cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of food pantry donations on diet of a low-income population

Objective: This cross-sectional study assessed the effect of food donations on total nutrient intake of clients of a food pantry in Central Texas.Methods: Nutrient intakes of total, base and food d...
Political Ontology and Race Research: A Response to “Critical Race Theory, Afro-pessimism, and Racial Progress Narratives”:

This article is a critical response to a previous article by Victor Ray, Antonia Randolph, Megan Underhill, and David Luke that sought to incorporate lessons from Afro-pessimism for sociological re...
Retrospective evaluation of feline rodenticide exposure and gastrointestinal decontamination: 146 cases (2000–2010)

OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of rodenticide exposure in cats, describe the use of gastrointestinal decontamination (GID) after rodenticide exposure, and examine the efficacy of GID following exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides (ACR). DESIGN Retrospective study from 2000-2010. SETTING Emergency service of an urban university teaching hospital. ANIMALS One hundred forty-six cats presented for rodenticide exposure. MAIN RESULTS Annually, the number of cats that were presented for rodenticide exposure averaged 13 of 3,336 (0.39%) and totaled 146 cases over 11 years. Cats that had been exposed to rodenticide were significantly more likely to be young (P < 0.001), sexually intact (P < 0.001), and presented in the fall season (P = 0.002). The majority of cats lived indoors (67.6%). The type of rodenticide involved in the exposure was unknown in 50% (71/142) of cases. Of the known types, ACRs were most common (59/142, 41.5%) followed by cholecalciferol (7/142, 4.9%) and bromethalin (5/142, 3.5%). Gastrointestinal decontamination was attempted in 21/36 (58%) cats with exposure to a known ACR. Emesis was attempted in 17/21 (81%) and charcoal administered in 14/21 (67%) cats that underwent GID. This study did not detect an effect of GID efforts on prothrombin time (PT) prolongation 48 hours after exposure to a known ACR. CONCLUSIONS Cats consume rodenticides. Due to the lack of evidence of altered outcome associated with GID in cats exposed to ACRs, a PT should be evaluated 48 hours after first exposure regardless of whether GID is performed. Treatment should be based on the results of the PT. Gastrointestinal decontamination should be performed at the clinician's discretion based on history, risks, calculated toxic dose, low prevalence of ACR toxicosis in cats, general resistance of cats to ACR toxicosis, and treatment options.
Literacy Activity and Health Among Older Adults in the USA

Health literacy skills are known to be a key mediator of the relationship between education and health in the general population. However, one aspect of health literacy skills—individuals’ actual l...
The Challenge of Varying Perceptions of Sexual Harassment: An International Study

Globalization has put increasing pressure on organizations to better prepare employees facing cross cultural problems regarding HR issues. This study examines the subject of varied interpretations of sexual harassment in the global arena. A model is suggested based on legal and cultural differences, and data is presented regarding the perceptions of various types of sexual harassment of residents of three countries. Differences in the perceptions based on gender are also examined. Significant differences in perceptions of sexual harassment were found according to country of residence, types of harassment, and gender scripts.
Vitamin B12 Status in Pregnant Adolescents and Their Infants

Vitamin B12 deficiency has been associated with increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Few prospective studies have investigated the burden or determinants of vitamin B12 deficiency early in life, particularly among pregnant adolescents and their children. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency and to examine associations between maternal and neonatal vitamin B12 status in a cohort study of healthy pregnant adolescents. Serum vitamin B12 and folate concentrations were measured in adolescents at mid-gestation (n = 124; 26.4 ± 3.5 weeks) and delivery (n = 131; 40.0 ± 1.3 weeks), and in neonates at birth using cord blood. Linear regression was used to examine associations between maternal and neonatal vitamin B12 status. Although the prevalence of vitamin B12 deficiency (<148.0 pmol/L; 1.6%) in adolescents was low during pregnancy, 22.6% of adolescents were vitamin B12 insufficient (<221.0 pmol/L; 22.6%) at mid-gestation. Maternal vitamin B12 concentrations significantly decreased from mid-gestation to delivery (p < 0.0001), and 53.4% had insufficient vitamin B12 status at delivery. Maternal vitamin B12 concentrations (p < 0.001) and vitamin B12 deficiency (p = 0.002) at delivery were significantly associated with infant vitamin B12 concentrations in multivariate analyses, adjusting for gestational age, maternal age, parity, smoking status, relationship status, prenatal supplement use, pre-pregnancy body mass index, race, and intake of vitamin B12 and folate. Maternal vitamin B12 concentrations significantly decreased during pregnancy and predicted neonatal vitamin B12 status in a cohort of healthy pregnant adolescents.
The sustained induction of c-Myc drives nab-paclitaxel resistance in primary pancreatic ductal carcinoma cells

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive disease with limited and, very often, ineffective medical and surgical therapeutic options. The treatment of patients with advanced unresectable PDAC is restricted to systemic chemotherapy, a therapeutic intervention to which most eventually develop resistance. Recently, nab-paclitaxel (n-PTX) has been added to the arsenal of first-line therapies, and the combination of gemcitabine and n-PTX has modestly prolonged median overall survival. However, patients almost invariably succumb to the disease, and little is known about the mechanisms underlying n-PTX resistance. Using the conditionally reprogrammed (CR) cell approach, we established and verified continuously growing cell cultures from treatment-naive patients with PDAC. To study the mechanisms of primary drug resistance, nab-paclitaxel-resistant (n-PTX-R) cells were generated from primary cultures and drug resistance was verified in vivo, both in zebrafish and in athymic nude mouse xenograft models. Molecular analyses identified the sustained induction of c-MYC in the n-PTX-R cells. Depletion of c-MYC restored n-PTX sensitivity, as did treatment with either the MEK inhibitor, trametinib, or a small-molecule activator of protein phosphatase 2a. IMPLICATIONS: The strategies we have devised, including the patient-derived primary cells and the unique, drug-resistant isogenic cells, are rapid and easily applied in vitro and in vivo platforms to better understand the mechanisms of drug resistance and for defining effective therapeutic options on a patient by patient basis.
LEED Certification of Campus Buildings: A Cost-Benefit Approach

This is the first comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) buildings certified within the higher education sector. Sixteen institutions of higher education (IHEs) were surveyed with the findings focused on the upfront green premium and down the line energy savings. The net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and discounted payback period were calculated to determine the financial feasibility of LEED certified buildings within the higher education sector. The findings indicate mixed results when looking at the projects from both an upfront construction cost and full lifecycle perspective.
Paradigm Change in the History of the Pharmaceutical Industry

The history of the pharmaceutical industry is told within three major paradigms, each of which arises through a continuous interaction between science, technology, business organizations, national institutions, and the wider growth of economic and social developments. The first paradigm begins in the mid-19th century, when the influence of chemistry on medicinal research had reached a degree of maturity, and ends with the outbreak of WWII. The second paradigm requires a better understanding of organizational features that differ from the old-line pharmaceutical companies that emerged in the 19th century. These companies were largely influenced by new institutions, restrictive environments, and turbulent decades. The third paradigm reflects geographic shifts of specialization in pharmaceuticals and changes in the composition of organizations involved; its setting is more collaborative and networked than previous paradigms. The shift between paradigms in this industry is therefore associated with the character of international business efforts and the context for which these efforts occur, with implication for firm responses to new developments in science and technology, and theories in international business, strategy, innovation, and economic geography.
Huygens' Center-of-Mass Space-Time Reference Frame: Constructing a Cartesian Dynamics in The Wake of Newton's De gravitatione Argument

This paper explores the possibility of constructing a Cartesian space-time that can resolve the dilemma posed by a famous argument from Newton's early essay, De gravitatione. In particular, Huygens' concept of a center-of-mass reference frame is utilized in an attempt to reconcile Descartes' relationalist theory of space and motion with both the Cartesian analysis of bodily impact and conservation law for quantity of motion. After presenting a modern formulation of a Cartesian space-time employing Huygens' frames, a series of Newtonian counter-replies are developed in order to estimate the viability of this relationalist project.
Chapter 3 – Time and Frequency

Publisher Summary The chapter presents Fourier analysis and discrete Fourier analysis. The amount of work needed to compute a transformation of a function depends heavily on the way it is represented by the computer. Fourier chose sines and cosines as building blocks because he could obtain easy formulas for their derivatives. His work showed that any given smooth function can be approximated arbitrarily well by a finite linear combination of sines and cosines. The number of components depends only on the smoothness of the target function and the desired degree of approximation. Such expansions provide compact descriptions of complicated functions, and simplify the transmission and display of multimedia information. A Fourier sine component has three identifying parameters with physical meaning: amplitude, frequency, and initial phase. Thus the analysis of a complicated function into its Fourier sine and cosine components splits it into parts labeled for content. The formulas used in the Fourier analysis are same as those for finding expansions of vectors in an inner product space. To compute Fourier coefficients, it requires evaluating integrals of rapidly varying functions. In rare cases, such integrals can be computed analytically by calculus, but the Fourier transform is far too useful to be restricted that way. For the majority of cases, numerical integration must be used.
Ultrafast ion transport at a cathode–electrolyte interface and its strong dependence on salt solvation

To access the full performance potential of advanced batteries, electrodes and electrolytes must be designed to facilitate ion transport at all applicable length scales. Here, we perform electrodynamic measurements on single electrode particles of ~6 nAh capacity, decouple bulk and interfacial transport from other pathways and show that Li intercalation into LiNi0.33Mn0.33Co0.33O2 (NMC333) is primarily impeded by interfacial kinetics when using a conventional LiPF6 salt. Electrolytes containing LiTFSI salt, with or without LiPF6, exhibit about 100-fold higher exchange current density under otherwise identical conditions. This anion group effect is explained using molecular dynamics simulations to identify preferred solvation structures, density functional theory calculations of their binding energies and Raman spectroscopy confirmation of solvation structure. We show that TFSI− preferentially solvates Li+ compared to PF6−, and yet its preferred solvation structures provide a lower Li+ binding energy, suggesting a lower desolvation energy consistent with ultrafast interfacial kinetics. Understanding Li transport is important in the development of fast-rate batteries. Here the authors uncover an ultrafast charge transfer across a cathode–electrolyte interface with the aid of single-particle measurements and ascribe the solvation of electrolyte salts to be key for the interfacial kinetics.
Noise source location and scaling of subsonic upper-surface blowing:

This paper deals with the topic of upper surface blowing noise. Using a model-scale rectangular nozzle of an aspect ratio of 10 and a sharp trailing edge, detailed noise contours were acquired with...
Comparison of associated comorbid conditions in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo with or without migraine history: A large single institution study.

Abstract Purpose In the largest reported United States (U.S.) cohort of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), does the presence or absence of migraine correlate with increased associations of other factors? Materials & methods A retrospective chart review from a single U.S. neurotology center. Adult patients with BPPV from 2003 to 2017 classified into two groups: 1) with migraine; 2) without migraine. Results The prevalence of self-reported migraine history in a BPPV-positive population (n = 1481) was 25.8% (n = 382). Among those with BPPV and migraine, 88.5% were female, 8.1% had diabetes, 22.5% had prior history of BPPV, 8.9% had Meniere's disease and recurrence rate was 38.3%. No statistically significant differences between recurrence or resolution rates between the two groups were demonstrated (p > 0.05). Adjusted logistic regression model found that women and those with a prior history of BPPV had significantly higher odds of having both BPPV and migraine conditions compared to their counterparts. In contrast, older age and diabetes were associated with significantly lower odds of concomitant BPPV and migraine. Conclusions The prevalence of migraine among the study sample was 25.8%. Female gender, prior history of BPPV, younger age, and lack of diabetes were independently associated with the concurrent comorbidity of BPPV and migraine. These data further substantiate previously reported rates (from smaller studies); and, demonstrate that recurrence and resolution rates are not worse in those with BPPV and migraine compared to the general BPPV population. Findings support an association between migraine and BPPV and enhances one's ability to accurately counsel patients regarding these diseases.
Geomagnetic secular variation forecast using the NASA GEMS ensemble Kalman filter: A candidate SV model for IGRF-13.

We have produced a 5-year mean secular variation (SV) of the geomagnetic field for the period 2020–2025. We use the NASA Geomagnetic Ensemble Modeling System (GEMS), which consists of the NASA Goddard geodynamo model and ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) with 400 ensemble members. Geomagnetic field models are used as observations for the assimilation, including gufm1 (1590–1960), CM4 (1961–2000) and CM6 (2001–2019). The forecast involves a bias correction scheme that assumes that the model bias changes on timescales much longer than the forecast period, so that they can be removed by successive forecast series. The algorithm was validated on the time period 2010-2015 by comparing with CM6 before being applied to the 2020–2025 time period. This forecast has been submitted as a candidate predictive model of IGRF-13 for the period 2020–2025.
A survey of influencing factors of missed abortion during the two-child peak period

This study aimed to investigate the influencing factors of missed abortion during the two-child peak period in China. 220 pregnant women were divided into observation (presence of missed abortion, ...
Individual analysis of dynamic stability for twenty-four Tai Chi forms among persons with knee osteoarthritis: A pilot study

Abstract Background Tai Chi (TC) training has been increasingly used to prevent falls. However, the underlying biomechanical mechanisms of TC training which influence fall risk remain unknown. As a result, the selection of TC forms differs among studies, leading to inconsistent results. Research question Is dynamic stability different between the simplified 24 Yang-style TC forms among adults with knee osteoarthritis? Methods Ten participants with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis were recruited. Under one-on-one instruction by an experienced TC master, each participant learned how to correctly perform the 24-form TC movements. Participants’ full-body kinematic and kinetic data was collected during walking trials and performance of the respective TC forms. Their dynamic stability was calculated in both sagittal and frontal planes and compared between each TC form and regular walking. Results The results indicate that dynamic stability in both planes significantly varies among forms. Moreover, some forms pose a greater challenge to dynamic stability in comparison to others. The most challenging TC forms are Form 8 for stability in the sagittal plane and Form 10 in the frontal plane. Among all forms, Form 1 appears to be the least challenging. Significance Our findings could provide foundational information to identify the best TC forms for optimizing the effectiveness of TC-based fall prevention interventions.
A characterization of ω-limit sets in subshifts of Baire space

Abstract In this paper we consider the structure of ω-limit sets in subshifts of Baire space. We consider both subshifts of finite type and subshifts of bounded type and we demonstrate that many classical structure theorems for ω-limit sets fail in this context. Nevertheless, we obtain characterizations of ω-limit sets in subshifts of finite types and of attracting ω-limit sets in subshifts of bounded type.
Decitabine Reactivation of FoxM1-Dependent Endothelial Regeneration and Vascular Repair for Potential Treatment of Elderly ARDS and COVID-19 Patients

Aging is a major risk factor of high incidence and increased mortality of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and COVID-19. We repot that aging impairs the intrinsic FoxM1-dependent endothelial regeneration and vascular repair program and causes persistent lung injury and high mortality following sepsis. Therapeutic gene transduction of FOXM1 in vascular endothelium or treatment with FDA-approved drug Decitabine was sufficient to reactivate FoxM1-dependent lung endothelial regeneration in aged mice, reverse aging-impaired resolution of inflammatory injury, and promote survival. In COVID-19 lung autopsy samples, FOXM1 expression was not induced in vascular endothelial cells of elderly patients in contrast to mid-age patients. Thus, Decitabine reactivation of FoxM1-dependent vascular repair represents a potential effective therapy for elderly COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 ARDS patients.
Unified exact design with early stopping rules for single arm clinical trials with multiple endpoints.

Adaptive designs are gaining popularity in early phase clinical trials because they enable investigators to change the course of a study in response to accumulating data. We propose a novel design ...
DNA methylation changes in African American women with a history of preterm birth from the InterGEN study.

BACKGROUND Preterm birth (< 37 weeks' gestation) is a common outcome of pregnancy that has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease for women later in life. Little is known about the physiologic mechanisms underlying this risk. To date, no studies have evaluated if differences in DNA methylation (DNAm) among women who experience preterm birth are short-term or if they persist and are associated with subsequent cardiovascular sequelae or other health disorders. The purpose of this study was to examine long-term epigenetic effects of preterm birth in African American mothers (n = 182) from the InterGEN Study (2014-2019). In this study, we determine if differences in DNAm exist between women who reported a preterm birth in the last 3-5 years compared to those who had full-term births by using two different approaches: epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) and genome-wide co-methylation analyses. RESULTS Though no significant CpG sites were identified using the EWAS approach, we did identify significant modules of co-methylation associated with preterm birth. Co-methylation analyses showed correlations with preterm birth in gene ontology and KEGG pathways. Functional annotation analysis revealed enrichment for pathways related to central nervous system and sensory perception. No association was observed between DNAm age and preterm birth, though larger samples are needed to confirm this further. CONCLUSIONS We identified differentially methylated gene networks associated with preterm birth in African American women 3-5 years after birth, including pathways related to neurogenesis and sensory processing. More research is needed to understand better these associations and replicate them in an independent cohort. Further study should be done in this area to elucidate mechanisms linking preterm birth and later epigenomic changes that may contribute to the development of health disorders and maternal mood and well-being.
Synchronous AC Homopolar Machines

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Principle Design Analysis Design Challenges Prototypes Summary References
Reducing the Cost of Data Flow Analysis By Congruence Partitioning

Data flow analysis expresses the solution of an information gathering problem as the fixed point of a system of monotone equations. This paper presents a technique to improve the performance of data flow analysis by systematically reducing the size of the equation system in any monotone data flow problem. Reductions result from partitioning the equations in the system according to congruence relations. We present a fast O(n log n) partitioning algorithm, where n is the size of the program, that exploits known algebraic properties in equation systems. From the resulting partition a reduced equation system is constructed that is minimized with respect to the computed congruence relation while still providing the data flow solution at all program points.
Undersea remote sensing with acoustic communications waveforms

Coherence under varied circumstances is compared for two classes of waveform: linear FM chirps (a conventional sonar waveform) and binary phase shift keyed messages (a conventional acoustic communications waveform). All but the waveforms' time domain structure is kept constant during the comparison. Both modeled results as well as data from a large undersea array of hydrophones are presented. Parameters considered include bandwidth, pulse length, range from transmitter, and ray path. We find that if the ray interacts with the ocean surface, the resulting Doppler shift quickly destroys coherence for the BPSK waveform, which is highly Doppler intolerant. However, additional processing can mitigate this issue, and remote sensing with acoustic communications networks is a topic of interest.
Beyond Parallel Random-Access Machines

The fundamental paradigm in theoretical computer science is to propose a formal model of computation, and then to analyze the complexity of different problems in the model. However, if the model fails to reflect constraints in the real world, these analyses have limited practical importance. The parallel random-access machine (PRAM) is by far the most popular model of parallel computation. Hundreds of algorithms have been designed for the PRAM. Yet, the PRAM ignores contraints on communication imposed by modern electronic packaging technology.
The effect of transfusions of erythrocytes on untreated pernicious anemia.

1. Three patients with untreated pernicious anemia were transfused with packed erythrocytes to produce a normal hematocrit before they were treated with vitamin B12. One patient with untreated pernicious anemia was transfused with 250 cc. plasma prior to therapy with vitamin B12. No significant changes were noted in this patient who received plasma. 2. Following erythrocyte transfusions the bone marrows of these patients were considered to show the megaloblastic type of maturation with a reduction in percentage of the early megaloblasts (Stages I and II). The ME ratio of the marrows increased. A decrease in the absolute reticulocyte count occurred. No change occurred in the peripheral leukocyte and platelet counts and there was no significant change in the clinical condition of the patients. 3. After therapy with vitamin B12, at a time when the hematocrits were normal, the bone marrows became normoblastic, a small but definite reticulocytosis occurred, the leukocyte and platelet counts returned to normal, and there was subjective improvement in the condition of the patient. 4. It is concluded that in these three patients with untreated pernicious anemia multiple transfusions of packed erythrocytes decreased erythropoiesis but did not cause any basic change in the type of erythrocyte maturation.
The importance of surfactants for polymerizations in carbon dioxide

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the effects of various surfactant and stabilizer systems as they apply to polymerizations in CO 2 . For CO 2 to be an effective continuous phase for polymerizations, heterogeneous reaction systems must necessarily be developed analogous to classical emulsion, inverse emulsion, dispersion, suspension, and precipitation polymerization processes. With some highly reactive monomers, such as acrylic acid and tetrafluoroethylene, free-radical precipitation polymerization can afford polymers with high yields and molecular weight. However, many industrial monomers require the utilization of surfactant stabilized reaction conditions. This chapter discusses the utilization of nonionic—homopolymer, block copolymer, and reactive macromonomer—surfactants consisting of covalently bound CO 2 -philic and CO 2 -phobic segments in the dispersion polymerization of various CO 2 -insoluble polymers. These reactions produce a stabilized polymer colloid in CO 2 solution and dry, free flowing powders after isolation.
The “Magic Carpet” Exodus of Yemenite Jewry: An Israeli Formative Myth

Meir-Glitzenstein's book is an in-depth study of the mass migration of Jews from Yemen to Israel, which took place from late 1948 to September 1950. During this movement, alternatively called opera...
A Clinical Approach to the Acute Cardiorenal Syndrome

Acute kidney injury is a frequent complication of acute heart failure syndromes, portending an adverse prognosis. Acute cardiorenal syndrome represents a unique form of acute kidney injury specific to acute heart failure syndromes. The pathophysiology of acute cardiorenal syndrome involves renal venous congestion, ineffective forward flow, and impaired renal autoregulation caused by neurohormonal activation. Biomarkers reflecting different aspects of acute cardiorenal syndrome pathophysiology may allow patient phenotyping to inform prognosis and treatment. Adjunctive vasoactive, neurohormonal, and diuretic therapies may relieve congestive symptoms and/or improve renal function, but no single therapy has been proved to reduce mortality in acute cardiorenal syndrome.
Voyage of the FRAM

Fridtjof Nansen was the first person to put forth the idea of Arctic circulation and to truly discover the Arctic Ocean basin. He based his hypothesis on the ill-fated ship JEANNETTE that was crushed by the ice in 1881 near the New Siberian Islands. The JEANETTE, in trying to find a passage to the North Pole, entered the Bering Strait in 1879, was set in ice, and drifted for two years until she was crushed. Her remains were discovered in 1884 near Julienhaab on the southwest coast of Greenland. Nansen then hypothesized that this wreckage had been carried by a current flowing from the region of the New Siberian Islands, passing near the North Pole, and then descending southward to the North Atlantic along the east coast of Greenland. To verify this, Nansen executed the most remarkable expedition of the FRAM from 1893 to 1896 to study polar currents and the oceanography of the Arctic. He built the FRAM so that when the ice set around her, she would be raised up onto the ice and drift with the ice pack. He did this successfully in this most fascinating voyage of the Arctic. The following account is taken from Nansen's writings of his expeditions in FARTHEST NORTH, 1898.
Advances in rapid prototyping and rapid manufacturing

This paper gives an overview of currently available capabilities in the rapid prototyping industry. Modern applications of rapid-prototyping are discussed. Capabilities and limitations of the most popular rapid-prototyping machines are presented. Criteria for choosing a process are presented, then specifications of popular machines are given in a table, including estimated costs. The information presented will assist a potential user of these technologies in choosing the best process and machine for their application.
Molecular mechanisms of cobalt-catalyzed hydrogen evolution

Several cobalt complexes catalyze the evolution of hydrogen from acidic solutions, both homogeneously and at electrodes. The detailed molecular mechanisms of these transformations remain unresolved, largely owing to the fact that key reactive intermediates have eluded detection. One method of stabilizing reactive intermediates involves minimizing the overall reaction free-energy change. Here, we report a new cobalt(I) complex that reacts with tosylic acid to evolve hydrogen with a driving force of just 30 meV/Co. Protonation of CoI produces a transient CoIII-H complex that was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The CoIII-H intermediate decays by second-order kinetics with an inverse dependence on acid concentration. Analysis of the kinetics suggests that CoIII-H produces hydrogen by two competing pathways: a slower homolytic route involving two CoIII-H species and a dominant heterolytic channel in which a highly reactive CoII-H transient is generated by CoI reduction of CoIII-H.
Template-based and template-free preparation of nanostructured parylene via oblique angle polymerization

Abstract Parylene is an important class of polymer thin film that has wide-ranging applications due to its well-recognized properties, such as low-dielectric constant, biocompatibility, and exceptional barrier properties. Here, we studied the deposition of parylene nanofibers by template-based and template-free methods, which combine both vapor deposition polymerization and oblique angle deposition. A comparative study of two approaches based on surface characterization techniques is presented. These nanofibers, deposited by both approaches, have potential applications in catalysis, biodetection, and biomedical coatings.
Stability of controlled biological systems.

Abstract The stability properties of a biochemical feedback system of the Yates-Pardee type are studied. The stability of the linear system is ascertained by identifying the nature of the roots of the characteristic equation of the linear differential equations. A necessary condition for sustained concentration oscillations resulting from small perturbations of the steady state is derived from a closure rule. The stability properties and conditions for which sustained oscillations are possible for a non-linear feedback system of this type are mapped; the results applicable to the non-linear system were obtained using a variation of the direct Lyapunov method. The use of this method is illustrated with an example application.
Mammography screening in the USA has higher recall rates and lower cancer detection rates than in the UK

Abstract Question Do mammography screening programmes in the UK and USA generate different recall and cancer detection rates? Study design Outcomes analysis, international screening programme comparison. Main results The incidence of breast cancers among women in the US and UK programmes was comparable. In all age groups, recall rates were significantly higher in both USA screening programmes for first and subsequent screens compared with the UK programme (see Table 1). Total cancers detected per 1000 were significantly higher in the UK in all age groups (see Table 2). In situ and invasive cancer detection rates were similar between programmes for first screen mammograms. In situ cancer detection rates were similar between programmes for subsequent screening mammograms. Table 1 Recall rate, % (95% CI) by screening programme. BCSC (USA) NBCCEDP (USA) NHSBSP (UK) First screen 13.1% (12.8 to 13.4) 11.2% (11.1 to 11.4) 7.4% (7.0 to 7.3) Subsequent screen 8.0% (7.9 to 8.1) 6.8% (6.8 to 6.9) 3.6% (3.6 to 3.7) Table 2 Total cancer detection rate, rate per 1000 (95% CI) by screening programme. BCSC (USA) NBCCEDP (USA) NHSBSP (UK) First screen 8.6 (7.9 to 9.4) 8.3 (7.7 to 8.7) 10.1 (9.4 to 10.7) Subsequent screen 3.6 (3.5 to 3.7) 3.4 (3.3 to 3.6) 5.4 (5.2 to 5.5) Authors’ conclusions Mammography screening programmes in the USA generate recall rates, which are significantly higher than in the UK while total cancer detection rates were significantly lower.
Formation Of Shallow Junctions With TiN x O y /TiSi 2 Ohmic Contacts For Self-Aligned Silicide Technology

The formations of TiNx0y/TiSi2 bilayer on Si by rapid thermal nitridation of titanium silicide in NH3 as well as p+/n shallow junction using doped silicide technique have been studied. Results of the chemical stability of TiNx0v/TiSi7/Si in dilute HF, the effectiveness of TiNx0, on TiSi2 as a diffusion barrier Mr Al boron diffusion in Si02/TiSi,2/Si structure, the surface dopant concentration at the TiSi7/Si interface, and the junction quality are presented. It is found that TiNx0y/TiSi2 bilayer has good chemical stability in dilute HF for 60 sec and acts as an effeentive contact barrier between Al and Si substrate up to 500°C, 30 min. Shallow p±n junction with high boron concentration at the TiSO/Si interface has been formed. P-1-/n diodes and p-channel LDD MOSFETs fabricated using this technology show good I-V characteristics with a reverse leakage current on the order of 10-9A/cm.
Cutaneous mastocytosis complicating pregnancy

Background: Telangiectasia macularis eruptiva perstans, a rare form of cutaneous mastocytosis associated with elevated histamine excretion, has not previously been reported to complicate pregnancy. Case: A woman presented in the late second trimester with an anaphylactoid reaction, rash, uterine contractions, and vaginal bleeding. Skin biopsy revealed perivascular mast-cell infiltration. Her urinary histamine excretion was markedly elevated. She was treated successfully with tocolytics and antihistamines. Conclusion: Elevated histamine excretion in biopsyproven cutaneous mastocytosis may be associated with preterm labor.
Initial tracking conditions modulate the gain of visuo-motor transmission for smooth pursuit eye movements in monkeys

Smooth pursuit eye movements allow primates to keep gaze pointed at small objects moving across stationary surroundings. In monkeys trained to track a small moving target, we have injected brief perturbations of target motion under different initial conditions as probes to read out the state of the visuo-motor pathways that guide pursuit. A large eye movement response was evoked if the perturbation was applied to a moving target the monkey was tracking. A small response was evoked if the same perturbation was applied to a stationary target the monkey was fixating. The gain of the response to the perturbation increased as a function of the initial speed of target motion and as a function of the interval from the onset of target motion to the time of the perturbation. The response to the perturbation also was direction selective. Gain was largest if the perturbation was along the axis of ongoing target motion and smallest if the perturbation was orthogonal to the axis of target motion. We suggest that two parallel sets of visual motion pathways through the extrastriate visual cortex may mediate, respectively, the visuo-motor processing for pursuit and the modulation of the gain of transmission through those pathways.
Morphology of rust phases formed on weathering steels in various laboratory corrosion tests

Abstract The morphology and growth characteristics of rust phases formed on ASTM A-588 weathering steel in three different types of laboratory tests—accelerated atmospheric exposure simulation tests (AAEST), salt fog test, and continuous immersion test in plain as well as salt water—are analyzed using microstructural information obtained from representative exposed specimens studied in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The ultimate and most dominant phase in the AAEST was α-FeOOH whereas an amorphous phase designated as amorphous bulk (AB) appeared as “cotton bolls” in the adherent, sedimentary layer formed on the steel surface during continuous immersion. Crystalline phases α-, δ-, and γ-FeOOH as well as γ-Fe2O3.H2O were found developed on top of the first-formed sedimentary amorphous layer, containing another amorphous phase designated as amorphous mix (AM). Magnetite was the dominant phase obtained in the salt fog test. It forms in layers and seems to transform to α-FeOOH through formation of whiskers and rods on its surface. Sandy grains of γ-Fe2O3.H2O were also seen in the rusts obtained in this test.
Mechanics and energy absorption of a functionally graded cylinder subjected to axial loading

Abstract Mechanics of a functionally graded cylinder subject to static or dynamic axial loading is considered including a potential application as energy absorber. The grading in the radial direction is such that the mass density and stiffness are power functions of the radial coordinate as may be the case with variable-density open-cell or closed-cell foams. Exact solutions are obtained in the static problem and in the case where the applied load is a periodic function of time. The absorption of energy is analyzed in the static problem that is reduced to an easily implementable nondimensional formulation. It is demonstrated that by grading the material in the radial direction it is possible to achieve higher energy absorption while at the same time saving weight.
The Northern Wintertime Divergence Extrema at 200 hPa and MSLP Cyclones as Simulated in the AMIP Integration by the ECMWF General Circulation Model

Divergence and convergence centers at 200 hPa and mean sea level pressure (MSLP) cyclones were located every 6 hr for a 10-yr general circulation model (GCM) simulation with the ECMWF (Cycle 36) for the boreal winters from 1980 to 1988. The simulation used the observed monthly mean sea surface temperature (SST) for the decade. Analysis of the frequency, location, and strength of these centers and cyclones gives insight into the dynamical response of the model to the varying SST. The results indicate that (1) the model produces reasonable climatologies of upper-level divergence and MSLP cyclones; (2) the model distribution of anomalies of divergence and convergence centers and MSLP cyclones is consistent with observations for the 1982-83 and 1986-87 El Nifio events; (3) the tropical Indian Ocean is the region of greatest divergence activity and interannual variability in the model; (4) the variability of the divergence centers is greater than that of the convergence centers; (5) strong divergence centers occur chiefly over the ocean in the midlatitudes but are more land-based in the tropics, except in the Indian Ocean; and (6) locations of divergence and convergence centers can be a useful tool for the intercomparison of global atmospheric simulations.
A new proposal for a standard Hangul (or Korean script) code

Abstract This paper explains the unique property of Hangul (Korean script) that syllable-initial consonantal characters and syllable-final consonantal characters are treated differently in sorting. Without understanding this important characteristic, a wrong approach will probably be taken to standardize Hangul codes. Then this paper reviews existing Hangul encoding schemes (including the current Standard) and their problems. A new scheme is proposed to overcome these problems. Standardization of the code for external communications (Standard External Hangul Code for Information Interchange) seems critically important, while several internal coding schemes (internal Hangul codes) can probably co-exist. Variant character shapes should not be assigned different bit patterns for external communication. For internal processing, variant character shapes should have the same bit pattern if we are to have an index on Hangul fields or to sort based on Hangul fields. The problem of variant character shapes can be solved by processing at the time of printing or display (contextual transformation), or better yet, by adopting the “Hanging-Laundry” style of print in which character shapes are fixed. Computers of different hardware characteristics should be allowed to use their own internal Hangul code for internal processing. Furthermore, internal Hangul code may assign different bit patterns to variant character shapes, especially for wordprocessing.
Vascular Complications Following Liver Transplantation

Vascular complications (stenosis or thrombosis of the hepatic artery, portal vein or hepatic vein) are a relatively common occurrence following liver transplantation. Routine screening with ultrasound is critical to early detection of these complications. Careful application of standard interventional techniques (diagnostic catheter angiography, balloon angioplasty with selective stenting) may be used to confirm the ultrasound findings, treat the underlying lesions, and contribute to long-term graft survival.
Sex, stress, and health: Does stress predict health symptoms differently for the two sexes?

Objectives: Previous studies have been inconsistent with regard to the extent to which stress perception, rather than stressor exposure, predicts negative health symptoms. Because sex differences have been observed in all three of these variables, in this study the possibility that sex differences also exist in the relationships between them is investigated. Methods: Self-report inventories of perceived stress, stressor exposure, and negative health symptoms were given to 107 young-adult participants (65 females, 42 males). Results: Sex differences were observed in the associations among perceived stress, stressor exposure, and negative health symptom rates. Specifically, while higher perceived stress and higher stressor exposure rates independently predicted higher negative health symptoms rates in females, only higher stressor exposure rates independently predicted higher negative health symptoms in males. Indeed, unexpectedly, after controlling for exposure to stressors there was a trend towards higher perceived stress predicting lower negative health symptoms in males. Conclusions: While exposure to stress was a significant negative predictor of health for both sexes, perception of stress was predictive only for females. One implication of this finding is that different psychological models are needed to predict health symptoms in the two sexes. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Numerical Methods for Optical Thin Films

Producing thin films that meet the optical requirements of various end applications is a daunting task. In this article, the author discusses the advantages and disadvantages of various numerical methods used during the design and manufacturing process.
Eastern religions come to western pennsylvania university museum and kipp gallery, indiana museum of pennsylvania

(2006). Eastern religions come to western pennsylvania university museum and kipp gallery, indiana museum of pennsylvania. Material Religion: Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 394-396.
Exercise decreases speedball self-administration.

Aims Epidemiological studies report that individuals who exercise are less likely to abuse drugs. Preclinical studies report that exercise, in the form of treadmill or wheel running, reliably decreases the self-administration of psychomotor stimulants and opioids. To date, preclinical studies have only examined the effects of exercise on responding maintained by individual drugs and not by combinations of multiple drugs. This limits the translational appeal of these studies because polydrug abuse is common among substance abusing populations. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of exercise on the self-administration of speedball, a combination of cocaine and heroin that is frequently encountered in intravenous drug abusing populations.
A Case Study in Design of Expermints: Improving the Manufacture of Viscose Fiber

This case study illustrates how statistical techniques help improve the quality of a manufacturing process. The study shows how well designed experiments advance one's understanding of the underlying process, and it emphasizes the importance of experimentation for attaining knowledge. The investigation involves the production of a certain viscose fiber. The results of a simple fractional factorial experiment with ten factors in 32 runs point to useful strategies for improving fiber strength and fiber elongation. The study also investigates the relationship between the strength and the thickness of the fiber.
The “shelflife” of a test validation study: A survey of expert opinion

Anonymous mailed surveys containing a description of a competent and successful content validation or criterion-related validation study were returned by 106 experts in employment test validation: Fellows of SIOP, ABPP Diplomates in I/O Psychology, and experienced practitioners nominated by the first two groups. More than 70% replied that they would seek additional supportive evidence within 5 years or less following the validation. The most frequently suggested action was a review of the target job requirements. Opinions did not differ as a function of demographic and experiential variables—except between those who have been involved in Title VII employment discrimination litigation and those who have not, and between those who have primarily represented employers vs those who have represented plaintiffs more frequently in such litigation. Whereas decrements to the original supporting evidence would lead respondents to shorten their estimates of longevity, a surplus of supportive evidence would not lead to extended estimates. Generalizability and limitations of the survey are discussed as well as implications for Title VII litigation.
Combustion chemical vapor deposition of CeO2 film

Abstract Thin ceria (CeO 2 ) films were deposited onto a-plane sapphire substrates via combustion chemical vapor deposition using toluene as a solvent and Ce(III) 2-ethylhexanoate (Ce-2EH) and tetrakis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionato)(IV) cerium (Ce-(TMHD) 4 ) as chemical precursors. Depositions were made at a substrate temperature of 1000°C using several precursor concentrations and aerosol size distributions. Ceria assumes the fluorite (cubic) structure in the polycrystalline films. Films produced with low concentrations (∼0.001 M) of Ce-2EH display a preferred orientation in which the (200) axis is perpendicular to sapphire substrates. Similar low concentration of Ce-(TMHD) 4 yield films with (111) preferred orientation. High precursor concentrations ((0.002 M) and/or large aerosol size distributions yielded films containing ceria clusters that appear to have nucleated in the gas phase and adhered to the substrates in addition to material that nucleated on the substrates.
Upconversion: Imaging with Planar and Spherical Pump Beams

The imaging properties of nonlinear image upconverters with planar and spherical pump beams are discussed. We show the applicability of the fourier transform formalism and holographic analogy to the spherical pump beam case. Experimental results of upconversion with a spherical pump beam are presented and discussed.