cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Small resonant fractal antennas

Reducing the size of an antenna has significant impact on their applications in modern communications system and in wireless sensors. However, as the antenna size is reduced, the real part of its input impedance reduces to near zero, and the imaginary part becomes very large. Meander line and zig-zag antennas have been used whenever small resonant antennas were required. Antennas using fractal geometry have been pursued in recent years for various advantages such as scale invariance and self-similarity. The apparent increase in the effective length of wire segments constituting the antenna forces the antenna to resonate at a lower frequency. In this paper we present the numerical studies on reducing the resonant frequency of a fractal geometry within a finite area, by the increase in fractal iteration order.
Phytoplankton Response to Liquid Fertilizers

Abstract A liquid fertilizer (Poly N; Allied Chemical Corportion) with an N:P2O5:K2O ratio of 10-34-0 and a granular fertilizer (fish pond fertilizer, 20-20-5) were applied to fish ponds. Poly N at 6.6 kg/ha per application and fish pond fertilizer at 45 kg/ha per application were both effective in promoting phytoplankton growth in sportfish ponds. Nutrient inputs were much lower with Poly N, and a savings of $9.50/ha per application was achieved.
ON REGULAR AND SINGULAR ESTIMATION FOR ERGODIC DIFFUSION

The asymptotic properties of the maximum likelihood and bayesian estimators of finite dimensional parameters of any statistical model depend strongly on the regularity conditions. It is well-known that if these conditions are fulfilled then the estimators are consistent, asymptotically normal and asymptotically efficient. These regularity conditions are of the following type: the model is sufficiently smooth w.r.t. the unknown parameter, the Fisher information is a positive continuous function, the model is correct and identifiable and the unknown parameter is an interior point of the parameter set. In this work we present a review of the properties of these estimators in the situations when these regularity conditions are not fulfilled. The presented results allow us to better understand the role of regularity conditions. As the model of observations we consider the one-dimensional ergodic diffusion process.
Origin of Seeded Endothelial Cells

This study proposes to evaluate the effectiveness of porcine endothelial cell seeding on the patency rate and the cellular lining of healed grafts. Nonseeded grafts were implanted in a series of 8 dogs while porcine endothelial cell-seeded grafts were used in 15 animals. Aspirin (325 mg) was given daily to all animals. The thirty-two-day patency rate was 25% (2/8) versus 67% (10/15) respectively for the control and seeded grafts (p < .01). All patent grafts were lined with an endothelial surface. Cultures of the thirty-two-day old seeded grafts grew a combination of canine and porcine cells at a ratio of 5/1. The authors conclude that allograft cell seeding increases the patency rate of vena cava grafts and may stimulate growth of host canine cells. No clinical adverse reactions were noted with allograft cell seeding in the present study.
Word operation definable in the typed l-calculus

A λ-language over a simple type structure is considered. Type B = (O → O) → ((O → O) → (O → O)) is called a binary word type because of the isomorphism between words over a binary alphabet and closed terms of this type. Therefore, any term of type B → (B → ⋯ → (B → B) ⋯) represents an n-ary word function. The problem is: what class of word functions are represented by the closed terms of the examined type. It is proved that there exists a finite base of word functions such that any λ-definable word function is some composition of functions from the base. The algorithm which, for every closed term, returns the function in the form of a composition of basic operations is given. The main result is proved for a binary alphabet only, but can be easily extended to any finite alphabet. This result is a natural extension of the Schwichtenberg theorem (see Schwichtenberg (1975) and Statman (1979)) which solves the same problem for the natural number type N = (O → O) → (O → O).
Evaluation drives curriculum

Dear SirIt is almost a mantra in education that evaluation drives curriculum. Students focus not on topics that they are told are important but on those that are formally evaluated. A recent change...
Application of the general rate model and the generalized Maxwell-Stefan equation to the study of the mass transfer kinetics of a pair of enantiomers

The general rate model of chromatography can be coupled with the generalized Maxwell-Stefan equation that describes the surface diffusion flux. The resulting model is useful to describe the behavior of two enantiomers during their separation on chiral phases, cases in which the mass transfer kinetics is known to be sluggish. A case in point is the modeling of the elution profiles of the racemic mixture of the two enantiomers of 1-phenyl-1-propanol on cellulose tribenzoate coated on silica, a popular chiral stationary phase. The competitive equilibrium isotherm behavior of the two enantiomers on the chiral stationary phase was described using the competitive Toth isotherm model. An excellent agreement between the experimental and the calculated profiles was observed in the whole range of experimental conditions investigated, at low and high column loadings.
The Things to Come of SHAPE: Cost and Effectiveness of Cardiovascular Prevention

It has been proposed recently that asymptomatic adults undergo routine screening for subclinical atherosclerosis using electron-beam computed tomography or carotid ultrasound as the basis for the pharmacologic prevention of cardiovascular events. The expected cost and effectiveness of this conditional test-treatment strategy are herein analyzed in comparison with the conventional conditional strategy, based on Framingham risk factor assessment, and with an unconditional treatment strategy that does not rely on testing. These analyses show that the unconditional treatment strategy, albeit more costly, is more effective and more cost-effective than either conditional testing strategy. In conclusion, greater attention should be paid to improving the population-wide delivery of and long-term adherence to proven preventive therapy than to the identification of "high-risk" treatment targets.
Simulating Variable Source Problems via Post Processing of Individual Particle Tallies

Monte Carlo is an extremely powerful method of simulating complex, three dimensional environments without excessive problem simplification. However, it is often time consuming to simulate models in which the source can be highly varied. Similarly difficult are optimization studies involving sources in which many input parameters are variable, such as particle energy, angle, and spatial distribution. Such studies are often approached using “brute force” methods or intelligent guesswork. One field in which these problems are often encountered is accelerator-driven Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) for the treatment of cancers.
Sniper Localization Using Acoustic Asynchronous Sensors

This paper describes a novel sniper localization method for a network of acoustic sensors. This approach relies only on the time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) between the muzzle blast and shock wave from multiple single acoustic sensor nodes, as opposed to an array of microphones, relaxing the need for precise time synchronization across the network. This method is also best suited where an array of sensors, on a per-node basis, is not feasible. Results of the sniper localization algorithm using data collected in a field are presented here. Derivation of the Cramer-Rao bound is presented, and the results of the algorithm are compared with the bound.
The antioxidant properties of nordihydroguaiaretic acid

A description is given of the antioxidant properties of nordihydroguaiaretic acid. This substance is readily obtained in substantial yields from a common plant(Larrea divaricata) and compares favorably with other highly effective inhibitors of the phenolic type.
Journeys in Revlon -Land with a Conflicted Financial Advisor: Del Monte and El Paso

Two recent cases in the Delaware Court of Chancery, In re Del Monte Foods Co. Shareholders Litigation and In re El Paso Corp. Shareholders Litigation, concern potential breaches of target directors’ Revlon duties when the company’s financial advisor has a conflict of interest related to the potential transaction. This article analyzes these cases with a view to exploring two main issues: (a) how breaches of the financial advisor’s duty of loyalty as an agent can support a claim that directors have breached their Revlon duties even if their reliance on the agent was entirely innocent, and (b) how, under Revlon, the directors’ fully-informed decision to engage or retain a financial advisor with a fully-disclosed conflict of interest should relate to subsequent decisions that the board may make relying on advice from such an advisor.
Optimal second-order small-signal model for long- and short-channel three-terminal MOSFET/MODFET wave equation

An optimal second-order small-signal model is developed for the long-channel three-terminal MOSFET/MODFET wave equation. The resulting Y parameters admit the correct fourth-order frequency power series expansion and exhibit a graceful degradation at high frequencies compared to a previously reported second-order model. This model can be integrated in the velocity-saturated MOSFET/MODFET equivalent circuit and is demonstrated to greatly improve the frequency range of validity of this short-channel model. The excellent results obtained demonstrate the validity of both the equivalent-circuit synthesis procedure and the correctness of the equivalent circuit proposed. >
Shigella Bacteremia in a Patient: With Sickle Cell Anemia

Shigella infection has been rarely reported as a complication in patients with hemoglobinopathy. A case of S sonnei bacteremia and diarrhea in a 20-month-old infant with SS hemoglobin was recently observed. The patient was treated with ampicillin sodium and kanamycin sulfate and recovered. Greater use of media designed for efficient isolation of Shigella may lead to more frequent identification of this organism in patients with hemoglobinopathies.
Structure of ethnic violence in Sudan: a semi-automated network analysis of online news (2003---2010)

Mining textual sources of data can be used to design studies and test theories at temporal and spatial scales unheard of in the past. This opens up new opportunities for conflict studies and ethnographic research. We conducted a semi-automated network analysis of the 2003---2010 Sudan Tribune online news articles and modeled ethnic-group conflict in Sudan. We tested whether an ethnic group's connections to the environment (livestock, biomes, and other resources) and other ethnic groups was associated with severe conflict and peace terms and whether ethnic-group richness at a given geospatial location was associated with severe conflict. Ethnic groups with more connections to livestock, environmental resources, and those ethnic groups with denser environmental---resource networks in their sphere of influence had more co-occurrences with severe conflict terms. Ethnic groups that had more connections to biomes in their sphere of influence were co-associated with peace terms. Locations that had high ethnic-group richness were associated with a higher frequency of severe conflict terms.
Changes in maternal attitudes and perceptions and children's communication skills.

Summary.-The present investigation had two purposes: (a) to assess significant changes in the attitudes and perceptions of mothers of young children who were enrolled in 15 wk. of individual speech-language therapy and (b) to compare changes in mothers' attimdes and perceptions with university supervisors' ratings of children's over-all communication skills and speech intelligibility. 17 children, ages 2;10 to 5;8, and their mothers were participants. Mothers received speech-language services and counseling from graduate-student clinicians and university chcal supervisors bur no special counseling was provided to alter their attitudes and perceptions concerning the intervention process. The typical child in the intervention program received 24 individual speech and language therapy sessions. Mothers and supervisors completed questionnaires before and after the 15-wk. intervention. Neither group was made aware of the purpose of the investigation. Analysis showed a pattern of significant changes in mothers' pre- and postrankings of questionnaire items and significant changes in the total communication and speech intelligibility rankings made by supervison. Significant relacionships were found for changes in attitudes and perceptions of mothers and changes in the children's communication skills. The results bolster the need for use of family-based therapy approaches in intervention programs For young children's communication disorders.
A Robust State Space Model for the Characterization of Extended Returns in Radar Target Signatures

Analysis of radar scattering from targets with curved boundaries, such as objects comprising cylindrical and conical shapes, is important to many aerospace applications. The radar return is composed of a well-characterized physical optics response in the illuminated region where the transmitter and receiver are not shadowed by the object, and a combination of modal responses (e.g., creeping waves and edge-diffracted fields) in the shadow region. The modal responses have longer down-range than scattering centers located on the object, and therefore, produce extended (or off-body) returns in ISAR images, which are not well-understood. However, these returns are strongly dependent on local features of the object, and thus contain valuable information with regard to the target's geometrical and physical composition. Multiple reflections from illuminated facets, as well as multiply diffracted waves, can also add coherently in the direction of the receiver and produce such returns. This paper applies a robust, coherent-processing system identification technique, originally developed for radar sensor fusion, to estimate amplitude and phase of the scatterers that characterize extended returns in the target signature. Examples are presented that highlight the extraction of creeping waves using measured data on a cone-sphere.
Hospitalizations in a Southern Rural Community: an Application of the ‘Ecology Model’

The purpose of this study is to re-examine the concepts of health services utilization presented by White and his colleagues in 'The Ecology of Medical Care'. We re-test their model in a rural population in the southern United States using longitudinal instead of cross-sectional data and find that the general principles of the 'Ecology' model do, indeed, apply to rural populations like Rougemont/Bahama. Use of this model has implications for modifying and improving the organization of the health care delivery system and for a fundamental change of emphasis in medical education.
Epidemiology of Bronchioloalveolar Carcinoma: Improvement in Survival After Release of the 1999 WHO Classification of Lung Tumors

Purpose Classification changes for bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) by the WHO in May 1999 narrowed its definition. This study was undertaken in an attempt to characterize the impact of these changes on the epidemiology of BAC. Patients and Methods This retrospective study involves data analysis from the population-based Cancer Surveillance Programs of three Southern California counties from 1995 to 2003. BAC cases diagnosed after May 1999 are compared with BAC cases before that time by clinicopathologic variables including survival. Results Incident cases (11,969) of non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were analyzed, including 626 cases of BAC (5.2%). Median overall survival (OS) for BAC patients diagnosed after May 1999 (> 53 months) was significantly improved over median OS for BAC patients before May 1999 (32 months; P = .012). This survival benefit remained after adjustment for sex, smoking status, and stage at presentation (hazard ratio for time of diagnosis before May 1999 compared with a diagnosi...
Impact of physical maltreatment on the regulation of negative affect and aggression.

Physically maltreated children are at risk for developing externalizing behavioral problems characterized by reactive aggression. The current experiment tested the relationships between individual differences in a neural index of social information processing, histories of child maltreatment, child negative affect, and aggressive behavior. Fifty boys (17 maltreated) performed an emotion recognition task while the P3b component of the event-related potential was recorded to index attention allocation to angry faces. Children then participated in a peer-directed aggression task. Negative affect was measured by recording facial electromyography, and aggression was indexed by the feedback that children provided to a putative peer. Physically maltreated children exhibited greater negative affect and more aggressive behavior, compared to nonmaltreated children, and this relationship was mediated by children’s allocation of attention to angry faces. These data suggest that physical maltreatment leads to inappropriate regulation of both negative affect and aggression, which likely place maltreated children at increased risk for the development and maintenance of externalizing behavior disorders.
Alkyl Chain Ordering of Asymmetric Phosphatidylcholines Adsorbed at a Liquid−Liquid Interface

Abstract : Interfacial adsorption and desorption of phosphatidylcholine (PC) monolayers is an important mechanism by which complex biological systems dynamically control physical and biochemical surface properties. We present vibrational spectroscopic investigations of hydrocarbon chain ordering in PC monolayers adsorbed from aqueous solution to an oil (i.e. carbon tetrachloride)-water interface as a quantitative measure of molecular-level organization pertinent to the surface characteristics displayed by these films. In a series of saturated symmetric and asymmetric chain PCs, both symmetric PCs with 16 or fewer carbons per acyl chain and highly asymmetric PCs produced relatively disordered films at the liquid-liquid interface. The longest chain PCs studied, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-PC (C18:C18), 1-stearoyl-2-palmitoyl-sn-PC (C18:C18) and 1-palmitoyl-2-stearoyl-sn-PC (C18:C18), formed well-ordered crystalline phase monolayers at room temperature. The results can be explained in terms of enhanced chain-chain interactions among the longer, nearly symmetric hydrocarbon chains which occur only in the absence of intercalating solvent. Properties of the neat oil-water interface which may influence the formation of these well-ordered monolayer phases are discussed.
Putative Terminase Subunits of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Form a Complex in the Cytoplasm and Interact with Portal Protein in the Nucleus

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) terminase is an essential component of the molecular motor that translocates DNA through the portal vertex in the capsid during DNA packaging. The HSV terminase is believed to consist of the UL15, UL28, and UL33 gene products (pUL15, pUL28, and pUL33, respectively), whereas the HSV type 1 portal vertex is encoded by UL6. Immunoprecipitation reactions revealed that pUL15, pUL28, and pUL33 interact in cytoplasmic and nuclear lysates. Deletion of a canonical nuclear localization signal (NLS) from pUL15 generated a dominant-negative protein that, when expressed in an engineered cell line, decreased the replication of wild-type virus up to 80-fold. When engineered into the genome of recombinant HSV, this mutation did not interfere with the coimmunoprecipitation of pUL15, pUL28, and pUL33 from cytoplasmic lysates of infected cells but prevented viral replication, most nuclear import of both pUL15 and pUL28, and coimmunoprecipitation of pUL15, pUL28, and pUL33 from nuclear lysates. When the pUL15/pUL28 interaction was reduced in infected cells by the truncation of the C terminus of pUL28, pUL28 remained in the cytoplasm. Whether putative terminase components localized in the nucleus or cytoplasm, pUL6 localized in infected cell nuclei, as viewed by indirect immunofluorescence. The finding that the portal and terminase do eventually interact was supported by the observation that pUL6 coimmunoprecipitated strongly with pUL15 and weakly with pUL28 from extracts of infected cells in 1.0 M NaCl. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the pUL15/pUL28/pUL33 complex forms in the cytoplasm and that an NLS in pUL15 is used to import the complex into the nucleus where at least pUL15 and pUL28 interact with the portal to mediate DNA packaging.
Kink-free AlInAs/GaInAs/InP HEMTs grown by molecular beam epitaxy

Kink-free AlInAs/GaInAs/InP HEMTs have been fabricated from an MBE structure grown under normal growth condition. Devices with 1 μm gate-length exhibit an extrinsic transconductance of 450mS/mm and a maximum drain current of 600mA/mm which represent the best results for 1 μm gate devices. The DC output conductance shows no kink over the entire gate bias range. The elimination of the kink is attributed to the high quality AlInAs buffer layer and a low mismatch between the AlInAs buffer layer and InP substrate.
PREVALENCE AND CORRELATES OF PROSTATITIS IN THE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS FOLLOW-UP STUDY COHORT

Purpose: Prostatitis is an ill-defined condition whose symptoms overlap with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Little is known about the prevalence and correlates of prostatitis, or factors that distinguish prostatitis from BPH. We examined these issues in a large, nationwide sample of healthy men.Materials and Methods: In 1992, 31,681 United States health professionals without prostate cancer provided information on urological diagnoses, lower urinary tract symptoms, and demographic, clinical and lifestyle factors. We calculated age adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for these correlates predicting a history of prostatitis. We also compared characteristics of men with prostatitis to those with BPH.Results: The prevalence of a self-reported history of prostatitis was 16%. Men reporting a history of BPH had 7.7-fold greater odds of a history of prostatitis, those with moderate or severe lower urinary tract symptoms had 1.8 and 2.8-fold greater odds, respectively, those with a history of se...
An adaptive thesaurus employing semantic distance, relational inheritance and nominal compound interpretation for linguistic support of information retrieval

Presented is a domain specific thesaurus for linguistic support of an information broker. It employs an adaptive semantic distance function based on pathfinder networks and algorithms for automated population by nominal compound interpretation and relational inheritance. Created in support of the National Information Infrastructure Test bed for Diagnostic and Prognostic Maintenance of Equipment and Processes, funded by the US Department of Energy, the thesaurus and information broker were demonstrated through two pilot applications: Internet-based decision support for maintenance and operation of the Eddystone powerplant near Philadelphia, PA, and maintenance of the Allison T-56 engine used in the E2-C naval aircraft. The structure of the thesaurus was formalized to facilitate application in other domains and to further the understanding of thesauri, linguistic support methodologies and automated language processing in general.
Big Brother, Africa is watching:

This article discusses the interrelation between the reality television genre, as represented by the Big Brother Africa series, and broader social, economic and political developments on the African continent. The article argues that the series has had profound impacts and consequences on the African continent and its people, particularly, though not exclusively, in those countries where it was broadcast. These effects were unpredictable and sometimes contradictory. They shed light on a range of complex issues all too often cast aside or altogether ignored in discussions of cultural phenomena south of the Sahara: economic relations between countries, issues of race and class, and perceptions of self and other, among others. At the same time, they significantly complicate mainstream, primarily US- and Western Europe-centered, analyses of the reality television phenomenon. Most importantly, they bring into focus debates within Africa concerning processes of globalization.
Oxidation and Fracture Strength of High‐Purity Reaction‐Bonded Silicon Nitride

Reaction-bonded Si3N4 (RBSN) made from high-purity Si powder is unusually resistant to degradation caused by exposures to air for up to 50 h at temperatures up to 1400°C. The weight gain during oxidation of this SiH4-originating RBSN is approximately 10 times less than conventional RBSN. Contrary to normally observed strength degradations, room-temperature strengths of this high-purity, oxidized RBSN (avg = 435 MPa, max. = 668 MPa) remained at their unusually high, as-processed levels after 1000° and 1400°C oxidizing exposures. Fracture toughness values were unaffected by oxidation (KIC= 2.3 to 2.4 MPa · m1/2). This superior oxidation resistance results from the high purity and the small diameter pore channels (0.01 to 0.06 μm) achieved in this SiH4-originating RBSN.
Parathyroid Hormone Dependent Hypercalciuria in Chronic Metabolic Acidosis

Metabolic acidosis is well known to result in hypercalciuria (6,8,9). The hypercalciuria of metabolic acidosis is thought to be the result of a depression in calcium reabsorption by the kidney (8,13). The role of parathyroid hormone (PTH) in the calciuria of metabolic acidosis has not been completely defined. Based on studies performed in humans with hypoparathyroidism, it has been suggested that PTH plays no role in the hypercalciuria seen in metabolic acidosis (9). This study was designed to investigate the effect of PTH on the renal handling of calcium during chronic metabolic acidosis.
Nonlinear Deterministic Behavior in Blood Pressure Control

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Chaos in the Cardiovascular System Carotid Baroreflex and Chaotic Behavior Conclusions This chapter contains sections titled: References
When Zords Combine, it's so Sublime: 20 Years on and Full-Circle with the Power Rangers

2013 marks the 20th anniversary of the global Power Rangers franchise. Within the context of elements of the marketing mix (with particular focus on product, place and promotion), the staying power, phenomenal marketing success and polarizing nature of the franchise are discussed. Furthermore, the circular nature of the franchise is analyzed, as its 20th season, Power Rangers Megaforce, has made a significant return to its roots, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.
A Crucial Correction

(1962). A Crucial Correction. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 69, No. 10, pp. 960-960.
9 VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY IN CONCERT WITH FUNCTIONAL HYPOPARATHYROIDISM AS AN ETIOLOGIC FACTOR OF NEONATAL SEIZURES

Hypocalcemia is a recognized etiological factor of neonatal seizures. Common concept of calcium homeostasis is regulated by parathyroid hormone (PTH) and vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency is well known to cause impaired intestinal Ca++ absorption, triggering secondary hyperparathyroidism. Herein, we report three Hispanic neonates who presented with hypocalcemic seizures (see Table). All of them were fed by breast milk supplemented by formula. Initial lab values revealed low serum calcium, elevated serum phosphorous and inappropriately low parathyroid hormone level. Unexpectedly, all the neonates and the mothers also had low 25 OH vitamin D levels as well. However, contrary to the classical hormonal profile, they had functional hypoparathyroidism instead of secondary hyperparathyroidism. The treatment of hypocalcemia secondary to functional or true hypoparathyroidism differs from that of vitamin D deficiency. And, hence, making a diagnosis based solely on serum calcium and phosphorous, frequently the lone labs available initially, can be problematic. Our observations underscore that not all neonates with hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia have hypoparathyroidism alone, and that concomitant vitamin D deficiency should be considered.
Getting to the height of the matter: the relationship between stature and adiposity in pre-pubertal children.

OBJECTIVE: Height has been inversely associated with cardiometabolic disease, with adiposity as the proposed contributor. Childhood represents a time when underlying metabolic pathways converge to determine growth. Although the extent to which influence is relevant, insulin, as a key growth signaling factor, likely provides key insight into mechanisms linking height and adiposity. Insulin concentration displays well-established sex and racial differences, with hyperinsulinemia more common among African Americans (AA) females relative to European Americans (EA). The objective of our study was to evaluate the relationship between height and adiposity in children. In addition, a secondary objective was to evaluate potential moderation by insulin concentration. DESIGN: Seventy-two pre-pubertal children aged 4-10 years (mu = 6.6 +/- .2) participated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percent fat was assessed by DXA and fasting insulin by serum assay. RESULTS: Height was positively associated with percent fat in the overall sample (P = .04). When evaluated according to age, an association was identified at age seven years (P = .02). When evaluated by sex, a positive relationship was apparent only in AA girls (P = .05). Inclusion of insulin in the model attenuated all significant associations, barring marginal significance in those aged seven years (P = .08). CONCLUSIONS: A positive relationship between height and adiposity is apparent, particularly among those in younger years, which is contrary to what has been consistently reported in adults. Interestingly, age seven years was identified as a point of race-associated divergence in body composition. The degree to which growth-related processes in childhood underlie developmental origins of health disparities warrants further study. Ethn Dis. 2013;23[1]:71–76
Long-Term Followup of 150 Patients with Testicular Cancer Treated at a Single Institution

AbstractBetween 1977 and 1988, 150 patients with disseminated primary testicular germ cell tumors were treated with cisplatin, vinblastine and bleomycin. Of the 150 patients 90 (60%) achieved a complete response to chemotherapy. An additional 33 patients achieved a complete response after removal of residual masses following chemotherapy. Thus, 123 of 150 patients (82%) achieved a disease-free status following chemotherapy with or without an operation. After a median followup of 49 months the estimated long-term probability of remaining without failure and of surviving is 77%. With this data base a multivariate analysis of prognostic factors determined the Indiana University staging system to be highly predictive. Other staging systems proved to be less useful. The subset of patients with minimal and moderate disease by Indiana staging containing mature teratoma in the orchiectomy specimen has a particularly excellent prognosis (99% actuarial survival) with chemotherapy.
Prepartum behavior of gilts in three farrowing environments.

To determine effects of the farrowing environment on prepartum behavior, five gilts were monitored continuously for 48 h prior to parturition in each of three farrowing systems: 1) an open farrowing pen (2.1  1.5 m); 2) a turn-around farrowing pen, which allowed the gilt to turn around (2.4 m long; 1.8 m wide at back, .6 at front) and 3) a straight farrowing crate (sow zone = .6  2.1 m). Videorecords were summarized as three 16-h segments (Period A = 48 to 32 h before the first piglet was delivered, B = 32 to 16 h and C = 16 to 0 h) for analysis of activity over time. In all systems, frequencies of postural changes and oral-nasal activities directed at the floor or wall increased as farrowing was approached, the highest frequencies occurring in Period C. Respective times spent standing, sitting and engaged in oral-nasal activities directed at floor or wall also increased over time. Pawing occurred almost exclusively in Period C. Lying upright (ventral posture) occupied a greater portion of lying time as the gilt's activity increased over time, whereas feeding and drinking behaviors did not change over time. The only behavior affected by the experimental environments was the frequency of 90 ~ turns. Gilts in both open and turn-around pens showed an increasing turning frequency over time, and they turned more often in the open pen than in the turn-around pen. Differences in the kind and amount of space available to the gilts across the three farrowing environments influenced neither frequencies nor durations of postural adjustments, oral-nasal activities or pawing. Similarities in frequencies and durations of the registered behaviors across these environments suggest that there is a strong internal component in the motivation of p refarrowing behavior.
Gender Roles and Gender Identity in Midlife

Publisher Summary This chapter explains the gender roles and gender identity in midlife. Gender refers to the social and psychological dimensions of sex. Gender role is used to describe the social prescriptions or stereotypes associated with each sex; it may also be used to describe the extent to which a particular individual complies with the social expectations. Gender schema includes all of one's beliefs about attributes of males and females and how these attributes are related. Gender identity refers to the ways an individual defines herself or himself in terms of femininity and masculinity; this is the more personal, private sense of oneself in terms of their body and how they relate to the gender role expectations. Social norms regarding gender roles and personal developmental changes are changing. Gender differences persist in the likelihood that a man or woman will be in the paid labor force during the middle years, in the kinds of work available, and in compensation and this is hard to believe the labor force participation rates for women have increased substantially. Although many individuals are employed because they find their work fulfilling and personally satisfying, most are employed because they need to earn a living and gain access to benefits such as health care and retirement pensions. Access to benefits associated with employment also varies by sex and family arrangement. One of the most crucial benefits is access to an employer sponsored health care plan.
Linear Algebra and Equations

Most readers know from graduate textbooks that linear algebra is a branch of mathematics that deals with vector spaces, matrices, determinants, linear transformations, and systems of linear equations. This chapter explains how to put your hands on numeric packages for linear algebra. First of all, we will offer a description of Java classes designed to construct vectors and matrices. Then we will discuss the usual matrix operations. We will finish this chapter with a description of how to solve linear equations using the libraries provided by the DMelt project.
Conserving rare plants in locally-protected urban forest fragments: A case study from Miami-Dade County, Florida

Abstract We consider Miami-Dade County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) network of preserves as a means to conserve rare plant species in urban and suburban forest fragments. In this rapidly urbanizing landscape, upland forests are at particularly high risk of development. We examined the number of rare plant species present in preserves based on the site area, ecosystem type and management practices using the EEL database maintained by the county and a database of plant species inventories collected by the Institute for Regional Conservation. About 99% of the area of the EEL system is located in southern Miami-Dade. Pine rockland forests are primarily in the outer suburbs of the county where fire can be used most effectively for management. Hardwood hammock forests are distributed throughout the county including within the urban core. All 56 EEL forested sites under study contained at least one rare plant species. Small sites often contained high numbers of rare species per unit area, but presumably at lower population sizes. The type of upland forest was not related to the mean richness of rare or state-listed plant species. Public access was not related to the mean richness of rare plants, but was negatively associated with the richness of state-listed plant species.
Translaryngeal percutaneous arytenoid lateralization technique in a canine cadaveric study.

Objective To describe the technique for translaryngeal percutaneous arytenoid lateralization (TPAL) and the effect on rima glottidis cross-sectional area using a canine cadaveric model. Study design Ex vivo study. Animals Canine cadavers (n = 9). Materials and Methods With the aid of a laryngoscope, the larynx was visualized and a mattress suture (double-armed 2-0 polypropylene) was placed through the right arytenoid cartilage and exited the skin ventral to the jugular vein. The ends of the suture were passed through a button and tied on the skin to lateralize the right arytenoid cartilage. Digital images of the larynx were made before and after suture placement. Mean (±SD) rima glottidis cross-sectional area (mm2) was calculated from the digital images and values before and after suture placement were compared using a paired t-test. A P value < 0.05 was considered significant. Change in cross-sectional area was expressed as percent increase. Results Suture placement and the degree of arytenoid lateralization was relatively consistent in all dogs. Mean (±SD) cross-sectional area of the rima glottidis was 126.3 mm2 (±7.74) before and 172.1 mm2 (±24.7) after suture placement (P = 0.004). Mean percent increase in cross-sectional area was 25%. Conclusion The TPAL technique was effective at enlarging the rima glottidis in this canine cadaveric model. TPAL is rapid to perform and does not require specialized instrumentation. Results of this study support further investigation of the TPAL technique as an alternative to temporary tracheostomy for dogs in severe respiratory distress due to laryngeal paralysis.
‘Born in America, in Europe bred, in Africa travell’d and in Asia wed’: Elihu Yale, material culture, and actor networks from the seventeenth century to the twenty-first*

Objects can serve as non-living actors in a Latourian actor network which spans not only geography but time. Over this spatial–temporal network, what I call ‘object-actors’ acquire meanings that motivate living actors to use these objects as connecting points between past and present. Object-actors form networks in original exchanges between individuals and institutions, connect the past and present, and generate new and shifting meanings in this global–temporal network. Object-actors work and generate meaning in four dimensions – distance, location, relation, and time. Globally, object-actors can accrue conflicting meanings bound by locality. This article uses the collections of Elihu Yale as a case study in how object-actors constitute an important aspect of networks, and how those networks are not bound to the original transactions between historical parties or to their original geographies.
Increasing Campylobacter Infections, Outbreaks, and Antimicrobial Resistance in the United States, 2004-2012.

Background Campylobacteriosis, a leading cause of foodborne illness in the United States, was not nationally notifiable until 2015. Data describing national patterns and trends are limited. We describe the epidemiology of Campylobacter infections in the United States during 2004-2012. Methods We summarized laboratory-confirmed campylobacteriosis data from the Nationally Notifiable Disease Surveillance System, National Outbreak Reporting System, National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System, and Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network. Results During 2004-2012, 303520 culture-confirmed campylobacteriosis cases were reported. Average annual incidence rate (IR) was 11.4 cases/100000 persons, with substantial variation by state (range, 3.1-47.6 cases/100000 persons). IRs among patients aged 0-4 years were more than double overall IRs. IRs were highest among males in all age groups. IRs in western states and rural counties were higher (16.2/100000 and 14.2/100000, respectively) than southern states and metropolitan counties (6.8/100000 and 11.0/100000, respectively). Annual IRs increased 21% from 10.5/100000 during 2004-2006 to 12.7/100000 during 2010-2012, with the greatest increases among persons aged >60 years (40%) and in southern states (32%). The annual median number of Campylobacter outbreaks increased from 28 in 2004-2006 to 56 in 2010-2012; in total, 347 were reported. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of isolates from 4793 domestic and 1070 travel-associated infections revealed that, comparing 2004-2009 to 2010-2012, ciprofloxacin resistance increased among domestic infections (12.8% vs 16.1%). Conclusions During 2004-2012, incidence of campylobacteriosis, outbreaks, and clinically significant antimicrobial resistance increased. Marked demographic and geographic differences exist. Our findings underscore the importance of national surveillance and understanding of risk factors to guide and target control measures.
Season of bison mortality at three plains archaic kill sites in Wyoming

Reanalysis of bison lower dentary assemblages from the Scoggin site (ca. 4540 BP), Cordero Mine site (ca. 3520BP), and Rourke site (ca. 2500-1700 BP), offers new information concerning the seasonality of Plains Archaic bison utilization. Discrepancies in eruption and wear of the Scoggin mandibular molars suggest at least two kill-butchery events: (1) summer-early fall (y+0.2 - 0.4 yrs); and (2) late fall-early winter (y+0.6 - 0.7 yrs). The Rourke kill occurred in the late spring-early summer (y+ 0.1 - 0.2 yrs), and bison at Cordero Mine were procured during the fall-early winter (y+0.5 - 0.7yrs). These data provide several lines of information on seasonal variability and long-term changes in human socioeconomic behavior during the Archaic on the Northwestern Plains. Procurement tactics at Scoggin and Rourke, especially the repeated use of the jump-corral at Scoggin, suggest long-term investment at a fixed location on the landscape, which may indicate unpredictable bison populations, social restrictions, lack of topographic features to facilitate mass hunting, or a combination of these factors. Early evidence of intensive carcass processing at Cordero Mine, and possibly at Scoggin, may have been a consequence of these factors and/or a strategy designed to lessen the effects of winter-spring food shortages.
Transformational Learning in Undergraduate Public Health Education: Course Design for Generation Z:

Community partnerships provide an invaluable and practical teaching opportunity for undergraduate public health education programs. This is especially true when working with Generation Z students w...
Synergistic Activity of Silver Nanoparticles and Vancomycin Against a Spectrum of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilm Types

Staphylococcus aureus (SA) is an important human pathogen, causing potentially lethal infections of the blood, skin, and lungs. SA is becoming increasingly difficult to treat due to high levels of antibiotic resistance, and new treatments are needed. SA is able to evade antibiotics and immune surveillance through biofilm development. Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that are able to prevent the entry of antimicrobials and immune cells. Biofilms are also involved in SA transmission because biofilms can form on medical devices. In this study, we tested silver nanoparticles and vancomycin for their anti-biofilm effects on SA. We used 10 different SA isolates, representing a spectrum of biofilm-forming ability, and a crystal violet assay to measure biofilm mass. 2µg/mL vancomycin treatment resulted in a significant reduction in established SA biofilms in 7/10 isolates, including 4/5 methicillin susceptible SA (MSSA) and 3/5 methicillin-resistant (MRSA) isolates (mean reduction in crystal violet stain of 13.0%; high of 26.5% and low of 0%). Silver nanoparticle treatment of SA biofilms resulted in a significant reduction in 6/10 isolates, including 4/5 MSSA and 2/5 MRSA (mean reduction of 8.7%; high of 21.2% and low of 0%). A combinatorial treatment with silver nanoparticles and vancomycin resulted in significant reductions in 9/10 isolates (mean reduction of 20.8%; high of 39.3% and low of 0%). We conclude that both vancomycin and silver nanoparticle treatment of established tissue culture-based SA biofilms result in significant reductions in biofilm mass, with a combinatorial treatment even more effective than either treatment alone.
Modeled Sulfur Deposition Trends Since 1900 in North America

Inventories of historical emissions of acidic deposition precursors in the U.S. have been assembled by Gschwandtner et al. (1985), referred to hereafter as G85, and by Husar (1986). One might expect that such data would be widely applied in studies of possible long-term effects associated with acid deposition, such as lake acidification or forest damage. Use of the inventories in such investigations, however, has been surprisingly limited. This may be because atmospheric deposition rather than precursor emissions is the direct input to ecological systems. Although some researchers have used emission trends as surrogates for deposition trends, the relationships between aggregated emissions and resulting patterns of atmospheric concentrations or deposition have changed over the years as the seasonal, horizontal, and vertical distributions of emissions have changed. In the hope of providing additional information useful to researchers investigating deposition effects, we have simulated wet and dry S deposition and atmospheric concentrations of SO2 and sulfate over the United States and Canada since 1900 with the ASTRAP model (Shannon, 1985). Source-receptor matrices aggregated to the state or province level have been calculated as well. Simulations are seasonal, at five-year intervals from 1900 through 1960 and at one-year intervals from 1960 through 1985.
Positron Emission Tomography Imaging of Blood Flow and Hypoxia in Tumors

In this section, we summarize positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of tumor perfusion and hypoxia. We first summarize biological considerations, and then discuss the imaging approaches and results to date for PET imaging of tumor perfusion and tumor hypoxia. While we consider the importance of angiogenesis in the context of tumor hypoxia and tumor perfusion, we only briefly highlight recent PET imaging methods designed to specifically image angiogenesis and neovascularity. These topics are considered in more detail in other chapters in this text.
Electrophysiological Studies into Circuitry Involved in LHRH-Mediated Sexual Behavior

Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) has two well-documented neu-roendocrinological functions; the decapeptide acts on the pituitary gland to stimulate the release of LH (Redding et al., 1972; Ishikawa and Nagayama, 1973; Liu et al., 1976; Blake, 1978), and it acts in the brain to enhance mating behavior in the female rat (Moss and McCann, 1973, 1975; Pfaff, 1973; Foreman and Moss, 1977, 1978a,b; Moss and Foreman, 1976; Sakuma and Pfaff, 1980; Riskind and Moss, 1979). Previous investigations indicated that the ability of LHRH to enhance mating behavior was not dependent on its effect on the pituitary-ovarian-adrenal axis. The decapeptide was shown to be capable of facilitating mating behavior in the ovar-iectomized, adrenalectomized (Moss and McCann, 1975) and ovariectomized, hypophysectomized female rat (Pfaff, 1973). Recent research efforts in our laboratory have been directed toward distinguishing the neuronal circuitry involved in the LHRH enhancement of mating behavior from the circuitry involved in LHRH-induced luteinizing hormone (LH) release. A combination of behavioral, endocrine, and electrophysiological techniques has been employed in an attempt to separate LHRH pathways participating in LH release from those contributing to the initiation of mating behavior.