cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Resilience on Outcomes of Total Knee Arthroplasty.

Abstract Background Resilience, defined as the ability to bounce back from stress, has been suggested as a predictor of surgical outcomes. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between resilience and patient-reported outcomes following primary elective total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We hypothesized that patients exhibiting greater preoperative resilience would report better outcome scores. Methods A prospective cohort of 153 patients (74 male, 79 female) undergoing primary elective TKA completed questionnaires preoperatively and at 3 and 12 months following their index procedure. The validated Brief Resilience Scale was used to evaluate resilience. Hierarchical multiple linear regression was used to analyze the effect of resilience on KOOS-JR (Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score JR) and PROMIS-10 (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) outcome scores. Results At 12 months, the change in the coefficient of determination (R2) attributable to preoperative resilience was 0.101 (P Conclusion Preoperative resilience is a significant predictor of overall physical and mental health outcomes at both 3 and 12 months. Greater concurrent resilience predicted better scores across all outcomes. These findings suggest that major elective surgery, like other traumatic events, can cause a change in resilience. Although functional improvements after TKA are expected, those patients who exhibit greater resilience at baseline are more likely to report an improved quality of life.
Bromodomain inhibitor JQ1 reversibly blocks IFN-γ production.

As a class, ‘BET’ inhibitors disrupt binding of bromodomain and extra-terminal motif (BET) proteins, BRD2, BRD3, BRD4 and BRDT, to acetylated histones preventing recruitment of RNA polymerase 2 to enhancers and promoters, especially super-enhancers, to inhibit gene transcription. As such, BET inhibitors may be useful therapeutics for treatment of cancer and inflammatory disease. For example, the small molecule BET inhibitor, JQ1, selectively represses MYC, an important oncogene regulated by a super-enhancer. IFN-γ, a critical cytokine for both innate and adaptive immune responses, is also regulated by a super-enhancer. Here, we show that JQ1 represses IFN-γ expression in TH1 polarized PBMC cultures, CD4+ memory T cells, and NK cells. JQ1 treatment does not reduce activating chromatin marks at the IFNG locus, but displaces RNA polymerase II from the locus. Further, IFN-γ expression recovers in polarized TH1 cultures following removal of JQ1. Our results show that JQ1 abrogates IFN-γ expression, but repression is reversible. Thus, BET inhibitors may disrupt the normal functions of the innate and adaptive immune response.
5 – The Lens

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the structure and elasticity of the lens of the eye. The crystalline lens and the cornea together form the compound lens that projects the optical image on the retina. Although the lens has more curvature and is thicker than the cornea, it has only one-half the refracting power of the cornea. The functionally low refractive power of the lens is a consequence of a very small change in refractive index at its surfaces in vivo. Within the eye, the lens is bathed by the aqueous humor at its anterior surface and is in contact with the vitreous body at the posterior surface. The lens changes its shape during the process of focusing optical images on the retina. It is thicker when the eye is focused on near objects and is thinner when focused on far objects. The change in thickness and curvature is accomplished by means of a suspensory ligament called the zonule of Zinn. The chapter also presents the theory of the mechanism of accommodation. When the ciliary muscle, to which the other end of the zonular fibers are connected, is relaxed, the zonule is under tension and pulls on the equatorial edge of the lens capsule to give a thin lens focused for distant objects. The chemical composition of the lens is not the same in all portions. The average composition of the lens, however, is about 63% water; 36% protein; and 1% lipids, salts, and carbohydrates.
Chapter 19 – Performance – Cruise

A large number of steady level and accelerated cruise methods are presented in the chapter. First, the equation of motion is adapted to unaccelerated level flight. The resulting formulation is used to develop many classical analysis methods to determine a number of important steady level cruise performance, including the most important types of cruising speeds encountered in the operation of aircraft. Formulation is provided that extends the theory associated with the simplified drag model to that of the adjusted drag model (both are presented in Chapter 15, Aircraft Drag Analysis). Creation of the the flight envelope is presented, as well as computer programs used to determine the maximum airspeed for a propeller aircraft, as this requires an iterative approach. This is followed by a presentation of a number of classical analysis methods for accelerated flight. This includes maneuvers such as a general constant velocity turns and energy state calculations.
Chapter 14 – Reporting Software

The sequencing of the human genome and the rise of “omic” profiling technologies have given rise to the clinical use of these data and experimental methodologies to better diagnose, treat, and manage patients having virtually any diagnosis from cancer to heart disease. As next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches gain traction in the clinical space, the need for reporting software to address all the complexities that come from the clinical use of NGS data is critical. These software systems must not only manage the deluge of data generated by NGS technologies, but also be able to analyze this information to identify, annotate, classify, and support the interpretation of variants. Reporting software must thus be able to leverage clinically validated computational pipelines and to integrate numerous genome annotation, variant, and medical databases in order to perform their required function. Furthermore, these tools must comply with regulatory standards for information technology (IT) and software systems that operate in the clinical space and should adopt well-established medical ontology and software engineering standards to facilitate semantic and syntactic interoperability with upstream and downstream clinical applications. Finally, reporting software must be able to share data nationally and globally through ongoing initiatives in this space, and in a manner that protects patient privacy while enabling more precise and informed interpretation of future patient results through the use of prior patient data.
P198 Dolutegravir rollout and expected prevalence of pretreatment drug resistance to antiretroviral therapy among kenyan women

Background The prevalence of pretreatment HIV drug resistance (PDR) to efavirenz-based ART is increasing in East Africa, which may decrease the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs. The recent implementation of dolutegravir-based ART is an important strategy to address PDR. However, concerns about a potential increased risk of neural tube defects associated with use of dolutegravir by women at the time of conception will likely prevent a large proportion of women from using this drug. Methods We developed an HIV simulation model to project the prevalence of PDR among Kenyan women prior to initiating ART, as well as to evaluate multiple health outcomes among men and women, including rate of virologic failure, over a 15-year time horizon, starting in 2019. The model simulated the emergence and transmission of resistance mutations to efavirenz-based ART, calibrated to the Kenyan epidemic. Our base-case scenario assumed dolutegravir coverage gradually increased such that, by 2022, 100% of men initiating ART receive dolutegravir and only 40% of women initiating ART receive dolutegravir. Results In 2019, the baseline PDR prevalence among women was 11.5%. In the base-case scenario, PDR prevalence peaked in 2021 to 12.3% and by the end of 2034 was 8.6%. On average over 15 years, among patients with PDR to efavirenz, 61.7% of men and 59.2% of women achieved viral suppression. When we assumed 100% dolutegravir coverage for women by 2022, PDR prevalence among women was 7.8% by the end of 2034. Conclusion Although efavirenz-associated PDR prevalence is projected to decrease over time as dolutegravir coverage expands, the prevalence of PDR will remain high among women, even several years from now. It remains important to identify cost-effective strategies to address PDR in populations for whom dolutegravir is not an option, particularly women. Disclosure No significant relationships.
Human papillomavirus vaccine timing associated with eventual human papillomavirus diagnosis in women.

Nearly all cases of cervical cancer are attributable to human papillomavirus (HPV), making it a significant women’s health issue. Though there have been advances in the prevention of HPV via vaccin...
High-resolution approach to quantify the impact of building-level flood risk mitigation and adaptation measures on flood losses at the community-level

Abstract Flood risk mitigation is paramount to decreasing the exposure of vulnerable communities to flooding events and provides a mechanism for communities to plan for future events. The majority of flood mitigation studies have focused on community-level mitigation rather than building-level mitigation measures. In this study, the impact of applying building-level flood risk mitigation measures was investigated as a means of mitigation strategy when community-level approaches are not feasible or possible. The building-level approaches include flood barrier systems, water pumps, and increasing the elevation of some select water-sensitive components within buildings. The approach developed herein is general and could be applied for any building type and is based on a probabilistic vulnerability method that includes uncertainty propagation across the damage/loss models. A suite of mitigation scenarios that use a combination of these building-level mitigation measures was applied to a portfolio of 15 building archetypes for a community-wide application. The impact of these mitigation scenarios on an illustrative example community is presented to demonstrate the ability to quantify the application of these technologies. The main contribution of this paper is the ability to divide any community into its smallest units and quantify the summation of these small changes to the whole community. The analysis results revealed that some building-level mitigation scenarios can significantly decrease flood losses at both the building and the community level.
REU Mentoring Engagement: Contrasting Perceptions of Administrators and Faculty

To examine perceptions of faculty mentors of undergraduate research and their supervisors, this work discusses the results of surveys administered after 3 years of a summer CS-focused REU Site program. One survey was completed by administrators of faculty research mentors--deans and chairs--and the other was completed by faculty mentors. The surveys indicated a disconnect between how the groups assessed undergraduate research mentoring as an indicator of faculty productivity, and overt vs. covert recognition of undergraduate mentoring. Additional topics explored the effectiveness of internal communication of program outcomes and ways to improve it, as well as post-program continued mentoring engagement linking to perceptions of long-term student benefits.
Seismic Data Acquisition

Seismic data acquisition begins with a seismic source creating seismic waves and ends with the recording of the echoes from beneath the surface that result from the source disturbance. The earth motion is detected by geophones on land and by pressure detectors at sea, which are analog devices that measure continuous ground motion or pressure. The received data are converted to digital form and stored on magnetic tape for subsequent data processing with a digital computer.
The hidden history of hypersensitivity pneumonitis.

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a relatively new construct, first reported in the early 20th century, despite major aetiologic factors (farming, bird husbandry) being part of human activities for millennia. Initial confirmed HP reports include exposure to farming and forestry (1932) and bird exposure (1965), much more recently in time than is often assumed. Later changes in occupational and living practices have led to HP associated with isocyanates, machine coolants, indoor mould, hot tubs, and other exposures. Evolution in our pathological understanding of interstitial lung disease in general, wider computerised tomography (CT) utilisation, and advances in immunology and genomics have shaped our modern conceptualisation of HP. Examining historical accounts of HP and its causative factors not only considers when the first cases were recognised, but also explores why the disease emerged at specific times and places, and may provide further insights relevant to the mechanisms underlying HP and disease prevention.
Simulation-based Integrated Design and Control with Embedded Mixed-Integer MPC using Constrained Bayesian Optimization

We present a black-box optimization approach for the integration of design and control of constrained nonlinear systems under uncertainty. The problems of interest are difficult to solve since the dynamics and uncertainties occur on much shorter timescales than the process lifetime, the uncertainties are described by continuous random variables with high variance, and key operational decisions are modeled with a mixture of discrete and continuous variables. Instead of aggressively simplifying the number of operational periods and uncertainty scenarios to improve tractability of the problem, we are interested in developing a simulation-based optimization strategy by employing a high-quality decision rule that maps information measured online to the control inputs. Due to the inclusion of discrete scheduling decisions, we focus on a variant of model predictive control that can handle both continuous and discrete variables. We use a sample average approximation at every iteration to approximate the expected operating costs and constraints appearing in the main problem. Since the black-box optimizer handles noisy objective and constraint evaluations, it can mitigate errors introduced by considering only a finite number of samples. The advantages of the proposed method compared to alternative sequential design and control schemes are demonstrated on the design of a building cooling system under uncertain weather and demand conditions.
Safety and immunogenicity of different Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile vaccine formulations in two early phase randomized studies of healthy adults aged 50–85 years

Abstract Background Two phase 1/phase 2 studies assessed 2 formulations of investigational bivalent Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile vaccine (QS-21 adjuvanted toxoid and toxoid-alone) in healthy adults 50–85 years of age. Methods The QS-21 adjuvanted toxoid vaccine study randomized subjects 3:1 to 100 μg QS-21–containing C difficile vaccine or placebo administered in a shortened-month (Months 0, 1, 3) or day (Days 1, 8, 30) regimen. The toxoid-alone vaccine study randomized subjects 3:3:1 to receive 100 or 200 μg unadjuvanted C difficile vaccine formulation or placebo in Stages 1 and 2 (sentinel cohorts of different age groups), and 3:1 to receive the selected dose of unadjuvanted C difficile vaccine formulation or placebo in Stage 3 (Days 1, 8, 30). Safety was the primary outcome for both studies. Immunogenicity was determined by measuring serum toxin A– and B–specific neutralizing antibodies. Results In the day regimen, 10 reports across both studies of grade 3 injection site redness postdose 2 triggered predefined stopping rules. Local reactions in both studies were more common among vaccine versus placebo recipients. Injection site pain predominated and was generally mild in severity. Systemic events were infrequent and generally mild-to-moderate in severity. Adverse events were reported by 50.0%–75.0% and 16.7%–50.0% of subjects in the QS-21 and toxoid-alone studies, respectively. Immune responses peaked around Day 37 (shortened-month regimen) or between Day 15 and Month 2 (day regimen) and remained above baseline throughout follow-up. Conclusions Both formulations demonstrated robust immunogenicity. Both studies stopped early due to grade 3 injection site redness postdose 2 of the day regimen; neither formulation progressed to later stage development. Instead, an aluminum hydroxide-containing formulation of the vaccine candidate administered at 0, 1, and 6 months, which was safe and immunogenic in phase 1 and 2 studies, advanced to phase 3 studies.
Urban scaling of opioid analgesic sales in the United States

Opioid misuse is a public health crisis in the United States. The origin of this crisis is associated with a sharp increase in opioid analgesic prescribing. We used the urban scaling framework to analyze opioid prescribing patterns in US commuting zones (CZs), i.e., groups of counties based on commuting patterns. The urban scaling framework postulates that a set of scaling relations can be used to predict health outcomes and behaviors in cities. We used data from the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Automated Reports and Consolidated Ordering System (ARCOS) to calculate counts of oxycodone/hydrocodone pills distributed to 607 CZs in the continental US from 2006 to 2014. We estimated the scaling coefficient of opioid pill counts by regressing log(pills) on log(population) using a piecewise linear spline with a single knot at 82,363. Our results show that CZs with populations below the knot scaled superlinearly (β = 1.36), i.e., larger CZs had disproportionally larger pill counts compared to smaller CZs. On the other hand, CZs with populations above the knot scaled sublinearly (β = 0.92), i.e., larger CZs had disproportionally smaller pill counts compared to smaller CZs. This dual scaling pattern was consistent across US census regions. For CZs with population below the knot, the superlinear scaling of pills is consistent with the explanation that an increased number of successful matches between prescribers and users will lead to higher prescribing rates. The non-linear scaling behavior observed could be the result of a combination of factors, including stronger health care systems and prescribing regulation in largely populated commuting zones, as well as high availability of other opioids such as heroin in these commuting zones. Future research should explore potential mechanisms for the non-linearity of prescription opioid pills.
El valor de la intimidad: Una constante en la poesía de Julieta Dobles Izaguirre

En este trabajo, haremos un recorrido general por la obra de Julieta Dobles Izaguirre, lo cual nos permitira apreciar las multiples facetas por las cuales ha pasado a traves de los tiempos y el desarrollo de la tematica que caracteriza su obra. Este se lograra mediante una muestra pequena pero representativa de algunos poemas de cada poemario.
Viking site selection and certification

The landing site selection and certification effort for the Viking mission to Mars is reviewed from the premission phase through the acquisition of data and decisions during mission operations and the immediate postlanding evaluation. The utility and limitations of the orbital television and infrared data and ground based radar observation of candidate and actual landing sites are evaluated. Additional instruments and types of observations which would have been useful include higher resolution cameras, radar altimeters, and terrain hazard avoidance capability in the landing system. Suggestions based on this experience that might be applied to future missions are included.
Study of spatial-temporal characteristics of optical fiber based on ultra-short pulse interferometry

We reconstruct modal intensity distribution for several spatial modes of optical fiber using autocorrelation of ultrashort pulses in Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The modes of optical fiber are separated in time due to group velocity dispersion, and detected experimentally by observing the interference of modal field distribution with time gating reference field.
Built Environmental Designs in Promoting Pedestrian Safety

This study examined two-level (road environments and census tracts) built environments related to the probability of severe injury for pedestrians. In total, 1407 pedestrian–vehicle crashes (years 2008–2012) were identified from 140 census tracts in the city of Austin. Two multilevel models were applied to examine pedestrian injury severity by using level-1 factors (individual characteristics, road environments, and area characteristics around the crash location) and level-2 factors (characteristics of census tracts). The results demonstrated the importance of using the multi-level model to avoid the biased results from employing the single-level model. This study showed that the likelihood of being severely injured or killed decreased when vehicles turned left, when crashes occurred at intersections, when there were traffic control devices at the crash location, and when crashes occurred during inclement weather conditions. Areas with higher sidewalk densities and higher percentage of commercial uses were negative correlates, while population density was a positive predictor. Pedestrian injury severity has been and will continue to be an important topic for the fields of public health. Future safety programs should focus on providing connected sidewalks and on populated areas.
The Validity of Scores from the GRE ® revised General Test for Forecasting Performance in Business Schools: Phase One

Scores from the GRE ® revised General Test provide important information regarding the verbal and quantitative reasoning abilities and analytical writing skills of applicants to graduate programs. The validity and utility of these scores depend upon the degree to which the scores predict success in graduate and business school in specific contexts. To assess the predictive validity of the GRE test for graduate business programs, we collaborated with an umber of universities and obtained data from each university's admissions office and registrar. We focused specifically on part-time and full-t ime students in master's of business administration (MBA) degree programs. Given the nested structure of the data, we used a 2-level (representing students and institutions) hierarchical linear model (HLM) to estimate regression models with first-semester MBA grade point average (GPA) or cumulative MBA GPA as the dependent variable and GRE scores and undergraduate GPA (UGPA) as independent variables. For predicting cumulative MBA GPA, the pseudo R-squared (R 2 ) value was .04 using UGPA, cohort year, and program type as the only predictors; this value increased substantially to .19 with the addition of GRE scores. The HLM results show that both GRE-Quantitative and GRE-Verbal scores were statistically significant predictors of both first-semester MBA GPA and cumulative MBA GPA.
On schedulability bounds of static priority schedulers

While utilization bound based schedulability test is simple and effective, it is often difficult to derive the bound itself. For its analytical complexity, utilization bound results are usually obtained on a case-by-case basis. In this paper, we develop a general framework that allows one to effectively derive schedulability bounds for a wide range of real-time systems with different workload patterns and schedulers. Our analytical model is capable of describing a wide range of tasks and schedulers' behaviors. We propose a new definition of utilization, called workload rate. While similar to utilization, workload rate enables flexible representation of different scheduling and workload scenarios and leads to uniform derivation of schedulability bounds. We derive a parameterized schedulability bound for static priority schedulers with arbitrary priority assignment. Existing utilization bounds for different priority assignments and task releasing patterns can be derived from our closed-form formula by simple assignments of proper parameters.
Increasing the saliency of behavior–consequence relations for children with autism who exhibit persistent errors

Some children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) display persistent errors that are not responsive to commonly used prompting or error-correction strategies; one possible reason for this is that the behavior–consequence relations are not readily discriminable (Davison & Nevin, 1999). In this study, we increased the discriminability of the behavior–consequence relations in conditional-discrimination acquisition tasks for 3 children with ASD using schedule manipulations in concert with a unique visual display designed to increase the saliency of the differences between consequences in effect for correct responding and for errors. A multiple baseline design across participants was used to show that correct responding increased for all participants, and, after 1 or more exposures to the intervention, correct responding persisted to varying degrees across participants when the differential reinforcement baseline was reintroduced to assess maintenance. These findings suggest that increasing the saliency of behavior–consequence relations may help to increase correct responding in children with ASD who exhibit persistent errors. Video Slides
Influence of Dietary Cholesterol on Mitochondrial Function in the Rat

Rat-liver mitochondrial cholesterol ester levels were increased nine-fold and free cholesterol levels were doubled by feeding 10% lard and 2% cholesterol with Purina rabbit chow pellets to weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats for 5 weeks. This resulted in depression of State 3 (ADP-stimulated) glutamate respiration and reduced sensitivity to inhibition of phosphyorylation by tetrabutylammonium bromide and oligomycin. Brain, heart, lung, spleen, kidney and testis mitochondrial functions were not responsive to changes in dietary cholesterol nor were increases noted in free cholesterol content; mitochondrial cholesterol esters in these six tissues remained at extremely low levels regardless of treatment. Inclusion of 0.01% oleyl-p-decylbenzene sulfonate (a hypocholesterolemic agent) in the 10% lard and 2% cholesterol diet prevented elevation of rat-liver cholesterol esters and restored "normal" mitochondrial functions of respiratory control. This compound had no lowering effect on the raised level of liver mitochondrial free cholesterol nor on the reduced mitochondrial sensitivity to the phosphorylation inhibitors. We concluded that cholesterol esters were associated with depression of liver mitochondrial respiratory control and that free cholesterol was related to desensitization of mitochondria to the phosphorylation inhibitors.
Amputations majeures des membres inférieurs après revascularisations multiples: cela en vaut-il la peine?

La revascularisation des membres inferieurs est souvent decrite comme excessivement centree sur la lesion, sans consideration suffisante du malade. Nous avons etudie le point de vue des malades concernant les procedures multiples pour sauvetage de membre se terminant par une amputation majeure du membre inferieur. Une banque de donnees prospective de chirurgie vasculaire a ete interrogee de Janvier 2000 a Decembre 2005 pour individualiser les malades ayant eu une amputation de jambe ou de cuisse apres echec d'une revascularisation du membre inferieur. Les malades ont ete interroges par telephone par une infirmiere vasculaire concernant leur opinion au sujet des revascularisations multiples pour sauvetage du membre, leur implication dans la prise de decision, leur etat fonctionnel (travail, preparation des repas, courses, conduite), l'utilisation d'une prothese et leur independance. Le Social Security death Index a ete utilise pour verifier la survie des malades. Les amputations pour infection ont ete exclues. Soixante-dix-huit malades ont eu une amputation de jambe ou de cuisse apres echec d'une revascularisation. Quarante-six malades (59%) etaient vivants a 5 ans. Treize malades ont ete perdus de vue, laissant 33 malades disponibles pour l'etude. Un total de 142 revascularisations des membres inferieurs (mediane = 4 par malade) ont ete realisees chez ces malades, comportant 94 pontages chirurgicaux (mediane = 3 par malade) et 48 interventions percutanees (mediane = 1 par malade). Quatre-vingt-cinq pour cent (28 malades sur 33) des amputes etudies feraient tout pour sauver leur membre s'il etait confronte a une situation semblable, quel que soit le nombre d'interventions. Cinquante-quatre pour cent (18 sur 33) des malades utilisaient activement une prothese et 91% (30 sur 33) residaient a leur domicile. Retrospectivement, les malades sont desireux d'avoir des revascularisations multiples – percutanees ou chirurgicales – pour tenter un sauvetage du membre, meme si le resultat final est une amputation majeure. L'independance et un resultat fonctionnel satisfaisant semblent etre obtenus chez la majorite des malades. Ces resultats vus du point de vue du malade sont necessaires pour guider la revascularisation, que celle-ci soit faite de facon percutanee ou chirurgicale.
Changes in quality of life and body image after gastric bypass surgery

Abstract Background Improvements in psychosocial status are an important aspect of successful outcomes after bariatric surgery. Relatively few studies have investigated the changes in psychosocial functioning at a number of points in the first few postoperative years. The present study was undertaken to assess the changes in quality of life and body image after gastric bypass surgery. The present study was performed at an academic medical center. Methods A total of 200 men and women were enrolled in the study and completed psychometric measures of quality of life and body image before surgery and again 20, 40, and 92 weeks postoperatively. Results The participants reported significant improvements in several domains of health- and weight-related quality of life, as well as changes in body image, after surgery. These changes were correlated with the percentage of weight loss. Conclusion Those who undergo gastric bypass surgery experienced significant improvements in quality of life and body image within the first few months after surgery. These changes were, with few exceptions, maintained into the second postoperative year.
Tolerability and safety of alosetron during long-term administration in female and male irritable bowel syndrome patients

Abstract OBJECTIVES: Alosetron (Lotronex) is a new therapeutic agent for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women with diarrhea-predominant IBS. This multicenter randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study assessed the safety and tolerability of alosetron during long-term (≤12 months) treatment. METHODS: A total of 859 subjects (637 female and 222 male) with IBS were enrolled from 130 sites in the United States and were randomized 3:1 to receive 1 mg alosetron or placebo b.i.d. for 48 wk; of the subjects, 649 (76%) were randomized to the alosetron group and 212 (24%) to the placebo group. Of the original group, 850 subjects received at least one dose of alosetron (n = 640) or placebo (n = 210). RESULTS: In all, 59% of the subjects completed the study. Safety data were similar in treatment groups and within age, sex, racial origin, and hormone use. Adverse events were reported by 83% (530/640) and 76% (159/210) of subjects in the alosetron and placebo groups, respectively, ( p p CONCLUSIONS: Alosetron 1 mg b.i.d. for 12 months was well tolerated. Constipation is the most frequent adverse event, with a higher incidence of transient constipation in alosetron-treated patients, typically occurring in the first month of treatment.
Picosecond photoemission sampling for contactless high speed integrated circuit diagnostics

AbstractThe idea of utilizing time -resolved photoemission for contactless electrical testing on internal nodes of IC's israther young. Initial studies quickly showed the advantages the technique offers over other methods. After a shortreview of the basic principle and its attractive features, this paper reports on the progress made toward meeting therequirements for IC testing and diagnostic equipment. The goals of IC testing are to provide high time and voltageresolutions with short testing time, and simultaneously high spatial resolution independent of the circuit technology(Si, GaAs). Here, the emphasis is on the time and voltage resolutions and short testing time. In the photoemissionprocess, these parameters are independent of the spatial resolution in the regime of interest. The investigation iscarried out with a pulsed -laser system generating picosecond pulses in the UV range. The measurements presentedwere performed on a photoconductive switch. This allows testing the time resolution of the method by ultra -fastsignals and generating the electric transients to be sampled by the same laser source as the sampling pulse. Thelatter point guarantees almost jitter -free operation. The results clearly demonstrate that photoemission sampling iscapable of contactless diagnostics and testing of very high -speed circuits with a high voltage resolution and shorttesting time.IntroductionThe major challenge for contactless IC testing is the combination of the three measuring parameters: 1) Timeresolution in the low picosecond range; 2) spatial resolution in the submicrometer range, and 3) voltage resolutionbelow 10 mV accomplished with short testing time as well as a wide range of applicability.Only a few years ago, was there just one feasible method to probe internal nodes of integrated circuits bycontactless means: electron beam probing.1-3 The ever -increasing switching speed and decreasing voltage swingsof modern high -speed electronic circuits have exceeded the performance limits of existing e-beam testing
Variable explicit finite element methods for unsteady heat conduction equations

Abstract In this paper we present an explicit-explicit method with the highest adaptability, in which a computational domain is partitioned into as many parts as the number of nodes, i.e., each part consists of only one node. The time increment proper to each node is automatically determined according to the nodal stability condition. Therefore we do not need any extra data set for the new algorithm.
Charge transfer reactions in alkane and cycloalkane systems. Estimated ionization potentials

Rate constants of change transfer reactions kCT, involving C3C9 alkanes and cycloalkanes, have been determined in an ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometer. The rate constants are significantly lower than the corresponding rate constants for collision when the reaction is less than about 0.5 eV exothermic for linear alkane ions, or less than about 0.2 eV exothermic for cycloalkane ions. In this region of low reaction efficiency, the efficiency of reaction with linear or branched alkanes seems to depend primarily on reaction exothermicity. (The efficiencies of reaction of a given ion with cyclic alkanes also depend on ΔHrn, but are higher than for reactions with other compounds). Although the lowered reaction efficiencies probably result, at least in part, from unfavorable Franck–Condon factors in the energy range near the ionization onset, quantitative correlations between reaction efficiency and estimated relative Franck–Condon factors were not observed. When the enthalpy of reaction is small (less than about −0.15 eV), it is seen that the reverse charge transfer can also occur, and equilibrium is established under the conditions of these experiments. From the observed equilibrium constants, values for the standard free energy change are derived, and assuming that ΔS is small for electron transfer equilibria, values of ΔHrn are estimated. In the case of the equilibria involving cyclohexane ion, these values of ΔHrn lead to estimates of the ionization potentials of methylcyclopentane, 3-methylpentane, n-octane, 2,2-dimethylbutane, and 2,3-dimethylbutane, which are lower than the ionization potentials of cyclohexane, that is, <9.88 eV, although all these compounds had previously been reported to have ionization potentials above 10.03 eV. That the ionization potentials are indeed lower than 10.03 eV is confirmed by determining the quantum yields of ionization with 10.03-eV photons. It is pointed out that the conclusions reached here apparently also apply to the charge transfer reactions of alkane ions in the liquid phase.
Raman scattering studies of surface-modified CdTe

Abstract Surfaces of n- and p-CdTe have been examined by Raman scattering before and after ruthenium surface modification. Prior to modification, the K 2 Cr 2 O 7 : H 2 SO 4 etch followed by Na 2 S 2 O 8 rinse was found to leave a thin layer of elemental Te on bulk CdTe, as identified from characteristic Raman lines. Ru modification led to depletion of Cd at the surface and the growth of a layer of TeO 2 , with CdTeO 3 also being evident on p-CdTe. These results are compared with previous XPS and solar cell studies to explain the beneficial effects of surface modification.
Binding of antibody to LDH‐X by the mouse blastocyst

LDH-X from spermatozoa can be demonstrated within the perivitelline space and zona pellucida of the preimplantation mouse embryo. Peroxidase reaction product is deposited in these areas of blastocysts incubated with rabbit anti-LDH-X IgG and then with peroxidase labelled goat anti-rabbit IgG. Unfertilized ova do not bind antibody to LDH-X.
Current status and limitations of copper SX/EW plants control☆

A review of the state of the art and trends in automation and control of copper hydrometallurgical processes is presented. Besides the great expansion of hydrometallurgical processes world-wide, there is a number of unsolved problems related to lack of instrumentation, lack of process knowledge, odd operating practices, and general lack of use of data management and processing. In general, process control of local objectives are frequently achieved, however, application of mature and new techniques, successfully adopted in other mineral processing plants, are seldom reported. In the near future it is expected that intelligent techniques will be incorporated to solve a large variety of problems. To test and evaluate new control strategies, a pilot SX/EW plant has been set up and instrumented at the Process Control Laboratory, Santa Maria University, in Chile. The control system is organized at three levels in an architecture including field controllers, PLC and PC networks. The main objectives are to develop and test intelligent techniques in an hybrid system, and to study measurement and supervisory control problems. It is hoped to produce reliable results that will contribute to improving the efficiency of this emerging and important process. This paper describes the current status and limitations of control of SX/EW plants and summarises where the main deficiencies lie and a proposed methodology to remedy them.
Personal Contextual Characteristics and Cognitions: Predicting Child Abuse Potential and Disciplinary Style

According to Social Information Processing theory, parents' cognitive processes influence their decisions to engage in physical maltreatment, although cognitions occur in the context of other aspects of the parents' life. The present study investigated whether cognitive processes (external locus of control, inappropriate developmental expectations) predicted child abuse potential and overreactive disciplinary style beyond personal contextual factors characteristic of the parent (hostility, stress, and coping). 363 parents were recruited online. Results highlight the relative importance of the contextual characteristics (particularly stress, avoidant coping, and irritability) relative to cognitive processes in predicting abuse potential and overreactive discipline strategies, although an external locus of control also significantly contributed. Findings do not support that parents' developmental expectations uniquely predict elevated abuse risk. Results indicate stressed parents who utilize avoidance coping strategies are more likely to use overreactive discipline and report increased abuse potential. Findings are discussed with regard to implications for prevention/intervention efforts.
7-Deacetyl-17β-hydroxyazadiradione, a new limonoid insect growth inhibitor from Azadirachta indica

Abstract A new tetranortriterpenoid of the limonoid type, 7-deacetyl-17β-hydroxyazadiradione, and the known compound azadiradione, were isolated from the seeds of Azadirachta indica . The structure of the new compound was established by spectroscopic methods. The activity of the new compound as an insect growth inhibitor against Heliothis virescens was found to be greater than that of azadiradione and 7-deacetylazadiradione.
Mutagenicity in Escherichia coli of the major DNA adduct derived from the endogenous mutagen malondialdehyde

The spectrum of mutations induced by the naturally occurring DNA adduct pyrimido[1,2-alpha]purin-10(3H)-one (M1G) was determined by site-specific approaches using M13 vectors replicated in Escherichia coli. M1G was placed at position 6256 in the (-)-strand of M13MB102 by ligating the oligodeoxynucleotide 5'-GGT(M1G)TCCG-3' into a gapped-duplex derivative of the vector. Unmodified and M1G-modified genomes containing either a cytosine or thymine at position 6256 of the (+)-strand were transformed into repair-proficient and repair-deficient E. coli strains, and base pair substitutions were quantitated by hybridization analysis. Modified genomes containing a cytosine opposite M1G resulted in roughly equal numbers of M1G-->A and M1G-->T mutations with few M1G-->C mutations. The total mutation frequency was approximately 1%, which represents a 500-fold increase in mutations compared with unmodified M13MB102. Transformation of modified genomes containing a thymine opposite M1G allowed an estimate to be made of the ability of M1G to block replication. The (-)-strand was replicated >80% of the time in the unadducted genome but only 20% of the time when M1G was present. Correction of the mutation frequency for the strand bias of replication indicated that the actual frequency of mutations induced by M1G was 18%. Experiments using E. coli with different genetic backgrounds indicated that the SOS response enhances the mutagenicity of M1G and that M1G is a substrate for repair by the nucleotide excision repair complex. These studies indicate that M1G, which is present endogenously in DNA of healthy human beings, is a strong block to replication and an efficient premutagenic lesion.
Inter-world probability and the problem of induction

: Laurence BonJour has recently proposed a novel and interesting approach to the problem of induction. He grants that it is contingent, and so not a priori, that our patterns of inductive inference are reliable. Nevertheless, he claims, it is necessary and a priori that those patterns are highly likely to be reliable, and that is enough to ground an a priori justification induction. This paper examines an important defect in BonJour's proposal. Once we make sense of the claim that inductive inference is “necessarily highly likely” to be reliable, we find that it is not knowable a priori after all.
Gigaton problems need gigaton solutions.

Achieving sustainability requires commanding the whole problem, not just iterative efforts that barely strike a moving target.
Two new Marasmius species from New Zealand

Abstract Two new species of Marasmius are described illustrated, and compared with phenetically similar taxa. Marasmius pusillissimus (sect. Epiphylli subsect. Epiphyllini). M. rosulatus (sect. Marasmius subsect. Marasmius) form minute basidiomata on monocotyledonous leaves.
A fast ring imaging detector for the CLEO upgrade

Abstract Different implementations of fast RICH schemes for a symmetric or asymmetric e+e− collider at the ϒ(4S) have been studied. The proposed solutions provide a 4σ π-K separation at the highest particle momenta from B decays and allow a sufficient number of photoelectrons for good pattern recognition capability.
New Frontiers for the Five-Factor Model: A Preview of the Literature

The Five-Factor Model (FFM) of personality traits has been widely adopted and applied to a diverse set of issues in psychology and related disciplines. In this article, we identify a number of unresolved questions and propose new directions for research using the FFM. In clinical psychology, research is needed on the optimal ways to utilize personality assessments in psychotherapy. Acculturation studies are crucial for an understanding of the origins of national differences in trait levels. The large literatures on personality and on the self should be better integrated, adding a process perspective to trait psychology. Personality psychology should begin to transcend the individual, examining the consequences of aggregate personality traits in dyads, organizations, and nations. Applications of the FFM appear to be limited only by the creativity and industry of researchers.
The interaction of eating restraint and stressful life events on women's weight and weight changes.

Abstract The interaction of eating restraint and experience of stressful life events upon body mass index (BMI) and weight changes over a year were studied among women. The subjects were 71 volunteers of middle socio-economic status and varying adiposity. They were recruited without association to a weight loss program. Assessment instruments included Herman and Mack's Revised Restraint Scale (excluding weight fluctuation items), Holmes and Rahe's Life Events Scale, and several questions related to attempts to control eating and coping behaviors. These were assessed at the beginning of the study and related to weight changes over the following year. Two 3×2 analyses of variance were performed using either BMI or weight changes as the dependent variable and three levels of eating restraint and two levels of stressful life events as classification variables. In neither model was there a main effect of restraint or stress, but there was an interaction of restraint and stress upon BMI. Women with low or medium restraint scores and high stress scores had lower BMI's than women with low stress scores. However, women with high restraint scores and high stress had higher BMI's. Weight changes over a year showed no significant differences.
Particle trapping in stratified estuaries: Application to observations

Estuarine turbidity maxima (ETM) retain suspended particulate matter (SPM) through advection, settling, aggregation, and nonlinearities in bed processes, but the relative importance of these processes varies strongly between systems. Observations from two strongly advective systems (the Columbia and Fraser Rivers) are used to investigate seasonal cycles of SPM retention and the effects of very high flows. Results for the Fraser and Columbia plus literature values for 13 other estuaries illustrate the applicability of scaling parameters and the response of ETM phenomena to a range of river flow (U r ) levels and tidal forcing. The most efficient trapping (represented by Trapping EfficiencyE, the ratio of maximum ETM concentration to the source SPM concentration) occurs for low ratios of river flow to tidal current amplitude (UT), represented by low values of the Supply number Sr.E in the Columbia is found to be maximal in a null zone where advection or tidal asymmetry (represented by Advection numberA) is weak(A ∼ 0). The ratio of aggregation to disaggregation (the Floc number Θ) is maximal on neap tides, while the ratio of erosion to deposition (the Erosion number P) is maximal on spring tides. The ratio of settling velocity to vertical mixing (Rouse numberP) is relatively constant in the Columbia ETM(P ∼ 0.7), because particle settling velocity and turbulence levels adjust together. Assuming that this result applies broadly, scaling variables and data are combined to express ETM properties in terms of the friction velocity (U*),U r , andU T , allowing a considerable simplification of the parameters used to describe ETM.