cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Retinal Microvascular Abnormalities as Surrogate Markers of Cerebrovascular Ischemic Disease: A Meta-Analysis.

Background To determine the predictive value of retinal microvascular abnormalities for cerebrovascular ischemic diseases (CVDs), we aimed to investigate the quantitative association between retinal microvascular changes and CVD subcategories: white matter hyperintensities (WMHIs), lacunar infarcts (LIs), and cerebral infarctions (CIs). Methods Using Meta-analyses Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines, we searched 6 databases through September 2016 for studies evaluating the linkage between retinal microvascular abnormalities and WMHI, and LI and CI. Studies were included if they reported odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals or raw patient level data (that were computed into ORs). Unadjusted and vascular risk-factor adjusted ORs were pooled into meta-analysis using DerSimonian Laird random effects model. Study quality and dissemination biases were assessed and integrated. Results From 24,444 search-identified records, 28 prospective studies encompassing 56,379 patients were eligible for the meta-analysis. After vascular risk-factor adjustment, focal arteriolar narrowing was associated with WMHI (OR, 1.24 [1.01-1.79]), LI (OR, 1.77 [1.14-2.74]), and CI (OR, 1.75 [1.14-2.69]). Venular dilation was associated with LI (OR, 1.46 [1.10-1.93]), and retinal hemorrhages with WMHI (OR, 2.23 [1.34-3.70]). Any retinopathy exhibited significant association with CI (OR, 1.96 [1.65-2.50]). Heterogeneity was significant (I2>50%) for all syntheses except retinal hemorrhages and WMHI, and retinopathy and CI (I2=0 ⋅ 0%). Associations remained significant after adjustments for quality and publication bias. Conclusions We found the most significant association between retinal hemorrhages and WMHI. Focal arteriolar narrowing and retinopathy predicted CVD subtypes after risk-factor adjustment, suggesting that features different than traditional vascular risk factors, are involved in CVD pathophysiology.
Moderating effects of app type on the intention of continued use of mobile apps among college students

With the increasing popularity of mobile apps, research on their adoption and acceptance is also on the rise. However, an important yet understudied area is the continued use of initial adoption. Additionally, although there are a variety of mobile apps, most previous research either examines one type of mobile app or treats all types of mobile apps as one homogenous entity. The purpose of this study is to investigate the moderating effects of app type on the intention of continued use among the three most popular types of mobile app (social networking, game, and productivity apps). A survey (N = 790) with young adults was conducted based on the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2). The structural equation modelling results demonstrated the moderating effects of app type on the factors in UTAUT2 on the intention of continued use. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Developing Librarian Competencies for the Digital Age, Edited by Jeffrey G. Coghill and Roger G. Russell. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2017, 166 pp., print ISBN: 978-1-4422-6444-1, $39.00, e-book ISBN: 978-1-4422-6445-8, $37.00. Medical Library Association Books Series

This collective work is an engaging account of the transformations and trends in libraries during the digital age. The editors organized the contributions in 10 chapters, and aside from the opening...
Bell’s Theorem and Mermin’s Gedanken Experiment

David Mermin proposed a gedanken experiment leading to a simple version of Bell’s Theorem. His argument is recalled and developed here. Its assumptions — that a source state exists, that a detector reading depends only on the source state and the detector setting, and that detector settings and source states vary independently — are noted.
Disciplined and undisciplined repression: illicit economies and state violence in Central Asia’s autocracies

What explains the use of disciplined repression in some autocratic regimes and undisciplined repression in others? Despite its relevance to these broader debates on authoritarianism, this question ...
Glycemic Variation and Cardiovascular Risk in the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial.

OBJECTIVE There is uncertainty about the importance of glycemic variability in cardiovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes. Using the Veteran Affairs Diabetes Trial (VADT), we investigated the association between variation in fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA 1c ) over time with the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and assessed whether this is influenced by intensive or standard glycemic control. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS During the VADT, fasting glucose and HbA 1c were measured every 3 months for up to 84 months in 1,791 individuals. Variability measures included coefficient of variation (CV) and average real variability (ARV) for fasting glucose and HbA 1c . Overall mean glucose and HbA 1c measures as well as their maximum and the most recent measurement were also examined. RESULTS Variability measures (CV and ARV) of fasting glucose were significantly associated with CVD even after adjusting for other risk factors, including mean fasting glucose. When considering separately groups receiving intensive and standard glycemic control, this relationship was evident in the intensive treatment group but not in the standard group. Additional adjustment for severe hypoglycemic episodes did not alter the relationship between fasting glucose variability and CVD. Interestingly, no HbA 1c measures were associated with CVD after adjusting for multiple baseline risk factors. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis indicates that in the VADT, variability of fasting glucose plays a role in the development of CVD complications beyond the influence of standard fasting glucose measures. The adverse consequences of fasting glucose variability on CVD appear greatest in those receiving intensive glucose control.
The Specter and Labor of the Black Poor in South Africa’s Private Security Industry

Private security has been the fastest growing industry in South Africa since the 1994 transition from apartheid to democracy. The expansion of private security stems from the combination of growing inequality, racialized poverty, a discourse of black criminality, distrust in the South African Police Service, and neoliberal faith in the private sector. In Johannesburg, private security companies profit from elite anxieties by encouraging the fortification of wealthy neighborhoods. Privatized strategies to prevent crime in elite neighborhoods rely on violence and racial profiling to regulate the movement of poor black men. Yet the industry relies on the labor of the very same population that it targets: poor black men. Building on ten years of ethnographic research on the South African private security industry, this chapter focuses on the experiences of low-wage black workers. As a primary source of entry-level work for African men, private security is one of the few options for poor South Africans in search of steady employment. Nevertheless, security jobs involve low wages and difficult, often dangerous conditions. In addition, black employees not only confront racism from bosses and clients but are also expected to use racial profiling to identify suspects. The profits of the private security industry, therefore, depend on both the specter and the labor of the black poor. This contradiction is one of the principal sources of instability that threatens to undermine the regime of privatized securitization in post-apartheid South Africa.
Pyoderma Gangrenosum Following Carpal Tunnel Release: A Case Report.

Case A 51-year-old woman with diabetes developed wound complications consistent with presumed infection 5 days after undergoing a carpal tunnel release. Despite multiple debridements, the wounds continued to necrose and deteriorate. A diagnosis of pyoderma gangrenosum eventually was made, and the condition improved with the administration of systemic corticosteroids. Conclusion Pyoderma gangrenosum, a form of neutrophilic dermatosis that rarely occurs as a complication of surgery, resembles a postoperative infection. Astute awareness of the condition can prevent a delayed diagnosis and unnecessary surgical procedures.
Traditional (5+2) versus integrated (0–5) vascular surgery training: the effect on case volume and the trainees produced

Abstract The development of two training paradigms for the training of vascular surgeons has naturally resulted in concerns regarding competence equivalency. Comparison of the traditional 5+2 year and the integrated 0–5 year training programs has confirmed clear differences in trainee experience. To date, the overall vascular procedure case-log experience is equivalent except in the areas of open abdominal procedures that separate traditional vascular fellows from integrated vascular surgery residents. The integrated vascular surgery trainee has the advantage of increased time spent on vascular services, and this results in a significantly increased major vascular case volume. Finally, while there is a difference in the types of jobs attained by these two groups, with vascular residents trending toward a more academic scope of practice, both groups report very similar training and job attainment satisfaction, including salary compensation.
Introduction: Image Politics at twenty

A text is not a text unless it hides from the first comer, from the first glance, the law of its composition and the rules of its game. A text remains, moreover, forever imperceptible. Its laws and...
Improving Probe-Based Congestion Performance Metrics Accuracy by Using Change Point Detection

Probe-based speed data provide great value to agencies; especially, in areas which are not feasibly covered by traffic sensors. However, as with sensors, probe data are not without nuance and issues like latency prevent alignment between calculated metrics by data source. In recent years, there has been a strong impetus on using data-driven decision making. Data-driven insights have become critical for smart mobility. To support data-driven decision making, Federal Highway Administration has procured probe data feeds and provides free access to state and local agencies as National Performance Measures Research dataset (NPRMDS). In addition to the NPRMDS, several state agencies subscribe to a paid probe data provider for obtaining real-time streams of high-resolution probe data. These datasets are used to generate nationwide urban mobility reports as well as reports focusing on certain jurisdiction. These mobility reports are integrated in several Transportation System Management and Operations (TSMO) plans which are often used to drive several resource allocation projects. This paper examines accuracy of methodology used to derive two frequently used performance measures in the mobility reports; namely, number of congested hours and number of congestion events. An improve methodology is then proposed to find accurate estimates for number of congested hours and number of congested incidents.
A model to rapidly assess informal electronic waste systems.

Electronic waste (e-waste) policies have traditionally been based on extended producer responsibility (EPR) principles. In practice, EPR-based e-waste policies primarily involve the creation of reg...
The Emergence of Civil Discourse

If we want to understand how an ancestral signaling system based on simple combinations of gestures, vocalizations, and facial expressions has evolved into a system capable of supporting civil discourse about the nature and origin of civil discourse, we need to think in terms of three very different timescales.
Observing Nitrogen Dioxide Air Pollution Inequality Using High-Spatial-Resolution Remote Sensing Measurements in Houston, Texas.

Houston, Texas is a major U.S. urban and industrial area where poor air quality is unevenly distributed and a disproportionate share is located in low-income, non-white, and Hispanic neighborhoods....
Natural Language Generation Using Deep Learning to Support MOOC Learners

Among all the learning resources within MOOCs such as video lectures and homework, the discussion forum stood out as a valuable platform for students’ learning through knowledge exchange. However, peer interactions on MOOC discussion forums are scarce. The lack of interactions among MOOC learners can yield negative effects on students’ learning, causing low participation and high dropout rate. This research aims to examine the extent to which the deep-learning-based natural language generation (NLG) models can offer responses similar to human-generated responses to the learners in MOOC forums. Specifically, under the framework of social support theory, this study has examined the use of state-of-the-art deep learning models recurrent neural network (RNN) and generative pretrained transformer 2 (GPT-2) to provide students with informational, emotional, and community support with NLG on discussion forums. We first trained an RNN and GPT-2 model with 13,850 entries of post-reply pairs. Quantitative evaluation on model performance was then conducted with word perplexity, readability, and coherence. The results showed that GPT-2 outperformed RNN on all measures. We then qualitatively compared the dimensions of support provided by humans and GPT-2, and the results suggested that the GPT-2 model can comparably provide emotional and community support to human learners with contextual replies. We further surveyed participants to find out if the collected data would align with our findings. The results showed GPT-2 model could provide supportive and contextual replies to a similar extent compared to humans.
3012 – PROBING HEMATOPOIETIC-STROMAL CROSSTALK BY SPATIALLY RESOLVED SINGLE-CELL RNA SEQ

Spatial transcriptomics encompasses a rapidly advancing set of techniques aimed at resolving the spatial organization of mRNA expression down to the micrometer scale. Virtually all of these techniques, however, rely on generation of tissue sections, impeding faithful reconstruction of 3D mRNA expression maps and providing only a static snapshot of the spatial organization. Intravital microscopy (IVM), on the other hand, provides both 3D and dynamic imaging data, enabling real-time visualization of disease progression and response to treatment that can be spatially and temporally heterogeneous. By IVM of the mouse calvarium we have observed the earliest stage of AML proliferation after seeding the bone marrow (BM), from single cells to small clusters, with striking spatial heterogeneity. To examine whether cross-talk with the BM microenvironment impacts AML cell fate, we developed a new experimental platform to differentially profile the BM compartments that support AML quiescence vs. proliferation. The platform utilizes precise femtosecond laser etching of bone to forge a microchannel, through which a micropipette was inserted to aspirate the rare leukemic and surrounding CXCl12+ stromal cells followed by analysis using the SMARTseqV4 protocol. For a more comprehensive assessment of the local microenvironment, we isolated several thousand BM cells for parallel scRNA-seq utilizing the high-throughput 10x genomics platform. The procedure was carried out under image guidance, using video-rate in vivo multi-photon microscopy to identify and aid the isolation of cells with specific dynamic properties from their respective BM micro-environments. This platform integrates spatial and temporal information from IVM with high content molecular information from scRNAseq, defining a new methodology for studying the mechanisms underlying disease progression and response to therapy.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A population-based study of outcome in the United States based on the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database, 1980-2017

The treatment in acute lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) has evolved and improved dramatically over the past four decades. We assessed the outcome of ALL overall, and the two major subsets of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph)-positive and Ph-negative ALL by age, time periods, ethnicity, median household income, and geographic county area. A total of 12 788 patients diagnosed with ALL from 1980 to 2017 were included. We performed an analysis to better evaluate the outcome evolution in ALL according to time period and patient's demographic factors. The overall 5-year survival rates have improved significantly over time, from 51% before 1990 to 72% since 2010. The survival rates for children (age 0 to 14 years) and adolescents (age 15 to 19 years) have improved from 73% and 55% before 1990 to 93% and 74% since 2010, respectively. Similarly, the rates had improved from 33% to 59% for adults 20 to 29 years old, 24% to 59% for 30 to 39 years old, and 14% to 43% for 40 to 59 years old between the two time periods. The rates remained under 30% in older patients (60+ years). Since 2010, patients with Ph-negative ALL had 5-year survival rate of 73% and those with Ph-positive ALL 50%. African Americans, Hispanic ethnicity, and lower household income were associated with inferior survival. The outcome of patients with ALL showed continued improvement across all age groups in the US. The recent introduction of targeted therapies, together with optimized supportive care, will continue to improve outcomes, particularly in older patients.
Primary hyperhidrosis in children: A review of therapeutics

Primary hyperhidrosis, an idiopathic disease that commonly affects the palms, soles, axillae, or craniofacial region, is characterized by perspiration in excess of what is required for physiologic cooling. This disease begins in childhood or adolescence and negatively impacts emotional, physical, and psychologic well-being. This review explores current therapeutic options for primary hyperhidrosis in the pediatric population, including topical therapies, oral therapies, non-surgical and procedural interventions, and adjunctive therapies. In addition, this review identifies new and emerging treatments and highlights the need for further research and therapeutic options for this impactful disease.
The utility of a second head CT scan after a negative initial CT scan in head trauma patients on new direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs).

Abstract Background New direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are commonly used in the management of atrial fibrillation and VTE. Currently, there is no strong evidence to support the current practice of routinely repeating computed tomography (CT) head in anticoagulated patients within 24 hours after their first negative CT scan to assess for new and delayed intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). Our hypothesis is that the vast majority will not have new CT scan findings of ICH and those who do would not require any further intervention. Methods This is retrospective cohort study. IRB approval was obtained. Subjects included adults age ≥ 18 taking DOACs who presented to our level III trauma center with confirmed or suspected blunt head trauma between August 2013 and October 2019 and received at least one head CT scans. Results 498 Patient encounters met inclusion criteria. Only 19 patients (3.8%) had positive traumatic ICH on the initial CT head. Those had a higher ISS. 420 out of 479 initial negative CT encounters received a second CT head. Only 2 (0.5%) had delayed positive second CT scan for ICH. 95%CI [0.06%, 1.7%] Patients who developed a new ICH on the second CT head after an initial negative CT scan had a lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on presentation and a higher ISS. None of those patients required neurosurgical intervention Conclusion Our data suggests that the risk of developing a new or delayed traumatic ICH for patients on DOAC on a second CT head within 24 hours following an initial negative CT is very low and when present did not require neurosurgical intervention and thus does not support routinely obtaining a repeat CT head within 24 hours after a negative initial CT scan. Patients presenting with lower GCS and higher ISS had a higher chance of having a delayed ICH.
Tackling light trapping in organic light-emitting diodes by complete elimination of waveguide modes.

Conventional waveguide mode decoupling methods for organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) are typically not scalable and increase fabrication complexity/cost. Indium-tin-oxide–free transparent anode technologies showed efficiency improvement without affecting other device properties. However, previous works lack rigorous analysis to understand the efficiency improvement. Here, we introduced an ultrathin silver (Ag) film as transparent electrode and conducted systematic modal analysis of OLEDs and report that waveguide mode can be completely eliminated by designing an OLED structure that is below the cutoff thickness of waveguide modes. We also experimentally verified the waveguide mode removal in organic waveguides with the help of index-matching fluid and prism. The negative permittivity, extremely thin thickness (~5 nanometers), and highly conductive properties achieved by a uniform copper-seeded Ag film can suppress waveguide mode formation, enhancing external quantum efficiency without compromising any other characteristics of OLEDs, which paves the way for cost-effective high-efficiency OLEDs in current display industry.
Majority positive attitudes cannot protect red wolves (Canis rufus) from a minority willing to kill illegally

Abstract In January 2021, there were 7 known individual red wolves (Canis rufus) remaining in the only wild population, located in Northeastern North Carolina (NENC). Anthropogenic mortality is the largest threat to survival of this population. Leading theory predicts that by understanding the attitudes and behavioral inclinations of the general public toward red wolves, better decisions can be made about how and where to concentrate outreach and interventions. Another view is that a very small minority of individuals must refrain from killing endangered species before restoration can succeed, so research and interventions need to focus on those few. We conducted interviews and surveys in nine counties in and around the NENC reintroduction area to measure attitude and behavioral inclinations toward red wolves, acceptance of the red wolf recovery program, and trust in the lead agency. We used two sampling techniques and in both samples pluralities or majorities liked red wolves, supported their restoration, disliked policy that would limit red wolf protections, trusted the agency, and would not kill a wolf illegally. While these data seem favorable for red wolf recovery, our results show a small group of people are driving the species to extinction through poaching. Self-identified male hunters in the probability group reported the greatest inclination to poach, with 11% saying they would kill any wolf they encountered on their own. We recommend engaging peer processes that discourage illegal behaviors and focusing energetic anti-poaching interventions on hostile actors to restore red wolves in this human dominated landscape.
25 – ENTROPY PRODUCTION IN THE STEADY STATE

This chapter considers the rate at which entropy is produced in a simultaneous flow of matter and heat. First the equations of continuity for the energy, for the matter, and for the entropy in a region small enough to be in local equilibrium are established. The continuity equation for the entropy yields the rate of entropy production per unit volume in the region. Integration over all regions then furnishes the global rate of entropy production. The entropy production function is then obtained simply by dividing global rate of entropy production by the volume.
Using standardized nursing languages: a case study exemplar on management of diabetes mellitus.

PURPOSE. This case study illustrates the characteristics of the nursing diagnosis readiness for enhanced self health management. DATA SOURCES. Published literature, experience, and expertise of the author were utilized as data sources. DATA SYNTHESIS. The standardized nursing languages of NANDA International, Nursing Outcomes Classification, Nursing Interventions Classification, and interventions related to the client's management of diabetes were derived for the case study. CONCLUSION. The use of standardized nursing languages with interventions related to the management of type 2 diabetes provided a framework for nurses to support clients with enhanced self-management to improve their outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE. The use of standardized nursing language in the management of type 2 diabetes can improve client outcomes.
A Branch-and-Bound Algorithm for Multiple-Target Tracking and its Parallel Implementation

Multiple-target tracking is used to identify the traveling paths of multiple point targets from a set of detected measurements. Since all the detected measurements often have a uniform look, it becomes difficult to distinguish one target from another, and targets from false alarms. Based on the statistical information about channel noise, target initiation rate, false alarm rate and probability of detection, a multiple-hypothesis testing can be formulated to associate each measurement with a specific source. However, this association process is a computationally explosive problem. By converting the association problem to an equivalent assignment problem, a branch-and-bound algorithm can be applied to provide an efficient method for generating hypotheses, evaluating their likelihood, and identifying the leading N most likely hypotheses. The modularity of the branch-and-bound algorithm leads naturally to a parallel computer implementation using the best-first search strategy.
STEADY DRAINAGE OF LAYERED SOILS: II, NOMOGRAPHS

This is the second of two papers on steady drainage of layered soils. In the first paper, the theory was developed; in this paper, the drain spacing equations for the two-layered and three-layered soils have been given. A set of 16 figures, containing 29 nomographs have been prepared for easy calculation of drain spacings in two-layered soils. Drain spacings calculated by using Dagan's equation for the two-layered soils agree well with the spacings calculated from the nomographs in this paper.
Identification and localization of glycine in the inner core lipopolysaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis

The amino acid glycine is identified as a component of the inner core oligosaccharide in meningococcal lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Ester-linked glycine residues were consistently found by mass spectrometry experiments to be located on the distal heptose residue (HepII) in LPS from several strains of Neisseria meningitidis. Nuclear magnetic resonance studies confirmed and extended this observation locating the glycine residue at the 7-position of the HepII molecule in L3 and L4 immunotype strains.
Natural gas utilization through CO2 reforming in a membrane reactor

By removing H 2 through a 50 μm Pd membrane, the CO 2 reforming of CH 4 can be considerably enhanced. Both CH 4 conversion and H 2 selectivity can be significantly increased above their conventional equilibrium values, especially at low reactant space velocities. For example, when the dry reforming reaction is carried out over a bed of 0.5% Pt/γ-Al 2 O 3 pellets at 550°C with an equimolar reactant GHSV of 65 h −1 , the CH 4 conversion and H 2 selectivity are 50% and 99%, respectively. At equilibrium in a conventional reactor, the corresponding CH 4 conversion and H 2 selectivity are only 24% and 78%.
Optimizing probe-based storage

Probe-based storage, also known as micro-electric mechanical systems (MEMS) storage, is a new technology that is emerging to bypass the fundamental limitations of disk drives. The design space of such devices is particularly interesting because we can architect these devices to different design points, each with different performance characteristics. This makes it more difficult to understand how to use probe-based storage in a system. Although researchers have modeled access times and simulated performance of workloads, such simulations are time-intensive and make it difficult to exhaustively search the parameter space for optimal configurations. To address this problem, we have created a parameterized analytical model that computes the average request latency of a probe-based storage device. Our error compared to a simulated device using real-world traces is small (less than 15% for service time). With this model we can identify configurations that will satisfy specific performance objectives, greatly narrowing the search space of configurations one must simulate.
Supporting end-users of statistical information: the role of statistical metadata in the Statistical Knowledge Network

Metadata is integral to many processes in the Statistical Knowledge Network (SKN). Recent efforts such as the Semantic Web (Berners-Lee et al., 2001), the joint work of ISI and Columbia University (Ambite et al., 2002), and ours (Marchionini, et al., 2003) express the importance of metadata in supporting integration of information across multiple sources. This paper adds to those efforts by highlighting two aspects of using metadata to help users "find what they want and use what they find." The first is to identify integration challenges that users experience and metadata to resolve them. The second is to establish an architecture that supports metadata acquisition and use throughout the SKN.
Application of the Near Miss Strategy and Edit Distance to Handle Dirty Data

In today’s information age, processing customer information in a standardized and accurate manner is known to be a difficult task. Data collection methods vary from source to source by format, volume, and media type. Therefore, it is advantageous to deploy customized data hygiene techniques to standardize the data for meaningfulness and usefulness based on the organization.
High density amorphous carbon films and the preparation of diamond membranes for X-ray lithography

Abstract Trends in recently reported data on high sp 3 fraction (up to 85%), non-hydrogenated amorphous diamond-like carbon films deposited by ion beam sputtering and laser vaporization are examined. The degree of diamond-like film character is found to depend upon the deposition technique as well as the substrate temperature and thermal diffusivity. The data suggest that the combination of incident particle kinetic energy and surface accommodation determine the physical properties of the resultant film. A model is proposed for the condensation of energetic carbon atoms into diamond-like films in which a quench-type surface accommodation mechanism is operative. Diamond Membranes are being developed for x-ray lithographic masks. Typically, these 1-3 micron thick membrane films are deposited onto silicon substrates using microwave driven plasmas. To obtain smooth films with uniform tensile stress, spray and electrophoretic deposition of 0.1 micron diamond seeds were used to control the initial nucleation and growth of the diamond films. The films have a room temperature tensile stress of 25 to 125 MPa. The temperature dependence of the stress is due to the tensile growth stress of the diamond film and the thermal stress of the diamond-silicon layer structure. The films have a biaxial modulus of 800 GPa. X-ray lithography masks have been made and used to print patterns with x-rays from a synchrotron source.
The body compartments of normal pregnant, edematous pregnant, and pre-eclamptic women.

Abstract The human body may be considered to consist of two components, the lean and the fat—the aqueous and the anhydrous. 1 The aqueous portion, the lean body weight (LBW), is the sum of the cell mass (CM), the extracellular fluid (ECF), and the skeletal minerals (MM). The anhydrous portion is the total weight of the water insoluble body fat (FM). The total weight of the body is the sum of these two masses (LBW + FM). In health, the ratio of fat to lean varies widely with the degree of obesity of the individual studied, but the composition of the lean is reasonably constant. 2, 3, 4 Regardless of the degree of obesity, the ratio of the cell mass to the extracellular fluid is fixed within fairly narrow limits. It was the purpose of this study to determine the relative mass of these specific portions of the total weight in nonpregnant, normal pregnant, and toxemic women. We believed that this experimental approach might provide us with a better understanding of the significance of normal and abnormal weight gain in pregnancy.
Increased tau phosphorylation and impaired brain insulin/IGF signaling in mice fed a high fat/high cholesterol diet.

Previous studies demonstrated that a high fat/high cholesterol (HFC) diet results in a loss of working memory in mice correlated with neuroinflammatory changes and increased AβPP processing (Thirumangalakudi et al. J. Neurochem. 106:475–485; 2008). To further explore the nature of the molecular correlates of cognitive impairment, in this study, we examined changes in tau phosphorylation, insulin/IGF-1 signaling including GSK3 and levels of specific synaptic proteins. Immunoblot analysis of hippocampal tissue from C57BL/6 mice fed HFC for 2 months with anti-phospho-tau (i.e., PHF1 and phospho-Thr-231 tau) antibodies demonstrated the presence of hyperphosphorylated tau. The tau phosphorylation correlated with activated GSK3, a prominent tau kinase normally kept inactive under the control of insulin/IGF signaling (IIS). That IIS itself was impaired due to the hyperlipidemic diet was confirmed by a down-regulation of insulin receptor substrate-1 and phospho-Akt and levels. Although no significant changes in the levels of the pre-synaptic protein i.e., synaptophysin in response to HFC were apparent in immunoblot analysis, there was a clear down-regulation of the post-synaptic protein, PSD95 and drebrin, a dendritic spine-specific protein, indicative of altered synaptic plasticity. The results, in concert with previous findings with the same model, suggest that high dietary fat/cholesterol elicits brain insulin resistance and altered IIS leading to Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-like cognitive impairment in ‘normal’ mice.
The challenge of regulating health claims and food fortification.

The Food and Drug Administration has several options that will assist the Public Health Service in implementing its September 1992 recommendation that all women of childbearing age consume 0.4 mg of folic acid daily to reduce their risk of having a pregnancy affected with a neural tube defect. The FDA can authorize the use of a health claim on labels and in the labeling of foods that characterizes the relationship between a nutrient and a health-related condition. Fortification of cereal-grain products with folic acid is a second option that has the potential for reaching most women of childbearing age without requiring them to change their food selection patterns. Consideration of these options has been intertwined with rapid developments in the scientific database that is the foundation of the health claim, by conflicting opinions regarding the effectiveness for women in the target population of FDA's proposed level of cereal-grain fortification, by lack of systematic safety data regarding the impact of fortification on persons in the general population and by changes in the regulatory environment in which the agency acts.
Inactivation of a Gα(s)-PKA tumour suppressor pathway in skin stem cells initiates basal-cell carcinogenesis.

Gutkind and colleagues delineate a tumour suppressive signalling pathway involving the Gαs G protein and the PKA kinase, which inhibits pro-tumorigenic Yap and Shh signalling in epidermal stem cells.
Public Opinion About Gun Control Post–Sandy Hook:

I use data from a national public opinion poll conducted 4 months after the mass shooting of teachers and students in Sandy Hook Elementary School to analyze the content and predictors of public op...
Is the Contextual Interference Effect Generalizable to Computer Games

The benefits of learning multiple tasks under an unstructured practice schedule have been extensively demonstrated in the laboratory. The purpose of the present study was to test contextual interference effects in a nonlaboratory setting using computer games as tasks. Undergraduate kinesiology and sport management majors (N=19) played a computer game simulating the events of the winter Olympics. Participants were randomly assigned to either a Blocked or Random practice schedule, practicing 36 trials of three events. Delayed retention and transfer tests were performed after a 48-hr. retention interval. The dependent variable was time to complete an event. During transfer, participants in the Random schedule (M = 248 sec.) were significantly faster than Blocked (M = 263 sec.) participants. Results support and extend previous contextual interference findings. Transfer was facilitated for participants who learned the events in a Random practice order. Results are discussed in terms of the influence of task ch...
Identification and filtering

A theory of the discrete Riccati equation asymptotic behavior for a degenerate filtering problem corresponding to prediction. As an application, ARMA identification is shown to be determined from the asymptotic behavior of the reflection coefficients. Explicitly the time constants of the reflection coefficient sequence determine the moving average portion of the process. This work completes earlier work of the author on “invariant directions” of the Riccati equation.
THE RESULTS AND EVALUATION OF A LIMITED SURVEY FOR ETHYLENEBISDITHIOCARBAMATE AND ETHYLENETHIOUREA RESIDUES IN CORRELATED RAW AND CANNED SPINACH AND TOMATO SAMPLES

Results are presented for a limited survey performed in 1978 for residues of ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (EBDC) fungicides and ethylenethiourea (ETU) in raw and canned spinach and tomato samples (12 samples each of the raw and 12 each of the canned commodities). Correlated samples of each commodity were obtained by batch sampling the canned commodity and the corresponding raw commodity. Most of the tomato sample analyses were negative for EBDC and ETU. However, the 12 raw, unwashed spinach samples contained relatively high levels of EBDC residues (5.2 — 80 ppm calculated as zineb) and 0.12 — 2.3 ppm ETU; the ETU residue levels were somewhat proportional to the EBDC residue levels. It appears that washing the spinach before canning removes the EBDC residues, but not the ETU residues. Cooking the raw spinach samples in the laboratory to yield “cooked” or “total” ETU was found to be useful for identification and semiquantitative confirmation of EBDC residues. There was considerable variation between replicate ETU determinations for each spinach sample.
Personality Characteristics and Daydreaming Frequency among Young, Adult Hearing-Impaired Females: Report on Research in-Progress

Two separate pilot studies, using hearing-impaired, female college students, divided into three daydreaming frequency groups (low, moderate and high) are summarized. Different frequency daydreamers...
Ascorbic Acid Specifically Increases Type I and Type III Procollagen Messenger RNA Levels in Human Skin Fibroblasts

In cultured human skin fibroblasts, ascorbic acid stimulates collagen production with no apparent change in the intracellular degradation of newly synthesized procollagen. To understand the basis for this effect, we measured the steady-state levels of type I and type III procollagen mRNAs in cells treated with ascorbic acid. A three- to fourfold increase in collagen synthesis was associated with a two- to threefold increase in the levels of mRNAs for both type I and type III procollagens. These effects of ascorbic acid are explained by a translational control linked either to procollagen gene transcription or mRNA degradation.
Underprepared Adult Learners: Their Passage through Higher Education

This article explores underprepared adult learners within the context of higher education. Because of the self-direction and motivation of adult learners, they manage to adapt and incorporate the components of academia into their complex life. However, this is a challenge for underprepared adult learners. With their desire to participate in academia, also comes the reality of their deficiencies in foundational skills; thus, they require more than just a superficial introduction to programs and services. The article examines the importance of significant adjustments required in higher education in order to incorporate not only adult learners but also underprepared adult learners.
An annual cycle of flowering, fruiting and seed reserve for Halophila decipiens ostenfeld (Hydrocharitaceae) in Panama

Abstract A peak of flowering, fruiting and seed production was observed at Toro Point on the Caribbean coast of Panama in September 1987, but some flowers and fruits were detected almost continuously from August 1987 through August 1988. Few plants remained in the seagrass bed after high wave action in early February, but the bed had recovered by late March and showed some flowering. Some seeds were present in each 10 × 10 cm sample taken through the year, but the lowest seed reserve was recorded in February–March, near the end of the dry season. The peak for the seed reserve in September coincided with the culmination of the active flowering and fruiting during the wet season.
Tactile recognition of raised characters: A parametric study

The accuracy of tactile recognition of raised characters was studied as a function of five variables: (1) height of the upper surfaces of the characters relative to the surrounding base, (2) character set (uppercase roman and braille), (3) spatial extent of the characters (two sizes), (4) mode of touch (static and moving), (5) contact force (two values). All stimuli were felt with the distal pad of the right index finger. The experiment was a repeated-measures design with six subjects. There were significant main effects of all variables except contact force. Of the tests for interaction, only height × mode was significant; the indication is that, whereas moving the finger permits a considerable improvement in performance over static touch for very shallow characters, moving the finger improves performance only slightly over static touch for characters of much greater height.
Utility of Quantitative Precipitation Estimates for high resolution hydrologic forecasts in mountain watersheds of the Colorado Front Range

Quantitative Precipitation Estimates (QPEs) can serve as input to distributed hydrologic models to issue flood and flash flood forecasts in mountain watersheds. Improvements in flood predictions are expected as the quality of radar, multisensor and satellite observations improves. In this study, we assess the value of ten different high resolution QPEs (hourly, 4-km) in four study basins of the Colorado Front Range using a calibrated distributed hydrologic model as a verification tool. To evaluate QPE skill, we compared the precipitation properties at the site (i.e., rain gauge location), basin-average and regional scales and evaluated their influence on the simulated basin response, including the outlet discharge, runoff mechanisms and seasonal water balance. We also analyzed the value of gridded QPEs with respect to uniform forcing derived from rain gauges. Results reveal that radar and multisensor QPEs lead to improved hydrologic model performance compared to simulations driven with rain gauge data only with respect to the observed streamflow. Satellite QPEs exhibit lower overall streamflow simulation skill compared with estimates derived from radar-based QPEs, but are preferable to assuming uniform forcing from nearby rain gauges in the mountain settings studied here. However, satellite QPEs preserve the fundamental properties of the basin response, including a simple scaling relation between the relative spatial variability of runoff and its magnitude. As a result, satellite QPE products open new avenues for forecasting in regions with limited access and sparse observations.
Resistance of planar barriers.

The resistance of planar barriers is discussed for a variety of situations in which different sources of scattering act incoherently, allowing a semiclassical approach. This includes single barriers, a sequence of identical parallel barriers, and identical barriers at random angles simulating grain boundaries. Existing results are related, and only limited extension of these is provided. The case of a single barrier embedded in a uniformly resistive medium has been treated by Kunze and others. Kunze's analysis is validated and interpreted via a considerably simplified version of his model.
An Efficient Technique for Reactive Power Dispatch Using a Revised Linear Programming Approach

Abstract This paper presents a mathematical formulation of the reactive power operation/planning problem. The outstanding features of the proposed method are represented by the fact that it requires no matrix inversion, will save computation time and memory space, and hence can be implemented on very large-scale power systems. The method employs a linearized objective function and constraints, and its approach is based on adjusting control variables which are tap positions of transformers and reactive power injection. Linear programming is used to calculate voltage increments which minimize transmission losses, and adjustments of control variables are obtained by a modified Jacobian matrix. This approach would greatly simplify the application of decomposition methods in power systems planning and operation. The proposed algorithm is applied to a six-bus system and the IEEE 30-bus system and numerical results are presented. These results verify the superiority of the proposed method over the existing ones.
Fast auroral snapshot observations of perpendicular DC electric field structures in downward auroral current regions : Morphology

[1] We present an analysis of Fast Auroral Snapshot perpendicular electric field observations using both ion distributions and electric field measurements in auroral downward current regions to study the full DC E⊥ (electric field perpendicular to the geomagnetic field) and potential structures. We use the electric field data from the field instrument for the spin-plane component of E⊥, and the ion drift measurements for the axial DC E⊥. Examining 71 return current region crossings, a significant fraction (more than half) show E⊥ signatures during strong field events indicative of curved potential structures rather than idealized straight arcs. We define sheetlike structured events as those for which the ratio of the two E⊥ components remains constant during the spacecraft crossing, and curved structures as those where the ratio varies. Sheetlike structures can be interpreted as straight arcs, but curved structures require gradients in another dimension. A statistical comparison shows parametric differences between sheetlike and curved structures; however, the distinction between sheetlike and curved events cannot be sorted clearly using j∥, E⊥, or scale length. Using the full DC electric field vector, we can investigate the morphology of auroral return current potential structures and inconsistencies with idealized static return current models. In this paper we present the observed spatial structures; in a companion paper we explore the implications of these observations.
Propagation of elastic waves in a floating ice sheet

The characteristic equation for the propagation of elastic waves in a floating ice sheet is derived and discussed, with special emphasis on the evaluation of phase velocity for very large and very small wavelengths. The solutions cannot be reduced to symmetric and antisymmetric modes as in the case of a plate in a vacuum or a liquid. Among the waves discussed are compressional, shear, longitudinal, flexural, Rayleigh, Stoneley, and Love waves.
Photometric Lunar surface reconstruction

Accurate photometric reconstruction of the Lunar surface is important in the context of upcoming NASA robotic missions to the Moon and in giving a more accurate understanding of the Lunar soil composition. This paper describes a novel approach for joint estimation of Lunar albedo, camera exposure time, and photometric parameters that utilizes an accurate Lunar-Lambertian reflectance model and previously derived Lunar topography of the area visualized during the Apollo missions. The method introduced here is used in creating the largest Lunar albedo map (16% of the Lunar surface) at the resolution of 10 meters/pixel.