cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Change in Cervical Length across Pregnancies and Preterm Delivery.

Objective This study aimed to determine whether a decrease in midtrimester cervical length across pregnancies is associated with preterm delivery in a subsequent pregnancy. Study Design This is a cohort study of women who had two consecutive singleton births at the same institution. Midtrimester cervical length change across pregnancies was measured as the difference in centimeters (cm) between cervical lengths using the measurement taken closest to 200/7 weeks' gestation in each pregnancy. Cervical length shortening was defined as present if the cervical length decreased by at least one standard deviation in the subsequent pregnancy. Results Among 1,552 women, 114 (7.4%) experienced a preterm delivery in the subsequent pregnancy. Compared with women whose subsequent pregnancy cervical length remained stable or increased, women whose cervical length shortened were more likely to experience a preterm delivery (10.3 vs. 6.7%; p = 0.04). Cervical length shortening remained associated with preterm delivery even when accounting for a woman's prior preterm delivery, prior pregnancy short cervix, interdelivery interval, progesterone use, and cervical length in the subsequent pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio = 1.89; 95% confidence interval = 1.11–3.20). Conclusion Midtrimester cervical length shortening across pregnancies is independently associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery.
Putting play in its place: presenting a continuum to decrease mental health referrals and increase purposeful play in classrooms

Recent shifts in elementary instruction over the past few decades have resulted in less play-based engagement in schools. Simultaneously, children are being referred for counseling or mental health...
Complete Remission of Bone Metastases in Renal Cell Carcinoma with Nivolumab.

A 60-year-old female, who presented with abdominal discomfort, was noted to have an enhancing left renal mass, with central necrosis on a CT scan. She underwent radical nephrectomy and biopsy revealed clear cell renal cell carcinoma, Fuhrman grade 4. After 1.5 years of her surgery, she developed metastatic disease with pulmonary nodules and was started on sunitinib. She had disease progression with development of a new 8.2 x 7.6 cm expansile, lytic bony lesion with a complete destruction of the left scapula and 5th left rib lesion. She was treated with Nivolumab for three years. Scans revealed complete resolution of the left scapular metastasis, left rib lesion and the pulmonary nodules. The patient experienced no skeletal-related event (SRE), and no bisphosphonates or receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) inhibitor was used. The patient remains in complete remission, three years out of treatment. This case highlights the importance of exploring this particular class of drugs for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with bone metastasis.
El agua y la inmortalidad poética en las églogas de Garcilaso de la Vega

Este articulo explora el papel protagonico del agua en las tres eglogas de Garcilaso de la Vega. Ademas de dar unidad narrativa a esta serie de poemas, en gran medida este elemento determina el destino de los pastores que habitan en su ribera. Mientras Salicio y Albanio mantienen relaciones conflictivas con el agua que les impiden liberarse de los confines del espacio pastoril y de su condicion humana, Nemoroso consigue transcender los limites del mundo humano del locus amoenus para conseguir la inmortalidad poetica.
Does IRS Monitoring Deter Managers From Committing Accounting Fraud

We examine whether monitoring by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) affects managers’ decisions to engage in fraudulent financial reporting. We argue that IRS monitoring provides a disciplining eff...
New infinite q-product expansions with vanishing coefficients

Motivated by results of Hirschhorn, Tang, and Baruah and Kaur on vanishing coefficients (in arithmetic progressions) in a new class of infinite product which have appeared recently, we further examine such infinite products, and find that many such results on vanishing coefficients may be grouped into families. For example, one result proved in the present paper is that if $$b\in \{1,2,\dots , 9, 10\}$$ and the sequence $$\{r_n\}$$ is defined by $$\begin{aligned} (q^{8b},q^{11-8b};q^{11})_{\infty }^3 (q^{11-b},q^{11+b};q^{22})_{\infty } =:\sum _{n=-756}^{\infty }r_nq^n, \end{aligned}$$ then $$r_{11n+6b^2+b}=0$$ for all n. Further, if $$b\in \{1,3,5,7,9\}$$ , then $$r_{11n+4b^2+b}=0$$ for all n also. Each particular value of b gives a specific result, such as the following (for $$b=1$$ ): if the sequences $$\{a_n\}$$ is defined by $$\begin{aligned} \sum _{n=0}^{\infty } a_n q^n := (q^{3},q^{8} ;q^{11} )_{\infty }^3 (q^{10},q^{12} ;q^{22})_{\infty }, \end{aligned}$$ then $$a_{11n+5}=a_{11n+7}=0$$ .
Is It Fake News or Is It Open Science? Science Communication in the COVID-19 Pandemic

This article explores science communication in the context of COVID-19 through a case study of a January 31, 2020, bioRxiv preprint publication that led to conspiracy theories by suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 originated in the laboratory through genetic engineering. Analysis will consider the initial preprint, the scientific critique that led it to be withdrawn, the conspiracy theories that continue to circulate, and the larger debate that this example has sparked among advocates and critics of open science.
A Community Platform for Research on Pricing and Distributed Machine Learning

Data generated by increasingly pervasive and intelligent devices has led to an explosion in the use of machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence, with ever more complex models trained to support applications in fields as diverse as healthcare, finance, and robotics. In order to train these models in a reasonable amount of time, the training is often distributed among multiple machines. However, paying for these machines (either by constructing a local cloud infrastructure or renting machines through an external provider such as Amazon AWS) is very costly. We propose to reduce these costs by creating a marketplace of computing resources designed to support distributed machine learning algorithms. Through our marketplace (coined “DeepMarket”), users can lend their spare computing resources (when not needed) or augment their resources with available DeepMarket machines to train their ML models. Such a marketplace directly provides several benefits for two groups of researchers: (i) ML researchers would be able to train their models with much reduced cost, and (ii) network economics researchers would be able to experiment with different compute pricing mechanisms. The focus of this Demo is to introduce the audience to DeepMarket and its user interface (named “PLUTO”). In particular, we will bring a few laptops with pre-installed PLUTO applications so that users can see how they can create an account on DeepMarket servers, lend their resource, borrow available resources, submit ML jobs, and retrieve the results. Our overall goal is to encourage the conference audience to install PLUTO on their own machines and create a user and developer community around DeepMarket.
High-resolution phenotyping of early acute rejection reveals a conserved alloimmune signature

Summary Alloimmune responses in acute rejection are complex, involving multiple interacting cell types and pathways. Deep profiling of these cell types has been limited by technology that lacks the capacity to resolve this high dimensionality. Single-cell mass cytometry is used to characterize the alloimmune response in early acute rejection, measuring 37 parameters simultaneously, across multiple time points in two models: a murine cardiac and vascularized composite allotransplant (VCA). Semi-supervised hierarchical clustering is used to group related cell types defined by combinatorial expression of surface and intracellular proteins, along with markers of effector function and activation. This expression profile is mapped to visualize changes in antigen composition across cell types, revealing phenotypic signatures in alloimmune T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and myeloid subsets that are conserved and that firmly distinguish rejecting from non-rejecting grafts. These data provide a comprehensive, high-dimensional profile of cellular rejection after allograft transplantation.
Beyond traits and states: Interpersonal decentering is also activated social information processing

Abstract Interpersonal decentering is a narrative-based measure of role-taking (perspective-taking). Though it appears to measure both trait effects and situationally activated social information processing, the evidence for the latter has been indirect. Drawing on a process-focused model of the measure's causal validity, we manipulated activation experimentally, comparing decentering scores from expressive writing essays under standard instructions (activation condition) versus control instructions, then correlated decentering scores with use of activated language. Participants (N = 176) writing under activation instructions scored higher in decentering than controls, d = 0.57–0.67. With condition controlled, both decentering scores correlated significantly with greater proportions of present-tense verbs, positive emotion words, and cognitive words, showing trait effects. Findings supported the situational activation property of interpersonal decentering, consistent with the process-focused model and increasing the flexibility and utility of the concept.
Gamification and Persuasion of HP IT Service Management to Improve Performance and Engagement

Currently, IT service management groups in many different companies are facing a common challenge: how to motivate IT service desks to perform more effectively and productively in order to reach desired customer service objectives/goals and promote customer satisfactions. Undoubtedly, IT service desks’ performance and engagement will directly influence the delivered service, and the quality of the service will either enhance or degrade customer loyalty to a company’s brand and business. Accordingly, we present an effective and feasible way to incorporate gamification and persuasion as the incentive mechanism into the current product, to socially reward IT service desks for their performances, and thereby to increase their motivation to contribute and to improve their performance.
A computationally efficient selective node updating scheme for decoding of LDPC codes

In this paper, we introduce a computationally efficient selective node update algorithm for the decoding of low-density parity check codes. Unlike the standard sum-product algorithm, where all bit and check nodes are updated at each decoding iteration, the developed algorithm only updates unreliable check and bit nodes. A simple reliability criteria is developed to determine the active bit and check nodes per decoding iteration. Based on the developed technique, significant computation reductions are achieved with very little or no loss in the BER performance of the LDPC codes. At a WER of 10-5 , 91.8% and 72.7% check node and 80% and 41% bit node computation reductions are obtained for a (96, 48) and a (504, 252) LDPC code, respectively. The proposed method can be implemented with a slight modification to the standard sum-product decoding algorithm with negligible additional hardware complexity. From a hardware point of view, the proposed algorithm offers power reductions proportional to the computation savings and it leads to higher decoding speeds in serial implementations by decreasing the number of required memory accesses
Leveraging reliability-differentiated pricing for integrating PHEVs into residential distribution grid

This paper proposes a framework for offering reliability-differentiated services in a residential distribution network with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). A reliability-differentiated pricing mechanism is developed to satisfy the different reliability requirements of the customers while encouraging the customers to consume electricity in such a way that the reliability of the overall distribution system can be enhanced. Based on the formulated reliability-differentiated system, a hierarchical game approach is proposed in this study to coordinate the charging process of PHEVs in a decentralized fashion. The simulation results show that the hierarchical game approach is effective in enhancing both the reliability and economic profits of the system.
Association rule based data mining agents for personalized Web caching

Proxy Web caching is commonly implemented to decrease Web access latency, Internet bandwidth costs and origin Web server load. We propose a transparent shareable proxy caching methodology in which the proxy caches maintain a continuously optimal performance with a significant improvement in the cache hit ratio without requiring any additional overhead at the client or at the routers. This approach allows caches' to be personalized based on the users' Web access patterns. Our approach employs four light weight intelligent agents in a system of proxy caches which use classification algorithms, data mining techniques and performance monitors to study the client's Web access patterns and configure caches to best serve the clients with available resources. These agents run with predictable run times with an optimal use of computer resources.
Analysis of the semilinear Duhem model for rate-independent hysteresis

In this paper we consider a generalized Duhem model for hysteresis and provide a sufficient condition for the existence of hysteresis in the input-output map. Hysteresis is defined to be persistent phase shift at arbitrarily low frequency. The rate dependence of the hysteresis is also discussed, and we develop a rate-independent semilinear Duhem model with provable convergence properties. We also discuss the reversal behavior and orientation of the hysteretic map.
An Introduction to Masculinities

Preface. Acknowledgments. 1 Overview. 2 Social Context and Masculinities. 3 Diffi culties of Defi nitions and Masculinity as a Social Construct. 4 Psychological and Interactive Models of Masculinity. 5 Origins and Locations of Masculinities: Social Models. 6 Origins and Locations of Masculinities: Psychological Models. 7 Origins and Locations of Masculinities: Interactive and Social Constructionist Models. 8 Men in Crisis. 9 The Crisis in Masculinity: Essentialist Perspective. 10 The Crisis in Masculinity: Psychosocial Perspective. 11 The Crisis in Masculinity: Social Constructionist Perspective. 12 Putting it All Together: Next Steps for Masculinities. Masculinities Terms. References. Author Index. Subject Index.
The prevalence of proviral bovine leukemia virus in peripheral blood mononuclear cells at two subclinical stages of infection

The bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is an oncogenic retrovirus that is associated with the development of persistent lymphocytosis (PL) and lymphoma in cattle. While B lymphocytes have been shown to be the primary cellular target of BLV, recent studies suggest that some T lymphocytes and monocytes may be infected by the virus. Because virally altered functions of monocytes and/or T cells could contribute to the development of lymphoproliferative disease, we sought to clarify the distribution of the BLV provirus in subpopulations of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in seropositive cows with and without PL. CD2+ T cells, monocytes, and CD5+ and CD5- B cells were sorted by flow cytometry and tested for the presence of BLV by single-cell PCR. We did not obtain convincing evidence that peripheral blood monocytes or T lymphocytes contain the BLV provirus in seropositive cows with or without PL. In seropositive cows without PL (n=14), BLV-infected CD5+ and CD5- B cells accounted for 9.2% +/- 19% and 0.1% +/- 1.8% of circulating B lymphocytes, respectively. In cows with PL (n=5), BLV-infected CD5+ and CD5- B cells accounted for 66% +/- 4.8% and 13.9% +/- 6.6% of circulating B lymphocytes, respectively. The increase in lymphocyte numbers in cows with PL was entirely attributable to the 45-fold and 99-fold expansions of infected CD5+ and CD5- B-cell populations, respectively. Our results demonstrate that B cells are the only mononuclear cells in peripheral blood that are significantly infected with BLV. On the basis of the absolute numbers of infected cells in seropositive, hematologically normal animals, there appear to be differences in susceptibility to viral spread in vivo that may be under the genetic control of the host.
Cross-protection against Salmonella enteritidis infection in mice.

Mice were vaccinated with six strains of Salmonella and two strains of Escherichia coli, as well as with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, and Serratia marcescens. The amount of in vivo growth of each organism was followed by viable counting techniques on organ homogenates. The vaccinated mice, along with unvaccinated controls, were challenged intravenously with 1,000 ld50 of a streptomycin-resistant strain of Salmonella enteritidis. The ability of the vaccine to protect the mice against virulent challenge correlated with the ability of the strain to establish a persisting population in the liver and spleen. Enumeration of the liver and spleen populations in the challenged mice revealed that extensive growth of S. enteritidis occurred in animals which showed “protection,” as assessed by progressive mortality data. No evidence was obtained for a major role of humoral factors in the cross-protection against intravenous S. enteritidis challenge.
Molecular Dynamics Simulations in Material Science and Condensed Matter Physics

Basic understanding of the structure and dynamics of materials and their properties often requires knowledge on a microscopic level of the underlying energetics and interaction mechanisms, whose consequences we observe and measure. Answers to material science problems are in principle possible, embodied in solutions to the Schrodinger equation subject to the appropriate boundary conditions. However, the full implementation of such a program is impossible for most (one may dare say all) material science and condensed matter systems and we must resort to various approximations and simplification. The degree of microscopic detail with which we probe physical phenomena is determined mainly by the resolution of our experimental tools, by the ability to found the theoretical analysis on microscopic principles and by the complexity, hence solubility, of the model. In constructing theoretical models of complex material systems we must apply rigorous standards of testing and assessment as to the validity and accuracy of the proposed model. Frequently we rely at this stage on the accessibility and availability of experimental data with sufficient resolution (either as a source of values for some of the model parameters or for comparative purposes) and by the level of simplifications, dictated by considerations of feasibility and practicality, which render the model soluble. In many situations the level of complexity of the model, which is necessary in order to describe faithfully the physical phenomena, is such that analytical approaches fail to provide a solution. In these situations, which include the majority of material systems and phenomena, the use of computer-based methods [1–6] is essential.
Public Wrongs and the ‘Criminal Law’s Business’: When Victims Won’t Share

Amongst the many valuable contributions that Professor Antony Duff has made to criminal law theory is his account of what it means for a wrong to be public in character. In this chapter, I sketch an alternative way of thinking about criminalization, one which attempts to remain true to the important insights that illuminate Duff’s account, while providing (it is hoped) a more satisfying explanation of cases involving victims who reject the criminal law’s intervention.
Fuzzy set theoretic approach to computer vision: An overview

The authors give an overview of the fuzzy set theoretic approach to computer vision. They discuss the applications of fuzzy set theory in computer vision in the areas of image modeling, preprocessing, segmentation, boundary detection, object/region recognition, and rule-based scene interpretation. >
SOLUTIONS ATTRIBUTE LIST: I. FACTOR STRUCTURE FOR SOLUTIONS OF A TASK ADMINISTERED UNDER NEUTRAL TEST-TAKING INSTRUCTIONS

The Solutions Attribute List (SAL-1) was used to score the 2440 responses given by 173 volunteer undergraduate male and female Ss on a task from the Solutions Test. The task was administered under ...
Soot Surface Growth and Oxidation in Diffusion Flames at Subatmospheric and Atmospheric Pressures

The flame structure and the soot structure and surface reaction properties of round laminar jet diffusion flames were studied experimentally. Measurements were made along the axes of laminar jet diffusion flames fueled with acetylene-nitrogen mixtures and burning in coflowing air at pressures of 0.125, 0.250, 0.500 and 1.000 atm and normal temperature. The Measurements included soot structure, soot concentrations, soot temperatures, major gas species concentrations, some radical species (H, OH, and 0) concentrations, and gas velocities. These measurements yielded local flame properties that are thought to affect soot surface reaction properties, as well as local soot surface growth and oxidation rates (the last, however, limited to measurements at atmospheric pressure for the present). Present and earlier measurements showed that soot surface growth rates could be explained by Hydrogen
A pharmacological functional magnetic resonance imaging study probing the interface of cognitive and emotional brain systems in pediatric bipolar disorder.

Abstract Objective: This functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study investigated the effects of pharmacotherapy on brain function underlying affect dysregulation and cognitive function in pediatric bipolar disorder (PBD). Method: Healthy controls (HC) (n = 14; mean age = 14.1 ± 2.4 years) and unmedicated PBD patients with manic or hypomanic episodes (n = 17; mean age = 14.3 ± 1.1 years) were matched on intelligence quotient (IQ) and demographic factors. The fMRI studies were performed at baseline and after 14 weeks, during which PBD patients were treated initially with second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) followed by lamotrigine monotherapy. The pediatric affective color-matching task was used where subjects matched the color of a positive, negative, or neutral word with one of the two colored circles below in each of the trials. There were five blocks of each emotional word type, with 10 trials per block. Results: Behavioral data showed that the PBD group was modestly slower and less accurate ...
Depicting the intramolecular dynamics of formaldehyde

The rotational and vibrational dynamics of the formaldehyde molecule is depicted by means of the asymmetric top mapping, which was previously developed to generalize the Chirikov pendulum. This treatment explains the abundant energy flow in formaldehyde for even modest values of the angular momentum.
Aircraft Measurements of Albedo and Absorption of Stratus Clouds, and Surface Albedos.

Abstract Aircraft measurements of the albedo of stratus clouds were made, with the results suggesting, on occasion, that the liquid water content of the cloud has a stronger influence than the cloud thickness on the albedo. The mean cloud absorption was found to be 4% of the incident downward flux. Albedos of other surfaces (ocean, forest, grass, desert, snow and ice) generally agreed with measurements by other authors.
Linking vegetation response to seasonal precipitation in the Okavango–Kwando–Zambezi catchment of southern Africa

Understanding how intra-annual precipitation variability affects seasonal vegetation dynamics is critical for assessing the potential impacts of climate variability on vegetation structure and composition. This is important in semi-arid and arid ecosystems of southern Africa, where water is a limiting resource and timing of seasonal rainfall combined with the water storage capacity of different plant vegetation types affects remotely measured phenological cycles. Various lags and leads of savanna vegetation response to rainfall have been identified using remotely sensed data, but little attention has been given to vegetation greenness leading into the dry season. Vegetation production at the onset of the dry season interacts with the availability of water resources affecting fire dynamics, forage materials for wildlife and wildlife movement throughout the dry season. This is important for southern Africa as large proportions of the human population and economy are dependent on wildlife tourism. This study investigates the response of the end of the wet season vegetation production, as measured by Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer MODIS normalized difference vegetation index NDVI greenness, to the different months of wet season rainfall for different savanna vegetation types in a regional catchment of southern Africa. We estimated monthly precipitation using Tropical Rainfall Monitoring Mission 3B43 data and used MODIS 13A1 NDVI at a monthly time step for the years 2000–2009. Our model estimated greenness at the beginning of the dry season from the prior rainy season October–April precipitation using geographically weighted regression GWR. The results show intra-annual wet season rainfall accounts for significant amounts of April NDVI variation. Overall intra-annual rainfall has a stronger effect for areas with greater proportions of grassland and dry, deciduous woodlands than for wetter, evergreen woodlands. These findings support previous research by highlighting the stronger association of grassland and open canopy woodlands to the end of the wet season monthly rainfall. This relationship is important for understanding seasonal precipitation effects on different savanna vegetation covers.
"Evolving judgments of terror risks: Foresight, hindsight, and emotion": Correction to Fischhoff et al. (2005)

Reports an error in "Evolving Judgments of Terror Risks: Foresight, Hindsight, and Emotion" by Baruch Fischhoff, Roxana M. Gonzalez, Jennifer S. Lerner and Deborah A. Small (Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied, 2005[Jun], Vol 11[2], 124-139). It was found that the second author on the original paper, Roxana M. Gonzalez, falsified data in connection with certain research projects. Researchers not involved in this original project were engaged to repeat all analyses reported in the article, starting with the original, untainted data for the study. Based on this reanalysis, a corrected version of the article is now being published. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2005-07160-006.) The authors examined the evolution of cognitive and emotional responses to terror risks for a nationally representative sample of Americans between late 2001 and late 2002. Respondents' risk judgments changed in ways consistent with their reported personal experiences. However, they did not recognize these changes, producing hindsight bias in memories for their judgments. An intensive debiasing procedure failed to restore a foresightful perspective. A fear-inducing manipulation increased risk estimates, whereas an anger-inducing manipulation reduced them-both in predictions (as previously observed) and in memories and judgments of past risks. Thus, priming emotions shaped not only perceptions of an abstract future but also perceptions of a concrete past. These results suggest how psychological research can help to ensure an informed public. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Field cooling induced changes in the antiferromagnetic structure of NiO films.

The magnetic anisotropy in antiferromagnetic 500 A thick NiO films, before and after the establishment of an exchange bias field with Co84Fe16 ferromagnetic layers, was measured using magnetic linear dichroism in soft x-ray absorption. Both textured NiO and untextured NiO films show exchange-bias induced in-plane magnetic anisotropy of nearly equal magnitude and with the Ni moment axis being nearly parallel to the exchange bias field direction. These results represent the first observation of the key step in the exchange biasing process, namely, repopulation of the antiferromagnetic domains whose magnetization axis is closest to the exchange bias field direction.
Arrested Development: High-Resolution Imaging of Foveal Morphology in Albinism

Albinism, an inherited disorder of melanin biosynthesis, disrupts normal retinal development, with foveal hypoplasia as one of the more commonly associated ocular phenotypes. However the cellular integrity of the fovea in albinism is not well understood - there likely exist important anatomical differences that underlie phenotypic variability within the disease and that also may affect responsiveness to therapeutic intervention. Here, using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and adaptive optics (AO) retinal imaging, we obtained high-resolution images of the foveal region in six individuals with albinism. We provide a quantitative analysis of cone density and outer segment elongation demonstrating that foveal cone specialization is variable in albinism. In addition, our data reveal a continuum of foveal pit morphology, roughly aligning with schematics of normal foveal development based on post-mortem analyses. Different albinism subtypes, genetic mutations, and constitutional pigment background likely play a role in determining the degree of foveal maturation.
On the temperature dependence of several physicochemical properties for aqueous solutions of the ionic liquid 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate ([C4mim][MeSO3])

Abstract The viscosity, conductivity, proton T 1 relaxation, and the self-diffusion coefficients of cation, anion and water are presented for the binary system water–1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate ([C 4 mim][MeSO 3 ]) for the temperature and composition ranges of (298.15–343.14) K and ionic liquid mole fractions 0 x IL x IL for x IL greater than about 0.15 for the self-diffusion coefficients, viscosity and proton T 1 relaxation times (except for the water proton T 1 relaxation times). The specific x IL dependencies of the various Arrhenius activation energies are qualitatively different from what was observed in a prior study of the water–1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate ([C 2 mim][MeSO 3 ]) binary system [J. Mol. Liq. 160 (2011) 166–179]. In particular, the T 1 relaxation behavior is markedly different und is discussed in detail along with other comparisons between these two water–IL binary systems.
How Frequently Should We Follow Small Asymptomatic Intracranial Aneurysms

To the Editor: We would like to congratulate the authors1 on collecting data regarding an issue that remains poorly understood, ie, aneurysm growth. Although aneurysm growth has been observed in a number of studies,2,3 the role, if any, that aneurysm growth has in aneurysm pathophysiology is not understood. Data from International Study of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms has suggested that small aneurysms <7 mm have a very low risk …
Effects of interfacial relaxation on the magnetic coupling of Mn/Fe(111)

The structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of monolayer Mn on an Fe(111) substrate are determined using the local spin density total energy full potential linearized augmented plane wave method and atomic force approach. A strong interplay between magnetism and atomic structure is found, e.g., the interfacial Fe layer undergoes a large downward relaxation by 0.59 a.u. from the ideal bcc position. As was found previously for bulk fcc Mn and Mn/Fe(001), the equilibrium Mn–Fe bond length is larger in the ferromagnetic state (4.47 a.u.) than that in the antiferromagnetic (AFM) state (4.31 a.u.). The AFM coupling between Mn and Fe is the ground state. The interplay between the interfacial magnetic coupling in the Mn/Fe(111) and the multilayer relaxation is discussed.
A Low Force Valve for Dynamic Control of Molten Plastics in a Mold

Abstract Polymer processing has been limited by the lack of direct flow and pressure control of the polymer melt at multiple points in space and time. Improved axial and radial valve designs are discussed that require negligible actuation force to control the flow of the pressurized melt. The forces resulting from pressure loads and shear stresses are first analyzed for an axial valve pin. Subsequently, a radial valve design is implemented and experimentally characterized using neat polycarbonate. A sigmoidal response surface is fit to the experimental data and found to very well model the observed pressure drop as a function of flow rate and valve pin position. The juncture loss at the valve port is then characterized by estimating and removing the pressure drops in the circular flow segments of the valve. Analysis indicated that the juncture loss is inversely proportional to the exposed area, or vesica piscis, formed between the circular flow channel in the valve body and the flow port on the moving val...
Current Physician Screening and Treatment of Hypercholesterolemic Patients

To determine resident physician recognition and treatment of hypercholesterolemia, a retrospective chart audit was performed on 300 systematically selected patients seen in an internal medicine resident's continuity care clinic during the spring of 1992. A self-administered resident survey was given after completion of chart selection. Of the 300 patients, 64 (21%) did not have a cholesterol reading on the chart. The frequency of screening was unaffected by cardiac risk factors, patient race or sex, or resident level of training or specialty. Of the 96 patients who had a total cholesterol greater than 240 mg/dL documented in the chart, 48% received diet therapy, 46% received other nonpharmacologic therapy, 24% received drug therapy, 4% were referred to a lipidologist, and 30% received no treatment. Fasting lipid profiles were ordered for 57% of these patients. The frequency of therapy was unaffected by patient race or sex, resident level of training or specialty, or presence of two or more cardiac risk factors, although patients with a diagnosis of hypercholesterolemia and patients younger than age 65 were treated significantly more often. Resident action primarily involved evaluation rather than therapy. Efforts to improve the aggressiveness of treatment for hypercholesterolemia by resident physicians are necessary.
Role of biotransformation in 3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2,4-thiazolidinedione-induced hepatotoxicity in Fischer 344 rats.

Abstract Cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated metabolism in the thiazolidinedione (TZD) ring may contribute to the hepatotoxicity of the insulin-sensitizing agents such as troglitazone. We were interested in determining if biotransformation could also be a factor in the liver damage associated with another TZD ring containing compound, 3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2,4-thiazolidinedione (DCPT). Therefore, hepatotoxic doses of DCPT (0.6 or 1.0 mmol/kg, i.p.) were administered to male Fischer 344 rats after pretreatment with vehicle, 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT, non-selective CYP inhibitor) and troleandomycin (TAO, CYP3A inhibitor). Alternatively, rats were pretreated with vehicle or the CYP3A inducer dexamethasone (DEX) prior to a non-toxic DCPT dose (0.2 mmol/kg, i.p.). Vehicle-, ABT-, TAO- and DEX-only control groups were also run. Toxicity was assessed 24 h after DCPT administration. Both hepatotoxic doses of DCPT induced elevations in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels that were attenuated by ABT or TAO pretreatment. Liver sections from rats that received vehicle + DCPT revealed areas of gross necrosis and neutrophil invasion, whereas sections from ABT + DCPT and TAO + DCPT rats showed minor changes compared to controls. DEX pretreatment potentiated ALT levels associated with the non-toxic DCPT dose. Furthermore, DEX + DCPT rat liver sections exhibited hepatic injury when compared against rats that received vehicle + DCPT. Blood urea nitrogen levels, urinalysis and kidney morphology were not markedly altered by any combination of pretreatments or treatments. Enzyme activity and Western blotting experiments with rat liver microsomes confirmed the effects of the various pretreatments. Our results suggest that hepatic CYP3A isozymes may be involved in DCPT-induced liver damage in male rats. We believe this is the first report demonstrating that modulation of the biotransformation of a TZD ring-containing compound can alter hepatotoxicity in a common animal model.
Streptococcus iniae infection and tissue distribution in hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops×Morone saxatilis) following inoculation of the gills

This study was designed to test the possibility that Streptococcus iniae enters through the gills and causes infection in hybrid striped bass. To determine the dose response, four groups of fish were inoculated with S. iniae via the gills with a dose of 5.010 5 , 2.610 6 , 5.010 6 , or 1.010 8 CFU/fish. One group of fish was inoculated with tryptic soy broth (TSB) via the gills to serve as controls. The cumulative percent mortality was 13%, 27%, 100% and 100% for 5.010 5 , 2.610 6 , 5.010 6 and 1.010 8 CFU/fish, respectively. We also examined the tissue dissemination of S. iniae at 0.5, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h after experimental gill inoculation. Fish were inoculated with 2.610 6 or 5.010 6 CFU/fish, which caused low and high mortality, respectively. Within 48 h, fish inoculated with the 2.610 6 dose were culture positive on the gill surface, blood of the first and second gill arches, blood of the third and fourth gill arches and the nares. However, for the dose of 5.010 6 CFU/fish, S. iniae was also isolated from the olfactory, optic and cerebellum regions of the brain, eye, head kidney, trunk kidney, spleen and liver at 48 h. For the 2.610 6 dose, S. iniae was not isolated until 48 h post-inoculation, but was isolated at 12 h for the 5.010 6 dose. The results of this study indicate that S. iniae can enter hybrid striped bass through the gills. However, mortality at similar S. iniae doses was lower than we previously observed by inoculation of the nares. D 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Flow visualization study of role of coherent structures in a tab wake

A simple surface-mounted tapered tab has recently attracted fluids research both for its ability to enhance mixing and heat transfer (for which it is known as high-efficiency vortab mixer) and for its generation of coherent structures that are topologically similar to those found in natural turbulent boundary layers. Two types of structures, namely pressure-driven counter-rotating vortex pair (CVP) and hairpin vortices were previously identified in the tab wake, but the contribution of individual structures to the mixing enhancement process and how they interact are not known. In the present study, flow visualization using a planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) technique is carried out to probe into the flow dynamics in the wake of the mixing tab. By injecting dye at an appropriate location and illuminating the flow in various planes, the structures are visualized clearly. The results show, in contrary to earlier observations, that the two types of structures dominate different regions. At the Reynolds number of 700 based on tab height (h), the CVP has more influence in the region 0 15, and there is no large-scale cross-stream mixing visible in this region.
Coupled channel treatment of inelastic scattering based on microscopic nuclear descriptions

Abstract The coupled-channel formalism for treating inelastic scattering based on microscopic nuclear descriptions has been given. The truncation in both the scattering and structure calculations and how they lead to an effective interaction is discussed. The relevant content of nuclear models can be reduced to a set of amplitudes. These are exhibited explicitly for systems described in terms of two fermion degrees of freedom. The matrix elements appearing in the coupled equations can be developed as a polynomial which is very convenient from the point of view of computer calculation.
A New Look at Reciprocity and Energy Conservation Theorems in Electromagnetics

The intimate relationship is discussed between linear vector space concepts, the reciprocity theorem, and the energy conservation theorem in electromagnetics. It shows that these theorems can be derived using nonconventional methods. The reciprocity theorem can be derived by designing symmetric operators. The Lorentz reciprocity theorem can be derived by augmenting the operator with an extra term that generates equivalence surface currents. The energy conservation theorem for the real part of the complex power is derived by designing an operator that becomes Hermitian in the lossless case. The energy conservation theorem for the imaginary part of the complex power is derived by designing an operator which becomes skew Hermitian in the lossless case.
Synthesis, characterization, and property studies of (La, Ag) FeO3 (0.0 < x < 0.3) perovskites

Abstract Applying a solution – based combustion process, Ag-doped LaFeO3 orthoferrites were synthesized. The samples were characterized by multiple techniques to establish structure – property relationships. Specifically, for structural characterization, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray photoelectron microscopy (XPS) were carried out. For properties, squid magnetometer measurements (for magnetic properties), titrations (for chemical analysis), and diffuse reflectance (for optical band gap properties) measurements were carried out to elucidate structure–property relationship.
The comparability of two commonly used carbon monoxide analysis systems: A technical note

Carbon monoxide (CO) in expired breath is a common strategy for verifying smoking abstinence. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the comparability of two carbon monoxide (CO) analyzers: the commonly used Ecolyzer Series 2000 analyzer versus the new, highly portable, and less expensive Ecolyzer Model 210. Fifty-eight CO readings were obtained from 29 subjects (17 smokers, 12 nonsmokers) and analyzed on both systems simultaneously. Results indicated that the analyzers yielded highly comparable values for both smokers and nonsmokers, Moreover, the correlation between the two units' readings was very high (r = .92, p < .001). There was, however, a significant analyzer by sex interaction with the Series 2000 analyzer yielding higher values for males. Overall, it was concluded that the Series 210 analyzer is a highly accurate and cost-effective instrument.
Characterization of a Ca-alginate-immobilized Trametes versicolor bioreactor for decolorization and AOX reduction of paper mill effluents

Abstract The reduction of color and adsorbable organic halides (AOX) from the kraft bleach plant effluents was investigated using a laboratory-scale fungal bioreactor. The fungal bioreactor, containing calcium-alginate-entrapped white-rot fungus Trametes versicolor , was developed and evaluated for continuous color and AOX reduction. A color reduction percentage of 69% (±6%) and AOX reduction percentage of 58% (±6%) were achieved using caustic stage effluent as bioreactor feed at a residence time of 1 day. Retention time, inlet liquor concentration and fungal bead size were investigated for their effect on biodegradation. Percentage reductions of color and AOX ranging from 61%(±5%) to 72%(±2%) and 54%(±4%) to 49%(±2%), respectively, were observed using combined (caustic and acidic stages) effluent as bioreactor feed. Scanning electron microscopy studies showed that the immobilized mycelia was localized to a limited thickness near the outer surface of the polymer bead.
Portable device for quantifying parkinsonian wrist rigidity

The need for objectivity in the assessment of parkinsonism prompted the development of a portable transducer capable of quantifying muscular rigidity. This paper describes the development and use of a device for measuring wrist rigidity and reports the preliminary findings from 25 normal healthy controls and 29 patients, many of whom were undergoing antiparkinsonian treatment to alleviate rigidity or antipsychotic treatment, which produced parkinsonian rigidity. An objective rigidity score, representing the degree to which motor activity increases muscular stiffness in the wrist, correlates highly with clinical ratings of parkinsonian rigidity and demonstrates 89% specificity and 82% sensitivity. Unlike previous techniques for quantifying rigidity, this transducer offers greater portability and apparent face validity.
Additive Patterning of Conductors and Superconductors by Solution Stamping Nanolithography

Solution stamping nanolithography (SSNL) was used to print patterns of metallic copper and high-temperature-superconducting YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7}. SSNL combines soft lithography and chemical-solution deposition to achieve direct printing of inorganic materials. The size of the printed patterns is determined by both the stamp feature size and the wetting properties of the solution.
Ischemic Events Associated with Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms: Multicenter Clinical Study and Review of the Literature

Objective To determine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and long-term outcomes in cases involving transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) or ischemic strokes secondary to embolization from unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Methods We identified all available patients with intracranial aneurysms and ischemic strokes in three university-affiliated hospitals, using either International Classification of Diseases-9th Revision codes or local registries. Patients with clinically or radiologically detected cerebral infarctions distal to intracranial aneurysms, in the absence of other causes for the infarctions, were included. An aneurysmal embolic source was considered highly probable by the primary neurosurgeon/neurologist in all cases. Follow-up data for the patients were acquired through reviews of clinical visits or telephone interviews. A review of the literature was performed to identify characteristics of previously reported patients. Results Ischemic strokes or TIAs attributable to embolization from the aneurysmal sac were observed for 9 of 269 patients (3.3%) with unruptured aneurysms. Of these nine patients, five were women and four were men (mean age, 62 yr; age range, 45-72 yr). Symptomatic aneurysms were located in the middle cerebral artery (n = 4), internal carotid artery (n = 3), posterior cerebral artery (n = 1), or vertebral artery (n = 1). The mean maximal diameter was 12.5 mm (range, 5-45 mm). Six patients underwent surgical treatment, of whom two experienced postoperative cerebral infarctions referable to the distribution of the artery harboring the aneurysm. Two patients were treated with aspirin, and one patient received no treatment. The mean follow-up period was 38 months (range, 1-60 mo). None of the patients experienced additional ischemic events during the follow-up period. Among the 41 previously reported patients, conservative treatment was used for 20 patients (mean follow-up period, 50.7 +/- 44.5 mo). Four of the 20 patients experienced recurrent TIAs, 1 patient experienced worsening of symptoms, and 1 patient died during the follow-up period. A total of 21 patients underwent surgical treatment (mean follow-up period, 33.6 +/- 32.3 mo). Of these patients, only one experienced recurrent TIAs. Two patients experienced postoperative seizures, and one patient died during the follow-up period. All recurrent symptoms with either surgical or conservative treatment were transient, and no patient experienced a major or disabling stroke during the follow-up period. Conclusion Ischemic events can occur distal to both small and large unruptured intracranial aneurysms (predominantly in the anterior circulation). The long-term risk of recurrent ischemic events, particularly major or disabling strokes, seems to be low with either surgical or conservative treatment.