cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Additive-free carbon nanotube dispersions, pastes, gels, and doughs in cresols

Cresols are a group of naturally occurring and massively produced methylphenols with broad use in the chemical industry. Here, we report that m-cresol and its liquid mixtures with other isomers are surprisingly good solvents for processing carbon nanotubes. They can disperse carbon nanotubes of various types at unprecedentedly high concentrations of tens of weight percent, without the need for any dispersing agent or additive. Cresols interact with carbon nanotubes by charge transfer through the phenolic hydroxyl proton and can be removed after processing by evaporation or washing, without altering the surface of carbon nanotubes. Cresol solvents render carbon nanotubes polymer-like rheological and viscoelastic properties and processability. As the concentration of nanotubes increases, a continuous transition of four states can be observed, including dilute dispersion, thick paste, free-standing gel, and eventually a kneadable, playdough-like material. As demonstrated with a few proofs of concept, cresols make powders of agglomerated carbon nanotubes immediately usable by a broad array of material-processing techniques to create desirable structures and form factors and make their polymer composites.
Delivering Patient Data to Patients Themselves

Physicians need nearly a decade of training to understand complex patient data such as laboratory tests and genomic data. How can these data possibly be delivered to patients in ways that they can understand and use?
Functional Anatomy of the Brain Stem

This chapter presents an overview of the anatomy of the brain stem and describes certain functional centers. The brain stem consists of medulla, pons and midbrain (Fig 11–1 and 11–2). We will first start at the medul-lospinal junction and then discuss several levels of the medulla, pons, and midbrain. The discussion of each level will include the important functions, nuclei and tracts found in that level. The medulla, pons, and midbrain are subdivided by their relationship to the ventricular system. One division, the tectum, forms the roof and walls or the posterior surface; the other division, the tegmentum, forms the floor or anterior surface. The basis forms the anterior surface of the tegmentum
Fiber Bundles and Connections

The elegance of the geometrical expression of physical ideas has attracted much attention ever since Einstein proposed his geometrical theory of gravity in 1916. Such an expression was, however, confined to the general theory of relativity until the 1970s when the language of geometry was found to be most suitable, not only for gravity, but also for the other three fundamental forces of nature. Geometry, in the form of gauge field theories of electroweak and strong interactions, has been successful not only in creating a model—the so-called standard model—that explains all experimental results to remarkable accuracy, but also in providing a common language for describing all fundamental forces of nature, and with that a hope for unifying these forces into a single all-embracing force. This hope is encouraged by the successful unification of electromagnetism with the weak nuclear force through the medium of geometry and gauge field theory.
Modalities of Power and Control: Perceptions of Chinese Juridical Practice

Inspired and guided by a Bourdieusian framework, this chapter explores how struggles in each stage of criminal trial process challenges the perceptions of the modalities of power and control within the Chinese juridical field. The focus of this chapter is placed more on discovering what the current practices are (as perceived by the key actors in the Chinese legal system) than to determining what the right practices should be.
Two Remarks on the Mendelsohn-Dulmage Theorem

We present two new proofs of the Mendelsohn-Dulmage theorem [2], one short, constructive and combinatorial, the other long and indirect and embedded in the theory of linear inequalities.
What medical students know about professionalism.

Three different sources of data are used to explore how medical students think about the physician as a professional. The data include exercises employed by the University of Minnesota-School of Medicine to foster professionalism among its medical students, such as the skills of peer review and self reflection, a 20-hour course for first-year medical students in which approximately two-thirds of the course focuses directly (e.g., topic-specific readings and class exercises) and indirectly (e.g., medical training and socialization) on the topic of professionalism, and a set of questions asked during admissions interviews which highlight issues of professionalism. Although the data are neither definitive nor generalizable, they do suggest that medical school applicants approach the admissions process well versed in academic and related (e.g., service activities) requirements, but without having given much thought to what it means to be a physician, particularly in terms of professional values. Once in medical school, students express great enthusiasm for being service oriented and doing good but are not necessarily receptive to the notion that they are obliged in these respects. Instead, students express a variety of utilitarian views on things like codes of ethics and medical oaths to support their stance on nonobligation (sometimes directly and sometimes indirectly). Furthermore, students do not draw distinctions among the values commonly associated with professionalism. In particular, they foresee numerous problems associated with integrating the values of altruism and dutifulness into their future practice of medicine.
Effect of stimuli on sun protective habits: A randomized double-blind controlled study

BACKGROUND Visual imagery has been shown to improve adherence to health messages but has scarcely been investigated in sun protection campaigns. OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of pictorial- and textual-based sun protective messages in a largely Hispanic population. METHODS One hundred and forty-five participants received standard of care (SOC) as defined as sun protective counseling and were then randomized to receive either (a) images of sun damage, (b) a textual pamphlet about sun damage, or (c) no further messages. Analysis-of-variance tests for repeated measures were used to estimate the effects of the different stimuli on participants' knowledge and intention to sun protect. RESULTS All stimulus groups demonstrated an improvement in perceived effectiveness of sun protective habits (p < 0.05). However, pictorial and textual stimuli were both more effective than SOC in improving intentions to sun protect (p < 0.05), but there was no differential effect between the two. CONCLUSIONS Both pictorial and textual stimuli were more effective than SOC in improving intentions to sun protect, but there was no differential effect between the two.
Handbook of Indigenous Fermented Foods, Revised and Expanded

This work offers comprehensive, authoritative coverage of current information on indigenous fermented foods of the world, classifying fermentation according to type. This edition provides both new and expanded data on the antiquity and role of fermented foods in human life, fermentations involving an alkaline reaction, tempe and meat substitutes, amazake and kombucha, and more.;College or university bookstores may order five or more copies at a special student price which is available on request from Marcel Dekker, Inc.
Reduction of recording noise caused by nano-scale variations in Curie temperature

Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) is expected to be the next-generation magnetic recording technology: it is designed to meet increasing higher areal density demands from cloud storage. Until now, there are no feasible solutions to address nm-scale Curie temperature variance in FePt-based single layer media. This variance is the leading noise source, and thus limits further development of HAMR technology. Here, we describe a superparamagnetic write process that can greatly mitigate the impact of Curie temperature variance by recording information at the blocking temperature of the magnetic material. To demonstrate the benefits of this write process, we employ a bilayer structure with a superparamagnetic write layer and FePt as a long-term storage layer. By developing the theory behind the recording mechanism, we are able to introduce design rules addressing the importance of elevated Curie temperature in the write layer and optimization of quantum mechanical coupling between the two functional layers.
Fully hydrophobic HIV gp41 adopts a hemifusion-like conformation in phospholipid bilayers

The HIV envelope glycoprotein mediates virus entry into target cells by fusing the virus lipid envelope with the cell membrane. This process requires large-scale conformational changes of the fusion protein gp41. Current understanding of the mechanisms with which gp41 induces membrane merger is limited by the fact that the hydrophobic N-terminal fusion peptide (FP) and C-terminal transmembrane domain (TMD) of the protein are challenging to characterize structurally in the lipid bilayer. Here we have expressed a gp41 construct that contains both termini, including the FP, the fusion peptide-proximal region (FPPR), the membrane-proximal external region (MPER), and the TMD. These hydrophobic domains are linked together by a shortened water-soluble ectodomain. We reconstituted this "short NC" gp41 into a virus-mimetic lipid membrane and conducted solid-state NMR experiments to probe the membrane-bound conformation and topology of the protein. 13C chemical shifts indicate that the C-terminal MPER-TMD is predominantly α-helical, whereas the N-terminal FP-FPPR exhibits β-sheet character. Water and lipid 1H polarization transfer to the protein revealed that the TMD is well-inserted into the lipid bilayer, whereas the FPPR and MPER are exposed to the membrane surface. Importantly, correlation signals between the FP-FPPR and the MPER are observed, providing evidence that the ectodomain is sufficiently collapsed to bring the N- and C-terminal hydrophobic domains into close proximity. These results support a hemifusion-like model of the short NC gp41 in which the ectodomain forms a partially folded hairpin that places the FPPR and MPER on the opposing surfaces of two lipid membranes.
Ground application of mating disruption against the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey [14-0737-10-Onufrieva, 2012-VA-BDP-Onufrieva]; USDA Forest Service, Forest Health ProtectionUnited States Department of Agriculture (USDA)United States Forest Service [208-11-110A-007-333-1]
The Development of Young Children’s Mental Timeline in Relation to Emergent Literacy Skills

ABSTRACTThe abstract concept of time is conceptualized as moving linearly across space, known as the mental timeline (MTL). The direction of our MTL is consistent with reading direction. English sp...
Importance of Incorporating a Vacuum Pump Performance Curve in Dynamic Adsorption Process Simulation

The importance of incorporating a vacuum pump performance curve into a mathematical model that describes the regeneration steps in a vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) cycle was assessed. This was accomplished by evaluating the relationship between pressure and flow rate at the exit of a 13X zeolite bed, initially and uniformly saturated with 70 vol% CO2 in N2 at 333.15 K and 1 atm, which then underwent just countercurrent depressurization (CnD) and light reflux (LR) steps, i.e., the regeneration steps in a VSA cycle. Overall, this study revealed it is imperative to use a realistic vacuum pump model in cyclic adsorption process simulation, especially for estimating the ideal isentropic energy consumed during the regeneration steps in a VSA cycle, and it revealed the possible inaccurate performance predictions that might result when using a valve equation alone to describe these steps. The study on the effect of valve size (cv) without the vacuum pump present to mimic the behavior of the vacuum pump performance...
Effects of the Combination of Atomoxetine and Oxybutynin on OSA Endotypic Traits

Background We recently showed that administration of the combination of the noradrenergic drug atomoxetine plus the antimuscarinic oxybutynin (ato-oxy) prior to sleep greatly reduced OSA severity, likely by increasing upper airway dilator muscle activity during sleep. In patients with OSA who performed the ato-oxy trial with an esophageal pressure catheter to estimate ventilatory drive, the effect of the drug combination (n = 17) and of the single drugs (n = 6) was measured on the endotypic traits over a 1-night administration and compared vs placebo. This study also tested if specific traits were predictors of complete response to treatment (reduction in apnea-hypopnea index [AHI] > 50% and Methods The study was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The arousal threshold, collapsibility (ventilation at eupneic drive [Vpassive]), ventilation at arousal threshold, and loop gain (stability of ventilatory control, LG1), were calculated during spontaneous breathing during sleep. Muscle compensation (upper airway response) was calculated as a function of ventilation at arousal threshold adjusted for Vpassive. Ventilation was expressed as a percentage of the eupneic level of ventilation (%eupnea). Data are presented as mean [95% CI]. Results Compared with placebo, ato-oxy increased Vpassive by 73 [54 to 91]%eupnea (P Findings Ato-oxy markedly improved the measures of upper airway collapsibility, increased breathing stability, and slightly reduced the arousal threshold. Patients with relatively lower AHI and less severe upper airway collapsibility had the best chance for OSA resolution with ato-oxy.
Analysis on the monitoring results of iodine deficiency disorders in Dehong State Yunnan Province in 2017

Objective To analyze the monitoring results of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) of Dehong State in 2017, to find out the present situation of prevention and control of IDD, and to provide scientific basis for guiding the comprehensive prevention and control of IDD in our state in the future. Methods According to "Yunnan Iodine Deficiency Disorders Monitoring Program", a sampling survey was conducted in 5 counties (cities) of Dehong State, Yunnan Province. Urine and household salt samples were collected from children aged 8 to 10 years old and pregnant women in Mangshi, Lianghe County and Yingjiang County. Iodine content was detected. In addition, household salt samples of Ruili City and Longchuan County were collected to detect iodine content. Results There were 1 609 salt samples from local inhabitants, the coverage rate of iodized salt was 99.19% (1 596/1 609), the edible rate of qualified iodized salt was 95.03% (1 529/1 609) and the median of iodized salt was 23.76 mg/kg. The median of urinary iodine in 623 children aged 8 to 10 years old was 221.34 μg/L and the thyroid enlargement rate was 0.48% (3/623). The median of urinary iodine in 346 pregnant women was 159.52 μg/L. Conclusion The iodine nutrition of children aged 8 to 10 years old and pregnant women of Dehong State is appropriate in 2017. Key words: Iodine; Deficiency diseases; Monitoring; Analysis
Improved core-edge compatibility using impurity seeding in the small angle slot (SAS) divertor at DIII-D

Impurity seeding studies in the small angle slot (SAS) divertor at DIII-D have revealed a strong relationship between the detachment onset and pedestal characteristics with both target geometry and impurity species. N2 seeding in the slot has led to the first simultaneous observation of detachment on the entire suite of boundary diagnostics viewing the SAS without degradation of core confinement. SOLPS-ITER simulations with D+C+N, full cross field drifts, and n–n collisions activated are performed for the first time in DIII-D to interpret the behavior. This highlights a strong effect of divertor configuration and plasma drifts on the recycling source distribution with significant consequences on plasma flows. Flow reversal is found for both main ions and impurities affecting strongly the impurity transport and providing an explanation for the observed dependence on the strike point location of the detachment onset and impurity leakage found in the experiments. Matched discharges with either nitrogen or neon injection show that while nitrogen does not significantly affect the pedestal, neon leads to increased pedestal pressure gradients and improved pedestal stability. Little nitrogen penetrates in the core, but a significant amount of neon is found in the pedestal consistent with the different ionization potentials of the two impurities. This work demonstrates that neutral and impurity distributions in the divertor can be controlled through variations in strike point locations in a fixed baffle structure. Divertor geometry combined with impurity seeding enables mitigated divertor heat flux balancing core contamination, thus leading to enhanced divertor dissipation and improved core-edge compatibility, which are essential for ITER and for future fusion reactors.
Informal formative assessment conversations in mathematics: Focusing on preservice teachers' initiation, response and follow-up sequences in the classroom

This study highlighted the characteristics and patterns of preservice teachers’ informal formative assessment conversations woven into mathematics classrooms. Participants were four preservice teachers from an elementary mathematics methods course whose videotaped lessons were analyzed using an analytic framework based on Initiation, Response and Follow-up (IRF) sequences. Findings indicated that the patterns of IRF sequence were varied across the preservice teachers, although they taught the same topic. We also found common patterns in their IRF sequences in that preservice teachers mainly initiated and drove classroom conversations of mathematics, while students’ roles were passive. In addition, they used frequent follow-up questions; however, most of them were closed questions intended to guide students to quickly give correct responses. Regarding feedback, their feedback were mostly made to affirm or elaborate on what students said or to clarify meanings of statements, not to explore students’ initial ideas or reasoning processes.
Asthma in COVID-19 patients: An extra chain fitting around the neck?

Introduction The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread across the globe. Pre-existing comorbidities have been found to have a dramatic effect on the disease course. We sought to analyze the effect of asthma on the disease progression and outcomes of COVID-19 patients. Methods We conducted a multi-center retrospective study of positively confirmed COVID-19 patients. The primary outcome of interest was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission, intubation, mechanical ventilation, and length of hospital stay. Results A total of 502 COVID-19 adult patients (72 asthma and 430 non-asthma cohorts) with mean age of 60.7 years were included in the study. The frequency of asthma in hospitalized cohorts was 14.3%. Univariate analysis revealed that asthma patients were more likely to be obese (75% versus 54.2%, p = 0.001), with a higher frequency of intubation (40.3% versus 27.8%, p = 0.036), and required a longer duration of hospitalization (15.1 ± 12.5 versus 11.5 ± 10.6, p = 0.015). After adjustment, multivariable analysis showed that asthmatic patients were not associated with higher risk of ICU admission (OR = 1.81, 95%CI = 0.98-3.09, p = 0.06), endotracheal intubation (OR = 1.77, 95%CI = 0.99-3.04, p = 0.06) or complications (OR = 1.37, 95%CI = 0.82-2.31, p = 0.23). Asthmatic patients were not associated with higher odds of prolonged hospital length of stay (OR = 1.48, 95%CI = 0.82-2.66, p = 0.20) or with ICU stay (OR = 0.76, 95%CI = 0.28-2.02, p = 0.58). Kaplan-Meier curve showed no significant difference in the overall survival of the two groups (p = 0.65). Conclusion Despite the increased prevalence of hospitalization in elder asthmatic COVID-19 patients, after adjustment for other variables, it was neither associated with increased severity nor worse outcomes.
Outcomes, evidence-based treatments, and disparities in a statewide outpatient children’s behavioral health system

Abstract Purpose Many questions remain about the effectiveness of behavioral health treatments for children in large systems of care, including the use of evidence-based treatments (EBTs). The goals of this study were to 1) describe outcomes of children receiving treatment in a statewide system, overall and separately for demographic groups; 2) describe penetration rates of EBTs and examine outcomes by treatment type and 3) examine moderation of treatment type by demographic group. Methods Participants were 46,399 children receiving behavioral health services at one of 25 outpatient clinics in a state system between 2013 and 2017. Administrative data included child demographic characteristics, treatment type, and problem severity based on the Ohio Scales. Propensity score methods were used to analyze EBT effects compared to no EBT conditions, and interactions with demographic groups. Results The overall pre- to post-treatment effect size across all treatment types was medium (Cohen’s d = 0.49 to 0.51) and similar to prior research. White children showed greater improvements than Black or Hispanic children, 7 to 12-year olds improved more than younger and older children, and females improved more than males. Almost half (47%) of children received cognitive behavioral therapy, and an additional 12.4% received another EBT. Children receiving EBTs showed greater improvement than those not receiving an EBT. The relative benefits of EBTs were mostly consistent across sex, age, and race/ethnicity, but EBTs were associated with some reductions in disparities by race/ethnicity (particularly for Hispanic youth and more modestly for Black youth) and age. Conclusions Outcomes for children receiving behavioral health treatment in a statewide system were modest. EBTs can be disseminated within large systems and have potential for improving overall outcomes for children from diverse backgrounds.
Crystal structure of 2,2′-{[(2-nitro­benz­yl)aza­nedi­yl]bis­(propane-3,1-di­yl)}bis­[1H-iso­indole-1,3(2H)-dione]

The structure of the title compound, C29H26N4O6, exhibits a folded conformation with the three arms all on the same side of the tertiary N atom. The two phthalimide units make a dihedral angle of 12.18 (12)° and the dihedral angles between the benzyl plane and the phthalimide units are 68.08 (7) and 67.71 (7)°. The crystal packing features π–π inter­actions.
Relationships Between Semiotic Representational Transformations and Performance Outcomes in Digital Math Games

The purpose of this study was to examine relationships between students’ semiotic representational transformations and students’ mathematics performance outcomes in digital math games. The study employed a convergent parallel mixed methods design. Students in Grades 4, 5, and 6 (ages 9–12) played nine digital math games. Researchers administered pretests and posttests and gathered video data. Researchers coded the video data to identify the representations used and students’ representational transformations to understand how these related to mathematics performance outcomes. The video data revealed that the most frequent type of semiotic representation used by students was images, followed by symbols. The most common type of representational transformation students made was a conversion (i.e., transforming across two different representational registers), which is more complex than a treatment (i.e., transforming within the same representational register). A difference in proportions test revealed significant differences in test scores when students made representational transformations using language, images, symbols, and gestures. The results showed that some of the digital math games prompted more representational transformations than others; However, all of the games prompted the conversion type of representational transformation. Students who progressed between the pretest and posttest were much more likely to make representational transformations. Students who did not recognize and use representations or make transformations were much more likely to regress between the pretest and posttest. These results show the importance of the recognition and use of semiotic representations and representational transformations to mathematics outcomes when students play digital math games.
On the asymmetric effects of exchange rate changes and Thailand's inpayments from and outpayments to its partners

Abstract A strand of the literature in international economics includes studies that have assed impact of exchange rate changes on inpayments and outpayments of a country with its trading partners. That strand now has a new direction where the analysis is extended to include asymmetric effects of exchange rate changes. We apply the new advances to bilateral trade data between Thailand and each of its 12 largest partners. Combining our findings from the old and new approaches, we find that a depreciation of baht will increase Thailand's outpayments to eight partners with almost 41% trade share and it will increase its inpayments from seven partners with almost 23% trade share.
Sport-Specific Increased Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury Following a Concussion in Collegiate Female Lacrosse.

ABSTRACT Poor neurocognitive performance has been associated with a greater risk of musculoskeletal injury, and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury prevention protocols include exercises to improve neuromuscular control. Research shows that a concussion elevates the risk for subsequent lower-extremity injury, because concussions lead to lower neurocognitive performance. Studies have been conducted using data within individual male sports, such as football and rugby, or across collegiate sports in aggregate; no study has focused on women's sports. Using 7 years of data collected by athletic training staff at Davidson College, this paper evaluates preconcussive versus postconcussive lower-extremity injury risk across five collegiate women's sports: field hockey, soccer, basketball, volleyball, and lacrosse. Using incidence rate ratios, lacrosse athletes had a five-fold increase in ACL injury risk within 365 d following a concussion. Recognizing that postconcussive ACL tear risk varies across different women's sports is important in informing sport-specific concussion return to play protocols.
Vascular Endothelia Mechanically Sense Barrier Quality and Maintain Functional Integrity through ROS-Dependent Actin Remodeling

Objective: Mechanisms for maintenance of endothelial integrity are of enormous biomedical importance. Despite its tenuous structure and constitutive exposure to disruptive strains, the endothelium ...
Information Retrieval Tools for Literary Analysis

The advent of the CD-ROM as a means of distributing massive bodies of textual data increases the importance of developing automatic techniques for textual analysis. To accomplish this task, we should be alert to existing techniques, perhaps developed for other purposes, that can be of value. We here report on observations we made while carrying out research on information storage and retrieval that promise to be helpful. Specifically, auxiliary information and data structures created incidental to our IR investigations are rich in semantic content, and can be useful in suggesting or confirming relations among concepts in text. Two examples are given: one based on a term weighting scheme for IR, the other on a tree structure for compressing bitmaps.
An analog VLSI loser-take-all circuit

An analog circuit that performs a loser-take-all computation is presented. This circuit takes an array of analog input current and produces an array of binary output voltages/currents. The circuit functions such that the output at the node with the minimum input current is a non-zero constant while all of the other outputs are equal to zero. This circuit can also be used to compute the global minimum of the input array. Theory of operation for this circuit is developed and compared with experimental results.
Both cross-links and monoadducts induced in DNA by psoralens can lead to sister chromatid exchange formation

Abstract The relative importance of DNA-DNA cross-links and bulky monoadducts in sister chromatid exchange (SCE) formation was investigated in three human fibroblast cell lines with different repair capabilities. These cell lines included normal cells, which can repair both classes of lesions; xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) cells, which cannot repair either psoralen-induced cross-links or monoadducts; and an XP revertant that repairs only cross-links and not monoadducts. SCEs were induced by two psoralen derivatives, 4′-hydroxymethyl-4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen (HMT) and 5-methylisopsoralen (5-MIP). After activation with long-wave ultraviolet light, HMT produces cross-links and monoadducts in DNA, whereas 5-MIP produces only monoadducts. In normal human cells both psoralens induced SCEs, but if cells were allowed to repair for 18 h before bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) was added for SCE analysis, the SCE frequency was significantly reduced. XP cells showed an SCE frequency that remained high regardless of whether SCEs were analyzed immediately after psoralen exposure or 18 h later. In the XP revertant that repairs only cross-links, both psoralens induced a high yield of SCEs when BrdUrd was added immediately after psoralen treatment. When XP revertant cells were allowed 18 h to repair before addition of BrdUrd, the SCEs induced by HMT were greatly reduced, whereas those induced by 5-MIP were only slightly reduced. These observations indicate that both cross-links and monoadducts are lesions in DNA that can lead to SCE formation.
Evaluation of a multiplex panel of immune-related markers in cervical secretions: a methodologic study

Although persistent carcinogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is necessary for cervical carcinogenesis, the cofactors involved in HPV persistence and disease progression are poorly understood. Chronic cervical inflammation may increase risk, but few studies have measured immune markers (cytokines, chemokines and soluble receptors) in cervical secretions. We evaluated the performance of 74 multiplexed, bead-based immune markers in cervical secretions from three groups of women with biopsy evaluation of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), (i) 25% detectability and >80% interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) acceptable for epidemiologic studies. Within-batch coefficients of variation (CVs) of ≥25% indicated room for assay improvement. Secondarily, we explored associations between marker levels and CIN/HPV status adjusted for matching variables, assay batch, age and number of sexual partners. Sixty-two markers (84%) had >25% detectability and ICCs > 80%. Of those, 53 (85%) had CVs < 25%. Using these preliminary data, we found that HPV positivity was associated with increased eotaxin-1 [odds ratio (OR): 15.63, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.26-200.00] and G-CSF (OR: 12.99, 95% CI: 1.10-142.86) among CIN-negative women. There was suggestive evidence that higher chemoattractant marker levels were associated with CIN2/3 (e.g., MIP-1delta, OR: 4.48, 95% CI: 0.87-23.04 versus <CIN1/HPV-positive). More than 70% of markers were reliably measured. This assay may be used to evaluate associations of immune-related markers with CIN and HPV status.
Observations of Plasma Injection

Study of local plasma injection events observed at synchronous altitudes indicates that the plasma energy distribution function can be characterized as Maxwellian with one or more temperature components. Pitch angle features demand that more than one energization mechanism and perhaps more than one plasma source must be involved. The distribution function goes through drastic changes only during the first few minutes of the injection (peaks in the proton distribution function observed initially disappear within approximately one minute). Electron beams peaked at keV energies often accompany onset of the injection. These beams are characteristic of ionospheric potentials and no doubt play important roles in injection dynamics. The hotter component (E ≳ 10 keV) are probably of plasma sheet origin.
Parametric kernels for sequence data analysis

A key challenge in applying kernel-based methods for discriminative learning is to identify a suitable kernel given a problem domain. Many methods instead transform the input data into a set of vectors in a feature space and classify the transformed data using a generic kernel. However, finding an effective transformation scheme for sequence (e.g. time series) data is a difficult task. In this paper, we introduce a scheme for directly designing kernels for the classification of sequence data such as that in handwritten character recognition and object recognition from sensor readings. Ordering information is represented by values of a parameter associated with each input data element. A similarity metric based on the parametric distance between corresponding elements is combined with their problemspecific similarity metric to produce a Mercer kernel suitable for use in methods such as support vector machine (SVM). This scheme directly embeds extraction of features from sequences of varying cardinalities into the kernel without needing to transform all input data into a common feature space before classification. We apply our method to object and handwritten character recognition tasks and compare against current approaches. The results show that we can obtain at least comparable accuracy to state of the art problem-specific methods using a systematic approach to kernel design. Our contribution is the introduction of a general technique for designing SVM kernels tailored for the classification of sequence data.
Simple and Accurate Models for Capacitance Increment due to Metal Fill Insertion

Inserting metal fill to improve inter-level dielectric thickness planarity is an essential part of the modern design process. However, the inserted fill shapes impact the performance of signal interconnect by increasing capacitance. In this paper, we analyze and model the impact of the metal dummy on the signal capacitance with various parameters including their electrical characteristic, signal dimensions, and dummy shape and dimensions. Fill has differing impact on interconnects depending on whether the signal of interest is in the same layer as the fill or not. In particular intra-layer dummy has its greatest impact on coupling capacitance while inter-layer dummy has more impact on the ground capacitance component. Based on an analysis of fill impact on capacitance, we propose simple capacitance increment models (Cc for intra-layer dummy and Cg for inter-layer dummy). To consider the realistic case with both signals and metal fill in adjacent layers, we apply a weighting function approach in the ground capacitance model. We verify this model using simple test patterns and benchmark circuits and find that the models match well with field solver results (1.2% average error with much faster runtime than commercial extraction tools, the runtime overhead reduced by ~75% for all benchmark circuits).
Output power and efficiency sensitivity to circuit parameter variations in double-sided LCC-compensated wireless power transfer system

This paper focuses on the sensitivity of power transfer to parameter variations in a 5.7kW double-sided LCC-compensated wireless power transfer system. A SPICE model of the circuit component with parasitic resistance is built to accurately calculate the power loss and efficiency. LTspice software is used to simulate the system performance for different parameter combinations, which are generated by exhaustive and Monte-Carlo methods. It is shown that, in certain cases, the switching frequency can be adjusted to compensate for parameter variations. Finally, a 5.7kW WPT system is implemented, and experiments are performed at the parameter combination corresponding to the lowest and highest power. The comparison between simulation and experiment results demonstrates the presented sensitivity problem and the effectiveness of frequency adjusting method.
Flexor Hallucis Longus Transfer for Repair of Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy

Background:The flexor hallucis longus (FHL) tendon has been used to augment the repairs for chronic Achilles tendinopathy. Two common methods of FHL harvesting include a single incision (posterior)...
NEW HIGH PROPER MOTION STARS FROM THE DIGITIZED SKY SURVEY. IV. COMPLETION OF THE SOUTHERN SURVEY AND 170 ADDITIONAL STARS WITH μ > 0.45″ yr–1 *

Completion of the SUPERBLINK proper motion survey in the southern celestial hemisphere has turned up 170 new stars with proper motion 0.45'' yr–1 1.0'' yr–1. The total list of high proper motion stars recovered by SUPERBLINK in the southern sky now includes 2228 stars with proper motions 0.45'' yr–1 < μ < 2.0'' yr–1.
An Estimation Procedure for Data Containing Outliers with a One-Directional Shift in the Mean

Abstract Data collected in experiments often include spurious observations, that is, observations not from the population of interest, that need to be taken into account during data analysis. This article considers a dental experiment the objective of which is to estimate a person's discriminating pressure. Because of the monotony of repetition in this experiment, some data points result in inflated values. A procedure is presented for revising the standard analysis when these spurious observations occur. Properties of this procedure are discussed and numerical results provided. The dental experiment is used to illustrate the procedure. A comparison of this procedure with competing rules is also presented.
Societal values: A cause of stress in children

Abstract Children, like adults, are stressed by factors in today's life-style. The goals of success, achievement, and acquisition are well recognized; these same goals can contribute to the disruption of a child's sense of well-being, resulting in the inability to cope with the environment. Four common causes of stress in children today are child care arrangements, pressure for early academic achievement, athletic achievement, and early sexual activity. Nurse practitioners must be able to recognize the symptoms of stress in children and assist the family to help children modify their life-style and develop problem-solving abilities essential for successful maturity.
Nonlinear tracking control in the presence of state and control constraints: a generalized reference governor

This paper proposes a new approach to reference governor design. As in prior literature, the governor accepts input commands and modifies their evolution so that specified pointwise-in-time constraints on state and control variables are satisfied. The new approach applies to general discrete-time and continuous-time nonlinear systems with uncertainties. It relies on safety properties provided by sublevel sets of equilibria-parameterized functions. These functions need not be Lyapunov functions, and the corresponding sublevel sets need not be positively invariant. Technical conditions that capture the bare essentials of what is needed are identified and the usual desirable properties of reference governors are established. The new approach significantly broadens the class of methods available for constructing the nonlinear function that is required in the implementation of the reference governors. This advantage is illustrated in a nonlinear control problem where off-line, computer-based simulation is the basis for constructing the nonlinear function.
CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling activates Akt‐1 and MMP‐9 expression in prostate cancer cells: The role of bone microenvironment‐associated CXCL12

BACKGROUND Hematopoietic cells home to bone by means of chemo-attraction to marrow chemokines, and interaction of chemokines with their receptors leads to the expression/activation of adhesion molecules and proteases. Recent evidence suggests that similar mechanisms may be active in cancer metastasis. Previously, we showed that metalloproteases (MMPs), and in particular MMP-9, play a role in prostate cancer (PC) expansion in bone. METHODS We used a variety of methods including RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, ELISA, gelatin zymography, cellular motility and invasion, and subcellular fractionation of PC cells applied to in vivo and in vitro models. RESULTS Here we showed that (a) CXCL12/CXCR4 axis is expressed in PC bone metastasis; (b) exogenous CXCL12 induced MMP-9 expression by PC cells; (c) bone stromal cells and bone tissue conditioned media induced the migration of PC cells in a CXCR4-dependent manner; (d) pharmacological inhibition of PI3 kinase and MAP kinase pathways abrogated CXCL12-induced MMP-9 expression and invasion of PC cells; (e) exogenous CXCL12 induced Akt1 phosphorylation is indispensable for proMMP-9 secretion, migration, and invasion of PC cells; (f) CXCR4 was localized to lipid rafts in PC cells and initiated Akt phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that chemoattractive mechanisms involve migration of cancer cells towards bone tissue, and that cell signaling induced by binding of the chemokine to its receptor leads to the activation of multiple signaling pathways and subsequent secretion of MMP-9 into the local environment. These findings provide a link between chemoattractive mechanisms, growth of tumor cells in bone, and tumor-enhanced bone matrix turnover. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
There’s Nothing to Winning, Really

“There’s nothing to winning, really,” said Alfred Hitchcock. “That is, if you happen to be blessed with a keen eye, an agile mind, and no scruples whatsoever” (1). W.C. Fields put it a different way, “A thing worth having is a thing worth cheating for” (2). Another Olympic year is here. Although neither of the aforementioned was referring specifically to the Olympic Games, one need not look far to find athletes, trainers, coaches, and sports executives who subscribe to a win-at-all-costs philosophy (3). As in the past, the idealism of this year’s Olympics will likely be diminished by disqualifications and revocations of medals for the use of prohibited substances and practices (4). For more than a century, the modern Olympic Games have fueled a quest for excellence through a quadrennial pageant of athletics and nationalism, providing the world a transient common focus while turning the victorious into enduring heroes. Winning is no longer the domain of discipline, effort, desire, and innate ability—it also takes science. Scientifically driven improvements in training, facilities, equipment, and nutrition have such an impact on performance that world records now seem to have a shorter half-life than many RIA laboratory isotopes. Unfortunately, science is also the basis for doping and for activities designed to thwart its detection. Well might the Olympic motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (swifter, higher, stronger) apply to doping activists (5). After a highly publicized doping scandal in cycling in the summer of 1998, the International Olympic Committee convened the World Conference on Doping in Sport. An outcome of this conference was the establishment of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)1 in 1999, a foundation operated with the support and participation of the Olympic Movement, public authorities, governments, and other …
Monopole Topology and the Problem of Color

Topological obstructions to the definition of unbroken-symmetry transformations in the presence of monopoles with non-Abelian flux are exposed. Consequences for color and electroweak SU(2) in the context of the SU(5) model are discussed.
Superparamagnetic hall effect in some very dilute kondo systems

Abstract The Hall resistivity of polycrystalline samples of Au Fe, Ag Mn, Cu Fe and Cu Mn shows to varying degrees a contribution which at 4.2°K saturates in a few kG. This is thought to arise from electrons moving in superparamagnetic clusters of solute atoms. The effect is largest in A uFe where the data can be fitted to a Langevin function to give an estimate of 14 atoms per cluster.
Enhanced mRNA expression of neurofilament subunits in the brain and spinal cord of diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate-treated hens.

Diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate (DFP) is an organophosphorus ester, and a single injection of this compound (1.7 mg/kg, s.c.) produces delayed neurotoxicity (OPIDN) in hens in 7-14 days. Clinically, the disease is marked by hindlimb ataxia followed by paralysis after some time. A characteristic feature of this neuropathy is axonal swelling in the initial stages and comparative dissolution of the accumulated material and degeneration of distal axons with disease progression. Axonal swelling consists of aggregated neurofilaments, microtubules, and proliferated smooth endoplasmic reticulum. We studied expression of neurofilament (NF) mRNAs in brain regions and spinal cord to elucidate their role in OPIDN. There was a 50-200% increase in NF transcripts in 24 hr after DFP administration. The NF-L mRNA level started falling after 1-5 days and came down to control level in susceptible brain regions (i.e. cerebellum and brainstem) and spinal cord, but not in cerebral cortex, which does not show degeneration of axons in OPIDN. Cerebral cortex exhibited elevated levels of both NF-L and NF-M transcripts in DFP-treated hens throughout the period of observation. The induction of NF messages is consistent with the previously reported effect on extension of neurites of human neuroblastoma cells in culture. The transient increase in NF messages in susceptible tissues either may be responsible for the delayed degeneration of axons in OPIDN or is the result of interruption of regulatory signal due to progressive degeneration of axons.
Anatomical evidence for direct fiber projections from the cerebellar nucleus interpositus to rubrospinal neurons. A quantitative EM study in the rat combining anterograde and retrograde intra-axonal tracing methods

A quantitative electron microscopic (EM) study combining the anterograde intra-axonal transport of radioactive amino acids and the retrograde intra-axonal transport of the enzyme horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was performed in the magnocellular red nucleus of the rat to obtain anatomical evidence as to whether there is a direct projection from the cerebellar nucleus interpositus to the cells in the red nucleus that give rise to the rubrospinal tract. Large asymmetrical synaptic terminals were radioactively labeled in the magnocellular red nucleus following injections of [3H]leucine into the cerebellar nucleus interpositus. In these same animals, the postsynaptic target neurons were labeled with HRP granules after injection of this substance in the rubrospinal tract. A quantitative analysis showed that more than 85% of the large and giant neurons in the magnocellular red nucleus were labeled with HRP granules and also received synaptic contacts from radioactively-labeled terminals. Thus, it can be concluded that in the rat, afferents from the cerebellar nucleus interpositus establish asymmetrical synaptic contacts with large and giant rubrospinal neurons, thus confirming and extending the previous physiological evidence of such direct monosynaptic connections.
The Politics of Regulatory Reform and The Future Direction of Nuclear Energy Policy

Regulatory reform is not necessarily synonymous with regulatory relief. While many see a need to improve the performance of regulatory regimes, most deregulation efforts merely focus on relaxing enforcement. The authors augment this distinction by suggesting that even when the primary purpose of reform is relief, political forces must be convinced that relief is in the larger public interest. Despite the fact that nuclear energy is not as controversial as it once was, the failure of reform promoters to establish that reforms would be in the public interest, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's failure to introduce reforms on an administrative basis, the lack of active presidential leadership, and the absence of a consolidated effort by the two governmental agencies that share jurisdiction in the nuclear area have combined to ensure that nuclear licensing reform will have little chance for passage. 31 references.