cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hybrid couplers in bilevel microstrip

Hybrid couplers can be built using a bilevel microstrip structure in which two strips are positioned broadside, one above the other. This simple geometry provides large coupling factors without the need for rigorous manufacturing tolerances. Remarkably, if the dielectric constant of one of the layers can be freely chosen, ideal hybrid coupler performance is achievable. Even when the choice of dielectric constant is constrained, good results can be obtained. A technique for achieving optimal design has been developed, and design curves are shown. Experiments confirm design predictions. The reentrant coupler may be analyzed as an interconnection of two bilevel couplers of the kind described here. This provides a simpler analysis than methods used earlier, and in some cases yields more accurate results. >
Fractional Order Proportional Derivative (FOPD) and FO[PD] Controller Design for Networked Position Servo Systems

This paper considers the fractional order proportional derivative (FOPD) controller and fractional order [propor tional derivative] (FO[PD]) controller for networked position se rvo systems. The systematic design schemes of the networked position servo system with a time delay are presented. It follo ws from the Bode plot of the FOPD system and the FO[PD] that the given gain crossover frequency and phase margin are fulfille d. Moreover, the phase derivative w.r.t. the frequency is zero , which means that the closed-loop system is robust to gain variatio ns at the given gain crossover frequency. However, sometimes w e can not get the controller parameters to meet our robustnessrequirement. In this paper, we have studied on this situation a nd presented the requirement of the gain cross frequency, and p hase margin in the designing process. For the comparison of fractional order controllers with traditional integer order co ntroller, the integer order proportional integral differential (IOP ID) was also designed by using the same proposed method. The simulation results have verified that FOPD and FO[PD] are effective for networked position servo. The simulation results also r eveal
Hypertension during chronic hyperinsulinemia in rats is not salt-sensitive.

The goal of this study was to examine the chronic blood pressure and renal actions of insulin in conscious rats and to determine whether the blood pressure response to insulin is salt-sensitive. The effects of chronic hyperinsulinemia were examined in three groups of Sprague-Dawley rats given low sodium (LS rats, 0.6 meq/day), normal sodium (NS rats, 3.0 meq/day), or high sodium (HS rats, 11.4 meq/day) intakes. After 5-7 days of acclimation and 4 days of control measurements, insulin was infused 24 hr/day (1.5 milliunit/kg/min i.v.) for 7 days, and euglycemia was maintained by infusion of glucose (22 mg/kg/min i.v.). Mean arterial pressure was recorded continuously 19 hr/day, using computerized techniques, from chronically implanted aortic catheters. Chronic insulin infusion increased arterial pressure similarly in the three groups of rats, from 91 +/- 2 to 104 +/- 4 mm Hg in LS rats (n = 6), from 86 +/- 2 to 104 +/- 4 mm Hg in NS rats (n = 5), and from 91 +/- 2 to 105 +/- 8 mm Hg in HS rats (n = 5). There were no significant changes in plasma renin activity or glucose concentration in any group during insulin infusion. Control sodium excretions were 0.5 +/- 0.1, 2.3 +/- 0.1, and 9.3 +/- 0.6 meq/day in LS, NS, and HS rats, respectively, and there were no significant changes in urinary sodium excretion or cumulative sodium balance during 7 days of insulin infusion in any of the groups. These observations indicate that chronic hyperinsulinemia in rats produced hypertension that was not salt-sensitive and not dependent on sodium retention or increased renin secretion. Moreover, insulin-induced hypertension was associated with a shift of renal pressure natriuresis, since sodium balance was maintained at elevated arterial pressures.
Radiation therapy in the management of distant breast cancer metastases

Dose-time-volume relationships are probably the most heatedly debated single item in radiation oncology, with virtually no clinical or radiobiologic aspect of this subject that is not contentious in some way. There is even less agreement among oncologists about the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer. The goal of radiation therapy should be to relieve pain or restore function as quickly as possible, and treatments should be as short as possible to attain that goal. A summary of pertinent literature is given in this article. In addition to the decisions regarding dose, time, and field placement, the palliative treatment patients requires a value judgement, balancing quality of life against quantity of life. The effective clinician intuitively acts in favor of prolonging life, not prolonging death. Clinical judgement, common sense, and a little humility for what we can accomplish with radiation therapy are probably more important than dose-time-volume relationships in the successful treatment of the dying patient with metastatic disease. Some of the important questions that must be asked to decide the appropriateness of a particular course of therapy are discussed.
Autonomous yet deterministic test of SOC cores

Increased core test parallelism translates into reduced SOC test application time; yet the availability of a limited number of tester channels hampers this parallelism. Furthermore, the test vectors to be delivered into core scan chains need to be stored in the tester memory, imposing considerable costs on SOC tests. We propose an SOC test methodology delivering all the benefits of core self-test, while ensuring fault coverage levels identical to those attained in deterministic test. In the proposed methodology, a single LFSR broadcasts pseudo-random patterns to each core; the LFSR patterns are transformed into the actual test vectors of a core while they are being shifted into the core scan chain. The transformation is realized through the logic gates inserted between the core scan cells. The efficacy and the cost-effectiveness of the proposed methodology reflects into significantly reduced test costs.
Review of laser-pumped molecular lasers

Laser-pumped molecular lasers can be the source of laser wavelengths that are otherwise unavailable. In these laser sources a gas cell containing selected molecules is optically pumped with an available laser to generate output at a wavelength longer than that of the pump. For example, the CO2 laser has long been used to generate far-infrared coherent radiation from optically pumped gases exemplified by methanol and heavy water. Indeed, laser-pumped molecular lasers have generated thousands of laser lines from the vacuum ultraviolet to the millimeterwave region since their inception in the early seventies. While these lasers are useful for specified wavelengths, they also offer the advantage of very good beam quality. The pump laser is not required to have good beam quality in order to achieve this performance. Interest in laser-pumped molecular lasers is expected to increase in the near future because of the needs of various users. Examples may be found in the mid-infrared region where compact sources are largely unavailable. The use of improved solid-state lasers or diode lasers as pump sources for molecular lasers will result in useful sources for remote sensing, ladar, and other applications.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Toward the supervisory control of families of nonlinear regulators

with an imprecisely modeled process so as to stabilize the process and cause its output to approachand track a constant reference input. In [1], the process is assumed to be modeled by a siso linearsystem whose transfer function is in the union of a number of subclasses, each subclass being smallenough so that one of the candidate controllers would solve the problem, were the process's transferfunction to be one of the corresponding subclass's members. Each subclass contains a 'nomina1
Transport simulation of a nanoscale silicon rod field-effect transistor

We have simulated the behavior of a rod shaped nanoscale ring-gated field-effect transistor (O-FET) using the PISCES-IIb semiconductor drift-diffusion solver. The results from these simulations are used by a custom SPICE kernel to simulate several simple logic gates. The usefulness of this kind of transistor is examined within the context of a self-assembling fabrication technique that we outline. We also briefly explore a computer architecture we call a "computational oracle" for which the O-FET is well suited. Our simulation results, SPICE kernel modifications, and input decks may be found at ftp://ftp.cs.unc.edu/pub/packages/GRIP/publication-addend a/TSNSRFET.
A Case for a Rule of Modified Comparative Negligence

Law and economics scholars have argued for replacing a contributory negligence with comparative negligence. This article considers whether modified comparative negligence is superior to pure comparative negligence by comparing the incentives that pure and modified comparative negligence rules generate to act non-negligently. Modified comparative negligence is superior to pure comparative negligence in three important respects: 1. Under a pure comparative negligence rule, when one party’s expenditures on accident prevention measures (APMs) deviate from the optimal level relatively greatly compared to another party’s expenditures on APMs, additional expendi-tures on care by the first party affect that party’s share of damages very little. A legal rule should impose its greatest incremental penalty in order to overcome the disincentive to increase expenditures on APMs. A modified comparative negligence rule provides such an incremental penalty. A pure comparative negligence rule does not. 2. The party whose foregone APMs are more cost-effective should be given a significant incremental incentive to incur their costs. A modified comparative negligence rule provides such an incremental incentive. A pure comparative negligence rule does not. 3. A pure comparative negligence rule imposes damages on any party who deviates even slightly from the optimal level of expenditures on APMs and so generates incentives towards expenditures on duplicate and hence inefficient APMs when the value of a risk is especially high. A modified comparative negligence rule generates a lower incentive towards inefficient duplication unless expected accident costs are at the lowest level to which they can be cost-effectively reduced.
Equilibria of Continuous Dynamical Systems

This chapter highlights the equilibrium point of continuous dynamical systems. It explains how to use calculus to see what is in a microscope focused at an equilibrium point of a dynamical system. The main idea of calculus is that one can see the linear approximation, which in this case is a linear dynamical system. The main task is to cast the results in terms of 2-by-2 systems so that one knows what the linear systems look like. Then, the partial derivatives are used to show that linear dynamical system approximates a nonlinear one near an equilibrium point. It is helpful to remember the five basic cases, which could either be flowing in or out depending on the signs of the characteristic roots. These cases are (1) real roots of the same sign, (2) real roots of opposite sign, (3) purely imaginary roots, (4) complex roots, and (5) a repeated real root or non-distinct real root.
El Oriente de dos mexicanos: Japón en la obra de Tablada y Rebolledo

De acuerdo con Jose Emilio Pachecho, Jose Juan Tablada y Efren Rebolledo fueron los unicos modernistas mexicanos que tuvieron conocimiento directo del Japon, y esto se refleja claramente en la obra de ambos. Como quiera que uno desee evaluar la aportacion de cada escritor, lo cierto es que pocos se han ocupado en profundizar el paralelo de la japonofilia de Tablada y Rebolledo. En este ensayo se analiza como surgio el interes por el Extremo Oriente, particularmente por el Japon, y como se manifiesta y representa a traves de los visiones disimiles.
An Evolutionary Sequential Sampling Algorithm for Multi-Objective Optimization

In this paper, we present a novel sequential sampling methodology for solving multi-objective optimization problems. Random sequential sampling is performed using the information from within the non-dominated solution set generated by the algorithm, while resampling is performed using the extreme points of the non-dominated solution set. The proposed approach has been benchmarked against well-known multi-objective optimization algorithms that exist in the literature through a series of problem instances. The proposed algorithm has been demonstrated to perform at least as good as the alternatives found in the literature in problems where the Pareto front presents convexity, nonconvexity, or discontinuity; while producing very promising results in problem instances where there is multi-modality or nonuniform distribution of the solutions along the Pareto front.
The Interface of TiB 2 and Al 3 Ti in Molten Aluminum

In the grain refinement of aluminum, Al3Ti and TiB2 particles are introduced to reduce the casting grain size down to 200 micrometer level, which makes cold working possible. The particles are brought in by the addition of Al-Ti-B-type master alloys. It is generally believed that TiB2 particles are stable and nucleate α-Al grains in solidification in the presence of titanium in solution from the dissolution of Al3Ti particles in the master alloys. The titanium in solution either forms Al3Ti layers on the surface of TiB2 particles to promote the nucleation of α-Al grains or remains as solute to restrict the growth of α-Al grains in solidification. However, a consensus on a grain refinement mechanism is still to be reached due to the lack of direct observation of the three phases in castings. This paper presents finding of the TiB2/Al3Ti interfaces in an Al-Ti-B master alloy. It demonstrates a strong epitaxial growth of Al3Ti on the surface of TiB2 particles, a sign of the formation of an Al3Ti layer on the surface of TiB2 particles in grain refinement practice. The Al3Ti layer has a crystal coherency with α-Al and hence offers a substrate for heterogeneous nucleation of α-Al grains. However, the layer must be dynamic to avoid the formation of compounded Al3Ti and TiB2 particles leading to the loss of efficiency in grain refinement.
Improving detector spatial resolution using pixelated scintillators with a barrier rib structure

Indirect conversion flat panel detectors (FPDs) based on amorphous silicon (a-Si) technology are widely used in digital X-ray imaging. In such FPDs a scintillator layer is used for converting X-rays into visible light photons. However, the lateral spread of these photons inside the scintillator layer reduces spatial resolution of the FPD. In this study, FPDs incorporating pixelated scintillators with a barrier rib structure were developed to limit lateral spread of light photons thereby improving spatial resolution. For the pixelated scintillator, a two-dimensional barrier rib structure was first manufactured on a substrate layer, coated with reflective materials, and filled to the rim with the scintillating material of gadolinium oxysulfide (GOS). Several scintillator samples were fabricated, with pitch size varying from 160 to 280 μm and rib height from 200 to 280 μm. The samples were directly coupled to an a-Si flat panel photodiode array with a pitch of 200 μm to convert optical photons to electronic signals. With the pixelated scintillator, the detector modulation transfer function was shown to improve significantly (by 94% at 2 cycle/mm) compared to a detector using an unstructured GOS layer. However, the prototype does show lower sensitivity due to the decrease in scintillator fill factor. The preliminary results demonstrated the feasibility of using the barrier-rib structure to improve the spatial resolution of FPDs. Such an improvement would greatly benefit nondestructive testing applications where the spatial resolution is the most important parameter. Further investigation will focus on improving the detector sensitivity and exploring its medical applications.
Dyslipoproteinemia in women and the elderly

Major risk factors predict coronary risk in both women and men. It is inadvisable and unwarranted to suggest that women be excluded from cholesterol screening. In fact, what evidence is available suggests that women, similar to men, benefit from cholesterol lowering. This is not an insignificant issue. Women, similar to men, die mostly of coronary atherosclerosis, although atherosclerotic death in women occurs 5 to 10 years later than in men. There are some risk factors that are unique in women. LDL-c levels may be less predictive of risk in women than in men; HDL-c levels may be more predictive. Triglycerides are a stronger predictor of risk in women than in men. Finally, diabetes is a major risk factor in women and almost eliminates the differences in risk seen in comparing nondiabetic men and women. Exogenous gonadal hormones, both in the form of OCs and HRT, have the potential to influence coronary risk in women. In premenopausal women, use of OCs is associated with increased risk of coronary disease in women who smoke, particularly in women older than age 35. In postmenopausal women, estrogen use is generally associated with protection against coronary disease. These results may be in part due to favorable effects on circulating lipoproteins but may as well be related to the protective effects of estrogen on the arterial wall. Definitive recommendations about the use of estrogen in postmenopausal women for the primary prevention of coronary disease await the completion of clinical trials of estrogen alone and in combination with progestins. Cholesterol and its lipoprotein subfractions continue to be predictors of both morbidity and mortality in older populations. The value of cholesterol-altering therapy in older individuals is not as well established in clinical trials as in middle-aged men. Nevertheless, there is good reason to believe that the results from both primary and secondary prevention studies in younger individuals can readily be extrapolated to older individuals. In particular, individuals with symptomatic coronary disease but a relatively good prognosis should be offered the same benefits from secondary prevention as younger individuals. Thus, although data are more limited in women and the elderly than in middle-aged men, there is good reason to believe that cholesterol interventions are likely to be effective, particularly in postmenopausal women and in older individuals with established coronary disease. To withhold therapy based simply on gender or chronologic age is a mistake.
Interspecific and Intraspecific Larval Competition Between Diabrotica virgifera virgifera and Diabrotica barberi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Intraspecific and interspecific competition among northern corn rootworms, Diabrotica barberi Smith & Lawrence, and western corn rootworms, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, were investigated under greenhouse conditions. Densities of both species were varied on potted corn seedlings to determine the effects of competition on adult emergence. The results depended on the initial larval densities of the two species. Intraspecific and interspecific competition significantly affected in adult emergence of both species. Western corn rootworm adult emergence was influenced more by intraspecific competition than interspecific competition, but females were effected by northern corn rootworm densities. Northern corn rootworm was very sensitive to both intraspecific and interspecific competition.
Three Cases of Tumors or Tumorous Conditions in the Femoral Neck of Children

Recently we experienced three cases of tumors or tumorous conditions in the femoral neck of children.Case 1. A boy, 13 years old, was treated with resection and autogenous bone graft. The histological diagnosis was nonossifying fibroma. The course was satisfactory.Case 2. A girl, 7 years old, was treated with homogenous and autogenous bone graft. The histological diagnosis was solitary bone cyst. The course was satisfactory.Case 3. A girl, 11 years old, She had already sustained the pathologic transcervical fracture and was treated with curettage, accurate reduction, bone grafting and internal fixation. But the femoral head was followed by aseptic necrosis. The histological diagnosis was granulation surrounding the necrotic bone tissue. Therefore the pathologic diagnosis couldn't be established.
pH-Dependent Transport of Metal Cations in Porous Media

We study the effect of pH-dependent adsorption and hydrodynamic dispersion on cation transport through a reactive porous medium with a hydrophilic surface. We investigate how competitive adsorption between a proton and a metal (which in some situations of practical interest may also be a radionuclide) can facilitate the migration of a certain fraction of the latter. We performed laboratory experiments using a chromatographic column filled with silica beads coated with iron oxide and flooded initially with an acidic solution (pH ≈ 3) and then with an alkaline solution (pH > 7) containing either sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, or barium. The composition of each injected solution was chosen to represent one of two possible theoretical predictions, either a retarded shock and a fast pulse, that is, traveling at the interstitial fluid velocity, or only a retarded shock. Highly resolved breakthrough curves measured with inline ion chromatography allowed us to observe in all cases agreement with ...
Dumbing down or ramping up? The complex challenges of simplicity

What do democracy, wine, U.S. intelligence, the British Tudor monarchy, dieters, and emergency physicians have in common? Hint: the list also includes students, the curriculum, and America. Give up...
Chest Compression Technique

The concept of “external cardiac massage,” first introduced in the early 1960s by Kouwenhoven, Jude, and Knickerbocker (1), includes chest compressions at a rate of 60 to 100 per minute in conjunction with mouth-to-mouth rescue breathing (2). Refinements of standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) since its introduction in the 1960s have included increasing the rate of chest compression from 60 per minute to 100 per minute, which research makes little difference in blood flow (3), and recently decreasing the tidal volume of the positive pressure ventilations under certain circumstances (2,4). Elimination of the carotid artery pulse check in the year 2000 guidelines has abolished an unnecessary delay in starting chest compressions by lay rescuers. Yet for many of us, chest compression remains the centerpiece of resuscitation from full cardiopulmonary arrest, and there has been precious little investigation of how to do it properly.
Taxes, Health Care Provision and Aggregate Hours of Work†

Abstract A recent literature has studied the role of increases in labor taxes and transfers on the evolution of hours of work across OECD countries. Much of this literature studies this issue in a one sector model. This paper develops a two sector model in order to assess various features of health care financing on aggregate hours of work. A key result is that when health care is publicly financed but rationed, the distortion on aggregate hours of work is large and independent of the tax required to finance the system. Moreover, this effect increases over time as aggregate income increases.
Determinants of satisfaction in the workplace: differences and similarities between male and female employees in Chile

This paper empirically examines the major determinants of Chilean male and female employees' satisfaction. Two variables represent one's satisfaction with the workplace: having a full-time job and receiving a quality benefit package. We extract data from the 2009 national employment survey in Chile and observe over 426,000 Chilean employees in our sample. The survey data show that women's participation in the labour force is significantly lower than that of men's. Female employees tend to have higher education levels. However, male Chilean employees are more likely to work full-time and to have better benefits. We conduct econometric tests to examine various determinants of workplace satisfaction. Education and skill levels are found to have significant, positive effects on both male and female employees' satisfaction. Marriage and family status contribute the most to the differences between female and male employees' satisfaction.
The Fund Agreement in the Courts: XX

En esta entrega de la serie de articulos sobre litigios que se relacionan con el Convenio Constitutivo del Fondo se examinan dos temas principales. El primero es la aplicacion de unidades de cuenta definidas en relacion con el oro en tratados que aun no han sido modificados, sustituidos o complementados por normas nacionales oficiales. Este problema se deriva del hecho de que se ha derogado el precio oficial del oro. Los casos examinados han sido decididos por tribunales de Estados Unidos, Francia, Italia, Paises Bajos y Austria. Entre los tratados en cuestion se encuentran la Convencion de Varsovia y otros acuerdos internacionales. Se ha generalizado la tendencia a rechazar la solucion del precio de mercado del oro. En todos esos juicios, con excepcion del decidido por los tribunales franceses, se considero, y en algunos casos se adopto, la solucion del DEG. No fue este el criterio de la Corte Suprema de Estados Unidos, la cual sin embargo expreso en su fallo que la adopcion de este temperamento incumbia al organo ejecutivo investido de esa facultad normativa. La sentencia recoge la solucion de la ultima paridad del dolar, pero invocando argumentos controvertibles. La Corte Suprema revoco la sentencia del tribunal inferior, que sostenia que la Convencion de Varsovia es inaplicable debido a que no existe un precio oficial del oro. Las sentencias referentes a unidades de oro son importantes ya que, por diversos motivos, no han entrado en vigor los Protocolos de Montreal y otros proyectos de modificacion de los tratados. El otro tema es el del derecho internacional de los movimientos de capital segun lo establecen el Convenio del Fondo, el Tratado de Roma y el Codigo de la Organizacion de Cooperacion y Desarrollo Economicos. Se analiza la relacion entre esos tratados tomandose como base, fundamentalmente, una decision de la Corte de Justicia de las Comunidades Europeas en la cual se hace una exegesis del concepto de "movimiento de capital".
Facelift: Deep Plane

A facelift (rhytidectomy) is a procedure designed to restore the youthful appearance of the aging face. There are many types of facelifts that vary in the extent and depth of dissection as well as surgical techniques. While each technique carries a unique name, the main types of facelifts are skin only, SMAS plication, SMAS ectomy, subperiosteal, and deep plane.
Genetically transmitted, generalized disorders of cornification: the ichthyoses

The generalized disorders of cornification (previously termed the ichthyoses) constitute a large, heterogenous group of inherited disorders. It is now possible to define at least 24 distinct genetic diseases within this group. At present, the underlying genetic or biochemical cause is known for only a few of these disorders.
In Vitro Assessment of Small Charged Pharmaceutical Aerosols in a Model of a Ventilated Neonate

Aerosolized medications may benefit infants receiving mechanical ventilation; however, the lung delivery efficiency of these aerosols is unacceptably low. In vitro experiments were conducted to evaluate aerosol delivery through conventional and modified ventilation systems to the end of a 3mm endotracheal tube (ETT) under steady state and realistic cyclic flow conditions. System modifications were employed to investigate the use of small charged particles and included streamlined components, a reduction in nebulizer liquid flow rate, synchronization with inspiration, and implementation of a previously designed low-flow induction charger (LF-IC), which was further modified in this study. Cyclic flow experiments implemented a modern ventilator with bias airflow and an inline flow meter, both of which are frequently excluded from in vitro tests but included in clinical practice. The modified LF-IC system demonstrated superior delivery efficiency to the end of the ETT (34%) compared with the commercial system (~1.3%) operating under cyclic ventilation conditions. These findings indicate that commercial systems still provide very low lung delivery efficiencies despite decades of innovation. In contrast, the modified system increased dose delivery to the end of the ETT by 26-fold. Despite initial concerns, the charged aerosol could be efficiently delivered through the small diameter ETT and reach the lungs. Future studies will be required to determine if the applied particle charge can eliminate expected high exhalation aerosol loss and will require the development of a realistic lung model.
Modern Language Instruction at Community College: A Survey-Based Study of Modern Language Instructors

This article presents and analyzes instructor data from the Students and Instructors of Languages at Community Colleges (SILCC) Survey. The SILCC Survey was designed to collect data from language professionals teaching at community colleges (CCs) on the specific challenges, opportunities, and potential areas of growth in their field. Results from 140 instructor responses in 101 CCs in 33 U.S. states are used to document the current state of teaching and learning of modern languages at CCs through a systematic survey procedure. The data on modern language instruction at CCs, a segment of the U.S. educational system underrepresented in scholarly discussions in the field of modern language, shows both strengths and areas in need of improvement.
Harnessing the potential of CRISPR-Cas9 to advance the study of human fungal pathogens

ABSTRACTIntroduction: CRISPR-Cas9 has emerged as an important new tool for genetic engineering. While much has been written about the potential of this technology to treat human disease, relatively little has attention has been paid to the ways in which it might further the study of human fungal pathogens.Areas covered: In this paper, the authors review what is known about the role of CRISPR-Cas9 in the study of invasive mycoses, including species of Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus, and explore how this platform might be used to identify novel drug targets.Expert commentary: The authors investigate the ways CRISPR might be utilized to modify human diseases that predispose patients to invasive fungal infections, including human immunodeficiency virus, chronic granulomatous disease, and CARD9 deficiency, and highlight the substantial controversy regarding its application in clinical practice.
Effects of DDT on reproduction in higher animals.

DDT, though used almost exclusively as an insecticide, is toxic in varying degrees to practically all animal life at some dosage and has even been accused of inhibiting photosynthesis in lower plants. Occasionally its toxicity in the environment has been observed in the form of reproductive failure, direct and indirect, and almost exclusively in birds and fish.
Quasi Rents to Audit Firms from Longer Tenure

SYNOPSIS We offer an economic explanation for why audit firms oppose mandatory firm rotation. Using an innovative sample that overcomes sample selection biases, we find that fees for Big 4 audit firms increase noticeably over the audit firm's tenure. In contrast, fees for non-Big 4 audit firms decline as tenure lengthens. Using audit report lag as a proxy for audit cost, we find that audit cost declines over the audit firm's tenure, and this decline is even larger for Big 4 auditors. Our results indicate that Big 4 engagements become more profitable or earn “quasi rents” over time, which may explain why Big 4 audit firms are so opposed to firm- but not partner-rotation. Whether non-Big 4 auditors earn any quasi rents remains doubtful. Our findings suggest a need to better monitor auditor independence and audit judgments when tenure is long, especially for Big 4 auditors, because economic bonding between the audit firm and client tends to increase over time. JEL Classifications: M40; M42.
A Longitudinal Study of Aging Human Twins

Just about a century ago, Galton (1876) initiated the use of twins in human research, thus taking advantage of the regular natural occurrence of both monozygotic (one-egg or identical) and dizygotic (two-egg or fraternal) twins. Inasmuch as monozygotic (MZ) twins are genetically identical—whereas dizygotic (DZ) twins are no more alike in terms of their genes than any pair of nontwin siblings—and since twin partners generally share a similar environment from conception on, comparisons of differences between the two members of a twin pair provide cues to genetic and environmental influences on various traits. To say it another way, if within-pair differences are significantly smaller for one-egg than for two-egg pairs (i.e., if the one-egg pairs have the significantly higher concordance rates), then we have presumptive evidence for a significant influence of genetic factors on that trait.
The Federal Budget and the Economy

This chapter discusses the economics of federal budgets from several points of view. Federal deficits financed with bond sales to the nonbank private sector, to a banking system that is lent up, and to nonbank private investors leave the money supply unchanged, but other methods of financing the deficit alter the money stock. Treasury expenditures financed with debt bought up by the Fed, with Treasury deposits at the Fed, or with sales of bonds to foreign central banks increase the monetary base and the money supply. Expenditures financed with sales of bonds to banks with excess reserves or with Treasury tax and loan accounts increase the money supply without increasing the monetary base. The effects on total income of changes in the government's budget are best analyzed in the context of a pure fiscal policy, that is, changes in the deficit financed without changes in the money supply. Evidence on the effects of fiscal policy on income is mixed. Changes in government spending appear to have near-term positive effects, followed by a reversal, so that after about two years, the total effect is nil. In addition, there is little evidence that changes in taxes have a predictable effect upon income.
Bilateral recurrent parotid gland swelling after endoscopy.

Bilateral recurrent parotid gland swelling after fiberoptic endoscopy is described in a patient who was on carbenoxolone sodium as part of a double blind protocol for gastric ulcers. The possible etiologies for this unusual complication of endoscopy as well as the past literature are reviewed.
Prolotherapy: Present and Future Applications in Soft-Tissue Pain and Disability

In acute or chronic damage to soft tissue, the enthesis is the site of damage. Degeneration rather than inflammation is the primary change over time, with resultant insufficient connective tissue strength. Given a high degree of sensory innervation and chronic mechanoreceptor stimulation, the ability of entheses to function as chronic nociceptors is substantial. Connective tissue laxity or diminished tensile strength can be addressed with prolotherapy. Applications to sprain, strain, overload injury, resistant bursitis and tendinitis, articular cartilage irritation, trigger point disorders, fibromyalgia, and joint laxity are discussed.
Readiness: Utilizing bundles and simulation.

Abstract Postpartum hemorrhage is an important contributor to maternal morbidity, and is one of the most common worldwide causes of preventable maternal mortality. Preventing significant morbidity and mortality from postpartum hemorrhage necessitates preparedness on both a unit and patient level. Our objectives are to define a bundle, to review the elements of the Council on Patient Safety in Women's Healthcare Obstetric Hemorrhage Bundle and to highlight simulation-based training opportunities, focusing on readiness for this significant obstetric emergency.
Nutrition in kidney transplant recipients to prevent downstream health issues

Kidney transplantation is an excellent treatment option for many patients, providing a quality of life that is superior to that experienced by patients on dialysis. Despite its advantages, there ar...
Polyelectrolyte Complex Films from Blends Versus Copolymers

The release of counterions drives the efficient blending of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes when they complex. In theory, mixing like-charged macromolecules before complexation should offer a s...
Thermo-poroelasticity under constant fluid flux and localized heat source

Abstract Coupled thermo-hydraulic-mechanical behavior of saturated porous media with low permeability is of crucial significance to multiple operations including thermal treatment for declogging wellbores, thermal fracturing during production of unconventional shale oil, radioactive-waste disposal, and soft tissue and tumor growth. This work presents new thermo-poroelastic solutions for an isotropic medium subjected to a constant fluid flux and a localized heat source, incorporating two novel components: (a) transient flow transfer between the source and the embedding layer, thus incorporating the temporal thermo-poroelastic changes in the stress state adjacent to the source; and (b) vertical confinement effects on the mechanical response of the target zone, governed by the stiffness of the sealing media using the Winkler model approximation. The Westerly Granite is selected to assess the thermo-poroelastic alterations induced under the imposed fluid flux and heat loads. Results reveal generation of short-term thermal-induced pore pressures subsequent to injection initiation which otherwise cannot be predicted using current solutions. The new solutions capture higher thermal induced pore pressures and a more rapid dissipation under a higher heat transition rate between the source and the target zone. A compassion between the response of the porous layer under constant fluid flux and localized heat source, versus localized heat and flow sources reveals the former loading to be the most effective for localized thermal treatment as it results in: notably higher thermal-induced pore pressures, the maximum thermal-induced pressures to occur in the source vicinity; and particularly slower dissipation of the thermal-induced pore pressures. The stress paths demonstrate slight initial dilation before compaction under the latter loading; while the former results in an initial compaction with higher deviatoric stresses proceeded by dilation once the thermal-induced pore pressures tend to dissipate. Stress paths reveal the vertical confinement to remarkably impact the response of a porous layer. Higher compaction is generated under higher vertical confinement. In case of a mechanically free source-medium interface, lower vertical confinement gives rise to higher deviatoric stresses and lower mean stresses during the initial compaction phase, in addition to causing the formation to undergo dilation much sooner compared to when higher confinement is applied. For a mechanically fixed boundary setting, higher deviatoric stresses are generated under higher vertical confinements.
Detection of Subtle Sensor Errors in Mineral Processing Circuits Using Data-Mining Techniques

The economics of a mineral processing circuit is dependent on the numerous sensors that are critical to optimization and control systems. The sheer volume of sensors results in mines not being able to keep the sensors calibrated. When a sensor goes off calibration, it results in errors which can severely impact plant economics. Normally, these errors are not detected until the error grows and becomes a large (“gross”) error. Undetected errors are not remedied until the next calibration, which on average are a year apart Beamex (2019) [1] across all industries. Classical statistical methods that depend on linear relationships between input and response variables are typically used to find gross errors, but are not effective for highly non-linear and non-stationary operations in mining and mineral processing industries. Calibration of sensors is time-consuming and generally requires physical intervention that results in equipment downtimes causing production losses. Therefore, in situ detection methods are warranted that do not require physical removal of sensors to compare with standard measurements or well-calibrated sensors. Data-mining based techniques and algorithms have high success rate in tackling such problems. This paper presents results from a groundbreaking multi-year big data research project whose goal was to develop data-mining-based original techniques in a multi-sensor environment to identify when sensors start to stray, rather than wait for errors to grow. The carbon stripping (gold) circuit in the Pogo Mine of Alaska was selected for this project. Maintaining strip vessel temperatures at optimum levels is crucial for maximizing gold recoveries at Pogo, and hence the focus was on the temperature sensors of the two strip vessels. An automated algorithm to detect errors in strip vessel temperature sensors was developed that exploited data from multiple sensors in the strip circuit. This algorithm was able to detect with a high success rate when bias errors of magnitude as low as ± 2% were artificially induced into strip vessel temperature data streams. The detection times of about 1 month were much less than the industry average calibration frequency of 1 year. Thus, the algorithm helps detect errors early, without stopping the circuit. The algorithm alarms can serve as triggers when calibrations are done. Experimental methodology along with results, limitations of algorithms, and future research are also presented in this paper.
Doxorubicin induces cardiomyocyte apoptosis and atrophy through cyclin-dependent kinase 2–mediated activation of forkhead box O1

Recent clinical investigations indicate that anthracycline-based chemotherapies induce early decline in heart mass in cancer patients. Heart mass decline may be caused by a decrease in cardiac cell number because of increased cell death or by a reduction in cell size because of atrophy. We previously reported that an anthracycline, doxorubicin (DOX), induces apoptotic death of cardiomyocytes by activating cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2). However, the signaling pathway downstream of CDK2 remains to be characterized, and it is also unclear whether the same pathway mediates cardiac atrophy. Here we demonstrate that DOX exposure induces CDK2-dependent phosphorylation of the transcription factor forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) at Ser-249, leading to transcription of its proapoptotic target gene, Bcl-2-interacting mediator of cell death (Bim). In cultured cardiomyocytes, treatment with the FOXO1 inhibitor AS1842856 or transfection with FOXO1-specific siRNAs protected against DOX-induced apoptosis and mitochondrial damage. Oral administration of AS1842856 in mice abrogated apoptosis and prevented DOX-induced cardiac dysfunction. Intriguingly, pharmacological FOXO1 inhibition also attenuated DOX-induced cardiac atrophy, likely because of repression of muscle RING finger 1 (MuRF1), a proatrophic FOXO1 target gene. In conclusion, DOX exposure induces CDK2-dependent FOXO1 activation, resulting in cardiomyocyte apoptosis and atrophy. Our results identify FOXO1 as a promising drug target for managing DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. We propose that FOXO1 inhibitors may have potential as cardioprotective therapeutic agents during cancer chemotherapy.
Internet and Health Information Technology Use and Psychological Distress Among Older Adults With Self-Reported Vision Impairment: Case-Control Study.

Background: The number of older adults with vision impairment (VI) is growing. As health care services increasingly call for patients to use technology, it is important to examine internet/health information technology (HIT) use among older adults with VI. Objective: This study aimed to examine (1) the rates of internet/HIT use among older adults with VI compared with a matched sample of their peers without VI, (2) associations of VI with internet/HIT use, and (3) association of HIT use with psychological distress, assessed with the Kessler-6 screen. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2013 to 2018 US National Health Interview Survey. Older adults (aged ≥65 years) with self-reported VI were matched with older adults without VI, in a 1:1 ratio, based on age, sex, number of chronic medical conditions, and functional limitations (N=2866). Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression models, with sociodemographic factors, health conditions, health insurance type, and health care service use as covariates, were used to examine the research questions. Results: In total, 3.28% of older adults (compared with 0.84% of those aged 18-64 years) reported VI, and 25.7% of them were aged ≥85 years. Those with VI were significantly more socioeconomically disadvantaged than those without VI and less likely to use the internet (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.64, 95% CI0.49-0.83) and HIT (aOR 0.74, 95% CI 0.56-0.97). However, among internet users, VI was not associated with HIT use. HIT use was associated with lower odds of mild/moderate or serious psychological distress (aOR 0.62, 95% CI 0.43-0.90), whereas VI was associated with greater odds of mild/moderate or serious distress (aOR 1.84, 95% CI 1.36-2.49). Health care provider contacts were also associated with higher odds of internet or HIT use. Conclusions: Compared with their matched age peers without VI, older adults with VI are less likely to use HIT because they are less likely to use the internet. Socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults experiencing a digital divide need help to access information and communication technologies through a fee waiver or subsidy to cover internet equipment and subscription and ensure continuous connectivity. Older adults with VI who do not know how to use the internet/HIT but want to learn should be provided instruction, with special attention to accessibility features and adaptive devices. Older adults with a low income also need better access to preventive eye care and treatment of VI as well as other health care services.
Negative Nonlinear Dissipation in Microelectromechanical Beams

In this work we present measurements of drive-induced negative nonlinear dissipation present in doubly clamped microbeams fabricated in a hermetically sealed package. We characterize the amplitude-frequency nonlinearity and nonlinear dissipation present in this system under direct drive. The negative nature of the nonlinear dissipation is observed when measuring either the directly- or parametrically-actuated response. By comparing to the free ringdown response, we confirm that the nonlinear dissipation is induced by driving the resonator. Drive-induced nonlinear damping is an important consideration for resonant sensors and oscillators operated at large amplitudes. [2020-0140]
Protein targeting with SAF(er) electrophiles.

Electrophilic groups that undergo sulfur-exchange chemistry with protein nucleophiles can serve as the functional basis of chemical proteomic probes. A new addition to this class, sulfuramidimidoyl fluoride (SAF), which can be included in an array of covalent small molecule probes, exhibits a unique reactivity profile with proteins.