cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Diagnostic Accuracy of Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide Testing in Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analyses

Abstract Objective To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) measurement in individuals with suspected asthma. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane databases, and SciVerse Scopus from the databases' inception through April 4, 2017, for studies that enrolled patients aged 5 years and older with suspected asthma and evaluated FeNO diagnostic accuracy. Independent reviewers selected studies and extracted data. We used the symmetric hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic models to estimate test performance. Results We included 43 studies with a total of 13,747 patients. In adults, using FeNO cutoffs of less than 20, 20 to 29, 30 to 39, and 40 or more parts per billion, FeNO testing had sensitivities of 0.80, 0.69, 0.53, and 0.41, respectively, and specificities of 0.64, 0.78, 0.85, and 0.93, respectively. In children, using FeNO cutoffs of less than 20 and 20 to 29 parts per billion, FeNO testing had sensitivities of 0.78 and 0.61, respectively, and specificities of 0.79 and 0.89, respectively. Depending on the FeNO cutoff, the posttest odds of having asthma with a positive FeNO test result increased by 2.80- to 7.00-fold. Diagnostic accuracy was modestly better in corticosteroid-naive asthmatics, children, and nonsmokers than in the overall population. Conclusion Fractional exhaled nitric oxide measurement has moderate accuracy to diagnose asthma in individuals aged 5 years and older. Test performance may be modestly better in corticosteroid-naive asthmatics, children, and nonsmokers than in the general population with suspected asthma. Trial Registration International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) Identifier: CRD42016047887
Coenzyme Q10: A Review:

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a provitamin manufactured by the body. It functions as a coenzyme for mitochondrial enzymes. It has been shown to be deficient in patients with cardiovascular disease, cance...
Depressive symptoms and psychological distress among rural African Americans: The role of material hardship and self-rated health.

Abstract Background Despite experiencing conditions associated with higher risk for depression and psychological distress, the mental health of rural African Americans remains understudied. This brief report examines the association between sociodemographic characteristics, self-rated health, and material hardship, and depressive symptoms and psychological distress among rural African Americans. Method Data are from the rural African American subsample (N = 250) of the National Survey of American Life (NSAL; 2001–2003). The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) was used to assess depressive symptoms. Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler 6 (K6). Negative binominal regression analyses were performed. Results Rural African Americans reporting more material hardship and poorer self-rated physical health had higher levels of depressive symptoms and psychological distress compared to counterparts with less hardship and better self-rated health. Findings also suggest rural African American women had more depressive symptoms compared to male peers. Older rural African Americans and African Americans with fewer years of education had more symptoms of psychological distress than their respective counterparts. Limitations Though the NSAL represents the only national probability survey on African Americans’ mental health; the timeliness of the data, collected between 2001 and 2003 is a limitation. Conclusions Material hardship and worse self-rated health emerged as risk factors for depression and psychological distress among this population. This suggests the need for systems of care and integrated healthcare models across service providers within rural African American communities to promote adequate screening, intervention, and referrals related to economic, physical, and mental health needs.
Security Options for Distributed Settings

In this chapter we look at the technical underpinnings of modern security technologies. Our treatment won’t substitute for a full course in web security, but will provide details for the mechanisms used elsewhere in the text.
Effect of High Gravity on Freckle Formation and Convection in a Mushy Layer

Nonlinear, time-dependent natural convection in a mushy layer during centrifugal solidification of binary alloys is investigated for low, moderate and high rates of rotation. Asymptotic and scaling analyses are applied to axisymmetric convection within the mushy layer and in vertical chimneys with small radius. These chimneys produce freckles in the final solidified material. Freckles are imperfections that reduce the quality of solidified materials. Results are obtained for several distinct regimes, corresponding to high or low Prandtl number melts and strongly or weakly time-dependent flow. In particular, conditions are determined under which convection and freckle formation can be eliminated, or at least reduced, by the rotational component of a high gravity environment.
Relation of Endogenous Opiates to Secretion of Gonadotropins

In recent years considerable evidence has been reported indicating that the endogenous opioid peptides (EOP) have an important role in regulating secretion of pituitary hormones. B-endorphin, the enkephalins, and dynorphin appear to be the major EOPs and all may participate in control of pituitary hormone secretion. Each of these opiates has different receptors, but can be displaced from their receptors to variable degrees by morphine (MOR) or by the specific opiate antagonists, naloxone (NAL) or naltrexone (NALT). The EOP in the hypothalamus have been shown to be strongly localized in areas that contain GnRH neurons and neurons that secrete neurotransmitters which modulate GnRH release. Their inhibitory effects on gonadotropin release appear to be exerted via hypothalamic neurotransmitters and GnRH, and not directly on the pituitary. Evidence will be presented showing that the EOP are involved in regulating both basal and altered gonadotropin secretion during different endocrine states.
Creativity and innovation in child language.

This paper, which was an address to the NCTE Elementary Language Arts Conference in Boston in 1975, discusses two kinds of linguistic innovation in children. Language acquisition is an innovative p...
The Development of Commitment to Marriage

Individuals frequently make observations about the close relationships of their acquaintances. The observations often sound like this: “I don’t know what she sees in him,” or “I wonder what he is doing with her; they have nothing in common.” Parents, in particular, worry about the romantic involvements of their sons and daughters. It is deeply unsettling, for example, for parents to see their offspring get seriously involved with someone who seems to be uncaring or inconsiderate of their children, or to see children who are young adults decide to wed prematurely and do damage to their future economic welfare. Individuals are especially judgmental about the personal involvements of researchers, therapists, and educators who study relationships for a living because professionals, more than anyone, should know better. Despite the doubts and protestations of those around them, some partners seem to persist blindly with relationships of questionable quality.
Measurements of the Strain Dependence of Critical Current of Commercial REBCO Tapes at 15 T between 4.2 and 40 K for High Field Magnets

Author(s): Pierro, F; Delgado, M; Chiesa, L; Wang, X; Prestemon, SO | Abstract: Interest for high magnetic fields (g16 T) for applications in high energy physics (HEP) and fusion machines, requires the development of high current cables capable to withstand the large forces, mechanical and electromagnetic, experienced during manufacturing and operations. The critical current (Ic) of REBCO tapes depends on strain, magnetic fields, and operational temperatures. Understanding how these parameters affect the Ic of the conductor will be critical to develop robust high-current REBCO cables. However, there are limited reports on the strain dependence of Ic, in particular at high fields and elevated temperatures relevant for future high-field compact fusion reactor magnets. We present Ic of commercial REBCO tapes measured as a function of compressive and tensile strain (between-0.6% and +0.65%) at high magnetic fields (12 and 15 T) and different temperatures (within 4.2-40 K). Results at 4.2 and 20 K showed less than 5% reduction in the normalized Ic at high strain, while a stronger strain dependence was observed at 40 K. Samples tested at 12 T and 4.2 K showed similar strain dependence as 15 T and 4.2 K. In all tested conditions, the tape experienced reversible Ic reduction in both tension and compression. Finite element analysis was used to predict the residual thermal strain accumulated in the REBCO layer prior of testing to account for the effect of the cooldown. A method was also developed to account for the current sharing observed between the sample and the sample holder during the ramp of the current. Our results provide useful input for the development of high-field fusion and HEP magnets using REBCO conductors.
Reaction to Michael Oriard's "NCAA academic reform: history, context and challenges".

The purpose of this paper is to provide a response to Michael Oriard’s keynote address. Similar to Oriard’s analysis, the author adopts a historical approach to examine academic reform and its drivers within the intercollegiate athletics context. The author suggests that faculties, students, and boards of trustees should play key roles in academic reforms, and also proposes several reform options.
Talk, Don’t Run: Can an Intergenerational Program Relieve Teenage Pressure?

Intergenerational programs (IGPs) have been in existence in the United States since the 1960s. Conceptually and theoretically, bringing young and old together can achieve a multitude of delightful ...
Statistical Procedures for Assessing the Need for an Affirmative Action Plan: A Reanalysis of Shea v. Kerry

In the 1980s, reports from Congress and the Government Accountability Office (GAO) presented statistical evidence showing that employees in the Foreign Service were overwhelmingly White male, espec...
Variation in Root and Shoot Growth in Response to Reduced Nitrogen

Recently, root traits have been suggested to play an important role in developing greater nitrogen uptake and grain yield. However, relatively few breeding programs utilize these root traits. Over a series of experiments at different growth stages with destructive plant biomass measurements, we analyzed above-ground and below-ground traits in seven geographically diverse lines of wheat. Root and shoot biomass allocation in 14-day-old seedlings were analyzed using paper roll-supported hydroponic culture in two Hoagland solutions containing 0.5 (low) and 4 (high) mM of nitrogen (N). For biomass analysis of plants at maturity, plants were grown in 7.5 L pots filled with soil mix under two nitrogen treatments. Traits were measured as plants reached maturity. High correlations were observed among duration of vegetative growth, tiller number, shoot dry matter, and root dry matter. Functionality of large roots in nitrogen uptake was dependent on the availability of N. Under high N, lines with larger roots had a greater yield response to the increase in N input. Under low N, yields were independent of root size and dry matter, meaning that there was not a negative tradeoff to the allocation of more resources to roots, though small rooted lines were more competitive with regards to grain yield and grain N concentration in the low-N treatment. In the high-N treatment, the large-rooted lines were correlated to an increase in grain N concentration (r = 0.54) and grain yield (r = 0.43). In low N, the correlation between root dry matter to yield (r = 0.20) and grain N concentration (r = -0.38) decreased. A 15-fold change was observed between lines for root dry matter; however, only a ~5-fold change was observed in shoot dry matter. Additionally, root dry matter measured at the seedling stage did not correlate to the corresponding trait at maturity. As such, in a third assay, below-ground and above-ground traits were measured at key growth stages including the four-leaf stage, stem elongation, heading, post-anthesis, and maturity. We found that root growth appears to be stagnant from stem elongation to maturity.
The safety and efficacy of hands-on defibrillation in the management of adult cardiac arrest: A systematic review.

Abstract Objective Hands-on defibrillation (HOD) is a technique that has great potential to positively impact outcomes from cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) with the removal of an interruption in chest compressions. The safety and efficacy of HOD, however, have yet to be proven. This review aims to examine the safety of HOD, and secondarily, its efficacy. Methods A systematic literature search was performed through PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane Database. Additional articles were selected from the reference lists of this search result. Results From 52 results, 26 articles were reviewed and from the references of these articles, 9 more were included, leaving 35 articles for analysis. 14 of the analyzed articles were excluded. Conclusions HOD generally appears safe, though significant uncertainty still remains for each protective barrier type. HOD appears to be efficacious in improving CPR with no strong evidence to suggest otherwise.
Monoclonal Antibodies to Myelin Basic Protein

Abstract Two new monoclonal antibodies to myelin basic protein (BP) have been prepared. In contrast to the first reported (11), which is an IgG 1 directed against residues 130-137 of certain species, both of the new ones are IgM. One is directed against the region including Phe-Phe residues 90-91, a region which is relatively invariant among many species. The other is relatively species-restricted and probably directed against the guinea pig equivalent of residues 130-137. These antibodies should become useful reagents not only in preparing specific peptide fragments of BP but also in defining some of the elements in the catabolism of myelin in multiple sclerosis (MS), experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) and other diseases of the central nervous system.
Plasma selenium level and influencing factors of student men who have sex with men in Changzhou City from 2014 to 2017

Objective To understand the plasma selenium level of student men who have sex with men(MSM) in Changzhou and its influencing factors. Methods A total of 251 male students with previous male sexual history, 15-25 years of age who had been consulted by VCT clinics in Changzhou were included in this study from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2017. Questionnaires referred to AIDS sentinel surveillance were conducted to provide information about demographic characteristics and behaviors. Blood samples were collected for syphilis and HIV antibody detection. Selenium in plasma was detected by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The influencing factors of plasma selenium level among student MSM were screened by classification tree model. Results The average age of objects was(20. 74±1. 94)years and the average plasma selenium level was(82. 30+12. 05) ng/mL. Educational attainment was mainly college or above, 77. 69%, and HIV antibody positive rate was 29. 48%. Plasma selenium was(87. 39±11. 37) ng/mL among student MSM with college or above, not infected with HIV and older than 20. 5 years, but was(78. 19±13. 48) ng/mL among those who were high school and below. Three related factors were screened out by the classification tree model, including education level, HIV infection status and age. The most important factor was education level. The estimate of substitution and cross-validation of the classification tree model were 131. 87 and 135. 11, and the standard error were 10. 50 and 10. 89, respectively. Conclusion The related factors of plasma selenium level among student MSM are education level, HIV infection status and age.
Bottom-Up Growth of Shape-Engineered Molecular Single Crystals

Microfabrication of inorganic materials into geometrically complex components provides the foundation for innumerable technologies, from integrated circuits, to solid-state sensors, actuators, and ...
Climate Finance – A Business-Ethical Analysis

The paper discusses the relevance and ethical responsibilities of banks and other financial institutions in the context of climate change mitigation (and adaptation). It does so by analysing the status quo (i.e., business link between banks and the fossil fuel industry) – as well as the latest market trends and developments, including the emergence of the green bond market. It also provides (theoretical) arguments for a business case for climate finance, and hence, for corporate social and environmental responsibility. The paper, thus, not only shows that banks are a crucial element to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Accord (and to overcome the current climate crisis); it also shows that it makes sense from a business perspective for banks to divest from fossil fuels and to invest in renewable energies.
Early impact of lung cancer screening program.

e18677Background: Lung cancer has the highest mortality among the leading cancers in the U.S. Its detection in the early stages is one of the strategies to increase survival. This study aims to ide...
The Patron Martyr - Presidential Views of Election Processes

This paper asks the question of how much a problem health stigma is in the political field compared to society in general. In an effort to answer this question in an understandable way, given the observational nature of psychological analysis, case studies of notable presidents were ideal over data analysis alone. Examining 35th President John F. Kennedy and 38th President Richard M. Nixon met expectations for that reason. Few other presidents in American history have sustained as much mental, physical and emotional stress as those of Kennedy and Nixon. Beyond that, how much the enigmatic characters of Nixon and Kennedy have in common upon deeper observation deserves further explanation. While Kennedy and Nixon were both Commander in Chief at one point in their lives, the mental, physical and emotional stigma they had to overcome in public as well as in private to get there was also similar. From parental neglect to concealing deformities and religious persecution, Kennedy and Nixon likely had few days of peace in youth or adulthood. With that said, the introductory thesis that politicians are forced to conceal their mental, physical and emotional health to avoid public stigma and risking their job security comes through as correct.
The Pro-growth National Reforms: State-Led Commodification Before 2000s

This and the next chapter provide an overview of national reform trajectories and their effects on local agency. This chapter begins with an overview of pro-growth models across housing, healthcare, and old-age care before 2000s. It then explains how local agency was enabled through the pro-growth logics in earlier reforms and the associated decentralization policy processes.
The Impending Judicial Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in the Administrative State

Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms are being deployed in executive branch agencies at a brisk pace and with no executive branch account for their use. The proliferation of AI in government raises civil rights concerns because it has been found—at a general level—to succumb to racial and gender biases when AI algorithms are incompetently or intentionally trained. Policy solutions have been put forth to mitigate the issue of such AI uses in government, some of which are in the process of being implemented. Despite these gains, the political branches of the federal government have limited time to act before their primary policymaking authority is diluted or potentially ceded to the Judiciary. This essay argues that in the absence of timely action of the Executive or Legislative branches to establish procedures to mitigate administrative agency AI accountability and transparency gaps, the Judiciary may dictate such procedures via remands under the administrative record provision of the Administrative Procedure Act of 1946 as it first did 50 years ago with informal adjudications in Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe, 401 U.S. 402 (1971)
Municipality-Level Variation in Severe Maternal Morbidity and Association With Municipal Expenditures in New Jersey.

Importance Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) is a major risk factor for maternal mortality, yet little is known about geographic variation in SMM or factors associated with geographical variation at the local level. Municipal governments incur substantial expenditures providing services that are an essential part of residents’ lives, but associations between municipal expenditures and SMM have not been previously examined. Objective To investigate variation in rates of SMM across municipalities in New Jersey, the contributions of individual-level characteristics and municipal expenditures to that variation, and associations between municipal expenditures and SMM. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study analyzed 2008 to 2018 New Jersey birth files linked to maternal hospital discharge records and US Census municipal expenditures data. The birth files contain all birth records for New Jersey, and hospital discharge records contain information from all in-patient hospitalizations in New Jersey over the study period. Birth records were matched to maternal discharge records and expenditures data. Data were analyzed from August 2020 to August 2021. Exposures Individual-level characteristics and per capita municipal expenditures on education; public health; fire and ambulance; parks, recreation, and natural resources; housing and community development; public welfare; police; transportation; and libraries. Main Outcomes and Measures SMM was identified using diagnosis and procedure codes developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to measure SMM. Results Of 1 001 410 individuals (mean [SD] age, 29.8 [5.9] years; 108 665 Asian individuals [10.9%]; 147 910 Black individuals [14.8%]; 280 697 Hispanic individuals [28.0%]; 447 442 White individuals [44.7%]) who gave birth in New Jersey hospitals from 2008 to 2018, 19 962 individuals (2.0%) had SMM. There was substantial municipality-level variation in SMM that was not fully explained by demographic characteristics. Municipal expenditures on fire and ambulance, transportation, health, housing, and libraries were negatively associated with SMM; $1000 higher annual expenditures per capita in these categories were associated with 35.4% to 67.3% lower odds of SMM (odds ratios, 0.33 [95% CI, 0.15-0.72] to 0.65 [95% CI, 0.46-0.91]). Expenditures on police were positively associated with SMM (odds ratio, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.04-1.28]). Conclusions and Relevance The findings in this study regarding associations between spending on various types of services at the municipal level and SMM, holding constant overall spending, population size, and socioeconomic status at the municipal level, indicate that municipal budget allocation decisions were associated with SMM rates and point to the importance of future research investigating potential causal connections.
Cancer Vaccines and Immunotherapy for Tumor Prevention and Treatment

In this editorial, we highlight articles published in this Special Issue of Vaccines on “Cancer Vaccines and Immunotherapy for Tumor Prevention and Treatment”, recent developments in the field of cancer vaccines, and the potential for immunotherapeutic combinations in cancer care. This issue covers important developments and progress being made in the cancer vaccine field and possible future directions for exploring new technologies to produce optimal immune responses against cancer and expand the arena of prophylactic and therapeutic cancer vaccines for the treatment of this deadly disease.
Transcriptional activation and stabilization of malic enzyme mRNA precursor by thyroid hormone.

One of the responses to the administration of thyroid hormone is an increase in malic enzyme (EC 1.1.1.40) mRNA in rat liver. We have previously shown that 3,5,3'-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) causes a 3-4-fold increase in the rate of transcription of the malic enzyme gene as determined by in vitro run-off assays with the cDNA probe following T3 treatment for 10 days (Dozin, B., Magnuson, M.A., and Nikodem, V. M. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 10290-10292). Since the level of cytoplasmic mRNA increases 10-15-fold, one or more additional mechanisms must be operative to produce the full effect. We have now analyzed the time course of the effect of T3 on the rate of transcription and the accumulation of malic enzyme RNA in the nucleus using malic enzyme cDNAs and intronic probes. There is an approximately 10-12-fold increase in the level of nuclear RNA accompanied by the same increase in cytoplasmic mRNA, showing a half-rise time of about 60 h. The 3-4-fold increase in the transcription rate occurred with a half-time of about 18 h. The relative values for either the increase in transcriptional activity or the increase in the level of malic enzyme RNA in the nucleus were identical irrespective of the probes used. As a control, we examined the effect of a high carbohydrate diet which is known to increase malic enzyme mRNA without affecting either transcriptional rate or nuclear RNA (Dozin, B., Rall, J. E., and Nikodem, V. M. (1986) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 83, 4705-4709). As expected, no change in the level of malic enzyme RNA in the nucleus was found with the intronic probes. We conclude that T3 both activates transcription of the malic enzyme gene in rat liver and decreases the rate of degradation of pre-mRNA coding for malic enzyme.
Clean Aluminum Processing: New Avenues for Measurement and Analysis

Aluminum alloy castings are becoming commonplace in important and critical applications in the automotive and aerospace industries where materials failure is not an option. In order to meet such property demands, tight control over the cleanliness of the melt, namely, mitigation of inclusions and dissolved hydrogen must be achieved. Having a cleaner melt will yield sound castings with more reliable performance. In order to control cleanliness, it must first be well defined and measured. Very few techniques exist in industry that can quantitatively measure inclusion levels in-situ. In addition, there are no practical methods in which all quality detractors can be measured simultaneously. The use of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has shown promise as a technique to quantify all facets of quality in aluminum melts. Current progress of this work is presented and discussed.
The Clinical Record in Medicine Part 1: Learning from Cases

The clinical case record freezes in time that episode in life called illness. It is a story in which patient and family are the main characters, with the doctor serving a dual purpose as both biogr...
Vulnerability in homeless adolescents: concept analysis.

Aim. This paper is a report of an analysis of the concept of vulnerability in homeless adolescents. Background. Caring for vulnerable populations and reduction of health inequities are top international healthcare priorities. Homeless adolescents experience health disparities as compared to their housed counterparts and are among the most vulnerable of all populations. Understanding the concept of vulnerability as it relates to the homeless adolescent population will assist nurses in addressing the health and social concerns of this population. Data sources. The PubMed, Medline, Cochrane and CINAHL electronic databases were used to search for research papers published between 1980 and 2009. The
Divine Motivation Theory

Widely regarded as one of the foremost figures in contemporary philosophy of religion, this book by Linda Zagzebski is a major contribution to ethical theory and theological ethics. At the core of the book lies a form of virtue theory based on the emotions. Quite distinct from deontological, consequentialist and teleological virtue theories, this one has a particular theological, indeed Christian, foundation. The theory helps to resolve philosophical problems and puzzles of various kinds: the dispute between cognitivism and non-cognitivism in moral psychology, the claims and counterclaims of realism and anti-realism in the metaphysics of value, and paradoxes of perfect goodness in natural theology, including the problem of evil. As with Zagzebski's previous Cambridge book Virtues of the Mind, this book will be sought out eagerly by a broad swathe of professionals and graduate students in philosophy and religious studies.
Thoracic and Lumbar Spine Injuries

The thoracic and lumbar spine is among the most common sites of injury in the military population. These injuries result in a significant burden to the military healthcare system and carry significant implications for military readiness. The causes of these injuries are numerous with complex interactions between external and intrinsic factors. Military-specific activities and training are commonly implicated in the development of back pain including fitness training, marching, and combat training. Within the military, specific occupations have also been shown to be associated with higher rates of injury and back pain. Such occupations include aviators, drivers, and those involved in military parachuting. Military deployments also represent high-risk periods for development of back pain, which results in a significant amount of lost duty days and evacuations from theater. Such injuries range from minor back injuries to serious combat-related spine trauma. Combat-related spine trauma is an increasingly common injury in modern combat environments due to an increase in survival from other injuries as well as a shift in tactics from previous combat engagements. These injuries carry some important differences from civilian spine trauma with important implications in evaluation and management.
Hard Limits on the Growth of the Internet and Computing Capacity

The last few years have seen an explosion in the deployment and use of the Internet, networking and telecommunication technologies. This was followed by significant increases in the speed and capacity of computing, for example Petaflop supercomputers are becoming common. We will examine some of the developments; explain their importance and potential impact. Many forecasts and predictions have been made about the impact of the increases of computing capacity and the growth of the Internet and the world wide web. In this talk we will introduce some of the favorite predictions and will analyze the possibilities for their realization in the long run. The analysis shows that there exist hard limits on the growth of the Internet and the increase in computing capacity. They prove that it is unlikely that some of the predictions will hold in the long run. The restrictions are based on basic physical and economic limitations, which generate tight bounds on the realization of such predictions. The bounds will occur much faster than expected by the simple forecasters.
Specifications and Tests for New Structural Cements

Unless comprehensive specifications and adequate testing methods are available for new cements, their use will be limited to that of specialty items. The development of specifications and tests, however, is a time-consuming task requiring the cooperation of many people and a number of laboratories. An example is the recently published specification and complementary test methods for shrinkage-compensating cement. The history of this work, from the creation of a task group in ASTM Subcommittee C01.12 on Blended Cement, the sponsoring subcommittee of ASTM Committee C-1 on Cement, to round-robin testing and analysis, is traced in detail. At the same time, parallel work in the technical committee on expansive cement of the American Concrete Institute, defining the application requirements, influenced the ASTM task group and lead directly to the establishment of methods of testing. As a result of this experience, the actions and considerations necessary for the establishment of specifications and tests for new structural materials are defined and outlined.
Optimum two-impulse transfers for preliminary interplanetary trajectory design

A method for numerically determining the optimum two-impulse transfer between two positions in two different heliocentric orbits is described. The formulas are based on earlier work by McCue and Bender (1965) for optimum two-impulse transfers between two orbits about the earth. The contours of minimum total Delta-V(Delta-V to launch plus Delta-V to achieve a given final orbit at the target body) are plotted on axes of true anomaly of the launch body at launch and true anomaly of the target body at arrival. The optimum transfers obtained are 'time-open' and the Delta-V from the initial orbit to the final orbit is found using patched conics. These 'prime rib' plots are useful for selecting initial conditions in the early phases of mission design.
The behavioral morbidity of obstructive sleep apnea

The behavioral morbidity associated with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) includes symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), neurocognitive deficits, psychological problems, and possibly an increased chance of accidents. EDS is among the most frequently reported symptoms in patients diagnosed with OSA. The available data suggest that the primary cause of EDS is sleep fragmentation. The subjective measures of sleepiness include the sleep wake activity inventory and the epworth sleepiness scale. Sleepiness can also be evaluated objectively in the sleep laboratory using the multiple sleep latency test or the maintenance of wakefulness test. The neurocognitive manifestations of OSA include impairments in vigilance, concentration, memory, and executive function. There is no agreed on consensus as to how to best quantify neurocognitive deficits in this population. Symptoms consistent with depression or personality changes have also been described, but are likely to be correlates of EDS and/or the chronicity of the disorder. Manifestations of the behavioral morbidity of OSA are reversible, but dependent on the degree of normalization in sleep-disordered breathing and the individual's sleep habits.
Automated mark inspection using multiple templates

Machine vision is a well established method of automating mark inspection on IC packages. Defects such as missing mark, blurred mark, mis-orientation, illegible mark, etc. can be caught accurately and repeatedly by a good mark inspection system. The most common inspection algorithm that is employed is `correlation' (or template matching). Here the mark characters are taught to the system by the operator on one device. These characters are stored as a template set. Subsequent devices are compared with this stored template set and based on the comparison results the mark is classified as good or as reject. One of the setbacks of this traditional method of inspecting mark with a single template set is that it overkills when marking has variation. Variation in the mark can arise from the same or different marking machines and also when device lots with different mark characters are combined. Mark inspection using multiple templates provides a solution to this problem. In this method, instead of one template set, multiple template sets can be taught and subsequent devices are checked with these multiple mark template sets.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Molecular Analysis and X-inactivation Studies in an Infant with Microphthalmia with Linear Skin Lesions (MLS) and Monosomy of Xp22.31-pter

Molecular Analysis and X-inactivation Studies in an Infant with Microphthalmia with Linear Skin Lesions (MLS) and Monosomy of Xp22.31-pter
Air-Bellow Belt and LED Display Based Compact Visual Biofeedback System Improves the Respiratory Regularities for Gated Radiation Therapy

DIBHVBF FB Fig. 3. The setup for this study. The raw respiratory signal is acquired with the air-bellow belt and the subject is breathing following the audio coaching. The breathing trace is recorded by connecting the Medspira Breathhold to a standard laptop. Air-Bellow Belt and LED Display Based Compact Visual Biofeedback System Improves the Respiratory Regularities for Gated Radiation Therapy Kai Ding1,2, Josh Evans1,2, Lydia Levinson2, Noelle Faria2, Stanley Benedict2 Bruce Libby2, James Larner2, and Quan Chen2 1Department of Radiation Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 2Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Data Processing For Q Factor Measurement

The Q factor and the coupling coefficient are determined from the file of reflection coefficient data measured with a vector network analyzer. The data processing is accomplished by a curve fitting procedure for a fractional linear mapping on a complex plane. The procedure is well suited for very high values of Q factor, and it is performed on a personal computer. The number of measured points is considerably higher than the number of unknowns to be determined, so that the results contain also the values of estimated errors.
Millimeter-Wave Spectroscopy of Kr-CO and Xe-CO Using a Coaxial Jet Spectrometer

Abstract A new pulsed supersonic jet millimeter-wave spectrometer with coaxial propagation of the molecular jet and millimeter-waves has been constructed. The coaxial configuration provides greater sensitivity which has been demonstrated by observing b -type transitions of five isotopomers of Kr- 12 C 16 O and seven isotopomers of Xe- 12 C 16 O. These results were analyzed together with a -type transitions obtained by FTMW spectroscopy to determine improved rotational parameters for each isotopomer. The ground vibrational state K = 1 ← 0 intervals have thus been precisely determined for Kr-CO and Xe-CO.
Unsteady Flow Evolution in Porous Chamber with Surface Mass Injection, Part 2: Acoustic Excitation

Our earlier work on injection-driven eows in a porous chamber is extended to explore the effect of forced periodic excitations on the unsteady eoweeld. Time-resolved simulations are performed to investigate the effects of traveling acoustic waves on large-scale turbulent structures for various amplitudes and frequencies of imposed excitations. The resultant oscillatory eowe eld is decomposed into mean, periodic (or organized), and turbulent (or random)motions using a time-frequency localization technique. Emphasis is placed on the interactions among the three components of the e oweeld. The primary mechanism for the transfer of energy from the mean to the turbulentmotionisprovidedbythenonlinearcorrelationsamongthevelocityeuctuations,asobservedinstationary turbulent eows.Theunsteady, deterministiccomponent gives risetoan additional mechanismforenergyexchange between the organized and turbulent motions and, consequently, produces increased turbulence levels at certain acoustic frequencies. The periodic excitations lead to earlier laminar-to-turbulence transition than that observed in stationary eows. The turbulence-enhanced momentum transport, on the other hand, leads to increased eddy viscosity and tends to dissipate the vortical wave originating from the injection surface. The coupling between the turbulent and acoustic motions results in signie cant changes in the unsteady eow evolution in a porous chamber.
The Prediction of Academic and Clinical Performance in Medical School.

Prior studies have suggested the importance of distinguishing between performance in the earlier and later years of medical education. Factor analysis of grades by year and faculty ratings of clinical and general medical competence for 661 medical students identified two uncorrelated factors clearly reflecting this distinction. The clinical performance factor, accounting for 48% of the communality of the matrix, was more or less unpredictable from aptitude and premedical academic achievement indices; it was marginally predictable from scales on the Adjective Check List. The academic performance factor, accounting for 31% of the variance among criteria, was forecast with acceptable accuracy (cross-validated R=0.43) by equations based on the Medical College Admission Test and premedical grade point average. Future study should stress the clinical performance factor; this criterion appears to be more important than academic attainment, and it is also less accurately predicted by current measures.
Perspectives on the control of Taenia solium

Six symposia on Taenia solium taeniasis/ cysticercosis were organized during the 3rd Latin American Congress of Tropical Medicine held in Mexico City on 21-24 May 1990. This reflects the leading role that Latin American parasitologists play in basic research and field studies aimed at the control of T. solium. Such control is urgently needed to lower the mortality, morbidity and disability resulting from neurocysticercosis, a common and serious public health problem in certain parts of the world, including Latin America. This account is a summary of my review presented at the meeting, supplemented by informal~ion presented by other participants (for Meeting Proceedings, see Ref. I). According to the criteria of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication based in Atlanta, USA 2, T. solium infection is a candidate,, for control because ( I ) neurocysticercosis has a considerable impact on Inuman health, (2) taeniasis shows a definite epidemiological vulnerability, be.ing the only source of cysticercosis for humans and pigs, (3) effective and practical intervention is available through the chemotherapy of human taeniasis (at least in endemic foci), (4) national and international commitment for implementation of the control measures i.~: already present, and (5) the cost of such intervention is acceptable, as it uses existing veterinary and medical services, plus inexpensive medication.
Early changes in the neonatal circulatory transition

To define the course of neonatal circulatory transition and to identify clinically relevant echocardiographic measurements in the diagnosis of persistent pulmonary hypertension, we prospectively studied 32 healthy term infants from 30 minutes to 24 hours after birth with color and quantitative Doppler echocardiography on the first day of life, and compared them with 33 term infants supported by mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure. Color Doppler imaging included measurements of cardiac output, left pulmonary artery flow, aortopulmonary pressure difference, ductal flow, left-to-right color-flow jet area of the ductus arteriosus, and ductal flow characteristics. In healthy infants the majority of measurable changes in cardiopulmonary hemodynamics had occurred by 8 hours after birth, although some degree of right-to-left ductal shunting was found up to 12 hours after birth. In the infants with respiratory fallure, ductal flow and maximum aortopulmonary pressure difference measurements at 8, 12 and 24 hours showed a significant delay in ductal closure and a high incidence of persistent pulmonary hypertension, which correlated well with the severlty of their respiratory failure. Factors such as aortopulmonary pressure difference, prolonged right-to-left shunting with decreased left pulmonary artery flow, and failure to develop a left-to-right ductal color-flow jet were found to be practical markers for assessing the course of neonatal circulatory transition in sick term infants.
Returns to Trading Strategies Based on Price-to-Earnings and Price-to-Sales Ratios

We examine returns to trading strategies based on values of the Price-to-Earnings (P/E) and Price-to-Sales (P/S) ratios. We show that the excess returns to trading strategies based on the P/S ratio is significantly higher than those for the more commonly used P/E ratio. We also show that using a combination of both the P/S and P/E ratios provides excess returns higher than strategies using these ratios individually. These results are robust across exchange listings and firm size. Finally, we document superior excess returns using a trading strategy based on the tendency of certain industries to have low or high P/E and P/S ratios.
GC-MS of perdeuteriomethylated flavonoid aglycones

Abstract GC-MS of perdeuteriomethylated flavonoid aglycones, singly and in mixtures, yields information about both the aglycone types and their substitution patterns. Fragmentation patterns of flavonoid aglycones are discussed. Acid hydrolysis of perdeuteriomethylated flavonoid glycosides, singly and in mixtures, followed by ethylation with diazoethane provides derivatives suitable for GC-MS; the introduced ethyl groups permit identification of the position of attachment of sugars in flavonoid O-glycosides.
Biofiltration of BTEX contaminated air streams using compost-activated carbon filter media

Abstract Three laboratory-scale biofilter columns were operated for 82 days to investigate the removal of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and o -xylene (BTEX) from a waste gas stream. The columns contain a mixture of yard waste and sludge compost as the base biofilter material. Different amounts of granular activated carbon (GAC) are mixed with the compost in two of the three columns to evaluate the extent to which biofilter performance can be enhanced. The columns displayed preferential utilization of benzene followed by toluene, ethylbenzene, and o -xylene, respectively. Removal efficiencies of ≥90% were achieved for inlet concentrations of ≥200 ppm of each of the BTEX compounds and a gas loading rate of 17.6 m 3 /m 2 h in all columns over the period of study. During sudden increases in the gas flow rate or the BTEX influent concentration, biofilters containing GAC exhibited significantly higher removal efficiencies and more stable operation than the biofilter containing only compost.
Calcium-dependent protein kinase is localized with F-actin in plant cells

We recently purified a calcium-dependent but calmodulin- and phospholipid-independent protein kinase (CDPK) from cultured plant cells (Harmon et al.: Plant Physiology 83:830–837, 1987). A monoclonal antibody (mAb 3B9) directed against CDPK was used to localize this protein in Allium root cells and Tradescantia pollen tubes using immunofluorescence techniques. The mAb 3B9 staining pattern showed that CDPK is localized within a fibrous network in the cytoplasm resembling the normal interphase network of F-actin. Treatment of tissue with 10 μM cytochalasin D (CD) prior to fixation abolished the staining pattern. Double-localization experiments in which pollen tubes were first stained with mAb 3B9 and then with rhodamine-phalloidin (RP) demonstrated that CDPK and F-actin were colocalized. Monoclonal antibody 3B9 did not react with purified actin from rabbit muscle or Dictyostelium and did not bind to proteins corresponding to the Mr of actin in crude extracts of Allium root tips and Tradescantia pollen tubes. CDPK did not phosphorylate purified rabbit muscle or Dictyostelium actin in vitro. Binding studies showed that CDPK (1) does not cosediment with actin filaments and (2) does not form a complex with G-actin. The data indicate that although CDPK does not interact directly with actin, it may be associated with an actin-binding protein and therefore could play a role in the regulation of the plant cytoskeleton.
NET-REGULAR PLACEMENT FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE CIRCUITS

We examine a placement strategy incorporating the knowledge of underlying circuit structure targeted for high performance circuits. We measure the "net regularity" using the standard deviation of the locations of its terminals. Experimental results showed that exploiting circuit structural information led to substantially more regular nets, compared to placement without structural information. Benchmark circuits from MCNC showed 1.9 to 26 times increase in the number of nets with zero standard deviation. Furthermore, the length of the longest net in a chip was reduced from 5 to 22%. The placement strategy is crucial for high performance circuits since regular nets have relatively fewer vias and reducing the longest net length improves signal delay.