cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FMEC: Overview and Interpretation

This paper is an integrative essay on the activities and intellectual concerns of the FMEC community. The paper frames these concerns around three ‘non-standard’ formalisms (logic, graphs, and procedures), three themes or general problems (representation, inference, and learning), and seven more specific topics (electronic data interchange, electronic contracting, speech acts, special logics, system and process modelling, strategy formation, and computational discovery). In addition, the paper introduces each of the chapters in this book and places them within the general FMEC framework. An appendix to the paper records the bibliographic history of the FMEC community.
Feed Intake and Weight Changes in Bos indicus-Bos taurus Crossbred Steers Following Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus Type 1b Challenge Under Production Conditions

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) has major impacts on beef cattle production worldwide, but the understanding of host animal genetic influence on illness is limited. This study evaluated rectal temperature, weight change and feed intake in Bos indicus crossbred steers (n = 366) that were challenged with BVDV Type 1b, and where family lines were stratified across three vaccine treatments of modified live (MLV), killed, (KV) or no vaccine (NON). Pyrexia classification based on 40.0 °C threshold following challenge and vaccine treatment were investigated for potential interactions with sire for weight change and feed intake following challenge. Pyrexia classification affected daily feed intake (ADFI, p = 0.05), and interacted with day (p < 0.001) for ADFI. Although low incidence of clinical signs was observed, there were marked reductions in average daily gain (ADG) and cumulative feed intake during the first 14 day post-challenge; ADG (CV of 104%) and feed efficiency were highly variable in the 14-day period immediately post-challenge as compared to the subsequent 14-day periods. A sire × vaccine strategy interaction affected ADFI (p < 0.001), and a sire by time period interaction affected ADG (p = 0.03) and total feed intake (p = 0.03). This study demonstrates that different coping responses may exist across genetic lines to the same pathogen, and that subclinical BVDV infection has a measurable impact on cattle production measures.
Psychometric Properties of the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and Its Short Forms in Adults With Emotional Disorders.

Objective: The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) is a widely used self-report measure of subjective emotion ability, as defined by a prominent clinically derived model of emotion regulation (Gratz and Roemer, 2004). Although the DERS is often used in treatment and research settings for adults with emotional (i.e., anxiety, mood, obsessive-compulsive, or trauma-related) disorders, its psychometric properties are not well-characterized in this population. Method: We examined the psychometric properties of the DERS and three popular short forms (DERS-16; DERS-18; and DERS-SF) in a large (N = 427) sample of treatment-seeking adults with one or more DSM-5 emotional disorders. Results: For the original DERS, internal consistency was strong for all subscales except Awareness. A bifactor structure consisting of one general emotion dysregulation factor and five uncorrelated specific factors corresponding to the original DERS subscales (excluding Awareness) provided the best fit. A series of structural equation models (SEMs) demonstrated unique incremental contributions of the general factor and several specific factors to explaining concurrent clinical severity. The general factor and one specific factor (Goals) also prospectively predicted treatment outcome following a naturalistic course of outpatient cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in a subset of participants (n = 202) for whom discharge data were available. Specifically, more severe emotion dysregulation at intake predicted better CBT response, while more severe impairment in goal-directed activity when distressed predicted worse CBT response. All three short forms showed a robust bifactor structure and good internal consistency and convergent validity vis-a-vis the original measure, albeit with a slight decrement in incremental utility (1-3% less variance explained in clinical severity). Conclusion: With the Awareness items excluded, the DERS showed good internal consistency and a robust bifactor latent structure. The general factor and several specific factors incrementally and prospectively predicted clinical severity and treatment outcome, which suggests that the DERS may have clinical and predictive utility in treatment-seeking adults with emotional disorders. Additional research is needed to establish convergent and discriminant validity in this population. The use of a short form in lieu of the full DERS may be sufficient for many general clinical and research purposes, particularly when participant burden is a concern.
Effects of immunosuppressive agents on the hemostatic system in normal dogs.

BACKGROUND In dogs, the effects of immunosuppressive medications on hemostasis are not well known. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES The objective was to determine the effects of immunosuppressive medications on primary and secondary hemostasis. Our hypothesis was that cyclosporine and prednisone would increase markers of hypercoagulability and thromboxane synthesis, while azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, and leflunomide would have minimal effects on hemostasis. ANIMALS Eight healthy dogs. METHODS A randomized, cross-over study used aggregometry, the PFA-100 platelet function analyzer, viscoelastometry, platelet count, and prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times to evaluate hemostasis during the administration of prednisone, azathioprine, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and leflunomide for 1 week each at standard oral doses. Urine 11-dehydro-thromboxane-B2 (11-dTXB2 ) and 6-keto-prostaglandin-F1α (6-keto-PGF1α ) concentrations, normalized to urine creatinine concentration, were measured. RESULTS The aggregometry amplitude decreased from 51 ± 21 to 27 ± 14 (P = .002) during leflunomide treatment (ADP activation), but there were no differences in amplitude (P = .240) for any medications when platelets were activated with collagen. For all medications, there were no significant differences in viscoelastometry indices (ACT, P = .666; ClotRate, P = .340; and platelet function, P = .411) and platelet count (P = .552). Compared with pretreatment values, urinary 11-dTXB2 -to-creatinine ratio increased (P = .001) after drug administration (from 3.7 ± 0.6 to 5.6 ± 1.1). Cyclosporine was associated with an increase (P < .001) in the 6-keto-PGF1α -to-creatinine ratio (from 10.3 ± 4.6 to 22.1 ± 5.3). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE Most immunosuppressive drugs do not enhance platelet function or coagulation in healthy dogs, suggesting that these medications might not predispose hypercoagulable dogs to thromboembolism. The results of our study need to be correlated with the clinical outcomes of hypercoagulable dogs.
Inclusive non-market valuation in Coupled Human and Natural Systems (CHANS): a motivating theory

Selectively focusing non-market valuation studies for operational changes in singular stretches or components of complex, coupled human and natural systems (CHANS) ignores important social and cult...
Approach for oxygenation of the newborn with airway obstruction due to a cervical mass

Large congenital cervical neck masses present major difficulties in management of the neonatal airway at delivery and in the perinatal period. With ultrasound, these lesions can be predicted prenatally. An airway treatment plan can then be formulated and modified in relation to the airway presentation at birth. We describe a case of a massive cervical-mediastinal teratoma and our management plan. Preparation involved a multidisciplinary approach including endoscopy to secure the airway while the neonate remained on fetal circulation and an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation system was available. Once the infant's condition was stable, a cervical approach with resection of the massive teratoma with mediastinal dissection without sternotomy was successful. A differential diagnosis of cervical neck masses and review of cervical teratomas is presented.
Evaluation of Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) as a Vegetative Cover for a Landfill Containing Coal Combustion Waste

A vegetative cover is a remedial technique utilized on landfills and waste sites for soil stabilization and for the physical and/or chemical immobilization of contaminants. Many herbaceous plants, primarily grasses, exhibit rapid growth, are moderately resistance to environmental stress, and are therefore often used as cover crops in environmental restoration and remediation projects. Use of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum) was examined as a potential cover species and phytostabilizer on an unlined landfill (488-D Ash Basin, 488-DAB) containing approximately one million Mg of coal combustion wastes (CCWs) at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina. Use of soil amendments and treatments to relieve physical limitations at the site (compaction) and promote vegetation success were implemented and assessed. The influence of these treatments on metal uptake by bahiagrass was also evaluated. Results indicated that the survival of bahiagrass growing in plots treated with a surface amendment (15 cm layer of material applied over the CCWs) was the highest in those containing a topsoil cover and followed the order: topsoil > biosolid > ash > apatite > control. Ripping of the landfill prior to planting also resulted in increased survival for the bahiagrass. Significant differences with respect to survival and metal uptake were not observed in plots that were inoculated with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) over those not inoculated. However, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in plant tissue concentrations of Al, Cr, Fe, Ni, and Zn in plots treated with ash over those of the topsoil and biosolid treatments. Results indicated that the use of soil amendments and subsurface (physical) treatments were essential for plant survival and that periodic monitoring of plant species should be continued to ensure that metal toxicity and secondary contaminant problems do not arise with time.
Facial landmarking: comparing automatic landmarking methods with applications in soft biometrics

Registration is a critical step in computer-based image analysis. In this work we examine the effects of registration in face-based soft-biometrics. This form of soft-biometrics, better termed as facial analytics, takes an image containing a face and returns attributes of that face. In this work, the attributes of focus are gender and race. Automatic generation of facial analytics relies on accurate registration. Hence, this work evaluates three techniques for dense registration, namely AAM, Stacked ASM and CLM. Further, we evaluate the influence of facial landmark mis-localization, resulting from these techniques, on gender classification and race determination. To the best of our knowledge, such an evaluation of landmark mis-localization on soft biometrics, has not been conducted. We further demonstrate an effective system for gender and race classification based on dense landmarking and multi-factored principle components analysis. The system performs well against a multi-age face dataset for both gender and race classification.
High-Order PSK Signaling (HOPS) Techniques for Low-Power Spread Spectrum Communications

The emergence of wireless networks consisting of large quantities of internet of things (IoT) devices has created the need for low-power multiple access communications protocols. The protocols employed for many of the current generation IoT devices are employing existing commercial standards, which often are optimized for very different purposes. In particular, the capability to simultaneously support low power operations and security is a challenge, indicative by the many compromises made in the adaptation of commercial protocols to IoT. This paper describes high order phase shift keying (PSK) signaling (HOPS) spread spectrum waveform techniques that echo secure military communications in many ways, yet are optimized for deployment in security-oriented battery-powered applications like industrial IoT, tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS), and the emerging Wireless Avionics Intra-Communications (WAIC) standards. The paper presents results primarily through gate-level simulation models constructed in Simulink's HDL Coder toolbox, backed by hardware measurements on Altera Cyclone V SX SoC and Arria 10 SoC FPGAs.
Medicinal Plant Ethnoecology and Climate Change: Implications for Conservation, Health and the Environment

The implications of this work for conservation, health, and the environment is discussed. The potential impact of climate change on medicinal plant ethnoecology in Highland Chiapas is examined. Climate change is already occurring in Highland Chiapas. The most utilized medicinal plant species will likely experience little impact from climate change due to their widespread availability and abundance. However, more obscure medicinal plant species are likely to be impacted. In addition to affecting medicinal plant yield, climate change can have an impact on medicinal plant quality. Future directions in medical ethnobotanical research in the region are explored.
Dehumanization, prejudice, and social policy beliefs concerning people with developmental disabilities

We investigated the nature of prejudice toward people with developmental disabilities, its potential roots in dehumanization, its implications for social policy beliefs affecting this target group,...
Fostering Safety Communication among Construction Workers: Role of Safety Climate and Crew-Level Cohesion

Safety communication among construction workers is fundamental to effective safety management. However, evidence suggests that poor safety communication is a common problem in construction workplaces. In fact, previous research has unveiled a number of systemic barriers to effective safety communication in the construction industry. When workers do not sufficiently communicate relevant safety hazards and appropriate injury prevention measures, unexpected injuries can follow. Therefore, research examining factors that promote or impede effective safety communication is necessary. Towards achieving this goal, the purpose of the current research was to evaluate the effect of safety climate and crew cohesion on the demonstrated safety communication levels. The goal was achieved by gathering empirical data from 57 construction workplaces in the United States. More specifically, the participating construction workplaces were visited, and data pertaining to the safety climate and crew-level cohesion were first collected using questionnaire surveys. Next, a safety communication survey instrument was administered, and the data necessary to compute network density—a social network metric that is indicative of safety communication levels was gathered. The analysis of the data suggested that a positive relationship exists between safety climate and safety communication levels. Likewise, construction crews that demonstrated higher levels of cohesion exhibited superior safety communication levels. Finally, evidence also suggested that a synergetic effect exists between safety climate and crew cohesion in improving safety communication levels.
Efficacy of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for the Treatment of Insomnia Symptoms Among Pregnant Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance Despite the prevalence and adverse consequences of prenatal insomnia, a paucity of research is available regarding interventions to improve insomnia symptoms during pregnancy. Objective To test the efficacy of digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) compared with standard treatment among pregnant women with insomnia symptoms. Design, Setting, and Participants This randomized clinical trial enrolled pregnant women from November 23, 2016, to May 22, 2018. Of the 2258 women assessed for eligibility using an online self-report questionnaire, 208 were randomized to receive digital CBT-I (n = 105) or standard treatment (n = 103) for insomnia. Participants were pregnant up to 28 weeks’ gestation, and they either had elevated insomnia symptom severity or met the criteria for insomnia caseness as determined by self-report questionnaires. Participants completed outcome measures at 10 weeks (postintervention) and 18 weeks (follow-up) after randomization. All study visits were completed remotely, and the intervention was delivered digitally. Data were analyzed between December 12, 2018, and July 2, 2019. Interventions Digital CBT-I consisted of 6 weekly sessions of approximately 20 minutes each. Standard treatment reflected standard care. Women receiving standard treatment had no limits placed on the receipt of nonstudy treatments, including medication and psychotherapy. Main Outcomes and Measures All outcomes were assessed remotely using self-report questionnaires administered via online survey. The primary outcome was the change in insomnia symptom severity (measured by the Insomnia Severity Index) from baseline to postintervention. Secondary outcomes were sleep efficiency and nightly sleep duration (defined by sleep diary), global sleep quality (measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), depressive symptom severity (measured by the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), and anxiety symptom severity (measured by the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7). For each outcome, we also examined the change from baseline to follow-up. Results The 208 participants had a mean (SD) age of 33.6 (3.7) years and a mean (SD) gestational age of 17.6 (6.3) weeks at baseline. Most of the participants were white (138 [66.3%]), married or cohabiting (196 [94.2%]), had a college degree (180 [86.5%]), and earned $100 000 or more per year (141 [67.8%]). Women randomized to receive digital CBT-I experienced statistically significantly greater improvements in insomnia symptom severity from baseline to postintervention compared with women randomized to receive standard treatment (time-by-group interaction, difference = −0.36; 95% CI, −0.48 to −0.23; χ2 = 29.8;P Conclusions and Relevance In this trial, digital CBT was an effective, scalable, safe, and acceptable intervention for improving insomnia symptoms during pregnancy. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:NCT02805998
A Quality Improvement Initiative Results in Improved Rates of Timely Postvariceal Bleeding Surveillance Endoscopy.

Objectives We performed a study to assess the effects of a quality improvement (QI) initiative on the rates of postvariceal bleeding surveillance upper endoscopy (EGD). Methods We identified patients with cirrhosis hospitalized with variceal bleeding and assessed the rates of timely (≤4 weeks) EGD before and after a QI initiative. Results Preintervention: 16% (5 of 32) of patients underwent timely surveillance EGD. We developed a standardized ordering template for gastroenterology fellows and reserved postvariceal EGD scheduling slots. Postintervention: 43% (12 of 28) of patients underwent timely surveillance EGD. Discussion A QI intervention was associated with a 27% absolute increase in timely surveillance EGDs.
Crater detection from commercial satellite imagery to estimate unexploded ordnance in Cambodian agricultural land

Unexploded ordnance (UXO) pose a significant threat to post-conflict communities, and current efforts to locate bombs rely on time-intensive and dangerous in-person enumeration. Very high resolution (VHR) sub-meter satellite images may offer a low-cost and high-efficiency approach to automatically detect craters and estimate UXO density. Machine-learning methods from the meteor crater literature are ill-suited to find bomb craters, which are smaller than meteor craters and have high appearance variation, particularly in spectral reflectance and shape, due to the complex terrain environment. A two-stage learning-based framework is created to address these challenges. First, a simple and loose statistical classifier based on histogram of oriented gradient (HOG) and spectral information is used for a first pass of crater recognition. In a second stage, a patch-dependent novel spatial feature is developed through dynamic mean-shift segmentation and SIFT descriptors. We apply the model to a multispectral WorldView-2 image of a Cambodian village, which was heavily bombed during the Vietnam War. The proposed method increased true bomb crater detection by over 160 percent. Comparative analysis demonstrates that our method significantly outperforms typical object-recognition algorithms and can be used for wide-area bomb crater detection. Our model, combined with declassified records and demining reports, suggests that 44 to 50 percent of the bombs in the vicinity of this particular Cambodian village may remain unexploded.
Genetic Screens Reveal CCDC115 as a Modulator of Erythroid Iron and Heme Trafficking

Transferrin-bound iron (TBI), the physiological circulating iron form, is acquired by cells through the transferrin receptor (TfR1) by endocytosis. In erythroid cells, most of the acquired iron is incorporated into heme in the mitochondria. Cellular trafficking of heme is indispensable for erythropoiesis and many other essential biological processes. Comprehensive elucidation of molecular pathways governing and regulating cellular iron acquisition and heme trafficking is required to better understand physiological and pathological processes affecting erythropoiesis. Here, we report the first genome-wide clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) screens in human erythroid cells to identify determinants of iron and heme uptake, as well as heme-mediated erythroid differentiation. We identified several candidate modulators of TBI acquisition including TfR1, indicating that our approach effectively revealed players mechanistically relevant to the process. Interestingly, components of the endocytic pathway were also revealed as potential determinants of transferrin acquisition. We deciphered a role for the vacuolar-type H+ - ATPase (V- ATPase) assembly factor coiled-coil domain containing 115 (CCDC115) in TBI uptake and validated this role in CCDC115 deficient K562 cells. Our screen in hemin-treated cells revealed perturbations leading to cellular adaptation to heme, including those corresponding to trafficking mechanisms and transcription factors potentiating erythroid differentiation. Pathway analysis indicated that endocytosis and vesicle acidification are key processes for heme trafficking in erythroid precursors. Furthermore, we provided evidence that CCDC115, which we identified as required for TBI uptake, is also involved in cellular heme distribution. This work demonstrates a previously unappreciated common intersection in trafficking of transferrin iron and heme in the endocytic pathway of erythroid cells.
Relationship of TSH Levels with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in US Youth and Reference Percentiles for Thyroid Function

Context Thyroid hormones play an important role in metabolic homeostasis, and higher levels have been associated with cardiometabolic risk. Objective To examine the association of cardiometabolic risk factors with TSH levels in US youth. Methods Cross-sectional study of youth aged 12 to 18 years without known thyroid abnormalities from 5 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cycles (n = 2818) representing 15.4 million US children. Subclinical hypothyroidism (SH) was defined as thyrotropin (TSH) levels of 4.5 to 10 mIU/L. Assessed cardiometabolic risk factors include abdominal obesity (waist circumference >90th percentile), hypertriglyceridemia (triglyceride ≥130 mg/dL), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( 3.16), and elevated alanine transferase (≥ 50 for boys and ≥44 U/L for girls). Age and sex- specific percentiles for thyroid parameters were calculated. Results In this cohort of youth (51.3% male), 31.2% had overweight/obesity. The prevalence of SH was 2.0% (95% CI 1.2-3.1). The median TSH levels were higher in youth with overweight/obesity (P Conclusion The prevalence of SH is low in US youth. The higher odds of insulin resistance and cardiometabolic risk factors in youth with TSH levels >75th percentile requires further study.
A fifth wave? The changing nature of boomtown research

Abstract This work provides a valuable review and collection of boomtown research from the past half century including a proposed new fifth wave. Boomtowns are rapid growth communities, often associated with natural resource development (e.g., gold, coal, oil/gas) and generally rural. Also, in its discussion of late modernity, the current undertaking answers the call put forth by Donnermeyer and DeKeseredy (2014) to challenge conventional theoretical views of resource extraction communities as simply experiencing ‘disruptions’.
Ruptured Renal Abscess From Streptococcus agalactiae Invasion in a Postpartum Female.

Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus or GBS)is an exceptionally rare causative organism of a ruptured renal abscess. We report a case of this normally commensal organism causing a large ruptured renal abscess in a 17-year-old postpartum female. Although S. agalactiae is known to cause postpartum neonatal morbidity and mortality, it has rarely caused invasive infections in the last 20 years in adults. While this diagnosis often presents with nonspecific findings that can easily be overlooked during the postpartum period, the patient responded well to the established treatment of broad-spectrum antibiotics and a percutaneous drain.
Impact of nuclear environment on hydrothermal corrosion and silica transport for CVD SiC in light water reactors

Abstract The development of comprehensive corrosion and silica transport models is essential to estimate the cladding thickness loss of SiC/SiC composites and the free silica content in the coolant under the hydrothermal radiation environment of light water reactors. In the present work, the hydrothermal corrosion behavior of high purity unirradiated and 5.1 MeV Si ion irradiated CVD SiC with different surface finish are examined in a high and a low flow high-pressure flow loops (15 MPa, 300 °C). Experiments carried on CVD surfaces with different surface finish indicated accelerated dissolution of cladding material with an increase in surface roughness and irradiation damage. Further, a first-of-its-kind analysis to understand the impact of CRUD deposition on the CVD SiC corrosion suggests that the SiC dissolution would reduce significantly as a stable CRUD layer grows on the SiC surface. The experimentally determined dissolution rates and the mass transfer mechanisms are implemented in Radiation Chemistry Analysis Loop (RADICAL) code. The spatial inventory of silica deposition is estimated at different components in a typical BWR and PWR primary loops using the updated RADICAL code. Lastly, an enhancement of CRUD growth under gamma radiation on SiC and Zircaloy surfaces was observed.
Pediatric Opioid Prescribing: A Call for Calm

* Abbreviation: OUD — : opioid use disorder As a pediatric substance use disorder specialist, it would seem that I should be the last person to call for calm in the middle of an ongoing national opioid problem. However, calmness and a critical view of available data are needed, especially when considering how clinical and policy decisions may affect our young patients. Legislation, prescribing guidelines, and other sweeping recommendations need to be based on relevant, high-quality data. Regarding the US opioid problem, the primary direct impact is among adult populations, in which there had been clear evidence of opioid overprescribing for chronic nonmalignant pain, and in which the bulk of opioid use disorder (OUD) diagnoses and overdoses occur. In response, many states now require prescription monitoring databases and some states mandate prescribing limits. In youth, opioids are prescribed less often, with the very young more likely to accidentally ingest an adult’s medication and teenagers now more often experiencing overdose involving heroin or synthetic opioids.1 Prescriptions for adults have certainly been a source for youth opioid nonmedical use (defined here as use of medication that is not prescribed to the individual or use of one’s own medication in a way other than prescribed) initiation,2 and reductions in adult prescriptions have likely contributed to declines in pediatric opioid-related morbidity. Opioid nonmedical use in youth can be a precursor to, but does not usually result in, OUD, and heroin use is increasing as the initial opioid used by those who go on to develop OUD.3 There are several studies linking pediatric opioid prescribing to risk of future OUD development, but evidence supporting a causal relationship between pediatric opioid prescribing for pain and subsequent OUD development is lacking. In 2016, to a large extent on the basis of expert consensus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued … Address correspondence to Lucien Gonzalez, MD, MS, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical School, University of Minnesota, 2450 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis MN, 55454. E-mail: toogonzo{at}umn.edu
The Association of Mobility Determinants and Life Space Among Older Adults.

Background It is important to understand the factors associated with life space mobility so that mobility disability can be prevented/treated. The purpose of this study was to identify the association between mobility determinants and life space among older adults. Methods This study was a cross-sectional analysis of 249 community-dwelling older adults (mean age=77.4 years, 65.5% female, 88% white) who were recruited for a randomized, controlled, clinical intervention trial. Associations between cognitive, physical, psychosocial, financial, and environmental mobility determinants and the Life Space Assessment (LSA) at baseline were determined using Spearman's correlation coefficients and one-way analysis of variance. Multivariate analysis was performed using multivariable linear regression models. Results The mean LSA score for the sample was 75.3 (SD=17.8). Personal factors (age, gender, education, comorbidities), cognitive (Trail Making Test A and B), physical (gait speed, lower extremity power, Six Minute Walk Test, Figure of 8 Walk Test, tandem stance, energy cost of walking, and Late Life Function and Disability Function Scale), psychosocial (Modified Gait Efficacy Scale), and financial (neighborhood socio-economic status) domains of mobility were significantly associated with LSA score. In the final regression model, age (β=-0.43), lower extremity power (β=0.03), gait efficacy (β=0.19), and energy cost of walking (β=-57.41) were associated with life space (R 2=0.238). Conclusions Younger age, greater lower extremity power, more confidence in walking, and lower energy cost of walking were associated with greater life space. Clinicians treating individuals with mobility disability should consider personal, physical, and psychosocial factors assessing barriers to life space mobility.
Identification problem and detailed Oaxaca decomposition: A general solution and inference

It is well-known that the standard Oaxaca decomposition method on wage differentials produces arbitrary results when calculating the coefficients effect of sets of dummy variables: the estimated sum of coefficients effects of sets of dummy variables is not invariant to the choice of reference groups. We generalize this identification problem in the detailed Oaxaca decomposition and its solution based on a normalized equation to a decomposition analysis for differences in the first moment where linear or non-linear (e.g., probit or logit) models can be used for estimation. We provide a practical and simple algorithm to derive the normalized equation, and show that using normalized equation does not change the size and inference of the overall characteristics and coefficients effects. JEL classification: C20, J70
Pituitary Peptides RESOLUTION BY GEL FILTRATION

Abstract Nine major fractions obtained by ion exchange chromatography of a porcine pituitary extract were resolved further by gel filtration on Sephadex G-25. This purification step indicates the existence of a large number of subcomponents, most of which are still too impure for chemical characterization. The preparative scale isolation of β-melanocyte-stimulating hormone and 8-lysine vasopressin in greater than 90% purity was achieved. α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone was isolated in analytically pure form. Programs for the biological screening of the subfractions described are in progress.
Multi-fiber reconstruction from diffusion MRI using mixture of wisharts and sparse deconvolution

In this paper, we present a novel continuous mixture of diffusion tensors model for the diffusion-weighted MR signal attenuation. The relationship between the mixing distribution and the MR signal attenuation is shown to be given by the Laplace transform defined on the space of positive definite diffusion tensors. The mixing distribution when parameterized by a mixture of Wishart distributions (MOW) is shown to possess a closed form expression for its Laplace transform, called the Rigaut-type function, which provides an alternative to the Stejskal-Tanner model for the MR signal decay. Our model naturally leads to a deconvolution formulation for multi-fiber reconstruction. This deconvolution formulation requires the solution to an ill-conditioned linear system.We present several deconvolution methods and show that the nonnegative least squares method outperforms all others in achieving accurate and sparse solutions in the presence of noise. The performance of our multi-fiber reconstruction method using the MOW model is demonstrated on both synthetic and real data along with comparisons with state-of-the-art techniques.
Multi-platform Interrogation and Reporting with Rscan

This paper describes Rscan - a tool that allows a System Administrator to easily write and execute scripts on a single machine or an entire network of machines. Rscan can be used to automate security checks, configuration checks and many other tasks. If a module (a collection of scripts) is written with different sections for different operating systems and different versions of each operating system (as they are intended to be written), Rscan will automatically select the correct set of scripts to execute on any particular operating system. As Rscan runs it generates reports which can be written as either plain ASCII or H( bytes) ( bytes) TML files. Rscan is specifically designed to be run in a heterogeneous environment and is easily adapted to new and different operating systems. Two running modes are available: text mode and GUI mode. When running in text mode, all output that is generated is sent to either standard out or standard error. When running in GUI mode, Rscan starts a WWW browser such as Netscape Navigator or NCSA Mosaic and the user can configure the system, run scans and read reports using the browser as a GUI.
Elevated serum iron in toxemia of pregnancy

The records of 144 women with toxemia of pregnancy were evaluated retrospectively for clinical course and clinical laboratory parameters. A striking elevation of serum iron was noted when patients were most seriously ill. There was a prompt return to normal iron values with improved clinical status. The toxemia-associated rise in iron is out of proportion to the increase in other parameters, such as uric acid, blood urea nitrogen, and hematocrit. Possible explanations for this phenomenon are offered.
Man With Blurry Vision and Eye Pain

Aman inhis 40s from India presentedwith a 2-month history of blurred vision andpain in the left eye.Hismedical history and findings fromthephysical examinationwereunremarkable. Findings from the examination of the right eye also were unremarkable. Bestcorrectedvisualacuitywas20/20ODand20/60OS.The left eyehadaposterior vitreousdetachmentwith 1+vitreoushazeandmacularedema(ME).Mostnotably, there was extensive peripheral retinal hemorrhage with obliterative vasculitis extending fromthearcades through themidperiphery (Figure 1A). Findingson fluoresceinangiographywerenormal for the right eye and confirmed vascular staining, retinal ischemia, and hemorrhage in the left eye (Figure 1B). Optical coherence tomography demonstratedmildME. The results of a subsequent autoimmune and inflammatory workup, including tests for antinuclear antibodies, anti–double-stranded DNA antibodies, antimyeloperoxidase antibodies, antiproteinase 3, angiotensin-converting enzyme, and lysozyme,were negative. The results of aworkup for infectious diseases were negative for syphilis and Lyme disease but revealed a positive result on the QuantiFERON Gold test (QIAGEN). While the patient never developed symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis nor was he diagnosedwith active tuberculosis, infectious disease consultants subsequentlyprescribedantituberculosis therapy.Hewasalso treated with 60 mg of oral prednisone daily, but 1 month after presentation, his visual acuity declined to 20/100 OS owing to increasedME. Quiz at jamaophthalmology.com Obliterative vasculitis A Retinal hemorrhage B
UN/ESA Workshops on Basic Space Science: An Initiative in the Worl dwide Development of Astronomy

In 1990, the United Nations, in cooperation with the European Space Agency, initiated the organization of a series of annual Workshops on Basic Space Science for the benefit of astronomers and space scientists in Asia and the Pacific, Latin American and the Caribbean, Africa, Western Asia, and Europe. This article summarizes accomplishments of these Workshops (1991-1998) and their follow-up projects with a view to enhance the worldwide development of astronomy and space science. The Workshops are being considered unique and a model for such an endeavor.
Accurate image localization based on google maps street view

Finding an image's exact GPS location is a challenging computer vision problem that has many real-world applications. In this paper, we address the problem of finding the GPS location of images with an accuracy which is comparable to hand-held GPS devices. We leverage a structured data set of about 100,000 images build from Google Maps Street View as the reference images. We propose a localization method in which the SIFT descriptors of the detected SIFT interest points in the reference images are indexed using a tree. In order to localize a query image, the tree is queried using the detected SIFT descriptors in the query image. A novel GPS-tag-based pruning method removes the less reliable descriptors. Then, a smoothing step with an associated voting scheme is utilized; this allows each query descriptor to vote for the location its nearest neighbor belongs to, in order to accurately localize the query image. A parameter called Confidence of Localization which is based on the Kurtosis of the distribution of votes is defined to determine how reliable the localization of a particular image is. In addition, we propose a novel approach to localize groups of images accurately in a hierarchical manner. First, each image is localized individually; then, the rest of the images in the group are matched against images in the neighboring area of the found first match. The final location is determined based on the Confidence of Localization parameter. The proposed image group localization method can deal with very unclear queries which are not capable of being geolocated individually.
Whey beverages decrease blood pressure in prehypertensive and hypertensive young men and women

Abstract Whey protein beverages reduced blood pressure in young men and women in a six week controlled intervention. There were no differences in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), or mean arterial pressure (MAP) observed between groups consuming 28 g per day of either hydrolyzed or non-hydrolyzed whey protein in a beverage. However, in young adults with elevated DBP and SBP, whey beverage consumption significantly decreased SBP, DBP, and MAP by 8.0, 8.6, and 6.4 mm Hg, respectively ( P ≤ 0.001 for all comparisons). In subjects with elevated SBP only, SBP significantly decreased by 3.8 mm Hg ( P ≤ 0.04) after the whey beverage intervention. Subjects with normal blood pressure had no change in SBP, DBP, and MAP. Whey beverages also significantly decreased total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations ( P ≤ 0.001 and 0.05, respectively). Whey protein beverages may be useful for the dietary treatment of prehypertension and/or stage 1 hypertension.
Support for staff working in disaster situations A social work perspective

EnglishThis article illustrates how social work principles, servicing people in need, affirming individuality and using relationships are utilized in an American Red Cross program in Greater New York to help workers to better manage common stress. It also highlights implications for disaster providers, social work practitioners, administrators and educators. FrenchCet article illustre comment un programme de la Croix-Rouge ame ricaine dans la grande re gion de New York fait appel aux principes du travail social etre au service des personnes dans le besoin, affirmer l'individualite et utiliser les relations pour aider les travailleurs a mieux ge rer leur stress. Il explique aussi comment ces principes peuvent s'appliquer aux fournisseurs en situation de catastrophe, aux praticiens du travail social, aux administrateurs et aux e ducateurs.SpanishSe demuestra co mo un programa de la Cruz Roja de Ame rica en Nueva York, usando los principios del trabajo social (servicio a gente necesitada, respeto al individu...
Integral quantum Hall effect in graphene: Zero and finite Hall field

We study the influence of a finite Hall field EH on the Hall conductivity σyx in graphene. Analytical expressions are derived for σyx using the Kubo-Greenwood formula. For vanishing EH, we obtain the well-known expression σyx=4(N+1/2)e2/h. The inclusion of the dispersion of the energy levels, previously not considered, and their width, due to scattering by impurities, produces the plateau of the n=0 Landau level. Further, we evaluate the longitudinal resistivity ρxx and show that it exhibits an oscillatory behavior with the electron concentration. The peak values of ρxx depend strongly on the impurity concentration and their potential. For a finite EH, the result for σyx is the same as that for EH=0, provided EH is not strong, but the values and positions of the resistivity maxima are modified due to the EH-dependent dispersion of the energy levels.
Time-dependent fixation and implantation forces for a femoral knee component--an in vitro study.

Abstract Implant survival rate is a primary concern for individuals receiving a primary total knee arthroplasty. Loosening is the primary reason for revision surgery and was therefore the focus of the current study. To better understand the mechanics of implant fixation, the time-dependent fixation of a femoral knee component was measured in vitro on three cadaveric femurs. The fixation of each femoral knee component was measured with strain gauged implants for at least 10 min on each femoral component. Additionally, impaction forces were measured during the implantation of each component. These forces were 2–6 times less than previously reported. The implantation impact forces were higher for the bones with higher bone density. Power law regressions were fit to the absolute value of the principal strains measured on the components over time to quantify the relaxation of the bone. The average power coefficient value for the three bones was lower for the bones with higher bone density. The average power coefficient value for the maximum principal strains was significantly higher than that of the minimum principal strains in each bone. The results were extrapolated to approximate the fixation strength at 9 months after implantation. In this time period the strain was predicted to decrease to between 78 and 91% of the strain 1 s after implantation where those with lower bone density will have decreased fixation strength.
Use of advance demand information in multi-stage production-inventory systems with multiple demand classes

This paper considers three-stage production-inventory systems serving two customer classes, where only one class provides advance demand information and early order fulfilment is acceptable. We propose a new approach for production replenishment and order fulfilment in such systems that uses advance demand information for performance improvement. The approach combines the benefits of early fulfilment and Kanban-based pull systems. Simulation is used to establish the performance of the resulting policy vs. two existing policies, for a variety of production scenarios and cost structures. A lower bound on total cost is also established using a simulation-based procedure. In general, early fulfilment with one-for-one replenishment is shown to provide greater benefit than making items to order. Neither of the existing policies, however, was found to use advance demand information as effectively as the proposed approach, which outperformed the existing policies in every case considered. Additionally, the propos...
Anthropogenic biomes: a key contribution to earth-system science

Human activities now dominate most of the ice-free terrestrial surface. A recent article presents a classification and global map of human-influenced biomes of the world that provides a novel and potentially appropriate framework for projecting changes in earth-system dynamics.
Esophagogastric separation for failed fundoplication in neurologically impaired children.

Abstract Purpose Recurrent gastroesophageal reflux (GER) after a fundoplication in severely neurologically impaired children is a frustrating problem without an effective solution: redo fundoplications carry a significant recurrence rate and gastrojejunostomy (GJ) tube feedings are associated with frequent tube dislodgment. The authors report a series of esophagogastric separation (EGS) procedures aimed at the management of failed fundoplication in neurologically impaired children. Methods Medical records of 10 patients who underwent EGS for recurrent GER were reviewed retrospectively. Variables examined included diagnosis, preoperative problems, operative and perioperative data, and outcomes. Results None of the patients were feeding orally and all were dependent on tube feedings. A median of 1.5 (range, 1 to 3) fundoplications had been performed previously and failed. All had preoperative emesis and feeding intolerance. Eight had failure to thrive and 5 recurrent pneumonias. Median age at the time of the procedure was 7.5 years (range, 2 to 22). Median postoperative length of stay was 9 days (range, 5 to 17), and there were no leaks from the anastomosis. Salivary secretion intolerance was the most common postoperative problem (5 of 10 patients). Repeat exploration was required for perforation of the colon in one and paraesophageal hernia in another. Recurrent GER was not noted. All 9 currently surviving children are tolerating bolus gastrostomy feedings, which was an advantage to the parents. Conclusions EGS is an attractive alternative for failed fundoplication in severely neurologically impaired children.
Comparison of the sedimentation properties of microtubule protein oligomers prepared by two different procedures

Abstract Previously reported values of 30S and 36S for the sedimentation co-efficients of microtubule protein oligomers prepared by two different methods (Borisy et al ., Annals N.Y. Acad. Sci. 253 , 107–132 [1975]; Weingarten et al ., Biochemistry 13 , 5529–5537 [1974]) and analysed under different conditions have been confirmed. These differences in sedimentation coefficients were also observed when the two classes of oligomers were analysed under the same conditions, both at 5°C in the absence of Ca++ and at 24.5°C in the presence of Ca++. Gel electrophoresis showed differences in composition, the principal difference being a reduced amount of some high molecular weight ( ca . 3 × 105 Daltons) proteins in the samples prepared by the Weingarten et al . method. We conclude that the two procedures produce genuine differences in the properties of microtubule protein.