cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of a quantum dot nipi photovoltaic device

Quantum dot nipi test structures consisting of n-type / intrinsic / p-type / intrinsic layers have been developed to probe the effects of placing quantum dots within a doping superlattice. Coupling between the doping superlattice states and quantum dots that can be grown within the superlattice results in increases in carrier lifetimes within the quantum dots, and modifies the absorption spectrum. With the addition of dots within a nipi device, the benefits have been quantified by measuring absorption, activation energy, photoluminescence, and lifetime. By characterizing the modified quantum dot properties, it is hopeful that this will demonstrate the potential of the nipi structure as an intermediate band solar cell candidate.
Early detection of handicapping conditions in infancy and early childhood: Toward a multivariate model☆

Abstract The major purpose of this study was to relate to infancy the occurence of significant learning or behavioral problems in adolescence. Original participants in the National Collaborative Perinatal Project in Rhode Island, who were also judged as handicapped after school entry, comprised the sample for this study. Environmental factors and child performance data collected at birth and at 4, 8, and 12 months of age were examined in terms of their power to predict handicapping conditions in the adolescent. Our results indicated that maternal education was a more accurate predictor of later learning and behavioral competency than the child's own developmental status up to 12 months of age. Furthermore, combining child-centered data and maternal education did not enhance predictive accuracy beyond that of maternal education considered in isolation. These findings underscore the critical role of molar environmental variables as antecedents of school failure, and suggest that models for screening in the first year of life and of multidisciplinary team diagnosis for handicapped children should include both environmental and child-focused dimensions to minimize overall classification error.
Nigrothalamic projections and nigrothalamocortical pathway to the medial agranular cortex in the rat: Single‐ and double‐labeling light and electron microscopic studies

Although the rat medial agranular cortex (AGm) has been implicated in a variety of motor functions, the source of the afferents impinging upon thalamic neurons projecting to the AGm is not directly known. The main purpose of this study was to determine whether the AGm is a major recipient of the nigrothalamocortical pathway. This issue was addressed by two sets of experiments. First, the organization of the nigrothalamic projections was studied by light and electron microscopy following injections of the anterograde tracer Phaseolus vulgaris-leucoagglutinin (PHA-L) into the pars reticulata of the substantia nigra (SNR). The major finding of this study was the disclosure of a heretofore unknown projection to the rostromedial part of the ventral anterior-ventral lateral complex (VAL). This projection originates exclusively from the ventral portion of the SNR and is comparable in strength to the well-known nigrothalamic projection to the ventromedial nucleus (VM). Electron microscopic examination revealed differences in the synaptic organization of nigral terminals in the VAL and the VM. A large proportion of the labeled terminals in the VAL was involved in axosomatic synapses, whereas, in the VM, the axosomatic synapses were rare, and 67% of nigral terminals were found in contact with thin dendrites. To assess a possible disynaptic nigrothalamocortical pathway to the AGm, a double-labeling strategy combining PHA-L injections in the SNR and pressure injections of the retrograde tracer, cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) in the AGm was employed. The greatest density of CTB-labeled neurons was found in the rostral and central portion of the VAL, coincident with the nigrothalamic labeling originating from the ventral SNR. Electron microscopic analysis confirmed that some of the PHA-L-labeled terminals established synaptic contacts with the CTB-labeled cell bodies and large dendrites. In conclusion, our findings indicate that there exist two different nigrothalamocortical pathways through the motor thalamus in the rat. The SNR-VAL-AGm cortical projection may play a role in oculomotor functions, whereas the SNR-VM-cortical pathway has been implicated in arousal mechanisms. J. Comp. Neurol. 391:506–525, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Monitoring and long-term planning: Essential ingredients of waste management

Abstract The dramatic growth of urban areas in the Asian region together with increasing industrialisation will inevitably be associated with rapid changes in the nature and amounts of waste produced. In order to ensure the cost efficient and environmentally acceptable collection and disposal of these wastes, forward planning must cover a period of at least 10–15 years and such planning will need to draw heavily upon accurate information on existing waste arisings and on forecasts of future trends. The paper describes the approach that has been adopted in Hong Kong, covering such things as the input provided by monitoring results, to system and facility design, the role of waste management models and the after-use of controlled tips.
Near-visible Raman instrumentation for remote multipoint process monitoring using optical fibers and optical multiplexing

A portable Raman instrument is presented which measures spectra simultaneously from 10 separate fiber-optic probes. The instrument is being developed for a number of applications including multipoint process monitoring and characterizing mixed waste tanks.
Functional MRI of brain during breath holding at 4 T

Both theoretical considerations and animal experiments predict increased signal intensity in brain cortex on T2∗-weighted images that develops over a breath hold period. This has not been observed in recent human studies performed at 1.0 and 1.5 T. To clarify this inconsistency, we undertook a study in normal volunteers at 4.0 T. Unlike the earlier studies, we observed a 3–10% signal intensity increase in the gray matter. Possible reasons for the discrepant results are discussed. We conclude that regional cerebral hemodynamics are observable by fMRI in man and this may have clinical applications.
Laboratory Investigation of Fatigue Characteristics of Rubberized Asphalt Mixtures Containing Warm Asphalt Additives at a Low Temperature

The fatigue life of an asphalt pavement is directly related to various factors of a typical warm mix asphalt (WMA) mixture. Improving the understanding of the fatigue behavior of the rubberized WMA mixtures is helpful in recycling the scrap tires and saving energy. This study explores the utilization of the conventional fatigue analysis approach in investigating the cumulative dissipated energy, stiffness, and fatigue life of rubberized asphalt concrete mixtures containing WMA additives. The fatigue beams were made with one rubber type (−40 mesh ambient crumb rubber), two aggregate sources, two WMA additives (Asphamin and Sasobit), and tested at 5°C. The test results indicated that the addition of crumb rubber and WMA additive not only reduced the mixing and compaction temperatures of rubberized asphalt mixtures offset by crumb rubber but also slightly extended the long-term performance of pavement when compared with conventional asphalt mixtures.
Current research on terrorism and low‐intensity conflict

Abstract This article surveys the published literature on terrorism and low‐intensity conflict (LIC). Its purpose is twofold. The first is to assess the role that research on terrorism and LIC can play both in countering present and likely future adversaries and addressing existing and potentially new challenges. The second is to provide a baseline assessment of how firm a foundation current research into these subjects has provided. It argues that the need for policy‐relevant research in both terrorism and LIC looms larger than ever. Indeed, as U.S. security concerns and overseas interests in the coming decades are likely to be increasingly affected by a multiplicity of conflicts short of war occurring throughout the globe, research is needed to help identify the resources that we will require and the array of innovative, flexible policy responses we will need to adopt. Assistance is also required to help the United States define what those interests are and how they can best be served. Without a clear c...
Selecting a lead hazard control strategy based on dust lead loading and housing condition: I. Methods and results.

A methodology was developed to classify housing conditions and interior dust lead loadings, using them to predict the relative effectiveness of different lead-based paint hazard control interventions. A companion article in this issue describes how the methodology can be applied. Data from the National Evaluation of the HUD Lead Hazard Control Grant Program, which covered more than 2800 homes in 11 U.S. states, were used. Half these homes (1417) met the study's inclusion criteria. Interior interventions ranged from professional cleaning with spot painting to lead abatement on windows, and enclosure, encapsulation, or removal of other leaded building components. Modeling was used to develop a visual Housing Assessment Tool (HAT), which was then used to predict relative intervention effectiveness for a range of intervention intensities and baseline floor and windowsill dust lead loadings in occupied dwellings. More than 117,000 potential HATs were considered. To be deemed successful, potential HATs were req...
Formation flight system design concept

IBM recently completed a baseline design study for a formation flight system to be used for rendezvous, join-up, and formation flight of US Air Force helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. The baseline system uses a Global Positioning System/inertial navigation system (GP/INS) relative navigation concept with backup data link range measurement as the basis of the precise position location for all aircraft both within the formation and among the separate formations. Part of the study included development of flight guidance algorithms for rendezvous of helicopters with tankers, joinup of individual aircraft into existing formations, and station-keeping within formation flight. The situational awareness display, guidance algorithms, and flight control cues have been demonstrated in a pilot-in-the-loop simulator and pilot comments have been favorable. >
Carbon and nitrogen metabolism in the seagrass, Zostera marina L.: Environmental control of enzymes involved in carbon allocation and nitrogen assimilation

This study experimentally examined influences of environmental variables on the activities of key enzymes involved in carbon and nitrogen metabolism of the submersed marine angiosperm, Zostera marina L. Nitrate reductase activity in leaf tissue was correlated with both water-column nitrate concentrations and leaf sucrose levels. Under elevated nitrate, shoot nitrate reductase activity increased in both light and dark periods if carbohydrate reserves were available. When water-column nitrate was low, glutamine synthetase activity in leaf tissue increased with environmental ammonium. In contrast, glutamine synthetase activity in belowground tissues was statistically related to both nitrate and temperature. At the optimal growth temperature for this species (ca. 25 °C), increased water-column nitrate promoted an increase in glutamine synthetase activity of belowground tissues. As temperatures diverged from the optimum, this nitrate effect on glutamine synthetase was no longer evident. Activities of both sucrose synthase and sucrose-P synthase were directly correlated with temperature. Sucrose-P synthase activity also was correlated with salinity, and sucrose synthase activity was statistically related to tissue ammonium. Overall, the enzymatic responses that were observed indicate a tight coupling between carbon and nitrogen metabolism that is strongly influenced by prevailing environmental conditions, especially temperature, salinity, and environmental nutrient levels.
Electrical properties and structure of the frog arachnoid membrane

We have used an in vitro preparation of the frog arachnoid membrane to study the role of this membrane in the maintenance of the “blood-cerebrospinal fluid (csf) barrier.” Electron microscopy showed that the membrane was made up of 10–15 layers of flat epithelial cells joined together by numerous cell junctions. The electrical resistance of the preparation was about 2000 ohms cm2. The steady-state transmural potential difference (pd) ranged up to 45 mV, csf positive, and this was eliminated by either the addition of ouabain to the csf, or by replacing the NaCl with TEA Cl. The pd across the membrane increased when bicarbonate was added to the external bathing solutions. We conclude that this pd is due to the active transport of sodium from the subural fluid to the csf. In some preparations the transmural pd was reversed, i.e., csf negative, and this was also abolished by the addition of ouabain to the csf, or by replacing chloride with isethionate. We conclude that this pd is related to active chloride transport. These, and other experiments, lead us to the conclusion that the arachnoid membrane is involved in the production of the cerebrospinal fluid and the maintenance of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier.
Notes: Categorical Outputs in Data Envelopment Analysis

A new linear programming formulation for handling categorical outputs in DEA is presented which eliminates the difficulties of interpretation and computation that accompanied earlier mixed integer models.
Toward an understanding of macrocognition in teams: predicting processes in complex collaborative contexts.

Objective: This article presents a model for predicting complex collaborative processes as they arise in one-of-a-kind problem-solving situations to predict performance outcomes. The goal is to outline a set of key processes and their interrelationship and to describe how these can be used to predict collaboration processes embedded within problem-solving contexts. Background: Teams are increasingly called upon to address complex problem-solving tasks in novel situations. This represents a domain of performance that to date has been underrepresented in the research literature. Method: Multidisciplinary theoretical and empirical literature relating to knowledge work in teams is synthesized. Results: A set of propositions developed to guide research into how teams externalize cognition and build knowledge in service of problem solving is presented. First, a brief overview of macrocognition in teams is provided to distinguish the present work from other views of team cognition. Second, a description of the foundational theoretical concepts driving the theory of macrocognition in teams presented here is provided. Third, a set of propositions described within the context of a model of macrocognition in teams is forwarded. Conclusion: The theoretical framework described in this article provides a set of empirically testable propositions that can ultimately guide practitioners in efforts to support macrocognition in teams. Application: A theory of macrocognition in teams can provide guidance for the development of training interventions and the design of collaborative tools to facilitate knowledge-based performance in teams.
Ambivalence and the Bivariate Nature of Attitudes in Information Systems Research

People using information technologies experience both joy and frustration, and thus develop both positive and negative attitudes toward systems. Many researchers in information systems have studied user attitudes toward technology, and such attitudes have in fact been one of the most frequently studied phenomena in the IS field. User attitudes have generally been measured utilizing bipolar scales, on which the low end represents strong negative attitudes and the high end represents strong positive attitudes. However, psychologists have long recognized that the positive and negative dimensions of attitudes can be separated, and attitudes are thus bivariate. In the present research, we investigate whether the positive and negative aspects of user attitudes are separable using constructs from the Technology Acceptance Model, one of the most frequently tested models in information systems research. Our results demonstrate that users can experience both positive and negative attitudes toward a system, and that the positive and negative attitudes are independent. Implications for information systems theory and measurement are discussed.
Rapid pattern development for concept recognition systems: application to point mutations.

The primary biomedical literature is being generated at an unprecedented rate, and researchers cannot keep abreast of new developments in their fields. Biomedical natural language processing is being developed to address this issue, but building reliable systems often requires many expert-hours. We present an approach for automatically developing collections of regular expressions to drive high-performance concept recognition systems with minimal human interaction. We applied our approach to develop MutationFinder, a system for automatically extracting mentions of point mutations from the text. MutationFinder achieves performance equivalent to or better than manually developed mutation recognition systems, but the generation of its 759 patterns has required only 5.5 expert-hours. We also discuss the development and evaluation of our recently published high-quality, human-annotated gold standard corpus, which contains 1,515 complete point mutation mentions annotated in 813 abstracts. Both MutationFinder and the complete corpus are publicly available at .
Interaction of water diffusion and hydrogen diffusion in silica glass at high temperatures

Abstract Both water diffusion and hydrogen diffusion in silica glass at high temperatures involve molecular diffusion and reaction with the glass network. One of the reaction products, hydroxyl, is common in both reactions and, therefore, the effective diffusion co-efficients of the two molecular species may not be independent of each other when both molecular species co-exist. The extent of the interaction was investigated by determining the effective diffusion co-efficients of water and hydrogen from hydroxyl profiles in a silica glass, prepared by melting in a hydrogen atmosphere, after heat-treatment at 750 °C in a wet atmosphere. In this case, water diffuses into the glass while hydrogen diffuses out of the glass. These diffusion co-efficients were compared with values obtained in the absence of other diffusing species: water without hydrogen and hydrogen without water. It was found that the effective hydrogen diffusion co-efficient was reduced by more than an order of magnitude by the presence of water vapor, while the effective water diffusion co-efficient was unaffected, within experimental error, by the presence of hydrogen.
An intergenerational case study of suicidal tradition and mother‐daughter communication

Abstract This study explores the intergenerational messages of seven women across four generations—six of whom have engaged in nonfatal suicide behaviors. Ethnographic methods are used to investigate culturally distinctive patterns of communication which may have put the female members of this family at risk for suicide. As an ethnographic inquiry, the researcher functions as an active participant in the household of target family members making observations, generating descriptions, and ultimately analyzing salient themes in the talk of the seven women. Eleven themes are discussed and a model of gender‐specific family communication interaction is proposed.
Solution equilibria of deferoxamine amides

The physico-chemical solution properties of deferoxamine were modified by acylating the terminal amino group with short-chain aliphatic, succinic, and methylsulphonic moieties. The analog iron(III)-binding constants and stabilities under physiological conditions were determined to confirm that the iron binding ability of the parent molecule was retained following modification. The proton dissociation constants of the lipophilic deferoxamine analogs were determined by potentiometric titration and nonlinear least-squares analysis. However, because the iron(III) binding complex is fully formed below pH 2, the metal-ligand equilibria could not be studied using potentiometric methods. The iron binding constants of the deferoxamine analogs were determined by spectrophotometrically following the proton-dependent exchange of iron with EDTA in the pH range of 4.0 to 6.5 and solving mass balance equations. The proton-dissociation constants and the iron binding constants of the lipophilic deferoxamine analogs were comparable to those of deferoxamine. However, at physiological conditions, the iron-binding complex of the most lipophilic butylamide derivative was slightly less stable and the succinamide derivative complex was slightly more stable. Like deferoxamine, the hydroxamate groups of the analogs were unhindered and free to form a 1:1 coordination complex with iron(III). Consequently, changes in aqueous solvation, conformation, and steric interference, imparted by the modifications at the terminal amino group of deferoxamine, may have affected the stabilities of the iron(III) complex and the efficiency of iron binding.
Anomalous Stress Profiles in Ion‐Exchanged Glass

Photoelastic measurements on specimens sliced from ion-exchanged slabs and cylinders have revealed a tension maximum in the distribution of the axial stress. This maximum is not predicted by the conventional stress analysis, which assumes a plane stress condition and ignores the existence of an additional characteristic distance, the thickness of the exchanged layer. A 2-dimensional finite element analysis under a generalized plane strain condition showed that a tension maximum in the axial stress occurs if the thickness of the slice from the plate is neither smaller than the layer thickness nor much greater than the plate thickness.
A 6 week course of azithromycin treatment has no beneficial effect on atherosclerotic lesion development in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice chronically infected with Chlamydia pneumoniae

OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether antimicrobial chemotherapy prevents acceleration of atherosclerotic lesion development induced by infection with Chlamydia pneumoniae. METHODS ApoE-deficient mice which develop hyperlipidaemia and atherosclerosis spontaneously were inoculated intranasally with C. pneumoniae. Animals were treated with azithromycin for 6 weeks after the third inoculation and the atherosclerotic lesion areas in the aortic sinus were measured by computer-assisted morphometry. RESULTS At 12 weeks post-infection, infected untreated animals developed significantly larger lesion areas compared with sham-inoculated controls (8.7 x 10(4)+/-2.3 x 10(4) microm(2) versus 5.6 x 10(4)+/-2.4 x 10(4) microm(2)). However, there were no differences in lesion size of infected mice treated with azithromycin in comparison with untreated infected controls (11.0 x 10(4)+/-3.0 x 10(4) microm(2) versus 8.7 x 10(4)+/-2.3 x 10(4) microm(2)). CONCLUSIONS Antibiotic treatment against C. pneumoniae has no beneficial effects on hyperlipidaemia-induced atherosclerosis accelerated by C. pneumoniae in a mouse model.
Normal Hip and Knee Active Range of Motion: The Relationship to Age

Abnormal joint mobility is an important factor in movement dysfunction and physical disability. Because the decision to treat impaired joint mobility in an older individual may be influenced by assumptions concerning normal range of motion (ROM) at older ages, it is important to establish population-based normative values for hip and knee ROM by age, race, and sex. This study used data from the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 1), which involved a national probability sample of persons drawn from the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States. Goniometric measurements of hip and knee active range of motion (AROM) were obtained from a subset of the sample consisting of 1,892 subjects. This analysis was limited to the 1,313 white and 370 black subjects. Univariate statistics, weighted by the probability of selection into the sample, were calculated for 12 sex-race-age-group-specific categories. These normal AROM values for the hip and knee calculated from this population based sample were found to differ from estimates found in textbooks by as much as 18 degrees. With one exception, normal values for all motions were lower in the oldest age group than in the youngest age group. The differences in mean AROM were generally small, ranging from 3 to 5 degrees. Only in the case of hip extension did the difference in mean AROM between the youngest and the oldest age groups constitute a decline of more than 20% of the arc of motion. With the possible exception of hip extension, this study supports the conclusion that, at least to age 74 years, any substantial loss of joint mobility should be viewed as abnormal and not attributable to aging and therefore should be treated much as it would be in a younger individual.
β-Cell-Specific Ablation of the Hepatocyte Growth Factor Receptor Results in Reduced Islet Size, Impaired Insulin Secretion, and Glucose Intolerance

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its c-met receptor consist of a paired signaling system that has been implicated in the regulation of pancreatic β-cell survival, proliferation, and function. To define the role of HGF/c-met signaling in β-cell biology in vivo, we have generated conditional knockout mice in which the c-met receptor gene was specifically inactivated in pancreatic β cells by the Cre-loxP system. Mice with β-cell-specific deletion of the c-met receptor (βmet−/−) displayed slight growth retardation, mild hyperglycemia, and decreased serum insulin levels at 6 months of age when compared with their control littermates. Deficiency of the c-met receptor in β cells resulted in a complete loss of acute-phase insulin secretion in response to glucose and an impaired glucose tolerance. Glucose transporter-2 expression was down-regulated in the β cells of βmet−/− mice. Compared to controls, βmet−/− mice exhibited reduced islet size and decreased insulin content in the pancreas, but displayed normal islet morphology. Therefore, HGF/c-met signaling plays an imperative role in controlling islet growth, in regulating β-cell function, and in maintaining glucose homeostasis.
Disparities in Family Health-Related Internet and Email Use in the General Pediatrics Setting

Consumer-centered health information is increasingly accessible through the internet1. Many electronic health records (EHRs) offer internet portals for patient/provider communication2. Likewise, many websites address parents’ concerns about child health. However, parents may not have equal access to online technology, since using these technologies requires both financial resources and computer literacy3. Prior research has demonstrated disparities in use of health information technology (HIT) along racial/ethnic and socioeconomic lines2: Studies have found that minority patients and patients with limited English proficiency enroll in and use patient portals less than English speaking, non-Hispanic whites4,5. However, few studies assess disparities in use of HIT to communicate with health care providers, and none have assessed disparities in a pediatric setting. Understanding how families use online technology, and which families are more likely to use it, may allow for better provider/family communication. Additionally, access to online communication with providers is a key quality metric for Meaningful Use of EHRs, a federal incentive program requiring providers and health care facilities to adopt, implement, or upgrade EHR technologies. To meet Stage 2 Meaningful Use criteria, providers are required to “Use secure electronic messaging to communicate with patients on relevant health information.”6 Thus, access to these technologies in underserved populations may also be of financial interest to pediatric providers. The goal of this study was to understand which patient, family, and technology use characteristics were associated with overall internet use for health information, as well as internet use to communicate with a health care provider, with a particular focus on underserved families who might have less access to HIT.
Limits on the performance of dispersive thin-film stacks

Dispersive thin-film stacks are interesting as compact, cost-effective devices for temporal dispersion compensation and wavelength multiplexing. Their performance depends on the total group delay or spatial shift that can be achieved. For general multilayer stacks, no analytic model exists relating the performance to the stack parameters such as the refractive indices and the number of layers. We develop an empirical model by designing and analyzing 623 thin-film stacks with constant dispersion. From this analysis we conclude that, for given stack parameters, the maximum constant dispersion value is inversely proportional to the wavelength range over which the dispersion is achieved. This is equivalent to saying that, for constant dispersion, there is a maximum possible spatial shift (or group delay) that can be achieved for a given material system and number of layers. This empirical model is useful to judge the feasibility of dispersive photonic nanostructures and photonic crystal superprism devices and serves as a first step in the search for an analytic performance model. We predict that an 8-channel wavelength multiplexer can be realized with a single 21-µm-thick SiO2-Ta2O5 thin-film stack.
The effect of trimethylamine on atmospheric nucleation involving H 2 SO 4

Abstract. Field observations and quantum chemical calculations have shown that organic amine compounds may be important for new particle formation involving H 2 SO 4 . Here, we report laboratory observations that investigate the effect of trimethylamine (TMA) on H 2 SO 4 -H 2 O nucleation made under aerosol precursor concentrations typically found in the lower troposphere ([H 2 SO 4 ] of 10 6 −10 7 cm −3 ; [TMA] of 180–1350 pptv). The threshold [H 2 SO 4 ] needed to produce the unity J was from 10 6 −10 7 cm −3 and the slopes of Log J vs. Log [H 2 SO 4 ] and Log J vs. Log [TMA] were 4–6 and 1, respectively, strikingly similar to the case of ammonia (NH 3 ternary nucleation (Benson et al., 2011). At lower RH, however, enhancement in J due to TMA was up to an order of magnitude greater than that due to NH 3 . These findings imply that both amines and NH 3 are important nucleation species, but under dry atmospheric conditions, amines may have stronger effects on H 2 SO 4 nucleation than NH 3 . Aerosol models should therefore take into account inorganic and organic base compounds together to fully understand the widespread new particle formation events in the lower troposphere.
Successful management of a consecutive cervical pregnancy by sonographically guided transvaginal local injection: case report and review of the literature.

Objective The purpose of this study was to describe the successful management of a recurrent cervical pregnancy with local injection and to review similarly treated cases to determine adverse outcomes. Methods A case of a recurrent cervical pregnancy treated with transvaginal local injection was reported. A MEDLINE English language search identified 90 cases of cervical pregnancy treated with local therapy. This literature was analyzed with regard to the various demographic and outcome variables described. Results Successful use of the transvaginal local approach is described. A review of cases identified a mean maternal age of 33.6 years with a mean gestational age at diagnosis of 7.5 weeks. Bleeding was the most common presenting sign (79%). The mean beta-human chorionic gonadotropin level at the time of diagnosis was 27,798 IU with an average time to resolution of 7.5 weeks. The most common risk factor was a history of curettage (69%), followed by previous cesarean delivery (35%). An additional dose of methotrexate was needed in 6% of cases. Bleeding requiring alternate procedures was present in 5% of cases. There were no complications in 81% of cases. The need for transfusion and development of infection were seen in 3% of cases each. There was 1 case (1.1%) requiring hysterectomy, and no maternal deaths were reported. Conclusions Conservative management of cervical pregnancy using local injection has been reported to have a low complication rate and a high efficacy for cure.
Jung’s The Red Book Dialogues with the Soul

Abstract This article discusses one of Jung’s The Red Book dialogues that suggests Jungian psychology may be a new spiritual form. Jung’s distinction between the spirit of the times and the spirit of the depth is discussed. The possibility that a new God-image is arising, and Jung’s relationship to traditional religion, especially Christianity, are examined. This article suggests that Elijah appeared to Jung because of his opposition to any change in the God-image in the Hebrew Bible, and Salome appeared because of her association to John the Baptist, who announced a new God-image. Jung’s approach to the numinosum is contrasted with that of Rudolph Otto. The idea that Jung appears to be suggesting he is the pope of a new religion is refuted. This article also examines theological criticisms of Jung, refuting Jung’s various critics, in particular, Noll, who suggests that he was trying to start a new religion. Finally, the article suggests that Jung’s psychology is a religious approach to the psyche, not a ...
Performance of a CW Forsterite Laser with Kr Ion, Ti:Sapphire, and Nd:YAG Pump Lasers

We characterize continuous-wave operation of a chromium-doped forsterite (Cr4+:Mg2Si04) laser using krypton ion, Tkapphire, and Nd:YAG lasers as pump sources. Measurements were made pumping at 647 nm and 676 nm with the krypton ion laser, between 690 and 1010 nm with the Ti:sapphire laser and at 1.06 pm with the Nd:YAG laser. Threshold pump powers and slope efficiencies are compared for output coupler transmissions varying between 1 and 15.5%. Laser output power as a function of temperature is also discussed.
Diminishing sea ice.

In their useful Report, “A global map of human impact on marine ecosystems” (15 February, p. [948][1]), B. S. Halpern et al . wrote that “large areas of relatively little human impact remain, particularly near the poles.” They failed to take into account sea-ice diminishment, which may
Hybrid Approach Based on Rules and Numerical Methodology to Evaluate Testability of Branches of Grounding Grid

Based on the hierarchical model of grounding grid,the limitations of the rules based testability evaluation of corrosion diagnosis are analyzed.It is pointed out that the testability of some branches can not be conveniently identified according to the existing rules.A numerical method is presented to eliminate the limitations,based on which,an iteration process of testability evaluation combining the rules and numerical method is proposed.An experimental grounding grid with sixty branches is used as an example.The results show that the proposed approaches are correct and feasible.
Fatigue and fracture of wires and cables for biomedical applications

Fine wires and cables play a critical role in the design of medical devices and subsequent treatment of a large array of medical diagnoses. Devices such as guide wires, catheters, pacemakers, stents, staples, functional electrical stimulation systems, eyeglass frames and orthodontic braces can be comprised of wires with diameters ranging from 10s to 100s of micrometres. Reliability is paramount as part of either internal or external treatment modalities. While the incidence of verified fractures in many of these devices is quite low, the criticality of these components requires a strong understanding of the factors controlling the fracture and fatigue behaviour.1,2 Additionally, optimisation of the performance and reliability of these devices necessitates characterisation of the fatigue and fracture properties of its constituent wires. A review of cable architecture and stress states experienced during testing is followed by an overview of the effects of changes in material composition, microstructure, pr...
Waging War on Climate Change: Mapping Energy Policies to Their Strategic, Tactical, and Operational Levels

Abstract The emergence of climate change and energy security as increasingly important issues has amplified the need for energy policies that manage these issues. While policy-makers adopt energy policies that address climate change and energy security, these policies often include broad strategy statements and may not include specific implementation plans. Accordingly, effectiveness of these energy policies is also evaluated at the strategic level, which may not appropriately evaluate the policies beyond how the policy met its strategic goal(s). This paper assesses the feasibility of mapping energy policies to their strategic, tactical, and operational (STO) levels through two case studies. The first case study assesses the European Union (EU) 2020 energy and climate policy known as EU 20-20-20 as well as the United States’ Executive Orders 13514 and 13423 that mandate energy and greenhouse gas reductions for federal buildings. Results of this paper illuminate potential advantages and limitations of using STO as an energy policy assessment tool and the mapping effort described in this paper suggests that strategic, tactical and operational levels should be addressed explicitly in future energy policies.
The clinical spectrum of so-called "minor" depressions.

This selective review of recent clinical research on neurotic depressive and dysthymic disorders observed in psychiatric settings reveals that, far from being “minor,” they typically begin early in...
Molecular origin of electron paramagnetic resonance line shapes on β-barrel membrane proteins: the local solvation environment modulates spin-label configuration.

In this work, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography were used to examine the origins of EPR line shapes from spin-labels at the protein-lipid interface on the {beta}-barrel membrane protein BtuB. Two atomic-resolution structures were obtained for the methanethiosulfonate spin-label derivatized to cysteines on the membrane-facing surface of BtuB. At one of these sites, position 156, the label side chain resides in a pocket formed by neighboring residues; however, it extends from the protein surface and yields a single-component EPR spectrum in the crystal that results primarily from fast rotation about the fourth and fifth bonds linking the spin-label to the protein backbone. In lipid bilayers, site 156 yields a multicomponent spectrum resulting from different rotameric states of the labeled side chain. Moreover, changes in the lipid environment, such as variations in bilayer thickness, modulate the EPR spectrum by modulating label rotamer populations. At a second site, position 371, the labeled side chain interacts with a pocket on the protein surface, leading to a highly immobilized single-component EPR spectrum that is not sensitive to hydrocarbon thickness. This spectrum is similar to that seen at other sites that are deep in the hydrocarbon, such as position 170. This workmore » indicates that the rotameric states of spin-labels on exposed hydrocarbon sites are sensitive to the environment at the protein-hydrocarbon interface, and that this environment may modulate weak interactions between the labeled side chain and the protein surface. In the case of BtuB, lipid acyl chain packing is not symmetric around the {beta}-barrel, and EPR spectra from labeled hydrocarbon-facing sites in BtuB may reflect this asymmetry. In addition to facilitating the interpretation of EPR spectra of membrane proteins, these results have important implications for the use of long-range distance restraints in protein structure refinement that are obtained from spin-labels.« less
Surgical Fasciotomy for Dupuytren Contracture

Though open surgical fasciotomy was one of the earliest described treatments for Dupuytren contracture, little has been written on this treatment method. Open fasciotomy is an attractive treatment method for Dupuytren contracture, as it requires much less extensive dissection than fasciectomy. Additionally, it may be associated with less risk to neurovascular structures than percutaneous needle aponeurotomy, in which the neurovascular structures are not visualized. Recurrence rates for open fasciotomy requiring revision surgery are higher than fasciectomy and likely similar to percutaneous needle aponeurotomy, though future study is needed on this topic. Open fasciotomy wounds reliably heal by secondary intention with minimal reported complications. Results of open fasciotomy are optimized in patients with isolated or predominant metacarpophalangeal joint contractures. Contractures at the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints are less reliably managed with open fasciotomy.
Building casual game SDKS for teaching CS1/2: a case study

Wikipedia defines "casual game" as: a videogame targeted at a mass audience of casual gamers typically distinguished by simple rules and requiring no long-term time commitment or special skills to play. A casual game Software Development Toolkit (SDK) for teaching introductory programming courses (CS1/2) is composed of samples and tools for teaching and building relevant courseware materials based on a specific casual game. We are building a series of custom casual games and the corresponding SDKs to support the teaching and learning of CS1/2 concepts, with a focus on allowing faculty to integrate the content into their existing classes with minimal disruption. Our games are innovative twists on popular casual genres, and each game is designed explicitly for teaching specific CS1/2 concepts (e.g., conditionals, arrays). The accompanying SDKs include classroom-ready teaching materials and a corresponding Application Programming Interface (API) for each game. Based on these materials and the APIs, faculty can demonstrate and build small game-themed examples to explain CS1/2 concepts, and students can further explore the material through engaging gameplay mechanics. This paper focuses on discussing the details of the recently released Space Smasher SDK and the lessons learned from an initial adoption of the materials in the classroom.
RC and RL to LC circuit conversion, and its application in poles and zeros identification

A new technique is presented to convert an RC or RL circuit to its corresponding LC circuit. It is shown that while this conversion keeps the coefficients of a transfer function unaltered, it maps the roots (poles and zeros) of the transfer function to desirable locations for further processing. The technique provides different results for different types of (real, imaginary, and complex) roots on the s-plain, which in fact lends itself to identifying and even extract the circuit roots directly from a Bode plot. Some applications of the methodology with examples are given to demonstrate the capability of the technique.
Cost-Effective Product Realization: Service-Oriented Architecture for Integrated Product Life-cycle Management

Abstract The worldwide availability of technology, capital, information, and labor makes today's manufacturing enterprises global. Information incompleteness, inconsistency, and improccessability are problems that collaborative design groups are facing. There is a need to improve the current product development process by allowing distributed and real-time collaboration, endorsing knowledge sharing, and assisting better decision making in product life-cycle management. This will fundamentally transform product development to achieve significant reduction in time to market and cost. This paper addresses a new integration environment that enables the evolution of collaborative e -design paradigm. This design paradigm aims at seamless and dynamic integration of distributed design objects and engineering tools over the Internet. A service-oriented architecture is introduced to ensure design collaboration, good interoperability, scalability, extensibility, and portability of the engineering tools. The e -design environment transparently integrates overall product life-cycle management activities, including conceptualization, detailed design, virtual simulation and testing, and supply chain management.
Transit Time Difference Flowmeter for Intravenous Flow Rate Measurement Using 1–3 Piezoelectric Composite Transducers

The flow rate of injected medication implemented by intravenous (IV) systems must be accurately monitored and meticulously controlled to prevent medical accidents. In this paper, an ultrasonic flowmeter (UF) with 1–3 piezoelectric composite transducers was designed, fabricated, and tested on a variety of flow rates of mimic medical injections. The transducer wedge for the angled beam propagation and an acoustic impedance matching layer were included in the design for transmission enhancement. To ensure an accurate measurement of flow rate, the effect of the flow distributions inside the IV tube was taken into account. The developed UF exhibited the capability of detecting low flow rates (<0.005 m/s), with 1%–2% discrepancy compared with the reference rate of infusion.
Marriage markets as explanation for why heavier people work more hours

Is BMI related to hours of work through marriage market mechanisms? We empirically explore this issue using data from the NLSY79 and NLSY97 and a number of estimation strategies (including OLS, IV, and sibling FE). Our IV estimates (with same-sex sibling’s BMI as an instrument and a large set of controls including wage) suggest that a one-unit increase in BMI leads to an almost 2% increase in White married women’s hours of work. However, BMI is not associated with hours of work of married men. We also find that a one-unit increase in BMI leads to a 1.4% increase in White single women’s hours of work, suggesting that single women may expect future in-marriage transfers that vary by body weight. We show that the positive association between BMI and hours of work of White single women increases with self-assessed probability of future marriage and varies with expected cumulative spousal income. Comparisons between the association between BMI and hours of work for White and Black married women suggest a possible racial gap in intra-marriage transfers from husbands to wives.