cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Concordance of Medicaid and pharmacy record data in inner-city children with asthma.

Abstract Background Management of asthma involves adherence to medication regimens. Assessing adherence is difficult for health care providers and researchers. Self-reported medication use is subjective, so objective methods of data collection for medication use are frequently used in asthma research. The aim of this project is to examine the concordance between asthma medication pharmacy data culled from Medicaid claims data (“Medicaid pharmacy data”) and patient pharmacy record data obtained from individual pharmacies (“pharmacy record data”). Methods Medicaid pharmacy data and pharmacy record data were obtained from inner-city children enrolled in a prospective study of children with persistent asthma. A subject level comparison of pharmacy records and Medicaid pharmacy data pharmacy records was done to determine concordance between the 2 data collection methods. Results Of 513 children recruited for inclusion, 221 were consented and randomized. Medicaid claims data were collected on 72.8% ( n = 161) of the 221 enrolled subjects. Pharmacy record data were available on 96.8% ( n = 214) of the 221 subjects. Data presented represent the 159 subjects who had both Medicaid claims data and pharmacy records data available throughout the study period. There was complete agreement between Medicaid pharmacy data and pharmacy record for 26% ( n = 42) of subjects. A total of 1858 asthma medication claims were captured by the Medicaid pharmacy data. Medicaid pharmacy data missed 149 claims that were capture by the pharmacy record data. Medicaid pharmacy data failed to capture a single claim on 4.4% ( n = 7) of subjects. The pharmacy record data captured a total of 1627 asthma medication claims and missed 371 claims that were captured by the Medicaid pharmacy data. Pharmacy record data failed to capture a single claim in 1.9% ( n = 3) of subjects. Conclusions There was overlap between the pharmacy data captured by the Medicaid pharmacy dataset and pharmacy record dataset, but the overall concordance between the two data collection methods was low. Pharmacy records collected directly from the pharmacy included data on more subjects and pharmacy data culled from Medicaid claims captured more total number of claims. In spite of the differences in the methods used to collect data, pharmacy fill records are a rich source of data with both clinical and research applications. Clinicians and researchers must weigh the benefits and limitations of each method used to collect pharmacy data.
Managerial Responses to an Aging Municipal Workforce

THIS PAPER FOCUSES ON THE STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF OLDER WORKERS IN U.S. CITIES. THE RESEARCH IS BASED ON A NATIONAL SAMPLE OF MUNICIPAL HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGERS IN CITIES OVER 50,000 POPULATION. A WIDE VARIETY OF STRATEGIES ARE BEING USED IN CITIES IN FOUR KEY AREAS: (1) SUPPORTIVE WORKPLACE RELATIONS; (2) TRAINING; (3) CAREER DEVELOPMENT; (4) PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL. HOWEVER, CITIES DO LITTLE TO ADAPT TRAINING TO THE NEEDS OF OLDER WORKERS, TO REVITALIZE THE CAREERS OF MATURE EMPLOYEES, OR TO USE PROFICIENCY TESTING AS A SUPPLEMENT TO PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL. MANAGERIAL PROFESSIONALISM IS AN IMPORTANT DRIVING FORCE INFLUENCING STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING ON THIS ISSUE; LEGAL COMPLIANCE AND FISCAL STRESS ARE LESS SIGNIFICANT FORCES.
Managing Fibrinolysis Without Aprotinin

Cardiopulmonary bypass increases perioperative bleeding and produces a consumptive coagulopathy, which is defined as the simultaneous production of thrombin and fibrinolysis. Thrombin formation and fibrinolysis primarily occur in the surgical wound and peak at the time heparin is reversed by protamine. Neither aprotinin nor lysine analogs successfully control bleeding in many complex procedures, reoperations, aortic resections, or in implantations of mechanical circulatory devices. This analysis reviews the mechanisms involved and current treatment protocols, with the conclusion that changes in treatment protocols rather than use of a specific anti-fibrinolytic drug may provide better control of bleeding in these patients.
Evidence for dimeric and tetrameric water clusters in HZSM-5

Temperature-programmed desorption shows that water desorbs from HZSM-5 (Si/Al = 13) {center_dot} nH2O in a two-step process. The amount of water evolved at each step corresponds to about two H2O per acidic proton, indicating that the tetrameric cluster formed at full loading consists of a strongly bound pair and a weakly bound pair of water molecules. Quantum mechanical studies using cluster models of aluminosilicate systems indicate that the desorption energies for the first and second water molecules of a dimer adsorbed at the acid site are 9.7 and 12.6 kcal/mol, respectively. These values are within the energy resolution of the TPD experiment and are consistent with both water molecules from the dimer seeming to desorb simultaneously. Evidence for a tetramer is consistent with earlier findings on dealuminated mordenites.
Salicylic acid stimulation of palmitic acid oxidation by rat skeletal muscle mitochondria

The effects of salicylic acid on palmitic acid oxidation were studied using rat skeletal muscle mitochondria. Salicylic acid, in concentrations that exerted no effect on mitochondrial coupling (0.1 mM), significantly stimulated mitochondrial palmitic acid oxidation, with maximal stimulation occurring at subsaturating concentrations of substrate. In the same preparation, salicylate had no effect on the oxidation of palmitoylcarnitine or palmitoyl-CoA. Salicylate appears to augment the initial step of palmitic acid oxidation by lowering the apparent Michaelis constant (Km) of long chain fatty acid: CoASH ligase (AMP) (EC 6.2.1.3) for palmitic acid.
Surface self-diffusion of Si on Si(001)

The surface diffusion coefficient of Si atoms on a Si(001) surface is quantitatively determined using scanning tunneling microscopy. The method rests on counting the number of islands that form at various substrate temperatures for a given deposited dose at a given deposition rate. In the simplest situation, the diffusion coefficient is related to the island density by N α D−13 and to the width of denuded zones at steps by WDZαD16. The activation energy for diffusion is Ea = 0.67±0.08 eV an D0≅10−3±1 cm2. The diffusion is highly anisotropic, with the fast direction along the dimer rows.
Modulation of pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion by ovarian steroids in the rat.

In this study, we have examined the effects of estradiol and progesterone on pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in the rat. In the first experiment, regularly cycling rats were ovariectomized on metestrus and a Silastic implant containing estradiol in oil (7.5, 15 or 30 micrograms/ml) or crystalline progesterone (0.7 or 3 cm long) was placed s.c. immediately after surgery. Rats were cannulated 3 days later and frequent blood samples collected (every 10 min for 4 h) the next day. Estradiol treatment alone produced a dose-dependent suppression in mean LH by decreasing LH pulse amplitude without altering interpulse interval. Progesterone treatment alone had no effect, but when the low progesterone dose was combined with a subthreshold estradiol treatment, the combination decreased LH pulse amplitude, but had no effect on the interval between pulses. The combination of high progesterone and low estradiol completely suppressed LH secretion. In the second experiment, rats were bled 7 days postovariectomy to increase the postcastration LH rise and examine higher steroid treatments. Three progesterone treatments (0.7, 1.5 and 3 cm long implants) were combined with the low estradiol treatment; the high estradiol dose (30 micrograms/ml) was also tested. All treatments decreased LH pulse amplitude without altering interpulse interval, although the highest progesterone treatment again completely suppressed LH in most rats so that no statistical analysis could be performed. No firm conclusions can be drawn about the effects of the high steroid treatments that completely suppressed LH; such an effect could reflect either inhibition of pulse frequency or amplitude.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of clozapine and olanzapine on cortical thickness in childhood-onset schizophrenia

Background: Little is known about the effects of antipsychotic medications on gray matter (GM) in schizophrenia. Although clozapine remains the most effective antipsychotic medication in treatment-refractory cases, it is unknown whether it has a differential effect on GM development.
Bioluminescence Tomography with SP3 Equations

We have developed an image reconstruction algorithm for bioluminescent sources based on the SPN approximation. Tritium gas powered light sources were reconstructed in a small animal and image reconstructions were compared to co-registered CT images.
The relationship of lumenal pH and distention to antral G-cell numbers

Abstract This study was designed to study the importance of lumenal pH and antral distention on G-cell numbers. Antrocolic transpositions (ACT) were performed in female Sprague-Dawley rats, orienting the peristalsis of the transposed antra to result in either filling or emptying. In some animals a segment of parietal cell bearing corpus mucosa was left with the antrum to provide a relatively acid lumen. Sham operations were performed in controls. The rats were sacrificed after 15 days. The self-filling antra were grossly distended compared with the self emptying antra. G cells were quantitated by means of a double-antibody immunofluorescence technique. All ACT rats had significantly increased G-cell numbers and serum gastrin levels compared with controls. The magnitude of the increase depended on the presence or absence of distention and an acid environment. The most marked hyperplasia occurred in the group with distended antra and no acid. The group with self-filling antra but an acid lumen showed a significant but lesser increase. The least degree of hyperplasia was observed in the group with self-emptying antra and an acid lumen. These data indicate that both distention and a nonacid lumenal pH encourage G-cell hyperplasia. The nonacid lumen is a more potent stimulus than distention but the two are synergistic.
Comparison of imaging with FDG PET/CT with other imaging modalities in myeloma.

To determine the usefulness of FDG PET/CT scanning in the management and staging of myeloma and to assess its strengths and limitations. FDG PET/CT scans and all other available imaging studies were reviewed retrospectively from 16 consecutive patients by two experienced musculoskeletal radiologists and two nuclear medicine physicians working in consensus. The 16 patients had undergone a total of 19 FDG PET/CT scans. Radiographs were available in all cases, including 13 skeletal surveys; 25 CT scans (16 chest, three abdominal, four pelvic, one spine, one neck) and 22 MR imaging studies (17 spine, three pelvic, two extremity) also were reviewed. Patients’ records were examined for relevant clinical information. All focal areas of abnormal FDG uptake were correlated with the other imaging studies to determine clinical significance. FDG PET/CT scans also were reviewed to see if small lesions shown on the other imaging studies could be identified in retrospect. The 12 men and four women had an average age of 58 years (range 30–69 years). All 16 patients had an established diagnosis of multiple myeloma, with average duration of disease, from time of initial diagnosis to review, of 30 months (range 6 months to 11+ years). The FDG PET/CT scans revealed a total of 104 sites (90 in bone, 14 soft tissue) that were suspicious for neoplastic activity based on a standardized uptake value (SUV) greater than 2.5. Fifty-seven of these sites (55%) were new or previously undetected. The other imaging studies (X-ray, CT, MR) and clinical information confirmed the other 47 areas but also revealed 133 other small skeletal lesions. Six of these 133 additional lesions showed mild FDG uptake on re-review of the PET/CT scans. The FDG PET/CT findings led to management changes in 9/16 patients. MR imaging revealed five cases of diffuse bone involvement (four spine, one scapula) that were not evident by FDG PET/CT. FDG PET/CT scans are useful for the management and staging of myeloma. However, if PET/CT were the sole imaging study done, it would miss many additional small lytic skeletal lesions and could miss diffuse spine involvement.
Multiparty Biometric-Based Authentication

A multiparty biometric-based access control might be desirable, or even required, in some applications. That is, a group of individuals might have to present valid readings of biometrics parameters in order to gain access to a system or application in order to receive authorization to use a particular resource. Such multiparty schemes can often provide greater protection. This paper presents several techniques for multiparty biometric-based authentication. It also shows a technique for biometric substitution which allows different biometrics to be used concurrently or substituted over time.
Toward a comprehensive approach to pharmacoinvasive therapy for patients with ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction

What exactly is “pharmacoinvasive therapy” for treatment of patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI)? When this term was introduced in 2003, it addressed the need for clinical trials besides those comparing fibrinolysis with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Primary PCI is recognized as the best strategy for treatment of patients for whom it is applicable. However, use of fibrinolytic drugs initially is necessary in many patients for logistic reasons. Studies of pharmacoinvasive therapy addressed the question of what should be done after initial fibrinolysis. Confusion of the terms pharmacoinvasive therapy, facilitated PCI, rescue PCI, and delayed invasive approaches has obscured the principles that have emerged from such studies. In our view, a uniform conceptualization of pharmacoinvasive therapy emerges on the basis of three key considerations—transfer time, initial pharmacologic therapy, and time to PCI. We propose the following definition: Pharmacoinvasive therapy is the treatment of choice for patients with STEMI who require greater than a 60 min transfer time to a PCI center. It entails immediate use of full doses of fibrinolytic agents followed by prompt transfer to a PCI center and a plan to implement PCI within 2–12 h of the time of onset of initial therapy.
Contractile properties of fast muscle preparations regenerating in slow muscle beds

Mechanical evidence is presented to show that fast muscle tissue regenerating in the bed of a slow muscle, and innervated by the slow muscle nerve, has contractile properties identical to those of a slow muscle regenerating in its own bed. The results do not support the idea that regenerating fast muscles are partially resistant to the transforming effects of a slow nerve.
The Cardiopulmonary Effects of Calcium Infusion in Infants with Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn

Low blood ionized calcium levels have been reported previously in association with alkalosis in infants undergoing hyperventilation for persistent pulmonary hypertension. We investigated the effect of acute calcium infusions on the cardiopulmonary status of 10 hypocalcemic, hyperventilated infants with persistent pulmonary hypertension. Acid-base status, arterial partial pressure of oxygen, vital signs, and echocardiographically determined right and left systolic time interval ratios and left ventricular shortening fractions were obtained before and after rapid infusions of calcium gluconate or saline. At 5 and 15 min after calcium infusion, but not after saline infusion, there were significant decreases in both right and left ventricular systolic time interval ratios, and an increase in transcutaneous PO2 and PaO2 that coincided with peak levels of ionized calcium. These findings provide evidence that high levels of ionized calcium in newborns with persistent pulmonary hypertension transiently improve myocardial performance and oxygenation.
Unconventional magnetism in imbalanced Fermi systems with magnetic dipolar interactions

We study the magnetic structure of the ground state of an itinerant Fermi system of spin-1/2 particles with magnetic dipole-dipole interactions. We show that, quite generally, the spin state of particles depend on its momentum, i.e., spin and orbital degrees of freedom are entangled and taken separately are not ``good'' quantum numbers. Specifically, we consider a uniform system with nonzero magnetization at zero temperature. Assuming the magnetization is along $z$ axis, the quantum spin states are $\mathbf{k}$-dependent linear combinations of eigenstates of the ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{z}$ Pauli matrix. This leads to spin structures in momentum space and to the fact that the Fermi surfaces for ``up'' and ``down'' spins are not well defined. The system still has a cylindrical axis of symmetry along the magnetization axis. We also show that the self-energy has a universal structure which we determine based on the symmetries of the dipolar interaction and we explicitly calculated it in the Hartree-Fock approximation. We show that the bare magnetic moment of particles is renormalized due to particle-particle interactions and we give order of magnitude estimates of this renormalization effect. We estimate that the above mentioned dipolar effects are small but we discuss possible scenarios where this physics may be realized in future experiments.
A proposed object-oriented development methodology

The object-oriented approach to software engineering is maturing and evolving as industry methodologists strive to clarify and promote its underlying principles. The object-oriented paradigm has the potential to increase consistency within the software development process compared with previous software engineering approaches. Much of the current work, however, tends to focus on a particular phase without addressing the transition and traceability between phases. The methodology presented is proposed for the full development life-cycle. It synthesises and enhances several emerging object-oriented techniques and notations into a consistent approach. This methodology was developed to provide a framework for using object-oriented techniques in the development of a large simulation and prototyping laboratory.
Abstract PD1-4: A phase I study of BKM120 and fulvestrant in postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor positive metastatic breast cancer

Background BKM120, a pan-Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, in combination with fulvestrant (F) induced synergistic apoptotic effect in preclinical studies of estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer. We therefore conducted a phase I trial of BKM120 and F in postmenopausal women with ER+ metastatic breast cancer (MBC) to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and the tolerability of this combination. Methods A standard 3+3 phase I design was chosen for phase IA to determine the MTD. Upon completion of phase 1A, an expansion cohort phase IB was initiated to further assess the tolerability and efficacy. Patients (pts) with ER+ MBC with measurable disease were eligible. No more than 3 lines of systemic therapy in the metastatic setting were allowed in phase 1B. Cycle (C) length was 28 days. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed using CTCAE 4.0. Tumor measurement occurred every 3 cycles. Results Since November 2011, 18 pts (median age: 60 (range 48-71) years) were treated at 3 dose levels (DL) of BKM120 [Table 1]. Since none of the 3 pts enrolled at the starting dose of BKM120 (DL1: 80mg daily) experienced any DLT during C1, 3 pts were then enrolled at DL2 (BKM120 100 mg daily). No DLT was observed in C1, however 2 experienced grade (G) 3 ALT elevation during C2. Therefore, 3 pts were treated with BKM120 100mg 5 days on and 2 days off schedule (DL2b), without any significant AEs. Subsequently Phase IB enrolled 9 pts at this dose level. Across different DLs, most AEs were G1. MTD was not reached based on C1 toxicity. However, asymptomatic ALT elevations occurred frequently during C2, resulting in dose interruption and dose reductions of BKM120 [Table 1]. Other AEs led to dose interruption and reductions include G2 confusion, G2 hyperglycemia and G3 rash. However, only 2 pts discontinued treatment due to AEs. Eleven pts with a median of 2 prior endocrine therapy (range 1-9) and 0-1 chemotherapy regimens in the metastatic setting were evaluable for response [Table 2]. Among these pts, 6 had prior disease progression on F. Clinical benefit was observed in 6 (54.5%) pts, including 1 partial response (PR) and 5 prolonged SD lasting for at least 6 cycles. Eight pts continue to receive treatment to date. Data will be updated at the time of presentation. Conclusion BKM120 100mg, administered daily or intermittently, plus F was tolerable without DLT during C1. Grade 2/3 ALT elevation was common in C2, especially with daily dosing, but most pts continued treatment with reduced dose of BKM120. Promising activity was observed in this Phase I trial. Phase III studies of this combination have been started in ER+ MBC. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr PD1-4.
Causality interfaces for actor networks

We consider concurrent models of computation where “actors” (components that are in charge of their own actions) communicate by exchanging messages. The interfaces of actors principally consist of “ports,” which mediate the exchange of messages. Actor-oriented architectures contrast with and complement object-oriented models by emphasizing the exchange of data between concurrent components rather than transformation of state. Examples of such models of computation include the classical actor model, synchronous languages, data-flow models, process networks, and discrete-event models. Many experimental and production languages used to design embedded systems are actor oriented and based on one of these models of computation. Many of these models of computation benefit considerably from having access to causality information about the components. This paper augments the interfaces of such components to include such causality information. It shows how this causality information can be algebraically composed so that compositions of components acquire causality interfaces that are inferred from their components and the interconnections. We illustrate the use of these causality interfaces to statically analyze timed models and synchronous language compositions for causality loops and data-flow models for deadlock. We also show that that causality analysis for each communication cycle can be performed independently and in parallel, and it is only necessary to analyze one port for each cycle. Finally, we give a conservative approximation technique for handling dynamically changing causality properties.
Interaction of water vapor with UO2(001)

Abstract We have studied the interaction of water vapor with UO 2 (001) by using low energy electron diffraction (LEED), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), low energy ion scattering (LEIS) and electron stimulated desorption (ESD). The clean UO 2 (001) exhibits ordered c(2×2) LEED patterns in agreement with previously published data. The X-ray photoelectron spectrum of the U 4f peaks exhibits a clear single satellite at 6.8 eV on the high binding energy side of the U 4f 5/2 feature, which has been assigned to a shake-up excitation of an electron from the O 2pU bonding band to partially occupied or unoccupied localized metal 5f levels. Electron stimulated desorption (ESD) measurements of clean UO 2 indicate the desorption of H + and O + ; the O + desorption threshold is at ∼25 eV, and the kinetic energy distribution is peaked at 3.5 eV. The O + desorption threshold is correlated to the ionization of the oxygen 2s level, rather than the U 6p levels. Upon exposure to D 2 18 O at 300 K, the XPS and ESD results show no evidence of OD formation after water exposure. However, an ESD 18 O + signal appears; both 16 O + and 18 O + signals reach a saturation value after 20 L exposure. Further, LEIS spectra show an 18 O peak after water dosage. These results indicate that the water is completely dissociated on UO 2 (001) and that 18 O atoms are incorporated in the surface. The results also suggest a diffusion of oxygen into the bulk.
A Fortran Program for Permutation Covariate Analyses of Residuals Based on Euclidean Distance

A FORTRAN program is presented to analyze the results of experimental designs. A Euclidean distance permutation procedure is used to evaluate residuals obtained from least sum of absolute deviations regression. Applications include completely randomized and randomized block configurations including one-way, factorial, split plot, and Latin square designs, with or without covariates.
Weight loss and health outcomes in African Americans and whites after gastric bypass surgery.

Objective: The objective was to describe differences in weight loss, dietary intake, and cardiovascular risk factors between white and African-American patients after gastric bypass (GBP). Research Methods and Procedures: This was a retrospective database review of a sample of 84 adult patients (24 African-American and 60 white women and men) between the ages of 33 and 53 years. All subjects had GBP surgery in 2001 at the Bariatric Surgery Program at Boston Medical Center in Boston, MA, and were followed for one year postoperatively. Patients were excluded if weight data were missing at baseline, 3 months, or 1 year after GBP. A total of 9 African Americans and 41 whites provided data at all 3 time-points and were included in the study. Differences in weight loss, diet, and cardiovascular risk factors were analyzed. Results: There were no differences in baseline characteristics between African Americans and whites. Mean weight loss for the entire sample was 36 ± 9%, with a range of 8% to 54% relative to initial body weight. Whites lost more weight (39 ± 8%) than African Americans (26 ± 10%) (p < 0.05). Dietary parameters, as well as improvements in blood pressure and lipid profiles, were similar in the two racial groups. Discussion: Differences in weight loss between severely obese African Americans and whites undergoing open GBP are unlikely to be related to postoperative dietary practices. Our data are consistent with previous reports implicating metabolic differences between the two racial groups.
The safety of intubation in patients with esophageal varices.

Twenty-four alcoholic cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices and recent cessation of upper gastrointestinal bleeding were studied. All had flexible fiberoptic endoscopy, and many had nasogastric intubation for tamponade or lavage within 48 hours following the bleeding episode. In 22 patients endoscopy revealed esophageal varices to be the source of bleeding; of the 2 remaining, 1 had acute erosive gastritis and 1 a duodenal ulcer. No bleeding occurred in any of these patients subsequent to the procedures. No other complications related to the procedure developed. Fear of esophageal intubation in the presence of varices is not based on factual data.
Counterexamples to some stability questions for dissipative generators

Abstract Let A be the generator of a s.c. contraction semigroup on the Hilbert space H . Assume that e At is strongly/uniformly stable on H . Do these stability properties transfer from A to another generator B which is assumed to be “more dissipative” than A ? Positive results and, above all, counterexamples are given in answer to these questions.
Effect of Electrical Current on Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Metallic Interconnect Oxidation in Syngas

Electrical current flow is one of the important factors influencing high-temperature oxidation of SOFC interconnects. To understand the effect of electric current on corrosion behavior, Crofer 22 APU and Haynes 230//SS430 clad coupons were exposed to a simulated coal syngas at 800°C with a current density of 0.5 A/cm2, for 500 h. It was found that the scale formed on the positive side was thicker than that formed on the negative side. In particular, for Crofer 22 APU, the morphology of the scale formed on the positive side was whisker-like while the scale formed on the negative side was predominantly cubic-shaped crystals. For Haynes 230//SS430 clad sample, some grain-shaped crystals appeared on SS 430 (negative) side due to the breakaway oxidation.
Drug Insight: recent advances in male hormonal contraception

As there are limitations to current methods of male contraception, research has been undertaken to develop hormonal contraceptives for men, analogous to the methods for women based on estrogen and progestogens. When testosterone is administered to a man, it functions as a contraceptive by suppressing the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) from the pituitary gland. Since these hormones are the main stimulatory signals for spermatogenesis, low levels of LH and FSH markedly impair sperm production. After 3-4 months of testosterone treatment, 60-70% of men no longer have sperm in their ejaculate, and most other men exhibit markedly diminished sperm counts. Male hormonal contraception is well tolerated, free of serious adverse side effects, and 95% effective in the prevention of pregnancy. Importantly, male hormonal contraception is reversible, with sperm counts usually recovering within 4 months of the discontinuation of hormone treatment. Because exogenous testosterone administration alone does not completely suppress sperm production in all men, researchers have combined testosterone with second agents, such as progestogens or gonadotropin-releasing-hormone antagonists, to further suppress secretion of LH and FSH and improve suppression of spermatogenesis. Recent trials have used combinations of long-acting injectable or implantable forms of testosterone with progestogens, which can be administered orally, by injection or by a long-acting implant. Such combinations suppress spermatogenesis to zero without severe side effects in 80-90% of men, with near-complete suppression in the remainder of individuals. One of these testosterone and progestogen combination regimens might soon bring the promise of male hormonal contraception to fruition.
Quantification of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in dried blood spots: validation of a minimally invasive method for assessing ovarian reserve

background: Biological markers of ovarian reserve have the potential to advance research on fecundability, infertility and reproductive aging. Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) has emerged as a clinically useful measure of ovarian reserve, but the requirement for venous blood is an obstacle to application in non-clinical settings. This paper validates a new method for quantifying AMH in dried blood spot (DBS) samples—drops of whole blood collected on filter paper following a simple finger stick. methods: Matched serum and DBS samples were obtained from n ¼ 101 women of reproductive age, and AMH values were compared using regression analyses and scatter plots. The precision, reliability, linearity, recovery and lower detection limit of the DBS assay were eval- uated, as well as the stability of AMH in DBS across a range of storage conditions. results: There was a strong agreement between AMH concentrations measured in DBS and serum samples across the entire assay range. Analysis of within-assay (percent coefficient of variation, 4.7-6.5%) and between-assay (3.5- 7.2%) variability indicated a high level of assay precision and reliability, respectively. The minimum detectable dose of AMH was 0.065 ng/ml. Concentrations of AMH remained stable in DBS samples stored for 2 weeks at room temperature, and for 4 weeks when refrigerated. conclusions: The DBS assay performs at a level that is comparable to serum-based methods, with the advantage of lower burdens and costs associated with blood collection that may be advantageous for research in clinical as well as non-clinical settings on the causes and consequences of variation in ovarian reserve.
A Goal Programming Model for Academic Resource Allocation

The rapid rate of technological development and the growing complexity of society in recent years have brought renewed awareness of the importance of higher education. The rapid expansion of higher education, both in size and quality, requires systematic approaches and dynamic planning for efficient resource allocation on the part of the university administrators. This paper presents a goal programming model for an optimum allocation of resources in an institution of higher learning.
On Distribution Asset Management: Development of Replacement Strategies

The components of electricity networks are ageing. It is expected that within a horizon of 15 years, the performance will deteriorate significantly, while the costs for operating the networks will increase enormously. The main problem is that a significant part of the population of the assets is installed in the same period, resulting in a highly concentrated number of failures in a short time. The currently applied replacement strategy has to be revisited, in order to accommodate the effects of ageing assets: higher maintenance costs, high failure rates, and a steep increase of capital expenditure (CAPEX).
The Lipogenic Gene Spot 14 is Activated in Bone by Disuse yet Remains Unaffected by a Mechanical Signal Anabolic to the Skeleton

There is increasing evidence of the interaction of fat and bone metabolism and the role mechanical signals may have in regulating the adaptation of these tissues. The rat hindlimb suspension model of disuse osteoporosis was used to identify genes differentially expressed relative to normal weight-bearing bones and whether the relative expression of these genes is sensitive to anabolic mechanical stimuli. Ten days of hindlimb suspension suppressed percent labeled surface and bone volume/trabecular volume of the proximal tibia by 46% and 69%, respectively, compared to controls. Differential display polymerase chain reaction (DD-PCR) and Northern blot analysis identified and verified, respectively, that expression of Spot 14 (S14), an important gene in lipogenesis, was upregulated fourfold in tibiae of tail-suspended animals compared to long-term controls. Anabolic mechanical stimulation (45 Hz, 10 min/day at 0.25 g) did not show a statistically significant effect on S14 expression. These results indicate a potential role for lipogenic genes during bone loss caused by disuse, further supporting a link between bone and fat tissue, and, considering the insensitivity of these genes to mechanical signals which promote bone formation in the skeleton, the independence of resorptive and formative processes in bone.
A Method for Joint Peak-to-Average Power Ratio Reduction and Synchronization in OFDM

Peak-to-average power ratio (PAR) reduction is an effective way to increase the power efficiency and decrease distortion noise in orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) systems. Many PAR reduction schemes have been proposed, but few incorporate symbol-wise channel estimation and none accommodate per symbol synchronization. In this paper we present joint synchronization pilot sequence (JSPS) selected mapping (SLM), which is a joint PAR reduction and synchronization scheme. In harsh peak-limited channels we show that JSPS-SLM can achieve large bit error rate (BER) performance gains.
Nanoscale FD/SOI CMOS: thick or thin BOX?

The question of buried-oxide (BOX) thickness scaling for nanoscale fully depleted (FD) silicon-on-insulator (SOI) CMOS is addressed via insightful quantitative and qualitative analyses. Whereas, FD/SOI MOSFETs with thin BOX give better control of short-channel effects (SCEs), they complicate the material and/or process technologies and undermine CMOS speed. We show that the improved SCE control afforded by thin BOX is due to high transverse electric field in the body defined by the device asymmetry, and not only to the suppression of electric-field fringing in the BOX as is commonly presumed. Since conventional FD/SOI CMOS with thick BOX can be scaled via ultrathin bodies, we conclude that thin BOX is not needed nor desirable.
Mild Stroke and Rapidly Improving Symptoms It's Not Always a Happy Ending

Despite the substantial benefit of intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (IV rtPA) in improving neurologic outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients,1,2 only about half of those patients who arrive at the hospital in time receive it.3,4 In 2009, 3.4% to 5.2% of AIS patients in the United States received thrombolytics, approximately double the rate of treatment in 2005.5 Rapid recognition and transport and quick treatment in the Emergency Department are clear goals for further improving treatment rates.5 There have been more controversial barriers to the use of IV rtPA treatment. Prior studies6–10 have estimated that 29% to 43% of AIS patients arriving within 3 hours of symptom onset are not treated with IV rtPA because of “mild stroke” or “rapidly improving stroke symptoms” (RISS). In this issue of Stroke , Smith et al11 have reported important results from the American Heart Association Get With The Guidelines (GWTG) nationwide program11,12 involving 1290 participating hospitals, the largest data set to date analyzing outcomes of mild stroke and RISS. During the last 6 years, among 93 517 AIS patients arriving within 2 hours of symptom onset, almost one third (29 200 patients) were excluded from IV rtPA treatment solely because they presented with mild stroke or RISS. This would not be of concern if the outcomes of AIS patients with mild stroke or RISS were invariably benign. However, data have suggested that this is frequently not true.9,13 Their outcome is indeed unpredictable, as confirmed by Smith et al.11 In the GWTG population, ≈28% went to inpatient rehabilitation or skilled-nursing facilities and 1% died; almost 30% were not fully functionally independent at hospital discharge. These outcomes were worse than those of patients diagnosed with …
Competitive exclusion of heterologous Campylobacter spp. in chicks

Chicken and human isolates of Campylobacter jejuni were used to provide oral challenge of day-old broiler chicks. The isolation ratio of the competing challenge strains was monitored and varied, depending upon the isolates used. A PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay of the flagellin gene (flaA) was used to discriminate between the chick-colonizing isolates. Our observations indicated that the selected C. jejuni colonizers dominated the niche provided by the chicken ceca. Chicken isolates from the flaA type 7 grouping generally had numerical superiority over the human isolates when they were administered in our 1-day-old chick model. Our results suggest that it is possible to use combinations of C. jejuni chicken isolates as a defined bacterial preparation for the competitive exclusion of human-pathogenic C. jejuni in poultry.
An assessment of shore-based counts of gray whales

Counts of migrating whales depend on accurate sightings data. In this study, teams of shore-based observers independently tracked whale pods during the southbound migration of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) while a routine (“standard watch”) census was underway. A comparison of sighting records showed that time and location accuracy was limited to 45 s, 3 ◦ (magnetic) horizontally, and 0.0057 ◦ (0.2 reticles) vertically. Of 242 attempts to track whale groups, 72 failed, 120 were “good tracks,” and 83 qualified as “best tracks” because they had ≥8 sightings/pod, ≥16-min observation time, and unequivocal matches to sightings in the standard watch during uncompromised visibility. Between paired tracking teams, 39 attempts to conduct concurrent tracks resulted in 21 “good tracks” with complete agreement in 71% of the cases. Of 133 comparisons between trackers and the standard watch, 43% of the pod-size estimates were the same, but the standard watch overestimated 10% of the pods and underestimated 47%. Thus, according to results from tracking teams, pods recorded as size 1 by observers on the standard watch should be corrected by +0.6; pods of 2 by +0.5; pods of 3 by +0.8; and pods >3 (4–10) were overestimated and should be corrected by −0.6.
Impact of Hepatitis C Seropositivity on the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease Events

Chronic infections have been shown to enhance atherogenicity. However, the association between chronic hepatitis C (HCV) and coronary heart disease (CHD) remains controversial. We examined the risk for CHD events in patients with HCV with an emphasis on the risk of CHD events with active infection. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the enterprise data warehouse at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. HCV positive and negative patients were identified based on serology, and incident CHD events were studied. Patient characteristics at entry were compared either by the analysis of variance or F test (continuous variables) or by a chi-square test (categorical variables). The joint effect of risk factors for incident CHD was evaluated using logistic regression. A total of 8,251 HCV antibody positive, 1,434 HCV RNA positive, and 14,799 HCV negative patients were identified. Patients with HCV antibody and RNA positivity had a higher incidence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and chronic lung disease, but lower serum cholesterol levels compared with patients who were HCV negative (p
Engagement of millennial students using web-based screen movies to replace traditional lecture in lecture/lab courses

An emerging literature focuses on differences in learning style between the so-called millennial generation and preceding generations of students. Concurrently, engineering educators have developed a number of intuitions about millennial students, most with the common theme of lowered tolerance for lecture settings. Two current threads addressing the “lower attention span problem” are (a) approaches under the rubric active learning and (b) technology developments such as web-enabled screen movies and pod-casts. The second thread is often aimed at a technology “fix.” Experience shows that any technology fix is of itself minimal value. Specifically, our research question is the following: In traditional lecture/laboratory courses what is the effect of replacing lecture sessions with web-based, voice-over slide presentations punctuated with full screen demonstrations and interactive quizzes? We report results from a side-by-side study that replaces lecture with screen movies for three of ten lab sections in a high enrollment, computer tools and problem solving course. Results generally indicate no significant difference between the treatments for learning outcomes, attitudes towards engineering, and attitudes towards the screen movies. Student survey data indicates very favorable attitudes towards the screen movies in general. The results are encouraging given the early state of screen movie development.
Micro-Computed Tomography for Visualizing Limb Skeletal Regeneration in Young Xenopus Frogs

For studies of vertebrate limb regeneration it is often desirable to visualize the regenerated skeleton, which is mostly cartilage, and also section the specimen for histological or immunohistochemical visualization of other tissues. However, the normal skeletal staining techniques are incompatible with immunohistochemistry. Here, we describe a contrast-based micro-computed tomography (microCT) method for direct and nondestructive observation of regenerated cartilage spikes in Xenopus frog limbs. In addition, we show that contrast based microCT imaging is compatible with immunohistochemistry protocols. This approach provides versatile and high contrast images of the cartilage allowing us to measure the regenerated skeletal structure in detail as well as carrying out the other types of analysis. It opens a wide range of potential microCT applications in research on vertebrate limb regeneration.
Improved Proper Name Recall in Aging after Electrical Stimulation of the Anterior Temporal Lobes

Evidence from neuroimaging and neuropsychology suggests that portions of the anterior temporal lobes play a critical role in proper name retrieval. We previously found that anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to the anterior temporal lobes improved retrieval of proper names in young adult. Here we extend that finding to older adults who tend to experience greater proper-naming deficits than young adults. The task was to look at pictures of famous faces or landmarks and verbally recall the associated proper name. Our results show a numerical improvement in face naming after left or right anterior temporal lobe stimulation, but a statistically significant effect only after left-lateralized stimulation. The magnitude of the enhancing effect was similar in older and younger adults but the lateralization of the effect differed depending on age. These results provide evidence that tDCS may be a useful tool for the neurorehabilitation of cognitive function in healthy and pathological cognitive decline.
Strain effects on the interface properties of nitride semiconductors

the range from the deep ultraviolet to the visible. 2 Not surprisingly the potential technological importance of these materials has elicited the interest of a number of theoretical groups. 3‐7 In spite of this, the strained interfaces of these lattice mismatched materials have not been studied. We find that strain effects are significant, inducing changes of 20% to 40% in the value of the band offset and that these changes increase with decreasing in-plane lattice parameter. The AlN/GaN/InN interfaces are all of type I, while the Al 0.5Ga 0.5N/AlN zinc-blende ~001! interface is found to be of type II. Finally, we studied the GaN/AlN wurtzite interface, where qualitatively new features, namely pyroelectric and piezoelectric effects, appear due to the low symmetry of the wurtzite lattice. The standard ab initio plane-wave pseudopotential method 8‐10 was employed in the calculations. The energy cutoff for the plane-wave expansion was 50 Ry to ensure convergence of the nitrogen pseudopotential. We used the equivalent of ten k points for bulk and superlattice calculations in the zinc-blende structure 11 and six k points for calculations of the wurtzite structure. 12 Convergence both in the size of the plane-wave basis and in the number of special points has been carefully checked. The Perdew-Zunger parametrization 13 of the Ceperley-Alder form 14 of the exchange-correlation energy was used. For interface calculations, we employed 414 superlattices ~16 atoms! along the ~001! and ~0001! directions. Nonlocal, norm-conserving pseudopotentials 15‐17 were included using the KleinmanBylander approach. 18 For nitrogen, we used a neutral con
MULTICULTURALISM AS THE NORMAL HUMAN EXPERIENCE

The view of culture and the individual which I present here is one I have arrived at in the context of thinking about the contributions anthropology can make to programs for social and cultural change (Goodenough 1963). A major problem in the course of all such programs is the emotional investment of individual persons in preserving or changing existing customs and institutions. Why is the same individual distressed at one kind of change and unconcerned about another? Why do individuals in the same community differ so markedly in their feelings about the same situations? Why do some segments of a population, for example, express little interest in having their children learn to read and write, while other segments are distressed that their children are not learning to read and write better? Applied anthropology’s recognition of the crucial importance of wants and felt needs—of the role of motivation—in social and cultural process inevitably forces theory to come to terms with how individual, purposeful, human beings relate to that process. Anthropologists traditionally have acted on the assumption that most societies are not multicultural, that for each society there is one culture, They have seen multicultural societies as developing only in the wake of urbanism, economic specialization, social stratification, and conquest states.