs and psychotherapy. With this patient population, the combination can be particularly difficult to manage. This is even more apparent on inpatient units, where splitting processes complicate efforts to provide clear, consistent treatment approaches. The authors use a case report to discuss the complications of such treatments and give recommendations for management.
The New Kid on the Block: A Look at How Geographic Information Systems are Changing the Face of Cancer Research

In the last 20 years, Geographic Information Systems (GISs) have had an ever-increasing impact on the course of research and planning in many diverse fields, including geography, geology, environmental studies, business and criminal justice. Relatively recently, health care research, including cancer research, has entered this domain. The rapidly increasing use of GIS in health-care research over the past few years is witnessed by the fact that 63% of papers in literature review for this chapter were written in the last five years, and 35% within the last three years. Epidemiology, the study of disease patterns in human populations according to person, place and time, has been the traditional means of approaching cancer etiology. Combining its tools with those of GIS has enabled researchers to look at the distribution of cancer in new ways and uncover relationships not previously seen with traditional epidemiological methods alone. Through its data integration function, GIS has enabled the use of existing data collected
Dielectric breakdown of TMR sensors and the role of Joule heating

For voltage (V) stress of TMRs, the log of the dielectric breakdown time is found to be linear in (H-γZaV/t B )/(k B T), where H, γ, Z, a, t B and k B are an activation energy, a parameter, charge, tunnel barrier lattice constant and thickness, and Boltzmann constant. T is the ambient plus Joule heating temperature of the tunnel barrier.
A variational note on "tatonnement"

Vemos el equilibrio de las transacciones de mercado en el tiempo, el llamado proceso tatonnement, como un problema estadistico de variaciones. El supuesto de la existencia de un model muy general del aprendizaje por experiencia permite describir el procesotatonnement por medio de las ecuaciones clasicas de la trayectoria geodesica en el espacio Riemann. Variantes del problema de variaciones que aqui se presenta pueden probar ser utiles en ot ros problemas de la estadistica aplicada.
Autism and reactive attachment/disinhibited social engagement disorders: Co-occurrence and differentiation.

DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition) Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) and Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED) are rare disorders sharing social di...
Objectively assessing underwater image quality for the purpose of automated restoration

In order to automatically enhance and restore images, especially those taken from underwater environments where scattering and absorption by the medium strongly influence the imaging results even within short distances, it is critical to have access to an objective measure of the quality of images obtained. This contribution presents an approach to measure the sharpness of an image based on the weighted gray-scale-angle (GSA) of detected edges. Images are first decomposed by a wavelet transform to remove random and part medium noises, to augment chances of true edge detection. Sharpness of each edge is then determined by regression to determine the slope between gray-scale values of edge pixels versus locations, which is the tangent of an angle based on grayscale. The overall sharpness of the image is the average of each measured GSAs, weighted by the ratio of the power of the first level decomposition details, to the total power of the image. Adaptive determination of edge widths is facilitated by values associated with image noise variances. To further remove the noise contamination, edge widths less than corresponding noise variances or regression requirement are discarded. Without losing generality while easily expandable, only horizontal edge widths are used in this study. Standard test images as well as those taken from field are used to be compared subjectively. Initial restoration results from field measured underwater images based on this approach and weakness of the metric are also presented and discussed.
Drawing a line in the sand: Effectiveness of off-highway vehicle management in California's Sonoran desert.

Abstract Public land policies manage multiple uses while striving to protect vulnerable plant and wildlife habitats from degradation; yet the effectiveness of such policies are infrequently evaluated, particularly for remote landscapes that are difficult to monitor. We assessed the use and impacts of recreational vehicles on Mojave Desert washes (intermittent streams) in the Chemehuevi Desert Wildlife Management Area (DWMA) of southern California. Wash zones designated as open and closed to off-highway vehicle (OHV) activity were designed in part to protect Mojave desert tortoise ( Gopherus agassizii ) habitat while allowing recreation in designated areas. OHV tracks were monitored in washes located near access roads during winter and early spring holidays – when recreation is typically high – and at randomly dispersed locations away from roads. Washes near access roads had fewer vehicle tracks within closed than open zones; further away from roads, OHV tracks were infrequent and their occurrence was not different between wash designations. Washes were in better condition in closed zones following major holidays as indicated by less vegetation damage, presence of trash, and wash bank damage. Furthermore, the frequency of washes with live tortoises and their sign was marginally greater in closed than open wash zones. Collectively, these results suggest that low impacts to habitats in designated closed wash zones reflect public compliance with federal OHV policy and regulations in the Chemehuevi DWMA during our study. Future monitoring to contrast wash use and impacts during other seasons as well as in other DWMAs will elucidate spatial and temporal patterns of recreation in these important conservation areas.
Improving Adolescent Preventive Care in an Urban Pediatric Clinic: Capturing Missed Opportunities.

Abstract Purpose To increase the proportion of adolescents with Medicaid who receive preventive care services in an urban pediatric clinic. Methods A quality improvement intervention was implemented at an urban pediatric primary care clinic between November 2013 and October 2014. The intervention systematically "flipped" acute visits into well-care visits for patients ages 12–21 years, when overdue. The primary process measure was the percentage of acute visits expanded to include well-care components out of total eligible opportunities. The primary outcome measure was adolescent well-care (AWC) completion in 2014 versus 2013 and 2012. Results Among 857 adolescents with Medicaid, 124 additional AWC visits were completed by October 2014 compared to 2013 and 71 additional visits compared to 2012. The gap to achieving Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set neutral zone targets for AWC was reduced by 59% compared to 2013 and by 54% compared to 2012. The mean proportion of eligible acute opportunities "flipped" monthly increased from 17% (range: 10%–21%) during the initial 3 months of implementation to 30% (range: 5%–50%) in the last 3 months. Conclusions Systematically flipping acute visits into well visits resulted in reaching Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set quality targets for AWC, which had not previously been accomplished by this clinic. Incorporating staff and provider feedback strengthened intervention fidelity and buy-in despite time constraints in a busy, urban setting.
The Immigration Battle in American Courts

This book assesses the role of the federal judiciary in immigration and the institutional evolution of the Supreme Court and the US Courts of Appeals. Neither court has played a static role across time. By the turn of the century, a division of labor had developed between the two courts whereby the Courts of Appeals retained their original function as error-correction courts, while the Supreme Court was reserved for the most important policy and political questions. Law explores the consequences of this division for immigrant litigants, who are more likely to prevail in the Courts of Appeals because of advantageous institutional incentives that increase the likelihood of a favorable outcome. As this book proves, it is inaccurate to speak of an undifferentiated institution called 'the federal courts' or 'the courts', for such characterizations elide important differences in mission and function of the two highest courts in the federal judicial hierarchy.
First Report of Powdery Mildew on Spiraea japonica Caused by Podosphaera spiraeae in the United States

Spiraea japonica is a perennial ornamental plant that belongs to the family Rosaceae. It is grown as an ornamental plant throughout the USA. In the summer of 2017, Japanese Spiraea plants growing at Washington State University Puyallup Research and Extension Center (47.1882oN, 122.3290oW) showed signs of powdery mildew. Signs of powdery mildew include dense patches of white to greyish mycelia on leaf surfaces. The fungus formed superficial branched hyphae with septa. The foot cells of the conidiophore were straight followed by one to three short cells bearing conidia in short chains. The size of the foot cell ranged from 55 to 105 μm with an average of 93.76 μm (n=30). Appressorium was nipple shaped and the germ tubes of the conidia were terminal. Conidia were formed in chains of up to 5-7 hyaline, broad ellipsoidal spores which measured 25 × 15 (21 to 28 × 12 to 19) μm. Chasmothecia did not form during the time of observation (July- October of 2017). These features were consistent with the description of...
Innovation Management: A Need-Centered Optimal Joint Investment Approach

With exponential advances in technology innovations, effective management of innovation has become imperative. Existing literature on innovation management has largely focused on managing product, project, and operations or on motivating creativity in the innovation process. This paper presents an alternative integrated and systematic approach that focuses on managing the needs of all major participants of the innovation process: the idea generator, the core team, the supporter, and the adopter, to achieve an optimal joint investment in the development and implementation of a creative idea. Based on this approach, innovation management consists of three key elements: (1) productive creativity that uses the understanding of needs to motivate idea generation that will effectively respond to the needs of the other major participants; (2) impactful marketing that uses the understanding of the needs to effectively communicate and persuade the acceptance of the creative idea by the other major participants; and (3) adaptive organization that uses the understanding of the needs to develop flexible and sustainable structure and culture of the organization to effectively adapt to changes in the environment as well as challenges to the organization as it grows and matures with time. For each key element, the paper outlines the basic concepts, specific tools, and case examples for its successful accomplishment, and explores future areas of research.
Applications of Phase-Based Motion Processing

Image pyramids provide useful information in determining structural response at low cost using commercially available cameras. The current effort applies previous work on the complex steerable pyramid to analyze and identify imperceptible linear motions in video. Instead of implicitly computing motion spectra through phase analysis of the complex steerable pyramid and magnifying the associated motions, instead present a visual technique and the necessary software to display the phase changes of high frequency signals within video. The present technique quickly identifies regions of largest motion within a video with a single phase visualization and without the artifacts of motion magnification, but requires use of the computationally intensive Fourier transform. While Riesz pyramids present an alternative to the computationally intensive complex steerable pyramid for motion magnification, the Riesz formulation contains significant noise, and motion magnification still presents large amounts of data that cannot be quickly assessed by the human eye. Thus, user-friendly software is presented for quickly identifying structural response through optical flow and phase visualization in both Python and MATLAB.
Pathways Following Electron Injection: Medium Effects and Cross-Surface Electron Transfer in a Ruthenium-Based, Chromophore–Catalyst Assembly on TiO2

Interfacial dynamics following photoexcitation of the water oxidation assembly [((PO3H2)2bpy)2RuII(bpy-bimpy)RuII(tpy)(OH2)]4+, −[RuaII–RubII–OH2]4+, on nanocrystalline TiO2 electrodes, starting from either −[RuaII–RubII–OH2]4+ or −[RuaII–RubIII–OH2]5+, have been investigated. Transient absorption measurements for TiO2–[RuaII–RubII–OH2]4+ in 0.1 M HPF6 or neat trifluoroethanol reveal that electron injection occurs with high efficiency but that hole transfer to the catalyst, which occurs on the electrochemical time scale, is inhibited by local environmental effects. Back electron transfer occurs to the oxidized chromophore on the microsecond time scale. Photoexcitation of the once-oxidized assembly, TiO2–[RuaII–RubIII–OH2]5+, in a variety of media, generates −[RuaIII–RubIII–OH2]6+. The injected electron randomly migrates through the surface oxide structure reducing an unreacted −[RuaII–RubIII–OH2]5+ assembly to −[RuaII–RubII–OH2]4+. In a parallel reaction, −[RuaIII–RubIII–OH2]6+ formed by electron injectio...
Static Analysis of HIPPA Security Requirements in Electronic Health Record Applications

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are digital versions of paper-based patient's health information. EHR applications are increasingly being adopted in many countries. They have resulted in improved quality in healthcare, convenient access to histories of patient medication and clinic visits, easier follow up of patient treatment plans, and precise medical decision-making process. EHR applications are guided by measures of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and availability. However, there have been reported breaches of Protected Health Identifier (PHI) data stored by EHR applications. In many reported breaches, improper use of EHRs has resulted in disclosure of patient's PHI data. Inefficient application design threatens the integrity of EHRs, which leads to fraud and endangering patient's health. The goal of this paper is to identify HIPAA technical requirements, evaluate an open source EHR application (OpenEMR) for security vulnerabilities using an open-source scanner tool (RIPS), and map identified vulnerabilities to HIPAA technical requirements.
Creating prognostic systems for cancer patients: A demonstration using breast cancer.

Integrating additional prognostic factors into the tumor, lymph node, metastasis staging system improves the relative stratification of cancer patients and enhances the accuracy in planning their treatment options and predicting clinical outcomes. We describe a novel approach to build prognostic systems for cancer patients that can admit any number of prognostic factors. In the approach, an unsupervised learning algorithm was used to create dendrograms and the C-index was used to cut dendrograms to generate prognostic groups. Breast cancer data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute were used for demonstration. Two relative prognostic systems were created for breast cancer. One system (7 prognostic groups with C-index = 0.7295) was based on tumor size, regional lymph nodes, and no distant metastasis. The other system (7 prognostic groups with C-index = 0.7458) was based on tumor size, regional lymph nodes, no distant metastasis, grade, estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and age. The dendrograms showed a relationship between survival and prognostic factors. The proposed approach is able to create prognostic systems that have a good accuracy in survival prediction and provide a manageable number of prognostic groups. The prognostic systems have the potential to permit a thorough database analysis of all information relevant to decision-making in patient management and prognosis.
Unlinking of DNA by Topoisomerases During DNA Replication

The double-helical structure of DNA first described by Watson and Crick suggested immediately a mechanism for DNA replication (Watson and Crick 1953a,b). The two strands of the double helix need to unpair, after which they could serve as a template for the synthesis of complementary strands. The plectonemic, or interwound, nature of the double helix imposes a strict requirement on the mechanism of replication. The parental strands must be unlinked for the separation of daughter chromosomes to occur. Watson and Crick recognized that the problem was difficult, but “not insuperable” (Watson and Crick 1953a). It was difficult enough, however, to lead some early theorists to solutions involving breakage at every 1/2 turn of the helix during replication (Delbruck 1954) or a paranemic (side-by-side) structure for DNA instead of the plectonemic Watson and Crick model (Rodley et al. 1976; Pohl and Roberts 1978; Crick et al. 1979).
Barriers of the Florida Gulf Peninsula

The barrier-inlet system of the Gulf peninsula of Florida includes 30 barrier islands and related inlets and extends for 300 km between an open coast marsh system and an open coast mangrove system. The entire barrier system has developed during the past 3000 years. This coastal barrier complex is the most morphologically diverse continuous barrier island system in the world. The complete spectrum of barrier island and tidal inlet morphologies is present as the result of the delicate balance between wave- and tide-generated processes, both of which are near the low end of the energy spectrum. This condition combined with the broad range in tidal prism and the human influence have produced a unique coastal complex. Another important aspect of this coast is the rapid change which commonly takes place under such pronounced low-energy conditions.
Improving efficiency of pediatric emergency asthma treatment by using metered dose inhaler

Objective: Evidence suggests using metered dose inhaler (MDI) to treat acute asthma in the Emergency Department reduces length of stay, though methods of implementation are lacking. We modified a t...
Varied visions: an iconographic reevaluation of Ramey Incised production and distribution in the American Bottom, Illinois

Ramey Incised ceramics, characterized by incised symbolic motifs, are often viewed as a hallmark of Stirling-phase Cahokia and the surrounding American Bottom region. However, few comprehensive ana...