cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Symptoms of Readiness for Divorce Evidence from Metropolitan Areas in Three Countries

George Levinger's analysis of marital cohesion is used to define and evaluate attitudes and feelings toward marriage, and marriage arguments as symptoms of readiness for divorce. Data from London, England; Los Angeles, California; and Sydney and Perth, Australia indicate that status variables are very poor predictors of symptoms and account for very little variance in symptoms. Social interactional and social psychological variables that measure the immediate family environment are strongly related to symptoms in all urban areas. Joint marriage companionship is the single best predictor of symptoms. The importance of immediate family variables for marriage cohesion is discussed.
Cost Performance Comparison of Two Public Sector Project Procurement Techniques

Increased industry discussion of the potential benefits of alternative forms of construction project delivery often presents little cost analysis of options. This work presents the results of a cost comparison study of completed public sector municipal facilities design and construction projects—a portion of which delivered using a traditional design-bid-build procurement approach and a portion of which delivered using the procurement technique of a negotiated lump sum construction contracts with in-house construction forces. The study compares costs for all phases of all the projects (design, bid and award, construction, and total project cost) across both methods of project procurement. Conclusions examine the cost trade-offs of using negotiated contracts with in-house forces, outline key success factors identified through this study in order to optimize the use of this form of project procurement, and identify areas for future research.
Optical properties of photorefractive whispering gallery mode resonators

Photorefractive properties of lithium niobate and tantalate are studied in infrared using whispering gallery mode resonators. Unusual dynamics in the resonator spectra with applied light is observed.
Regulation of P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage messenger ribonucleic acid expression and progesterone production in hen granulosa cells.

Previous studies have shown that granulosa cells from hen follicles < 8 mm in diameter are steroidogenically inactive. We have proposed that cytochrome P450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage (P450,,c) enzyme activity within the granulosa layer is first expressed at the time the follicle is selected into the preovulatory hierarchy. The present studies were conducted to evaluate the actions of FSH and of the growth factors epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor a (TGFa), and insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) in regulating levels of P450,c mRNA and initiating progesterone production in cultured granulosa cells from 6- to 8-mm follicles. Levels of P450,c mRNA were elevated, and progesterone production initiated, in granulosa cells cultured for 16 h and 8 h, respectively, in serum-free medium containing recombinant human (rh) FSH or the cAMP analog, 8-bromo-cAMP. While both EGF and TGFa blocked the ability of rhFSH to increase P450,, mRNA levels and initiate progesterone production, IGF-I failed to alter P450,c mRNA levels or progesterone production in either the presence or absence of rhFSH. Results from these studies indicate that, as in mammals, FSH is a primary factor that mediates the initiation of steroidogenesis in hen granulosa cells at the time of follicle selection. Furthermore, we propose that EGF and TGFa are, at least in part, responsible for preventing premature differentiation of granulosa cells in ovarian follicles that have not yet been selected into the preovulatory hierarchy.
The concept of the eudicot shoot apical meristem as it applies to four Spiraea (Rosaceae), one Mentha (Lamiaceae) and one Euonymus (Celastraceae) cultivars based on chimeric analysis

†Background and Aims Eversporting eudicots were sought to see if they behave like gymnosperms. Behaviour of eversporting gymnosperm chimeras indicates a single apical cell is present in SAM and it would be of interest to see if eudicot chimeras have the same behaviour. †Methods Four eversporting spireas, the pineapple mint and the Silver King euonymus were inspected for the fate of the yellow (mutant)–green (wild type) chimeras. †Key Results As with gymnosperms, unstable eudicot chimeras in the four spireas, the pineapple mint and the Silver King euonymus became stable yellow about 80 % or more of the time and 20 % or less became stable green. †Conclusions The statistically significant preponderance of chimeric fates becoming all yellow suggests that a single apical cell resides in the yellow tunica. As with gymnosperms, descendent cells of the yellow replacement corpus cell eventually take over the corpus. Here is the first chimeric set of data to support the hypothesis of a one-celled meristem in eudicots rather than the traditional view of a muticellular meristem.
Subspace Optimization in Centralized Noncoherent MIMO Radar

We consider the problem of subspace optimization for centralized noncoherent multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) radar based on various measures such as capacity, diversity, and probability of detection. In subspace centralized noncoherent MIMO radar (SC-MIMO), a subset of stations is selected based on channel knowledge or channel statistics to reduce system complexity while simultaneously attempting to optimize the performance of the reduced-dimension centralized MIMO radar system. The radar transmitters are assumed to be sufficiently separated (e.g., at different locations) to yield spatially white channel transfer gains and are assumed to operate on a noninterference basis through time-division or frequency-division multiplexing. Detection optimization for the SC-MIMO system in a Neyman Pearson (NP) sense is found to be equivalent to selecting the subspace that maximizes the Frobenius norm of the corresponding channel matrix. Information-theoretic measures for capacity and diversity are also applied to the problem of subspace selection. Channels with temporal coherence times that are long relative to the radar system's latencies and channels with coherence times that are short relative to the radar system's latencies are considered. In the former case, metrics are based upon instantaneous channel estimates, whereas in the latter case, average channel estimates are used. Numerical analyses are conducted to illustrate the use of the metrics for optimizing system performance.
Intrasellar plasmacytoma presenting as a non-functional invasive pituitary macro-adenoma: Case Report & Literature Review

We report an uncommon case of an intrasellar plasmacytoma presenting as a non-functional invasive pituitary macro-adenoma as the first manifestation of multiple myeloma. A 57 year old woman was referred to our department with a presumed diagnosis of a non-functioning pituitary macro-adenoma. She reported a 3 month history of headaches and a 2 week history of sudden onset of right facial numbness. Preoperative endocrine evaluation was remarkable only for a modestly elevated serum prolactin. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan revealed 3.6 x 5 x 4 cm enhancing homogeneous intrasellar mass with extension into the sphenoid and cavernous sinuses bilaterally; the optic chiasm was not displaced. She underwent transphenoidal surgery of the sellar lesion. The surgical specimen was heavily infiltrated with abnormal plasma cells, which stained almost exclusively for Kappa light chain immunoglobulins. An extensive investigation was undertaken to look for occult myelomatous disease. A diagnosis of multiple myeloma was made 1 month later based on a combination of clinical, pathological and radiologic features. She underwent radiation therapy directed towards the residual sellar tumor, followed by chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. Review of the world literature revealed only 22 previous reports of patients in whom a solitary plasmacytoma or multiple myeloma first presented as a sellar mass; in all cases mimicking clinically and radiologically a non-functioning invasive pituitary adenoma however with additional cranial nerve involvement. Intrasellar plasma cell tumors are rare tumors which may mimic non-functioning invasive pituitary tumors. The diagnosis should be suspected in patients with well preserved anterior pituitary function and cranial nerve neuropathies in the presence of significant sellar destruction.
Methanosphaerula palustris gen. nov., sp. nov., a hydrogenotrophic methanogen isolated from a minerotrophic fen peatland.

Peatlands are important sources of CH4 emissions to the atmosphere and molecular surveys have identified a diverse, but mainly uncultured, euryarchaeal community in them. Characterization of a strain, E1-9cT, associated with uncultured group E1, from a minerotrophic fen is reported. Cells were regular cocci, usually found in pairs, that stained Gram-positive and were resistant to lysis by 0.1 % SDS. Multiple flagella were observed, but motility was not observed in wet mounts. Optimal growth was obtained at moderate temperatures (28–30 °C) and slightly acidic pH (5.5). Total Na+ and NaCl were only tolerated at concentrations less than 100 mM and 0.5 %, respectively, and Na2S concentrations above 0.1 mM were inhibitory. H2/CO2 and formate were the only methanogenic substrates used by E1-9cT; formate concentrations above 50 mM were inhibitory for growth. Vitamins, coenzyme M and acetate (4 mM) were required for growth and the doubling time was about 19 h. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and inferred McrA amino acid sequences showed that E1-9cT represented an independent lineage within the order Methanomicrobiales. Physiological and phylogenetic comparisons with different members of the order supported classification of E1-9cT in a new genus in the Methanomicrobiales. The name Methanosphaerula palustris gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed; strain E1-9cT (=ATCC BAA-1565T =DSM 19958T) is the type strain of Methanosphaerula palustris.
Beam test results of a C/sub 4/F/sub 8/O gas radiator Cherenkov detector using multi-anode photomultiplier tubes

We present the main results from a beam test done at Fermilab of a novel gaseous RICH detector that uses Hamamatsu multi-anode photomultiplier tubes (MAPMT) as photon detectors and a new gas C/sub 4/F/sub 8/O as a Cherenkov radiator. A novel front end electronics ASIC has been developed geared towards reading out the charge signals from the photon detectors. The ASIC features low noise and high dynamic range and is suitable for data driven architecture. The data acquisition system was developed to read 52 MAPMTs. An external trigger was used and the events were built using the time stamp information provided by the readout chips. We report the number of detected photons, the angular resolution per photon and the resolution per track after averaging over the photons. We also compare our measurements with simulations.
Spherical harmonic molecular surfaces

Starlike surfaces can be defined in spherical coordinates by a function r( theta , phi ) on the unit sphere, which can be expanded in spherical harmonics to give a consequence of smooth approximations to the surface. This method has been used to approximate the solvent-accessible surface of a molecule. The coefficients in the expansion provide a small collection of numbers that characterize the molecular shape. The resulting smooth surfaces can be rendered with random dots or smooth shading. These spherical harmonic surfaces have advantages for modeling overall molecular shape, particularly time-averaged shapes relevant to electrostatic and other intermolecular interactions. >
Complete arch implant rehabilitation using subtractive rapid prototyping and porcelain fused to zirconia prosthesis: a clinical report.

The applications of various technological advances in implant dentistry and in all aspects of the diagnostic, treatment planning, surgical, and restorative phases are gaining popularity. Additive rapid prototyping and computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technology are used to generate stereolithographic surgical guides and prefabricated interim prostheses to facilitate implant surgery and immediate loading, respectively. Subtractive rapid prototyping is used for fabrication of zirconia frameworks for definitive implant prostheses. This clinical report describes the comprehensive application of these technological advances in implant rehabilitation to optimize surgical and prosthodontic outcomes as well as patient comfort. (J Prosthet Dent 2008;100:165-172)
Degradation of surfactant protein D by alveolar macrophages

Surfactant protein (SP) D is a pulmonary surfactant-associated protein that may function in lung host defense. SP-D is produced by alveolar type II cells and nonciliated bronchiolar epithelial (Clara) cells of the airway and is secreted into the air space. Here we investigated whether alveolar macrophages degraded SP-D in vitro. We also examined the effects of SP-A and lipids on SP-D metabolism. The results showed that alveolar macrophages bound and degraded SP-D in a time- and temperature-dependent fashion. After 100 min of incubation, the formation of trichloroacetic acid-soluble degradation products increased 4-fold in the medium and 30-fold in the cells. The degradation of SP-D was via a cell-associated process because SP-D was not degraded when incubated in medium previously conditioned by alveolar macrophages. Gel autoradiography of cell lysate samples after incubation with 125I-labeled SP-D demonstrated an increase in degradation products, further confirming the degradation of SP-D by alveolar macrophages. In addition, the degradation of SP-D was not affected by coincubation with SP-A or surfactant-like liposomes containing either phosphatidylglycerol or phosphatidylinositol. In conclusion, alveolar macrophages rapidly degrade SP-D and may play an important role in SP-D turnover and clearance.
Strategies to prevent weight gain in adults: a systematic review.

Context A Healthy People 2020 objective is to increase the prevalence of healthy-weight adults in the U.S. A systematic review of the effectiveness and safety of strategies to prevent weight gain in adults was performed. Evidence acquisition MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched through June 2012. Two reviewers independently reviewed titles, abstracts, and articles. Trials and observational studies with at least 1 year of follow-up that reported on strategies to prevent weight gain or maintain weight were included. Data were abstracted on weight, adherence, safety, and quality-of-life outcomes. The quantity, quality, and consistency of the evidence were graded, with a focus on studies' risks of bias, consistency of results across studies, how directly the question of interest was addressed, and precision of results. A meaningful difference and a significant threshold ( p Evidence synthesis Twenty-two studies (11 trials and 11 observational studies) involving 480,142 participants were included. The strength of evidence is low for all strategies, but effective approaches may include low-fat diets, eating fewer meals prepared away from home, eating more fruits and vegetables, monitoring heart rate during exercise, and participation in group lifestyle sessions with reminder text messages. Safety and quality of life were rarely reported. Conclusions Although the evidence is not strong, there may be effective strategies to prevent weight gain.
Elimination of Phase Shifts between the Currents in Two Antennas

If two antennas (vertical radiators) are fed through transmission lines from a common radio-frequency supply, then phase shifts between the currents in these antennas will occur if one antenna varies in capacity or resistance. This will result in a change of the horizontal radiation pattern. As shown in the following paper these phase shifts can be eliminated by a certain method of tuning the antenna circuits. The degree of phase compensation attainable, however, depends on the attenuation of the transmission line. Compensation of phase shifts is also possible if an artificial line is inserted at the sending end for reasons of making the effective electrical length of the transmission line any value desired. The results of the experimental investigation were found to be in good agreement with the theoretical analysis.
Is pulmonary vein isolation still the cornerstone in atrial fibrillation ablation

Radiofrequency catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) has become a frequently used therapy after failure of at least one antiarrhythmic drug. The cornerstone of AF ablation has been durable pulmonary vein isolation. However, understanding the positive and negative outcomes of catheter ablation of AF is severely limited by diverse ablation methodologies that do not seem to result in durable pulmonary vein isolation. Without durable pulmonary isolation ablation, it is unclear if ablation strategies need to be modified to include extrapulmonary vein ablation targets in combination with pulmonary vein isolation or alone to improve long-term procedural success rates. The marked discrepancy between AF ablation procedure success rates and actual long-term pulmonary vein isolation rates does suggest that targeting other mechanisms can be considered to achieve similar or better results when compared to pulmonary vein isolation alone.
Influence of therapeutic radiation on polycaprolactone and polyurethane biomaterials

Biomedical polymers are exposed in vivo to ionizing radiation as implants, coatings and bystander materials. High levels of ionizing radiation (e.g. X-ray and gamma) have been reported to cause degradation and/or cross-linking in many polymers. This pilot study sought to determine causes of failure, by investigating how therapeutic radiation affects two different porous polymeric scaffolds: polycaprolactone (PCL) and polyurethane (PU). PCL is a bioresorbable material used in biomedical devices (e.g., dentistry, internal fixation devices and targeted drug delivery capsules). PU is commonly used in medical applications (e.g., coatings for pacemakers, tissue expanders, catheter tubing and wound dressings). PU was specifically fabricated to be a non-degradable polymer in this study. Porous scaffolds, fabricated using solvent casting and/or salt leeching techniques, were placed in phosphate buffered saline (PBS, pH=7.4) and exposed to typical cancer radiotherapy. A total dose of 50 Gy was broken into 25 doses over an eleven-week period. Collected PBS was tested for polymer leachants and degradation products using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS), results revealed no analyzable leachants from either polymer. Scaffolds were characterized using Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy, Size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). No gross visual changes were observed in either polymer, however PU exhibited microstructure changes after irradiation. Increased number average molecular weight and weight average molecular weight in PCL and PU were observed after irradiation, indicating crosslinking. PU displayed an increase in intrinsic viscosity that further confirms increased crosslinking. PCL and PU showed decreases in crystallinity after irradiation, and PU crystallinity shifted from long-range-order hard segments to short-range-order hard segments after irradiation. Results from both PCL and PU suggest changes in polymer backbones. This preliminary study suggests that therapeutic radiation doses cause both degradation and crosslinking in PCL and PU.
Stress and Coping among Latin American Women Immigrants

This chapter focuses on social and cultural factors and the adaptive patterns of Central and South American immigrants in Washington, D.C. It concentrates on two areas: (1) an understanding of linkages between levels of stress and their correlation to sociocultural characteristics, and (2) the identification of patterns of conflict resolution used by Latino newcomers to cope with the demands of a new urban environment. Since a sizable proportion of these immigrants are women, the findings presented draw heavily on the feminine experience.
Turbo multiuser detection: A primer

Turbo multiuser detection refers to joint channel decoding and multiuser detection using an iterative exchange of soft information between the two processes. This technique, which offers an attractive combination of low complexity and near-optimal performance, has been examined by several authors in recent years with very promising results. This paper provides a brief introduction to this area.
Vibration and Large Deflection of a Beam-Cable System

This paper studies the large{de∞ection static and dynamic characteristics of a slender prismatic cantilevered beam loaded by a cable attached at the tip and terminating near the base. This system has a direct application to square solar-sail structures where the structural booms could be designed to buckle in order to supply tension loading in the sail membrane. The beam and cable conflguration can be considered a two-dimensional analogy of this three-dimensional problem. The equilibrium and vibration properties are investigated using three methods: numerical integration of the governing equations using a shooting method; flnite element analysis using ABAQUS; and experiments using a laser vibrometer. Two difierent cable attachment points are considered. Signiflcant results show a buckling load much higher than for a cantilever beam under axial end load, and sensitivity of the vibration frequencies near the buckling load. In addition, anomalies discovered while analyzing the system using the flnite element method are discussed.
Dual Residual in Augmented Lagrangian Coordination for Decomposition-Based Optimization

As system design problems increase in complexity, researchers seek approaches to optimize such problems by coordinating the optimizations of decomposed sub-problems. Many methods for optimization by decomposition have been proposed in the literature among which, the Augmented Lagrangian Coordination (ALC) method has drawn much attention due to its efficiency and flexibility. The ALC method involves a quadratic penalty term, and the initial setting and update strategy of the penalty weight are critical to the performance of the ALC. The weight in the traditional weight update strategy always increases and previous research shows that an inappropriate initial value of the penalty weight may cause the method not to converge to optimal solutions.Inspired by the research on Augmented Lagrangian Relaxation in the convex optimization area, a new weight update strategy in which the weight can either increase or decrease is introduced into engineering optimization. The derivation of the primal and dual residuals for optimization by decomposition is conducted as a first step. It shows that the traditional weight update strategy only considers the primal residual, which may result in a duality gap and cause a relatively big solution error. A new weight update strategy considering both the primal and dual residuals is developed which drives the dual residual to zero in the optimization process, thus guaranteeing the solution accuracy of the decomposed problem. Finally, the developed strategy is applied to both mathematical and engineering test problems and the results show significant improvements in solution accuracy. Additionally, the proposed approach makes the ALC method more robust since it allows the coordination to converge with an initial weight selected from a much wider range of possible values while the selection of initial weight is a big concern in the traditional weight update strategy.© 2014 ASME
Determination of Morphine and Codeine in Hot Pot by Solid-phase Extraction and HPLC

s: Objective To establish a simple, sensitive and exact method for the determination of morphine and codeine in hot pot by solid-phase extraction and HPLC. Methods The hot pot samples were extracted and condensed by solid-phase extraction with Chem Elut catridges and then separated on a Shim-pack CLC-ODS HPLC column (6.0mm×150mm) using a gradient mobile phase consisting of CH_3OH-20mmol/LCH_3COONH_4(pH7.O)/40:60 at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. Detection wavelength was 212nm. Results The liner range was 0～50mg/L and 0～80mg/L for morphine and codeine and the detection limits were 0.1mg/L and 0.5mg/L respectively. Extraction recoveries were 94.7% and 92.3%. The RSDs were 3.87% and 4.58%. Conclusion This method is sensitive, rapid and simple, and it can be used for the determination of morphine and codeine in hot pot samples.
Slaves and Englishmen: human bondage in the early modern Atlantic world

This book is an important addition to the study of early modern British slavery – both the slavery that Britons supervised and carried out in the Atlantic, and the captivity that they experienced i...
University-based clinical laboratory science programs: strategies for survival.

OBJECTIVE To describe the current status of clinical laboratory science (CLS)/medical technology (MT) programs regarding the impact of budgetary cutbacks and to identify successful strategies for program survival. DESIGN Mail survey. SETTING University-based CLS/MT programs accredited by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA). PARTICIPANTS All CAHEA-accredited, university-based CLS/MT programs in Ohio and bordering states and all "big-ten" programs as listed in the Allied Health Education Directory 21st edition (n = 19). INTERVENTION None. OUTCOME MEASURES Program directors' perceptions of: the potential threat of program closure, the impact of budget cutbacks, and successful strategies to enhance program viability. RESULTS A total of 13 programs responded, for a response rate of 68%. The majority of the respondents (66%) indicated that they were experiencing budget cutbacks that affected either their operating budgets or their staffing configurations, or both. Although program closure had been discussed in many programs, directors felt that their programs would not be threatened with closure in the next three years. Only one program had intentionally decreased student enrollment. Strategies implemented by program directors fall into one of four categories: curriculum restructure, use of nontraditional instructional staff, revenue generation, and use of innovative teaching strategies. CONCLUSION CLS/MT programs are experiencing budget cutbacks consistent with the overall trend in institutions of higher education. In light of the trend toward program closures and decreasing entering practitioners, educators must address issues that relate to program viability. CLS/MT program directors are seeking and instituting changes to enhance the status of their programs in their respective institutions. These strategies are similar to those reported by other higher-education administrators. Further research and evaluation are necessary to determine the outcomes of such measures.
Interleukin-10 Inhibits Interferon-γ–Induced Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 Gene Transcription in Human Monocytes

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a potent monocyte regulatory cytokine that inhibits gene expression of proinflammatory mediators. In this study, we investigated the mechanism by which IL-10 downregulates expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on the cell surface of normal human monocytes activated with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). IL-10 inhibition of IFN-gamma-induced ICAM-1 expression was apparent as early as 3 hours and was blocked by an anti-IL-10 antibody but not by an isotype-matched control antibody. Northern blot analysis showed that IL-10 reduced the accumulation of ICAM-1 mRNA in IFN-gamma-stimulated monocytes. IL-10 inhibition of ICAM-1 steady-state mRNA was detected at 3 hours and remained at 24 hours. Nuclear run-on transcription assays showed that IL-10 inhibited the rate of IFN-gamma-induced transcription of the ICAM-1 gene, and mRNA stability studies showed that IL-10 did not alter the half-life of IFN-gamma-induced ICAM-1 message. Thus, IL-10 inhibits IFN-gamma-induced ICAM-1 expression in monocytes primarily at the level of gene transcription. Activation of IFN-gamma-responsive genes requires tyrosine phosphorylation of the transcriptional factor STAT-1alpha (signal transducer and activator of transcription-1alpha). However, IL-10 did not affect IFN-gamma-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT-1alpha or alter STAT-1alpha binding to the IFN-gamma response element (IRE) in the ICAM-1 promoter. Instead, IL-10 prevented IFN-gamma-induced binding activity at the NF-kappaB site of the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-responsive NF-kappaB/C-EBP composite element in the ICAM-1 promoter. These data indicate that IL-10 inhibits IFN-gamma-induced transcription of the ICAM-1 gene by a regulatory mechanism that may involve NF-kappaB.
The solution conformations of lidocaine analogues.

IR and 1H NMR studies in CDCl3 and CCl4 of a series of tertiary aminoxylidides with the amino group in the 2 to 6 position of the acyl chain are described. Lidocaine, diethylaminoaceto-2′,6′-xylidide, forms an intramolecular five-membered ring hydrogen-bonded monomer at all concentrations in both solvents. β-Diethyl-amino-propiono-2′,6′-xylidide forms an intramolecular six-membered ring hydrogen-bonded monomer in CDCl3 and CCl4 but a trans intermolecularly associated species is the major form present at high concentrations in CCl4. The longer-chain homologues are mixtures of nonassociated trans and cis monomers at low concentrations but associated trans forms predominate at high concentrations. Evidence for the presence of a hydrogen-bonded seven-membered ring intramolecular monomer in CDCl3 for γ-diethylaminobutyro-2′,6′-xylidide is presented. The relationship between the molecular conformation and the partition coefficient is discussed.
The Modern Cytology Laboratory: Moving Beyond the Pap Test

New recommendations for screening intervals across different age groups is leading to a diminished role for the cytology laboratory and an increased role for the human papillomavirus (HPV) testing laboratory. With the introduction of the liquid-based Papanicolaou test, high-risk HPV testing, and computer-assisted screening, the cytology laboratory is at the forefront of efforts to improve screening for the provision of better patient care. Cytology laboratories are ideally positioned to facilitate important basic and applied research involving cervical cancer.
Nursing Informatics Competencies: Psychometric Validation, Dissemination, and Maintenance of Self-Assessment Tool for Nurse Leaders

Due to rapid advances in technology, HIT competencies for nursing leaders require frequent attention and updating from experts in the field to ensure relevance to nursing leaders' work. This workshop will target nursing informatics researchers and leaders to: 1) learn methods and findings from a study validating a Self-Assessment Scale for Nursing Informatics Competencies for Nurse Leaders, 2) generate awareness of the Self-Assessment scale, 3) discuss strategies for maintenance of competencies overtime and 4) identify strategies to engage nursing leaders in this pursuit.
(m-Phenyl­enedimethyl­ene)diammonium p-nitro­phenyl­phosphate perchlorate

The title compound, C8H14N22+·C12H8N2O8P−·ClO4−, was formed by the reaction of α,α-bis-m-xylenediamine and sodium bis-p-nitro­phenyl­phosphate in the presence of Zn(ClO4)·6H2O in methanol solution. The two amine groups of the m-xylenediammonium ion are each protonated and each hydrogen-bonded to two O atoms of the phosphate anion, which acts as a 1,3-bridge. The ammonium groups are arranged matched face to face and each pair is doubly bridged by two perchlorate ions through hydrogen bonding. In addition, there are also weak C—H⋯O inter­actions. Both the N—H⋯O and C—H⋯O inter­actions are contained in a channel down the a axis. The perchlorate oxygen atoms are disordered over two positions with site occupancy factors of ca 0.7 and 0.3.
The Gogol-St. Petersburg Nexus

From Alexander Pushkin and Fyodor Dostoevsky in the nineteenth century to Andrei Bitov in the twentieth, St. Petersburg functions as a critical element in Russian literature and social thought. The great nineteenth-century prose writer and playwright Nikolai Gogol strikingly embodies motifs and themes associated with Russia’s great yet dysfunctional and, ultimately, erstwhile capital city. Gogol is especially celebrated for his fragmented and surreal images, his sense of a terrifying void lurking beneath an apparently solid surface reality and his dehumanized characters, all of which are linked with the city of St. Petersburg. The reader encounters these elements from Gogol’s first tales, embedded in his native Ukraine. They will figure significantly in such St. Petersburg stories as “The Nose” and “The Overcoat.” Most importantly, even those later works not set in St. Petersburg – his play The Inspector General and his unfinished novel Dead Souls – incorporate features peculiar to Gogol’s reading of a terrifying and, in the end, alien urban environment. For Gogol, St. Petersburg betokens the void, a deceptive superficial reality, and a blurring of the boundaries between the phenomenal and noumenal worlds. Carried further, Gogol uses his reading of St. Petersburg symbolism to blur the line between the living and the dead, with damnation lying just beneath an illusory surface reality of an evil Westernized city founded by the tsar who led Russia away from traditional values. His characters embody this Westernized capital city and carry it around with themselves even in provincial settings far away from its dangerous glitter.
80 nm tunable semiconductor disk lasers in DBR-free geometry

We report an 80 nm tunable DBR-free semiconductor disk laser with 6 W CW output power. We attributed such wide tunability to the broad effective gain bandwidth allowed by the DBR-free geometry.
Efficacy of tildipirosin metaphylaxis for the prevention of respiratory disease, otitis and mortality in pre-weaned Holstein calves.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two metaphylactic approaches (long acting antibiotic injected once at 10 days of life or twice at 10 and 35 days of life) on the prevention of bovine respiratory disease (BRD), otitis and mortality in high-risk group-housed pre-weaned Holstein heifer calves. The antibiotic of choice for the metaphylactic approach was a long acting macrolide (tildipirosin) administered subcutaneously at the base of the neck at a dose of 1 mL per 45 kg body weight. A clinical trial was carried out on one dairy farm with random allocation of newborn calves to one of three treatments: (1) control (CTR); (2) one injection at 10 days of life (M1); and (3) two injections at 10 and 35 days of life (M2). Study heifers (n = 795) were reared in group pens of 25 calves per pen and fed unrestricted acidified non-saleable milk from day 1 to day 65 of life. Cox proportional hazard and general linear mixed models were used to evaluate the effect of treatment on mortality, BRD and otitis, and average daily weight gain. The birth weights, proportions of calves with inadequate transfer of passive immunity, proportions of calves born from primiparous dams and proportions of calves born from assisted parturitions were not different among CTR, M1 and M2 treatments. A significantly lower hazard of being affected with BRD and/or otitis (but not for BRD or otitis alone) was observed for M1 (hazard ratio, HR = 0.70, P = 0.009) and M2 (HR = 0.72, P = 0.01) when compared to the CTR group. Metaphylactic treatments had no effect on mortality, otitis and average daily weight gain during the pre-weaning period.
Hooked on relaxin: A career-long love affair with a fickle and elusive hormone

At the Second International Congress on the Hormone Relaxin, held in Adelaide, Australia in 1994, Bob Kroc, Roy Greep and I presented an historical perspective on relaxin which was published with the conference proceedings [1]. Therefore, rather than go over the same ground again, I would like to review some recent studies that have reinforced my belief that relaxin remains an elusive — yet seductive — hormone for investigation. Your indulgence is then sought for some philosophical observations on relaxin’s rightful place in the insulin-like polypeptide family, and some speculations as to what should be investigated as relaxin-related phenomena. However, these observations are best considered within the context of a few sobering realities of where relaxin research stands today.
Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Team via Independent Study Courses

Undergraduate students from Engineering, Physics, Geology & Chemistry come together to form multidisciplinary teams as part of an undergraduate research opportunity through a sequence of independent study classes within the Department of Engineering at James Madison University. The undergraduate research groups typically contain students from freshman to senior years, totaling approximately three to eight students per academic year per group. One of the primary objectives is to provide a high-level research experience for undergraduates in a nurturing environment within the academic year. Peer-mentoring is integral piece to the team dynamics. The course sequence that facilitates the research opportunity is constructed in order for students to produce research that can be applied to obtaining a minor in Materials Science. Methodologies employed in the course range from problem-based learning, inquiry-based learning, and collaborative efforts with outside entities. The course objectives are geared towards developing critical & creative thinking, technical writing and oral communication skills through the development of planned action & experiments with data analysis as well as submitting findings to be presented at regional and national conferences.
Differential modulation diversity combining for hybrid narrowband-powerline/wireless smart grid communications

Narrowband powerline communications (NB-PLC) and unlicensed wireless communications are considered as two leading communications technologies for emerging Smart Grid applications. The diversity provided by the simultaneous transmission of the same information over powerline and wireless links can be exploited to enhance the overall system reliability. In this paper, we consider differential transmission/detection and propose an efficient technique to combine the received signals of the NB-PLC and unlicensed wireless links considering the impulsive nature of the noise and interference on both links. The proposed technique relies only on the received signal power and does not require channel knowledge. In addition, we present simulation results to show that the proposed technique outperforms conventional differential modulation receiver combining techniques, namely, equal gain combining and average SNR combining.
Healthy Aging After Age 65: A Life-Span Health Production Function Approach:

This article examines the determinants of healthy aging using Grossman’s framework of a health production function. Healthy aging, sometimes described as successful aging, is produced using a variety of inputs, determined in early life, young adulthood, midlife, and later life. A healthy aging production function is estimated using nationally representative data from the 2010 and 2012 Health and Retirement Study on 7,355 noninstitutionalized seniors. Using a simultaneous equation mediation model, we quantify how childhood factors contribute to healthy aging, both directly and indirectly through their effects on mediating adult outcomes. We find that favorable childhood conditions significantly improve healthy aging scores, both directly and indirectly, mediated through education, income, and wealth. We also find that good health habits have positive effects on healthy aging that are larger in magnitude than the effects of childhood factors. Our findings suggest that exercising, maintaining proper weight, ...
Anxiety, depressive symptoms, and cardiac autonomic function in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women with hot flashes: a brief report

Author(s): Fu, Polly; Gibson, Carolyn J; Mendes, Wendy Berry; Schembri, Michael; Huang, Alison J | Abstract: ObjectiveThe aim of the study was to examine whether anxiety and depressive symptoms are associated with an adverse cardiac autonomic profile among midlife women with hot flashes.MethodsAnxiety and depressive symptoms were evaluated by validated self-administered questionnaires among peri- and postmenopausal women in a randomized trial of slow-paced respiration for hot flashes. Pre-ejection period (PEP), a marker of sympathetic activation, and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), a marker of parasympathetic activation, were measured at baseline and 12 weeks using impedance cardiography and electocardiography. Multivariable repeated measures linear regression models examined associations between anxiety and depression symptoms and autonomic markers, corrected for multiple comparisons with Benjamini-Hochberg procedure, and adjusted for age and body mass index.ResultsAmong the 121 participants, greater state anxiety was associated with shorter PEP, reflecting higher sympathetic activity (β = -0.24, P = 0.02). Greater trait anxiety and cognitive anxiety were associated with lower RSA, reflecting decreased parasympathetic activity (β = -0.03, P l 0.01 for Spielberger Trait Anxiety; β = -0.06, P = 0.02 for Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS] Anxiety Subscale). Greater depressive symptoms were associated with lower RSA (β = -0.06, P = 0.03 for HADS Depression Subscale; β = -0.03, P = 0.04 for Beck Depression Inventory).ConclusionsAmong peri- and postmenopausal women with hot flashes, greater self-reported anxiety and depressive symptoms were associated with lower levels of resting cardiac parasympathetic activity, and greater state anxiety was associated with higher levels of cardiac sympathetic activity. Findings suggest that midlife women with increased anxiety and depressive symptoms may have an unfavorable cardiac autonomic profile with potential implications for their overall cardiovascular risk.
Pulsed versus continuous tones for evaluating the loudness of tinnitus.

Loudness balance techniques are commonly employed to match the loudness of tinnitus using either pulsed or continuous tones; however, it is not known whether the tone duration affects the observed loudness matches. In this study, hearing thresholds and tinnitus loudness matches were measured in 26 subjects with chronic tinnitus using both pulsed and continuous tones. Subjects' thresholds and loudness matches were determined at 11 frequencies between 0.5 and 10 kHz. No significant differences were found between pulsed versus continuous measures, either for thresholds or for loudness matches. There were, however, nine subjects (34.5% of the group) who showed relatively large differences (> or =10 dB) at one or more test frequencies. These "outlier" values did not show systematic trends; some were positive, some negative. In conclusion, studies employing group data appear to be comparable if group sizes are sufficiently large (e.g., > or =25 subjects). Studies employing smaller numbers of subjects may, however, be vulnerable to potential positive or negative biases introduced by one or more outliers.
Chandra X-Ray Observation of the Globular Cluster GLIMPSE-C01

We have observed the recently discovered rich star cluster GLIMPSE-C01 for 46 ks with the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Seventeen X-ray sources with luminosities greater than 0.6e31 ergs/s were discovered, one of which is likely a quiescent low-mass X-ray binary. The spatial distribution of these X-ray sources with respect to the NIR and IR images of the cluster, combined with the luminosity and spectral hardness distributions of the sources, provide strong evidence that GLIMPSE-C01 is a rich Galactic globular cluster.
Effect of Obesity on Complications in Short-Scar Breast Reduction: A Retrospective Study of 236 Consecutive Patients

Background:Prior studies have examined the relationship between obesity and adverse outcomes after reduction mammaplasty, suggesting a correlation between increasing body mass index (BMI) and posto...
Simultaneous estimation and inference for multiple response variables

AbstractMultivariate data arise frequently in biomedical and health studies where multiple response variables are collected across subjects. Unlike a univariate procedure fitting each response separately, a multivariate regression model provides a unique opportunity in studying the joint evolution of various response variables. In this paper, we propose two estimation procedures that improve estimation efficiency for the regression parameter by accommodating correlations among the response variables. The proposed procedures do not require knowledge of the true correlation structure nor does it estimate the parameters associated with the correlation. Theoretical and simulation results confirm that the proposed estimators are more efficient than the one obtained from the univariate approach. We further propose simple and powerful inference procedures for a goodness-of-fit test that possess the chi-squared asymptotic properties. Extensive simulation studies suggest that the proposed tests are more powerful t...
Simulating the Effect of Speed Humps on the U-Turn Traffic

Traffic simulation represents an effective tool for evaluating the suggested alternatives to enhance traffic conditions prior to their application in real sites. U-turn sections represent examples of the complicated sections that cannot be analyzed properly without applying microsimulation approach. Recently, in Iraq, speed humps were applied in prior to the merging locations and U-turn sections to enhance traffic safety. However, the characteristics of traffic at U-turn section with the presence of speed humps have got little attention in previous literatures. This paper uses VISSIM microsimulation model to emulate traffic movements at selected U-turn sites in the cases of with and without speed humps. Three median U-turn sites have been selected where two of these sites have speed humps prior to the turning locations. Real traffic data have been obtained from these sites using video recordings to estimate specific parameters. The developed simulation models were successfully calibrated and validated with the real data. The models have been used in testing different scenarios including the effect of having different locations/ types of speed humps and finding the capacity of U-turn sections. The results showed that closer the speeds hump to the turning location is lower the time spent for merging. The time spent values are increased with the increasing of traffic speeds at humps. Higher capacity value is obtained for the site with an auxiliary lane and speeds hump compared with the other sites.