cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Health Beliefs about Osteoporosis and Osteoporosis Screening in Older Women and Men

Objective: To examine older adults’ beliefs about osteoporosis and osteoporosis screening to identify barriers to screening. Design: Cross-sectional mailed survey. Setting: Western Pennsylvania. Methods: Surveys were mailed to 1,830 women and men aged 60 years and older. The survey assessed socio-demographic characteristics, osteoporosis and general health-related characteristics, and beliefs about osteoporosis severity, susceptibility, screening self-efficacy, and screening response efficacy. Analyses included Wilcoxon rank-sum tests to compare belief dimension scores, and multivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses to evaluate association between osteoporosis beliefs and potential explanatory variables. Results: Surveys were completed by 1,268 individuals (69.3 per cent). Mean age of respondents was 73.3 years, and most were female (58.7 per cent). Individuals demonstrated greatest belief in the severity of osteoporosis and least belief in personal susceptibility (P
The global impact of information technology

Abstract The paper explores the impact of information technology on the worldwide distribution of income, employment and growth. A review of the empirical literature is used to quantify the impact of information technology on productivity in different sectors and groups of countries. An economic model of the global economy is then used to calculate the possible impact of information technology on international and domestic distribution and employment. A number of alternative possibilities are considered: (i) industrial countries are the most successful in introducing the new technology, (ii) the technology turns out to be capital-saving, rather than labor-displacing, (iii) the rate of diffusion to developing countries increases, (iv) the small-scale and decentralizing potential of information technology is exploited. The calculations suggest that indirect effects arising from international and intersectoral competition are at least as important as direct effects, and that the distribution of gains from information technology depends as much upon what technology is introduced as on where it is introduced.
Democracy, journalism, and Latin American populism

Contemporary populism in Latin America suggests that normative arguments about the relation between journalism and democracy are premised on contrasting models of media democracy. There is no single model of media ethics to offer a single foundation for media democracy. The model represented by the Anglo-American tradition of the liberal press assigns the market a central role, and envisions limited participation of civil society and the state. Instead, models of citizen-based media democracy place civic society at the center, and grant limited and regulated participation to the market and the state. Populism, I argue, fits none of these options. Instead, it offers a model that places the state at the center of media systems and approaches market and civil society as opposed or subjected to the designs of the government. It sees journalism as inevitably divided between ‘popular-national’ and ‘foreign-oligarchic’ interests, and views the state as a necessary instrument to redress imbalances in democracies ...
Fertility sparing therapy in a patient with placental site trophoblastic tumor: A case report

Abstract Background. Placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) is a rare form of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) that is generally resistant to conventional chemotherapeutic treatment. Patients with localized disease are usually managed with hysterectomy. Case. A 29-year-old female presented with vaginal bleeding and an elevated serum human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). After initial observation, the patient experienced continued vaginal bleeding and a persistently elevated HCG. Therefore, she underwent a dilation and curettage and final pathology revealed PSTT. Since the patient desired future fertility, the patient received combination chemotherapy with etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin-D followed by etoposide and cisplatin (EMA-EP). The patient had a complete response to chemotherapy and subsequently delivered a term infant 2 years after completion of therapy. Conclusion. PSTT is thought to be a chemoresistant disease and the preferred method of treatment is hysterectomy or local uterine resection. However, combination chemotherapy is a reasonable option in a properly counseled patient who strongly desires future fertility.
Exogenous Information and Input-Output Updating: An Evaluation

Input-output coefficients' intertemporal instability, costs, and time lags involved in the construction of survey-based tables necessitate employment of nonsurvey updating techniques. Analysts, however, may want to include exogenous information in the updating process. The issue, then, is whether this inclusion ameliorates or aggravates the results. This paper attempts to assess the wisdom of incorporating exogenous information into the updating procedure. First, using the naive, RAS, and LaGrangian techniques, the 1966 table of the former Soviet Union was updated to 1972. Next, treating the top 10 percent largest 1972 coefficients as exogenous estimates, the remaining coefficients were updated via the same three methods. Comparison of the results indicates that exogenous determination of the largest coefficients does not change the methods' rankings while yielding substantial improvements in the forecasts.
Adolescents and Youth Share AIDS Awareness and Perceptions with Adults: A Survey Study

ABSTRACT AIDS knowledge, attitude, sex practices of the adolescents, youths, and adults, if studied synoptically within these groups, and utilized, can help to sensitize the whole public and the policy makers on the dangers, extent and means of preventing the spread of the deadly disease in a country. These following survey findings indicate that despite the Kenya government's policy of silence on AIDS, due to economic factors, the disease is spreading in the country. This is evidenced by the adolescent-youth-adult awareness of the disease, and their knowledge of self-safety and other precautionary measures. Another important finding shows the identification and patterns of target groups in planning and resources utilization for the AIDS effective educational programs.
Design and development of a 329-segment tip-tilt piston mirror array for space-based adaptive optics

We report on the development of a new MEMS deformable mirror (DM) system for the hyper-contrast visible nulling coronagraph architecture designed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA's Terrestrial Planet Finding (TPF) mission. The new DM is based largely upon existing lightweight, low power MEMS DM technology at Boston University (BU), tailored to the rigorous optical and mechanical requirements of the nulling coronagraph. It consists of 329-hexagonal segments on a 600μm pitch, each with tip/tilt and piston degrees of freedom. The mirror segments have 1μm of stroke, a tip/tilt range of 600 arc-seconds, and maintain their figure to within 2nm RMS under actuation. The polished polycrystalline silicon mirror segments have a surface roughness of 5nm RMS and an average curvature of 270mm. Designing a mirror segment that maintains its figure during actuation was a very significant challenge faced during DM development. Two design concepts were pursued in parallel to address this challenge. The first design uses a thick, epitaxial grown polysilicon mirror layer to add rigidity to the mirror segment. The second design reduces mirror surface bending by decoupling actuator diaphragm motion from the mirror surface motion. This is done using flexure cuts around the mirror post in the actuator diaphragm. Both DM architectures and their polysilicon microfabrication process are presented. Recent optical and electromechanical characterization results will also be discussed, in addition to plans for further improvement of DM figure to satisfy nulling coronagraph optical requirements.
Critique on sequelae of viral hepatitis

In summary, this critique has attempted to review the evidence of the occurrence of sequelae of acute viral hepatitis. Chronic disability does occur for periods of time not yet clearly defined as to duration and may occur as a continuation of the acute attack or after presumable recovery from the acute attack. The prognosis can not be definitely answered at present. The percentage of acute cases having chronic disability is small, but no definite numbers can be stated with assurance. That a still smaller group of the acute cases may terminate in cirrhosis seems supported by adequate evidence. Whether the group having chronic disability (the chronic hepatitis syndrome) or what percentage of it goes on to cirrhosis can not be answered at present.
Cellulosic Biofuel Potential of a Winter Rye Double Crop across the U.S. Corn–Soybean Belt

Interest in renewable energy sources derived from plant biomass is increasing, raising concerns about fuel vs. food competition. One strategy to produce additional cellulosic biomass without reducing food-harvest potential is to grow winter cover crops after harvest of the primary summer crop. This study estimated biomass accumulation of a fall-planted winter rye (L.) double crop across the United States on corn (L.)–soybean [ (L.) Merr.] croplands. We identified corn and soybean areas by county using National Agricultural Statistics Service data, excluding irrigated land and areas already supporting a winter small-grain crop. Within this area, we calculated biomass production after corn harvest and before the subsequent corn or soybean crop for 30 locations using RyeGro, a cover-crop simulation model. Average RyeGro biomass yields for a 14-yr period were used to develop a regression model based on temperature and precipitation, which was used to determine rye biomass potential in each county. The spatial analysis indicated that 7.44 Mha in continuous corn and 31.7 Mha in a corn–soybean rotation are suitable for producing winter rye. The average RyeGro biomass yield for the 30 locations for six planting–harvest date scenarios is 4.2 Mg ha. The regression modeling results projected that 112 to 151 Tg (120–170 million U.S. tons) of rye biomass can be harvested from this land base 14 to 7 d, respectively, before spring crop planting. The study demonstrates the sizable potential for this strategy to produce cellulosic biofuel feedstock without redirecting the primary food crop to fuel.
Evidence against Ebola virus sGP binding to human neutrophils by a specific receptor.

Abstract The issue of whether Ebola secretory glycoprotein (sGP) binds to human neutrophils via the IgG Fc receptor IIIb (FcγRIIIb, CD16b) or other receptors has been controversial. To clarify this, FACS analysis, an sGP absorption assay, and direct binding of 125 I-sGP to neutrophils were performed. Results from FACS analysis demonstrated that limited washing conditions leads to the nonspecific formation of immune complexes on the neutrophil surface and this, but not a specific interaction between sGP and CD16b, is responsible for the previous observations. An sGP absorption assay also demonstrated that sGP is not specifically bound but is nonspecifically proteolysed by proteases released from neutrophils. Finally, there was no difference in 125 I-sGP binding to neutrophils compared to other control cell types. Taken together, these results demonstrate that neutrophils do not express a specific receptor for Ebola virus sGP. It is unlikely that sGP plays a role in the Ebola virus pathogenesis through interfering with the innate immunity by targeting neutrophils.
Cross Resistance to Antibiotics: Effect of Exposures of Bacteria to Carbomycin or Erythromycin in Vitro.

Summary and ConclusionsThe antibacterial spectrum of carbomycin parallels very closely that of erythromycin. Both of these new antibiotics are highly active against gram-positive and gram-negative cocci, moderately active against strains of Haemophilus and are essentially inactive against coliform and enteric bacilli. Against susceptible bacterial strains erythromycin is usually from 4 to 16 times more active than carbomycin, weight for weight. Repeated subcultures of staphylococci and of certain strains of streptococci in the presence of increasing concentrations of either one of these antibiotics result in fairly rapid and marked increases in resistance not only to the antibiotic to which it was exposed but to the other agent as well.
Organ preservation in patients with squamous cancers of the head and neck.

In recent years, significant progress has been made in improving survival in some types of malignancies. In many cancers, survival times have not increased significantly, but progress has been made in lessening the negative impact that cancer treatments may have on patients. Examples of this progress include preoperative chemotherapy and radiation followed by sphincter-sparing surgery for rectal cancer, and multimodality therapy and limb-sparing surgery for sarcoma. This article addresses issues of organ preservation in the treatment of patients who have head and neck cancers. The issue of organ preservation in patients who have head and neck cancers often is centered on the larynx. This article, however, adapts a broader perspective to include several head and neck functions that are impacted significantly in patients who undergo treatment for head and neck cancer. Box 1 lists physiologic functions that can be altered significantly by either head and neck cancer or its treatment. This article addresses only a subset of these issues. Anatomic organ preservation does not necessarily equate to functional preservation. This situation is fairly obvious in the case of radiation-induced xerostomia, in which the salivary glands are anatomically intact, yet functionally impaired. It is less clear in the case of a patient with persistent swallowing or speech difficulties after treatment with radiation and chemotherapy. Furthermore, issues of organ preservation are inexorably linked with quality of life, and this is the impetus for development of treatment regimens that result in maximum functional organ preservation. Therefore, this article
Rotating convection: Recent developments

Abstract Convection in a rotating layer was a subject close to Professor Chandrasekhar’s interest, and graces the cover of the Dover edition of his famous book on Hydrodynamic and Hydromagnetic Stability . In this article I will briefly review the results described in this book, which concern primarily linear stability theory for an unbounded layer. I will then discuss in detail the differences between the theory for the unbounded layer and that for a finite cylindrical container heated from below and rotating about its axis. These differences can be traced to the differences in the symmetries of the two systems, and lead one to expect time-dependent convection at onset, regardless of the value of the Prandtl number. In addition the boundaries are responsible for the presence of a new nonaxisymmetric mode of instability, called a wall mode. The theory predicts that these wall modes will precess at onset and set in before the body modes characteristic of the unbounded layer. These predictions have been confirmed in elegant experiments by R. Ecke and colleagues. In the nonlinear regime perhaps the most interesting phenomenon is the Kuppers–Lortz instability. In this instability a pattern of parallel rolls becomes unstable to another set of rolls oriented at an angle with respect to the first, once the rotation rate exceeds a critical value. This new set is itself unstable in the same fashion etc., resulting in complex dynamics right at onset. I will describe the theory behind this instability and identify similar instabilities for oscillatory convection whether in the form of standing or traveling rolls. Such instabilities are triggered by the formation of heteroclinic orbits connecting two sets of standing or traveling rolls with different orientation. Structurally stable heteroclinic cycles involving four traveling roll states are possible, and result in quite unusual dynamical behavior.
Efficient Computations of Fully-Nonlinear Wave Interactions With Floating Structures

We consider the problem of fully nonlinear three-dimensional wave interactions with floating bodies with or without a forward speed. A highly efficient time-domain computational method is developed in the context of potential flow formulation using the pre-corrected Fast Fourier Transform (PFFT) algorithm based on a high-order boundary element method. The method reduces the computational effort in solving the boundary-value problem at each time step to O(NlnN) from O(N2∼3 ) of the classical boundary element methods, where N is the total number of unknowns. The high efficiency of this method allows accurate computations of fully-nonlinear hydrodynamic loads, wave runups, and motions of surface vessels and marine structures in rough seas. We apply this method to study the hydrodynamics of floating objects with a focus on the understanding of fully nonlinear effects in the presence of extreme waves and large-amplitude body motions.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Initiation of transcription in nuclei is inhibited by captan

Abstract Captan (N-trichloromethylthio-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboximide) was examined for its effects on bovine liver nuclear RNA synthesis. Transcription was measured by [3H] UTP incorporation into either acid insoluble product or isolated RNA. Captan (1 mM) was found to inhibit RNA synthesis 50% in intact nuclei and 70% in a hypotonic lysate of nuclei. Individual RNA polymerase activities were distinguished in both intact nuclei and hypotonic lysate by α-amanitin sensitivity. Captan inhibited RNA polymerase I and II activities to an equal extent in both intact and lysate systems. The sulfhydryl compound dithiothreitol (DTT) protected the RNA polymerase activities from inhibition by captan. Initiation of transcription in intact nuclei was measured by [γ-32P] ATP incorporation into purified RNA and was found to be inhibited 75% by 1 mM captan. This report describes the inhibition of nuclear RNA polymerase activities by captan and suggests a possible mechanism for its toxic effect on eukaryotic polymerases.
Mechanical properties of hollow glass waveguides

Hollow glass waveguides with losses as low as 0.2 dB/m at the 10.6 µm are an attractive fiber delivery system for a broad range of IR wavelengths. These guides are made by depositing, using liquid- phase chemistry methods, silver and silver iodide films on the inside of silica tubing. The wet-chemistry techniques used in the process reduce somewhat the mechanical properties of the hollow-silica guides compared to the uncoated tubing used to make the guides. In particular, the mean failure stress is reduced from 8.4 GPa for uncoated, as-drawn, 530-µm bore silica tubing to 6.12 GPa for the Ag/AgI coated, 530-µm bore waveguide. In addition, the Weibull modulus decreases from 96.9 to 17. This means that the bending radius of the hollow guides, which is inversely proportional to the mean failure stress, increases from about 1 to about 1.5 cm. The reason for the decrease in strength for the processed tubing is the slow reaction of the aqueous coating solutions with the silica surface. Nevertheless, the bending radii for the guides is still quite small and the fatigue behavior of the guides, as measured by the crack growth parameter n, is essentially the same for processed or uncoated tubing.
Battered women who kill: A comparative study of incarcerated participants with a community sample of battered women

The present article examines demographic and background variables, psychosocial factors, critical incidents during childhood, battering incidents, and coping methods among 210 battered women. Based on in-depth interviews with a group of incarcerated battered women who had killed their batterers and a community sample of non-violent battered women, several key results were found. The vast majority of battered women who killed their abusive partners was much more likely than the community sample to: (1) have been sexually assaulted during childhood, (2) have dropped out of high school, (3) have an erratic work history of one to three unskilled jobs, (4) have cohabited with their partner, (5) experienced a drug problem, (6) have attempted suicide by drug overdosing, and (7) have access to the batterer's guns. The findings provide support for the increased probability of battered women killing their mates after they have encountered brutal and repeated assaults, death threats, failed in their attempts to escape through alcohol or drug abuse, and failed in their attempts to commit suicide.
FLS tasks can be used as an ergonomic discriminator between laparoscopic and robotic surgery

Introduction Robotic surgery may result in ergonomic benefits to surgeons. In this pilot study, we utilize surface electromyography (sEMG) to describe a method for identifying ergonomic differences between laparoscopic and robotic platforms using validated Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) tasks. We hypothesize that FLS task performance on laparoscopic and robotic surgical platforms will produce significant differences in mean muscle activation, as quantified by sEMG. Methods Six right-hand-dominant subjects with varying experience performed FLS peg transfer (PT), pattern cutting (PC), and intracorporeal suturing (IS) tasks on laparoscopic and robotic platforms. sEMG measurements were obtained from each subject’s bilateral bicep, tricep, deltoid, and trapezius muscles. EMG measurements were normalized to the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of each muscle of each subject. Subjects repeated each task three times per platform, and mean values used for pooled analysis. Average normalized muscle activation (%MVC) was calculated for each muscle group in all subjects for each FLS task. We compared mean %MVC values with paired t tests and considered differences with a p value less than 0.05 to be statistically significant. Results Mean activation of right bicep (2.7 %MVC lap, 1.3 %MVC robotic, p = 0.019) and right deltoid muscles (2.4 %MVC lap, 1.0 %MVC robotic, p = 0.019) were significantly elevated during the laparoscopic compared to the robotic IS task. The mean activation of the right trapezius muscle was significantly elevated during robotic compared to the laparoscopic PT (1.6 %MVC lap, 3.5 %MVC robotic, p = 0.040) and PC (1.3 %MVC lap, 3.6 %MVC robotic, p = 0.0018) tasks. Conclusions FLS tasks are validated, readily available instruments that are feasible for use in demonstrating ergonomic differences between surgical platforms. In this study, we used FLS tasks to compare mean muscle activation of four muscle groups during laparoscopic and robotic task performance. FLS tasks can serve as the basis for larger studies to further describe ergonomic differences between laparoscopic and robotic surgery.
The body wall of cheilostome bryozoa. III. The frontal wall of Watersipora arcuata banta, with a revision of the cryptocystidea

(1) The frontal wall of the encrusting cheilostome, Watersipora arcuata is a one-layered, evenly perforated calcareous shield which subdivides the metacoel into two compartments, the perigastric coelom and the hypostega. These compartments communicate through four and six “intrazoidal septulae” at the corners of the frontal wall. (2) The frontal wall develops by apposition independently of the ectocystal epitheca. The ascus develops as an invagination of the epitheca. These observations are consistent only with the view that the frontal wall of this species is a cryptocyst. (3) The terms “tremocyst,” “olocyst,” and “pleurocyst” are poorly understood and ambiguously defined; they should not be used until more information is available. (4) The taxa Anasca, Ascophora, Ascophora Imperfecta, and Ascophora Vera are polyphyletic and should ge dropped and replaced by Silen's (1942) more natural taxa. Silen's Cryptocystidea should be enlarged to include Watersipora and related ascusbearing cheilostomes.
Performance of normal males on the Boston naming test and the word test

Abstract Responses on the Boston Naming Test (BNT) and The Word Test (TWT) were compared for 125 normal male subjects between 20 and 69 years. BNT and TWT scores were significantly correlated. Age was significantly correlated with BNT scores, but educational level was not significantly correlated with BNT or TWT scores. Examples of incorrect responses on both tests are provided, and clinical implications are discussed.
Victims of family abuse: the need for spiritual healing

This article describes a short-term group offered to adult abuse survivors to aid in spiritual healing. The terms spiritual and spiritual distress are defined, the group format is delineated, and the need for all nurses to develop spiritual awareness when working with clients with family abuse histories is stated.
Sequential hydrolysis of swine carcass samples and determination of amino acid concentrations using pre‐column derivatization with phenyl isothiocyanate

Comparing amino acid (AA) retention levels in pig carcass to true ileal digestible AA intake provides an estimate of the marginal efficiency of AA utilization. Accurate analysis of AA levels in the carcass samples is critical. However, the standard 24 h of hydrolysis does not always provide maximum AA values. A study was carried out to investigate the effect of hydrolysis time on AA measurements in pig carcass. Correction factors to standardize AA levels to 24 h of hydrolysis were also determined. Ground carcass samples were hydrolysed with 6 mol litre−1 hydrochloric acid (HCl) in a 110 °C oven for nine different time periods. Pre-column derivatization with phenyl isothiocyanate (PITC) was used to determine AA concentrations in all of the samples. Hydrolysis time significantly affected (P 0.05) of valine, isoleucine, serine, glycine, threonine, alanine, arginine, proline, histidine and phenylalanine were not observed with 24 h hydrolysis. Therefore, correction factors and sequential hydrolysis curves are important for these amino acids. In conclusion, the effect of hydrolysis time should be considered in amino acids analysis. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry
True digestible phosphorus requirement for twenty- to forty-kilogram pigs.

The objective of this study was to determine the true digestible P requirements of 20- to 40-kg pigs by the broken-line regression analysis of growth performance using 6 levels of true total-tract digestible P. In Exp. 1, 24 barrows (initial BW = 25.2 ± 1.0 kg) were used to determine the true total-tract digestibility (TTTD) of P in monocalcium phosphate using the regression method. The dietary treatments included a corn-soybean meal-based diet (2.96 g total P/kg) and 3 additional dietary treatments with incremental addition of 0.50 g P/kg through monocalcium phosphate. Limestone (37.2% Ca) was added to maintain a constant Ca to P ratio of 1.25 to 1 across all diets. A 5-d adjustment period preceded a 5-d total collection of feces. Ferric oxide was used as a marker to time the initiation and termination of fecal collection. In Exp. 2, 108 barrows and gilts (initial BW = 20.1 ± 1.2 kg) were used in a 3-wk growth performance trial. Monocalcium phosphate was added to a corn-soybean meal-based diet to set up 6 levels of TTTD-based digestible P, ranging from 1.31 to 4.64 g/kg of diet with increments of 0.67 g/kg digestible P. Limestone was added to maintain a constant Ca level across all diets. The results of Exp.1 showed that dietary P intake, fecal P output, digested P, and apparent total- tract digestibility of P increased linearly (P < 0.05) with the increasing supplementation of monocalcium phosphate. Regressing daily digested P against daily P intake resulted in TTTD of 84.3% for P in monocalcium phosphate. In Exp. 2, ADG, ADFI, and G:F increased both linearly (P < 0.01) and quadratically (P < 0.05) with increasing P level in wk 1 and 3 and for the overall 3-wk duration. In wk 2, both linear and quadratic effects of P level were observed for ADG and ADFI (P < 0.05) whereas the G:F only showed linear improvement (P < 0.01). The true digestible P requirement, defined as the breakpoint using the overall 3-wk G:F as the response variable, was estimated to be 3.03, 2.98, and 3.08 g/kg of diet for pigs of mixed sex, barrows, and gilts, respectively. Using ADG, the corresponding estimates of P requirement were 3.09, 3.08, and 3.10 g/kg of diet. In conclusion, the mean true digestible P requirement of pigs from 20 to 40 kg BW was determined to be 3.06 g/ kg of diet using the average of the estimates for barrows and gilts based on ADG.
Flow measurement in MRI using arterial spin labeling with cumulative readout pulses--theory and validation.

Purpose: This article systematically examines arterial spin labeling (ASL) as a flow quantification technique through theoretical simulation,in vitro, and in vivo experiment. The authors present a novel imaging pulse sequence design consisting of a single ASL magnetization preparation followed by Look-Locker-like image readouts. Bloch-equation-based modeling has been developed and validated using a hemodialyzer as a tissue-mimicking flow phantom. Methods: After the single in-plane slice-selective double inversion magnetization preparation, multiple TFL readouts are acquired with linear k-space ordering, causing a signal variation that depends on through-slice flow velocity. Computer simulations were performed to assess the behavior of the flow-dependent ASL signal as a function of varying imaging parameters. The signal was optimized by choosing imaging parameters that maximize the simulated flow-sensitive signal. Furthermore, a hemodialyzer which mimics blood flow in human tissues was tested with a wide range of flow rates. An exponential curve fitting of the flow-sensitive dynamics to the model derived from Bloch equations provides a method to estimate through-slice velocity for varying flow rates on the hemodialyzer andin vivo human brain. Results: The flow dependency of the ASL signal and the sensitivity of the ASL signal to imaging parameters were demonstrated. Experimental results from a hemodialyzer when fitted with a Bloch-equation-based model provide flow measurements that are consistent with ground truth velocities. Human brain velocity mapping was obtained as well. Conclusions: The results provide evidence that the proposed pulse sequence design is an effective technique to measure total fluid flow through image voxels. The unique combination of the two main features, multiple-image readout after a single ASL preparation and linear acquisition ordering in the phase encoding direction in TFL imaging, make this technique an appealing flowimaging method to quantify through-plane flow in a time-efficient manner.
What the 7th Grader Should Know About Microbes — Or, Is That “What the College Student Should Know?”

Review of : Bacteria: A Class of Their Own ; Judy Wearing; (2010). Crabtree Publishing Company, New York, NY. 43 pages (48 with glossary and index). ISBN 978-0-7787-5388-9. and Archaea: A Class of Their Own ; David M. Barker; (2010) . Crabtree Publishing Company, New York, NY. 43 pages (48 with glossary and index). ISBN 978-0-7787-5387-2.
On estimating the fracture probability of nuclear graphite components

Abstract The properties of nuclear grade graphites exhibit anisotropy and could vary considerably within a manufactured block. Graphite strength is affected by the direction of alignment of the constituent coke particles, which is dictated by the forming method, coke particle size, and the size, shape, and orientation distribution of pores in the structure. In this paper, a Weibull failure probability analysis for components is presented using the American Society of Testing Materials strength specification for nuclear grade graphites for core components in advanced high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. The risk of rupture (probability of fracture) and survival probability (reliability) of large graphite blocks are calculated for varying and discrete values of service tensile stresses. The limitations in these calculations are discussed from considerations of actual reactor environmental conditions that could potentially degrade the specification properties because of damage due to complex interactions between irradiation, temperature, stress, and variability in reactor operation.
Data structures and requirements for hp finite element software

Finite element methods approximate solutions of partial differential equations by restricting the problem to a finite dimensional function space. In hp adaptive finite element methods, one defines these discrete spaces by choosing different polynomial degrees for the shape functions defined on a locally refined mesh.Although this basic idea is quite simple, its implementation in algorithms and data structures is challenging. It has apparently not been documented in the literature in its most general form. Rather, most existing implementations appear to be for special combinations of finite elements, or for discontinuous Galerkin methods.In this article, we discuss generic data structures and algorithms used in the implementation of hp methods for arbitrary elements, and the complications and pitfalls one encounters. As a consequence, we list the information a description of a finite element has to provide to the generic algorithms for it to be used in an hp context. We support our claim that our reference implementation is efficient using numerical examples in two dimensions and three dimensions, and demonstrate that the hp-specific parts of the program do not dominate the total computing time. This reference implementation is also made available as part of the Open Source deal.II finite element library.
Temporal Leks as a Mating System in a Temperate Zone Dragonfly (Odonata: Anisoptera) I : Plathemis Lydia (Drury)

The behavioral ecology of Plathemis lydia (Drury) (Odonata: Anisoptera) was studied at several ponds in northern New York State. Males and females utilized restricted areas of the ponds. Female occurrence was highest during a short time period each day, while males occurred throughout most of the day. Thus, males and females were considered to be highly predictable in time and space. Males returned daily to a traditional area which was utilized primarily for mating. Ali males on one area interacted aggressively with each other to establish a dominance hierarchy. Each individual on the area appeared to recognize and maintain the integrity of the territorial boundaries. The organizational system allowed conspecific trespassers which showed submissive behavior within the defended area. The dominant male had the advantage, relative to the subordinate conspecific at the site, in clasping and copulating with females which flew into the area. The dominance hierarchy on the traditional mating area appeared to increase the reproductive efficiency of the dominant male. Time budgets and analyses of mating behavior of males under various densities are presented and analyzed with reference to a time-energy-maturational-experiential hypothesis for the evolution of the behavior. Comparisons are made between dragonflies and birds and mammals which exhibit similar types of behavior.
Active lower crustal deformation and Himalayan seismic hazard revealed by stream channels and regional geology

Abstract Thick Tibetan crust stores energy driving large earthquakes along its margins. At its southern margin, it is hypothesized that its lower crust is extruded between two shear zones, such that strain in the ductile lower crust is fed into the higher seismogenic portions of the crust predicting rock uplift between these structures. The upper shear zone is regionally referred to as the South Tibetan detachment (STD) and the lower shear zone as the Main Central thrust (MCT). We use field mapping and ksn channel steepness analysis to test this hypothesis in northwestern Nepal within a notable gap in historic seismicity. Here we show an ~ 170 km × 40 km swath of rapid rock uplift at the southern margin of the Tibetan plateau that overlaps a regional anticline suggesting active folding. The area of rapid uplift coincides with peak interseismic strain determined by GPS and overlies the inferred locked-to-creeping transition along the India–Asia plate boundary. The fold is cored by thick ductiley deformed crust and defined by a shear zone interpreted as the STD. Because the STD is folded it cannot facilitate active extrusion of a mid-crustal channel. A regional cross section across the fold shows that while the uppercrust has little post-Miocene shortening the lower middle crust is anomalously thick. We explain this by duplexing whereby thrust-sense shear zones stack ductile lower-middle crust beneath the STD north (downdip) of the locked-to-creeping transition. The plate boundary here last ruptured during the Mw > 8.2 AD 1505 earthquake whose inferred rupture area encompasses the region of rapid rock uplift shown here, predicting a high slip potential. Integrating the structural geology and ksn analysis with microseismicity patterns and the 1505 surface rupture suggests that in western Nepal the locked-to-creeping transition is ~ 40 km wide and lies 100–120 km north of the Himalayan thrust front.
EFFECT OF PRESSURE ON LOCAL ORDER IN LIQUID DIMETHYL SULFOXIDE

Raman spectroscopy was used to study intermolecular interactions, dynamics and the structure of neat liquid dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Isotropic and anisotropic spectra were recorded in the SO stretching vibration region at temperatures between 30 and 70 °C and under pressures up to 2200 bar. To separate the temperature and density effects, the density of DMSO was also determined over the same region of temperature and pressure. By analyzing the isotropic and anisotropic spectra, the Raman noncoincidence effect was measured. This coupling parameter which reflects intermolecular interactions exhibits a nonlinear increase with density but is relatively insensitive to temperature. With increasing density, drastic changes in the first moment and the shape of the isotropic SO band were detected. The SO stretching vibration band shifts to lower wavenumbers, whereas its full width at half-height increases significantly with increasing pressure. The isotropic SO stretching band is resolved into three components w...
A vital and growing organization, the National EMS Memorial Service Honors EMS professionals during annual ceremony.

This submission is a descriptive account of the 2005 National EMS Memorial Service held in Roanoke Virginia to honor EMS personnel who have recently experienced line of duty deaths. Included is a brief history of the National EMS Memorial, a description of the service, anda list of the honorees, including two from the authors EMS agency. In addition the impact of the service on the survivors of the honorees andthe commitment of those who operate andsupport the memorial is briefly described.
Use of Aprotinin in the Control of Bleeding During Cardiopulmonary Bypass Surgery: Current Status:

Excessive bleeding is one of the major complica tions of cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). This complication is related to the operation and the defects in hemostasis induced by extracorporeal circulation. The system atic effects of CPB are called whole body inflammatory reac tion. Heparin, platelet dysfunctions, and fibrinolysis are the major causes of bleeding problems associated with CPB. Dif ferent pharmacological approaches have been used to reduce bleeding and the need for blood transfusions in patients under going cardiac surgery. The most effective is aprotinin, a serum protease inhibitor that is an antifibrinolytic with a platelet- preserving action. It inhibits the activation of the intrinsic co agulation system. Aprotinin therapy effectively reduces blood loss and donor blood requirements. According to most reports, it does not increase the risk of acute myocardial infarction, renal dysfunction, and mortality.
Medical Therapy of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms Are We There Yet

An aneurysm is defined as a localized dilatation of a vessel of >50% of the normal diameter and includes all layers of the given vessel.1 Aortic aneurysms are divided into thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs), thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (a thoracic aneurysm extending into the abdomen), and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Abdominal aortic aneurysms are reportedly more common than TAAs. Demographic studies have suggested that among people ≥65 years of age, the prevalence of AAA is ≈2.5%.2 Occurring at a rate of 4.5 to 5.9 per 100 000 person-years, TAAs are less common.3 Aortic aneurysms (TAA and AAA together) remain the 13th leading cause of mortality in Western countries4 and are probably responsible for 15 000 to 30 000 deaths per year in the United States.5 TAAs are classified into 4 general anatomic categories: ascending aortic aneurysms (60%), aortic arch aneurysms (10%), descending aortic aneurysms (40%), and thoracoabdominal aneurysms (10%). It is important to understand the development, pathogenesis, and clinical course of aortic aneurysms and to develop strategies that reduce its occurrence, progression, and mortality. This review summarizes our present understanding of the available medical therapies for aortic aneurysms and attempts to determine whether medical therapy for TAA is currently a viable option. We focus on TAAs whenever possible; however, it should be mentioned that the available literature for TAA is limited, and most of the preclinical data are obtained from AAA animal models. Therefore, we use AAA data with the caveat that it is unclear that extrapolating from AAA data leads to correct conclusions regarding TAA. There is significant heterogeneity in the aorta and aortic aneurysms in terms of their epidemiology, structure, mechanics, and biochemical systems.6 Although animal models of TAAs have been described7,8 and studied intensively, it is unclear how relevant they are to …
Molecular Connectivity Analyses of Structure Influencing Chromatographic Retention Indexes

The molecular connectivity indexes of various aliphatic alcohols, ketones, ethers, and esters were used to describe structural features influencing chromatographic retention indexes. Good correlations were obtained within chemical classes for a particular stationary phase.
Voters in Context Cities, Suburbs, and Presidential Vote

Recent analysis of presidential politics has suggested that the attention to the rise of the suburban voter during the elections of the 1990s may have been misplaced. Researchers have argued that discussion of “soccer moms” misses the degree to which women differ in ways that have little to do with place, and that attention paid to suburbanites by Democrats misses the electoral importance of White, non-university-educated voters. This article argues that although these characteristics of voters are important for understanding their support for particular presidential candidates, so is their location. Holding individual characteristics constant, voters living in cities are more likely to support Democrats than their suburban counterparts. In addition, the relationship between policy preferences, party identification, and vote choice varies across cities and suburbs. City and suburban residents have different views on some issues and weight these views differently when deciding how to vote and which party t...
The Proximate Determinants of Educational Homogamy: The Effects of First Marriage, Marital Dissolution, Remarriage, and Educational Upgrading

This paper adapts the population balancing equation to develop a framework for studying the proximate determinants of educational homogamy. Using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth on a cohort of women born between 1957 and 1964, we decompose the odds of homogamy in prevailing marriages into four proximate determinants: (1) first marriages, (2) first and later marital dissolutions, (3) remarriages, and (4) educational attainment after marriage. The odds of homogamy among new first marriages are lower than among prevailing marriages, but not because of selective marital dissolution, remarriage, and educational attainment after marriage, as has been speculated. Prevailing marriages are more likely to be educationally homogamous than new first marriages because of the accumulation of homogamous first marriages in the stock of marriages. First marriages overwhelmingly account for the odds of homogamy in prevailing marriages in this cohort. Marital dissolutions, remarriages, and educational upgrades after marriage have relatively small and offsetting effects. Our results suggest that, despite the high prevalence of divorce, remarriage, and continued schooling after marriage in the United States, the key to understanding trends in educational homogamy lies primarily in variation in assortative mating into first marriage.
EP Evaluator, CD ROM, Release 6. Kennett Square, PA: David G. Rhoads Associates, CD ROM, manual of ∼415 pages plus 7 NCCLS Guidelines, 2004, price varies (as reviewed, $2795.00).

EP Evaluator, Release 6 (EE6) is a Windows-based package of statistical applications for clinical laboratory method evaluation. Minimum system requirements are an IBM-compatible PC with Pentium CPU, 32-bit Windows operating system, 32 MB of RAM, and 50 MB of hard drive space. The package includes a CD ROM, user’s manual, and the associated NCCLS documents (NCCLS EP5-A, EP7-A, EP9-A2, EP10-A2, EP12-A, C28-A, and GP10-A). For this evaluation, the Professional version of the software was installed and run on a Pentium 4 platform operating under Windows XP; no problems were noted at installation, although a few isolated errors did occur during software operation. The spiral-bound user’s manual contains instructions for program operation and file management functions. There are separate chapters for each of the 20 statistical modules, and sample data sets (many of which match those preloaded into the software) with corresponding images of parameter, data entry, and results screens effectively illustrate program operation. Several additional chapters offer valuable guidance for the design and interpretation of method-evaluation studies. I did note some inconsistency between the user’s manual and the software, but the manual is generally well organized and clearly written. Input of data is accomplished through several routes, including manual entry, transfer from previous versions of EP Evaluator, copy/import from spreadsheet files, or direct capture from clinical analyzers via user-supplied instrument interface programs. Data may also be transferred from EE6 to spreadsheet programs by copying/pasting values or by exporting to comma-separated value (CSV) files. EE6 offers real-time graphical display of results as data are entered, and individual results may …
Insulin mediator causes dephosphorylation of the α subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase by stimulating phosphatase activity

Abstract Insulin treatment of rats results in an increased amount or activity of insulin mediators in liver and skeletal muscle. These mediators stimulated pyruvate dehydrogenase and inhibited adenylate cyclase. The insulin-generated mediators caused dephosphorylation of the α subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase in mitochondria prelabeled with [γ-32P]ATP. An assay was developed which quantitatively measured mediator activity by determining the rate of α-subunit dephosphorylation. The dephosphorylation was directly proportional to the amount of mediator added and was directly related to activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase. The decrease of α-subunit phosphorylation resulted from stimulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase, since it occurred in the absence of ATP and was inhibited by NaF. These data further delineate the mechanism of insulin mediator activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase.