cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Does Exercise Training Affect Reproductive Hormones in Women

In recent years, reproductive disorders in athletes have been observed in increasing numbers and proportions as larger numbers of women are participating in more strenuous athletic activities. Clinical problems with infertility and decreased bone density have been reported in this group, which has prided itself on its health. Hypoestrogenic women, including amenorrheic athletes, should definitely seek medical treatment for the prevention of osteoporosis, but before women sacrifice the many benefits of strenuous exercise, it is appropriate to consider the strength of the evidence that exercise training in particular, rather than other, extraneous aspects of athletic training, is responsible for the hormonal changes associated with reproductive disorders. This review has examined this first link in the postulated causal chain between exercise and these clinical conditions. In this review, only those studies that have compared trained or highly trained women with untrained or less-trained women, either cross-sectionally or longitudinally have been considered. In assessing the credibility of the reported results, we have found that the extensive precautions, painstaking techniques, and powerful protocols required for studying the question have only slowly been appreciated and never fully implemented by investigators. As a result, most of the published results are of little value. The few studies less susceptible to such criticism are consistent in their observations of gonadotropin and ovarian steroid suppression in women participating in athletic training. Nevertheless, even these results may have been biased by confounding factors, and thus at the present time the first link in the causal chain of events from exercise training to infertility and fractures cannot be regarded as proven. If the observed suppression of reproductive hormones is, indeed, due to exercise training, it may be dependent upon either the intensity of exercise training or the rate at which the intensity is increased. A dependence upon the rate at which exercise intensity is increased may explain why large proportions of athletes at all exercise intensity levels remain eumenorrheic. If future studies eliminate the biasing effects of known confounding factors and confirm that the female reproductive system can be suppressed by exercise training in particular, then additional research will be needed to determine the training intensity or rate of change in intensity required for these effects to occur. Research will also be needed to determine how gynecologic age, body composition, diet, and psychologic status may exaggerate or attenuate these effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Beliefs About Moral Obligation Structure Children's Social Category‐Based Expectations

Young children view social category members as morally obligated toward one another, and expect these obligations to shape people's social behavior. The present work investigates how children specify which behaviors are constrained by social categories in this way. In two studies (N = 128), 4- and 5-year-old children predicted that morally positive behaviors would be directed toward in-group members, and that morally negative behaviors would be directed toward out-group members, but did not hold equally strong expectations about behaviors described as positive or negative for reasons irrelevant to morality. Thus, notions of morality are embedded within children's representations of social categories, such that when learning about novel moral norms, children immediately expect those obligations to uniquely hold within social groups.
Computational Thinking Educational Policy Initiatives (CTEPI) Across the Globe

Since 2006, there has been an ever-increasing momentum in computational thinking educational policy initiatives (CTEPI) across the globe. In this paper, the representative CT educational policy initiatives viewed through the lens of international perspectives and cultural contexts were examined, compared and discussed. Reports, white papers, and policy documents were widely explored, selected through established criteria, and eventually analyzed by the research team. It was found that CTEPI has two characteristics—diverse CT terminology and diverse current status across the globe. Also, curriculum reform and enrichment programs represented two major approaches for CTEPI across the globe. Finally, four development trends emerged from an analysis of CT education policies and initiatives: collaboration and partnerships across sectors and national boundaries, rationales taking a broad perspective and referring to common themes, a redefinition of digital competence, and an emphasis on broadening access and interest.
Respiratory motion in children and young adults undergoing liver magnetic resonance imaging with intravenous gadoxetate disodium contrast material.

Gadoxetate disodium, utilized in hepatobiliary magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, has been associated with transient respiratory motion during the arterial phase in adults. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence and severity of this phenomenon in children imaged awake versus under general anesthesia. This retrospective cohort study was approved by the institutional review board; informed consent was waived. One hundred thirty exams of children ≤18 years old who underwent dynamic liver MR imaging with gadoxetate disodium between October 2010 and January 2018 were reviewed. Three pediatric radiologists scored respiratory motion artifacts on all imaging phases using a 5-point Likert scale. Differences in mean motion scores were assessed with analysis of variance and Tukey’s multiple comparisons test, and multivariable regression was used to identify predictors of arterial phase motion in awake patients. One hundred thirty patients (50% [n=65] female; mean age: 9.8±3.7 years, 48.5% [n=63] awake) were included. There were significant differences in mean motion scores between phases in the awake cohort (P<0.0001) but not in the general anesthesia cohort (P=0.051). In the awake cohort, arterial phase motion score (mean: 3.52±0.83) was significantly higher than mean motion score in all other phases (P≤0.0003). There were no significant patient-specific predictors of arterial phase motion score in the awake cohort. Significantly increased arterial phase respiratory motion artifact in awake children undergoing dynamic liver MR imaging with gadoxetate disodium suggests that transient respiratory motion occurs in children. General anesthesia may suppress this phenomenon.
Occurrence and Evolution of Acoustically Relevant Sub-Surface Bubble Plumes and their Associated, Remotely Monitorable, Surface Whitecaps

A detailed description of the temporal evolution of a bubble plume, beginning with its genesis in a spilling wave, is essayed, and the early stages of its development are identified with the Stage A and Stage B whitecaps. The actual rate of plume formation is found to be proportional to the instantaneous fraction of the sea surface covered by whitecaps, and this fraction is in turn proportional to the cube of the friction velocity, u*. The related, and fully compatible, model for estimating the near-surface resident bubble population has now been revised to include the influence on bubble survival of the surface water saturation levels of the major dissolved atmospheric gases. The bubble spectrum predicted by this model is consistent with the large bubble end of the spectra measured at sea by Kolovayev (1976), Johnson and Cooke (1979), and Walsh and Mulhearn (1987).
Mycobacterium Spindle Cell Pseudotumor Caused by Mycobacterium xenopi: A First Described Association of a Rare Entity Presenting in the Lung:

Mycobacterial spindle cell pseudotumor (MSP) is a rare benign lesion characterized by a proliferation of bland spindle-shaped histiocytes with vague granulomatous formation, positive for acid-fast ...
The moderating effects of sex on consequences of childhood maltreatment: from clinical studies to animal models

Stress has pronounced effects on the brain, and thus behavioral outputs. This is particularly true when the stress occurs during vulnerable points in development. A review of the clinical literature regarding the moderating effects of sex on psychopathology in individuals exposed to childhood maltreatment (CM) is complicated by a host of variables that are difficult to quantify and control in clinical settings. As a result, the precise role of sex in moderating the consequences of CM remains elusive. In this review, we explore the rationale for studying this important question and their implications for treatment. We examine this issue using the threat/deprivation conceptual framework and highlight a growing body of work demonstrating important sex differences in human studies and in animal models of early life stress (ELS). The challenges and obstacles for effectively studying this question are reviewed and are followed by recommendations on how to move forward at the clinical and preclinical settings. We hope that this review will help inspire additional studies on this important topic.
How Fractures Are Described: By the Direction of the Fracture Line

Understanding the direction of the fracture line is essential when describing fractures. Fracture lines may be transverse, oblique, vertical, or spiral. Being able to identify the direction of the principal fracture fragment as well as direction of additional fracture fragments is imperative when describing fractures on radiographs. Being able to describe fractures based on the direction of fracture line aids in understanding correct patient diagnosis, treatment plan, operative technique, and communication of fracture pattern to other healthcare workers.
Train in Germany, Test in the USA: Making 3D Object Detectors Generalize

In the domain of autonomous driving, deep learning has substantially improved the 3D object detection accuracy for LiDAR and stereo camera data alike. While deep networks are great at generalization, they are also notorious to overfit to all kinds of spurious artifacts, such as brightness, car sizes and models, that may appear consistently throughout the data. In fact, most datasets for autonomous driving are collected within a narrow subset of cities within one country, typically under similar weather conditions. In this paper we consider the task of adapting 3D object detectors from one dataset to another. We observe that naively, this appears to be a very challenging task, resulting in drastic drops in accuracy levels. We provide extensive experiments to investigate the true adaptation challenges and arrive at a surprising conclusion: the primary adaptation hurdle to overcome are differences in car sizes across geographic areas. A simple correction based on the average car size yields a strong correction of the adaptation gap. Our proposed method is simple and easily incorporated into most 3D object detection frameworks. It provides a first baseline for 3D object detection adaptation across countries, and gives hope that the underlying problem may be more within grasp than one may have hoped to believe. Our code is available at https://github. com/cxy1997/3D_adapt_auto_driving.
Comparison of smartphone-based retinal imaging systems for diabetic retinopathy detection using deep learning

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), the most common cause of vision loss, is caused by damage to the small blood vessels in the retina. If untreated, it may result in varying degrees of vision loss and even blindness. Since DR is a silent disease that may cause no symptoms or only mild vision problems, annual eye exams are crucial for early detection to improve chances of effective treatment where fundus cameras are used to capture retinal image. However, fundus cameras are too big and heavy to be transported easily and too costly to be purchased by every health clinic, so fundus cameras are an inconvenient tool for widespread screening. Recent technological developments have enabled to use of smartphones in designing small-sized, low-power, and affordable retinal imaging systems to perform DR screening and automated DR detection using image processing methods. In this paper, we investigate the smartphone-based portable retinal imaging systems available on the market and compare their image quality and the automatic DR detection accuracy using a deep learning framework. Based on the results, iNview retinal imaging system has the largest field of view and better image quality compared with iExaminer, D-Eye, and Peek Retina systems. The overall classification accuracy of smartphone-based systems are sorted as 61%, 62%, 69%, and 75% for iExaminer, D-Eye, Peek Retina, and iNview images, respectively. We observed that the network DR detection performance decreases as the field of view of the smartphone-based retinal systems get smaller where iNview is the largest and iExaminer is the smallest. The smartphone-based retina imaging systems can be used as an alternative to the direct ophthalmoscope. However, the field of view of the smartphone-based retina imaging systems plays an important role in determining the automatic DR detection accuracy.
Maintenance fluid management in pediatrics: Current practice and quality improvement achievements.

The long-standing use of hypotonic fluids in pediatric maintenance fluids has been challenged in recent years due to concerns over iatrogenic hyponatremia causing morbidity and mortality. Newer research has highlighted the safety of isotonic fluid alternatives. The American Academy of Pediatrics published an evidenced-based Clinical Practice Guideline in December of 2018 (Feld et al., 2018) to support the routine use of isotonic solutions in pediatric maintenance fluids. This article will also highlight relevant history, current practice, and a quality improvement project to standardize isotonic fluid use in the inpatient pediatric setting.
Homophily in collaborations among US House Representatives, 1981–2018

Abstract Effective lawmaking requires collaboration among legislators, who form coalitions to advance their legislative agendas. In this paper, we explore how legislators’ party and gender identities simultaneously influence whom they choose as collaborators by examining differential party and gender homophily during a period of shifting party control and increasing representation of women in the US House of Representatives. We introduce new methods for inferring legislative collaboration networks from bill co-sponsorship data, then estimate cross-sectional logistic regression models on these networks from 1981–2018. We find evidence of differential homophily by both party and gender: Republicans and women tend to prefer same-party and same-gender political collaborators more than Democrats and men. However, party homophily (i.e., partisanship) is stronger than gender homophily, suggesting that party is a more salient identity for legislators than gender.
Near-Optimal Explainable k-Means for All Dimensions.

Many clustering algorithms are guided by certain cost functions such as the widely-used $k$-means cost. These algorithms divide data points into clusters with often complicated boundaries, creating difficulties in explaining the clustering decision. In a recent work, Dasgupta, Frost, Moshkovitz, and Rashtchian (ICML'20) introduced explainable clustering, where the cluster boundaries are axis-parallel hyperplanes and the clustering is obtained by applying a decision tree to the data. The central question here is: how much does the explainability constraint increase the value of the cost function? Given $d$-dimensional data points, we show an efficient algorithm that finds an explainable clustering whose $k$-means cost is at most $k^{1 - 2/d}\mathrm{poly}(d\log k)$ times the minimum cost achievable by a clustering without the explainability constraint, assuming $k,d\ge 2$. Combining this with an independent work by Makarychev and Shan (ICML'21), we get an improved bound of $k^{1 - 2/d}\mathrm{polylog}(k)$, which we show is optimal for every choice of $k,d\ge 2$ up to a poly-logarithmic factor in $k$. For $d = 2$ in particular, we show an $O(\log k\log\log k)$ bound, improving exponentially over the previous best bound of $\widetilde O(k)$.
Criminal Records Create a Second-Class Citizenry: Changing the Way Adult Convictions are Vacated in Washington State

This article principally focuses on the ability of a convicted person to remove or “vacate” his adult criminal records from non-Court entities in Washington State. Ultimately, Washington should remove the limit currently prohibiting a record holder from vacating more than one misdemeanor in his or her lifetime. A convicted person in Washington State is theoretically allowed to vacate an unlimited number of felonies in his or her lifetime. In contrast, he or she may not vacate a misdemeanor if any other conviction, misdemeanor or felony, has been vacated in his or her lifetime. I will posit that, for the purposes of vacating criminal records in Washington, at minimum, misdemeanors should generally be treated the same as felonies by allowing a convicted person to theoretically be able to vacate an unlimited number of misdemeanors. Employment, housing, and public safety factors, among others, tend to favor this prescription.
Subsurface Soil Exploration

At the earliest possible time during the development of a building project, the architect, along with the engineer, should make a preliminary investigation of the site. The purpose of this investigation is to acquaint both the architect and engineer with conditions peculiar to that site. The investigation will give the architect information as to site access, topography, and the existence of physical barriers such as sharp drop-offs, lakes, or streams of running or stagnant water.
Agility and Risk Management at Pacific Life: Optimizing Business Unit Autonomy

Pacific Life is a diversified financial services company with a history of autonomous business units. Pacific Life had five independent divisions, including Life Insurance, Annuities and Mutual Funds, and Investments. These divisions served different customers and responded to different regulatory and market requirements. Pacific Life executives embrace decentralization as the best structure for capturing excellence in the individual businesses, so they are willing to sacrifice some potential efficiencies. But while they are usually willing to forego the benefits of a more centralized organization structure, they are not willing to assume any unnecessary risks. This case describes how the company governs shared IT services and enterprise risk management to limit its risk exposure while reaping the benefits of decentralization.
A Uniform Geometrical Theory of Diffraction for predicting fields of sources near or on thin planar positive/negative material discontinuities

[1] Relatively simple and accurate closed form Uniform Geometrical Theory of Diffraction (UTD) solutions are obtained for describing the radiated and surface wave fields, respectively, which are excited by sources near or on thin, planar, canonical two-dimensional (2-D) double positive/double negative (DPS/DNG) material discontinuities. Unlike most previous works, which analyze the plane wave scattering by such DPS structures via the Wiener-Hopf (W-H) or Maliuzhinets methods, the present development can also treat problems of the radiation by and coupling between antennas near or on finite material coatings on large metallic platforms. The latter is made possible mainly through the introduction of important higher-order UTD slope diffraction terms which are developed here in addition to first-order UTD. The present solutions are simpler to use because, in part, they do not contain the complicated split functions of the W-H solutions nor the complex Maliuzhinets functions. Unlike the latter methods based on approximate boundary conditions, the present solutions, which are developed via a heuristic spectral synthesis approach, recover the proper local plane wave Fresnel reflection and transmission coefficients and surface wave constants of the DPS/DNG material. They also include the presence of backward surface waves in DNG media. Besides being asymptotic solutions of the wave equation, the present UTD diffracted fields satisfy reciprocity, the radiation condition, boundary conditions on the conductor, and the Karp-Karal lemma which dictates that the first-order UTD space waves vanish on a material interface.
Pd–Au nanoparticles supported by TiO2 fibers for catalytic NO decomposition by CO

Abstract Pd–Au nanoparticles supported by TiO 2 fibers were fabricated and assembled into a porous medium. The 2–16 nm Pd–Au nanoparticles were randomly dispersed in the titania nanofibers ( d a = 117 ± 68 nm). X-ray diffraction patterns and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy verified the formation of Pd–Au particles. Binding energy shifts were detected due to chemical bonding and reduction with hydrazine monohydrate. The fiber media with Pd–Au nanoparticles had greater reactivity in conversion of NO and CO gases than Pd monometallic catalyst alone, attributed to a lower activation energy of the reaction on the Pd–Au catalyst particles.
The Saccharomyces cerevisiae MGT1 DNA repair methyltransferase gene: its promoter and entire coding sequence, regulation and in vivo biological functions.

We previously cloned a yeast DNA fragment that, when fused with the bacterial lacZ promoter, produced O6-methylguanine DNA repair methyltransferase (MGT1) activity and alkylation resistance in Escherichia coli (Xiao et al., EMBO J. 10,2179). Here we describe the isolation of the entire MGT1 gene and its promoter by sequence directed chromosome integration and walking. The MGT1 promoter was fused to a lacZ reporter gene to study how MGT1 expression is controlled. MGT1 is not induced by alkylating agents, nor is it induced by other DNA damaging agents such as UV light. However, deletion analysis defined an upstream repression sequence, whose removal dramatically increased basal level gene expression. The polypeptide deduced from the complete MGT1 sequence contained 18 more N-terminal amino acids than that previously determined; the role of these 18 amino acids, which harbored a potential nuclear localization signal, was explored. The MGT1 gene was also cloned under the GAL1 promoter, so that MTase levels could be manipulated, and we examined MGT1 function in a MTase deficient yeast strain (mgt1). The extent of resistance to both alkylation-induced mutation and cell killing directly correlated with MTase levels. Finally we show that mgt1 S.cerevisiae has a higher rate of spontaneous mutation than wild type cells, indicating that there is an endogenous source of DNA alkylation damage in these eukaryotic cells and that one of the in vivo roles of MGT1 is to limit spontaneous mutations.
The enthalpies of formation of iodine pentafluoride and iodine heptafluoride

Abstract The energy of combustion of iodine in fluorine was measured in a bomb calorimeter and the standard enthalpy of formation of liquid iodine pentafluoride, ΔHfo(IF5, 1, 298·15 K), was calculated to be −(210·81 ± 0·39) kcal/mole. The combustion products contained variable quantities of gaseous iodine heptafluoride (IF7) in addition to IF5. A linear least squares analysis of the standard energy of combustion of iodine as a function of the ratio of IF7 to IF5 enabled a value of −(229·80 ± 0·54) kcal/mole to be deduced for ΔHfo(IF7, g, 298·15 K).
A GIS‐based hillslope erosion and sediment delivery model and its application in the Cerro Grande burn area

A profile-based, analytical hillslope erosion model (HEM) is integrated into a geographical information system (GIS) framework to provide a tool to assess the impact of the Cerro Grande fire on erosion and sediment delivery to the many streams draining the burn area. The model, HEM-GIS, calculates rill and interrill erosion, transport and deposition along digital flow-pathways generated with GIS software. This new erosion and sediment yield technology accounts for complex terrain attributes and their impact on the connectivity of sediment transport pathways from source areas to streams, GIS digital spatial data, including elevation, vegetation cover, burn severity and soil type, are used as input to the model, Output includes spatially distributed predictions of total event-based sediment yield (tonnes or kilograms per square metre). Here the model is applied across an 800 km 2 region of the Pajarito Plateau watershed to assess the sedimentation risks associated with a 100 year design rain event. Although unvalidated for the design storm, the model predicts that the fire may cause runoff to increase by three to six times, and sediment yield to increase by more than an order of magnitude.
The Relation Between the Five Facets of Mindfulness and Worry in a Non-clinical Sample

Recent studies have provided initial support for the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Although this line of research is promising, surprisingly few studies have examined the underlying theoretical assumptions of these interventions, including the degree to which mindfulness is associated with symptoms of GAD. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to examine the association between the five facets of mindfulness, established by previous research, and symptoms of GAD. A non-clinical sample of 400 adults completed the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire. A simultaneous multiple regression analysis was conducted, and three of the five facets of mindfulness, nonreactivity to inner experience, nonjudgement of inner experience, and acting with awareness, were found to be significant and unique predictors of worry symptoms, with the model predicting 34% of the variance in worry symptoms. In contrast, two facets, observe and describe, were not found to be associated with worry symptoms. Overall, these findings provide support for the association between mindfulness and worry. The results have the potential to inform treatment outcome research focused on improving mindfulness-based interventions for GAD or assessing potential mechanisms of change during these interventions.
Oligopoly and the structural paradox of retail TNCs: an assessment of Carrefour and Wal-Mart in Japan

This research focuses on the case of international chains facing significant competition from domestic chains in advanced industrialized economies. In this article, I question the assumptions behind the perceived, simultaneous process of globalization and retail concentration by taking the cases of the world’s two largest retailers, Wal-Mart and Carrefour, entering the Japanese market in the early 2000s. Both retail TNCs have so far failed to meet initial high expectations for their performance. I argue that there is a structural paradox inherent among retail TNCs, which is expressed as contradictory forces between standardization and localization. Empirical evidence is provided on how these forces complicate retail TNCs’ front-end (store-front) and back-end (distribution) operations in the case of Japan. Emphasis is placed on the role of oligopoly in the retail sector and how its absence affects retail TNCs’ operation in foreign markets.
Treatment of hallux valgus with increased distal metatarsal articular angle: use of double and triple osteotomies.

Abstract The treatment of the congruent hallux valgus deformity requires special consideration for a successful outcome to be obtained. The distal metatarsal articular angle is of critical importance in this deformity. The goal of correction is to achieve a realigned first ray and preserve the congruent first metatarsophalangeal articulation. In patients with an increased distal metatarsal articular angle and congruent joint, the use of double and triple first ray osteotomies must be used to achieve satisfactory correction.
Assay of HMG-CoA synthase in Diploptera punctata corpora allata

The conversion of acetyl-CoA to HMG-CoA was measured by a radioenzymatic assay in which the product is derivatized to its bis(p-nitrobenzyl)ester and separated from the substrate by TLC. The enzymatic assay was applied to post-mitochondrial supernatants of corpora allata homogenates from the cockroach, Diploptera punctata. The apparent KM for the conversion of acetyl-CoA to HMG-CoA was 200 μM. The enzyme activity was measured during a cycle of JH synthesis in adult mated females. HMG-CoA synthase followed the pattern of juvenile hormone III synthesis closely with a peak on day 5 (1.89 ± 0.07 nmol/h/pair-eq.), and the decline of its activity occurred earlier than that of HMG-CoA reductase.
Ischemic postconditioning as a novel avenue to protect against brain injury after stroke

Ischemic postconditioning initially referred to a stuttering reperfusion performed immediately after reperfusion, for preventing ischemia/reperfusion injury in both myocardial and cerebral infarction. It has evolved into a concept that can be induced by a broad range of stimuli or triggers, and may even be performed as late as 6 h after focal ischemia and 2 days after transient global ischemia. The concept is thought to be derived from ischemic preconditioning or partial/gradual reperfusion, but in fact the first experiment for postconditioning was carried out much earlier than that of preconditioning or partial/gradual reperfusion, in the research on myocardial ischemia. This review first examines the protective effects and parameters of postconditioning in various cerebral ischemic models. Thereafter, it provides insights into the protective mechanisms of postconditioning associated with reperfusion injury and the Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), protein kinase C (PKC), and ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channel cell signaling pathways. Finally, some open issues and future challenges regarding clinical translation of postconditioning are discussed.
The minimal number of class II MHC-antigen complexes needed for T cell activation

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules are exposed to large quantities of self and nonself antigens. It is not known what fraction of MHC molecules needs to be occupied by antigen to induce a T cell response. A quantitative study of naturally processed antigen indicated that T cells could be activated when only 0.03 percent of the total I-Ed purified from antigen-presenting cells (APCs) was occupied with antigen. B cells and macrophages processed hen egg lysozyme (HEL) with different efficiencies, but similar degrees of occupancy were required for T cell stimulation. Higher occupancy was needed for I-Ed-transfected L cells, possibly reflecting the requirement for other accessory molecules for efficient APC-T cell interaction.
Results of Performance Testing of Certified Diagnostic X-Ray Equipment

Since August of 1974, the Food and Drug Administration has been testing the performance of diagnostic x-ray equipment certified to be in compliance with the Federal Performance Standard. The testing is performed in user locations as well as in Federal laboratories. Testing to date has revealed the general level of performance of diagnostic x-ray equipment and specific problem areas that are common to several manufacturers. Results of routine field testing, more rigorous follow-up testing, and laboratory tests will be discussed.© (1976) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Equilibration of mixtures of polyamic acids studied using size‐exclusion chromatography and light scattering

The transamidation reaction in a polyamic acid solution has been investigated using size-exclusion chromatography and low-angle light scattering. Mixtures of a high-molecular weight (DP = 150) and a low-molecular weight (DP = 10) polymer and of the high-molecular weight polymer with monomer were studied. Mixtures were made at high and low concentrations. The polyamic acid studied is the product of the polycondensation of 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (BPDA) with oxydianiline (ODA). In all cases the molecular weight distribution equilibrated with time to a most-probable distribution with a DP consistent with the stoichiometry of the mixture. Equilibration required about 2 weeks for mixtures of 10% by weight at ambient temperatures. The effect of addition of a small amount (5%) of low-molecular weight material to sample of high-molecular weight is dramatic; for DP = 150 the molecular weight is decreased by more than one-half. In an entangled solution or melt, this would reduce the viscosity by an order of magnitude.
Occupational safety: The past, present and future

It has been almost 30 years since the first publication of the NIOSH Work Practices Guide for Manual Lifting (1981). This guide has been successfully applied by ergonomists worldwide and demonstrated itself a very powerful tool for task design and injury prevention. The main objective of this panel, is to bring together the original authors of this guide in order to 1) share their experience of the early endeavor, 2) comment on the current development of industrial ergonomics, and 3) discuss valuable issues that should be addressed in the future. This panel session is sponsored by Liberty Mutual and the Industrial Ergonomics and Safety Technical Groups.
Functions of a Bureaucratic Ideology: “Citizen Participation”

Bureaucracies are users of ideologies, aimed at target groups for the purpose of energizing these groups toward acting in the interest of the bureaucracy and groups who are in a position to use it for their own ends. The ideology of “citizen participation” is inspected, as it is used by urban renewal and community action program bureaucracies. The intended and unintended consequences of both acceptance and rejection of the ideology are considered, for both the target group—the poor—and the organizational proponents of the ideology. The fate of an ideology depends upon its uses.
Comprehensive analysis of titin protein isoform and alternative splicing in normal and mutant rats

Titin is a giant protein with multiple functions in cardiac and skeletal muscles. Rat cardiac titin undergoes developmental isoform transition from the neonatal 3.7 MDa N2BA isoform to primarily the adult 2.97 MDa N2B isoform. An autosomal dominant mutation dramatically altered this transformation. Titins from eight skeletal muscles: Tibialis Anterior (TA), Longissimus Dorsi (LD) and Gastrocnemius (GA), Extensor Digitorum Longus (ED), Soleus (SO), Psoas (PS), Extensor Oblique (EO), and Diaphram (DI) were characterized in wild type and in homozygous mutant (Hm) rats with a titin splicing defect. Results showed that the developmental reduction in titin size is eliminated in the mutant rat so that the titins in all investigated skeletal muscles remain large in the adult. The alternative splicing of titin mRNA was found repressed by this mutation, a result consistent with the large titin isoform in the mutant. The developmental pattern of titin mRNA alternative splicing differs between heart and skeletal muscles. The retention of intron 49 reveals a possible mechanism for the absence of the N2B unique region in the expressed titin protein of skeletal muscle.
Instant colour photography: chemistry and UV stabilization

An ultraviolet (UV) screening agent precursor, dinonylphenylisophthalate, applied as a component of a surface coating on instant colour positive photographic prints stabilizes the dyes that are used and prevents the fading of colour that otherwise occurs. It is believed that upon exposure to UV light the ester precursor rearrangesin situ to form substituted benzophenones, which are effective UV screening agents. Eastman Kodak instant colour prints protected by this system successfully resisted prolonged exposure to high intensity UV light. Under the same conditions, unprotected controls showed extensive fading and other changes in colour. Extension of the general technology to prevent colour fading of dyes in other applications is foreseen.
Bias compensation for target tracking from range based Maximum Likelihood position estimates

This paper investigates bias compensation for improving the performance of target tracking using range or range difference measurements. We obtain the Maximum Likelihood estimate of the target position at the current instant and pass it to the Kalman filter as observation to obtain the target track. The nonlinear relationship between the target position and measurements creates bias that can degrade significantly the tracker performance. This paper shows that we can accurately estimate the bias and subtract it from the Maximum Likelihood estimate before the Kalman filter is applied. Consequently the bias accumulation is effectively prevented and the tracking accuracy is greatly improved.
On ordering properties of generalized inverses of nonnegative definite matrices

Abstract We consider nnd matrices A and B of the same order satisfying A ⩾ B (i.e., A − B is nnd). Given an nnd ( i , j ,…, p )-inverse A ( i , j ,…, p ) of A (or B ( i , j ,… p ) of B ), we characterize nnd ( i , j ,…, p )-inverses B ( i , j ,…, p ) of B (or A ( i , j ,…, p ) of A ) such that the reverse ordering property B ( i , j ,…, p ) ⩾ A ( i , j ,…, p ) holds. We obtain a new characterization of (2)-inverses of a matrix and also characterize nnd generalized inverses of an nnd matrix which dominate or are dominated by a given nnd generalized inverse of the matrix.
Inner and middle ear hyperbaric oxygen-induced barotrauma

Patients receiving hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy can sustain inner and middle ear barotrauma. The purpose of this study is to define the incidence and significance of HBO-related barotrauma, in addition to establishing guidelines for prophylactic myringotomy or tympanostomy tube placement. Thirty patients were stratified into two groups (those able to autoinflate and those unable to autoinflate the middle ear) and barotrauma was assessed by otoscopy, tympanometry, high-frequency audiometry, and distortion product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) testing. Ten of 11 patients (91%) from the noninflater group suffered middle ear barotrauma, and seven of 19 patients (37%) from the autoinflater group sustained middle ear barotrauma. Patients unable to autoinflate the middle ear were shown to have a higher incidence and greater severity of barotrauma than patients able to autoinflate. Pretreatment pressure-equalizing tubes or myringotomies should be considered for patients undergoing HBO therapy who have an artificial airway or have eustachian tube dysfunction and have failed conservative medical intervention. A significant change in DPOAEs (loss of emissions over a 1-kHz range) was found in four of 15 autoinflaters (27%) and two of seven noninflaters (29%). There was no significant difference between the groups. The decrease in DPOAEs was not associated with a change in conventional audiometry.
Interleukin 2 leads to dose-dependent expression of the alpha chain of the IL-2 receptor on CD25-negative T lymphocytes in the absence of exogenous antigenic stimulation.

Expression of the alpha chain of the interleukin 2 receptor on T lymphocytes is restricted, increasing in the setting of activation, particularly after antigenic stimulation via the TCR. The effects of IL-2 in vitro on the expression of CD25 and proliferation as well as the cytokine induction in CD25-depleted T cells were studied. CD25-depleted and PBMC of healthy donors were cultured for 7 days with 0, 10, or 100 IU/ml of IL-2. Phenotypic analysis and measurement of cytokines in the culture supernatants were performed. IL-2 led to a dose-dependent induction of the IL-2R alpha chain on both CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes. In the CD25-depleted cultures, IL-2 treatment (100 IU/ml) increased the percentage of CD4 T cells expressing CD25 by 30.6% (P = 0.05) and of CD8 T cells by 48.2% (P = 0.01) on day 7 compared to no treatment. In the PBMC cultures the increase on day 7 was 36.4% for CD4 (P = 0.01) and 50.8% (P = 0.025) for CD8 T lymphocytes. The patterns of cytokine induction in the CD25-depleted and control cultures were similar with increases of IFN-gamma, GM-CSF, IL-16, TNF alpha, and soluble IL-2 receptor in the IL-2-containing cultures. CFSE experiments demonstrated the proliferative capacity of both CD25-positive and -negative T cells. Interleukin 2 alone can lead to a dose-dependent induction of the alpha chain of its receptor on resting CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes. IL-2 as a sole stimulant is also associated with generation of a cytokine milieu that includes IFN-gamma, GM-CSF, IL-16, and TNF alpha.
Automated homologue matching of human G-banded chromosomes.

Abstract Two sets of human G-banded chromosomes were employed to test a computer algorithm for homologue matching. One set was produced at the Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, and the other at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Hospital. Employing a cross-correlation measure to select candidate homologue mates for each chromosome resulted in correct matches in 91.1% of the cases in the Anderson set and 93.1% in the Denmark set. To identify each chromosome and to give a measure of classification accuracy when performed by humans, five cytogeneticists were asked to independently karyotype the 49 cells in the Anderson set. Agreement between two cytogeneticists was measured by the kappa statistic. If all chromosomes that could not be identified by any given cytogeneticist were removed from the comparison, kappa values were found to be in the vicinity of 0.95. With such unidentifiable chromosomes included as a separate class, the kappa values were closer to 0.89.
Tumor protein translationally controlled 1 is a p53 target gene that promotes cell survival

Tumor suppressor p53 maintains genome stability by differentially activating target genes that control diverse cellular responses, such as the antioxidant response, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Despite the fact that many p53 downstream genes have been well characterized, novel p53 target genes are continuously being identified. Here, we report that Tpt1 is a direct target gene of p53. We found that p53 upregulates the transcription of Tpt1 and identified a p53-responsive element in the promoter of the mouse Tpt1 gene. Furthermore, p53-dependent induction of Tpt1 was able to reduce oxidative stress, minimize apoptosis, and promote cell survival in response to H2O2 challenge. In addition, a positive correlation between the expression of p53 and Tpt1 only existed in normal lung tissues, not in lung tumors. Such positive correlation was also found in lung cell lines that contain wild-type p53, but not mutated p53. Based on the important role of Tpt1 in cancer development, chemoresistance, and cancer rever...
Strategic Human Resource Management Measures: Key Linkages and the PeopleVantage Model

The field of human resource management faces a significant dilemma. While emerging evidence, theory, and practical demands are increasing the visibility and credibility of human capital as a key to organisational success, the measures used to articulate the impact of human resource management decisions remain misunderstood, unwanted by key constituents, or even counter‐productive. This article proposes that the key to creating meaningful HR metrics is to embed them within a model that shows the links between HR investments and organisational success. The PeopleVantage model is proposed as a framework, the application of the model is illustrated, and the potential of the model for guiding research and practical advances in effective HR measures is discussed.
On the evolution of X-chromosome inactivation in mammals and the clinical consequences to man—A hypothesis

Abstract A clinical analysis of abnormal sex chromosome states in man suggests that Lyon's recent X-Y translocation hypothesis for the evolution of X-chromosome inactivation in mammals most likely would have lead to an evolutionary dead-end. Therefore, as an alternate I have hypothesized that: X-chromosome inactivation in somatic cells of mammals could have evolved by a complementary process of one by one heterozygous physical deletion in males and heterozygous inactivation in females of genes for "somatic" traits scattered throughout the genome whose effective output had become 50% excessive during prior evolution. However, this complementary process could occur safely only if the genes so deleted or inactivated first segregated by chance onto the evolving sex-chromosomes via a one by one reciprocal exchange for non-sex related genes already there. The complementary process thereby would allow slow evolution of the Y-chromosome in the male and X-chromosome inactivation in the female. Evolution of X-chromosome inactivation in this manner is compatible with Ohno's observation of "conservation" of the X-chromosome in mammals; and the occurrance of clinical "somatic" abnormalities in the abnormal X or Y chromosome states of man despite X-chromosome inactivation.
Singular Loss of Stability Due to Hysteretic Capillary Forces in Atomic Force Microscopy

This paper considers discontinuity-induced bifurcations due to the onset and termination of hysteretic, capillary tip-sample interaction forces in a single-mechanical-mode model of intermittent-contact atomic-force microscopy. The theoretical analysis generalizes earlier results for a piecewise-linear hybrid dynamical system to establish the singular termination of branches of steady-state oscillations of the AFM cantilever at critical equilibrium separations corresponding to the grazing contact of the cantilever tip with a fluid layer deposited on the sample. It is shown that this termination is preceded by rapid changes in linearized stability characteristics with one characteristic multiplier going to plus or minus infinity in the deterministic model. The paper describes the application of a discontinuity-mapping technique that allows for unfolding the system response in the vicinity of the grazing condition and the critical equilibrium separation. Numerical simulations and results of parameter continuation are shown to closely agree with the predictions of the theoretical analysis.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Kinetics of depletion of a population of hydrating cement particles

In this paper the effects of the particle size and distribution of a population of hydraulic cement particles, and the rate of growth of the hydrating layer or coating surrounding the individual cement particles on reaction kinetics are presented. The shrinking core model is incorporated to yield a relationship between the volume percentage hydration and the initial particle size distribution. Subsequently, the coating growth velocity as a function of the hydrate layer thickness is deduced.
Making the Morally Relevant Features Explicit: A Response to Carson Strong

Carson Strong criticizes the application of my moral theory to bioethics cases. Some of his criticisms are due to my failure to make explicit that both the irrationality or rationality of a decision and the irrationality or rationality of the ranking of evils are part of morally relevant feature 3. Other criticisms are the result of his not using the two-step procedure in a sufficiently rigorous way. His claim that I come up with a wrong answer depends upon his incorrectly regarding a weakly justified violation as one that all impartial rational persons would agree was permitted, rather than as one about which rational persons disagree.
The language of ravishment in Medieval England.

Two pillars of medieval English literature, Chaucer and Malory, stand accused by posterity as criminals, yet scholars remain perplexed about the nature of their crimes over five centuries later. Some convict them of the heinous offense of sexually assaulting a woman against her will, while others believe them guilty of no more than seduction or consensual sex. The allegation against Malory has even been reframed to portray him as a knight in shining armor rescuing a damsel (or wife) in distress; thus instead of seizing a woman in order to rape her, this author of Arthurian legends “stole” Joan Smith away from her abusive husband when Joan departed with Malory consensually. Keen to illuminate the personal lives of the authors whose Canterbury Tales, Morte Darthur, and other works opened up the world of the Middle Ages for posterity, contemporary researchers have seized upon medieval English legal sources to clarify these authors' own stories. The crime in which Chaucer and Malory have been implicated, of s...