cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative Study of Biological Glues: Cryoprecipitate Glue, Two-Component Fibrin Sealant, and "French" Glue

Background. Although biological glues have been used clinically in cardiovascular operations, there are no comprehensive comparative studies to help clinicians select one glue over another. In this study we determined the efficacy in controlling suture line and surface bleeding and the biophysical properties of cryoprecipitate glue, two-component fibrin sealant, and "French" glue containing gelatin-resorcinol-formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde (GRFG). Methods. Twenty-four dogs underwent a standardized atriotomy and aortotomy; the incisions were closed with interrupted 3-0 polypropylene sutures placed 3 mm apart. All dogs had a 3- by 3-cm area of the anterior wall of the right ventricle abraded until bleeding occurred. The animals were randomly allocated into four groups: in group 1 (n = 6) bleeding from the suture lines and from the epicardium was treated with cryoprecipitate glue; in group 2 (n = 6) bleeding was treated with two-component fibrin sealant; group 3 (n = 6) was treated with GRFG glue; group 4 (n = 6) was the untreated control group. The glues were also evaluated with regard to histomorphology, tensile strength, and virology. Results. The cryoprecipitate glue and the two-component fibrin sealant glue were equally effective in controlling bleeding from the aortic and atrial suture lines. Although the GRFG glue slowed bleeding significantly at both sites compared to baseline, it did not provide total control. The control group required additional sutures to control bleeding. The cryoprecipitate glue and the two-component fibrin sealant provided a satisfactory clot in 3 to 4 seconds on the epicardium, whereas the GRFG glue generated a poor clot. There were minimal adhesions in the subpericardial space in the cryoprecipitate and the two-component fibrin sealant groups, whereas moderate-to-dense adhesions were present in the GRFG glue group at 6 weeks. The two-component fibrin sealant was completely reabsorbed by 10 days, but cryoprecipitate and GRFG glues were still present. On histologic examination, both fibrin glues exhibited minimal tissue reaction; in contrast, extensive fibroblastic proliferation was caused by the GRFG glue. The two-component and GRFG glues had outstanding adhesive property; in contrast, the cryoprecipitate glue did not show any adhesive power. The GRFG glue had a significantly greater tensile strength than the two-component fibrin sealant. Random samples from both cryoprecipitate and the two-component fibrin glue were free of hepatitis and retrovirus. Conclusions. The GRFG glue should be used as a tissue reinforcer; the two-component fibrin sealer is preferable when hemostatic action must be accompanied with mechanical barrier; and finally, the cryoprecipitate glue can be used when hemostatic action is the only requirement.
Surge measurement errors introduced by coaxial cables

Nearly all surge or impulse voltage measurements involve the use of a cathode-ray oscillograph (CRO) and measuring cable. If an ideal cable is assumed, i.e., one with no losses and a surge impedance which does not vary with frequency, conditions giving zero measurement error can readily be set up. However, all cables have some attenuation and their surge impedance is never the same for all frequencies.1,2,3 In low-voltage impulse work (where very short cables can be used) such factors may be negligible under certain conditions, but for measuring high-voltage surges a fairly long cable (50 feet or longer) is usually required and possible errors caused by the cable should be considered, especially for measuring steeply rising surges. The purpose of this paper is to discuss such errors and devise methods for measuring and minimizing them.
Analysis of tritium release from LiAlO2 in the TEQUILA experiment, using the MISTRAL code

Abstract The tritium release behavior from LiAlO2 samples in the TEQUILA experiment was analyzed using the MISTRAL code. This was done in order to benchmark the code for analyzing the performance of a LiAlO2 blanket test section under ITER-like conditions. Material property data available from the experimental sample microstructure characterization and from the literature were used as input to the code. The microstructure characterization was quite thorough and included the pore size distribution which was used to estimate the pore diffusion coefficient. In the case of the bulk diffusion coefficient, since single crystal experimental measurements are not available, two different values from different experimental data were used. The strategy was to model four different transients for the same sample and to use the property data, in particular the diffusion coefficient, which will better reproduce all four transients. The transients studied were: two temperature transients, in which the temperature changed by +50°C and −50°C and two hydrogen concentration transients in the purge, in which the concentration changes from 0.1% to 1% and from 1% to 0.1%. The results showed that the assumed bulk diffusion coefficient can change the output substantially. For each case, the effects of other parameters, such as the adsorption activation energy and pore diffusion coefficient, were also considered. The results are discussed in the paper.
When the Seemingly Innocuous “Stings”: Racial Microaggressions and Their Emotional Consequences

Commonplace situations that are seemingly innocuous may nonetheless be emotionally harmful for racial minorities. In the current article the authors propose that despite their apparent insignificance, these situations can be harmful and experienced as subtle racism when they are believed to have occurred because of their race. In Study 1, Asian Americans reported greater negative emotion intensity when they believed that they encountered a situation because of their race, even after controlling for other potential social identity explanations. Study 2 replicated this finding and confirmed that the effect was significantly stronger among Asian Americans than among White participants. These findings clarify how perceptions of subtle racial discrimination that do not necessarily involve negative treatment may account for the "sting" of racial microaggressions, influencing the emotional well-being of racial minorities, even among Asian Americans, a group not often expected to experience racism.
Predictors of patterns of pain, fatigue, and insomnia during the first year after a cancer diagnosis in the elderly.

Pain, fatigue and insomnia (PFI) are among the most prevalent, distressing, and under managed symptoms experienced by cancer patients. Research has demonstrated that PFI co-occur; what remains unclear are the patterning and stability of PFI patterns, and the patient, disease and treatment characteristics that predict PFI patterns over time. This secondary analysis used a dataset comprised of 867 elders (46% female) who were newly diagnosed with breast, colorectal, lung or prostate cancer and followed at four points during the year following diagnosis. The university's IRB approved this study. Descriptive statistics and multi-state transition models using multinomial logistic regression were employed. The typical participant was 72.6 years, reported 7.9 symptoms and 2.7 comorbidities. Prior PFI pattern was consistently associated with significantly increased risks for subsequent PFI pattern. At observations 1-3, lung cancer, treatment, higher comorbidity with breast cancer, and late stage colorectal cancer were significantly associated with increased risks for PFI patterns. Advancing age was not significantly associated with increased risks for PFI patterns. PFI co-occurrence declined over time, but was associated with significantly increased risks for death or loss to follow-up and increased reports of other symptoms. PFI co-occurrence is associated with adverse outcomes and should be proactively targeted for intervention.
A numerical solution of a nonlinear differential-integral equation for the optimal shape of the tallest column

Abstract A nonlinear differential-integral equation of the Volterra type is presented for the stability of a tall, vertical column acted on by an axial load at its top and its own weight. The problem is nonlinear because both the mode shape of buckling and the variation of size of the cross-section with length are unknown, and the stiffness varies as the fourth power while the weight per unit length varies as only the second power of a cross-sectional dimension. For any particular mode shape, the problem reduces to a nonlinear integral equation for the variation of a cross-section with length. This nonlinear integral equation, which always has a solution, is solved numerically for the particular shape function given. It is then solved repeatedly, while varying the parameters of a class of admissible given mode shape functions and using mathematical programming to optimize the cross-section function, so as to minimize the weight of the column. The procedure is terminated when changes in weight of column become smaller than a prescribed minimum. A numerical example is presented to illustrate the method.
An extension to modeling cylindrical variables

Abstract An extension to the model by Mardia and Sutton (1978) for describing a more general type of circular-linear association, C-association, is proposed. Estimation techniques to optimize the parameter estimates for a data set and a likelihood ratio test to determine if the new model provides a significantly better fit over the C-linear association model are discussed. Two numerical examples are given to motivate and illustrate the methods.
Challenges and opportunities in integrating ecological knowledge across scales

Abstract Choices of the spatial and temporal dimensions of ecological investigations define their scale. In this paper, I identify some of the ways that issues of scale challenge ecologists in developing an understanding of natural and human-dominated systems, with particular reference to understanding interactions between ungulates and landscapes. I also point out opportunities to rise to those challenges. Ecologists often study areas of land that represent only a tiny fraction of the area that is managed for natural resources or other human uses. This mismatch between scales of investigation and scales of management is problematic because observations of many phenomena depend on the scale at which those observations are made. Conducting traditional experiments at ever-larger scales would appear to offer a logical solution to this problem, but the “tyranny of power” means that such investigations are frequently infeasible. Moreover, because human perception is based on limited scales of experience, it is often difficult to apply understanding of ecological processes occurring over long time periods and large areas. The ability of ecologists to integrate knowledge across scales in a way that is useful to management has improved dramatically as a result of technological advances, innovations in statistical analysis and study design, and a shift in the philosophy of science favoring model selection over traditional hypothesis testing. Multi-scale understanding is fostered by adaptive management, which uses fine-scale, mechanistic understanding to screen hypotheses to be tested at large-scales. Issues of scale reveal that applying ecological understanding to complex environmental problems requires two kinds of science—developing an understanding of properties and processes and assembling that understanding reliably across scales of time and space.
p53 amplifies Toll-like receptor 5 response in human primary and cancer cells through interaction with multiple signal transduction pathways.

// Maria Shatz 1 , Igor Shats 2 , Daniel Menendez 1 and Michael A. Resnick 1 1 Chromosome Stability Group, Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA 2 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA Correspondence to: Maria Shatz, email: // Michael A. Resnick, email: // Keywords : p53, Toll-like receptor 5, cancer, signal transduction, inflammation Received : February 06, 2015 Accepted : June 02, 2015 Published : June 10, 2015 Abstract The p53 tumor suppressor regulates transcription of genes associated with diverse cellular functions including apoptosis, growth arrest, DNA repair and differentiation. Recently, we established that p53 can modulate expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR) innate immunity genes but the degree of cross-talk between p53 and TLR pathways remained unclear. Here, using gene expression profiling we characterize the global effect of p53 on the TLR5-mediated transcription in MCF7 cells. We found that combined activation of p53 and TLR5 pathways synergistically increases expression of over 200 genes, mostly associated with immunity and inflammation. The synergy was observed in several human cancer cells and primary lymphocytes. The p53-dependent amplification of transcriptional response to TLR5 activation required expression of NFκB subunit p65 and was mediated by several molecular mechanisms including increased phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase, PI3K and STAT3 signaling. Additionally, p53 induction increased cytokine expression in response to TNFα, another activator of NFκB and MAP kinase pathways, suggesting a broad interaction between p53 and these signaling pathways. The expression of many synergistically induced genes is elevated in breast cancer patients responsive to chemotherapy. We suggest that p53’s capacity to enhance immune response could be exploited to increase antitumor immunity and to improve cancer treatment.
Cartoon animation and morphing by using the wavelet curve descriptor

Proposes a framework for cartoon animation and morphing by using a hierarchical planar curve descriptor based on the wavelet transform. To facilitate the animation task, the authors first model the motion of curves with the Lagrangian dynamic equation where the multiscale curve is driven by internal and external forces. The spatial and frequency localization property of the wavelet representation results in a virtually decoupled Lagrangian equation and, as a result, the computation is greatly simplified. The motion parameters, which contain the kinematic information of the control points, are extracted from motions of real video images. They are then used to generate motion sequences of similar nature. The authors also examine a highly automatic algorithm for non-self-intersecting contour morphing. Experiments of the proposed algorithms are conducted to demonstrate their performance. >
The structure of a story

The stories of engineering heroes can serve as an exciting means of engaging young students in engineering concepts that are linked to their math and science curriculum. This research explores the development of a storytelling framework including the story of an engineer, a hands-on activity for exploring a related engineering idea, reinforcement of standard math and science curriculum and assessment of the effectiveness of the storytelling medium to teach and inspire young students. Storytelling principles are used to develop these narratives into compelling and engaging stories through the perspective of an individual character. Archival and other scholarly materials on fascinating figures in engineering are used to construct the stories. Following the story, a hands-on activity supports the exploration of the engineering concept related to the engineer's story. A pre- and post-story test are used to assess the effectiveness of the story and activity to learn about what engineers do, and the specific engineering idea.
An interpretation of the structure of the Blatherskite Nappe, Alice springs, Northern Territory

Abstract The basal unit of the Amadeus Basin sequence is the Heavitree Quartzite, and this formation usually forms a single east‐west ridge along the northern side of the MacDonnell Ranges. However, at Alice Springs there are two such ridges. Basement rocks crop out on the northern side of each ridge, and dolomite and shale of the Bitter Springs Formation crop out on their southern sides. The northern outcrop of dolomite and shale is tightly folded, and is separated from the southern outcrop of basement by a major fault. The bedding of the sediments, the axial plane of the fold, and the fault all dip south at about 45°. Inverted facings on parasitic folds indicate that the northern outcrop of quartzite and dolomite plus shale is an antiform in inverted rocks. Hence the southern outcrop of basement and quartzite is synformal, and is interpreted as the frontal part of a fold nappe. The nappe started as a recumbent anticline whose middle limb of quartzite sheared out as the anticline travelled several kilome...
Do genetic risk scores for body mass index predict risk of phobic anxiety? Evidence for a shared genetic risk factor.

Background Obesity and anxiety are often linked but the direction of effects is not clear.
Work in progress — Adapting team-based learning to the first circuit theory course

The purpose of this work-in-progress paper is to report progress made in adapting the learning strategy known as team-based learning for use in the required sophomore-level electric circuit theory course. The project is motivated by the desire to introduce students to self-directed independent learning and to learning in groups early in their programs, both of which concepts are, in theory, provided by team-based learning. Despite the potential benefits, several practical challenges have been encountered while attempting to implement the strategy. These include motivating students to study and learn new material outside of class and before encountering it in the classroom; and motivating them to follow a prescribed model of good group work. The paper describes progress in overcoming these and other challenges, and changes being implemented to improve the approach.
Subcritical water chromatography: A green approach to high-temperature liquid chromatography.

At temperatures and pressures lower than 374°C and 218 atm, subcritical water has widely tunable properties such as dielectric constant, surface tension, viscosity, and dissociation constant achieved by simply adjusting the temperature with a moderate pressure to keep water in the liquid state. At elevated temperatures, water acts like a weak polar organic solvent. Thus, subcritical water has been used as a green eluent to replace hazardous solvents commonly used as organic modifiers in RPLC. Subcritical water chromatography (SBWC) is capable of separating polar, moderately polar, and even some nonpolar analytes. Most of these low molecular weight solutes are stable at elevated temperatures during a chromatographic run. Some new packing materials are also quite stable and robust at mild temperatures ranging from 80 to 150°C. Advantages of SBWC include the elimination of hazardous organic solvents used in traditional RPLC, rapid analysis time, improved selectivity, temperature-dependent separation efficiency, temperature-programmed elution, and compatibility with both gas- and liquid-phase detectors. In this paper, the technical aspects as well as the applications of SBWC are reviewed. Topics addressed in this review include the unique characteristics of subcritical water, analytes separated by SBWC, packing materials tested for SBWC, the application of GC and LC detection techniques in SBWC, SBWC instrumentation development, temperature effects on SBWC separation, and models developed for separation in SBWC.
Transcriptional Profiling of Pig Embryogenesis by Using a 15-K Member Unigene Set Specific for Pig Reproductive Tissues and Embryos

Differential mRNA expression patterns were evaluated between germinal vesicle oocytes (pgvo), four-cell (p4civv), blastocyst (pblivv), and in vitro-produced four-cell (p4civp) and in vitro-produced blastocyst (pblivp) stage embryos to determine key transcripts responsible for early embryonic development in the pig. Five comparisons were made: pgvo to p4civv, p4civv to pblivv, pgvo to pblivv, p4civv to p4civp, and pblivv to pblivp. ANOVA (P < 0.05) was performed with the Benjamini and Hochberg false-discovery-rate multiple correction test on each comparison. A comparison of pgvo to p4civv, p4civv to pblivv, and pgvo to pblivv resulted in 3214, 1989, and 4528 differentially detected cDNAs, respectively. Real-time PCR analysis on seven transcripts showed an identical pattern of changes in expression as observed on the microarrays, while one transcript deviated at a single cell stage. There were 1409 and 1696 differentially detected cDNAs between the in vitro- and in vivo-produced embryos at the four-cell and blastocyst stages, respectively, without the Benjamini and Hochberg false-discovery-rate multiple correction test. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis on four genes at the four-cell stage showed an identical pattern of gene expression as found on the microarrays. Real-time PCR analysis on four of five genes at the blastocyst stage showed an identical pattern of gene expression as found on the microarrays. Thus, only 1 of the 39 comparisons of the pattern of gene expression exhibited a major deviation between the microarray and the real-time PCR. These results illustrate the complex mechanisms involved in pig early embryonic development.
Resume Content and Format--Do the Authorities Agree?.

Getting a job is an involved process. One part of the process is the preparation of a resume. Even though the resume's primary function is simply to obtain an interview for the writer, it is a major instrument which aids in determining who will get the job. According to Weinstein (1993), ATT Harcourt, Krizan, & Merrier, 1991; Himstreet, Baty, & Lehman, 1993; Lesikar, 1991; Locker, 1992; Thill & Bovee, 1991; Wolf & Wolf, 1994). The Bonner (1992) and Ober (1992) books were also included because the researchers were using them in their classes. A total of nine books was reviewed. An article by Harcourt, Krizan, and Gordon (1989) divided resume content information into three categories: essential, optional, and should be omitted. Using this study as a foundation, the resume information from the textbooks was tabulated. For the purposes of this study, the researchers developed a list of all items specifically mentioned in the nine textbooks and then categorized those items as to whether the authors specified the information as essential, optional, or to be omitted. The items on this list were then grouped in ten broad sections for tabulation (identification, formal training, academic achievements, college activities, work experience, references, personal information, personal initiative, high school, and miscellaneous). To compare agreement among the textbooks, the items were also categorized according to how many times the nine books agreed on the items in the 10 sections: all agreed (9 out of 9 textbooks), a majority agreed (5-8 out of 9), less than half agreed (3-4 out of 9), and very few agreed (0-2 out of 9). FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION The first resume section reviewed was the identification section, which included name, address, and telephone number. All authors specifically mentioned these items and, of course, agreed that this was essential information, as seen in Table 1. Table 1 Identification Textbooks Citing the Item (N = 9) Items 9 5-8 3-4 0-2 Name X Address X Phone number X Formal training was the next category reviewed. This section included all training acquired through formal postsecondary institutions. According to Table 2, listing one's college major on the resume was the only item that all nine textbooks agreed upon. The majority agreed that the degree received, date of graduation, and college name should be included. Less than half recommended that the college address, years attended, minor, and courses taken in college should be given. Very few stated that students should list equipment knowledge; foreign language competencies; licenses and certifications; computer keyboarding skill; computer languages; cooperative education, internships, or study abroad; and summer school taken for extra credit outside major and/or extra coursework that allowed for early graduation. …
Wiping versus suction to clear neonatal airways at birth – Authors' reply

www.thelancet.com Vol 383 February 22, 2014 695 under a radiant heat source, position the head in a ‘sniffi ng’ position to open the airway, clear the airway with a bulb syringe or suction catheter, and dry the baby and stimulate breathing.” In addition, the practice of routine clearing of secretions from the mouth and nose of well newborns at birth was recommended in the American Academy of Pediatrics Textbook of Neonatal Resuscitation, which stated two options to clear the airway: “by wiping the nose and mouth with a towel or by suctioning with a bulb syringe or suction catheter”. Suctioning or wiping was recommended for infants with clear secretions in both guidelines. Thus, we designed the trial to compare these two alternative treatment options: wiping versus suctioning. The new international consensus states that “routine intrapartum oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal suctioning for infants born with clear or meconiumstained amniotic fl uid is no longer recommended”, indicating that they have changed their previous recommendations. WHO’s new guide lines state that “suctioning of the mouth and nose should not be performed”. The Wipe Trial provides the highest level of evidence to date that supports these new guidelines.
Prenatal mercury concentration is associated with changes in DNA methylation at TCEANC2 in newborns

Background: Human exposure to the widespread environmental contaminant mercury is a known risk factor for common diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and neurological disorders through poorly characterized mechanisms. Evidence suggests mercury exposure may alter DNA methylation levels, but to date, the effects in early life on a genome-wide scale have not been investigated. Methods: A study sample of 141 newborns was recruited in Baltimore, MD, USA and total mercury and methylmercury were measured in cord blood samples. We quantified genome-wide DNA methylation data using CHARM 2.0, an array-based method, and used region-finding analyses to identify concentration-associated differentially methylated regions (DMRs). To test for replication of these identified DMRs in the pilot, or Vanguard, phase of the National Children’s Study (NCS), we compared bisulfite-pyrosequenced DNA at candidate regions from 85 whole cord blood samples with matched first trimester maternal mercury concentration measures. Results: Total mercury concentration was associated with methylation at DMRs inside ANGPT2 and near PRPF18 genes [false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.05], as well as DMRs near FOXD2 and within TCEANC2 (FDR< 0.1) genes. Methylmercury concentration was associated with an overlapping DMR within TCEANC2 (FDR< 0.05). In NCS replication analyses, methylation levels at three of four cytosine-guanine DNA dinucleotides (CpG sites) within the TCEANC2 DMR were associated with total mercury concentration (P < 0.05), and this association was diminished after adjusting for estimated cell proportions. Conclusions: Evidence for an association between mercury and DNA methylation at the TCEANC2 region was found, which may represent a mercury-associated shift in cord blood cell composition or a change in methylation within blood cell types. Further confirmatory studies are needed.
Use of an exogenous plasmid standard and quantitative PCR to monitor spatial and temporal distribution of Enterococcus spp . in beach sands

Studies using culture-dependent methods have indicated that enterococci, the fecal indicator used to moni tor marine waters for the potential of enteric disease risk to swimmers, can be abundant in beach sands and may contribute to water column indicator exceedances. A quantitative PCR (qPCR) method for the Enterococcus genus was tested and applied to more rapidly determine the amount of enterococci in beach sands and study their distribution over space and time. The qPCR method amplified a 23S rDNA sequence specific to Enterococcus and was used to examine subsamples and composite samples of wet and dry beach sand from Avalon Bay, California, USA. The differences in efficiency of DNA recovery and inhibition in qPCR reactions were account ed for by spiking pairs of duplicate subsamples with a known amount of pGEM plasmid before or after extrac tion. This study revealed levels of environmental inhibition that were similar in wet and dry sands and effi ciency of DNA recovery that was observably lower for wet beach sands and varied between years. Using the cor rection factors generated by this method to estimate the abundance of Enterococcus , we show that wet and dry beach sands both have Enterococcus spp . populations that can vary dramatically from day to day, and often are potentially higher than the equivalent health standards mandated for recreational waters.
Repetitive Model Predictive Control using Linear Matrix Inequalities

Repetitive systems can be characterized by two time variables, namely, the finite time within each repeating cycle and the cycle index, each embodying a distinct connotation of time. Conventional optimal control theory does not explicitly account for this two dimensional (2D) description of repetitive systems. We propose a new formulation for control of repetitive systems using Model Predictive Control (MPC) that explicitly incorporates a 2D representation of the system. The proposed formulation uses a 2D Lyapunov function and the stability requirements are established along each time dimension of the system. The resulting controller synthesis problem is expressed in convex form using Linear Matrix Inequalities (LMIs). The approach allows explicit incorporation of input/output constraints in the controller design. Two examples illustrate the applicability of the proposed approach.
Life-Course Persistent Offenders and the Propensity to Commit Sexual Assault:

Moffitt’s (1993) developmental theory has garnered an extensive amount of attention from scholars across a range of disciplines, and the results generated from this body of literature have been consistently supportive. Specifically, the segment of the population predicted by Moffitt to be chronically aggressive—called life-course persistent offenders—has been found to account for a disproportionate number of serious crimes. What remains less certain, however, is whether this same group of offenders are also responsible for perpetrating acts of forced sex. The authors examined the tendency for life-course persisters to sexually assault using a nationally representative sample of individuals. Our findings suggest that life-course persisters are disproportionately more likely to be sexually coercive compared to other individuals.
Temporal Variability of Earth’s Gravitational Field from Satellite Laser Ranging

Satellite laser ranging (SLR) observations of geodetic satellites (Degnan, 1993) have long been used to study the temporal variations of the Earth’s external potential through the long-period orbital perturbations they produce (Yoder et al., 1983; Rubincam, 1984; Cheng et al., 1989; Tapley et al., 1993; Gegout and Cazenave, 1993; Nerem et al., 1993; Chao and Eanes, 1995; Nerem and Klosko, 1995.) Secular and long period variations in the zonal Stokes coefficients and nearly diurnal and semidiurnal tidal variations in the order 1 and 2 coefficients can be monitored with this approach. In this paper we analyze SLR observations of Lageos-1 and Starlette and present new results for constraints on the secular and 18.6-year variations in the zonal harmonics. These results provide important information for improving geophysical models of glacial rebound, ice-sheet changes, and mantle anelasticity.
CATALOG RETAILER IN‐STOCK PERFORMANCE: AN ASSESSMENT OF CUSTOMER SERVICE LEVELS

The purpose of this article is to study the level of “in-stock” customer service performance being offered in the catalog channel of distribution. The article provides benchmark information for the catalog industry. More importantly, the article serves as one test of the effectiveness of the modern supply chain, where the expectation is for near perfect orders. Customer service levels are studied by using an empirical observation methodology in which catalog retailer's in-stock performance was measured. Comparisons are made across item type, season, retailer type, and days from catalog receipt. Overall, items were out-of-stock during 15.9% of all checkpoints, compared to an 11.8% stock-out rate in an earlier study of bricks and mortar retailers.
Application of zero-inflated negative binomial mixed model to human microbiota sequence data

15 Identification of the majority of organisms present in human-associated microbial 16 communities is feasible with the advent of high throughput sequencing technology. 17 However, these data consist of non-negative, highly skewed sequence counts with a large 18 proportion of zeros. Zero-inflated models are useful for analyzing such data. Moreover, 19 the non-zero observations may be over-dispersed in relation to the Poisson distribution, 20 biasing parameter estimates and underestimating standard errors. In such a circumstance, 21 a zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) model better accounts for these characteristics 22 compared to a zero-inflated Poisson (ZIP). In addition, complex study designs are 23 possible with repeated measurements or multiple samples collected from the same 24 subject, thus random effects are introduced to account for the within subject variation. A 25 zero-inflated negative binomial mixed model contains components to model the 26 probability of excess zero values and the negative binomial parameters, allowing for 27 repeated measures using independent random effects between these two components. The 28 objective of this study is to examine the application of a zero-inflated negative binomial 29 mixed model to human microbiota sequence data. 30
Remission, Relapse, and Persistence of Vulvodynia: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study

Abstract Background: Vulvodynia has been considered to be a chronic disorder. We sought to estimate the probability of and risk factors for remission, relapse, and persistence among women screening positive for vulvodynia. Methods: Survey-based assessment in a longitudinal population-based study of women (the Woman to Woman Health Study) who screened positive for vulvodynia and completed at least four follow-up surveys. Outcome measures included remission without relapse, relapse (after remission), and persistence of a positive vulvodynia screen. Multinomial regression was used to assess factors associated with outcomes. Results: Of 441 women screening positive for vulvodynia during the study, 239 completed 4 additional surveys. Of these, 23 (9.6%) had consistently positive vulvodynia screens, 121 (50.6%) remitted without relapse, and 95 (39.7%) relapsed following remission. Overall, factors associated with both relapse and persistence (compared with remission alone) included increased severity of pain ev...
Sobre unos versos del cantar de gesta de las Mocedades de Rodrigo conservados tradicionalmente en Marruecos

El tema epico-legendario de la invasion de Francia por Fernando el Magno y el Cid fue perpetuado durante el siglo XVI en dos romances que atribuian la misma hazana al rey Sancho XI. Uno de estos poemas, El Rey y el Cid a Roma ( Primavera 33 ), empieza con los versos siguientes:
Hydroxymethylation is uniquely distributed within term placenta, and is associated with gene expression.

The conversion of cytosine to 5-methylcystosine (5mC) is an important regulator of gene expression. 5mC may be enzymatically converted to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), with a potentially distinct...
Direction of Arrival Estimation Method of Correlative Interferometer Based on RBF Neural Network

In this paper,a new direction of arrival(DOA) estimation method of correlative interferometer based on RBF neural network is presented,and self-organized center selecting algorithm,orthogonal least squares method and evolutionary selecting algorithm based on genetic algorithm are realized.The computer simulation result shows that,for a certain extent,this new method is not sensitive to noise,the direction finding precision based on RBF neural network is the same as that traditional correlative interferometer,and the direction finding processing time and the storage space of direction finding are greatly reduced.
Studies on the change of growth hormone in children with idiopathic short stature

Objective To investigate the levels of growth hormone(GH)of children with idiopathic short stature in Changchun and the relationship among its change,insulin like growth factor-1(IGF-1)and-3 binding protein(IGFBP-3).Methods There were 201 cases of idiopathic short stature investigated from the pediatrics endocrine out-pateint department and 50 cases of healthy children collected from health physical examination of children's hospital of changchun during 2009 and 2012.All subjects were conducted the physical examination,determination of skeletal age,questionnaire,detection of growth hormone,IGF-1 and IGFBP-3.Results The prevalence of ISS was 48.09%(201/418).The urban-rural ratio of ISS children was 1.1∶1.Bone age delay and HtSDS were positively correlated.Compared with normal control group,ISS children with basic value of GH increased significantly.The basic value of GH in ISS children were positively correlated with IGF-1 and IGFBP-3.The peak value of GH in ISS children had nothing to do with the level of IGF-1 and were positively correlated with IGFBP-3.Conclusion The ISS children may be insensitive to GH receptor which lead to elevated the level of GH.The level of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 may reflect the level of GH,the reduce of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in ISS children may be one reason for incidence.
The influence of underwater turbulence on optical phase measurements

Emerging underwater optical imaging and sensing applications rely on phase-sensitive detection to provide added functionality and improved sensitivity. However, underwater turbulence introduces spatio-temporal variations in the refractive index of water which can degrade the performance of these systems. Although the influence of turbulence on traditional, non-interferometric imaging has been investigated, its influence on the optical phase remains poorly understood. Nonetheless, a thorough understanding of the spatio-temporal dynamics of the optical phase of light passing through underwater turbulence are crucial to the design of phase-sensitive imaging and sensing systems. To address this concern, we combined underwater imaging with high speed holography to provide a calibrated characterization of the effects of turbulence on the optical phase. By measuring the modulation transfer function of an underwater imaging system, we were able to calibrate varying levels of optical turbulence intensity using the Simple Underwater Imaging Model (SUIM). We then used high speed holography to measure the temporal dynamics of the optical phase of light passing through varying levels of turbulence. Using this method, we measured the variance in the amplitude and phase of the beam, the temporal correlation of the optical phase, and recorded the turbulence induced phase noise as a function of frequency. By bench marking the effects of varying levels of turbulence on the optical phase, this work provides a basis to evaluate the real-world potential of emerging underwater interferometric sensing modalities.
Blood flow distribution in infant pigs subjected to surface cooling, deep hypothermia, and circulatory arrest: Deleterious effects in pigs with left-to-right shunts

Surface cooling, deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest have been used effectively for correction of congenital heart defects in infancy. Which patients are best suited for this technique has not been addressed. The addition of surface cooling to deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest provides homogeneous cooling and avoids swelling due to reperfusion injury after circulatory arrest However, surface cooling in patients with large left-to-right shunts causes increased peripheral resistance and increased shunting which can result in decreased perfusion of vital organs. The purpose of this study is to measure the effect of a large left-to-right shunt on total organ blood flow distribution in infant piglets during surface cooling, deep hypothermia, and circulatory arrest Eleven 2-week-oM piglets had surface cooling, deep hypothermia, and circulatory arrest for 45 minutes, followed by rewarming and weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. Microspheres (15 μ) were injected before surface cooling, at 28° C, at 15° C, and after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. Group I (five piglets) was the control. Group II (six piglets) had a large (6 mm) left-to-right aortopulmonary shunt established before microsphere injection. Cardiac outputs in both Groups I and II decreased with surface cooling. The distribution of cardiac output in Group I did not change with surface cooling; however, Group II pigs showed marked change in distribution of cardiac output, resulting in decreased renal, visceral, and pulmonary flow (p
Isolation and Management of the Sac of Hernias in Infants and Small Children

The major problem in repair of inguinal hernia in young children concerns management of the thin and friable hernial sac. The steps useful in facilitating identification of the sac, its separation from surrounding structures, and its effective closure are illustrated.
Histidine, phenylalanine-tyrosine and tryptophan requirements for growth of the young kitten.

Growth assays were conducted to estimate the minimal dietary requirement levels of histidine, tryptophan, phenylalanine and tyrosine for the young kitten. Dietary concentrations of histidine and tryptophan of .30 and .15%, respectively, were found to support optimal kitten performance. A preliminary study of the total aromatic amino acid (TAAA) requirement indicated that no more than 1.20% TAAA (.60% phenylalanine + .60% tyrosine) is required by the kitten. Subsequent experiments revealed no decrease in growth rate when TAAA were reduced to 1.00% of the diet. At this level of TAAA, tyrosine could supply 50% of the requirement for TAAA.
Clinical Manifestations of Neurological Disease

Since its introduction into North America in 1999, there have been over 10,000 confirmed cases of West Nile virus (WNV) neuroinvasive disease, and WNV has become by a large margin, the most common cause of arboviral encephalitis in the U.S. Since the ratio of asymptomatic WNV infections exceeds the number of neuroinvasive cases by ~150:1 it can be estimated that more than 1.5 million individuals have been infected by WNV in the U.S. Although the overall mortality in confirmed cases of WNV is only ~4%, almost all the deaths occur in patients with encephalitis (Bode et al., 2006) and in this group mortality approaches 20%. In this chapter, we review the epidemiology, risk factors, and clinical manifestations of WNV neurologic disease as well as the prognosis and potential therapies.
Women Talk More than Men: Statistics brief reference

The purpose of this chapter is to provide you with enough information to begin to read, understand, and evaluate published research in the social sciences. It is not a comprehensive introduction to statistics; for more information, see the ‘Further reading’ suggested below. The first part of the chapter reviews some common methods for summarizing data, both numerically and graphically. The second part gives an overview of significance testing: why it's important, how it's usually reported, and how to interpret it.With the background provided in these two sections, you should be able to read a typical scholarly paper reporting the results of social science research and understand the gist of what's going on, even if you cannot follow all the details. The last part of this chapter describes some of the major issues in conducting social science research. This section will expose you to some of the most important questions you can ask about how an experiment was designed and carried out; learning to ask those questions is the first step towards being able to evaluate the results of a particular study. The examples in this chapter are taken from a study of the effects of intoxication on speech. In that experiment, eight subjects recorded a list of several dozen words, once while sober and once while moderately drunk; see Kaplan (2010) for a more detailed description of the methods involved. I've chosen these examples for convenience: the experiment generated a large amount of data that lends itself to many different types of analysis. The results presented here are meant to illustrate statistical points; they aren't novel (or even representative) findings about the general effect of alcohol on speech, nor are they necessarily the best way to analyze the data. For an overview of the literature on intoxicated speech, see Chin and Pisoni (1997). Descriptive statistics The purpose of descriptive statistics is to summarize datasets in a concise way. This section reviews some common descriptive techniques, both numeric and graphical. Some common statistics for summarizing data Perhaps the most common statistic for summarizing a large set of numbers is the familiar mean (or average ), which is a single number intended to reflect a typical value for the set. Mean is often abbreviated with the capital letter M .
Temperature-dependent colour change is a function of sex and directionality of temperature shift in the eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus)

Sexually dimorphic colour traits are widespread across taxa, but relatively little is known about how and why these features change with body temperature. To examine whether sex and directionality (warming vs. cooling) influence temperature-dependent colour change, we used spectrophotometry to characterize ventral and dorsal coloration in eastern fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus), a species with temperature-dependent conspecific signals (ventral patches). In general, we found that skin colour (hue) in both sexes changed with temperature. Only ventral patch colour in males changed visibly to human observers; ventral patch hue decreased (green to blue shift) with an increase in body temperature. Male dorsal colour also changed with temperature, with cooler males exhibiting a longer-wavelength hue (red shift) than that exhibited by warmer males. Female dorsal hue changed in a manner paralleling that of males, and female ventral hue trended in the same direction: overall, warmer females tended to exhibit shorter-wavelength hues. However, the magnitude of male ventral patch colour change was highly dependent upon temperature sequence; the colourful badges of males that were progressively warmed changed from green to blue, whereas those of males that were cooled over the same time period did not change hue. Notably, only the coloration of male ventral patches was dependent on the directionality of temperature change; no other measured skin surfaces in either sex exhibited similar temperature-directionality dependence. These results are considered in the context of models for badge colour production in Sceloporus, as well as in hypotheses for the functional significance of ventral patch coloration.