cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
588: Down syndrome screening strategies utilized by United States Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists in 2007

MATERNAL-FETAL MEDICINE SPECIALISTS IN 2007 YU MING VICTOR FANG, PETER BENN, KATHERINE TRIBULATO, CONNOR FITZPATRICK, JAY BOLNICK, JAMES EGAN, University of Connecticut, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Farmington, Connecticut, University of Connecticut, Department of Pediatrics, Farmington, Connecticut, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska, Boston College, Boston, Massachusetts OBJECTIVE: Ball and colleagues suggested a cohesive national strategy regarding prenatal diagnosis and screening for Down syndrome (DS). (Obstet Gynecol 2007;110: 10-17) We determined the most common DS screening strategies currently utilized by Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists (SMFM) in the United States (US). STUDY DESIGN: SMFM members in the US were surveyed in April 2007 regarding screening patterns for fetal aneuploidy. They were asked which of the following first trimester (trim) DS screening strategies they offered: combined screening (1st trim NT, PAPP-A, B-hCG. No 2nd trim screen), integrated screening (single risk given after 1st and 2nd trim tests are completed), stepwise sequential screening (results given after each trim, final risk is calculated from 1st and 2nd trim tests), contingency screening (use specific cut-offs to offer either invasive testing, no further testing, or 2nd trim screen), independent screening (1st and 2nd trim results are evaluated independently and not combined), or other. They could choose more than one strategy. Descriptive statistics are reported. RESULTS: There were 448/1756 (26%) responses of which 30.4% offered more than one screening strategy. The frequencies of the strategies offered by respondents are presented in the graph.
Condition-specific coregulation with cis-regulatory motifs and modules in the mouse genome

Deciphering genetic regulatory codes remains a challenge. Here, we present an effective approach to identifying in vivo condition-specific coregulation with cis-regulatory motifs and modules in the mouse genome. A resampling-based algorithm was adopted to cluster our microarray data of a stress response, which generated 35 tight clusters with unique expression patterns containing 811 genes of 5652 genes significantly altered. Database searches identified many known motifs within the 3-kb regulatory regions of 40 genes from 3 clusters and modules with six to nine motifs that were commonly shared by 60-100% of these genes. The upstream regulatory region contained the highest frequency of these common motifs. CisModule program predictions were comparable with the results from database searches and found four potentially novel motifs. This result indicates that these motifs and modules could be responsible for gene coregulation of the stress response in the lacrimal gland.
Theoretical Analysis of Wing Dike Impact on River Flood Stages

The question of whether wing dikes (bank-perpendicular river training structures or groynes) cause higher flood levels has been debated in the United States for many years. Some researchers point to empirical data that show large stage increases which are associated with wing dike construction, whereas other researchers have suggested that such increases are contrary to engineering theory. In a recent report, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (USGAO) presented this question as a priority to be resolved by engineers and scientists. As a first step to better understand the connection between navigation structures and flood levels on the Middle Mississippi River (MMR), a simplified theoretical analysis is presented to test the assertion (made in the USGAO report and elsewhere) that such increases are contrary to hydraulic theory. This analysis predicts that wing dike construction may lead to water level lowering for in-bank flows and to water level increases for out-of-bank (flood) flows. This confirms that, in principle, wing dikes may have contributed to the observed flood water level trends in the MMR. More detailed follow-up studies are required to accurately quantify the impact of wing dikes on flood levels. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0000698. © 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
Controlled Topical Delivery of Cyclosporin-a from Nonionic Liposomal Formulations: Mechanistic Aspects

AbstractIn a previous report (1), we showed that the rate and extent of uptake of cyclosporin-A (CsA) following topical application of nonionic liposomal formulations composed of glyceryl dilaurate (GDL), cholesterol (CH), and polyoxyethylene-10-stearyl ether (POE-10) into and through hairless mouse skin mounted on Franz diffusion cells could be controlled by varying the ratios of GDL to POE-10 (CH being held constant at 15 wt%). However, the pathways of transport as well as the dominant factors that control drug delivery from these formulations are not well understood. In this report, we describe results from studies similar in design to that reported earlier but using the melted form of the lipid components as a vehicle for transport of CsA into and through hairless mouse skin. The results suggest that the transport of CsA from liposomal formulations into and through the skin occurs as a result of dehydration of the liposomes followed by melting of the lipid components on the skin. Microautoradiographic...
Identification of new cryoprotective agents for cultured mammalian cells.

Thirty-one compounds have been identified that act as cryoprotective agents for cultured mammalian cells. Eight compounds were comparable to dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) in cryprotective effectivenes. Many of the cryoprotective compounds studied also (a) promote cell fusion and (b) induce cell differentiation in erythroleukemia and other cell systems. Thus previously unrecognized effects on the differentiated state of cells may occur when cells are treated with cryoprotective agents.
Special considerations required for the formulation and administration of total parenteral nutrition therapy in the elderly patient.

Providing total parenteral nutrition (TPN) to hospitalised patients is not a benign procedure and can be associated with appreciable risks including the development of septic, mechanical and/or metabolic complications. In the older patient, the risks are heightened due to the effects of aging on vital organ function, as well as on the body’s ability to respond to injury and infection. In addition, the existence of co-morbid disease will increase the rate of complications.
Bleeding diathesis in amyloidosis with renal insufficiency associated with Crohn’s disease: response to desmopressin

A 53-yr-old man with a 33-yr history of Crohn's ileocolitis, complicated by arthritis and cologastric fistulization, was diagnosed with GI amyloidosis at the time of proctocolectomy. He had marked proteinuria (4.2 g/24 h) and moderate renal insufficiency (BUN of 35 mg/dl and serum creatinine of 2.5 mg/dl). During the operation, he had severe bleeding that required 11 U of blood. Postoperatively, desmopressin was administered, which resulted in a prompt cessation of bleeding. This case demonstrates the efficacy of desmopressin in reversing the bleeding diathesis in surgical patients with amyloidosis complicated by renal insufficiency.
COMPARISON OF MOLECULAR WEIGHT DISTRIBUTIONS OF CORBETT ASPHALT FRACTIONS BY GEL PERMEATION CHROMATOGRAPHY

Accurate molecular weight distributions are essential to the determination of the molecular structures of asphalt. Due to molecular complexity and interaction among the molecules of asphalt, precise measurement for the molecular weights of asphalt can not be achieved. In order to minimize the interactions of asphaltic materials, a petroleum asphalt sample was separated into saturates, naphthalene aromatics, polar aromatics, and asphaltenes. These Corbett fractions were then analyzed by gel permeation chromatography against nondispersive polystyrene standards. The molecular weights and the molecular size profiles were obtained. Among these Corbett fractions, naphthalene aromatics have the lowest number average molecular weight; saturates have the lowest weight average molecular weight and dispersity; and asphaltenes have the highest number and weight average molecular weights and dispersity.
Friendship and Friends' Influence in Adolescence

Lee's typology of love, journal of Psychology, 124, 639-644 (1990); B. Thompson and G.M. Borrello, Measuring second-order factors using confirmatory methods: An illustration with the Hendrick Hendrick love instrument, Educational and Psycho logical Measurement, 52, 69-77 (1992). 12. C. Hendrick and S. Hendrick, A relation ship-specific version of the Love Attitudes Scale, journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 5, 239 254(1990). 13. G. Borrello and B. Thompson, A replication "bootstrap" analysis of the structure underlying per ceptions of Stereotypie love, journal of General Psy chology, 116, 317-327 (1989). 14. B. Thompson and G. Borrello, Concurrent validity of a love relationships scale, Educational and Psychological Measurement, 47, 985-995 (1987). 15. R.J. Sternberg and S. Grajek, The nature of love, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47,312-329(1984).
Cell phones and choice architecture.

This summer, the New York Times ran a series of articles looking at the risks of distracted driving, especially as this relates to cell-phone use and text messaging while operating an automobile.1 The Times ran these pieces on their front page, generating considerable interest and spin-off coverage in other media. While acknowledging the difficulties of studying risk associated with a transient exposure, the stories emphasized that, in the USA, cell-phone use is the most prevalent driver distraction and one that is especially common among the youngest (and, at baseline, riskiest) drivers. Citing data from simulator studies, the author reported that cell phone use increased the risk of crashes or near crashes anywhere from four- to eightfold, an impact comparable with driving with a blood alcohol level above the legal limit.2 In a salacious aside, the series revealed that in 2003, researchers at the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration compiled research demonstrating the risks of distracted driving but withheld these findings when the agency came under pressure from Congress.3 The Times also included data collected by researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. In an elegant design, their studies use longitudinal data from event recorders mounted in vehicle fleets. These naturalistic studies are …
Multivariable implications of an instructional innovation1

This study has provided useful analytical detail to the instructional designers concerning one of their technical innovations in a large instructional system. But perhaps more significant has been the attention drawn to the network of functional relationships linking the variables in such systems. The evolution of instructional technology clearly depends on a multidimensional analysis of an innovation, so that its implications may be pursued to reveal latent but significant effects. The word “system,” when applied to instruction, implies the functional interrelationships among many of the variables affecting the final product (change in student behavior). What is useful in this study is not the solution to a particular problem within the constraints of a particular system, but the attempt to discover and trace some concomitant effects of what was done. Other behavioral engineers working in their own systems will encounter problems of different topography. The locator scheme, and what was discovered about it in this study, may help some workers who are trying to reduce the required tutoring time in their systems. But it appears that the more general, and hence more valuable, contribution of the work reported here is in emphasizing the importance of pursuing innovations with careful searches for any latent but potentially significant side effects, which in all cases should be assumed to exist from the outset.
The Current Status of Hydrogen Storage Alloy Development for Electrochemical Applications

In this review article, the fundamentals of electrochemical reactions involving metal hydrides are explained, followed by a report of recent progress in hydrogen storage alloys for electrochemical applications. The status of various alloy systems, including AB₅, AB₂, A₂B₇-type, Ti-Ni-based, Mg-Ni-based, BCC, and Zr-Ni-based metal hydride alloys, for their most important electrochemical application, the nickel metal hydride battery, is summarized. Other electrochemical applications, such as Ni-hydrogen, fuel cell, Li-ion battery, air-metal hydride, and hybrid battery systems, also have been mentioned.
The Division of Task Responsibility in U.S. Households: Longitudinal Adjustments to Change

Data from the National Longitudinal Surveys of Young and Mature Women are used to test both static and dynamic models of the division of household task responsibility. Static results provide weak support for both the time availability and the powerlearnings perspectives. Changes in wife's hours worked or earnings over a tuvo- or three-year period lead to adjustments in task division, although the unequal "starting point" for that division leads one to question economists' view of its rationality. Women's responsibilities for housework and child care are emerging as central to their continuing low status in industrialized societies. While the consequences of this unequal and, to many, inequitable division of labor are clearly pervasive (Coverman), its source and determinants at the individual level are still under investigation. Attempts to explain divisions of household labor have included the recently formulated "New Home Economics" (Becker), and sociological research, which emphasizes less rational features of family life. For the most part, the implicit models tested in the resulting empirical research have been static. Current divisions of labor have been predicted from both unchanging family and individual characteristics (such as education and race) and from current values of potentially changeable factors (such as wife's employment). Further, economic theory assumes that households make rapid adjustments to a changing environment (Berk and Berk,b), but no one has attempted to determine whether such adjustments really occur. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to suggest two research hypotheses which emerge as most salient from previous re
Loss of Dendritic Spines in Aging Cerebral Cortex

Previous work has shown that the dendritic spines of pyramidal neurons of the cerebral cortex are sensitive to a wide variety of environmental and surgical manipulations. The present study shows that the normal aging process also affects these spines. The spines were studied with the light microscope in Golgi preparations from rats ranging in age from 3 to 29.5 months. Visible spines were counted on either 25 or 50 μ segments of the basal dendrites, apical dendrites, oblique branches, and terminal tufts of layer V pyramidal cells in area 17. A progressive loss of spines occurred at each of these loci. The smallest observed spine loss (24%) occurred on the dendrites of the terminal tuft, and the largest (40%) on the oblique branches. Age-related spine loss appears to affect all animals, and for animals of any one age the overall loss is similar. However, the cell-to-cell variability within an individual animal is pronounced, some cells with high spine densities being present at every age examined. As a general rule, there is a positive relationship between visible spine density along the apical dendrite as it traverses layer IV and the thickness of the dendrite. With advancing age, the relatively thick dendrites decrease in number so that the thinner dendrites make up an increasingly larger proportion of the total apical dendrite population. Questions that remain for the future include the genesis of the spine loss, its relation to other aging changes, and its functional significance for the neuron.
Roentgenographic examination of edentulous patients.

Summary A survey of retained roots in edentulous patients was compared with a similar survey performed 20 years ago under approximately the same conditions. The incidence of retained root fragments decreased in edentulous patients from 31 to 16 per cent. This can be interpreted to mean that today's dentist is rendering a better service in the field of exodontics, which may in turn prepare the mouth for a more successful denture.
Electrical characteristics of GaAs MIS Schottky diodes

Abstract The current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics of GaAs metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) Schottky barrier diodes are investigated over a wide temperature range and compared with MS diodes. The effects of the insulating layer on barrier height and carrier transport are delineated by an activation energy analysis. Excess currents observed at low forward and reverse bias have also been analyzed and their cause identified. A capacitance anomaly consistently noticed in MIS Schottky barriers is resolved by stipulating a non-uniform interfacial layer, and a self-consistent model of the GaAs MIS Schottky barrier is developed by analyzing I-V and C-V data of both MIS and MS diodes.
The boundary layer of VW Hydri in quiescence

In this short paper, we suggest that the missing boundary layer luminosity of dwarf novae in quiescence is released mainly in the ultraviolet (UV) as the second component commonly identified in the far-UV as the 'accretion belt'. We present the well-studied SU UMa-type system VW Hyi in detail as a prototype for such a scenario. We consider detailed multiwavelength observations and in particular the recent Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) observations of VW Hyi in quiescence, which confirm the presence of a second component (the 'accretion belt') in the far-UV spectrum. The temperature ( 50000 K) and rotational velocity ( 3000 km s -1 ) of this second component are entirely consistent with the optically thick region (r 1) located just at the outer edge of optically thin boundary layer in the simulations of Popham. This second component contributes about 20 per cent of the far-UV flux. Using geometrical assumptions and taking into account the X-ray luminosity, we find that the total boundary layer luminosity sums up to L BL = (0.53 ± 0.25) L disc , while the theory (Kluzniak) predicts, for the rotation rate of VW Hyi's white dwarf, L BL (0.76 ± 0.03)L disc . About one-fifth of the boundary layer energy is emitted in the X-ray and the remaining is emitted in the UV. This scenario is consistent with the recent simultaneous X-ray and UV observations of VW Hyi by Pandel, Cordova & Howell, from which we deduce here that the viscosity in the boundary layer region must be of the order of v 10 13 -10 14 cm 2 s -1 , depending on the white dwarf mass and the size of the boundary layer.
Small-r-republicans, big-R-Republicans, and government bioethics councils.

Politics I take in two senses. One is its usage, derived from both Plato and Aristotle, as a study of the nature and structure of a good society. This is Politics with a capital “P.” The second sen...
The Impact of Post-Secondary Privatization: The Case of Costa Rica

Between 1985 and 2000, the Central American country of Costa Rica experienced rapid and unprecedented private university growth as part of an international movement towards post-secondary privatization. Costa Rica stands apart from other developing countries in that all 50 of the nation's private universities are proprietary, resulting in a private sector that has dramatically different educational goals from that of a previously dominant public system. This article examines the impact of post-secondary privatization in Costa Rica as viewed through a neoliberal development lens and the subsequent tensions between a well-established public system and under-regulated private sector. Interviews with public and private university faculty and administrators, as well as key education officials, shed light on emergent distinctions between the two institutional types, including their respective mission and purpose, perceived educational quality, and resulting societal impact.
Identifying Web search session patterns using cluster analysis: A comparison of three search environments

Session characteristics taken from large transaction logs of three Web search environments (academic Web site, public search engine, consumer health information portal) were modeled using cluster analysis to determine if coherent session groups emerged for each environment and whether the types of session groups are similar across the three environments. The analysis revealed three distinct clusters of session behaviors common to each environment: “hit and run” sessions on focused topics, relatively brief sessions on popular topics, and sustained sessions using obscure terms with greater query modification. The findings also revealed shifts in session characteristics over time for one of the datasets, away from “hit and run” sessions toward more popular search topics. A better understanding of session characteristics can help system designers to develop more responsive systems to support search features that cater to identifiable groups of searchers based on their search behaviors. For example, the system may identify struggling searchers based on session behaviors that match those identified in the current study to provide context sensitive help. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Electron density profiles in single spark discharges

Abstract Quadratic Stark broadening of Ar(I) emission lines was used to measure the spatial distribution of the electron concentration in individual high voltage spark discharges. Corrections were made for ion broadening asymmetry and the instrument transfer function. Within the measurement uncertainty, the spatial distribution of the electron concentration did not vary from spark-to-spark. The uncertainty was limited by the imprecision in knowledge of the electron temperature, which was estimated using a LTE model.
Region boundary generation and compression

A new technique for generating and losslessly compressing region boundaries in digital images is presented. Region boundaries are generated by finding a minimal set of pixels required to differentiate each region from neighboring regions. An enhanced pixel-based differential chain code is used to encode the generated boundaries. We utilize run-length encoding of links and introduce dynamic template switching (DTS) and extended vector templates (EVTs). These features allow accurate region boundary representation using fewer links while retaining the inherent simplicity of traditional chain codes. This work presents techniques to efficiently handle the added complexity of using pixel-based chain codes for representing regions in segmented images.
The Effect of Esterification on the Release of Testosterone and Estradiol from Silicone Implants

AbstractFour experiments were conducted to determine the effect of esterification on the release of testosterone and estradiol from capsule-type silicone implants. In castrated male rats testosterone propionate and testosterone enanthate implants increased (P < .05) blood testosterone concentrations and seminal vesicle weights more than empty and testosterone implants. Testosterone propionate and testosterone enanthate implants released 4 times and 10 times, respectively, more equivalent testosterone per cm2 per day than testosterone implants. The increase in blood testosterone concentrations was proportional to the increase in implant release rate for testosterone propionate, but not for testosterone enanthate. Although estradiol- 17β implants increased (P < .05) uterine weights of ovariectomized rats, uterine weights in estradiol benzoate implanted ovariectomized rats were 1.3 times greater than in estradiol-17β implanted rats. Estradiol benzoate implants released less than 0.5 times the amount of equiv...
Distortion Metrics of Composite Channels with Receiver Side Information

We consider transmission of stationary ergodic sources over non-ergodic composite channels with channel state information at the receiver (CSIR). Previously we introduced alternative capacity definitions to Shannon capacity, including outage and expected capacity. These generalized definitions relax the constraint of Shannon capacity that all transmitted information must be decoded at the receiver. In this work alternative end- to-end distortion metrics such as outage and expected distortion are introduced to relax the constraint that a single distortion level has to be maintained for all channel states. Through the example of transmission of a Gaussian source over a slow-fading Gaussian channel, we illustrate that the end-to-end distortion metrics dictate whether the source and channel coding can be separated for a communication system. We also show that the source and channel need to exchange information through an appropriate interface to facilitate separate encoding and decoding.
Liposomal encapsulation of β-galactosidase: effect of buffer molarity, lipid composition and stability in milk

β-Galactosidases from E. coli and Aspergillus flavus were encapsulated in liposomes using the reverse-phase evaporation method. There was an inverse relationship between buffer molarity and encapsulation efficiency. The presence of cholesterol and stearylamine or dicetylphosphate along with phosphatidyl choline increased encapsulation efficiency significantly. Liposomes containing either bacterial or fungal β-galactosidase were stable in buffer as well as freshly pasteurized milk for up to 20 days at 4C. Lactose hydrolysis was negligible in milk containing liposomes with bacterial β-galactosidase, while there was significant (25%) hydrolysis of lactose in milk containing liposomes with fungal β-galactosidase during 20 days of storage at 4C. Results of this study suggest that liposomes containing β-galactosidase can be prepared and added to milk without affecting the lactose content for up to 20 days of refrigeration (4C).
Vertex-transitive graphs and vertex-transitive maps

We consider vertex-transitive graphs embeddable on a fixed surface. We prove that all but a finite number of them admit embeddings as vertex-transitive maps on surfaces of nonnegative Euler characteristic (sphere, projective plane, torus, or Klein bottle). It follows that with the exception of the cycles and a finite number of additional graphs, they are factor graphs of semiregular plane tilings. The results generalize previous work on the genus of minimal Cayley graphs by V. Proulx and T. W. Tucker and were obtained independently by C. Thomassen, with significant differences in the methods used. Our method is based on an excursion into the infinite. The local structure of our finite graphs is studied via a pointwise limit construction, and the infinite vertex-transitive graphs obtained as such limits are classified by their connectivity and the number of ends. In two appendices, we derive a combinatorial version of Hurwitz's Theorem, and classify the vertex-transitive maps on the Klein bottle.
Working Memory Capacity and Learning Underlying Conceptual Relationships Across Multiple Documents

Summary: A common usage of textual repositories of information is to seek out and gather important information for a specific learning goal. However, not all material is organized in a single location, and users are often forced to visit multiple pages or sources to develop understanding. In these situations, are different learners more or less sensitive to drawing the underlying connections between multiple documents, which are relevant for the eventual learning goals? This study examines the performance of undergraduates who vary in working memory capacity as they were asked to learn about plants from a Wiki-like website. Participants were pretested on their knowledge of both biology and the plant kingdom. Results indicate that learning underlying conceptual structure is indeed predicted by working memory, but not prior knowledge. This suggests that individual characteristics should be considered when designing learning technologies in the future. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluation of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome by Computational Fluid Dynamics

The amelioration of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) by maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) surgery can be predicted by analyzing anatomical airway changes with 3-dimensional (3D) geometrical reconstruction and computational fluid dynamics. Computer Enabling Technology Lab (ETLab) and Computational Simulation Lab (CSLab) can be used to analyze anatomic airway change for previously operated patients with a clinical cure of OSAS. MMA surgery reduces airway resistance and pressure effort (gradient) of OSAS by increasing the dimension of the airway. ETLab has been used to reconstruct the upper airway as a 3D computer model (bone and soft tissue surrounding the pharyngeal airway) from existing helical computed tomography scan format of OSAS patients. ETLab can compare and construct the geometry with numerical meshes of the airway between pre- and postoperative MMA by the use of bioengineering software. This technology uses high-fidelity computation fluid dynamic simulations, developed at the CSLab, for prediction and analysis of the flow field in the airway for pre- and postoperative MMA. It is possible to use the simulation to predict the likely success of future treatment and develop a prognostic factor. The soft- and hard-tissue mesh is used to determine the pre- and postoperative differences in the facial and pharyngeal tongue base for soft-tissue change associated with hard-tissue movement. This correlation predicts the amount of surgical movement necessary to create an adequate airflow. These results help define the surgical techniques in OSAS for more precise identification of upper airway anatomical features. This process correlates the area and pressure change at the velopharynx, oropharynx, and retroglossal space of the upper airway by the ETLab. Results can compare with polysomnogram and cure rates. 3D computer analysis can be used to test flow dynamics in the human airway for surgical treatment of OSAS.
Quantifying presence using calling patterns

Presence technology is going to be an integral part of the next generation of communication technology. It can eliminate telephone tag between two parties (caller and callee), which will increase productivity of the parties and reduce unnecessary bandwidth usage of unwanted calls. In this paper, we propose a Willingness Estimator that computes willingness level of a callee for receiving calls from a specified caller. By knowing the willingness value of the callee the caller can decide on proceeding with the call or not. The proposed Willingness Estimator is tested with real mobile user data, and these results are highly accurate. We measure willingness based on calling patterns (arrival time, location, day) of a caller to a callee and this could serve as one of the future presence based services. The results can be used in telecommunication networks such as PSTN, Cellular networks, and Voice over IP networks.
15.4% CuIn1−xGaxSe2-based photovoltaic cells from solution-based precursor films

We have fabricated 15.4%- and 12.4%-efficient CuIn1-XGaXSe2 (CIGS)-based photovoltaic devices from solution-based electrodeposition (ED) and electroless-deposition (EL) precursors. As-deposited precursors are Cu-rich CIGS. Additional In, Ga, and Se are added to the ED and EL precursor films by physical vapor deposition (PVD) to adjust the final film composition to CuIn1-XGaXSe2. The ED and EL device parameters are compared with those of a recent world record, an 18.8%-efficient PVD device. The tools used for comparison are current voltage, capacitance voltage, and spectral response characteristics.
An application of methods for clustered binary responses to a cardiovascular study with small sample size

This paper discusses statistical methods for a cardiovascular study in which each of eight animals had a dichotomous outcome observed for each of several treatments. There were five treatments in all shunt, control, two doses of a test drug for potentially causing an unfavorable car- diovascular event and a combination of the test drug and a counteracting agent. Exact conditional methods were used through LogXact a statistical software for exact logistic regression and an alternative framework for performing a large class of nonparametric tests performed by StatXact. The results agreed reasonably with asymptotic methods even though the sample size was small.
A unified framework for capturing concept development methods

Concept development in engineering is a challenging exercise whose execution varies greatly with the context of the problem being solved. Engineers have a plethora of non-domain specific methods available to aid different aspects of concept development and problem solving. As engineering has evolved, design processes, which are assemblies of some of these different methods, have been used to identify how methods relate and can be used to define and solve a larger problem. Yet, because methods are constantly being updated and added by the research community, design processes may not incorporate the latest methods. Furthermore, processes are generally tied to the notion of development in phases, which may not be the appropriate discriminators for determining a method's applicability.
A multilayered neural network controller

A multilayered neural network processor is used to control a given plant. Several learning architectures are proposed for training the neural controller to provide the appropriate inputs to the plant so that a desired response is obtained. A modified error-back propagation algorithm, based on propagation of the output error through the plant, is introduced. The properties of the proposed architectures are studied through a simulation example. >
Purification of a RAS-responsive adenylyl cyclase complex from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by use of an epitope addition method

We developed a method for immunoaffinity purification of Saccharomyces cerevisiae adenylyl cyclase based on creating a fusion with a small peptide epitope. Using oligonucleotide technology to encode the peptide epitope we constructed a plasmid that expressed the fusion protein from the S. cerevisiae alcohol dehydrogenase promoter ADH1. A monoclonal antibody previously raised against the peptide was used to purify adenylyl cyclase by affinity chromatography. The purified enzyme appeared to be a multisubunit complex consisting of the 200-kilodalton adenylyl cyclase fusion protein and an unidentified 70-kilodalton protein. The purified protein could be activated by RAS proteins. Activation had an absolute requirement for a guanine nucleoside triphosphate.
Crack Mothers at 6 Prime-Time News, Crack/Cocaine, and Women

This study examines ABC, CBS, and NBC evening news programs from 1983 to 1994 to understand the images associated with crack mothers (i.e., women who used crack or cocaine during pregnancy). Qualitative analysis shows that over time, news framed maternal crack/cocaine use in at least three ways. First, White middle-class women were presented as psychologically addicted, as guilt-ridden for having exposed their babies to cocaine, and as motivated to succeed in treatment. Second, Black poor women were represented as mindlessly addicted, as knowingly having exposed their fetuses to the adversity of crack, and as unwilling to enter treatment. Third, Black poor women were subsequently represented as physically and spiritually depleted, as having regretted prior drug use, and as enthusiastic drug treatment clients, if only to regain custody of their children. Findings are discussed in terms of drugs scares, racial disparity, and the reproductive rights of women.
An integrated machine learning and control theoretic model for mining concept-drifting data streams

Anomaly-based network Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) model patterns of normal activity and detect novel network attacks. However, these systems depend on the availability of the systems normal traffic pattern profile. But the statistical fingerprint of the normal traffic pattern can change and shift over a period of time due to changes in operational or user activity at the networked site or even system updates. The changes in normal traffic patterns over time lead to concept drift. Some changes can be temporal, cyclical and can be short-lived or they can last for longer periods of time. Depending on a number of factors the speed at which the change in traffic patterns occurs can also be variable, ranging from near instantaneous to the change occurring over the span of numerous months. These changes in traffic patterns are a cause of concern for IDSs as they can lead to a significant increase in false positive rates, thereby reducing the overall system performance. In order to improve the reliability of the IDS, there is a need for an automated mechanism to detect valid traffic changes and avoid inappropriate ad hoc responses. ROC curves have historically been used to evaluate the accuracy of IDSs. ROC curves generated using fixed, time-invariant classification thresholds do not characterize the best accuracy that an IDS can achieve in presence of concept-drifting network traffic. In this paper, we present a integrated supervised machine learning and control theoretic model for detecting concept drift in network traffic patterns. The model comprises of a online support vector machine based classifier(incremental anomaly based detection), a Kullback - Leibler divergence based relative entropy measurement scheme(quantifying concept drift) and feedback control engine(adapting ROC thresholding). In our proposed system, any intrusion activity will cause significant variations, thereby causing a large error, while a minor aberration in the variations (concept drift) will not be immediately reported as alert.
Hierarchical traffic grooming formulations

Hierarchical traffic grooming facilitates the control and management of multigranular WDM networks. We define the hierarchical virtual topology and traffic routing (H-VTTR) problem, the grooming-specific subproblem of traffic grooming, and we present a suite of ILP formulations to solve it. The formulations represent various tradeoffs between solution quality and running time.
Imaging characteristics of primary laryngeal lymphoma.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The larynx is a rare site for primary NHL. Fewer than 100 cases have been reported in the literature, with the largest imaging review involving only 4 patients. We describe the findings of laryngeal lymphoma on CT, PET, and MR imaging and identify features that may distinguish laryngeal lymphoma from the far more common laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multi-institutional retrospective chart review revealed 20 patients with histopathologically proved laryngeal lymphoma. Pretreatment CT, PET, and MR images were reviewed by a head and neck radiologist, focusing on extent of tumor, cervical lymph node involvement, and enhancement patterns. RESULTS: Patients ranged from 30 to 90 years of age with a mean of 63 years at the time of initial diagnosis and a 2:1 female predominance. The average tumor size was 37 ± 19 mm. In all patients, laryngeal lymphoma involved the supraglottis but also extended into the glottis (65%) and hypopharynx (60%). The subglottis was less frequently involved (35%). Laryngeal cartilage invasion and cervical lymphadenopathy were each seen in 20% of patients. Lymphoma was consistently FDG-avid (100%) and usually enhanced uniformly with iodinated contrast (73%). Necrosis and calcification were not seen in any cases. CONCLUSIONS: Although laryngeal lymphoma is rare, particular imaging features suggest this diagnosis. A large uniformly enhancing supraglottic tumor without central necrosis and without cervical lymphadenopathy is a characteristic finding of lymphoma. Similar to squamous cell carcinoma, lymphoma may extend into the subglottis, pharynx, and laryngeal cartilages.
Reiterando o pacto: história, teologias políticas cristãs e a religião civil americana em uma era de multiculturalismo e império

Forty years ago, amidst the Cold War, Robert Bellah concluded his famous article on civil religion in America with the following question: how to conceive the applicability of the core values that undergird United States' imagined community beyond the territorial limits of its nation-state? The current article intends to revisit this important question critically while referring it to recent global regulatory incursions performed by the USA on the field of religious freedom. First, I review the history of the relationship among secularism, national identity and Christianity in America. Secondly, I analyze the political and religious negotiations that give birth to the International Freedom of Religion Act (IRFA), in 1998. As a conclusion, I stress how this exercise might offer broader contributions to debates on the mutual orientation of religion, nationalism and secular power in contemporaneity, with an emphasis on the relationship between these and the principle of sovereignty.
Paclitaxel-eluting stents for the treatment of femoropopliteal arterial stenoses: focus on the Zilver PTX drug-eluting peripheral stent

Restenosis is one of the major limitations of the percutaneous treatment of peripheral artery disease, leading to the need for repeat interventions, limb loss and increased cost of therapy. The current standard of percutaneous treatment of stenotic lesions in the femoropopliteal arterial segment includes balloon angioplasty and bare-metal stenting. Recently, research in the field adapting the coronary arterial bed treatment model led to the inclusion of antimitotic drugs in the form of drug-eluting stents to combat neointimal proliferation and reduce the burden of restenosis. Randomized trial and registry data emerged indicating improved long-term outcomes with drug-eluting stents in peripheral arteries, lending the way to more widespread adaptation of this modality in the management of patients with peripheral artery disease.
Anatomic Osteochondral Glenoid Reconstruction for Recurrent Glenohumeral Instability With Glenoid Deficiency Using a Distal Tibia Allograft

The treatment of glenoid bone loss in the setting of recurrent shoulder instability remains a challenge. This is because of the nonanatomic nature and resultant incongruous joint resulting from most bony augmentation procedures. We present a novel technique for the management of glenoid bone deficiency by using a fresh osteochondral distal tibial allograft. We have found that the distal tibia has excellent articular conformity to unmatched humeral heads, fits nearly anatomically on the distal two thirds of the glenoid, is composed of dense weight-bearing cortical and metaphyseal distal tibia bone, and provides for a cartilaginous surface for which the humeral head to articulate. This article describes the technique, initial results, and postoperative findings with the use of a distal tibia allograft (the lateral portion of the distal tibia) for the treatment of glenoid bone deficiency (mean loss of 30%) in a series of 3 patients. Key Words: Glenoid bone loss—Shoulder instability—Inverted-pear glenoid—Shoulder bone defects—Bone deficiency—Allograft—Osteoarticular—Osteochondral.
Mechanistic insights on the conversion of sugars into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural

A sustainable bio-economy requires the efficient utilization of all of the components of biomass. After glucose, mannose and galactose are the most abundant 6-carbon sugars in plant hemicellulose; lactose is a common dairy byproduct. Here, we demonstrate the conversion of these sugars into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), a key intermediate for renewable fuels and chemicals. Chromium salts enable the efficient conversion of mannose into HMF but are less effective for galactose, lactose, and the related hexulose, tagatose. Isotopic labeling studies and the reactivity of psicose and sorbose indicate that the key aldose-to-ketose conversion occurs via a 1,2-hydride shift, which is followed by dehydration of the furanose tautomer. These data valorize mannose, galatactose, and lactose as sources of HMF, and inform the design of new catalysts for the conversion of aldoses to ketoses.
Textured nanoporous Mo:BiVO4 photoanodes with high charge transport and charge transfer quantum efficiencies for oxygen evolution

We have developed a simple spin coating method to make high-quality nanoporous photoelectrodes of monoclinic BiVO4 and studied the ability of these electrodes to transport photogenerated carriers to oxidize sulfite and water. Samples containing molybdenum and featuring [001] out-of-plane crystallographic texture show a photocurrent and external quantum efficiency (EQE) for sulfite oxidation as high as 3.1 mA cm−2 and 60%, respectively, at 1.23 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. By using an optical model of the electrode stack to accurately determine the fraction of electrode absorptance due to the BiVO4 active layer, we estimate that on average 70 ± 5% of all photogenerated carriers escape recombination. A comparison of internal quantum efficiency as a function of film processing, illumination direction, and film thickness shows that electron transport is efficient and hole transport limits the photocurrent (hole diffusion length 64% at 1.23 V. The electrodes quickly photocorrode during water oxidation but show good stability during sulfite oxidation and indefinite stability in the dark. By improving the hole transport efficiency and coating these nanoporous BiVO4 films with an appropriate protective layer and oxygen evolution catalyst, it should be possible to achieve highly efficient and stable water oxidation at a practical pH.
Self-Consent for HIV Prevention Research Involving Sexual and Gender Minority Youth: Reducing Barriers Through Evidence-Based Ethics

This project examined the attitudes of sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) toward guardian permission for a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence trial and their preparedness to provide informed, rational, and voluntary self-consent. Sixty sexually active SGMY (ages 14-17) participated in online survey and asynchronous focus group questions after watching a video describing a PrEP adherence study. Youth responses highlighted guardian permission as a significant barrier to research participation, especially for those not "out" to families. Youth demonstrated understanding of research benefits, medical side effects, confidentiality risks, and random assignment and felt comfortable asking questions and declining participation. Reasoning about participation indicated consideration of health risks and benefits, personal sexual behavior, ability to take pills every day, logistics, and post-trial access to PrEP. Results demonstrate youth's ability to self-consent to age- and population-appropriate procedures, and underscore the value of empirical studies for informing institutional review board (IRB) protections of SGMY research participants.