cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Hummingbird minipositioner-providing three-axis motion at 50 g's with low reactions

The Hummingbird minipositioner is a three-axis servo-mechanism designed to provide fast and accurate positioning of a low-mass probe tip on or above a nearly planar object. Peak XYZ accelerations in excess of 500 m/s/sup 2/ (50 g) are obtained, with positioning resolution under 1 mu m and a workspace of 13 by 13 by 1 mm. The system weighs 950 g and is nearly reactionless during X-Y motion to simplify integration with large-area positioners. The design of the dynamically balanced five-bar linkage assembly and the Z-actuator is presented, along with data on in-plane linkage resonances (shown to be >1 kHz) and the torque cancellation effectiveness. A typical incremental move of 5 mm with 50 g peak acceleration and a move time of 8 ms is also presented. >
Assessing the impact of urban land development on net primary productivity in the southeastern United States

The southeastern United States (SE-US) has undergone one of the highest rates of landscape changes in the country due to changing demographics and land use practices over the last few decades. Increasing evidence indicates that these changes have impacted mesoscale weather patterns, biodiversity and water resources. Since the Southeast has one of the highest rates of land productivity in the nation, it is important to monitor the effects of such changes regularly. Here, we propose a remote sensing based methodology to estimate regional impacts of urban land development on ecosystem structure and function. As an indicator of ecosystem functioning, we chose net primary productivity (NPP), which is now routinely estimated from the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. We used the MODIS data, a 1992 Landsat-based land cover map and nighttime data derived from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program’s Operational Linescan System (DMSP/OLS) for the years 1992/1993 and 2000 to estimate the extent of urban development and its impact on NPP. The analysis based on the nighttime data indicated that in 1992/1993, urban areas amounted to 4.5% of the total land surface of the region. In the year 2000, the nighttime data showed an increase in urban development for the southeastern United States of 1.9%. Estimates derived from the MODIS data indicated that land cover changes due to urban development that took place during the 1992–2000 period reduced annual NPP of the southeastern United States by 0.4%. Despite the uncertainties in sensor fusion and the coarse resolution of the data used in this study, results show that the combination of MODIS products such as NPP with nighttime data could provide rapid assessment of urban land cover changes and their impacts on regional ecosystem resources. D 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
Continuous-time random-walk simulation of H2 formation on interstellar grains

The formation of molecular hydrogen via the recombination of hydrogen atoms on interstellar grain surfaces has been investigated anew. A detailed Monte Carlo procedure known as the continuous-time random-walk method has been used. This Monte Carlo approach has two advantages over the stochastic master equation method: it treats random walk on a surface correctly, and it can easily be used for inhomogeneous surfaces. The recombination efficiency for H2 formation as a function of surface temperature and grain size has been calculated for a variety of grain surfaces with a flux of hydrogen atoms repre- sentative of diffuse interstellar clouds. The surfaces studied include homogeneous olivine and amorphous carbon, characterized by single energies for the diffusion barrier and binding energy of H atoms, inhomogeneous versions of these two surfaces with distributions of H-atom diffusion barriers and binding energies, and a variety of mixed surfaces of olivine and carbon. For the homogeneous surfaces, we confirm that the temperature range for efficient formation of H2 is very small. At temperatures near peak efficiency, there is little dependence on grain size. At temperatures higher than those of peak efficiency, the Monte Carlo procedure exhibits smaller efficiencies for molecular hydrogen formation than the master equation method in the limit of large grain sizes. For various types of inhomogeneous and mixed surfaces, the major effect we find is an increase in the temperature range over which the efficiency of molecular hydrogen formation is high. Efficient formation of H2 in diffuse interstellar clouds now seems possible with inhomogeneous grains.
A study of time synchronization for WiMAX wireless systems

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) is a standard for fourth generation (4G) wireless communication systems that is based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). In this paper we study the use of Maximum Correlation and Minimum Difference methods for estimating time offsets in OFDM systems and present their application to time synchronization for WiMAX transmissions. Bit Error Rate (BER) plots obtained from simulations are presented to evaluate system performance.
Segmental Arterial Mediolysis: A Case of Mistaken Hemorrhagic Pancreatitis and Review of the Literature

Context Segmental arterial mediolysis is an uncommon, non-atherosclerotic, non-inflammatory arteriopathy that involves areas of dissecting aneurysms and strictures that are caused by outer media lysis of the arterial wall from areas of medial necrosis of uncertain pathogenesis. It has a predilection for splanchnic arteries and often presents as abdominal pain or hemorrhage in late middle-aged and elderly patients. Diagnosis can be established by computed tomography angiography, magnetic resonance angiography, or angiogram by visualizing typical abnormalities, in addition to excluding other vasculitides. Histological confirmation is the gold standard but is not easily accessible and, as such, is not frequently performed. Case report Here we present an updated review of the literature and a case of segmental arterial mediolysis that presented with spontaneous intra-abdominal bleeding near the pancreas that was originally misdiagnosed as hemorrhagic pancreatitis. Conclusion Diagnosis is important because immunosuppressants for vasculitis can worsen the arteriopathy. Segmental arterial mediolysis can be self-limiting without treatment or may require urgent surgical or endovascular therapy for bleeding and carries a 50% mortality rate. Therefore, it should be included in the differential of causes of abdominal pain as well as in cases of unexplained abdominal hemorrhage. Image: Vascular irregularity and pseudoaneurysm formation.
Surgical management of strabismus after rupture of the inferior rectus muscle.

Abstract Background: Rupture of an inferior rectus muscle is an uncommon problem. The resulting absence of infraduction and large hypertropia that result when the muscle cannot be repaired are challenging to manage surgically. Methods: We treated 2 patients who had traumatic rupture of the inferior rectus muscle. Both patients underwent an inferior transposition of the inferior halves of the medial and lateral rectus muscles without disinsertion (modified Jensen transposition procedure). Results: Both patients had a persistent small overcorrection in the primary gaze position. One patient was treated with a second strabismus surgery consisting of a recession of the contralateral superior rectus muscle; the other was treated with prism glasses. Both achieved restoration of depression to approximately 40 degrees and single binocular vision in the primary position at distance, near, and in the reading position. Conclusion: This modified Jensen transposition procedure of the horizontal rectus muscles appears to be highly effective in the treatment of the hypertropia and infraduction deficit produced by rupture of the inferior rectus muscle. It also appears to be suitable for use in situations when other rectus muscles are absent or unavailable for surgical manipulation. (J AAPOS 2000;4:164–7)
Thermochemical structures within a spherical mantle: Superplumes or piles?

[1] Heterogeneous compositional mantle models are frequently invoked to explain some observations obtained from geochemistry and seismology. In particular, two regions in the Earth's lower mantle, under the Pacific and Africa, are often interpreted as being either piles or superplumes of dense material. We perform numerical modeling of thermochemical convection in a three-dimensional spherical geometry to investigate whether the geometry can focus a dense chemical component into a small number of isolated, rounded piles or superplumes of material. We study the effect of temperature and compositionally dependent viscosity, and we find two different modes of dense layer deformation. Temperature-dependent rheology leads to a low-viscosity dense layer which is passively swept aside by downwellings into linear piles that are spread throughout the entire lower mantle. The addition of compositionally dependent rheology in which the dense layer is more viscous results in active deformation of the dense material, forming large, isolated superplumes. Our results indicate that piles and superplumes are separate features which, in general, do not occur together and, in order for isolated, rounded superplumes to form, an intrinsic compositional viscosity increase is required for the dense material.
Anger temperament is modestly associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Atheroslcerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Summary Objective Trait anger has been shown to predict coronary heart disease; however, there are no prior studies evaluating anger as a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The objective of this study was to determine if anger proneness predicted type 2 diabetes using prospective analyses. Methods We analyzed data on trait anger, assessed by questionnaire, in a longitudinal, bi-racial cohort study of 11,615 initially non-diabetic adults aged 48–67, who were subsequently followed for 6 years for the development of type 2 diabetes. Results There was no relation between overall trait anger and the subsequent risk of diabetes; however, individuals in the highest tertile of trait anger temperament scores had a 34% increased risk of developing diabetes compared to those in the lowest tertile (Relative hazard [RH]=1.34; 95% confidence interval: 1.10, 1.62), following adjustment for age, race, gender, and education. The relation between anger temperament and diabetes remained significant following adjustment for behavioral factors (smoking, physical activity, and caloric intake) (RH=1.31; 95% CI: 1.08, 1.60) but was non-significant after additional adjustment for waist-to-hip ratio and body-mass index (RH=1.18; 95% CI: 0.97, 1.44). Conclusions While we found no relation between overall trait anger and incident diabetes, persons who had higher anger temperament subscale scores had a slightly increased risk of type 2 diabetes, which was largely explained by adiposity. Anger temperament may deserve further attention as a potential risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
Guest Editorial: Reliability, Packaging, Testing, and Characterization of MEMS and MOEMS

This PDF file contains the editorial “Guest Editorial: Reliability, Packaging, Testing, and Characterization of MEMS and MOEMS” for JM3 Vol. 8 Issue 03
ARH mutations and hypercholesterolaemia in Sardinia

not support this possibility (table). A more probable explanation would be a selective advantage to the carriers of the mutation. Indeed, the selective advantage to malaria conferred to carriers of various haemoglobinopathies often lead to the presence of multiple mutations present in a population. The advantage may have been particular some unique features of the population, such as another frequent genetic trait reducing the fitness of its carriers or an advantage to an environmental factor. Joel Zlotogora
Perinatal and postnatal patterns of plasma sex steroid-binding protein and testosterone in relation to puberty in the male little brown bat

The little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus lucifugus) possesses a specific plasma sex steroid-binding protein (SBP) which exhibits high affinity for both testosterone (T) and estradiol. To examine the peri- and postnatal patterns of plasma androgen binding in relation to puberty, concentrations of SBP and total T levels were measured in males at various intervals throughout the first year of life. In addition, reproductive organs were examined histologically over this period. SBP levels were low (<7 nm) in near-term fetuses (mid-June) but increased more than 30-fold by 1 week of age (range, 245–602 nm). Elevated titers of this protein were present until 3 weeks of age. By 4 weeks of age (onset of puberty, initiation of the first spermatogenesis), SBP concentrations had fallen significantly, and by 12 weeks, just before the first winter hibernation period, plasma SBP levels had returned to low prenatal-like values (3–12 nm). These levels were maintained throughout winter dormancy. The total plasma T concentrat...
HPV IN THE MALE PATIENT

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a DNA-containing virus associated with a wide variety of clinical and subclinical diseases. These HPV lesions may resolve spontaneously or progress to benign (condyloma acuminata) or malignant (genital carcinoma) neoplasms. The incidence of HPV genital infection has risen dramatically over the past 30 years, and it is now the most common viral sexually transmitted disease. Many therapeutic options are available to the urologist with new treatments currently being investigated. The history, etiology, pathogenesis, carcinogenesis, and guidelines for evaluation and management are discussed.
Are Corticosteroids Effective in All Patients With Cancer-Related Pain?

Corticosteroids are commonly used in cancer medicine. Many chemotherapy regimens, especially those used in the treatment of hematologic malignancies, often include corticosteroids, sometimes athigh-doses.Oftentheimpactofthesuddencessationafter5daysof high-dose corticosteroids was the major adverse effect reported by patients. Even more recently, corticosteroids were included in the patients with cancer demonstrated that corticosteroids were used commonly; 50% of patients with cancer in the palliative care setting received corticosteroids. 5 The most common indications for starting corticosteroids in this survey were appetite loss (37%), fatigue (36%), and poor well-being (33%) while pain was an indication in 25%. A recentreportfromNewZealand 6 showedthatofalmost1,200patients receiving care from seven inpatient hospices, two thirds had received at least one course of corticosteroids during that care. The reasons for corticosteroids were a nonspecific indication (40%), neurologic symptoms (25.3%), and soft-tissue infiltration symptoms (14.4%). Detailed information was recorded for a sample of 260 patients with the agent of choice being dexamethasone with a median dose of 8 mg (dose range, 1 mg-40 mg). Corticosteroids were prescribed for a me- dian duration of 29 days per course. Abrupt stopping occurred in 72 (23.2%) cases; of these 35 (49%) had been on a course of corticoste- roids for more than 3 weeks. Corticosteroid-prescribing guidelines, including cessation titration, were only available in one hospice. Ad- verse effects were recorded in 82 (32%) but only 52% of the 260 had regular monitoring, thus suggesting that adverse events were in fact much more common than reported. But do corticosteroids make a difference? The study by Norwe- gian investigators in the article that accompanies this editorial 7 uses high level evidence from a randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlledtrial.Usingwell-validatedtools,theymeasuredtheeffectof methylprednisone (16 mg twice daily) on pain, fatigue, and appetite over a 1-week period. The study showed no difference in pain scores between the two groups when measured as absolute or percentage differences, and this negative finding was not changed by regression analysis. The study did find significant differences in appetite stimu- lation, fatigue, and overall satisfaction in favor of the corticoste- roid group.
The Effect of Additives on the Crystallization of Cefazolin Sodium During Freeze-Drying

Purpose. To monitor the phase transitions during freeze-drying of cefazolin sodium (I) as a function of process and formulation variables.
Management-related risk factors for M-paratuberculosis infection in Michigan, USA, dairy herds

A cross-sectional study was conducted from June through December 1996 to identify management-related risk factors for herd-level M. paratuberculosis infection. Data were collected from 121 participating herds. A two-part questionnaire was administered to gather data on current and previous management practices and herd productivity. A random sample of cows aged ≥24 months was selected from each herd and tested for antibodies to M. paratuberculosis using the IDEXX Antibody ELISA (sensitivity 64%, specificity 96%). A positive herd was one in which ≥2 animals tested positive for antibodies to M. paratuberculosis. A negative herd was one in which no animal tested positive. Herds in which only one animal tested positive were dropped from statistical analysis to reduce the risk of including false-positive herds in the statistical analyses. There were 80 herds with one or more positive animals and 41 herds with no positive animals in the sample (66% herd-level prevalence). Twenty-six herds (21%) were dropped from further analyses because they had only one positive cow. Twelve herds (10%) were dropped from analysis because of missing data. The resulting sample used for statistical modeling included 46 positive herds and 37 negative herds (55% herd-level prevalence). A multi-variable logistic-regression model was used to evaluate the results. The variable `use of an exercise lot for lactating cows' was associated with a three-fold increase in odds of a herd being positive for M. paratuberculosis infection (O.R.=3.01, C.I.=1.03–8.80); `cleaning of maternity pens after each use' was associated with a three-fold reduction in odds of a herd being positive for M. paratuberculosis infection (O.R.=0.28, C.I.=0.08–0.89); `application of lime to pasture areas in 1993' resulted in a ten-fold decrease in odds of a herd being positive for M. paratuberculosis infection (O.R.=0.10, C.I.=0.02–0.56).
A psychometric toolbox for testing validity and reliability.

Purpose: To review the concepts of reliability and validity, provide examples of how the concepts have been used in nursing research, provide guidance for improving the psychometric soundness of instruments, and report suggestions from editors of nursing journals for incorporating psychometric data into manuscripts. Methods: CINAHL, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO databases were searched using key words: validity, reliability, and psychometrics. Nursing research articles were eligible for inclusion if they were published in the last 5 years, quantitative methods were used, and statistical evidence of psychometric properties were reported. Reports of strong psychometric properties of instruments were identified as well as those with little supporting evidence of psychometric soundness. Findings: Reports frequently indicated content validity but sometimes the studies had fewer than five experts for review. Criterion validity was rarely reported and errors in the measurement of the criterion were identified. Construct validity remains underreported. Most reports indicated internal consistency reliability (α) but few reports included reliability testing for stability. When retest reliability was asserted, time intervals and correlations were frequently not included. Conclusions: Planning for psychometric testing through design and reducing nonrandom error in measurement will add to the reliability and validity of instruments and increase the strength of study findings. Underreporting of validity might occur because of small sample size, poor design, or lack of resources. Lack of information on psychometric properties and misapplication of psychometric testing is common in the literature.
Updating and constructing constrained delaunay and constrained regular triangulations by flips

I discuss algorithms based on bistellar flips for inserting and deleting constraining (d - 1)-facets in d-dimensional constrained Delaunay triangulations (CDTs) and weighted CDTs, also known as constrained regular triangulations. The facet insertion algorithm is likely to outperform other known algorithms on most inputs. The facet deletion algorithm is the first proposed for d > 2, short of recomputing the CDT from scratch. An incremental facet insertion algorithm that begins with an unconstrained Delaunay triangulation can construct the CDT of a ridge-protected piecewise linear complex with nv vertices in O(nv[d / 2] + 1 log nv) time. Hence, in odd dimensions, CDT construction by incremental facet insertion is within a factor of log nv of worst-case optimal. Perhaps the most important feature of these algorithms is that they are relatively easy to implement.
Black cutworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larval emigration and biomass in mixtures of endophytic perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass.

Studies examined the possibility that mixtures of endophytic perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass provide resistance against larvae of the black cutworm, Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel). We hypothesized that resistance against A. ipsilon in such stands would stem from the influence of Kentucky bluegrass on A. ipsilon growth and behavior rather than the influence of endophytic perennial ryegrass. In replicated greenhouse experiments, black cutworm larvae initially emigrated more quickly from pots containing monocultures of endophytic perennial ryegrass than from Kentucky bluegrass monocultures or polycultures of Kentucky bluegrass and endophytic perennial ryegrass. However, biomass of emigrating larvae decreased linearly as the proportion of Kentucky bluegrass increased. Turfgrass mixtures containing endophytic perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass may provide resistance against A. ipsilon mainly through the physiological effects of Kentucky bluegrass on A. ipsilon growth and development, but possibly through the influence of endophytic perennial ryegrass on A. ipsilon movement and foraging behavior as well.
The Influence of Rate of Skin Indentation on Threshold and Suprathreshold Tactile Sensations

The effects of skin indentation depth and rate on threshold and suprathreshold tactile sensations were investigated. Indentation rates between 0.3 and 10 mm/sec had little effect on the absolute tactile thresholds measured in terms of indentation depth. Slower rates resulted in increased absolute thresholds. Estimates of the growth in intensity of tactile sensations were made as functions of indentation depth and rate. The fastest rate used (10 mm/sec), for a given depth of indentation, produced the most intense sensation; the slowest (0.1 mm/sec), the least intense sensation. The tactile sensation magnitude estimates, with rate as the parameter, could be described by power functions. At the slowest indentation rate the exponent of the function was 1.36. At faster indentation rates (0.4, 1.0, and 10 mm/sec), two functions of markedly different slopes were required to describe the estimates. The exponents of the power functions were between 0.38 and 0.49 for indentation depths up to about 0.9 mm, and between 1.07 and 1.43 for deeper indentation depths.
Severe obesity prior to diagnosis limits survival in colorectal cancer patients evaluated at a large cancer centre

In contrast to the consistent evidence for obesity and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, the impact of obesity in CRC patients is less clear. In a well-characterised cohort of CRC patients, we prospectively evaluated class I and class II obesity with survival outcomes. The CRC patients (N=634) were followed from the date of diagnosis until disease progression/first recurrence (progression-free survival (PFS)) or death (overall survival (OS)). Body mass index (BMI) was calculated from reported usual weight prior to diagnosis. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated in models adjusted for clinicopathologic, treatment, and lifestyle factors. Over a median follow-up of 4 years, 208 (33%) patients died and 235 (37%) recurred or progressed. Class II obesity, as compared with either overweight or normal weight, was associated with an increased risk of death (HR and 95% CI: 1.55 (0.97–2.48) and 1.65 (1.02–2.68), respectively), but no clear association was observed with PFS. In analyses restricted to patients who presented as stages I–III, who reported stable weight, or who were aged <50 years, obesity was associated with a significant two- to five-fold increased risk of death. In CRC patients evaluated at a large cancer centre, severely obese patients experienced worse survival outcomes independent of many other factors.
Effect of applied potential on changes in solution chemistry inside crevices on type 304L stainless steel and Alloy 825

Abstract Changes in pH, chloride (Cl−) concentration, and potential inside a rectangular crevice of metal against polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) were monitored using microelectrodes as a function o...
Biology of Erythroneura lawsoni (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) and Coexistence in the Sycamore Leaf-Feeding Guild

Erythroneura lawsoni Robinson (Homoptera: Cicadellidae), specific to sycamore, was studied in east-central Illinois in 1972, under both laboratory and field conditions. Adult. females laid 4–6 eggs/week during a 4–5 week oviposition period. Eggs hatched within 15 days, and 5 nymphal instars followed, with a mean development time of 3–5 days/instar. Mean generation time was 41 days, and 4 partially overlapping generations occurred in 1972. This species coexists with 4 other leaf-sucking insects on sycamore: Empoasca fabae (Harris), Empoa platana Christian (Cicadellidae), Corythucha ciliata (Say) (Tingidae) and Plagiognathus albatus (Van Duzee) (Miridae); the last 3 species are specific to sycamore. The species show differences in temporal and spatial exploitation of sycamore leaves, so that overlap of feeding niches is small. Empoasca fabae feeds on main viens, Erythroneura lawsoni on the leaf blade close to larger veins, Empoa platana on the leaf blade distant from veins, and the maximum niche overlap seen between these species is 38%. C. ciliata feeds on the whole area of the leaf blade, and thus overlaps other species extensively, 84% for Erythroneura lawsoni and 80% for Empoa platana . But overall overlap, when both time and space are considered, is reduced to a maximum of 63% between C. ciliata and E. lawsoni , and to much less (0–39%) for other species combinations. The sycamore leaf offers a mosaic of microhabitats which allows niche diversification and specialization in the leaf-feeding guild.
Olefin Cross-Metathesis as a Source of Polysaccharide Derivatives: Cellulose ω-Carboxyalkanoates

Cross-metathesis has been shown for the first time to be a useful method for the synthesis of polysaccharide derivatives, focusing herein on preparation of cellulose ω-carboxyalkanoates. Commercially available cellulose esters were first acylated with 10-undecenoyl chloride, providing esters with olefin-terminated side chains. Subsequent cross-metathesis of these terminal olefin moieties with acrylic acid was performed in solvents including acrylic acid, THF, and CH2Cl2. Complete conversion to discrete, soluble cross-metathesis products was achieved by using the Hoveyda-Grubbs second generation ruthenium catalyst and an excess of acrylic acid. Oligomerization during storage, caused by a free radical mechanism, was observed and successfully suppressed by the addition of a free radical scavenger (BHT). Furthermore, the cross-metathesis products exhibited glass transition temperatures (Tg) that were at least 50 °C higher than ambient temperature, supporting the potential for application of these polymers as ...
Ingrown toenail: a problem among the aged.

Among the aged, ingrown toenails are a vexing problem. Not only can such a nail be exquisitely painful, but it can become infected or ulcerated. When the nail is inverted, removing cellular debris and callous tissue with a probe usually suffices. However, when the nail “grows in,” driving a sliver of nail into the nail bed, incision of the nail body is required.
Research and Retrospection on the Implementation Status of the Free Education Policy for Normal Students

The author launches a research on the employment status of normal students who receive free education and their response to the free education policy for normal students.The result shows that this policy is generally acclaimed.However,there are some problems wanting improvement,such as,the proportion of basic-level employment remains small,and there are some cognitive bias existing in the implementation process.
Tissue specificity for incorporation of [3H] thymidine by the 10- to 12-somite mouse embryo: alteration by acute exposure to hydroxyurea

Radioautograms from 10- to 12-somite mouse embryos labeled for 30min in vitro with [3H] thymidine were examined for frequency and intensity of incorporation. Results from ten tissues showed that values ranged from 82% of nuclei with a mean of 16·6 grains for visceral yolk sac to 17% of nuclei labeled with a mean of 4·4 grains for epithelium of the anterior gut tube. Labeling in the ten tissues indicated (1) a tissue-specific spectrum of incorporation of [3H] thymidine, (2) close correlation between frequency and intensity of labeling within a tissue and (3) asymmetrical quantities of incorporation between right and left somatopleure. Treatment with hydroxyurea in vitro reduced the frequency of labeled nuclei by 85% to 12% of control values. Mean numbers of grains over treated nuclei, 3·3–4·6 grains, were well above background but were clustered below the low end of the control range. Tissues exposed to hydroxyurea showed (1) labeling of significant numbers of nuclei, (2) inhibition of labeling in selected tissues and (3) equalization of bilateral asymmetry in quantity (frequency and intensity) of incorporation in somatopleure. The selective reduction of thymidine incorporation and equalization of asymmetrical rates of proliferation may constitute mechanisms by which hydroxyurea causes abnormal morphogenesis.
Itinerancy between attractor states in neural systems

Converging evidence from neural, perceptual and simulated data suggests that discrete attractor states form within neural circuits through learning and development. External stimuli may bias neural activity to one attractor state or cause activity to transition between several discrete states. Evidence for such transitions, whose timing can vary across trials, is best accrued through analyses that avoid any trial-averaging of data. One such method, hidden Markov modeling, has been effective in this context, revealing state transitions in many neural circuits during many tasks. Concurrently, modeling efforts have revealed computational benefits of stimulus processing via transitions between attractor states. This review describes the current state of the field, with comments on how its perceived limitations have been addressed.
AC Power Systems

For our purposes, an AC network is simply a network, in which all voltage and current sources are sinusoidal with a common frequency.
Integrated systems for high-fidelity sensing and manipulation of brain neurochemistry

This paper presents an overview of two state-of-the-art integrated systems fabricated in 0.35μm 2P/4M CMOS for high-fidelity sensing and manipulation of brain neurochemistry. The first system has been developed for neurochemical pattern generation, combining electrical stimulation for generation of user-defined dopamine temporal patterns with neurochemical sensing for subsequent assessment of fidelity in the generated profiles. T he second system has been developed for closed-loop regulation of brain neurochemistry and uniquely integrates neurochemical sensing, real-time chemometrics, and feedback-controlled electrical stimulation to mimic a neurochemostat by maintaining the brain levels of electrically evoked dopamine between two user-defined thresholds. Measured results from biological experiments with anesthetized rats are also presented.
Sol-Gel Synthesis and Characterization of SiO2—P2O5—ZrO2

Zirconia phosphosilicates were prepared by the sol-gel method using tetraethylorthosilicate, triethyl phosphate, and zirconium n-propoxide. Monolithic, transparent gels were formed with 10 mole% ZrO2, and 10, 20 or 30 mole% P2O5. The influence of the mole% P2O5, treatment temperature and water content, on thermal behavior, water adsorption, and proton conductivity were studied. A heat treatment at 200°C was effective in removal of residual organics, creating a porous material capable of good water retention upon rehydration.
Behavioral Risk Factors in Adults

Behavioral risk factors are behaviors that increase the possibility of disease, such as smoking, alcohol use, bad eating habits, and not getting enough exercise. Because they are behaviors, it is possible for individuals to modify these risk factors to help prevent many types of chronic diseases and premature death.
Maternal Birthplace is Associated with Low Birth Weight Within Racial/Ethnic Groups.

Introduction While disparities in low birth weight (LBW) incidence by racial/ethnic group are well known, differences in LBW incidence by maternal birthplace within racial/ethnic groups, and particularly, differences after adjustment for pregnancy complications, are less clear. Methods We conducted a population-based study of LBW using 113,760 singleton, live birth records from King County, Washington (2008–2012), a region in the Pacific Northwest with a large immigrant population. Study participants were Asian, non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander (NHOPI), and non-Hispanic white women. Using multivariable logistic regression models, we calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to estimate relative risk of LBW (<2500 g) related to maternal race/ethnicity and birthplace (defined by the Millennium Development Goals Regional Groupings). Results Compared with non-Hispanic white women, non-Hispanic black, Asian Indian, Filipino, Japanese, and Vietnamese women had 1.57–2.23-fold higher, statistically significant, risk of having a LBW infant, and NHOPI and Mexican women had 1.30–1.33-fold, statistically significant, higher risk. LBW risk was lower for Asian women from Eastern Asia (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.55–0.85), non-Hispanic black women from Sub-Saharan Africa (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.47–0.73), and non-Hispanic white women from other developed countries (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.69–1.00), as compared with their US-born racial/ethnic counterparts. Results were, in general, similar after adjustment for pregnancy complications. Conclusions Compared with most other racial/ethnic groups, non-Hispanic whites had lower risk of LBW. Foreign-born women had lower risk of LBW compared with their US-born counterparts in the majority of racial/ethnic groups. Pregnancy complications had minimal effect on the associations.
Regional-scale climate prediction from the GISS GCM

The complexity of the global climate system suggests that the only way in which we can develop a reasonable assessment of future climate change is through the use of general circulation models (GCMs) of the atmosphere and oceans. Current climate change experiments, however, are limited by the inability of the models to produce accurate simulations of the regional climate. The Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GSISS) 4° × 5° GCM is shown to simulate the present-day sea level pressure over the United States very accurately, but this paper also demonstrates large regional biases in the GISS simulations of present-day temperatures. An analysis of circulation-temperature relationships with observational data shows that accurate transfer functions can be derived between sea level pressure and temperature. When applied to the GCM circulation, these transfer functions result in a temperature distribution that matches the long term mean more accurately than does the model's actual temperature field. Applying these transfer functions to the 2 × CO2 circulation presents the possibility for an alternative approach to regional-scale climate change predictions that combines GCM simulations with empirically observed circulation-climate relationships.
Characterization of Pt supported on commercial fluorinated carbon as cathode catalysts for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell

Abstract Pt nanoparticles supported on carbon monofluoride (CFx), synthesized from H2PtCl6 using NaHB4 as a reducing agent has been investigated as a cathode electrocatalyst in fuel cells. Surface characterization, performed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), shows a homogeneous distribution and high dispersion of metal particles. Kinetic parameters for the electrocatalyst are also obtained from the steady state measurements using a rotating disk electrode (RDE) in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. Analysis by Koutecky–Levich equation indicates an overall 4 e− oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Evaluation of the catalyst in single cell membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) for proton exchange membrane based Direct Methanol Fuel Cell (DMFC) and H2 Fuel Cell at different temperatures and flows of O2 and Air are shown and compared against commercial Pt/C as the cathode electrocatalyst. Evaluation of Pt/CFx in H2 fed fuel cells shows a comparable performance against a commercial catalyst having a higher platinum loading. However, in direct methanol fuel cell cathodes, an improved performance is observed at low O2 and air flows showing up to 60–70% increase in the peak power density at very low flows (60 mL min−1).
G – ∗Reactions in Continuous Mixtures

A continuous mixture is one which is so complex that it is no longer worthwhile to distinguish individual chemical species; instead, an index, such as the simulated boiling point, is chosen andvi, the concentration of the speciesAi, is replaced by c(x)dx,the concentration of material with index in the interval (x, x + dx). It has been long known that the total concentration of a suitably distributed mixture, each of whose components disappears by a first-order reaction with constant k(x), will appear to disappear according to a higher order of reaction. The generalization of this to a mixture that requires two indices for its description is worth considering for three reasons: First, there may well be materials that are so complex as to require this. Second, the second index may be considered to distribute reaction time. Third, this approach seems to answer the mathematical question of how to generalize from the continuum of first-order reactions to one of parallelNth-order reactions.
Albuminuria in the normal range: the lower is not the better.

The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most complex and resource-demanding problem that health systems face worldwide ([1][1]). Cardiovascular disease prevention programs have been put in place in most countries but there is a still a quest for studies on how to refine CVD risk
Natural Image Statistics in Digital Image Forensics

We describe a set of natural image statistics that are built upon two multi-scale image decompositions, the quadrature mirror filter pyramid decomposition and the local angular harmonic decomposition. These image statistics consist of first- and higher-order statistics that capture certain statistical regularities of natural images. We propose to apply these image statistics, together with classification techniques, to three problems in digital image forensics: (1) differentiating photographic images from computer-generated photorealistic images, (2) generic steganalysis; (3) rebroadcast image detection. We also apply these image statistics to the traditional art authentication for forgery detection and identification of artists in an art work. For each application we show the effectiveness of these image statistics and analyze their sensitivity and robustness.
Classification Approach to Word Selection in Machine Translation

We present a classification approach to building a English-Korean machine translation (MT) system. We attempt to build a word-based MT system from scratch using a set of parallel documents, online dictionary queries, and monolingual documents on the web. In our approach, MT problem is decomposed into two sub-problems -- word selection problem and word ordering problem of the selected words. In this paper, we will focus on the word selection problem and discuss some preliminary results.
Clustering Procedures and Module Detection

Detecting clusters (also referred to as groups or modules) of closely related objects is an important problem in data mining in general. Network modules are often defined as clusters. Partitioning-around-medoids (PAM) clustering and hierarchical clustering are often used in network applications. Partitioning-around-medoids (aka. k-medoid clustering) leads to relatively robust clusters but requires that the user specify the number k of clusters. Hierarchical clustering is attractive in network applications since (a) it does not require the specification of the number of clusters and (b) it works well when there are many singleton clusters and when cluster sizes vary greatly. But hierarchical clustering requires the user to determine how to cut branches of the resulting cluster tree. Toward this end, one can use the dynamicTreeCut method and R library. The dynamic hybrid method combines the advantages of hierarchical clustering and partitioning-around-medoids clustering. Network concepts are useful for defining cluster quality statistics (e.g., to measure the density or separability of clusters). To determine whether the cluster structure is preserved in another data sets, one can use cross-tabulation-based preservation statistics. To measure the agreement between two clusterings, one can use the Rand index and other cross-tabulation-based statistics.
Incorporating Thermal Effects in Modeling of MSW Landfills

Heat is one of the primary byproducts of biodegradation of municipal solid waste (MSW). Biodegradation of MSW in landfills induces changes in physical properties, mechanical response of MSW, and flow of leachate within the MSW pore spaces. Moreover, biodegradation of MSW in landfills is temperature dependent and consequently the engineering properties of MSW are all influenced by waste temperatures. Thus, landfills are complex systems with interrelated processes and it is crucial to account for all these interdependencies to accurately predict the coupled behavior of MSW. In this study, a coupled-thermo-hydro-bio-mechanical model was formulated that incorporates the effect of temperature on heat generation and biodegradation of MSW. The model integrates a two-phase flow hydraulic model, a plane-strain formulation of the Mohr-Coulomb mechanical model, a first order decay biodegradation model, and a one-dimensional heat conduction model with temperature-dependent heat generation. Numerical simulations were carried out using a typical landfill configuration with leachate injection simulating a bioreactor landfill. The simulations were carried out with and without temperature effects to determine the influence of temperature on MSW behavior. The results indicate a significant influence of temperature on the MSW response (degradation and settlement) and underscore the importance of incorporating thermal effects in numerical modeling of MSW landfill systems.
Fluorescence imaging on the cross-section of photovoltaic laminates aged under different UV intensities

Fluorescence imaging is used to investigate the degradation depth-profile of multilayer glass/EV Albacksheet laminates for photovoltaic (PV) applications. Samples were aged on the NIST SPHERE (Simulated Photodegradation via High Energy Radiant Exposure) at ${85^{\circ}}\mathrm{C}\pm {0.5}^{\mathrm{o}}\mathrm{C}$ and ${0 \% }\mathrm{RH }\pm {5\%}$ RH under different UV light intensities. Based on fluorescence imaging results, non-uniform distribution of degradation species along the thickness direction is observed for EVA encapsulant and EVA middle layer in the backsheet for all exposed specimens. Two adhesive layers in backsheet also show fluorescence emission, implying the degradation of these adhesives and the propensity of the delamination within backsheet layers. It is also found that the fluorescence results are consistent with the changes in the yellowing index by micro-UV-Vis spectroscopy and the modulus by atomic force microscopy-based quantitative nanomechanical mapping (QNM-AFM). This study shows that fluorescence imaging is effective in the characterization of degradation gradient of packaging materials for PV as a function of depth.
Phenolic compounds content and antioxidant capacity in cardoon achenes from different head orders.

Cardoon inflorescences (heads) contain achenes, which are used for the production of edible oil and biodiesel but also represent a phenolic source. This research aimed at determining the level of b...
The Development of IoT Within Energy Infrastructure

The development of IoT within the energy infrastructure is best seen as a control loop. The control loop is composed of four functions: a physical process (such as the generation, transmission, or consumption of electricity), its measurement, decision making, and actuation.
Epidemiology, national trends and clinical associations of pancreatic adenocarcinoma in chronic pancreatitis patients: A nationwide inpatient sample (NIS) study.

e15737Background: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a known risk factor for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA). The aim of this study was to evaluate epidemiology, national trends and clinical associations ...
Medical Marijuana Miscalculation

Medical Marijuana Miscalculation A 52-year-old man who had received treatment for anaplastic astrocytoma presented to the ED with acute delirium and garbled speech. The initial workup identified no...
A gradient boosting approach to understanding airport runway and taxiway pavement deterioration

Understanding airfield pavement deterioration is essential for airport asset management to ensure safe and efficient airport operations. This paper employs Gradient Boosting Machine (GBM) – a machi...
Trends and characteristics of protected health information breaches in the United States.

Objectives To evaluate the data breaches incidents in the U.S. between 2010 and 2018, identify the characteristics of breaches involving more than a million records, and compare the changes before and after wide adoption of EHR in 2015. Materials and methods Incidents of data breaches between 2010 to 2018 were retrieved from the Office of Civil Rights portal. Descriptive statistical analyses were performed to assess the trends and characteristics, and changes between states from 2015 to 2018 were assessed and mapped. Results From 2010 to 2018, a total of 2,529 breaches affected 194.74 million individual records. Overall, 72.08% incidents involved healthcare providers; theft (32.94%) and hacking (22.7%) were major types of breaches. Large cases affecting more than a million records happened due to compromised internal structures and systems. After 2015, the magnitude of the data breaches has changed at varying levels in the U.S. states necessitating further research and actions.
Renal Lymphangiectasia in a Pediatric Patient

Renal lymphatic abnormalities are rare, and the understanding of pathophysiology involving renal lymphatics is limited. Symptoms can include hypertension, hematuria, proteinuria, chyluria, and abdominal and lumbar pain. Imaging techniques specific to the renal lymphatics have not been clarified. We review the intrahospital imaging evaluation/workup and clinical course of a 6-year-old male who presented to our institution with a large perirenal cyst. His presentation presented a diagnostic and management challenge. The cyst was determined to be lymphatic in origin and required multiple interventional radiology and surgical procedures for management.