cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Linoleic acid in diets of mice increases total endocannabinoid levels in bowel and liver: modification by dietary glucose.

Aim Linoleic acid (LA) is an essential fatty acid involved in the biosynthesis of arachidonic acid and prostaglandins. LA is known to induce obesity and insulin resistance. In this study, two concentrations of LA with or without added glucose (G) were fed to mice to investigate their effects on endocannabinoid (EC) biology. Materials and Methods Four groups of C57BL/6 mice were provided with diets containing 1% or 8% LA with or without added G (LAG) for 8 weeks. Body weights, food intake, circulating glucose and insulin levels were measured throughout the study. Following euthanasia, plasma, bowel and hepatic ECs, monoacylglycerol lipase and fatty acid amide hydroxylase protein levels (enzymes responsible for EC degradation) and transcriptional activity of PPARα in liver were quantified. Liver was probed for evidence of insulin receptor activity perturbation. Results Increasing dietary LA from 1% to 8% significantly increased circulating, small bowel and hepatic ECs. 1%LAG fed mice had lowest feed efficiency, and only liver levels of both ECs were reduced by addition of G. Addition of G to 1% LA diets resulted in elevated monoacylglycerol lipase and fatty acid amide hydroxylase protein levels (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) in liver due to increased transcriptional activity of PPARα (p < 0.05). The reduced EC levels with addition of G also correlated with a measure of enhanced insulin action. Conclusion In conclusion, body weight of mice is influenced by the source of calorie intake. Furthermore, tissue EC/g are dependent on tissue-specific synthesis and degradation that are modulated by dietary LA and G which also influence food efficiency, and down-stream insulin signalling pathways. The findings could potentially be useful information for weight management efforts in humans.
Effect of Crosswinds on the Aerodynamics of Two Passenger Cars Crossing Each Other

The impact of aerodynamics on vehicle safety during crossing of passenger cars is investigated, in the absence and presence of 30 ° crosswind. Three-dimensional, unsteady computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations were used to simulate these maneuvers. The vortical structures surrounding one car in the case without crosswind were analyzed, establishing the connection between force and moment fluctuations pre-interaction and the shedding frequency of these vortices. The forces and moments acting on a passenger car during a crossing maneuver may change by up to 43 %, with the maximum change associated with the windward car in the presence of crosswind. However, the duration of this increase in forces is at most 0.01 s, which will not affect the stability of vehicles under normal conditions. The presence of crosswind increased the rate of fluctuation of forces and moments. Wind tunnel experimental results are in good agreement with the simulations, and the data available in literature. The analysis results do not show the necessity of enacting new safety policies on highways, but future parametric studies are needed to fully investigate the impact of different crosswind speeds and directions, the impact of discrepancy in vehicles sizes, and different vehicle lateral separating distances during crossing and overtaking.
Application Transiency: Towards a Fair Trade of Personal Information for Application Services.

Smartphone users are offered a plethora of applications providing services, such as games and entertainment. In 2018, 94% of applications on Google Play were advertised as “free”. However, many of these applications obtain undefined amounts of personal information from unaware users. In this paper, we introduce transiency: a privacy-enhancing feature that prevents applications from running unless explicitly opened by the user. Transient applications can only collect sensitive user information while they are being used, and remain disabled otherwise. We show that a transient app would not be able to detect a sensitive user activity, such as a daily commute to work, unless it was used during the activity. We define characteristics of transient applications and find that, of the top 100 free apps on Google Play, 88 could be made transient. By allowing the user to decide when to allow an app to collect their data, we move towards a fair trade of personal information for application services.
Data-Driven Many-Body Models for Molecular Fluids: CO2/H2O Mixtures as a Case Study

In this study, we extend the scope of the many-body TTM-nrg and MB-nrg potential energy functions (PEFs), originally introduced for halide ion-water and alkali-metal ion-water interactions, to the modeling of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) mixtures as prototypical examples of molecular fluids. Both TTM-nrg and MB-nrg PEFs are derived entirely from electronic structure data obtained at the coupled cluster level of theory and are, by construction, compatible with MB-pol, a many-body PEF that has been shown to accurately reproduce the properties of water. Although both TTM-nrg and MB-nrg PEFs adopt the same functional forms for describing permanent electrostatics, polarization, and dispersion, they differ in the representation of short-range contributions, with the TTM-nrg PEFs relying on conventional Born-Mayer expressions and the MB-nrg PEFs employing multidimensional permutationally invariant polynomials. By providing a physically correct description of many-body effects at both short and long ranges, the MB-nrg PEFs are shown to quantitatively represent the global potential energy surfaces of the CO2-CO2 and CO2-H2O dimers and the energetics of small clusters, as well as to correctly reproduce various properties in both gas and liquid phases. Building upon previous studies of aqueous systems, our analysis provides further evidence for the accuracy and efficiency of the MB-nrg framework in representing molecular interactions in fluid mixtures at different temperature and pressure conditions.
The Impact of Retransmission and Modality on Communicating Health Research Findings via Social Media.

Social media is an increasingly popular tool for disseminating health research findings to members of the general public and may contribute to improving the effectiveness of science communication. ...
Comparison of hydrophilic PVA/TiO2 and hydrophobic PVDF/TiO2 microfiber webs on the dye pollutant photo-catalyzation

Abstract In this paper, hydrophilic PVA/TiO2 and hydrophobic PVDF/TiO2 microfibrous webs with varied TiO2 concentrations (0 %, 1 %, 3 %, 5 %, 10 %, and 20 %) were produced by the electrospinning technique. UV–vis spectrums were tested to demonstrate the photocatalytic properties of PVA/TiO2 and PVDF/TiO2 webs under visible light. Overall, PVDF/TiO2 exhibits higher Rhodamine B (RhB) decomposition efficiency than PVA/TiO2 samples. Specifically, RhB of around 50 % and 80 % were degraded by 13 d and 49 d for PVA/TiO2 samples with TiO2 of 10 %. RhB of around 50 % and 100 % were degraded at 3 h and 49 d for PVDF/TiO2 samples with TiO2 of 10 % and 20 %. Furthermore, the degradation rate for PVA/TiO2 and PVDF/TiO2 with TiO2 of 10 % is around 0.11 and 0.23. The difference in RhB photodegradation mechanism of PVA/TiO2 and PVDF/TiO2 webs was described and discussed in this paper. Hydrophobic PVDF/TiO2 was suspended in RhB liquid and ensured maximum contact between RhB pollutants and TiO2, whereas PVA/TiO2 completely dissolved in RhB liquid, which decreased the contact area and caused secondary pollution. In conclusion, hydrophobic PVDF/TiO2 webs with TiO2 of 10 % were suitable candidates for RhB photodegradation compared to PVA/ TiO2 webs.
Completed surgical treatment with double outlet of right ventricle

Objective To summarize the experiences and results of completed surgical treatment for double outlet of right ventricle in 135 cases.Methods From May 2007 to May 2012,135 cases with double outlet of the right ventricle,males are 79 cases,female are 56 cases,age from 25 days to 12 years,weigh is 3.5-30.0 kg,underwent surgical procedure.There were 89 cases subaortic ventricular septal defect,33 cases doubly committed ventricular septal defect,repaired VSD with introventricular tunnel and relive right ventricle outflow tract directly with pericardial patch.There are 8 cases subpulmonary (Taussing-Bing)VSD,5 received Rastelli procedure,3 received arterial switch procedure and repaird VSD.There are 5 cases noncommited VSD,3 received Rastelli procedure,2 received arterial switch procedure and repaired VSD.Results Four cases died in the early postoperative period,with a mortality of 3.70％.1 case with subpulmonary VSD was performed arterial switch procedure and repaired VSD.1 case with noncommited VSD,2 cases with subaortic VSD(with pulmonary stenosis) were performed repaired VSD with introventricular tunnel and relive right ventricle outflow tract directly with pericardial patch.1 case with noncommited VSD was performed Rastelli procedure.Conclusion The anatomic type,especially the position of ventricular septal defect,correlates with surgical strategy significantly. Key words: Heart ventricles ; Cardiac surgical procedures
Aspirin use and risk of breast cancer in African American women

Use of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been hypothesized to be associated with reduced risk of breast cancer; however, results of epidemiological studies have been mixed. Few studies have investigated these associations among African American women. To assess the relation of aspirin use to risk of breast cancer in African American women, we conducted a prospective analysis within the Black Women’s Health Study, an ongoing nationwide cohort study of 59,000 African American women. On baseline and follow-up questionnaires, women reported regular use of aspirin (defined as use at least 3 days per week) and years of use. During follow-up from 1995 through 2017, 1919 invasive breast cancers occurred, including 1112 ER+, 569 ER−, and 284 triple-negative (TN) tumors. We used age-stratified Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations of aspirin use with risk of ER+, ER−, and TN breast cancer, adjusted for established breast cancer risk factors. Overall, the HR for current regular use of aspirin relative to non-use was 0.92 (95% CI 0.81, 1.04). For ER+, ER−, and TN breast cancer, corresponding HRs were 0.98 (0.84, 1.15), 0.81 (0.64, 1.04), and 0.70 (0.49, 0.99), respectively. Our findings with regard to ER− and TN breast cancer are consistent with hypothesized inflammatory mechanisms of ER− and TN breast cancer, rather than hormone-dependent pathways. Aspirin may represent a potential opportunity for chemoprevention of ER− and TN breast cancer.
Comparison of Stent Expansion Using a Volumetric Versus the Conventional Method Through Optical Coherence Tomography in an All-Comers Population.

Abstract Introduction A volumetric approach to measure stent expansion derived from optical coherence tomography (OCT) is superior in regards to clinical outcomes when compared to the conventional method. The current software already performs a semi-automatic assessment and it is available as a clinical tool, however data is still scarce. We evaluated the stent expansion analysis that uses a volumetric vessel model, called minimum expansion index – MEI and compared to the conventional model, which utilizes the minimum stent area expansion (MSAx) indexed to the references, and its potential impact on procedural decision-making strategy in percutaneous coronary intervention. Methods This was a prospective, all-comers single center study, from all patients undergoing OCT-guided PCI between September 2018 and May 2019. We utilized the APTIVUE™ OPTIS 5.2 software (Abbott, Santa Clara, CA) to evaluate MEI and MSAx measurements after reference adjustments. Results We included 100 patients with mean age of 64 ± 12.5 years, 68% were men, and the main arteries analyzed through OCT were LAD (48%), RCA (31%) and LCx (21%). The mean MEI was 77.6% ± 16.7% and the mean MSAx was 71.6% ± 16.9%. MEI location differed from MSAx in 70% of cases, and in those cases the mean distance between MEI and MSAx was 15.3 mm ± 12.4 mm. In 53% of the times, the stent underexpansion based on MEI was located proximally to the MSAx by 18.1 mm ± 11.8 mm. Furthermore, in 42% of the total cases, MEI would change the intervention strategy based on the stent underexpansion being in a different location ≥10 mm in comparison to MSAx (34%) associated with the discrepancy between expansion indexes for MEI and MSAx (22%). Conclusion We concluded that MEI location did not correlate to the conventional MSAx in two thirds of the cases. Moreover, compared to MEI, the MSAx assessment yielded lower expansion values in different stent positions, potentially changing the appropriate post-stent optimization, which thus would impact the decision-making strategy in almost half of the patients.
Tunable Photonic Crystals

Abstract : Our initial theoretical work with Dr. Yu. Godin on asymptotic models for 3D thin-film photonic crystals is out. The results establish a possibility of spectral gaps and provide new computational tools for studies of 3D photonic crystals. A. Eigotin and Yu. Godin, 'Spectral Properties of Thin-film Photonic Crystals', SIAN J. Appl. Math., 61, No. 6, pp. 2008-2035 (2001). We finished our work on nonlinear photonic crystals with quadratic nonlinearity including the role the group velocity matching for nonlinear interactions in periodic media. We can see looking at publications a growing interest to nonlinear periodic dielectric structures, especially with quadratic nonlinearity. We believe that the work we have conducted is an achievement in that area. We learned from the editor that our paper was 'one of the most accessed articles for the Journal last year. A. Eabine and A. Figotin 'Nonlinear Photonic Crystals. I. Quadratic Nonlinearity', Waves in Random Media, II, pp. R31-R102 (2001) The work on the development of computationally efficient 'Resolvent method' for localized states in 20 photonic crystals of the square geometry is completed. We believe that the proposed method is superior in both the speed and the accuracy of computation. A. Figotin and V. Curen, 'Resolvent Method for Computation of Localized Defect, Modes of H-polarization in 20 Photonic crystals, Phys. Rev. E, 64, 056623, 2001. Rev. E, Vol. 63, pp. 066609-1-066609-17, 2001. All the computational work was carried Out en our 581' Octane' computers as well as 32 CPU parallel 581' Origin 2000' computer.
The Influence of Peer Culture on Identity Development in College Students

Peer culture is an enduring influence on college student values, beliefs, and behaviors. Among its other functions, it expands or constrains opportunities for the exploration and commitment process...
Targeting Scavenger Receptor Type B-1 (SR-B1) and Cholesterol Inhibits Entry of SARS-CoV-2 Pseudovirus in Cell Culture

The novel human coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and has now caused a global pandemic. The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 is known as COVID-19. To date, few treatments for COVID-19 have proven effective, and the current standard of care is primarily supportive. As a result, novel therapeutic strategies are in high demand. Viral entry into target cells is frequently sensitive to cell membrane lipid composition and membrane organization. Evidence suggests that cell entry of SARS-CoV-2 is most efficient when the target cell plasma membrane is replete with cholesterol; and recent data implicate cholesterol flux through the high-affinity receptor for cholesterol-rich high-density lipoprotein (HDL), called scavenger receptor type B-1 (SR-B1), as critical for SARS-CoV-2 entry. Here, we demonstrate that a cholesterol-poor synthetic biologic high-density lipoprotein (HDL NP) targets SR-B1 and inhibits cell entry of a SARS-CoV-2 spike protein pseudovirus. Human cells expressing SR-B1 are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and viral entry can be inhibited by 50-80% using HDL NPs in an SR-B1-dependent manner. These results indicate that HDL NP targeting of SR-B1 is a powerful potential therapy to combat COVID-19 and other viral diseases.
Effects of life stage on eDNA detection of the invasive European green crab (Carcinus maenas) in estuarine systems

Abstract Early and efficient detection of rare and invasive species is critical for the effective management of their populations. Environmental DNA (eDNA) detection techniques have been used for monitoring soft-bodied organisms (e.g., fishes) and some invertebrates, primarily in freshwater systems, but there are limited examples of eDNA as a method for monitoring marine crustaceans. The present study evaluates the efficacy of applying eDNA methods for detecting the invasive European green crab (Carcinus maenas) in a dynamic estuarine environment, and the effect of crab life stage (sex, molt stage, ovigery, abundance) on eDNA detection rates. An initial field experiment conducted in a local salt marsh system detected no C. maenas eDNA in sediment samples associated with traps containing C. maenas. In subsequent laboratory trials, aquaria containing one or two C. maenas at different life stages (soft-shell, hard-shell, male, female, ovigerous) were evaluated in replicated treatments to test the hypothesis that C. maenas exudes eDNA at higher levels when ovigerous, soft-shell, or at higher abundances. Duplicate sediment slurry and water samples were collected from each aquarium (n = 23) prior to crab addition (T-0), and after 24 h (T-1), 4 days (T-2), and 7 days (T-3). Sediment slurry and water samples were filtered, extracted, and analyzed using a species-specific droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay. In all non-control aquaria, C. maenas eDNA was detected, but concentrations were low (
Source apportionment of PM2.5 at IMPROVE monitoring sites within and outside of marine vessel fuel sulfur emissions control areas.

Fuel sulfur emissions control areas have been established in a few marine coastal regions to reduce environmental impacts from combustion of high sulfur residual fuel oil (RFO). For example, in August of 2012, the U.S. began enforcing fuel sulfur limits on certain large commercial marine vessels up to 200 nautical miles (nm) of its coasts as part of a North American Emissions Control Area (NA-ECA), and in January of 2014, the U.S. began enforcing fuel sulfur limits on these vessels within up to 50 nm of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands as part of the U.S. Caribbean Sea ECA (USCAR-ECA). This work evaluates ECA effectiveness at reducing PM2.5 from combustion of RFO by using both spatial analysis, comparing PM2.5 source apportionment at IMPROVE monitoring sites largely impacted by air from either inside or outside of an ECA, along with temporal analysis, comparing RFO combustion impacts pre and post ECA enforcement at sites largely impacted by air from inside an ECA. Source apportionment was performed using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) on chemically speciated PM2.5 data from 2009 to 2018. Results for 7 coastal U.S. IMPROVE sites influenced by marine air masses within the NA-ECA showed an annual mean reduction of PM2.5 from RFO combustion of 79.0% (range, 60.2% to 91.5%) when comparing impacts from the pre-ECA (RFO average 2.7% S) period of 2009-2011 to the ECA 0.1% fuel S period of 2015-2018. In contrast, the Virgin Islands, Big Bend, and Baengnyeong Island South Korea IMPROVE sites were impacted by RFO combustion and were largely or wholly influenced by air masses from outside of an emissions control area. These sites saw a statistically significant 14.0% increase, a 21.0% decrease, or no statistically significant change, respectively, when comparing time periods pre and post ECA enforcement.Implications: This study performs source apportionment on PM2.5 monitoring data to identify 10 sites impacted by residual fuel oil combustion, mainly from marine vessel fuel use. The paper then evaluates the effects of enforcement of marine vessel fuel sulfur emissions control areas at reducing ambient impacts of this source on PM2.5. This study uses both temporal analysis of the source apportionment results, comparing source impacts before and after enforcement of marine vessel fuel sulfur emissions control areas, and spatial analysis, comparing source impacts between sites largely impacted or not impacted by airmasses originating inside of marine vessel fuel sulfur emissions control areas.
Family Conference Simulation Designed for Physician Assistant Students and Chaplain Residents

Background: Physician Assistants (PAs) are increasingly likely to work in clinical areas where family conference skills are needed, but there is currently a lack of family conference education in P...
The Evolution of Decommissioning Planning: Tracing the Requirements to Consider Radioactive Wastes and Social Risk of Nuclear Power Plants

In Canada, nuclear power plant operators are required to have decommissioning plans and financial guarantees as conditions of licensing, which plan for radioactive and non-fuel wastes and identify risks to natural and social environments post-closure. However, decommissioning plans were post hoc licensing requirements, introduced when the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA) came into force in 2000. Thus, for over thirty years Canada’s first nuclear power reactor operated absent considerations of decommissioning planning. While the NSCA sought to combat these gaps, residual challenges remain. Therefore, this chapter traces the evolution of decommissioning regulations and policy since the NSCA’s introduction and compares decommissioning guides among proponents, since their development in 2000. As the nuclear sector enters an era of decommissioning—with over 60% of all operating reactors now exceeding 30 years of age—this chapter also highlights the challenges caused by the historic lack of preventative planning and foresight. Ultimately, we find that the failure of Canada’s legal frameworks to pre-emptively consider and establish reliable and socially acceptable methods of managing long-lived radioactive wastes before commercial nuclear stations were made makes it unlikely that Canadian nuclear sites will be successfully decommissioned within the foreseeable future.
Fluidic Injection for Jet Noise Reduction

Investigations into fluidic injection for jet noise reduction began over 50 years ago. Studies have included water and air injection for the reduction of noise in scale model jets and jet engines and water injection for the reduction of excess overpressures on the Space Shuttle at lift-off. Injection systems have included high pressure microjets as well as larger scale injectors operating at pressures that can be achieved in real jet engines. An historical perspective highlighting noise reduction potential is presented for injection concepts investigated over the last 50 years. Results from recent investigations conducted at NASA are presented for supersonic and subsonic dual-stream jets. The noise reduction benefits achieved through fluidic contouring using an azimuthally controlled nozzle will be discussed.
What are Cognitive Tools

Tools are extensions of human beings that partially differentiate humans from lower order species of animals. Other species of animals have discovered tools, but have been unable to conceive needs to construct tools or incorporate tools into their cultures. Throughout history, humans have developed mechanical tools to facilitate physical work. The wheel and lever provided humans with an enormous mechanical advantage. The industrial revolution added artificial sources of power to extend that advantage. The electronic or information revolution has further extended that advantage by extending the functionality and speed of tools. Computers now perform tasks at speeds which are orders of magnitude greater than humans with or without more primitive tools were capable of.
Color constancy algorithms for object and face recognition

Brightness and color constancy is a fundamental problem faced in computer vision and by our own visual system. We easily recognize objects despite changes in illumination, but without a mechanism to cope with this, many object and face recognition systems perform poorly. In this paperwe compare approaches in computer vision and computational neuroscience for inducing brightness and color constancy based on their ability to improve recognition. We analyze the relative performance of the algorithms on the AR face and ALOI datasets using both a SIFT-based recognition system and a simple pixel-based approach. Quantitative results demonstrate that color constancy methods can significantly improve classification accuracy. We also evaluate the approaches on the Caltech-101 dataset to determine how these algorithms affect performance under relatively normal illumination conditions.
Attenuated exercise induced hyperaemia with age: mechanistic insight from passive limb movement

The influence of age on the central and peripheral contributors to exercise-induced hyperaemia is unclear. Utilizing a reductionist approach, we compared the peripheral and central haemodynamic responses to passive limb movement (exercise without an increase in metabolism) in 11 old (71 ± 9 years of age s.d.) and 11 young (24 ± 2 years of age) healthy subjects. Cardiac output (CO), heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and femoral blood flow of the passively moved and control legs were evaluated second-by-second during 2 min of passive knee extension at a rate of 1 Hz. Compared to the young, the old group exhibited a significantly attenuated increase in HR (7 ± 4%vs. 13 ± 7%s.d.), CO (10 ± 6%vs. 18 ± 8%) and femoral blood flow in the passively moved (123 ± 55%vs. 194 ± 57%) and control legs (47 ± 43%vs. 77 ± 96%). In addition, the change in vascular conductance in the passively moving limb was also significantly attenuated in the old (2.4 ± 1.2 ml min−1 mmHg−1) compared to the young (4.3 ± 1.7 ml min−1 mmHg−1). In both groups all main central and peripheral changes that occurred at the onset of passive knee extension were transient, lasting only 45 s. In a paradigm where metabolism does not play a role, these data reveal that both central and peripheral haemodynamic mechanisms are likely to be responsible for the 30% reduction in exercise-induced hyperaemia with age.
Therapeutic Decisions Involving Disparate Clinical Outcomes: Patient Preference Survey for Treatment of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion

Background: Major therapeutic decisions are made by patients with information and guidance provided by their physicians. The values patients place on different outcomes and the risks they are willing to accept are important factors in making these decisions. New beneficial therapies associated with potentially serious complications are now available for some blinding diseases. The authors aim to determine the maximum amount of risk of stroke and death persons would accept to recover vision. Methods: Standardized survey of adults with normal vision. Results: Thirty-nine percent and 37% of surveyed adults would accept some risk of stroke and death, respectively, to triple the chances of recovering 20/100 visual acuity in one eye when binocular. More than 80% of persons would accept these risks if they were monocular. Maximum risk scores were significantly higher in the monocular case scenarios than in binocular case scenarios. Medical students and eye physicians were more likely to accept risk than persons with high school or university educational backgrounds. Conclusions: The value persons place on vision when weighed against the risk of stroke or death varies considerably. More persons are willing to accept life-threatening risks if they are monocular. The reason physicians and medical students are more likely to accept serious risks to improve vision than nonphysicians is unclear. Further studies are needed to determine how physicians' values effect the patient decision-making processes.
Student effort in semester-long and condensed capstone project courses

The senior capstone course for Computer Information Systems and Computer Science majors at our university requires students to form teams, identify projects for customers external to the university, and deliver working products to their customers at the end of the course. Students, who are primarily working adults, often raise concerns about the distribution of work within their teams and between projects; and about the difficulty of finding meeting times within their busy schedules. Faculty raise concerns about whether a capstone project can be done during a 6-week summer semester. The author examined 22 logbooks kept by 6 teams of capstone students during a 15-week semester and 12 logbooks kept by 3 teams of capstone students during a 6-week summer semester. The students had been assured that logbooks would not be examined until after the grades had been assigned. An analysis of these logbooks suggests that the distribution of work varies widely across teams; depending on the team, between 5% and 80% of the project work was done during team meetings and development sessions; project effort varied by a factor of 2.5 from least to most time-consuming project; and projects in a shorter semester may get shortchanged, timewise. Also, in all cases, the distribution of workload across the semester was relatively constant.
Vertical datum conversion in the Lake Erie coastal area

Seamless integration of land-elevation and water-depth information in coastal environments is required in many geospatial applications and decision-making processes. Vertical datum conversion is the central component of the integration process. This study introduces a methodology of vertical datum conversion in Lake Erie, which utilizes the public published models and toolkits developed by National Geodetic Survey (NGS) to form a new transformation system. In this research, a system of vertical datum conversion was developed and a test area was chosen to verify conversion results. The system we developed can be widely used in the coastal area of the Great Lakes, either for spatial data integration or coastal management.
Model reference control with /spl Hscr//sub /spl infin// loop shaping

Model reference control (MRC) has been used extensively in adaptive control. However, due to the lack of stability guarantees in the presence of model uncertainties, robustness of adaptive control based on MRC is not ensured. The paper considers MRC from a different perspective. Reference model is used to represent the frequency shape of the ideal sensitivity function. The central objective is to design a feedback controller such that it achieves the desired frequency shape specified by the reference model within a prescribed tolerance in /spl Hscr//sub /spl infin// norm. This leads to the /spl Hscr//sub /spl infin// loopshaping for MRC. It is shown that the resulting /spl Hscr//sub /spl infin// controller has an observer structure as in the LQG/LTR case. An efficient algorithm is developed for solving the required /spl Hscr//sub /spl infin// controller. The results reported enhance the robustness for MRC. >
An investigation of springback stresses in deep-drawn cups using diffraction techniques

Prediction of springback has become a major focus in sheet metal forming. Validation of finite element codes that are being developed to predict springback require accurate property data and a more complete understanding of the residual stresses that are involved. To provide experimental data for these calculations, neutron and synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements were carried out to determine the through-thickness distribution of axial and hoop (or tangential) residual stresses in deep-drawn steel and aluminum cups. The techniques are able to provide true spatial resolutions as low as 0.05 mm for a strain measurement on cups with {le} 1 mm wall thickness. It was found that the stresses exhibit non-linear gradients through the thickness that also depend on the axial position.
Laying the foundations for public participation and value advocacy: interaction design for a large scale urban simulation

Supporting public participation is often a key goal in the design of digital government systems. However, years of work may be required before a complex system, such as the UrbanSim urban simulation system, is deployed and ready for such participation. In this paper, we investigate laying the foundations for public participation in advance of wide-scale public deployment, with the goal of having interaction designs ready when the system is put into such use. Moreover, in a highly politicized domain such as this one, value advocacy as well as factual information plays a central role. Using the theory and methods of Value Sensitive Design, we address three design goals toward public participation and value advocacy, and provide evidence that each of them was achieved: (1) enabling indirect stakeholders to become direct stakeholders (i.e. enabling more people to interact directly with UrbanSim in useful ways); (2) developing a participatory process by which these stakeholders can help guide the development of the system itself; and (3) enabling participating organizations to engage in value advocacy while at the same time enhancing overall system legitimation.
Ectopic pregnancy at New Orleans Charity Hospital.

S INCE the publication in 1921 of the excellent monograph on extrauterine pregnancy by Schumann, who served as president of the American (:ynecological Society in 1945 and 1946, the Transactions of that organization reveal that the current president, Rubin, reported at, the 1934 meeting on an analysis of 90 uterotubal insufflation cases showing the status of the residual tube following ectopic pregnancy in relation to sterility and further pregnancy. In 1939 Jones presented a paper, co-authored by John Brewer, the present secretary, on arterial phenomena associated with uterine. blcedirig in tubal pregnancy. At the meeting five years later Williams, president, in 1955, analyzed 101 fatalities from ectopic gestation. As shown by Table I this condition continues to take its toll. During the last five years for which the figures are available it was reported as the cause. of death in 868 cases, 416 of which patients were white and 452 were non-white.
Implications of electron acceleration for high-energy radiation from gamma-ray bursts

In recent work, we suggested that photons of energy >100 MeV detected from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) by the Fermi satellite are produced via synchrotron emission in the external forward shock with a weak magnetic field - consistent with shock-compressed upstream magnetic field of a few tens of μG. Here we investigate whether electrons can be accelerated to energies such that they radiate synchrotron photons with energy up to about 10 GeV in this particular scenario. We do this using two methods: (i) we check if these electrons can be confined to the shock front; and (ii) we calculate radiative losses while they are being accelerated. We find that these electrons remain confined to the shock front, as long as the upstream magnetic field is ≳ 10 μG, and do not suffer substantial radiative losses, the only condition required is that the external reverse shock emission be not too bright: peak flux less than 1 Jy in order to produce photons of 100 MeV and less than ∼100 mJy for producing 1-GeV photons. We also find that the acceleration time for electrons radiating at 100 MeV is a few seconds (in observer frame) and the acceleration time is somewhat longer for electrons radiating at a few GeV. This could explain the lack of > 100 MeV photons for the first few seconds after the trigger time for long GRBs reported by the Fermi satellite and also the slight lag between photons of GeV and 100 MeV energies. We model the onset of the external forward shock light curve in this scenario and find it consistent with the sharp rise observed in the 100-MeV light curve of GRB 080916C and similar bursts.
Ergonomic evaluation of a wheelchair transportation securement system.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) specifies guidelines covering the securement system and environment for wheeled mobility device (WhMD) passengers on the public bus system in the United States, referred to as the wheelchair tiedown and occupant restraint system (WTORS). The misuse or disuse of the WTORS system can be a source of injury for WhMD passengers riding the buses. The purpose of this study was to quantify the risks posed to the bus driver while performing the WTORS procedure using traditional ergonomic analysis methods. Four bus drivers completed the WTORS procedure for a representative passenger seated in three different WhMDs: manual wheelchair (MWC), scooter (SCTR), and power wheelchair (PWC). Potential work-related risks were identified using the four most applicable ergonomic assessment tools: PLIBEL, RULA, REBA, and iLMM. Task evaluation results revealed high levels of risk to be present to drivers during the WTORS procedure. The securement station space design and equipment layout were identified as contributing factors forcing drivers to adopt awkward postures while performing the WTORS task. These risk factors are known contributors to injury and the drivers could opt to improperly secure the passengers to avoid that risk. Language: en
Relative reactivity ratios for two new 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene systems

The relative reactivity ratios in free-radical, emulsion copolymerizations for the systems 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene/methyl isopropenyl ketone and 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene/methacrylic acid were found to be 3.6 and 0.1 and 2.68 and 0.15, respectively. Consequently, copolymers are formed substantially richer in 2-chloro-1,3-butadiene units than the comonomer feed, have little alternation tendency, and do not form azeotropes. Distributions of monomer units in the copolymers are described.
Equations for solar heat gain through windows

Abstract An analysis of solar-radiation records obtained at Scarborough, Ontario, indicates that the insolation in Canada can be significantly greater than the values given by Moon's 1 standard solar-radiation curves. It is possible to represent the solar data by a single analytical expression involving an atmospheric extinction coefficient and an apparent value of the solar constant. This expression allows the calculation of insolation on any surface and the determination of the time and date when the maximum insolation can occur for any surface. Simple expressions relate the time, date, latitude, building orientation, and the type of window glass and shading with the solar heat gain through windows. These can be used to program any digital computer to compute design values of the instantaneous heat gain through the windows of a building.
Design of a Gait Training device for control of pelvic obliquity

This paper presents the design and testing of a novel device for the control of pelvic obliquity during gait. The device, called the Robotic Gait Rehabilitation (RGR) Trainer, consists of a single actuator system designed to target secondary gait deviations, such as hip-hiking, affecting the movement of the pelvis. Secondary gait deviations affecting the pelvis are generated in response to primary gait deviations (e.g. limited knee flexion during the swing phase) in stroke survivors and contribute to the overall asymmetrical gait pattern often observed in these patients. The proposed device generates a force field able to affect the obliquity of the pelvis (i.e. the rotation of the pelvis around the anteroposterior axis) by using an impedance controlled single linear actuator acting on a hip orthosis. Tests showed that the RGR Trainer is able to induce changes in pelvic obliquity trajectories (hip-hiking) in healthy subjects. These results suggest that the RGR Trainer is suitable to test the hypothesis that has motivated our efforts toward developing the system, namely that addressing both primary and secondary gait deviations during robotic-assisted gait training may help promote a physiologically-sound gait behavior more effectively than when only primary deviations are addressed.
Zum mechanismus der reduktion von S2O82− an silberelektroden in alkalischer lösung

Zusammenfassung Mit Hilfe eines kinetischen Ansatzes zur Berechnung der experimentell gefundenen i - √ m Abhangigkeiten konnte gezeigt werden, das die bei der Adsorption von S2O82− an der mit chemisorbiertem Sauerstoff bedekten Ag-Oberflache ablaufende Aktivierungsreaktion in der dissoziativen Spaltung der S2O82−-Molekel nach S2O82− ⇄ 2 SO4− besteht. Es wurde die Abhangigkeit des S2O82− -Bedeckungsgrades vom Potential berechnet.
The mechanism of photoinduced acylation of amines by N-acyl-5,7-dinitroindoline as determined by time-resolved infrared spectroscopy.

The photochemistry of N-acyl-5,7-dinitroindoline (1) was studied in acetonitrile using nanosecond time-resolved infrared (TRIR) spectroscopy. Upon photolysis, two nearly but not completely overlapping sets of transient IR bands are observed that are assigned to two non-interconvertible conformers of mixed acetic nitronic anhydride 7. While syn-7 reverts rapidly to 1, anti-7 is long-lived and is able to acylate amines. Results of density functional theory calculations support conclusions based on experimental TRIR data.
Gestational trophoblastic disease II: classification and management of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) includes invasive mole, choriocarcinoma, placental site trophoblastic tumor, and epithelioid trophoblastic tumor. The overall cure rate in treating these tumors is currently >90%. Thorough evaluation and staging allow selection of appropriate therapy that maximizes chances for cure while minimizing toxicity. Nonmetastatic (stage I) and low-risk metastatic (stages II and III, score <7) GTN can be treated with single-agent chemotherapy resulting in a survival rate approaching 100%. High-risk GTN (stages II-IV, score ≥7) requires initial multiagent chemotherapy with or without adjuvant radiation and surgery to achieve a survival rate of 80-90%.
Mental Illness: Is there an Association With Cancer Screening Among Women Veterans?

Abstract Purpose Mental illness may be a barrier to achieving timely and appropriate cancer screening. We evaluated the association of mental illness with receipt of and adherence to breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening among women Veterans. Methods The study population included all female Veterans ages 50 to 65 who obtained care at the New Mexico VA Health Care System continuously from fiscal years 2004 to 2006 ( n = 606). Measures were odds ratios (OR) for receipt of any cancer screening, and adherence to recommended cancer screening frequency, adjusted for age, insurance, service connection, and primary care and women's clinic visits. Results Overall, 53% of the women had a mental health diagnosis (MHD). Women with an MHD were less likely to adhere to recommended breast cancer screening than women without MHD: unadjusted OR (95% CI): 0.73 (0.54–0.98; p p Conclusion Women with a mental illness are at risk for not adhering to recommended routine breast cancer screening, and may require more intensive efforts to achieve optimal rates of recommended breast cancer screening.
Binding of Virus-Like Particles of Norwalk Virus to Romaine Lettuce Veins

Noroviruses (NoV) annually cause millions of cases of gastrointestinal disease in the United States. NoV are associated with raw shellfish outbreaks, particularly oysters, which are thought to bioaccumulate NoV particles during the filter-feeding process. NoV outbreaks, however, have also been known to occur from other common-source food-borne vehicles, such as lettuce, frozen raspberries, and salad. In this study, we evaluated romaine lettuce as a potential vehicle for NoV transmission by testing the binding and distribution of NoV to the surface of romaine. Recombinant Norwalk virus-like particles (rNVLP) applied to the surface of romaine lettuce localized as large clusters primarily on the leaf veins. An extract of romaine lettuce leaves in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) (romaine extract [RE]) bound rNVLP in a dose-dependent manner. RE did not bind rNVLP by histo-blood group antigens (HBGA), nor was RE competitive with rNVLP binding to porcine gastric mucin. These results suggested that non-HBGA molecules in RE bind rNVLP by a binding site(s) that is different from the defined binding pocket on the virion. Extracts of cilantro, iceberg lettuce, spinach, and celery also bound rNVLP. Samples of each of the vegetables spiked with rNVLP and tested with anti-NVLP antibody revealed by confocal microscopy the presence of rNVLP not only on the veins of cilantro but also throughout the surface of iceberg lettuce.
Capsule commentary on Walsh et al. Sexual violence and mental health symptoms among national guard and reserve soldiers

Walsh et al.1 explored the relationship between sexual violence, PTSD, and depression among National Guard and Reserve soldiers, finding 27–37 % of women and 4 % of men reported experiencing sexual violence at some point in their lives. Rates of sexual violence during the most recent deployment ranged from 0–2.6 %. Moreover, soldiers who had ever experienced sexual trauma had 3.5-fold higher odds of suffering from PTSD; nearly half of PTSD cases could be attributed to life-time sexual violence. The rate of deployment-related sexual trauma in this population-based cohort is lower than that reported in VA samples. A major strength of this study is its large randomized sample that is not drawn from the VA or a treatment-seeking population. That lifetime rates of sexual violence are elevated among female soldiers, and that these experiences increase vulnerability to mental health problems, are important findings both for epidemiological purposes and to enhance treatment efforts. The assessment of sexual violence was done within the context of screening for 21 different traumatic events, and subjects were asked if they have ever “been raped” or “experienced another kind of sexual assault or unwanted sexual contact as a result of force, threat of harm, or manipulation.” As the authors note, this use of single questions may underestimate the prevalence of sexual assault. Further, it would be helpful in future studies to differentiate between childhood sexual abuse and such assault in adulthood. The CDC’s Adverse Childhood Events studies have documented a high prevalence of childhood sexual abuse (17.2 % for women and 6.7 % for men).2 Other research has documented similar or higher rates of childhood sexual abuse, and studies have reported increased risk for individuals with this history for a range of psychiatric and other life difficulties.3,4 Future research would benefit from exploring both the timing and context of sexual violence among soldiers, trying to differentiate the contribution of childhood experiences versus sexual trauma that occurred in adulthood but prior to military service. Walsh and colleagues urge clinicians to assess lifetime sexual violence both in treatment-seeking clients and in all soldiers. While this assessment is likely routine in most psychiatric treatment settings, this research highlights the importance of assessing this domain regularly in primary care settings and in research. Enhancing our ability to conceptualize the many factors that contribute to human suffering is important to improving our assessment and intervention approaches.
Quantitation of thin-layer chromatograms with an Apple II computer-based videodensitometer

Abstract An inexpensive, high-speed densitometer made from an Apple II computer, a black-and-white video camera, and an image digitizing board is described. By supplementing the computer with a very fast coprocessor, one can obtain a measurement of a typical thin-layer spot in 30–40 s. Only minimal electronic expertise is required for assembling the system from the commercially available components. Coefficients of variation for multiple readings of a single 500-ng spot of charred lipid were about 0.5%. For lipid spots weighing 250 to 2000 ng, a second-order relationship between weight and density reading was obtained with a correlation coefficient of 0.998.