cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of a Novel Mouthwash on Dental Remineralization.

Objective: The goal of this study was to evaluate the in vivo effects of a novel mouthwash on enamel remineralization. Materials and Methods: Ten healthy volunteers wore removable intra-oral appliances for three study arms with duration of 5 days each. In 1 study arm, subjects used Oral Essentials Sensitivity FormulaR mouthwash; in another arm they used SensodyneR mouthwash, and in the third arm they used no mouthwash at all. Sequence of mouthwash use was randomized, and study participants and researchers were blinded throughout the study. Subjects used Crest Total CareR toothpaste throughout the study. During a one week washout period before study begin and between each study arm, subjects also used Crest Total CareR toothpaste. A total of 300 enamel samples were included in this study, 150 of served as baseline controls, and 150 as test samples subjected to demineralization prior to intra-oral wear. At the end of each study arm, enamel chips were removed from the appliance and underwent standard Microhardness (Knoop) measurements, as did the control samples. Enamel microhardness in the test vs the 2 control groups was compared using the Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance with post-hoc Tukey’s test to test for differences in remineralization between the 3 treatments. Results: Both mouthwashes demonstrated similar levels of recovery from demineralization as the “no mouthwash” arm of the study, with no significant differences for all groupings and comparisons (p>0.05). Conclusion: A novel mouthwash for sensitive teeth supports enamel recovery from demineralization.
Non-invasive methods to maintain cervical spine position after pediatric tracheal resections

Abstract Objectives To present our experience with two methods of neck stabilization after pediatric tracheal resection with primary anastomosis as possible alternatives to the traditional chest-chin suture. Methods Children undergoing tracheal resection and/or cricotracheal resection with anastomosis under tension were placed in cervical spine flexion postoperatively with either a chest-chin (Grillo) suture, an Aspen cervical collar or Trulife Johnson cervical-thoracic orthosis (CTO). A retrospective chart review of tracheal resections performed between 2005 and 2016 was completed to evaluate the positive and negative factors associated with each neck flexion technique. Results Of the 20 patients, there were 13 patients with the Grillo suture, 4 with the Aspen collar and 3 patients with the Johnson CTO. There were 13 tracheal resection procedures and 7 cricotracheal resections, all of which had anastomosis under tension. One major anastomosis dehiscence was noted with the Grillo suture technique which required reoperation. Two patients with the Grillo suture experienced skin breakdown at the suture site. The Aspen cervical collar, which fixed the cervical spine and prevented lateral and rotational motion, was limited in several cases in that it placed the spine in slight hyperextension. The Johnson CTO provided the most support in a flexed position and prevented cervical spine motion in all directions. No anastomosis complications were noted with the Aspen collar or the Johnson CTO, however, several patients sustained minor cutaneous wounds. Conclusion In this series the Aspen cervical collar and Johnson CTO were used successfully as non-Grillo alternatives to postoperative neck stabilization in pediatric tracheal resections. Modifications to both devices are proposed to minimize cutaneous injuries and increase immobilization of the cervical spine in the desired flexed position. Although these devices appear to be safe and may be better tolerated, further innovation is needed to improve the design and fit of these devices.
When and How Can Real World Data Analyses Substitute for Randomized Controlled Trials

Regulators consider randomized controlled trials (RCTs) as the gold standard for evaluating the safety and effectiveness of medications, but their costs, duration, and limited generalizability have caused some to look for alternatives. Real world evidence based on data collected outside of RCTs, such as registries and longitudinal healthcare databases, can sometimes substitute for RCTs, but concerns about validity have limited their impact. Greater reliance on such real world data (RWD) in regulatory decision making requires understanding why some studies fail while others succeed in producing results similar to RCTs. Key questions when considering whether RWD analyses can substitute for RCTs for regulatory decision making are WHEN one can study drug effects without randomization and HOW to implement a valid RWD analysis if one has decided to pursue that option. The WHEN is primarily driven by externalities not controlled by investigators, whereas the HOW is focused on avoiding known mistakes in RWD analyses.
Assessing the Savings from Open Educational Resources on Student Academic Goals

Our study found that most students considered OER to be as good or better in terms of quality and engagement as traditional texts, while also allowing them to put saved funds toward their educational pursuits. As rising costs in higher education affect current and potential students, faculty and students are looking for ways to cut costs where possible. Open educational resources (OER) are a viable option to replace expensive traditional textbooks without sacrificing quality. This article presents the results of a study conducted with students at a Virginia community college who took courses that used OER. At the end of the semester, students were asked to rate their perceptions of the OER quality and their level of engagement with OER as compared to traditional textbooks. Results indicate that a majority of students found the OER to be as good as or better than traditional textbooks in both quality and engagement. While similar studies have been conducted, this study also asked students to briefly describe how they used the money saved by not having to purchase a textbook. Many students indicated they used the money to reinvest in their education by paying tuition, purchasing materials for other courses, or taking additional courses; day-to-day expenses and savings were the next most common responses. Further research needs to be conducted to understand the effect these savings and reinvestment have on students’ completion of academic goals.
Intersectionality, Race-Gender Subordination, and Education:

In this chapter, we unpack intersectionality as an analytical framework. First, we cite Black Lives Matter as an impetus for discussing intersectionality’s current traction. Second, we review the g...
“Just Right”: Transitioning to College with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

OCD symptoms often begin in childhood and the prodrome of OCD is typically characterized by nonspecific anxiety symptoms. As a result, OCD in youth can be mistaken for separation anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, phobias, depression, psychosis, Tourette disorder, and even disruptive behavior disorders. While preoccupations and distress are common to all anxiety-based disorders, OCD is unique with core symptoms of obsessions (recurrent and distressing thoughts, images, or urges that are intrusive, unwanted and often lead to avoidance and/or compulsions) and compulsions (repetitive time-consuming behaviors or mental acts performed according to particular rules that serve to decrease distress from obsessions). This chapter describes a young woman with OCD who was initially misdiagnosed and entered college without a therapeutic support system. OCD symptoms centered around harm-based obsessions and so-called “just right” OCD symptoms. The discussion focuses on the importance of an accurate OCD diagnosis, effective treatments for OCD, and the need for a collaborative team approach to deliver optimal treatment.
Seismic Safety of Rockfill Dams

A probabilistic version of the Simplified Bishop Method is developed and used to calculate seismic fragility curves of dams that fail due to excessive permanent deformation. Many sources of uncertainty are considered: the dynamic amplification of peak acceleration, the strength parameters on the slip surface, the elevation of the phreatic line and the distribution of pore pressure, the permanent deformation of each wedge at the end of the motion, and various errors from simplifying mechanical assumptions.
OBSTRUCTIVE DISTRIBUTIONS IN A SEQUENTIAL RANK-ORDER TEST BASED ON LEHMANN ALTERNATIVES

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses obstructive distributions in a sequential rank-order test based on Lehmann alternatives. Savage and Sethuraman considered the stopping time N of a sequential probability ratio test based on ranks for the following problem as per which if X and Y are real valued and independent random variables, possessing distribution functions F and G, respectively, the problem is to test sequentially the hypothesis G = F against the alternative G = F A for some given A ≠ 1. To this end, independent observations (X 1 , Y 1 ), (X 2 , Y 2 ) … on (X, Y) are taken and all information in the sample is discarded at each sampling stage except the ranks of the Ys among the Xs and Ys. This reduces the composite hypotheses to simple ones. The property of exponential boundedness of N is a desirable one. In the contrary case, when N is not exponentially bounded under P, P is obstructive. Complete or partial results on exponential boundedness of N and obstructive distributions have been obtained in several other testing situations.
Physiology and Anesthesia for Obstetrics

Learn the physiologic changes associated with pregnancy. Know the various methods of pain control available during labor. Understand the anesthetic management of the obstetric patient.
Non-traditional tools for lca and sustainability

LCA practice focuses on impacts resulting from the release of chemicals into the environment, but consideration of ‘non-chemical impacts’ is as important for LCA, particularly as it relates to sustainability. Methodologies and philosophies exist for addressing non-chemical impacts, particularly in the area of resource depletion and land use, but the problem of comparing or integrating chemical and non-chemical impacts remains. A new approach for identifying and integrating impacts involves the use of an object-oriented modeling and simulation platform, such as Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory’s Dynamic Information Architecture System (DIAS). LCA and impact categories can be described as ‘objects’ (at any level of detail or specificity) and any combination of objects and behaviors can be brought into a DIAS analysis frame. Related models that address objects’ behavior characteristics are linked only to their respective objects, not to each other. Thus, maximum flexibility and speed is possible. The process of dividing LCA and impact assessment into a hierarchy of objects provides new insights into the complex mixture of dynamic things, activities, and relationships inherent in LCA and sustainability. Ultimately, embracing the complexity of LCA may be the way to simplify it.
Complete white out of a single transplanted lung in the immediate postoperative period.

Abstract Vascular complications are rare but serious events following lung transplantation. Of the potential adverse events post lung transplant, pulmonary vein thrombosis is rare but often fatal. Our case describes a 54 year-old male who underwent single left lung transplantation and suddenly became hemodynamically unstable shortly after the procedure. The diagnosis of acute pulmonary vein thrombosis was made with the use of trans-esophageal echocardiography identifying complete occlusion of the left upper pulmonary vein which led to successful surgical thrombectomy and revision of the anastomosis.
Teaching self-care: The utilization of self-care in social work practicum to prevent compassion fatigue, burnout, and vicarious trauma

Field practicum is paramount to social work pedagogy in the preparation of emerging direct practice professionals. Field students integrate foundational knowledge as they implement practice skills ...
Ultraviolet light-related DNA damage mutation signature distinguishes cutaneous from mucosal or other origin for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary site.

BACKGROUND Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary site (HNSCCUP) is a diagnostic challenge. Identification of an ultraviolet (UV) light-related DNA damage signature using next-generation sequencing (NGS) can classify the primary site of origin as cutaneous. METHODS A 62-year-old male was seen with 2 months of left neck swelling. He was a lifetime nonsmoker but had a history of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the left helix. He was also found to have left hilar adenopathy. He had a p16-negative HNSCCUP on fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy of the left neck. RESULTS NGS of the FNA specimen revealed a high number of somatic mutations that were mostly C to T transitions, indicating a UV mutation signature and confirming the diagnosis of cutaneous SCC. CONCLUSIONS Identification of a UV DNA damage signature with NGS distinguishes HNSCCUP of cutaneous vs mucosal or other squamous cell carcinoma origin.
Review: The Trouble with Diversity: How We Learned to Love Identity and Ignore Inequality by Walter Benn Michaels

Review: The Trouble With Diversity: How We Learned to Love Identity and Ignore Inequality by W. B. Michaels. New York: Metropolitan Books, 2006. 268 pp. ISBN 978-0-8050-7841-1 In the Bakke decision (1978), Justice Blackmun famously wrote, “In order to get beyond racism, we must first take account of race. There is no other way.” This idea is being turned on its head by the Conservative Right, who frequently argue that in order to get beyond racism, we must ignore race (see for example, Steele, 1990; D’Souza, 1991, 1995; Sniderman & Carmines, 1997; Thernstrom & Thernstom, 1997, 2002; Connerly, 2000). Less common is a leftist attack on multiculturalism, but this is precisely where Walter Benn Michaels has positioned himself in the new book, The Trouble With Diversity. Michaels has provoked many intense reactions with his central thesis: a focus on racial and ethnic diversity distracts higher education from true inequality, which he defines as economic. Situating himself as the champion of the poor (unlike, according to him, elite actors of any race or political orientation), Michaels takes direct aim at affirmative action and multiculturalism under the guise that race is socially constructed and therefore lacks the power to structure opportunity as class does. Michaels begins by arguing that racism is largely a relic of the past, as illustrated in the following rhetorical question: Why does racial difference remain so important to us when the racism it was used to justify is so widely condemned and when the basic idea about race that gave it its power—the idea that there are fundamental physical and cultural differences between people that line up with our division of them into black, white, et cetera—has been discredited? (p. 49) Referring to race as a “phantasm,” the foundation of Michaels’ argument is to ignore the power of contemporary racism, thereby arguing that race- consciousness is not only unnecessary, but harmful. This is also a critical weakness in the text because he relies on an antiquated understanding of racism to justify his thesis. Recent theorists have described the means by which racism, despite overt bigotry falling out of fashion, remains a prominent method of social stratification in contemporary U.S. society (see for example, Omi & Winant, 1994; Bobo, Kluegel, & Smith, 1997; Bonilla-Silva, 2003). The consistent theme of these scholars is the continued significance of racism because the mechanisms that (re)produce racial inequality are largely driven underground. Additionally, numerous studies have shown that in many spheres of U.S. life (e.g., housing, employment, criminal justice, and education), to quote Cornel West (1994), “race matters.” 1 It is specifically within this context that race and
Physical Activity Time as Hidden Curriculum

The purpose of this editorial is to address the inappropriate hidden-curriculum message that is sent when physical activity opportunities are taken away from K–12 students during the school day.
Making markets for private provision of ecosystem services: The Bobolink Project

Abstract Using the concept of PES, the Bobolink Project moves environmental economics research beyond measuring values and into the development of efficient markets to capture those values and maximize their ability to support ecosystem services (ES). Beginning in Rhode Island and then expanding to Vermont, the project employed a novel approach, where crowd-sourced pledges for ecosystem services were matched with landowner bids. Specifically, hayfield owners with nesting habitat for grassland birds were invited to participate in a uniform price auction to adopt “bird-friendly” haying practices in exchange for compensation. Simultaneously, private citizens were asked to engage in an innovative pledging process, inspired by Lindahl pricing, where funds would be used to compensate landowners. Resulting ES included viewscapes, flora, fauna and sounds generated from the contracted hayfields. After three pilot seasons supported by a research grant that resulted in 1089 acres of safe habitat for ground-nesting birds in Vermont, the project administration transitioned to Audubon Societies and expanded to include Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, and New York. The success of the project suggests that this approach may be appropriate in other contexts where targeted ES include flagship species, and landowner-sellers can enter into contracts to deliver clearly-defined outcomes valued by donor-buyers.
The Antibacterial Effect of Essential Oils of Satureja calamintha subsp. nepeta (L.) Briq, Lavandula multifida L., and Mentha pulegium L., Tested Against some Multiresistant Strains that Are Involved in Nosocomial Infections

In infectiology, some essential oils (EOs) are able to competewith antibiotic therapy and even surpass it; it is in this context that a study of the chemical composition and the antibacterial power of the EOs of three aromatic and widely used medicinal plants in traditional medicine was conducted which are Satureja calamintha subsp. nepeta (L.) Briq, Lavandula multifida L., and Mentha pulegium L. The extracted EO yields were of the order of 2.6%, 0.12%, and 5.29% for Satureja calamintha, Lavandula multifida, and Mentha pulegium, respectively. The obtained EOs were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The results of these analyses showed that Lavandula multifida contains carvacrol as a majority compound (70.65%); by contrast, the pulegone is the majority compound of Satureja calamintha and Mentha pulegium that contain about 87.04% and 71.97%, respectively. The EOs with the pulegone as predominant compound (Mentha pulegium and Satureja calamintha) showed higher antibacterial activity when tested against some multiresistant strains, compared to those with the carvacrol as major compound. In conclusion, this study may open up prospects for the formulation of phytomedicines against resistant and nonresistant bacteria incriminated in nosocomial infections.
Bradycardia and Pacemakers/CRT

Bradyarrhythmias are a heterogeneous group of cardiac rhythm disturbances which are implicated in over 40 % of sudden cardiac deaths in the hospital. Broadly classified, they are manifestations of either a failure of cardiac impulse generation or impulse propagation. They may be physiologic and benign, as in sinus bradycardia and sinus arrhythmia in athletes, or pathologic and warranting intervention, as in compromising bradycardia from sinus node dysfunction or ventricular asystole from high-grade atrioventricular (AV) block after an anterior myocardial infarction (MI).
Analytic Basis of the Working of Monetary Policy in Less Developed Countries

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the analytic basis of the working of monetary policy in less developed countries. Ever since the problems of less developed countries came to the forefront in the postwar period, considerable attention has been focused on the importance of money and monetary policy in relation to economic development. The contrariness in different policy prescriptions may be found in the difference among the respective theories underlying them. While the high interest rate-cum-small money creation policy derives its strength from a theoretical framework where prior savings are considered to be the most indispensable condition necessary for investment, the low interest rate-cum-large money creation policy is rooted in the Keynesian and neo-Keynesian schema of though. The contradiction in these two policies arises principally because of the partial view of what is really involved in the process of economic development; in fact, pursuit of both high and low interest rate policies can be consistent, provided that it is recognized that the market for money and credit is not a single, homogeneous entity as in the developed economies but one that is fragmented into organized and unorganized parts.
Reply to “Comment on papers by K. Shanahan that propose to explain anomalous heat generated by cold fusion”, E. Storms, Thermochim. Acta, 2006

Abstract Dr. E. Storms has published a Letter [E. Storms, Comment on papers by K. Shanahan that propose to explain anomalous heat generated by cold fusion, Thermochim. Acta, 2006] in which he argues that in a sequence of recent papers, the apparent excess heat signal claimed by Dr. Shanahan to arise from a calibration constant shift is actually true excess heat. In particular he proposes that the mechanisms proposed that foster the proposed calibration constant shifts cannot occur as postulated for several reasons. As well, he proposes Shanahan has ignored the extant data proving this. Because this Letter may lend unwarranted support to acceptance of cold fusion claims, these erroneous arguments used by Storms need to be answered.
A history of the mid-south sociological association

Prior to his death in 2018, Marc Matre, Archivist and the longest serving Secretary-Treasurer of the Mid-South Sociological Association (MSSA), submitted a paper to the journal on the history of th...
Introduction: The Nature of Biophysics

This chapter describes how biophysics fits into the sciences. Included is a discussion on the character and limitations of models and theories of nature, and introduces the idea that complex systems develop their own emergent principles not originally part of the underlying physics.
Clinic Staff Perspectives on Barriers and Facilitators to Integrating Transgender Healthcare into Family Planning Clinics

Purpose: Although some research exists about transgender and nonbinary people's reproductive health needs, little research has explored the expansion of transgender health care in a family planning...
Admixture mapping identifies African and Amerindigenous local ancestry loci associated with fetal growth.

Fetal growth is an important determinant of cardiometabolic disease risk during childhood and adulthood. The genetic architecture of fetal growth remains largely understudied in ancestrally diverse populations. We conducted genome-wide admixture mapping scan and analysis of genetic ancestry among Hispanic American, African American, European American, and Asian American pregnant women to identify genetic loci associated with fetal growth measures across 13–40 weeks gestation. Fetal growth measures were associated with genome-wide average African, European, Amerindigenous and East Asian ancestry proportions (P ranged from10−3 to 4.8 × 10–2). Admixture mapping analysis identified ten African ancestry loci and three Amerindigenous ancestry loci significantly associated with fetal growth measures at Bonferroni-corrected levels of significance (P ranged from 2.18 × 10–8 to 3.71 × 10–6). At the chr2q23.3–24.2 locus in which higher African ancestry was associated with long bone (femur and humerus) lengths, the T allele of rs13030825 (GALNT13) was associated with longer humerus length in African Americans (β = 0.44, P = 6.25 × 10–6 at week 27; β = 0.39, P = 7.72 × 10–5 at week 40). The rs13030825 SNP accounted for most of the admixture association at the chr2q23.3–24.2 locus and has substantial allele frequency difference between African and European reference samples (FST = 0.55, P = 0.03). Regulatory annotation shows that rs13030825 overlaps with the serum response factor (SRF) transcription factor previously implicated in postnatal bone development of mice. Overall, we identified ancestry-related maternal genetic loci that influence fetal growth, shedding light on molecular pathways that regulate fetal growth and potential effects on health across the lifespan. Clinical trials registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00912132.
The Contingent Origins of Financial Legislation

Courts and scholars often view major financial legislation warily. One popular theory holds that Congress only legislates in this area when pushed by opportunistic activists in response to crises that neither activists nor legislators understand. Another account contends that financial legislation is the well-designed product of deeply entrenched schemes by special interest groups that control the process with limited input from others. Further, the Supreme Court’s application of antinovelty doctrine—which counsels that governmental structures without historical precedent are constitutionally suspect—sends a strong signal that creative solutions to these problems will be viewed with judicial skepticism. This Article challenges the prevailing scholarly theories of financial legislation and reveals as irredeemably flawed the Court’s related assumptions about legislative processes. This reassessment is based on historical analysis of seven watershed events in American legal and financial history, grounding important moments more firmly in their political contexts. From the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 to the CARES Act of 2020, we uncover neither a pattern of responding to crises nor a logic of grand design at the frontier of congressional authority. Instead, the sweep of history reveals reactions to unpredictable events, policy entrepreneurs with proposals that change substantially during the course of the legislative process, and temporary legislative coalitions that respond to perceived problems in largely ad hoc ways. The result is a flourishing of congressional experimentation at every turn. Temporary coalitions and historical contingencies are the primary themes in financial lawmaking. Novel legislative experiments are not the exception, but the rule. That insight exposes the impracticality and incoherence of the ascendant antinovelty doctrine. Judicial insensitivity to the ubiquity of unpredictability and experimentation in legislative design risks curtailing Congress’s legitimate and constitutional powers to shape the financial system in a democratically accountable way.
Domestication, crop breeding, and genetic modification are fundamentally different processes: implications for seed sovereignty and agrobiodiversity

Genetic modification (GM) of crop plants is frequently described by its proponents as a continuation of the ancient process of domestication. While domestication, crop breeding, and GM all modify the genomes and phenotypes of plants, GM fundamentally differs from domestication in terms of the biological and sociopolitical processes by which change occurs, and the subsequent impacts on agrobiodiversity and seed sovereignty. We review the history of domestication, crop breeding, and GM, and show that crop breeding and GM are continuous with each other in many important ways, but represent a momentous break from domestication because they move plant evolution off of farms and into centralized institutions. The social contexts in which these processes unfold dictate who holds rights to germplasm and agricultural knowledge, shape incentives to effect particular kinds of changes in our crops, and create or constrict biodiversity. Presenting GM as a continuation of domestication puts forward a false equivalency that fundamentally misrepresents how domestication, crop breeding, and GM occur. In doing so, this narrative diminishes public understanding of these important processes and obscures the effects of industrial agriculture on in situ biodiversity and the practice of farming. This misrepresentation is used in public-facing science communication by representatives of the biotechnology industry to silence meaningful debate on GM by convincing the public that it is the continuation of an age-old process that underlies all agricultural societies.
Large mode size conversion via grating-assisted coupling between 1D and 2D optical waveguides

We present a novel method for generating large mode area using diffractive coupling from fully-confined waveguides into slab waveguides. The device consumes an area approximately equal to the wavelength times the output beam diameter, making it the most compact mode converter to date.
CH Capsule Fabrication for Ignition Tuning Campaign

AbstractThe National Ignition Tuning Campaign involves a dozen capsule designs. These capsule designs vary in diameters, layer thicknesses, and germanium doping levels, examining implosion velocity, entropy, hot-spot shape, mix, and uncertainty. Overall yield of these tuning capsules involves meeting all individual specifications, including layer thicknesses, doping levels, outer surface smoothness, and inner diameter. The yield of scaled tuning capsules with acceptable inner diameters is greatly affected by the available mandrel diameter and its size distribution.Surface low mode and isolated defect specifications have been tightened. The new specification allows smaller and fewer isolated defects. The surface specification is quantified in terms of low mode factors, peak velocity root-mean-square (PVRMS), mix mass, and ignition threshold function (ITF). The total mix mass from all isolated defects should be <40 ng, and the PVRMS value should be <10 μm. While most current capsules meet the PVRMS requirem...
Properties of Double Cosets with Applications to Theoretical Chemistry

A useful model of a molecule is a collection of N atoms or groups of atoms called ligands, each oscillating with small amplitude about an equilibrium position or site, where the N sites form a rigid geometrical figure called a skeleton, that may itself be subject to uniform translation and rotation in space (3,6). An important classification problem is the determination of the number of non-equivalent configurations having the same skeleton and the same numbers of ligands of each kind.
Mathematical preparation as a basis for success in CS-II

A study was performed to determine the significance of taking math courses such as Discrete Mathematics or Calculus before taking CS-II on the outcomes of students in CS-II for students at the author's institution. At this institution, Discrete Mathematics is a prerequisite for CS-II, but Calculus is not. This study examined the outcomes of 160 students who took CS-II for the first time during a period in which the textbook remained the same, and the syllabus for CS-II remained relatively constant across instructors. The results suggest that students who take Calculus before taking CS-II do at least as well as those who take Discrete Math: the real mathematical "prerequisite" for CS-II is some form of "mathematical maturity".
Aqueous-phase Sonogashira alkynylation to synthesize 5-substituted pyrimidine and 8-substituted purine nucleosides.

In this unit, an efficient method for the synthesis of alkyne-modified nucleosides in an aqueous solvent system is described. The method allows direct palladium-catalyzed alkynylation of readily available unprotected 8-bromo-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-BrdG), 8-bromo-2′-deoxyadenosene (8-BrdA), 8-bromoadenosine (8-BrA), and 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine (5-IdU) precursors. The optimal catalyst is derived from palladium acetate, tri-(2,4-dimethyl-5-sulfonatophenyl)phosphane (TXPTS), and CuI. Curr. Protoc. Nucleic Acid Chem. 49:1.27.1-1.27.10. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Keywords: modified nucleoside; alkynylation; palladium; cross-coupling
Discrete bandlimited signal extrapolation by data segmentation

The authors present a technique that improves the computational efficiency of an algorithm used for discrete bandlimited signal extrapolation. It consists of extrapolating segments or subsequences of the original data set and then uncorrelating the individual results to yield a final estimate of the signal. It is found that the method is provides high-quality reconstructions while reducing the amount of computation required. However, it results in reduced resolution in the final reconstruction. Therefore, a tradeoff exists between computational speed and resolution in the final estimate. >
Testing the Independence of Multiple Personality Factors in Relation to Health Among Community-Dwelling Older Men

Objective: We assessed associations between specific personality factors and health, and tested whether specific personality factors were related to health outcomes independent of each other. Method: We performed cross-sectional analyses of personality and health among a sample of community-dwelling older men (n = 613, M age = 81.4, SD = 5.04 years) living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Results: Personality factors (dispositional optimism, conscientiousness, and goal adjustment) were crudely related to both physical and mental health, but adjusting for other personality factors completely attenuated several of these associations. Conscientiousness remained uniquely related to every physical and mental health outcome. Optimism remained uniquely related to all health outcomes, except physical activity (which was more highly related to conscientiousness and goal adjustment). Associations between goal adjustment and probable depression appeared to be explained by conscientiousness and optimism. Discussion: Corr...
Sensor fusion for ULSI manufacturing process control

An integrated sensor system for conductive layer deposition process control is presented. The process equipment employs a multizone illuminator and noninvasive sensors for dynamic process uniformity control, real-time process and end-pointing, and process diagnosis. Various modes of sensor fusion have been implemented for improved equipment/process performance. Several noninvasive in situ sensors developed and integrated in a rapid thermal chemical-vapor-deposition (CVD) system for CVD tungsten (CVD-W) process control and diagnosis are presented. >
Contraceptive service needs of women with young children presenting for pediatric care.

Abstract Objectives The primary objective of this study is to characterize the need for contraceptive services and contraceptive method use among women with young children presenting to child health clinics. A secondary objective is to characterize the factors, including access to care and health needs, that exist in this population and to evaluate their association with contraceptive method use. Study design This is a cross-sectional study of women with children under age 36 months presenting to four child health practices in the Baltimore, Maryland, area. Participating women completed a survey to assess desire for pregnancy, contraceptive method use and related characteristics. Results A total of 238 participants (82%) were in need of contraceptive services (fertile and not desiring pregnancy). Overall, 59 (25%) of women in need were not using a contraceptive method (unmet need) and 79 (33%) were using a highly effective method (implant or intrauterine device). Factors associated with lower odds of unmet need for contraceptive services included attendance at a routine postpartum visit and visiting a healthcare provider to discuss contraception after pregnancy. Approximately half of index pregnancies were unintended and this was the only health factor associated with greater odds of using of a highly effective contraceptive method. Conclusions Most women presenting with young children for pediatric care indicated that they were not currently trying to become pregnant and reported current methods of pregnancy prevention that ranged from none to highly effective. Women who had not sought postpregnancy contraceptive care were more likely to have unmet need for contraceptive services. Implications Child health clinics may be a novel site for providing contraceptive care to women with children as part of a strategy to reduce unplanned pregnancies.
A photoelastic analysis of the stress distribution in bone supporting fixed partial dentures of rigid and nonrigid design

Within the limitations of the experiment, the following conclusions can be made from this investigation: 1. Under conditions of vertical loading, the rigid fixed partial denture design does not permit independent response by either abutment. The nonrigid fixed partial denture design allows the abutments some independence in response to vertical loading 2. The stress distributions and concentrations produced in the supporting bone are favorably altered by the placement of a fixed partial denture of rigid or nonrigid design. 3. The distribution of stresses in the supporting bone varies with the number and location of the loading sites. 4. Under conditions of vertical loading, the Ney and Stern nonrigid fixed partial denture designs exhibit no significant differences in stress distribution or concentration.
In-situ studies of point-defect complexes in silicon implanted with heavy MeV ions

Abstract In-situ deep-level transient spectroscopy measurements have been performed on silicon implanted with MeV ions at 85 K. It is observed that the implantation of heavier ions results in the formation of novel deep-level centers; their formation/annealing kinetics and depth distributions are studied. Divacancy formation in silicon implanted with Si + and Ge + MeV ions is found to occur at higher temperatures than expected from the isolated vacancy mobility, and to exhibit a strong dependence on the electrical bias applied during annealing. The phenomena are discussed under the assumption that vacancies and interstitials are trapped in clusters/disorder regions immediately after low-temperature implantation of heavier ions, and are released during subsequent annealing.
A user-friendly, interactive expert system for the injection moulding of engineering thermoplastics

An expert system for the injection moulding of engineering thermoplastics has been developed. The system performs off-line, on the factory floor, and can resolve operating deviations interactively with the user. The expert system is hierarchical and offers the corrective action which is easiest to achieve, rather than the most likely. This allows the operator the facility to attempt resolution of the deviation first, much the same as would occur currently. If the deviation persists then material changes will be offered. Finally, if the deviation is still present then mould changes will be offered. The corrective actions offered by the expert system are bounded by the recommended operating condition windows, but this restriction may be overridden by the user. Existing software packages are used to supplement the decision-making processes.
Orienting responses to a change in stimulus significance

Female human subjects received either one, five, or nine tone-light compound stimulus presentations followed without interruption by presentations of tone alone. Task subjects were instructed to make a reaction time response to onset of the light stimulus. Control groups made no RT responses. The effect of omission of the light on the orienting response was evaluated by examining magnitude of GSRs to tone stimulus onset. In groups that performed the RT task, GSRs to stimulus change (compound to simple) were found to be a function of the number of trials prior to stimulus change. This was not the case when subjects had not performed the RT task. The RT task itself was demonstrated to affect GSR magnitude and frequency. It was concluded that the behavioral significance of the stimulus and the number of significant stimuli previously presented to the subjects directly affected GSR magnitude to stimulus change.
The influence of chronic verapamil treatment on calcium absorption and homeostasis in the geriatric rat

Abstract It has been demonstrated that verapamil produces a significant reduction in calcium transport in rat everted gut sacs in vitro. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of oral verapamil treatment on calcium absorption and homeostasis in vivo in the geriatric rat. Verapamil was administered (either oral or parenteral) to groups of 12-month-old female rats at a moderate (5 mg/kg) to large (15 mg/kg) dose over a period of 8 weeks. At the end of the 8-week treatment period, calcium transport was examined in duodenal segments and femoral bone was removed to measure bone density and mechanical strength. Blood levels of verapamil as measured by high pressure liquid chromatography were consistent with the administered dose. The results of this study indicate that chronic verapamil treatment at a dose of 15 mg/kg caused an increase in calcium transport, a reduction in calcium uptake into duodenal tissue, and an increase in serum and urinary calcium. Therefore, these results support the concept that chronic oral and/or parenteral use of calcium channel blocking agents may alter calcium homeostasis in the geriatric patient.
Faint OH (ν′ = 10), 17OH, and 18OH Emission Lines in the Spectrum of the Night Airglow* **

We co-added night-sky spectra, recorded as by-products of exposures with the high-resolution echelle spectrograph (HIRES) of the Keck I 10 m telescope on stars and quasars over a period of approximately 2 1/2 years, to obtain a resultant spectrum with total exposure time ranging from 120 to 24 hr over the wavelength range 5720-8810 A. On this very high signal-to-noise ratio spectrum, OH emission lines from the upper vibrational level ν' = 10, previously undetected in the night airglow, were measured and identified. Estimates are made for the relative population of OH (ν' = 10), and possible secondary mechanisms exciting this level are discussed. Also, lines of the isotopic molecules 18OH and 17OH were detected and measured, and the relative populations of these heavy isotopomers are discussed. Lines of the isotopic molecule OD were not detected, for reasons that are discussed, but predicted wavelengths of such lines were calculated and are listed for possible future use with even better signal-to-noise ratio spectra, preferably at longer wavelengths.
On Projective Planes Admitting Elations and Homologies

We consider projective planes Π of ordern with abelian collineation group Γ of ordern(n−1) which is generated by (A, m)-elations and (B, l)-homologies wherem =AB andA el. We prove
A Bayesian Hierarchical Non-Linear Regression Model in Receiver Operating Characteristic Analysis of Clustered Continuous Diagnostic Data

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis is a useful evaluative method of diagnostic accuracy. A Bayesian hierarchical nonlinear regression model for ROC analysis was developed. A validation analysis of diagnostic accuracy was conducted using prospective multi-center clinical trial prostate cancer biopsy data collected from three participating centers. The gold standard was based on radical prostatectomy to determine local and advanced disease. To evaluate the diagnostic performance of PSA level at fixed levels of Gleason score, a normality transformation was applied to the outcome data. A hierarchical regression analysis incorporating the effects of cluster (clinical center) and cancer risk (low, intermediate, and high) was performed, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was estimated.
Contracts Between Art and Commerce

have had trouble mobilizing a set of economic tools suited to understand? ing such issues as why these industries are organized as they are and what consequences public policies hold for them. However, some useful tools have recently emerged from the theory of contracts. The basic structural characteristics of creative industries?their technologies of production and consumption? fiercely resist governance by anything approaching a complete contract. Yet they have evolved distinctive and serviceable contract forms that seem to differ from deal-making patterns prevalent in other sectors. Great works of art may speak for themselves, as connoisseurs declare, but they do not lead self-sufncient lives. The inspirations of talented artists reach consumers' hands (eyes, ears) only with the aid of other inputs?humdrum inputs?that respond to ordinary economic incentives. The visual artist needs a gallery to display and promote works to potential purchasers. The author requires a publisher, the pop musician a record label. A symphony orchestra or dance company wants a hall and someone to market the tickets. The Hollywood movie, the Broadway play, the TV sitcom?each demands a diverse group of creative talents as well as a set of humdrum inputs. The question of how contracts work between art and commerce thus is nested within the larger question of why artists and humdrum inputs choose to structure their relationships as they do. It turns out that the organization of the arts and entertainment industries depends heavily on the contracts that link creative and humdrum agents. These
Cost effective depression patient thought record categorization via self-taught learning

Automatic patient though record categorization (TR) is important in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), which is an useful augmentation of standard clinic treatment for Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Because both collection and labeling of TR data are expensive, it is cost prohibitive to require a large amount of TR data, as well as their cor-responding category labels, to train a classification model with high classification accuracy. As in practice we only have very limited amount of labeled and unlabeled training TR data, traditional semi-supervised learning methods and transfer learning methods, which are the most commonly used strategies to deal with the lack of training data in statistical learning, can not work well in the task of automatic TR categorization. With the recognition of these challenges, in this paper we propose to approach the TR categorization problem from a new perspective via self-taught learning, an emerging topic in machine learning. Self-taught learning is a special type of transfer learning, instead of requiring labeled data from an auxiliary domain that are relevant to the classification task of interest as in traditional transfer learning methods, it learns the inherent structures of the auxiliary data and does not require their labels. Consequently, we may learn a classifier using the limited amount of labeled TR texts to achieve decent classification accuracy, with the assistance from the large amount text data obtained from some cheap, or even no-cost, resources. That is, a cost effective TR categorization system can be built up, which is of particular use in practical diagnosis and training of new therapists. We demonstrate the proposed method in the task of classifying the real depression homework texts, where promising experimental results validate the effectiveness of our new method.