cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of hospital-level practice patterns on variation in the application of minimally invasive surgery in United States pediatric patients

Abstract Background Although disparities in access to minimally invasive surgery are thought to exist in pediatric surgical patients in the United States, hospital-level practice patterns have not been evaluated as a possible contributing factor. Methods Retrospective cohort study using the Kids' Inpatient Database, 2012. Odds ratios of undergoing a minimally invasive compared to open operation were calculated for six typical pediatric surgical operations after adjustment for multiple patient demographic and hospital-level variables. Further adjustment to the regression model was made by incorporating hospital practice patterns, defined as operation-specific minimally invasive frequency and volume. Results Age was the most significant patient demographic factor affecting application of minimally invasive surgery for all procedures. For several procedures, adjusting for individual hospital practice patterns removed race- and income-based disparities seen in performance of minimally invasive operations. Disparities related to insurance status were not affected by the same adjustment. Conclusion Variation in the application of minimally invasive surgery in pediatric surgical patients is primarily influenced by patient age and the type of procedure performed. Perceived disparities in access related to some socioeconomic factors are decreased but not eliminated by accounting for individual hospital practice patterns, suggesting that complex underlying factors influence application of advanced surgical techniques. Level of evidence II.
Twenty‐four hour predictions of the solar wind speed peaks by the probability distribution function model

Abrupt transitions from slow to fast solar wind represent a concern for the space weather forecasting community. They may cause geomagnetic storms that can eventually affect systems in orbit and on the ground. Therefore, the Probability Distribution Function (PDF) model was improved to predict enhancements in the solar wind speed. New probability distribution functions allow for the prediction of the peak amplitude and the time to the peak while providing an interval of uncertainty on the prediction. It was found that 60% of the positive predictions were correct, while 91% of the negative predictions were correct, and 20% to 33% of the peaks in the speed were found by the model. This represents a considerable improvement upon the first version of the PDF model. A direct comparison with the Wang-Sheeley-Arge (WSA) model shows that the PDF model is quite similar, except that it leads to fewer false positive predictions and misses fewer events, especially when the peak reaches very high speeds.
High-dimensional multivariate posterior consistency under global–local shrinkage priors

Abstract We consider sparse Bayesian estimation in the classical multivariate linear regression model with p regressors and q response variables. In univariate Bayesian linear regression with a single response y , shrinkage priors which can be expressed as scale mixtures of normal densities are popular for obtaining sparse estimates of the coefficients. In this paper, we extend the use of these priors to the multivariate case to estimate a p × q coefficients matrix B . We derive sufficient conditions for posterior consistency under the Bayesian multivariate linear regression framework and prove that our method achieves posterior consistency even when p > n and even when p grows at nearly exponential rate with the sample size. We derive an efficient Gibbs sampling algorithm and provide the implementation in a comprehensive R package called MBSP . Finally, we demonstrate through simulations and data analysis that our model has excellent finite sample performance.
N-Hydroxyphthalimide-Mediated Electrochemical Iodination of Methylarenes and Comparison to Electron-Transfer-Initiated C-H Functionalization.

An electrochemical method has been developed for selective benzylic iodination of methylarenes. The reactions feature the first use of N-hydroxyphthalimide as an electrochemical mediator for C–H oxidation to nonoxygenated products. The method provides the basis for direct (in situ) or sequential benzylation of diverse nucleophiles using methylarenes as the alkylating agent. The hydrogen-atom transfer mechanism for C–H iodination allows C–H oxidation to proceed with minimal dependence on the substrate electronic properties and at electrode potentials 0.5–1.2 V lower than that of direct electrochemical C–H oxidation.
Generation of Inflow Turbulence in Large-Eddy Simulations of Nonneutral Atmospheric Boundary Layers with the Cell Perturbation Method

AbstractRealistic multiscale simulations involve coupling of mesoscale and large-eddy simulation (LES) models, thus requiring efficient generation of turbulence in nested LES domains. Herein, we ex...
The Effect of Corneal Contact Lenses on the Oxygen Tension in the Anterior Chamber of the Rabbit Eye

The oxygen tension in the aqueous humor in the anterior chamber of rabbit eyes was measured continuously with a polarographic electrode. The normal oxygen tension in the anterior chamber was 23 +/- 2 mm Hg (mean +/- SD, n = 4). A contact lens was then placed on the cornea for at least 10 min and the drop in oxygen tension recorded. A hard polymethylmethacrylate lens reduced the oxygen tension by 16 +/- 4 mm Hg, and a larger hydroxyethylmethacrylate soft lens (Soflens) decreased oxygen tension by 17 +/- 4 mm Hg (mean +/- SD, n = 4). Comparable statistically significant decreases were seen with the Permalens, Polycon II, and Silcon lenses. Only the elastofilcon A lens (Silsoft) did not decrease the oxygen tension in the anterior chamber significantly.
Chapter 8. Distributed control

Executive control concepts and mechanisms have evolved primarily in a highly centralized uniprocessor context, surrounded by the rather centralized (e.g., hierarchical) structures of nature and human society. At least partially as a consequence of this, there is currently some difficulty envisioning more “decentralized” control concepts and designing corresponding mechanisms. To help stimulate thought in this area, we present a conceptual model of the spectrum of control alternatives from maximally centralized to maximally decentralized. The model is not intended either to provide a quantitative measure of decentralization, or to ascribe attributes (e.g., “better”) to points in the spectrum—instead, its illumination should greatly facilitate the subsequent performance of these endeavors.
Theories of Mood

In Chapter 1, I argued that mood should be considered as a distinctive affective phenomenon, different from related constructs such as preferences, motives, and particularly emotions. Thus far, the prime basis for making this claim is definitional, that is, I have tried to indicate how mood differs from emotion, its nearest “neighbor” in the affect domain, by discussing the consensus about its diffuse and pervasive influence on thought and behavior. In this chapter I will add further substance to my claim by considering how one might account theoretically for the existence of such a state.
Increased Production of Heat-Labile Enterotoxin as a Result of TN3 Insertion into a Chimeric R/ENT Plasmid

We are studying the genetics of enterotoxin synthesis in Escherichia coli and its control. For these studies we are using pCG86, a conjugative, naturally occurring recombinant plasmid that contains genes for heat-labile enterotoxin (LT), heat- stable enterotoxin (ST) and resistance to tetracycline, streptomycin/spectinomycin, sulfonamides and mercuric ion(1). The presence of drug resistance genes in this plasmid has been advantageous in that it enabled us to develop a method for the enrichment and isolation of LT- and ST- mutants, for which there is no direct selection procedure available(2). For further genetic studies we mapped the known genes in pCG86. This was done with the use of electron microscope heteroduplex analysis and self-annealing of isolated plasmid DNA molecules(3). The physical map we obtained is shown in Fig. 1. To construct it, we used in addition to normal pCG86 molecules, 2 deletion mutants, one for tetracycline resistance (pWM2981) and one for LT and ST (pWM2982) and Tn5 insertion mutants in ST (pWM2983), LT (WM2984), mercury resistance (pWM2985) and streptomycin resistance (pWM2986). Tn5 contains a gene for kanamycin resistance.
Online Dispute Resolution and Interpersonal Trust

Interpersonal trust is a necessary element for successful negotiation and mediation process. Conducting those processes online, however, necessitates navigating an environment in which trust is significantly diminished. This chapter explores the challenges to trust in the online world, and provides guidance to negotiators and mediators for developing and maintaining interpersonal trust whilst communicating through online media.
Linkages Between the Senior Center as a Public Place and Successful Aging

Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 385 participants attending two separate comprehensive multipurpose senior centers in Tennessee. Based on self-reports, the findings suggest ...
Dual-laser measurement and finite element modeling of human tympanic membrane motion under blast exposure.

Abstract Hearing damage is one of most prevalent injuries in military personnel and civilians exposed to a blast. However, the mechanism of how the blast overpressure interacts with the tympanic membrane (TM) and impairs the peripheral auditory system still remains unclear. A 3D finite element (FE) model of the human ear has been developed to predict the blast overpressure transmission through the ear (Leckness et al., 2018), but the model needs to be further validated in TM response to blast pressure. This paper reports the first-ever approach using two laser Doppler vibrometers (LDVs) to measure the motion of the TM when the ear was exposed to a blast. Five fresh human temporal bones were used in this study with a pressure sensor inserted near the TM to measure the pressure reaching the TM (P1). The temporal bone was mounted in a “head block” and exposed to blast at the overpressure around 35 kPa measured at the entrance of the ear canal (P0). The movements of the TM at the umbo and the “head block” were measured simultaneously by two LDVs and the exact motion of the TM was determined by subtracting the head block motion from the TM data. Results include that the maximum TM velocity was 12.62 ± 3.63 m/s (mean ± SD) and the displacement was 0.78 ± 0.26 mm. The peak-to-peak displacement normalized by the P0 pressure was 22.9 ± 6.6 μm/kPa. The frequency domain analysis indicated that the spectrum peaks were located at frequencies below 3 kHz. The TM motion was then compared with that calculated from the FE model of the human ear with the measured P0 pressure wave applied at the ear canal entrance. The FE model-derived TM displacement under blast overpressure was consistent with the experimental results. This study provides a new methodology to determine the behavior of the middle ear in response to blast overpressure. The experimental data are critical for validating the FE model of the human ear for blast wave transduction and understanding the TM damage induced by blast exposure.
A Taste of Planning in Australia

More than Mad Max types, good surfing, kangaroos, and white sharks, Australia has great cities and good CITY planning AND DESIGN. Kaysen took a quarter from CRP to learn about different cultures and also a little bit more about herself. Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/focus This International Exchange is brought to you for free and open access by the City and Regional Planning at DigitalCommons@CalPoly. It has been accepted for inclusion in Focus by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@CalPoly. For more information, please contact mwyngard@calpoly.edu. Recommended Citation Brennan, Kaysen (2005) "A Taste of Planning in Australia," Focus: Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 23. DOI: 10.15368/focus.2005v2n1.18 Available at: http://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/focus/vol2/iss1/23 Kaysen Brennan A TASTE OF PLANNING IN BSCRP Student City and Regional Planning Department AUSTRALIA Cal Poly San Luis Obispo More than Mad Max types, good surfing, kangaroos, and white sharks, Australia has great cities and good CITY planning AND DSIGN. Kaysen took a quarter from CRP to learn about different cultures and also a little bit more
THERAPY AND NATURAL DEFENCES IN MASTITIS: I THE PHAGOCYTIC DEFENCE OF THE UDDER

The bovine udder contains a number of potential antimicrobial mechanisms, but these often fail to control bacterial growth. There are sufficient opsonins in the gland to opsonize S. aureus and non-capsular E. coli . IgM is the major opsonin for bacterial phagocytosis by neutrophils, although IgG opsonins may also be produced after experimental injection or infection. There are large differences among cows, bulls and calves in the ability of their neutrophils to phagocytose bacteria and this is also correlated with their ability to kill the organisms after ingestion. The ability of the neutrophils to enter an infected mammary gland rapidly and in large numbers is thought to be of even greater importance in the control of infection. The udders of cows which fail to respond early are often damaged by bacterial toxins.
Cigarette and Cannabis Smoking Effects on GPR15+ Helper T Cell Levels in Peripheral Blood: Relationships with Epigenetic Biomarkers.

Background: Smoking causes widespread epigenetic changes that have been linked with an increased risk of smoking-associated diseases and elevated mortality. Of particular interest are changes in the level of T cells expressing G-protein-coupled receptor 15 (GPR15), a chemokine receptor linked with multiple autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis. Accordingly, a better understanding of the mechanisms by which smoking influences variation in the GPR15+ helper T cell subpopulation is of potential interest. Methods: In the current study, we used flow cytometry and digital PCR assays to measure the GPR15+CD3+CD4+ populations in peripheral blood from a cohort of n = 62 primarily African American young adults (aged 27–35 years) with a high rate of tobacco and cannabis use. Results: We demonstrated that self-reported tobacco and cannabis smoking predict GPR15+CD3+CD4+ helper T cell levels using linear regression models. Further, we demonstrated that methylation of two candidate CpGs, cg19859270, located in GPR15, and cg05575921, located in the gene Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Repressor (AHRR), were both significant predictors of GPR15+CD3+CD4+ cell levels, mediating the relationship between smoking habits and increases in GPR15+CD3+CD4+ cells. As hypothesized, the interaction between cg05575921 and cg19859270 was also significant, indicating that low cg05575921 methylation was more strongly predictive of GPR15+CD3+CD4+ cell levels for those who also had lower cg19859270 methylation. Conclusions: Smoking leads changes in two CpGs, cg05575921 and cg19859270, that mediate 38.5% of the relationship between tobacco and cannabis smoking and increased GPR15+ Th levels in this sample. The impact of cg19859270 in amplifying the association between cg05575921 and increased GPR15+ Th levels is of potential theoretical interest given the possibility that it reflects a permissive interaction between different parts of the adaptive immune system.
The Cellular and Physiological Basis of Behavioral Health After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Depression and anxiety have been identified as the two common psychiatric symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI). These conditions are often comorbid with other symptoms such as post-traumatic headache and sleep disturbances, which can further exacerbate or be exacerbated by depression and anxiety. Although most preclinical investigations into the consequences of mild traumatic brain injury have focused on transient cognitive deficits, persistent changes in mental health have been receiving increasing attention. The research on cellular and physiological impact has primarily been conducted in adult male mice and rats; age and sex have been shown to be major factors in determining vulnerability to exhibiting these behavioral alterations. Cell death, axonal injury, inflammation, and neurotransmitter dysfunction have been proposed as potential mechanisms of behavioral dysfunction following TBI. As the cellular and molecular consequences of TBI are complex, these behavioral deficits most likely result as a combination of all of these changes. This chapter reviews the state of the literature on the establishment and utility of preclinical models of mild TBI to examine mechanisms of behavioral deficits in the chronic post-traumatic period.
P75 Successes and Challenges of Using a Peer Mentor Model for Nutrition Education Within a Food Pantry: A Qualitative Study

Background Delivering nutrition education within an emergency food pantry (EFP) is a valuable and sustainable approach to target the food insecure and underserved populations. However, little is known about using a peer mentor model, “Community Cooks,” as a modality to deliver nutrition education within this setting. Objective This research aimed to identify the successes and challenges of using a peer mentor model within an EFP to better understand the best approaches to deliver nutrition education among community residents. Study Design, Setting, Participants In spring 2018, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 peer mentors after they delivered a series of nutrition workshops to community members of the EFP. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results All peer mentors were women over 40 years-of-age, recruited from the EFP community; most were high school graduates and received some form of federal nutrition assistance. All peer mentors reported that the “Community Cooks” nutrition education program offered many benefits. Key successes of the program included the use of nutrition education sessions that were appropriately tailored to a food insecure population, recipes included ingredients often found at the EFP, and serving as a peer mentor was an empowering experience. Peer mentors reported a sense of community, purpose, and camaraderie. Key challenges of the program were the lack of community member engagement in the nutrition education workshops. Conclusions Challenges continue to exist when delivering nutrition education within a community EFP setting. While the use of peer mentors to deliver nutrition education messages is promising, more research is needed to quantify the impact of using a peer mentor model in underserved and food insecure communities.
Investigation of fuel microstructure at the top of a metallic fuel pin after a reactor overpower transient

Abstract The influence of a reactor overpower transient on irradiated metallic fuel performance was investigated in this work. Such transient studies support safety and performance optimization of future sodium fast reactors. A ternary metallic fuel alloy (U-19Pu-10Zr) in HT-9 cladding which was irradiated in the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) to a burnup of 11 at. %, and then subjected to a 30% overpower transient was studied. The sample was selected from the top of a fuel pin where failure is expected to first appear in the EBR-II pin design. This can occur when the pin is subjected to conditions beyond its design envelope. Main elemental distribution, phase characterization, fission product behavior, chemical form and fuel-cladding chemical interaction were analyzed in this study. Simulation of the temperature profile during the transients were performed using BISON and show that the moderate transient did not maintain prolonged high temperature. For the first time, the porous structure commonly found at the top of metallic fuel pin (termed “fluff” structure given its appearance) was examined in detail via postirradiation characterization. The fluff contains the major fuel elements (U, Pu, Zr) and presents a highly porous microstructure (over 40% area fraction). The presence of fission products relevant to source term was investigated. However, semi-volatile and volatile elements (namely Cs, I, Xe, Eu), expected in this region, could not be detected probably due to sample preparation. Europium, also expected in this region, was only detected in precipitates along with the other rare earth elements. Finally, no fluff (fuel) fragments detached from the fuel slug were detected in the plenum region, indicating the fluff stability under the tested moderate ramp. These analyses indicate that the moderate transient experienced by the fuel pin did not significantly influence fuel performance under this transient condition.
Polarization wavefront shaping for quantitative phase contrast and NLO microscopy

Spatially patterning the polarization state of a beam enables a novel approach for phase contrast microscopy, in which two foci (sample and reference) are offset along the optical axis. Polarization wavefront shaping is achieved through the addition of two custom microretarter array (RA) 25mm optics, which serve as selective converging/diverging lenses focusing right and left circular polarization components onto different focal planes. Positioning of a matched RA in the transmission path recombines the two polarization components, with phase differences manifesting and rotations in the polarization state. This approach combines benefits of Nomarski and Zernike phase contrast strategies, while minimizing common artifacts associated with each. In addition, polarization wavefront shaping provides a straightforward route for depth of field extension through addition of a single fixed 1” optic.
Higher Medicare Spending On Imaging And Lab Services After Primary Care Physician Group Vertical Integration.

In recent years direct ownership of physician practices by hospitals and health systems (that is, vertical integration) has become a prominent feature of the US health care system. One unexplored i...
All Guest Speakers Are Not Created Equal: Diverse Students Require Diverse Speakers.

The importance of staying relevant when teaching advertising courses is hardly a new concept, nor is the use of inviting guest speakers to achieve this goal. However, empirically assessing advertis...
Existence, Uniqueness, and Energy of Approximate Fourier Solutions of Modified Stochastic Sine-Gordon Equation with Power-Law Nonlinearity in 1D

A Fourier-series analysis of the modified stochastic Sine-Gordon equation $$\begin{aligned} u_{tt}=\sigma ^{2}u_{xx}-\alpha u_{t}-\delta \sin (\Vert u\Vert _{L^2}^{\gamma })+ \Big (b_{0}+b_{1}\Vert u\Vert _{L^{2}}+b_{2} \Vert u_t\Vert _{L^{2}}\Big ) \frac{dW}{dt} \end{aligned}$$ with power-law nonlinearity and homogeneous boundary conditions on the one-dimensional domain $$x\in \mathbb {D}=[0,l]$$ is presented. Here, $$l>0$$ corresponds to the length of the vibrating beam, $$\delta \ge 0, \gamma \ge 1$$ are the parameters of non-linearity, $$\alpha >0$$ of damping, $$\sigma \in \mathbb {R}$$ of diffusion intensity and $$b_i\in \mathbb {R}$$ of noise intensities. We analyze properties of the solution of this class of SPDEs by the eigenfunction approach allowing us to truncate the infinite-dimensional stochastic system (i.e., the SDEs of Fourier coefficients related to the SPDE), to control its energy, existence, uniqueness, continuity and stability of approximate solutions on an appropriate Hilbert space. The analysis relies on the investigation of expected Lyapunov-type functional related to the energy in terms of all system-parameters. By this approach we are able to justify well-posedness and possible adequate simulations of the model with respect to all system-parameters.
Linking Provider Specialty and Outpatient Diagnoses in Medicare Claims Data: Data Quality Implications

Background With increasing use of real world data in observational health care research, data quality assessment of these data is equally gaining in importance. Electronic health record (EHR) or claims datasets can differ significantly in the spectrum of care covered by the data. Objective In our study, we link provider specialty with diagnoses (encoded in International Classification of Diseases) with a motivation to characterize data completeness. Methods We develop a set of measures that determine diagnostic span of a specialty (how many distinct diagnosis codes are generated by a specialty) and specialty span of a diagnosis (how many specialties diagnose a given condition). We also analyze ranked lists for both measures. As use case, we apply these measures to outpatient Medicare claims data from 2016 (3.5 billion diagnosis–specialty pairs). We analyze 82 distinct specialties present in Medicare claims (using Medicare list of specialties derived from level III Healthcare Provider Taxonomy Codes). Results A typical specialty diagnoses on average 4,046 distinct diagnosis codes. It can range from 33 codes for medical toxicology to 25,475 codes for internal medicine. Specialties with large visit volume tend to have large diagnostic span. Median specialty span of a diagnosis code is 8 specialties with a range from 1 to 82 specialties. In total, 13.5% of all observed diagnoses are generated exclusively by a single specialty. Quantitative cumulative rankings reveal that some diagnosis codes can be dominated by few specialties. Using such diagnoses in cohort or outcome definitions may thus be vulnerable to incomplete specialty coverage of a given dataset. Conclusion We propose specialty fingerprinting as a method to assess data completeness component of data quality. Datasets covering a full spectrum of care can be used to generate reference benchmark data that can quantify relative importance of a specialty in constructing diagnostic history elements of computable phenotype definitions.
Impacts of COVID-19 on cigarette use, smoking behaviors, and tobacco purchasing behaviors.

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant global impact. As a respiratory illness, COVID-19 may pose unique risks to cigarette smokers. This study used concept mapping, a mixed-method participatory approach, to identify impacts of COVID-19 on cigarette smokers. Methods Cigarette smokers across the United States (U.S.) were recruited to complete this online, multi-step study. Of the 126 participants who were invited to participate in this study, 91 participants (mean age = 40.9; SD = 11.3) completed at least one of the three study tasks (i.e., brainstorming, sorting, and rating). Participants completed a brief demographic survey and brainstormed statements that completed a focus prompt: “A specific way that Coronavirus/COVID-19 has impacted/affected my cigarette use, smoking behaviors, tobacco purchasing behaviors, and/or other tobacco-related behaviors is.” After duplicate statements were removed, participants sorted the final list of 87 statements by similarity of content and rated how true statements were from them (1-Definitely NOT true to 7-Definitely true). Results Nine thematic clusters were identified: Smoking More, Smoking to Cope/Reduce Stress, Change in Smoking Behaviors Due to COVID-19, Concerns about Smoking and COVID-19 Risk, Social Impacts, Maintaining and Rationing Cigarette Supply, Impacts on Obtaining Cigarettes, Use of Other Tobacco Products/Drugs, and Minimal/No Impacts/Concerns of COVID-19. The highest rated cluster (i.e., most true) was the Smoking More cluster followed by the Concerns about Smoking and COVID-19 Risk cluster. The highest rated statement in the study was the statement “Smoking keeps me calm”. Conclusions Cigarette smokers may endure additional impacts of COVID-19, such as increased COVID-19 health burdens, stressors related to risk of exposure, social stigma and isolation, financial burdens, and increased toxicant exposure from increased smoking frequency.
Employment at Commercial Service Airports in the USA: Survey Results

The purpose of this research was to ascertain the size and scope of employment at US commercial service airports (CSAs) by: (1) determining the number of full-time and part-time employees employed directly by the operating entities of CSAs; (2) determining the total number of employees employed at these CSAs, including those working not only for airport operators, but also for airport tenants; and (3) comparing the findings to figures found in literature. A literature review was conducted, and all 510 US CSAs were contacted by phone and/or mail and asked to complete a five-question survey. A response rate of 95.1% (n = 485) was obtained. Survey results indicate there are 45,067 full-time and 2,558 part-time employees directly employed by commercial service airport operators. Additionally, when airport tenants are taken into account, survey results indicate 1,154,660 people are employed at CSAs. This study provides more detailed airport employment data than that which is available in current sources, such as the US Department of Labor. It also provides a larger sample size and more comprehensive analysis than previous recent studies, such as the one reported in the November/December issue of Airport Magazine.
Relativistic radiation hydrodynamics and shocks in gamma-ray bursts.

The arguments for a relativistic fireball model of gamma-ray bursts are reviewed, and an outline is given of the relativistic impulsive and wind flow formulations, in which dissipative shocks are thought to produce the nonthermal spectra observed. We discuss the main results obtained from analytic approximations, as well as the questions of radiative efficiency, spectrum formation, and the late evolution of impulsive or wind flows leading to gamma-ray burst remnants. We also discuss some recent numerical calculations of external deceleration shocks.
Exercise in the Prevention of Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a chronic, multifactor disease that has powerful contributing genetic components as well as strong lifestyle components that increase the risk for the development and progression of the disease. Risk factors for CAD have been historically divided into nonmodifiable, primary modifiable, and secondary modifiable factors. The primary focus of medicine has been on the treatment of established CAD, and preventive efforts have more aggressively addressed areas in which direct pharmacological intervention is available (1) (see Table 1). This is especially evident with respect to hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and antiplatelet aggregation therapy.
Lycopene and its metabolite apo-10’-lycopenoic acid suppressed high-fat diet-induced hepatic steatosis in beta-carotene-9’,10’-oxygenase knockout mice (39.3)

Prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with the current obesity epidemic. Lycopene (LYC), which can generate apo-10’-lycopenoic acid (APO10LA) endogenously by beta-carotene-9...
System-Level Resource Management for Network-Based Multimedia Applications

SRI International (SRI) has developed a model for system-level resource management in distributed systems, and applied this model in the context of a multimedia conferencing application. The model considers user objectives, resource constraints, and adaptable execution techniques. User objectives are specified by means of benefit functions. We have implemented a prototype of a distributed multimedia display application that demonstrates key aspects of the model, including adaptation to a changing execution environment.
Spectra and structure of organophosphorus compounds: Part XXVII. Infrared and Raman spectra and conformational stability of ethyldimethylphosphine sulfide

Abstract The Raman (10 to 3500 cm −1 and infrared (50 to 3500 cm −1 ) spectra have been recorded for solid ethyldimethylphosphine sulfide, CH 3 CH 2 P(S)(CH 3 ) 2 . Additionally, the Raman spectrum of the liquid phase has been recorded and qualitative depolarization values have been obtained. From the fact that several distinct lines appear on going from the solid phase to the fluid state, it is concluded that the molecule exists as a mixture of the gauche and trans conformers in the liquid phase. A study of solutions of ethyldimethylphosphine sulfide in solvents of varying dielectric constants indicates that it is the gauche conformer which is more stable and the only one which remains in the solid state. Relying on group frequencies as well as relative depolarization values and relative intensities of the infrared and Raman bands, a complete vibrational assignment is proposed for the gauche conformer. The assignment is supported by a normal coordinate calculation which was carried out utilizing a modified valence force field to obtain the frequencies of the normal modes and the potential energy distribution. The asymmetric torsional mode for the gauche conformer has been assigned to the broad band at 110 cm −1 in the infrared spectrum of the solid phase. All of these results are compared with corresponding quantities for several other organophosphines.
9 – Type II Superconductivity

This chapter discusses various aspects of Type II superconductivity. Type II superconductors have zero resistance, but their perfect diamagnetism occurs only below the lower critical field. It is found that when the material is Type II, the penetration depth is the larger of the two length parameters, and external magnetic fields can penetrate to a distance of several or more coherence lengths into the sample. As the applied magnetic field increases, the density of vortices increases and they begin to overlap, making the vortex–vortex nearest-neighbor distance less than the penetration depth. The vortices arrange themselves in a hexadic pattern when their density is high enough to make the repulsive interactions among them appreciable in magnitude. As the applied field increases, more vortices enter, and their mutual repulsion and tendency to diffuse causes them to migrate inward. In tetragonal high-temperature superconductors such as the bismuth and thallium types, the dominant pinning mechanism is generally relatively weak interactions between the vortices and randomly distributed defects. It is suggested that when the average separation of vortices is much greater than the penetration depth, a two-dimensional gas is formed that is able to move independently of each other, assuming that pinning is absent.
Lower serum testosterone associated with elevated polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in Native American men.

BackgroundPolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorinated pesticides are endocrine disruptors, altering both thyroid and estrogen hormonal systems. Less is known of action on androgenic systems.Ob...
Class Noise Mitigation Through Instance Weighting

We describe a novel framework for class noise mitigation that assigns a vector of class membership probabilities to each training instance, and uses the confidence on the current label as a weight during training. The probability vector should be calculated such that clean instances have a high confidence on its current label, while mislabeled instances have a low confidence on its current label and a high confidence on its correct label. Past research focuses on techniques that either discard or correct instances. This paper proposes that discarding and correcting are special cases of instance weighting, and thus, part of this framework. We propose a method that uses clustering to calculate a probability distribution over the class labels for each instance. We demonstrate that our method improves classifier accuracy over the original training set. We also demonstrate that instance weighting can outperform discarding.
K Band Galaxy Counts and the Cosmological Geometry

The Hawaii deep survey has now established galaxy counts to a K magnitude of 23. The low number density of these counts at the faint end favors a q 0 = 0.5, Λ = 0 geometry which minimizes the available cosmological volume. However these models provide no explanation for the large number of faint blue galaxies. Combining spectroscopic data with K magnitudes for a blue selected sample shows that the large number of galaxies at B = 23 — 24 appears to be a population of blue dwarf galaxies lying at typical redshifts of 0.3 to 0.4. These dwarf galaxies contain as much K light as the normal galaxy population and may dominate the baryonic and dark matter content of the universe.
Low-temperature heat-capacity study of Haucke compounds CaNi/sub 5/, YNi/sub 5/, LaNi/sub 5/, and ThNi/sub 5/

Low-temperature heat capacities of some Haucke compounds (CaNi/sub 5/, YNi/sub 5/, LaNi/sub 5/, and ThNi/sub 5/) were studied. The electronic specific-heat constants of these compounds are nearly the same and slightly smaller than that of pure nickel. The Debye temperatures of these compounds show a wider variation than the electronic specific-heat constants. It is found that the lattice rigidity of these four compounds varies considerably, with that of LaNi/sub 5/ being the softest, followed by CaNi/sub 5/, ThNi/sub 5/, and YNi/sub 5/ in order of increasing rigidity. This appears to influence their hydrogen absorption capacity. The relative softness is correlated with the Ni--Ni distances in the midplane (3(g) sites), and it is suggested that the Ni atoms in this plane play a critical role in governing the hydrogenation behavior of these materials.
Expression of transforming growth factor beta 2 RNA during murine embryogenesis

We have studied the temporal and spatial expression of transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF beta 2) RNA in mouse embryos from 10.5 days post coitum (p.c.) to 3 days post partum (p.p.) by in situ hybridization analysis. TGF beta 2 RNA is expressed in a variety of tissues including bone, cartilage, tendon, gut, blood vessels, skin and fetal placenta, and is in general found in the mesenchymal component of these tissues. The expression of TGF beta 2 RNA changes during development in a manner consistent with a role for the gene product in mediating mesenchymal-epithelial interactions.
Falcon Herpesvirus, the Etiologic Agent of Inclusion Body Disease of Falcons

A viral agent has been isolated from five fatal cases of naturally occurring inclusion body disease in three different falcon species, namely, the prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus), the red-headed falcon (F. chiquera), and the peregrine falcon (F. peregrinus). The virus has been shown to possess the physical, chemical, and biological properties of a herpesvirus and has been used to reproduce inclusion body disease in the prairie falcon, merlin (F. columbarius), and American kestrel (F. sparverius). A similar disease was also produced with this virus in the great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), screech owl (Otus asio), and ring-necked turtle dove (Streptopelia risoria). Serological comparison of the falcon herpesvirus with other known avian herpesviruses revealed that the virus is antigenically closely related to a pigeon herpesvirus and an owl herpesvirus while differing from the former in host range. No antigenic relationship to infectious laryngotracheitis virus, duck virus enteritis, or Marek9s disease virus could be demonstrated. Images
Coastal Environmental Changes Revealed in Geophysical Images of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, U.S.A.

Ground-penetrating radar surveys along a highly dynamic, paraglacial coastline of Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, reveal geological signatures of coastal environmental changes that are presently masked by coastal dunes and vegetation. The high-resolution geophysical records reveal 1) the geometry and genesis of discontinuities produced by spit migration, 2) thickness and progradation style of beach and nearshore deposits, 3) subsurface expression of a paleo-scarp beneath a prograded coastal sequence, and 4) dimensions and mode of infilling of a proglacial valley containing an ephemeral inlet channel. This study illustrates the value of geophysical research in complementing and extending the historical shoreline change data, providing the basis for quantitative assessment of landscape change, and offering a more complete picture of Holocene coastal dynamics.
Nanostructured block-random copolymers with tunable magnetic properties.

It was recently shown that block copolymers (BCPs) produced room-temperature ferromagnetic materials (RTFMs) due to their nanoscopic ordering and the cylindrical phase yielded the highest coercivity. Here, a series of metal-containing block-random copolymers composed of an alkyl-functionalized homo block (C16) and a random block of cobalt complex- (Co) and ferrocene-functionalized (Fe) units was synthesized via ring-opening metathesis polymerization. Taking advantage of the block-random architecture, the influence of dipolar interactions on the magnetic properties of these nanostructured BCP materials was studied by varying the molar ratio of the Co units to the Fe units, while maintaining the cylindrical phase-separated morphology. DC magnetic measurements, including magnetization versus field, zero-field-cooled, and field-cooled, as well as AC susceptibility measurements showed that the magnetic properties of the nanostructured BCP materials could be easily tuned by diluting the cobalt density with Fe u...
Attention Bias Modification Training Via Smartphone to Reduce Social Anxiety: A Randomized, Controlled Multi-Session Experiment

Testing feasibility and efficacy of psychological treatment via mobile devices is important, given its potential benefits for high-dosage treatment delivery, widespread and inexpensive dissemination, and efficient research methods. We conducted the first randomized controlled trial of attention bias modification training delivered via smartphones, comparing this training to control training in a double-blind design, also including a waitlist condition. All participants performed a variant of dot-probe training involving faces with neutral and disgust (representative of social threat) expressions in brief sessions three times daily over 4 weeks on their own smartphones, at home or anywhere they chose. Attention bias modification, also known as cognitive bias modification of attention, training included a contingency to induce attentional deployment away from disgust faces, whereas the control training included no contingency. Participants completed weekly Internet-based self-report symptom assessments as well as smartphone-delivered dot-probe attention bias assessments, whose reliability findings supported the viability of using smartphones for reaction-time based assessments. The between-groups training effect on attention bias scores was small, showing statistical significance in some analyses and not in others. On measures of social anxiety, intention-to-treat analyses (n = 326) revealed significant pre–post treatment declines with medium to large effect sizes in both training groups, whereas small declines in a waitlist group were nonsignificant. Both training groups showed greater reductions in social anxiety than did waitlist; however, the benefits under these two training conditions were statistically indistinguishable. Improvements in the two training conditions beyond those of waitlist could be attributable to any factors common to them, but not to the contingency training specific to active attention bias modification training.
Raman spectroscopy of cobalt phthalocyanine adsorbed on a silver electrode

Abstract Raman spectra of cobalt tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine adsorbed on a silver electrode in aqueous electrolytes have been recorded in situ. It is shown that the entensity of the Raman bands is directly related to the amount of charge transfered during the electrochemical activation of the silver. The strong potential dependence of distinct Raman bands is discussed with respect to the resonance properties of the adsorbate, taking into account the orientation of the molecule on the surface.
Social inertia and diversity in collaboration networks

Random graphs are useful tools to study social interactions. In particular, the use of weighted random graphs allows to handle a high level of information concerning which agents interact and in which degree the interactions take place. Taking advantage of this representation, we recently defined a magnitude, the Social Inertia, that measures the eagerness of agents to keep ties with previous partners. To study this magnitude, we used collaboration networks that are specially appropriate to obtain valid statitical results due to the large size of publically available databases. In this work, I study the Social Inertia in two of these empirical networks, IMDB movie database and condmat. More specifically, I focus on how the Inertia relates to other properties of the graphs, and show that the Inertia provides information on how the weight of neighboring edges correlates. A social interpretation of this effect is also offered.
Psychological and pharmacological treatments of bulimia nervosa: a research update

Abstract Bulimia nervosa (BN) is an eating disorder, primarily afflicting young women, which can be successfully treated. The two most intensively researched treatments for BN have been antidepressant medication and cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT). Controlled studies of the separate and combined effects of these methods are critically reviewed, and the theoretical and clinical implications of their findings discussed.
ORDERINg PATTERN AND PERfORMANCE Of BIOChEMICAl TEsTs fOR DIAgNOsINg PhEOChROMOCyTOMA BETwEEN 2000 AND 2008

ABSTRACT Objective To examine what tests are ordered by physicians for pheochromocytoma diagnosis and how those tests perform in modern clinical practice. Methods In this case series, electronic medical records of patients seen between January 2000 and July 2008 at a large academic hospital in Los Angeles, California, were queried, and patients older than 15 years who underwent any 1 of 5 tests for pheochromocytoma (measurement of plasma catecholamines, plasma fractionated metanephrines, urinary catecholamines, urinary metanephrines, or urinary vanillylmandelic acid) were identified. Because testing was performed in various reference laboratories, test results were classified into 1 of 3 categories: (a) markedly elevated, (b) moderately elevated, or (c) normal. Patient demographics, clinical history, test results, imaging study findings, and pathology records were reviewed. Results A total of 3980 tests were ordered for 1898 patients. Pretest probability was 2.2% (based on 681 patients in whom pheochromocytoma was confirmed or excluded), and hypertension was the most common indication for testing. The number of patients tested and the number of tests ordered increased over the years. The ordering pattern stabilized since 2006 when urinary metanephrines, urinary catecholamines, and plasma metanephrines were ordered more frequently. Sensitivity was highest for urinary metanephrines and vanillylmandelic acid, specificity was highest for vanillylmandelic acid and urinary catecholamines, and positive likelihood ratio was highest for vanillylmandelic acid. Positive predictive value for markedly elevated test results was 39% to 83%, while that for moderately elevated test results was only 2% to 14%. Conclusions Ordering pattern and test performance differ significantly from those recommended and reported by large centers. The best testing strategy should incorporate local experience. Categorizing test results as markedly elevated, moderately elevated, and normal is important for result interpretation. (Endocr Pract. 2009;15:313-321)