cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fixed Final Time Guidance

Guidance is the process by which an actual dynamical system is controlled to satisfy the final conditions while satisfying any path constraints imposed on the system. Examples of path constraints are control inequality constraints or state inequality constraints. Path constraints are usually difficult to handle in guidance so they are avoided by adding penalty terms to the performance index or by guiding relative to a reference or nominal path that satisfies the path constraints by some margin. Hence, many guidance problems fit into the format of the optimal control problem defined in Chapter 9, and this chapter can be considered as an application of the material in Chaps. 9 and 11.
Nuclear dacryoscintigraphy: Its role in oral and maxillofacial surgery

Obstruction of the lacrimal drainage apparatus may result in excessive tearing or epiphora. This may occur as a result of a traumatic injury or accumulation of debris, mucus, or pus. In nuclear dacryoscintigraphy, a radioactive solution is introduced into the conjunctival sac by pipette and allowed to follow the flow of the tear solution through the lacrimal drainage system. This article will review normal lacrimal anatomy and indications for nuclear dacryoscintigraphy in oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Evolution and the Organization of Potentiality

There is one major difference between the succession of ecosystems and their evolution. The origin of fundamentally new potentialities—the species formation process—becomes the decisive factor. In this chapter I add this ingredient to the analysis of ecosystem development. I also review the central features of adaptability theory and consider its relation to alternative descriptions of biological nature.
Anisotropic Keldysh interaction

Abstract We generalize the classic calculations by Rytova and Keldysh of screened Coulomb interaction in semiconductor thin films to systems with anisotropic permittivity tensor. Explicit asymptotic expressions for electrostatic potential energy of interaction in the weakly anisotropic case are found in closed analytical form. The case of strong in-plane anisotropy, however, requires evaluation of the inverse Fourier transform of 1 / ( k + A k x 2 + B k y 2 ) , which, at present, remains unresolved.
Tumor control and survival in patients with ten or more brain metastases treated with stereotactic radiosurgery: a retrospective analysis.

To assess tumor control and survival in patients treated with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for 10 or more metastatic brain tumors. Patients were retrospectively identified. Clinical records were reviewed for follow-up data, and post-treatment MRI studies were used to assess tumor control. For tumor control studies, patients were separated based on synchronous or metachronous treatment, and control was assessed at 3-month intervals. The Kaplan–Meier method was employed to create survival curves, and regression analyses were employed to study the effects of several variables. Fifty-five patients were treated for an average of 17 total metastases. Forty patients received synchronous treatment, while 15 received metachronous treatment. Univariate analysis revealed an association between larger brain volumes irradiated with 12 Gy and decreased overall survival (p = 0.0406); however, significance was lost on multivariate analysis. Among patients who received synchronous treatment, the median percentage of tumors controlled was 100%, 91%, and 82% at 3, 6, and 9 months, respectively. Among patients who received metachronous treatment, the median percentage of tumors controlled after each SRS encounter was 100% at all three time points. SRS can be used to treat patients with 10 or more total brain metastases with an expectation of tumor control and overall survival that is equivalent to that reported for patients with four or fewer tumors. Development of new metastases leading to repeat SRS is not associated with worsened tumor control or survival. Survival may be adversely affected in patients having a higher volume of normal brain irradiated.
Gender Equality and Labour Force Participation: Mind the Gap:

Despite increase in education, female labour force participation in India is abysmally low and has fallen over the years. The reasons for this are complex and involve a whole range of social and cu...
A newly identified nociresponsive region in the transitional zone (TZ) in rat sensorimotor cortex.

Abstract The primary somatosensory cortex (S1) comprises a number of functionally distinct regions, reflecting the diversity of somatosensory receptor submodalities innervating the body. In particular, two spatially and functionally distinct nociceptive regions have been described in primate S1 (Vierck et al., 2013; Whitsel et al., 2019). One region is located mostly in Brodmann cytoarchitectonic area 1, where a subset of neurons exhibit functional characteristics associated with myelinated Aδ nociceptors and perception of 1st/sharp, discriminative pain. The second region is located at the transition between S1 and primary motor cortex (M1) in area 3a, where neurons exhibit functional characteristics associated with unmyelinated C nociceptors and perception of 2nd/slow, burning pain. To test the hypothesis that in rats the transitional zone (TZ) – which is a dysgranular region at the transition between M1 and S1 – is the functional equivalent of the nociresponsive region of area 3a in primates, extracellular spike discharge activity was recorded from TZ neurons in rats under general isoflurane anesthesia. Thermonoxious stimuli were applied by lowering the contralateral forepaw or hindpaw into a 48–51 °C heated water bath for 5–10 s. Neurons in TZ were found to be minimally affected by non-noxious somatosensory stimuli, but highly responsive to thermonoxious skin stimuli in a slow temporal summation manner closely resembling that of nociresponsive neurons in primate area 3a. Selective inactivation of TZ by topical lidocaine application suppressed or delayed the nociceptive withdrawal reflex, suggesting that TZ exerts a tonic facilitatory influence over spinal cord neurons producing this reflex. In conclusion, TZ appears to be a rat homolog of the nociresponsive part of monkey area 3a. A possibility is considered that this region might be primarily engaged in autonomic aspects of nociception.
An analysis of interdiffusion in finite-geometry, two-phase diffusion couples in the Ni−W and Ag−Cu systems

The progress of homogenization in finite, multilayer diffusion couples was studied experimentally using both quantitative metallography to measure phase thicknesses and electron microprobe analysis to determine concentration-distance profiles. Ni−W couples having mean compositions in the nickel-rich terminal solid solution range (12.1 and 15.2 at. pct W) were studied after 4.43 to 240.7 hr interdiffusion treatments at 1156° and 1207°C. Ag−Cu couples having mean compositions in both of the terminal solid solution ranges (8.5 at. pct Cu and 2.1 at. pct Ag) were studied after 3.8 to 65.4 hr interdiffusion treatments at 760°C. Experimental data were in good agreement with calculations of interdiffusion based on equilibrium interface concentrations and concentration-independent interdiffusion coefficients. The good agreement between experimental data and calculated values for the Ni−W couples extended to times necessary for the achievement of essentially complete homogenization,i.e., through both the two-phase dissolution process and the subsequent stage of gradient elimination in the terminal solid solution phase.
No refills: The durable impact of a multifaceted effort by surgical trainees to minimize the prescription of postoperative opioids.

Abstract Background Surgeons have the opportunity to help offset the opioid epidemic by leading with practice changes. We sought to decrease the amount of opioid prescribed postoperatively through a multifaceted program. Methods A multipronged program was introduced in our hospital system, which included resident education on prescribing for postoperative analgesia, a change in the default number of opioid pills in an electronic medication order entry system, and the distribution of a guideline card of recommended postoperative opioid prescription amounts. The amount of opioid prescribed postoperatively between January 2016 and August 2018 was collected for the 10 most common short-stay ( Results In the study, 14,007 operations were captured, including 2,530 pre-intervention and 2,715 post-intervention. The average amount of postoperative opioid prescribed in the pre-intervention period was 207.1 morphine milligram equivalents; post-interventions, the average amount declined to 104.6 morphine milligram equivalents (P Conclusion A comprehensive program to eliminate the over-prescription of opioids decreased the amount of opioid prescribed by half, without a concurrent increase in opioid refills, demonstrating that simple measures can be used to deliver sustained and reproducible improvements in offering source control in the opioid epidemic.
A priori estimates for two-dimensional water waves with angled crests

We consider the two-dimensional water wave problem in the case where the free interface of the fluid meets a vertical wall at a possibly non-right angle; our problem also covers interfaces with angled crests. We assume that the fluid is inviscid, incompressible, and irrotational, with no surface tension and with air density zero. We construct a low-regularity energy and prove a closed energy estimate for this problem. Our work differs from earlier work in that, in our case, only a degenerate Taylor stability criterion holds, with − ∂P ∂n > 0, instead of the strong Taylor stability criterion − ∂P ∂n > c > 0.
From Digital Commons to Scholar Profiles: Implementing a New System to Raise College Academic Distinction

Institutional repositories, or digital archives, are a fundamental part of an academic institution in higher education. Saint Mary’s institutional repository plays an integral role in supporting on...
Strategic Interactions of the ECB, Wage Bargainers, and Governments

Recent studies of macroeconomic management under varying organization of wage/price bargaining and varying degrees of credible monetary conservatism synthesize and extend theory and empirics on central bank independence (CBI) and coordinated wage/price bargaining (CWB). These studies find that the degrees of CBI and CWB interact with each other and with the broader political-economic context (international exposure, sectoral composition, etc.) to structure monetary-policymaker and wage/price-bargainer incentives. The theoretically surprising but empirically supported core implication was that even perfectly credible monetary conservatism has long-run, equilibrium, on-average real effects, even with fully rational expectations, effects that vary depending on the organizational structure of wage/price bargaining. Bargaining structure, conversely, has real effects that vary with the degree of credible conservatism reflected in monetary-policy rules, and, less surprisingly, CBI and CWB also have interactive nominal effects. Some disagreement remained over the precise nature of these interactive effects, but all theory and evidence agree that a single, credibly conservative European monetary policy would have nominal and real effects that depend upon the Europe-wide institutional-structural organization of wage/price bargaining relative to the prior domestic CBI-CWB combination. Indeed, the one specific point of theoretical and empirical agreement suggests that, for many Euro-member countries, monetary delegation to the single, credibly conservative, European Central Bank would generally worsen these bargainer-policymaker interactions. This review closes with a preliminary assessment of those predicted macroeconomic consequences one year after Euro notes and coins replaced twelve national currencies.1
A Brief Music App to Address Pain in the Emergency Department: Prospective Study

Background: Emergency physicians face the challenge of relieving acute pain daily. While opioids are a potent treatment for pain, the opioid epidemic has ignited a search for nonopioid analgesic alternatives that may decrease the dose or duration of opioid exposure. While behavioral therapies and complementary medicine are effective, they are difficult to deploy in the emergency department. Music is a potential adjunctive therapy that has demonstrated effectiveness in managing pain. Objective: Our objective was to understand the feasibility and potential for an effect of a novel music app to address acute pain and anxiety in patients admitted to an emergency department observation unit. Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled patients admitted to an emergency department observation unit with pain who had received orders for opioids. We gathered baseline pain and psychosocial characteristics including anxiety, sleep disturbance, and pain catastrophizing using validated questionnaires. Participants received a smartphone-based music intervention and listened to the music in either a supervised (research assistant–delivered music session 3 times during their stay) or unsupervised manner (music used ad lib by participant). The app collected premusic and postmusic pain and anxiety scores, and participants provided qualitative feedback regarding acceptability of operating the music intervention. Results: We enrolled 81 participants and randomly assigned 38 to an unsupervised and 43 to a supervised group. Mean pain in both groups was 6.1 (1.8) out of a possible score of 10. A total of 43 (53%) reported previous use of music apps at home. We observed an overall modest but significant decrease in pain (mean difference –0.81, 95% CI –0.45 to –1.16) and anxiety (mean difference –0.72, 95% CI –0.33 to –1.12) after music sessions. Reduction of pain and anxiety varied substantially among participants. Individuals with higher baseline pain, catastrophizing (about pain), or anxiety reported greater relief. Changes in pain were correlated to changes in anxiety (Pearson ρ=0.3, P=.02) but did not vary between supervised and unsupervised groups. Upon conclusion of the study, 46/62 (74%) reported they liked the music intervention, 57/62 (92%) reported the app was easy to use, and 49/62 (79%) reported they would be willing to use the music intervention at home. Conclusions: A smartphone-based music intervention decreased pain and anxiety among patients in an emergency department observation unit, with no difference between supervised and unsupervised use. Individuals reporting the greatest reduction in pain after music sessions included those scoring highest on baseline assessment of catastrophic thinking, suggesting there may be specific patient populations that may benefit more from using music as an analgesic adjunct in the emergency department. Qualitative feedback suggested that this intervention was feasible and acceptable by emergency department patients.
Factors Impacting Recurrence Rate After Open Ganglion Cyst Excision

Background: The recurrence rate after open excision of ganglion cysts is approximately 20%. However, this literature is based on a small series of subjects. This study aims to determine the rate and risk of recurrence after open excision of ganglion cysts in a large patient series. Methods: This study included 628 patients who had ganglion cyst excision from 2010 to 2018. A retrospective chart review recorded the following: age, sex, laterality, volar/dorsal location, and recurrence. An overall recurrence rate was calculated. In addition, a 1-way analysis of variance test was used to compare recurrence rates among the individual surgeons, and unpaired t tests were used to compare age of recurrence, dorsal cyst recurrence, laterality of cyst, and recurrence based on sex. Finally, a comparison of recurrence rate over time was conducted for surgeon 3. Results: The overall recurrence rate was 3.8% (24 of 628). The recurrence rates for each surgeon were 3% (9 of 353), 2% (3 of 167), and 11% (12 of 107), P = .02. The age of those with and without a recurrence did not differ (32 years vs 38 years), P = .06. The recurrence rate of dorsal ganglion cysts was 4.1% (14 of 341) compared with 3.5% (10 of 286) for volar ganglion cysts, P = .69. Male patients had a recurrence in 6.4% (13 of 204) of cases compared with 2.6% (11 of 424) of female patients, P = 0.01. There was a decrease in the rate of recurrence from 42.9% to 5.3% over 5 years for surgeon 3. Conclusion: In our sample, male sex and surgeon experience were significant risk factors in ganglion cyst recurrence.
Environmental impacts of extreme fast charging

As electric vehicles and their associated charging infrastructure continue to evolve, there is potential to simultaneous alleviate range and recharge concerns with the development of extreme fast chargers (XFC) that can fully charge batteries in PEVs in the span of a few minutes. Recent announcements from EVSE providers and vehicle manufacturers suggest that XFC charging stations, which can recharge a BEV at roughly 20 to 25 miles per minute of charging, and XFC-capable BEVs, could be commercially available within the next 5 years. Our study investigates the potential emission impacts of widespread use of extreme fast charging (350 kW) for electric vehicles in 2030. We conduct a novel vehicle charging simulation model by combining empirical charging behavior data across several data sources. These charging demands are then added as exogenous load to the Grid Optimized Operation Dispatch (GOOD) model, which simulates the operation of generators across the Untied States. We find that XFC can increase both greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollutants, though the results are sensitive to local contexts and grid composition.
Phosphoregulation of Phase Separation by the SARS-CoV-2 N Protein Suggests a Biophysical Basis for its Dual Functions.

The nucleocapsid (N) protein of coronaviruses serves two major functions: compaction of the RNA genome in the virion and regulation of viral gene transcription. It is not clear how the N protein mediates such distinct functions. The N protein contains two RNA-binding domains surrounded by regions of intrinsic disorder. Phosphorylation of the central disordered region promotes the protein's transcriptional function, but the underlying mechanism is not known. Here, we show that the N protein of SARS-CoV-2, together with viral RNA, forms biomolecular condensates. Unmodified N protein forms partially ordered gel-like condensates and discrete 15-nm particles based on multivalent RNA-protein and protein-protein interactions. Phosphorylation reduces these interactions, generating a more liquid-like droplet. We propose that distinct oligomeric states support the two functions of the N protein: unmodified protein forms a structured oligomer that is suited for nucleocapsid assembly, and phosphorylated protein forms a liquid-like compartment for viral genome processing.
Past and present individual-tree damage assessments of the US national forest inventory

Identifying the signs and symptoms of pathogens, insects, and other biotic and abiotic agents provides valuable information about the absolute and relative impacts of different types of damage across the forest landscape. In the USA, damage collection protocols have been included in various forms since the initiation of state-level forest surveys in the early twentieth century; however, changes in the protocols over time have made it difficult for the data to be used to its full potential. This article outlines differences in protocols across inventory regions, changes in protocols over time, and limitations and utility of the data so that those interested in using the US national forest inventory database will better understand what data are available and how they have been and can be used.
The Harder the Heart, the Harder It Breaks: A Case of Complete Atrioventricular Block Secondary to Tertiary Hyperparathyroidism.

The appearance of first-degree atrioventricular block and mitral annulus calcification in an end-stage renal failure patient with elevated parathyroid hormone levels should raise the suspicion of metastatic cardiac calcification. Measures should be taken to normalize the parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorus levels to limit the progression of atrioventricular block. Exploration or removal of parathyroid glands should be considered if heart block worsens.
Strong Integral Input-to-State Stability in Dynamical Flow Networks

Dynamical flow networks are vital in modeling many networks, such as transportation networks, distribution networks, and queuing networks. While the flow dynamics in such networks follow the conservation of mass on the links, the outflow from each link is often non-linear due to the actual flow dynamics, flow capacity constraints, and simultaneous service constraints. Such non-linear constraints imply a limit on the magnitude of exogenous inflows that a dynamical flow network can handle. This paper shows how the Strong integral Input-to-State Stability (Strong iISS) property allows for quantifying the effects of the exogenous inflow on the flow dynamics. The Strong iISS property enables a unified stability analysis of classes of dynamical flow networks that were only partly analyzable before, such as multi-commodity flow networks, networks with cycles, and networks with non-monotone flow dynamics. We first present sufficient conditions on the maximum magnitude of exogenous inflow to guarantee input-to-state stability for a dynamical flow network. We next exemplify the conditions by applying them to existing dynamical flow network models, specifically, fluid queuing models and multi-commodity flow models.
What’s new in pulmonary hypertension clinical research: lessons from the best abstracts at the 2020 American Thoracic Society International Conference

In this conference paper, we review the 2020 American Thoracic Society International Conference session titled, "What's New in Pulmonary Hypertension Clinical Research: Lessons from the Best Abstracts". This virtual mini-symposium took place on 21 October 2020, in lieu of the annual in-person ATS International Conference which was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Seven clinical research abstracts were selected for presentation in the session, which encompassed five major themes: (1) standardizing diagnosis and management of pulmonary hypertension, (2) improving risk assessment in pulmonary arterial hypertension, (3) evaluating biomarkers of disease activity, (4) understanding metabolic dysregulation across the spectrum of pulmonary hypertension, and (5) advancing knowledge in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. Focusing on these five thematic contexts, we review the current state of knowledge, summarize presented research abstracts, appraise their significance and limitations, and then discuss relevant future directions in pulmonary hypertension clinical research.
Amino acid sequence of a low molecular weight, high affinity calcium-binding protein from the optic lobe of the squid Loligo pealei

Abstract The amino acid sequence was determined for squid calcium-binding protein (CaBP), a low molecular weight, high affinity calcium-binding protein from squid optic lobe. The sequence shows this protein to consist of 149 amino acids with an N-acetylated N terminus. The protein has a molecular weight of 16,894 and is homologous to calmodulin, which is also present in squid optic lobe (Head, J. F., Spielberg, S., and Kaminer, B. (1983) Biochem. J. 209, 797-802). When the sequences of squid CaBP and bovine brain calmodulin are appropriately aligned, the proteins are found to share 68% identity, with a single residue insertion in squid CaBP, between domains III and IV. The four-domain structure of calmodulin appears to be retained in squid CaBP, which is consistent with the previously reported presence of four calcium-binding sites per molecule (Sheldon, A., and Head, J. F. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 14384-14389). The two tyrosines of squid CaBP are located in different halves of the molecule, one at the position corresponding to Tyr-138 in calmodulin, the other in an equivalent position in domain II. In addition, squid CaBP exhibits several differences in the region corresponding to the long central helix of calmodulin. These differences include the replacement of Lys-77 by glycine, Asp-78 by proline, and Ser-81 by proline. The sequence of this portion of the squid CaBP molecule suggests the protein is unlikely to possess the continuous long central helix found in calmodulin.
A distributed packet concatenation scheme for sensor and ad hoc networks

Along with the growing popularity of sensor and ad hoc networks, various kinds of services are expected to be supported. In wireless ad hoc networks, there are increasing demands for Web traffic, voice over IP and streaming video from and to the Internet via the access points. In sensor networks, event-driven or periodically monitoring services are common. However, various lengths of packets are used in different services. Short packets have relatively large overhead at the MAC (medium access control) and physical layers and hence can significantly decrease the network throughput. In this paper, we analyze the performance of a distributed adaptive packet concatenation (APC) scheme which is proposed to improve the network throughput. The APC scheme works at the interface queue of the data link layer. It adaptively concatenates several short packets which are destined to the same next hop into a long packet for MAC layer's transmission according to the congestion status as well as the observed channel status. The theoretical analysis is conducted in both single hop networks and multihop networks, and the result shows that the APC scheme can increase the throughput by up to 4 to 16 times
Concept mapping: Soft science or hard art?

Abstract Is concept mapping “science” or “art”? Can we legitimately claim that concept maps represent reality, or are they primarily suggestive devices which might stimulate new ways to look at our experiences? Here, the scientific side of concept mapping is viewed as “soft science” and the artistic one as “hard art” to imply that the process has some qualities of both, but probably does not fall exclusively within either's domain. In the spirit of hard art, a “gallery” of final concept maps from twenty projects is presented, partly to illustrate more examples of the process when used in a variety of subject areas and for different purposes, and partly for their aesthetic value alone. In the spirit of soft science, two major issues are considered. First, the evidence for the validity and reliability of concept mapping is introduced, along with some suggestions for further research which might be undertaken to examine those characteristics. Second, the role of concept mapping is discussed, with special emphasis on its use in a pattern matching framework.
Development of a reticular rash in a febrile woman: An unusual cutaneous presentation of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL) is a peripheral T-cell lymphoma with a poor prognosis in which 50% of patients present with a rash.1, 2 Although AITL's cutaneous presentation is nonspecific, to our knowledge, a reticular rash is not described in published literature.3 Herein, we report a patient who presented with a generalized, netlike rash, confirmed to be AITL upon histologic analysis of a skin biopsy specimen.
Efficacy of heartworm preventatives against ascarids and hookworms in client-owned dogs: a retrospective case control study

Gates, M.C., Nolan, T.J. Efficacy of heartworm preventatives against ascarids and hookworms in client-owned dogs: a retrospective case control study. J. vet. Pharmacol. Therap.34, 116–119. The efficacy of heartworm preventatives against ascarids and hookworms was assessed in a retrospective analysis of 1329 dogs that received a fecal examination and were surveyed about heartworm preventative use upon presentation to the veterinary teaching hospital at the University of Pennsylvania. To remove confounding due to age, patients under 6 months old were analyzed separately from the remaining population. Although there were no reported cases of ascarids or hookworms in patients under 6 months old receiving monthly heartworm prevention, the prevalence reached 5.2% and 11.7%, respectively, in patients that were not using any products. For patients over 6 months old, there were no apparent associations between parasites and heartworm preventative use. Of the 75.5% of dogs that were administered heartworm preventatives, 16.1% reported seasonal use and 83.9% reported using the products year round. Patients using heartworm preventatives seasonally were no more likely to be harboring nematode parasites than patients using preventatives year round (OR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.19–2.55). Overall efficacy rates were consistent with prior studies on the active ingredients. Heartworm preventative have the greatest value for controlling nematode endoparasites in patients under 6 months old.
The average influence of decadal solar forcing on the atmosphere in the South Pacific region

[1] Composite mean difference analyses are applied to historical sea level pressure (SLP) and sea surface temperature (SST) data to investigate the spatial dependence of the Pacific climate system response to 11-year solar forcing. Previous work has found that the SST and SLP responses are most clearly detected near the times of sunspot maxima, which occur as much as two years prior to the centers of the broad decadal solar cycle maxima. In January–February, the SLP response at sunspot maximum is nearly the same on either side of the equator, although the amplitude is larger in the winter hemisphere. The solar influence is seen as above normal SLP in the sub-Arctic Pacific, as found previously, and as corresponding positive SLP anomalies in the sub-Antarctic Pacific, as shown here for the first time. These SLP anomalies are associated with previously documented signals at sunspot maxima of greater ocean upwelling and cooling along the Pacific equator, and a poleward extension of the tropical convergence zones in both hemispheres. Previous studies using multiple linear regression methods show the broad decadal solar maxima being associated with the lagged warm response in equatorial Pacific SSTs seen in the composites, which is not inconsistent with the present results. In the South Pacific Ocean, the solar effect is visible in the southern summer in the year before the sunspot number peak. The SST and SLP anomalies in the South Pacific in the solar peaks differ markedly from those in Cold Events (La Nina events) of the Southern Oscillation.
Comparisons of Contraceptive Use between Rural and Urban Teens

Abstract Study Objective The purpose of the study was to determine if barriers in rural areas might decrease an adolescent’s likelihood of obtaining effective contraception. Previous studies have reported mixed results in comparisons of rural and urban contraception use. Design Electronic survey. Setting Midwestern Public University. Participants Undergraduate and graduate women. Interventions Questionnaire. Main Outcome Measures Participants retrospectively recalled their contraceptive use and barriers to contraceptive use between the 9th and 12th grades. Results A Barriers to Contraception Use Scale was created using exploratory factor analysis and yielded 31 questions with 1 underlying factor: barriers. Participants were identified as rural or urban using the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) definition and the participant’s self-identification. Overall, rural participants endorsed more barriers to accessing contraceptives than urban participants using the OMB definition (χ 2 (2; n = 388) = 2.04; P 2 (2; n = 398) = 2.37; P t (380) = −1.90; P = .06, or self-identification, t (380) = −2.11; P > .05. The Barriers to Contraception Use Scale total score predicted whether an individual would have a prescription for contraceptives 70.5% of the time compared to the base rate of 54.1%. Conclusion Although no rural–urban differences in actual contraception use were found, rural participants reported more barriers to accessing contraception, and those who endorsed more barriers were less likely to obtain contraceptives while in high school. Pregnancy prevention programs should thus take these barriers into account when developing future interventions.
Mapping the Z-Axis: Early Archaeological Engagement with Time and Space in the Ancient Near East

The development of the archaeology of the ancient Near East as an independent discipline in the nineteenth century, with its focus on uncovering the peoples and places of the past, particularly from the biblical world, contributed to a visual tradition that presented the time and space of an idealized historical past often influenced by religious preconceptions. Using the physical materials from excavated sites, and linking these discoveries with literal and uncritical readings of the Bible, European and American scholars in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries created maps for the public showing peoples, places, routes, and events from the past imposed on the contemporary landscape of the present. In so doing, the archaeology of the ancient Near East helped to define and create visual presentations of a particularized view of the past that continues to hold significance for common understandings of history in the present.
Bacillus anthracis SlaQ Promotes S-Layer Protein Assembly

ABSTRACT Bacillus anthracis vegetative forms assemble an S-layer comprised of two S-layer proteins, Sap and EA1. A hallmark of S-layer proteins are their C-terminal crystallization domains, which assemble into a crystalline lattice once these polypeptides are deposited on the bacterial surface via association between their N-terminal S-layer homology domains and the secondary cell wall polysaccharide. Here we show that slaQ , encoding a small cytoplasmic protein conserved among pathogenic bacilli elaborating S-layers, is required for the efficient secretion and assembly of Sap and EA1. S-layer protein precursors cosediment with SlaQ, and SlaQ appears to facilitate Sap assembly. Purified SlaQ polymerizes and when mixed with purified Sap promotes the in vitro formation of tubular S-layer structures. A model is discussed whereby SlaQ, in conjunction with S-layer secretion factors SecA2 and SlaP, promotes localized secretion and S-layer assembly in B. anthracis. IMPORTANCE S-layer proteins are endowed with the propensity for self-assembly into crystalline arrays. Factors promoting S-layer protein assembly have heretofore not been reported. We identified Bacillus anthracis SlaQ, a small cytoplasmic protein that facilitates S-layer protein assembly in vivo and in vitro .
Bounds on the Size of Locally Recoverable Codes

In a locally recoverable or repairable code, any symbol of a codeword can be recovered by reading only a small (constant) number of other symbols. The notion of local recoverability is important in the area of distributed storage where a most frequent error-event is a single storage node failure (erasure). A common objective is to repair the node by downloading data from as few other storage nodes as possible. In this paper, we bound the minimum distance of a code in terms of its length, size, and locality. Unlike the previous bounds, our bound follows from a significantly simple analysis and depends on the size of the alphabet being used. It turns out that the binary Simplex codes satisfy our bound with equality; hence, the Simplex codes are the first example of an optimal binary locally repairable code family. We also provide achievability results based on random coding and concatenated codes that are numerically verified to be close to our bounds.
Turing centenary: Pattern formation.

We are only beginning to see the impact of Turing's influential work on morphogenesis, says John Reinitz.
An interactive program for pharmacokinetic modeling

A computer program, PharmK, was developed for pharmacokinetic modeling of experimental data. The program was written in C computer language based on the high-level user-interface Macintosh operating system. The intention was to provide a user-friendly tool for users of Macintosh computers. An interactive algorithm based on the exponential stripping method is used for the initial parameter estimation. Nonlinear pharmacokinetic model fitting is based on the maximum likelihood estimation method and is performed by the Levenberg-Marquardt method based on chi 2 criterion. Several methods are available to aid the evaluation of the fitting results. Pharmacokinetic data sets have been examined with the PharmK program, and the results are comparable with those obtained with other programs that are currently available for IBM PC-compatible and other types of computers.
Amphotericin B Lipid Complex (Abelcet®) in the treatment of invasive mycoses: the North American experience

Abelcet, or Amphotericin B lipid Complex, is unique formulation, comprising an equimolar mixture of amphotericin B complexed with two lipids. In preclinical studies, Abelcet was clearly demonstrated to be less toxic than amphotericin B desoxycholate and to be effective in models where amphotericin B was ineffective at its maximum tolerated dose. Pharmacokinetic studies in animals also showed that the concentration of Abelcet in blood is similar or reduced compared to levels seen with conventional amphotericin B, with accumulation in the liver, lungs and spleen. Phase I clinical trials determined the optimum tolerated dose of Abelcet to be 5 mg/kg d-1. Data are now available for 228 cases (including 51 paediatric cases) of invasive fungal infection treated with Abelcet in an open-label emergency-release protocol. All patients had to have failed on previous amphotericin B or other conventional antifungals, or to have unacceptable toxicity on amphotericin B, or underlying renal disease, or nephrotoxicity due to other drugs. Abelcet was administered at a dose of 5 mg/kg d-1 for 4 wk. Approximately one-third of patients had candidiasis, one-third aspergillosis and one-third other infections, including fusariosis. Of 183 cases evaluable for response, 126 (69%) had a clinical response (cure or improvement) which was mycologically confirmed in 55% (61/110 tested). Results in paediatric cases were similar to or better than those seen in the group as a whole. When comparisons were made between cases with different types of infection, underlying disease/immunosuppressive disorder, and degree of neutropenia, the response rates were very consistent from group to group. Treatment with Abelcet was well tolerated and mean serum creatinine levels actually declined during therapy, particularly in patients with pre-existing renal dysfunction.
Method for Determining Oxidation of Vegetable Oils by Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Use of near-infrared (NIR) transmittance spectroscopy for rapid determination of the oxidation level in soybean oils (SBO) was investigated, and calibrations were developed for quantitative determination of peroxide value (PV), conjugated diene value (CD), and anisidine value (AV) of SBO. Partial least squares (PLS) regression and forward stepwise multiple linear regression were used to develop calibration models from spectral data in log 1/T, first derivative and second derivative of log 1/T formats for both 1- and 2-mm path lengths. The models were validated by comparing NIR results from independent sample sets to the values obtained by official methods. The spectral region from 1100 to 2200 nm was best for measuring oxidation when using a 2-mm path length. PLS regression using first-derivative spectra gave the best results for PV. For the validation sets, linear relationships were obtained for PV (r=0.99), and CD (r=0.95), compared with accepted reference procedures. However, measurement of AV by NIR was less successful than measurement of the other two indices of oxidation, especially for an external validation sample set. Results obtained in this study indicate that NIR spectroscopy is a useful technique for measuring oxidation in soybean oil.
Design and fabrication of a large primary reflector structure for space laser power beaming

Design and fabrication of a large primary reflector structure for space laser power beamingPaul MacNeal and Ken JewettJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, California 91109ABSTRACTThis paper discusses the design issues and fabricatiQn consideration& specifically related to a large twelve meter,graphite-epoxy space truss that has been developed to provide support of the primary mirror system for the SpacE LaserENErgy (SELENE) Beam Transmission Optical System (BTOS). Details of the optical system and wavefront correctorconcepts have been discussed in prior papers. Specific issues which are addressed in this paper include opticalperformance needs, environmental requirements, and lowcost fabrication techniques.2. INTRODUCTIONBTOS is a portion of a larger project entided SpacE Laser Electric ENErgy (SELENE). The SELENE project ismanaged by Marshall Space Flight Center and utilizes a high energy, free electron laser to transfer energy from theground to orbiting spacecraft or other targets such as a lunar colony. BTOS is the system that transmits the beamenergy from the laser to the target. BTOS receives a one meter diameter energy beam which has been cleaned up sothat the Strehl ratio is 0.9 or greater.To satisfy requirements for the SELENE missions, which include a Strehi ratio greater than 0.5,
Hansen Solubility Parameters of Surfactant-Capped Silver Nanoparticles for Ink and Printing Technologies

Optimal ink formulations, inclusive of nanoparticles, are often limited to matching the nanoparticle’s capping agent or surface degree of polarity to the solvent of choice. Rather than relying on this single attribute, nanoparticle dispersibility was optimized by identifying the Hansen solubility parameters (HSPs) of decanoic-acid-capped 5 nm silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by broad spectrum dispersion testing and a more specific binary solvent gradient dispersion method. From the HSPs, solvents were chosen to disperse poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and nanoparticles, give uniform evaporation profiles, and yield a phase-separated microstructure of nanoparticles on PMMA via film formation by solvent evaporation. The goal of this research was to yield a film that is reflective or transparent depending on the angle of incident light (i.e., optically variable). The nanoparticle HSPs were very close to alkanes with added small polar and hydrogen-bonding components. This led to two ink formulations: one of 90:10...
Expression of cAMP-Regulated Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors in Pancreatic β-Cells

The insulinotropic hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) binds to a Gs-coupled receptor on pancreatic β-cells and potentiates glucose-induced insulin secretion, insulin gene transcription, and β-cell growth. These stimulatory effects have been attributed to the elevation of intracellular cAMP levels, though it is now apparent that some stimulatory effects of GLP-1 occur independently of the cAMP-mediated activation of protein kinase A (PKA). The nature of this alternative, PKA-independent signaling pathway remains unknown. Here we present evidence for the expression of type 1 and type 2 cAMP-regulated guanine nucleotide exchange factors (cAMP-GEFs) in β-cells. GEFs are activated by their binding of cAMP. Because cAMP-GEFs activate Ras/MAPK proliferation signaling pathways, they may play an important role in PKA-independent, GLP-1-mediated, signaling pathways in the regulation of β-cell growth and differentiation.
Random phase dynamics in resonantly driven spin one-half systems

Abstract In the presence of resonant Rabi oscillations and depending on the amplitude of the periodic drive, the dynamics of the phase of a two-state quantum system is either fractal (i.e. aperiodic according to a random process) or phase-locked (i.e. quasiperiodic).
Public Trust in Genomic Risk Assessment for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Patient trust in personal medical information is critical to increasing adherence to physician recommendations and medications. One of the anticipated benefits of learning of one’s genomic risk for common diseases is the increased adoption of screening, preventive care and lifestyle changes. However, the equivocal results thus far reported of the positive impact of knowledge of genomic risk on behavior change may be due to lack of patients’ trust in the results. As part of a clinical study to compare two methods of communication of genomic risk results for Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), we assessed patients’ trust and preferred methods of delivery of genomic risk information. A total of 300 participants recruited from the general public in Durham, NC were randomized to receive their genomic risk for T2DM in-person from a genetic counselor or online through the testing company’s web-site. Participants completed a baseline survey and three follow-up surveys after receiving results. Overall, participants reported high levels of trust in the test results. Participants who received their results in-person from the genetic counselor were significantly more likely to trust their results than those who reviewed their results on-line (p = 0.005). There was not a statistically significant difference in levels of trust among participants with increased genetic risk, as compared to other those with decreased or same as population risk (p = 0.1154). In the event they undergo genomic risk testing again, 55 % of participants overall indicated they would prefer to receive their results online compared to 28 % that would prefer to receive future results in-person. Of those participants preferring to receive results online, 77 % indicated they would prefer to have the option to speak to someone if they had questions with the online results (compared to accessing results online without the option of professional consultation). This is the first study to assess satisfaction with genomic risk testing by the method of delivery of the test result. The higher rate of trust in results delivered in-person suggests that online access reports may not result in serious consideration of results and lack of adoption of recommended preventive recommendations.
Tracking the geographical spread of avian influenza (H5N1) with multiple phylogenetic trees

Avian influenza (H5N1) has been of great social and economic importance since it first infected humans in Hong Kong in 1997. A highly pathogenic strain has spread from China and has killed humans in east Asia, west Africa, south Asia, and the Middle East. Recently, several molecular phylogenetic studies have focused on the relationships of various clades of H5N1 and their spread over time, space, and various hosts. These studies examining the geographical spread of H5N1 have based their conclusions on a single tree. This tree often results from the analysis of the genomic segment coding for the haemagglutinin (HA) or neuraminidase (NA) proteins and a limited sample of viral isolates. Here we present the first study using multiple candidate trees to estimate geographical transmission routes of H5N1. In addition, we use all high-quality HA and NA sequences available to the public as of June 2008. We estimated geographical transmission routes of H5N1 by optimizing multistate characters with states representing different geographical regions over a pool of presumed minimum-length trees. We also developed means to visualize our results in Keyhole Markup Language (KML) for virtual globes. We provide these methods as a web application entitled “Routemap” (http://routemap.osu.edu). The resulting visualizations are akin to airline route maps but they depict the routes of spread of viral lineages. We compare our results with the results of previous studies. We focus on the sensitivity of results to sampling of tree space, character coding schemes, optimization methods, and taxon sampling. In conclusion, we find that using one tree and a single character optimization method will ignore many of the transmission routes indicated by genetic sequence and geographical data. © The Willi Hennig Society 2009.