cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Portal: A High-Performance Language and Compiler for Parallel N-Body Problems

There is a big gap between the algorithm one designs on paper and the code that runs efficiently on a parallel system. Our goal is to combine the body of work in compilers, performance optimization, and the domain of N-body problems to build a system where domain scientists can write programs at a high level while attaining performance of code written by experts at the low level. This paper presents Portal, a domain-specific language and compiler designed to enable high-performance implementations of N-body problems on modern multicore systems. Our goal in the development of Portal is three-fold, (a) to implement scalable, fast algorithms that have O(n log n) and O (n) complexity, (b) to design an intuitive language to enable rapid implementations of a variety of problems, and (c) to enable parallel large-scale problems to run on multicore systems. We target N-body problems in various domains from machine learning to scientific computing that can be expressed in Portal to obtain an out-of-the-box optimized parallel implementation. Experimental results on 6 N-body problems show that Portal is within a factor of 5% on average of expert hand-optimized C++ code on a dual-socket AMD EPYC processor. To our knowledge, there are no known libraries or frameworks that implement parallel asymptotically optimal algorithms for the class of generalized N-body problems and Portal aims to fill this gap. Moreover, the Portal language and intermediate algorithm representation are portable and easily extensible to different platforms.
Umbilical Cord Teratomas Associated With Congenital Malformations

Context.— Congenital mature teratomas of the umbilical cord are extremely rare and pose a challenge in prenatal diagnosis. Mature teratomas are defined as tumors composed of mature tissues derived ...
Scales of Suffering in the US-Mexico Borderlands

Since the 1990s, US border policies have worked to funnel undocumented migration into remote stretches of the Sonoran Desert, where deadly terrain and temperatures make border crossing most dangerous. This weaponization of the desert finds some cover, we argue, behind the scalar projects of state-centered maps emphasizing vast geography and gross statistics over personal pain and trauma. Counter-mapping against these projects, we draw on archaeological and ethnographic data from the Undocumented Migration Project (UMP), and geospatial data for thousands of deceased migrants across southern Arizona, to witness how migration, as both socio-historical process and humanitarian crisis, emerges from human-scale strategies and experiences of suffering.
Utility of follow-up standard sonography for fetal anomaly detection.

Background In 2014, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Fetal Imaging Workshop consensus recommended that sonograms be offered routinely to all pregnant women. In the absence of another indication, this examination is recommended at 18–22 weeks of gestation. Studies of anomaly detection often focus on pregnancies at risk for anomalies and on the yield of detailed sonography, topics less applicable to counseling low-risk pregnancies about the benefits and limitations of standard sonography. The clinical utility of follow-up sonogram in low-risk pregnancies for the purpose of fetal anomaly detection has not been established. Objective The objective of the study was to evaluate the utility of follow-up standard sonography for anomaly detection among low-risk pregnancies in a nonreferred population. Study Design We performed a retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies that underwent standard sonography at 18–21 6/7 weeks of gestation from October 2011 through March 2018 with subsequent delivery of a live-born infant at our hospital. Pregnancies with indications for detailed sonography in our system were excluded to evaluate fetal anomalies first identified with standard sonography. Anomalies were categorized according to the European Registration of Congenital Anomalies and Twins (EUROCAT) system, with confirmation based on neonatal evaluation. Among those with no anomaly detected initially, we evaluated the rate of subsequent detection according to number of follow-up sonograms, gestational age at sonography, organ system(s) affected, and anomaly severity. Statistical analyses were performed using χ2 and a Mantel-Haenszel test. Results Standard sonography was performed in 40,335 pregnancies at 18–21 6/7 weeks, and 11,770 (29%) had at least 1 follow-up sonogram, with a second follow-up sonogram in 3520 (9%). Major abnormalities were confirmed in 387 infants (1%), with 248 (64%) detected initially and 28 (7%) and 5 (1%) detected on the first and second follow-up sonograms. Detection of residual anomalies on follow-up sonograms was significantly lower than detection on the initial standard examination: 64% on initial examination, 45% for first follow-up, and 45% for second follow-up (P Conclusion In a low-risk, nonreferred cohort with fetal anomaly prevalence of 1%, follow-up sonography resulted in detection of 45% of fetal anomalies that had not been identified during the initial standard sonogram. Significantly more follow-up sonograms were required to detect each additional anomalous fetus.
Linking regional shifts in microbial genome adaptation with surface ocean biogeochemistry

Linking ‘omics measurements with biogeochemical cycles is a widespread challenge in microbial community ecology. Here, we propose applying genomic adaptation as ‘biosensors’ for microbial investmen...
Human Enhancement and the Proper Response to Climate Change

Several philosophers have argued that human enhancements should be considered a potential solution to climate change. In this paper, I consider one such argument offered by S. Matthew Liao, Anders ...
A case of novel interstitial 19p13.3 microdeletion causes obstructive sleep apnea

1例2岁7月龄患儿因反复打鼾，睡眠呼吸异常，伴反复呼吸道感染于2019年5月就诊于深圳市儿童医院呼吸科。患儿语言和精神、运动发育落后，可见头围增大，特殊面容。睡眠呼吸监测示重度阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征。给予睡眠时持续呼气末正压通气治疗后症状改善。行腺样体和扁桃体切除术后2个月停辅助通气和吸氧治疗，睡眠时仍有轻度打鼾。全基因组拷贝数检测示染色体19p13.3中间约775 kb微缺失。染色体19p13.3中间微缺失综合征可引起早期起病的睡眠呼吸障碍，特殊面容，生长发育落后。.
Use of Force Defined

The use of force by police officers is defined as “acts that threaten or inflict physical harm on suspects” (Terrill 2003, p.56). The capacity and lawful authority for police to use coercive force upon the general public is what distinguishes it from other occupations, making the police profession and its permissible use of force inherently controversial (Bittner 1970; Reiss 1971; Scharf and Binder 1983; Sherman 1980; Walker and Fridell 1993). Although other professions such as correction officers have the legal authority to use force, the general public has the greatest exposure to police officer use of force. The overuse or abuse of force leads to a decrease in the level of confidence the public has in the police (Ross 1999). The concept of the use of force has often not been considered a rigid principle therefore officers are given substantial discretion in deciding upon a reasonable amount of force necessary to subdue a suspect.
Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 regulates immune-mediated thrombocytopenia, thrombosis, and systemic shock.

Background Immune complexes (ICs) bind to and activate platelets via FcγRIIA, causing patients to experience thrombocytopenia, as well as an increased risk of forming occlusive thrombi. Although platelets have been shown to mediate IC-induced pathologies, the mechanisms involved have yet to be fully elucidated. We identified that apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) is present in both human and mouse platelets and potentiates many platelet functions. Objectives Here we set out to study ASK1's role in regulating IC-mediated platelet functions in vitro and IC-induced pathologies using an in vivo mouse model. Methods Using human platelets treated with an ASK1-specific inhibitor and platelets from FCGR2A/Ask1-/- transgenic mice, we examined various platelet functions induced by model ICs in vitro and in vivo. Results We found that ASK1 was activated in human platelets following cross-linking of FcγRIIA using either anti-hCD9 or IV.3 + goat-anti-mouse. Although genetic deletion or inhibition of ASK1 significantly attenuated anti-CD9-induced platelet aggregation, activation of the canonical FcγRIIA signaling targets Syk and PLCγ2 was unaffected. We further found that anti-mCD9-induced cPla2 phosphorylation and TxA2 generation is delayed in Ask1 null transgenic mouse platelets leading to diminished δ-granule secretion. In vivo, absence of Ask1 protected FCGR2A transgenic mice from thrombocytopenia, thrombosis, and systemic shock following injection of anti-mCD9. In whole blood microfluidics, platelet adhesion and thrombus formation on fibrinogen was enhanced by Ask1. Conclusions These findings suggest that ASK1 inhibition may be a potential target for the treatment of IC-induced shock and other immune-mediated thrombotic disorders.
Antifungal Drug Development: Targeting the Fungal Sphingolipid Pathway

Fungal infections are becoming more prevalent and problematic due to the continual rise of immune deficient patients as well as the progressive development of drug resistance towards currently available antifungal drugs. There has been a significant increase in the development of antifungal compounds with a similar mechanism of action of current drugs. In contrast, there has been very little progress in developing compounds inhibiting totally new fungal targets or/and fungal pathways. This review focuses on novel compounds recently discovered to target the fungal sphingolipids and their metabolizing enzymes.
Contrastive Learning of Medical Visual Representations from Paired Images and Text

Learning visual representations of medical images is core to medical image understanding but its progress has been held back by the small size of hand-labeled datasets. Existing work commonly relies on transferring weights from ImageNet pretraining, which is suboptimal due to drastically different image characteristics, or rule-based label extraction from the textual report data paired with medical images, which is inaccurate and hard to generalize. We propose an alternative unsupervised strategy to learn medical visual representations directly from the naturally occurring pairing of images and textual data. Our method of pretraining medical image encoders with the paired text data via a bidirectional contrastive objective between the two modalities is domain-agnostic, and requires no additional expert input. We test our method by transferring our pretrained weights to 4 medical image classification tasks and 2 zero-shot retrieval tasks, and show that our method leads to image representations that considerably outperform strong baselines in most settings. Notably, in all 4 classification tasks, our method requires only 10% as much labeled training data as an ImageNet initialized counterpart to achieve better or comparable performance, demonstrating superior data efficiency.
Three-Phase DC Capacitor-Less Solid-State Variable Capacitor

Grid-connected full bridge inverters typically have a bulky electrolytic dc capacitor to absorb the unbalanced power from the ac side. The electrolytic capacitors are vulnerable and normally have shorter lifetime than other components in the converter. In most full-bridge inverter applications, the dc voltage is required to be relatively constant. However, in reactive power compensation applications, such as solid-state variable capacitor (SSVC), the constant dc-bus voltage is unnecessary since the dc bus is floating. This paper proposes a three-phase dc capacitor-less SSVC, which removes the electrolytic dc capacitor from the circuit by releasing the constraints on dc bus voltage fluctuation. The dc voltage is supported by ac side voltage directly. The remaining dc capacitance has a value of only 3% compared to that of the conventional three-phase SSVC. The proposed three-phase dc capacitor-less SSVC is validated by simulation.
Loop resistance tester

In this presentation, the theory of operation of a loop resistance tester and typical shielded cable layout - loop mode and joint mode is presented.
Gluten Challenge in Gluten-Associated Disorders

Gluten challenge is a medically supervised process, whereby an individual already on a gluten-free diet (GFD) receives a specified amount of dietary gluten, to evaluate response in their clinical course, celiac serology, intestinal histology, and/or other parameters for diagnostic or research purposes. Gluten challenge is used in current clinical practice primarily as a complementary diagnostic test to differentiate between celiac disease (CeD) and other gluten-associated disorders (GADs), such as non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS).
A response to Robert Heinich and Suzanne Damarin

ISSN 0148-5806 "No course," he writes, "is taught entirely by one instructional mode." I certainly agree with this, but find two points worth adding. First, practice of component facts and skills should always take place within the context of the learner's intention of achieving some higher level goal (speaking Chinese in Heinich's case). Second, the methods of practice to achieve short-term goals should never undermine long-term goals. The first point is always brought home to me when I observe my son's music teacher telling him that every drill-and-practice finger exercise should always be an expression of his love of music and not merely a mindless quest for technical excellence. Otherwise the two become disconnected and the qualitative dimension of music gets lost. This analogy holds for all drill and practice in any subject. Is this an unrealistic expectation? Some would argue that it is, ecause school should be a preparation for adult work, which itself is often fragmented and alienating. I would argue that it is not unrealistic, because the purpose of schooling is not just a conservative function (preparing students for the existing social order), but also a progressive function (preparing students to restructure social relations in order to promote the general welfare and social justice).' Furthermore,
Why Is the Electronic Health Record So Challenging for Research and Clinical Care

Background The electronic health record (EHR) has become increasingly ubiquitous. At the same time, health professionals have been turning to this resource for access to data that is needed for the delivery of health care and for clinical research. There is little doubt that the EHR has made both of these functions easier than earlier days when we relied on paper-based clinical records. Coupled with modern database and data warehouse systems, high-speed networks, and the ability to share clinical data with others are large number of challenges that arguably limit the optimal use of the EHR Objectives Our goal was to provide an exhaustive reference for those who use the EHR in clinical and research contexts, but also for health information systems professionals as they design, implement, and maintain EHR systems. Methods This study includes a panel of 24 biomedical informatics researchers, information technology professionals, and clinicians, all of whom have extensive experience in design, implementation, and maintenance of EHR systems, or in using the EHR as clinicians or researchers. All members of the panel are affiliated with Penn Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and have experience with a variety of different EHR platforms and systems and how they have evolved over time. Results Each of the authors has shared their knowledge and experience in using the EHR in a suite of 20 short essays, each representing a specific challenge and classified according to a functional hierarchy of interlocking facets such as usability and usefulness, data quality, standards, governance, data integration, clinical care, and clinical research. Conclusion We provide here a set of perspectives on the challenges posed by the EHR to clinical and research users.
A Logical Encounter of the Schrödinger’s Cat Paradox

The Schrodinger’s cat paradox has troubled physicists for many years and many ways to solve it has been provided so far. In this paper I will try to provide a different method of solving the Paradox with the help of logical machine and it will look like a hybrid of Wigner’s no-go theorem and the machine of Godel in his Incompleteness Theorems. And due to the machine the paradox will not require any human intervention to measure the state of the cat, whether it is alive or dead, while the measurement will be made by humans with regard to the statement given out by the machine.
Effects of Narrow-Windrow Burning on Weed Dynamics in Soybean in Louisiana

The soil seedbank allows for long-term persistence of weed species in agricultural fields. Some weed species can persist in the soil seedbank for extended periods. Restricting the weed seedbank has a large impact on future population density and influences management practices of these weeds in soybean production systems. Harvest weed seed control (HWSC) tactics incorporate mechanical and cultural management strategies to target weed seeds present at harvest. A three-year trial was initiated to determine if continual HWSC methods selects for earlier seed set and shattering in Louisiana soybean. No shifts in weed populations or shattering time were observed. However, there was a significant reduction in weed density and the weed seed present in the soil seedbank when HWSC and robust herbicide programs were used in combination. Therefore, utilizing multiple effective weed management strategies is imperative in reducing the soil seedbank.
Feedback thinning policies for uneven-aged stand management with stochastic prices.

(...) Numerical results are presented using a stage-structured model for unevenaged stands of California white fir (Abies concolor). Stumpage price is the sum of a deterministic constant and a normally distributed random error. With these assumptions, optimal feedback thinning policies have significantly higher expected present values than do thinning policies that ignore price fluctuations. However, feedback policies have greater volatility in harvest revenue over time. Sensitivity analysis shows that the expected present value of optimal feedback management increases as the level of price risk increases
How Will Older Workers Who Lose Their Jobs During the Great Recession Fare in the Long-Run?

In economic downturns prior to the Great Recession, workers over age 50 had escaped relatively unscathed. But the unemployment rate for older workers soared to record highs during the Great Recession. This paper projects how older workers will fare across a broad set of financial outcomes over the remainder of this decade. The model estimates how these outcomes differ between individuals who remained employed and those who were displaced during the recession, controlling for their demographic characteristics. We also seek to determine whether there is any variation in their financial outcomes based on the nature of their layoffs – mass versus individual layoffs – and whether labor market conditions played a role in these outcomes. First, the results show that displaced workers are projected to be significantly worse off: their earnings are 14-19 percent lower over the remainder of this decade, financial assets are 22-30 percent lower, and they are up to 8 percent more likely to experience another layoff. Projections also indicate that older Americans will continue to feel the effects of the Great Recession and that labor force participation, earnings and financial assets all will be lower than they would have been after a milder recession like the one in 2001-2003. Second, although the model allows for differences in the nature of layoffs and in local labor market conditions, there is neither evidence that workers subject to mass layoffs are of higher average quality nor evidence that outcomes are worse in locations hit by more severe recessions.
Global Health Takes a Normative Turn: The Expanding Purview of International Health Law and Global Health Policy to Meet the Public Health Challenges of the 21st Century

While international health law was conceived as a means to protect independent state interests against global health threats, this paradigm of mutual self-interest is being challenged by a new normative reality — with global health policy pursued as a means to realize a more just world. In seeking justice in an increasingly globalized world — through international legal agreements among states and global health policies among state and non-state actors — norms are progressively framing the global health response. The present article explores this normative turn in global health, tracing the history of international health law through the lens of realist and constructivist theories of international relations. As norms increasingly provide legitimacy to global health governance, this article analyzes the expanding influence of norms on international health law and global health policy, advocating additional legal research on the impact of norms and outlining a research base for normative policy analysis in global health.
Probabilistic canonical correlation analysis forecasts, with application to tropical Pacific sea-surface temperatures

Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) is a higher-dimensional extension of univariate multiple regression that is often used to construct seasonal and other forecasts in a climatological context. Although its use is widespread, to date it has apparently been used only to produce nonprobabilistic forecasts. Here an analytic result for the prediction covariance matrix of vector CCA forecasts is presented, which is sufficient to define a full forecast probability distribution if a multivariate Gaussian distribution can reasonably be assumed for the forecast errors. The approach is illustrated by computing and verifying probabilistic seasonal forecasts for tropical Pacific sea-surface temperatures.
Time‐Series Forecasting Models

Basic time series forecasting models are discussed. Keywords: time series data; autocorrelation; variance
Elizabeth Cady Stanton: An American Life – By Lori D. Ginzberg

With some regularity, students ask four questions about Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Why did she have so many babies? What kind of marriage did she and Henry have? Why did Susan B. Anthony get the coin?...
Aspiração transbrônquica por agulha e tomografia por emissão de positrões no diagnóstico do cancro do pulmão

Resumo A aspiracao transbronquica por agulha (ATBA) e uma alternativa minimamente invasiva aos procedimentos cirurgicos para o diagnostico do envolvimento dos nodulos linfaticos nos doentes com cancro do pulmao. A tomografia por emissao de positroes (TEP) e util no diagnostico da actividade metabolica dos nodulos linfaticos aumentados de volume diagnosticados na TAC, assim como no diagnostico de nodulos extra-pulmonares. O objectivo do estudo e determinar se a TEP e tao eficaz como a ATBA na avaliacao do diagnostico das adenopatias nos doentes com suspeita de cancro do pulmao. Vinte e quatro doentes com adenopatias diagnosticadas por TAC toracica foram sujeitos a TEP e ATBA e revistos retrospectivamente. A TEP diagnosticou 18 das 20 adenopatias malignas e 3 das 4 adenopatias benignas. Houve um caso falso positivo e dois casos falsos negativos. A sensibilidade e especificidade diagnostica foi de 90% e de 75%, sendo os valores preditivos positivos e negativos 94,7% e 60% e a eficacia preditiva global de 87,5%. A ATBA diagnosticou correctamente 12 das 20 adenopatias malignas e 4 das 4 adenopatias benignas. Houve 8 testes falsos negativos. A sensibilidade e especificidade diagnostica foi de 60% e 100% e os valores preditivos positivos e negativos foram de 100% e 33,3%, sendo a eficacia preditiva global de 66,7%. Os autores observaram que a TEP tem maior sensibilidade e mostra uma maior eficacia em diferenciar as adenopatias malignas das benignas do que a ATBA. A TEP pode oferecer uma alternativa nao invasiva na avaliacao das adenopatias em doentes com suspeita de cancro do pulmao e um guia util para melhorar os resultados da ATBA.
Infrared Spectroscopic Investigation of the Surface Reaction of Phosphorus Trifluoride on γ-Alumina

The adsorption and subsequent reaction of phosphorus trifluoride (PF3) on a γ-alumina (γ-Al2O3) surface was studied using high vacuum techniques and transmission infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) over a temperature range of 150−800 K. Phosphorus trifluoride molecules adsorb on the alumina surface between 150 and 230 K, via an interaction with surface isolated hydroxyl groups, to form OH−FPF2 and/or (O−H)−PF3 intermediate species. The O−H bond of the proposed intermediate is thermally activated, and at sample temperatures >230 K, the phosphorus center inserts into the O−H bond of the hydroxyl group, generating surface hypophosphoryl fluoride species of the form FHPO. Reaction of PF3 molecules with associated hydroxyl species occurs from extended thermal treatment at 310 K to yield additional hypophosphoryl fluoride species of the form FHPO2. Infrared band assignments are presented. The new species are stable on the aluminum oxide surface to a thermal treatment temperature of 800 K under evacuation. The hypopho...
Liver pathology: cirrhosis, hepatitis, and primary liver tumors. Update and diagnostic problems.

Liver Pathology: Cirrhosis, Hepatitis, and Primary Liver Tumors. Update and Diagnostic Problems
Muscle adenylate kinase catalyzes adenosine 5'-tetraphosphate synthesis from ATP and ADP.

Abstract Muscle adenylate kinases from rabbit and porcine sources were found by NMR to catalyze the formation of adenosine tetraphosphate ( 5′ Ado P 4 ) from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). The reaction was completely reversible, with an equilibrium constant of approx. 0.1 at 30°c. The synthesis of 5′ Ado P 4 from ATP and ADP occurred very slowly, taking over 12 h to reach equilibrium under the conditions used in this study. The sources of micromolar concentrations of 5′ Ado P 4 found in biological tissues is unknown: potentially, the slow adenylate-kinase-catalyzed breakdown and synthesis of 5′ Ado P 4 may serve as an important regulator of the steady-state concentration of 5′ Ado P 4 in muscle tissue.
Temperature dependence of O(1D2) production in the photolysis of ozone at 313 nm

Abstract The quantum yields of O( 1 D 2 ) in the photolysis of ozone are found to be temperature independent in the 230–280 nm region but decrease strongly at 313 nm as the temperature is decreased from 40 to −75°C, indicating contribution of rotational energy to photodecomposition.
Vascular NAD(P)H oxidases: specific features, expression, and regulation

The importance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vascular physiology and pathology is becoming increasingly evident. All cell types in the vascular wall produce ROS derived from superoxide-generating protein complexes similar to the leukocyte NADPH oxidase. Specific features of the vascular enzymes include constitutive and inducible activities, substrate specificity, and intracellular superoxide production. Most phagocyte enzyme subunits are found in vascular cells, including the catalytic gp91phox (aka, nox2), which was the earliest member of the newly discovered nox family. However, smooth muscle frequently expresses nox1 rather than gp91phox, and nox4 is additionally present in all cell types. In cell culture, agonists increase ROS production by activating multiple signals, including protein kinase C and Rac, and by upregulating oxidase subunits. The oxidases are also upregulated in vascular disease and are involved in the development of atherosclerosis and a significant part of angiotensin II-induced hypertension, possibly via nox1 and nox4. Likewise, enhanced vascular oxidase activity is associated with diabetes. Therefore, members of this enzyme family appear to be important in vascular biology and disease and constitute promising targets for future therapeutic interventions.
Outline of colloid chemistry.—II

Abstract In this paper there has been given a discussion of: types of precipitates; theory of peptization; condensation methods; dispersion methods. Under condensation methods there are two subdivisions, in which the stability is due chiefly to the presence of strongly adsorbed substances of chiefly to the low concentration of agglomerating agents. Under dispersion methods the subdivision are disintegration by removing an agglomerating agent, by adding a peptizing agent, by mechanical methods, by electrical methods, by electrochemical methods.
Stochastic Screen Halftoning for Electronic Imaging Devices

For numerous digital imaging applications, there is a need to maintain the highest quality perceived image, while utilizing a printer or display that can only achieve a limited number of output states. Digital halftoning is the approach that has been widely used to meet this demand. In this focus paper, we provide a short summary of halftone techniques, then we concentrate on the newer and expanding roles of stochastic halftone screens?which are free of regular periodic structures and have numerous advantages in quality color rendering. We address some theoretical issues, design and optimality issues, printer compensation issues, and color quality issues that pertain to the development and use of stochastic screens for electronic imaging devices.
Steroid-specific and anticonvulsant interaction aspects of troleandomycin-steroid therapy

Abstract Troleandomycin (TAO) is a macrolide antibiotic that has an apparent "steroid-sparing" effect when used in the treatment of severe steroid-dependent asthmatic patients. Recent observations demonstrated the effect of TAO on inhibiting methylprednisolone elimination, possibly contributing to its beneficial effects. Prednisolone and methylprednisolone disposition were studied before and 1 wk after initiation of TAO therapy in three patients. Methylprednisolone elimination was characteristically impaired in the presence of TAO therapy; however, there was no apparent effect on prednisolone elimination. Methylprednisolone elimination was also evaluated before and after initiation of TAO therapy in three patients receiving concomitant anticonvulsant therapy with phenobarbital-1, phenytoin-2. Methylprednisolone clearance before TAO was at least 4 times faster than normal and was probably related to enzyme induction by the anticonvulsant medication. Methylprednisolone clearance was subsequently reduced by approximately 70% in the presence of TAO therapy. The effect of TAO on corticosteroid disposition is steroid-specific and TAO can diminish the effect of certain drugs on the induction of corticosteroid metabolism.
The U.S. Navy's role in countering maritime terrorism

Abstract There have been few spectacular acts of maritime terrorism. About ninety‐five percent of all incidents of what would be classified as transnational maritime terrorism involved bombings, hijackings, and “other” attacks. Nearly all of these took place when ships were in port, and the victims were predominantly merchant ships. Only a small number of terrorist attacks have been reported against men‐of‐war–none against U.S. Navy ships. Bombing, including various forms of mining, comprises the major threat to merchant ships, while the dangers of U.S. Navy ships would be aggravated by the presence of nuclear weapons or nuclear propulsion plants. Counter terrorism as carried out by the U.S. Navy involves actions to deter or defeat direct terrorist activity (against the ship itself) and indirect activity (against other U.S. interests). U.S Navy ships are especially well organized, constructed, and equipped to deal with the former, but they would be virtually powerless to assist U.S. merchant ships against...
EFFECTS OF UNRELIABLE AUTOMATION ON DECISION MAKING IN COMMAND AND CONTROL

The effectiveness of automated decision aids used by human operators in command and control systems may depend not only on automation reliability, but also on the type (stage) and level the automated support provides. Automation can be applied to information acquisition, information integration and analysis, decision choice selection, or action implementation (Parasuraman, Sheridan, & Wickens, 2000). The present study examined the effects of variations in the stage of automation support on performance in a “Sensor to Shooter” targeting simulation of command and control. Independent variables included the type and level of automation support (complete listing, priority listing, top choices, and recommendation of decision choice) and the reliability of the automation (60% and 80%). Dependent variables included accuracy and reaction time of target engagement decisions. Compared to manual performance, reliable automation did not affect the accuracy of target engagement decisions but did significantly reduce d...
Levodopa for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease

A 62-year-old man presents with Parkinson's disease, and treatment with levodopa is recommended. Levodopa, a naturally occurring amino acid that is metabolized to dopamine in the brain, is considered the most effective drug available for Parkinson's disease. However, after several years of therapy, serious side effects, including motor fluctuations and dyskinesias, may occur.
Descending spinal projections from the rostral gigantocellular reticular nuclei complex.

Electrophysiological and physiological studies have suggested that the ventral medullary gigantocellular reticular nuclei (composed of the gigantocellular ventralis and pars alpha nuclei as well as the adjacent lateral paragigantocellular nucleus; abbreviated Gi-LPGi complex) provide descending control of pelvic floor organs (Mackel [1979] J. Physiol. (Lond.) 294:105-122; Hubscher and Johnson [1996] J. Neurophysiol. 76:2474-2482; Hubscher and Johnson [1999] J. Neurophysiol. 82:1381-1389; Johnson and Hubscher [1998] Neuroreport 9:341-345). Specifically, this complex of paramedian reticular nuclei has been implicated in the inhibition of sexual reflexes. In the present study, an anterograde fluorescent tracer was used to investigate direct descending projections from the Gi-LPGi complex to retrogradely labeled pudendal motoneurons (MN) in the male rat. Our results demonstrated that, although a high density of arborizations from Gi-LPGi fibers appears to be in close apposition to pudendal MNs, this relationship also applies to other MNs throughout the entire spinal cord. The Gi-LPGi also projects to spinal autonomic regions, i.e., both the intermediolateral cell column and the sacral parasympathetic nucleus, as well as to regions of the intermediate gray, which contain interneurons involved in the organization of pelvic floor reflexes. Lastly, throughout the length of the spinal cord, numerous neurons located primarily in laminae VII-X, were retrogradely labeled with Fluoro-Ruby after injections into the Gi-LPGi. The diffuse descending projections and arborizations of this pathway throughout the spinal cord suggest that this brainstem area is involved in the direct, descending control of a variety of spinal activities. These results are in contrast with our observations of the discrete projections of the caudal nucleus raphe obscurus, which target the autonomic and somatic MNs involved specifically in sexual and eliminative functions (Hermann et al. [1998] J. Comp. Neurol. 397:458-474).
MTHFR C677T polymorphism, GSTM1 deletion and male infertility: a possible suggestion of a gene–gene interaction?

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a gene involved in the process of DNA synthesis and methylation. The MTHFR C677T polymorphism has been associated with male infertility. A prospective study was conducted on men seeking care at the infertility clinic in Milano to determine if the MTHFR C677T polymorphism is associated with infertility, and if such an association is modified by a common deletion of one of the glutathione transferases, GSTM1. One year after enrolment, 46 subjects reported having had a child, while 59 were still childless. Subjects carrying the MTHFR C677T homozygous variant polymorphism were at increased risk of being infertile after 1-year follow-up (OR 3.7, 95% CI?=?1.4-10.4); carriers of the homozygous variant MTHFR genotype and of a functional copy of GSTM1 appear to have a significantly higher risk of infertility (n=11; OR?=?22.0 95% CI?=?3.8-127.9) than subjects who carry the wild-type genotype for both genes. Such risk becomes non-significant when the GSTM1 deletion is also present (n=5; OR?=?1.1 95% CI?=?0.2-5.1). A possible explanation of this unexpected result could lie in the known involvement of glutathione transferases in the metabolic pathways of both methylation and transulfuration. The interaction found deserves confirmation and replication in a larger population, since it may be relevant to several chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Telemetric Recording of Intrapleural Pressure

Background Monitoring of intrapleural pressure (IPP) is used for evaluation of lung function in a number of pathophysiological conditions. We describe a telemetric method of non-invasive monitoring of the IPP in conscious animals intermittently or continuously for a prolonged period of time. Materials and methods After IACUC approval, six mongrel dogs were used for the study. After sedation, each dog was intubated and anesthetized using 0.5% Isoflurane. A telemetric implant model TL11M2-D70-PCT from Data Science International was secured subcutaneously. The pressure sensor tip of the catheter from the implant was inserted into the pleural space, and the catheter was secured with sutures. The IPP signals were recorded at a sampling rate of 100 points/second for 30 to 60 min daily for 4 days. From these recordings, the total mean negative IPP (mmHg), and the total mean negative IPP for a standard time of 30 min were calculated. In addition, the actual inspiratory and expiratory pressures were also measured from stable recording of the IPP waveforms. Results In six dogs, the total mean ± SD negative IPP was −10.8 ± 10.6 mmHg. After normalizing with respect to acquisition time it was −13.2 ± 11.2 mmHg/min. The actual inspiratory pressure was −19.7 ± 15.3, and the expiratory pressure was −11.0 ± 12.9. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that telemetric monitoring of IPP can be performed reliably and non-invasively in conscious experimental animals. The values for IPP in our study are compatible with the results of other investigators who used different methods of IPP measurement. Further work may show this method to be helpful in understanding the pathophysiology of various breathing disorders.
A policy‐based CE resource allocation algorithm

The cost of a health facility's continuing education (CE) program varies with facility size, mission, and its location or accessibility to sources of CE. This paper describes the development and use of a policy model and algorithm for allocating CE dollar resources in a large national health system. The algorithm uses a two-factor model, basing facility CE dollar allocations on the amount of CE need and price differences in accessing CE sources.
Genesis and Effects of Particles Produced during In Situ Chemical Oxidation Using Permanganate

A research effort was undertaken to investigate the genesis of particles produced during in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) of trichloroethene (TCE) with permanganate (MnO\d4) and to explore the effects of those particles on system permeability and metal mobility. The experimental approach included characterization of soil and groundwater samples from an ISCO field site, batch experiments with a replicated 2\u5 factorial design, and flow-through column experiments. Analyses of intact soil cores from an ISCO field site revealed that MnO\d2 solids were present in the subsurface near an injection well for NaMnO\d4 but at low levels (2.3–2.5 mg/g dry wt media) calculated to fill 0.45 μm) produced during chemical oxidation with MnO\d4 was increased at higher TCE concentrations (54 versus 7 mg/L) and in the presence of ambient silt/clay-sized particles in the groundwater (750 versus 7.5 mg/L). Under otherwise comparable conditions, increasing the MnO\d4 dose markedly increases the oxidant consumption and also increases the solids production. The oxidant form (NaMnO\d4 versus KMnO\d4) or reaction time (15 versus 300 min) had little effect on oxidant consumption or filterable solids production. During MnO\d4 oxidation of higher levels of TCE in a groundwater with ambient silt/clay particles present, there can be substantial increases in filterable solids generated, which are <1 μm in size and consist of MnO\d2, commingled with other mineral matter. Conceivably, low volumetric fillings of these solids could cause permeability loss. Flow-through column experiments revealed that permeability loss was possible during ISCO but only under conditions with very high MnO\d2 solids production. On the positive side, the MnO\d2 solids produced can increase the sorption potential for metals such as cadmium and can represent a mode of immobilization. This research demonstrated that ISCO with permanganate has the potential to yield system permeability loss under some conditions as well as to affect metal mobility. The magnitude of these effects is related to the subsurface conditions, target organic chemical mass, and permanganate dose and delivery method. The production of solids during ISCO needs to be carefully considered during process design and operation to avoid solids-related performance problems while exploiting potential benefits.
Event analysis of the impact of mergers and acquisitions on the financial performance of the U.S. forest products industry

Abstract The U.S. forest products industry has witnessed an unprecedented period of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) in recent years. In this study, the impact of 70 M&As from 1990 to 2004 on the financial performance of 85 publicly traded forest firms was evaluated. The examination of abnormal returns revealed that the equity market had responded to these M&As. The average cumulative abnormal returns for all the firms as a group ranged from 1.66% for the 15-day event window to 3.03% for the 3-day event window. From the cross-sectional regressions, the position as a target firm and the relative transaction size explained a large portion of the variations of the individual firms' cumulative abnormal returns. Finally, risk analyses through the Capital Asset Pricing Model showed that the risk for some of the selected 14 acquiring firms had changed after the M&As.
Excess Inventory with Stochastic Demand: Continuous Reporting Model

In this paper we consider the problem of finding the greatest level of excess inventory to be allowed and not scrapped. If excess items are not scrapped, then they are eliminated by natural attrition. The procedure used in finding the maximum excess inventory to be allowed is to maximize the function: net benefits = immediate scrap revenues - present value of attrition-period holding costs - present value of all other future costs. This procedure is only approximate. However, it will provide significant improvement on the previous treatment of this problem in that it will allow for backordering costs and for stochastic demand. In particular, deterministic demand and Poisson demand are examined.
Sol-gel synthesis of Ba(Mg1/3Ta2/3)O3: Phase pure powder and thin films

Phase pure Ba(Mg13Ta23O3 (BMT) powders were prepared using Ba metal, Mg(OC2H5)2, and Ta(OC2H5)5 as metal-organic precursors. Thin films of BMT were spin coated onto Pt-coated Si(100) substrates using the prepared solution and then fired at various temperatures. The X-ray diffraction patterns show that the films crystallize to a single disordered perovskite phase on Si (100) at ~600 °C. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the films 0.3 μm in thickness and approximately 0.1 μm in grain size were essentially crack-free.
Response of composite shells with cutouts to internal pressure and compression loads

Results from a numerical study of the response of composite shells with cutouts and subjected to internal pressure and axial compression are presented. The numerical results are obtained using a geometrically nonlinear finite element code. Results for axial compression and combined internal pressure and axial compression are presented. The effects of varying internal pressure and cutout size on the prebuckling, buckling, and postbuckling responses of the shell are described. Results indicate that the nonlinear interaction between destabilizing in-plane compressive resultant stresses and out-of-plane dispiacements near the cutout can cause a local buckling response to occur near the cutout. The local load distributions and displacements near the cutout can be affected by the size of the cutout and by the internal pressure load. Numerical results indicate that the buckling load decreases as the size of the cutout is increased. In addition, the results indicate that the buckling load increases as the internal pressure is increased.
Adjuvant chemo-/hormonal therapy trials for locally advanced prostate cancer.

Patients with clinical or pathologic locally advanced prostate cancer (LAPC) are at risk for systemic and local disease progression or relapse. Pre- and post-therapy predictors of risk include prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, clinical and pathologic stage, Gleason’s score (GS) of the biopsy and prostatectomy specimens, positive margins, and post-therapy PSA kinetics. Combined modality trials have been done predominantly in LAPC patients treated with radiation. The data indicate a local control and disease-free survival advantage to the use of androgen deprivation. Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy with radical prostatectomy (RP) has no proven role thus far; however, recent data on adjuvant hormonal therapy in patients with pathologic D1 disease treated with radical prostatectomy suggest a potential benefit. Chemotherapy trials are still in their infancy but present exciting opportunities for future research. The heterogeneity in the hormone responsiveness of prostate cancer, the availability of several active chemotherapy combinations, and the refinement in risk prediction have stimulated a series of adjuvant therapy trials which constitute the subject of this discussion. Emphasis on enrollment in clinical trials is thus imperative in LAPC.
Fertility, mobility and labour-force participation: a study of synchronicity.

Delayed childbearing is common in a workforce that is now dominated by dual-income households, and survey results report increasing concerns about how to manage family formation and labour-force participation. In the past, mobility research tended to focus on the mobility event and looked at fertility as a ‘triggering’ event that stimulates mobility and migration. In contrast this research focuses on the fertility event and explores the relationship between fertility events and both mobility and labour-force outcomes. Using the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, we undertake an analysis of ‘windows’ around fertility events and look for mobility activity, and for a smaller subsample, labour-force events. Then we also examine ‘windows’ around mobility events to test competing explanations for fertility behaviour and mobility behaviour. The research moves beyond parental status and the links to mobility and labour-force participation to the actual synchronicity of these behaviours. While it is no surprise that women do drop out of the labour force to have children, many fewer actually leave the labour force than expected and they re-enter at significantly high rates. The results for mobility are even more mixed, and while there is some evidence of increased mobility with fertility, it is much weaker than suggested by other research. Overall, this research reaffirms an emerging view of mobility and migration behaviour as much more complex than earlier research presented. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.