cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gravity Modeling of Casinos in the United States: A Case Study of Philadelphia

Abstract As the number of states that have legalized casino gaming has continued to increase in the United States, it is important to consider one of the most important costs identified in international gambling research, that of problem gambling. This project seeks to examine the potential impacts of problem gaming in the major metropolitan area of Philadelphia, which is currently the largest city in the United States with an open commercial casino. To understand the vulnerability to problem gaming of the neighborhoods where casinos are located in the metropolitan area of Philadelphia, a GIS vulnerability model was created in order to examine the accessibility to the casinos of those most vulnerable to problem gaming. The results show that three out of the four casinos in metropolitan Philadelphia are located in areas where people are vulnerable to problem gaming. These findings demonstrate a need for public policy to mitigate the potential impacts of problem gaming on the community. The GIS model created for this project is the first vulnerability study of a major urban area in the United States and has the potential to be expanded to contribute to gambling research within the United States and abroad.
When May a President Refuse to Defend a Statute? The Obama Administration and DOMA

This Essay explores the question of when may a President refuse to defend the constitutionality of a federal statute in the courts. It identifies four factors that should be taken into account in making that determination: whether (1) there are binding judicial precedents on the relevant constitutional issues; (2) those issues raise significant normative and policy questions; (3) Congress considered the constitutional issues during the statute’s enactment process; and (4) it is likely that the President’s decision will preclude judicial review. The Essay then applies the four factors to President Obama’s decision to cease defending the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act and concludes that that decision was appropriate.
A data locality aware online scheduling approach for I/O-intensive jobs with file sharing

Many scientific investigations have to deal with large amounts of data from simulations and experiments. Data analysis in such investigations typically involves extraction of subsets of data, followed by computations performed on extracted data. Scheduling in this context requires efficient utilization of the computational, storage and network resources to optimize response time. The data-intensive nature of such applications necessitates data-locality aware job scheduling algorithms. This paper proposes a hypergraph based dynamic scheduling heuristic for a stream of independent I/O intensive jobs with file sharing behavior. The proposed heuristic is based on an event-driven, run-time hypergraph modeling of the file sharing characteristics among jobs. Our experiments on a coupled compute/storage cluster show it performs better compared to previously proposed strategies, under a varying set of parameters for workloads from the application domain of biomedical image analysis.
Association Rule Mining on Remotely Sensed Images Using P-trees

Association Rule Mining, originally proposed for market basket data, has potential applications in many areas. Remote Sensed Imagery (RSI) data is one of the promising application areas. Extracting interesting patterns and rules from datasets composed of images and associated ground data, can be of importance in precision agriculture, community planning, resource discovery and other areas. However, in most cases the image data sizes are too large to be mined in a reasonable amount of time using existing algorithms. In this paper, we propose an approach to derive association rules on RSI data using Peano Count Tree (P-tree) structure. P-tree structure, proposed in our previous work, provides a lossless and compressed representation of image data. Based on P-trees, an efficient association rule mining algorithm P-ARM with fast support calculation and significant pruning techniques are introduced to improve the efficiency of the rule mining process. P-ARM algorithm is implemented and compared with FP-growth and Apriori algorithms. Experimental results showed that our algorithm is superior for association rule mining on RSI spatial data.
Performance of a quality assurance program for assessing dental health in methamphetamine users.

Systematic characterization of the dental consequences of methamphetamine (MA) abuse presupposes a rigorous quality assurance (QA) program to ensure the credibility of the data collected and the scientific integrity and validity of the clinical study. In this report we describe and evaluate the performance of a quality assurance program implemented in a large cross-sectional study of the dental consequences of MA use. A large community sample of MA users was recruited over a 30 month period during 2011–13 and received comprehensive oral examinations and psychosocial assessments by site examiners based at two large community health centers in Los Angeles. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) protocols for oral health assessments were utilized to characterize dental disease. Using NHANES oral health quality assurance guidelines, examiner reliability statistics such as Cohen’s Kappa coefficients and inter-class correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the magnitude of agreement between the site examiners and a reference examiner to ensure conformance and comparability with NHANES practices. Approximately 9 % (n = 49) of the enrolled 574 MA users received a repeat dental caries and periodontal examination conducted by the reference examiner. There was high concordance between the reference examiner and the site examiners for identification of untreated dental disease (Kappa statistic values: 0.57–0.75, percent agreement 83–88 %). For identification of untreated caries on at least 5 surfaces of anterior teeth, the Kappas ranged from 0.77 to 0.87, and percent agreement from 94 to 97 %. The intra-class coefficients (ICCs) ranged from 0.87 to 89 for attachment loss across all periodontal sites assessed and the ICCs ranged from 0.79 to 0.81 for pocket depth. For overall gingival recession, the ICCs ranged from 0.88 to 0.91. When Kappa was calculated based on the CDC/AAP case definitions for severe periodontitis, inter-examiner reliability for site examiners was low (Kappa 0.27–0.67). Overall, the quality assurance program confirmed the procedural adherence of the quality of the data collected on the distribution of dental caries and periodontal disease in MA-users. Examiner concordance was higher for dental caries but lower for specific periodontal assessments.
SEU and SEL response of the Westinghouse 64K E/sup 2/PROM, Analog Devices AD7876 12-bit ADC, and the Intel 82527 serial communications controller

The Westinghouse SA3823 64K E/sup 2/PROM radiation-hardened SONOS non-volatile memory exhibited a single-event-upset (SEU) threshold in the read mode of 60 MeV-cm/sup 2//mg and 40 MeV-cm/sup 2//mg for data latch errors. The minimum threshold for address latch errors was 35 MeV-cm/sup 2//mg. Hard errors were observed with Kr at V/sub P/= 8.5 V and with Xe at programming voltages (V/sub P/) as low as 7.5 V. No hard errors were observed with Cu at any angle up to V/sub P/=11 V. The system specification of no hard errors for Ar ions or lighter was exceeded. No single-event latchup (SEL) was observed in these devices for the conditions examined. The Analog Devices AD7876 12-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) had an upset threshold of 2 MeV-cm/sup 2//mg for all values of input voltage (V/sub in/), while the worst-case saturation cross section of /spl sim/2/spl times/10/sup -3/ cm/sup 2/ as measured with V/sub in/=4.49 V. No latchup was observed. The Intel 82C527 serial communications controller exhibited a minimum threshold for upset of 2 MeV-cm/sup 2//mg and a saturation cross section of about 5/spl times/10/sup -4/ cm/sup 2/. For latchup the minimum threshold was measured at 17 MeV-cm/sup 2//mg, and cross section saturated at about 3/spl times/10/sup -4/ cm/sup 2/. Error rates for the expected applications are presented.
A new evaluation of chlorophyll absorption in photosynthetic membranes.

The three major chlorophyll-proteins of spinach chloroplasts were solubilized with digitonin and isolated by electrophoresis with deoxycholate. The gel bands were identified from their absorption and fluorescence spectra measured at 77 K. The slowest moving band was a Photosystem I complex (CPI); the second, a Photosystem II complex (Cpa); and the third, a chlorophyll a-b, antenna complex (LHCP). When absorption spectra (630–730 nm) of the bands were added in the proportions found in the gel, the sum closely matched the absorption of the chloroplasts both before and after solubilization. Thus these spectra represent the native absorption of the major antenna chlorophyll-proteins of green plants. Each of these spectra was resolved with a computer assisted, curve-fitting program into 8 mixed Gaussian-Lorentzian shaped components. The major, Chl a components in the 3 fractions were different both in peak positions and bandwidths. This result suggests that each chlorophyll-protein has its own unique set of chlorophyll a spectral forms or components.
beta-2 Adrenergic blockade evaluated with epinephrine after placebo, atenolol, and nadolol.

Vascular β2-adrenergic blocking effects of the water-soluble drugs atenolol (β1-selective) and nadolol (nonselective) were evaluated. Twenty-four healthy young men were studied in three dosing groups (eight subjects per group) before and after 1 wk on placebo, atenolol (50 mg twice a day), or nadolol (40 mg twice a day). Maximal treadmill exercise heart rates were reduced to a similar degree by atenolol (−48 ± 3 bpm) and nadolol (−48 ± 4 bpm) but were not affected by placebo. Trough blood levels were 226 ± 9 ng/ml for atenolol and 43 ± 9 ng/ml for nadolol. Calf blood flow was measured with a plethysmograph and calf vascular resistance was calculated from blood pressure and flow. β2-Adrenergic blockade was determined at rest with epinephrine infused intravenously in graded doses from 0.001 to 0.032 µg/kg/min. Mean arterial pressure and calf vascular resistance rose markedly after nadolol but not after atenolol or placebo. Marked bradycardia developed after nadolol, probably by baroreceptor stimulation. Thus at an equivalent, substantial degree of β1-adrenergic blockade, nadolol blocks vascular β2-adrenergic receptors and atenolol does not. Measurement of the peripheral vascular response to epinephrine infusion is an effective means of assessing the impact of β-adrenergic blockers on vascular β2-adrenergic receptors. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1985) 37, 2–6; doi:10.1038/clpt.1985.2
A Swept Ellipse Offsetting Approach for Three-Axis Sculptured Surface Tool Path Generation

This paper presents a new offsetting approach for tool path generation in three-axis sculptured surface machining. The approach generates tool paths with scallop, curvature, and force characteristics which make them suitable for high speed machining. An ellipse in the parametric space is used to approximate the intersection between the ball-end mill and the scallop surface for any cutter contact point on the surface. The envelope formed by these swept ellipses of varying dimension and orientation creates a constant scallop curve which is used to generate offset paths. The offset is developed incrementally, utilizing post-processing techniques to eliminate high-curvature regions in the trajectory. The offsetting approach can generate continuous spiraling trajectories which offer the benefit of minimal tool retractions. Results are shown for spiraling paths generated from both convex and non-convex boundaries.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Assessment of facial emotion encoding and decoding skills in children with and without oral clefts

Abstract Purpose: Investigated the facial emotion decoding and encoding skills and perceived social acceptance in children with and without oral clefts. Patients: 8–15 year-old children with surgically repaired facial clefts ( n =19) and non-cleft controls ( n =19). Methods: The children viewed photographs of facial emotions expressed by other children and identified the emotion in each photograph. They were videotaped while listening to a series of brief vignettes designed to evoke facial emotions and while posing prototypic facial expressions. They also completed a measure of their perceived social acceptance. Judges, blind to experimental group and targeted emotion, viewed systematically sampled video images, then recorded their subjective judgement of the emotion expressed in each. Trained coders also scored selected images using objective measures of the degree to which specific facial movements associated with emotion-specified expressions were present. Results: Analysis of variance procedures detected significantly different patterns of facial responses between the oral cleft and control groups, and within group. Pearson correlation analyses found significant relationships between specific facial movements and perceived social acceptance. Conclusion: Systematic assessment of facial expression in children with oral clefts can identify unique differences in their encoding of facial emotion and may lead to behavioural interventions to improve social functioning by training facial expression skills.
Methanol steam reforming in single-fiber packed bed Pd–Ag membrane reactor: Experiments and modeling

Abstract The steam reforming of methanol was carried out in both a packed bed reactor (PBR) and single-fiber packed bed Pd–Ag membrane reactor (PBMR) utilizing a 3.9 μm thick Pd–Ag membrane. A systematic comparison of the two reactor types was made for key performance metrics such as conversion, productivity, and hydrogen utilization at different pressures (3–5 bars) and temperatures (250–300 °C) on a commercial Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalyst. The reactor diameter and catalyst loadings of the PBMR were varied in order to determine the rate limiting process. A two-dimensional model was used to simulate the experiments and to identify the rate limiting process(es). A recently developed model of H 2 flux inhibition by competitive adsorption of the primary methanol reforming species (CO, CO 2 , CH 3 OH, H 2 O) was incorporated into the PRMR model [20] . Using the H 2 flux parameters and independently determined reforming kinetics from the PBR studies, very good agreement between the measured and predicted concentration and temperature dependence on space velocity was obtained. The simulations reveal that the rate limiting process is the permeation of H 2 through the membrane as a result of the competitive adsorption of CO in particular. The findings provide guidance on the design improvements needed to achieve higher productivity and hydrogen utilization.
The impact of new medical schools and the issues of increasing enrollment

Abstract Is there an impending physician surplus? The authors' position is that there is an impending surplus. Health planners must be cognizant of this eventuality. The federal government as one of the major authors of health policy guidelines is currently reacting to the surplus question. But federal reaction can at times be too swift, too dramatic, and not in the best interests of those who must maintain previous investments. Therefore, both the supporters of health-related educational institutions and those who are responsible for program implementation must attempt to define and reach a common understanding of the situation. Policy development and planning activities must be collaborative efforts that emphasize involvement . In this paper, the authors present a brief review of federal policies relative to the production of physicians and other health professionals. It is hoped that one can better understand the current situation and more effectively plan the future if past developments are included. This should lead to a comprehensive analysis from a common perspective. The involvement of the Carnegie Commission (Carnegie Council) is also included for the same reasons. All analyses lead to the current situation and the authors' position that there is an impending physician surplus. The central problem has shifted from physician supply to the problem of physician maldistribution, both geographically and by specialty.
Patterns of traumatic injury in New York City prisoners requiring hospital admission

Bellevue Hospital’s prison ward cares for male prisoners requiring medical attention that exceeds the capabilities of New York City Department of Correction (NYC-DOC) infirmaries. This study evalua...
The Symbolism of Christmas Mummering in Newfoundland

Etude d'une coutume courante jusqu'en 1950 dans l'Ile de Terre-Neuve: les pantomimes de Noel, au cours desquelles les habitants d'une communaute se rendaient visite de maison en maison, deguises. Analyse du symbolisme de ces mascarades et des types particuliers de deguisement et de comportement choisis par les participants (costume d'homme pour les femmes, et inversement, hobby horse, masques).
Automated service tool for moving instrumentation thimbles in PWRs during refueling outages

During the refueling outage period of PWR nuclear power plants, the in-core movable detector thimbles located inside fuel assemblies are withdrawn from the seal table, and inserted again as the refueling is finished. The thimble handling process has been commonly performed manually. However, the manual handling process can give many drawbacks including unsatisfactory labor efficiency due to the narrow and high radiation working environment around the seal table, and the possibility of giving serious damage to the delicate thimbles caused by uneven force exerted on the thimbles. In order to minimize radiation exposure to the workers and maintain the thimbles safely, an easy-to-use and robust thimble service tool has been developed. The performance of the tool was verified at the test facility and Kori #3 unit (Westinghouse design, 1000 MWe).
Circadian timing of single daily 'meal' affects survival of mice

It is shown that the survival of young mice after abrupt restriction to a single 4-hr span of daily food accessibility can depend on the temporal placement of this feeding span in relation to the lighting regimen. Housing conditions are an important codeterminant of this response.
Comment on "Filling three-dimensional space with tetrahedra: A geometric and crystallographic problem"

We discuss the filling of three-dimensional Euclidean space with tetrahedra having two possible kinds of vertex atoms and three kinds of edge lengths (interatomic distances) as described by K. Y. Szeto and J. Villain [Phys. Rev. B 36, 4715 (1987)]. We identify certain periodic structures corresponding to the authors' third solution with members of the family of tetrahedrally close-packed (tcp) alloy structures [including Frank-Kasper (FK) phases] and discuss factors limiting the generation of additional tcp alloy structure types with the procedure described.
X-ray spectra of accreting degenerate stars

X-ray emission from accreting nonmagnetic degenerate dwarfs is discussed. Emphasis is placed on the numerical calculations by Kylafis and Lamb (1979) with regard to the entire range of accretion rates and stellar masses. It is concluded that at moderate and high accretion rates the spectral temperature varies dramatically and the star exhibits a pronounced correlation between X-ray spectral temperature and luminosity. Also considered are the results of Lamb and Masters (1979) of calculations of high-harmonic cyclotron emission from a hot plasma, from which they developed a model of X-ray and UV emission from accreting magnetic degenerate dwarfs. It is found that the position and relative strength of the spectral components change with variations in the accretion rate and differ for different magnetic fields; in addition, magnetic degenerate dwarfs are predicted to be strong UV sources with only a few percent of the total accretion luminosity ordinarily appearing as soft and hard X-rays.
A new species of Valeriana (Valerianaceae) from Venezuela

A new woody species,Valeriana rosaliana, is described from the Paramo del Rosal, Venezuela. This constitutes the seventh woody member of the genus known from Venezuela.
Centralized Resource Allocation for Multimedia Traffic in IEEE 802.16 Mesh Networks

The IEEE 802.16 standard provides a high degree of flexibility for setting up and operating wireless broadband networks in metropolitan environments. The standard supports numerous capabilities, including mesh topologies and multimedia communications. In this paper, we study these two features by investigating how efficiently an IEEE 802.16 mesh network can treat distributed multimedia traffic by providing differentiated quality of service (QoS). A key component of the system is the ldquoenhanced frame registry tree schedulerrdquo (E-FRTS) that provides QoS-aware resource allocation using a tree structure to prepare the creation of time frames and reduce processing requirements at the beginning of each frame. Simulation results show that distributed multimedia traffic can be efficiently supported in mesh 802.16 networks, provided efficient scheduling and a reasonable number of hops.
Intrinsic PEEP and Unilateral Lung Hyperinflation: Pathophysiology and Clinical Significance

Over a 14-month period, three patients developed unilateral lung hyperinflation during mechanical ventilation as a manifestation of intrinsic PEEP. These patients all had a history of CAO and an inflammatory or fibrotic disease process involving the contralateral lung. Physicians caring for patients with CAO need to be familiar with this presentation of intrinsic PEEP due to the associated barotrauma and cardiac dysfunction which can result from it.
Pulse delay modulation (PDM) a new wideband data transmission method to implantable medical devices in presence of a power link

This paper introduces a new technique, called pulse delay modulation (PDM), for wideband data transmission across inductive links along with the power carrier. It consumes small power, provides robustness against strong power carrier interference, and does not affect the power transfer efficiency (PTE). In PDM, a pattern of narrow pulses are transmitted at precise time delays for each data bit through an inductive link to initiate a short oscillatory pattern across the receiver (Rx) data coil. This oscillation shifts the zero-crossings of the undesired sinusoidal power carrier interference on the Rx data coil, resulting in a phase shift between the Rx power and data signals, from which the data bit stream can be recovered. We describe the PDM theoretical foundation and demonstrate its operation via post-layout simulation of a PDM transceiver, designed in a 0.35-μm standard CMOS process, using a realistic inductive link model. The PDM transceiver is expected to achieve a data rate of 13.56 Mbps at 1 cm data coils separation with up to 2 mm misalignment while delivering >;250 mW through an orthogonal power transmission link to an implantable medical device.
A Coaxial TEM Cell for Direct Measurement of UHF Artificial Magnetic Conductors [AMTA Corner]

We have demonstrated a coaxial TEM (transverse electromagnetic wave) cell for direct measurement of artificial magnetic conductors (AMCs) in the VHF-UHF range. The advantages of the coaxial TEM cell are 1) it is a compact, bench-top device; and 2) it provides rapid, direct measurement of artificial-magnetic-conductor reflection response over a broad frequency range. We present measurements of various artificial-magnetic-conductor structures measured in the coaxial TEM cell, including 1) fixed-response, capacitor-loaded artificial magnetic conductors; 2) tunable varactor-loaded artificial magnetic conductors; and 3) wideband, tunable artificial magnetic conductors loaded with non-Foster, negative-inductance circuits. The measurements of the various artificial magnetic conductors were consistent with simulations. The coaxial TEM cell detailed here was 50 cm long with a 10.4 in diameter at the DUT, tapering to an N connector at the feed port. It was single-moded below 500 MHz. The design can be scaled to extend to other frequencies and other artificial-magnetic-conductor geometries.
Luteolysis, estrus and ovulation, and blood prostaglandin F after intramuscular administration of 15, 30 or 60 mg prostaglandin F2α

During diestrus in three consecutive estrous cycles, each of six heifers was given (im) 30 mg, 15 mg (twice at 6-hr intervals) and 60 mg prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) tham salt. Neither the decline in blood progesterone, the increase in blood estradiol, the duration or the peak of the LH surge, the interval to onset of estrus, nor the interval to ovulation was affected significantly by dose of PGF2alpha. Thus, relative to that after 30 mg PGF2alpha im, two injections of 15 mg at 6-hr intervals or 60 mg PGF2alpha did not hasten luteolysis. Thirty mg was an ample in dose of PGF2alpha to cause luteolysis. Regardless of im dose of PGF2alpha, blood PGF peaked at about 6.0 ng/ml within 10 minutes and returned to basal values (less than 1.0 ng/ml) within 90 minutes. In another trial, after a single iv injection of 5 mg PGF2alpha, blood PGF peaked (25 ng/ml) within 5 minutes and returned to basal values within 15 minutes. During a 30-minute infusion (0.5 mg/minute) of PGF2alpha, blood PGF plateaued at 29.5 ng/ml with a metabolic clearance rate of 17.0 liters per minute.
New approach for performing failure analysis of fuel cell-powered vehicles

Safety of hybrid-electric and fuel cell vehicles is a critical aspect of these new technologies, since any accident exposing occupants of such vehicles to unconventional hazards may result in significant setbacks to successful market penetration. Fuel cell and hybrid-electric drive systems are complex, and it is essential to perform a thorough analysis to determine critical failure conditions. There are several safety concerns for routine operation of such systems, particularly for hydrogen-fueled vehicles. A modified Failure Modes and Effect Analysis (FMEA) has been developed, along with a Criticality Analysis (CrA), to identify potentially hazardous conditions for crash and non-crash situations. A mathematical model of fuel cell operation has been developed and used here in conjunction with the FMEA. Component failures during the event modes are simulated using vehicle models developed with Matlab Simulink tools. Six simulation models were created using the software. In addition, a preliminary finite element model of a fuel cell vehicle, using a Ford Taurus (91′) model year sedan, has been developed and implemented. This finite element model is used as a demonstration of the crash simulation of the vehicle.
Rapid cardiac ultrasound of inpatients suffering PEA arrest performed by nonexpert sonographers.

Abstract Cardiac arrest presenting as pulseless electrical activity (PEA) currently has a very low survival rate. Many of the conditions underlying PEA (cardiac tamponade, hypovolemia, and pulmonary embolus) are associated with specific cardiac ultrasound findings. The aim of this study was to evaluate a rapid cardiac ultrasound assessment performed by trained nonexpert sonographers integrated into the ACLS response system at a major medical center. Methods: An emergency sonography system was created and deployed to each inpatient cardiac arrest occurring at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center between November 1, 2003 and April 30, 2004. Thirteen internal medicine house officers received training to perform a limited subcostal cardiac ultrasound examination designed to diagnose cardiac tamponade, pulmonary embolus, severe hypovolemia, and lack of cardiac motion. Time from arrest alert to sonographic result, and correlation with over-reading by blinded echocardiography physicians were assessed. Results: A complete emergency ultrasound examination was performed in five PEA arrests. The average time from arrest alert to interpretation was 7.75min. (95% CI 2.8–18.3min). Three of these examinations (60%, 95% CI 14.7–94.7%) were adequate for interpretation. Agreement between the nonexpert sonographer and echocardiography physician occurred in four of five (kappa=0.706) cases. Conclusion: Rapid cardiac sonography can be successfully integrated in the ACLS response. Nonexpert sonographers may be able to provide useful interpretive information when sufficiently trained.
Polycomblike‐2‐deficient mice exhibit normal left–right asymmetry

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are required for maintaining the repressed state of developmentally important genes such as homeotic genes. Polycomblike (Pcl), a member of PcG genes with two characteristic PHD finger motifs, was shown to strongly enhance the effects of PcG genes in Drosophila. Three Pcl genes exist in the mouse genome, with their function largely unknown. Our previous studies demonstrate that the chick Pcl2 is essential for the left-right asymmetry by silencing Shh expression in the right side of the node (Wang et al., [2004b] Development 131:4381-4391). To elucidate the in vivo role of mouse Pcl2, we generated Pcl2 mutant mice. Phenotypic analyses indicate the normal development of left-right asymmetry in the Pcl2 mutant mice. However, Pcl2 mutant mice exhibit posterior transformation of axial skeletons and other phenotypic defects, with a relatively low penetrance. These results demonstrate that Pcl2 is dispensable for the normal left-right axis development in mice.
Proton magnetic resonance studies on methyl and chloro substituted diboranes

Abstract Detailed proton NMR analyses were made on the diboranes, B2H6, CH3B2H5, 1,1-(CH3)2B2H4, 1,2-(CH3)2B2H4, 1,1,2-(CH3)3B2H3, 1,1,2,2-(CH3)4B2H2 and ClB2H5. The bridge hydrogen chemical shift moves −0.40 ppm per methyl group on the diborane molecule and −1.1 ppm with a chlorine substituent. From 11B-decoupled proton spectra long-range homonuclear proton coupling could be observed in the methyl substituted diboranes: J H T −H μ = 7.5—8.7 HZ, J CH μ −H μ = 2.4−3.5HZ, J CH 3 −HT( gem ) =5.0—5.3 HZ, Both the terminal proton (on methyl and chloro diboranes) and the methyl proton chemical shifts are moved significantly upfield with substitution on the far boron atom.
High bandwidth, low loss suspended silica splitters

Optical splitters are one of the fundamental and most necessary components in modern photonic devices. They are used for splitting, coupling and monitoring photonic systems. So far, most splitters were fabricated based on evanescent field coupling or Y-branch dividers for which high precision lithography alignment is needed. In this work, we have proposed a new type of splitter which works based on multimode bend loss and mode mismatch coupling. Since this device has a novel suspended multimode region, it could be functionalized to detect any type of molecule binding to the surface. We have developed a 3D FDTD model to simulate the device’s behavior. One of the most interesting features of this device is that they have a broadband response and the coupling ratio doesn’t change by wavelength and is constant. The main idea behind coupling mechanism in this splitter is the existence of a protrusion region in which the mode conversion occurs.
Mechanisms of tissue damage resulting from the use of oral water irrigation devices.

Abstract Oral water irrigation devices (WIDs) are widely used for oral physiotherapy in homes and dental clinics throughout the world. A major area of cocern in the use of WIDs has been the possibility of injury to the sulcular epithelium and underlying tissue. There are several documented clinical cases of tissue injury with the use of WIDs. The existing WIDs exert excessive pressures on the sulcular epithelium. Although it is known that the high jet impact pressures exerted by the WIDs cause the tissue damage, the underlying damage mechanisms are poorly understood. The damage to the sulcular epithelium and underlying tissue is mediated through several physiological and micromechanical processes and includes, among others, the following damage mechanisms: pressure-induced, diffusion-mediated, deposition of bacteria and toxins into the underlying tissue, damage to the collagen network integrity in the tissue, damage to the blood and lymphatic microcirculation, especially damage to the anchoring filaments attached to the terminal lymphatic wall, and direct mechanical damage due to abnormal shear forces induced by the jet. All these damage processes could lead to tissue necrosis.
Alterations in cell cholesterol content modulate Ca2+‐induced tight junction assembly by MDCK cells

Transepithelial electrical resistance (TER), a measure of tight junction (TJ) barrier function, develops more rapidly and reaches higher values after preincubation of MDCK cells for 24 h with 2 μM Lovastatin (lova), an inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase. While this effect was attributed to a 30% fall in cholesterol (CH), possible effects of lova on the supply of prenyl group precursors could not be excluded. In the current study, strategies were devised to examine effects on TER of agents that simultaneously lower CH and increase the flux of intermediates through the CH biosynthetic pathway. Zaragozic acid, 20 μM, an inhibitor of squalene synthase known to increase the synthesis of isoprenoids and levels of prenylated proteins, lowered cell CH by 30% after 24 h, while accelerating development of TER in the same manner as lova. TER was also enhanced, despite a 23% increase in the rate of [3H]acetate incorporation into CH, when total CH was reduced by 45% during a 2-h incubation with 2 mM methyl β-cyclodextrin (MBCD), an agent that stimulates CH efflux from cells. The fact that the rate of TER development was diminished when cell CH content was elevated by incubation with a complex of CH and MBCD is further evidence that this sterol modulates development of the epithelial barrier. Cell associated CH derived from the complex was similar to endogenous CH with respect to its accessibility to cholesterol oxidase. Lova's effect on TER was diminished when 5 μg/mL of CH was added to the medium during the last 11 h of incubation with lova.
Data sources for identifying low-income, uninsured populations: application to public health-National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program.

Objective To provide information on the sources of data for estimating low-income, uninsured populations. To recommend uses of these data sources. To demonstrate the application of these data sources in the public health field, using the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program as an example.
Medical ethics and clinical practice: a 2-way street, not a great divide.

Dickenson reports the results of a survey of physicians and nurses originally conducted in the United States under the auspices of the Decisions Near the End of Life program, of which I was co-principal investigator. This was supplemented by a second study, using some of the same or similar items, administered to a smaller group of hospital and hospice nurses in the United Kingdom.
Effectiveness and Safety of Patient Activation Interventions for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-regression

BACKGROUND Patient activation interventions (PAIs) engage patients in care by promoting increased knowledge, confidence, and/or skills for disease self-management. However, little is known about the impact of these interventions on a wide range of outcomes for adults with type 2 diabetes (DM2), or which of these interventions, if any, have the greatest impact on glycemic control.
Pulmonary hypertension in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: pathophysiology, perioperative management, and outcomes.

ULMONARY HYPERTENSION (PH) describes a vast array of disease states in which chronically elevated pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) ultimately result in right heart failure (RHF) and death. Cardiac surgical patients presenting with pre-existing PH are at a higher risk for postoperative complications. Accurate preoperative assessment and diligent anesthetic management are crucial for the best outcome. In this review, the authors describe the pathophysiology, preoperative assessment, and perioperative care including intravenous and inhaled therapies of PH in the patient undergoing cardiac surgery. Detailed discussions of the echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular (RV) function, perioperative risk factors, and outcomes of patients with PH also are included. CLASSIFICATION OF PH
TECH spyware raid: the PEA matrix

On May 1, 2005, the Phillips Exeter Academy Information Technology Services Department (ITS), in conjunction with Student TECHs (Technical Ethernet Crisis Helpers), held its first TECH spyware raid.The theme of the spyware raid was centered on a short film the TECHs wrote and produced, a parody of the popular Matrix trilogy called The PEA Matrix. In The PEA Matrix, student TECHs fight the evil agents of spyware.The screening of the film of was preceded by a media campaign building up to the actual spyware raid event. An attention-grabbing URL on the campus mail page instructed readers to "Follow the White Rabbit." The White Rabbit web page had information on how students could participate in the event.The day of the raid, students dropped off their computers. While they enjoyed refreshments and movies, TECHs and ITS staff members cleaned off adware and spyware and also updated anti-virus software, all in an effort to improve the performance of the PEA ResNet.The event was a great success! The school newspaper wrote an article about The PEA Matrix and gave the event a positive review. Great PR for ITS for a change! ITS plans on holding similar events next fall and spring terms.
Diversity, distribution and larval habitats of North Swedish blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae)

1. Blackfly species richness and community structure were analysed at fifty-six sites in northern Sweden in two seasons. The sites were situated in a wide range of streams and rivers from small springbrooks, bog streams and lake-outlet streams to medium-sized forest rivers and large rivers draining montane regions. 2. Thirty-nine blackfly species were found, with between two and thirteen species per site. Neither species richness nor abundance could be related to the environmental variables measured. 3. An analysis of labral fan size of blackflies indicated a clear trend for the prevalence of larvae with small fans in large rivers and larvae with larger fan size in small streams. Similarly, fan size related to current velocities so that large fans were associated with slow current velocities and small fans with high velocities. 4. A strong relationship existed between species composition and habitat, as seen in ordination by non-metric multidimensional scaling. The relationship found between fan size and habitat size-related variables, such as channel width, depth, velocity and substratum particle size, along with longitude and altitude, in partial least squares regression analysis offered an explanation of the species composition–habitat relationship. 5. In addition to testing that distributions of blackfly larvae reflect morphological traits, we tested two general hypotheses pertaining to distribution patterns: (a) that blackfly communities show bimodal distributions; and (b) that their distributions are nested. Neither of these two hypotheses was supported by our observations. However, widespread blackfly species were locally more abundant than those found at relatively few sites, thus showing a positive abundance–occupancy relationship.
Quantitative sampling of microbiota of the deep-sea benthos—I. Sampling techniques and some data from the abyssal central North Pacific

Abstract Quantitative samples of microbiota (those organisms from 2 to 50 μm long) of the abyssal benthos from the central North Pacific were obtained from a 100-cm 2 subcore of a 0.25-m 2 vegematic box core. The subcore was sampled with three 0.95-cm (i.d.) plastic core tubes (microcorers) and samples were fixed in buffered formaldehyde. Small subsamples of the sediment-formaldehyde solutions were spread on cover glasses, dried, stained, mounted on slides, and scanned with a compound microscope. Samples from a culture of the biflagellate Isochyrsis galbana were counted using this new technique and using a nannoplankton counting cell. The range of population estimates of the I. galbana culture generated from either technique showed little difference. The effect of age (110 days) of the fixed sample and of the addition of sediment was minimal. Due to a number of potential biases, counts generated by the scanning technique probably result in population underestimates. The microbiota of the abyssal central North Pacific consist of ciliates and other naked protozoa (flagellates and amoebae), testate cells, large procaryotes (?), yeast-like cells, and other unidentified cells. Estimates of the number of microbiota are from 16,500 to 26,900 cm −2 . The majority of these organisms are restricted to a surface layer of sediment of unknown thickness (probably not more than 5 mm).
Vascular Outcome in Men with Asymptomatic Retinal Cholesterol Emboli: A Cohort Study

Objective: To determine whether asymptomatic retinal cholesterol embolism is a risk factor for vascular events. Design: Cohort study with retrospectively selected controls. Setting: A Veterans Affa...
The deafness locus (dn) maps to mouse Chromosome 19

The deafness mouse has profound sensorineural hearing loss with degeneration of hair cells soon after birth. The mode of inheritance is recessive, and there are no associated phenotypic anomalies. Thus, this mouse provides a model for recessive, nonsyndromic, prelingual deafness. We have mapped the gene causing deafness in the mouse to Chromosome (Chr) 19 by analysis of 230 intersubspecific backcross progeny. No recombinants were found with the microsatellite marker D19Mit14. The loci for two guanine nucleotide-binding proteins are tightly linked to this marker, and they are being investigated as possible candidate genes. The identification of the defective gene in the mouse will help to explain the mechanism that causes hair cell degeneration and is likely to identify a homologous gene for deafness in humans.
Pulse Echo And Doppler Reconstructive Tomography

In tomography, a cross section of an object is imaged with as little interference as possible from structures not in the cross section. In reconstructive tomography, the image is computed from elementary measured data. Both X rays and nuclear emissions from injected radioactive isotopes are being successfully used in clinical applications at the present time. However, these modalities suffer the disadvantage of being invasive. Fortunately, other forms of energy can also be used in reconstructive tomography, including microwaves and ultrasound. As opposed to X rays, micro and acoustic waves can be reflected, and in this paper we explore methods to obtain images from such reflected waves. Our methods include pulse-echo reconstructive tomography and tomographic extensions of CW Doppler processing. The use of these forms of energy, as opposed to X rays, also permits the possibility of coherent signal generation and processing. In this paper, our emphasis is on Doppler processing. Analysis is presented as well as exprimental verification of the analysis. It is both theoretically and experimentally shown that high-quality reconstruction of object points can be obtained. Two equal points separated by a quarter wavelength may be resolved in the case of the coherent Doppler tomography.
The other Memex: The tangled career of Vannevar Bush's Information Machine, The Rapid Selector

Vannevar Bush had much less to do with modern information science and technology than has been thought. The histories of the two machines that were the closest Bush came to turning his famed Memex ideas into hardware, the Comparator and the Rapid Selector, dictate a reevaluation of Bush's direct influence. His 1930s attempts to build a device for America's codebreakers and to create a machine for the library of the future were less than successful. The story of the difficulties of the decades-long projects help to place Bush and Memex in an historical context. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Preoperative assessment and preparation for anaesthesia in children

Abstract Preoperative assessment clinics are more common now that increasing numbers of children are admitted on the day of surgery. Such clinics often use protocols and are ‘nurse-led', which may restrict their relevance to the anaesthetist. Routine screening before admission should reduce the rate of cancellation (by promptly identifying medical or social problems) and speed up the admission process. Children and their parents (or carers) can be provided with information about the admission procedures. Information about the anaesthetic can be gained from a range of sources (Figure 1), which can lead to confusion when conflicting opinions are presented.
Identifying the effects of different construction practices on the spectral characteristics of concrete

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of different construction practices on the spectral characteristics of the concrete. Concrete blocks of identical shape and size (20 × 20 × 6 cm 3 ) were prepared using different treatment processes to establish eight different concrete characteristics. The different concrete treatments were: T C (control), T NC (no cure), T CL (cool cure), T H (heat cure), T HW (high water content), T HC (half cement), T G (gravel), and T L (limestone). Spectral reflectance of all the concrete blocks was obtained in the laboratory from 350–2500 nm spectral range using a portable, hand-held spectroradiometer. The spectral reflectance of the different concrete treatments varied systematically with changes in the concrete characteristics that resulted from different construction practices. Detailed spectral analysis shows that the spectral absorption features around 450, 1380 and 1850 nm are highly correlated with changes in the characteristics of the concrete. The spectral ratios R 600 /R 450 , R 1380 /R 1440, R 1850 /R 1950 and R 2150 /R 880 can clearly differentiate the T NC - and T CL -treated concrete blocks from the other blocks with different concrete treatments. The spectral ratio R 600 /R 450 can differentiate the T C -, T G - and T L -treatments, which were considered to have better concrete quality from the rest of the concrete treatments. The spectral results clearly indicate the potential application of spectral reflectance in assessing concrete characteristics after the concrete has hardened.
Clinical and economic outcomes of expanded criteria donors in renal transplantation

Although graft and patient survival rates were similar between recipients of kidneys from ECDs and non-ECDs, transplantation with organs from ECDs was significantly more expensive. Multivariate analysis using stepwise linear regression demonstrated length of stay to be a strong proxy for total hospital costs. Inherent tensions between the overall good clinical outcomes associated with the use of ECDs in terms of graft survival and the markedly increased costs seen with these organs are evident.