cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parametric Optimization of Gas Purifiers: A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Modeling Approach

The design of high-performance gas filtration and purification products utilizing adsorption must account for the sensitivity of adsorption phenomena to the wide variety of process conditions and parameters which is difficult to know in advance for a particular design. Although building physical prototypes and performing physical testing can be done, it is usually at the expense of time-to-market, reduced number of design alternatives, the absence of true optimization, and financial cost. Therefore, there remains a standing need to develop a suitable parametric optimization tool to capture the effects of related process parameters on purifier performance. Virtual prototyping of gas purification products using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can complement that by simulating the required physics involved (fluid flow, heat and mass transfer, chemical kinetics, and thermodynamics). To this end, recent efforts demonstrated a novel modeling technique to predict and optimize chemical performances in gas purifiers under a wide range of process parameters. The optimization model is based on three different gas-solid adsorption systems (toluene/activated carbon, moisture/zeolite and CO2/zeolite). The models were first validated with experimental data which were then applied to optimize purifier performance. Based on the modeling data, a set of mathematical correlations was developed that can predict the effects of process parameters on adsorption performance. Using these correlations, a simplified optimization calculator was provided which effectively predicts the parametric effects on purifier performance without performing lengthy experiments or requiring designers to learn CFD.
A scale-dependent framework for trade-offs, syndromes, and specialization in organismal biology

Biodiversity is defined by trait differences between organisms, and biologists have long sought to predict associations among ecologically important traits. Why do some traits trade off but others are coexpressed? Why might some trait associations hold across levels of organization, from individuals and genotypes to populations and species, whereas others only occur at one level? Understanding such scaling is a core biological problem, bearing on the evolution of ecological strategies as well as forecasting responses to environmental change. Explicitly considering the hierarchy of biodiversity and expectations at each scale (individual change, evolution within and among populations, and species turnover) is necessary as we work toward a predictive framework in evolutionary ecology. Within species, a trait may have an association with another trait because of phenotypic plasticity, genetic correlation, or population-level local adaptation. Plastic responses are often adaptive and yet individuals have a fixed pool of resources; thus, positive and negative trait associations can be generated by immediate environmental needs and energetic demands. Genetic variation and covariation for traits within a population are typically shaped by varying natural selection in space and time. Although genetic correlations are infrequently long-term constraints, they may indicate competing organismal demands. Traits are often quantitatively differentiated among populations (local adaptation), although selection rarely favors qualitatively different strategies until populations become reproductively isolated. Across species, niche specialization to particular habitats or biotic interactions may determine trait correlations, a subset of which are termed "strategic trade-offs" because they are a consequence of adaptive specialization. Across scales, constraints within species often do not apply as new species evolve, and conversely, trait correlations observed across populations or species may not be reflected within populations. I give examples of such scale-dependent trait associations and their causes across taxonomic groups and ecosystems, and in the final section of the paper, I specifically evaluate leaf economics spectrum traits and their associations with plant defense against herbivory. Scale-dependent predictions emerge for understanding plant ecology holistically, and this approach can be fruitfully applied more generally in evolutionary ecology. Adaptive specialization and community context are two of the primary drivers of trade-offs and syndromes across biological scales.
Treatment of Congestive Heart Failure with Intravenous Nitroglycerin in Three Dogs with Degenerative Valvular Disease

We described the use of IV nitroglycerin as adjunctive therapy in three canine patients with left congestive heart failure secondary to degenerative mitral valve disease. All three dogs were admitted for signs of respiratory distress and all were determined to be in left congestive heart failure by history, exam findings, thoracic radiographs, and echocardiography. In addition to standard therapy for left congestive heart failure, IV nitroglycerin was administered as a constant rate infusion at a dose of 1-6 mcg/kg/min. No adverse events attributable to the drug were noted. This is the first reported use of IV nitroglycerin in clinical veterinary patients. Further studies are warranted to investigate the safety, efficacy, and optimal dosing of IV nitroglycerin infusions in dogs with left congestive heart failure.
Correlation between NF1 genotype and imaging phenotype on whole-body MRI: NF1 radiogenomics

Objective To investigate the genotype–phenotype correlation between neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) germline mutations and imaging features of neurofibromas on whole-body MRI (WBMRI) by using radiomics image analysis techniques. Materials and methods Twenty-nine patients with NF1 who had known germline mutations determined by targeted next-generation sequencing were selected from a previous WBMRI study using coronal short tau inversion recovery sequence. Each tumor was segmented in WBMRI and a set of 59 imaging features was calculated using our in-house volumetric image analysis platform, 3DQI. A radiomics heatmap of 59 imaging features was analyzed to investigate the per-tumor and per-patient associations between the imaging features and mutation domains and mutation types. Linear mixed-effect models and one-way analysis of variance tests were performed to assess the similarity of tumor imaging features within mutation groups, between mutation groups, and between randomly selected groups. Results A total of 218 neurofibromas (97 discrete neurofibromas and 121 plexiform neurofibromas) were identified in 19 of the 29 patients. The unsupervised hierarchical clustering in heatmap analysis revealed 6 major image feature patterns that were significantly correlated with gene mutation domains and types with strong to very strong associations of genotype–phenotype correlations in both per-tumor and per-patient studies (p 0.5), whereas tumor size and locations showed no correlations with imaging features (p = 0.79 and p = 0.42, respectively). The statistical analyses revealed that the number of significantly different features (SDFs) within mutation groups were significantly lower than those between mutation groups (mutation domains: 10.9 ± 9.5% vs 31.9 ± 23.8% and mutation types: 31.8 ± 30.7% vs 52.6 ± 29.3%). The first and second quartile p values of within-patient groups were more than 2 times higher than those between-patient groups. However, the numbers of SDFs between randomly selected groups were much lower (approximately 5.2%). Conclusion This preliminary study identified the NF1 radiogenomics linkage between NF1 causative mutations and MRI radiomic features, i.e., the correlation between NF1 genotype and imaging phenotype on WBMRI.
van Fraassen's Critique of Scientific Realism, On the Meaning of Theoretical Regularity

Skepticism won’t suffice as a method for making theoretical representations about the validity of knowledge. The contents of ideas must pave the way to processes that provide foundations of ideas to determine paths for thought and conception to be confirmed. These paths are logically constructed in theories whose structures are based on observation. In order to determine what kinds of structures to use in the development of ideas, science is a method that contains specific principles that explain what logical relations there are between mind and the world. Thus, fallibilism is a way of being that decides how to order the logical relations of observation based on how they work in conditions and makes a step in another direction to say what factors are not reliable for the pursuit of knowledge.
Adherence to Dietary Patterns and Risk of Incident Dementia: Findings from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

Background Previous studies have suggested that adherence to healthy dietary patterns during late life may be associated with improved cognition. However, few studies have examined the association between healthy dietary patterns during midlife and incident dementia. Objective Our study aimed to determine the association between adherence to healthy dietary patterns at midlife and incident dementia. Methods We included 13,630 adults from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study in our prospective analysis. We used food frequency questionnaire responses to calculate four dietary scores: Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010), alternate Mediterranean (aMed) diet, and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH). Participants were followed until the end of 2017 for incident dementia. Cox regression models adjusted for covariates were used to estimate risk of incident dementia by quintile of dietary scores. Results Over a median of 27 years, there were 2,352 cases of incident dementia documented. Compared with participants in quintile 1 of HEI-2015, participants in quintile 5 (healthiest) had a 14% lower risk of incident dementia (hazard ratio, HR: 0.86, 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.74-0.99). There were no significant associations of incident dementia with the AHEI-2010, aMed, or DASH scores. There were no significant interactions by sex, age, race, education, physical activity, hypertension, or obesity. Conclusion Adherence to the HEI-2015, but not the other dietary scores, during midlife was associated with lower risk of incident dementia. Further research is needed to elucidate whether timing of a healthy diet may influence dementia risk.
The Real Estate Academic Leadership (REAL) Rankings for 2016–2020

This is the sixth release of the Real Estate Academic Leadership (REAL) rankings for authors and institutions. These rankings only account for articles published in the top three real estate journa...
Establishing a reproductive biorepository for basic and translational research: experience developing the reproductive subjects registry and sample repository

To report experience designing and establishing a reproductive registry and sample biorepository and to describe initial subject characteristics and biospecimens. Beginning in December 2017, patients presenting for reproductive care at the University of Michigan were approached for study enrollment. Following consent, subjects completed detailed reproductive and health questionnaires. A variety of reproductive specimens and tissues were collected and processed for multiple downstream applications. Subject enrollment began in December of 2017. There are currently 1798 subjects enrolled. Female participants report a variety of reproductive disorders. Available samples include semen, sperm, follicular fluid, granulosa cells, immature oocytes, ovarian and uterine tissue, and blood samples. We report the successful establishment of a reproductive registry and sample biorepository. Furthermore, we describe methods for collection and storage of a variety of reproductive tissue processed for multiple downstream translational applications.
The impact of genetic risk on liver fibrosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease as assessed by magnetic resonance elastography

BACKGROUND Variants in multiple genetic loci modify the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cirrhosis but there are limited data on the quantitative impact of variant copies on liver fibrosis. AIM To investigate the effect of PNPLA3, TM6SF2, MBOAT7, GCKR and HSD17B13 genotype on liver fibrosis assessed by magnetic resonance elastography (MRE), a reproducible, accurate, continuous biomarker of liver fibrosis. METHODS This is a cross-sectional analysis derived from a well-characterised cohort at risk for NAFLD who underwent genotyping and MRE assessment. Liver stiffness (LS) was estimated using MRE and advanced fibrosis was defined as liver stiffness ≥3.63 kilopascals (kPa). Univariable and multivariable linear and logistic regression analysis, were used to assess the association between genotype and MRE. RESULTS Two hundred sixty-four patients (63% women) with a mean age 53 (±17) years, and 31% Hispanic ethnicity with genotyping and MRE were included. The odds of advanced fibrosis were 3.1 (95% CI: 1.1-8.9, P = 0.04) for CG and 6.5 (95% CI: 2.2-18.9, P < 0.01) for GG compared to CC PNPLA3 genotype. Each PNPLA3 risk variant copy was associated with 0.40 kPa (95% CI: 0.19-0.61, P < 0.01) increase in LS on MRE in analysis adjusted for age, sex and BMI and there was significant genotype-age interaction (P < 0.01). Conversely, the protective TA allele in HSD17B13 was associated with a -0.41 kPa (95% CI: -0.76 to -0.05, P = 0.03) decrease in liver stiffness on MRE multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION Knowledge of PNPLA3 and HSD17B13 genotype may assist in the non-invasive risk stratification of NAFLD with closer monitoring recommended for those with high genetic risk.
Kriging and dimension reduction techniques for delamination detection in composites using electrical resistance tomography

The electrical resistance tomography (ERT) is a non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technique that uses the inherent conductivity variations of composites to characterize internal damage. This article...
Coronavirus disease 2019-associated immunoglobulin A vasculitis/Henoch-Schönlein purpura: A case report and review.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) vasculitis or Henoch-Schonlein purpura is a predominantly pediatric disease occurring after a triggering viral or bacterial infection. Conversely, drug exposure is the most common inciting event in adult cases of IgA vasculitis. Recently, data has suggested a temporal association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the development of IgA vasculitis in children and adults. Here, we describe a case of IgA vasculitis with nephritis in a 70-year-old man with COVID-19 and perform a comprehensive review of eight reported cases of suspected COVID-19-associated IgA vasculitis. When compared to classical IgA vasculitis, COVID-19-associated IgA vasculitis exclusively affects males (p < 0.00002) and is more common in adults (p < 0.005). Among cases of COVID-19-associated IgA vasculitis, adult cases were associated with significantly more arthralgia than pediatric cases (p = 0.04). In cases where skin biopsy was obtained, direct immunofluorescence (DIF) was negative for IgA in 50% of cases; thereafter, kidney biopsy DIF was positive for IgA in all cases. With this study, we provide support for an association between IgA vasculitis and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and provide clinical information differentiating its manifestations from classical IgA vasculitis.
Measuring Cation Movements Across the Cell Wall Using NMR Spectroscopy: Sodium Movements in Striated Muscle

New applications of NMR spectroscopy of intact tissues allow repetitive, sequential measurement of the intracellular amount or concentration of several cations important for cell function: Na+, K+, H+, Ca2+ and Mg2+. Intra- and extracellular amounts of Na+ or K+ can be measured simultaneously using 23Na or 39K NMR by placing a frequency shift reagent in the extracellular space; a comparison of three anionic chelate complexes of paramagnetic lanthanides used as shift reagents is presented. Intracellular Ca2+ concentrations may be measured using 19F NMR and the Ca2+ chelator 5F-BAPTA. Intracellular pH is esimated from the chemical shift dependance of the inorganic phosphate resonance in the 13P NMR spectrum. By placing phenylphosphonic acid in the extracellular space, extracellular pH may also be estimated from its chemical shift. Also using 31P spectra, concentration of free Mg2+ may be inferred from the relative chemical shifts of the [α-P] and [β-P] ATP resonances and the dissociation constant of MgATP. From these measurements, movement of cations across the cell wall may be assessed. Representative examples using striated muscle are presented.
Radio Frequency Coverage: The Cell

The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) provides licenses to operate cellular communication systems over given band of frequencies. These bands of frequencies are finite and have to be reused to provide services to other geographic areas. Since a number of different technologies are available, the reuse of frequencies must also differ. Therefore, techniques are needed to support these competing technologies so that they can coexist and offer services to a wide geographic area without interfering each other. In order to provide a comprehensive overview, this chapter begins with the description of cell geometry followed by the concept of cell reuse with the evaluation of carrier to interference ratio (C/I). The classical cell reuse plan is described next, with examples of various frequency plans related to OMNI and Sectorization schemes. The associated channel capacity and C/I performances are also evaluated.
Relationship of Apparent Systemic Clearance to Individual Organ Clearances: Effect of Pulmonary Clearance and Site of Drug Administration and Measurement

The relationships between apparent total-body clearance (CL) and individual organ clearances were mathematically defined with respect to the site of drug administration and measurement. The derived equations can be applied to drugs undergoing different pathways of elimination, including pulmonary clearance. A physiological pharmacokinetic model was used to test the validity of the equations. The apparent systemic clearance values obtained through the equations, using the individual organ clearance values, were identical to those calculated utilizing the model-generated data, indicating the validity of the equations. Furthermore, it was shown that the conventional estimation of CL of drugs subject to pulmonary clearance is highly dependent upon the site of drug administration and measurement. The relationships were further utilized to explain the reported CL values which are higher than the cardiac output. The equations developed here may be used to predict the contribution of different organs, such as the lungs, to the apparent systemic clearance of drugs.
Regulation of 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3-1-hydroxylase in Vivo

Abstract The elucidation of the factors which govern the production by the kidney of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-(OH)2D3) is essential to an understanding of calcium homeostasis. Changes in the specific activity of the renal 25-OH-cholecalciferol-1-hydroxylase (1-hydroxylase) were followed after alterations in dietary vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus or parathyroidectomy using an enzyme assay which measures initial reaction rates. 1-Hydroxylase specific activity varied over a 5- to 20-fold range with changes in dietary vitamin D; it was decreased to a specific activity of 0.1 to 0.6 pmole per min per mg of protein by administration of vitamin D3 (1.6 nmoles per day) or equally effectively by administration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (0.52 nmole per day), and it increased markedly to a level of 0.7 to 1.8 pmoles per min per mg of protein upon withdrawal of the steroids. These changes were not dependent upon measurable changes in serum calcium and occurred regardless of dietary calcium and phosphorous levels. The time period required for the enzyme activity to fall to values characteristic of a vitamin D-repleted chick was inversely proportional to the magnitude of the dose of vitamin D3 given (7 days with 3.2 nmoles per day; 2 days with 32.5 nmoles per day). In the continued presence of vitamin D3, the 1-hydroxylase activity is modulated over a more narrow range (0.1 to 0.6 pmole per min per mg of protein) and enzyme levels reflect the dietary availability of calcium. Changes in dietary calcium were reflected by parallel changes in serum calcium. There was a highly significant (p l 0.001) inverse correlation between 1-hydroxylase activity and serum Ca2+ levels. No significant correlations were found between the enzyme activity and serum phosphorous or renal inorganic phosphorous levels. Parathyroidectomy of cholecalciferol-depleted chicks resulted in a decrease, in 24 hours, of 1-hydroxylase activity to levels characteristic of vitamin D-treated chicks (0.2 to 0.04 pmoles per min per mg of protein). This suggests that parathyroid hormone status is equally as important as calciferol status in determining 1-hydroxylase specific activity. The half-life and rates of synthesis and degradation of 1-hydroxylase in cholecalciferol-deficient and -repleted chicks were determined by measuring enzyme activity following cycloheximide treatment (Berlin, C. M., and Schimke, R. T. (1965) Mol. Pharmacol. 1, 149). Vitamin D status had no effect on the half-life or degradation rate (t1/2 = 4 to 5 hours); the rate of synthesis in deficient birds is 4.7 times that in vitamin D-repleted birds. In summary, the two major components which regulate the steady state level of 25-OH-D3-1-hydroxylase (vitamin D status and serum calcium-parathyroid hormone) appear to exert their effect by changes in the rate of the biosynthesis of this enzyme.
Sentinels Guarding the Grail: Value-Added Measurement and the Quest for Education Reform

Over the past three years, Value-Added Measurement (VAM) has captured the attention of the American public through high-profile media representations of the tool and the controversy that surrounds it. In this paper, we build upon investigations of constructions of VAM in the media and present a discourse analysis of the policymaking process within the meetings of Tennessee’s Teacher Evaluation Advisory Committee (TEAC), a 15-member panel appointed by the Tennessee governor to develop a new teacher evaluation policy under Race to the Top. The data included audiorecordings of public meetings from March, 2010 through the end of the committee’s work in April, 2011. As we analyzed the talk of the TEAC, we oriented to the particular version of VAM worked up within these conversations in relation to a descriptive metaphor in which VAM is compared to a “sentinel of trust.” We present examples to illustrate three patterns in the construction of VAM as the sentinel of trust within teacher evaluation: (1) VAM alone defines effectiveness; (2) VAM is the only objective option; and (3) concerns about VAM are minimized. We discuss the implications of this way of thinking and talking about VAM and contrast it with other possibilities, including those constructed by teachers, researchers, and the media.
Caregiving and Post-Caregiving Experiences of Midlife and Older Gay Men and Lesbians

Abstract Purpose: This study examines the experiences of midlife and older gay men and lesbians caring for chronically ill, same-sex partners. This study also accounts for their experiences in ’post-caregiving,’ or the period following the cessation of care. Design and Methods: Using a qualitative methodology, in-depth interviews were conducted with nineteen gay men and lesbians over 50. Results: Respondents reported similar experiences in caregiving as those in previous studies looking at caregiving for older adult spouses and relatives (including physical and emotional strains). Similarly, respondents experienced loneliness and depression following the loss of the caregiving role. Unique aspects of the experience for gay and lesbian caregivers caring for same-sex partners, however, involved their interactions with formal and informal support persons and services and their long-term planning and decision-making processes. Implications: In light of their experiences, respondents offered their opinions abo...
The Rule against Disturbing Plain Meaning of Writings

N A discussion of any phase of the so-called parol evidence rule, it seems worth while, probably necessary, to keep in mind that actually there is no single rule which properly may be called The Parol Evidence Rule. There are four parol evidence rules, not one.? One parol evidence rule has to do with integration. This rule deals with the problem whether a party or parties have embodied in a written instrument or instruments his or their legal acts.2 A second parol evidence rule relates to interpretation of written instruments, the application of written instruments to external objects.3 A third rule has to do with the creation of legal acts and hence is concerned with whether they are what they purport to be, whether they are void or voidable.4 The fourth rule relates to the solemnization of legal acts and therefore deals with the question whether the formalities of the law have been complied with; for example, the sufficiency of a mem-
Posterior Urethral Valves

Posterior urethral valves (PUV) remain the most common cause of bladder outflow obstruction in male infants. Initial management involves bladder drainage following which radiological investigations are carried out. We describe our preferred operative technique, primary valve ablation, along with the complications that may be encountered. A check cystoscopy is routinely performed 3 months later at which time a circumcision may be offered.
The Fruits of Revolution: The weaknesses of monopoly power

Under the Old Regime, drainage and irrigation were stymied by litigation over property rights that dragged on for decades. Most of the courts, like the parlements or the conseil in which suits over water control were argued, were supposed to be final courts of appeal. Despite repeated claims of final and expeditive justice, however, the courts continued to hear appeals; hence, it is clear that they reneged on their promises of speedy trials. The courts did not keep their promises because they were not bound to honor their announcements. As we shall see, kings, courts, and private individuals frequently announced future plans of action and later chose not to follow those plans. The inability of many actors in pre-Revolutionary France to commit to future plans dramatically increased transaction costs in some sectors of the economy. Solutions to problems of inconsistent announcements, although well known before 1789, were never effectively implemented under the Old Regime. In contrast, the governments that followed the Revolution steadfastly abided by contracts. More important, after 1800 the state forced other organizations to keep their promises as well. This chapter presents an investigation of the problems of commitment under the Old Regime in three areas that proved crucial to the development of water control: litigation, royal granting policies, and water rights. To uncover the logic behind the actions of Old Regime organizations, let us examine the case of judicial officers in greater detail. Since civil litigation was quite costly in monetary terms, justice should have been prompt and appeals should have been discouraged unless they had good cause.
Semantically Based Axiomatics

This paper discusses some fundamental issues related to the construction of semantically based axiomatic proof systems for reasoning about program behavior. We survey foundational work in this area, especially early work of Hoare and Cook on while-programs, and we try to pinpoint the principal ideas contained in this work and to suggest criteria for an appropriate generalization (faithful to these ideas) to a wider variety of programming languages. We argue that the adoption of a mathematically clean semantic model should lead to a natural choice of assertion language(s) for expressing properties of program terms, and to syntax-directed proof systems with clear and simple rules for program constructs. Hoare's ideas suggest that in principle syntax-directed reasoning is possible for all syntactic categories (declarations, commands, even expressions) and all semantic attributes (partial correctness of commands, aliasing properties of declarations, L- or R-values of expressions, proper use of variables, and so on). Semantic insights may also influence assertion language design by suggesting the need for certain logical connectives at the assertion level. This point is obscured by the fact that Hoare's logic for while-programs needed no assertion connectives (although of course the usual logical connectives are permitted inside pre- and post-conditions), but an application of our method to a class of parallel programming languages brings out the idea well: semantic analysis suggests the use of conjunctions at the assertion level. We argue that this method can lead to proof systems which avoid certain inelegant features of some earlier systems: specifically, we avoid the need for “extralogical” and “non-compositional” notions such as interference checks and auxiliary variables. We also discuss the author's applications of these techniques to other programming languages, and point to some future research directions continuing this work. Although we do not have a completely satisfactory general theory of semantically based axiomatization, and consequently some of our techniques may seem rather ad hoc to the reader, we hope that our ideas have some merit.
Advances in Probe Technology: Best Sessions of the '97 Southwest Test Workshop

The Southwest Test Workshop is the only IEEE sponsored event with a primary focus on testing microelectronic devices at the wafer level. The 1997 workshop was held in San Diego, California from Sunday, June 1 to Wednesday, June 4. Over four hundred test professionals listened to 7 technical sessions with 3 to 4 presentations per session, and they participated in four panel or open discussions. The highlights of three of these sessions will be presented by members of the SWTW Program Committee at the 1997 International Test Conference. After each presentation, other panel members and the audience will be encouraged to share their views and experience.
Drafting an Effective 'Revenge Porn' Law: A Guide for Legislators

This short document provides an overview of legislative efforts in the U.S. to criminalize "revenge porn," the colloquial term for nonconsensual pornography. It provides a detailed assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of enacted and proposed state laws as well as a model statute, statistics, and case studies.
"It's not broke, so let's not try to fix it": why patients decline a cardiovascular implantable electronic device.

Background Few patients decline therapy of a cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED), and little is known about the characteristics or reasoning of those who do. Our objective was to describe the reasons why patients decline CIED implantation using qualitative methods.
Titan's Interior Structure

The goal of this chapter is to give a description of Titan's interior that is consistent with the new constraints provided by the Cassini mission. As the Cassini mission proceeds into its first extended phase, the data obtained during the nominal mission suggest that Titan is at least partially differentiated. An ocean would be present some tens of kilometers below the surface. By comparison with the Galilean icy satellites Ganymede and Callisto, Titan would be composed of a metal/silicate rich core and a H2O rich outer layer. These conclusions are drawn from the interpretation of the gravity data, the geological data and the presence of a Schumann resonance which has been inferred from the measurement of electric signals during the descent of the Huygens probe into Titan's atmosphere. Titan's high eccentricity implies that the interior has not been very dissipative, there is little tidal heating available for internal dynamics, and the ice layer is cold, which can be achieved if the ocean under the ice layer contains ammonia. This paper also describes observations and interpretations which seem difficult to reconcile with our present understanding of Titan's interior structure and evolution such as the shape of the planet or the obliquity. The last part of the chapter describes heat transfer models which suggest that the lower part of the ice crust could be convective. The NH3–H2o phase diagram indicates that the ocean is decoupled from the silicate-rich core by a layer of high-pressure ices. However, the interior model is largely uncertain because the interpretation of the data is still debated at present time. The additional information that will be acquired during the Cassini Solstice Mission should allow us to answer some of the questions.
Yeast RNA Polymerase II Transcription In Vitro Is Inhibited in the Presence of Nucleotide Excision Repair: Complementation of Inhibition by Holo-TFIIH and Requirement for RAD26

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae transcription factor IIH (TFIIH) is essential both for transcription by RNA polymerase II (RNAP II) and for nucleotide excision repair (NER) of damaged DNA. We have established cell extracts which support RNAP II transcription from the yeast CYC1 promoter or NER of transcriptionally silent damaged DNA on independent plasmid templates and substrates. When plasmid templates and substrates for both processes are simultaneously incubated with these extracts, transcription is significantly inhibited. This inhibition is strictly dependent on active NER and can be complemented with purified holo-TFIIH. These results suggest that in the presence of active NER, TFIIH is preferentially mobilized from the basal transcription machinery for use in NER. Inhibition of transcription in the presence of active NER requires the RAD26 gene, the yeast homolog of the human Cockayne syndrome group B gene (CSB).
Global Energy Scenario and Impact of Power Electronics in 21st Century

Power electronics technology has gained significant maturity after several decades of dynamic evolution of power semiconductor devices, converters, pulse width modulation (PWM) techniques, electrical machines, motor drives, advanced control, and simulation techniques. According to the estimate of the Electric Power Research Institute, roughly 70% of electrical energy in the USA now flows through power electronics, which will eventually grow to 100%. In the 21st century, we expect to see the tremendous impact of power electronics not only in global industrialization and general energy systems, but also in energy saving, renewable energy systems, and electric/hybrid vehicles. The resulting impact in mitigating climate change problems is expected to be enormous. This paper, in the beginning, will discuss the global energy scenario, climate change problems, and the methods of their mitigation. Then, it will discuss the impact of power electronics in energy saving, renewable energy systems, bulk energy storage, and electric/hybrid vehicles. Finally, it will review several example applications before coming to conclusion and future prognosis.
A behavioral analysis of peaking in residential electrical-energy consumers.

This study was concerned with “peaking”, which is the tendency for electrical-energy users to consume at high rates for brief periods during the day. Peaking results in the inefficient use of generating facilities, which may lead to unfavorable effects on the environment, such as the construction of new energy producing facilities or the activation of older, less safe, generating units. A continuous data collection system to monitor consumption of electrical energy was installed in the homes of three volunteer families. Information, feedback, and incentives were evaluated for their effects on peak energy consumption. A combination of feedback plus incentives was most effective and reduced peaking about 50%. Removal of experimental treatments resulted in a return to pre-treatment patterns of consumption.
Bone Mineral and Predictors of Bone Mass in White, Hispanic, and Asian Early Pubertal Girls

Differences in bone among racial/ethnic groups may be explained by differences in body size and shape. Previous studies have not completely explained differences among white, Asian, and Hispanic groups during growth. To determine racial/ethnic differences and predictors of bone mass in early pubertal girls, we measured bone mineral content (BMC) in white, Hispanic, and Asian sixth-grade girls across six states in the United States. We developed models for predicting BMC for the total-body, distal radius, total-hip, and lumbar spine for 748 subjects. For each of the bone sites, the corresponding area from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was a strong predictor of BMC, with correlations ranging 0.78–0.98, confirming that larger subjects have more BMC. Anthropometric measures of bone area were nearly as effective as bone area from DXA at predicting BMC. For total-body, distal radius, lumbar spine, and total-hip BMC, racial/ethnic differences were explained by differences in bone area, sexual maturity, physical activity, and dairy calcium intake. Bone size explained most of the racial/ethnic differences in BMC, although behavioral indicators were also significant predictors of BMC.
One artificial insemination per cycle with donor sperm is as efficacious as two inseminations.

Purpose To compare pregnancy rates per treatment cycle of artificial inseminations with donor sperm in patients receiving one versus two inseminations.
Preliminary Results of Experiments on a Single Cell Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell Fueled With Carbon Monoxide

Coal-fueled fuel cells can be an important part of the future power generation infrastructure. The coal can be gasified through partial oxidation process to produce a carbon monoxide rich gaseous fuel. But this fuel gas cannot be used as fuel in the conventional polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC). The idea that is introduced and investigated in this paper is to develop a single cell PEFC that can be fueled with carbon monoxide. It is shown that this idea is feasible. Also, the preliminary results of the experiments are presented to investigate the effects of various design, fabrication, and operational conditions on the performance of the single cell PEFC fueled with carbon monoxide.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
The Relationship between General Job Satisfaction and Specific Work-Activity Satisfaction of Community College Faculty.

Abstract Data on job satisfaction of community college faculty, as obtained from five state and national surveys, are analyzed in this study. Results of this analysis indicate that many instructors are generally satisfied with their jobs but somewhat dissatisfied with their working conditions. Examination of the methods used in those studies to measure job satisfaction suggests that the measures may be tapping different dimensions of satisfaction, and that they may not be related to one another or to the criteria measures they are designed to predict. Data from a survey of two-year college humanities faculty (N = 1,493) and nonhumanities chairpersons (N =505) revealed that a measure of general job satisfaction was relatively independent of a measure of specific work-activity satisfaction, and that the former measure of satisfaction was a much better predictor of several indicators of faculty desire to remain at their college than the latter. These findings indicate that different methods of measuring job ...
Do biomarker changes during neoadjuvant endocrine therapy reflect breast tumor receptor status

Do biomarker changes during neoadjuvant endocrine therapy reflect breast tumor receptor status?
Viral Respiratory Disease at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, 1952–1982

Surveillance of febrile respiratory diseases at Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, has been maintained from 1952 to 1982 with laboratory confirmation of diagnosis. Unvaccinated recruit populations were extremely vulnerable to explosive outbreaks of influenza A. Ten controlled trials demonstrated the protective efficacy of inactivated vaccines. Recent military vaccines have raised the hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody levels of most persons into the "protective" range. Despite repeated introduction of influenza viruses onto the base, when all personnel were vaccinated the impact of influenza was reduced to an insignificant level except in one year of antigenic shift (1968) and one of major antigenic drift (1972). Adenovirus disease has been virtually eliminated since live oral types 4 and 7 vaccines have been given to incoming recruits. Rubella and rubeola have disappeared since seronegative recruits have received vaccine. Overall rates of febrile respiratory diseases have been greatly reduced. In the 1950s Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, from the standpoint of acute febrile upper respiratory disease, had the well-deserved reputation of being an unhealthy place. Explosive influenza epidemics occurred at frequent intervals. Epidemics of acute viral pharyngitis, later shown to be caused by adenoviruses, affected major segments of the recruit population. Streptococcal disease was rampant, and up to 120 cases of acute rheumatic fever
XY sex reversal and gonadal dysgenesis due to 9p24 monosomy

We describe a case of XY sex reversal, gonadal dysgenesis, and gonadoblastoma in a patient with a deletion of 9p24 due to a familial translocation. The rearranged chromosome 9 was inherited from the father; the patient's karyotype was 46,XY,der(9)t(8;9) (p21;p24)pat. A review shows that 6 additional patients with 46,XY sex reversal associated with monosomy of the distal short arm of chromosome 9 have been observed. The observation that all 7 patients with sex reversal share a deletion of the distal short arm of chromosome 9 is consistent with the hypothesis that the region 9p24 contains a gene or genes necessary for male sex determination. This present case narrows the chromosome interval containing a critical sex determination gene to the relatively small region 9p24. A molecular analysis of this region will provide a means to identify a gene involved in male sex determination.
Laser-induced fluorescence imaging of acetone inside evaporating and burning fuel droplets

Laser-induced fluorescence was used to visualize acetone fields inside individual droplets of pure acetone as well as droplets composed of methanol or 1-propanol initially mixed with acetone. Droplets were supported on a horizontal wire and two vaporization conditions were investigated: (1) slow evaporation in room air and (2) droplet combustion, which leads to substantially faster droplet surface regression rates. Acetone was preferentially gasified, causing its concentration in droplets to drop in time with resultant decreases in acetone fluorescence intensities. Slowly vaporizing droplets did not exhibit large spatial variations of fluorescence within droplets, indicating that these droplets were relatively well mixed. Ignition of droplets led to significant variations in fluorescence intensities within droplets, indicating that these droplets were not well mixed. Ignited droplets composed of mixtures of 1-propanol and acetone showed large time-varying changes in shapes for higher acetone concentrations, suggesting that bubble formation was occurring in these droplets.
Cephalometric evaluation of Iranian children and its comparison with Tweed's and Steiner's standards

Abstract The craniofacial characteristics of Iranian children were investigated in order to formulate cephalometric norms using Tweed and Steiner angular and linear measurements. The sixty-seven Iranian children studied included thirty-five girls with an average age of 12.5 years and thirty-two boys with an average age of 12.4 years. The subjects were chosen on the basis of ethnic background (geographic area, religion, and language), good health, and normal occlusion. Thirty-two variables were tabulated, and statistical tests were employed.
Acquired limb deficiencies. 2. Perioperative management.

Abstract This self-directed learning module highlights recent advances in the evaluation and management of complications arising from diabetes and peripheral vascular disease leading to amputation. It is part of the chapter on acquired limb deficiencies in the Self-Directed Physiatrie Education Program for practitioners and trainees in physical medicine and rehabilitation. This article includes discussion of comorbid conditions that may have an impact on the prosthetic rehabilitation of a transtibial amputee. It also offers essential information regarding perioperative management of an upper extremity amputee. Overall Article Objective: To review recent advances in the evaluation and management of complications arising from diabetes and peripheral vascular disease leading to amputation.
Gravitational Debye-Hückel theory for a Newtonian cosmology

A correlation function approach is used to formulate a gravitational analogue of equilibrium Debye-Huckel theory appropriate for an expanding Newtonian cosmology. By factoring out the overall expansion of the Universe, one obtains a sensible mathematical framework in which a thermodynamic limit appears to exist. Moreover, one finds that, to lowest non-trivial order, the correlational energy actually vanishes.
Genome-wide detection of DNA double-stranded breaks induced by engineered nucleases

Although great progress has been made in the characterization of the off-target effects of engineered nucleases, sensitive and unbiased genome-wide methods for the detection of off-target cleavage events and potential collateral damage are still lacking. Here we describe a linear amplification-mediated modification of a previously published high-throughput, genome-wide, translocation sequencing (HTGTS) method that robustly detects DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) generated by engineered nucleases across the human genome based on their translocation to other endogenous or ectopic DSBs. HTGTS with different Cas9:sgRNA or TALEN nucleases revealed off-target hotspot numbers for given nucleases that ranged from a few or none to dozens or more, and extended the number of known off-targets for certain previously characterized nucleases more than tenfold. We also identified translocations between bona fide nuclease targets on homologous chromosomes, an undesired collateral effect that has not been described previously. Finally, HTGTS confirmed that the Cas9D10A paired nickase approach suppresses off-target cleavage genome-wide.
OOPSEG: a data smoothing program for quantitation and isolation of random measurement error.

We describe a data smoothing program, OOPSEG, which automatically quantitates and filters the random measurement error in a given data series. The measurement error is initially guessed, and the Optimal Segments technique is used to filter a corresponding amount of variation from the data, thus generating a relatively smooth curve. The residuals about this smooth curve are tested for serial correlation. If correlation is detected, a new measurement error is guessed, and the data are filtered again. This process continues until a smooth curve has been found for which the residuals do not exhibit serial correlation. Such residuals represent the random component of the data, i.e. (presumably) the measurement error. The corresponding smooth curve thus approximates the original, error-free curve. The smooth curve and the estimated coefficient of variation of the data are returned. OOPSEG handles end effects by performing an expansion of the data set, smoothing this expanded data set, then deleting the artificial points before assembling the final, smooth curve. Also, data may be smoothed as a sequence of independent regions to accommodate time courses with known changes in experimental conditions. We suggest that OOPSEG may have numerous applications in data analysis and experimental design.