cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing Techniques to Evaluate Exercise Intolerance

The use of exercise testing is an important tool for the pediatric pulmonologist. Physical stress often reveals cardiorespiratory abnormalities that are not apparent on conventional static tests. There is little doubt the information acquired from exercise tests have diagnostic and prognostic value, but exercise tests may also be critical to determine success or failure of treatment strategies. The purpose of this chapter is to provide the pediatric specialist with an overview of exercise evaluation that may assist in the diagnosis of and management of disease in pediatric and adolescent patients with physical activity intolerance, especially those with cardiorespiratory diseases. The specific aims of this chapter are to: (1) describe various exercise tests and the biomechanical and physiological principles of those tests necessary to assess patients; (2) discuss methods to assess the physical fitness profile of patients with cardiorespiratory diseases and physical limitations; (3) provide specific strategies for an exercise prescription based on the fitness and clinical profile of the patient and; (4) assist the provider in developing a center for exercise evaluation. Although each aim provides unique information, the overall goal of this chapter is to stimulate the pediatric pulmonologist to develop an understanding of indications for cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and implement strategies to systematically assess each patient’s fitness profile; to track patient’s disease or training progression or alternatively to monitor responses of medical interventions; and to prescribe a well-rounded exercise prescription to maximize functional ability and wellness of individual patients. This chapter is not intended to be an in depth review for exercise physiologists, but is designed to assist the practicing clinician in the logistics of developing a program and a comfort in interpreting studies.
Molecular Studies on Bromovirus Capsid Protein I. Characterization of Cell-to-Cell Movement-Defective RNA3 Variants of Brome Mosaic Virus

To evaluate the extent to which brome mosaic virus (BMV) coat protein (CP) gene is involved in the process of cell-to-cell movement. Chenopodium quinoa plants were coinoculated with BMV wild-type RNAs 1 and 2 and a RNA3 variant containing either the beta-glucuronidase (GUS) gene in place of CP (B3/CP-GUS), to be subjected to GUS analysis, or a deletion in the CP gene to be analyzed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Irrespective of time postinoculation, GUS expressed from the subgenomic mRNA of B3/CP-GUS was restricted to initially infected, single epidermal cells. The defective cell-to-cell movement exhibited by B3/CP-GUS was not complemented in trans when transcripts of B3 delta MP, a RNA3 variant capable of synthesizing functional wt CP but not movement protein (MP), were added to the inoculum. Application of FISH, a technique versatile in discriminating subliminal infections from efficient cell-to-cell spread in nonpermissive and permissive hosts, respectively, to leaves inoculated with BMV RNA3 variants defective in CP synthesis, confirmed that the resulting infections were subliminal. These data provide direct evidence for the requirement of an encapsidation-competent CP to be expressed in conjunction with a functional MP for efficient cell-to-cell spread of BMV.
Radiofrequency Ablation, Microwave Ablation, and Cryoablation for Lung Tumors

The current standard of care for patients with early stage pulmonary neoplasms is surgical resection. However, only approximately 15% of patients are surgical candidates, due to advanced disease stage and/or severe medical comorbidities [1, 2]. For such patients, the treatment options are limited, and the 5-year survival is poor ranging from 5% to 12% [3].
Cadherin-11 as a regulator of valve myofibroblast mechanobiology.

Cadherin-11 influences valvular interstitial cell contractility by regulating focal adhesions and inflammatory cytokine secretion. Transforming growth factor-β1 overrides the normal balance between...
Clinical Utility and Performance in Test Utilization Interventions for Paraneoplastic Antibody Panel Orders: A Delicate Balance.

The article in this issue of JALM —Utilization Review of Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndrome Antibody Screening Panels: A Single Institution Experience at a Tertiary Academic Health Center—presents an example of addressing a pervasive issue in modern laboratory medicine: specialty tests ordered (sometimes frequently) by key providers and sometimes by generalists, with questionable evidence that there is utility in the practice, and with potentially low pretest probability of disease. In the feature, authors Kim and Harris detail their process of evaluating sequential orders and results for 2 paraneoplastic antibody panels offered at their institution via 2 different reference laboratories and attempt to characterize the clinical performance of the 2 panels used for the majority of the data collection period (2011–2016) (1). This study represents the initial approach to a difficult discussion with providers about test practices at the authors' institution, because …
Relationship between regulatory barriers to entry and pharmacy technician wages.

Background Pharmacy technicians are vital to the operation of pharmacies, and national pharmacy associations have advocated for mandatory education and training requirements. While these requirements may improve patient safety, there is a risk that laws and regulations which impose substantial education and training requirements on technicians could create barriers to entry which restrict the workforce and increase wages. Objective This study has two objectives: 1) Describe changes in barriers to entry and wages over time; and 2) Evaluate the correlation between changing barriers to entry and pharmacy technician wages. Methods Data come from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics from 1997 to 2017 and National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Surveys of Pharmacy Law from 1997 to 2014. A barrier to entry was defined as adoption of registration, licensure, or certification. Wage data was adjusted to 2017 dollars using the Consumer Price Index. Ordinary least squares regression evaluated the correlation between the proportion of states which had at least one barrier to entry and wages. An interrupted time series model estimated the impact of adopting a barrier to entry on the trend in technician wages over time. Results Technician wages increased between 1997 and 2007 but remained flat between 2008 and 2017. A strong correlation was observed between the proportion of states which had at least one barrier to entry and technician wages (R2 = 0.93, p Conclusions This research suggests adoption of legal/regulatory barriers to entry did not have a significant influence on the trend in technician wages over time. More research is needed to evaluate the impact of barriers to entry on non-wage practice variables, such as privileges and satisfaction.
Does Medicaid payer status affect patient’s shoulder outcomes after shoulder arthroplasty?

Low socioeconomic status and Medicaid insurance as a primary payer have been shown to influence resource utilization and risk-adjusted outcomes for total joint arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of Medicaid primary payer status on outcomes following shoulder arthroplasty (SA). A retrospective review of shoulder surgery patients was undertaken to identify a matched cohort of 51 patients who underwent SA and were stratified based on insurance type into two cohorts: 28 Medicaid (M) patients and 23 non-Medicaid (NM) patients. Baseline demographics, resource utilization, and outcomes were compared as well as pre-and-postoperative patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and functional scores. PRO scores included the American shoulder and elbow surgeons score (ASES), the Penn shoulder score (PSS), and the subjective shoulder value (SSV). There were no statistically significant differences in demographics, comorbidities, or preoperative baseline scores between the cohorts, except for age (M: 55.3 years; NM: 67.5 years; p ≤ 0.001) and smoking status (M: 13 patients; NM: 4 patients; p = 0.029). Medicaid patients showed a slightly higher rate of missed follow-ups (M: 1.1 vs. NM: 0.9; p = 0.370). All Medicaid and non-Medicaid patients experienced significant improvement on PRO scores and active forward flexion. Medicaid patients demonstrated equivalent final postoperative scores for ASES (M: 65; NM: 57; p = 0.454), PSS (M: 63; NM: 51; p = 0.242), SSV (M: 70; NM: 69; p = 1.0) and range of motion measurements. Overall results suggest that Medicaid patients can expect significant improvement after SA and the same level of PRO’s compared to non-Medicaid-insured population. Level III, Retrospective Comparative Design, Treatment Study.
Analytical Design of an Easily Manufacturable, Air-Cooled, Toroidally Wound Permanent Magnet Ring Motor with Integrated Propeller for Electric Rotorcraft

This paper presents an analytical design method to develop a ring motor that is wrapped around the outer diameter of a propeller. This is motivated by the greater aerodynamic efficiency afforded by larger diameter propellers with lower rotational speeds, ultimately minimizing battery energy requirements in electric rotorcraft. Lower rotational blade speeds are mismatched with electric machines that derive power density from high speed operation, thus a machine design with very high torque density is proposed to allow lower speed operation without the aid of gearing. By wrapping the machine around of the outer diameter of the blades, the innate lever arm drastically increases torque density of the machine without the need of liquid cooling. An analytical design approach is used to characterize the machine design space and design outcomes are verified with FEA. The final proposed design targets the "heavy lift" drone space. The design yields a 400mm diameter propellor that spins at 1650rpm producing 225N thrust. The proposed machine delivers 6 kW of mechanical power with 91% efficiency and 12 Nm/kg continuous specific torque.
Cannabis Use among Dual Electronic and Combustible Cigarette Smokers: Relations with Pain and Hazardous Drinking.

Background: E-cigarette use is on the rise and many adult e-cigarette users also smoke combustible cigarettes. Past work suggests that dual use (i.e. use of both electronic and combustible cigarett...
Fathers’ Antisocial Behavior and Early Childhood

We begin with a review of prevalence and comorbidity of fathers’ antisocial behavior. We then explore the theoretical perspectives and empirical evidence regarding the impact of fathers’ antisocial behavior on child development through preschool age. We discuss both genetic and environmental influences on intergenerational transmission of father to child antisociality, include a critical analysis of potential developmental pathways from fathers’ antisocial behavior to early childhood outcomes and the next steps in this area of research, and end with implications for preventive interventions.
Single Patient Versus Multi-Patient Emergency Travel Bags for Pediatric Tracheostomy Patients: A Cost Analysis

Background: Emergency travel bags (ETB) for pediatric tracheostomy patients (TP) are imperative to reduce potential tracheostomy emergencies1,2. In our pediatric health system, our standard process is for every TP to have a stocked ETB available upon admission. Often times these ETB are left by patients at discharge or not used during the admission. We aimed to transition our single use, single patient (SP) ETB to a multi-patient (MP), reusable ETB to reduce waste and reduce costs. Methods: A multi-disciplinary team (RT, MD, RN, SLP) was convened to assess the appropriateness of travel emergency bag supplies. After the contents of the ETB were evaluated we were able to remove 35 items from our standard SP ETB model (58 versus 43 items). This included 16 items at various quantities in the single patient model and 12 items at various quantities in the new multi-use model. 22 MP ETBs were created for use on tracheostomy units. Maintenance (ensuring locked, checking inventory, restocking as needed) for the MP ETB is done by RTs after use and on a weekly basis. MP ETB are readily accessible on all tracheostomy units for ease of use. Results: The cost of our SP ETB was $70.48 each. The new multi-use model had an initial startup cost of $352.00 to purchase the initial 22 bags ($16.00/each). Supplies for the MP ETB cost $44.54. Breakdown of cost based on bag type can be seen in Table 1. An IRB approved retrospective analysis showed that in 2019 our hospital saw 166 trach patients in 212 encounters. With a minimum savings in ETB of $25.94 per bag, minus initial bag cost, this equates to $5,147.28 of savings in 2019 when compared to the SP ETB model. In 2019, there were zero tracheostomy risk related events due to lack of available supplies related to the MP ETB. Conclusions: MP ETB use in our institution was able to reduce cost without adverse effect to pediatric tracheostomy patients. Further studies must be done to evaluate possible increased cost savings when the ETB is unopened and does not need all items restocked, as well as the long-term safety of MP ETB.
Modeling pandemic depression and anxiety: The mediational role of core beliefs and meaning making

Abstract Background The aim of this research was to examine core belief violation and disrupted meaning making as primary cognitive processes regulating mental health during the pandemic. The study tested the hypothesis that both these cognitive processes function as mediating mechanisms, accounting for the adverse mental health effects of multiple pandemic stressors. Methods A survey design (N = 2380) assessed demographic variables associated with poor pandemic mental health (gender, age, ethnicity, education), direct COVID stressors (diagnosis, death), indirect COVID stressors (unemployment, increased living costs, childcare loss), core belief violation, meaning made of the pandemic, coronavirus anxiety (CA), depression, and general anxiety. RESULTS: Core belief violation and disrupted meaning making explained the severity of depression, general anxiety, and CA to a significantly greater degree than did demographics, direct COVID stressors, and indirect COVID stressors combined. In addition, core belief violation and disrupted meaning making significantly mediated the impact of direct and indirect COVID stressors on all mental health outcomes. Specifically, each stressor was associated with increased core belief violation and decreased meaning making of the pandemic, in turn, those whose core beliefs were violated and those who made less meaning of the pandemic experienced greater depression, general anxiety, and CA. Limitations The use of a cross-sectional design prohibited assessment of alternative causal orders. Conclusions This study describes the first unifying model of pandemic mental health, establishing violation of core beliefs and the inability to make meaning of the pandemic as targets for clinical intervention in the context diverse pandemic stressors.
Machine learning-based regional scale intelligent modeling of building information for natural hazard risk management

Abstract The intensity of many natural hazards, such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, etc., are increasing as a consequence of climate change. This increase in intensity coupled with the increase in population density, particularly along the coasts, is only magnifying the impact of such events. In order to quantify and mitigate the risk due to the hazards and to prepare for the potential impacts in a region, it is necessary to collect the information of existing buildings that are pertinent to natural hazard analysis and risk management. Gathering the building information in a region- or city-scale is a laborious and expensive undertaking. This paper presents a framework for regional scale building information generation/gathering to support regional hazard analysis. In this framework, different types of data are acquired from multiple sources (satellite and street view images, property tax assessment data, etc.) and are fused to semantically profile each building in a city. Specifically, deep learning technique is employed to extract building information from street or satellite images. A novel data mining tool is developed to overcome the data scarcity issue, quantify the uncertainty and enrich the data repository. With this framework, building inventories of cities are created to provide the data needed for disaster and risk management planning and simulations.
Small Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: Update on the University of Florida Experience.

We updated the University of Florida experience treating head and neck small cell carcinoma. Eight patients received a median 67.7 Gy between 1989 and 2017. The 2-year rates of local, regional, dis...
Th1 polarization defines the synovial fluid T cell compartment in oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (oligo JIA) is the most common form of chronic inflammatory arthritis in children, yet the cause of this disease remains unknown. To understand immune responses in oligo JIA, we immunophenotyped synovial fluid T cells with flow cytometry, bulk RNA-Seq, single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-Seq), DNA methylation studies, and Treg suppression assays. In synovial fluid, CD4+, CD8+, and γδ T cells expressed Th1-related markers, whereas Th17 cells were not enriched. Th1 skewing was prominent in CD4+ T cells, including Tregs, and was associated with severe disease. Transcriptomic studies confirmed a Th1 signature in CD4+ T cells from synovial fluid. The regulatory gene expression signature was preserved in Tregs, even those exhibiting Th1 polarization. These Th1-like Tregs maintained Treg-specific methylation patterns and suppressive function, supporting the stability of this Treg population in the joint. Although synovial fluid CD4+ T cells displayed an overall Th1 phenotype, scRNA-Seq uncovered heterogeneous effector and regulatory subpopulations, including IFN-induced Tregs, peripheral helper T cells, and cytotoxic CD4+ T cells. In conclusion, oligo JIA is characterized by Th1 polarization that encompasses Tregs but does not compromise their regulatory identity. Targeting Th1-driven inflammation and augmenting Treg function may represent important therapeutic approaches in oligo JIA.
Multi-block Nonconvex Nonsmooth Proximal ADMM: Convergence and Rates Under Kurdyka–Łojasiewicz Property

We study the convergence and convergence rates of a multi-block proximal alternating direction method of multipliers (PADMM) for solving linearly constrained separable nonconvex nonsmooth optimization problems. This algorithm is an important variant of the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) which includes a proximal term in each subproblem, to cancel out complicated terms in applications where subproblems are not easy to solve or do not admit a simple closed form solution. We consider an over-relaxation step size in the dual update and provide a detailed proof of the convergence for any step size $$\beta \in (0,2)$$ . We prove the convergence of the sequence generated by the PADMM by showing that it has a finite length and it is Cauchy. Under the powerful Kurdyka–Łojasiewicz (KŁ) property, we establish the convergence rates for the values and the iterates, and we show that various values of KŁ-exponent associated with the objective function can raise PADMM with three different convergence rates. More precisely, we show that if the (KŁ) exponent $$\theta =0$$ , the sequence generated by PADMM converges in a finite numbers of iterations. If $$\theta \in (0,1/2]$$ , then the sequential rate of convergence is $$cQ^{k}$$ where $$c>0$$ , $$Q\in (0,1)$$ , and $$k\in {\mathbb {N}}$$ is the iteration number. If $$\theta \in (1/2,1]$$ , then $${\mathcal {O}}(1/k^{r})$$ rate where $$r=(1-\theta )/(2\theta -1)$$ is achieved.
Social support, stress, and maternal postpartum depression: A comparison of supportive relationships

A large body of literature documents the link between social support, stress, and women's mental health during pregnancy and the postpartum period; however, uncertainty remains as to whether a direct effect or stress mediating pathway best describes the relationship between these factors. Moreover, specific dimensions of social support that may be influential (family type, sources of support) have largely been neglected. Using data from the Fragile Families and Child Well-being Study (N=4150), we examine the pathway between social support, stress exposure, and postpartum depression in greater detail. Findings reveal that social support is a significant, protective factor for postpartum depression, and the variety of support providers in a woman's social network is important, especially in the context of family type. Findings also reveal the importance of considering social support and stress exposure as part of a larger causal pathway to postpartum mental health.
How many pixels do we need to see things

Today's computer display devices normally provide more information than we need. In this paper, the author presents an empirical model that shows minimal pixel requirements for computer users to recognize things from digital photos under different contextual conditions. It is found that face recognition alone needs far fewer pixels than people normally thought. However, more pixels are needed for users to recognize objects within outdoor scenes and paintings. Color and age have effect on object recognition but the differences are not significant. The results can be applied to adaptive display design, computer vision, adaptive human-computer interaction and telecommunication system design.
Active Vibration Control using Eigenvector Assignment for Mode Localization

In this paper we propose an algorithm for eigenstructure assignment in which the assignment of eigenvectors play the key role while the eigenvalue placement plays a secondary role. Eigenvectors are closely related to classical mode shapes and the specification of special mode shapes can be effectively used for distributing the vibrational energy of flexible structures. In particular by choosing a linearly independent set of mode shapes so that the relative magnitude at a certain prespecified coordinate is small, that coordinate may be somewhat isolated from excessive vibrational energy. This localization of vibrational energy by choosing mode shapes is similar to the phenomenon of normal mode localization in so called periodic structures. Two examples illustrate the various notions presented in the paper.
Nature and behavior of serum cytokines in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis.

To assess the relationship between serum cytokine behavior and treatment outcome in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis, serum levels of interferon-γ, interleukin-2, interleukin-4, and interleukin-10 were measured by enzyme immunoassay in 43 patients and 20 normal subjects. Serum samples were similarly tested in 38 patients after corticosteroid treatment. Serum levels of interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 were significantly lower in patients than in normal subjects. Interleukin-2 was the least common cytokine detected before (3%), during (0%), or after treatment (0%). Serum levels of interleukin-10 at presentation did not differ from those of normal subjects but they did decrease during therapy, especially in patients who entered remission. Changes in these levels, however, did not always parallel treatment outcome or histological activity. We conclude that serum levels of interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 are lower than normal in type 1 autoimmune hepatitis. Serum concentrations of interleukin-10 diminish during corticosteroid therapy but changes do not closely reflect outcome. The rarity of interleukin-2 in serum may be a distinguishing feature.
Reflections on the Swiss Sonderfall

This collection of articles on Swiss national identity is impressive on several counts. First, it gathers together the finest scholars of Swiss nationalism of the new generation: a cohort steeped in the lexicon of theories of nationalism and multiculturalism. Second, it displays impressive rigour: the pieces are so analytical and restrained that one can divine neither whether the authors are Swiss or not, nor whether they are moved by its spirit. Finally, all of these works step in and out of the Swiss case with ease to draw similarities with, and differences from, other countries. They are impressively broad-gauged, moving seamlessly from early modern history to political theory, international relations to social-network analysis. All the while, their analytical frame shifts incessantly from state to canton to commune and back.
Influence of magnetism on phonons in CaFe2As2 as seen via inelastic x-ray scattering

In the iron pnictides, the strong sensitivity of the iron magnetic moment to the arsenic position suggests a significant relationship between phonons and magnetism. We measured the phonon dispersion of several branches in the high-temperature tetragonal phase of CaFe{sub 2}As{sub 2} using inelastic x-ray scattering on single-crystal samples. These measurements were compared to ab initio calculations of the phonons. Spin-polarized calculations imposing the antiferromagnetic order present in the low-temperature orthorhombic phase dramatically improve agreement between theory and experiment. This is discussed in terms of the strong antiferromagnetic correlations that are known to persist in the tetragonal phase.
Understanding the Effects of Establishing Various Cutoff Criteria in the Definition of Men with Premature Ejaculation

Abstract Introduction Over the past decade, professional organizations and consensus groups have offered a variety of definitions for premature ejaculation (PE), all generally including a set of common concepts but all varying in specific language and operationalization. Clearly articulated definitions of such conditions are important because they not only affect prevalence rates but also diagnostic inclusion—who is deemed to have the condition and therefore who might be eligible for treatment. Aim The current study had two goals: (i) to examine the effects on prevalence rates of moving the cutoff points from more stringent to less stringent for each of three PE criteria—ejaculatory latency, distress, and ejaculating before desired; and (ii) to explore in detail the relationships among the three criteria. Methods Using an Internet-based sample of 1,183 men, we examined the responses of 374 with PE-type symptoms based on consensus definitions, and determined the effect of decreasing restrictions on the cutoff criteria. In addition, we calculated both correlations and concordance rates among criteria. Results Numeric and graphic depiction of the effects of moving the cutoff point for each of the three criteria is provided in the URL “PE Prevalence©,” a dynamic tool developed specifically for this study ( https://sites.google.com/a/valpo.edu/PEprevalence/ ). In addition, statistical relationships among the PE criteria suggest sufficient independence to warrant inclusion of all three in a diagnostic procedure as well as to consider a 2-minute ejaculatory latency as the threshold for a PE diagnosis. Conclusions Based on our data, clinicians should approach the 1-minute ejaculatory latency time (ELT) criterion with flexibility, considering ELTs up to 2 minutes for a PE diagnosis. At the same time, frequency of occurrence of either ejaculating before desired or of distress about the condition, as long as they reach at least 50% of the time, had only minor impact on PE diagnostic inclusion. Rowland DL and Kolba TN. Understanding the effects of establishing various cutoff criteria in the definition of men with premature ejaculation. J Sex Med 2015;12:1175–1183.
Skew-tolerant high-speed (STHS) domino logic

This paper presents skew-tolerant high-speed domino logic. Skew-tolerant high-speed domino logic resolves the floating dynamic node problem of high-speed domino logic and alleviates the strict clock timing requirement. Simulation results show that skew-tolerant high-speed domino logic is more robust to noise and timing variation than high-speed domino logic, while achieving better performance.
X-ray fluorescence analysis of silicate rocks using fused glass discs and a side-window Rh source tube: accuracy, precision and reproducibility

Abstract In this paper, we provide a detailed account of our sample fusion, calibration and instrumentation methods for major-element whole-rock analysis by XRF, and we discuss several aspects of sample preparation and instrument performance that are important considerations for accurate analysis. The fusion procedure involves moderate capital costs and is easy to apply, yielding flat, polished, homogeneous glass discs as cast. The calibration method utilizes a least-squares procedure that rigorously fits data according to both compositional and counting statistical uncertainties. We use a side-window Rh tube for analyzing major elements (including Na) and employ real-time testing for constant count rate to reject spurious results. The methods result in excellent analytical precision and reproducibility. The standards used for calibration lie within compositional and counting statistical uncertainties of best-fit straight lines. Analyses of replicate discs and repeated analyses of single discs show excellent long-term reproducibility over several months, approaching counting statistical uncertainties in several cases. Comparison with independent measurements made by other laboratories using instrumental neutron activation and X-ray fluorescence analyses shows excellent agreement with our results. A side-window Rh tube gives increased detection limits for most major elements, but otherwise shows little difference in precision compared to a Cr tube. This means that major and trace elements can be analyzed without changing X-ray sources, which provides saving in terms of time and money, as well as being a convenience to the analyst.
The dynamics of brood desertion among communally breeding females in the treehopper, Publilia concava

In species that exhibit extended parental care, females sometimes lay eggs communally in order to redistribute the costs of offspring care. Communal egg-laying often involves redundancy in female effort, such that the number of females contributing to reproduction is more than is needed to provide adequate parental care. As a result, a subset of females will often abandon the communal brood, with the time of departure ranging from immediate abandonment after egg-laying (brood parasitism) to delayed abandonment with prolonged care (cooperative breeding). In this paper I approach the parental care dynamics of female-female broods as a desertion game similar to that of mate desertion in species with bi-parental care. I describe a field study of the insect Publilia concava (Hemiptera: Membracidae), a species that exhibits communal oviposition and a full range of egg guarding. This species exhibits full redundancy in female care, with no difference in survival between singly and doubly guarded broods. I find that double guarding is extremely rare in the population, with most communal broods having only one female guard. While this guard was usually the female that initiated the brood, these same females were more likely to abandon when secondary females arrived and when secondary females exhibited longer guarding durations. Paradoxically, the secondary females usually abandoned the broods they visited, resulting in up to 50% of broods with double abandonment. These unguarded broods suffered a 50% reduction in hatching success, reflecting an important risk for primary females that abandon egg masses to secondary females. Overall, P. concava exhibits desertion dynamics similar to mate desertion in vertebrates and it is likely that the theoretical work in this area will be useful for future work that addresses the allocation of parental care among communal breeders.
Using a Likert Scale to Measure “Environmental Responsibility”

(1976). Using a Likert Scale to Measure “Environmental Responsibility”. The Journal of Environmental Education: Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 36-47.
Tracking with velocity

Both high-prf and medium-prf waveforms can cancel clutter and provide an estimate of the target's radial speed. This paper considers the track initiation process using imperfect velocity estimates.
Network I/O Virtualization for Cloud Computing

Network I/O virtualization is essential in data-center hosts to provide network connectivity to virtual machines. Learn about this technology and its challenges, as well as new trends for achieving scalable data-center networking for cloud computing.
NMR chemical shifts of xenon in mixed aprotic solvents: A probe of liquid structure

The chemical shift of elemental xenon is extremely sensitive to the environment. In aprotic solvents, the presence of xenon has little effect on the solvent structure, and preferential solvation is not observed in any mixed solvent system. Consequently, xenon shifts can reveal the presence of short range order in certain liquids. Chemical shift data are presented for several model systems, including mixtures of different alkanes, alkanes with benzene, alkanes with acetone, and carbon tetrachloride with dimethylformamide (DMF). In certain cases, the xenon shift is strongly non-linear with composition. This effect arises from a specific interaction between the two solvents in the CCl4-DMF system, while it reflects short range liquid order in the acetone-alkane systems. This effect is also apparent in the deviation of the densities of the acetone-alkane mixtures from ideality.
A model for fatigue crack advance based on crack tip metallurgical and mechanics parameters

Abstract Fatigue crack growth at near-threshold rates has been modeled using concepts previously suggested by Hornbogen and Zum Gar, Neumann and others. Crack tip opening displacement, the increment of crack advance, and crack tip strain are assumed to be dependent on the formation of slip lines at the crack tip. Slip line length and dislocation density are parameters in the model which are controlled by the microstructure. These concepts are used together with crack tip plasticity and crack growth information recently derived by Davidson and Lankford for aluminum alloys. The model may be used in two ways: to predict the increment of crack growth, if the slip line length is known, or the length of the slip line may be determined if the crack growth increment is measured. Crack tip plasticity data for 7075-T651 is used to evaluate the model, and the results obtained are compatible with the assumptions, and give a value of slip line length which is compatible with the mean free slip length in the material.
Determination of partition coefficients by automatic equilibrium headspace gas chromatography by vapor phase calibration

Equilibrium headspace gas chromatography has been applied to the determination of the partition coefficients of volatile compounds in water-air systems. Only techniques that are suited to a fully automatic headspace procedure using the pneumatic headspace sampling-technique have been considered. Particularly simple is the technique of “vapor phase calibration —VPC” where an external vapor standard is used to calibrate the concentration of the volatile analyte in the headspace, while the concentration in the sample is found from the difference in the total amount in the vial. This technique is described in detail for 2-butanone in water. Finally, the water-air partition coefficients of several selected volatile compounds at different temperatures are listed together with their temperature functions.
Autonomic Nervous System Function in Genetic Neuromuscular Disorders: Hereditary Motor-Sensory Neuropathy and Myotonic Dystrophy

\s=b\Three quantitative measures of autonomic nervous system (ANS) function were evaluated in 12 patients with two types of autosomal dominant neuromuscular disorder, type 1 hereditary motor-$ sensory neuropathy and myotonic dystrophy. The three measures were latency of the pupillary light reflex, dark-adapted pupil size during parasympathetic block-$ ade, and ECG RR interval variation. The results showed deficits in sympathetic and/or parasympathetic nervous system function in several patients, with a variability of expression expected in autosomal dominant genetic diseases. The ANS function may commonly be deficient in both of these disorders. Further investigation is required to determine the potential clinical importance of these findings. (Arch Neurol 1984;41:43-46)
Biomarker interactions are better predictors of spontaneous preterm birth.

Objective:The objective of this study was to assess the role of biomarker interactions as predictors of spontaneous preterm birth (PTB) using multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) analysis. With MDR, a nonparametric, unsupervised, model-free approach, we tested for biomarker interactions within maternal–fetal compartments in 2 racial groups: African Americans (AA) and Caucasians (C).Study Design:A total of 36 biomarkers from maternal plasma (MP), cord plasma (CP), and amniotic fluid (AF) were analyzed from 191 patients. The MDR combined attribute selection, construction, and classification to detect biomarker interactions that were assessed for generality and significance using 10× cross-validation and permutation testing. Selected significant interactive models were replicated with additional samples.Results:The interactive model containing interleukin (IL)-2, angiopoietin 2 (ANGPT-2), and IL-6 receptor was significant in AA MP. In AA CP, the IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor 1 model was...
A Bayesian Reconstruction Algorithm for Emission Tomography using a Markov Random Field Prior

A Bayesian generalized expectation - maximization (GEM) algorithm using a locally correlated Markov random field prior in the form of a Gibbs function is developed for emission tomography. A close-form coordinate gradient ascent M-step which updates the image pixels sequentially is derived. The resulting GEM Bayesian algorithm is applied to estimating the 3-D image parameters in the Poisson model of emission sources based upon simulation of a parallel collimated gamma camera.
Two-color fluorescent labeling of mineralizing tissues with tetracycline and 2,4-bis[N,N'-di-(carbomethyl)aminomethyl] fluorescein.

Two compounds, tetracycline hydrochloride and 2,4-bis[N,N'-di(carbomethyl)-aminomethyl] fluorescein (DCAF), when administered intraperitoneally and 4 days apart to animals in the dosage of 25 mg/kg body weight will concentrate in mineralizing tissues and fluoresce in contrasting colors. The tissues are fixed in acetone, Soxhlet extracted with diethyl ether, embedded in Bioplastic, sectioned on a microsection saw, polished to 80-100 μ thickness, and viewed under a fluorescent microscope equipped with a Schott BG-12 exciter filter and a Schott GG-1 orange yellow barrier filter. Tetracycline fluoresces yellow; DCAF, green.
Ion‐beam‐induced metastable Pt2Si3 phase. III. Structure and diffusion in amorphous Pt2Si3

We have used electron microscopy, scanning electron diffraction, and structure modeling techniques to investigate crystallization behavior and structure of ion‐mixed and codeposited films of Pt‐Si of various compositions deposited on Si and on NaCl. We have determined that the amorphous alloys of ion‐mixed Pt2Si3 have lateral compositional fluctuations on the atomic scale of 80–160 A in diameter. We show that the amorphous phase of Pt2Si3 is a new phase which cannot be fully described by the simple binary dense random packing of hard spheres model (DRPHS). We propose, but do not prove unequivocably, that the amorphous structure can be described by a DRPHS model with lateral compositional fluctuations on the atomic scale of 80–160 A, which contains very small nuclei on the order of 5–7 A in size. We further propose that these nuclei have a composition exactly equal to the metastable crystalline Pt2Si3 phase, and that they cannot grow without a high temperature annealing because of the surrrounding amorphou...
Bulk preparation and crystallization of the Escherichia coli elongation factor Tu-Ts complex

Abstract A simple procedure for the preparation of 10–500 mg of the Escherichia coli elongation Tu-Ts complex is described. The protocol is based on the separate purification and quantitation of EF-Tu-GDP and EF-Ts, followed by mixing of equimolar amounts of each protein and removal of the displaced GDP by dialysis. Single crystals grown from the final product have been analyzed by X-ray diffraction techniques. The procedure is also applicable to the bulk preparation and crystallization of the trypsin-modified Tu-Ts complex. Quantitation of the elongation factors by three methods is presented.
Solitons under perturbations

A direct perturbation method is developed in order to study the interactions of $N$ solitons with imperfections and with each other in the presence of imperfections. The leading-order effects are obtained directly from the $N$-soliton waveform without invoking methods from inverse-scattering theory. The method is based upon a Green's function and a "two time" procedure from classical perturbation theory. An example of a single soliton is developed in detail. Finally, this perturbation method is compared with other approaches in the literature.
Two current experimental problems in heavy lepton physics: τ decay modes and close mass pairs

This paper investigates tau lepton decay modes and close-mass lepton pairs. The major part of the paper discusses branching functions from experimental and theoretical viewpoints. Finally, the lack of experimental signatures of close-mass lepton pairs are reviewed. 15 refs., 2 figs., 11 tabs. (JDH)
Development and pilot testing of an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) on hoarseness.

Objectives: To develop a valid and reliable tool for an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) on hoarseness. To pilot-test the feasibility by assessing residents' clinical skills in various core competencies while assessing hoarseness on a standardized patient (SP). Study Design: Educational tool development. Methods: The OSCE checklists were developed using modified Delphi technique after obtaining feedback from faculty involved in providing care to hoarseness patients. SP-based and rest stations were created to assess clinical skills. Twelve Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery residents participated in the study. Video recordings of residents' performance and their written documentation were rated by faculty members. Results: The OSCE that we developed is a valid method of assessing residents' clinical skills for evaluating hoarseness. Senior residents performed better in all of the tasks such as obtaining history and performing a physical exam on an SP, ability to perform flexible laryngoscopy on a mannequin, and interpretation of radiologic findings. Internal consistency assessed by Cronbach's alpha as measure of inter-item reliability was 0.92 for laryngoscopic station and 0.95 for radiology station. Conclusions: This OSCE can be effectively used for the objective assessment of clinical competency in hoarseness. Our pilot study evaluated multiple competencies on a single occasion, including medical knowledge, patient care, professionalism, and communication and interpersonal skills. Clinical competence in history taking, physical examination, flexible fiber-optic laryngoscopy, and ability to interpret radiologic findings improved with increasing year of training. This OSCE provides targeted assessment of practice-based learning and feedback for improvement of clinical performance. Laryngoscope, 2010
Catagen in the hairless house mouse

A morphological and histochemical study was made of some aspects of the catagen phase of the first hair cycle in hairless (hr) mice. The histochemical tests used included those for sulphydryl and disulfide groups, collagen, and periodic acid-Schiff-reactive materials. Measurements were made of skin thickness, follicle length and for follicles in catagen VI and VII, epithelial column length, length of hair shaft in the skin, the width of glassy membrane and connective tissue sheath, and the width of collagen in the glassy membrane. The results showed that: 1 The mutant epithelial column shortens at a slower than normal rate so that at catagen VII, the total follicle length is greater than normal. The position of the mutant hair shaft in the skin is normal at this stage. 2 The keratinization sequence of the mutant club appears normal. The failure to form an anchoring brush is associated with a morphological variation in the cell shapes and fibrils of the club. 3 The inner root sheath of the mutant follicle, although apparently keratinizing in the normal sequence, extends further up the follicle than normal and also further down, enclosing the club. 4 The glassy membrane and connective tissue sheath of the mutant are abnormally narrow due mainly to a marked reduction in collagen, and to a narrower band of PAS-positive material.
Modeling of Thin-Film Multi-Phase Heat Transfer With Statistical Thermodynamics

The power densities on computer chips have continued to rise, and power maps are further complicated by the addition of multiple cores. This in turn has made it very hard to achieve uniform junction temperatures across a device. Liquid cooling solutions, such as spray cooling, have the capability to remove the heat from the chips and maintain uniform junction temperatures. For the best possible performance, the contribution of bubbles in the flow must be better understood. Near a heat transfer surface, a temperature gradient exists in the flow. At the surface of the bubble, the fluid will vaporize or condense, depending on the local vapor and liquid temperatures and energy states at a given location. This means that a bubble can act as a heat pipe in certain conditions and move a large amount of heat with no net vapor generation. A model was written using the Statistical Rate Theory and principles of irreversible thermodynamics to analyze the amount of heat that is removed by a bubble at or near the surface through both latent and heat pumping effects.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Characterization of 5X stepper lenses to improve depth of focus

In the fabrication of integrated circuits, device pattern size determines electrical performance characteristics. Variations in the size of lines, trenches, contacts, straps, etc. result in electrical device performance differences. When the variations occur from chip to chip or wafer to wafer, we find that entire chips function differently (e.g. impacts clock speeds). This paper discusses within-chip variations that can produce undesirable effects which, when severe enough, can kill an entire chip because portions of it have incompatible electrical performance. The modeling and characterization of image-size variations caused by lens aberrations of 5X photolithography steppers with lens field sizes from 15 mm2 to 22 mm2 are also discussed.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Finding concise plans: Hardness and algorithms

This paper addresses the problem of generating the simplest plans that solve robotic planning problems. Most robotic planning algorithms are concerned with producing plans that minimize execution cost, or generalizations of such costs. Motivated by circumstances with severe computational resource limits (e.g., memory or communication constrained settings), we instead address the problem of producing concise plans. In this work, conciseness is a measure of plan size that reflects the complexity of representing the plan explicitly. We seek a plan with minimal representational size, subject to correctness and completeness. We introduce a planning algorithm that generates concise plans for planning problems that may involve both non-determinism and partial observability, and also show that finding the most concise plan is an NP-hard problem, excusing the possible sub-optimality of our algorithm's output. We describe an implementation of the algorithm, along with empirical results on the run time and solution quality for both manipulation and navigation problem domains.