cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
When Do We Know Enough to Recommend Action on the Social Determinants of Health

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America was charged to identify strategies beyond medical care to address health disparities in the U.S. related to social and economic disadvantage. Based on insights gained while providing scientific support for the commission's efforts, this paper presents an overview of major issues that arise when assessing evidence to inform policies and programs to address the social determinants of health. While many of the insights are not new, they have not been widely assimilated within medicine and public health. They have particular relevance now, given growing awareness of the important health influences of social factors. The discussion presented here is intended to highlight key considerations for researchers who study social determinants of health and policymakers whose decisions are shaped by research findings. Policies should be based on the best available knowledge, derived from diverse sources and methods. An array of tools and guidelines is now available to guide the assessment of evidence on the social determinants of health, building on--and going beyond--principles first articulated in the "Evidence-Based Medicine" movement. The central thesis of the current paper is that the standards for evidence to guide social policies must be equally rigorous but also more comprehensive than those traditionally used to inform clinical interventions, because social policies must deal with upstream factors that affect health through complex causal pathways over potentially long time periods.
The Cessation of Eclipses in SS Lacertae: The Mystery Solved*

The 14.4 day period eclipsing binary SS Lacertae in the open cluster NGC 7209 is unusual in that the eclipses stopped completely about the middle of this century, giving rise to considerable speculation as to the cause. Disruption of the binary through a collision with another member of the cluster and, more likely, gravitational perturbations from a third star in the system have been proposed to explain the phenomenon. We present here the results of our intensive radial velocity monitoring of the object, which show clearly that there is indeed a third star in the system in a slightly eccentric orbit with a period of about 679 days. We also reanalyze the historical light curves of SS Lac to determine the properties of the system early in the century. We discuss the implications of our findings in terms of changes in the inclination angle of the close pair. An analysis of available times of eclipse for SS Lac together with the new velocity information has also revealed apsidal motion in the system, = 00137 cycle-1, corresponding to an apsidal period of about 1000 yr. We argue that the third star is probably responsible for this effect also.
Black Power: A Case Study of the Relationship Between Rhetoric and Society

(2004). Black Power: A Case Study of the Relationship Between Rhetoric and Society. Advances in the History of Rhetoric: Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 221-228.
Rearrangement of tetrazole ethers willi iodide ions

O to N Alkyl migration in 1-aryl-5-alkoxytetrazoles was observed on healing the substrates in the presence of sodium iodide. Unlike in similar rearrangements, methyl transfer did not occur in the presence of methyl iodide alone. Solvent effects were also investigated.
Developments in Diesel-Electric Traction-Generator Excitation Control Systems

The introductory review covers the major inherent and external regulating excitation systems which have been developed for use on Diesel-electric locomotives. A recently developed amplidyne excitation system using saturable core reactors and selenium rectifiers to obtain definite generator field and armature current limits is described in detail. Used in conjunction with a speed sensitive power plant regulator it provides complete and flexible engine control over its entire operating range of speed and power. Maximum flexibility of motive power is provided by safe and complete remote control which permits operating several locomotive units in multiple.
Small changes in dietary sugar and physical activity as an approach to preventing excessive weight gain: the America on the Move family study.

OBJECTIVES. The intent of this study was to evaluate whether small changes in diet and physical activity, as promoted by the America on the Move initiative, could prevent excessive weight gain in overweight children. METHODS. In this family-intervention study, the America on the Move small-changes approach for weight-gain prevention was evaluated in families with at least 1 child (7–14 years old) who was overweight or at risk for overweight. These children were the primary target of the intervention, and parents were the secondary target. Families were randomly assigned to either the America on the Move group (n = 100) or the self-monitor–only group (n = 92). Families who were assigned to the America on the Move group were asked to make 2 small lifestyle changes: (1) to walk an additional 2000 steps per day above baseline as measured by pedometers and (2) to eliminate 420 kJ/day (100 kcal/day) from their typical diet by replacing dietary sugar with a noncaloric sweetener. Families who were assigned to the self-monitor group were asked to use pedometers to record physical activity but were not asked to change their diet or physical activity level. RESULTS. During a 6-month period, both groups of children showed significant decreases in BMI for age. However, the America on the Move group compared with the self-monitor group had a significantly higher percentage of target children who maintained or reduced their BMI for age and, consistently, a significantly lower percentage who increased their BMI for age. There was no significant weight gain during the 6-month intervention in parents of either group. CONCLUSIONS. The small-changes approach advocated by America on the Move could be useful for addressing childhood obesity by preventing excess weight gain in families.
Accelerating yield ramp through design and manufacturing collaboration

Ramping an integrated circuit from first silicon bring-up to production yield levels is a challenge for all semiconductor products on the path to profitable market entry. Two approaches to accelerating yield ramp are presented. The first is the use of laser mask writers for fast throughput, high yield, and cost effective pattern transfer. The second is the use of electrical test to find a defect and identify the physical region to probe in failure analysis that is most likely to uncover the root cause. This provides feedback to the design team on modifications to make to the design to avoid the yield issue in a future tape-out revision. Additionally, the process parameter responsible for the root cause of the defect is forward annotated through the design, mask and wafer coordinate systems so it can be monitored in-line on subsequent lots of the manufacturing run. This results in an improved recipe for the manufacturing equipment to potentially prevent the recurrence of the defect and raise yield levels on the following material. The test diagnostics approach is enabled by the seamless traceability of a feature across the design, photomask and wafer, made possible by a common data model for design, mask pattern generation and wafer fabrication.
A solution to magnetic-bubble sensor-signal noise

The problem of extracting a noise-free magnetic-bubble sensor signal from the inherently noisy environment encountered within a magnetic-bubble module is described. A solution to the noise problem is the use of preamplification within the bubble module. The difficulties of providing amplification within the module are resolved to yield a magnetic-bubble signal of excellent quality, suitable for detection.
Effect of Aprepitant on the Pharmacokinetics of Intravenous Midazolam

Oral aprepitant 125 mg, an antiemetic and a moderate inhibitor of the metabolism of oral midazolam, was assessed for interaction with intravenous midazolam in 12 subjects randomized to intravenous midazolam 2 mg +/- oral aprepitant 125 mg. The hypothesis was that midazolam AUC would not change by more than 2-fold (consistent with no more than weak inhibition) when midazolam + aprepitant was compared with midazolam alone. An AUC geometric mean ratio (midazolam + aprepitant/midazolam) with 90% confidence interval upper bound < or =2.0 (an increase in midazolam felt to be of modest clinical significance in the highly monitored perioperative period) was prespecified. Aprepitant increased intravenous midazolam AUC(0-infinity) 1.47-fold (90% confidence interval, 1.36-1.59), which fell within the prespecified criterion.
A Chiral Self-Catenated Dual-Ligand Coordination Polymer Constructed from Three Distinct Interwoven Helical Motifs Interconnected by One-Dimensional Chains

Hydrothermal synthesis has afforded [Co3(oba)3(bpmp)2]n [oba = oxybis(benzoate), bpmp = bis(4-pyridylmethyl)piperazine], a chiral coordination polymer possessing an aesthetic self-catenated three-d...
Pep7p provides a novel protein that functions in vesicle-mediated transport between the yeast Golgi and endosome.

Abstract Saccharomyces cerevisiae pep7 mutants are defective in transport of soluble vacuolar hydrolases to the lysosome-like vacuole. PEP7 is a nonessential gene that encodes a hydrophilic protein of 515 amino acids. A cysteine-rich tripartite motif in the N-terminal half of the polypeptide shows striking similarity to sequences found in many other eukaryotic proteins. Several of these proteins are thought to function in the vacuolar/lysosomal pathway. Mutations that change highly conserved cysteine residues in this motif lead to a loss of Pep7p function. Kinetic studies demonstrate that Pep7p function is required for the transport of the Golgi-precursors of the soluble hydrolases carboxypeptidase Y, proteinase A, and proteinase B to the endosome. Integral membrane hydrolase alkaline phosphatase is transported to the vacuole by a parallel intracellular pathway that does not require Pep7p function. pep7 mutants accumulate a 40-60-nm vesicle population, suggesting that Pep7p functions in a vesicle consumption step in vesicle-mediated transport of soluble hydrolases to the endosome. Whereas pep7 mutants demonstrate no defects in endocytic uptake at the plasma membrane, the mutants demonstrate defects in transport of receptor-mediated macromolecules through the endocytic pathway. Localization studies indicate that Pep7p is found both as a soluble cytoplasmic protein and associated with particulate fractions. We conclude that Pep7p functions as a novel regulator of vesicle docking and/or fusion at the endosome.
Imaging In Mice With Fluorescent Proteins: From Macro To Subcellular

Whole-body imaging with fluorescent proteins has been shown to be a powerfultechnology with many applications in small animals. Brighter, red-shifted proteins can makewhole-body imaging even more sensitive due to reduced absorption by tissues and less scatter.For example, a new protein called Katushka has been isolated that is the brightest known proteinwith emission at wavelengths longer than 620 nm. This new protein offers potential for non-invasive whole-body macro imaging such as of tumor growth. For subcellular imaging, toobserve cytoplasmic and nuclear dynamics in the living mouse, cancer cells were labeled in thenucleus with green fluorescent protein and with red fluorescent protein in the cytoplasm. Thenuclear and cytoplasmic behavior of cancer cells in real time in blood vessels was imaged as theytrafficked by various means or adhered to the vessel surface in the abdominal skin flap. Duringextravasation, real-time dual-color imaging showed that cytoplasmic processes of the cancer cellsexited the vessels first, with nuclei following along the cytoplasmic projections. Both cytoplasmand nuclei underwent deformation during extravasation. Cancer cells trafficking in lymphaticvessels was also imaged. To noninvasively image cancer cell/stromal cell interaction in the tumormicroenvironment as well as drug response at the cellular level in live animals in real time, wedeveloped a new imageable three-color animal model. The model consists of GFP-expressingmice transplanted with the dual-color cancer cells. With the dual-color cancer cells and a highlysensitive small animal imaging system, subcellular dynamics can now be observed in live mice inreal time. Fluorescent proteins thus enable both macro and micro imaging technology and thereby provide the basis for the new field of in vivo cell biology.
ON THE FRACTAL NATURE OF TRABECULAR STRUCTURE

Fractal analysis has recently been suggested [Med. Phys. 20, 1611-1619 (1993)] as a means to characterize the structure of cancellous bone by measuring the fractal dimension using a box counting algorithm. This work re-examines the possible fractal nature of such structures on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) images of cancellous bone by estimating the trabecular boundary length as a function of box size under various experimental conditions. On high-resolution images (pixel sizes on the order of 50 microns) and signal-to-noise ratios of 30, the trabecular boundary turns out to be a smooth surface relative to the achievable resolution and is thus nonfractal. The fractal dimension of the trabecular structure is undefined and can vary significantly as a function of image signal-to-noise ratio. The present work further indicates the "apparent" fractal dimension obtained by box counting to be a reflection of marrow pore size. In conclusion, the results indicate that, at the currently achievable resolution, the box counting algorithm is not suitable for fractal analysis on images of cancellous bone and that the fractal appearance of the trabecular network reported previously is artifactual.
Tessellating trimmed nurbs surfaces

Abstract An algorithm for obtaining a piecewise planar approximation of a trimmed nurbs surface is presented. Given a model space tolerance e. the algorithm triangulates the parameter space domain of the trimmed surface such that the 3D planar approximation, obtained by mapping 2D triangles onto the surface, deviates from the trimmed surface by no more than e. The number of triangles computed in parameter space depends on the bounds of the second derivatives. A detailed discussion of the algorithm and a practical error analysis of the tessellation are provided.
Regulation of Ci-SCFSlimb binding, Ci proteolysis and Hedgehog pathway activity by Ci phosphorylation

Summary Hedgehog (Hh) proteins signal by inhibiting the proteolytic processing of Ci/Gli family transcription factors and by increasing Ci/Gli-specific activity. When Hh is absent, phosphorylation of Ci/Gli triggers binding to SCF ubiquitin ligase complexes and consequent proteolysis. Here we show that multiple successively phosphorylated CK1 sites on Ci create an atypical extended binding site for the SCF substrate recognition component Slimb. GSK3 enhances binding primarily through a nearby region of Ci, which might contact an SCF component other than Slimb. Studies of Ci variants with altered CK1 and GSK3 sites suggest that the large number of phosphorylation sites that direct SCF Slimb binding confers a sensitive and graded proteolytic response to Hh, which collaborates with changes in Ci-specific activity to elicit a morphogenetic response. We also show that when Ci proteolysis is compromised, its specific activity is limited principally by Su(fu), and not by Cos2 cytoplasmic tethering or PKA phosphorylation.
Newer approaches to the problem of colorectal cancer.

In summary, the earlier diagnosis and new methods of therapeutic management that will be necessary to improve the present results of treating adenocarcinoma of the colorectum may be achieved by some of the approaches that have been reviewed. Clearly, earlier diagnosis will result in better rates of survival. This includes general tests such as those for carcinoembryonic antigen, extension of the field for endoscopic examination and biopsy, and the use of biochemical and immunologic maneuvers to detect prodromes of epithelium at greater risk. Also promising is combining resection more expeditiously with irradiation therapy, chemotherapy and immunotherapy alone or in combination. Finally, the newer metabolic approach to epidemiology suggests that etiology of this neoplasm rests primarily in the environment, and the identification of agents responsible is a rational goal.
Research to practice: a national consensus conference.

Purpose—To gain consensus on aspects of the process of gaining consent for organ donation that should be mainstream daily practice.Methods—A 3-day consensus conference of transplant professionals that provided a forum for research and innovative ideas about gaining consent for organ donation. Four work groups were assembled to address issues of gaining consent from organ and tissue donors: (1) demystifying first-person consent (donor authorization): is it a matter of law?, (2) recovery coordinators: getting from green to great, (3) maximizing the process: old views and new, and (4) donor family support: mother or smother?Results—Participants reached a consensus about major consent-related practices, identified areas of practice variance, and defined topics in need of further research.Conclusions—The conference participants agreed that (1) the primary role of the organ procurement organization is to recover organs for transplantation from deceased donors and to facilitate distribution of those organs to th...
Comorbidity and Karnofksy performance score are independent prognostic factors in stage III non-small-cell lung cancer: an institutional analysis of patients treated on four RTOG studies

Abstract Purpose: To determine the prognostic role of comorbidity in Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated definitively with radiotherapy alone. Methods and Materials: A total of 112 patients with clinical Stage III NSCLC (American Joint Commission on Cancer 1997) enrolled in four Radiation Therapy Oncology Group studies (83-11, 84-03, 84-07, and 88-08 nonchemotherapy arms) at a single institution were analyzed retrospectively for overall survival (OS) and comorbidity. Of the 112 patients, 105 (94%) completed their assigned radiotherapy. The median assigned dose was 50.4 Gy to the lymphatics (range 45–50.4 Gy) and 70.2 Gy to the primary tumor (range 60–79.2 Gy). Comorbidity was rated retrospectively using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics (CIRS-G) and Charlson scales. Karnofsky performance scores (KPSs) and weight loss were prospectively recorded. Because only 8 patients had a KPS of 70). Results: The median survival was 10.39 months (range 7.87–12.91). The 2-, 3-, and 5-year OS rate was 20.5%, 12.5%, and 7.1%, respectively. On univariate analysis, clinical stage (IIIA vs. IIIB) was found to be a statistically significant factor influencing OS ( p = 0.026), and the histologic features, grade, tumor size as measured on CT scans, age, tobacco use, weight loss ≥5%, and total dose delivered to the primary tumor were not. A KPS of ≤70 ( p = 0.001), the presence of a CIRS-G score of 4 (extremely severe; p = 0.0002), and a severity index of >2 ( p 2 were independently associated with inferior OS; clinical tumor stage was not found to be an independent prognostic factor. Conclusion: KPS and comorbidity are important independent prognostic factors in Stage III NSCLC. Comorbidity should be included in protocols studying advanced stage NSCLC and used for stratification.
Recent applications of high resolution secondary-ion-mass-spectrometry imaging microanalysis

Abstract The attainment of SIMS analytical images with lateral resolution better than 100 nm, now possible using ion probes extracted from liquid metal ion sources, poses unique challenges while affording new solutions to the problem of obtaining compositional quantitative information on sample microareas. Novel methods, largely based on computer-aided image analysis and microprobe control, have been devised to exploit this advance in SIMS capability. Recent applications that benefit from these instrumental developments include the study of precipitates in aluminumlithium alloys, of photoemulsion silver halide microcrystals, and of high temperature thin film superconductors.
Generalized Born Model with a Simple, Robust Molecular Volume Correction

Generalized Born (GB) models provide a computationally efficient means of representing the electrostatic effects of solvent and are widely used, especially in molecular dynamics (MD). A class of particularly fast GB models is based on integration over an interior volume approximated as a pairwise union of atom spheres-effectively, the interior is defined by a van der Waals rather than Lee-Richards molecular surface. The approximation is computationally efficient, but if uncorrected, allows for high dielectric (water) regions smaller than a water molecule between atoms, leading to decreased accuracy. Here, an earlier pairwise GB model is extended by a simple analytic correction term that largely alleviates the problem by correctly describing the solvent-excluded volume of each pair of atoms. The correction term introduces a free energy barrier to the separation of non-bonded atoms. This free energy barrier is seen in explicit solvent and Lee-Richards molecular surface implicit solvent calculations, but has been absent from earlier pairwise GB models. When used in MD, the correction term yields protein hydrogen bond length distributions and polypeptide conformational ensembles that are in better agreement with explicit solvent results than earlier pairwise models. The robustness and simplicity of the correction preserves the efficiency of the pairwise GB models while making them a better approximation to reality.
Dopaminergic control of circadian norepinephrine levels in patients with essential hypertension.

This study examines the influence of dopamine on recumbent circadian mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) levels and secretory patterns of norepinephrine (NE) in essential hypertension. Nine patients with sustained essential hypertension were studied after they had reached metabolic equilibrium of a constant 100-mmol sodium and 80-mmol potassium intake. MAP measurements and plasma NE determinations were made at 30-min intervals over 24 h during a control (no medication) and a bromocriptine (BEC) period (2.5 mg, three times a day for 5 days). In the control period, a clear circadian rhythm in blood pressure was evidenced in these hypertensive patients, with lowest MAP occurring during sleep. NE was secreted in an episodic manner, with most secretory peaks occurring between 0600-1800 h. Sleep was characterized by lower levels of NE than in waking hours and a paucity of secretory peaks. During the control period, recumbent 24-h MAP was strikingly correlated with plasma NE (γ = 0.67; P < 0.001).BEC treatment wa...
Disrupting Cultural Selves: Constructing Gay and Lesbian Identities in Rural Locales

Research points to the increasing geographical diversity of gays and lesbians, in contrast to cultural narratives that link gay and lesbian sexualities to urban spaces. Examining the sexual identity constructions of rural gays and lesbians thus provides an opportunity to analyze the connection between cultural and personal levels of narrative identity. Drawing on data from thirty interviews with rural gays and lesbians, I address how this group negotiates cultural narratives about queerness and constructs sexual identities in rural locales. I find that their interpretations of geography make clear distinctions between urban/rural and draw on elements in rural culture. These interpretations provide resources to modify cultural understandings that narrate gay/lesbian identities in rural areas as closeted, hidden, and oppressed.
StreaMorph: a case for synthesizing energy-efficient adaptive programs using high-level abstractions

This paper presents the concept of adaptive programs, whose computation and communication structures can morph to adapt to environmental and demand changes to save energy and computing resources. In this approach, programmers write one single program using a language at a higher level of abstraction. The compiler will exploit the properties of the abstractions to generate an adaptive program that is able to adjust computation and communication structures to environmental and demand changes. We develop a technique, called StreaMorph, that exploits the properties of stream programs' Synchronous Dataflow (SDF) programming model to enable runtime stream graph transformation. The StreaMorph technique can be used to optimize memory usage and to adjust core utilization leading to energy reduction by turning off idle cores or reducing operating frequencies. The main challenge for such a runtime transformation is to maintain consistent program states by copying states between different stream graph structures, because a stream program optimized for different numbers of cores often has different sets of filters and inter-filter channels. We propose an analysis that helps simplify program state copying processes by minimizing copying of states based on the properties of the SDF model. Finally, we implement the StreaMorph method in the StreamIt compiler. Our experiments on the Intel Xeon E5450 show that using StreaMorph to minimize the number of cores used from eight cores to one core, e.g. when streaming rates become lower, can reduce energy consumption by 76.33% on average. Using StreaMorph to spread workload from four cores to six or seven cores, e.g. when more cores become available, to reduce operating frequencies, can lead to 10% energy reduction. In addition, StreaMorph can lead to a buffer size reduction of 82.58% in comparison with a straightforward inter-core filter migration technique when switching from using eight cores to one core.
On-orbit Active Alignment Of The SOT Observatory

The Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) is a shuttle-borne telescope that will point deep ultraviolet science instruments at the sun with sub-arc second stability. The telescope will be actively aligned in orbit while viewing the sun. This paper describes the unique active compensation techniques used on SOT to satisfy the on-orbit resolution requirements.
Mullerian duct regression and antiproliferative bioactivities of mullerian inhibiting substance reside in its carboxy-terminal domain

A 25-kilodalton dimeric carboxy-terminal fragment of the recombinant human Mullerian inhibiting substance protein (rhMIS) was produced by proteolytic cleavage with plasmin and purified by size-exclusion chromatography. The identity of the isolated dimer as the carboxy-terminal fragment was confirmed by gel electrophoresis and Western analysis. As was true of every sample of the holo molecule, all preparations of the carboxy-terminal domain of rhMIS (n = 10), when added in the 0.5-5.0 micrograms/ml range, exhibited a dose-dependent partial to complete regression of the 14.5-day fetal rat Mullerian duct in an organ culture assay. The carboxy-terminal dimer also inhibited, in a dose-dependent manner, the growth of A431 cells in monolayer cultures. Daily addition of 5, 10, or 20 micrograms carboxy-terminus for 3 days resulted in 0%, 25%, and 100% inhibition of cell proliferation, respectively. Similar and higher doses of holo rhMIS had no or inconsistent antiproliferative activity (0-34% inhibition), even though the preparations caused Mullerian duct regression. All amino-terminal fragments prepared using this separation protocol were found to be inactive in these assays. These findings suggest that the bioactivity of rhMIS as a regressor of fetal Mullerian ducts and an inhibitor of A431 cell growth resides in its carboxy-terminal domain. These results indicate that the urogenital ridge tissue, but not A431 cells in culture, may be capable of cleaving intact MIS to a biologically active conformation.
Assessment of tidal volume over time in preterm infants using respiratory inductance plethysmography

Non-invasive techniques for monitoring ventilation in infants are widely used in short-term laboratory-studies but have not been evaluated in routine clinical settings. To determine whether respiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP) can provide reproducible measurements of tidal volume (VT) in premature infants over an extended period of time, we monitored respiration in eight healthy preterm infants over 4.9 +/- 1.0 hours (mean +/- SD). The algebraic sum (Sum) of rib cage (RC) and abdominal (AB) motion signals (obtained by RIP) was calculated and presented over the entire recording period as percent of an initial 5 minute calibration period. VT was simultaneously measured with a nasal mask pneumotachometer with infants in prone and supine positions during active and quiet sleep. Infants were studied in the morning (AM) and again in the afternoon (PM). Between these studies they were returned to the nursery wearing the RIP in a continuous record mode. For all patients there was a significant linear relationship between VT (in mL measured by pneumotachometer) and Sum (in % of calibration value, RIP). Neither the slope of the relationship (0.074 +/- 0.03 in AM vs. 0.071 +/- 0.02 in PM), nor its variability as measured by standard error of the estimate (SEE) (2.3 +/- 0.5 in AM vs. 2.5 +/- 0.8 in PM) changed significantly from AM to PM. The relationship between VT and Sum, as well as the variability of that relationship, was not altered by position, asynchrony of RC and AB, respiratory rate, or percent RC contribution to Sum. We conclude that RIP produces consistent measurements of respiratory effort over 5 hours in healthy preterm infants without need for recalibration and is not affected by routine care.
Rigorous construction and Borel summability for a planar four-dimensional field theory

Abstract We use the methods of de Calan and the author to show that the planar part of the renormalized perturbation theory for ϕ 4 4 -euclidean field theory is Borel-summable on the asymptotically free side of the theory. Our construction is essentially equivalent to a solution of the ultraviolet problem for planar QCD.
COMMENTARY ON REVIEWS OF "OUTCOME" STUDIES OF FAMILY AND MARITAL PSYCHOTHERAPY

Reviews of the outcome literature in family and marital therapy are critically evaluated. The literature is equivocal in regard to the effectiveness of family therapy, particularly in comparison to alternative forms of treatment, so that statements to the effect that “family therapy has demonstrated its general efficacy” would not appear to be justified. Problems are identified which require solution before the efficacy of family therapy can be demonstrated.
Toxic metabolic encephalopathy after parathyroidectomy with methylene blue localization.

Objective To determine the correlation between methylene blue use and toxic metabolic encephalopathy in patients undergoing surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism. Study design and setting A retrospective study of 193 patients was performed to collect demographic, perioperative, and postoperative data. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (postoperative neurological sequelae) and Group B (no neurological sequelae). All data points were compared between the groups. Results Twelve of 193 patients were placed in Group A; 181 patients were placed in Group B. Ten patients in Group A were female, and 10 patients were older than 60 years. Of the patients in Group A, 100% were taking a serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI). In Group B, 8.8% of patients were taking an SRI. Conclusion All the patients who experienced transient neurological events were taking an SRI. A correlation can be made between methylene blue infusion and SRI usage. Significance Patients taking SRIs may represent a high-risk group for postoperative neurological events when methylene blue is utilized.
Piezoelectric Artificial Kelp for Energy Harvesting

This study focuses on a hydrokinetic energy harvesting system concept using piezoelectric materials. The Piezoelectric Active Kelp (PAK) system will consist of chemically inert piezoelectric polymers or piezoelectric ceramics manufactured into long flexible ribbons. The PAK system will convert the natural mechanical motions seen in kelp forests due to oceanic wave action, into electricity. As the periodic ocean currents, resulting from waves, pass over the PAK system, they cause the structure to oscillate back and forth. The piezoelectric materials will convert this mechanical motion directly into electrical power via the inverse piezoelectric effect. Large numbers of piezo-kelp ribbons would be mounted like forests on the ocean floor, producing a constant stream of smart grid power. PAK forest systems would also provide an artificial marine habitat while meeting the world’s demand for inexpensive and sustainable energy. Contrary to most forms of hydrokinetic energy harvesting system, the PAK system has no fast-moving parts or turbines and will be made of environmentally inert materials. The amount of power harvested by the PAK system depends upon the flow conditions, device configuration and size, and its piezoelectric material properties. Assuming specific flow conditions and fluid-structure interaction, this study will determine the optimal piezoelectric material to use, along with physical dimensions and layup configuration, to maximize the volumetric power density of the PAK system. The power generated by three common piezoelectric energy harvesting configurations: the unimorph, a homogeneous bimorph and a heterogeneous bimorph, will be compared for both a piezopolymer and a piezoceramic. Additionally, an appropriate figure-of-merit is also identified, based on the piezoelectric coefficient product (d31 · g31 ) to compare the power production capabilities across materials.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Using Health Insurance Claims Data to Analyze Substance Abuse Charges and Utilization

It is crucial to evaluate whether health insurance data sets will provide robust answers to significant research questions in advance of undertaking large research studies using these data. In this article, we present the research challenges of using insurance claims data sets to study substance abuse. Using illustrations from the itemized claims from three large employers, we focus on using administrative data to analyze costs to employers, utilization of services to treat abuse of specific drugs, and the effects of managed care strategies. We conclude that insurance claims data sets are useful for reporting employers' payments for treatment of identified substance abusers and for tracking changes over time but are not useful for studies of the use of treatment for specific drugs.
Unimodular matrices of flow problems with additional constraints

A graph-theoretic characterization of unimodular matrices arising from flow problems with additional constraints is developed. The resulting necessary and sufficient conditions are utilized to determine the class of unimodular matrices of multicommodity transportation problems.
Tuning the heterogeneous early folding dynamics of phosphoglycerate kinase.

Abstract We recently reported stretched kinetics during the formation of a collapsed, long-lived intermediate state of the large two-domain enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK). It was postulated that intrinsic roughness of the energy landscape on the way downhill to the intermediate causes the lack of a single time-scale. Here, we investigate several alternative explanations for stretched refolding dynamics in more detail: tyrosine fluorescence, multiple tryptophan probes, and rate differences between independently folding domains. To this end, we systematically simplify PGK in several steps from the full protein with two tryptophan residues and all tyrosine residues probed, to a single domain with only one tryptophan residue and no tyrosine residue probed. The kinetics in the 10 μs to 10 ms range are revealed by laser-induced temperature-jump relaxation experiments. The isolated N-terminal domain forms an intermediate by nearly single-exponential kinetics, but the isolated C-terminal domain shows strongly non-exponential kinetics. Thus, domain interaction and a cis-proline residue between the two domains are ruled out as the sole contributors to heterogeneity during the earliest folding dynamics of the C-terminal domain. We apply two limiting models for the roughness of the energy landscape. A sequential three-state model lumps all the roughness into a single trap. The “strange kinetics” model with logarithmic oscillations developed by Klafter and co-workers distributes the roughness over a larger number of states. Both models explain our data about equally well, but the coincidental values of rate constants in all of our double-exponential fits, and the absence of a spectroscopic signature distinct from the endpoints of the folding process favors more roughness than can be explained by just a single trap.
Segmental testicular infarction: report of seven new cases and literature review

Segmental testicular infarction is a relatively rare acute or subacute condition which is infrequently thought of in the differential diagnosis for testicular pain. However, missing or misdiagnosing this entity on clinical evaluation and/or imaging has significant implications for patients as they may undergo unnecessary surgery for suspected testicular torsion or tumor. Knowledge and recognition of the features of segmental testicular infarction on ultrasound and MRI will aid in the diagnosis of this disease early in the patient’s course. The common imaging features of segmental testicular infarction and the clinical literature are reviewed, with an emphasis on ultrasound, utilizing seven recent cases from three institutions.
Placebo response rates in psychotic and nonpsychotic depression

The authors reanalyzed data from two earlier studies that used double-blind placebo-controlled formats to study the efficacy of amitriptyline. Using a 14-day drug-free ‘wash-out’ period, they found that the placebo response rates were 0% for psychotic depressives and 13.3% for nonpsychotic depressives. Amitriptyline was significantly superior to placebo for both psychotic (P ⩽ 0.05) and nonpsychotic (P ⩽ 0.05) depressed patients.
Microwave power for smart material actuators

The concept of microwave-driven smart material actuators was envisioned and developed as the best option to alleviate the complexity and weight associated with a hard-wire-networked power and control system for smart actuator arrays. The patch rectenna array was initially designed for high current output, but has undergone further development for high voltage output devices used in shape control applications. Test results show that more than 200 V of output were obtained from a 6 × 6 array at a far-field exposure (1.8 m away) with an X-band input power of 18 W. The 6 × 6 array patch rectenna was designed to theoretically generate voltages up to 540 V, but practically it has generated voltages in the range between 200 and 300 V. Testing was also performed with a thin layer composite unimorph ferroelectric driver and sensor and electro-active paper as smart actuators attached to the 6 × 6 array. Flexible dipole rectenna arrays built on thin-film-based flexible membranes are most applicable for NASA's various missions, such as microwave-driven shape controls for aircraft morphing and large, ultra-lightweight space structures. An array of dipole rectennas was designed for high voltage output by densely populating Schottky barrier diodes to drive piezoelectric or electrostrictive actuators. The dipole rectenna array will eventually be integrated with a power allocation and distribution logic circuit and microbatteries for storage of excessive power. The roadmap for the development of wireless power drivers based on the rectenna array for shape control requires the development of new membrane materials with proper dielectric constants that are suitable for dipole rectenna arrays.
Frequency upconversion by phase-matched sum-frequency generation in an optical parametric oscillator

We report the generation of 0.589-,microm radiation from mixing the pump at 1.064 ,microm and the signal at 1.319 microm of a singly resonant, synchronously pumped AgGaS(2) optical parametric oscillator. A KTP crystal is used for the sum-frequency generation (SFG). Both extracavity and intracavity SFG is demonstrated, with overall conversion efficiencies of 3.5% and 10.5%, respectively. Near-transform-limited pulses of less than 50 ps are generated from 100-ps pulses. With a limited available peak pump power, both spatial orderings of the KTP and the AgGaS(2) crystals for intracavity SFG produce similar conversion efficiency and outputs of similar pulse duration, spectral width, and stability.
Minimization of the residual vibrations of ultra-precision manufacturing machines via optimal placement of vibration isolators

Abstract Ultra-precision manufacturing (UPM) machines are used to fabricate and measure complex parts having micrometer-level features and nanometer-level tolerances/surface finishes. Consequently, low-frequency residual vibrations that occur during the motion of the machines’ axes must be mitigated. A long-standing rule of thumb in vibration isolation system design is to locate the isolators in such a way that all vibration modes are decoupled. This paper uses the 2D dynamics of a passively isolated system to show that coupling the vibration modes of the isolated system by altering the location of the isolators provides conditions which allow for the drastic reduction of residual vibrations. An objective function which minimizes residual vibration energy is defined. Perturbation analyses of the objective function reveal that the recommended practice of decoupling the vibration modes more often than not leads to sub-optimal results in terms of residual vibration reduction. The analyses also provide guidelines for correctly locating the isolators so as to reduce residual vibrations. Simulations and experiments conducted on a passively isolated ultra-precision machine tool are used to validate the findings of the paper; a 5-fold reduction of the dominant residual vibrations of the machine tool is achieved without sacrificing vibration isolation quality (i.e., transmissibility).
The role of thiamine nervous tissue: The mechanism of action of pyrithiamine

Abstract Correlative biochemical experiments were undertaken in order to explain the electrophysiological effect of pyrithiamine, an antimetabolite of thiamine, on the rabbit vagus nerve. It was shown that pyrithiamine had no effect on the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase, α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, or transketolase, the three enzyme systems that require thiamine pyrophosphate as a coenzyme. The action of the antimetabolite however was found to correlate with its ability to displace thiamine from the nerve. This activity is discussed in relation to the possible function of thiamine in nerve conduction.
The Effect Of Java On Network Benefits In Computer Software Markets

In markets that exhibit network effects it is often believed that society gets inefficiently locked into an inferior technology. This paper utilizes data generated by a natural experiment, afforded by the introduction of the programming language Java, to test whether computer software markets are prone to inefficient lock-in. Findings from a hedonic price regression indicate that Java effectively increased the level of competition in the software applications market and lowered prices of applications software. The regression results are not consistent with the hypothesis of inefficient lock-in.
Microbial Metagenome Profiling Using Amplicon Length Heterogeneity‐Polymerase Chain Reaction Proves More Effective Than Elemental Analysis in Discriminating Soil Specimens*

The combination of soil's ubiquity and its intrinsic abiotic and biotic information can contribute greatly to the forensic field. Although there are physical and chemical characterization methods of soil comparison for forensic purposes, these require a level of expertise not always encountered in crime laboratories. We hypothesized that soil microbial community profiling could be used to discriminate between soil types by providing biological fingerprints that confer uniqueness. Three of the six Miami-Dade soil types were randomly selected and sampled. We compared the microbial metagenome profiles generated using amplicon length heterogeneity-polymerase chain reaction analysis of the 16S rRNA genes with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy analysis of 13 elements (Al, B, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, S, Si, and Zn) that are commonly encountered in soils. Bray-Curtis similarity index and analysis of similarity were performed on all data to establish differences within sites, among sites, and across two seasons. These data matrices were used to group samples that shared similar community patterns using nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis. We concluded that while chemical characterization could provide some differentiation between soils, microbial metagenome profiling was better able to discriminate between the soil types and had a high degree of reproducibility, therefore proving to be a potential tool for forensic soil comparisons.
Social and behavioral characteristics of HIV-positive MSM who trade sex for methamphetamine

Background: Previous research among drug-using men who have sex with men (MSM) indicates that trading sex for methamphetamine may be common. Objectives: This study identified background characteristics, substance use variables, contextual factors, and sexual risk behaviors associated with trading sex for methamphetamine in a sample of HIV-positive MSM. Baseline data were gathered from 155 participants who were enrolled in a sexual risk-reduction intervention. Logistic regression was used to compare MSM who traded sex for methamphetamine with men who did not. Results: Forty-three percent of the sample reported trading sex for methamphetamine in the past 2 months. Trading sex for methamphetamine was associated with being a binge user, homelessness, having an income of less than $20,000 per year, being less assertive at turning down drugs, engaging in more anal sex without a condom, and seeking out risky sex partners when high on methamphetamine. Conclusion: These data suggest that the trading of sex for met...
Reliability analysis of wind-sensitive structures

Abstract The theoretical background of practical structural reliability methods encompassing numerical integration, approximate methods and simulation techniques is reviewed in the context of wind-excited structures. Their relative merits, shortcomings and limitations are addressed from the standpoint of their accuracy and computational efficiency. Quantitative reliability estimates of a concrete chimney are made, using different analysis procedures. Multiple potential failure modes are represented by the exceeding of the ultimate moment capacity at any level of the chimney height. The general bounds on the system failure probability are expressed in terms of the failure probability of the individual modes. The narrower bounds are established based on the existing theory by taking into account not only the failure probability of the individual modes, but also the joint failure probabilities in any two modes. Based on the findings of this study, it is suggested that the advanced first-order second-moment approximation and the simulation methods, which combine the Monte Carlo technique with variance reduction techniques, may provide accurate results for practical reliability analysis of wind-excited structures.
Digital Geography: Geospatial Technologies in the Social Studies Classroom

Digital Geography, like the computer technology it assesses, boots up slowly before becoming a powerful resource. The opening chapter, Marsha Alibrandi and Thomas Baker's “social history” of GIS (g...