cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Novel Approach for Residential Grid Connected Solar Photovoltaic System Using Matlab Simulink

The need for energy is never ending. This is certainly true of electrical energy, which is a large part of total global energy consumption. But growing in tandem with energy needs are the concerns about sustainable development and environmental issues, such as the movement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The fossil fuels and nuclear fuels are not renewable and reserves of these fuels will run out some day in the future. The exploitation of solar energy has become an essential measure to address present energy shortages and environmental problems. We have several reasons to be optimistic as there is great excitement about the possibilities opening up before scientific community in the field of solar PV. Therefore today our main focus is to develop renewable energy especially from solar. Government of India also promoting solar energy and also providing subsidy to peoples so that pollution level means CO2 emission level decreased. In our research work photo crystalline PV solar panel is used and with help of boost converter DC level increased and this is achieved by MPPT also used PI controller to limit voltage and current. Our main focus is to reduce THD level under 5% as per IEEE standards. Our THD is below the level of IEEE standard
Financial Motivation: How to Incentivize Students to Graduate Faster

At prime research universities, students study full-time and receive their Bachelors’s degree in four years. In contrast, at urban universities, many students study only part-time, and take a longer time to graduate. The sooner such a student graduates, the sooner will the society start benefitting from his or her newly acquired skills – and the sooner the student will start earning more money. It is therefore desirable to incentivize students to graduate faster. In the present chapter, we propose a first-approximation solution to the problem of how to distribute a given amount of resources so as to maximally speed up students graduation.
GALECTIN-3 INDEPENDENTLY PREDICTS THE RISK OF EARLY MORTALITY AFTER SUDDEN CARDIAC ARREST

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a common and catastrophic complication of ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies. Currently, there are no known biomarkers identifying the SCA patients at highest risk for mortality. We tested the hypothesis that cardiac biomarkers implicated in cardiac stress
Correlates of physical activity in urban african American adults and older adults: Testing the social cognitive theory

Background Older adults, especially ethnic minorities continue to be the least active segment of the U.S. population. Health disparities are evident in that African Americans participate in less physical activity (PA) and are less likely to meet PA guidelines compared with non-Hispanic Caucasians. Purpose Using the social cognitive theory (SCT), this study examined the individual, social, and physical environmental correlates of PA behavior. Methods Participants (N = 110, females = 96, mean age = 64.8 ± 5.7 years) were urban, community-dwelling African American adults and older adults who completed demographics and psychosocial questionnaires assessing (SCT) constructs of self-efficacy, outcome expectations, social support, and perceptions of the physical environment. A latent factor PA construct represented self-report (Godin Leisure-time Exercise Questionnaire, Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly) and objective (accelerometer worn for 7 days) PA. Results The direct and indirect effects of SCT constructs on PA were tested using structural equation modeling, and the overall model fit was adequate (comparative fit index = 0.94, root mean square error of approximation = 0.04, standardized root mean square residual = 0.05, chi square = 67.03, p = .17). Results indicated that: (a) self-efficacy was the strongest direct predictor of PA (β = 0.79) and also influenced outcome expectations (β = 0.457, p < .001); and (b) outcome expectations directly (β = 0.36) predicted PA. Among demographic moderators, only age was inversely associated with outcome expectations (β = -0.28). Social support or physical environment did not influence PA. Conclusions Our findings suggest that self-efficacy and outcome expectations are important correlates of PA for African American adults and older adults. Future studies should examine the direct and indirect impact of PA interventions targeting self-efficacy and outcomes expectations to promote behavior change.
BOOK REVIEW - LATINO FOLK ILLNESSES: WHY THEY ARE JUST LIKE OURS! L.M. Pachter (Ed.) Special issue of Medical Anthropology. Cross-Cultural Studies in Health and Illness. Vol 15, 1993. New York: Gordon & Breach.

Abstract LATINO FOLK ILLNESSES: WHY THEY ARE JUST LIKE OURS L.M. Pachter (Ed.) Special issue of Medical Anthropology. Cross-Cultural Studies in Health and Illness. Vol 15, 1993. New York: Gordon & Breach
Distinct neural correlates of trait resilience within core neurocognitive networks in at-risk children and adolescents

Abstract Background Most children who are exposed to threat-related adversity (e.g., violence, abuse, neglect) are resilient - that is, they show stable trajectories of healthy psychological development. Despite this, most research on neurodevelopmental changes following adversity has focused on the neural correlates of negative outcomes, such as psychopathology. The neural correlates of trait resilience in pediatric populations are unknown, and it is unclear whether they are distinct from those related to adversity exposure and the absence of negative outcomes (e.g., depressive symptomology). Methods This functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study reports on a diverse sample of 55 children and adolescents (ages 6–17 years) recruited from a range of stressful environments (e.g., lower income, threat-related adversity exposure). Participants completed a multi-echo multi-band resting-state fMRI scan and self-report measures of trait resilience and emotion-related symptomology (e.g., depressive symptoms). Resting-state data were submitted to an independent component analysis (ICA) to identify core neurocognitive networks (salience and emotion network [SEN], default mode network [DMN], central executive network [CEN]). We tested for links among trait resilience and dynamic (i.e., time-varying) as well as conventional static (i.e., averaged across the entire session) resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) of core neurocognitive networks. Results Youth with higher trait resilience spent a lower fraction of time in a particular dynamic rsFC state, characterized by heightened rsFC between the anterior DMN and right CEN. Within this state, trait resilience was associated with lower rsFC of the SEN with the right CEN and anterior DMN. There were no associations among trait resilience and conventional static rsFC. Importantly, although more resilient youth reported lower depressive symptoms, the effects of resilience on rsFC were independent of depressive symptoms and adversity exposure. Conclusions The present study is the first to report on the neural correlates of trait resilience in youth, and offers initial insight into potential adaptive patterns of brain organization in the context of environmental stressors. Understanding the neural dynamics underlying positive adaptation to early adversity will aid in the development of interventions that focus on strengthening resilience rather than mitigating already-present psychological problems.
Puppet Theater in the German-Speaking World

This work begins with a brief history of puppet theater in Germany. A look at important social aspects, pertinent philosophical discussions and the significance of puppet theater in the German literary tradition follow. The final chapter looks at Peter Schumann, a German puppeteer and artist who lives in America. In Germanistik, German puppet theater deserves a devoted place in the field of legitimate study in terms of its history, content and influence. Puppet theater’s historical development in Germany represents the larger evolution of Germany. From ancient times up to the present day, this artistic form of representation has enjoyed an audience in the German-speaking regions. The evolution of puppet theater parallels Germany’s quest for legitimacy as a nation and desire for cultural unification. A study of puppet theater thematizes the issue of popular cultural history. For most of its existence in Germany, puppet theater served as popular entertainment. The conception of folk art and folklore – which includes puppet theater – by the German Romantics led them to believe that folk artists possessed a mysterious authenticity inaccessible to Classicists and their narrowly-defined world of high art. Much German literature and thought from the 19th century onward shows a fondness for the Volk aspect of puppet theater. Puppet theater and its reception in German Romanticism helped to shape literary and philosophical themes that would lead to further recognition of puppetry as an art form and an integral aspect of German culture.
Industrial Computer Vision

This chapter is an overview of the principal concepts and techniques used in the design and implementation of state-of-the-art industrial vision systems. Attention is focused on six major areas: visual sensing, preprocessing, segmentation, description, recognition, and interpretation.
The Middle Paleolithic Sites

The Middle Paleolithic is represented by five Levantine Mousterian sites found in the Judayid Basin and the Jebel Qalkha study areas. Only two of the sites, Tor Sabiha and Tor Faraj, yielded in situ materials and these became the focus of research for the period (Figure 4.1). The other sites might best be described as find-spots where low densities of diagnostic artifacts (e.g., Levallois points and cores) were recorded on the surface.
Self-Hypnosis and the Common Components of Other Stress-Reduction Techniques

Medical high technology and superior medical skills cannot substitute for individual responsibility for health care today. One of the primary causes of chronic disease today is our psychological and psychophysiological reactions to psychosocial stress and our maladaptive (smoking, obesity, drug abuse) ways of coping with psychosocial stress. These psychological A part of this paper was first read as an invited presentation to the American Association for the Advancement of Tension Control, Chicago 1977, and a summary of it without reference to self-hypnosis was printed in the proceedings of the American Association for the Advancement of Tension Control. This paper was also read at the American Psychological Association Convention in Toronto, 1978, at the annual convention of the Illinois Psychological Association in 1978, and at the annual convention of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Houston, Texas, 1979. and psychophysiological reactions are consequences of fixed perceptions of threat and fixed perceptions of the ways of coping with threat. Hence, giving patients tools and the responsibility to use these tools to alter their own perception of threat is a major step toward restoring individual responsibility for health care. Self-hypnosis may be a useful prototype of such a tool to alter fixed perceptions of threat arousal and resolution.
Comparing Cognitive Defusion and Cognitive Restructuring Delivered Through a Mobile App for Individuals High in Self-Criticism

There are ongoing questions regarding the similarities and differences in the clinical impact and processes of change for cognitive restructuring and cognitive defusion. This clinical component test compared 87 adults high in self-criticism randomized to a cognitive defusion mobile app, restructuring app, or waitlist condition for 2 weeks. Equivalent improvements were found from the defusion and restructuring apps relative to the waitlist on self-criticism and distress as well as decentering, self-compassion, and dysfunctional attitudes. However, the defusion condition had a more consistent pattern of improvements relative to waitlist. Improvements in cognitive decentering, self-compassion, and dysfunctional attitudes mediated effects for cognitive defusion relative to waitlist. These mediators were inconsistent for cognitive restructuring. Improvements in self-compassion and cognitive decentering correlated with improvements in outcomes in the defusion condition, but not the restructuring condition. Overall, these results suggest mobile apps providing cognitive defusion and cognitive restructuring strategies are equally effective, but work through distinct processes of change.
Comparative Price Advertising: Informative or Deceptive?:

An issue currently generating considerable debate is the increasing use of the comparative price format in advertising. In this paper, reviews of comparative price advertising literature and Federa...
Emerging small and large molecule therapeutics for respiratory syncytial virus

Introduction: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes lower respiratory tract infections and can lead to morbidity and mortality in the infant, elderly and immunocompromised. There is no vaccine and therapeutic interventions are limited. RSV disease research has yielded the development of several prophylactic and therapeutic treatments. Several promising candidates are currently under investigation.Areas covered: Small and large molecule approaches to RSV treatment were examined and categorized by their mechanism of action using data from PubMed, clinicaltrials.gov, and from the sponsoring organizations publicly available pipeline information. These results are prefaced by an overview of RSV to provide the context for rational therapy development.Expert opinion: While small molecule drugs show promise for RSV treatment, we believe that large molecule therapy using anti-RSV G and F protein monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) will most efficaciously and safely ameliorate RSV disease.
Chapter 11 – Muscular Dystrophy

Muscular dystrophies are a heterogeneous group of inherited progressive disorders of muscle characterized by destruction of muscle and its replacement by fatty and fibrous tissue. The most common muscular dystrophies are Duchenne muscular dystrophy, facioscapulohumeral dystrophy, and myotonic dystrophy types 1 and 2. Muscle weakness is a major manifestation and often has an early onset, but initial symptoms may also be reported in early or even late adulthood. Genes with mutations causing muscular dystrophies typically play major roles in muscle development and maintenance of muscle function, including the reinforcement and repair of the plasma membrane. The considerable mechanical forces involved in contractility and the energy demands for metabolism and regeneration significantly affect the physiology of muscle fibers. Recent scientific advances have improved our diagnostic abilities and enabled experimental studies of gene therapy and conventional pharmacological treatments that should eventually lead to effective treatment of these hereditary disorders.
Associations of sleep duration with patient-reported outcomes and health care use in US adults with asthma.

Abstract Background Asthma contributes to considerable morbidity and health care utilization in adults. Insufficient and excessive sleep duration have known adverse effects on health. Little is known regarding the effect of sleep duration on health outcomes in adults with asthma. Objective To examine associations between sleep duration, patient-reported outcomes, and health care use in adults with asthma from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Methods Cross-sectional data from the 2007 to 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were analyzed. Asthma was identified by self-report. Habitual hours of sleep duration were categorized as short (≤5), normal (6-8), and long (≥9). Multivariate regression analyses were used to examine the associations between sleep duration and patient-reported outcomes and health care use. Results Of the 1389 adults with asthma, 26% reported short sleep duration, 66% reported normal sleep duration, and 8% reported long sleep duration. Those with short sleep duration had increased asthma attacks (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.58; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13-2.21), coughing (aOR 1.95; 95% CI 1.32-2.87), and overnight hospitalizations (aOR 2.14; 95% CI 1.37-3.36) compared with those having normal sleep duration. They also reported worse health-related quality of life, including days of poor physical health, mental health, and inactivity because of poor health (P values Conclusion Compared with adults having asthma and normal sleep duration, those having short sleep duration experience more frequent asthma attacks, increased health care use, and worse health-related quality of life, whereas those with long sleep duration experience more frequent activity limitation.
Fertility preservation in women with early-stage gynecologic cancer: optimizing oncologic and reproductive outcomes

Almost all standard therapies for gynecologic cancer, including surgical intervention, gonadotoxic chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, threaten a woman's childbearing potential. Preservation of fertility should be discussed with premenopausal women with early-stage gynecologic cancer shortly after diagnosis and, for women who desire to preserve fertility, during treatment planning. Many authors have investigated both oncologic and reproductive outcomes following fertility-sparing therapy, and there is ongoing development of assisted reproduction techniques available to cancer patients and survivors. Women with early-stage (IA1-IB1) cervical cancer may be candidates for fertility-sparing cervical conization, simple trachelectomy, or radical trachelectomy. In women with stage I epithelial ovarian cancer, fertility-sparing surgery appears safe overall, although controversy remains in patients with high-risk features (eg, high pathologic grade, clear cell histology, or stage IC disease). In women with low-grade, early-stage endometrial cancer, hormonal therapy has emerged as a viable option. Criteria for patient selection for fertility-sparing therapy are not well defined, thus patients and providers must carefully discuss potential risks and benefits. In general, in carefully selected patients, survival outcomes do not appear to differ significantly between radical and fertility-sparing approaches. Women who undergo fertility-sparing therapies may experience a number of fertility and obstetric complications. Preconception counseling with high-risk obstetric specialists is important to optimize health before a woman attempts to conceive. Identifying appropriate candidates for fertility-sparing treatments, assessing fertility potential, and helping women conceive after cancer treatment is best accomplished through multidisciplinary collaboration between gynecologic oncologists and fertility specialists.
Feasibility of hippocampal avoidance whole brain radiation in patients with hippocampal involvement: Data from a prospective study

Abstract Purpose Among patients with brain metastases, hippocampal avoidance whole brain radiation (HA-WBRT) preserves neurocognitive function relative to conventional WBRT but the feasibility of hippocampal sparing in patients with metastases in/near the hippocampus is unknown. We identified the incidence of hippocampal/perihippocampal metastases and evaluated the feasibility of HA-WBRT in such patients. Materials/Methods Dosimetric data from 34 patients randomized to HA-WBRT (30 Gy/10 fractions) in a phase III trial (NCT03075072) comparing HA-WBRT to stereotactic radiation in patients with 5 to 20 brain metastases were analyzed. Patients with metastases in/near the hippocampi received HA-WBRT with prioritization of tumor coverage over hippocampal avoidance. Target coverage and hippocampal sparing metrics were compared between patients with targets in/near the hippocampus versus not. Results In total, 9 of 34 (26%) patients had targets in the hippocampus and an additional 5 of 34 (15%) patients had targets in the hippocampal avoidance zone (HAZ, hippocampus plus 5 mm expansion) but outside the hippocampus. Patients with targets within the hippocampus and those with targets in the HAZ but outside the hippocampus were spared 34% and 73% of the ipsilateral mean biologically equivalent prescription dose, respectively. Of the latter cohort, 88% and 25% met conventional hippocampal sparing metrics of Dmin ≤ 9 Gy and Dmax ≤ 16 Gy, respectively. Among 11 patients with unilateral hippocampal/perihippocampal involvement, the uninvolved/contralateral hippocampus was limited to Dmin ≤ 9 Gy and Dmax ≤ 17 Gy in all cases. Conclusions In this study, a substantial percentage of patients with 5 to 20 brain metastases harbored metastases in/near the hippocampus. In such cases, minimizing hippocampal dose while providing tumor coverage was feasible and may translate to neurocognitive protection.
Preparation and characterization of porous polyethersulfone (PES) membranes with improved biocompatibility by blending sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) and cellulose acetate (CA) – A comparative study

Abstract The current study focuses on the effective sulfonation of polyethersulfone (PES) polymer to synthesize sulfonated-polyethersulfone (SPES) and blending with PES to prepare SPES/PES blend membranes as well as preparation of cellulose acetate CA/PES blend membranes. FTIR-ATR technique was used to confirm the blending of SPES and CA into PES matrix. Water contact angle studies showed a significant reduction of hydrophobicity in SPES blend membranes (49.55 ± 1.52°) as compared with CA blend membranes (59.42 ± 2.20°) and PES base membranes (67.80 ± 1.48°). The presence of pores were analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) where significant changes in the membrane morphology in the blend membranes were observed. Platelet adhesion, protein adsorption and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) studies were used to assess hemocompatibility of the membranes in which SPES/PES membranes exhibited improved characteristics as compared with its counterparts. The cytocompatibility of membranes were evaluated using water soluble tetrazolium (WST) assay which confirmed that both SPES/PES and CA/PES blend membranes exhibit better cytocompatibility than base PES membrane
Quasi-equilibrium models of high-redshift disc galaxy evolution

Author(s): Furlanetto, Steven R | Abstract: ABSTRACT In recent years, simple models of galaxy formation have been shown to provide reasonably good matches to available data on high-redshift luminosity functions. However, these prescriptions are primarily phenomenological, with only crude connections to the physics of galaxy evolution. Here, we introduce a set of galaxy models that are based on a simple physical framework but incorporate more sophisticated models of feedback, star formation, and other processes. We apply these models to the high-redshift regime, showing that most of the generic predictions of the simplest models remain valid. In particular, the stellar mass–halo mass relation depends almost entirely on the physics of feedback (and is thus independent of the details of small-scale star formation) and the specific star formation rate is a simple multiple of the cosmological accretion rate. We also show that, in contrast, the galaxy’s gas mass is sensitive to the physics of star formation, although the inclusion of feedback-driven star formation laws significantly changes the naive expectations. While these models are far from detailed enough to describe every aspect of galaxy formation, they inform our understanding of galaxy formation by illustrating several generic aspects of that process, and they provide a physically grounded basis for extrapolating predictions to faint galaxies and high redshifts currently out of reach of observations. If observations show violations from these simple trends, they would indicate new physics occurring inside the earliest generations of galaxies.
Alternative Paths to College Completion: Effect of Attending a 2-Year School on the Probability of Completing a 4-Year Degree.

Abstract Recent research indicates that college students who transfer from community colleges are significantly less likely to complete a 4-year college degree than students who begin at 4-year institutions. This paper estimates models of college completion for both types of students. Based on these results, an Oaxaca decomposition indicates that students who attend 2-year colleges are at a disadvantage due primarily to lower individual quality rather than the lower quality of 2-year colleges. This result has implications for public policies that seek to increase the role of 2-year colleges as a means to increase the number of students completing 4-year degrees.
Diagnosis and operative repair strategy of an underlying tegmen defect presenting with spontaneous otogenic pneumocephalus after Valsalva maneuver

Abstract Background The tegmen tympani and mastoideum are insidious locations of bony dehiscence. Large defects may result in encephalocele, cerebrospinal fluid leak, recurrent meningitis, and intracranial abscess. A rare complication is spontaneous otogenic pneumocephalus (SOP). Herein, we describe the clinical course and operative repair strategy of a case of SOP presenting uniquely with anomic aphasia managed by middle cranial fossa (MCF) approach with inlay AlloDerm. The proposed mechanisms behind the SOP development and rationale for the selected operative approach is subsequently discussed. Case description A 68-year-old woman presented with a two-week history of intermittent headaches and word-finding difficulty after attempting to auto-equalize her middle ear pressure by Valsalva maneuver during an airplane flight. CT and MRI demonstrated a left temporal intraparenchymal pneumatocele with dehiscence in the tegmen tympani and mastoideum. A multi-layered MCF approach craniotomy using inlay AlloDerm was performed to repair the defect. Conclusions Although rare, SOP is a diagnosis to consider in patients that develop otologic symptoms with focal neurological deficits in the context of ambient air pressure changes or a history of Valsalva maneuver. The patient developed this pathology likely due to congenitally thin bone, ectopic arachnoid granulations, obesity-related elevated intracranial pressure, and an underlying encephalocele that established a one-way valve during Valsalva maneuver. The MCF approach with inlay AlloDerm is an effective strategy for large and multiple defect repair.
Ulcerative Colitis With Concomitant Serrated Polyposis Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS) is a pre-cancerous condition associated with increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). Its role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated CRC remains unknown. Despite the growing understanding and recognition of SPS, there is limited literature about its impact on the colon in individuals with IBD. Herein, we report a case of a 45-year-old female who was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC) and SPS. We also reviewed the literature surrounding this association and highlighted the intricacies in managing this unique patient population. At present, there are no screening guidelines for CRC in SPS patients with IBD. However, given the potential synergistic risk for CRC, a close surveillance approach may be utilized. ﻿Tracking lifetime cumulative features of SPS and endoscopic clearance of adenomas and serrated polyps are the mainstays of management.
Isolation and Support Dynamics among Women in a Pimp-Based Commercial Sex Ring

Women involved in commercial sex rings are often isolated, with only each other as their primary social supports. Such relationships are marked by competition and distrust, promoting women’s belief...
Extension of charged-particle spectrometer capabilities for diagnosing implosions on OMEGA, Z, and the NIF.

New designs and a new analysis technique have been developed for an existing compact charged-particle spectrometer on the NIF and OMEGA. The new analysis technique extends the capabilities of this diagnostic to measure arbitrarily shaped ion spectra down to 1 MeV with yields as low as 106. Three different designs are provided optimized for the measurement of DD protons, T3He deuterons, and 3He3He protons. The designs are highly customizable, and a generalized framework is provided for optimizing the design for alternative applications. Additionally, the understanding of the detector’s response and uncertainties is greatly expanded upon. A new calibration procedure is also developed to increase the precision of the measurements.
An Improved Formula for Estimating Stored Energy in a BAW Resonator by its Measured S11 Parameters

In 2008, a formula was proposed to estimate the Time Averaged Stored Energy (TASE) in a bulk acoustic wave (BAW) resonator using only the measurement of its S 11 parameters and the incident power [1]. When the formula was applied to a BAW resonator, it provided an estimate of TASE across the entire resonant frequency range, but gave erroneous estimates of TASE at frequencies where spurious modes were present. In this work, we will derive an improved TASE formula that resolves this issue by accurately estimating the TASE in both Main-mode and Spurious-mode regions. The improved formula is derived by analyzing an extended Butterworth-Van Dyke (eBVD) model comprising several spurious branches. It is assumed that, at any given frequency, the overall admittance is dominated by one particular branch of the multibranch circuit. It follows that the estimated TASE of the eBVD circuit is the product of the incident power and |S 11 /dω|. This improved estimate for TASE has been validated using a physically realistic 2D FEM resonator model, consisting of lateral modes, that compares the improved estimate (from S 11 ) to that in which the stored energy was integrated through the FEM's mesh elements. Since quality factor (Q) employs the TASE formula, an improved Q formula is also proposed. This improved Q formula has been shown to provide a superior estimate of a resonator's Q factor in the lateral mode region, and we propose that it should replace the existing Q formula currently in wide use.
Intravascular adenomyomatosis: a morphologic variant of intravenous leiomyomatosis associated with endometriosis and potential for misdiagnosis.

Intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL) is a quasi-malignant smooth muscle tumor involving lymphatic and venous spaces of the myometrium. Rare cases of IVL with admixed endometrial glands and stroma have been described, termed intravascular adenomyomatosis. We report four additional cases of intravascular adenomyomatosis and expand the clinicopathologic features of these rare tumors. Patients were 39-45 years old and presented with symptoms of dysmenorrhea, postmenopausal bleeding, or pelvic mass. All cases were associated with endometriosis. Three cases comprised intravascular bland smooth muscle tumors with plexiform features, and in some foci the intravascular tumor contained endometrial type glands and stroma. In one case there was extensive (>10) foci of intravascular adenomyomatosis without evidence of associated smooth muscle neoplasm but did have an endometrial polyp with adenomyomatous features. None of the cases had nuclear atypia, increased mitotic activity, or tumor cell necrosis. The endometrial stromal components were positive for CD10 and negative or weakly positive for desmin by immunohistochemistry. Two cases underwent molecular testing for JAZF1 and PHF1 rearrangements with negative results. Three patients had no evidence of disease at the time of last follow-up, and one had persistent but stable disease 7 years after incomplete surgical removal and megestrol acetate treatment. Intravascular adenomyomatosis is a variant morphology rarely seen in IVL that lacks characteristic morphologic and molecular features of endometrial stromal sarcoma. Like IVL, prognosis is likely linked to completeness of surgical resection. In this study we found that intravascular adenomyomatosis is frequently associated with endometriosis, a novel finding to add to the literature on this rare IVL variant.
Public policy and entrepreneurship: The development of the competitive local telephone service industry

In this dissertation, I examine how political environments influence industry structure and entrepreneurial opportunities following deregulation. Though deregulation implies a removal of government control, I propose that deregulation remains a political process that is shaped by previous regulations and by the state actors responsible for implementing and overseeing deregulation. I test my claims by studying the competitive local telephone service industry, which was created by the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. Regulators within state governments had historically played a large role in governing the industry and continued to oversee and implement the federal deregulatory policy. I studied the growth of competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) at two different levels of analysis: the state and the firm. At the state-level, I examined CLEC founding rates between 1997 and 2006. I find that states with more experience with incentive-based regulation had higher founding rates and that this effect attenuated with time. Founding rates were also higher for states with new governors throughout the study and for states with new commissioners early in the study period. At the firm-level, I examined expansion decisions made by CLECs between 1997 and 2005. I find that early in the study period, CLECs were more likely to enter states that were similar to their founding state on dimensions of the political ideology of its electorate and that employed the same type of local telephone regulation in 1996. New governors and a regulatory commission with relatively recent turnover also made certain states more attractive
Consumer Law Research Guide

Researching consumer law issues is challenging. Researchers working in most legal subject areas are able to focus primarily on the single area of law at issue. Consumer law is an amalgamation of several interrelated areas of law. The consumer law researcher must be adept at research in a number of subject areas including bankruptcy, sales, real estate, mortgages, and banking law. Further complicating the picture is the numerous types of authority involved in consumer law research. The consumer lawyer must wade through not only numerous cases and statutes but a morass of administrative agency rules, administrative law decisions, staff interpretations, commentary, guidelines, and other pronouncements. Consumer lawyers must also be adept at researching issues at both the state and federal levels.
Dynamic Fracture Responses of Al2O3, Si3N4 and SiCW/Al2O3

A hybrid experimental-numerical procedure was used to characterize the dynamic fracture responses of alumina (Al2O3), silicon nitride (Si3N4) and silicon carbide whisker/alumina matrix (SiCw/Al2O3) composite. The instantaneous crack tip location during rapid fracture at room and 1000°C was determined by the crack opening displacement(COD), using laser interferometric displacement gage. Consistent with previous finding, the dynamic crack arrest stress intensity factor did not exist in the ceramics and ceramic matrix composite studied.
“You're Trying Hard, but It's Still Going to Die”: Indigenous Youth and Language Tensions in Peru and the United States

This article discusses emerging research on youth and Indigenous languages. Based on a comparative and international Indigenous education study in Peru and the United States, the intersection between Indigenous community spaces, schools, and languages is examined. Given global trends of Indigenous language loss, comparative research provides the opportunity for exploration of these challenges in distinct settings where youth can help redefine local and national language and education policy as critical stakeholders and actors.
EEG and Evoked Potentials in HIV-Infected Children

Forty-seven HIV-seropositive children were investigated by EEG and evoked potentials (BAEP, SEP). Twenty-three children were symptomatic (P2), 8 seropositive without symptoms (P1), and 16 children were less than 15 months of age (P0). Some of them were investigated at different stages of HIV infection. During the neonatal period, 7 newborns of drug-addicted mothers had seizures and frequent spikes and sharp waves in their EEGs. Among (P2) children 6/23 showed background slowing and 1 had rhythmic theta activity (6 with and 1 without neurological symptoms). In BAEP, bilateral prolonged interpeak latencies (IPL) were found in 1 child with severe AIDS encephalopathy. Side differences greater than or equal to 0.4 ms in IPL were seen in 2 (P2), 1 without and 1 with neurological symptoms. A late onset was seen in 2 (P1) and 4 (P2) children. Median SEPs were normal in 24/26 patients; N20/N13 amplitude ratio was reduced in 2 (P1) patients. EEG and BAEP revealed nonspecific abnormal features in HIV encephalopathy. The the progression of the disease. However, also in the symptomatic group, normal results of EEG and BAEP dominated. SEP in the symptomatic group revealed only normal values. For monitoring the effectiveness of AZT treatment in HIV encephalopathy, EEG seems to be a relevant investigation; for evoked potentials more data and experience are needed.
Chemical Amendments and Process Controls To Reduce Ammonia Volatilization During In-House Composting

Composting inside high-rise, caged layer facilities can produce atmospheric ammonia (NH3) concentrations exceeding standards for human and poultry health. Control measures that reduce NH3 volatilization are necessary for in-house composting to be sustainable. Due to differences specific to in-house composting — low carbon to nitrogen ratios of composting material, continuous manure addition, and frequent turning — it is not known whether NH3 control measures used previously for poultry manure will work. The objectives of this study were to evaluate various amendment and process controls on NH3 produced during simulated in-house composting in the lab, and to evaluate select chemical control measures during composting inside a high-rise layer facility. Ten amendments (aluminum sulfate; chloride salts of aluminum, calcium, magnesium, and potassium; gypsum; sodium bisulfate; zeolite (clinoptilolite); straw; and cellulose) and four process controls (moisture; temperature; turning frequency; and particle size) ...
WNT/β-catenin pathway up-regulates Stat3 and converges on LIF to prevent differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells rely on growth factors provided by feeder cells or exogenously to maintain their pluripotency. In order to identify such factors, we have established sub-lines of STO feeder cells which exhibit variable ability in supporting ES cell self-renewal. Functional screening identifies WNT5A and WNT6 as STO cell-produced factors that potently inhibit ES cell differentiation in a serum-dependent manner. Furthermore, direct activation of beta-catenin without disturbing the upstream components of the WNT/beta-catenin pathway fully recapitulates the effect of WNTs on ES cells. Importantly, the WNT/beta-catenin pathway up-regulates the mRNA for Stat3, a known regulator of ES cell self-renewal in the mouse. Finally, LIF is able to mimic the serum effect to act synergistically with WNT proteins to inhibit ES cell differentiation. Therefore, our study reveals part of the molecular mechanisms by which the WNT/beta-catenin pathway acts to prevent ES cell differentiation through convergence on the LIF/JAK-STAT pathway at the level of STAT3.
First-principles studies of carbon dioxide adsorption in cryptomelane/hollandite-type manganese dioxide

A critical challenge in developing engineered materials for low-energy-cost carbon capture and storage applications is to fundamentally understand adsorption, particularly when the materials exhibit hysteretic sorption behavior. We used first-principles calculations and combined with experiments to explore CO2 sorption in a nanoporous solid: cryptomelane-type manganese dioxide (OMS-2). Cations present in this material to not only stabilize its porous structure but also tailor CO2-pore interaction. The concentration, type and charge of cations have significant effects on CO2 adsorption, diffusion and hysteresis behavior. OMS-2 with lower-charge cation, e.g. K+ (Cryptomelane), exhibits less hysteresis than OMS-2 with higher-charge cation, e.g. Ba2+ (Hollandite).
Procedures for multielement analysis using high-flux fast-neutron activation

Improvements have been made in the rabbit system used for multielement fast-neutron activation analysis at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Rotating Target Neutron Source, RTNS-I. Procedures have been developed for the analysis of 20–25 elements in samples with an inorganic matrix and 10–15 elements in biological samples, without the need for prohibitively expensive, long irradiations. Results are presented for the analysis of fly ash, orchard leaves, and bovine liver.
Automated determination of grain geometry in an exploited steam-pipeline steel

We propose a method for automated determination of grain geometry, based on the analysis of digital metallographic images of the microstructure of exploited 12Kh1MF steam-pipeline steel. This method enables one to analyze images with indistinctly delineated grain boundaries by means of interactive processing. We have shown that, with approach to the pipe surfaces, the grain size grows at its straight part and decreases at its bend in the tension zone, which is evidence of recrystallization processes in high-strained metal. If one evaluates grain sizes by changes in the metal hardness, then the distribution of grain sizes across the pipe wall in the tension zone of bend does not agree with the Hall – Petch law, which can be a result of intense operational degradation of the bend metal.
Optimization of underground transportation systems using a network flows model

A new approach to optimization of underground transportation systems using a network flows model rather than simulation techniques applied to specific underground systems is presented. The model is illustrated using a sublevel caving system to demonstrate the stages used to obtain an optimum system cost.
PCs for AP

DO PCs MAKE YOU MORE PRODUCTIVE? If you're anything like me, you probably spend a good portion of your day sitting in front of, and staring at, your computer terminal. Among other ill effects alleged to this pastime are eyestrain and potentially dangerous radiation. I have no comment about the latter, and asfa r as the former is concerned, my slowly changing eyesight over time l ehda s to the most annoying problem that even bifocals don't seem to compensate for reading at a distance from my computer screen which is most convenient. I'm either backed up far enough that my upper far-distance lenses provide a sharp, but alas rather small image, or I have my nose nearly pressed against the screen so that the lower, close-up part of the lenses can be used. Having to peer out the lower half of my glasses at a screen about at eye level is also not the best arrangement for my neck which always seems to be developing cricks as a result of the unusual contortion that I ask it to accept. Wouldn't it be neat if, in the spirit of the XeroxlMacintosh desktop screen format, your computer screen couldb e located more nearlyl evel with the desk surface to provide a more natural viewing angle? How abouint addition we were to be given an easily dialable image sizes o that the problems just mentioned could be minimized. Perhaps a projection systemw ith a zoom lens would do the trick.
After Hegemony: Transatlantic Economic Relations in the Next Decade

(1984). After hegemony: Transatlantic economic relations in the next decade. The International Spectator: Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 3-9.
Indentation of solids with gradients in elastic properties: Part I. Point force

Abstract Analytical and computational results are presented on the evolution of stresses and displacements due to indentation from a normal point force on an elastic substrate whose Young's modulus E varies as a function of depth, z , beneath the indented surface. With the exception of variation of properties with depth, the material is assumed to be linearly elastic and locally isotropic. Closed-form solutions are derived for several fixed values of the Poisson ratio, v , and variations in E which follow two prescribed functions of z : (1) a simple power law, E = E 0 z k , where 0 ≤ k E = E 0 e αz , where E 0 is Young's modulus at the surface, α α > 0 denotes a soft surface (e.g., modulus variations measured as a function of depth beneath the earth's surface for solids and rocks). The analytical solutions are checked with detailed finite element simulations. It is shown that, for the power law case, there exists a critical Poisson ratio, v cr , above which drastic changes occur in the stress distribution under the point load. Finite element results reveal, however, that the response is relatively less sensitive to the variation of v (on either side of v cr ,) than to the variation of E with depth. Applications of the present results are discussed, wherever appropriate, to surface treatments of engineering structures, thick coatings, thin-film multilayers for microelectronic devices, and settling of foundations in the context of soil mechanics and rock mechanics.
Occurrence dates of North Atlantic tropical storms and hurricanes: 2005 in perspective

[1] This paper compares dates of the nth storm (1st, 2nd,…etc.) in sequence for all tropical storms and hurricanes in the North Atlantic Basin from 1851–2005. The year 2005 stands out as a season that got off to an early start, remained active throughout the season, and set many records for earliest occurrence dates for the nth named storm. Exceptionally warm sea surface temperatures may help explain the record breaking season of 2005. Other seasons with storms with early dates of occurrence include 1887, 1933, 1936, and 1995. All of these seasons are associated with a positive phase of the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation.
Beta-phenylisopropylhydrazine (JB-516) on septal hyperirritability and brain amine levels in the rat.

1. With repeated handling over a three to four day period, the hyperirritability scores of rats with septal lesions decreased to values which were not different than normal or sham-operated rats' scores. 2. JB-516 (20 mg/kg) caused a reappearance of hyperirritability in the “tamed” septal rat, which was most marked 5 hours after administration. 3. A direct stimulatory effect of JB-516 on rat motor activity occurred during the first hour after administration, and had subsided at the time of increase in hyperirritability. 4. A comparison of the time course of changes in brain serotonin and norepinephrine concentrations after drug with changes in behavioral scores indicated that serotonin may be responsible for the action of JB-516 in these experiments.
Inside Front Cover: Conducting‐Polymer Nanotubes for Controlled Drug Release (Adv. Mater. 4/2006)

Martin and co-workers report on p. 405 that nanotubes formed from the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), as shown on the inside cover, can be used for the controlled release of anti-inflammatory drugs. The fabrication process includes electrospinning of a biodegradable polymer, either poly(L-lactide) or poly(lactide-co-glycolide), into which the required drug is incorporated, followed by electrochemical deposition of the conducting polymer around the drug-loaded electrospun nanofibers. Drug release from the nanotubes is achieved by external electrical stimulation of the nanotubes.