cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of Expectation Disconfirmation Theory to Test Patient Satisfaction with Asynchronous Telemedicine for Diabetic Retinopathy Detection.

Objective. The purpose of the study is to extend research on patient satisfaction with telemedicine services by employing the theoretical framework of Expectation Disconfirmation Theory (EDT) for diabetic retinopathy screenings focusing on rural patients. Method. Adult subjects (n=220) with diabetes were recruited from a single family practice office in rural Iowa. Subjects completed a “pre” survey concerning their forward-looking perceptions of telemedicine prior to using telemedicine for detection of diabetic retinopathy and a “post” survey after they received recommendations from the distant ophthalmologists. Results. All hypotheses of the EDT model were supported. Patient satisfaction is influenced by both patients’ expectations (P<.001) and disconfirmation of expectations (P<.001), and patient satisfaction has a positive impact on patient preference for telemedicine services (P<.001). Overall, patients who received telemedicine services were highly satisfied with telemedicine and developed a favorable disposition towards telemedicine services. Conclusions. The EDT model is a viable framework to study patient satisfaction of telemedicine services. While previous feasibility studies have shown that telemedicine for diabetic retinopathy screenings yields diagnostic efficacy, this study applies a theoretical framework to demonstrate the viability of telemedicine for diabetic retinopathy screenings in rural areas.
Making Space for the Possible: Artists-in-Residence in Community College.

In a large classroom at the end of a hall, a modern dancer calls out to a room full of community college students, “Touch your hip, then move your hip. Touch your nose, move your nose. Touch your s...
Genetic Testing Across Young Hispanic and Non-Hispanic White Breast Cancer Survivors: Facilitators, Barriers, and Awareness of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.

Aims: This study compared facilitators and barriers to genetic testing and determined awareness about the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) across young Hispanic and non-Hispanic whi...
Chronic Lower Leg Pain in Athletes: Overview of Presentation and Management

Athletes with chronic lower leg pain present a diagnostic challenge for clinicians due to the differential diagnoses that must be considered. We aimed to review the literature for studies on the diagnosis and management of chronic lower leg pain in athletes. A literature review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). The PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane library databases were searched, and articles that examined chronic lower leg pain in athletes were considered for review. Two independent reviewers conducted the search utilizing pertinent Boolean operations. Following two independent database searches, 275 articles were considered for initial review. After the inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, 88 were included in the final review. These studies show that the most common causes of lower leg pain in athletes include medial tibial stress syndrome, chronic exertional compartment syndrome, tibial stress fractures, nerve entrapments, lower leg tendinopathies, and popliteal artery entrapment syndrome. Less frequently encountered causes include saphenous nerve entrapment and tendinopathy of the popliteus. Conservative management is the mainstay of care for the majority of cases of chronic lower leg pain; however, surgical intervention may be necessary. Multiple conditions may result in lower leg pain in athletes. A focused clinical history and physical examination supplemented with appropriate imaging studies can guide clinicians in diagnosis and management. We provide a table to aid in the differential diagnosis of chronic leg pain in the athlete.
Minimum Latency Aggregation Scheduling in Internet of Things

The Minimum Latency Aggregation Scheduling (MLAS) problem in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) targets to attain aggregation schedules that satisfy the two desirable properties: minimum latency and no collisions. Researchers adapt the conventional homogeneous and heterogeneous WSNs to address the MLAS problem in Internet of Things (IoTs) as WSN technology is an essential component of an IoT. However, usual WSNs assume devices to use one single protocol, while some IoTs require heterogeneous devices to use different protocols. Therefore, calling a WSN an IoT is a misnomer and accordingly existing approaches may not properly realize broader IoT environments. In this paper, we clarify the distinction between WSNs and IoTs in terms of types of devices and protocols. Then, we provide a constant-factor approximation algorithm that can fully address the MLAS problem in IoTs. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first constant factor algorithm that addresses the NP-hard problem.
The Intersection of Nonprofit Roles and Public Policy Implementation

Many nonprofit organizations implement policy through service delivery. In addition, these nonprofits serve other roles in their communities. Policy implementation strategies that overlook the many...
The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces 2.0

This paper introduces a novel framework for urban analysis that leverages computational techniques, along with established urban research methods, to study how people use urban public space. Through three case studies in different urban locations in Europe and the US, it demonstrates how recent machine learning and computer vision techniques may assist us in producing unprecedently detailed portraits of the relative influence of urban and environmental variables on people’s use of public space. The paper further discusses the potential of this framework to enable empirically-enriched forms of urban and social analysis with applications in urban planning, design, research, and policy.
The Living Spine Model: A Biomimetic Surgical Training and Education Tool.

Background The Living Spine Model (LSM) is a three-dimensionally printed, surgical training platform developed by neurosurgical residents. Objective To evaluate the face and content validity of this model as a training tool for open posterior lumbar surgery. Methods Six surgeons with varying experience were asked to complete L3-5 pedicle screw fixation and L3-4 laminectomy on an LSM. Face validity was measured using a questionnaire, and content validity was measured using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA TLX) tests. Student's t-test was used to compare NASA TLX responses between junior and senior residents and to compare responses for live surgery vs simulated surgery on the LSM. Results Junior residents took the longest time to complete the procedure, followed by senior residents and the attending surgeon (136.5, 98.3, and 84 min, respectively). The junior residents placed fewer successful pedicle screws (7/12) than senior residents and attending surgeon (18/18). All tested components of the model had excellent face validity, with scores ranging from 60% to 97%. Content validity testing demonstrated that the LSMs created overall workloads and specific types of work like live operating conditions. Conclusion The overall validity testing of the LSM demonstrates the high-potential utility of this model as a surgical education and testing platform for open posterior lumbar procedures. The LSM has great potential as an adjunct to surgical education, and it may become an increasingly important component of surgical resident curricula in the future.
Structure and Stability of the Ionic Liquid Clusters [EMIM]n[BF4]n+1– (n = 1–9): Implications for Electrochemical Separations

Precise functionalization of electrodes with size-selected ionic liquid (IL) clusters may improve the application of ILs in electrochemical separations. Herein we report our combined experimental a...
Relapse-like behavior in a mouse model of the OPRM1 (mu-opioid receptor) A118G polymorphism: Examination with intravenous oxycodone self-administration.

Abstract The widely abused prescription opioid oxycodone is a mu-opioid receptor (MOP-r) agonist and addiction to such opioids is a relapsing disorder. The human MOP-r gene (OPRM1) has an important functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), A118G, which affects risk of severe opioid use disorders. A112G (G/G) knock-in mice are models of human A118G carriers. We examined oxycodone self-administration (SA) in male and female G/G versus wild type (A/A) mice in SA sessions and in relapse-like behavior. Adult male and female G/G and A/A mice self-administered oxycodone (0.25 mg/kg/infusion, FR1) for 10 consecutive days. Following 10-day home cage drug free withdrawal, the mice were re-exposed to oxycodone SA for a further 10 days. MOP-r receptor mRNA in various brain regions were examined immediately after the last re-exposure session. We found that G/G mice had greater oxycodone SA than A/A mice in the initial and in re-exposure sessions. Mice of both genotypes had greater oxycodone intake during the re-exposure period than during the initial exposure. We also detected differences in MOP-r gene expression due to genotype, sex and oxycodone SA history in the dorsal striatum, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. These studies may improve our understanding of MOP-r-agonist self-exposure and relapse in human carriers of the A118G SNP.
Infrared conductivity of single-domain Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 high-temperature superconductors

The a-b plane of single-domain Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 crystals is anisotropic both above and below T C . The normal-state infrared conductivity is higher for \(\vec E\;||\;a\) ∥ a whereas the high-frequency conductivity is higher along b, particularly for transitions associated with the Bi-O layers. Below T C there is a definite anisotropy to the far-infrared absorption, with a finite absorption for \(\vec E\;||\;b\) ∥ b down to ~20 meV. This anisotropy could be due either to anisotropy of the superconducting gap or to anisotropy of the midinfrared component.
Nonheme iron-thiolate complexes as structural models of sulfoxide synthase active sites.

Two mononuclear iron(ii)-thiolate complexes have been prepared that represent structural models of the nonheme iron enzymes EgtB and OvoA, which catalyze the O2-dependent formation of carbon-sulfur bonds in the biosynthesis of thiohistidine compounds. The series of Fe(ii) complexes reported here feature tripodal N4 chelates (LA and LB) that contain both pyridyl and imidazolyl donors (LA = (1H-imidazol-4-yl)-N,N-bis((pyridin-2-yl)methyl)methanamine; LB = N,N-bis((1-methylimidazol-2-yl)methyl)-2-pyridylmethylamine). Further coordination with monodentate aromatic or aliphatic thiolate ligands yielded the five-coordinate, high-spin Fe(ii) complexes [FeII(LA)(SMes)]BPh4 (1) and [FeII(LB)(SCy)]BPh4 (2), where SMes = 2,4,6-trimethylthiophenolate and SCy = cyclohexanethiolate. X-ray crystal structures revealed that 1 and 2 possess trigonal bipyramidal geometries formed by the N4S ligand set. In each case, the thiolate ligand is positioned cis to an imidazole donor, replicating the arrangement of Cys- and His-based substrates in the active site of EgtB. The geometric and electronic structures of 1 and 2 were analyzed with UV-vis absorption and Mossbauer spectroscopies in tandem with density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Exposure of 1 and 2 to nitric oxide (NO) yielded six-coordinate FeNO adducts that were characterized with infrared and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies, confirming that these complexes are capable of binding diatomic molecules. Reaction of 1 and 2 with O2 causes oxidation of the thiolate ligands to disulfide products. The implications of these results for the development of functional models of EgtB and OvoA are discussed.
On certain Lagrangian submanifolds of S2 ×S2 and ℂPn

We consider various constructions of monotone Lagrangian submanifolds of ℂ Pn, S2 × S2, and quadric hypersurfaces of ℂ Pn. In S2 × S2 and ℂ P2 we show that several different known constructions of exotic monotone tori yield results that are Hamiltonian isotopic to each other, in particular answering a question of Wu by showing that the monotone fiber of a toric degeneration model of ℂ P2 is Hamiltonian isotopic to the Chekanov torus. Generalizing our constructions to higher dimensions leads us to consider monotone Lagrangian submanifolds (typically not tori) of quadrics and of ℂ Pn which can be understood either in terms of the geodesic flow on T∗Sn or in terms of the Biran circle bundle construction. Unlike previously known monotone Lagrangian submanifolds of closed simply connected symplectic manifolds, many of our higher-dimensional Lagrangian submanifolds are provably displaceable.
Micro-preemption synthesis: an enabling mechanism for multi-task VLSI systems

Task preemption is a critical enabling mechanism in multi-task VLSI systems. On preemption, data in the register files must be preserved in order for the task to be resumed. This entails extra memory to preserve the context and additional clock cycles to save and restore the context. In this paper, we present techniques and algorithms to incorporate micro-preemption constraints during multi-task VLSI system synthesis. Specifically, we have developed: (i) Algorithms to insert and refine preemption points in scheduled task graphs subject to preemption latency constraints. (ii) Techniques to minimize the context switch overhead by considering the dedicated registers required to save the state of a task on preemption and the shared registers required to save the remaining values in the tasks. (iii) A controller based scheme to preclude preemption related performance degradation. The effectiveness of all approaches, algorithms, and software implementations is demonstrated on real examples.
CHPG enhances BDNF and myelination in cuprizone-treated mice through astrocytic metabotropic glutamate receptor 5.

It is well recognized that astrocytes can produce factors known to affect the myelination process. One such factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), can enhance the differentiation of oligodendrocyte lineage cells following a demyelinating lesion. Our previous work indicated that enhancing astrocyte-derived BDNF via injection of a general agonist of Group I/II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) into the lesion increased myelin proteins in the cuprizone model of demyelination after 4 hr. To determine if this observation has potential therapeutic significance, we now use a more specific mGluR agonist, 2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG), which binds to mGluR5, to examine effects on myelination through the clinically relevant approach of a peripheral injection. In initial studies, intraperitoneal injection of CHPG resulted in an increase in myelin proteins within the lesioned corpus callosum. These effects were blocked when either BDNF or the CHPG receptor, mGluR5, was deleted from glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)+ astrocytes or when the BDNF receptor, tropomyosin receptor kinase B (TrkB), was deleted from proteolipid protein (PLP)+ oligodendrocytes. Moreover, injection of CHPG over 2 weeks not only elevated BDNF and myelin proteins, but also enhanced myelination and reversed behavioral deficits. Interestingly, effects on myelin and myelin proteins were not seen in the control animals, indicating that a lesion is critical in eliciting effects. Taken together, the data suggest that the mGluR agonist CHPG may be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating demyelinating diseases and that it works by enhancing the release of BDNF from astrocytes.
A New Method for Ocean Wind Direction Retrieval from Delay-Doppler Maps Using Stare Processing and Machine Learning: Preliminary Simulation Results

We introduce a new method for retrieving ocean wind direction from GNSS-reflectometry measurements. Using a technique called stare processing, where information from a sequence of consecutive delay-Doppler maps is combined, values related to the wind-dependent surface slope statistics are extracted. These values are used to build a feature vector (the input to the machine learning model) that isolates dependence on wind speed and direction. Simulated sequences of 15 noise-free delay-Doppler maps are used to explore the feature engineering approach and to train and test the machine learning retrieval. The retrieval RMS error is 9.0 degrees. The algorithm is configured so that it can be applied, at least in principle, to standard CYGNSS level 1b data.
Influence of Surface Roughness Uncertainties on Design of Structures with Open and Suburban Exposures

AbstractFollowing an investigation into the causes of a 40% difference between estimates of structural response to wind by two reputable wind engineering laboratories, the National Institute of Sta...
Temperature dependence of frictional healing of Westerly granite: Experimental observations and numerical simulations

[1] Temperature is believed to have an important control on frictional properties of rocks, yet the amount of experimental observations of time-dependent rock friction at high temperatures is rather limited. In this study, we investigated frictional healing of Westerly granite in a series of slide-hold-slide experiments using a direct shear apparatus at ambient temperatures between 20°C and 550°C. We observed that at room temperature coefficient of friction increases in proportion to the logarithm of hold time at a rate consistent with findings of previous studies. For a given hold time, the coefficient of friction linearly increases with temperature, but temperature has little effect on the rate of change in static friction with hold time. We used a numerical model to investigate whether time-dependent increases in real contact area between rough surfaces could account for the observed frictional healing. The model incorporates fractal geometry and temperature-dependent viscoelasoplastic rheology. We explored several candidate rheologies that have been proposed for steady state creep of rocks at high stresses and temperatures. None of the tested laws could provide an agreement between the observed and modeled healing behavior given material properties reported in the bulk creep experiments. An acceptable fit to the experimental data could be achieved with modified parameters. In particular, for the power-law rheology to provide a reasonable fit to the data, the stress exponent needs to be greater than 40. Alternative mechanisms include time-dependent gouge compaction and increases in bond strength between contacting asperities.
Comparative Evaluation Between Experiment and Simulation for a Transverse Instability

A transverse combustion instability study composed of experimental and hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes/large eddy simulation results is described. The study is focused on gas-centered swirl coaxial injector elements like those used in the main chambers of oxidizer-rich staged-combustion engines. Experimental results are obtained from a self-excited, multi-element, high-pressure model rocket combustor. The simulation uses a velocity forcing technique to match the frequency and amplitude of the pressure oscillations that are measured in the combustor. Chemiluminescence is used to indirectly measure heat release rate in the experimental investigation. Detailed comparisons between the predicted and measured pressure field and the predicted and measured heat release modes are made. Modal decomposition is used to systematically compare the heat release modes. Results show successful computational replication of the experimental unsteady environment through the use of the velocity forcing technique and th...
Overexpression in bacterial and identification in infected cells of the pseudorabies virus protein homologous to herpes simplex virus type 1 ICP18.5

The ICP18.5 gene (UL28) of herpes simplex virus type 1 is a member of a well-conserved gene family among herpesviruses and is thought to play a role in localization of viral glycoproteins. We have cloned, sequenced, and expressed the entire pseudorabies virus (PRV) ICP18.5 open reading frame in Escherichia coli as a Cro-ICP18.5 fusion protein. Rabbit antiserum against Cro-ICP18.5 immunoprecipitated a 79-kDa protein from PRV-infected cells as well as a 79-kDa protein from in vitro translation of a T7 RNA polymerase transcript of the ICP18.5 gene. ICP18.5 could be detected in infected cells by 2 h postinfection. Analysis by indirect immunofluorescence demonstrated that ICP18.5 became associated with the nucleus. Subcellular fractionation confirmed that ICP18.5 synthesized during a pulse-chase experiment appeared in the nuclear fraction with time and was stable for at least 2.5 h after synthesis. Pulse-chase analysis revealed that ICP18.5 was synthesized as a monomer during a 2-min pulse labeling but formed faster sedimenting complexes which were sensitive to sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treatment. The majority of ICP18.5 appeared in complexes with an antigenically unrelated 70-kDa protein. Immunoblot analysis of total infected-cell extracts using polyvalent anti-ICP18.5 serum demonstrated that a 74-kDa cellular protein in addition to the 79-kDa ICP18.5 was detected. This cellular protein was present at similar levels in uninfected cells and in PRV-infected cells at least 12 h into the infectious cycle.
Experimental observations of environmental contributions to fatigue crack growth

Aluminum 2024-T3 and 7075-T6 center-cracked panels were fatigued in a dry air environment of 10 ppm water vapor. Blocks of 100 cycles having 1, 3, or 5 cycles at 0.02 Hz and the remainder at 20 Hz were employed. Fractographic observations at crack lengths between ..cap alpha.. = 4mm and ..cap alpha.. = 12 mm revealed striation formation corresponding to the slow cycles followed by a transient region containing approximately 15 additional striations formed at 20 Hz. These striation bands were then separated by a flat featureless region. For crack lengths less than ..cap alpha.. = 4 mm extensive striation formation was found, while for crack lengths greater than ..cap alpha.. = 12 mm only striations corresponding to slow cycles were found. An analysis of the experimental results supports a mechanism of adsorption of water vapor, disassociation to produce free hydrogen, and subsequent surface migration of hydrogen to the crack tip. It is felt that diffusion of hydrogen into the plastic zone ahead of the crack tip does not adequately explain the environmental effect as represented by the presence of striations. A more plausible explanation appears to be the lowering of delta /SUB critical/ required for bond rupture of atomsmore » at the crack-tip surface.« less
Toscana Virus Encephalitis in a Traveler Returning to the United States

In Italy, Toscana virus is the most common cause of meningitis from May to October. Though only a few cases have been reported in U.S. travelers returning from Europe, most cases are likely unrecognized due to lack of familiarity with the disease. Here, we describe the case of an 82-year-old man presenting with fever, profound weakness, and hearing loss after returning to the United States following a 2-week summertime vacation in southern Italy who was ultimately diagnosed with Toscana virus encephalitis. This case should alert clinicians to the possibility of Toscana virus infection in returning travelers and provides information on how to obtain testing if Toscana virus is suspected.
Ultrasonic Studies of Stresses and Plastic Deformation in Steel During Tension and Compression

A steel bar subjected to four-point bending was instrumented so that various strains and sound velocities could be measured during elastic and plastic deformation on both the tension and compression side of the bar. During plastic deformation, the load was reduced several times before it was increased again. We present the acoustoelastic constants and the corresponding third-order elastic constants 1, m, and n in both tension and compression in the “as-treated” specimen and after various amounts of plastic deformation. The changes in various sound velocities with plastic deformation are also discussed.
Super-quasi-orthogonal space-time trellis codes

We introduce a new family of space-time trellis codes which extends the powerful characteristics of super-orthogonal space-time trellis codes to four transmit antennas. We consider a family of quasi-orthogonal space-time block codes as building blocks in our new trellis codes. These codes combine set-partitioning and a super set of quasi-orthogonal space-time block codes in a systematic way to provide full diversity and improved coding gain. The result is a very powerful code that provides full rate, full diversity, and high coding gain. Simulation results demonstrate the good performance of our new super-quasi-orthogonal space-time trellis codes.
The Right Hemisphere and Recovery From Aphasia

Although language function is overwhelmingly left lateralized, significant recovery from aphasia is possible even after the left language territory is extensively damaged Some of this recovery is mediated by a transfer of language representation from the lesioned left to the intact right hemisphere. This phenomenon qualifies the view that language is the product of a unique left-hemisphere language acquisition device or module. It may also have broader significance for the mechanisms of cognitive recovery after focal cerebral injury.
An Open Letter from Heaven to Barack Obama

Since the passing of A. Leon Higginbotham, Jr. in 1998, many have wondered what the award winning author, longest-serving black federal judge, first black to head a federal regulatory agency, recipient of the Spingarn Medal and the Congressional Medal of Freedom, and author of the famous “Open Letter to Clarence Thomas” would think of the state of race relations today. Appointed to the Federal Trade Commission in 1962, Higginbotham served in several powerful federal positions including Vice-Chairman of the National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence, member of the first wiretap surveillance court, and chief judge of a United States Court of Appeals. Known as the conscience of the American judiciary on race issues, Higginbotham caused controversy in 1992, when he publicly reminded Justice Clarence Thomas of his predecessor’s contributions to racial equality. In the 18 years since this public letter, much progress has been made, including Higginbotham’s former student, Michelle Obama, becoming the first black first lady. This article presents what might have been Higginbotham’s letter to President Obama after one year in office.
A detailed seabed signature from Hurricane Sandy revealed in bedforms and scour

[1] On 30 October 2012, Hurricane Sandy made landfall near Brigantine New Jersey bringing widespread erosion and damage to the coastline. We have obtained a unique set of high-resolution before and after storm measurements of seabed morphology and in situ hydrodynamic conditions (waves and currents) capturing the impact of the storm at an inner continental shelf field site known as the “Redbird reef”. Understanding the signature of this storm event is important for identifying the impacts of such events and for understanding the role that such events have in the transport of sediment and marine debris on the inner continental shelf. As part of an ONR-sponsored program designed to understand and characterize the ripple dynamics and scour processes in an energetic, heterogeneous inner-shelf setting, a series of high-resolution geoacoustic surveys were conducted before and after Hurricane Sandy. Our overall goal is to improve our understanding of bedform dynamics and spatio-temporal length scales and defect densities through the application of a recently developed fingerprint algorithm technique. Utilizing high-resolution swath sonar collected by an AUV and from surface vessel sonars, our study focuses both on bedforms in the vicinity of manmade seabed objects and dynamic natural ripples on the inner shelf in energetic coastal settings with application to critical military operations such as mine countermeasures.
Modelling astrophysical outflows via the unified dynamo–reverse dynamo mechanism

The unified Dynamo-Reverse Dynamo (Dy-RDy) mechanism, capable of simultaneously generating large scale outflows and magnetic fields from an ambient microscopic reservoir, is explored in a broad astrophysical context. The Dy-RDy mechanism is derived via Hall magnetohydrodynamics, which unifies the evolution of magnetic field and fluid vorticity. It also introduces an intrinsic length scale, the ion skin depth, allowing for the proper normalization and categorization of microscopic and macroscopic scales. The large scale Alfven Mach number $\mathcal{M}_{A}$, defining the relative "abundance" of the flow field to the magnetic field is shown to be tied to a microscopic scale length that reflects the characteristics of the ambient short scale reservoir. The dynamo (Dy), preferentially producing the large scale magnetic field, is the dominant mode when the ambient turbulence is mostly kinetic, while the outflow producing reverse dynamo (RDy) is the principal manifestation of a magnetically dominated turbulent reservoir. It is conjectured that an efficient RDy may be the source of many observed astrophysical outflows that have $\mathcal{M}_{A} \gg 1$.
The dynamics of changes in the female wage distribution in the USA: a quantile regression approach

This paper examines the female wage structure focusing on changes at different points in the wage distribution. Newly developed quantile regression methods are used in analysing data from the March Current Population Survey. The results show that while the most significant changes for the less skilled women took place at the bottom of the wage distribution, for the more skilled groups changes occurred at both ends of the distribution. Consequently, wage inequality decreased for the high-school graduates and increased for the younger college graduates. Furthermore, the more highly skilled women experienced the steepest gain in wages regardless of their position in the distribution. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Barlaam e Josafat. Edición crítica por John E. Keller y Robert W. Linker. Introducciôn por Olga T. Impey y John E. Keller. Madrid: CSIC, Instituto Miguel de Cervantes (Clásicos Hispánicos), 1979. xlv + 456 pp

(1981). Barlaam e Josafat. Edicion critica por John E. Keller y Robert W. Linker. Introduccion por Olga T. Impey y John E. Keller. Madrid: CSIC, Instituto Miguel de Cervantes (Clasicos Hispanicos), 1979. xlv + 456 pp. Kentucky Romance Quarterly: Vol. 28, No. 2, pp. 211-212.
Nitric Oxide Ameliorates Hydrophobic Bile Acid-induced Apoptosis in Isolated Rat Hepatocytes by Non-mitochondrial Pathways

Abstract Hydrophobic bile acids are toxic to isolated rat hepatocytes by mechanisms involving mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. In the current study we examined the role of nitric oxide (NO), a potential mediator of apoptosis, during bile acid-induced apoptosis. Freshly isolated rat hepatocytes and hepatic mitochondria generated NO and peroxynitrite (ONOO−) in a concentration- and time-dependent manner when exposed to the toxic bile salt glycochenodeoxycholate (GCDC) (25–500 μm), which was prevented by the nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitorsN G-monomethyl-N-arginine monoacetate (l-NMMA) and 1400W. Relationships between hepatocyte NO production and apoptosis were examined by comparing the effects of NOS inhibitors with other inhibitors of GCDC-induced apoptosis. Inhibitors of caspases 8 and 9, the mitochondrial permeability transition blocker cyclosporin A, and the antioxidant idebenone reduced NO generation and apoptosis in GCDC-treated hepatocytes. In contrast, NOS inhibitors had no effect on GCDC-induced apoptosis despite marked reduction of NO and ONOO−. However, treatment with the NO donorsS-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine and spermine NONOate [N-(-aminoethyl)N-(2-hydroxy-2-nitrohydrazino)-1,2-ethylenediamine) inhibited apoptosis and caspase 3 activity while significantly elevating NO levels above GCDC-stimulated levels. Neither NO donors nor NOS inhibitors affected GCDC-induced mitochondrial permeability transition or cytochrome c release from liver mitochondria or GCDC-induced mitochondrial depolarization from isolated hepatocytes, suggesting that NO inhibits bile acid-induced hepatocyte apoptosis by a non-mitochondrial-dependent pathway. In conclusion, whereas NO produced from GCDC-treated hepatocytes neither mediates nor protects against bile acid-induced apoptosis, higher levels of NO inhibit GCDC-induced hepatocyte apoptosis by caspase-dependent pathways.
Effect of infection on reproductive performance of dairy cattle

The effect of Dermatophiluscongolensis on reproductive performance and milk production of dairy cattle was investigated using a prospective cohort study design. The following results were obtained: the calving to conception interval was 122 vs 104 days (P<0.05) for cows with lesions (cases) and those without lesions (non-cases), respectively; the 180-day pregnancy rate was 70.3% vs 84.3% (P<0.02) for cases and non-cases, respectively; the interval to first service was 69 days for cases and 64 days for non-cases (P<0.05) and the interval from first to second service was 32.7 days for cases and 49.4 days (P<0.01) for non-cases. The prevalence of cows with lesions was 33% (66200). Lesions were most commonly found on the skin covering the coccygeal and sacral vertebrae and the gluteal muscles. White skin had a greater prevalence of lesions than did black skin (P<0.05).
Reduce costs by reducing power: navigating the conflict between administering computers and being 'green'

Managers of public computing facilities are challenged with how to keep computers updated while also minimizing downtime. That is often solved by letting computers update automatically overnight while facilities are closed, or having staff on hand to apply updates manually. The latter usually involves increased payroll budgets.Leaving the machines on overnight and automating updates reduces payroll costs, but brings other challenges. There are significant potential savings in energy costs by reducing the amount of time that a computer is left on, in terms of electricity and cooling. There are less easily quantifiable savings resulting from reduced wear and tear on computer components. However, if computers are off, they cannot be remotely administered or updated. Simply setting all of the machines to turn on automatically at a set hour for updates is inefficient.At the University of Rochester we have created a distributed system with existing classroom audio-visual control systems that functions in a "Wake on LAN" (WOL) capacity. A command can be sent via the network to individual (or all) PCs and Macintoshes to power up on demand, meaning that we now can administer the machines remotely, even after they have been turned off. If the computers in facilities lapse into a reduced power state when not being used, the result will be a reduction of 75% or more in electricity usage for the computing facilities. If this approach were adopted University-wide, the savings could be more than $300,000 annually.
On the mechanism of carbamoylphosphate synthetase.

Studies were undertaken to investigate whether 2-acetamido glutaric anhydride is an intermediate in the synthesis of carbamoylphosphate. Experiments were carried out with pools of 2-acetamido-glutaric anhydride, its hydroxamate and NH2OH to trap the anhydride. The anhydride was also tested as an inhibitor. The experiments show no evidence for the participation of free 2-acetamido-glutaric anhydride as an intermediate. The effect of NH2OH on the synthesis of ATP from carbamoylphosphate and ADP was investigated in order to clarify whether this reaction is an integral part of the overall reaction catalyzed by carbamoylphosphate synthetase and whether there is a common intermediate which could react with NH2OH. The unexpected observation was made that NH2OH is an inhibitor of ATP synthesis at low levels of ADP, and that the enzyme has a high affinity for ADP. These results together with other experiments on carbamoylphosphate binding by the enzyme point to a competition between ADP site and NH2OH. No increase in the release of Pi from carbamoylphosphate in the presence of both acetylglutamate and NH2OH was observed; therefore the intermediate responsible for the acetylglutamate NH2OH-dependent ATPase is not formed extensively from carbamoylphosphate. The activation of carbamoylphosphate synthetase by acetylglutamate for both the forward and back reactions was studied. The enzyme was activated with acetylglutamate and rapidly separated from the cofactor on Sephadex. There was no evidence for retention of activation, indicating a fast return to the non-activated state. Therefore, enzyme samples were activated, diluted and assayed immediately and after time intervals. A time-dependent reversibility of the activated enzyme for both the forward and back reactions is illustrated.
UNSTABLE HEAVY PARTICLES

It is pointed out that for very massive particles in our universe there exist stringent bounds on their possible properties. New experiments which will search primarily for proton decay can usefully extend the domain of these bounds.
Prosthesis-Patient Mismatch After Aortic Valve Replacement: Impact of Age and Body Size on Late Survival

Background The purpose of this study was to identify patient subgroups in which prosthesis-patient mismatch most influenced late survival. Methods Over a 12-year period, 1,400 consecutive patients underwent bioprosthetic (933 patients) or mechanical (467) aortic valve replacement. Prosthesis-patient mismatch was defined as prosthetic effective orifice area/body surface area less than 0.75 cm 2 /m 2 and was present with 11% mechanical and 51% bioprosthetic valves. Results With bioprosthetic valves, prosthesis-patient mismatch was associated with impaired survival for patients less than 60 years old (10-year: 68% ± 7% mismatch versus 75% ± 7% no mismatch, p p = 0.47). Similarly, with mechanical valves, prosthesis-patient mismatch was associated with impaired survival for patients less than 60 years old (10-year: 62% ± 11% versus 79% ± 4%, p p = 0.26). For small patients (body surface area less than 1.7 m 2 ), prosthesis-patient mismatch did not impact survival with bioprosthetic ( p = 0.32) or mechanical ( p = 0.71) valves. For average-size patients (body surface area 1.7 to 2.1 m 2 ), prosthesis-patient mismatch was associated with impaired survival with both bioprosthetic ( p p 2 ), prosthesis-patient mismatch was associated with impaired survival with mechanical ( p p = 0.40) valves. Conclusions Prosthesis-patient mismatch had a negative impact on survival for young patients, but its impact on older patients was minimal. In addition, although prosthesis-patient mismatch was not important in small patients, prosthesis-patient mismatch negatively impacted survival for average-size patients and for large patients with mechanical valves.
A Comparison of Two Source Encoding Schemes

The implementation complexity and error performance of buffered variable length (BVL) encoding and typical sequence block (TSB) encoding for discrete memoryless sources using a synchronous channel are compared. The BVL encoding is found to be superior to the TSB encoding when the BVL buffer size and TSB block length are sufficiently large.
Theoretical Modeling for Hepatic Microwave Ablation

Thermal tissue ablation is an interventional procedure increasingly being used for treatment of diverse medical conditions. Microwave ablation is emerging as an attractive modality for thermal therapy of large soft tissue targets in short periods of time, making it particularly suitable for ablation of hepatic and other tumors. Theoretical models of the ablation process are a powerful tool for predicting the temperature profile in tissue and resultant tissue damage created by ablation devices. These models play an important role in the design and optimization of devices for microwave tissue ablation. Furthermore, they are a useful tool for exploring and planning treatment delivery strategies. This review describes the status of theoretical models developed for microwave tissue ablation. It also reviews current challenges, research trends and progress towards development of accurate models for high temperature microwave tissue ablation.
Spectral-encoding for parallel source implementation in NIR tomography

While near-infrared tomography has advanced considerably over the past decade, key technological designs still limit what can be achieved, especially in terms of imaging acquisition speed. One of these fundamental limitations is the requirement that the source light be delivered sequentially or through frequency encoding of the time signal. Sequential delivery inherently limits the speed at which images can be acquired. Modulation frequency-dependent encoding of the sources solves the problem by allowing sources near the same location to be turned on simultaneously, thereby improving the speed for acquisition, but suffers from dynamic range problems. In this study, we demonstrate an alternative parallel source implementation approach which uses spectral wavelength encoding of the source. This new technique allows many sources to be input into the tissue at the same time, as long as the spectrally encoded signals can be decoded at the output. To test the implementation of this approach, 8 single-mode laser diodes of wavelengths distributed within a narrow range of 10 nm are used, and the lights are all input into tissue phantom simultaneously. On the detection side, a high-resolution spectrometer is used to spatially spread out the signals to facilitate parallel detection of the signal from each spectrally-encoded source. This robust approach allows rapid parallel sampling of all sources at all detection locations. The implementation of this technique in a NIR tomography application is examined, and the preliminary results of video-rate imaging at 30 Hz is presented.
Parkinson's Disease-associated α-Synuclein Is More Fibrillogenic than β- and γ-Synuclein and Cannot Cross-seed Its Homologs

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is pathologically characterized by the presence of intracytoplasmic Lewy bodies. Recently, two point mutations in α-synuclein were found to be associated with familial PD, but as of yet no mutations have been described in the homologous genes β- and γ-synuclein. α-Synuclein forms the major fibrillar component of Lewy bodies, but these do not stain for β- or γ-synuclein. This result is very surprising, given the extent of sequence conservation and the high similarity in expression and subcellular localization, in particular between α- and β-synuclein. Here we compare in vitro fibrillogenesis of all three purified synucleins. We show that fresh solutions of α-, β-, and γ- synuclein show the same natively unfolded structure. While over time α-synuclein forms the previously described fibrils, no fibrils could be detected for β- and γ-synuclein under the same conditions. Most importantly, β- and γ-synuclein could not be cross-seeded with α-synuclein fibrils. However, under conditions that drastically accelerate aggregation, γ-synuclein can form fibrils with a lag phase roughly three times longer than α-synuclein. These results indicate that β- and γ-synuclein are intrinsically less fibrillogenic than α-synuclein and cannot form mixed fibrils with α-synuclein, which may explain why they do not appear in the pathological hallmarks of PD, although they are closely related to α-synuclein and are also abundant in brain.
The Ontology of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Natural Kind, Social Construction, or Causal System?

The ontological status of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has long been a focus of intense controversy. Is PTSD a natural kind discovered recently by astute clinicians, but present throughout history and across diverse cultures? Or is it a socially constructed artifact arising in the wake of the Vietnam War? In addition to covering issues relevant to this debate, I describe another interpretation of PTSD orthogonal to the natural versus artifactual dichotomy. Inspired by the causal systems approach to mental disorders pioneered by Borsboom and his colleagues, I suggest a causal system interpretation of PTSD is a scientifically more profitable approach than either the social constructionist or natural kind interpretations of this disorder.
Comparing the Efficacy of an Engineered-Based System (College Livetext) with an Off-the-Shelf General Tool (Hyperstudio) for Developing Electronic Portfolios in Teacher Education

In teacher education, electronic portfolios provide an authentic form of assessment documenting students' personal and professional growth. Using the engineered-based system, College LiveText, and an off-the-shelf general tool, HyperStudio, pre-service teachers constructed e-portfolios as part of their teacher preparation requirements. This case study revealed that pre-service teachers favored the high efficacy of HyperStudio applications when compared to College LiveText portal, because of its flexibility that matched their creativity, vision, and style. The style and vision of the pre-service teachers were in keeping with constructivism and facilitated the learning paradigm shift that characterizes the quality of pre-service teachers' preparation for licensure in a mid-south university in the U.S.
Weighted and probabilistic context-free grammars are equally expressive

This article studies the relationship between weighted context-free grammars (WCFGs), where each production is associated with a positive real-valued weight, and probabilistic context-free grammars (PCFGs), where the weights of the productions associated with a nonterminal are constrained to sum to one. Because the class of WCFGs properly includes the PCFGs, one might expect that WCFGs can describe distributions that PCFGs cannot. However, Z. Chi (1999, Computational Linguistics, 25(1):131--160) and S. P. Abney, D. A. McAllester, and P. Pereira (1999, In Proceedings of the 37th Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics, pages 542--549, College Park, MD) proved that every WCFG distribution is equivalent to some PCFG distribution. We extend their results to conditional distributions, and show that every WCFG conditional distribution of parses given strings is also the conditional distribution defined by some PCFG, even when the WCFG's partition function diverges. This shows that any parsing or labeling accuracy improvement from conditional estimation of WCFGs or conditional random fields (CRFs) over joint estimation of PCFGs or hidden Markov models (HMMs) is due to the estimation procedure rather than the change in model class, because PCFGs and HMMs are exactly as expressive as WCFGs and chain-structured CRFs, respectively.
Departures in the spoken narratives of normal and language-disordered children

The spoken narratives of 38 normal and language-disordered children (CA 7;6–10;6) were analyzed by describing their departures from the original text during recall. The narrative texts were presented to an adult listener following each child's viewing of a 35-minute film. The following departure types were compared across groups: (a) acceptable departures from the original text meaning, (b) unacceptable departures from the original text meaning, (c) grammatical departures (i.e., agrammatical utterances), (d) exact repetitions of words or phrases, (e) unacceptable departures from the text's meaning correctly repaired, (f) unacceptable departures from the text meaning incorrectly repaired, (g) departures from text meaning left unrepaired, and (h) repaired grammatical departures. Results indicated that both groups used a higher rate of acceptable departures from the original text meaning than any other departure type, with the normal children producing a higher rate of acceptable departures and a lower rate of unacceptable grammatical departures. Both groups repaired fewer unacceptable grammatical departures than unacceptable departures from text meaning. The groups did not differ in their tendency to ignore grammatical departures. Implications for language processing in narrative discourse are discussed.