cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differences in perceived stress during ovarian stimulation between women with infertility and those pursing oocyte cryopreservation.

Objective To determine whether the purpose of ovarian stimulation (oocyte cryopreservation [OC] versus in vitro fertilization (IVF) is associated with perceived stress before or after ovarian stimulation; and whether perceived stress is associated with ovarian stimulation outcomes. Design Prospective cohort study. Setting Academic practice. Patients Women undergoing their first ovarian stimulation cycle as part of a randomized clinical trial, the Learning from Online Video Education (LOVE) study (NCT02979990). Interventions Questionnaire before and after ovarian stimulation. Main Outcome Measures(S) Perceived stress scale (PSS) scores before and after stimulation. The number of oocytes collected was a secondary measure. Results After adjustment for age, income, race, education, financial assistance, and fertility diagnosis, the indication for treatment (IVF vs. OC) was a significant predictor of pretreatment PSS scores. IVF participants had higher pretreatment scores (18.01 ± 6.43) than did OC participants (15.62 ± 5.61). Posttreatment PSS scores did not differ between the two groups. IVF participants experienced a decrease of 0.85 ± 2.34 points in PSS scores after treatment, whereas OC participant scores were stable over time. The trajectory of PSS scores differed between the two groups and neared significance. Financial support was a significant predictor of pretreatment and posttreatment PSS scores for the entire cohort. Neither pretreatment nor posttreatment PSS was predictive of the number oocytes collected. Conclusion Compared with OC patients, IVF patients have higher stress levels, which decrease after ovarian stimulation. Perceived stress does not affect oocyte yield.
Screen-space Regularization on Differentiable Rasterization

Rasterization bridges 3D meshes of a scene and 2D visual appearance on different viewpoints. It plays a vital role in vision and graphics area. Many researches focus on designing a differentiable rasterization and make it compatible with current learning-based frameworks. Although some global-gradient methods achieve promising results, they still ignore one substantial issue existing in most of the situations that the series of 2D silhouettes may not precisely represent the underlying 3D object. To directly tackle this problem, we propose a screen-space regularization method. Unlike the common geometric regularization, our method targets the unbalanced deformation due to the limited viewpoints. By applying the regularization to both multi-view deformation and single-view reconstruction tasks, the proposed method can significantly enhance the visual appearance for the results of a local-gradient differentiable rasterizer, i.e. reducing the visual hull redundancy. Comparing to the state-of-the-art global-gradient method, the proposed method achieves better numerical results with much lower complexity.
Sustained Oxygenation Accelerates Diabetic Wound Healing by Simultaneously Promoting Epithelialization and Angiogenesis, and Decreasing Tissue Inflammation

Abstract Non-healing diabetic wound is one of the most common complications for diabetic patients. Chronic hypoxia is among the prominent factors that delay the wound healing process. Therefore, sustained oxygenation to alleviate hypoxia is hypothesized to promote diabetic wound healing. Yet it cannot be achieved by current clinical approaches including hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Herein, we developed a sustained oxygenation system consisting of oxygen-release microspheres and a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging hydrogel. The hydrogel was used to capture the ROS that is elevated in the diabetic wounds, and that may be generated due to oxygen release. The sustainedly released oxygen augmented survival and migration of keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts; promoted angiogenic growth factor expression, and angiogenesis in the diabetic wounds; and decreased M1 macrophage density. These effects led to a significant increase of wound closure rate. These findings reveal that sustained oxygenation alone without using drugs is capable of healing diabetic wounds.
Big Data, Little Theory: Exploring The Structure Of Digital Content Use

In response to the exponential growth in stored digital content, in this paper we present a theoretical framework to better explain possibilities for digital content use. This framework—set within ...
A Proposal to Mitigate Similarity Bias for the Paderborn Bearing Data Set

Similarity bias is a phenomenon that might occur when samples in a data set are originated from the same acquisition or are acquired from similar equipment settings. This phenomenon may lead to overoptimistic evaluations of machine learning algorithms. That overoptimistic estimation probably will not be reflected when the models generated by these algorithms will be put on production. This paper proposes a method to mitigate the similarity bias for bearing fault diagnosis evaluation with the Paderborn bearing dataset. The method consists on defining the proper data splits for training, validation and testing. Related works of classification models for the Paderborn data set were evaluated, showing that the similarity bias was not considered. Experiments were performed with K-nearest neighbors, Random Forest and FaultNet classification models. Accuracy and F1-score results show that the proposed method is effective to mitigate the similarity bias.
Deferoxamine as a potential cause of incidentally found T1-hyperintense urine on magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract T1-hyperintense urine can be an incidental finding on MRI with many potential causes, such as prior gadolinium administration or hematuria. This is the case of a 33-year-old female with a history of sickle cell disease complicated by iron overload secondary to chronic transfusions, who has been on multiple different iron chelation regimens. Due to persistent iron overload despite various treatments, the patient was started on a new iron chelation regimen that utilized a protocol involving inpatient admission for high dose IV deferoxamine. While admitted for the administration of this regimen, the patient underwent an MRI due to acute on chronic hip pain; this MRI demonstrated an incidental finding of T1-hyperintense urine. There was no evidence found to suggest that this T1-hyperintense urine was caused by prior gadolinium administration, hematuria, or other typical causes of T1-hyperintensity. This incidental finding was thought to have been caused by the usage of deferoxamine; to our knowledge, there is no previous literature discussing this association. Therefore, the findings of this case report demonstrate that this medication is an important item to keep in mind while evaluating the differential diagnosis of T1-hyperintense urine.
High-dose intravenous immunoglobulin modifies complement-mediated in vivo clearance

The mechanism of effect of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy in immune cytopenias is incompletely known. One of the leading theories ascribes the short-term effects of IVIG to the competition of infused IVIG for Fc receptors, thereby inhibiting IgG-mediated clearance. Using a system independent of IgG-Fc receptor interactions, we examined another potential mechanism of IVIG action. Guinea pigs were infused with a human IVIG preparation at 600 mg/kg/day for two consecutive days. Parallel groups of animals were treated with the same volume and/or concentration of saline and albumin. Clearance of IgM-sensitized guinea pig erythrocytes, which is wholly complement dependent, was significantly retarded in animals treated with high-dose IVIG. The effect was specific for IVIG, since human albumin (as a second foreign protein) failed to change the clearance of IgM-sensitized guinea pig erythrocytes. Experiments in which IVIG-treated animals were subjected to pre- and posttreatment clearance studies revealed heterogeneity among individual animals in respect to their response to IVIG infusions. Decrease of available plasma complement components did not account for the effect, since both C3 and CH50 values remained unchanged after IVIG treatment, despite rising levels of IVIG in sera of treated animals. The results of in vitro C3 uptake studies and the effect of IVIG on clearance of preopsonized cells suggest that IVIG produces a kinetic depression of C3 uptake and modifies the process of complement fragment deposition on erythrocytes. A generalized effect on mononuclear phagocytes is less likely but cannot be wholly ruled out. These studies establish another potential mechanism of IVIG action and suggest extension of its use to other complement-mediated diseases.
On Carol Bly's "Backbone"

"not the wheat or the prairies or the lost Swede towns" ?and overlooking Louise Erdrich's more recent Beet Queen ancestors, our modern view of the Minnesota prairie dweller comes primarily from Garrison Keillor, whose popular monologues (revised and collected in Leaving Home) tell stories of inarticulate, self-conscious Minnesotans, whose inhibitions are often laughable, and whose prosaic lives provide a nostalgic if not senti mental sort of inspiration. Lutheran or Catholic, they are almost always Norwegian and generally have names with r's in them: Carl, Florian, Ber tha, Hjalmar. Keillor's often delightful, conscience-ridden folks seem near cousins to the Minnesotans in Carol Bly's collection of stories, Backbone. This is a book of five stories, each roughly four times longer than a Keillor mono logue. Using commonplace settings and local events ?a Norwegian din ner, a church fair, a funeral parlor, a nursing home?Bly takes characters mired in conventional lives and urges them toward limits they have scarcely imagined. Keillor's humorous, parable-like sketches read a little as outlines for Bly's more richly layered work. Bly's stories have appeared in the New Yorker, American Review, and Best American Short Stories 1983. She lives in Sturgeon Lake, Minn., and teaches writing at Hamline University in St. Paul. A collection of her essays, Let ters from the Country, addressed first to a rural audience, appeared individ ually in the Minnesota Monthly, and in them, one discovers ideas that move her fiction:
Analysis of Heuristic Reasoning for the Visualization of CAD Quadratic

In this paper we develop a conceptual model for CAD algorithm visualization. We analyze the knowledge requirements necessary and formalize a visualization model called FOVISTA. FOVISTA has four essential "functional views" which emphasize the visualization of the computational behaviour of CAD heuristics, rather than the final result. The aim is to provide a learning and research tool for the design of heuristics. As an example, we consider a VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration) heuristic, that of detailed (switchbox) routing.
Development of a collision avoidance system

The analysis of a rear-end collision warning/ avoidance (CW/CA) system algorithm will be presented. The system is designed to meet several criteria: 1. System warnings should result in a minimum load on driver attention. 2. Automatic control of the brakes should not interfere with normal driving operation.
How) Should Trade Agreements Deal with Income Tax Issues

This paper addresses the relationship between tax and trade law, as embodied in the network of bilateral tax treaties and the multilateral agreements underlying the WTO. The paper argues that: (1) There is considerable overlap in the goals to be achieved by tax and trade agreements, and full achievement of these goals is not possible without addressing both tax and trade policies. (2) Tax treaties contribute to the avoidance of double taxation but, because of their bilateral nature, cannot effectively address the problem of double non-taxation resulting from tax competition. (3) The WTO agreements as currently drafted address some aspects of the tax competition issue (e.g., preferential tax regimes for trade in goods) but not others (competition for investment and trade in services, including traditional tax havens). (4) Fully achieving the goals of tax and trade agreements may require a multilateral agreement that will address services and investment issues, as well as goods. We remain agnostic whether the WTO or some other forum is the most appropriate one to effectuate such an agreement.
Development of advanced dynamic navigation system

The Dynamic Navigation System is an information-providing type navigation and route guidance system. Fundamentally the system is suited for phased implementation. Some measures, however, must be taken in advance to enhance it to the advanced phase. For these measures, information providing data formats, travel time collection methods and small-delay system architecture have been studied. As a result, the flexible data composition for information provision, the on-board travel time measurement for efficient and accurate data collection and the autonomous communication network concept called 'HYPO NET' have been proposed.
The Impact of Third Party Reimbursement on Services by Social Workers in Private Practice

Social workers in private practice are increasingly confronted with the challenge of how to provide appropriate services within the parameters of what will be reimbursed by a fiscal third Party. This article reports on a 1992 study, which examined the nature and prevalence of dilemmas experienced by private practitioners. The survey and interview findings indicate practice effects in the clientele selected for treatment, the diagnoses assigned, the length, frequency, and modality of treatment, and the collateral services rendered. Practitioners also evidenced ethical and personal dilemmas as a result of reconciling practice decisions with third party parameters.
Prediction of Condensation and Evaporation in Micro-Fin and Micro-Channel Tubes

This paper surveys methods to predict condensation and evaporation in plain, and in micro-fin and micro-channel tubes. Hydraulic diameters as small as 1.0 mm are of interest. To date, the Shah correlation has been well accepted for prediction of condensation in plain tubes. This work shows apparent deficiencies of the Shah equation for p/pCT > 0.44. An improved predictive model called the “equivalent Reynolds number model” is introduced Use of the new model requires prediction of the single-phase heat transfer coefficient and the two-phase pressure gradient. For condensation in micro-fin tubes, both vapor shear and surface tension forces contribute to the condensing coefficient. The equivalent Reynolds number model predicts the vapor shear component. An existing theoiy of Adamek and Webb is applicable for the surface tension contribution. The vapor shear model is also applicable to evaporation inside tubes; however, it is not applicable after diyout. A nucleate boiling component will modestly add to the evaporation coefficient Data are shown that suggests the nucleate boiling contribution is less than 15%, and that this contribution exists only at vapor qualities less than 50%.
Shepherd, Laura J. Gender, Violence and Popular Culture: Telling Stories

The stories we tell provide a framework for how we understand the world. From this premise, feminist international relations scholar Laura J. Shepherd argues that popular culture and global politic...
Relationship between solute permeability and osmotic remediability in a galactose-negative strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Abstract An osmotic remedial allele, gal 7-1, in the galactose pathway of Saccharomyces cerevisiae responds to either penetrating (ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol) or nonpenetrating (KCl, NaCl, and sorbitol) solutes in the growth medium. Extracts from cells grown under restrictive conditions gave no increase in enzyme activity (gal-1-phosphate, uridylyl transferase) when exposed to the penetrating solutes; thus protein synthesis or possibly polymer assembly is proposed as the critical step remedied by the addition of the solutes.
Mechanisms Regulating Acquisition of Platelet-Derived Factor V/Va by Megakaryocytes

Factor Va serves as the nonenzymatic protein cofactor for the prothrombinase complex, which converts prothrombin to thrombin in the events leading to formation of a hemostatic plug. Several observations support the concept that platelet-derived factor V/Va is physically and functionally distinct and plays a more important role in thrombin generation at sites of vascular injury as compared to its plasma counterpart. Platelet-derived factor V/Va is generated following endocytosis of the plasma-derived molecule by the platelet precursor cells, megakaryocytes, via a two receptor system consisting of low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1) and an unidentified specific "binding site". More recently, it was suggested that a cell surface-expressed β-galactoside binding protein, galectin-8, was involved in factor V endocytosis. Endocytosed factor V is trafficked through the cell and retailored prior to its storage in α-granules. Given the essential role of platelet-derived factor Va in clot formation, understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate how platelets acquire this molecule will be important for the treatment of excessive bleeding or clotting.
Survival of enteric viruses and indicator bacteria in groundwater

Abstract Human enteric viruses are believed responsible for numerous disease outbreaks caused by contaminated groundwater, but little is known about the survival of these organisms in groundwater. This study compared the ability of several viruses and bacteria to survive in groundwater. The organisms were contained in individual survival chambers and exposed to a continuous flow of groundwater from a 275 ft deep domestic well. The survival of the test organisms ranked in order of decreasing decay rates were coliphage f2, rotavirus SA‐11, Escherichia coli, echovirus‐1, fecal streptococcus, poliovirus‐1, and coxsackievirus B3. Low numbers of bacteria and viruses survived for the 24 day duration of the experiment. These results indicate that enteric viruses are capable of surviving for extended periods in groundwater.
The early history of the ubiquitin field

This is a personal account of the early history of ubiquitin research, by one of its protagonists. The field of ubiquitin and regulated protein degradation was created in the 1980s, largely through the complementary discoveries by the laboratory of A. Hershko (Technion, Haifa, Israel) and by my laboratory, then at MIT (Cambridge, MA). I describe the elegant insights by Hershko and his colleagues that yielded the initial understanding of ubiquitin conjugation and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis in cell extracts, including the identification of E1, E2, and E3 enzymes. These advances were followed by a set of interconnected discoveries in my laboratory that revealed the biology of the ubiquitin system, i.e., its necessity for the protein degradation in vivo, its specific physiological functions (in the cell cycle, DNA repair, protein synthesis, transcriptional regulation, and stress responses), the source of its selectivity (specific degradation signals in short-lived proteins), and its key mechanistic attributes, such as the polyubiquitin chain and the subunit selectivity of protein degradation. The above biological (function-based) insights produced the main discovery of the physiological regulation by intracellular protein degradation. These advances caused the enormous expansion of the ubiquitin field in the 1990s. Together with the initial discovery of ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis by Hershko and coworkers, our biological discoveries in the 1980s led to a radically changed understanding of the logic of intracellular circuits, as it became clear that the control through regulated protein degradation rivals, and often surpasses in significance, the classical regulation through transcription and translation.
Numerical solution of a class of random boundary value problems

Abstract This paper deals with the nonlinear two point boundary value problem y ″ = f ( x , y , y ′, R 1 ,…, R n ), x 0 x x f S 1 y ( x 0 ) + S 2 y ′( x 0 ) = S 3 , S 4 y ( x f ) + S 5 y ′( x f ) = S 6 where R 1 ,…, R n , S 1 ,…, S 6 are bounded continuous random variables. An approximate probability distribution function for y ( x ) is constructed by numerical integration of a set of related deterministic problems. Two distinct methods are described, and in each case convergence of the approximate distribution function to the actual distribution function is established. Primary attention is placed on problems with two random variables, but various generalizations are noted. As an example, a nonlinear one-dimensional heat conduction problem containing one or two random variables is studied in some detail.
Inter- and intea-molecular hydrogen-bonding of polyethylene glycol dodecyl ethers in supercritical ethane

Abstract Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy has been used to measure the degree of intra- and intermolecular hydrogen-bonding for solutions of nonionic surfactants (polyethylene glycol dodecyl ethers) in supercritical ethane. The polarizability of the the continuous phase solvent affects the solubility of the monomer and hence the degree of aggregation. Increasing the density of the supercritical fluid phase decreases the size of the surfactant aggregate. Similarly, liquid alkanes are better solvents for the monomeric form of the amphiphile than are supercritical fluids under the same conditions of temperature and pressure. It was found that dodecanol monomer solubility in supercritical ethane was actually less than for the more polar and higher molecular weight surfactants due to the intra-molecular hydrogen-bonding of the surfactant molecules.
Terminal Homing Applications Of Solid-State Imaging Devices (Thassid) Composite Tracking Concepts

The objective of THASSID (Terminal Homing Applications of Solid-State Imaging Devices) is to develop an advanced optoelectronic solid-state seeker with true fire-and-forget capability. The system comprises an image intensified CCD camera mounted on a gimbaled, momentum-stabilized platform and a digital tracker of advanced design. The camera employs a 490 x 327 picture element CCD array encapsulated in a focused electron tube. This paper describes the composite tracker containing three major subsystems: adaptive gate centroid tracker, correlation tracker, and moving target tracker. System operation is controlled by a Texas Instruments SBP 9900 microprocessor with substantial portions of the tracking algorithms allocated to the microprocessor. Microprocessor support of the composite tracker includes adaptive image quantization, correlation feature selection, feature update, feature replacement, scene stabilization computations':, control of electronic de-zoom, centroid gate position, size, and thresholding, and moving-target-tracker search algorithms. The microprocessor also establishes the operating mode of the correlation tracker and its role in relation to the other tracking subsystems. During the terminal impact phase of the mission the correlation tracker is the primary tracking subsystem. A system incorporating these concepts was delivered to the U. S. Army Missile Research and Development Command for testing and evaluation.© (1979) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Am I pushing your buttons

The ultimate in simplicity, clarity, and consistency is just one button. Is this the right approach? The chapter discusses the CHI/HCI/UX issues.
A small, novel, remote in-vessel inspection system for the Alcator C-Mod tokamak

Abstract A small robust system has been constructed for in-situ visual inspection of the Alcator C-Mod tokamak. The system consists of a small, light, wide-angle high definition camera and LED package housed in a nacelle on the end of thin, rigid, 3.5 m long support pole. The nacelle has two actuated degrees of freedom allowing the camera to observe nearly 4 π steradians. The support pole has a specific slight curve that allows it to pass to either side of the center column of the tokamak to observe the entirety of the vessel interior, while still fitting through the small aspect ratio Alcator C-Mod vacuum port structure. The support pole and camera can enter the vessel through any horizontal vacuum port with an inner diameter greater than 4 cm, thus a dedicated port is not required. The inspection is typically undertaken during maintenance periods when the vessel is filled with a noble gas near atmospheric pressure thus minimizing the influx of water vapor and the concomitant loss of wall conditioning. The system is operated manually, producing photos and video which are reviewed in near real-time. Nearly the entire vessel, including the plasma facing components, can be carefully inspected in 3–5 h. The system provides improved characterization of the interior components and surfaces of the tokamak with a modest engineering and operational effort. Information gathered from the system has identified damage to plasma facing components that were interfering with tokamak operation, as well as damage to mechanical components which were redesigned during the remainder of the campaign, thereby enhancing program planning.
Strong Conservation Laws and Equations of Motion in Covariant Field Theories

The relationship between the covariance of a field theory and the equations of motion is discussed in both the Lagrangian and the Hamiltonian formalism. All theories whose field equations are derivable from a variational principle and are covariant under arbitrary (curvilinear) coordinate transformations posses Bianchi identities and, hence, "strong" conservation laws. Because the strong conservation laws are ordinary divergences equal to zero, whether or not the field equations are satisfied, there exist certain skew-symmetric expressions whose divergences yield the components of the energy-momentum tensor. These superpotentials, as the skew-symmetric expressions are called, enable us to write the energy and momentum content of the field as two-dimensional surface integrals. Also, by using the superpotentials together with the field equations, one can find certain surface integrals which are independent of the surface of integration and which yield the equations of motion for the singularities enclosed by the surface. If the Einstein-Infeld approximation method is applied in the general theory of relativity, the above surface integrals reduce to integrals which are equivalent to those used by Einstein and Infeld to obtain the equations of motion for the field sources.In the Hamiltonian formalism the covariance of the theory is revealed in the existence of a number of constraints between the momenta and the field variables. Therefore, we examine the relationship between the constraints and the Bianchi identities, which lead to the strong conservation laws. We find that the first time derivative of the constraints leads to the existence of four linear combinations of field equations which are free of the time derivatives of the canonical field variables. These four expressions are the "secondary" constraints. The second time derivative of the primary constraints leads to the Bianchi identities in terms of the canonical field variables. Thus, we are able to establish the existence of the strong conservation laws in the Hamiltonian formalism and by the same arguments as in the Lagrangian formalism establish the existence of the superpotentials. The superpotentials are written out only for the gravitational theory.
Combination therapy with DNA methyltransferase inhibitors in hematologic malignancies.

A variety of epigenetic changes contribute to transcriptional dysregulation in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors—azacitidine and decitabine—have significant activity in the treatment of MDS. Despite marked activity in myeloid malignancy, monotherapy with DNMT inhibitors is limited by low complete and partial response rates (7–20%) and median response durations of 15 months. As with classical cytotoxic therapy, the targeting of biologic pathways and mechanisms may best be accomplished using a combination of agents offering complementary mechanisms and synergistic pharmacodynamic interactions. The goal of this approach is to improve response rates, quality, and duration, and to minimize adverse events. There are a number of new therapies under development for the management of MDS and AML. This review article touches on some of the more promising combination regimens in various phases of investigation. The treatment of MDS and AML is undergoing rapid evolution. Cytogenetic complete remission and prolonged survival represent important goals. Incremental improvements in disease state and quality-of-life issues are also important for patients. Given the overall failure of cytotoxic chemotherapy in the achievement of cures in MDS and MDS-related AML, the application of less toxic, biologically directed agents may represent a more promising approach to treatment. Combination therapies with DNMT inhibitors using optimal dosing regimens to focus on methylation reversal with lower doses over longer periods of time, rather than direct cytotoxic effects, are beginning to suggest promising results in MDS and AML.
Isoelectronic study of double-electron capture in slow ion-atom collisions.

We report studies of double-electron transfer in slow collisions ({ital v}{approx}0.2--0.4 a.u.) of the F-like (nine-electron) ions Si{sup 5+}, Ar{sup 9+},Sc{sup 12+}, Ti{sup 13+}, Fe{sup 17+}, and Cu{sup 20+} with He atoms. The transfer populates doubly excited states of the Na sequence (eleven electrons) of these elements that we study via the subsequent electron emission using high-resolution Auger spectroscopic techniques. Comparison is made to spectra that are formed by single-electron capture by Ne-like (ten-electron) ions in the 2{ital p}{sup 5}3{ital s} {sup 3}{ital P}{sub 0,2} metastable levels. Non-Coulomb (Breit interaction) Auger decay of the Na-like metastable level 2{ital p}{sup 5}3{ital s}3{ital p} {sup 4}{ital D}{sub 7/2} forms a prominent line in many of these spectra.
Collision energy dependence of the reactions of metastable Ne (2p53s3P2, 3P0) with small molecules

Abstract Crossed supersonic beams were employed to study the ionization reactions at various collision energies E (≈1–7 kcal/mol) of Ne∗ (2p53s3P2, 3P0) with CO, N2, NO, CO2, C2H2, and O2. Reasons for non-Franck–Condon behavior and possible mechanisms (Penning, excitation transfer, and ion-pair) are discussed. Complete fits, populations, and line shifts are given for CO, N2, NO, and C2H2. With increasing E, CO and N2 exhibited a blue shift that increased, whereas NO (X and a) and C2H2 exhibited a blue shift that decreased. Line shifts for CO2 and O2 are given, as is a partial CO2 fit.
A STATISTICAL EXAMINATION OF SETTLEMENT PATTERNS AT TIKAL, GUATEMALA

The widely applied concentric zonation model for Classic period Maya centers, which specifies that highranking persons lived closer to the central civic-ceremonial precinct than low-ranking persons, is tested for the site of Tikal. Our method is to identify residential units from the Carr and Hazard (1961) Tikal maps and to compute labor investment costs of construction of residential units from variables derived exclusively from the cartographic data. Our finding is that the Tikal data do not substantiate the concentric zonation model.
Computerized design and analysis of sitting workplace

Abstract This paper demonstrates the use of personal micro-computers to individualize the design of the sitting workplace. Engineering static and functional anthropometry as well as ergonomic design principles are implemented. Computer outputs and a case study are presented.
H216O line strengths revisited: ν2 and 2ν2–ν2 at 6 μm

Abstract The necessity to revisit water spectroscopy at 6 μm was prompted by recent work indicating that some prior measurements of H216O line strengths (ranging through seven orders of magnitude) had larger than expected systematic errors for the stronger transitions. To investigate this, linestrengths of stronger transitions were re-measured (with 14 new H2O spectra recorded with a Bruker 125 HR Fourier transform spectrometer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory) and combined with re-analyzed prior results (obtained at higher optical densities from 32 spectra recorded with the FTS at Kitt Peak). Systematic differences for some of the older data sets were identified and corrected. In this paper, an internally-consistent sampling of 1243 selected line strengths are reported for (0 1 0)–(0 0 0) and (0 2 0)–(0 1 0) transitions between 783 and 2378 cm−1. To confirm experimental precisions, observed and calculated line strengths are compared.
Urinary hippuric acid excretion as an index of toluene exposure.

Abstract A simple procedure is described for the analysis of hippuric acid in urine. The sample is extracted with an isopropyl alcohol-diethyl ether mixture, and the hippuric acid is measured in the extractant by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The excretion of hippuric acid in urine as a metabolic product of toluene was studied in relation to its usefulness in industrial exposures to toluene. Good correlation of hippuric acid content of end-of-shift samples and toluene exposure was found in studies performed in leather-finishing and rubber-coating plants. The hippuric acid test was also found to be useful in measuring the adequacy of cartridge-type respirators in tank painting work.
Decoration of Open Pore Networks in Light‐Colored Ceramics

A decoration technique was used to determine the positions of open porosity in both ZrO2-3-mol%-Y2O3 and Al2O3. In some instances, deeply penetrating open pore networks were identified even when the sintered bodies investigated contained less than 1% open porosity. The decoration technique could be used in the development of processing procedures for the manufacture of sound ceramic components.
Methylphenidate decreases local glucose metabolism in the motor cortex

Abstract The local cerebral metabolism on glucose (l-CMRg) was evaluated in animals given methylphenidate (15 mg/kg) in order to investigate possible mechanisms of action of the drug. Significant increases in l-CMRg (p >0.05) were found in the globus pallidus, entopeduncular nucleus, substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus, inferior olive, red nucleus, lateral cerebellar cortex, ventral lateral nucleus of the thalamus and the midbrain reticular formation. Significant decreases (p >0.05) in l-CMRg were found in the motor cortex. These results suggest possible mechanisms for methylphenidate's action in attention deficit disorders.
Do Financial Incentives Linked to Ownership of Specialty Hospitals Affect Physicians' Practice Patterns?

Background:Although physician-owned specialty hospitals have become increasingly prevalent in recent years, little research has examined whether the financial incentives linked to ownership influence physicians’ referral rates for services performed at the specialty hospital.Objective:We compared th
Planar, time-optimal, rest-to-rest slewing maneuvers of flexible spacecraft

The control problem of time-optimal, rest-to-rest slewing of a flexible spacecraft through a large angle is considered. The flexible spacecraft is modeled as a linear, elastic, undamped, nongyroscopic system suitable for analysis of planar rotational maneuvers. Minimum-time open-loop planar maneuvers are studied. The control histories are found to be bang-bang with multiple switches in each control variable. The optimal control history is shown to have an important time symmetry property. The switching times, final time, and costates at midmaneuver satisfy a system of nonlinear algebraic equations that can be solved using a homotopy method. An upper bound on attitude error due to control spillover is obtained. This helps to determine, a priori, the number of vibrational modes that need to be actively suppressed at the final time such that a prespecified pointing accuracy is guaranteed after the maneuver has been completed. A time-optimal slewing example is discussed to demonstrate the applicability of the results.
Lossless convexification for a class of optimal control problems with quadratic state constraints

This paper presents lossless convexification for a class of finite horizon optimal control problems with non-convex control constraints and quadratic state constraints. Some special cases where the state at most touches the state constraint have been addressed previously in the literature. In this paper, the convexification results are generalized to allow optimal trajectories with boundary arcs. There are a number of practical examples that belong to the class of problems studied here. The optimal control problems considered have convex cost, specialized linear dynamics, quadratic state constraints, and non-convex control constraints. Hence, the control constraints are the single source of non-convexity. The control set is relaxed to a convex set by introducing a scalar slack variable. It is shown that optimal solutions of the relaxed problem are also optimal solutions of the original problem, hence the term lossless convexification. The main contribution of this paper is to extend the lossless convexification to the problem with quadratic state constraints. The proof uses a maximum principle with state variable inequality constraints and requires an assumption on the bounds of an external disturbance. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the approach. Because the numerical problem is a second order cone problem, convergence to the global minimum is guaranteed in a deterministic, finite number of steps.
The Case for Social Medicine

The first patient I ever interviewed as a medical student was a middle-aged woman named Barbara. Wearing my crisp new white coat, the pockets yet unburdened with a physician’s paraphernalia, I walked in with only the intention of having a conversation. I discovered that Barbara had kidney failure and needed dialysis three times a week, which restricted her to working part-time. Barbara now had a systemic infection, for the third time in the past few months, which required an emergency department visit and a week-long hospitalization. She would be following up with her primary care physician and nephrologist, who are in different locations from the dialysis center she attends. A few weeks later, I met Lisa in the emergency department. She suffered from an acute exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis and was in excruciating pain. After gathering her medical history, I asked Lisa where she lived. Holding back tears, she said that she had been a nurse, but now lived in a homeless shelter with her 8-year old daughter.
Recent advances in magnetic resonance neurospectroscopy.

Over the past two decades, proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (proton MRS) of the brain has made the transition from research tool to a clinically useful modality. In this review, we first describe the localization methods currently used in MRS studies of the brain and discuss the technical and practical factors that determine the applicability of the methods to particular clinical studies. We also describe each of the resonances detected by localized solvent-suppressed proton MRS of the brain and discuss the metabolic and biochemical information that can be derived from an analysis of their concentrations. We discuss spectral quantitation and summarize the reproducibility of both single-voxel and multivoxel methods at 1.5 and 3–4 T. We have selected three clinical neurologic applications in which there has been a consensus as to the diagnostic value of MRS and summarize the information relevant to clinical applications. Finally, we speculate about some of the potential technical developments, either in progress or in the future, that may lead to improvements in the performance of proton MRS.
Energy loss spectra of thin films of aluminum on niobium

Abstract Thin films of aluminum were deposited on a niobium substrate. The energy spectrum of reflected electrons was recorded to determine the energy loss mechanisms. The energy loss spectra of the thin films differed from those of the pure metals. Peaks were observed in the loss spectrum of the thin films which could be attributed to the excitation of interface plasmons at the boundary between the aluminum film and the niobium substrate. The energy of the interface plasmon is a few percent less than the theoretical value.
Genomic vitamin D signaling in breast cancer: Insights from animal models and human cells☆

These studies focus on identification of vitamin D regulated pathways that impact development or progression of breast cancer. In mouse experiments, we assessed genomic profiles of glandular tissue and established tumors from MMTV-neu mice fed adequate (250 IU/kg) or high (5000 IU/kg) vitamin D (cholecalciferol). Genomic profiles were also obtained in murine mammary cells that differentially express VDR that were cultured in vitro with 100 nM 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D). Ten candidate genes were identified that were commonly regulated in murine cells treated with 1,25D in vitro and in mammary gland of mice fed high dietary vitamin D. In complementary studies, the vitamin D pathway was evaluated in human mammary epithelial cells as a function of transformation. Genes regulated by 1,25D in human mammary epithelial cells included those involved in innate immunity (CD14), differentiation (Bmp6), extracellular matrix remodeling (Plau) and cell survival (Birc3). Transformation reduced VDR content and blunted the induction of some, but not all, target genes by 1,25D in human mammary cells. Collectively, these in vivo and in vitro data demonstrate that vitamin D signaling impacts on common pathways that drive differentiation, alter metabolism, remodel the extracellular matrix and trigger innate immunity in mammary tissue.
Quantity versus quality: optimal methods for cell-free DNA isolation from plasma of pregnant women.

Purpose: Methods to isolate cell-free fetal DNA from maternal plasma are critical in developing noninvasive fetal DNA testing strategies. Given that plasma consists of heterogeneous DNA-size fragments in a complex mix of proteins, recovery and analysis of this DNA are understandably inefficient. To facilitate recovery, we performed qualitative and quantitative analysis of DNA isolated from maternal plasma. Methods: DNA isolated from maternal blood (n = 15) was compared using five different DNA isolation protocols: two conventional, two column-based, and one magnetic-bead based. Purity and concentration of DNA recovered were determined with a NanoDrop spectrophotometer. Real-time polymerase chain reaction quantification of the β-globin and DYS1 loci was performed to determine total and fetal-specific genome equivalents, respectively. Results: DNA quality and quantity were different among the five methods tested. Although purity and concentration of total DNA were greatest with the conventional boiling-lysis approach, correct detection of a male fetus was achieved in only 62.5% of cases. DNA isolation using the magnetic beads yielded the highest quantity of total DNA (2018.83 ± 4.09 GEq/mL), with 100% fetal DNA detection. Conclusions: Optimal plasma DNA recovery protocols must take into account DNA purity and concentration. We confirm that the magnetic-beads method provides a fast, simple, sensitive, and specific approach to purify plasma DNA. The resulting high-quality DNA facilitates efficient examination of fetal DNA sequences.
Minnesota horticultural industry survey on invasive plants.

Horticultural commerce of ornamental plants has been the source of many of our most troublesome plant invaders worldwide. The purpose of this research was to document the knowledge gap of industry perspectives and knowledge of invasive ornamental crops by surveying industry professionals in the Midwest region of the U.S. (primarily in the state of Minnesota). An invasive plant survey was created to assess this information and was mailed to n = 500 individuals and companies randomly chosen from the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA) membership, which included wholesale/retail nurseries, landscape design, installation & maintenance firms, and retail garden centers. A total of n = 167 surveys (33.4%) were returned and analyzed. A majority of respondents, 62%, felt that the invasive plant issue was very important and 89% tried to direct their customers away from potentially invasive plants. Many respondents, 76%, indicated that they were responsible for educating their customers about invasive ornamental plants. Sixty-nine percent said that they would not sell a plant if it was potentially invasive; however, 57% indicated that this would be true if a competing business was selling the plant. Respondent’s knowledge about specific invasive plants varied from 75% to 89% on the identification of three terrestrial invasive plant crops. Far less, 20% and 21%, were able to identify Butomus umbellatus and Salvinia molesta, respectively, two invasive aquatic species. When asked about regulation of invasive ornamental crops, 43% preferred national, state, or USDA regulation while 22% felt industry self-regulation was best, and 21% approved of private regulation. Opportunities exist for educating horticulture industry professionals about invasive plants and providing information to the public through commercial businesses.
Device fixation in cochlear implantation: is bone anchoring necessary?

Objectives/Hypothesis: To compare complication rates between patients whose cochlear implants were secured by a bony tie-down technique versus those secured by a periosteal tie-down technique. Study Design: A retrospective review of 302 consecutive patients undergoing cochlear implantation (327 implants), including both adults and children, at a single institution by a single surgeon. Methods: Cochlear implantation was performed in the standard fashion with bony securement of the device in the first subset of patients. The surgical technique was then modified to exclude the bony tie-down step in favor of a periosteally placed suture tie-down in the next subset of patients. The patient's medical records were then reviewed to determine complications, which were then compared between groups using χ2 testing. Results: The overall complication rate for the periosteally secured cochlear implant subset was 9.5%, with no significant difference noted when compared to the 12.2% overall complication rate seen with the bone-secured implants. Minor complication rates were 9.5% versus 8.1%, respectively, with major complications occurring in 0% versus 4.1% of periosteally secured versus bone-secured devices. There were no statistical differences between groups for major, minor, or any specific complications. There were no cases of device migration. Conclusions: Cochlear implant devices may be secured in place with periosteally anchored sutures in lieu of bone-anchored sutures without any significant increases in perioperative complications. Laryngoscope, 2010
Increased Medication Use in a Community Environmentally Exposed to Chemicals

An epidemiological health study compared the health status of residents of a town exposed to an accidental Catacarb chemical release from an adjacent oil refinery, with the health status of demographically similar residents of an unexposed town in the region. Few studies of Catacarb's effects on humans exist; however, animal studies have shown it to be a respiratory, gastro-intestinal, dermatological and visual irritant. As part of the study, health questionnaires assessing pre- and post exposure symptoms, illnesses and medication use were mailed to residents in both towns. Medication use is sometimes reported to be a more objective and reliable measure of health outcomes 1) . The current paper compared medication use of exposed and unexposed residents. Significant increases after exposure were found in the use of the following medications: antacid, asthma medication, cough and cold medication, eye medication, headache medication and sleep medication. These increases were consistent with reported symptoms, albeit of greater magnitude; no increase in medication use for other illnesses was reported. Medication use in this sample was consistent with patients' report of symptoms and may be a better measure of outcome.