cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The interplay of sexual and religious identity development in LGBTQ adolescents and young adults: A qualitative inquiry.

Eight sexual-minority adolescents (15–18 years old) and 11 young adults (19–24 years old) participated in individual interviews, journal writing, and focus groups to provide greater insight into the interplay of religious and sexual identity development in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth. The majority of the sample identified as being raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, two participants identified being raised Catholic, and one participant identified being raised Presbyterian. Participants described an early behavioral connection to their childhood religious faiths, reported feeling “different,” and shared efforts to deny their same-sex attractions. Next, participants stated they questioned their faith, and whereas some participants described feeling disconnected religiously, others worked diligently to maintain connection with their faith communities. Participants also endorsed internalized conflict and efforts to change their attractions. Finally, participants...
The importance of roads, nutrients, and climate for invasive plant establishment in riparian areas in the northwestern United States

Natural and anthropogenic site characteristics play a role in determining the current distribution of invasive plant species. An understanding of these characteristics can be used to prioritize areas for monitoring and control efforts and to determine appropriate management actions to lower site invasion risk. We used species distribution models to look for attributes associated with invasion and to determine the extent to which these attributes varied across a suite of species. We modeled the presence-absence of 11 invasive plant species along riparian areas in the northwestern United States using the model Random Forests. We found that climate variables were most important for predicting species distributions across the large study area and factors related to nutrients, land cover, and disturbance had moderate importance. We also found that there was a general pattern related to invasion for almost all species. Invasion was more likely to occur at hotter, drier sites near roads in unforested areas. In addition, high nutrient levels and proximity to streams with lower baseflow values also generally increased the likelihood that at least one invasive species would be present. Examining patterns across a broad range of regions can help suggest general mechanisms of invasion as well as provide region-specific management recommendations.
Selective, stable demethylation of the interleukin-2 gene enhances transcription by an active process

A role for DNA demethylation in transcriptional regulation of genes expressed in differentiated somatic cells remains controversial. Here, we define a small region in the promoter-enhancer of the interleukin-2 (Il2) gene that demethylates in T lymphocytes following activation, and remains demethylated thereafter. This epigenetic change was necessary and sufficient to enhance transcription in reporter plasmids. The demethylation process started as early as 20 minutes after stimulation and was not prevented by a G1 to S phase cell cycle inhibitor that blocks DNA replication. These results imply that this demethylation process proceeds by an active enzymatic mechanism.
Visual surveillance in maritime port facilities

In this work we propose a method for securing port facilities which uses a set of video cameras to automatically detect various vessel classes moving within buffer zones and off-limit areas. Vessels are detected by an edge-enhanced spatiotemporal optimal trade-off maximum average correlation height filter which is capable of discriminating between vessel classes while allowing for intra-class variability. Vessel detections are cross-referenced with e-NOAD data in order to verify the vessel's access to the port. Our approach does not require foreground/background modeling in order to detect vessels, and therefore it is effective in the presence of the class of dynamic backgrounds, such as moving water, which are prevalent in port facilities. Furthermore, our approach is computationally efficient, thus rendering it more suitable for real-time port surveillance systems. We evaluate our method on a dataset collected from various port locations which contains a wide range of vessel classes.
Combination Chemotherapy with Actinomycin D and Ribonuclease : an Example of Complementary Inhibition

Two mechanisms have been suggested by which combinations of drugs may depress the intracellular availability of a given metabolite to a level that becomes limiting for cell survival. Potter1 has applied the term sequential inhibition to the action of two or more inhibitors on different enzymes in a limited portion of a multi-enzyme sequence (equation 1), and Elion, Singer and Hitchings2 have denoted as concurrent blockade the simultaneous retardation, by two or more agents, of alternate biochemical routes to the same end-product (equation 2).
Is There a Threshold Oral Glucose Tolerance Test Value for Predicting Adverse Pregnancy Outcome

Objective This study aims to determine whether there is a threshold 3-hour oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) value associated with accelerated risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Study Design In a secondary analysis of a cohort of women with untreated mild gestational glucose intolerance, we used generalized additive models with smoothing splines to explore nonlinear associations between each of the 3-hour OGTT values (fasting, 1-hour, 2-hour, and 3-hour) and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including the study's composite outcome (perinatal mortality, hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, neonatal hyperinsulinemia, and/or birth trauma), large for gestational age birth weight, small for gestational age birth weight, shoulder dystocia, neonatal hypoglycemia, gestational hypertension (gHTN), and preeclampsia. Results Among the 1,360 eligible women, each timed OGTT value was linearly associated with increased odds of composite adverse outcome. We found evidence of a departure from linearity only for the association between fasting glucose and gHTN/preeclampsia, with a stronger association for values of 85 to 94 mg/dL ( p = 0.03). We found no evidence of departure from linearity for any other OGTT values and measured outcomes (all chi-square test p -values ≥ 0.05). Conclusion In a population of untreated women with mild gestational glucose intolerance and fasting OGTT
Superoxide dismutase and peroxidase: a positive activity stain applicable to polyacrylamide gel electropherograms.

Abstract The oxidation of dianisidine, photosensitized by riboflavin, is accelerated by superoxide dismutase. Polyacrylamide gel electropherograms soaked in riboflavin plus dianisidine and subsequently illuminated develop stable brown bands at positions bearing superoxide dismutase activity. This constitutes a new, convenient, and advantageous activity stain for this class of enzymes. Peroxidases are also stained by this procedure due to the photochemical production of H2O2. This does not constitute an interference with the specificity of the stain, since peroxidase bands develop more slowly than superoxide dismutase bands and can be further identified through the use of inhibitors or of independent staining for peroxidase. The new, positive activity stain for superoxide dismutases can be applied to crude extracts of cells.
Advice for the Road: a Memoir and Practical Advice Drawn from a Career of Six Decades

Review of : A Scientist’s Survival Guide by Gerhard J. Haas (2010) . Royal Fireworks Press, Unionville, NY. 140 pages.
An 800MHz -122dBc/Hz-at-200kHz Clock Multiplier based on a Combination of PLL and Recirculating DLL

DLL clock multipliers outperform their PLL counterparts in terms of phase noise because they have significantly less jitter accumulation [R. Farjad-Rad et al., 2002; P.C. Maulik and D.A. Mercer, 2007; S. Ye and I. Galton, 2004]. Figure 25.2.1 shows the basic PLL and recirculating DLL. In the latter, the oscillator loop is periodically opened to let in a "clean" reference edge. It avoids the pattern jitter due to delay-stage mismatch as seen normally in an edge-combining DLL. The remaining pattern jitter is due to static phase offset of the phase detector (PD)/charge pump (CP). This offset transfers to a phase discontinuity between the two edges that are substituted for one another [P.C. Maulik and D.A. Mercer, 2007]. As a result the clock spectrum shows severe reference spurs, as high as -37dBc in [R. Farjad-Rad et al., 2002]. This is especially undesirable in applications like ADCs where clock spurs convolute with the spectrum of the input signal. By contrast, in a PLL, static phase offset introduces no direct phase discontinuity in the output clock. Nevertheless, it still causes a periodic ripple across the loop filter that modulates the oscillator. By tightening the filter, the ripple is filtered more, lowering the reference spur. However, this reduces loop bandwidth leading to less suppression of oscillator phase noise.
Some empirical power results associated with welch's robust analysis of variance technique

Welch's (1951) V-test is useful for testing the equality of the means of k normal populations with heterogeneous variances. In the present paper, it is proposed that the non-null distribution of Welch's V statistic can be reasonably approximated by an appropriate non-central F distribution. Monte Carlo results are presented which suggest that the non-null distribution of V can be adequately approximated as suggested in the present paper.
Exact and approximate underground wavefront shape determination from an above ground GPR source

Waves radiated from a ground penetrating radar in air above soil refract at the planar ground surface, and change from a circular to a flattened shape resembling a hyperbola. It is useful to predict analytically the shape of this wavefront in the underground half space. The exact wavefront shape is derived, along with a hyperbolic approximation with specific parameters depending on the dielectric constant of the half space, /spl epsiv/' (= n/sup 2/), the height of the source, h, and p, the propagation time from source to wavefront multiplied by the wave velocity in the half space.
The Effects of Sulfate Anion Exchange on Structural Feature and Thermal Behavior of Y2(OH)5NO3•nH2O Layered Hydroxide Nanosheets

Layered rare-earth hydroxide nanosheets (3-8 nm thick) of Y2(OH)5NO3·nH2O (NO3--LYH) were successfully synthesized in one step via chemical precipitation at ~4 °C and pH ~8, using yttrium nitrate and ammonium hydroxide as reagents. The interlayer NO3- was found to be free ions and can be completely replaced with SO42- to yield Y2(OH)5(SO4)0.5·nH2O (SO42--LYH). Thermal decomposition behavior of the SO42--LYH was studied in detail, and the phase and morphology evolutions upon calcination in the temperature range 500-1100 °C were also investigated. Characterizations via XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, and FT-IR found that anion exchange did not bring about any appreciable change to the 2-dimensional crystallite morphology but the basal spacing of the crystal structure shrank from ~0.884 to 0.840 nm owing to the indirect coordination of SO42- to the Y3+ ions. DTA/TG and XRD analysis found that the NO3--LYH converts to Y2O3 at ~600 °C, but the SO42--LYH decomposes to oxide at a higher temperature of ~1000 °C via monoclinic Y2O2SO4 in the range of 800-900 °C. The resultant Y2O3 particles have an average size of ~60 nm.
Influence of Plant Density and Nitrogen on Yield and Milling Quality of Lowland Rice in Nigeria

In experiments conducted with three rice varieties at different plant populations and N levels, the non-lodging varieties responded to 150 kg N/ha. The highest yield in non-lodging varieties were at the highest transplanted density, but at the lowest density in the lodging variety. The percentage of total milled rice of all varieties was not significantly affected by N application, which improved head-rice recovery in chalky IR-8, but had no significant effect on non-chalky varieties. Competition for nutrients could be a major factor limiting head rice return at high densities.
Adrenal proteins bound by a reactive intermediate of mitotane

Purpose: Mitotane (o,p′-DDD), is the only adrenolytic agent available for the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma. Previous studies have shown that mitotane covalently binds to adrenal proteins following its metabolism in adrenocortical tissue to a reactive acyl chloride intermediate. It was the objective of this study to compare the electrophoresis separation patterns of such adducts following activation of mitotane by various adrenocortical sources. Methods: With the use of a 125I-labeled analog of mitotane, 1-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-(4-iodophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethane, gel electrophoresis patterns were obtained for homogenates from bovine, canine and human adrenocortical preparations as well as from a human adrenal preparation. Western immunoblotting analysis was used to test the resulting patterns for adducts of cytochrome P-450SCC and adrenodoxin. Results: The electrophoresis separations were similar for all preparations, with bands at apparent molecular weights of 49.5 and 11.5 kDa being the most pronounced. Radiolabeling of the proteins of a human adrenal cancer cell line NCI H-295 was weak, but a band at 11.5 kDa was detected. Western immunoblotting analyses indicated that the band at 49.5 kDa corresponded in molecular weight to that of adrenal cytochrome P-450SCC, but the band at 11.5 kDa did not correspond to adrenodoxin. Conclusions: The similarity of the results with canine and bovine adrenal preparations to that of human material offers useful systems for studying mitotane and its analogs. This should aid in understanding the mechanism of action of mitotane and in the design of compounds for the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma.
Minimum detectable dose as a measure of bioassay programme capability

This paper suggests that minimum detectable dose (MDD) be used to describe the capability of bioassay programmes for which intakes are expected to be rare. This allows expression of the capability in units that correspond directly to primary dose limits. The concept uses the well established analytical statistic minimum detectable amount (MDA) as the starting point, and assumes MDA detection at a prescribed time post-intake. The resulting dose can then be used as an indication of the adequacy or capability of the programme for demonstrating compliance with the performance criteria. MDDs can be readily tabulated or plotted to demonstrate the effectiveness of different types of monitoring programmes. The inclusion of cost factors for bioassay measurements can allow optimisation.
Complete FIR principal component filter banks

The design of paraunitary analysis/synthesis multirate filter banks when the analysis/synthesis filters are optimized to the input signal have recently received a great deal of attention in the literature. These systems are designed for maximal energy compactness which in turn maximize theoretical coding gain. In a previous paper, 2D factorizable FIR optimal paraunitary multirate filter bank systems are discussed. This paper will address the 2D complete version of the systems, termed 2D complete FIR principal component filter banks (PCFB's). Experimental results demonstrate the potentials of the systems.
Using causal scene analysis to direct focus of attention

Vision should provide an explanation of the scene in terms of a causal semantics-what affects what, and why. For mobile agents, the structural integrity of the immediate environment is a major concern. Thus, an important part of the causal explanation of static scenes is what supports what, or, counterfactually: Why aren't things moving? The authors use simple naive physical knowledge as the basis of a vertically integrated vision system that explains arbitrarily complex stacked block structures. The semantics provides a basis for controlling the application of visual attention, and forms a framework for the explanation that is generated. They show how the program sequentially explores scenes of complex blocks structures, identifies functional substructures such as arches and cantilevers, and develops an explanation of why the whole construction stands and the role of each block in its stability. >
The Acquisition and Dissemination of Employee Data

This essay presents a schematic comparing the legal approach to employer acquisition and dissemination of applicant and employee information in the European Union and the United States. The schematic sets out seven analytical heads: source of law; scope; form; means of effectuation; conceptual grounding; valence; and the relationship of privacy protection to the freedom of expression. The essay then examines the meaning of these categories and explores the commonalities and differences between the E.U. and the U.S. under each of them. It concludes by taking up a common problem: employer access to and use of applicant and employee social media communications. That specific comparison, on a current and pressing issue, breathes life into the analytical differences and shows that, despite the differences, the actual result “on the ground,” so to speak, may not differ significantly; that the remedial situation in both systems may render the protection they afford illusory.
The Use of Medical Images in Planning and Delivery of Radiation Therapy

The authors provide a survey of how images are used in radiation therapy to improve the precision of radiation therapy plans, and delivery of radiation treatment. In contrast to diagnostic radiology, where the focus is on interpretation of the images to decide if disease is present, radiation therapy quantifies the extent of the region to be treated, and relates it to the proposed treatment using a quantitative modeling system called a radiation treatment planning (RTP) system. This necessitates several requirements of image display and manipulation in radiation therapy that are not usually important in diagnosis. The images must have uniform spatial fidelity: i.e., the pixel size must be known and consistent throughout individual images, and between spatially related sets. The exact spatial relation of images in a set must be known. Radiation oncologists draw on images to define target volumes; dosimetrists use RTP systems to superimpose quantitative models of radiation beams and radiation dose distributions on the images and on the sets of organ and target contours derived from them. While this mainly uses transverse cross-sectional images, projected images are also important, both those produced by the radiation treatment simulator and the treatment machines, and so-called “digital reconstructed radiographs,” computed from spatially related sets of cross-sectional images. These requirements are not typically met by software produced for radiologists but are addressed by RTP systems. This review briefly summarizes ongoing work on software development in this area at the University of Washington Department of Radiation Oncology.
Chronic diuretic therapy attenuates renal BOLD magnetic resonance response to an acute furosemide stimulus

Background: Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance (MR) is a novel imaging tool that detects changes in tissue oxygenation. Increases in renal oxygenation in response to a standard 20 mg intravenous furosemide stimulus have been evaluated to assess kidney viability in patients with renal artery stenosis (RAS). The effect of prior exposure to furosemide on the ability of BOLD MR techniques to evaluate renal function is unknown. This study tested the hypothesis that chronic loop diuretic therapy is associated with attenuated responses in renal tissue oxygenation as measured by BOLD MR with an acute 20 mg intravenous furosemide stimulus in participants undergoing evaluation for RAS. Methods: Thirty-eight participants referred for evaluation of RAS were recruited for this study. We examined renal cortical and medullary BOLD signal (T2*) intensities before and after a 20 mg intravenous furosemide stimulus. Additionally, we measured changes in renal artery blood flow using phase contrast techniques. Results: After controlling for covariates age, race, gender, diabetes, glomerular filtration rate, body mass index, and stenosis severity, daily oral furosemide dose was an independent, negative predictor of renal medullary T2* response (p = 0.01) to a standard 20 mg intravenous furosemide stimulus. Stenosis severity and ethnicity were also significant independent predictors of changes in T2* signal intensity in response to an acute furosemide challenge. Changes in renal blood flow in response to acute furosemide administration were correlated with changes in T2* in the renal cortex (r = 0.29, p = 0.03) but not the medulla suggesting changes in renal medullary oxygenation were not due to reduced renal medullary blood flow. Conclusions: Chronic furosemide therapy attenuates BOLD MR responses to an acute furosemide stimulus in patients with RAS being evaluated for renal artery revascularization procedures. Thus, patients who are chronically administered loop diuretics may need a different dosing strategy to accurately detect changes in renal oxygenation with BOLD MR in response to a furosemide stimulus.
A 16-element, K-band monolithic active receive phased array antenna

Advances in the GaAs monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) technology in the SHF/EHF suggest the feasibility of very thin active phased arrays which are ideal for conformal applications. A 16-element subarray was utilized to demonstrate the evaluate the design, fabrication, and integration of the recommended array architecture and technology proposed in a study which defines a design approach for the K-band monolithic active receive array. The 1.08 in.*1.08in.*0.24 in array consists of radiating element cells arranged in a 4*4 matrix with a 0.27 in. spacing between adjacent cells. Each radiating cell consists of a cavity radiating element excited by a Lange coupler, a GaAs MMIC receiver chip, and a 3-bit phase shifter. All 16 radiation cells are connected to a power combining network. Performance results are discussed. >
Evaluation of a MODIS triangle-based evapotranspiration algorithm for semi-arid regions

The current study investigates a MODIS-based remote-sensing-based algorithm for the assessment of daily latent heat flux (LE), or evapotranspiration (ET), with a focus on semi- arid regions. The approach uses the triangle method, relying on remotely sensed inputs and a previously developed net radiation model. A major difference from previous studies is that we utilize only MODIS products for estimation of ETat the daily timestep for clear and cloudy days. The algorithm is evaluated at four flux tower locations in the San Pedro River basin in Arizona. The mean daily LE varies significantly between the sites, ranging from 144 to 179 W∕m 2 in the riparian areas to 36 to 76 W∕m 2 at the rangeland sites. Comparison of the flux towers shows good correlation and low root mean square error at the riparian sites (0.81 to 0.82 and 37 to 51 W∕m 2 , respectively) with slightly larger errors at the upland sites, where ET is strongly cor- related to precipitation events. The model assumption of a linear variation in evaporative fraction across the triangular domain (LST/EVI space) results in more uncertainty under water-stressed conditions such as those found at the upland sites. Overall, the proposed MODIS-based algo- rithm provides reasonable estimates of riparian and upland plant water use and unique spatial and temporal information. © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI. (DOI: 10.1117/1.JRS.7.073493)
A microfluidic imaging chamber for the direct observation of chemotactic transmigration.

To study the roles of nonmuscle myosin II (NM-II) during invasive cell migration, microfluidic migration chambers have been designed and fabricated using photo- and soft-lithography microfabrication techniques. The chamber consists of two channels separated by a vertical barrier with multiple bays of pores with widths varying from 6 µm to 16 µm, and lengths varying from 25 µm to 50 µm. The cells are plated in the channel on one side of the barrier while a chemoattractant is flowed through the channel on the other side of the barrier. In these chambers, cells can be observed with transmitted light or fluorescence optics while they chemotax through various sized pores that impose differential mechanical resistance to transmigration. As an initial test of this device, we compared breast-cancer cell chemotactic transmigration through different pore sizes with and without inhibition of NM-II. Two distinct rates were observed as cells attempted to pull their nucleus through the smaller pores, and the faster nuclear transit mode was critically dependent on NM-II motor activity. The ability to monitor cells as they chemotax through pores of different dimensions within a single experimental system provides novel information on how pore size affects cell morphology and migration rate, providing a dramatic improvement of imaging potential relative to other in vitro transmigration systems such as Boyden chambers.
Temperature profiles for MCM-D flip chip assemblies at cryogenic conditions

A high-power flip chip thermal test vehicle was fabricated and powered up in liquid nitrogen under saturated pool boiling conditions and in an unsaturated cryo chamber held at 90 K. The test vehicle had 12 1/4"/spl times/1/4" thermal test chips bonded with conductive epoxy onto to a Si substrate and packaged in a ceramic flatpack. Under pool boiling conditions, this test vehicle generated over 60 W with a chip thermal resistance of 0.36 K/W in the nucleate boiling regime. Under the same conditions but with a hermetic lid on the package, an additional 2.78 K/W chip thermal resistance was measured. Vertically oriented chips could dissipate 2.5 to 3 W/cm/sup 2/ (chip area) more than horizontally placed chips due to bubble scrubbing. Even in the absence of conductive bumps the thermal resistance of the gas in the package cavity forces most of the heat to flow down through the substrate.
Dynamics of the primate ovarian surface epithelium during the ovulatory menstrual cycle

Background Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) risk correlates strongly with the number of ovulations that a woman experiences. The primary source of EOC in women is the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE). Mechanistic studies on the etiology of OSE transformation to EOC cannot be realistically performed in women. Selecting a suitable animal model to investigate the normal OSE in the context of ovulation should be guided by the model's reproductive similarities to women in natural features that are thought to contribute to EOC risk. Methods We selected the non-human primate, rhesus macaque, as a surrogate to study the normal OSE during the natural menstrual cycle. We investigated OSE morphology and marker expression, plus cell proliferation and death in relation to menstrual cycle stage and ovulation. Results OSE cells displayed a morphological range from squamous to columnar. Cycle-independent parameters and cycle-dependent changes were observed for OSE histology, steroid receptor expression, cell death, DNA repair and cell adhesion. Contrary to findings in non-primates, primate OSE cells were not manifestly cleared from the site of ovulation, nor were proliferation rates affected by ovulation or stage of the menstrual cycle. DNA repair proteins were more highly expressed in OSE than in other ovarian cells. Conclusions This study identifies significant differences between primate and non-primate OSE. In contrast to established views, ovulation-induced death and proliferation are not indicated as prominent contributors to EOC risk, but disruption of OSE cadherin-mediated adhesion may be, as could the loss of ovary-mediated chronic suppression of proliferation and elevation of DNA repair potential.
System Utilization of Electronic Frankensteins

Short-sighted system planning has resulted in the evolution and system mix of both megawatt and microwatt power level equipments with little concern for the over-all system degradations which result from sub-system interactions. Unfortunately the effects of these interactions are often felt far beyond the immediate system. As a result, the full use of extremely sensitive sensors and detectors, which are often very susceptible to spurious and background noise and to interference, may not be economically feasible in view of the cost or impracticability of the accessory background noise and spurious signal elimination devices. As pulsed equipment powers increase to megawatts and pulse lengths become longer than communications bit lengths, spurious suppression far beyond state-of-the-art is necessary if the over-all system is not to be degraded. The problem is serious in that the industrial managers or military commanders will not realize problems exist until the system fails when it is needed. Graphical analysis methods and guidelines for future developments are presented.
INTERPRETING THE RULES OF INSURANCE CONTRACT INTERPRETATION

The rules for interpreting insurance policies — the doctrine of contra proferentem for ambiguous policy language, and the doctrine of reasonable expectations for unambiguous language — are surprisingly difficult to define. The rules themselves are ambiguous and subject to differing interpretations, and yet courts have not been clear about which form they have adopted or are otherwise applying in a particular case. In light of this case law, the Restatement of the Law: Liability Insurance faces a daunting problem. Without widespread agreement about the appropriate method for interpreting insurance policies, how can the case law be restated in a manner that yields reasonably coherent rules of insurance contract interpretation?Recognizing that a purely textual approach is a nonstarter for interpreting insurance policies, the Restatement adopts the contextual or purposive approach while also trying to retain the value of the written text, resulting in a set of rules that strive to balance these two interpretive methods. Throughout the Restatement, the balance depends on whether the plain meaning of the policy language is “reasonably susceptible” to an alternative interpretation based on extrinsic evidence of purpose and the like. To apply the Restatement’s interpretive rules, courts will have to interpret the meaning of the “reasonably susceptible” requirement.By relying on a rigorous specification of the ordinary policyholder’s reasonable expectations of coverage, courts can resolve the ambiguities in the Restatement’s rules, yielding an appealing method for interpreting insurance contracts. The plain meaning of a policy term can be the product of insurer practices that exploit policyholders who do not read or otherwise adequately understand the contract. Departing from the plain meaning of a term, therefore, yields interpretations that can provide the amount of coverage that would be expected by policyholders if they were well informed — the principle of reasonable expectations. Interpretations that depart from the policy language, however, run the risk of being erroneous, yielding coverage decisions that can ultimately harm the ordinary policyholder. For this reason, the reasonable policyholder values the plain meaning of the policy language insofar as it reduces the risk of legal error and the associated costs of uncertainty that insurers impound into the premium that they charge for the policy. Once the value of plain meaning has been incorporated into the ordinary policyholder’s reasonable expectations of coverage, the expectations principle entails a structured interpretive inquiry that maps into the interpretive rules adopted by the Restatement, making it possible for courts to determine whether the plain meaning of the policy language is “reasonably susceptible” to an alternative interpretation based on extrinsic evidence of purpose and the like. So interpreted, the Restatement has the potential for implementing the expectations principle in a manner that requires courts to clearly specify the substantive reasons for their decisions of how to interpret insurance contracts.
Responding to Academic Critiques of Sex Work: Practical Suggestions from a Sex- Positive Perspective

While the prevalence of sex workers and the size and growth of the sex industry is regularly disputed and/or misrepresented (Weitzer, 2007), by all accounts, sex work forms a significant part of the American economy. Whether prostitution, erotic massage, escorting, dancing, modeling, pornography, or providing BDSM and fetish services—sex work and sex workers are available virtually everywhere, and depending on the particular service involved, are utilized by anywhere from a small but substantial portion of the population (e.g., prostitution; Monto & McRee, 2005) to a large percentage of adults (e.g, pornography; Carroll et al., 2008; Doring, 2009).
A Rectification Algorithm for Manifold Boundary Representation Models

In this paper we present a boundary reconstruction methodology which builds a valid model in the neighborhood of an object described by a traditional boundary representation model with floating point specification. This method converts an erroneous model into an interval model, guaranteed to be gap-free. An example illustrates our methodology for robust conversion.
Effects of hyperthyroidism on muscle blood flow during exercise in rats.

Hyperthyroidism is associated with exercise intolerance. Previous research, however, has shown that cardiac output is either normal or enhanced during exercise in the hyperthyroid state. We therefo...
Classification of Early-Onset Scoliosis

Early-onset scoliosis (EOS) is a complex and heterogeneous condition of significant diversity with respect to etiology, natural history, and management. Until recently, the lack of an organizing structure to condense the varied manifestations of EOS has slowed efforts to conduct the higher level of evidence studies necessary to establish best practices. That is, without a classification to reliably stratify children with EOS, it has been difficult to draw meaningful comparisons of outcomes before and after treatment. In light of this need, the Classification of Early-Onset Scoliosis (C-EOS) was developed to provide a comprehensive, practical, and predictive novel classification system designed exclusively for young patients with scoliosis.
Pituitary Gonadotropin Inhibitory Activity of Danazol

A steroid danazol (17-alpha-Pregn-4-en-20-yno(23-d)-isoxazol-17-ol) possesses a marked separation of pituitary gonadotropin inhibitory activity from overt sex hormonal activities. The effect of danazol on fertility in the rat was determined. Danazol produced a dose-related decrease in the weights of ventral prostate seminal vesicles and testes of mature male rats when given orally at 80 mg/kg daily for 6 months - 1 year. It also produced highly significant decreases in the weights of sex accessory organs and testes. Mature female rats showed a similar dose-related effect on ovaries adrenals and thymus. Body weight and ovaries increased during treatment. Danazol was not progestational in the Clauberg assay when adminsitered orally at doses as high as 80Omg/kg. A dose of 20Omg/kg for 6 days following insemination was completely effective in preventing pregnancy.
Performance evaluation of iterative reconstruction algorithms for achieving CT radiation dose reduction — a phantom study

The purpose of this study was to characterize image quality and dose performance with GE CT iterative reconstruction techniques, adaptive statistical iterative recontruction (ASiR), and model-based iterative reconstruction (MBIR), over a range of typical to low-dose intervals using the Catphan 600 and the anthropomorphic Kyoto Kagaku abdomen phantoms. The scope of the project was to quantitatively describe the advantages and limitations of these approaches. The Catphan 600 phantom, supplemented with a fat-equivalent oval ring, was scanned using a GE Discovery HD750 scanner at 120 kVp, 0.8 s rotation time, and pitch factors of 0.516, 0.984, and 1.375. The mA was selected for each pitch factor to achieve CTDIvol values of 24, 18, 12, 6, 3, 2, and 1 mGy. Images were reconstructed at 2.5 mm thickness with filtered back-projection (FBP); 20%, 40%, and 70% ASiR; and MBIR. The potential for dose reduction and low-contrast detectability were evaluated from noise and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) measurements in the CTP 404 module of the Catphan. Hounsfield units (HUs) of several materials were evaluated from the cylinder inserts in the CTP 404 module, and the modulation transfer function (MTF) was calculated from the air insert. The results were con-firmed in the anthropomorphic Kyoto Kagaku abdomen phantom at 6, 3, 2, and 1mGy. MBIR reduced noise levels five-fold and increased CNR by a factor of five compared to FBP below 6mGy CTDIvol, resulting in a substantial improvement in image quality. Compared to ASiR and FBP, HU in images reconstructed with MBIR were consistently lower, and this discrepancy was reversed by higher pitch factors in some materials. MBIR improved the conspicuity of the high-contrast spatial resolution bar pattern, and MTF quantification confirmed the superior spatial resolution performance of MBIR versus FBP and ASiR at higher dose levels. While ASiR and FBP were relatively insensitive to changes in dose and pitch, the spatial resolution for MBIR improved with increasing dose and pitch. Unlike FBP, MBIR and ASiR may have the potential for patient imaging at around 1 mGy CTDIvol. The improved low-contrast detectability observed with MBIR, especially at low-dose levels, indicate the potential for considerable dose reduction.
Sugar sweetened beverages are associated with greater incidence of diabetes but there is a paucity of evidence on healthfulness of artificially-sweetened beverages and fruit juices

Commentary on : Imamura F, O'Connor L, Ye Z, et al. Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages, and fruit juice and incidence of type 2 diabetes: systematic review, meta-analysis, and estimation of population attributable fraction. BMJ 2015;351:h3576. Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), artificially-sweetened beverages (ASBs) and fruit juices (FJs) are widely consumed globally and while SSBs have been extensively examined through observational studies and trials, the health effects of ASBs and FJs remain unclear. Imamura and colleagues have carried out the most comprehensive meta-analysis yet on the effects of SSB, ASB and FJ consumption on type 2 diabetes (T2D). Following PRISMA guidelines, the authors searched PubMed, Embase, Ovid and Web of Knowledge through May 2013 for observational studies examining the impacts of SSBs, ASBs and FJs on the incidence of T2D. The authors screened identified articles in duplicate, including articles on prospective cohort studies of adult populations with an average follow-up of at least 2 years in which beverage consumption and T2D incidence were assessed. Bias in included …
Feasibility of Washings at the Time of Laparoscopic Power Morcellation: A Pilot Study.

Abstract Study Objective To determine the feasibility and role of abdominopelvic washings at the time of laparoscopic power morcellation and to determine if endometrial or myometrial tissue will be detected before and after laparoscopic power morcellation. Design A prospective pilot study (Canadian Task Force classification II-3). Setting An academic medical center. Patients All women who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy by a single provider at Northwestern Prentice Women's Hospital between August 2014 and October 2015. Interventions Abdominopelvic washings were performed before and after laparoscopic power morcellation in a specimen bag. Washings were evaluated for the presence of intra-abdominal endometrial or myometrial tissue using cell block and cytospin techniques. Measurements and Main Results A total of 13 cases were performed. Eleven subjects underwent multiport laparoscopy, and 2 underwent laparoendoscopic single-site surgery. Morcellation was performed within a 15 mm Tissue Retrieval System 100SB2 (Anchor Products, Addison, IL). Two sets of abdominopelvic washings were performed after completion of myomectomy: one before morcellation and the second after morcellation. As a control, washings of the inside of the empty specimen bag were performed after completion of morcellation in 1 patient. The operative outcomes analyzed included a median specimen weight of 313 g (range, 43–940 g), a median operative time in minutes of 161 minutes (range, 94–243 minutes), and a median estimated blood loss of 200 mL (range, 100–700 mL). There was no visual or cytologic evidence of intra-abdominal dissemination of uterine tissue before or after enclosed morcellation on evaluation by cytospin or cell block techniques. Only the washings from the inside of the specimen bag were found to have myometrial tissue on evaluation using the cell block technique. Conclusion Performing abdominopelvic washings at the time of laparoscopic power morcellation is a feasible method by which to evaluate and document the presence or absence of microscopic dissemination, with comparable operative parameters to what is already reported in the literature. When abdominopelvic washings are used as an intermediate outcome measure, enclosed bag morcellation appears to minimize tissue dissemination during laparoscopic power morcellation; however, additional and larger studies are needed.
Magnetic Specific Heat of Cd1−xMnxTe at Low Temperatures and High Magnetic Fields

Theoretical predictions for the magnetic specific heat of Cd1−xMnxTe:x=0.20, 0.35, 0.50, and 0.65 are reported for B=0, 10T, and 100T. The analysis applies to the low-temperature regime, T≤10K, where the fundamental excitations are harmonic magnons. The calculations use values for the exchange interactions which were inferred from fits to the dynamic structure factor describing inelastic neutron scattering at low temperatures. For x=0.35, 0.50, and 0.65 the specific heat is only weakly affected by applied fields up to 10T. At the lowest concentration the application of a field of 10T leads to a significant reduction in the specific heat. Results are also presented for the distribution of magnon modes at various concentrations and fields.
Analyse structurelle des déterminants du comportement innovatif des entreprises industrielles

Cet article presente les resultats d'une etude portant sur les determinants du comportement innovatif d'un echantillon de plus de 1 800 entreprises industrielles de taille moyenne. Un modele comprenant 7 equations relie dix caracteristiques fondamentales de ces entreprises et de leurs marches a l'intensite et a la nature de leurs efforts dans le domaine du lancement de nouveaux produits, de meme qu'il quantifie l'impact de leur programme de modification et de developpement de produits sur leur profitabilite et leur previsions de croissance. Nos resultats montrent que l'environnement concurrentiel affecte davantage le programme de RD un fort effet de synergie negative entre RD et de forts effets d'interaction entre le type de recherche et le type d'innovation sur les indicateurs de performance organisationnelle.
Evidence of Localized Lithium Removal in Layered and Lithiated Spinel Li1–xCoO2 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.9) under Oxygen Evolution Reaction Conditions

The electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction performance of various forms of lithium cobalt oxide has been studied to systematically establish the surface-level catalytic mechanism. The low-temperature lithiated spinel form of LiCoO2 (designated as LT-LiCoO2) exhibits lower overpotentials than the high-temperature layered form of LiCoO2 (designated as HT-LiCoO2), but this is shown to be a result of the increased surface area afforded by lower-temperature synthesis conditions. Raman spectroscopy, along with the presence of an irreversible peak during the first cycle of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), demonstrates that the mechanism for OER is the same for both the forms of LiCoO2. At the surface level, lithium is removed during the first cycle of the OER, forming Co3O4 on the surface, which is likely the active site during the OER. This work highlights the importance of determining the nature of the catalyst surface when investigating the electrocatalytic properties of bulk materials.
Evaluating TNA stability under simulated physiological conditions

Chemically modified oligonucleotides are routinely used as diagnostic and therapeutic agents due to their enhanced biological stability relative to natural DNA and RNA. Here, we examine the biological stability of α-l-threofuranosyl nucleic acid (TNA), an artificial genetic polymer composed of repeating units of α-l-threofuranosyl sugars linked by 2',3'-phosphodiester bonds. We show that TNA remains undigested after 7days of incubation in the presence of either 50% human serum or human liver microsomes and is stable against snake venom phosphordiesterase (a highly active 3' exonuclease). We further show that TNA will protect internal DNA residues from nuclease digestion and shield complementary RNA strands from RNA degrading enzymes. Together, these results demonstrate that TNA is an RNA analogue with high biological stability.
The Pulmonary Hypertension Consult: Clinical and Coding Considerations

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an increasingly recognized cause of morbidity and mortality, and in the past 20 years, there has been a rapid expansion in research and available therapies. Although it is defined quite simply as a mean pulmonary arterial pressure of ≥ 25 mm Hg, PH encompasses a heterogeneous group of disease processes. In the past, PH was classified as primary or secondary, but as understanding of the various contributing diseases has increased, classification systems have attempted to group these diseases by clinical features and disease mechanism. The evaluation of patients with suspected PH can be cumbersome, and a careful and methodical approach is needed to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis, correct physiological classification, and appropriate treatment. In this review, we discuss the classification and diagnostic evaluation of PH in adults as well as some of the billing and coding considerations involved in this evaluation.
Batch Comparisons of Sr and Ba Retention and Capacities on AnaLig® Sr-01 and Eichrom Sr Resins

ABSTRACTThe isolation of strontium from aqueous media may be required for environmental monitoring or nuclear forensics sample analyses.[1–4] The prevalent method is to use a strontium selective extraction chromatographic resin. Two such products are Eichrom Technologies Sr resin and IBC Advanced Technologies AnaLig® Sr-01 resin. Eichrom Technologies Sr resin utilizes a crown ether (4,4′(5′)-di-t-butylcyclohexano-18-crown-6) diluted in 1-octanol and coated onto AmberchromTM CG71 resin, and IBC Advanced Technologies AnaLig® Sr-01 resin features a proprietary extractant covalently tethered to a silica support. The use of each resin is reported in the literature; Eichrom Sr Resin specifications, including the resin’s weight distribution ratio and capacity factor for analytes, have been reported but no such data have been published for IBC Analig® Sr-01 resin. In this work, batch studies were completed to determine the capacity and weight distribution ratio of both AnaLig® Sr-01 and Eichrom Sr resins for stro...