cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Octave generalization and the identification of distorted melodies

Four familiar melodies were distorted in such a way that certain harmonic information was maintained. These melodies and their nondistorted versions were randomly presented to three groups of musically untrained subjects. There were, thus, undistorted melodies which were equal in all ways except the frequencies of the constituent tones, three conditions in which only the octave was maintained, and three other harmonic control conditions in which only the perfect fifth, fourth, and major third were maintained. The melodic sequences were presented to each group using a different tonal waveform for each group: sine wave, rectangular wave, and sawtooth wave. An analysis of variance revealed that the octave distortions were significantly more recognizable than the control conditions. Furthermore, waveform significantly influenced identification of melodies. It was proposed that octave generalization was a major factor in the identification of the distorted octave sequences.
Improved bounds on some weak amplitudes from the b lifetime

Abstract We use recent information on the b lifetime to improve bounds on short-distance contributions arising from the t quark to various weak amplitudes. In particular, our previous lower bound on ϵ ′/ ϵ is substantially increased, while the upper bound on K → π ν is reduced.
Structure-function studies of waglerin I, a lethal peptide from the venom of wagler's pit viper, Trimeresurus wagleri

Abstract Waglerins are 22–24 residue lethal peptides, found in the venom of Trimeresurus (Tropidolaemus) wagleri . The effects upon lethality and immunoreactivity resulting from structural modifications of these peptides were studied. A synthetic analogue with alanine residues in place of the two half-cystines of native peptide was nontoxic, suggesting that the single intramolecular disulfide bond in waglerins is critical for bioactivity. Substituting glutamic acid for aspartic acid at residue 5 slightly diminished lethality. Analogues containing asparagine instead of aspartic acid at residue 5 and/or a carboxamide- instead of a carboxy-terminus were lethal, demonstrating that neither a negative charge on residue 5 nor on the carboxy-terminus was required for bioactivity. A proteolytic fragment of waglerin I containing residues 6–22 was isolated and proved nontoxic. Therefore, one or more of the first five residues were necessary for bioactivity. Antiserum against waglerin I bound strongly to waglerins I, II, and SL-I, and to various analogues, proteolytic fragments, and chemically modified waglerin I. These findings suggest that the antibodies might be directed mainly against short, linear epitopes, implying an extended conformation for waglerin I.
Tonks-Girardeau gas in an optical lattice: Effects of a local potential

The physics of a Tonks-Girardeau gas confined in an optical lattice in the presence of a local potential is studied. In order to evaluate the single-particle density matrix (SPDM) of the many-body ground state, the Wigner-Jordan transformation is used. The eigenvector with the largest eigenvalue of the SPDM corresponds to the 'Bose-Einstein condensate' (BEC) state. We find that the BEC-state density at the position of the local potential decreases, as expected, in the case of a repulsive potential. For an attractive potential, it decreases or increases depending on the strength of the potential. The superfluidity of this system is investigated both numerically and perturbatively. An experimental method for detecting the effect of an impurity in a Tonks-Girardeau gas is discussed.
Progressive Pulmonary Hypertension After the Arterial Switch Procedure

Abstract In conclusion, obstructive pulmonary vascular disease may be progressive despite early definitive repair in a subset of patients with transposition of the great arteries. Clinical awareness and the routine use of 2-dimensional Doppler echocardiography at follow-up evaluation should identify these patients early.
The Need for Higher Standards in Correctional Healthcare to Improve Public Health

Over the last 40 years, the United States has experienced an “epidemic” of incarceration, in which millions of Americans have spent days to years of their lives in jails or prisons. During this time, correctional medicine has undergone major changes.1,2 In 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that failure to provide basic medical care to a prisoner violates the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution banning cruel and unusual punishment.3 Over the ensuing decades, additional litigation or threat of litigation has forced correctional institutions to provide a minimum community standard of healthcare to prisoners. In response, accreditation bodies such as the National Commission on Correctional Health Care have codified these minimum standards for prison and jail-based health systems to follow through voluntary accreditation. However, a minority of the 4,575 correctional institutions across the U.S. have volunteered to become accredited using these standards. As a result, litigation remains the mainstay of enforcing correctional healthcare standards,4 and correctional healthcare improvements have transpired piecemeal, typically with a focus only on reaching the minimum standards that have been established. While meeting minimum standards is critical in protecting against Eighth Amendment violations, we argue that higher standards in correctional healthcare are capable of improving individual and public health while controlling overall costs. With 2.2 million Americans behind bars, and 10 million cycling through correctional systems each year,5 U.S. correctional healthcare has provided medical care to 1 in 30 living American adults, the majority of whom are from impoverished communities, where poor healthcare access is the norm.6–10 Since more than 95% of prisoners eventually return to the community, correctional healthcare has the opportunity, and the obligation, to transform care for persons and communities most in need.11 Moreover, given that incarcerated populations are disproportionately from traditionally underserved and/or disadvantaged backgrounds and have a high burden of disease, these goals also hold the promise of reducing health disparities.6,8,12 We delineate three areas—screening and treatment for hepatitis C, improved mental health care, including treatment for addiction disorders, and attention to geriatric care—that exemplify the critical need for proactive, evidence-based correctional healthcare that reaches beyond minimum standards and integrates prisoner healthcare into mainstream medicine in order to improve the health of individuals and communities.
Two new cases of rank reversals when the AHP and some of its additive variants are used that do not occur with the multiplicative AHP

Many researchers have long observed some cases in which certain ranking irregularities can occur when the original analytic hierarchy process (AHP), or some of its variants, are used. This paper presents two new categories of ranking irregularities which defy common intuition. These ranking irregularities occur when one decomposes a decision problem into a set of smaller problems each defined on two alternatives and the same criteria as the original problem. These irregularities are possible when the original AHP, or some of its additive variants, are used. Computational experiments on random test problems and an examination of some real-life case studies suggest that these ranking irregularities are dramatically likely to occur. This paper also proves that these ranking irregularities are not possible when a multiplicative variant of the AHP is used. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Recognition of Diazinon, an Organophosphorus Pesticide, When Found in Samples in the Form of Decomposition Products

The contents of a bottle, from which a human being was reported to have drunk and which were believed responsible to an organophosphorus poisoning, were submitted for chemical analysis. Initial screening by gas chromatography with phosphorus, sulfur, and nitrogen specific detectors failed to identify any intact organophosphorus pesticide. Mass spectrometric techniques were applied to the identification. Field ionization, field desorption, chemical ionization, exact mass measurements at high resolution, and GC/low resolution mass spectrometry were used to help define the qualitative and partial quantitative nature of the sample components. Results of this study were consistent with the virtually complete conversion of the pesticide, diazinon [Chemical Abstracts reference number 333-41-5], into a mixture of at least twenty-six chemically distinct products or impurities. The most abundant chemical compounds found in the sample included: 2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-hydroxypyrimidine [2814-20-2]; 2-isopropyl-4-methyl-6-mercaptopyrimidine; 6,6'-dithiobis-(2-isopropyl-4-methylpyrimidine); 6,6'-dithiobis-(2-isopropyl-4-methylpyrimidine); 4-ethoxy-2-isopropyl-6-methylpyrimidine [72799-31-6]; 4-thioethoxy-2-isopropyl-6-methylpyrimidine; triethylphosphorothiolate and triethylphosphorothiolate. Also found were several potent acetylcholinesterase inhibitors: monothionotetraethylpyrophosphate; dithionotetraethylpyrophosphate [3689-24-5]; tetraethylpyrophosphate. Model decomposition studies verified the formation of these compounds. These results were then used to identify compounds in two other samples.
Positive behavior support and applied behavior analysis

This article reviews the origins and characteristics of the positive behavior support (PBS) movement and examines those features in the context of the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA). We raise a number of concerns about PBS as an approach to delivery of behavioral services and its impact on how ABA is viewed by those in human services. We also consider the features of PBS that have facilitated its broad dissemination and how ABA might benefit from emulating certain practices of the PBS movement.
Some Aspects of the Normal Role of Neuromodulators in the Immune System

This review covers recent advances in our knowledge of the role of a group of the most prominent neurotransmitters and neuromodulators in the field of the immune reactions of the body. The neurotransmitters and neuromodulators covered are the three catecholamines (epinephrine, noradrenaline and dopamine), serotonin, acetylcholine (both nicotinic and muscarinic functions), and histamine.
The effect of microwave energy on three-way automotive catalysts poisoned by SO2

Recent studies suggest that microwave energy can be employed in catalysis and that the results differ from “conventional” heating. The influence of microwave energy on automotive exhaust catalysis in the presence and absence of a catalyst poison (SO2) was studied. The conclusion is that microwave energy can induce carbon monoxide (CO) lightoff (the temperature where 50% of final conversion is achieved) more efficiently than conventional heating and can reverse the poisoning by SO2 for a commercial three-way catalyst.
Once-a-week vs conventional daily radiation treatment for lung cancer: Final report

This is the final report of a prospective randomized clinical trial which began in 1982 and explored once-a-week hypofractionation in lung cancer patients with unresectable, non-metastatic, measurable, loco-regionally advanced disease. Stratification to this protocol has been done by histology, stage, and performance status categories. Patients with ipsilateral supraclavicular and/or brain metastases as the only evidence of distant spread, have been included in the study, but were stratified and analyzed separately. The two protocol arms were: (I) Conventional daily radiation [5 x W]-5 daily fractions of 2 Gy each to a total dose of 60 Gy in 6 weeks, protecting the spinal (SC) at 45 Gy and (II) Once-a-week radiation [1 x W]-one weekly fraction of 5 Gy each to a total tumor dose of 60 Gy in 12 weeks protecting the SC at 30 Gy. A total of 150 patients have been entered. Of these, 30 pts. are inevaluable, but the reasons of non-compliance, progression of disease or death due to intercurrent disease were of equal incidence in both groups. Of the 120 evaluable patients, 63 were treated 5 x W and 57 with 1 x W therapy. Complete tumor responses are similar in both arms with 1 x W pts demonstrating a numerical advantage (26% vs 17%). The average follow-up of the entire series is 3 yrs with a range of 12-66 months. Survival data is comparable in both groups with the 12 and 24 month actuarial survival of 49% and 23% for the 5 x W arm and 59% and 29% for the 1 x W arm. 1 x W patients continue to show a better tolerance than 5 x W pts. There are sufficient long-term survivors in both arms to assess chronic toxicity. The number of patients alive at 12, 18, and 24 months were 25, 11, and 5 for the 5 x W arm and 29, 16, and 7 for the 1 x W arm. No significant differences in late reactions have been noted. The longest surviving patient in the 1 x W arm is now 48 months after treatment.
Spectroscopic Evidence for the Formation of Mixed-Cation Hydroxide Phases upon Metal Sorption on Clays and Aluminum Oxides

Retention of heavy metal ions on soil mineral surfaces is an important process for maintaining environmental quality. A thorough understanding of the kinetics and mechanisms of heavy metal sorption on soil mineral surfaces is therefore of fundamental importance. The present study examines the kinetics and mechanisms of Ni(II) sorption onto pyrophyllite, kaolinite, gibbsite, and montmorillonite. Ni sorption reactions were initially fast (15–40% of the initial Ni was removed within the first hour). Thereafter, the rate of sorption decreased significantly. X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy was used to determine the local structural environment of Ni(II). Data analysis reveals the presence of polynuclear Ni surface complexes. Ni–Ni bond distances (3.00–3.03 A) were distinctly shorter than in Ni(OH)2(s) (3.09 A). We propose that the reduction of the Ni-Ni distances is caused by the formation of mixed Ni/Al hydroxide phases. The XAFS spectra and derived structural parameters are similar to those in takovite (Ni6Al2(OH)16CO3·H2O), thus suggesting the presence of a Ni phase of similar structure. Even though dissolved Al could not be detected in our samples, Al could have been released into solution and incorporated into mixed Ni/Al hydroxide-like phases. The formation of such phases can explain the finding that the dissolution rates (Si-release) are strongly enhanced (relative to the dissolution rates of the clays alone) as long as Ni sorption is pronounced. We suspect that the release of Al into solution is the rate-determining step for the formation of mixed Ni/Al hydroxide-like phases in our study. Our study demonstrates that mixed Ni/Al hydroxide-like compounds can form when Ni is introduced into a suitable environment in which there is a source of hydrolyzed species of Al. One can speculate that the formation of mixed-cation hydroxide compounds also represents a plausible “sorption mode” for other divalent metal ions when silicates or oxides are present. It has been shown that similar mixed-cation hydroxide compounds can be synthesized when Mg(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(II), or Mn(II) is added to suspensions containing Al(III), Fe(III), and Cr(III). Thus, the formation of mixed-cation hydroxide compounds should be considered when conducting metal sorption experiments, modeling metal surface complexation, determining speciation, and assessing the risk of the migration of contaminants in polluted sites.
A pilot randomized controlled trial of the Yoga of Awareness program in the management of fibromyalgia

A mounting body of literature recommends that treatment for fibromyalgia (FM) encompass medications, exercise and improvement of coping skills. However, there is a significant gap in determining an effective counterpart to pharmacotherapy that incorporates both exercise and coping. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effects of a comprehensive yoga intervention on FM symptoms and coping. A sample of 53 female FM patients were randomized to the 8-week Yoga of Awareness program (gentle poses, meditation, breathing exercises, yoga-based coping instructions, group discussions) or to wait-listed standard care. Data were analyzed by intention to treat. At post-treatment, women assigned to the yoga program showed significantly greater improvements on standardized measures of FM symptoms and functioning, including pain, fatigue, and mood, and in pain catastrophizing, acceptance, and other coping strategies. This pilot study provides promising support for the potential benefits of a yoga program for women with FM.
Elevated A1C in Adults Without a History of Diabetes in the U.S.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and correlates of elevated A1C in a large, nationally representative sample of adults without diabetes in the U.S. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We analyzed data from 15,934 participants aged ≥20 years without diagnosed diabetes who had A1C measurements in the 1999–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional and nationally representative sample of the U.S. population. RESULTS The overall prevalence of A1C >6% was 3.8%, corresponding to 7.1 million adults without diabetes in the U.S. population. Approximately 90% of these individuals had fasting glucose ≥100 mg/dl. Older age, male sex, non-Hispanic black race/ethnicity, hypercholesterolemia, higher BMI, and lower attained education were significantly associated with having a higher A1C level even among individuals with normal fasting glucose (<100 mg/dl) and after multivariable adjustment. CONCLUSIONS A single elevated A1C level (A1C >6%) is common in the general population of adults without a history of diabetes and is highly reliable for the detection of elevated fasting glucose. Nondiabetic adults with elevated A1C are likely to have impaired fasting glucose and an array of other risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Media Framing of a Civil Liberties Conflict and Its Effect on Tolerance

public controversy. In the present research, we examine how local television news outlets framed a specific, dramatic event: a demonstration and rally by the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) in a small Ohio city. We explore the effect of alternative news frames for this event on tolerance for KKK activities. We also test contrasting hypotheses about how viewers psychologically process news frames, and how such frames ultimately affect viewers' thoughts about political controversies.
Metallized Opp Film, Surface Characteristics and Physical Properties

Metallized OPP (oriented polypropylene) film offers exceptional gas and water vapor barrier properties, making it one of the most cost-effective flexible protective packaging materials. Its barrier...
Effects of Acrylic Restorations on the Periodontium of Monkeys

Replanted teeth that had an acrylic restoration in the middle third of their roots were studied from three days to six months after grafting. The study revealed that the acrylic obturator elicited epithelial proliferation, fibrous encapsulation, moderate chronic inflammation, and adjacent alveolar bone loss.
Deuterium isotope effects and hyperconjugation

Abstract There now exists ample published evidence which indicates that reactions with rate-determining steps which involve carbonium ion or partial carbonium ion formation are slowed by the substitution of a deuterium atom for a hydrogen atom in a hyperconjugating position. In each of the several cases where data are available it seems that the isotope rate effect is paralleled by an isotope activation energy effect although entropy factors also contribute. It seems fairly clear from theory that the isotope activation energy effects can only arise from (a) changes in vibration frequency of the hydrogen and deuterium atoms on activation, (b) tunnelling of the hydrogen atom or (c) anharmonicity effects. The second effect must be unimportant in these reactions although it might be a major factor in reactions where hydrogen bonds are directly broken. Several lines of evidence indicate that anharmonicity effects although small are present and may confuse the quantitative interpretation of the isotope rate effects. Thus the interpretation of secondary isotope rate effects is complicated but the application of the time-honored classical organic chemical method of comparing the effects in a large number of different compounds indicates that hyperconjugation is the predominant cause of these secondary isotope rate effects. If we further assume that the variations in these effects in closely related compounds are due to variations in hyperconjugation, the following conclusions are tentatively indicated: (1) There are steric effects on hyperconjugation. (2) There are substituent effects on hyperconjugation; conjugating and hyperconjugating substituents increase the extent of hyperconjugation of a single CH bond. (3) There are solvent effects on hyperconjugation.
A primer of simple theories

We present a self-contained exposition of the basic aspects of simple theories while developing the fundamentals of forking calculus. We expound also the deeper aspects of S. Shelah's 1980 paper Simple unstable theories. The concept of weak dividing has been replaced with that of forking. The exposition is from a contemporary perspective and takes into account contributions due to S. Buechler, E. Hrushovski, B. Kim, O. Lessmann, S. Shelah and A. Pillay.
Use of combined oral contraceptives among women with migraine and nonmigrainous headaches: A systematic review

This systematic review examines evidence evaluating whether women with headaches who use combined oral contraceptives (COCs) have a greater risk of stroke than women with headaches who do not use COCs. We searched MEDLINE for articles published from 1966 through March 2005 relevant to headaches and COC use as risk factors for stroke. Of the 79 articles identified, nine met our selection criteria (eight reports of six observational studies plus one meta-analysis). All studies reported specifically on migraine headaches. Evidence from six case-control studies suggested that COC users with a history of migraine were two to four times as likely to have an ischemic stroke as nonusers with a history of migraine. The odds ratios for ischemic stroke ranged from 6 to almost 14 for COC users with migraine compared with nonusers without migraine. The three studies that provided evidence on hemorrhagic stroke reported low or no risk associated with migraine or with COC use.
Decoupling the multiconductor transmission line equations

A comprehensive discussion is presented of the method of decoupling the multiconductor transmission line (MTL) equations by the method of transformation of the voltages and currents to mode voltages and currents in order to obtain their general solution. Various ways of defining and obtaining the transformations are shown which serve to connect the myriad of such definitions and also point out where inconsistencies in those definitions can result. Structures for which the decoupling is assured are also discussed. The MTL equations to be decoupled are in the frequency domain, and extensions to their applicability in the time-domain are shown.
Joint frequency selective channel estimation and turbo decoding in space time systems

A non-coherent multiple input multiple output (MIMO) coded communication system over a frequency selective (FS) block fading channel is considered. A theoretical limit for the channel estimation error is established via a closed form derivation of the modified Cramer-Rao bound (MCRB) (more precisely, a tight lower bound to it) for the underlying channel model and equi-power signal constellations. Furthermore, it is shown that, for a practical coded MIMO system that employs turbo coding and an appropriate iterative decoding, the resulting mean squared error (MSE) in channel estimation approaches very closely to the derived theoretical limit.
A numerical model of tides and storm surges in the Rio de la Plata Estuary

Abstract A numerical model (two horizontal dimensions, vertically integrated) is used to investigate tides and storm surges in the Rio de la Plata Estuary. The domain includes the Estuary and continental shelf together and extends from 33°40′S to 39°20′S latitude, and from 51°W to 59°W longitude. The bathymetry was taken from nautical charts at 5′ × 5′ intervals, so that the domain has 97 × 69 grid points. These depths vary from 1.1 m in the upper Estuary to 5000 m off the shelf. The semidiurnal lunar tide is modeled by forcing at the boundaries and the cotidal and corange lines compare well with observations. The history and description of storm surges in the Rio de la Plata are recounted, and cases are modeled for easterly and southeasterly wind stresses from 2 to 8 dynes cm −2 . The resulting sea levels and currents in the estuary and shelf are discussed in terms of their dynamics, and compared with what limited information is available.
Consumer insurance fraud in the US property‐casualty industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the management of consumer insurance fraud in the US property‐casualty market, attending to definition, prevalence, insurer and regulatory responses, and outcomes. A social marketing campaign is offered as a partial, long‐term solution.Design/methodology/approach – This paper explicates the difficulties associated with defining and measuring consumer insurance fraud, then models the system of factors now in place in redress.Findings – Little agreement was found for a common definition of consumer insurance fraud and this was explained in part due to the decentralization of insurance regulation, competitive factors, and inconsistency in claims processing. The paper concludes by offering a social marketing campaign as a tool for reducing the incidence and severity of single‐claims fraud, the latter believed to be the largest source of consumer insurance fraud.Originality/value – This paper affords a macro‐level view of a common and expensive social problem, s...
Goodness-of-fit test for meta-analysis

Meta-analysis is a very useful tool to combine information from different sources. Fixed effect and random effect models are widely used in meta-analysis. Despite their popularity, they may give us misleading results if the models don’t fit the data but are blindly used. Therefore, like any statistical analysis, checking the model fitting is an important step. However, in practice, the goodness-of-fit in meta-analysis is rarely discussed. In this paper, we propose some tests to check the goodness-of-fit for the fixed and random effect models with assumption of normal distributions in meta-analysis. Through simulation study, we show that the proposed tests control type I error rate very well. To demonstrate the usefulness of the proposed tests, we also apply them to some real data sets. Our study shows that the proposed tests are useful tools in checking the goodness-of-fit of the normal models used in meta-analysis.
Future of sleep apnea therapy using a mechanistic approach

Obstructive sleep apnea(OSA) has multiple underlying mechanisms which vary across patients. In afflicted patients, the degree of abnormality in pharyngeal anatomy, dilator muscle function, ventilatory control instability etc is highly variable. In patients with anatomical compromise at the velopharynx, robust responses to palatal surgery would be predicted, whereas other patients may have no major improvement if the primary abnormality were elsewhere. Similarly, measures to influence ventilatory control such as oxygen or acetazolamide may yield major improvements, but only for patients with unstable ventilatory control. Further research into treatment of OSA based on underlying mechanism is required.
Infrared-Mediated Thermocycling for DNA Amplification and Electrophoretic Separation on an Integrated Microchip Device

We present infrared-mediated thermocycling for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA coupled to electrophoretic separation on a single integrated microdevice. DNA is amplified in a PCR chamber via excitation of vibrational bands of water. This allows for rapid heating of the solution, with little contribution to thermal load by the microchip substrate. PCR product is then electrokinetically injected to a separation domain for DNA sizing.
Validation of computational fluid dynamics-based analysis to evaluate hemodynamic significance of access stenosis

PurposeStenosis in a vascular access circuit is the predominant cause of access dysfunction. Hemodynamic significance of a stenosis identified by angiography in an access circuit is uncertain. This...
Evaluation of flow quality in two NASA transonic wind tunnels

Tests have been conducted in the Langley Research Center 8-foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel and the Ames Research Center 12-foot pressure wind tunnel in order to measure characteristic disturbance levels and energy spectra in their respective settling chambers, test sections, and diffusers and to determine the sources of these disturbances. Results are presented and discussed along with some specific recommendations.
K α hypersatellites of Zr

The $K\ensuremath{\alpha}$ hypersatellites $K{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}^{h}$ and $K{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}^{h}$ of zirconium were observed in a conventional x-ray spectrum analysis. The energy separation between the hypersatellites and their corresponding diagram lines were measured, and the intensity ratio $\frac{I(K{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{1}^{h})}{I(K{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}^{h})}$ was computed. The experimental values are in good agreement with the results of the most advanced calculations, except for the energy of the $K{\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{2}^{h}$ where the measured value is some 15 eV higher than the theoretical prediction.
Changes in Inflammatory and Bone Turnover Markers After Periodontal Disease Treatment in Patients With Diabetes

Abstract Background The underlying mechanisms for increased osteopenia and fracture rates in patients with diabetes are not well understood, but may relate to chronic systemic inflammation. We assessed the effect of treating periodontal disease (POD), a cause of chronic inflammation, on inflammatory and bone turnover markers in patients with diabetes. Materials and Methods Using an investigator-administered questionnaire, we screened a cross-section of patients presenting for routine outpatient diabetes care. We recruited 22 subjects with POD. Inflammatory and bone turnover markers were measured at baseline and 3 months following POD treatment (scaling, root planing and subantimicrobial dose doxycycline). Results There were nonsignificant reductions in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (6.34–5.52 mg/L, P = 0.626) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (10.37–10.01 pg/mL, P = 0.617). There were nonsignificant increases in urinary C-terminal telopeptide (85.50–90.23 pg/mL, P = 0.684) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (7.45–8.79 pg/mL, P = 0.074). Patients with >90% adherence with doxycycline were 6.4 times more likely to experience reduction in tumor necrosis factor-alpha ( P = 0.021) and 2.8 times more likely to experience reductions in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ( P = 0.133). Conclusions Treatment of POD in patients with diabetes resulted in nonsignificant lowering of inflammatory markers and nonsignificant increase in bone turnover markers. However, adherence to doxycycline therapy resulted in better treatment effects.
Whole-tract digesta kinetics and comparison of techniques for the estimation of fecal output in steers fed coastal bermudagrass hay at four levels of intake.

Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers) hay was fed to four ruminally cannulated steers (380 +/- 14 kg BW) of evaluate the effects of intake level on digesta flow kinetics in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Forage intakes represented 50, 70, 88, and 99% of feed voluntarily consumed per animal during a pre-experimental period. Masticated boli and wet-sieved masticated leaves (ML) and stems (MS) retained by a 4.0-mm sieve and feces retained by a .063-mm sieve were mordanted with chromium or marked with erbium, ytterbium, or dysprosium, respectively. Particle markers and a solution of Co-EDTA were pulse-dosed via the ruminal cannula. A continuous infusion of Co-EDTA was later delivered with peristaltic pumps. Intake level had no effect (P > .10) on fluid and particle passage rate (PR; percentage/hour) of any fractions marked. For all particle fractions, increasing intake level caused linear decreases in mean retention time (MRT; P < .03 to P < .07) and linear increases in gastrointestinal tract fill (FILL; P < .003 to P < .02) and fecal output (FO; P < .001). Estimates of FO and DM digestibility from the pulse dose of Cr mordant and continuous infusion of Co-EDTA did not differ. Kinetic estimates differed in magnitude according to the characteristics of the particle fractions marked. Marked feces gave the shortest estimate of MRT and the smallest estimate of FILL and FO. Kinetics of ML and MS also differed (P < .001), the former having faster PR, shorter MRT, and smaller FILL and FO. Use of representative samples of ingested feed should give more realistic estimates of digesta kinetics than estimates derived from ingesta fractions because kinetics of separated leaf and stem fractions differed.
Genetic lineage tracing defines myofibroblast origin and function in the injured heart

The origin and fate of myofibroblasts, the cells responsible for cardiac remodelling and fibrosis, is controversial. Here the authors show that cardiac myofibroblasts express periostin, derive exclusively from tissue-resident fibroblasts, are necessary for scar formation after injury, and can revert back to a less-activated state upon injury resolution.
Chronic Disease Disparities by County Economic Status and Metropolitan Classification, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2013

Introduction Racial/ethnic disparities have been studied extensively. However, the combined influence of geographic location and economic status on specific health outcomes is less well studied. This study's objective was to examine 1) the disparity in chronic disease prevalence in the United States by county economic status and metropolitan classification and 2) the social gradient by economic status. The association of hypertension, arthritis, and poor health with county economic status was also explored. Methods We used 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. County economic status was categorized by using data on unemployment, poverty, and per capita market income. While controlling for sociodemographics and other covariates, we used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate the relationship between economic status and hypertension, arthritis, and self-rated health. Results Prevalence of hypertension, arthritis, and poor health in the poorest counties was 9%, 13%, and 15% higher, respectively, than in the most affluent counties. After we controlled for covariates, poor counties still had a higher prevalence of the studied conditions. Conclusion We found that residents of poor counties had a higher prevalence of poor health outcomes than affluent counties, even after we controlled for known risk factors. Further, the prevalence of poor health outcomes decreased as county economics improved. Findings suggest that poor counties would benefit from targeted public health interventions, better access to health care services, and improved food and built environments.
The risk of postoperative complications and functional impairment after multimodality treatment for limb and trunk wall soft-tissue sarcoma: Long term results from a monocentric series.

Abstract Background and objectives Conservative surgery for soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) within multimodality treatment attempts to reconcile two contradictory requirements: assuring a good oncological outcome through a wide resection and preserving the function. The aim of our study is to verify whether our conservative approach to STS met these objectives. Methods A retrospective database analysis was performed in adults with primary limb or trunk wall STS operated in a single center from 1989 to 2012. Predictive factors for postoperative complications and functional impairment were tested in a multivariate analysis. Results 728 patients were operated (resection R0: 68%). Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) was given to 28%, postoperative radiotherapy to 70% of patients. Median follow-up was 103 months. At five years, overall survival was 80% and local recurrences 11%. Major postoperative complications occurred in 8% and functional impairment in 13% of the patients. Independent predictive factors for postoperative complications were American Society of Anesthesiologist classes 2 and 3 (OR: 2.3, CI: 1.2–4.5 and 4.0 CI: 1.7–9.3), tumor size >80 mm (OR: 2.5, CI: 1.3–4.9), tumor site (trunk wall/lower limb, OR: 4.1, CI: 1.3–13.6) and multifocal/multicompartmental spread (OR: 2, CI: 1.1–3.6). Independent predictive factors for function impairment were postoperative complications (OR: 5.3, CI: 2.8–10.1), NAC (OR: 3.6, CI: 2.2–5.8), and bone or neurovascular involvement (OR 3.3, CI 2.0–5.3), whereas Early Rehabilitation after Surgery (ERAS) improved outcome (OR: 0.5, CI: 0.3–0.9). Conclusion Postoperative complications induced functional impairment. They may be reduced by acting on comorbidity factors and careful tumor evaluation prior to surgery. Furthermore, ERAS measures improved function.
Hydrocarbon Fuels from Lignocellulose

The main motivation for biofuels at present is to enable transportation fuels which do not contribute to global warming. Biofuels made from non-food biomass, collectively called lignocellulose, dramatically reduce the net carbon dioxide emissions from light and heavy duty vehicles. Lignocellulose consists of agricultural residue such as corn stover and sugarcane bagasse, waste from forest trimming, and energy crops such as switchgrass and short rotation poplar trees grown on marginally arable land with little irrigation or fertilizer.
Crossing Guard: Mediating Host-Accelerator Coherence Interactions

Specialized hardware accelerators have performance and energy-efficiency advantages over general-purpose processors. To fully realize these benefits and aid programmability, accelerators may share a physical and virtual address space and full cache coherence with the host system. However, allowing accelerators -- particularly those designed by third parties -- to directly communicate with host coherence protocols poses several problems. Host coherence protocols are complex, vary between companies, and may be proprietary, increasing burden on accelerator designers. Bugs in the accelerator implementation may cause crashes and other serious consequences to the host system.We propose Crossing Guard, a coherence interface between the host coherence system and accelerators. The Crossing Guard interface provides the accelerator designer with a standardized set of coherence messages that are simple enough to aid in design of bug-free coherent caches. At the same time, they are sufficiently complex to allow customized and optimized accelerator caches with performance comparable to using the host protocol. The Crossing Guard hardware is implemented as part of the trusted host, and provides complete safety to the host coherence system, even in the presence of a pathologically buggy accelerator cache.
Schedulability, Program Transformations and Real-Time Programming

Abstract We consider polynomial-time static semantics-preserving transformations of real-time programs. Used in in conjunction with schedulability analysis, the transformations significantly increase the class of real-time programs that may be analyzed efficiently for guaranteed schedulability at compile-time.
The effect of foil on paddling efficiency in a short surfboard

Surfboard volume and shape affect human performance while riding waves, but little is known regarding the impact of these variables on paddling, where surfers spend a majority of their time. The purpose of this study was to determine whether changing the foil (fore/aft thickness profile) of a short surfboard will alter paddling mechanics and efficiency if surfers are allowed to self-select their prone position. Twenty recreational surfers paddled three different surfboards in a freshwater swim flume while measurements of drag force, board motion, body position, heart rate, and oxygen use were acquired. All boards shared the same volume (31 L) and gross dimensions (172.7 cm long × 50.8 cm wide × 6 cm thick), but the geometric center was placed in a different location along the fore/aft axis of each board. Surfers were blinded to the volume and shape of each board. Results indicated that surfers positioned their center of mass further forward in response to a more nose-heavy board and further aft in response to a more tail-heavy board (22.04 ± 6.34 mm difference in position between boards, p = 0.008). This self-selected positioning yielded no statistical difference in drag force, board angle and accelerations, heart rate, or oxygen use across the three boards. These data suggest that when surfboard volume and gross dimensions are fixed, foil has little effect on the efficiency of paddling a short surfboard in recreational athletes.
Resting cardiac autonomic activity and body composition following a 16-week high-intensity functional training intervention in women: A pilot study

High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) is an increasingly popular mixed modal high-intensity training style with little empirical evidence regarding adaptations. The objective of this study was to examine alterations in resting cardiac autonomic activity through the measurement of heart rate variability (HRV) and body composition in women following 16-weeks of HIFT. Nine apparently healthy females (35.8 ± 9.3 years old) participated in this study. Resting heart rate (RHR), HRV, and body composition measures were collected pre and post 16-weeks of the HIFT intervention. The markers of HRV used were the Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD) and High-Frequency (HF) power. Body composition markers used were body fat percentage (BF%) and body mass (BM). A natural log transformation (ln) was applied to HRV markers prior to analysis. Paired sample t-test showed significant reductions in post RHR (p = 0.018) and BF% (p = 0.012). However, no significant changes were observed in post lnRMSSD (p = 0.501), lnHF (p = 0.760), or BM (p = 0.285). 16-weeks of HIFT was not sufficient to alter makers of HRV. Importantly, the participation in 16-weeks of HIFT elicited improvements in basic health measures (RHR and BF%) in recreationally active females.
A retrospective chart review of opioid represcribing following nonfatal overdose at a Veterans Affairs hospital

Abstract Introduction: Opioid-related overdoses have risen despite extensive media coverage and apparent awareness of this public health crisis. Emergency department visits related to opioid use ne...
Policy Implications for School Desegregation and School Choice in Chicago.

School desegregation in Chicago was derived from the implementation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This article follows the formation of this policy to its implementation in Chicago. First, the federal government used the Civil Rights Act to garner school desegregation. Then, the Chicago Board of Education created desegregation plans for Chicago Public Schools which included school choice options. Finally, the article uses the oral histories of 68 graduates of three Chicago public high schools to demonstrate how the policy was utilized. The entire process reveals the continuation of institutional racism as school desegregation in Chicago was effectively limited as only a few Black and Latino students benefited from school desegregation.
Dietary Intake, Attitudes toward Healthy Food, and Dental Pain in Low-Income Youth:

Few studies have examined the relation between food consumption and related attitudes and dental pain among children. The objective of this study is to examine the associations of healthy and unhealthy food items, attitudes toward healthy food, and self-efficacy of eating healthy with dental pain among children. A cross-sectional analysis was performed using child survey data from the Texas Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration (TX CORD) project. Fifth-grade students ( n = 1,020) attending 33 elementary schools in Austin and Houston, Texas, completed the TX CORD Child Survey, a reliable and valid survey instrument focused on nutrition and physical activity behaviors. All nutrition questions ask about the number of times food and beverage items were consumed on the previous day. Dental pain was reported as mouth or tooth pain in the past 2 wk that made their mouth hurt so much that they could not sleep at night. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to test the association between 10 unhealthy food items, 9 healthy food items, 2 health attitudes, and self-efficacy with dental pain. All models controlled for sociodemographic variables. In total, 99 (9.7%) students reported dental pain. Dental pain was associated with intake of the following unhealthy items: soda, fruit juice, diet soda, frozen desserts, sweet rolls, candy, white rice/pasta, starchy vegetables, French fries/chips, and cereal (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.27-1.81, P < 0.01). The intake of other vegetables (AOR, 1.56; P < 0.01), a healthy item, and the attitude that healthy food tastes good (AOR, 1.59; P = 0.04) were also positively associated with dental pain. The attitude of eating healthier leads to fewer health problems (AOR, 0.50) and self-efficacy for healthy eating (AOR, 0.44) were negatively associated with dental pain ( P < 0.01). Interventions should focus on improving oral health by reducing intake of unhealthy foods and educating children and families on the importance of diet as a means of reducing dental caries. Knowledge Transfer Statement: The results of this study can be used to inform researchers on potential food items and psychosocial measures to examine in low-income, minority populations for longitudinal research. These results would also be useful to educators who could incorporate oral health care and nutrition education into school curriculums.
Prescriptions to Narrow a Consumer/Organizational Buying Behavior Logical Inconsistency

This paper "re-visits" and extends a point made by Johnston and Bonoma (1977) that a logical inconsistency exists between behavior research. Although the organizational market is larger than the consumer market in dollar purchases, organizational buying behavior has failed to receive the degree of academic attention allocated to consumer buying behavior. Two streams of inquiry are proposed to remedy this logical inconsistency. The first stream of inquiry argues that neither viewing the unit of analysis as an individual nor viewing the unit of an analysis as the organization captures the essence of the organizational buying process. Instead, it is asserted that a more fertile ground for organizational buying theory discovery and justification may be found through use of a combinative process. Secondly, the paper advocates the importance of neglected individuals internal factors to the study of organizational buying behavior. Lastly, a normative model of organizational buying behavior is created which incorporates individual internal factors.
Possible Benthic Fauna and Slope Instability Relationships

Two major types of interactions between benthic fauna and submarine slides are addressed in this paper: (1) the contribution of biological activity to slope instability and (2) the biological consequences of submarine slope failure. Through the processes of bioturbation and bioerosion, benthic fauna can substantially alter the physical properties of their substrata. Activities that lead to structural weakening of both sediment and outcrop are: consistent reworking of sediment preventing consolidation; excavation of sediment and semi-consolidated clay resulting in the net transport of material downslope; boring of outcrops causing decrease of rock mass; and attachment to outcrops resulting in increased drag force and gravitational pull on their surfaces. Along the continental margins located off both the east and west coasts of the U.S., the activity of benthic fauna appears to play a major role in contemporary submarine erosion.