cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
School Engagement Among Urban Adolescents of Color: Does Perception of Social Support and Neighborhood Safety Really Matter?

In this study we examined the effects of risk factors (perceived neighborhood crime/delinquency problems, neighborhood incivilities) and protective factors (teacher support, family support, peer support) on the school engagement of 123 urban adolescents of color. Age and gender were also examined to determine if different ages (younger or older) or genders (male or female) significantly modified the relationship between the risk factors and school engagement. Results indicated that perceived neighborhood incivilities was uniquely predictive of school engagement. Contrary to hypotheses, different levels of the perceived social support variables did not modify the effects of risky neighborhood conditions on adolescent’s perceived school engagement. Age, but not gender, significantly modified the relationship between perceived family social support and perceived neighborhood crime on adolescents’ reported levels of school engagement. The implications of the results for prevention and intervention programs that address school engagement among early adolescents of color are considered.
Retrieval of chlorophyll from remote-sensing reflectance in the China seas

The East China Sea is a typical case 2 water environment, where concentrations of phytoplankton pigments, suspended matter, and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) are all higher than those in the open oceans, because of the discharge from the Yangtze River and the Yellow River. By using a hyperspectral semianalytical model, we simulated a set of remote-sensing reflectance for a variety of chlorophyll, suspended matter, and CDOM concentrations. From this simulated data set, a new algorithm for the retrieval of chlorophyll concentration from remote-sensing reflectance is proposed. For this method, we took into account the 682-nm spectral channel in addition to the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) channels. When this algorithm was applied to a field data set, the chlorophyll concentrations retrieved through the new algorithm were consistent with field measurements to within a small error of 18%, in contrast with that of 147% between the SeaWiFS ocean chlorophyll 2 algorithm and the in situ observation.
Interpreting Textual Data in Writing Research

This article discusses a theoretical framework for situating interpretations of textual data collected during research. Based on the reader response theory of Louise Rosenblatt, this framework consists of a continuum representing the range of interpretative assumptions-stances-researchers can bring to their reading of textual data. The continuum is bounded by the two most extreme stances defined by Rosenblatt as efferent, roughly comparable to the stereotypical scientific interpretative tradition, and aesthetic, roughly comparable to the stereotypical humanities interpretative tradition.
Last days of the free ride? the consequences of settlement-based interconnection for the internet

Tracks the evolution of Internet interconnection and charging arrangements, drawing comparisons with telecommunication carriers’ arrangements. Focuses on how pricing arrangements could change ISP relationship’s nature from peer‐ to hierarchy‐based systems. Spotlights Internet basics and differences between telecoms and Internet pricing systems. Concludes that because of ISP, free riders and non‐explicit service subsidies, days are numbered.
Differentiating Curriculum and Instruction for English-Language Learners With Special Needs

Inclusion efforts to meet diverse needs have challenged both special and inclusive educators to modify curriculum and differentiate classroom instruction. This includes inclusive education students...
A Total Cost Comparison of Alternative Tolerancing Formulae

An important part of many engineering design projects is to specify the amount of variability permitted in critical characteristics of materials, components, and assembly. Different formulae have been suggested for relating input and output specifications. This article reviews the four basic tolerancing formulae that have appeared in the literature and shows that each solves a slightly different problem. In particular, optimal tolerances are based on costs and the probability distributions of input characteristics. Examples qf alternative cost-distribution models are provided that support the use of each of the four basic formulae as well as a solution not related to any of these formulae. This establishes that optimal tolerancing is influenced by issues not explicitly considered in the traditional debate over worst-case vs. statistical tolerancing. The approach here differs from previous optimal tolerancing studies in two respects. First, earlier work optimized the allocation of tolerances to components to achieve a given assembly tolerance, while we seek global optima. Second, earlier studies advocated an author's favorite model, while we explore the relative domains of applicability of alternative formulae.
Movement of potassium and sodium across the midgut epithelium of the American cockroach

Abstract Atomic absorption spectrophotometry has been used to study movements of sodium and potassium across the midgut epithelium of the American cockroach. Movements of both ions are affected by the concentration and/or nature of the lumen contents. Generally, the net directional flow of potassium is from the blood-side to the lumen and is completely inhibited by 0·001 M dinitrophenol (DNP). Blood- and lumen-side DNP-sensitive mechanisms are transporting sodium, but the direction and existence of such movement appears to be dependent upon the nature of the lumen contents. Passive (non-DNP-sensitive) mechanisms appear to be quite important in controlling cation movements since passive diffusion cannot be demonstrated with corresponding increases in lumen sodium concentrations while in the presence of DNP. The sites of the various sodium and/or potassium transport mechanisms are discussed in relation to results obtained under numerous experimental conditions.
Coding of blend ratios of binary mixtures by olfactory neurons in the Florida spiny lobster, Panulirus argus.

The aim of this study was to investigate quality coding of blend ratios of binary mixtures by olfactory receptor cells in the spiny lobster. Three odorants (adenosine-5′-monophosphate, l-glutamate, and taurine) at 0.1–100 μmol · l−1 and seven blend ratios of each of their binary mixtures at a total concentration of 100 μmol · l−1 were used. The olfactory cells recorded (n = 48) evoked across-neuron patterns for single odorants that were well separated from each other. Across-neuron patterns varied with stimulus concentration but less than with stimulus type. Blend ratios of the three mixtures evoked across-neuron patterns that were orderly placed within a continuum between those elicited by the components. Mixture interactions, defined as a lack of independent effects by a mixture's components, occurred in 25, 24 and 37% of responses to blend ratios of glutamate/taurine, adenosine-5′-monophosphate/taurine, and glutamate/adenosine-5′-monophosphate, respectively. These mixture interactions did not have a large enough effect on the across-neuron patterns for the mixtures such they would be novel relative to those of the single components. These results suggest that despite mixture interactions the quality of individual compounds is not lost when mixed. This corroborates behavioral studies showing that spiny lobsters have the ability to elementally process odor mixtures.
New approaches to the ventilatory management of the adult respiratory distress syndrome

A Pressure-Targeted Strategy for Ventilatory Management of the Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome Skeptics argue that none of the recently introduced approaches to the ventilatory management of ARDS has been proven unequivocally to be better than traditional management. In my view, however, the data currently available (although indirect) argue eloquently that alternatives to conventional ventilation strategies must be developed; the experimental evidence of pressure-induced lung injury is simply too compelling to ignore (Table 4). The scant epidemiologic data available, although hardly definitive, support the adoption of a less aggressive approach to ventilation and new target values for blood gases .50,52 Pathologic, physiologic, and theoretical arguments strongly favor a strategy that attempts to control alveolar pressure, not arterial PCO2. The repeated use of tidal volumes and pressures greater than the lung was designed to sustain should be avoided; tidal transalveolar pressures should be limited to 35 cm H2O or less. At the same time, end-expiratory alveolar pressure, the sum of PEEP plus auto-PEEP, must be sufficient to avoid end-tidal collapse of alveolar units (approximately 7 to 15 cm H2O). The oxygen demands of the patient with ARDS should be minimized to lower the needs for ventilation and pressure, and the least mean alveolar pressure necessary to accomplish unequivocal therapeutic goals should be used. Once adequate end-expiratory alveolar pressure has been assured, any increases of mean airway pressure that are intended to raise arterial oxygen saturation should be made by extending the inspiratory time fraction, not by raising PEEP further. Finally, when permissive hypercapnia is considered inadvisable or the necessary level of hypercapnia seems too extreme, consideration should be given to adjunctive measures of removing carbon dioxide rather than to the application of alveolar pressures that would put the lung at risk for further damage.
Adsorption of ethane and ethene in Na–Y studied by inelastic neutron scattering and computation

Abstract Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectra were collected for ethane and ethene in Na zeolite–Y (Si/Al=2.0). The INS spectrum of ethane in Na–Y consists of a single broad adsorption band in which no individual peaks can be discerned. Monte-Carlo docking calculations predicted a large number of similar binding sites with energies ranging from 24 to 37 kJ mol −1 in the region of the four rings on the wall of the faujasite supercage. This is consistent with the broad feature observed in the INS spectrum. In contrast, the INS spectrum of ethene in Na–Y shows significant fine structure, and several peaks can be distinguished in the region −1 . Monte-Carlo docking calculations with a molecular mechanics type force field were performed and predict two binding sites, one bound to the SII cation site (binding energy=36.2 kJ mol −1 ) and one lying in the window site (binding energy=19.4 kJ mol −1 ). Quantum mechanical calculations were also performed using a cluster model for the SII binding site but resulted in a significantly lower binding energy, even when correlation corrections were employed (18.2 kJ mol −1 ). Vibrational spectra were calculated using both quantum mechanical and molecular mechanics based techniques and the results compared with the INS spectra. A significantly better fit was obtained using the latter method and the peaks could be assigned based on the computed eigenvectors. Analogies are drawn between the assignments and other previous studies of Zeise's salt and related compounds.
Electronic Structure of the BF2 Radical Determined by ab Initio Calculations and Resonance-Enhanced Multiphoton Ionization Spectroscopy

We report the first electronic absorption spectrum of the boron difluoride radical. This spectrum appeared in mass-selected multiphoton ionization spectra between 235 and 420 nm. Strong bent−linear structure changes prevented observations of electronic origin bands. EOM-CCSD ab initio calculations suggest that the observed vibrational bands arise from A2B1 ← X 2A1 (Tvert = 35 100 cm-1) one-photon absorption and from B 2A1 (3s) ←← X 2A1 (Tvert = 59 100 cm-1) and C (3p) ←← X 2A1 (Tvert = 63 100 cm-1) two-photon transitions. Ab initio calculations predicted the geometries and vibrational frequencies of the ground states of the BF2 radical, cation, and anion. Ab initio calculations also predicted the vertical transition energies to the excited electronic states from the ground state radical. QCISD(T) calculations estimate ionization potentials for BF2 radicals of IPa = 8.66 eV and IPv = 10.44 eV and adiabatic and vertical electron detachment energies for BF2- of EA = 1.14 eV and VDE = 1.64 eV. We estimat...
Women in dermatology. Challenges and recommendations.

The total number of women physicians in the United States tripled between 1970 and 1990. Almost 50% of incoming residents in dermatology are women. This article discusses some of the changes, opportunities, and challenges within our profession wrought by these demographic changes. The incorporation of women into all aspects of our specialty is a subject that warrants review, consideration, and creative solutions. (Arch Dermatol. 1994;130:1177-1184)
Preparation of primary monolayer cultures of mouse pancreatic epithelial cells

We describe a technique using normal and diabetic (dbdb) mice to establish primary pancreatic cultures that spread and assume a characteristic epithelial morphology. These cultures contain 4 to 7% beta cells, secrete insulin in response to stimuli for 10 to 14 d, contain few fibroblasts, and have a cell viability that is greater than 95%. The cells attach firmly to glass cover slips and are ideal for the study of insulin secretory granules or contractile proteins using indirect immunofluorescence.
Assessment of the tricuspid valve in hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome has provided the pediatric cardiology community one of its largest challenges. Until the mid-1980s, the mortality for this lesion was close to 100%. Through the pioneering work of Bill Norwood,1 Len Bailey,2 and the continued work of many pediatric cardiologists and surgeons, the current five-year survival for staged Norwood palliation and cardiac transplantation is now approximately 75%.3,4
Magnetic resonance studies on radiation-induced point defects in mixed oxide glasses. II. Spin centers in alkali silicate glasses

Abstract Irradiation of alkali silicate glasses results in the formation of metastable spin centers, such as oxygen hole centers (OHC1 and OHC2), silicon peroxy radicals and a silicon dangling bond (E′ center). In this work, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electron nuclear double magnetic resonance (ENDOR) are used to study these spin-1/2 defects. It is shown that in a subset of the OHC1 centers the ≡SiO  radical is strongly coupled to a single alkali cation. Thermally activated swinging motion of this cation causes asymmetric T2 relaxation and changes electron spin echo envelop modulation (ESEEM) spectra. It is argued that trapping of the hole by non - bridging oxygen atoms does not result in the release of a compensating alkali cation. Rather, the O–Alk bond elongates and the whole structure relaxes. This view is supported by semi-empirical and ab initio calculations. The observed axial symmetry of the g-tensor for OHC2 is the result of rapid tunneling of the electron between two degenerate sites with rate (0.2−50)×10 11 s −1 and activation energy ∼10 meV. This center is a hole trapped on a tetrahedral >SiO22− unit or a planar –SiO2− unit. It is demonstrated that silicon peroxy radicals are not formed by charge trapping. Their generation is temperature-independent and occurs via the decay of self-trapped excitons. It seems likely that the same process yields silicon dangling bond centers.
1024 × 1024 pixel mid-wavelength and long-wavelength infrared QWIP focal plane arrays for imaging applications

Mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) and long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) 10(24) x 10(24) pixel quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) focal planes have been demonstrated with excellent imaging performance. The MWIR QWIP detector array has demonstrated a noise equivalent differential temperature (NEAT) of 17 mK at a 95 K operating temperature with f/2.5 optics at 300 K background and the LWIR detector array has demonstrated a NEAT of 13 mK at a 70 K operating temperature with the same optical and background conditions as the MWIR detector array after the subtraction of system noise. Both MWIR and LWIR focal planes have shown background limited performance (BLIP) at 90 K and 70 K operating temperatures respectively, with similar optical and background conditions. In this paper, we will discuss the performance in terms of quantum efficiency, NE(delta)T, uniformity, operability and modulation transfer functions.
Resonant oscillations of a flexible satellite in an elliptic orbit.

Librational and flexural resonances induced in satellite whose center of mass is moving in planar elliptic orbit
Schottky Barriers on a-Si:H,F/a-Si,Ge:H,F Superlattices

We report measurements of Schottky barrier heights and minority carrier mobilitylifetime products of multilayer structures composed of a-Si:H,F and a-Si,Ge:H,F. These layers are grown by r.f. glow discharge decompostion of SiF 4 , GeF 4 , and H 2 in the a-Si,Ge:H,F (well) layer and of SiF 4 and H 2 in the a-Si:H,F (barrier) layer. Schottky barrier height Φ B of Pt is measured using internal photoemission measurements. The minority carrier mobility-lifetime product ( μτ ) p is extracted from a fit of the voltage dependence of internal quantum efficiency to the Hecht expression. Both Φ B and ( μτ ) p are measured as a function of barrier and well thicknesses.
Predicting implantation potential using morphometric analysis of blastocysts and calculating for phi to determine a reference point

nancies could be distinguished from apoptotic embryos by differences in excreted secretomes that affected sperm behavior. The objectives were: (a) to verify observed differences in motility parameters after incubating the sperm in spent media of embryos from pregnant and non-pregnant cases and (b) to differentiate between stimulatory or inhibitory action of the secretomes. DESIGN: Retrospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cryopreserved-thawed sperm were washed by 2-gradient centrifugation and resuspended in modified HTF medium. Twenty-four hour spent media (G-2 ver 5) were collected from IVFderived individual blastocyst on Day 5. A single blastocyst was transferred to each recipient that either became pregnant (N1⁄45) or nonpregnant (N1⁄45). An aliquot (100 uL, 50 M/mL) of sperm was added to each spent medium from either pregnant cycles, non-pregnant cycles or fresh control medium. Sperm were also added to unused droplets of spent media in each culture dish (matching spent controls). Computer-aided sperm analyses were performed at O and 4 hours of incubation (heated 40 C). Data were expressed as percent of matching controls (5 experiments) and analyzed (ANOVA, Student’s t-test). RESULTS: Sperm hyperactive motility was 4.3 fold higher (P<0.05) in spent media in the pregnant group (160.0 1.4% of control; mean SEM)when compared with the non-pregnant group (36.8 0.4% of control). Furthermore, sperm progressive motility was greater in the pregnant (143.3 5.2% of control) versus non-pregnant group (112.2 5.6% of control). Additionally, straight line velocity (VSL) of sperm was greater in the pregnant group. However, there were no differences in the remaining parameters. A comparison of sperm hyperactivity indicated an inhibitory effect of the secretomes. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrated embryo-derived secretomes in the spent media that affected specific sperm motility paremeters, particularly hyperactivation linked to Catsper Ca(2+) ion channels. The findings suggested that the secretomes from blastocysts in the non-pregnant group were inhibitory to membrane ion transport. The significance here was the novel use of a simple sperm hyperactive motility assay to identify healthy embryos for transfer and the finding of motility-inhibiting molecules from damaged but normal appearing embryos.
Conformation transition and electric potential of single weak polyelectrolyte: Molecular weight dependence

The nature of the conformation transition of a hydrophobic weak polyelectrolyte (PE) chain is critically determined by local electrostatic environment in vicinity of the PE backbone. In this work, we examine the coil-to-globule conformation transition (CGT) and electric potential of a model weak PE, poly(2-vinyl pyridine) (P2VP) of varied molecular weight (Mn), in aqueous solutions at a single molecule level by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and photon counts histogram (PCH). By using FCS, the CGT of P2VP in aqueous solutions is observed upon increasing solution pH, yet showing a strong Mn dependence. The observed CGT is gradual and continuous at low Mn, in sharp contrast to an abrupt, discontinuous one at high Mn. Measured critical transition pH, pHCGT, to induce CGT is found to decrease as increasing Mn. To further elucidate the effect of Mn on CGT and local electrostatic interaction, PCH is employed with pH-sensitive fluorophore probes attached to a P2VP chain to determine the local pH, i.e. the local proton concentration immediately adjacent to an expanded P2VP coil. The electric potential, φ for a single P2VP chain is thereby estimated from the difference between local and bulk pHs, exhibiting a scaling with P2VP polymerization degree, N as φ ∼ N0.1. The increase in φ with increasing Mn suggests an enhanced electrostatic repulsion between local protons and a longer P2VP backbone, leading to the lowering of pHCGT.
Assessing students' communicativecompetence using a linguistic analysis procedure

Forms of nonformal assessment of children's language and literacy development in classrooms are being sought more urgently now due to the growing realization that formal measurement forms often reveal little of value to a classroom teacher trying to plan a student-responsive curriculum in the face of sometimes widespread literacy failure. One such possible form of assessment is cohesion analysis, a type of linguistically based text analysis created by Halliday and Hasan, not typically used in assessment of students, teachers, and materials. The results of two studies on dialogue, both oral and written, as revealed by cohesion analysis, are presented and analyzed within the framework of the development by children, including Afro-Americans and Appalachians, of a register repertoire which includes learning to read. Cohesion analysis did reveal similarities and differences in oral dialogue, written dialogue, and between the two modes. One finding was that teacher's talk and the dialogue in basal primers was similar to one another but different from first graders' talk, mother-child dialogue, and the dialogue in children's storybooks. Instructional implications of the findings are presented, and a case for the viability of cohesion analysis as a comprehensive language assessment tool is made.
Immunity, neuroglia and neuroinflammation in autism

Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder of early onset that is highly variable in its clinical presentation. Although the causes of autism in most patients remain unknown, several lines of ...
Cancer Chemoprevention by Garlic and Garlic-Containing Sulfur and Selenium Compounds

As early as 1550 B.C., Egyptians realized the benefits of garlic as a remedy for a variety of diseases. Many epidemiological studies support the protective role of garlic and related allium foods against the development of certain human cancers. Natural garlic and garlic cultivated with selenium fertilization have been shown in laboratory animals to have protective roles in cancer prevention. Certain organoselenium compounds and their sulfur analogs have been identified in plants. Organoselenium compounds synthesized in our laboratory were compared with their sulfur analogs for chemopreventive efficacy. Diallyl selenide was at least 300-fold more effective than diallyl sulfide in protecting against 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary adenocarcinomas in rats. In addition, benzyl selenocyanate inhibited the development of DMBA-induced mammary adenocarcinomas and azoxymethane-induced colon cancer in rats and benzo[a]pyrene-induced forestomach tumors in mice. The sulfur analog, benzyl thiocyanate, had no effect under the same experimental conditions. Furthermore, we showed that 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate, but not its sulfur analog, significantly inhibited DMBA-DNA adduct formation and suppressed DMBA-induced mammary carcinogenesis. Collectively, these results indicate that structurally distinctive organoselenium compounds are superior to their corresponding sulfur analogs in cancer chemoprevention. Additionally, synthetic aromatic selenocyanates are more effective cancer chemopreventive agents than the naturally occurring selenoamino acids. Because plants are capable of utilizing selenium in a manner similar to that in sulfur assimilation pathways, future studies should aim at determining whether, under appropriate conditions, these potent cancer chemopreventive synthetic selenium compounds can be synthesized by garlic and related allium foods.
Genomic organisation of the ~1.5 Mb Smith-Magenis syndrome critical interval: Transcription map, genomic contig, and candidate gene analysis

Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a multiple congenital anomalies/mental retardation syndrome associated with an interstitial deletion of chromosome 17 involving band p11.2. SMS is hypothesised to be a contiguous gene syndrome in which the phenotype arises from the haploinsufficiency of multiple, functionally-unrelated genes in close physical proximity, although the true molecular basis of SMS is not yet known. In this study, we have generated the first overlapping and contiguous transcription map of the SMS critical interval, linking the proximal 17p11.2 region near the SMS-REPM and the distal region near D17S740 in a minimum tiling path of 16 BACs and two PACs. Additional clones provide greater coverage throughout the critical region. Not including the repetitive sequences that flank the critical interval, the map is comprised of 13 known genes, 14 ESTs, and six genomic markers, and is a synthesis of Southern hybridisation and polymerase chain reaction data from gene and marker localisation to BACs and PACs and database sequence analysis from the human genome project high-throughput draft sequence. In order to identify possible candidate genes, we performed sequence analysis and determined the tissue expression pattern analysis of 10 novel ESTs that are deleted in all SMS patients. We also present a detailed review of six promising candidate genes that map to the SMS critical region.
A Collaborative Service-Oriented Simulation Framework with Microsoft Robotic Studio®

Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) had received significant attention recently. The concepts that service can be discovered at runtime and application can be composed via service discovery bring great flexibility to application development. SOA can be incorporated into embedded system design, thus improve the reusability and extensibility of embedded applications. Microsoft Robotics Studio (MSRS) is a significant initiative in applying SOA to embedded systems and SOA simulation can play an important role in the robotics application development and verification. SOA simulation differs from traditional simulation as it emphasizes on reusability, collaborative behaviors and its unique model-driven development, this paper proposes a collaborative SOA simulation framework with MSRS environment.
Probabilistic Estimation of State-Dependent Hybrid Mode Transitions for Aircraft Arrival Time Prediction

The problem of accounting for the effects of air-traffic control (ATC) decision-making in modeling arrival traffic flow at airports is approached from a probabilistic perspective. Aircraft routing decisions are incorporated into previous work in developing a Discrete-Time Stochastic Hybrid Linear System for modeling aircraft dynamics and making Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) predictions. The determination of aircraft path is modeled as a state-dependent discrete mode transition for the hybrid model. We determine the transition probabilities based on the separation (as a result of path choice) between each arriving aircraft and the aircraft immediately in front and show that separation distance is a good predictor for aircraft path choice. We then use the path probabilities to generate probability distributions over possible ETAs. Current methods used by airlines for predicting ETA are deterministic and not robust to ATC decisions on aircraft routing: not knowing exactly which path arriving aircraft are routed through means predictions must be made using only an average, nominal path, from which the aircraft may deviate substantially. NASA’s Center/TRACON Automation System makes accurate predictions but uses knowledge of routing decisions. By predicting ATC decisions, we greatly improve ETA predictions without using ATC information. Accounting for re-routing reduces average error in aircraft path prediction from 6nm to 3.5 nm at 10 minutes from landing, with a reduction in ETA error from 2 minutes to 1 minute.
A review of osteoporosis management in younger premenopausal women

The purpose of this review is to describe the available evidence for osteoporosis treatments in young and premenopausal women. A review of articles evaluating the treatment or prevention of osteoporosis in young (age less than 50 years) or premenopausal women was conducted. Several trials evaluating the treatment of anorexia nervosa and use of hormone therapy in those women, the use of bisphosphonates in women undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer and the use of bisphosphonates, teriparatide and vitamin D in women with glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis are described. Limited data were found to support the treatment of osteoporosis in women with idiopathic osteoporosis or cystic fibrosis, or after kidney transplant. The evidence for treatment of osteoporosis in premenopausal women is not nearly as robust as that for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Although fracture risk in the premenopausal population is low, women with secondary osteoporosis may benefit from treatment with various agents, depending upo...
Development of novel glucose sensing fluids with potential application to microelectromechanical systems-based continuous glucose monitoring.

Background: We have previously presented a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) viscometric sensor for continuous glucose monitoring. The sensing fluid used therein was based on protein concanavalin A, which is known to have significant drawbacks, such as immunotoxicity and instability. To address this issue, a stable, biocompatible polymeric sensing fluid has been developed. Methods: In the polymeric sensing system, glucose reversibly formed strong ester bonds with the phenylboronic acid moiety on the poly(acrylamide-ran-3-acrylamidophenylboronic acid) (PAA-ran-PAAPBA) polymer backbone, resulting in cross-linking of the copolymers and an increase in the solution viscosity. The copolymers were synthesized via classic free radical copolymerization processes. The viscosity of the PAA-ran-PAAPBA, dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline buffer and in the presence of glucose at physiologically relevant concentrations, was measured by an Ubbelodhe viscometer and a prototype MEMS viscometric device. Results: Experimental results showed that the polymer molecular weight and composition depended on the solvent quantity, while the sensing fluid viscosity was determined by the polymer molecular weight and percentage composition of PAAPBA. The study of the temperature effect on viscosity showed that the polymer sensed glucose effectively under physiological conditions, although the high temperature lowered its sensitivity. Through proper adjustment of these parameters, a distinctive viscosity increase was observed when the glucose concentration increased from 0 to 450 mg/dl, which was detectable by our prototype MEMS device. Conclusions: We have successfully developed a stable, biocompatible polymeric system for the sensitive detection of glucose. MEMS experiments demonstrated that the sensing fluid was able to sense glucose at different concentrations. This sensing system can potentially enable highly reliable, continuous monitoring of glucose in interstitial fluid from subcutaneous tissue.
Electropolymerized bioresistant coatings of OEGylated dendron carbazoles: Design parameters and protein resistance SPR studies

Abstract The electrografting of oligoethylene glycol or (OEG)ylated carbazole linear dendrons and their protein adsorption resistance properties have been investigated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy. A series of the carbazole dendron generations, G 0 , G 1 , G 2 were synthesized and electrodeposited by cyclic voltammetry (CV) on Au-glass substrate which also served as a surface for evanescent waveguide excitation in SPR. In addition, the films were characterized by in-situ electrochemical SPR (EC-SPR), static water contact angle, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements. It was observed that electropolymerized films prepared from the higher generation linear-dendron G 2 , is most effective in preventing non-specific protein adsorption as observed by SPR kinetic measurements using fibrinogen as model protein. Film thickness also played a critical role in protein adsorption resistance - electrodeposition approaching monolayer thickness gave the highest protein resistance. In addition, the films were evaluated for non-specific protein binding against the smaller proteins, lysozyme and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The study provides insight to manipulating the architecture and composition of protein resistant materials deposited on metals and semi-conducting substrates and their possible use in biomedical applications.
Jewish and Christian Ordination

A few years ago Arnold Ehrhardt wrote an erudite and stimulating article as a criticism and development of Eduard Lohse's Die Ordination. A few observations in regard both to the laying on of hands in the Jewish background and to the seating of a candidate in the chair of office will serve to carry the discussion a step further.
Rôle des silicones de grade médical en chirurgie et applications topiques

Resume Les silicones de grade medical ont a present une histoire de pres de 55 annees d’excellentes performances d’utilisation en salle d'operation en tant que source de matiere bien toleree pour les utilisations reconstructrices ou cosmetiques. Les silicones ont egalement des references semblables en ce qui concerne les nombreuses formes destinees aux soins postoperatoires locaux de la peau chez les patients souffrant de traumatismes et de brulures. Les silicones topiques sont egalement devenus une partie integrante du traitement postoperatoire des cicatrices. L'intention de l'auteur est de fournir une breve revue des applications precedemment citees.
Validation of Image Segmentation and Expert Quality with an Expectation-Maximization Algorithm

Characterizing the performance of image segmentation approaches has been a persistent challenge. Performance analysis is important since segmentation algorithms often have limited accuracy and precision. Interactive drawing of the desired segmentation by domain experts has often been the only acceptable approach, and yet suffers from intra-expert and inter-expert variability. Automated algorithms have been sought in order to remove the variability introduced by experts, but no single methodology for the assessment and validation of such algorithms has yet been widely adopted. The accuracy of segmentations of medical images has been difficult to quantify in the absence of a "ground truth" segmentation for clinical data. Although physical or digital phantoms can help, they have so far been unable to reproduce the full range of imaging and anatomical characteristics observed in clinical data. An attractive alternative is comparison to a collection of segmentations by experts, but the most appropriate way to compare segmentations has been unclear.We present here an Expectation-Maximization algorithm for computing a probabilistic estimate of the "ground truth" segmentation from a group of expert segmentations, and a simultaneous measure of the quality of each expert. This approach readily enables the assessment of an automated image segmentation algorithm, and direct comparison of expert and algorithm performance.
The epidemiology of sudden death

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specified populations and the application of this study to the control of health problems. Although much has been learned from epidemiologic studies of cardiac arrest, this broad definition should be tempered by the recognition that death can be deferred but not prevented. Epidemiology and the study of cardiac arrest Much of what we understand today about the basic pathophysiology of cardiac arrest has been gained through observational rather than randomized studies of patients at risk for or in a state of cardiac arrest. This is only natural since sudden death is a relatively unpredictable event that usually occurs out-of-hospital and the victim is initially treated by emergency medical services providers, then transported to hospital for further triage and treatment in the emergency department. The epidemiologic study of cardiac arrest not only provides information about risk factors for the onset of arrest, the current status of treatment of the condition, but also suggests how to improve treatment and directs physicians toward future studies of resuscitation. In broad terms, epidemiologic data are used to identify cellular (e.g., gene mutations that predispose to arrhythmias), environmental, social, educational, behavioral (e.g., activity level, smoking), clinical (e.g., atherosclerosis, reduced ventricular function, diabetes), or health system risk factors that predispose individuals to cardiac arrest or particular outcomes after its onset. By identifying risk factors that are amenable to modification, such as diet or smoking, physicians have attempted to improve survival through prevention.
Competition and unilateral dumping

This paper presents an analysis of the effects of market structure on the propensity of firms to dump goods. The analysis of Brander and Krugman is extended to show that in the presence of transportation costs, bilateral intra-industry trade is not possible without dumping. Contrary to the conventional wisdom, this paper finds that firms in markets with a large number of domestic competitors are more prone to dump unilaterally than firms in less competitive markets. This dumping is not predatory but may result in export prices being below average cost.
Algorithms for index-assisted selectivity estimation

The standard mechanisms for query selectivity estimation used in relational database systems rely on properties that are specific to the attribute types. The query optimizer in an extensible database system is, in general, unable to exploit these mechanisms for user-defined types, forcing the database extender to invent new estimation mechanisms. In this paper, we discuss extensions to the generalized search tree (GiST) that simplify the creation of user-defined selectivity estimation methods. An experimental comparison of such methods with multidimensional estimators from the literature has demonstrated very competitive results.
Effect of radio frequency heating as a potential quarantine treatment on the quality of ‘Bing’ sweet cherry fruit and mortality of codling moth larvae

‘Bing’ sweet cherry (Prunnus avium L.) fruit quality and fifth-instar codling moth (Cydia pomonella [L.]) mortality were evaluated after radio frequency (RF) heating. The fruit were heated with radio frequency energy to four target temperatures (50, 52, 53 and 54 ◦ C), held in the RF-heated water for various holding times from 0.5 to 6 min, and stored under simulated air or sea shipment conditions (5 ◦ C for 24 h or 0 ◦ C for 2 weeks, respectively) before quality evaluation. There was no significant effect on cherry color, decay or shrivel, and RF had only a slight effect on berry browning. Regardless of shipment, stem browning and berry pitting were affected by RF-heating. Cherry quality was most affected when fruit were treated with RF and stored to simulate sea shipment. Heating the fruit to 53 or 54 ◦ C assured 100% codling moth larval mortality. Treatments that may provide quarantine security include heating fruit to 52 ◦ C and holding for 4 min, 53 ◦ C for 1.5 min or 54 ◦ C for 1 min, but quality of the cherries following these treatments was only acceptable when fruit were stored to simulate air shipment.
The Antarctic Atmospheric Energy Budget. Part II: The Effect of Ozone Depletion and its Projected Recovery

AbstractIn this study the authors continue their investigation of the atmospheric energy budget of the Antarctic polar cap (the region poleward of 70°S) using integrations of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model from the years 1960 to 2065. In agreement with observational data, it is found that the climatological mean net top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiative flux is primarily balanced by the horizontal energy flux convergence over the polar cap. On interannual time scales, changes in the net TOA radiative flux are also primarily balanced by changes in the energy flux convergence, with the variability in both terms significantly correlated (positively and negatively, respectively) with the southern annular mode (SAM). On multidecadal time scales, twentieth-century stratospheric ozone depletion produces a negative trend in the net TOA radiative flux due to a decrease in the absorbed solar radiation within the atmosphere–surface column. The negative trend in the net TOA radiative flux is balanced by a p...
Mapping wander in SONET/SDH fixed threshold and uniform pointer processors

There are three types of pointer processors in synchronous optical network (SONET) and synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) networks: traditional fixed threshold pointer processors, adaptive threshold modulation pointer processors and uniform pointer processors. Fixed threshold pointer processors produce gapped pointer sequences, during SONET/SDH holdover mode, as a result of the periodic effects of the SONET/SDH overhead bytes. Uniform pointer processors can smooth the gapped pointer effects caused by the STM-1, AU and TU overhead bytes. However, uniform pointer processors can not remove the additional mapping wander caused by the VC overhead bytes. Mathematical analysis and simulation results, for fixed threshold pointer processors in SDH networks which use TU-3 to transport E3-rate PDH payloads in VC-3, illustrate the wander caused by the gapped pointer sequences. A proposed TU-3 uniform pointer processor algorithm shows the residual mapping wander caused by the VC-3 overhead bytes. These results can be extended to other combinations of PDH payloads and SONET/SDH virtual containers.
Analysis of power recycling techniques for RF and microwave outphasing power amplifiers

A power recycling technique has been analyzed for efficiency-enhanced radio-frequency (RF) and microwave outphasing power amplifiers for mobile wireless communications. By use of a simple power recycling network, a considerable portion of the wasted power can be recovered back to the power supply, and the enhancement of the overall power efficiency can be achieved without sacrificing the high-linearity performance of the amplifier system. An analysis and calculations have been conducted to optimize the recycling network for maximum power efficiency. The results predict a significant improvement on the overall power efficiency of the amplifier system for various modulations.
LADAR-based detection and tracking of moving objects from a ground vehicle at high speeds

Detection and tracking of moving objects (DATMO) in crowded urban areas from a ground vehicle at high speeds is difficult because of a wide variety of targets and uncertain pose estimation from odometry and GPS/DGPS. In this paper we present a solution of the simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) with DATMO problem to accomplish this task using ladar sensors and odometry. With a precise pose estimate and a surrounding map from SLAM, moving objects are detected without a priori knowledge of the targets. The interacting multiple model (IMM) estimation algorithm is used for modeling the motion of a moving object and to predict its future location. The multiple hypothesis tracking (MHT) method is applied to refine detection and data association. Experimental results demonstrate that our algorithm is reliable and robust to detect and track pedestrians and different types of moving vehicles in urban areas.
Is anthropogenic cougar mortality compensated by changes in natural mortality in Utah? Insight from long-term studies

Understanding the interplay between exploitation and natural mortality is essential to guiding sustainable conservation of wildlife. Exploitation of carnivores by humans has long been thought to result in compensatory reductions of natural mortality among survivors. If rates of human exploitation exceed natural mortality, however, such actions will ‘add’ to overall mortality and could imperil the sustainability of such actions. We applied competing risk analyses to P16 years of data for heavily harvested and semi-protected cougar populations in Utah to test the additive and compensatory mortality hypotheses, while accounting for parameter uncertainty. We additionally tested for presence of the two primary mechanisms by which compensatory mortality can arise: density dependence and individual heterogeneity in mortality risks. Despite an opportunity for compensation in the heavily harvested population, we could not reject the additive mortality hypothesis when uncertainty in parameter estimates was accounted for. In the semi-protected population, however, we detected evidence for partial compensation of increased anthropogenic exploitation via reductions in natural mortality. As may be common in carnivore studies, we found that ignoring uncertainty in estimates of cause-specific mortality systematically led to biased conclusions regarding additive and compensatory mortality hypotheses. Efforts should be made to address and minimize this uncertainty in demographic studies of carnivores in order to avoid flawed management recommendations. To attain the necessary sample sizes for making sound inference, this may require that the spatial extent of management units be extended for territorial species with large home-range requirements.
Snap-Through Buckling of Framed Triangulated Domes

The elastic stability problems that develop when a concentrated load is applied to a frictionless joint of a framed triangulated dome were studied. They were found to be of two types: (1) bar stability problems; and (2) joint stability problems. The solutions to the first are given by the Euler critical load. The latter were investigated by developing a general expression for the axial deformation of any component member and by taking the vanishing of the first order variation of the total potential of the system as the criterion for equilibrium. The force-radial displacement relationship at the loaded joint was found to be nonlinear and the critical load was defined to be the maximum force the system can support before the loaded joint snaps-through. A general theory is proposed and two approaches to the solution, one iterative and the other involving a parabolic approximation, are presented. A method for checking the results from the snap-through problem against bar stability and against yielding, is also suggested.